"I. Am. Crimson. Hammer."

His voice echoed around the now silent doughnut shop.

This silence was broken a moment later when Pinkie Pie happened, "What! You can't be him, silly, you're you!"

Another moment of silence was observed.

"As ineloquent as Pinkie put it, she is right. You cannot be him, simply because he is a pony, while you are… you." Said Rarity

"I went into the Everfree Forest to visit Zecora, after your disastrous PT exercises. I came across a damnable plant called Poison Joke; I've told you all about this." The ponies nodded, "Well, as it turned out; the plant took away from me 3 very, very important things to me: my memory, my human form, and my magic. That is why I couldn't change back even after I had regained my memory with Twilight Sparkle's help; I had no magic to complete the spell, so I had to go to Zecora to find a cure. It took Zecora some time to finish her potion, so I just wandered around Ponyville for a week."

"Do you have any proof?"

"Hold on."

The Forgemaster focused his magic, and altered his form just as he had the first time he had been in Ponyville. He changed his form into the form of a pony. As the spell subsided, he looked exactly as Crimson Hammer had; only this time he also had a horn.

Crimson Hammer stood fully enfleshed in front of the 'Elements' and Princess Celestia, as an alicorn. He looked the exact same as he had when he was 'Crimson Hammer' only he now had a horn, and several more scars.

"See? I wasn't lying, I rarely do."

"What about that lie that you said Crimson had to go visit his sister in the hospital!" Rainbow Dash asked, extremely angry.

"I said I rarely lie, not that I don't lie at all." The Forgemaster replied, shifting on his hooves. "I just wanted to know who you 6 really were. Not the act you put on just because I was different. I wanted to know how you would feel about me if I were a pony. Truly; the results… startled me. Two of you fell in love with me, or thought they did, Fluttershy was afraid and angry with me, Applejack seemed to notice something was off about me, Pinkie Pie didn't get to throw me a party, you all thought I was a fugitive for a moment, and Rarity thought I was a complete gentle 'colt'. It kind of makes you think just exactly how our outward appearance affects how you feel about another."

No one in 'ye olde doughnut shoppe' said anything for a moment, knowing every word he said was true; they had treated him different as a pony. Mostly, there was glaring and staring going on in equal measure. Only The Forgemaster noticed the shadow listening in from outside the window.

"To be honest; I dropped some pretty large hints. For instance: we are blood brothers, therefore we share the same blood, we met in the Everfree Forest, I had been transformed there, we share the same thoughts, we have 2 bodies but 1 soul, we are, and I quote, 'practically the same guy'."

He said the last sentence while looking directly at Rainbow Dash.

None of the mares, or Spike, for that matter, had anything to say.

The Forgemaster released the hold he had on his magic, and his form shifted back to a human's. Twilight was absolutely brimming with curiosity, more questions for The Forgemaster, then. Yippee. The Forgemaster looked at Rainbow Dash with something akin to pity in his eyes.

"Rainbow Dash, if it's any consolation: I know nothing of how to tell whether or not a mare is attractive. If we were ever together; it was because I liked your personality, not your body." He paused for a moment, and then looked towards Celestia, "Which brings me to a question I've been dying to ask. Celestia; did you know that when your little ponies are in the midst of love-making, they scream out your name?"

The sudden and complete look of embarrassment that came over Celestia's face was enough to send The Forgemaster into a laughing coma. A laugh so loud and deep that it rattled the bones of all ponies within a 75 feet radius; that is the kind of laugh The Forgemaster did at that moment. He laughed for a full minute and a half, before calming down enough to be able to speak, though not without giggling.

'Oh, gods! That was the funniest face I've ever seen anything ever do, ever!' He thought, giggling like a mad man on the outside.

He was on his hands and knees, desperately trying to breath. Unable to stand or look up, he said while facing the ground, "Hey, Celestia, if you ever find yourself in a situation with an annoying male. Just say, 'Your marefriend screams my name, not yours.' BWAHAHA!"

He started to laugh even harder than before.

In the face of this admittedly hilarious series of circumstances, the rest of the ponies, even Celestia, began to laugh along with him.

After a few minutes of more laughing, and even more sex jokes, The Forgemaster felt as though he were off the hook with the 'Elements', they had clearly put it past them already, or so he hoped. Then he recalled something very important, and reached out with his magic to find the answer. What he found did not surprise him. A very problematic, confused, amused, and soon-to-be-terrified spy.

He reached out towards the shadow with magic, and pulled it through the window, scaring all of the occupants of the doughnut bar. As the shadow met with the light of the shop, it became clear what it was.

A griffon.

Or, to be more specific, a griffon spy that had been listening in on the conversation going on inside the shop. The griffon kingdom had evidently 'tried something', just as Celestia had warned at the Gala.

The Forgemaster drew his saber, and walked over to the stunned griffon. He stood above the male griffon and held his blade to his throat. The Forgemaster, easily dropping into good cop/bad cop mode, quickly established himself as the 'bad cop', and opened a psychic link with Celestia.

The stunned griffon opened his eyes, and took in an alarming situation for any spy. Which quickly turned to bat shit terrifying as the monstrosity holding a sword to his throat spoke in a demonic tone of voice that brokered no sympathy, or pity.

"We are going to play a game. I'm going to ask you some questions, if I like the answer, you live longer. If I don't like the answer, something that you are very, very attached to will be cut off. First question; who sent you?"

The griffon's scattered thoughts were unable to come up with a coherent response, "Er, I, well… uh, you see."

The monster said, "I did not like that answer."

He raised his arm to strike, asking Celestia telepathically to stop him, and then lowered his arm at a blinding speed.

"Stop!" rang out the voice of one of the most beloved monarchs in all of the kingdoms.

The blade stopped an inch away from hitting the griffon at the base of his left wing. The griffon knew that such a blow would have easily taken it clean off.

"Yes, my liege."

The biped picked the griffon up and forcibly, and none too gently, threw him at the hooves of Princess Celestia. He then took up a position immediately behind the griffon, cutting off any chance of escape. The 6 mares in the room, only now getting over their shock at the sudden appearance and violence, took up similar positions behind and to the sides of Celestia.

"Please tell me your name, young griffon." Celestia spoke in a tone that radiated warmth and kindness, but beneath her outer shell beats the cold, calculating heart of a predator slowly stalking its prey. Celestia does not take any attempt of another nation against Equestria easily.

The Forgemaster spoke before the griffon could. "Edward Blackclaw, son of William Blackclaw and Jenna Blackclaw. In service to King Denart, king of the griffons. Joined the Griffon army at age 18, joined central intelligence at age 20. Became top spy and some time assassin at age 23. Current squad leader in an attempt to gain information on Equestria, and, if possible, to assist in the re-settlement of the trade agreements signed decades ago in the griffons' favor. Squad mates: code names Shadow and Hawk. Hawk currently inside Canterlot Castle, instructed to be observing Princess Luna, Shadow currently outside Canterlot Castle, mapping royal Guard movements and recording shipments into and out of the city. Recommendation: immediate detention and use as a hostage in re-negotiation of trade agreements in the Equestrian Empire's favor."

The Forgemaster had gleaned all of this information from the griffon Edward's, mind, and made the recommendation on a psychic command from the princess. Edward didn't know that, and assumed the worst: they were compromised inside the agency! The Forgemaster's speech had suitably unnerved young Edward.

Celestia spoke, "Interesting. Now, my young griffon, I am going to give you 2 options. Number 1: you take your friends and leave Canterlot and Equestria immediately. Or number 2, we take you into custody and put you on trial for espionage. And then we find your friends and do the same. Now tell me, which option are you going to choose?"

Edward had never been so terrified in all of his life, the ponies and their… monster… held literally all of the cards, "Please, princess. I choose number 1, please let me go. Please let me go."

The Forgemaster lifted the griffon up by his left wing, causing a gasp of pain from the griffon, and got into his face.

"If I find you in Equestria again, I'll find a suitably horrific punishment. How does being banished to the molten core of this planet sound?"

Edward was scared, but his overwhelmingly glib personality took over for just one second, "Suitably horrific."

Edward immediately regretted his words, as The Forgemaster glared at him with the force of 1000 suns. But, then, something unexpected: the creature holding him by his wing smiled and laughed at him!

"You amuse me, youngling." He dropped Edward, and pointed towards the door, "Go now, find your friends and get out of Canterlot, before I let slip the dogs of war."

The group watched silently as the griffon scurried away from certain doom.

Celestia spoke, "You know, Forgemaster, we don't actually have any dogs of war to let slip."

He smiled at her, he was glad that her study of his memories hadn't been as in-depth as his had been of hers. He could actually use human idioms and have the joy of explaining them to ignorant individuals!

"It's a saying amongst my people, basically saying that we will declare war on you. In modern times, anyways. In olden times, when we actually had dogs of war, I assume the saying was completely literal."

"You had Diamond Dogs in your armies?" asked Twilight.

"No. Dogs and canines in general, in my homeland were genetically selected to be mankind's best friends. We evolved from plains nomads, hunters and gatherers, into farming, city-dwelling folk with the dogs right by our side, changing as we changed, growing as we grew. As nomads, the dogs were friendly wolves, as city-dwellers, the dogs were domesticated guardians and protectors. Mankind is simply not complete without the dog, and the dog is simply not complete without mankind. As best friends are wont to do, they fought by our sides, even on the fields of battle. Thus the saying, 'Let slip the dogs of war.'"

"Oh, wow! That's so interesting. I should be writing this down, where's my notepad!"

Twilight frantically searched around, desperate for a notepad. She squee'd in happiness when The Forgemaster withdrew one from his coat pocket, and offered it to her. It was one of 2 notepads he kept on his person at all times. One was blank, because just in case. And the other was chock full of interesting ideas for swords, weapons, armors, and fantastical war machines. It's always good to have a written plan, even if you cannot physically forget anything.

The Forgemaster was dreading the conversation he would eventually have with rainbow Dash, but it could wait until tomorrow.

"Rainbow Dash, I'll speak to you in private later, if you want to. Now then, does anyone else have any questions for me?"

wWwWwWw

2 hours later

Balcony Overlooking Canterlot

The Forgemaster walked out onto the balcony and found Celestia already there. He stood beside her and crossed his arms as he looked out across the city.

"Celestia, why do I get the feeling that completely humiliating their top agent will make the griffon king pissed?"

She sighed,"Because that is exactly what will happen, Forgemaster."

"So… War, then?"

"Maybe, Forgemaster, maybe."

He growled, "Equestria is not ready for war."

"I know."

"On the other hand, Edward and his cronies left Canterlot. I personally saw them off."

"Thank you for dealing with this matter."

"When one pledges oneself to an immortal, it is not without its trials."

They stood there in silence for several minutes. Each contemplating the events that transpired and the many possible futures that Equestria will face.

"So… Celestia, can I have a title?"

Celestia was confused, "Don't you already have a title?"

"Yes, but not a title that any noble in this city would ever respect."

"I never took you for one who would care what nobles thought."

"I would gladly throw them all into a volcano, then light the volcano on fire, than throw the volcano into the sea, and then boiling the sea around it before launching it into the sun. But, I would like something to hold over those ponies."

Celestia thought for a moment, "How about… Lord of Ponyville? You would be subject to govern the town and all of its surrounding lands."

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Call me a Duke and you've got yourself a deal."

Celestia chuckled and then said, "Deal. I hereby crown you Duke of Ponyville."

He bowed to Celestia, and said, "If I get a title every time I stop a few spies, I think I'll be taking quite a few more titles before this deal with the griffons is over with."

"Oh, I just remembered something. Luna wanted you to escort her around Equestria as she makes her rounds."

The Forgemaster held a fist to his chest, "Of course, I live to serve."