Spike looked up as heavy wingbeats shook the tree he was in.

"Hey, runty!" Gilda growled, coming to a stop. Her claws dug into the wood. "Where're the other twerps?"

"In the forest." Spike whimpered, pushing up against the trunk.

With a laugh, Gilda shot back into the air again, her rough takeoff bouncing Spike's branch for several minutes after she left.

"Twilight, do you hear that?" Rainbow Dash asked, cowering close to her friends. "It sounds like a roc or something."

"Am I taking that as an insult?!" Gilda pounced down from the sky, landing with her back to the dragon. His eyes narrowed. "Now, I heard one of our prisoners made it across the border. Everything around points to here. So where is it?"

"I am right here." The dragon lunged forwards, flipping Gilda over and pinning her belly-up. He looked like he was about to slash her open when Rarity pulled on his tail.

"There's no need. Something tells me you don't need a death on your claws."

He stepped off the Griffon, still glaring, and shuffled away under his rock. "Why are you helping it?"

"Why are you hunting him?" Rainbow Dash countered.

"Because he's a criminal! He killed five griffons!"

"They were attacking me for no reason!" The dragon growled. "You never take on something bigger than you, especially a dragon, if you don't have a reason! Those deaths are your own fault!"

"Both of you, please!" Fluttershy stepped between to two, wincing as Gilda growled. "There's no reason to be fighting!"

"Well, actually there i-" Twilight stuffed a hoof in Rainbow Dash's mouth before she could continue.

"Gilda, why don't you explain the reason for the attack? Maybe that'll clear things up..." Fluttershy whimpered and hid behind Twilight Sparkle as Gilda extended her claws. Twilight's horn flashed threateningly.

"We've been fighting the ponies for a while now. When a giant dragon flew over our ranks, of course we thought it was a weapon, so we attacked it. Then it killed our warriors!"

"I fought back!" The dragon hissed, tail flicking. "It's your fault!"

Gilda launched herself into the air as the dragon sent small bursts of flame at her. "This means war!"

Celestia shifted on her throne. Something bad was happening.

"Luna! Luna?" She called out, waiting for her sister to come cantering around the corner. When she didn't, panic edged further.

Getting to her hooves, she trotted to Luna's bedroom, her heart quickening even more at the sight of the open door. Ears flat back, she entered the room. Something fluttered off of the bed, and Celestia truly hoped it wasn't a ransom letter.

'I'm going to Ponyville for a vacation. Be back soon.'