As they entered the Bridge, Stellar and Scootaloo saw Sweetie Belle sitting in the Captain's Chair, monitoring their progress through the Captain's screens. Although sitting at the Helm Station might have been more correct, Sweetie found the semi-circle of screens around the chair made monitoring all the ship's systems and accessing the database much easier to do, without running from one station to the next. "Captain?" Sweetie Belle asked as she saw Stellar, making ready to vacate the chair as Scootaloo slipped up into the Helm Station's chair.

"As you were, Lieutenant." Stellar replied. "I'm not here to take over just yet. We need to contact Equestria and we'll be dropping out of Fold Space momentarily in a short while's time."

"Understood, Captain." Sweetie Belle replied as she monitored what Scootaloo was doing, as well as watched Stellar move to the forward section of the bridge, where the Transmission Candle (as Sweetie called it) was seated on its own stand now. Stellar sat at the writing stand behind the candle and started writing, occasionally glancing out the front transparencies at Fold Space passing by before her. When she was done with the letters she'd written to her sisters, Stellar looked back at Scootaloo. "All right Helm, drop us out of Fold Space and recalculate for the new distance."

"Aye, Captain." Scootaloo answered and moved the controls. The view changed as the Xerxes dropped back into Normal Space.

Sweetie Belle had all the ship's sensors and visual sensors active the instant they dropped out of Fold Space, recording everything she could about where they were while they were there. She also monitored the Fold Drive, as Applebloom would have done if she wasn't on her sleep cycle. "Fold Capacitors recharging, Captain. I estimate three minutes before we can fold again." Sweetie Belle reported.

"Excellent." Stellar said as she lit the candle, concentrated on Twilight and sent one scroll, then concentrated on Cadance and sent the other. Once they were both underway, she relaxed and waited for Sweetie Belle to report they were ready to fold again.

Twilight was sitting in her rooms in Canterlot Castle, going over reports of a logistical nature: Supply reports, troop status and deployment updates. She was making plans for the upcoming conflict Celestia was sure would occur within two days of Prince Greatfeather's coronation. Twilight had agreed that it was more than likely Razorbeak had been putting things together for years before this, and his taking the throne of Griffonia was merely the start of the next stage in his plans.

Twilight sighed. Equestria didn't really have a large standing army. Used to peace for nearly three centuries, Celestia had made their army smaller, concentrating on those who truly wanted to fight, like Stellar. Their army was small, just over thirty thousand troops of all three... no, six kinds of Ponies now, now that the Thestrals had returned from the shadows on the edges of Equestria, with Luna's return. But thanks to Stellar's efforts in the years since she made Knight-Commander, she had turned the small force into an army of professional soldiers, capable and willing to fight in ways that most Ponies could not contemplate, in most cases. But they had no idea of the extent of Greatfeather's forces. The public standing army of Griffonia was more than five times that of Equestria, mainly because of the dragons living almost on their doorstep. But with the peace that Firelord Ember had brought to the Firelands, there was less clashing between the two nations. Perhaps a good number of those troops could have been diverted elsewhere...

Twilight sighed as she went over her plans once again. Then, with a puff of green smoke, a scroll popped into existence above her and fell onto Twilight's head, sitting between her horn and her ears. Blinking with surprise, Twilight lifted the scroll and squee'd when she saw Stellar's cutie mark on the seal. Not expecting any mail while the Xerxes was in Fold-Space, the letter was very welcome. Opening it, Twilight read:

Heya Twi-Sis!
Listen...
I just had the weirdest collection of visions come over me, even in Fold-Space. You're facing up against someone very nasty, aren't you? And it involves Griffons. I saw a trio of forces heading for Equestria, and very soon. I know it's unsettling you, Celestia and Luna as well.
I think I can help, even from here. My visions seem to center on four days from now, just when the Xerxes gets home. If what I've seen is going to come to pass, here's what I want you to do:
If things will come to pass, the new King will announce his campaign at his Coronation. If he doesn't, then we need to be aware of trouble heading for the Dragons and alert Firelord Ember. But if he moves against us, there's a list of instructions I need you to put into place for the arrival of both the Griffonian forces and the Xerxes.

Twilight read a list of detailed instructions Stellar wanted her to do; some of them were quite bizarre, but if Stellar wanted them done, Twilight reassured herself that Stellar must have a plan in mind.

Oh, I also need a large number of mana crystals: Types 1a and 2a, about three hundred of each. I've sent Cadance a letter asking her to forward them to you as quickly as possible. You'll find a countdown timer on the back of the seal that this scroll was secured with; exactly twenty-four hours from now, as shown by the timer, we'll come back out of Fold-Space and wait for ten minutes. If you send a scroll with the crystals, we'll get it in that time, I am sure. Also, make sure my three platoons of pegasi troops are ready, in their special armor, for when the Xerxes passes Canterlot. We're going to need them. Oh, and you too, Sis. I'm going to have to leave somepony the girls respect in charge of the Xerxes while I'm taking on the Griffonians at their own game. The three CMC know what to do, so you won't have to give them much in the way of orders, just keep an eye on them so they don't go overboard when the fighting starts.
See you when we get there, Sis. Take care and more than anything, don't panic. We'll deal with the griffons well enough.
Love,
Stellar

Twilight put the scroll down and checked the seal. Sure enough, glowing numbers on the back were slowly counting down the hours, minutes and seconds. Nodding, she made preparations to have the mana crystals fill one H-S scroll and with a letter ready to send them on at the appointed hour. She also rose and headed to where Celestia and Luna were making plans to counter any assault by the griffons.

The 'War Room' Stellar had set up as a control center for the armed forces of Equestria had some of the latest magic-tech devices, including a map-table like the one in the Castle of Friendship. Only this one had maps of defensive positions, deployment of troops and transport corridors shown on it. Once a minor ball room near the top of one of the buildings in Canterlot Castle, staff were filling it and beginning to take their places in their emergency positions, as Marigold Leaf made sure everypony was ready to carry out the orders of the Princesses. Celestia and Luna were standing around the table, watching as the reserves and the regulars were being equipped for combat and shipped to the coast. Cities like Manehattan, Fillydelphia and Baltimare had their own city guards, who were now re-equipping to defend their cities from any attacks, since they were prime targets.

Celestia, at that moment was looking at the Griffish Isles, one of the few places that had a large joint population of both Ponies and Griffons, all living together without conflict. But they were also a prime target, since they were very close to the Griffonstone coast as well as that of Equestria. She had ordered as many of the mares and foals of Trottingham and other towns there to be evacuated as quickly as possible, as well as of those griffons who wanted to leave as well. Celestia knew a lot of the mainland griffons didn't like those from the islands, considering them weak for living peacefully with ponies for so long. Griffonstone was still an ally of Equestria, but Celestia knew they couldn't stand up to an invasion by Griffonia to the east, if things threatened them. The main bridge over the strait north of Trottingham was heavily-mined and ready to be destroyed if Griffonstone fell, just in case it was used to shift troops, but the orders were to welcome refugees first, then deny the passage to the enemy if it came to that.

Then Twilight walked in.

Celestia and Luna both noticed her instantly, and at the look on her face, they both relaxed and became curious, for the look on Twilight's face said that something unexpected had happened, and she was both pleased and worried at the same time. "Something perplexes thee, dear Twilight?" Luna asked first, as the younger alicorn reached them.

Twilight was a little stunned, until she realised "Am I wearing my thoughts on my face again?" She asked.

Celestia and Luna giggled behind hoofs, until Celestia replied "Indeed, Twilight. Your mind is so occupied by something, it has made itself visible."

"Oh." Twilight replied with a sigh. "I guess I still have to work on my poker-face, as Rainbow Dash puts it." She replied. "Yeah. I just got a letter from Stellar." She told the older alicorns, whose faces changed to show their surprise. "She saw what's happening here, and what might happen." Twilight hoofed over Stellar's letter.

Celestia was more surprised than Luna, it seemed, for after reading the letter once, she nodded. "Verily, your sister's prescient vision is far more active than your own, it seems, Twilight." Luna said. "But this is a good thing. Whilst she cannot be here in person, yet, she still is able to help out in our planning."

"Yes..." Celestia agreed. "But some of these measures..." She looked at Luna. "I fail to see the logic in them... but this is future-vision we are talking about here. Sometimes the one who sees it cannot reveal everything before its time, for fear of changing the outcome."

"Yeah, that's what I read... and have experienced myself." Twilight reminded the senior Princesses. "Moving Cloudsdale towards the coast is sensible; after all, the pegasi and thestrals are the best ones to handle griffons in aerial combat. But using the weather factory and all of the available weather-control ponies like this...? What Stellar wants isn't going to stop the griffons, just make their approach more cautious." She claimed.

"But it will hide the pegasi and night-wing troops and give them a very large place for deployment." Luna countered. "And it will also hide our preparations for the perceived attack."

"There is that." Celestia agreed. "And having Stellar's personal pegasi platoons ready to deploy to join her is also what I would do." She added. "They need their commander to lead them... and by this request for all these mana crystals, Stellar has more plans-within-plans, as any competent commander must." She moved to a microphone and issued Stellar's desired preparations to the staff. "See that these are ready to be carried out at the appointed times" She ordered.

"Aye, Your Highness." Came the replies, as the orders were transmitted by the staff for those areas to those who would carry them out.

"Stellar seems to think that the main battle's going to be fought in the air." Twilight then pointed out. "She hasn't said of any major plans for the ground troops' deployment."

Celestia nodded, as Luna replied. "I think she is going to make use of her newest 'asset' to quickly give us the greatest advantage. But she knows the offensive and defensive capabilities of her vessel better than anypony here does. We must trust she knows what she is doing."

"Agreed." Celestia said in a strong tone. "She now has the greatest power we have at her disposal. Hopefully, she will have it here, ready, when the attack comes."

Twilight giggled at that. When Celestia and Luna looked at her queryingly, Twilight grinned. "Stellar? Miss a battle she knows is coming? If I know my sister, she will get out the front of the Xerxes and pull it along through Fold-Space herself, if she needs it to go faster to get here on-time."

Celestia and Luna chuckled a little at that. "Indeed. She will not let a little thing like speed or distance delay her from being at the forefront of battle, if it 'comes down to the wire', as the popular expression is, I believe." Luna stated.

Celestia nodded in agreement. "Then let us send to her what she needs and put her planned preparations in place, so that everything will be ready for her to take up command of this battle when she returns."

The other Princesses nodded back to Celestia, and they all began to make other plans, for areas that Stellar had not detailed.

As they travelled on through Fold-Space again, Stellar and Sweetie Belle were making more preparations. Stellar was casting Adamant housings for the mana crystals and moulding softened Arcanite into flat sheets, ready to be wrapped around the crystals. Sweetie Belle was engraving discs of transparent Adamant before they hardened, slicing them from a cylinder of the metal with Stellar's mono-atomic blade. "So... these are gonna make more mana generators, like tha ones ya already use, Stellar?" Applebloom asked, as she and Scootaloo looked on.

"That's right. Although these ones are going to be used for mana thrusters, like the ones in my exo-armor, as well as yours, Applebloom, and Scootaloo's flight armor." Stellar answered.

"Cool!" Scootaloo grinned. "So I'm really gonna be able to go fast with these installed, right?" She asked.

"Probably faster than a veritech in atmosphere could, Scoots." Stellar told her. "The Alphas and Betas can naturally do about Mach Five in atmosphere, but need to be connected together for faster speeds, like reaching orbit." She explained. "But I've never pushed my armors beyond Mach Five in the lower atmosphere before. I can make orbit using the thrusters from heights of seventy-thousand feet or higher, but lower down the atmosphere's too thick to go much faster than Mach Ten, I'd estimate." She looked up at Scoots. "We might have to push it to that, if push comes to shove."

"That'd be so awesome." Scootaloo said with a mischievous grin.

"We'll see." Stellar said with a chuckle, as she returned to making housings for the mana crystals.

"An' tha smaller crystals, Stellar?" Applebloom asked, seeing Stellar with nearly a hundred-and-fifty magazine casings for the EP-40 beam cannon.

"They're going to power the smaller beam cannons I had you retrieve from the Cyclone Stores, Applebloom." Stellar revealed.

"You're gonna equip us with those?" Scootaloo asked.

Stellar chuckled. "I had an idea..." Was all she said in reply.

"Cool..." Scootaloo had the biggest grin on her face.

As planned, after twenty-four hours the Xerxes dropped out of Fold-Space once again and waited. Not ten minutes after returning to Normal Space, a letter popped back into Normal Space above the gathered crew of the starship and was caught in Stellar's magic. Unrolling it, the H-S pockets were there, as expected, one of which held the needed mana crystals. The others... there was one each for Stellar and the CMC, and they found that they were full of treats for them, mostly munchables from Sweet Apple Acres and Sugarcube Corner.

Stellar was looking fairly serious as she read Twilight's return letter...

Hiya Stellar-Sis!
Your prescient vision is uncanny, Sis. We are indeed facing a crisis involving griffons.
Prince Razorbeak Greatfeather, of the High Reaches Clan, has assassinated King Goodreach Brownclaw and is going to be crowned king in less than two day's time. I'm not sure if you remember Greatfeather, but his great-grandfather was dethroned and killed during the Draco-Griffon War by Grandfather. As a consequence, he has a massive grudge against our family, and he also has a grudge against Equestria as well. If what you're saying comes to pass, then an invasion against Equestria by Prince/King Greatfeather is something Celestia is considering an almost-certainty.
The Princesses are going to put your requested preparations in place, so everything should be ready for when you get home again. I'll be accompanying your platoons as you asked, when we rendezvous with you. We're hoping things go as you've seen them, Sis, because if you're wrong, this could go very badly. Not that we're saying you are, but we know that relying on Prescient Vision can be tricky at times. If you're feeling confident that what you've seen is accurate, then we're ready to put our trust in you, as we have done before.
Frankly, Sis, I am going to be happy to have you and the fillies home, no matter what. I just wish it was under far better circumstances, as I am betting you're feeling the same way about this. Still, I'm going to give you the biggest welcome-home I can, no matter what (not to mention what Pinkie has in store for the four of you. She's never been able to throw a 'Welcome home to Equis' party before!) I hope to see you soon, Stellar-Sis. Take care and look after everything for all of us.
Your loving sister,
Twilight

Stellar smiled and tucked the letter away with the others. Knowing that she had the support of Celestia and Luna also made Stellar feel that she was justified in putting her requests forward for the preparations. Now that she knew what the vision pertained to, it also made it easier for her to plan further for what she was going to face when the Xerxes arrived on Equestria. She returned her attention to the Trio and the food they were laying out to eat.

After a lovely meal, the four got busy, wrapping mana crystals in Arcanite and the housings meant for them. Once everything was ready, Stellar relaxed and looked at the three young mares. "You three... I could not have asked for better or more willing hoofs to help at this time." She told them. "When we get home, you shall all accompany me into battle, and we shall show the griffs that we aren't anywhere near as weak as they think."

"Yeah!" The Trio replied, and hugged into Stellar. Stellar chuckled and hugged them back.

Certain griffons were in the capital of Griffonia, Griffonspire, as the preparations for the Coronation reached their peak. A wealthy merchant house, they had made money trading for goods and items from Equestria and Minotauria, as well as other distant lands, that wealthy clients amongst the leading Griffonian houses wanted, mostly for the prestige of owning such things. What no griff knew was that they secretly owed their house's existence to Celestia herself, after she had saved their clan's lives during the Draco-Griffon War. They operated as Celestia's eyes and ears inside Griffonia, informing the Equestrian Diarch of what the goings-on were within Griffonia.

Now they watched, both amongst the general crowd and inside the Palace itself, as vast crowds of griffons welcomed their soon-to-be-crowned king. Prince Razorbeak Greatfeather was being carried along on an open palanquin by four armored griffons almost as big as himself, their lions' flanks and golden-feathered eagle's fore-sections blending well as they moved along between the crowds towards the palace. Razorbeak was wearing armor as well, but it was purely ceremonial ironmongery. Instead of a helm, he wore his prince's crown, and a red cape trimmed with reddish fur adorned his back. As they reached the steps of the main Palace entrance, they carefully maintained a level stance as they headed inside.

Inside the Throne Room, the scions of the Thirty Great Houses of Griffonia waited for their crown prince to arrive. As he was carried in, Razorbeak was mostly somber; only those closest to him could have seen the small smile the lips at the back of his beak were turned up in. The armored griffons carried him up to the lowest step of the dais, then lowered the palanquin down to the first step, making sure Razorbeak's paws never touched the floor proper, as was tradition. Razorbeak stepped from the palanquin to the dais and ascended the stairs one at a time, as the priests of the gods said benedictions as part of the coronation ritual. With each blessing, he rose higher and higher, until he was at the main platform, before the throne. He faced General Steelclaw, who carried the Royal Sword, and Brightwing who, as his chamberlain, carried the Sceptre of Griffonia. The High Priest of the Temple of the Sky also carried the Orb of Prosperity, as he approached Razorbeak and started his blessing of the Crown Prince.

As the Coronation proceeded, inside the minor Throne Room in Canterlot Castle, Celestia, Luna and Twilight, as well as a number of their most competent and knowledgeable advisors, were watching as well. Special jewels in the garb of Celestia's griffons were watching and transmitting what was happening directly to their location, allowing them to see and hear what was going on.

Twilight frowned as she saw the three artifacts that were being held by those on the dais. "So... he can't hold the sceptre, sword and orb at the same time, can he?" She asked. "So is there a choice?"

"Indeed, Your Highness." Open Words said as he sat beside Twilight, ready to answer questions. "His entire attitude to his rule will be known by which objects he chooses to wield. The Sceptre is a sign that he plans to rule for a lifetime, since it is linked to the Empire itself. If he takes the Orb, then it is a sign that he plans a peaceful reign, to concentrate on ruling for Prosperity; but if he takes the Sword, then Razorbeak is signalling he plans a reign of conquest and warfare, at least for a certain part of his rule."

Twilight nodded. "And if he takes the Orb and the Sword?"

Twilight then saw Celestia give a little shiver through her withers at that question, as Open Words answered "There has only been one instance where a King of Griffonia has done so, and that was Razorbeak's great-grandfather, King Steelbeak Greatfeather." He told Twilight. "That was the signal of the start of the Draco-Griffon War."

"Oh." Twilight replied softly, dire thoughts running through her head as she reviewed what she knew of Razorbeak's ancestor and the Crown Prince himself. 'I... don't suppose he's going to take the Orb, is he?"

Open Words chuckled. "I would not wager bits on it, no." He said back.

Razorbeak was solemn as the crown was placed on his head, and he let go of the breath he had been holding.

It was done.

He was King.

He waited for the last of the rituals to be completed, then he stood and gestured to Brightwing, who walked forward to the throne, bowed before Razorbeak and held out the Sceptre on a purple pillow. Razorbeak took the Sceptre of The Empire in his left hand-claw, signalling his figurative marriage to the Empire.

The relief was palpable to a lot of the figures in the Throne Room at this, let alone those watching back in Equestria. But all held their collective breaths again as Razorbeak gestured for Steelclaw. The general marched forward, holding out the Sword of The Empire. But before Razorbeak grasped the sword, he drew his own House-sword out from behind his new cape, the purple one trimmed in white fur that had been placed on him when the crown went on, and he slid the sword into the slot next to the throne that he'd made two days' previously with it. Grasping the Sword of The Empire in his right hand-claw, he then slid it into the scabbard on his back, which made hundreds of people all over Griffonspire and Canterlot wonder as to his intent.

But then Razorbeak gestured the High Priest forward and took the Orb in his right hand-claw. Smiling as he stood there before the nobles and others that now served him, he gave them all a very wicked grin before he sat down again.

Twilight blinked with surprise as she saw this. "What is he doing?" She asked.

Celestia said nothing as Luna snorted. "He thinks he is being clever." She answered.

"I would interpret it, Twilight, as Greatfeather saying that while he is interested in the welfare of Griffonia, he is also holding onto War as a distinct option." Celestia added to Luna's reply. "It also muddies his true intentions in speculation... but his actions after this will reveal his true intent."

"To those willing to see it." Luna added on as well.

Celestia nodded. "I wonder if others will see it, or will they ignore what is being hinted at, for the sake of allying themselves with his new reign?"

"Time will tell, Sister." Luna replied, and they all continued to watch.

One by one, the heads of the thirty Noble Houses approached the throne, as General Steelclaw stood beside the throne, Razorbeak's sword before him. As each noble house swore their allegiance to the Throne and King Greatfeather, Steelclaw touched their House swords to Razorbeak's and then handed the House Leaders back their swords, signifying the Crown gave them its trust in their oaths of fealty and loyalty as well as figuratively bonding their houses to Razorbeak's High Reaches Clan. Others then approached, some swearing Loyalty and Fealty as those before them, others congratulating the newly-crowned king on his ascension to the throne.

After all those that needed to be heard had said their piece, King Razorbeak Greatfeather stood before the assembly once again. Smiling as he hefted the sceptre and orb in his hand-claws, he took a deep breath to settle himself, then spoke:

"To all those assembled here today, be they nobles or the commonfolk of our great land, We have finally ascended to the place which my House once held, and now rightfully returns to. With our strong leadership back in place, and our claws firmly gripping the helm of our nation, we shall begin this new era with celebration and joy. Those who ally themselves with us will be welcome to share in this. Those who owe us debts, either of honor or otherwise, will find an accounting is coming very soon. Those who stand against us... will find our resolve is stronger than ever, and we will stand in the face of their aggression and will repulse their attempts to weaken or destroy us as utterly as we would crush an ant under our armored paws." He said to them all. "For now, however, let the feasting come before the fighting, for once. Let the celebrations begin!" And with that, Razorbeak slid his sword out from the dais and slid it back behind him, in opposition to the Sword of The Empire, and stepped down to the palanquin that awaited him.

Celestia looked at Luna and Twilight as they sat beside her. "And so it begins." She said.

"He has been very clever with that speech he just gave." Luna said back. "But his intent is not as murky as he tried to make it."

" 'Those who owe us debts, either of honor or otherwise, will find an accounting is coming very soon', he said." Celestia repeated in a worried tone. "We know who he means."

"House Sparkle?" Twilight ventured.

Celestia just nodded as Luna snorted, her face one of subtle fury. "He hides his intentions behind subtlety, as a good king must, but his intent is very clear with those words. And the only way he can confront House Sparkle, whom he has sworn to destroy..."

"...Is to invade." Luna finished.

Celestia nodded as Twilight gave a shiver. "So... what do we do?" She asked.

"We continue." Celestia answered. "Both in our preparations, and with Life in general."

"We will not cower to this threat." Luna added defiantly. "We will face whatever he sends at us and, Deities willing, we will face him with the best force we can put forth to counter him."

Twilight just nodded. All she hoped was that they had enough time...

Author's Notes:

A short chapter, but the pieces are starting to show their intent on the board, as Razorbeak takes full control of Griffonia.

More to come...