The Sister Revolution

Gryphus sat in his chair mulling over some paper work in the confines of his personal tent and that paperwork, to him was absolutely boring. He had his left claw holding up his head while his right claw was occupied with a feather with ink dripping from the tip and with that feather, he wrote everything and oh boy did his claw hurt, he's been going over all of that paperwork for 3 hours straight so no wonder it did. He got back from the Bucking Bronco a few days ago and has been thinking on how to bring the news to his men on the rebellion and how he wanted him and his men to join it.

The sound of cloth rustling filled his feathery ears.

He looked up from his work to see what caused the tent to be opened, in between the sheets which was a makeshift doorway, stood (on all fours cause you know...griffons) his 2nd-in-command Xerxes, Xerxes was one of the first men to join his little mercenary group, they became almost instant friends when they met and had a lot in common including one crucial commonality, which was having the utmost hate for King Archimedes. They've seen what he's done and what he's capable of, they agreed that King Archimedes was tartarus incarnate. He slew anyone who threatened his kingdom or even to go so far as to question his right to rule, he had no mercy from what they saw and heard of him, as for what they saw...well they rather not talk about the atrocities he committed against pony kind they saw him do.

"Ah Xerxes come in friend, it is nice to see a friendly face in these tough times." Gryphus put down his feather pen and smiled widely at Xerxes.

Xerxes stood just half of a head shorter than Gryphus but was more muscular than said Griffon (if that is even possible). Xerxes was a dark blue griffon with white tips (think of Gryphus' color scheme but put those colors in).

"Gryphus....i agree it is tough times indeed...but i have to point out that at the moment, you're doing paperwork." Xerxes deadpanned.

"Paperwork IS tough times Xerxes, my claw is aching from it and what if we get attacked and my claw is not able to wield a blade to protect myself?  I might as well dig up my own grave then." Gryphus said. The sarcasm was so thick, that you could cut it with a knife...

Xerxes just rolled his eyes and entered fully into the tent and approached Gryphus' table. "Gryphus may i ask what you were doing a week ago? Or a more clear question, who?" Xerxes eyes Gryphus suspiciously, because normally Gryphus, if he had anywhere to go and didn't want his men to follow, he would say something, but not a week ago. A week ago he only said that he needed to go somewhere and said it was urgent.

"I went to see an old friend...that is all." Gryphus' face went serious.

"Oh really? Then why did you get cryptic when you left? You could have just said that and the men would have thought nothing of it but not you went and left."

"What are you getting at Xerxes? Are you saying that i'm lying? I did see an old friend from my mercenary work a few years back, all he said in his letter was that it was urgent and that he asked me not to tell anyone about it, in fact in a few minutes i will go out there and ask something of my men...ask them a question that will determine who will happily die with me if need be." Gryphus had a slight frown as he said this.

"Happily die? Gryphus what's going on? Why are we going to die? And why happily???" Xerxes was a little worried now with what his friend had said.

"All will be explained in a few minutes, now if you would please leave and gather the men, i will be out in a few minutes."

"Fine, but it better be good Gryphus." Xerxes pointed a claw at him then left to gather the men.

Gryphus let out a long sigh. "How am i going to go about this?" He whispered to himself.

                                         5 minutes later...

Gryphus came out of his tent and went to the camp center where his 300 men were. The Merc's group consisted of all different types of race's. First you have Griffons which they numbered at 150, the Ponies (including all 3 races) at 68, 47 Minotaurs, 22 Diamond Dogs, 10 Stags, and 3 Dragons.

(A/N: Every race has male and female mixed in, but the only race that doesn't have any females are the stags, now the stags are anthro's or half anthro's however you look at it, but anyway what i mean by anthro's is that they had every look of a deer with horns as well but the only difference is, is that they stand on 2 deer like legs and have human like arms and hands but everything else is well deer, including their fur. I just thought it would help you imagine things and the like. Now for another A/N the dragon's aren't fully grown, they are more like young adults or to put it in simpler terms, think of spike but taller like 6 foot and more muscular. Now if you were wondering why i am telling you this stuff, i just thought it would be nice of me to give you something to imagine much easier than to have to create them from scratch :D oh what a nice author i am. NOW BACK TO THE STORY)

The camp was not overly large but did have large tents with said tents going about in a circular form. With the Ponies occupying the outermost circle. The Griffons had the next circle but a more smaller one. (This basically goes on with the smaller numbers going in side of the circular camp with the dragon's having their personal tents in the middle surrounding the mess hall. The middle part of the camp was a large grassy area meant for the merc's to occupy if there were any announcements and so they wouldn't bump shoulders.) The mess hall was a long tent meant for this big band of merc's and with a large but crude stage in front of it for announcements and other various things such as entertainment. (Not that kind you sicko :P)

In the center stood all of his men some sitting, some standing but when they saw Gryphus, they all suddenly stood at attention and moved from the middle allowing Gryphus to walk through to the crude stage.

He finally made it up to the stage with Xerxes to the right of him but a little ways back. He cleared his throat then motioned for a unicorn to come up to stage with him, the unicorn looked around then pointed a hoof at himself and mouthed the word 'Me?'. He nodded and the unicorn made his way up there unsure why his commander wanted him but soon found out when Gryphus asked him to cast a voice raising spell so he wouldn't have to yell and strain his voice so everyone can hear. The unicorn did so and Gryphus began to speak.

"Ahem, is it working?" He was answered when he heard his normal voice sound louder.

"Ah ok so it is. Now down to business, i bet you are all wondering why you were called here today, that reason will be explained but first i want to ask you something." The Mercenary crowd murmured wondering what their commander wanted to ask.

"Why is it, that when i leave i have to tell you where i'm going other than just saying i'm going out huh? Is it so hard to not understand that sometimes i don't want to tell you? Granted i never did that before but i could have done it and i just did it a week ago! Ugh i know you were worried and that makes me happy to know my men, (he lowered his voice) and women, (he brought it back to normal) cares for me, but even a commander such as myself needs his privacy sooner or later." The Merc's just stood there  with their head's low, taking the scolding like a father with his child.

"But i shall tell you. I was going to anyway but whatever. I was sent a message from an old friend asking me to see him, he said it was urgent and that i see him right away and to tell no one, that is the reason i didn't tell you but still...privacy...i need it. Anyway! He asked me if i could join the Royal Sisters to rebel against King Archimedes, they have had enough of his rule and frankly so am i, that is why, without hesitation, agreed but i said to him that i didn't think my men were so eager, so that is why i called you here. Are you willing to join me, your commander to fight against the King and put the Royal Sisters in power!?!" He raised his voice at the end.

The Merc's stood silent, taking in what they just heard and trying to decide whether they want to fight King Archimedes or not.

"I completely understand if you wish to not fight against the King but i implore you to think whether the way he rules is acceptable. I mean yes we live outside the border and do not belong to him like the poor ponies under him. But we were asked to fight with the Royal sister's against him for Faust's sake! Do you want to be free of knowing whether or not he might come for us? Do you wish to finally get revenge on him for what he has done and avenge the ones that have fallen by hi sword!?!?"

None answered right away but after a little while a Dragon of a green color, despite his friends trying to hold him back said. "I will join you commander, as cliché as it sounds i will follow you til death."

This brought a smile to Gryphus' face but disappear as fast as it came. "And what of the rest of you?" The crowd was still silent but as if they all had the same idea or brain, put their fist's in the air shouting thing ranging from 'I'll join' all the way to 'I call killing the King first'. Right after everything was said and done, everyone was still shouting and cheering as if they had just won a battle.

This warmed Gryphus' blood coated heart (meaning hes killed before and stuff. So you know cliché good guy but is cold towards people and the like but of course he's a Mercenary and loves his men [NOT LIKE THAT YOU PERV] but is still sorta cold but not to his men [and women])

Gryphus wiped a stray tear from his eye. Xerxes walked and said in a hushed voice. "A-are you crying Gryph?"

"N-no im not shut up." Gryphus regathered what was left of his manish pride and stood tall and proud.

"It warms this Griffon's blood coated heart to hear that his men, are joining him. Oh sorry and women. Heh heh can't forget them because they'll let you never forget amiright?" The men laughed and the women cussed at Gryphus, some slapped a few men's heads resulting in part of the crowd saying ow.

Gryphus chuckled at the display but resumed talking.

"Now that is over with lets have a feast fit for a King! Or in my case a Commander!" Xerxes then went up to Gryphus again and whispered in his ear, shocking the Griffon.

"Ahem, it has come to my attention that we are low on food reserves, but thank faust there is a bandit camp nearby and i hear its a pretty big one to. So (hes rubs his claws together) who wants to steal some food eh?" The crowd again roared some cheers, wanting to fight since they have not had a decent pay day or job other than raiding a little bit but it still did not satisfy their hunger for battle. The Merc crowd then left to gather their weapons and armor.