Nightmare pushed open a pair of heavy metal doors to reveal her circle of closest allies situated around her war table. She scanned the occupants, taking note of their varying levels of attentiveness, and smiled toothily. “My loyal subjects and comrades.” She bowed her head and motioned for the unicorn beside her to take a seat at the head of the table. “I thank you for joining us tonight. As High Commander Horizons has informed you, we have received valuable information regarding our enemy and, since she has worked closest with our captured griffon, she will supply us with the details.”

“Your Majesty.” The orange mare stood, saluted the queen, and directed the room’s attention to the map laid across the table. “If what Tabatha said is to be trusted, then the bulk of the griffon forces are currently sheltered within Whitetail Woods to the northeast.” She tapped a hoof against the map and circled a large batch of forest. “They are in this general area and move about frequently in order to avoid arousing suspicion from road travellers that pass through there moving towards Wintertrot. This information was partially confirmed by reports of missing caravans and businessponies that had departed from or were travelling to the mining town.

“Now, I was also told that there are several units, most of them no larger than two-hundred soldiers, stationed throughout the nation and posted near our major cities along with even smaller groups meant for scouting our movement.” She looked to Gilda sitting across from her who nodded in confirmation. With a quick motion, she pointed out a large patch of open ground west of Manehattan. “Currently, we have a contingent of aerial and magical knights posted here to watch the main road between Manehattan and Canterlot supported by miniature camps acting as road patrol for ground-based troop movement. Each major city has its own military force, each of them small in comparison to what we have stationed here, large enough to defend against any minor invasion.”

“The bulk of our military is here, right?” Cloudy nodded and Twilight turned to Jahurl. “You have your people here as well with more to be arriving soon, so that would make New Mareland a prime target for guerilla attacks. They’ve obviously seen the state of our military operations here with the bulk of our forces practically camping just inside our walls. The griffons have a greater advantage over us in that aspect since they can just fly over our walls to attack our ground-based soldiers.”

“I’m surprised you’re so well-versed in martial tactics young pony, but I am not certain of what you are trying to point out.” Jahurl leaned back in his chair and stroked his chin. “It wouldn’t be to our best interest to up and move the brunt of the soldiers somewhere else to leave the castle nigh defenseless and it would take too much time to build cover.”

“Well, what I’m saying is that we should have at least half of our troops broken off of the main group and split into separate parties. Let’s say we break it into fourths. Since we number at approximately twelve-thousand here, we’ll have three groups of one-thousand led by Gilda, Cloudy, and I with the fourth under Queen Moon’s command, or whoever she sees fit to lead.” She stood and began pacing around the table, studying the map and the various markings to show their own troop placements. "Were there any specific areas other than the griffon warriors in Whitetail that Tabby talked about?"

Cloudy nodded and tapped in four areas, each spread apart from each other. "Aside from the griffons positioned near Fillydelphia, Manehattan, Stalliongrad, and Wintertrot, she said that there were supposed to be large battalions north of Ponyville, the remains of Dodge Junction, south west of Canterlot and directly west of here. All of them are supposedly lightly camped and ready to move at a moment's notice should they receive an order to attack."

Tyro abruptly stood, his armor clanking loudly against his chair, and pounded his fists against the table. "How did you ponies let this happen!? They have already practically taken over your country!"

"We are aware of the implications, foal, but there was little we could do to stop this. We are still recovering from civil war and Griffonia has been taking advantage of this fact." Nightmare sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose with a hoof. "However, I assume my mate has a plan to remedy the situation, yes?"

The dark mare grinned and nodded. "Of course, it'll be quite simple even with under-experienced soldiers. Now...."

"That was quite impressive, Lady Sparkle. For a pony without experience with battle or warfare, you are proving yourself quite capable as a strategist and warrior." Jahurl grinned and clapped the mare on the back, the sound of the impact resounding through the nigh empty halls. Nightmare Moon paused

Twilight winced and smiled sheepishly. "I'm definitely not a fighter, but I've been reading books on ancient wars. I think a lot of the old practices are still applicable today."

"Well, you've more than proven yourself capable in a fight. Do you not recall your bout with my sister? She was quite impressed with your display of courage and instinctual ability.” His grin widened as the victim of his praise hid her face in her lover’s neck. “Even if you won with an orgasm.”

“I- That. It wasn’t an orgasm! It was a highly potent magical... d-discharge... and....” Twilight chewed her lip and did her best to avoid eye contact with the mad minotaur. “It just wasn’t an orgasm, okay!?”

“Yet, after the fact, I remember a very distinctive scent following the ordeal.” The unicorn gasped and hid her face in her hooves, much to the amusement of the ponies and minotaur around her. “You far exceeded any expectations I had of you today.” The alicorn’s lips curled in the faintest resemblance of a smile. “So that is what you had been doing during your times away from my side.”

“I am going to look in on Cherry and Moon Beam. We will be deploying soon, so I want to make sure that she is... alright.” Cloudy stepped past the stationary group, but paused at the end of the hall. “If you plan on following through with this, then we will need to begin your physical training. Immediately. Both you and Private Gilda are inadequate where combat abilities are concerned and if you were to be caught in any full-scale battle you would surely be killed.”

“Hey! I kicked so much ass in Ponyville that not even those seasoned fighters stood a chance!” The young griffon smirked and puffed out her chest despite the lack of attention she was garnering. “Fine! You’ll all see how badass I am soon enough. Since you’re going to check on the twerps, I’ll go fly around till we’re ready to fight.”

Cloudy sighed as Gilda flew off and out a window, not bothering to close it behind her. “I apologize for her behaviour, Your Majesty. I’ll be sure to discipline her more thoroughly. How she can be a decent fighter with such small amounts of self-control, I’ll never know.”

"It does not matter, High Commander. As long as she stays loyal to us and she doesn't cause an uproar, then her actions are of little consequence to me." Nightmare cast a sidelong glance at the crippled pegasus before turning and closing the window the reckless hybrid had escaped through. "You three will be training under the protection of my obelisk for I wish to observe. There are more things I need to teach you about your magic as well."

"Of course, My Queen. By your leave."

The regal mare dipped her head and watched as her army's general departed, leaving her with the minotaur lord, the twins, and her lover. She turned to her foreign guests and motioned for them to continue their walk through the castle. "If I am not mistaken, you will have much to do in preparation for our endeavour as well. If there is anything you require, my chancellor will be able to arrange for whatever it is to be obtained. You have that servant mare still, yes?"

“Ah, yes. Sweet Scoop. She is... an interesting pony. Very nervous and almost always trying to look over my shoulder... which is quite the humorous act to behold!” The buff lord laughed uproariously and pulled his subordinate twins into a tight embrace before allowing his smile to fade. “I will be keeping an eye on her though. She has not done anything to arouse my full suspicion, but I do not trust her around my quarters alone."

Nightmare's narrowed her eyes and stamped at the stone beneath her, cracking the floor with the force. "Are you implying that I have a traitor amongst my ranks!? I will have her head mounted upon a pike for betraying me!” She fumed, lighting her horn, and began casting out her magic only to have it interrupted by a massive arm wrapped around her neck.

“Aww, come now! There’s no need for that! We don’t know if she’s actually a spy or if she’s just a curious cat that’s poking her nose where she shouldn’t.” He chuckled and patted the mare roughly, jarring her form. “I’ll be sure to keep a close eye on her for you. Don’t you worry about it at all.”

“I could have you killed for touching me, Jahurl. Do not think to test my patience with your actions.” She glared at the larger being, anger still prominent in her eyes, yet sighed and moved away. “Very well. I am certain that I have done enough damage to my subjects already. Should you discover that she is indeed a spy, then you will inform me at once. I will not tolerate traitors.”

Twilight smiled and nuzzled against Nightmare’s cheek. "I don't think you'd have wanted to hurt him anyways. He's too interesting to get rid of." The unicorn grinned at the minotaur who replied with a deep bellowing laugh.

"This girl knows how to butter a guy up, that's for sure!" The massive lord beamed and pushed his subordinates down the hall, their large hooves clacking deeply upon the stone floor with each step. "We'll be leaving you two to your own devices. Don't go doing anything I wouldn't do!"

With a final, deep chortle, Jahurl, Tyra, and Tyro left the lover pair standing alone in the empty hallway to stare after them. Twilight broke the silence with a soft giggle that was quickly sobered by necessity. She looked up into Nightmare's cool, turquoise eyes, her lips drooping into the slightest frown. "You're really trying to be kinder, aren't you? I was scared for a moment.... When I felt that rush of anger, I thought you were really going to hurt him, but...." She let her vision fall to the floor and drew circles upon it with a hoof before cautiously looking back up at her mate.

"It is not simple, Twilight. I have spent the last one-thousand years building upon my hatred and fueling my anger. I have known little else from before my banishment until now." The alicorn's eyes closed as she took a deep, relaxing breath and, when she opened them again, she was turned to face the hall which the foreigners had departed to. "We must go. There is too much to do in this short period of relative peace to spend our time on trivial matters such as emotion. If we do not win this war, then all of it would have been for naught.”

Nightmare began the walk through the halls, following in the steps of the minotaurs and her pony underlings, leaving Twilight to hesitate behind her. The young unicorn made to follow, but stopped before she could even take the first step. “Luna! Wait!” The black alicorn stopped mid-step and turned to find her lover staring nervously at the floor. “You’re wrong, you know.... Even if we win, there’s no guarantee that I’ll live.... I’m not as powerful as you are, nor am I as skilled in fighting. I’m not even close."

Twilight returned her gaze to the alicorn's, sadness showing openly in her eyes. "If we don't talk, express ourselves, now, then we may not ever get another chance. You're right that we have a lot to work through and that we don't have enough time to do everything that we need, but how we feel is just as important as how prepared we are for battle."

"You will not die, Twilight. I will make sure of it."

"But you can't know! And even if you could, it's not what matters! If I die, and we don't talk about it, then we'll never have had the chance to." Tears welled in the corners of her eyes as she fought back the sniffles that would inevitably prevail. "I'm scared of what you'll do if I die.... You've saved me once, but... not even you can bring me back if I'm forced to move on."

"You. Will. Not. Die.” Nightmare’s eyes glowed brightly in the dark corridor, illuminating what even the magical torches could not. “If you are injured, I will find you. If you are in danger, I will find you. If you are mortally wounded, I will find you. And I will save you.” Twilight cowered under the ferocity of her lover’s display until a hoof was pressed gently to her back, calming her quaking body. “Twilight.... I know I have done much to give you cause to fear me, but you are very dear to my heart. You should not be frightened, nor should you worry about yourself as long as I live."

"But it's not me that I'm worried about, Luna! It's you. I've always been the one to calm you when something happens." The dark unicorn sighed and wiped the tears from her face with a hoof. "If I die, I know what will happen. It's already been done before with that griffon. I saw what you did to him, all of that anger coalesced into a single spell. If there were others around, I'm certain you would not have stopped with just him. Facts about previous attacks and your retaliations prove it...." She sat on her haunches and pulled her queen into a tight embrace, knocking the larger mare off balance and pulling her to the ground. "We have to talk about it. We have to help you move past all of your hatred, or nothing will ever change."

Nightmare Moon stared down at the mare beneath her, all emotion missing from her features. Twilight stared back, concern and love evident in her soft, weak smile. The pair gazed into each other's eyes for an eternity, lost in the mix of purple and turquoise glow until their lips met in a sudden, much-needed kiss. Twilight squirmed blissfully under the pressure of her lover's mouth, her eyes squeezed shut as they wrestled their tongues against each other's until they broke apart.

The pair stared into each other's eyes, lost in the mixed purple and turquoise glow that illuminated the darkness between them that the magical torches could not. Nightmare blinked and slowly began to rise from her lover’s body, then assisted Twilight in regaining her own footing. She once more turned her vision to the cloud-covered sky and held her head high, before turning and continuing down the path through the castle. “Come, Twilight. We have much to do before we rest tonight. I believe it is time you saw what happened on the night of my banishment.”

The byzantium mare’s ears drooped at the hint of sorrow tinging the edges of the alicorn’s voice. She stood, staring ahead unfocused, as she was slowly left behind, contemplating the queen’s words. A small smile tugged at her lips. Don’t worry, Luna. We’ll get through this together.

Minotaur working about the camp’s fires, preparing to begin cooking up the coming night’s meals, stood and bowed to their massive leader as he passed, followed closely behind by his twin subordinates. He nodded his head to each group in passing, slowly making his way through the crowded camp’s pathways, until he came upon the largest tent set up at the far edges of the minotaur’s base of operations. He turned to gaze out across his assembled peoples, watching every group working together towards some end whether it be assembling more massive, beige tents for the most recent influx of ponies that had arrived from Canterlot or preparing meals with the assistance of said ponies.

He shifted on his hooves, the dry, graying ground cracking further under his massive weight with each movement, and looked to the young pair at his sides. His great arms reached out to them and pulled the two into a crushing embrace as an enormous grin stretched across his muzzle. “Look at this! Ponies and minotaur together at last! I never would have thought it would happen in my lifetime! To think that it took a war to do what our ancestors have struggle towards for centuries.” He laughed, his hearty bellow reaching out across his and Nightmare’s people. “Looks like we need some more things to fight if we want to bring the zebras, dragons, and others together as well, eh?”

Tyra struggled out of the brute’s grasp and worked her arms to try and regain the feeling that had been squeezed out of them as her brother took a moment to straighten his armor. “Lord Jahurl, I don’t think that’s a good idea. If we kept fighting, there would not be anybody left to form alliances with.”

“Ah, that’s right, Tyro. Smart young lad.” He chuckled and mussed up the boy’s thick mane of black hair. “Well, let’s get started on sectioning of soldiers!” His grin widened as he turned his head towards the tent’s flap and raised his voice. “I sure hope there isn’t anybody in there trying to figure out our plans from all of the fake documents I’ve strategically placed about my tent!” A startled, high-pitched gasp sounded from within the canvas eliciting another deep bark of laughter from the lord. “Little Scoop, my girl.... We’re going to have to work on some manners for you!”

“What are you doing!? Your magic is its own weapon! Don't move your body with your magic! You have to work it separately!" Cloudy smacked Twilight's leg out from under her using the flat of her blade, sending the taller unicorn face-first into the grass. The moment she made contact, the dragon bone dagger dropped from her black aura. "Never let your weapon go! You die the moment you cannot defend yourself!" Another quick smack from the pegasus' blade sent the dark mare to her side with a yelp.

Gilda, although she had her eyes closed in concentration, snickered at the sound of the pony's distress. An action with a swift punishment in the form of a sharp jolt of electricity to the tail-end of her spine. She, too, squawked in alarm and scratched furiously at her twitching backside. "Hey! The buck was that for!?"

"You are not concentrating. You are allowing outside happenings to intrude upon your meditation." Nightmare stiffened her stance, keeping her eyes trained on the dueling ponies as her horn slowly sputtered out. “You and my mate are similar. Where she is lacking in physical prowess, you are lacking in magical aptitude. If you do not wish to be disciplined again, then I would advise you to focus until you can feel yourself being strengthened by the moon. You have already squandered a day away with your inability to master this simple technique."

Gilda huffed and puffed her chest feathers out, but resigned herself to her fate. Better just do it. Crazy bat will probably beat me if I don't. She returned to her prone position, her head resting upon crossed forelegs, and closed her eyes, once more trying to block out the clashing of metal upon metal and screams of her uptight superior officer. It's not like Failight is doing any better.

"You're doing it again! Hold your body still when you attack with your dagger." Cloudy sheathed her blade, and walked over to Twilight. "Here. Stand up straight with your legs planted firmly on the ground. Keep them evenly spaced so you can maintain a better balance when struck, but do not- Stop! Your back hooves are too far apart." She smacked the mare on the rump causing her to yelp and draw her legs closer together. "Better. Now, swing your blade."

Twilight nodded and performed a quick, vertical slash only to lean forward as the dagger sliced through the air earning her another slap from her instructor. Again she swung, this time vertically, and again she tilted her body with the dagger. "I can't! It's something I've done since I was a filly! It's hard enough to not do it with tasks that I can do slowly, but fighting is too fast!"

"Stop. Twilight, in battle, magically wielded weapons have two great advantages over those that are wielded by one's body. They are highly unpredictable and are only limited by great range." She paced around the panting, frustrated mare, poking and prodding her to correct the issues with her stance, and stopped to stare into her eyes. “If you do not fix this, then you lose half of your advantage and, since you don’t have the skill required to measure up to the griffons’ life-long experience, you will not last a minute outside of these walls."

"I know! I've read every book I could find on warfare and just combat in general, and there are definitely too few on either subject, but even with that there's a distinctive line between knowledge and practice." Twilight sighed and let her shoulders sag. "I want to be able to help out more than just telling ponies where to go and die for us. It's not fair for me to be the only one not fighting."

The crippled pegasus stared at the bookish unicorn, her incredulous expression slowly being overcome by a wide grin. "I'm still amazed that you were the pupil of that liar. The massive amounts of reading is definitely definitive, but your sense of honor.... You would make a fine general if you learned how to fight." The smile dropped only to be replaced by her stern glare. "Until then, you're just as much of a rookie as those foals in the military academy! Now, get back into proper form and keep trying. Until you can at least attack without moving, you will standing there without rest.”

Twilight nodded and took a deep breath, resetting her stance and mentally prepared herself for the long session to come. At least I understand how she commands our soldiers so well. She's so strict that she seems terrifying. She giggled softly and received a sharp slap on her rump by her instructor's sword. Well, she would be if I didn't know how she was around Tart. A final effort was taken to clear her mind after having another disciplinary action taken upon her backside for delaying and, with a fierce cry, the unicorn swung her dagger.

"Oh, come on! Why the buck are you screaming!? How in Tartarus am I supposed to concentrate with her grunting and yelling every time she tries and fails!?" The griffon scowled at the trio of mares, but, after a harsh glower from the moon queen, quickly returned to trying to relax and meditate.

"You foal. Do you believe that, in the heat of combat, your foes will give you the opportunity to sit and concentrate on healing your wounds or gathering energy to smite them?" Nightmare Moon nodded to her partner who reciprocated the action and resumed her efforts at learning the art of the blade. "If you ever wish to gain a true advantage over your kin, then you must learn to ignore the cries of war. I believe that a bit of a hooves-on approach would be quite helpful in this situation."

Gilda opened one eye, peeking at her mentor to find the alicorn grinning devilishly at her. “I’m not fighting you. I’d have to be bucking crazy to-”

“Remember. If you wish to continue, then you will have to draw upon my magic even while under the stress of battle."

Nightmare's horn began to glow as she lowered it down towards the griffon who, despite the sudden inability to control her body, struggled to escape. "Hey! The fuck are you do-? Don't put that near me! St-"

The moment her horn made contact with the young hybrid's forehead, she stopped her struggles and slumped as her body went limp in the magical hold. The queen set the girl upon the ground, leaving her to splay out without any true direction, and returned to watching her mate's struggle with basic combat. She frowned at the unbelieving stares she was receiving and waved them off with a hoof.

"Continue. She will be fine."

Gilda squawked in pain as she clutched the throbbing mass that she assumed was her head and tried to clear the blur from her vision. Her hearing rang violently, pulsing and screeching hellishly, but she swore she could hear something else, something loud. The world spun as she regained her footing, images swirling and clouding together to form misshapen blots until something hard and heavy smashed her right talon.

Gilda screeched in pain, then froze as the whole world around her, and all the sounds that come with it, came into immediate focus.

All around her was chaos. Pure, bloody chaos in the form of death and unbridled violence. The corpses of ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies alike, lay strewn across the crimson stained earth, their lightly and uninjured comrades still matching blades and spells long after they had passed. She heard the cries of agony as ponies were impaled, dismembered, and gored by their opponents to join their dead and dying brethren in the field of death. The mortally wounded moaned and cried in the bloody mud, the blackened sludge slowly draining the color from their bodies.

Gilda squawked in dismay as a heavy fog rolled in from the north, quickly concealing anything further than forty feet, making the cacophony of war all the more frightening. "H-hey! What the fuck is going on here!? Nightmare!"

You must focus, griffon. When you have mastered the ability to draw upon my moon and rejuvenate yourself, then you shall be freed. The alicorn's voice echoed from all around the terrified girl, yet none of the soldiers paid it any heed. A word of warning. The pain you will face is very real, so your attention had better be trained upon your surroundings.

"What does that- Ah! Fuck!" Gilda screeched and jumped away from an earth pony that had slashed her across her breastplate with its sword. The weapon had sliced through the front and left a long gash on her chest which now bled profusely. "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She roared furiously and slashed the earth pony across the face with her gauntlet-covered talons, tearing the flesh and bone into ribbons and leaving the thing to twitch and moan with its mangled mouth as it slowly died.

She panted heavily, clutching her bleeding chest, and tried to focus on the faint energy provided by her augmented link to the silvery celestial body. This, however, proved impossible as the disastrous mix of pain and the surrounding cacophony thwarted all attempts and, despite her silent wishes to be left alone, more ponies were moving nearer, drawn by the defeat of their comrade.

Concentrate and your wounds can be healed. Focus and you will have the strength to fight through even the most grievous of wounds. Failure will result in certain death. In war, one cannot rely solely upon her comrades or subordinates.

“What are you talking about!? Get me out of here, you bitch!” The young griffon’s eyes flashed frantically between the squad of ponies as they approached with weapons raised and ready to attack. She took note of the fact, just briefly, that they all donned a dull golden armor before scrabbling for the sword her first opponent had dropped and held it in her unsteady grasp. She glanced down to the gaping gash and inhaled sharply at the sight of her own blood-soaked body.

"Ffff-Fuck." Gilda watched with darkening vision as the trio of soldiers advanced on her before succumbing to the cold, numbness of encroaching death. She fell to the ground, her body limp, and cried out as the first blade pierced her armor. Her senses shut down long before the second and third blows ever connected, saving her from the agony that was sure to follow.

A soft 'Tsk, tsk, tsk' was the last sound the runaway griffon heard before the darkness overwhelmed her.

Author's Notes:

Author’s Notes: Ok, so this one took much longer than it had any reason to and the reason for that is? Vidya Games. That’s right, your favourite author ever is a gamer and is therefore prone to bouts of laziness. I said it! There! *cries* Anyhoof, I did try to work on this a lot more than it seems, but every time I sat down to get writing, sibling would come home and we’d go kill shit/level or I’d get called to some guild thingy. Truly, not the best time for it. Anyhoof, again, reason for short chapter? I like where this one ended. Cause evil. And stuff. I’ll get started on the next chapter really soon though so it won’t be as long as this time. Cause I feelz badz. Peppy out~

P.S: I don't wanna hear anything about 'Tribulatory' not being a word. Cause it's a word now. I used it.

Editor’s Notes: Yawn. Cough. I feel so sick and sleepy right now. Well, whateves. I’m here... reading crap-tons of manga (quickly becoming an otaku). Anyway, nice chapter. Took too damn long.