“Oh him? Yeah...I know him. It’s going to take a while...It all started on that cold and snowy day…”
“Solo Wing” Pixy
The Griffon War: A Flyer’s Account by Twilight Sparkle
The frigid wind howled over the emptiness of the runway at Valaise Air Base, deep in the high mountains of far east Ustio. The great gusts picked up loose snow causing it to gallop along the blinking magic lights that showed the numerous air-ponies where it was safe to land on the short stretch of concrete. Only three arched hangars lined the airfield, two on one side, one on the other. Not many equines would be able to handle the frozen winter in the mountains. Cipher, however, was quite used to it. Having been raised in the Frozen North of the Equestrian continent certainly had its benefits, especially when you were a mercenary Fighter Pegasus. Having been trained in Griffa, legendary for its aerial combat expertise, also came with a high degree of prestige. Not that it mattered, he was only taking his current job because he was so strapped for cash. He did not care for the world and its conflicts, only its money. Cipher walked slowly against the wind, having only just arrived at the edge of the airfield by only train that came to the facility. The icy chill of the mountain air nipped angrily at his lungs and cheeks as he turned his head towards his hooves and into the collar of his jacket. It took him several minutes to make it to the Valaise’s command building, the hangar that sat alone significantly longer and wider than its counterparts.
Cipher shook the snow of his wings as he reached for the handle to the door with his hoof. It opened before he could reach it. A lavender unicorn her horn aglow in a pinkish-purple aura stood before him. Her mane was a dark purple but with a streak of pink and purple through its center, her eyes matched the purple highlight. When she had opened the door she had been scowling but upon seeing Cipher she brightened for the briefest of moments before returning to her previous state. “You must be our new flight lead, we really need to get better at making sure you mercenaries arrive on time.” she seemed to chastise herself.
“Go on over to the hangar, we need to get you suited up immediately, our AWACS has picked up a large group of Griffon airships and escort flyers that are headed towards this base. Go meet up with your wingpony, he’s getting ready on the main floor.” she jabbed a hoof towards the other side of the big building. “He’ll get you acquainted with the way the Allied High Command treats mercenaries. Now get going. I don’t have time for introductions with those bombers on the way.” she said sternly turning around, her scarf catching the wind and hitting Cipher’s snout. The mare did not notice and slowly shut the door behind her with her magic. The fighter pegasus’ jaw went slack as he balked at the pair of wings on her back. He was not even able to ask her if she was real.
An alicorn! I don’t believe it! They were supposed to be some sort of myth! He thought to himself. Not being an Equestrian native, Cipher really had not believed alicorns were more than legends or superstitions admonishments. A pony with wings AND a horn? I’m pretty sure I was hallucinating… he continued to think as he walked around the building towards where the mental illusion had directed. He soon found one of the massive hangar doors slightly open, dull orange light pouring out onto the white and grey ground of snow and concrete. Shaking his head in an attempt to calm his thoughts he finally drew near enough to the opening to gaze inside the hangar.
Inside sat a massive airship. Unlike other aerial command centers Cipher noticed this one’s cabin and bombay areas were completely sealed in a strange faint golden aura. Even the massive air chamber appeared to be covered in the weird glow. He assumed it was magic of some sort. Beyond the Magic Interception Missiles that came standard on any warflyer’s armor kit Cipher had no idea how magic even worked, much less all the strange antennas, dishes, and other strange contraptions that poked out of various places on the airship. “I see you are as confused as was when I first signed on with the Ustians.” said a clean, calm voice. Cipher would have recognized “Solo Wing” Pixy’s voice in his sleep, he didn’t even need to turn to know the famous Fighter Pegasus was looking at him. Pixy spoke up again, “I’m surprised to see you here though Cipher, this job doesn’t seem like you. From what I hear you never were much of a patriot.” He joked. Cipher turned towards Pixy and looked at his fellow Pegasus. Pixy’s body was a light blue-gray his mane and tail black with the ends of their hairs turning a dark red. He was about the same size as Cipher, somewhat thinner, with his most notable feature being his right wing. It was a bright, deep red, just like in the stories of him, just like when Cipher had seen it after being hit with a missile. Pixy stood up as Cipher mulled over him over, absorbing every detail about the famous mercenary and wondering how he had been placed as flight lead over Pixy. Eventually, Pixy broke the silence of Cipher’s stare. “I forgot you aren’t much for talking...anyway, since you are over here I guess that means I am supposed to give you the lowdown on how we work as a unit.” Cipher absent-mindedly nodded, recalling his first time meeting Pixy, the same day that Pixy had become “Solo Wing.” “Essentially, the Allied Command doesn’t much care for us mercenaries. They tend to send us on pretty ridiculous missions. But since the situation has been so dire they have finally started to have us paired with Equestrian and Prench flight teams. Nothing, I know, either of us aren’t used to.” Pixy continued. “Yeah” Cipher sighed in agreement. Any mercenary knew that the folks you were working for may have paid well but they certainly did not care about your welfare, if you died they just would hire somepony new. “It is actually best the hangar crew get us fitted into our flight armor with those bombers on their way, we only have a few minutes before the base alarms will go off and that nutty alicorn that runs our AWACS will brief us for the intercept.” Pixy chirped as he threw out his wings and began walking towards the back of the hangar. Cipher nodded, intentionally ignoring what his wingpony had mentioned about a “alicorn.” He could worry about some mythical being existing after he helped shoot down the inbound bombers and airships, so he could have a place to sleep tonight. Cipher followed Pixy to the maintenance crew’s work place where several earth ponies and unicorns sat around a table smoking cigarettes and playing a card game. The oldest among them was an brown earth pony with a gray mane whose ears perked up at the sound of their hoof falls on the hard floor, he spoke up without looking towards the two Pegasi he started talking. “Who’s your friend Solo Wing?” his gruff voice rattled off, as he drew a card from a pile in the center of the table and threw down what he had in hooves causing the rest of the table of ponies to groan. “His name is Cipher, he’s the new flight lead, you mind if you guys get us set up in our flight armor?” Pixy asked.
The voice of the alicorn came over the loudspeaker:
“Emergency Briefing! A significant squadron of Griffon air units has crossed our border!”
