Pegasus: The Pegasi Flames of Olympus

Prologue

WAR CAME TO OLYMPUS.
There was no warning. No clues that an unknown enemy was building an army against them; an army whose only goal was death and destruction. One moment there was peace, the next they were fighting for their existence and freedom. It was bloody bloody, brutal, and totally unexpected.
But for one Olympian, it was a terrifying opportunity for him and a opportunity to fulfill a dream.
Khyree ducked behind a marble pillar and watched the best Olympian warriors gather to take on the invaders. On the other side of the destroyed field was his brother and friend known as Paelen. Jupiter was leading the attack with his thunder and lightning bolts in hand. His wife, Juno, stood on his left, grave-faced and ready. On his right, Hercules was looking strong and prepared, as were Apollo and his twin sister Diana with her bow. Mars was there, and Vulcan with his armory full of weapons. Standing behind them them in his winged sandals and helmet was Mercury, the messenger of Olympus.
All preparing to fight.
Khyree's gaze trailed over to Pegasus and four young unnamed winged mares and stallion. The pegasi's eyes blazed like burning flames and wings flashed up and down as if they were ready to fly straight into battle. Their golden hooves pounded the ground in anticipation of the upcoming battle. Farther back was more gathered Olympians, all ready to defend their homes.
Khyree snook a swift glance to Paelen, his friend wants to still the shiny and gold bridle worn by Pegasus. But Kiran doesn't want to go over his head, so he sticks to coins and jewels.
But Khyree had no intention of fighting. He wasn't a warrior. He was a shape-shifting thief with plans of his own. He didn't want to get killed in a battle they couldn't possibly win. War was wasteful and everyone else's problem. He was was too busy concentrating on how best to profit from it. With the Olympians occupied in the struggle against the Nirads, a thief would be free to enter the palace of Jupiter and take whatever he wanted.
Which is pretty much Khyree's plan.
He has his own honor and respect for Jupiter and the rest of them in Olympus, even though he is a wanted thief and managed to escape Jupiter's prison half a dozen times at least. Khyree knew that Paelen didn't put too much thought into that. But he did.
As Jupiter called all the battle-ready warriors forth, Kiran crept closer to listen to the god's desperate speech.
"My children," said Jupiter gravely. "We are in our darkest hour. At no other time in history have we faced such danger. The Nirad fighters have beached our borders. Even now they are making for the Flames of Olympus. If they succeed in extinguishing it, all our powers, all we have ever known, will be lost. We must stop them. These Flames is our very existence. We cannot let them succeed. If we do not make our stand against them right now, then everything we have known will be destroyed."
Khyree felt tears watering in his eyes but refused to let them fall. He listened to the murmurs of the crowd and felt the tension growing. Khyree glanced at Paelen, whose eyes are bright on Pegasus and his golden bridle. Pegasus and the four others shook their heads and snorted, the mares twitched their ears and wings. Their golden bridles gave an enchanted twinkle like bells.
Khyree's dark brown eyes drew back to Jupiter.
"We who never die, now face our destruction," continued Jupiter. "But it is not only world we must defend. All the other words we guard we fall if the Nirads defeat us. We fight for them!"
Jupiter raised his lightning bolts in the air, and their ferocious booms echoed throughout all Olympus.
"Will you join me?" cried out Jupiter. "Will you rise against these invaders and drive them back to where they came from?"
Khyree's eyes grew wide as all the Olympus raising their arms and weapons to Jupiter. The pegasi and the other creatures reared on their hind legs and opened their wings in salutes (some critters don't have wings). Battle cries filled the air.
"For Olympus!" howled Jupiter as he turned and led his warriors into battle.