So, Griffin, I guess what I'd like to ask, is why you act like that? Laughing and spouting nonsense I mean." Mind Mender asked.

"Well, I suppose it's a coping mechanism. The things I do are things that no sane person should ever do, or ever have to do. But I have to do them. I'm compelled to help people, and that means I have to bite the bullet on that one. Sure, when you look around, you can see the good I've done in the world, but that's an effect of me doing what others may consider to be an atrocity. You all may not get what I'm saying, but to me, it's hilarious given the context of what I'm doing. So yeah, I sing silly songs, and say one-liners and catch phrases, and spout nonsense, because it makes me laugh. And I have to keep laughing."

"Why?"

"Because considering what I've been through, as soon as I stop laughing, I'll start crying, and crying is for people who've given up."

After leaving the Crystal Empire, it was a couple day's flight still until I'd reach Ancientwell. I can hardly imagine what it would have been like to have to walk that, as the frozen ground was turning to slush and mud, which would make any travel on foot exceedingly difficult as well as painful given that frostbite would be a very real concern. So instead, I flew, leaving the mushy, hilly terrain far underneath. That's not to say the air was perfect. No. it was still horribly frigid, and only my thick winter coat and feathers kept me warm.

When I had traveled for about a day, I spotted something on the horizon, gleaming in the setting sun. Having a hunch as to what it might be, I flew towards it. It seems I was correct. There, tied down by ballistae with chains, which were unmanned, was the Possibility. It was open, and while the wrecked hulk of the Hornet lay nearby, with half rotten, half frozen corpses laying in a line beside it, there was no sign of a struggle around the flagship.

"Well, it seems surrendering worked."

Further investigating the scene, there was a large area that was devoid of the snow and slush, as though there had been a pile there, that was then moved. I entered the ship, and on investigation, I found that everything of value that wasn't nailed down or part of the ship, was gone. Most likely they took all the supplies that were on board, as well as anything of value. The laser cannon on the top deck, in particular, had been pulled up, and there was a long streak in the snow where it must have been dragged away, next to some prints, belonging to various species, but all distorted by the thaw. Not that I was a tracker by any degree. Even if the prints were immaculate, I wouldn't be able to tell if the ones who left them had departed three days ago, or five minutes. What it did tell me, however, is which way they went, and that's the important part.

I went back inside the ship and wandered through it's empty halls for some time. I could still remember the laughter that once echoed through here, the experiments and training we conducted, the meals we ate, the funerals we held. They were good times, but they were over. No sense dwelling on them. I went to my old room and as the sun set, I closed the door, had a bite to eat, and settled in to get some sleep. Luckily they hadn't ripped out the gem system, so I still had heating, and I slept comfortably.

I woke in the morning, and after eating the remainder of my rations, I pulled out something special I had been saving. A ruby, shining with an inner light that told me of it's charge. I took a deep breath, opened my mouth, and swallowed it. It hurt as it went down, scraping along my esophagus, and it sat like a... well, a rock in my stomach. It would be too big to pass through my system, not that I'd want to, and I'd have to have it removed once I got back to civilization. I know that most birds have gizzards, and they actually swallow rocks to help them break up the seeds and whatnot that they eat, but the stomach is in the lion half, and after a bit of research, I learned that I didn't have one. Which is unfortunate for me. Still, this was necessary, so I'd just have to put up with the pain and discomfort until I was able to implement my plan.

Taking flight again. I followed the tracks, and while the prints were pretty much gone by this point, the large skid mark from where the loot was dragged from my ship was still quite obvious. They hadn't bothered to cover their tracks at all, which made me think they wanted to be found, which further supported my hypothesis that it's me they're after.

I continued on my path till I found a large open area, cleared of snow. There was a lone mountain in the middle of the large plains area, with some kind of stonework building around the base. It didn't appear to be any kind of diamond dog construction, as on closer inspection, It seemed to be some form of ancient castle, built right into the rock. It had a number of holes in the walling, clearly for archers to shoot out of, and a number of great stone gates blocking entry into some kind of archway structure. Perhaps landing strips for flying troops, or an artillery platform, up away from the ground, but guarded against air assault as well.

The castle also had several bits that had clearly crumbled away from weathering the tides of time, as well as deep gashes that could have only been caused by war, but had been repaired, as there was newer looking stonework, a different colour than the rest, patching various locations. That means that the place was maintained. I landed to take a better look and pulled out my map. The location matched what the map had labeled as 'Ancientwell', the tracks lead right into one of the now closed gates of the fortress, but truly, the only way to be sure would be if... oh, wait, I'm trapped in a net. Yep, this is the right place!

Several dozen dogs in armor sprung out of the ground, each holding a tether to the chain net they had just wrapped around me. Several dozen more came when one of the stone archways opened it's gates, letting griffin riders fly out and point their laser rifles at me, while the ground dogs aimed bows and spears, all of which were of quality craftsmanship, as compared to the 'do it yourself' gear I've seen some of the less advanced clans using. That means they have, at minimum, a patronage or guild system for passing on skilled trades. They might even have standardized education.

"Oh.. uh, hi guys..."

"Shut up!" One of them, likely a commander due to his larger size, commanded as he poked me lightly with a giant steel spear.

"What?"

"Don't say another word! We know all about your magic. Just keep your mouth shut, no tricks." Well, I didn't want to get impaled, so I did as he said. He walked up and tightly tied a cloth around my beak, then around the back of my head, so I couldn't open my mouth. He didn't make me walk, rather, they tossed my tied up body on a sled and dragged me inside before sealing the door shut. Once inside, the leader of this particular group opened a vial and waved it around in front of my face. As he did, I felt myself becoming fatigued. My vision went hazy, and all sounds became blurred before I fell asleep.

This, of course, had been a calculated risk. I was almost certain that they wouldn't just up an kill me after having gone through such effort to capture me, which is why I let myself be captured in the first place. In fact, my entire plan hinged upon being caught, and not being executed instead. That's part of why I had Chrysalis send her changelings in, to improve my odds of survival.

When I awoke, I found myself in a large, circular chamber, which was quite lavishly furnished. Silk rugs, red carpet, gold chandeliers, all that jazz. I was of course, still tied up, and while my beak was no longer clamped shut, I was missing my pack, my prosthetic wing, and my amulet, as well as any other gems I had on me, with the exception of the one I had swallowed. After all, I knew if I was captured, they'd try to take away my means of using magic, so that's why hiding a gem inside my body was necessary.

I was, at the very least, allowed to rest. I was set on a rather comfortable pillow, though I still had chains tied around all my limbs and secured to the floor, the cuffs that actually held me were padded, and I was able to turn my head and look around. There was a hole under me with a steel bucket, obviously for 'waste disposal' so they wouldn't have to untie me. This right away told me that they intended to keep me here for some time.

As for who 'they' are, I spotted two distinct figures. One, was an earth green unicorn stallion, who intentionally kept his cutie mark hidden under a cape, and the other was, to my surprise, a red fox, of course diamond dog style, with razor sharp teeth and cruel looking eyes, long, slender legs, a moderate bust, all wrapped up in a tight, form fitting garb that could only be described as 'regal'. Black satin, with gold hem, and inlays set in a kind of vine pattern. If she didn't look like she went around ripping throats out with her teeth, I'd say she was gorgeous, silky fur, fluffy tail and all that.

"Well well, look who woke up. I hope you're comfortable." The pony spoke with a hint of cruelty in his voice. "You and your little crew have caused quite a bit of trouble for me, but that's all at an end."

"And... you are?" I asked obliviously.

"Oh no, do you think I'd give you so much as my name? Let me guess, you expect to escape from this place and report me to the authorities? Despite the security here, diamond dogs have proven... incapable, of dealing with you in the past, and I really don't like taking chances, which is why as soon as I heard from my spy that your crew raided Earth Scar and made off with sensitive documents, the kind that could find me in prison or at a gallows, I fled the country. And just in time too. One of the servants at my estate has informed me that my estate was raided by the guard, mere hours after I left. Your little whore Gilda magic-mailed my slave trade records."

He stood there for a moment, waiting to see my reaction at his badmouthing. I didn't bite, so he continued.

"Well, I lost everything in Equestria, but, that's okay. It's given me a chance to make a new start. You know what your little revolution has taught me? It's taught me that it's really not all that hard to take over the world. Just get a bit of a following, a couple secrets, a promise of a better tomorrow, and you'll have half the planet eating out of your hoof. So, I came here. I've been selling all that gem magic to Ancientwell for a while now, helping them advance their already considerable military. All that's left is you." He sneered.

"Man, you REALLY love to talk. Oh yes, this is the part where the villain has the hero in chains, and he gloats, revealing his plan."

"Ha...hahahaha. That's right! I've worked hard for this, I deserve some time to gloat. After all, this isn't going to be like in those fairy tails, you see, rather than making a daring escape, and, with knowledge of the villain's plan, thwarting it, you're going to die here. In chains. With the rest of your crew. I'm inviting the leaders of all the remaining clans here, those who aren't under the banner of Marble Pillars, or that blasted Nanashi clan and their wolf. I'm going to kill your crew members, one at a time, right in front of you, until your will has been shattered, and then? When the clans arrive? I'll make a showing of it. I'll put you out there, in front of them, sobbing over your dead 'family'," He grabbed my head and looked me dead in the eye. "...and then I'll kill you."

I couldn't help but laugh at this.

"What do you find so funny!?"

"Well Mister Hitler, you do realize that once you kill me, every dog and their grandma will be after your head right? Do you really have what it takes to live like that? Sleeping with one eye open? Knowing that around every turn, someone is going to try and kill you?"

"They'll bow down! I will have slain the great and mighty Griffin North!"

"In a public execution, after he was chained by REAL warriors. They're going to look at you and think 'THIS guy is the strongest?' and the first thing they're gonna do is rip your head off because they want to be the next 'top dog' and then there'll just be a massive bloodbath as the leaders from all the clans compete to become the head of the next global power. Sure, you'll have all the remaining diamond dogs under one banner, but it won't be yours."

"Shut up!" He punched me in the face with his hoof. "What you're forgetting is that I have magic. All those spells you so conveniently came up with? Fia and her clan have access to them. That's what'll set us apart from the rest of the rabble. Isn't that right?" He stroked her chin with his hoof. She smirked at him, with that same, hate filled glare which he apparently didn't notice, at he was too busy looking at her with a lustful gaze. As the pair began to walk away, I decided to try one last thing.

"Last chance. Let me and my family go."

"Bah! Or else what?" Came his mocking reply.

"Or else I'll burn everything."

"Big talk for somepony in chains. You're in no position to make threats."

"I'll remember you said that when your head is on a pike."

"Whatever. Fia, start bringing them in. I want him crushed before the day is over." She nodded, then looked back at me with a gaze that... I couldn't exactly tell what was in it. It wasn't malice, or bloodlust, like when she looked at him. It was something... different. Remorse? Fear? It was something.

'Fifty bits says she stabs him in the back.'

Author's Notes:

He's EVIL! EEEEEEVIIIIIL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cONmzaT4x10