“Well, well,” Diamond Pick said, “if it isn’t Glenlivet.” Her tone was exasperated, as if she was simply going through the motions. “It’s been a while.” She had to look up to speak to him, but not by much. She was large, for a mare, and she was unusually toned considering the horn on her forehead. She had long, wavy aquamarine hair that was tied back out of her face, and her coat was a rich brown. A bright blue mining pickaxe adorned her flanks. “Who will you be representing today?”

Glen was smiling, an amused glint in his eyes. “So quick with the formalities? Where’s my usual warm welcome?” This was met with what Applejack assumed was a glare, the attempt so devoid of passion that it seemed closer to a lazy twitch. Glen chuckled, and moved further into the room. They were standing in the reception of what Shining had described as the central offices for both the mine and the Equestria Griffon international relations. While Diamond was in charge of both facilities, she wasn’t the Equestrian ambassador. Between Shining and Glen’s inside jokes and references as they had waited for Diamond, Applejack had come to the conclusion that the actual ambassador was a unicorn she didn’t want to be meeting any time soon.

The reception itself spanned the entire north edge of the building, allowing them to continue admiring the wonderful view through the entirely glass northern wall. The glass was heavily curved, giving the room a semicircle shape, and tinted a light brown to reduce the sun’s glare. Doors on the south side of the reception lead further into the headquarters, cut directly into the cliff face, with offices stretching deep into the mountain. Vines, with small red flowers, clung to this wall, in dramatic contrast to the lifeless desert outside. Their roots led into a small indoor stream build into the floor, bridged at the doors, and fed by a faintly trickling opening in the opposite corner to the entrance. Where this water originated from was a mystery. Ornately decorated lanterns hung from the ceiling, unlit. The room was pleasantly cooled compared to outside, and the small stone slabs that made up the floor felt soothingly chilly under Applejack’s hooves.  Unicorns sat at the several elegant, metallic desks in the reception, busy with work, only glancing up once Diamond had entered.

“You look older,” Diamond bluntly stated, “and I’d be honestly surprised if that brash copper wasn’t hair dye at this point.” The look of amusement on Glen’s face only increased. “Even suggesting that it’s good to see you would be far too departed from the truth for me to utter, and frankly I don’t care if you’re having a good day. I’d enquire if your companions are your daughters or friends, but you’re far too unlikable for either to be an option, so I can only assume they’re related to your work. Unless you want me to comment on the weather, Celestia help me, then I suggest we get down to business before my urge to throw myself from this window overpowers me.”

“That’s more like it.” Glen was beaming at this point. “And here I was worrying that you wouldn’t be the same mare I know and love.” Diamond sighed deeply, levitating a pack of cigarettes from the nearby table. “I’ve been sent by my employer, Stallionbucks, to finalise a business deal. They’re hoping to open branches in Las Pegasus, and I’ll need-”

“Need to speak with the griffon ambassador,” Diamond finished, the unlit cigarette hanging from her lips. “It certainly is incredible, Stallionbucks spreading to the Griffon Empire.” Her jaw tightened. A spark from her horn lit the cigarette. “An unprecedented move, considering no pony is welcome in their lands, no griffon would be prepared to aid a pony business, and our two nations are technically still at war.”

Applejack’s fur rose at the silence that followed. Diamond hadn’t bought it. She shot Glen a panicked look. What had led him to believe such an absurd story would work? If she found out they were part of The Resistance, they couldn’t possibly escape. Where would they even run to? They’d just have to accept being arrested, assuming they weren’t killed on the spot. Applejack really, really, didn’t want to die. This she was cert-

“Yes,” Glen said, breaking Applejack’s train of thought. “Exactly.”

Diamond rolled her eyes as she turned to face the desk, flicking though papers with her levitation. “And here I was hoping for something a little more inventive.”

“It’s been an early morning.” As Glen spoke, Applejack struggled to follow the conversation. Had she believed them? Were they in trouble?

“It’s always an early morning,” the unicorn murmured, smoke dancing from her mouth into the still air as she spoke. “That’s the nature of mornings.” She pulled out a couple of sheets, and floated over a quill. “The kid’ll have to stay in the lobby of the Hall though. Age regulations and all.”

Idared opened her mouth, no doubt to complain or add her opinion to the matter. Glen’s rear leg shot out, smacking her lightly in the side, before snapping back under him.

“Remarkably, I’ve received word that the griffon ambassador is currently in the Armistice Hall, despite there being no scheduled meeting today to our knowledge.” The quill scribbled over the paper at lightning speed. “Quite the coincidence, no?” The sarcasm was almost tangible.

“Yeah, fancy that.” Glen was glancing at the nearby unicorns sitting at the various desks, all engrossed in their work. “You’ll let them know I’m here to see them, right?”

“Obviously.” Diamond unceremoniously dropped the quill, took a long drag on her cigarette, and thrust the papers towards Glen. “Show these to the guards when you get there. Sign in and so on. You know the drill.”

Glen took the papers, slipping them under his bandana. “Thank you, once again, for being so understanding, Diamond. I don’t know how-”

“It’s Ms Pick to you,” she interrupted. “And don’t thank me, please. I don’t feel like being violently sick so early in the morning.” Her eyes wandered to Applejack for the first time, hovering there for a few seconds, an incomprehensible look to them, before turning to the window. “Dusty, take them down to the mine. If they happen to die on the way, you get a promotion.”

Shining, on cue, motioned towards one of the back doors with a flick of his head. As they filed out the room, Applejack heard a grumbled “I need another coffee. Double the caffeine.”

The door led to a dimly lit stairwell, the stairs sharply doubled back on themselves halfway down, ending in another door. Where the handle would have been, a large numbered box connected the door and frame. A coded lock. As Shining began tapping the device, Glen hummed contentedly.

“I really do enjoy my encounters with Diamond Pick.” He gave the two mares a sly smile. “It’s so refreshing.”

“Y’know,” Applejack spoke up, “she makes you look pretty darn positive, comparatively.”

“Oh yes,” Glen nodded. “Exactly. It’s good for my system, talking with somepony so absolutely bitter and cynical.”

“How she manages to stay that courteous while running this entire place is beyond me,” Shining added, finishing on the door. He gave it a light push, and it swung open with a hydraulic hiss, assaulting Applejack with light and heat.

Following the others out, she found herself on a metal balcony, open to the environment. The floor of the reception served as a roof, keeping the area shadowed from the sun. At the far end, a large metal cage sat waiting for them, clamped to metal beams, and connected to a number of sturdy ropes and gently humming pipes. Glancing over the edge, Applejack saw the beams stretching far below them, to the base of the cliff, within the walls of the mine.

“Tellin’ y’all the truth, I’m shocked she bought ya story, Glenlivet.” Shining ushered them into the cage as Applejack expressed her thoughts.

“Oh, she didn’t.”

“…Beg yer pardon?”

“She knows there’s something up with me,” Glen explained, giving Shining a hand by sliding the cage doors shut. “Known for a long time. I’m sure she doesn’t know the extent of my alliance, but she knows she’s helping The Resistance by aiding me.”

“Then why?” Idared piped up. “Is she a resistance spy?”

Before Glen could answer, Shining had moved to the side of the cage and, reaching through the bars, had hit a button protruding from one of the beams. With a metallic creak, and a sickening lurch, the cage began to descend. Once Applejack had controlled her heart, she looked up, seeing the headquarters rapidly shrinking.

“No, no. Nothing like that. She works for the government.” Glen was watching the distance. The sun reflected off the airship’s many windows, flashing light at the group of ponies at irregular intervals. As they descended, the city of Macaw slowly slipped out of sight, hidden by the rising buildings of the mine, dark and foreboding even in the light. “It’s no strong loyalty though. Maybe she feels sympathy for our cause, or maybe she simply doesn’t want the extra stress that would come with hindering us. Whatever the case, her reasons are her own.”

Turning from the view, Applejack turned her head to the warm, red cliff. As the elevator dropped, the rocky wall rushed past, carved smooth in places to allow room for the machine to work. An odd thought occurred to her for a moment. If she reached through the bars, she could probably touch the blurred surface. A quick way to lose a hoof. “Tad risky, don’cha think?”

“We don’t have much of a choice,” Glen muttered. “Everything we do contains risk. What we need to do is make sure the end goal is worth it.”

“And what ‘bout this?” The elevator rocked slightly. A soft squeak could be heard from Idared. “Is what we’re doin’ today worth it?”

“Let’s hope so.”

Feeling the elevator decelerate, Applejack returned her vision to the view, or what was left of it. The mine buildings dominated her vision, cut only by the road that led through the centre, leading to the distant Armistice Hall. A perfect piece of symmetry in the otherwise chaotic facility. From this distance the source of the buildings’ gloomy appearance was apparent. Large, misshapen bricks had been used to construct them, all of the darkest shade of grey. The workers could be seen between these buildings, all earth ponies. Their original coat colours were impossible to discern, covered by thick layers of dirt and coal dust. They were either pulling some heavy load, or looked as if they’d just completed such a task, their bodies slick with sweat. Stationed at various points were armoured pegasi, their hidden eyes watching the earth ponies toiling. While most stood motionless, from the corner of her eye Applejack spotted one striking out, its target hidden by a wall. In another alley, an earth pony lay in the mud, blood seeping from his leg, trapped by a toppled container of rocks. One pony, a dark scar on her cheek, stopped between the buildings, pausing in her struggle with a loaded cart to notice the elevator descending. Her eyes met Applejack’s, and for the briefest of moments the farm pony felt the sadness and heart wrenching resignation the wide grey eyes revealed to her.

Then, as the elevator reached its destination, the worker turned away, and the moment ended.

“Glen,” Idared whispered, “this i-”

“Focus.” The northern cage doors were unlatched and opened, and Glen motioned his companions out. “We’re here for one job, and one job only.” His voice was like steel.

Following Glen out, Applejack stepped onto a raised wooden platform. Two pegasi stood at either side. Shining gave them quick glances, but no other motion was made as the party descended the stairs leading to the main thoroughfare. More pegasi lined the sides of the road. Dozens of them, equidistantly positioned, from the elevator platform all the way to the distant hall. Pausing for the longest second, Glen began the march, followed swiftly by Shining and Idared. Gulping, the sound horrendously loud to her ears, Applejack brought up the rear.

The eyes of the pegasi bore into her. While unable to see them, she could certainly feel them, waiting for that tiny mistake to give her simple ruse away. The bandanna scratched horribly at her neck, but she resisted the urge to stop to itch. The sounds of labour seemed distant and quiet compared to the heavy pounding of hooves on gravel. The faint hint of a breeze rustled her tense fur, the only respite in the otherwise boiling air. The road was raised a meter or so above the surrounding mine, giving her little view below the sea of buildings.

Applejack’s heavy breathing caught a gasp of dusty air, causing her to break the uneasy calm with a spluttering cough. Glen and Shining’s ears twitched, while Idared almost fell over in shock. Not a single pegasus moved an inch.

Reaching the end of the road, they paused at the large glass doors. As Glen sorted through the papers, Applejack attempted to return her breathing to normal. Idared, having recovered, shot her a glare. Applejack shrugged bashfully.

“Here,” Glen mumbled, holding a sheet up in his mouth. There were two more pegasi standing either side of the entrance, as motionless as their ilk. Glen, however, wasn’t facing them. He displayed the paper to a spot just above the doors. Applejack turned, taking one last look at the omnipresent cliff face behind them, suspending the offices high above the suffering earth ponies below. It didn’t take much to see the effect they were going for. Monsters.

Distracted, Applejack was taken by surprise as a blast of cool air struck her. The door had opened, its air conditioned interior beckoning her inside. Following the others before the doors shut her out, Applejack took in her luxurious surroundings. While almost identical décor to the cliffside offices they had just left, the size of this lobby gave it a much more calming mood, with soft light bathing the ponies from the tinted windows. In the centre sat a short, curved counter, the only furniture of note. It was a reflective metal colour, clashing greatly with the stonework it sat upon. Proudly displayed on its front panel was the flag of Equestria, with its distinctive sun and star. At either side, large fountains gave the room a sleep inducing background noise. It was a surprise that the grey pegasus behind the counter was able to work as fast as he was, the tapping of his hooves given a slight echo. An opaque back wall behind him was painted a red, sandy colour, made to resemble the stone outside. More double doors were situated below yet another gigantic flag. Applejack really didn’t need the constant reminder, especially with the lack of Luna’s moon, and the disturbing inclusion of Twilight’s star.

“Hey, welcome. Come on over. I think they’re nearly ready for you.” The pegasus behind the counter motioned at the group. “This came as a bit of a shock to my desk. Wasn’t expecting a meeting today.” He was talking at a mile a minute. “Just making sure I’ve got all the info covered. Can’t be too careful. Griffons, y’know. So you’re, uh, Glenlivid, right?”

The earth pony’s mouth tightened as the four of them trotted over. “Glenlivet.”

“Right, right. Livet. Aren’t we all living it right now, huh? Wouldn’t say living it up. Been months since I’ve been home to see my kids.” Just able to see over the desk, Applejack watched as the pegasus dexterously moved its hooves over the keyboard in front of it. “Just the way it goes, I suppose. Hard times for all.” Applejack almost wanted to point out the injustice happening just outside the glass walls, and how easy this pegasus must have it. “Huh, says your meeting is for Stallionbucks. Celestia, I could do with one of those. The coffee they serve here, let me tell you-”

“Yeah, that’s, uh. How long do you think it’ll be?”

“Shouldn’t be too long. They’re probably- oh, wait. They’ve already buzzed you in. I tell you, it’s just one of those days. Must have left my head at the compound this morning.” He chuckled quietly to himself. No one else even smiled. “Just head on through the door behind me. It’ll shut behind you. Just go up the stairs to the meeting room doors and I’ll let you in. Security issues, all this stopping and starting. Right pain in my butt.” Right on time, the doors directly behind him slid open, presumably using the same system as the main entrance. “Oh, but the filly’s going to have to stay in here. There’s age restrictions for the meeting room. More security issues.”

The two stallions glanced at each other. “I’ll stay here,” Shining muttered. “You take, uh, Honey…”

“Honeycrisp.”

“Yeah, you take her in. I’ll keep an eye on Idared.”

Glenlivet motioned to Applejack. “Keep two, trust me. Don’t let her do anything she considers fun.” Idared had already started trotting towards a fountain.

“Will do. Good luck. And you-” Shining looked directly at Applejack. “…It was good to meet you.”

“Likewise.” Applejack nodded her head, a slight smile on her lips, before following Glen.

Passing though the indicated opening, Applejack found herself climbing a brightly lit set of stairs. Small lights set in the glossy metal below her hooves kept her eyes up and ahead. The walls were a deep black, giving Applejack the impression she was walking through space, stars shining below her. After not too long the stairs levelled out, and the two of them stopped before another closed set of doors.

“This’ll be it. You feeling okay?”

“Yeah, thinkin’ I am. You askin’ ain’t really helpin’ though. Neither are these stairs. Feels like I’m climbin’ to my judgement.”

“Right, right. Sorry.” Glen coughed, a slight edge of nerves in his voice. “Just let me do the talking. You’re here as my backup, just to make sure I’m not appearing alone. Nothing bad will happen though. They tend to, uh, bring a little more than one extra griffon, but don’t worry. There’s no real competition.”

“You don’t see it as a competition of wills or somethin’? A diplomatic fight?”

Applejack glanced over as Glen didn’t reply instantly. He looked on edge. “Well… I guess now I do. Cheers.”

Before Applejack could respond, the doors slid aside.

Standing in the centre of the room, was what Applejack assumed was a griffon. It had the same eagle’s head as Applejack knew, the same claws on the front paws. The body was that of a lion’s, with two wings folded up against it. But it definitely wasn’t any griffon the pony had seen before.

It towered above the ponies, easy twice as tall as Glen. Its claws seemed uncomfortably long, hooked for catching prey, and ending in razor sharp points. What looked like scales ran up its front legs, a few protruding larger than the others at the creature’s joints, petering out to short fur at its shoulders. Its muscular frame looked wider and more solid that what Applejack had expected. Its fur grew longer before the back legs, and from this burst its tail. A snaking, scorpion stinger, tipped with a sharp, curved needle, dripping with venom. Its wings were of a bat’s, leathery and clawed, the same colour as the fur. They looked absolutely massive, even folded up against the beast’s back. A huge ruff of hair surrounded its head, and had been braided to include various objects, including small bird skulls. Its eyes were not of an eagle or a lion. They were jet black, focussing on nothing and everything. The rest of its face was much flatter, and a dirty white, looking like a mix of a barn owl and a nightmarish theatre mask. Its beak, however, stuck out much further from the face. It was long and crooked, the edges serrated like a saw. It looked capable of crushing a pony’s neck in a single bite.

And it wasn’t alone. Surrounding it were six more of these creatures, all as imposing as the last. One was completely missing its eye, another had a hideous scar over its face. One near the end had a large rat braided into its hair, occasionally twitching as if still clinging to life. The griffon in the centre had a unique ring of red feathers surrounding its face. Whatever had happened to griffons, it hadn’t been pretty. There was most likely manticore in their DNA, but there had to be more creatures still in their genetic code. That, or they had adapted very quickly to whatever changes had affected them.

Glen stepped out the corridor to face them, and Applejack meekly followed. The room was empty, with a simple metal floor. The side walls and ceiling were, once again, tinted glass. The griffon was quick to speak first.

“Earth Pony. It has been a while since we have seen the likes of your kind.” The accent was a mess. A little bit of griffon, and a whole lot of guttural noises. It seemed to rumble in the air. Applejack’s fur stood on end. “We hear you are one who is represented by the Firefly. One who speaks no Griffon. We are not surprised. I am known as Timurhan. In your language it is butchered, so that is how you will call me.”

“Greetings, Tumurhan. I come on behalf of Firefly, yes, but I do not come to repeat her actions.” To them, Glen may have sounded confident, but to Applejack his voice was laced with fear and worry. “My name is Glenlivet, and I seek to repair our relations. We have a common goal, the end to Chancellor Sparkle’s regime. I believe it would be wise for us-”

“Yes,” the griffon interrupted. “We know why you come to us, Glenlivet. We know you still feel the pain of the Sparkle’s rule. We stood with you before, and were repaid with insults and little else. Why should we, a nation untouched by the Sparkle, let history repeat?”

“But you are not untouched.” Glen had quickly calmed down, gathering himself. “She limits your trade routes and prevents the growth of your nation. Every moment she rules is another moment she cripples your potential, and eventually she will seek to restart the conflict that divided us. You must know this.”

Timurhan stepped forward, his voice rising. Applejack took a small step back as Glen’s tail twitched. “We know, pony. These are simple facts. And when the Sparkle comes for griffon lands, she will find her army crushed, her nation burnt, and her head missing from her body. You must know this.”

“That- that-” Glen stumbled. Did he know the griffon was speaking the truth? How did this get off to such a bad start? “While that may be possible, many griffons will still die. The spells she wields are powerful, and your people has seen them before. Maybe, if we just took a moment to discuss the possible options for our groups, we can-”

“I have seen these spells before. My hometown was destroyed by your kind in my fourth summer. My parents taken in the final weeks of war. And yet here I stay, longest ambassador to your nation. Your spells do not scare me. They do not scare a griffon alive. They only scare your Firefly.”

“It’s… it’s not my nation. It’s not my spells. Those abominations are the reason we come to you for aid. Think about it this way; if you help us now, there will still be ponies remaining to construct a new, peaceful nation. We will help each other flourish with our combined talents. Together, with your might, and our knowledge of the pegasus army and Sparkle’s tactics, there will be little stopping us from victory. We all benefit.”

Timurhan sighed, his terrifying aura relaxing for a moment. “You speak true, Glenlivet, and we too wish it were that easy. We cannot forgive an insult that easily though. You come to us with new promises. Were the old promises not true? Are these too a lie? We cannot know.” Glen looked to respond, but the expression the griffon gave him convinced him to stay silent. “We had hoped this meeting were different. We had hoped the Firefly would attend. It seems we were mistaken. We wish you luck, but please… do not contact us aga-”

“Wait! Y’all makin’ a mistake!” Oh Celestia. Was that Applejack’s voice? It was so high pitched and weak. Glen’s mouth slowly opened in shock, while the griffon lazily turned his head to spy the new speaker. “Beggin’ yer pardon, but this meetin’ just started. That can’t be it.”

Instead of swooping down and taking her life with one flash of his claws, as Applejack had half expected, Timurhan slowly spoke. “And who are you, little one?”

“Name’s Applejack.” This wasn’t the time for codenames or any other nonsense. “And I understand ya, I do. I’ve been a friend of Firefly’s for a hellofa long time, and she’s a complete pain in the butt. She never thinks of nopony else till her own needs are taken care of. She sticks her hoof in her mouth and says whatever’s on her mind before thinkin’ it through. I’m with you on this. If I had to be in a meetin’ with her like this, I’d be throwin’ her from the window before she got a sentence out.

“But that’s the thing. She’d just fly right back in and say it again.” Applejack took a few steps forward, positioning herself in front of Glen and staring directly at Timurhan. “She’ll reword it, retry it, and keep trying until she gets it perfect. She ain’t one to ever give up when it comes to important things, and her heart’s in a real good place. She don’t care ‘bout just ponies. Her closest friend when she was a filly was a griffon. She cares about the survival and happiness of all creatures.

“All I said, that’s what she’s doin’ now. If she came again I’m bettin’ you she’d just mess it up like she did before. That’s why we’re here instead. She’s sorry ‘bout what happened last time, and it was never her intention to insult you, but she wants to make it right. She wants to make sure both our species get the benefits we deserve. These promises will be kept because that’s the kind of pony she is. I swear to you.” Applejack had no idea what had happened last time. She just hoped what she said would fit. Oh, and that the griffon’s wouldn’t devour her for that explosive outburst.

“You swear, pony?” Timurhan’s voice was slow, careful. The complete opposite of Applejack. “The Firefly you hold so highly. Do you swear with your life she will stick to her end of the deal? She will make up for past errors? Would your trust remain if your life was the punishment?”

“Of course.” Applejack didn’t even pause. “I trust her no matter what.” She trusted all her closest friends. Even Twilight.

“Hmm.” Timurhan turned to face his fellow griffons, then back to the ponies. “Glenlivet. This pony is a better speaker than you. It is shameful. Ponies are not ones to sacrifice themselves needlessly. We believe she speaks true.”

“You… you do?” Applejack couldn’t help the words fall out her mouth.

“Yes, little one. The ponies will get the aid they need, in return for you.”

“Wait, hold on.” Glen finally spoke up. “What do you mean?”

Timurhan cocked his head. “Is it not clear? We wish to take the Applejack with us, and keep her in custody. If the Firefly were to break her promises a second time, we would have the Applejack executed.”

Ah. Right. Of course.

“Now hold on a second! She’s not actu-”

“It… it should be fine, Glen,” Applejack put a hoof on his shoulder before he said something stupid. “If that’s what it takes, I’m sure I can manage it. I’m not a lot of help to Firefly anyway, and I meant every word that I said.” she gave the older pony a worried look. “I mean, if it’s the only way. The resistance needs the griffons, right?” It pained her to think it, but it was clear this was the best way she could help the resistance. When Twilight loses the war, and is captured, she’d be able to talk to her then.

“Look, don’t go jumping at things like this. Let’s look at all our options.” Glen frowned, and looked up at Timurhan. “How long will she have to stay?”

“We will only hold her for the needed time.” The griffon was taking a few steps back, giving the ponies some space to talk. “If the Firefly is quick with her promises, then you will have a short stay at our capital, little one.”

“See?” Applejack smiled at Glen. A shadow passed over the stallion’s face as he lowered his head to the pony. “You just gotta make sure Firefly don’t chase her own tail. Keep her on track, y’know? Oh, and make sure you keep Sparkle alive so I can, uh, maybe get home.”

“Now that I can’t promise. Anything could happen.” Another quick shadow passed over his motionless head. Was that a trick of the light? “I’d really prefer it if we were able to return to her and discuss this first.”

As Glenlivet turned his attention to Timurhan, Applejack found herself ignoring his words, instead casting her eyes over the windows. Were there clouds out there? They said there wouldn’t be a dust storm, but maybe it was gathering. As long as they were inside, it was fine, right? But what about all those earth ponies working in the mine? She doubted their safety was top priority.

Just as she was giving up, eyes growing tired of the bright light, it happened again. The sun seemed to blink. Would a griffon be large enough to block out the entire sun like that? She hadn’t seen any flying around earlier. There was no way she was going to make out what it was in any case. The thing kept itself directly in the path of the sun. That couldn’t be a coincidence.

“-but only three days. We will not be kept waiting forever.” Timurhan and Glen had seemed to come to an agreement on something.

“Hey, uh, I think…” Applejack squinted. She couldn’t keep looking forever. “I think there’s, um, maybe something-”

“Three days should be all we need. Firefly’ll hear your demands, and if they’re met, we’ll return with Applejack.”

“Hey, y’all!” She finally pulled her eyes from the sun, glaring at the surrounding company finally taking notice. “I think there’s maybe something out the-”

With a thunderous slam, the door behind the griffon’s burst open, the entire mechanical piece falling to the ground. A griffon crashed through the newly made entrance, coming to a stumbling halt, its eyes wide. It glanced around the room to locate the ambassador.

“Jun qien! Aryee khar laou!”

With the newcomer’s shout, all the griffons instantly looked to the sky, a few unfurling their wings. Their hair and feathers rose, and there was a chorus of squawks and growls. The ambassador barked orders in their language, and the distressed griffon left as quickly as it had come. Then, as if remembering they existed, he turned to the bemused ponies.

“Separatists.” He narrowed his eyes. “You must run. Then have a -”

Applejack didn’t have to wait long to discover the end of that sentence. With the sound of rending metal, a shower of broken glass, and the heat of a sudden inferno, the roof collapsed in. A mighty roar, like a rumbling earthquake combined with screeching violins and cracking of thunder, sent Applejack reeling. Turning to the source, Applejack found herself faced with a row of enormous, glistening teeth. A dragon. There was no mistaking this creature with its jet black scales, its body longer then the building, its wicked eyes scanning the room. Movement flickered at the corners of her eyes, but she was frozen in fear, vision locked on her impending death. The dragon’s claws were grasping the crumbling walls, tearing more metal and plaster from the brick foundation, its tail swinging in and out of sight. With a hiss, the smoke wafting from its nostrils was sucked deep inside the wurm.

Applejack knew exactly what was coming.

Its mouth opened wide, blasting the room with heat. The pony shut her eyes, the sting of the intense temperature proving too much to take. It took barely a second, but she could feel her fur pull towards the dragon as the air fluctuated. Her ears rung. Daring a peek, she saw it. The bubbling glow of orange light coming from its belly, directed at the room. At her. She needed to move.

With all her willpower, she took a single step back.

Unimaginable pain jolted through her like lightning. Her eyes snapped shut. Her senses, overloaded, shut down.

I wasn’t ready…

Her world turned white. Then black.