Chapters This idea comes to mind...
“Luna, get back here this instant!” Celestia exclaimed while chasing after her younger sister inside the castle that just got finished being built.
Luna replied by blowing a raspberry back at her.
“Like I'll ever stop. By the way i think black looks good in your hair! Gives you an evil look yet you look approachable!” Luna laughed at her sister's pink mane which was now turned black.
Celestia just growled while a black ooze started pouring down her face. Her beautiful, most magnificent pink mane was just ruined by her younger sister's prank, it was apparently some blackberry juice, which was put into her shampoo mix. So she had a black mane with suds flying everywhere.
“You are going to PAY lulu! Just wait til I get my hooves on you!” She growled.
Luna went around a corner and into a big circular room while laughing her head off, but suddenly went silent when she entered said room.
Celestia thought nothing of it as it might be her sister's way of not giving away her position, she finally made it around the corner and realized it was her father's study, no one was allowed into the study, not even his own flesh and blood. It was strictly for him and him only.
“Lulu get out of there we can't be here, this is father's study.” She said with worry in her voice, she waited a few seconds but no reply came.
“Lulu!” It came out as a half yell half whisper.
Meanwhile Luna was hiding under the desk on the other side of the library like room trying to hold in her laughter from watching her sister slowly walk in trying to look for her through a small hole in the wood of said desk.
It was a fairly big study/office. The middle of the room was filled in by one pure white couch and two pure black chairs, all facing the fireplace in the middle of the walls on the left side of the doors. The walls were made of wood and half of said walls were made into shelves for the Kings collection of books made up of maps, autobiographies of legends long since past and even one that is still being continued by none other than the and the only...Star Swirl the Bearded, and all sort's of other books one's royal hooves could get, including an old fairy tale of sort's of some bipedal creatures calling themselves 'Human's', but they're just fairy tales...right?
Celestia was still looking for her sister on the left side of the study away from her sister that was currently on the right side where the desk was but she didn't know that...yet.
Luna quietly got up from under the desk and slowly and silently made her way from the desk towards her older sibling that was by the fireplace looking under the couch, searching for said dark blue pony.
“Lulu when I find you...its not gonna be pretty.” Celestia said in a hushed tone. She all of a sudden felt a presence behind her, she immediately knew it was Luna.
Luna was right behind her sister and was about to pounce onto her sister...until said sister suddenly turned around and jumped onto the poor lunar sister.
“AAAAHHH!!!” Luna yelled but it was cut short due to her laughter as her sister started tickling her.
“Lulu you know better than to sneak up on me you silly filly.” She said while chuckling.
“S-s-st-stop it Tia I....can't....breathe.” Luna tried to say through all her laughter and surprisingly Celestia understood her and let up on the merciless tickling of her sister.
“Hehehe come on lulu we need to leave befo-.” She was walking towards the door when she stopped midway to see her father with a scowl ever present on his face.
Their father was nothing short of scary, the fact that he killed an entire combined force of the griffon tribes with one explosive spell basically meant he was not to be trifled with. He had a grey coat with a black mane, with his horn blood red he even had small fangs protruding from his top lip, his eyes were a sickly red with his pupils green. While he was King he made sure he was the best equipped in the entire kingdom, with his silver crown having two horns on either side of said crown and a silver ball in the front with two smaller red horns on either side of it, silver armor encasing his entire body with the exception of a red fur coat on his back. To be quite frank he was one freaky pony.
“F-f-father w-w-we were just l-leaving we didn’t r-realize this was your study until we made it inside w-we are sorry, we s-shall go now.” Celestia managed to say, she and her sister were very afraid of their own father whose name is Archimedes the Savage which is widely known as it is feared throughout the known continent of Equus.
“What in Faust’s name are you doing here, I thought I made it very clear no one is to enter this room but me and me alone.” His low baritone of a voice sent chills down both of his daughter's spine.
“L-luna poured this blackberry juice into my shampoo and now my hair is black so in retaliation I was chasing her then we ended up here f-father, we are sorry.” Celestia and Luna kept their heads low.
“Get. Out. NOW!” He yelled, they didn't need to be told twice and hurried past him.
“Don't ever let me catch you in here again or else there will be serious consequences.” He said over his shoulder.
“Y-yes sir.” Celestia said with a chill going down her spine once again. The sisters walked the halls in silence until they got to the older sibling's room. They went inside and closed the door behind them.
“Father is mean.” Luna said out of nowhere. Celestia just looked at her sister with a saddened expression.
“I know he is lulu, I know he is. But you have to keep in mind that we cant do anything about it less we want to commit suicide.”
“I want to see that demon drown in his own blood.” Luna said with malice.
Celestia was caught off guard by that statement.
“Luna!!!”
“What?” Luna had a angry look on her muzzle.
"I know he is...a demon but that demon is our father. If he were to hear you say that..." Celestia had angry look on her face but after she said that last sentence, she replaced said angry look with a worried one.
"If you think i will apologize for what i said then you are wrong." Luna had a defiant look in her eye's.
"I didn't ask for you to apologize Lulu. And i wasn't going to ask you."
Luna then had a look of inspiration and realization. "Tia!"
"Y-yes?" Celestia looked at her sister curiously.
“Tia w-what if w-we were to rebel....against father. We overthrow him and we never have to listen to him again. We end his reign and take control of this kingdom ourselves!” Luna exclaimed.
Celestia was surprised at the idea her sister had but didn't argue about it right away and thought about it for a few seconds before answering her sister.
“Luna! How on Equus did you come up with that idea? To think you have the gall to think such of a-....brilliant plan.” Celestia was angry but realized this could be the chance they were waiting for. King Archimedes isn't exactly what you would call a 'Good' King, he killed his subjects for sport, had the children fed to the Manticores in the Colosseum, even made the prisoners he had, kill each other until there was only one left and that survivor was fed the best of meals and slept with whomever he chose, with the exception of his daughters of course and then put him right back into his cell until the next fight but even then his chances of surviving were next to none.
Celestia thought it could work but people feared their father with a passion, the Sister's even feared him, so who would follow them to freedom? Even if they did rally people (or in this case ponies) to follow them in this rebellion how could they win with peasants and farmers against a battle hardened army?
“W-what if we hire some of the mercenaries that are outside the borders? I mean they would suffice wouldn't they? We could have them train our subjects to where they are battle ready an attack when the moment comes. Do you that good is enough or do you have a better plan Tia? I'm not the only one who should think out this rebellion stuff you know!" Luna had a slight frown.
Before Celestia could answer, there was a knock on the door. Saying that they were fearful that someone heard their conversation was an understatement, if a guard were to hear this and report back to their father they would surely be executed or thrown in the dungeons for this plan of treachery.
“Princess Celestia? Princess Luna? Open this door please I wish to speak with you.” A voice sounded through the door.
“W-who is it?” Celestia answered.
“It's Shining Light your majesty, your guard for the day.”
Celestia made her way to the door and opened it slightly to see the form of said guard who was dressed in Silver plated armor with gold trimmings and equipped with a spear with a shaft made of silver and the sharp point at the end made of iron, a pretty basic spear but still very much deadly.
“Y-yes?” She said with slight fear in her voice.
“Your majesty....I....heard your conversation and well.....i wish to help you.” Shining said.
“Y-you heard?”
“And said I wanted to help.” He replied with a smirk.
“Come in, please take a seat” Celestia opened the door fully and gestured for him to come inside.
He made his way in and put his spear by the door and took a seat on a cushion in the middle of the room with Celestia retaking her seat.
“King Archimedes is the worst ruler that I have ever had the displeasure of serving, even though hes the only ruler I ever served but still you get the point.”
“I thought the royal army was taught to serve their king with no question or doubt in mind.” Luna said.
“Well we were but with recent....events happening, us guards are becoming wary of the king even with the way were trained his kingship has been more savage and ruthless these past few years, he even ordered us to kill the griffon prisoners to make a point to the Griffons in general, it wasn't an execution it was a massacre.” The sisters gasped at that having no memory of that happening.
“How come we are just hearing of this?” Celestia demanded.
“Because it was near the griffon borders, pretty far from Canterlot your majesty, we were also sworn to secrecy because his kingship thought the populace would start to rebel because of his.....order.”
“Tia...” Luna said almost pleading.
“That is the very reason why I did not report to Archimedes, I fear that if he ruled any longer we would fall on our own sword in years to come.”
“Tia we need to rebel, as much as I hate to say it we need to kill father.” Luna said with sadness and worrying as to how her sister would take it.
“I understand...we need to take power, we need to kill father, letting him live is not an option.”
“I am at your disposal your majesty's.” Shining said while he got up and kneeled.
“Captain Light.” Celestia said.
Shining thought. “Captain? ” Then answered. “Yes your majesty?”
“Do you know of anyone who might be able to help us in this rebellion? Or Mercenaries that may be of assistance? Or anyone that may be of assistance?”
“I know of some people that will be willing to help.”
“We are going to rebel, and win against father, it may take a while to get everything setup but we will win, i am sure of it.”
“I agree.” Luna said.
“Very well your majesty's, shall I contact them your majesty?”
“Yes and bring them to Trottingham Forest, there is an old castle in the middle of it which I wish to acquire if we are to rebel and actually have a chance to win. It's a fairly old castle but it will do nonetheless.”
“Right away your majesty.” Shining grabbed his spear and made one last bow to the future rulers of Eques, and closed the door on his way out.
“Will we be able to win Tia, we ARE up against a battle hardened army as well as father who is old but still his power is the same as it was when he was younger.”
“I have no doubt in my mind that if we are to rebel, that we will win...i will make sure of it.”
They sat in silence for awhile, but it was starting to get dark out and Luna bid her sister goodnight. They went to bed with fear in their minds and hopefulness in their hearts, they are the sisters that will kill their father and bring peace to this land for years to come, what they haven't thought of yet though is how are they going to run this nation while so young and not have rebels of their own. But that is for a later time.
Someplace, somewhere else in some other universe or just another galaxy (the world may never know)
The birds were singing a delightful song, the little squirrels gathering their little nuts, and a Father and Son were training.
The father standing at 6ft tall and wearing leather armor and sandals, but with no helmet. What he looks like is a man who has seen many battles and met death face-to-face just to spit in his eye. He has one milky white eye with a scar going vertical over it. Messy brown hair covered said white eye while the other, more pure, hazel eye was unobscured and met his son's with a cold and calculating gaze.
His son on the other hand stood at 5'11 with no armor whatsoever and just wore his regular clothes with sandals. And though he has not seen the likes of battle, he has been in fights. He has a scar ranging from his right eyebrow all the way to his chin in a bendy sort of manner. He, like his father, has messy brown hair but not as long as his father's, and only reaches the middle of his forehead. And what else he takes after his father, is his eye's. His piercing hazel eye's.
Their swords met with a clack and then backed away. The father charged at his son while said son tried to parry but was unable to, the father then disarmed his son with a flick of the wrist and pointed the sword at his son's throat.
The son gulped and tried to back away but his foot met with a rock and fell on his back.
“(sigh) Get up and grab your sword, lets try again.” Said the father in an irritated tone.
The son pants while getting up and grabbing his sword that was a few feet away from him. “But father we have been doing this for the past 3 hours, may we have a break that is surely well deserved?”
“No! Not until you get it right and until then we will practice with NO breaks. At least not until you have earned it” He snapped.
The son gawked at him like he was the craziest person alive.
“But you're a Captain of footmen and I AM your son but I have never trained to be a soldier til I was 14. How in the name of the God's am I supposed to best you. It will take until your death that I will best you.”
“I will not tolerate this negative attitude Maximus, you WILL best me and when you do you will finally be fit for the title, Captain and take my place when my death arrives, am I understood?”
The son hesitated for a few seconds, but finally answered his father. “Y-yes father I understand.”
“Good...Now get into your stance and remember what I taught you. And also remember to always have eyes on your target.” The son nodded in response. “Here I go son.” The father charged him and slung his wooden sword to the right while the son deflected the sword and grabbed his father's shirt and threw him down.
The father rolled after being tossed aside and quickly got on his feet and tried again. “Very good but try and kill me if you can.” The father stabbed at his son but said son jumped back at this and parried his father's sword.
“But I don't want to kill you.” Maximus said in a worried tone, he then slung his sword to the left and was met with his father's wooden blade and before he could do anything in response his father knocked him on the head with said sword.
“Ow. ow. And ow. That hurts.” Maximus grabbed his head. His father gave him an annoyed look.
“Be happy it wasn't a real sword or you would be dead. You tossing me was good but you did not come at me with your sword like I thought you would, instead you stood there like an idiot. And didn't mean to actually kill me! I meant that in a figurative way!” He exclaimed
“Well sorry . I'm not as skilled as you are, so naturally i didn't think to 'kill' you while you were down.” Maximus stood up while making quotes with his fingers, then put his left hand on his head.
“No you may not be as skilled as me at the moment but you will be when im through with you.” Regulus said in a matter-of-fact tone.
“(sigh) Can we at least take a break for water. I really am thirsty” His son pleaded.
Regulus just attacked at his son's sword and disarmed him like many times before. “Pick it up.” Regulus said while walking towards the well to the right of them.
Maximus rolled his eyes but grabbed his sword and sat next to his father while grabbing his own flask.
“You did good today, a lot better than what you used to do.” Regulus just kept staring ahead.
“R-really? Cause I thought I did worse.”
“No you did good son, the grabbing I was not expecting but you should have come at me with your sword right after but you didn't, and i don't mean anything by it, but still... good job.” He finally looked over to his son and patted him on the back.
“Thanks dad.” Maximus smiled at his father. Such touching moment...too bad two Praetorian Guards on horses rode up to them and ruined that father-son moment.
One of the Praetorian Guards got off of his horse and strode up to the pair. “Sir. Maximus.” The first one nodded to the both of them.
“What are you doing here? Has something happened?” Regulus got up from his seat with Maximus doing the same.
“As a matter-of-fact there has, the Cimbri have attacked one of our northern outposts, it may be an invasion or just a simple raid, we are not sure but the Consuls don't want to take any chances and are sending some troops there to guard the northern territories.”
“And my regiment is one of the regiments that are going?” Regulus said in a curious, yet knowing tone of voice.
“Yes sir.” The Praetorian nodded.
“How soon am I to leave?”
“In two week's time sir.”
Regulus nodded. “Thank you Praetorian, have a safe ride back.”
Both Praetorian Guards nodded and took their leave.
Maximus looked saddened after that conversation, Regulus saw this and tried to comfort his son.
“Chin up son, I will be fine for all we know it was just a little raid, there probably isn't any Cimbri army for miles.” Regulus put his hand on Maximus's shoulder.
“You're probably right but still, be careful you're the only family I have left.” Maximus said in a sad tone.
Regulus's smile faded slowly, remembering his wife's death.
“Don't worry I will be sure to come back and train my boy some more. (He chuckles) Can't have him untrained and unfit in my absence.” Maximus chuckled at that as well.
“I'll be sure to train while you're gone father, I bet you wouldn't even recognize me when you get back.” Maximus grinned.
“Oh be sure I won't recognize you or else I’ll put you threw even harder training.” Regulus gave his son and evil grin and laugh.
“You're the definition of evil father.” Maximus rolled his eyes, but on the inside he was going to a dark place filled with his father's rigorous and non-stop training regimen.
“Oh yes I am or else I wouldn't have a title such as Captain.”
There was a few minutes of chit and chat but it finally came to an end, when Regulus needed to leave and prepare his regiment, he got on his horse and bid farewell to his son and rode off.
A few hours later...
Maximus was inside his house making dinner for himself. Why? Because his father is preparing his regiment for the long trek to the northern provinces, the smell of fresh bread and eggs filled the kitchen, and a quiet humming could be heard as well.
Maximus ate his breakfast for dinner with as much vigor as a person who has been fasting for week's. (A/N: For those people who don't know what fasting is, it basically means not eating.)
“Maximus!” Yelled a feminine voice near the doorway. Maximus chocked on the egg he was eating but finally swallowed it.
“Balbina, don't scare me like that, I nearly choked to death!” Maximus exclaimed. Balbina was the Ordayus family's servant, being there since little Maxy poo was born, she got him through a lot of tough times including his mother's death. They had a very close relationship, to the point that Maximus considered her as his second mother.
“Sorry, sorry but it was too easy to pass up. What's this? Bread and eggs for dinner, you really like them don't you?” She made her way to the dining table and sat.
Balbina was a youth of 40, and has been at the Ordayus family's side since she was just 12, being the last of her family in a Bandit raid in one of the northern villages. She was found under some rubble by Regulus when he was just another soldier in the Roman army. He and the rest of his Regiment had been looking for any survivors after they caught wind of the attack. He finally found her under some rubble that had fallen on top of her. He thought it would be a great idea to adopt her since he thought she had no family left. (He was right as he later found out just fyi) His wife didn't like the idea at first but accepted Balbina as their own. Balbina on the other hand devoted her life to the Ordayus family as their servant even though they told her many time's that she was part of the family. But she thought since Regulus saved her life, she would serve the Ordayus till death.
Maximus just rolled his eyes and kept eating.
“Where is your father Max?” She said with curiosity.
“While we were training when some Praetorian Guards rode up to us and told father that a northern outpost has been attacked by the Cimbri and father's regiment is one of the regiments that are going to reinforce the northern provinces, so hes preparing his men for the trek there.” He said, then took a bite of his bread.
“I hope he will be ok.” She said worryingly.
“Oh he will, I mean he's him, if he were to die he would bring down at least 20 down with him.” Maximus grinned.
Balbina chuckled at this and replied. “Yes I guess he would wouldn't he?”
Maximus finished his dinner and bid Balbina a good night, she did the same and went to bed. Maximus made it to his room and changed into his sleeping clothes, he made it to his soft bed. But before he went to sleep he grabbed a necklace from his table and kissed it, he then went to bed wishing his mother were still alive.
2 weeks later...
“I will miss you father.” Maximus hugged his father goodbye.
“And I you son, be a good boy for Balbina, she doesn't need anymore stress than she already has.” He smiled at his son.
“I will father, be careful and come home safely.”
“Do not worry son, I will, oh and hold onto this for me will you?” Regulus gave Maximus his sword.
“But father i thought i was to not receive this til i bested you.”
“Well since you will best me someday, i thought you should have it now rather than later.” Regulus smiled at Maximus and sharing another hug.
After everyone said their goodbyes, Regulus got on his horse and ordered his regiment of 160 men to walk onward to the northern gates of Rome and made their way to the northern territories. Maximus just smiled and waved as his father made his way through the massive and bustling city.
The tavern was lively that night, just like it was every night. Shining Light observed from his seat, by the bar, at all the different races inside said tavern, or as the sign says out front 'The Bucking Bronco', which includes a number of griffon's, in which that is surprising by the fact that the griffon's are not the most well liked race around here. The other races include the Stags from the southeast, the buffalo's from the west as well as the penguin people of the north (which is doubly strange), and of course, how can anyone forget, Ponies.
Shining Light enjoyed the drink he had in his hooves.
"Ahh what a beautiful night ain't it friend?" A Griffon of a muscularly large size said as he sat down by Shining. Said griffon was like i said a huge muscular griffon with a scar going over his right eye which he can not use anymore. He is black feathered with his ears and tail with red tips. He, on all four's is about 2 heads taller than a regular sized stallion, he also has a very large scar going from left to right on his left side. And with the last and final scar in the shape of an X over his heart. (guess he saw some pretty big battle's eh?)
"Mmh indeed it is Gryphus, I'm glad you got my message, and coming here on such short notice." Shining replied with a smirk, but still didn't look up from his glass.
"Hey bartendy mind getting me a glass of the strongest stuff ya have?"
"Coming right up sir." The Bartender got a glass and a bottle then put them on the counter and poured the large griffon a drink.
"Well Shiny, not really much choice in whether to come or not, i mean you DID save my life so i guess i owe ya."
"Heh, that was a long time ago and you don't owe me anything, i did what any other battle brother would do." He finally looked up at Gryphus with a smile.
"Well you're the only the battle brother who would have done so, but on another topic, i'm guessing you didn't message me here to just have a friendly chat." Gryphus said with a curious tone, and face.
"You are correct in that regard. Gryphus i need your help." Right after he said that Shining took a huge gulp from his glass and finished it, after he did he ordered another.
"My help, what do you need my help for? You didn't sleep with some father's daughter and now he's after your blood is it?" Gryphus chuckled at the thought.
"Heh heh, no no nothing like that, but i need your help in the regard's of starting a rebellion, we need skilled fighters and you and your men are the only one's i could managed to get on such short notice."
"Woah woah woah, hold up there Shiny, you're starting a rebellion? Are you crazy or what???" Gryphus said in a loud hushed whisper, while looking at his battle brother like his mind broke.
"No no i'm not starting the rebellion but i am participating in it, the Royal sisters have had enough with their father and are planning to overthrow him." Shining said with a grave look.
"You do know if this is discovered before it starts, that you WILL be executed, the royal sisters included."
"Yes i know the risks but you can not deny the fact that King Archimedes is insane, cruel, and sadistic, he will ruin this nation!" Shining looked furious, if he would ever get his hooves on that king (while he is weakened of course) he would kill him himself.
"Shiny you know i consider you family but what you are asking me to do will mean the death of my men and myself, don't get me wrong i love the sisters and you, while normally i would help you without hesitation but i don't know if my men will agree so eagerly with me." Gryphus replied with a worrying expression and tone.
"They are YOUR men they will listen to you."
"You have to understand that they have minds of their own Shiny, i can't just walk up to them and say 'Get ready we are going to war with King Archimedes' and expect them to listen unquestioningly." Gryphus reasoned, he REALLY did not want mutiny to happen, especially while he's in charge.
"I bet 10 bits they will join if we give them a speech of new rulership, justice for all, as well as peace for years to come, but we can only achieve that peace through war as of right now." Shining spoke from the heart that time, he has had ENOUGH with the King and wishes for the sisters to rule so that all of which he said will happen.
"(heavy sigh), I just don't know Shiny (takes huge gulp of whatever god made this liquid) i mean yes they don't like the King but they fear him to, he is powerful and whatever he wants,...he takes. We might not win Shiny, its a very long shot."
"As that may be, i have faith in the sisters that they will win, and as you said MIGHT not win....that means there's a chance of winning and as long as that chance is there i will fight to my last breath." Shining replied in a strong and determined way.
Gryphus looked at his friend that he considered family with an expression Shining couldn't read.
".....I will talk to my men...but no promises." Gryphus got up from his seat and pointed a claw at Shiny. "I consider you family Shiny but my men are also family and if we lose, i will forget the debt i have and blame you."
Shining smiled at that. "Wouldn't have it any other way buddy, have a safe trip back."
Gryphus patted Shining's back and walked off. "You to brother, you to." And with that he exited the tavern.
Shining sat in silence for a while before he left the tavern and made his way back to the castle. He went through the halls in his blue and gold armor, as well as equiped with his favorite spear, and made his way to the elder sister's room. When he got there he knocked on the door and waited patiently.
Celestia wasn't expecting any visitor's and hesitantly opened the door before opening it all the way when she saw it was only Shining.
"Your majesty." He gave a bow.
"Shining, what a pleasant surprise, i hope you have contacted your....contacts? But please come in and tell me." She stepped aside to let him inside and closed the door behind him, she motioned for a seat in the middle of the room. He then put his spear down by his side with Celestia sitting on the opposite side of the small table.
"Yes i have your majesty, although i was only able to gather one of those contacts and although he, without hesitation, wants to help me, doesn't know if his men will agree so eagerly."
" Ah i see, that is most unfortunate, i gather he is a friend of your's?" Celestia questioned.
"He is more than a friend your majesty, he is a battle brother, and we consider each other family. Back before i became a guard for the King, i was a mercenary for a while and met him during that time. We became friends instantly and battled together ferociously, we were inseparable, but one day we were raiding a griffon bandit camp but he was severely wounded with a cut over his right eye and large scar on his left side, that blade nearly took his wing off, but thankfully he recovered but by then i retired from the mercenary life and became a guard although not by choice, you see the King stumbled our mercenary camp and forced us to work for him or as he said we would suffer the consequences so instead of paying for our services he also did nothing about my friend because he was so severely wounded and he was going to leave him there to die on his own but i pleaded with him and he allowed me to bring him along but only if i carry him the whole way, which of course i did without hesitation and i nursed him back to health, but of course i had help with that and when he finally recovered i stayed but he left due to not wanting to become the King's servant and became his own man or in this case Mercenary band leader. That is how i know him your majesty." Shining finished with a sad sigh.
Celestia had a furious expression. "My father will pay for his crimes in due time, i will make sure of it." Shining would forever note to not make Celestia angry because by Faust above he could have sworn he saw sparks coming from her pink mane.
"Ahem..." Shining cleared his throat VERY hesitantly. "I have no doubt about that your majesty, but i do have a question."
She seemed to calm down albeit slightly. "Ask away."
"If we were to be discovered before any of this start's, what will we do?" Shining asked is a worrying tone.
"I will die before i go to the dungeons." She said through gritted teeth.
Shining thought for a moment. "I will fight with you your majesty if that were to happen, i trust your judgement on when and where we should strike, but all we have to do now is get the people on our side."
"That will be no problem, tomorrow father will be going to one of the stronger griffon tribes to makes peace and possibly ally them, he will be away for maybe four months, that will be enough time to at least get half of the people on our side."
"I don't mean to be rude or disrespectful, but thats if they do wish to join us, or maybe they want to, but are too afraid to do so."
"Then i shall prepare a speech for them, if we are to have peace, justice, and a fair rule we will have to kill my father, and that will be more than enough to get them to side with us." Celestia said in a VERY determined tone of voice.
Shining giggled, then chuckled, then outright laughed at that. To say Celestia was confused was right on the ball.
"S-shining, if i may ask, why are you laughing like you just heard the funniest thing in history?"
Shining the returned back to chuckles then giggling then stopped.
"I-it, heh, is because i said almost the same exact thing to my battle brother,...heh heh... seems like you and i have something in common your majesty."
Celestia grinned and chuckled as well. "It seems we do, now as much as i would like having this friendly chat continue i do wish to prepare that speech Shining." She said in a nice way as well as smiling, to not insult or offend Shining.
"I understand your majesty, i shall remain outside if you need me." Shining got up and gave one last bow before picking up his spear and headed out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Celestia got up as well and walked to her desk that faced the window which overlooked the town. "Hmm, how should i start?" She said as she thought of how to write a speech for the people (or again in this case ponies,)
"Heya!" The sound of a sword slicing against a tree was heard over and over again. Maximus has been practicing his swordplay and form during the time his father was stationed in the Northern Provinces, he wrote regularly to his father while he was away, asking him how everything was to how he could improve in his swordplay as well as archery.
A little away's from Maximus sat Balbina, the servant for the Ordayus family, she silently observed him while he practiced, making sure if he ever got hurt, she was there to help him.
"HAAAAA!" Maximus took another swing at his imaginary opponent...who was the tree. Maximus pulled his sword out of the tree who if was an actual human being, would be dead, and looked towards Balbina.
"You know Balbina, you don't need to be here, i'll be fine, you worry too much about me."
"As i should Maximus, it would be entirely inconvenient for your father to come home to only find out his only son died in a training accident while i was at home doing nothing." She explained
"I'm way more careful than that Balbina, i'm not a screwup, i wouldn't die from a small cut."
"i am talking more of you tripping and landing on your own sword, it would also be highly dishonorable...to die by your own sword...so humiliating." She put her hand on her face to cover it up, as though it already happened.
Maximus gave a chuckle at that. "You really think i would go so far as to fall on my own sword and cause dishonor to my family...er father?"
"I'm not saying you would, i am just saying that it would be awful if you did, that is all."
"Mmm hmm, sure." Maximus gave her a jokingly skeptical look before going back to his training.
Somewhere in the Northern Provinces.
"Cohort's! Aim! Fire!" Regulus exclaimed while on his horse and pointing his sword at the wooded area in front of him and his men.
The Cohort's did as they were told and let their pilum fly. Shouts of pain could be heard from the wooded area as man after man fell to the pilum that seemed to scream 'Certain death for anyone who is in our way!'. The battle against the Cimbri was going well and the Romans knew they had certain victory as Cimbri charged for the Roman line but only meet death by Roman sword and spear.
"Hold that line! If we lose by a bunch of savages i will kill you myself!" Regulus yelled as he slew a Cimbri man that charged for him.
The Cimbri retreated back into the forest for a moment and the Roman's had no idea if they retreated or were regrouping for another charge...it was the latter. The Cimbri retreated only for a moment and regrouped to make one last final and desperate charge.
They charged at the Romans with their axes and swords held high and battle cry's roaring from deep within their throats, and speaking of throats, when the Cimbri finally met the Roman line, throats were slit, guts were well...gutted, and arms were lobbed off as the Romans had the advantage from the higher ground on the hill they were on.
Behind the Roman line and down the small hill, was a village, a fairly small one at that, the Roman's told the villagers to go to the next town for safety but asked the men of said village for men as the extra manpower would help, some men accepted and some men didn't, the men that didn't join them wanted to go because they were too scared. As for the men that joined the Roman ranks they wanted to help fight to keep their family's safe as well but also to get revenge on the Cimbri who raped, murdered, razed fellow Roman villages, with also some with family in said raided villages.
Roman's fell but only a few, villagers fell due to lack of training, armor, and weapons but fought to the last breath and to take as many Cimbri scum they could with them.
The Cimbri fell one after another in an almost futile attempt to kill the Roman's, who were better equipped, and trained.
10 minutes later...
The last of the Cimbri soldiers fell as the Romans started to go on the offensive. Regulus looked bloodied and most of it not his blood, but he did have a few cuts here and there and one of them big enough to heal into a scar but other than that he came out unscathed.
Regulus gave a long sigh then ordered his men to take a body count, starting with their own deceased first then counting Cimbri deceased second.
"I should get this bandaged." Regulus said thoughtfully.
"Uhh Regulus sir..."
"Hmm?" Regulus looked up from his cuts to come face to face with a villager who must have overheard him.
"May i see your wounds sir? I am a fairly decent healer, i learned from my mother before she passed." The unknow villager hesitantly asked.
"If you would please." Regulus gave a nod. The villager asked Regulus to follow him to his home.. They made it there and the villager immediately started to bandage Regulus's wounds.
"Thank you for this uhh...."
"Tiberius sir."
"Ahh thank you for this then Tiberius."
"Think nothing of it sir." Tiberius gave Regulus a smile and nod, and Regulus returned the gesture with a nod as well.
"Well that does it, just be sure to change your bandages regularly, maybe every morning or so." Tiberius put the last touch's before stopping.
"Thank you again Tiberius, your help is very much appreciated." Regulus put his hand out, Tiberius returned the gesture and shook hands.
"No...thank you sir, if it weren't for you and your men we would have surely died. Please...have a safe journey back or wherever you are going next."
"It was my pleasure and thank you for those kind words Tiberius, i am going to see how many of my men have lost their lives today as well as the Cimbri scum, i shall see you Tiberius, and thank you again for this." Regulus gestured to his arms as he said that.
"Think nothing of it sir, and i hope those brave soldiers that fell, will have a warriors funeral."
"They will.....It was nice meeting you Tiberius." Regulus made his way outside.
"As it was nice meeting you sir."
And with that Regulus checked with his men about how many of his men died that day. In total the number of dead Roman soldiers were 38 out of 160 men and the Cimbri that were dead totaled to nearly 240, today the Romans had a glorious victory but they still have a job to do and were going to meet the rest of the regiments even more north than they were now.
What happened today was by chance, Regulus's men encountered a Cimbri raiding force on their way to meet the other regiments, but were stopped mid journey to save a small village by a raid party. When the Roman Cohort's arrived the Cimbri were slain easily. The village men that did survive the battle were resting and waiting for the next day to go and get their own families as well as to tell the other's of how many and who they lost.
The Roman soldier's bid farewell to the village and set off to meet the other regiments.
Regulus pulled out his sword and with a great and loud voice, said. "Forward march!" The sound of metal clanking and feet stomping the earth was heard throughout the forested area. Animal's scurried about, not knowing what was making that noise or what shook the ground so.
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.
"Ugh, this is so frustrating!!!" Celestia powered up her horn and threw the offending piece of paper into a little bucket on the right side of her desk, which promptly fell out due to a overflow of crumpled up papers already inside the little bucket. It has been 3 days since Shining told her that he contacted a friend, and in that time the royal sister's father left for the greater griffon tribes. She has also taken the time to try and write a speech that will motivate the populace, of course she can't give a speech here in canterlot, for the reason being, father has the rest of his army here and a few little armies guarding the border, so she would need to rally up the towns within the border that have no garrison, it was perfect for her as she was to get aid from the people of the Kingdom of Eques. Also during that time, Shining's friend had contacted her personally with his message saying...
Hello Princess Celestia, you don't know me but i am a personal friend of Shining Light. And it has come to my attention that you are going to rebel, and that you are requesting aid and that aid is something i can offer up.
Of course i would need a little compensation, nothing too much i swear, but i AM a Mercenary Commander so i would need that money to buy better weapons, armor, and heck, maybe i could hire a few more men with it.
Also i need guarantee that we will win, my men and i may have joined you but we are in no way expected to win but we are going to damn well try, to the last breath if need be, we have had enough with King Archimedes and his ruling. He is Cruel, Corrupt, Evil, and down right Sadistic.
I have contacted a few of my friends from back in my Merc soldier days and asked them for help...i have yet been replied to. But nonetheless we shall still help you Princess Celestia, even if they do not join i do have a plan that might work, and if you would like to hear it please tell Shining Light to contact me, he will know where and how to do it.
Of course you may be wondering why you can't contact me yourself, well your majesty its frankly because i don't really trust the middleman er messenger, but i don't think you need to use one since you have magic but still i am a little wary of magic...its what got me nearly killed you see.
But i wish you all the best during these times and may Faust be with you, your majesty.
Sincerely, Gryphus
"Hmm Gryphus, very...i guess unique name, i wonder if he is a Griffon...i have a sneaking suspicion he is. But nonetheless he is requesting money for his men, very bold of you i must say Gryphus, i guess i can round up some bits for him." Celestia she read it and was now talking to herself, a habit that she picked up from her mother before she died.
Celestia was interrupted from her thoughts by a knock on the door, she quickly hid the letter inside a secret compartment that was inside the desk for safe keeping. She then got up and went towards the door, she opened it to reveal Luna.
"Ah Lulu it is nice to see you." Celestia opened the door fully to allow her sister to pass through.
"It is nice to see you to Tia." Luna smiled and made her way to a pillow on the floor to sit, Celestia did the same and sat across from her.
"Lulu? What's wrong? You seem so sad, did something happen?" Celestia questioned.
"Huh? Oh no nothing happened, i was just thinking..." Luna looked at her hooves like they were the most interesting thing in the world at the moment.
"Thinking about what?"
"About all this...the rebellion.....father.....mother." Luna said the last part quietly but it was loud enough for Celestia to hear still.
Celestia's ears drooped, mimicking her sister. "Did you dream about her again?" Luna just nodded. Celestia nodded her head also, then got up and sat by her sister and laid her chin on Luna's head.
"Mother is proud of you Lulu, she is proud of both of us rebelling against father. Know that she is with Faust and that she is watching over us, guiding us, helping us through this Lulu." Celestia kissed her sisters head and rubbed her back with a hoof, comforting her.
"I know Tia, but how shall we win against father? He is really powerful, how are we supposed to win against him? I'm having second thoughts about this."
"Lulu we will win against father and we will lead this Kingdom to peace like in the stories you read. But this will be real, and we're the main characters. And hey you never know, maybe have a prince to call your own someday." Luna blushed while Celestia giggled.
"I am only joking little Lulu. But now on to more important matter." Celestia giggled and then went back to her seat across from Luna. (er pillow i guess i mean same thing right?)
"Like what?" Luna tilted her head.
"Like how Shining Light contacted his friend and said friend contacted me saying he will join us." Celestia said with giddiness.
"Really!? We got out first supporter!? Is he alone though or does he have men to use?" Luna had the biggest grin on her face when she heard that.
"He has men although i don't know how many, he didn't really say. But he he did say he was contacting some of his own friends from back in the day, but thing is...he is asking for compensation for his men and himself. He said he wants the money to buy better weapons, armor, and men if he has enough left."
"He wants money if we wish for him to join?"
"I don't think so, i think he may still join us even if we don't give him the money, he is only asking for it for his men."
"I can understand that." Luna nodded her head thoughtfully.
"(sigh) How about we talk about something else. Like, how was your day Lulu? Eventful?"
"Not really i only read a little bit and that was it other than eating." Luna chuckled
Celestia laughed with her, but suddenly stopped. "Oh right i need to write my speech!"
"Oh right the speech, how is that coming along?"
"I. Am. Dreading it." Celestia put on an unamused face. "It is so hard to write, i haven't even wrote one sentence."
"Ouch, do you want me to help you? I mean i AM the one who came up with the idea of the rebellion." Luna jokingly said.
Celestia just rolled her eyes. "I had the idea to, but i just didn't say anything about it." Celestia closed her eyes then puckered up her lips and then looked up to the ceiling, with only one opened eye towards her sister.
"Pfft whatever, i at least said something about it, so there." Luna stuck her tongue out.
"(Heavy sigh) Whatever i don't even care anymore, and to answer your question, yes you can help me with it."
"Well lets get started on it and maybe we will be able to use it during the festival which is in 3 weeks." Luna said thoughtfully.
"Oh right i totally forgot about that, yes we can use it then."
"And the world says i'm the younger sister." Luna chuckled knowing full well she was starting a war with her sister.
"Oh whatever Lulu i only forgot one simple detail, i would have thought of it.....eventually." Celestia looked from left to right then back to her sister.
"Riiggghhhttt." Luna smiled and narrowed her eyes.
"Well i would have, if you didn't already think of it." She stuck her tongue out this time.
"Yes exactly, me, myself, and i thought of it, nopony else did." Luna was treading dangerous territory now.
Celestia narrowed her eyes. "You know....i still have yet to give you punishement from last time." She will always remember that blackberry juice incident, she was getting it out of her hair for HOURS.
"Y-you still r-remember that?" Luna's hooves were shaking.
"Oh yes i do." Celestia got up slowly. "And i will get revenge Lulu." She slowly walked up to her sister and lowered her head to her ear and whispered. "You better start running dear sister."
If you were there you could have sworn Luna was a bullet and not a pony by how fast she got up and left the room.
"Get back here if you want to live Lulu!!!"
"Never!!!"
And Luna shall forever remember what happens when she messes with her sister...albeit very painfully.
Meanwhile one the outskirts of the Equestrian border...
"Sir! The scouts reported that the Griffon settlement Torosis is ahead, but there is a canyon ahead of us and is blocking our passage there." One of the King's guard saluted whilst he told his king the news.
The King looked up from his chess board that was in the middle of the makeshift tent to stare into the guard's eyes. "Is that so?" Archimedes inquired.
"Y-yes sir and they also report that there is a small Griffon village just west of us but is no immediate threat." The Guard's legs were shaking a little as he spoke. Cloudy Skies always hated talking to the king because he fears he will will become angry and attack said king but ultimately fail as his corpse twitches on the floor as the rest of his blood is spilled to make a pool around his body, and yes he thinks way too much into it now that he thinks about it.
"Send a kill team there to get rid of it...and i want no survivors, we will go around the canyon due west and while that pitiful village is burning along with the bodies, i want all of the money we find as well as anything else useful to be stored." Archimedes said without hesitation and looked back at the chess board with a hoof on his goateed chin in thought, then he made a move which put his imaginary opponent into checkmate and smiled at the small victory.
"But...sir...they are of no threat, there is no need to do that. We can just go around peacefully." Cloudy looked concerned as he said this.
Archimedes smile faded in one instant then turned slowly with an un-amused expression on his face towards the now shaking body of the poor guard who just questioned his order.
"Are you questioning my judgement...Guard ?" He spat out the sentence with malice VERY evident.
"N-n-no of course n-n-not sir i-i-i was m-merely suggesting it. I will round a kill team up r-right now my king." Cloudy then bowed shakily and left like an arrow leaving a bow.
"That's what i thought." Archimedes said to himself while he put the chess pieces back to their rightful place to begin another game of chess.
Two furry bodies flew right into a bush in the middle of the night.
"Is that it?" One of them spoke.
"I think so, i mean i don't see any other village out here....do you see any other village?" The second one spoke with much sarcasm.
"Ok ok....fine lets just get this over with, im hungry." Just as the first one said that his stomach growled.
The second one rolled his eyes. "Yeah.....I can see...er hear that."
The first one grinned sheepishly. "I'll go get the other's, wait here and don't do anything stupid."
"Ok MOM ."
"Huh? Oh no you're mom isnt here right now....shes back at the camp sleeping in my cot." The first chuckled and flew off before he had to face the wrath of the second one.
The second one looked back at the village that they were suppose to raid, and was told to leave no survivors. "Bucking Berry Strong...(grumble grumble) gonna have his flanked kicked when he gets back that's for sure." Armored Guard's ears perked up at the sound of a crying baby. When he looked for the noise he finally spotted the mother trying to calm the little tike down through her window, he adopted a saddened look as he watched and thought how they were supposed to leave no one alive and when the king say's no one he means NO ONE, not even the children.
"I may kill the adults but Faust strike me down if i ever lay my hand upon a child, i may be a killer but i still have morals. " He looked at the grass beneath his hooves as he thought about his own son back in Shoeston which was a small village a little bit south of Canterlot, not a big one mind you but still a nice village where everyone knows everyone.
"Oi Armored." A voice to his right said, which made him jump and almost scream bloody murder but thankfully due to training, didn't and was about to draw his sword when he saw it was only Berry.
"Dear Faust Berry, you scared me so bad even my soul was about to leave me due to fright....what the tartarus were you thinking, sneakin up on me like that. I could have killed you dang it."
Berry was still chuckling but then went serious face. "The rest of them are ready and the Captain wants us in the rank's, as of now the raid is commencing."
"Let's not keep the Captain waitin then eh?" Armored took flight with Berry in tow.
"You excited for this? I know i am!" Berry exclaimed while pumping his hooves in the air.
"Yeah...killing....so excited and i just can't hide it..." Armored deadpanned.
"Aww come on don't be like that i mean hey they started the war and its not like we are gonna kill the children....right?"
"When the king said leave no one alive...what do you think he meant by that Berry?" Armored looked over his...well armor padded shoulder to look at his dark green colored friend he knew since he began his training.
"I mean i don't know i guess kill the adults but come on....the kids? Do we really have to?" Berry wasn't much of a kid killer either albeit a little less so than Armored since he didn't have kids of his own.
"The King want's no one alive...he said so...but that doesn't me WE have to...just that everyone else has to." Armored thought to himself of how he should pray to Faust for the children to be safe under her watchful eye after the raid is all over.
Berry lost his usual smirk and put a saddened frown on instead. "Hey we're here and just in time." Berry looked at the pegasi in the sky (A/N i seriously did not mean to rhyme there i seriously didn't) who were in formation but stationary.
"Thank Faust you finally made it, i thought i was gonna fall and hit dirt for how long i've been flappin here." The Captain of the 17th Pegasi Wing said to Armored and Berry as they looked just the tiniest bit scared.
"Sorry it took so long sir, it won't happen again." Armored saluted and stood, as much as he could while in flight, at attention.
The Captain just nodded at this. "Yes i hope so or else im going to have you do 200 WING push-up's for the next week." He sternly said.
Armored and Berry gulped at the punishment they would receive if they delayed them again.
"Get to your formation...we leave in 2 minutes." The Captain pointed a hoof at their respective formation in the rear...away from the children slaying teams (or so they just now called them) up front and released a breath of relief.
"Right away sir!" They said in unison while saluting and went to the rear formation to well.....form up.
The Captain flew his way into the front of everyone (i guess everypony but whatever *shrugs*) and put on a stern face.
"Alright gents this is it, get ready to kill, kill, and kill." This earned a few snickers from the soldier's.
"We will fly high where the Griffon's can't see us then when i give the order....kill anything you see and when its all done... look for survivors and kill them to. The King said NO ONE is to survive and i want to make sure he isn't disappointed...do you flying parasites want to disappoint the King?" He asked questioningly.
They all shook their heads and hastily said 'no'. The Captain smiled. "Good, that's what i like to hear, now MOVE OUT!!!."
The sound of wings flapping filled the air as they ascended into the cloudy sky. It was 5 minutes into the flight when the captain halted them right above the village. He lowered his voice so the griffon menace wouldn't hear him. "Alright on my go, we will attack. Ok here we go. 3...2...1....ATTACK!!!!!" The 100 Royal Guard kill team descended onto the surprised griffon village. The sound of flesh being torn open was everywhere, as well as the smell of fresh blood filled everyone's and everypony's nostrils in this gruesome massacre. Scream's of pain and suffering filled the ears of everyone and everything.
The surprised griffon militia stood no chance against the well prepared and organized pony kill team, many were gutted, decapitated, some tried to flee but were only met with arrow's in their back's. The griffon elder tried to flee as well and with some griffon guards but a squad of archer's made sure no one escaped or lived.
The Captain was fighting a militia griffon when an arrow flew through the air and hit the griffon's neck, which gave the Captain enough time to stab his sword into the poor griffon. After the Griffon fell in a state of fear and shock the Captain finished him off with another 3 stabs to the heart and looked over to where that arrow came from and saw Armored with a bow and saluting to him before he went back into the fray.
The sound of babies crying and children screaming for their parents were drowned out by the screaming of the Griffon adults being slaughtered, after 15 minutes into the massacre, all that was left were the remaining children that survived the initial attack and were currently hiding either behind their parents corpses or were inside their houses hiding in cabinets and other various things, but were ultimately killed like the rest of their fellow Griffon's.
Armored and Berry were true to their word and did not lay a hoof on the children but it still broke their hearts hearing the youngs ones crying then the next second it going silent. Armored went so far as to shed a few tears for them, Berry looked saddened but didn't cry like his friend. They finally got out of their bad mood and started rummaging through houses with some Guard's doing the same, searching for anything useful as well as money that the king wanted to add to his ever growing treasury.
10 minutes later...
"Alright so we lost 23 men and the Griffon's....well they lost everyone. Alright men we got everything we could get so lets head on back and we'll bury the fallen when we come back, so get ready to move out in an hour."
"Sir yes sir!" The Guard's sounded in unison.
"I need 2 Guard's to fly ahead of us and report to the king of what transpired today, actually...Armored Guard, Berry Strong!!!" The Captain shouted. The 2 guards galloped towards the Captain and saluted.
"Yes sir!" They said at the same time.
"I need you two to go and report to the king, here are the papers saying of everything that happened here...now fly and fly fast!" He handed (hooved i guess?) them the papers which Armored put in his saddlebag. They saluted one last time before taking flight towards their camp.
At Camp King... (such original name righ?) At Midnight... (Just FYI think of the Merc camp a few chaps ago and picture it with this except with no stage and the everyone inside the camp is a pony. I know....i'm lazy but hey it fits.)
The sound of flapping could be heard from outside of King Archimedes tent. Two Guards entered and saluted. The King raised a brow at this, since normally a Guard would ask to enter before coming in. It looked like they forgot.
"Ah sorry sir we forgot to ask um... May we enter sir?" Berry chuckled very nervously. Armored Guard stood there thinking of the worst things that could happen to him.
The King smiled devilishly at them, and that smile shook them to the core. "And...what kind of unannounced intrusion is this?" He was already thinking of ways to punish them.
The two Guards just gulped and stood still, too scared to answer him until Armored found the courage to speak up. "Very sorry your highness, um we brought the report of what happened at the village we raided." Armored cleared his throat and opened his saddlebag, then took the papers out and put them in front of the King on his desk.
"Hmm...good job my pets, see to it you eat and rest. Because tomorrow you two will experience tartarus for intruding upon my tent without permission. I will see to it you two will never forget ever again of how you should enter my quarters." The King sneered with a very evil grin which seems only he can conjure up.
The guards eyes bugged out but they eventually nodded knowing they will not escape punishment.
"Oh and before i forget, bring me a bottle of wine and 3 mares and bring them to my "special" tent ...i wish to forget this night through booze and sex."
The Guards looked at each other with a knowing smile. They saluted. "Yes sir of course sir." Berry said. And with that they left to get the wine and mares.
"The King is going to be a happy King....lucky son of a-" Before Berry could finish his sentence, the sound of giggling could be heard from the tent in front of them, which let them know they already made it to their destination.
Berry looked towards the tent and back towards the Kings tent a few times. "He is seriously 20 feet away...how come WE are supposed to get them if he is seriously a walk away...lazy son of a-" Before he finished Armored already entered.
"Oh come on!" Berry threw his hooves up in the air (and waved them like he just didn't care....sorry couldn't help myself) then went inside. Upon entering a very awkward site had situated itself between Armored and a few mares. They brought along the mares for "Support/Relaxation" purposes, everyone has to relax at some point well, the single ones anyway as well as a few cheating married Guards.
"Uh...this isn't what it looks like i swear to Faust." Armored was on his back on a mattress with almost all the mares inside the tent surrounding him. (About 10-15 of them)
Berry narrowed his eyes then looked at Armored with an evil glint in his eye. "Ooh...i wonder what Star Streak would think of this if i told her." Berry had a hoof at his mouth to try to keep himself from outright laughing.
Armored thought his eyes would pop out of his sockets if they bugged out any further but then adopted the most hateful look he could muster in his position. Ah if looks could kill... "You wouldn't dare." That one sentenced dripped with so much malice you could think of it as a water cooler filled with malice and take one huge gulp of it.
"Oh but would i?" Berry wiggled his eyebrows.
"Come on Berry...we're friends plus this isn't my fault in the slightest. But if she were to hear of this i wouldn't die of battle i would die of being murdered.....by my wife!!!" The mares just giggled through the whole ordeal but eventually backed off.
"Ahh...i see you come here for different reasons Guard." One of the mares said.
Armored looked over to the one that spoke and saw a dark purple earth pony with a dark purple mane with teal streaks in it. Oh if only he wasn't married...
"Um...yes i did come here for different reasons. The King ordered us to get 3 mares and a bottle of wine and said for us to bring them to his...(gulp) "special" tent." He said with uncertainty.
"Of course. I shall send 3 of my best immediately with a bottle of our best wine."
Armored and Berry saluted and exited the tent.
Berry was suddenly thrown onto the ground, with Armored towering over him. "That was for making me think you would actually tell her that you buck head."
Berry groaned more and stood up with a shaky hooves with one of them holding his stomach. "Ok ya i deserved that..." Another groan of pain came from him. "Armored i think you broke a rib...if you did imma take you to court."
"Pfft whatever, your name isn't Berry Strong for nothing."
"Its just a name plus just because Berry is a close to Very doesn't mean i am super strong or can take a hit all willy nilly."
Armored just rolled his eye's. "Come on lets go back to our tent. I'm tired plus i gotta rest my shoulder, think i did something to it during the raid." He rolled his shoulder for emphasis.
"Nah you go on ahead."
"Why? You in too much pain you can't move?" Armored looked at Berry with a raised brow.
"No, no, nothing like that but unlike you...i'm not married." He chuckled as he said that but immediately regretted it when his stomach pain came back full force.
"Alright, just don't come crying to me when you get a broken pelvis...those mares aren't merciful."
"Oh and how would you know hmm?" He poked Armored with an elbow with a playful look.
Armored ignored that comment. "Before i was put into this unit i was in another one and a friend of mine from back then, did that and came back to the tent crying cause they broke his pelvis into bits...poor guy, couldn't ever have kids even if he tried after that." Armored shuddered just thinking about it.
Berry looked shocked then his shocked looked slowly began to look like happiness. "Oh buck ya baby!!!" Armored's brow raised up as much as it would allow.
"Are you serious? I just told you that you could get your pelvis broken into bits because of those mares."
"Doesn't matter, death by sex is the best!!!"
"No! Not death! You will be broken! That's even worse!" Armored could NOT believe Berry just said that.
A voice from some tent sounded out. "Will! You! Two! Shut the buck up! Ponies are trying to sleep here!!!"
Armored cringed and answered back. "Sorry!"
"I'm just gonna go on ahead." Armored moved his head toward's their tent's general direction.
"Yeah you do that, imma see if i can get some tonight." Berry chuckled perversely.
"Yeah...have fun getting your pelvis shattered. Don't come back with one for if you do.......i will say i told you so, so many times..."
Berry waved a hoof dismissively. "Yeah yeah i got it, just go already."
Armored started walking off saying goodnight to his friend after the good nights were said Berry went back into the tent.
The night was filled with moans and screams from quite a few tents that night. Some got to sleep with the suggestive noise not bothering them while some stayed up all night and didn't get a wink of sleep. And some chose to stay up oh for i don't know..."Various" reasons...
At Canterlot the next day...(afternoon)
Gryphus looked up the artwork of the painting's on the wall and the architecture of the magnificent hallway he was currently striding in. "This is a nice place. 'Get a castle that is as awesome as this' is now added to my 'Do/get this before i die' list" He said to himself.
He was currently in the main hallway which lead to the throne room, he was also being escorted by two Elite Royal Guard's who wore black and gold armor with it covering their entire body with the exception of their mane and tail. The two Guard's were a Unicorn and a Earth pony with the Unicorn on his right and the Earth pony on his left.
"How much does a castle like this cost, like just building it as well as the art and design of it?" Gryphus asked his escorts.
The Unicorn didn't reply but the Earth pony did, with a baritone and gravelly voice. "Enough in which you could raid and rob and steal all you like and still never even reach 5 percent of the cost to build this place.....i'm basically saying you will never be able to if your tiny Griffon mind couldn't process that." He said while still staring and walking ahead.
Gryphus knew better than to retort and just glared daggers or in his case claymore's (The sword, not the claymore from COD) at the guard's back. The Guard didn't nothing but chuckle a tiny bit.
The Guard's stopped when they reached the throne room door. Gryphus almost bumped into them when they made the sudden stop since he wasn't looking to where he was going.
The Guard that gave him the insult spoke first. "We're here." The Guard's then proceeded to move o the side of the doors like how normal guards should and turned around to face Gryphus.
"I'm warning you just this once Griffon. Do anything to the Princesses and i will execute you personally." The unicorn said with much hate evident in his voice.
Gryphus proceeded to salute and stick his tongue out with mock determination. "Aye aye sir Unicorn."
"Get in there before i change my mind and do it now you dumb hybrid." He sneered through his helmet.
"Hurryin!" The Guard's opened the massive door which was painted of white, and blue with gold as the finishing touch.(A/N And when i mean gold i mean actual gold, not the paint color....just FYI.)
Gryphus went through the massive doors and proceeded to look around as the said doors closed behind him. The throne room consisted of pillars on either side of the red carpet leading to the Throne chairs. The large spherical ceiling was high and had all sorts of artwork done to it.
He was then interrupted from appreciating pony architecture by a female voice.
"Ah and you must be Gryphus. It is nice to meet you, it is not common for a...Mercenary to enter here." Celestia spoke from her throne. (A/N she is actually on her father's throne since she was put in charge while he was gone. Archimedes may be evil but even he needs someone to look after his kingdom while he's away on so-called "Business".)
Gryphus then looked towards the White Alicorn and her sister who was standing to her left of the throne chair. (Is it just Throne or Throne chair? i don't know...)
"Your majesty's. (bow) Is it an honor to be here, thank you for inviting me. And your majesty, i think you mean Griffons." Gryphus gave Celestia a knowing smile.
Celestia chuckled at being caught. "You are correct. But i wasn't wrong either since Mercenary's are rarely here. But now onto more serious matters, shall we go to my quarters for a more...private conversation. We do not want anypony or anyone to overhear now would we?" Gryphus just smiled.
"Of course not your majesty. But i do have one favor." He held up a claw and with one talon pointing upwards.
Celestia raised her brow. "And what might this favor be?"
"Could i get some ale? I am rather parched." Gryphus smiled again and wasn't the only one smiling when Celestia smiled with him.
Celestia chuckled. "Oh but of course i shall have a servant to get it right away and send it to my room. If there are no more questions shall we go to my quarters now?"
"Right behind ya your majesty." Celestia and Luna then left through the double doors on their right of the Throne room with Gryphus right behind them as well as 3 Elite guard's that were on the opposite side of the double doors. The first two on either side of Celestia and Luna with the 3rd one behind Gryphus.
Gryphus whistled at the hallway in all of its magnificent architecture. "This really is a nice place i have to admit."
Celestia smiled at this but kept looking forward. "Yes it is magnificent isn't it?"
"It make's me wonder what kind of castle the old one was." Luna finally spoke.
"I wish i knew as well but that was before our time. More like father's." Celestia replied.
"Another castle? Since when?" Gryphus inquired.
"Oh it's an old castle in the middle of Trottingham forest. Its about maybe 2 or 3 centuries old, so before our time."
"I see." The rest of the walk was in relative silence but eventually made it to their destination.
"Guard's please wait outside while we discuss certain matters." Celestia said as she opened the door for Luna and Gryphus to go through.
The guard right next to Celestia spoke up. "But your majesty he's...a Griffon." He whispered the last part.
Celestia raised a brow with an unamused expression. "He's a Griffon that i invited and will be treated as a guest. I will not have tolerance for ponies who talk behind his back." Celestia frowned slightly.
"(sigh) Yes of course your majesty. We will be outside if you need assistance." He then saluted.
Celestia nodded and entered her room then closed the door with a slight *click* and locked it. The guards then went into a pyramid formation outside the door.
"So what do you think they are talking about?" Said the pegasus guard to the left.
"Tartarus if i know." Said the unicorn to the right.
"Will you two shut up? We're guard's, we're paid to stand still, shut up and Guard! So shut up and Guard !" The Earth pony seethed. The two Guard's immediately stood at attention and shut up, they really don't like to think what kind of stuff their lieutenant would do to them if they kept talking.
Rewriting phase is completed but i am gonna take a small break (just one day) to rest my tired hands. So expect a chap some time on tuesday or wednesday :D you don't HAVE to reread the last 8 chapters, i only changed a few things like grammar and spelling as well as added a few tidbits of dialogue and i PM'd the admin from the Proofreader Group since i was told to if i wanted to add my story to the proofreading list but i have yet to receive a reply.
But anyway have a wonderful day/night :D
The group of three sat in the middle of Celestia’s room where it had four pillow’s to sit on as well as a table in the middle of the pillow’s. Celestia and luna sat on one side while Gryphus sat on the opposite side with a mug of alcohol in one claw.
“That is some good stuff if i do say so myself.” Gryphus grinned. “And i do.” He chuckled.
Celestia chuckled along with him. “As much as it would be fun to talk about alcohol.” She grinned. “Could we go along more serious matters. Like the rebellion and the plan you were talking about in the letter you sent me.”
“Ah, yes, of course, but i’ll need something first.”
“And what is that?”
“Money.” He rubbed his right talons together. (You know like the italians when they speak except rubbing them together if you didn't catch on.)
Celestia used her magic to levitate a bag of coins from beside her.
“Of course, as a Mercenary such as yourself i do understand.”
Gryphus grabbed the sack from Celestia’s magic hold on it and smiled when he opened it to see the bag’s contents.
“Oh yes, this will do nicely. Thank you for your cooperation.” He then smiled towards the sister’s.
“It was all that i could round up on such short notice.”
“Oh but it is enough. Now that i am well payed for i shall share my plan with you, only if you are willing to listen.”
Luna frowned slightly. “Isn't that what we payed you for?”
Gryphus laughed. “Oh, yes, of course what is this Griffon brain thinking?” He then cleared his throat and set his mug of liquid made from Faust herself down onto the table.
“The plan is basically an assassination. Not really a plan but more of a mission, i have just the Griffon to do it too since he’s done it before… many times in fact.” He put a claw on his chin and looked away in thought as he said the last part.
“Assassination? Sister how come we haven't thought of that yet?” Luna questioned.
“I don't kn-” Celestia was cut off from the giggling of the Griffon across from them.
“It is because you two lack the experience of war. I mean no offense by it but you two lack it… by a large margin.” And to emphasize his point he opened his arms wide pointing to one wall to the other.
“I guess we would have to depend on you for tactical support then.” Celestia frowned slightly.
“Yes i guess you would need me… hmm *wiggles his beak from one side to the other* oh well we'll cross that bridge if the assassination fail’s.”
“If father were to die the people would serve us without question since we are next in line to inherit the Kingdom!” Luna realized.
“That’s exactly why i said to assassinate him in the first place your majesty.” He winked towards her.
“If the assassination does fail we do have a castle, as we mentioned earlier, in the Trottingham forest. You can station your men there. It has moat surrounding it and the only way in is the drawbridge. Although… there is an exit but it has not been used in a long time, as well as the drawbridge so i do not know if they are in good enough condition to venture through.”
“And what of this exit ?” Gryphus inquired.
“It is a tunnel that leads to the edge of the forest although it can only be open from inside the tunnel and the only way into the tunnel is inside the castle.”
“Hmm, that is fine i guess but if we were to be attacked at the castle it would be a death trap since siege equipment could destroy us if the tunnels were to collapse during a siege. And if you do not know what this castle looks like, how do you know all of this?” Gryphus questioned since Luna said she wondered what it looked like.
“Have you ever heard of Star Swirl the Bearded?”
“Oh him? Yeah i've met him before.”
“You have?!? What is he like???” Luna exclaimed.
Gryphus chuckled. “I do not know, we only said a few words and then parted ways. More like me bumping into him in a marketplace and saying excuse me.” Gryphus laughed at the downtrodden Luna.
“But yes i have sort of met him, but what does that have to do with anything your majesty?”
“He actually explored it since it has been abandoned when the pony tribes united.”
“Ah, i see, and how did you learn of this?”
“In his book. It’s in my father’s study.”
“Has your father read it?”
“...” Celestia’s eyes only widened.
“I will take that as a yes. We will not be able to use it since your father knows of it. It will be a problem if we are under siege and we use the tunnel’s only to be captured or killed by Guards surrounding the exit .”
“That is a wise observation.”
Gryphus grinned. “I try.”
“If we cannot use the castle, where shall we stay?”
“I have a camp outside the border of this Kingdom, only problem is, is that it’s in one of the Griffon tribe’s territory. The elder has accepted us there since we are Mercenaries but i do not know if he will accept the daughters of the King in his land.”
“Even if we were to start a rebellion against him?” Luna inquired.
“Yes, the King is not very much liked in the Griffon tribes.”
“I can understand that but what about us? Would they still not like us even if we start a rebellion against him?”
“Like i said he is not liked among the Griffon’s and when i say not liked i mean like ‘We will nail the king to a stake and burn him’ not liked.”
“Ah… i see.” Celestia said.
“Yeah… so we would have to find a place that is neutral and use it as our base.”
“Very well, but you and your men would have to look for it since we do not have an army of our own except for yours.”
“I understand that and so i shall send some pegasus scout’s to look for territory that we can control.”
“You have ponies in your army? Oh nevermind i guess that is to be expected since they are mercenaries.” Celestia said and Gryphus only chuckled.
“Shall i do it right away your majesties?”
“You may.”
Gryphus ten put an evil grin to his beak. “I can not wait for this war.”
Celestia and Luna said nothing out of shock of the quick transition from a laughing and fun loving Griffon to a war loving insane Griffon.
“I will see you when i see you your majesties.” He got up and bowed and took one last gulp of his ale and exited the room.
“Well that was-” Celestia was about to speak but was interrupted but the door opening.
“Ah forgot to ask, but, uh, where is Shiny?” Gryphus had only his head in the doorway.
“Um, he should be in his quarters in the Military Camp outside the city. If he isn’t then you would have to ask the other Guards.”
“Ah ok thank you.”
Celestia just nodded and Gryphus left for good this time.
“As i was saying, that was an interesting conversation.”
“Mmm, indeed it was Tia.”
“Shall i order some tea?”
“Could um… nevermind.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Could i have some ale? I was wondering what it tasted like.”
“No… too young dear sister.”
“But, Tiiiaaa.” Luna whined.
“No mean’s no Lulu."
Luna then gave Celestia the most cutest puppy dog eyes she could muster.
Celestia turned her head away in fear of what could happen if she looked into those pitiful eyes. Luna then moved so she would be in front of Celestia. Celestia turned her head again and this went on for three more minutes till Celestia couldn't take it anymore.
“Ok! Ok! fine… fine i'll get your stupid ale.” Celestia sighed in defeat.
“Yay!” Luna pumped a hoof into the air. But then noticed Celestia had an evil grin.
“Oh no did i say your ale? I meant mine.”
“But… but, you said-”
“I meant i would get myself ale and you would get tea but you can only have sips, not a full glass, only a few sips and that’s it. You are still too young to drink freely.”
“Oh come on!” Luna frowned and pouted.
“Cheer up at least be happy i'm giving you any at all.”
“Hmph.” Luna then made a belly flop of her sisters bed.
Celestia rolled her eyes. “What am i going to do with you Lulu.” She thought.
Meanwhile in the Military Camp outside the city…
Gryphus was walking toward the barrack gates before being stopped by a Guard.
“Halt!” The Guard in iron armor (think of the Royal Guards in canon but replace their gold armor with iron or steel) walked a few steps before pointing his spear at the large Griffon in front of him.
Gryphus took a few steps back and held out a claw. “Woah, woah there you bronco, i’m not gonna hurt anyone er… anypony. I'm actually here to talk to a buddy of mine, his name is Shining Light, go get him and tell him that Gryphus is waiting for him. He'll tell yeah i'm ok.”
The Guard glared at him before looking to his left and ordering the other Guard that was with him to get Shining Light.
“But sir-”
“I’ll be fine, go get him private .”
“Yes sir!” The Guard then galloped into the Camp to find the stallion.
The Guard still had his spear pointed at him with hatred in his eyes, but Gryphus couldn't see them due to the helmet.
“Soo…” Gryphus was a little nervous on the outside for appearances, but on the inside he was thinking of plans to escape if attacked unexpectedly.
The Guard just grunted at him.
“What is a Griffon doing all the way out here?” The Guard questioned.
“Um, i sorta just mentioned why i was here a minute ago… didn't you hear me? I said i was here to talk to a friend of mine. We used to be in the same Mercenary Band, he also saved my life.”
“You're a Mercenary?” The Guard stopped pointing his spear at Gryphus but was still on high alert.
Gryphus chuckled then put a smug grin on his beak.
“Well i’m not just any old Mercenary… i'm a Mercenary Band Commander , with 300 men to my name. But that 300 will go up in a few weeks when i hire some more men. Speaking of which.” Gryphus looked at the young lieutenant of a Guard and smiled.
“W-why are you looking at me like that?”
“I was just wondering if you ever thought of being a Mercenary. That’s all… wanna be a Merc my good pony?” Gryphus inquired.
The young Guard was about to answer him when both him and Gryphus turned their heads to the sound of galloping hooves on the dirt road. (The reason i say clopping was because theres a few stone slabs here and there in and outside the Military Camp.)
“Hey Shiny, how ya been?” Gryphus put on a smile and waved.
“Hey Gryphus, i’m doing good how about you? You speak to-” Shining stopped asking that question when he saw the two Guards staring at them.
“You know what how about we hit the tavern and talk huh?”
“Sure thing, i could use another drink.”
At the tavern…
Gryphus and Shining are sitting at a table in the corner of the tavern although they would have rather sat at the bar, the ponies inside the bar, including the bartender, are wary of the rather large Griffon so they thought it best that they take a corner table.
Gryphus took another huge gulp of his drink with a loud ‘Ahh’.
“That really does- *hic* hit the spot amiright?”
Shining chuckled and took a sip of his own drink.
“Sure does Gryphus. You know i really surprised you wanted to meet me here in Canterlot, should have told me to go the Bucking Bronco, much more friendly place than this.” The Bucking Bronco (as i should have said earlier) is outside the city and is considered neutral ground for all races. No matter who you are, you are guaranteed a drink and a good meal. If you are one to cause problems, be sure to pack enough armor to sustain any kind of hit since no one inside the bar has tolerance for trouble makers.
“Eh, i don’t really care, besides this ale is this best since its made right here in the city.” For emphasis he took another huge gulp which finished the drink and ordered another one from a passing waiter whose legs shook on the way to the bar and back. Gryphus then pulled out a bag, but hid it enough so no one could see it clearly, and gave the waiter 10 coins.
“T-t-thank you sir.” The waiter was surprised when he got the money.
“No problem.” Gryphus just smiled. The waiter returned his smile and walked off.
“And here i thought you were greedy.” Shining chuckled.
“Meh, i am, just thought the guy could use the money.” Gryphus took another gulp.
“So… you speak to the sisters yet?”
“Yeah, we finished talkin and then i came to see you.”
“How’d it go?”
“Pretty good.” Gryphus smiled. “Who do you think i got the money from?” Gryphus patted his wing where the bag was hanging from. (Inside his wing and hanging on a feather. Yes before you comment ‘THATS IMPOSSIBLE DUE TO LOGIC SINCE A FEATHER COULD BE TORN OFF SINCE THE BAG IS HEAVY WITH GOLD’ i just want to say i don’t care, thats how i wrote it and thats how it’s gonna happen XP)
“Oh come on Gryph, just because you’re a Merc doesn't mean you can hassle the sister’s into giving you money for your men.”
“When you put it like that you make it sound like i run a brothel.” Gryphus grinned and took another swig of the liquid made from Faust’s hooves themselves. (I think you already know this but no she did not make it herself i meant it as Gryphus thinking that >.> just fyi)
Shining snorted then chuckled. “You know what i mean Gryph.”
“Yeah i do but that was funnier. And for your information i happen to need weapons, armor, and some more men since… we are going up against the King himself.” Gryphus put a claw to the side of his beak and whispered the last part.
“I see.”
“But i will only use it if the assassination plan fails.”
“Assassination? Of who?”
Gryphus stared at Shining with an expressionless face. “You’re an idiot.” He deadpanned.
He ignored the insult. “Assassination of the King?”
“Yup.”
“If it does fail at least we have that castle. Did the sister’s tell you about it?”
“Yes and i disagreed with them since its a death trap, so i suggested finding a neutral ground and take it for ourselves and build there.”
“Why do you say its a death trap?”
“It has a moat with only one entrance and if we are attacked we have two ways out .”
“What do you mean by that?”
“The castle has a secret tunnel that leads to the edge of the forest, i don’t know where though, and the exit can only be opened on the inside of the tunnel.”
“Oh yeah i guess i see the reasoning behind that. Since there’s only one entrance its good for us since we could destroy or pull up the bridge but then they could just use catapults. But then again if that happens we leave through the tunnels.”
“Star Swirl the Bearded checked it out and put that info in a book, and that book is inside the King’s study which he read. So if we station there, he knows of the exit and will put Guard’s on it. So if we escape using the tunnel’s we would either be killed or captured by the stationed Guard’s.”
“That’s a really good observation, guess the Merc Commander life changed your way of thinking didn’t it?” Shining chuckled and took a swig of his own drink.
“Well-” Gryphus was cut off by a glass hitting the wall next to him.
“Oi! Who threw that!” Shining yelled.
“Piss off you *hic* Griffon loving *hic* prostitute!!!” A very drunk and very angry earth pony said from the bar.
“Ooohhh, mate you shouldn't have that.” Gryphus said.
“Screw you bird.”
“Oi! I’m not a- well hold on you're right i'm part bird. Nevermind, all’s good!”
Shining, during the exchange between Gryphus and the drunk pony, walked slowly towards the drunken mess.
“Hey sweety *hic* how much an hour?” The drunk pony and a few other’s laughed at Shining.
“Oh maybe like 100 per hour but just for you i’ll lower it to… None you flank faced drunk!!!” Shining then took a bottle from the bar and broke it on the drunkard's head, which resulted in the drunk being unconscious and being a wet alcoholic mess on the floor.
“Hey!” A voice behind the bar yelled.
“Yeah?! What?!?” Shining yelled back.
“You're gonna have to pay for that bottle, wasn't used yet.”
Shining huffed and put a few bits on the bar then took another bottle which resulted in the bartender taking the coins and biting into them, and when satisfied, put them in his apron.
“Thank you.”
“Yup.” Shining then walked passed the shocked looks of the ponies in the bar and sat back down on his seat and drank straight from the bottle.
Gryphus, all the while, was laughing at Shining.
“Y-y-you s- *Gasp for air* seriously said that?” Gryphus then took another breath of air.
“Yeah? So what?”
“That was hilarious, but that made you look so stupid mate.” Gryphus was still giggling and holding his stomach.
“Doesn't matter, he’s unconscious now so he won’t remember a thing.” Shining then took another swig from the bottle.
“Yes he won’t but the rest of them will.” Gryphus had the biggest grin on his beak.
Shining’s eye’s widened and looked around the bar. The face’s on the ponies were ranging from ‘Can’t believe he did that’ to ‘I’m so telling everyone bout this’. They eventually went back to talking to each other and after a few minutes it was back to normal.
Shining gulped and got a red color on his cheeks.
“Didn't know you had red fur Shining. Huh… can’t believe i never saw that before… oh well.” Gryphus shrugged and took one last gulp of his drink and set it down on the table.
“Well Shining as much as i would love to stay, i need to leave.”
“Huh? Oh yeah well thanks for coming to get me. I’ll see ya later then?” He stuck out a hoof which Gryphus shook with his own claw.
“Yup, and don’t be a stranger, come by my camp sometime i’ll introduce you to my men.”
“Sure thing, have a safe trip back.” They both made their way outside.
“You to buddy.” Gryphus then took off into the air. Shining looked at his friend till he was no longer in sight and made his way back to Camp.
I know, i know, i haven't updated in a long time i know i was trying to write when i could but i have had a very busy schedule the past few weeks and haven't wrote a single thing XD but i promise, on my honor as a writer, i WILL make another chapter this week :D :D :D :D :D :D and as for a long overdue treat for you guy's i will make it longer than last chapter (which was 3,333 words....weird number righ?) so be prepared for a long read :D and again i am sorry about the long wait for those dedicated fans-o-mine (which isn't very many Q_Q but still fans nonetheless :D) so i will see ya guy's next chapter :D
After the conversation with the Royal Sister’s, as well as having a friendly chat with Shining with an amusing site of Shining knocking a drunkard out cold, Gryphus flew back to his camp and is now ordering 3 Wing’s (Which consists of 10-20 Pegasi depending on circumstances.) of Pegasi to scout the surrounding land for any available land that may be of use to the Rebellion.
“Alright Gent’s lets get to it! You know the formation, and you know our order’s. If any of you flying parasites don't know our order’s, then i'll tell ya… again. All we have to do is scout out the east for any land that may be use of the upcoming Rebellion. If you think you found suitable land on our little trip then notify me when we get back here at 0500 hours, the time currently is 1200 so we have 5 hours to scout and make it back on time. Was i clear enough for you?” Said Captain Dancing Lily of the 3rd Pegasi Wing with a frown.
“Aye Ma'am!” The 15 Pegasi currently in front of her yelled in unison.
“I'm terribly sorry but could you run that by me again? I seemed to have failed in making it clear to you sack’s-o-hay to….. YELL IT AND NOT WHISPER IT !!! Now i will ask again… Was. I. Clear. Enough. For. You.?” She seethed.
“AYE MA'AM!” They yelled together in a louder voice. Some Pegasi had their voices crack.
“That’s bucking better. You better hope that i don’t have to say it again… ever. Any questions before we leave?” No one answered her. “Good, let’s fly!” And with that, the Captain and her men took flight and headed east.
(As a side note you may be wondering why Merc’s are acting like they are in an actual military… i have to point out that they are not bandit’s but are MERCENARY’S so OF COURSE they're gonna have SOME organization within their ranks.)
Xerxes watched the 3rd and last Wing leave the camp, contemplating if the Captain of said Wing is worthy of promotion for that little show she just displayed. Xerxes was awakened from his thoughts from the sound of something behind him.
“Hello Xerxes.” Gryphus said with a smile.
“Ah, hello friend.”
“Oi, names not friend. Its Gryphus.” He said with a nod.
Xerxes just rolled his eyes.
“What’cha doin out this late anyway eh?”
“I was watching the 3rd Wing leave but now i’m looking at the stars.”
“Hmm, beautiful aren’t they?” Gryphus took a seat by Xerxes.
“Indeed friend, indeed.” Xerxes put on a frown.
“Ya alright mate?” Gryphus saw Xerxes sudden frown and inquired upon it.
“Huh? Oh yes i’m fine. I was just thinking if anything lived beyond the stars.”
Gryphus gave a blank stare at Xerxes.
“Y-yes? Can i help you?” Xerxes questioned
Gryphus chuckled then full on laughed.
“What’s so funny?” Xerxes didn’t like how he was being laughed at. Even if the one laughing at him is a long time friend.
“You Xerxes, you.” He said between laughs.
“Yes, what about me?”
“You really think anything lives beyond the stars?”
“Of course i do. I just can’t wrap my head around how Faust only made us and no one or nothing else.” Xerxes then looked back up to the stars.
“That’s true i have to admit.” Gryphus nodded and put a claw under his beak. (A/N. I would say chin but as i thought about it, griffon’s don’t really have one XD)
“When i was little my mother told me bedtime stories of great bipedal creatures that have perfected the way of war in the days of old. Of course at the time i believed her and thought is was the best thing that i ever heard. That’s what originally made me want learn how to fight.”
“Bipedal creatures? Minotaures?” Gryphus inquired.
“No, no, not Minotaures. They were Bipedal hairless creatures.” He corrected.
“ Really? Did your mother ever say what they were called?”
“They were called Humans. The story my mother told me was that the Humans used to rule this world at a time even before Faust herself. It went that the Humans were intelligent and industrious creatures, they made many technological advances including something called a Cannon and another called a Musket.”
“What did those do?”
“Mother never said but she did know was that it used some weird black powder. The Humans called it Gunpowder if i remember correctly.”
“Gunpowder? What did that do?”
“I do not know, all i know is that the Humans were once a great united species, but due to an internal conflict of some kind they began to destroy one another, eventually destroying each other so much that they died out. Of course this is just a story so no one knows for sure if they ever even existed.”
“Hmm, sounds interesting. Gonna have to find out more about these Humans.”
“There may be a book on them albeit a small one since no one really knows their history other than stories heard from the old generation.”
“Maybe the Library in Canterlot has one.”
“Hah! Like they would allow you inside.” Xerxes just laughed at his delusional friend.
“Ah, ah, ahhh. You’re forgetting something.” Gryphus said with a smug look on his face.
“Oh yeah? What is that?”
“I have pull with the Sister’s.”
“Oh… right… i forgot.” Xerxes just put a claw on his beak.
“Hehe told ya, ya did.”
“Hey, you can't blame me, it's midnight.”
“Ya i guess you're right. Welp… imma head to bed. Hehehe that rhymed. Night Xerxy.”
“Goodnight Gryphus… and HEY!-” Before he could continue he was interrupted by Gryphus.
“Hay is for ponies Xerxy.” Gryphus snickered.
“Yes i know that but my name is Xerxes… not Xerxy you overgrown rat.”
“If i’m an overgrown rat then you are too so...” Gryphus then proceeded to stick out his tongue.
Xerxes just chuckled. “Goodnight Gryphus.”
“Night, night Xerxes.” Gryphus then left Xerxes and walked back to his tent.
Meanwhile with the 1st Wing in the west…
“Get it off me! Get it off!” Screamed one of the pegasi. After he yelled, another Pegasi proceeded to stab something in the neck, killing it.
“Thanks.” The Pegasi said, as he rolled the black furred monster off of him.
“No problem.” Said Captain Minor Note.
“My Wing!” Somepony yelled as he held his cut off wing in his hooves.
“Cap’! We have to retreat! There’s too many of them, if we stay here we will be slaughtered!” Yelled another.
“You’re right! Everypony able, retreat to camp immedi-” Before he could finish, he felt sharp claws dig into his rear legs and drag him into the darker part of the wide mouthed cave, screaming.
“Captain!”
“Everyone retreat, retreat!”
“Help me! My wings! I can’t move them please help me!”
The surviving pegasi that could fly, took off to the direction of camp without even looking at the downed pony.
The downed pony continued to cry as his brethren left him there to die.
“Plhehehease don't go...” He said in a hushed whisper while sobbing.
He then turned his head to the tall, black as night four legged creatures.
“N-n-no! Get away from me you thing from tartarus!” He yelled as he swung his sword at them with weak enthusiasm while trying to crawl back with his other foreleg. The creature in front of him just moved his head back only slightly to miss the swing of the sword but proceeded nonetheless.
The pegasi feebly kept swinging his sword till the creature just smacked it away with a growl.
“Please don't kill me! Spare me please!” The frightened tried to back away more but hit something which made him stop. He felt fur on his back and slowly turned around to come face to face with another one of the creatures, with the creature slightly growling down at him.
His screams were not heard as he did not produce any during his body being torn apart by the rest of the creatures, some biting at one another to get the other away from their portion of ‘food’.
The 1st Wing consisted of, including the Captain, 15 Pegasi… the only survivors numbered at 4, 4 badly wounded Pegasi. (A/N. as you notice i transist from actual numbers to the words for the numbers, and i apologise for that if it confuses you but in some cases i will use the numbers then at times i will put the words for the numbers, if that makes any sense XD)
Back to the survivors…
The 4 remaining Pegasi of the 1st Wing were huffing, puffing, panting (And flying) their way back to camp.
“W-we lost so many… Captain’s dead… we left Kid to die… dear Faust we left Kid!!!” The Fourth Pegasi in the formation said.
Kid was a nickname to the new recruit Joking Kidder who joined the merry band of Merc’s a few weeks prior to the Rebellion idea.
“I don't know if i can live with myself…” He added.
“Get your head screwed back on! If any of us tried to save him he would have just weighed us down. We would have died if we tried. As much as i loved Kid... he would have killed us.” Said the First one.
“B-but you don’t know that! He could have been on my back right now!” The Fourth shouted.
“But he’s not, now is he!?!?” The First one seethed.
“N-no…”
“If you went for him, you wouldn't have been able to lift off the ground… you would have both died.” Said another one, who was to the right of the group.
The poor Pegasus just hung his head low and flew with whatever was left of his team.
10 minutes were passed in relative silence...
“The Commander ain't gonna like what we tell ‘em.” The Third one spoke, breaking the silence.
“Yeah… maybe he'll just order us to stay away from there? Move to another spot?” The Second one added.
“Whatever those things are, they're close to camp… can't believe we never saw ‘em before. It’s most definite we need to move before those things get closer than they already are.” The Third also added.
“We lost so many… Commander might want to wipe them out to avenge the ones we lost. If he does we have to advise against it. Those… things will be the death of us.” The First one hung his head.
The flight back to camp was silent for the next 15 minutes before it was broke by a question.
“Anypony know what time it is?” The Fourth one finally spoke.
“Judging by my stomache i would say about 2 in the morning.” The Second one replied.
“H-how can you judge the time by your stomach?” The Fourth asked, looking at the Second like he lost his head.
“I ate before we left which was at i think 11. It tooks years before i could do that, and as far as i know i'm the only one who can judge time by their stomach.”
“Amazing…”
“I think so too hehe…”
Again, the flight was spent in relative silence...
With the 2nd Wing going north…
15 Pegasi were currently flying north, although not far enough to get to penguin territory but far enough to be away from the Equestrian Kingdom but close enough to launch a full scale attack on it when necessary.
They were currently spread out by 2 miles between each Pegasus in a Vee formation. (like how you see geese fly but with 2 miles in between each one) The way they were able to communicate were through magic infused crystals which allowed them to talk freely if any situation were to be reported. Of course like walkie talkies you could change which channel or frequency to listen in on.
“This is Rocker to Captain Storm Runner. I think i see a suitable place, what’s weird is that the castle i'm looking at right now is built on the side of a mountain, although i do not know if it inhabited, the reason being, is that it looks damaged. Should i go investigate?”
“This is Captain Storm Runner to the entirety of 2nd Wing. Stop current course and head to Rocker. We shall see this ‘Damaged, on the side of a mountain’ Castle. Have your swords ready in case it is inhabited and hostile. And Rocker, don't descend yet, wait for the rest of the team to get there. Hide in the clouds in case it is inhabited.”
(A/N. The great thing about the crystals were not only could you talk into them, you can locate them as well. It does not matter if you are a unicorn or not, you can change frequency like i said earlier, AND locate a certain person, or pony in this case, depending on your thought process. The way the locating works is if you picture the person, or pony in your head, or if you don't know their face, you think of their name and it will automaticly slightly ‘pull’ you towards their location. Cool yeah?)
The Wing replied into their crystals in unison ‘Yes sir!’.
It was a very cloudy night so the whole sky was covered in clouds, so he just ascended just above the castle and rested on the clouds till the rest of his team got there. As to make sure it was not inhabited or not, he then created a hole in the clouds large enough to spy on the castle, but small enough to not be seen.
‘Looks deserted from up here… but i can't be careless, might be inhabited even if i don’t see anything… yet. Hope the team get’s here fast… for some reason i'm having a bad feeling. Wonder how my brother is doing in the 1st Wing, i also wonder if they found something like this… maybe, maybe not but it could happen. I hope we finish this soon i'm gettin pretty hungry. And what else is that whoever made this place is pretty insane… what idiot would build on the SIDE of a mountain??? ’ Rocker yawned, then shook his head at an attempt to clear his mind and stay focused.
After Rocker shook his head enough, he then looked back at the castle just in time to see a bright, light blue, light sort of beam emanating from the holes made from battle’s long past as well as emanating from what window’s were left, in turn breaking them.
‘What in the name of tartarus is that??? ’ He screamed in his mind.
“Sir what is that?” Said someone from behind him.
“Ah! Oh my Faust!” Shouted Rocker.
“Oh, sorry bout that buddy. Didn’t mean to scare ya.” When Rocker looked behind him he saw half of his team there.
‘Must have been too focused on the light’s to notice them ’ (A/N. OMG HE DIDN’T NOTICE SENPAI BUT SENPAI NOTICED HIM. ROLES HAVE BEEN REVERSED!!! Dear lord i'm pathetic..... keep reading you saw nothing… <.<....>.>)
“I didn’t notice you there, but dear Faust you scared me almost to death.” He still had a hoof over his heart.
“It’s alright Rocker. We should have said something earlier.” The Captain just chuckled.
“Wheres the rest of the team?”
At hearing this the 6 Pegasi hung their heads in a depressed state, some even sobbed.
“Wh-what happened?” Rocker asked.
“Th-...They didn’t make it.” The Captain choked out.
“You mean they died!?!?” Rocker shouted.
The Captain just nodded.
“Dear Faust what happened?”
Before the Captain could answer one of the Pegasi leaned on another one and start laughing his flank off. The rest of them followed suit.
One of the Pegasi spoke up. “Yo-you’re so gullible Rocker.” He then continued laughing.
“I hate you guy’s.” He narrowed his eyes then turned back around to continue watching the beams of blue light.
“Hey Cap’.” One spoke up after calming down.
“Yes?”
“What do you suppose is going on?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think the light is anything dangerous. I am more concerned as to WHOM created it.”
After he said that another Pegasus landed beside them. This went on for a few more minutes until only one was left to report in.
“What the-?” Said Rocker.
“What is it?” The Captain inquired.
“I see a Pegasus going towards the castle. I-i-i think that’s Bursting Star!” Rocker said in surprise.
“WHAT ?!?!?” The Captain proceeded to move Rocker to look through the hole till he spotted the Light blue Pegasus flying towards the light.
“What does that idiot think he’s doing?”
Just then the light’s suddenly stopped.
“Wh-what happened?”
“Star went inside…”
“Cap' we have to go there and bring his flank back!”
The half of the team agreed while the other half were reluctant to go.
“Guy’s!” Rocker shouted, getting everyone’s attention.
“Its the Captain’s call…” He added.
“Thank you Rocker.” Rocker nodded towards him and then walked towards the rest of the team.
The Captain cleared his throat.
“Alright Gent’s, Star, being the idiot he is, went inside the castle. We know for a fact that the light’s that just went out were created from someone or something since light can happen on its own.”
“What about the sun sir?” One Pegasus said from the back.
The Captain then got a frown with a vein clearly seen.(A/N. yes i know 'how can you see a vein through fur?' don't question it...just let it happen...)
“N-never mind sir, carry on.” He said.
“Thank you. Now the situation is still being assessed. We do not know if the things inside the castle are hostile or not bu-” He got cut off by somepony screaming.
“I guess that answers that question…” Another Pegasi said.
“Men! Get your swords ready, they are hostile, prepare to kill and rescue Bursting Star.”
(A/N. Ok i think i know what you're thinking here for the past few chapters… ‘How can a pony hold a sword?’ And i will answer that with this: Ever see in cannon how Pinkie used only one hoof to lift a cupcake? SIDEWAYS??? *clears throat* As logic breaking as that may be, it’s completely understandable when its Pinkie but i decided to give everypony that ability to logic break… to an extent of course, don't want millions of Pinkie Pie's running every where do we? *shutters* God that would be awful, i love Pinkie but…*shutter's again*)
“Yes sir!” The team said in unision.
The Captain then took off flying upwards in a loop motion before going through the hole, with the rest of the team in tow.
“Stay with me, do not, i repeat do NOT separate. It’s the worst thing we can do right now.” The Captain said over his shoulder.
The team answered with a ‘Yes sir!’ and a few ‘Roger that’.
They finally got to the castle and entered via one of the holes in the stoney wall. The room they entered was guessed to be a dining room, with chairs toppled over, some broken, some relatively ok but with tons of dust and cobwebs. If the place was cleaned up it would look really good. The table in the middle was a long slender one with the fatest part of it being in the middle. On the other side of the room were bid double door’s.
“Stay on the tips of your hooves, and keep your eyes peeled.”
They were broken from looking around the room by another scream.
“Go! Go! Go!” They rushed forwards and bursted through the double doors only to be met with a long dark hallway with only one lit torch in the middle of it, with a Pegasus in armor facing the other way with his back towards them.
“Star? That you!?” Shouted the Captain. He didn't wait for an answer and rushed at him.
“Captain wait!!!” Shouted Rocker.
“What'd you say!?” The Captain was still running while he looked over his shoulder, not looking to where he going, bumped into the Pegasus and fell back.
The team started running toward him but stopped dead in their tracks when they heard a laugh. If it was a normal laugh they would have kept running, albeit, confused but this laugh was a lot different. Even though the laugh came from Bursting Star it sounded like there were more laughing with him, like sort of an echo.
“So you have finally arrived, i have been expecting you.” That creepy echo still there, only coming from one source, Star.
“Wh-what? What do you mean by that?” The Captain finally got up and the team walked up behind the Captain.
Star turned around, with a collective gasp throughout the team, the Captain just gawked.
“Excuse me, i should have said ‘We have been expecting you’.” Star smirked.
“Star… your eyes…” Rocker said slowly.
“Yes? What about them?” Star looked at Rocker.
“Th-they're glowing…” It was true, Star’s eyes were glowing with the same color as the light’s before they went out, which were a light blue color.
Star just chuckled. “Thank you for stating the obvious. Now, as i was saying, we were expecting you. Please, follow me and put your swords in your sheaths, there is no need for violence, for we are all friends here.” Star said, with the same creepy echo coming from his voice like multiple ponies were talking at the same time but with a slight delay.
The Captain then put his sword in his sheath, with the team following his action’s.
“Are you still Star?” Rocker asked.
Star just raised his eyebrows and looked at him.
“No i am not.”
Rocker frowned.
“Oh but do not worry, for we are only occupying him until you reach your destination, then we shall relieve him and he shall go back to his old self.” Star said with a slight smile.
“Who are you?” The Captain asked.
“You shall find out soon enough, but please shall we stop wasting time? Follow me please.” And with that the rest of the hallway torches lit up. Star then turned around and walked down the long hallway.
The hallway looked like it was made by master architects. Many archways and many painting’s of legends long forgotten painted directly on the wall. Throughout their trek, they passed many large doors, leading to places they could only guess.
“Woah…” Said one of the Pegasi.
“What is this place?” Said another.
“Be quiet!” The Captain said in a hushed whisper.
The two Pegasi the shut up and kept walking.
“So… what is this place?” The Captain asked.
“The only answer i can give at this moment, is that it is a very old castle.” Star smirked.
They group finally arrived at another set of double doors which opened slightly with a bright light coming through it.
“Here we are. Proceed through, and as promised we shall exit your friend.” Star then closed his eyes and reopened them which fluttered fast.
“Dear Faust my head hurts!” Star threw his hooves on his head.
“Star!” Rocker shouted.
“Rocker? Where am i?” He said while trying to stand up.
“The castle you recklessly entered you S.O.B!” The Captain the smacked Star on the head which earned an ‘OW!’ from him.
“Come on, we have to find out what’s going on then leave. This is place creep’s me out.” The Captain said.
They proceeded to enter through the doors hesitantly. When they did their eyes saw a Throne like room with 3 chairs, 1 huge chair in the middle front and the 2 other smaller ones slightly back, occupied by Unicorn’s with bright glowing eyes like Star had earlier.
“We were starting to wonder if you ran away or not.” The one in the middle said with the same echo as Star had.
The team were stunned stiff looking at the Unicorn’s.
The one on the left of the one in the middle chuckled.
“Forgive our appearance’s, this is the price we pay to be the all-knowing Sentinels.” Same creepy echo.
“S-sentinels?” The Captain choked out.
“Yes, Sentinels. We were once like you. Puny, weak,...mortal…” The right one spoke up. Again, echo.
“But the Void saved us from that existence, Faust long but abandoned us for once we were like her, she cast us away like trash.” The middle one said.
“I don't think i will be able to control myself if we meet her again.” The left one chuckled darkly.
The middle one slowly looked to his left, silencing his companion.
“But that is our deal with Faust, for we are in the here and now, a war torn world. We wish to end this war and bring peace to it.” The right one said.
“But King Archimedes's...he had other plans. He nearly destroyed our order, but us three managed to get away from his wrath, but that has been many centuries ago. Since then we have been rebuilding our order, in secret of course.” The middle one said with a smirk at the end.
The Captain had a sinking feeling in his stomach.
“Y-you said ‘in secret’. So why are you telling us this?”
“Because, we are finally ready to face King Archimedes, and get our revenge, for our fallen brother's and sister’s they gave us their power when they died and now we are stronger than we ever were.” The left one said.
Rocker chuckled.
“What is so funny? I do believe this conversation is anything but.” The right one questioned. The three Unicorns stared questioningly towards Rocker, as well as the rest of the team.
“Well you're going to have to wait your turn with the King.”
“What ever do you mean?” The middle one inquired.
“His daughter’s are starting a Rebellion against him. That’s why are here before you.”
“Rocker!” The Captain seethed.
“Don't worry Captain, they won’t say anything, they told us about their plans. It’s only fair they know our’s, besides ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’.” He smirked.
The two Unicorns in the smaller chairs nodded.
“What this ‘Rocker’ says is true, perhaps we could help each other. Please, go on.” The middle one said, intrigued.
“We were scouting area’s to make a permanent base of operations. Of course we found one but as you can see… its already occupied.” He said with a smirk. The three Unicorn’s chuckled.
“We would be more than happy to have you here, provided we work together.” The middle one said.
“We aren't really the one to talk to about that… erm.” The Captain said.
“Cornelius.” The middle one said.
“Rominus.” The right one said.
“Unarius” The left one said.
“I am Storm Runner.” The Captain said.
“As you know i’m Rocker.” Rocker chirped.
“Nice to meet your acquaintance. Now that, that is out of the way. Who should we talk to about this ‘Base of Operations’?” Cornelius asked.
“That would be our Commander, and the Royal Sister’s.” Storm said.
Cornelius raised a brow at this.
“Commander Gryphus and as for the Royal Sister’s, the oldest of the two being Celestia, and the youngest Luna.”
“I see. Well thank you.” Cornelius said.
“If that is all, we need to get back before 5, thats the set time to meet with the other Wing’s.” Storm said.
“Oh but of course, and please, contact us with your leader's answers. Whether it be they come here or by letter.” Cornelius replied.
Storm nodded and left with his team in tow.
“Odd bunch aren't they?” Unarius said.
“Indeed, it will be fun to have them around. How many centuries has it been since we've had guests?” Rominus said.
“I wonder what the daughter’s of Archimedes are like.” Cornelius said.
At camp…
The four survivors had finally made it back to camp, along with the news of what happened to the rest of their team. Gryphus and Xerxes were inside Gryphus’ tent, thinking of what they should do.
“Gryphus i don't think we should have a direct frontal assault on those...things, whatever they are. We should send some more scouts but have them up in the clouds so that they are hidden and if those things have great sense of smell, won't be able to smell them.”
Gryphus smashed his claw on his desk.
“I hate it when you’re right. Make sure the survivors are taken care of then find out where they were attacked and send another Wing. And make sure they are extra careful, i don't want to lose any more men than i already have.” Gryphus said with an angry look.
Xerxes saluted and exited the tent.
After seeing Xerxes exit his tent, Gryphus sighed and took a seat at his desk pulling out one of the drawers, and taking two feather’s out of said drawer. He looked at them for a moment then put them back and closed it.
‘I wonder how the 2nd and 3rd Wing’s are doing, hope they're having a better time than the 1st Wing.’ he thought.
With 3rd Wing…
The Captain sighed. “Sand, sand, and if my eyes deceive me….more sand.” She sighed again.
“This is Captain Dancing Lily to team, regroup at me, there’s nothing out here, we're gonna head back to camp.”
The responses were ‘Yes Ma’am!’ with only one sticking out, ‘Thank Faust’.
“Don't say that yet, we still have a 2 hour flight ahead of us.”
The voice replied with. “Tartarus take me now!” And then chuckled.
Lily chuckled as well.
“What the heck is that?” The voice said again.
“Hmm? What are you seeing?”
“Some… huge black thing… flying towards me oh Faust!!!”
“What’s going on? Are you ok?”
“It’s a-” That was all that was heard.
“Come in!” Lilly said.
“I said come in, what's going on!?” She added.
“Oh Faust… is he...dead?” Another one of her team said.
“Well he did say ‘Tartarus take me now!’.” Another one said.
“You are really saying that? Seriously?” Another one said.
“Hey, im just saying, he asked for it.”
“Team regroup at me and report anything strange on your way back.” Lilly said.
A collective ‘Yes Ma’am!’ was heard.
I apologise for this inconvenience, but i have decided to cancel this story so please do not expect another chapter coming out nor do not expect me to correct grammar/spelling mistakes in this story. I will also not write another story anytime soon, if i do it will be something COMPLETELY different and maybe be an actual story or a one shot, but like i said don't expect any kind of story from me anytime soon.
I thank you for the limited support i had and i hope you make some other starting out writer stand out more :) with that i bid you adieu and have a good morning/afternoon/evening!
Hello there people of the interwebs, i know some of you are wanting an update and i will provide it....just not in a while. You see yesterday at 11:30 a.m. a good dog was put to sleep.... that dog was my aunts and his name was Chewy, he was a pomeranian hahaha and the biggest pom that my family has heard was 24 lbs. while he topped out at 20 lbs.
But anyway he was 13, he's been with us since i was 4 and one of the oldest dogs our family has had, anyway he had a collapsing trachea, which is the little tube that goes to the lungs but anyway after....he was put to sleep, my aunt told my mom, her sister (>.> if you guy's haven't connected the dots yet) That when she took Chewy to the vet, the woman who took an x-ray of his throat said that she was thoroughly amazed that he survived that long and that it really was a right time to put him to sleep so he didn't have to die suffering.
