Author's Note

Special shout out to my home town Brony brother Even he has been helping edit my stories from now on.
And to all Woodbine Maryland bronies a big hoof bump.

Politics (from the root wards poly meaning multiple and ticks a blood sucking parasite)

The Harmony's Bliss was the second Alicorn class ship built and was fresh of the line and paint still wet as she was tasked to transport the harmony console to Griffon Stone the capital airy of the Griffonian. The mane six along with Trixie, Sunset and Flash, where on board. As well as Priest as the veteran guard. This left two bays open for gifts to the griffon king a pair of unarmed, gilded, Gouf suits.

"I'm board we be there by now in my Dom Bolt. (The Dom Bolt is the first Dom upgrade from Equestria features enhanced jump packs and thrusters.) I mean this is the fastest ship type we have." Said Dash as she leaned back on the bridge window.

"This is not a race Rainbow, we are on a diplomatic mission to maintain trade and peace with the griffons. They have been more and more introverted scene the incident five years ago. That is why we are gifting them two suits." Said Twilight

"We are also hoping that the new king will be more agreeable." Added Priest.

Last year the king had died of heart attack. His son now sits on the throne and is a unknown for the world.

"I'm excited you and pinkie got to see griffon stone last year. Now I get to too." Said Twilight, Over the year the Castle map has sent the mane six on some interesting adventurers. As safety precautions a guard was with them. This led to some interesting encounters. Like the equality village who's communist dictator got her flank kicked by big Tom and Sofie for enslaving ponies by stealing their marks. Starlight was shocked that humans had no cutie marks but still had magic of their own.

Human magic is not like pony magic. It is more like pressure or aura they can generate. Jay is sited as being able to induce fear in those he directs his magic at. Priest has shown a healing touch, while Fritz shown a magical ability in engineering. They all showed some power or another.

The ship crossed the last ridge and saw the Griffon Stone and "Yep still a dump like last time." Said Pinkie cutting off my narration.... she just smiles out the window.

"What happen here?"Asked a heart broken Twilight

"According to a griffon from last visit, that king you told us about lost their shiny treasure and the griffons fell back in to their old ways. The kings kept them together as best they could but well.... The last king spent more bits on the technology then reconstruction." Said Rainbow

"His son at least started on some, look." Called Pinkie as she pointed out a large new castle and the boxy clanking griffon mobile suits working around it thick black smoke poured from pipes on their backs.

"Oh my such rickety contraption these griffon steam suits are. Nothing like the suits the humans made." Said Rarity.

"I'm suddenly feeling a lot more attached to ma'h old Zaku now. I mean all that smoke would mess with the plants on the farm." Said Applejack

"Perhaps they will trade for suit engines rather then full suits this would let them keep the stile they seemed to have taken." Said Priest.

The ship approached a air field that had smaller slower griffon ships scattered around it leaving a large area for the Harmonies Bliss to land. As the crew landed Twilight spoke up "Everpony to their suits the griffon king wants this to be showy for the people so he is meeting us in his own." Said Twilight. Out the window they could see a suit parade heading towards the ship. The griffon guard suits all had melee weapons at arms length with both hands on it. The clanking lumbering strides made the giants wide and slow. The suits had four legs and larger bodies with no heads, but tank like turrets.

"Walking tanks? Stars help them if their leader is a fool." Said Priest as she followed them off the bridge saluting the ships captain as she did.

The steam walkers had formed two rows with a larger one at the end with the griffon king sitting on a throne on its back. The ships hatch opened and the first suit out was Trixie's new suit, her suit was a gouf custom, painted to match coat. Hanging from it was a cloak matching the one she wore all the time. This cloak was made as a test of new mitrals. Her suit carried a star shaped pole axe heat blade in its right hand and the shield on the left had her cutie mark and the words Great and Powerful over it in a banner.

The next suit was Sunsets kämpher painted to match her coat, but had black arms and chest mimicking the leather jacket she wears. She carried a heat blade sword on the back skirt rack, two bazookas and a pair of hand guns. The ms hand guns are a Equestria innovation for better use in close combat shooting in cities and bases.

Following her was Priest's Dom tropen it's paint job stood out as one half gold and the other silver with the mark of the church of the living deities on its right shoulder. Hanging on the suit from mounted rungs was a chain of holy beds making the Dom look like a holy monk it's self.

Next was Flash's Suit, the heavy Zaku's steps made the griffon walking tanks shutter from its weight. It was purple with gold trim of Twilight's guard.

Then came Twilight her self she still had her Zaku from the parade years ago. It's weapons have been updated to look more royal as well as gliding added to its edges and inlay gold reliefs layed on chest and shield.

Rarity was next her suit had been upgraded to a choice that surprised her friends, a Z-gockE, it was painstakingly painted to look like it was a living crystal and had a set of attached clothing on looking like it was a model as it strutted on its long legs more then walked.

Next was Fluttershy who apon Discord's advice had taken up a Efreet with mostly melee weapons and four pistols, two on skirt back and one on each leg. The suit was painted in camouflage pattern to better move about the forest with out disturbing the animals as much, but had a scary sharp tooth grin and cat like eyes painted on the head. Discord said it was Angel's idea he just went with it and both of them and Priest liked it so she kept it.

After her was Dash in her Dom Bolt painted like all wonder bolt suits but with a rainbow stripe on the head. The suit had twin swords on its hips and experimental Lightning gun that the bolts have Ben issued to field test. Pinkie was next she traded up to the Zaku artillery suit made in Equestria. The suit was pink with the massive cannons painted blue but no other weapons.

Last was Applejack in her old Zaku it's paint sun faded from years of work it's left hand replaced with a digging tool to help transplant trees, on its skirt back sat a MS shotgun.

The kings suit was larger probably had a crew of three or four besides the king him self. The line of Equestrian suits stopped and bowed before the front suits stepped to the sides to let Twilight's walk forward. "Greetings your highness. I'm princess of Friendship Twilight Sparkle. It's nice to meet you."

A griffon vary young one stood a top of the royal walker. "I am king Siegfried Goldenclaw the third. I welcome you and your court to my lands." He said opening his wings.

"Thank you your majesty. As a token of appreciation for your hospitality we give you two mobile suits." As she said this she steps her machine to the side to show the two gilded suits being unloaded glittering in the sun.

"Oh my! I dear say that these are exquisite gifts given the bad blood my late father had caused. I must say you ponies sure do make it hard to see why he hated you so." Said Siegfried.

"I hope that our relationship will be much more amicable then the past." Said Twilight.

"Come fallow us back to the palace we will have your suits washed and give you all a good meal." Said Siegfried.

Hours latter at in the dining hall. The girls where seated in the dining hall with the king as Priest and Flash 'Wrecking Ball' Sentry stood ever vigilant.

"Your guards are tireless in duty I see. Must be comforting to have trusted and reliable help." Said the king.

"It is but not in the way you think. I know I can trust them not just with my life but to do what they know is right or needs to be done with needing orders. Something that Knight Captain Johnson. Has worked hard to achieve with the rest of the ranks. The reformation of the knight core in Canterlot was one of his biggest success nobles taking time twice a year to serve as suit pilots or regular guards in random towns on the frontier. Why last week Blue Blood of all ponies slayed a Tatzle wrum. He and his suit have been a fine example. Though he is still a insufferable egomaniac. He at least has learned to do things worth the attention he craves." Said Twilight

"Yes, I've found I can only trust my guards as much I can pay them. In fact only the five that crew my walker have shown the kind of selflessness you describe. I believe you all know Guilda." He points to Guilda as she and four others walk in and stand behind the king. Each in matching olive green uniforms in the stile of the old guards. (British 1812) with brown trim. "And her crew from left to right, Gabby, Greta, Irma and Natalya. They have proven to be the most selfless and caring of all griffons in Griffonstone. And more importantly the least greedy. So they are my closest guards, confidonts and personals crew." Said the king

"Has no one tired to recover the relic from the chasm? I thought it be high on your to do list." Asked Twilight as the waiters served them all.

"We tried but again money is more important and I don't want to risk the few I know I can trust. After all its such questions rare thing here."

Hours past with king dancing around treaty talks with idol chit chat. "Oh look at the time, I have our finest guest rooms waiting for you." At that the first days talks officially end with out progress.

Hours latter near midnight. Gilda knocked on Dashes door only to be surprised when Applejack opened it. "Oh I thought this was Dashes room." She said apologetically.

"It is. You can hear her snoring don't mean she went to bed alone though." Said Applejack with a grin that said I hit that as she steps a side.

"Oh um.... wow this makes what I came to do awkward." Said Gilda.

"Oh you and her where that close? I knew she and Shy had been in flight school but-" started AJ.

"No, feathers No!" Interrupted Gilda. "She was just my best friend and I'm in to guys. Look she's clearly out so I'll tell you. The king is nuts his terms of peace is that the young princess Flurry Heart be his bride or they will go to war." Applejack's eyes widen. "I know here is the proof and the plan he has with some nobles in Canterlot. But me and my team need out of the country. When he finds out about this hill kill all of us. If the princess agrees with the escape plan for us have Dash launch ahead of your group. During the demonstration tomorrow. That's our signal that we have your aid." With that she handed Applejack the book and peppers and swiftly left.

As soon as the door closed Dash sat up. "So you think G, was on the level?"

"Mostly, I think she might be more in to you then she claimed to be." Said Applejack with a chuckle.

"Right, always did wounded what griffon pussy tasted like." Joked Dash before getting up. "Ok Lets go wake her highness." She reached over and grabbed her uniforms belt with her pistol in it's holster and put it on.

"Think we should get dressed first?" Asked a amused AJ

"Why? I have my belt on and you your hat where decent." Said Rainbow Dash as she opened the door.

"The humans would disagree. But we are ponies after all." Said AJ with a grin.

Rainbow laughed as she and AJ made their way to Twilight's room. Once in side they explained what happened and gave the her the documents Guild had given them. "And that's the story Twi." Said AJ as she finished explaining.

Twilight rubbed her head feeling a migraine coming on. "I think Jay has a point, politics suck. Why can nobody just be honest with this kind of horse apple's." Both Rainbow Dash and Applejack's ears laid back as Twilight cursed something that she almost never did before meeting the humans. Sunset and Trixie looked concerned as they lay in the bed on either side of her. "Ok tell the others we hot exist tomorrow before breakfast. Dash make a display of wanting to go riding around in your Dom Bolt and launch in it as so as you can and race a head and tell the ship to warm up the engines and make ready to fight."

"You know I think from now on we should leave a human in charge of negotiations from now on." Said Trixie

"Don't let Jay here you say that." Said Sunset.