The Eriborian arrived with the four best Crimson Roses he had in the organization. All of them wore the animal masks which concealed their real face and the signature Spell-Sword like Armour. The tattoo was easily present as well. The sun was starting to set as Venquis looked around for this abomination. It did not take long to find, considering it was a giant Griffon who was more of a mutant that a proud griffon. While their masks removed their expression, the Roses were clearly disgusted at the scene. The Griffon was four times the size of the average griffon and wore a suit of a darkened metal, possibly steel or possibly even stronger. The claws were strengthened and were turned into steel. The helmet appeared demonic and completely hid the Griffons head, only an extremely reinforced plane of glass was visible and appeared to glow at night. Its wings were reinforced with wingblades and the creatures very bones appeared to have been strengthened through countless experiments by Equestrian scientists. Unlike a normal Griffon, the figure had no feathers and had a yellowish skin which, according to reports, is extremely tough and swords have been known to shatter on contact with it. The figure was heading directly towards Venquis and the Roses, who were currently unarmed. It was also immune to most magic. “You've gotten a lot farther than you should have, but then you haven't met Jaquel Razorclaw either. The finest instrument of warfare that Equestria has ever produced. Time to die.” The griffon said in a very deep and almost robotic voice. He held an enormous claymore the size of a car in his claw as he began to fly into the sky. “A brainwashed mutant who serves a tyrannical queen who threatens innocents with world domination and commits genocides? What will she come up with next? " Said one of the Crimson Roses, this caused Venquis and the other Roses to laugh while they drew their weapons. “My name is Venquis Razona and i'm the Eriborian of Ardelan and Windaria of the Ryborians. Any last words?"
"...I still cannot fathom how Nightshade could have managed this. I fear for your sanity, my knight." Nightmare Moon had listened to Silver's story with disbelief. Ghosts were not unheard of in Equestria, but Nightshade seemed somehow... different. Unlike most spirits, who usually went mad, she still retained her self-awareness. Such a thing was simply impossible It wasn't until Nightshade appeared to inform Silver that the Ryborians were just over the next hill that the Dark Princess realized that Silver was not crazy. He had been telling her the truth. As she stared in shocked silence at the ethereal form of Silver's daughter, Nightshade herself was pointing excitedly towards the road ahead. "C'mon, hurry! You don't want the Ryborians to steal the fun, do you?" As Venquis and the Roses came into sight, Silver looked over the team of rookies that had come with him. Two Griffins, a Pegasus, a Diamond Dog, a Unicorn, and a Changeling. He hoped that they were up to the challenge. The Griffon-thing that stood before Venquis was huge.
Star was only beginning to process Jack's words before Yclept woke up and the two shared a much-needed embrace. The kiss was a nice addition as well. When Crimson came in and informed the two of Venquis' whereabouts, Star leaned on a forehoof and smirked, "You sure have a strange idea of what a date should be..." She cast a loving glance toward Yclept, then added, "Ah wel, no rest for the wicked, I suppose..." She took the clear orb and pushed to toward Yclept. "One of the doctors said to give this to you." She could only assume it was a doctor, anyway, as she was still a little groggy from having just had her psyche restored...
Yclept chuckled softly, then looked at the orb, raising an eyebrow, then took it into his possession, placing it within his cloak,"did they tell you what it does?"
The huge Griffon flew into the air slowly and attacked downwards with his enormous greatsword, which the Roses dodged easily. Razorclaw then started an intense battle with Venquis and his roses, both of them pitted in a fight to the death. The sheer strength and endurance of the mutant griffon proved a match for the Roses speed and magic abilities. After what felt like forever, the Night Guards showed up with Princess Luna. To their surprise, the Roses have delt enormous damage to the creature. The mutant was immune to most Equestrian magic, Venquis and his Roses were not Equestrian however. “Back up has arrived my lord.” Said Q, one of Venquis Crimson Roses. The Roses have been using fire spells to literally fry the Griffon alive inside of his armor, and it had been working. The armor he was using had began to melt. “Excellent, the Night Guards have arrived.” Venquis said, noticing behind him. He was surprised by the appearance of Princess Luna, but guessed that she was curious. Venquis then began to power up as he unleashed a tsunami of hellfire at the figure, who was taken off guard by the Roses. The fire swept over the creature as he began to scream in pain. He was then hidden from view by smoke from the wave. When he reappeared again however, Venquis and the Roses looked in disgust at this beast’s true appearance. Everything below his waist was melted, revealing the upper half of his body. His feathers have rotted away to reveal a yellowish skin. Blisters and a wide list of disgusting and disastrous effects of his experimentation have appeared all over his skin, but what most terrifying was his face. He had jaggered animal like teeth and his entire face appeared to have been ripped off to the muscle and bone, having a skeleton like appearance. His bones pushed through his muscles as he howled in anger at his enemies. “Oh Goddess....” Venquis muttered quietly.
Silver looked at the abomination with disgust. "This, rookies, is what we are up against. Do not let the old stories of the kind and gentle Princess of the Sun fool you. That Celestia is long gone. The Phoenix Queen, much like this creature, is twisted and corrupted beyond redemption." Silver flew towards the creature, swords drawn. "Looks like I missed the fun, Venquis. This... thing... doesn't seem to have much fight left in it. It's your call, Ryborian. Kill or capture?"
“Kill, but let’s see if we can squeeze some information out of this creature before we finish it off.” Venquis told Silver as his Spell-Sword lit up. “I’ll weaken it; you can try and finish it off if you wish to do so, unless you want us to do the deed.” Venquis and his Roses then launched themselves from the grass plain, covering fifty meters a second. The Creature swung his blade outwards to stop their advance. But Venquis jumped onto the sword at the right moment and then ran up the blade and began to slash at the mutant. The mutant screamed like a banshee in anger as he tried to attack the Ryborian, missing every time. The roses were busy immobilizing the mutant, restraining his back legs and made the creature stand up upright. Venquis then kick pushed off the mutant and landed on the ground again. His hoof began to glow as he charged and slammed his hoof into his chest, dramatically weakening the beast. “Silver, you want to finish things off here?”
Silver plunged his enchanted blades deep into the creature's skull, narrowly avoiding being torn apart by the gnashing teeth and razor-sharp claws. The initial strike, more than enough to kill any normal creature, seemed only to make it angrier. Silver flew circles around the creature, taunting it and drawing it's attacks. After several minutes, the ice enchantment of the blades finally began to take effect. The Griffon-thing's attacks came more slowly, and eventually stopped as it's body slowly froze. Silver looked at the immobilized creature, and turned to the rookies that had come with him. "As one, Night Guards. Finish this beast." The rookies advanced, striking with their weapons in perfect unison. The frozen abomination shattered like glass, and Silver smiled. "Very good. Exactly as you were taught." The Dark Princess stared at the remains of the creature that had once been a Griffon, horrified. "My sister's depravity knows no bounds. This... this is beyond even the foulest of forbidden magic."
This is disgusting.” Venquis began. “To have another being living in harmony that is raised in a different homeland, and then turned into....this.” Venquis did not like this scene in the slightest, it made him feel sick. However, that sickness turned into determination and persistence, which made Venquis and the Roses leave the scene. “We have built enough strength to finally face off against Equestria, any time we try and build up strength, our enemies try and exterminate us. I will not allow this to happen, we need to push north. The real war has just begun and their leader is a genocidal maniac. She is no better than Eclipse.” Venquis said aloud to the Night Guards and the night princess. He was not in the best of moods, but he was right. The NLR needed to retake the lost lands otherwise Equestria would gain a deadly advantage against them, numbers. The Republic is sitting on equal strength against Equestria as they speak, and that short gap could mean life or death of a free world. If the Republic were to push far enough, the most crucial part of the war would be fought in the Ryborian nation of Ardelan. Ardelan is crucial in its position, located underneath Equestria and is already heavily fortified. If the Republic were to take that small nation, and it could, it would completely open up Mainland Equestrian lines among its borders. Obviously to the Ryborians, this was hugely significant to them. They wanted their homeland back, so did the other occupied races. But a question was raised by Venquis relating her to Eclipse, was she worth saving?
Star thought for a moment before replying, "No...he just said...to tell you that 'you did the right thing.'" In retrospect, she wondered what the "doctor" could've meant by that statement... ----- Hmph! Why am I heading toward the Crystal Empire? What will that tart possibly do for me? Chrysalis, disguised as a griffon, quickly changed course and headed for the Badlands, the home of her dying children. In a few short hours, she arrived and entered the burrow that they called Home. The stink of death immediately assaulted her senses, and she rushed toward the main chamber to find a horrific scene: Changelings, by the dozen, were dead or dying. Wails of pain echoed thorugh the cavern as those who hadn't died yet cried out for comfort from their Mother. The queen rushed from one of her children to the other, quickly assessing their conditions. The prognosis was grim; all who had partaken of Celestia's so-called "tributes" were nothing more than walking ghosts, too far gone to be healed by her love, but not close enough to the peace that their deaths would give them. She had never felt so powerless, so helpless before in all her life. Her children were everything to her, and she had no choice but to watch them suffer and die... "Mommy...?" Chrysalis felt a slight tug on her leg. When she looked down, one of her young was there, seeking comfort. The queen lowered her head and nuzzled the youngling. "Tell me, dear daughter...how many are left?" The little changeling looked up at her mother and replied, "Some. Most are gone..." Chrysalis nodded and replied, "Bring them here, please." Within moments, what was left of the changeling army was gathered before the changeling queen in the main throne room. Despite the devastating losses she suffered, the remaining changelings filled the relatively large throne room to capacity. She looked over her children with pride as she announced, "Long have we suffered at the hooves of the Equestrians! First, we were banished to the Badlands by Cadence and her husband! Then, while we were helpless and starving, we were conscripted into the service of Celestia and her mad schemes!" This was met by much angry hissing from the changelings, Chrysalis raised her hoof to silence them, then continued, "Our forces are now stretched thin; some of your brothers and sisters still reside with Celestia, while even more are with Cadence. And again, we were made to suffer Celestia's betrayal by the tainted tributes!" More hissing. More silencing. "Enough is enough! We will no longer be slaves to these two! It is we who will have the upper hoof! We will rise from the ashes, just like Celestia's new namesake, and we will show them all that we are not to be taken lightly!" Cheerful hissing and clicking. "Bury the dead, my children, for when the dawn comes, we will show the ponies the meaning of Fear, and we will lap up every. last. DROP!" The Badlands positively shook with the defiant stomping of changeling hooves.
"Huh... The right thing? Okay...", Yclept replied, then held star close,"ehh, whatever, I've got you..."
Star returned Yclept's embrace and whispered, "Thank you..." After letting go, which admittedly, was hard for her to do, she smiled and hopped out of the bed. "We should see if we can intercept Venquis and whatever mission he's on." She placed the Unicorn Crown back on her head, and added, "I could teach you a few new spells along the way if you want. It would...be kinda like a date..."
Yclept had a wide smile on his face & blushed slightly,"that'd be great", he said getting up, nuzzling star, & starting out the building, waiting for her
Obsidian wandered the street of the Crystal Kingdom. He had been disconnected from his companions for a while and felt like trying to empty his mind in a simpler way than he usually did. He heard a faint giggle, and looked around. The street was empty, save for a changeling, which was taking off. He shrugged it off and kept walking. Again the gentle giggle. He turned around completely and caught a glimpse of a curly pink tail of a pony rushing down an alley. He quickly rushed to the location, and turned the corner, seeing nothing. "I must be mad." He turned around and heard a quiet cheering sound. He took a step forward and his hoof pressed down into a hard book cover. He picked up the book, and he felt a shock from it, causing him to drop it. The book landed to the last page with writing on it open. "Harmony vanished. What is the world without elements? Equestria will find out, soon enough." The page was dated a month before the last known sighting of Princess Twilight. The book vanished as soon as he had read the page. He was frightened enough though. He immediately took off towards a more occupied location of the kingdom, unaware of the orange cloth now wrapped around his leg. Jack stood on the roof of the hospital, admiring his new token of power. "Soon I'll have revenge. He, hehe."
Just as Star and Ycept were just about to leave the building, Venquis arrived back with his Crimson Roses looking very unpleasant. He was angry about the Republic being sieged almost constantly by his enemies and the lack of action that the Republic was doing to push forward. He understood that the new Republic needed to make a disciplined fighting force, but now was long enough to practise. To make matters worse, one of his scouts had received word about Queen Chrysalis preparing a possible ‘betrayal’ to both sides, even though she allied with the Republic through Crimson. Chrysalis was used to the polite and intelligent manner of speaking that the battlemage had. However, Chrysalis has not met the Ryborian Eriboran, who was much less tolerant about such a matter. It seemed that his age was starting to catch up with him. From what he had heard, Chrysalis was apparently going to stop being ‘slaves to these two.’ As soon as he could, Venquis had reinforced the Crimson Roses from his previous four pony squad to a twenty strong Ryborian ‘world changer’. He told a guard to tell this story to either Nightmare Moon or Candace and left the city once again. If such a problem was going to occur, Venquis was going to have deal with it personally while the rest of the Republic is ready to begin their campaign north. Hopefully to ensure a somewhat diplomatic solution to this problem, he would not need weapons. Venquis and his Roses performed a forbidden teleportation spell which teleported all twenty roses to the Badlands, almost 5,000 miles from the Crystal City and just bordering the Equestrian empire. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While the Republic was preparing itself for war, Equestria was doing the same. The changelings that were still aligned to The Phoenix Queen have made out with rumours about Chrysalis. It turned out that the Changelings had found out about the plot, and were ready to face against her. This was apart of her plan however. The ‘Tribute’ was supposed to reduce Changeling numbers low enough for what seemed like the most horrifying part of her plan. Complete extermination of the Changeling Race. It seemed they the Changelings have now outlived their usefulness....
After a long trip back to the Crystal Kingdom, Silver took the squad of rookies to the local tavern for a drink. "You did good work back there. I honestly didn't know what to expect from you rookies. If the rest of the new recruits are HALF as good you, the Phoenix Queen won't stand a chance. You are, without a doubt..." "Laying it on a little thick there, aren't you? I seem to recall that you let the Roses beat you to the REAL fight. You and these newbies showed up in time to finish off an already dying creature. Bravo, Dad." Nightshade, who had vanished after the fight, suddenly reappeared beside Silver Crescent. She appeared to be getting better at being seen by living. The moment that she appeared, the rookies surrounded her, weapons drawn. She giggled and floated slowly up to ceiling. "If want to kill me, you're a little too late. My father already beat you too it! Isn't that right, Silver?" "Stand down, warriors. You could not harm her even if you tried. Why are you here, my daughter? Surely you did not return from death just to make me wallow in my own guilt?" "No... well, that wasn't the ONLY reason. I'm here right now because I have news about the Changelings! It seems that Chrysalis is unhappy with BOTH sides. She's planning something big..." She giggled again, and continued. "By the way, don't you have one of Queen Chryssi's daughters working for you?" Cricket, the lone Changeling on the team, glared at the ghost, sighed heavily and shook her head. She looked affectionately at her Unicorn husband, Blackout, and turned to address the group. "Mother never did learn that love, when given freely, is endless. She is too wrapped up in the old ways to even think about trying to live in peace with Ponykind. What she does is out of love for her children, but her methods are misguided. I pity her, but I am no longer a part of her family. When the time comes, I will fight for the Dark Princess."
Thousands of miles away in the Badlands just as the sun was coming down, the Eriborian arrived with his Roses far away from the castle on the top of a sand dune. With the Changelings now neutral in the war, Venquis feared the worst from Equestria. It seemed that they were trying to make a stand, something which will end disastrously no matter the outcome. He had one of his Roses keep on watch for a huge amount of movement inside of the largest hive any of them had ever seen. By the amount of bodies, something terrible had happened here and the Changelings were on an ever constant guard. It seemed like they will attack anything that comes within five hundred meters. “Diplomacy will be problematic.” Venquis told them. “Whatever had happened here, they are expecting an attack soon. The only question on my mind is exactly why they are doing this, even to us, their allies?” The Roses then looked down at the scene, figuring out questions with their faces hidden by their masks. “I know” said Lyona, one of the best roses and also on Venquis team. She was very attractive and had a nice personality, but she was also one of the most dangerous beings alive. “Since the Changelings had a history with Princess Candace, they are expecting a betrayal from her. Celestia on the other hoof wants them weakened, then possibly exterminated like vermin.” “That explains it. I guess we cannot simply walk through the front gate in this.” Venquis said referencing his armor and the Roses mysterious masks and matching armour that venquis wore. “Who’s up to give the Changelings a taste of their own medicine, the medicine that we always had and helped them evolve?” Venquis said. The roses nodded as every single one of them shape shifted into a Changeling solider, with Venquis being shifted as a Changeling captain. They then wondered down the dune and walked across the path leading towards the Hive. Ryborians, since reaching their golden age hundreds of thousands of years ago had many other races and species evolve. For example, they gave the Changelings their shape shifting abilities; they gave the Griffons their strength. They paid special attention to Equestrians however, who were the most like the Ryborians as they helped them evolve. Without them, Equestrians would have been animals. The Ryborians were not known as ‘The Guiders’ for nothing. They got in perfectly, no thought of doubt at all from the others. Farad, one of the disgusised roses and also the most linguistic, spoke in Changeling fluently as it led them directly into the Throne room where they encountered Chrysalis and several guards. Venquis then spoke in fluent Changeling as he asked politely for the guards to leave the room and locking the doors behind them. He also made up the elaborate story that his unit was ambushed by Equestrian Rangers and had to speak to her privately with his squad, which was to help ‘persuade’ the guards to leave. Soon, only Chrysalis was left in the throne room. She looked like she could protect herself. However, she was not expecting laughter from some of the Roses. “Now that we have them dealt with, you and me are going to have a talk....” said the Changeling captain, who began to morph back into his Ryborian self. The other Roses did the same. This completely took the queen off guard as twenty Roses and the Eriboran began to looked into the Queens eyes. “We are not hostile or have aligned ourselves with a tyrannical murderer. Do not act alarmed, we have come here on our own initiative in search of answers. The door is locked, so don’t bother sending them in. This is between you and us, what do you think your doing?” ------------------------------------------------------------------- Meanwhile, Crimson and Ocean were busy planning the campaign towards Equestria. While in its early stages, they made solid evidence that the Republic will completely take Equestria off guard in terms of improvement in the previous battle for the city. Not only has Equestria got its hoofs full of dealing with uprisings in some isolated areas and the possible Changeling attack, but they have to deal with the inevitable Republic campaign against them. Other generals are taking command of retaking other lands, such as the lands of the Griffon and the Buffalo. What had come on special interest was Zebrica, the zebra homeland located close to the border of the Republic. The first target of its campaign will the Zebra Capital, Roam....
Despite being taken completely by surprise, the changeling queen kept her cool. She quickly realized that she was in the presence of a Ryborian, the kind who guided the mother of her mother and taught her the art of changing one's form. That didn't make her any less incensed. "The locked doors are no matter, my dear. If I so desire, my children can and will come at you from all sides." She winked as she added, "The doors are merely for the benefit of those who can't burrow..." She straightened up, showing no fear. They were, after all, in her domain. "Also, you could've fooled me with your so-called 'non-hostile' intentions, dismissing my guards and locking us in here... You'll have to forgive me if I don't entirely trust you." She then sat back on her throne and sighed, as if this incursion was nothing more than a great inconvenience to her. "So... You haven't aligned yourself with a tyrant, hmm?" She swirled her hoof in the air. "That's all well and good, but that doesn't bring my babies back, now does it? I'll let you in on a little secret: Luna and her niece, Mary Sue, are of no concern to me right now. The one thing I truly want at this time is revenge. Revenge of Celestia for what she did to my babies. What is the expression they use, 'an eye for an eye'? I find it quite fitting."
Silver thought for a moment. If the Changelings could not be trusted, then he would need to find new allies to replace them. "We are going to the Everfree. I have some debts to collect." The journey would not be easy. The Everfree Forest lay deep within Equestrian territory. Fighting would be inevitable. "I need to speak to the princesses. Everypony else, head to the barracks and tell the others to prepare for a march."
(Post 500 !) “I understand your concern of wanting to get revenge on Celestia” Venquis begun to speak. “But attacking her at your current state would be suicidal. She has currently much stronger then her previous encounter, along with the empire itself. Not to mention that the Pink Alicorn you know as Candace has done nothing wrong to upset you in this time of need. I understand your past relations to her, but we need to focus on the future.” It seemed like nothing was going to work on her, she had her mind completely focused on vengeance against The Phoenix Queen. And so she should be, her race was dying. The Eriborian would have done exactly the same thing if the same situation were to happen to him; except it would end with a Ryborian victory and making sure Equestria could never wage war again. “An eye for an eye. If this is the way you wish to ‘rise from the ashes’ for the Changeling kind, then you will be remembered as a hero. However, this is a one way trip.” Venquis said sadly. “If you decide to attack, I will pass the word that you are a hero. You have proved it in my eyes, and the eyes of future changelings. You have our deepest sympathy.” The Ryborians transformed into the Changelings and began to walk out the door of the throne room before exiting Changeling areas and returning to The Crystal City. “Besides, you told my friend Crimson Lionheart you’re going to die anyway.” “And Queen Chrysalis, may Sihana guide you in your next life.”
