The Griffon War

The landscape zoomed past Applejack's eyes as the train finally picked up full speed. Her and Fluttershy had been drafted into the army and were on their way to Canterlot Castle. There, Princess Luna would evaluate them, then send them off to the military outpost that their skill set would prove most valuable. Applejack could see that Fluttershy looked a bit nervous. Rightfully so, seeing as they were going to war. She decided to find out, "Fluttershy, you look a might nervous. You wanna talk about it?"

"Oh, it's nothing. Just, what if i'm not everything Luna expected and I let everypony down," the yellow mare said with worry.

Applejack ran her hoof across the smooth, leather seat, looking Fluttershy in the eye. "That's just silly, your not gonna be everything Luna expected."

"What?!"

"Your not because your gonna be more than she expected."

"You sound so sure of it," Fluttershy said, her gaze turning to the window and the constantly changing scenery beyond it.

"Ah am, it's your special talent Fluttershy," Applejack assured with a glance down at Fluttershy's cutie mark. It was a white nurses hat with a light pink cross on it. The cross matched the color of the yellow pegasus's mane. "Ah can't name anypony at all, who is more ready for this than you. You got nothing to worry about sugarcube."

Fluttershy looked up at Applejack with a shy smile on her face. Fluttershy opened her mouth to say something when a small grumble emanated from her stomach. Applejack giggled, "how about we go get some grub?"

"That would be nice. I was in such a hurry to get to the train station that I guess I forgot to eat breakfast."

"It happens. Let's go," Applejack said, leading the way to the next car over. She pulled some bits out of her bag, so they could pay for whatever it was they would order. Applejack and Fluttershy walked up to the small bar; they were greeted by a nice unicorn, mare. She had a light grey coat, and a pale yellow mane tied back in a bun. Her cutie mark was a skillet with eggs in it.

"So, what'll it be?" She asked.

Fluttershy told Applejack what she wanted and the farmer nodded, walking up to the mare. " two cucumber sandwiches with lettuce and tomatoes please," she told the mare, who nodded and turned around to prepare the requested food. Applejack and Fluttershy took a seat at the bar. this car wasn't to different from the previous one aside from what was in it. The seats had tables between them for somepony to eat at, and the bar was simple. The stools were made of a crimson color leather, and were surprisingly comfortable. The counter was made of some type of wood. Applejack liked how simple the design was, she never was a big fan of anything super fancy.

The mare came back with two plates levitating behind her, each containing a sandwich, and placed them in front of Applejack and Fluttershy. Applejack dropped a few bits on the counter. The mare looked confused for a moment and slid them back towards Applejack. "Don't ah need to pay for the food?" Applejack said looking at the bits.

"No, your going to the military right? You don't need to pay."

"How did you know we were goin' to the army?" Applejack asked with a suspitious gaze.

"Everypony on this train is going," the unicorn said motioning to the area around them. "You two are medics in training aren't you?"

"Fluttershy is, ah'm goin' in to fight," Applejack told her.

"Oh, sorry. I just figured that you were both going as medics. Not to many mares go in to fight," the unicorn said.

"It's alright," Applejack said, taking a bite of her sandwich. It was delicious, "This is really good."

"Thanks, it is my special talent, what's yours?" She asked.

"I'm really good in the medical field," Fluttershy said.

"That's cool, it will definitely come in handy with your medic training. what about you?" The mare said looking at Applejack.

"Actually, ah don't have mine yet. I'm Applejack by the way, and this is Fluttershy," Applejack said glancing at her quiet friend.

"Well, I guess you still get the thrill of figuring it out."

"Guess ah will, whats your name?"

"Me? I'm Sunny Days, nice to meet you."

"Well it's nice to meet you to Sunny Days, your a great cook," Fluttershy said.

"Thank you Fluttershy, I wish you two the best of luck, it was nice talking to you two but I better get back to my job." Sunny Days turned and walked over to a stallion who was waiting to order.

"You to," Applejack said before turning back to her sandwich. Her and Fluttershy finished up the rest of their meal and went back to the other car.

When they stepped in a stallion looked their way. "What are a couple of mares doing here?" He said in a disgusted tone. His comrades started snickering a bit at their friends crude comment.

Applejack ground her teeth in annoyance and began absentmindedly scraping her hoof on the floor. She had been undermined like this before but this time it was especially annoying, "try none of yer business, mister," she said in an equally disgusted tone.

"Oh, so you think your a wise guy eh? I hate wise guys," the stallion said. He had an olive coat a brown mane.

"Ah think mah business is mah business not yers, so shove off ya bozo," Applejack spat.

"Oh, so you think your so tough, huh. Prove it, right here, right now."

"This is a waste of time, ah don't get involved in pointless fights."

"Oh you will fight me."

"And if ah refuse," Applejack shouted defiantly, she was losing her patience fast.

"Well, this guy here will have no problem hurting your little friend there," the stallion said. Applejack looked behind her to see that a unicorn from the stallion's group had teleported behind her and grabbed Fluttershy.

Applejack slammed her hoof against the floor, "Leave her out o' this! She did nothin' ta ya'll!" she barked.

"Perhaps, but you did. So I'll tell you what, fight me and if you win, we'll leave you alone. If I win, well, we won't."

This stallion had strained Applejack's already short temper to the breaking point. She snapped. Applejack stood stock still, quivering with rage, "Ya wouldn't dare."

"Oh but I do. Nopony messes with me and gets away with it. Nopony," the stallion said with a glare equally as filled with rage as Applejack's. "Mares like you don't belong here. Or are you a medic?" The stallion asked with a threatening voice.

"Ah am here to fight for Equestria, and who says that a mare can't fight? Ah bet ah could beat ya'll in a fight any day." Applejack said with a smirk. She knew what this stallion was trying to do. He was trying to cloud her mind with anger so she would be wreckless in the fight. "Now are ya gonna fight me or are we gonna sit here talkin' the whole train ride."

"That's it!" The stallion charged at Applejack, she responded by stepping to the right and letting the stallion crash into the wall.

The stallion got back up and ran at Applejack with his right hoof raised, aimed at her face. Applejack dodged to the left and threw an uppercut at him, hitting the stallion square in the jaw. It was shortly followed by punch to the stomach. The Stallion stumbled back, regaining his balance, he threw a punch at Applejack's face, leaving a red mark on her cheek. Applejack charged at the Stallion, bashing her shoulder into his chest.

He went crashing to the floor, tumbling out of control. Applejack sprung towards him, punching him square in the eye. The stallion recoiled in pain and managed to throw the mare off. Applejack landed gracefully on her feet and charged once more, this time with a hoof raised, she swung with another uppercut that landed square in the stallions chest and continued with an onslaught of punches, equal in force. The stallion managed to throw a few punches of his own, each landing in places like Applejack's face and chest. Applejack jumped back and kicked the stallion in the chest. He responded with a few kicks to Applejack's legs, causing her to fall to the ground.

The stallion jumped on the fallen mare and slammed his hoof into Applejack left shoulder thrice before she struggled free. Applejack threw herself at the stallion, her eyes burning with rage. The stallion threw himself at Applejack, and as the two earth ponies made contact, Applejack overcame him and sent the stallion through hell before she felt a force dragging her off of the stallion that was also throwing punches of his own, fewer making any contact but all equally as strong as Applejack's. He was being dragged the opposite way. It took a moment for Applejack to clear her raging mind as she realized what was happening. Two unicorns had pulled the fighting ponies apart. Applejack looked behind her to see Sunny Days using her magic to keep Applejack suspended in the air. She looked over to see a tan colored unicorn holding the stallion suspended in the air, just out of reach. Applejack was breathing heavily, looking around to make sure Fluttershy was alright. She was relieved to see that the unicorn was pulled off of Fluttershy and pinned to the ground by a pegasus. "What are you doing Applejack!" Sunny Days said, her eyes filled with fear. She lowered Applejack to the ground and released her hold on the farm mare.

Applejack looked at the stallion, who was still suspended in the air, still trying to throw punches at Applejack. "He threatened Fluttershy!" She hissed viciously, throwing herself at him once more, only to have her tail grabbed in Sunny Days's magical grip once more.

"Calm down!" She yelled. Applejack went slack and dropped to the floor, seething with rage.

"And you think I'm a BOZO!"

Applejack rolled her eyes. "Ya are! ya asked fer it, shoot, ya challenged me ta it, and don't ya even think of touchin' Fluttershy! Or ah'll do it all or' again! And no, ah ain't sorry! Ya deseved ever bit o' that!"

Sunny Days, the unicorn, and the pegasus all looked shocked at the news of how this train brawl started. The pegasus was the first to recover, "He said what!" Sunny Days looked at Fluttershy, who was quaking with fear, her eyes wide like saucers and her irises the size of a seed.

"Yes," she finally squeaked out, "Applejack only fought because he threatened me. If He hadn't-" She glanced around shaking. "She would have just walked away."

The stallion glared at Applejack, he was covered in blood and bruises. The pain was starting to set in as well, now that the adrenaline was leaving his system. "That mare is crazy!"

"Ah'm only crazy if ya threaten me, or anyone ah care about, and right now you are far from something ah care about. Ya can drop dead for all ah care! Ya'll will not threaten me or anyone else again ya here, or you'll answer ta me!" Applejack yelled. The pain was starting to set in on her to, Applejack started to quiver. Her shoulder screamed with pain when she put weight on it, and her body was sore all over from the countless number of punches the stallion was able to land on her. Sunny Days noticed this and walked up to Applejack, pressing her body against Applejack's shaking figure so she wouldn't fall over. The pegasus was trying to calm Fluttershy and the other unicorn had finally released the stallion. He was noticeably worse off than Applejack because the second his hooves touched the ground and the magical hold on him was released, he collapsed. Both earth ponies were breathing hard. Fluttershy, having recovered from shock, ran over to Applejack. The pegasus walked up to the stallion, glaring at him.

"Honorable soldiers fight honorable battles. You are no honorable soldier and whoever it is that evaluates you will hear of this." The pegasus turned to walk away.

"What about that crazy mare! She fought to!"

The pegasus turned his head to look at the stallion on the floor, "she fought so you wouldn't hurt her friend. Your a disgrace to the equestrian nation if your going to fight ponies in your own country without reason! The fight's out there not here!" The pegasus said, pointing his hoof for emphasis.

"I am not a disgrace! It's that mare! Mares can't fight, they shouldn't be aloud to come unless they are medics!"

"They obviously can fight because this mare," the pegasus said, "kicked your bucking ass."

The stallion lowered his head, grumbling. Applejack couldn't help giggling at the stallion. He had been so tall and threatening a little bit ago, and now he was acting like a small filly when they were told 'no'. "Serves you right, and as promised you will leave me and Fluttershy alone," Applejack declared.

She turned around and walked away. She didn't want to be in the same passenger car as this sorry excuse for a stallion, starting battles over something petty like name calling is just plain stupid. Dragging others into it, well that's even more stupid. Applejack was disgusted, a filly was more mature than this guy. She walked, with Sunny Days's help, back over to the car she had just come from. "Thanks for defendin' me back there," she said to the pegasus.

"No problem, anypony willing to put him in his place deserves my defense. I'm Lightning Shield, by the way."

"Applejack, nice to meet you Lightning Shield," Applejack said. This was the first time she was actually able to get a good look at the pegasus, he had a pale blue coat and a light brown mane. His cutie mark was a wooden shield with a symbol on it.

Lightning Shield noticed her quick glance at his cutie mark, "neat huh?"

"Why wooden? Ah mean, isn't that the weakest kind of shield?" Applejack asked.

"It's a shield because I'm stronger on defense than offense. The shield is wooden because it shows that i'm modest and humble. The symbol stands for honor, so I only fight the honorable battles, like defending you for instance. Man, you sure were brave to fight," Lightning Shield said, running a hoof through his mane. "Anypony else would've just backed down when they felt they were gonna lose," he added.

"Ah was a bit to upset to care about whether or not he was strong enough to beat me." Applejack winced as pain shot through her shoulder, she had put a bit to much weight on it and stumbled a bit. Sunny Days caught her then led Applejack over to a seat. "Thanks Sunny Days," she said.

"No problem, call me Sunny," the unicorn said with a wave of her hoof.

Fluttershy set her medical bag on the table and opened it. She pulled out some bandages and pain killers and got to work on fixing up Applejack's shoulder. She grazed her hoof over the shoulder, feeling around to assess the damage done to it. "It's dislocated, can somepony help me set her shoulder?" Fluttershy asked.

"Sure, I will," Lightning Shield said, walking up to Applejack and grabbing her hoof. "Brace yourself, it's gonna hurt."

"Wouldn't be the first time," Applejack sighed. Lightning Shield gave her a confused look. "What? I've had my share of run-ins with a pack of Timberwolves. You tellin' me ya haven't?"

"Can't say I have, anyway, let's get this shoulder set." Lightning Shield shoved his hoof into Applejack's shoulder and pulled on her foreleg until he heard a pop, indicating it had gone back into place.

"Gah!," Applejack screamed, rubbing her shoulder and wincing. "That feels a lot better, thanks."

Fluttershy nodded and got to work, tightly wrapping bandages around Applejack's tender shoulder. The bandages ran across Applejack's chest and her entire upper foreleg. "There you go Applejack, maybe we can get a professional healer to cast a spell to fix that up when we get to Canterlot, but that will have to do for now."

"Thanks Fluttershy, it already feel a lot better than before. Speaking of Canterlot, how far is it?" Applejack asked.

"Not to far, maybe another half hour unless something goes wrong." Sunny Days answered. "If I were you though, I'd be more worried about what the princess and captain think about your little train brawl. That stallion comes from a long line of honorable, and respected soldiers. They won't take to kindly to you beating the crap out of him."

"Honorable huh? Must have skipped his generation cause that jerk probably doesn't have an honorable bone in his body!" Applejack exclaimed, slamming her hoof on the table.

The four ponies laughed at Applejack's comment before Lightning responded, "I don't doubt that. If anything it's him that should be worried about what's gonna happen, all we need to do is explain what happened to whoever is waiting at the station for us before he does, and we're in the clear."

"Well, this has definitely been an eventful ride. I know this is the most excitement I've had in a long time, but next time leave the fighting for the battle field will ya?" Sunny Days said.

"Will do, sorry about that by the way."

"No problem. You guys want some water?" Sunny Days asked going behind the counter.

She was answered with collective 'sures' and 'yes pleases' from the concerned party. Sunny Days placed four glasses on the counter and filled each with water. Fluttershy walked over and grabbed two glasses before returning to applejack and handing her a couple of small pink pills and a glass of water. She popped the pills into her mouth and took a large swig of water, the pills taking action almost instantly as the worst of the pain dulled into a constant, tolerable ache. "Thanks," She said taking another swig of the cool water as she began to calm down and start breathing at a normal pace again.

The four ponies sat at the table talking and taking slow sips of their water. "So what now?" Lighting Shield asked.

"Don't know, but ah sure how we are sent to a base far, far away from that stallion!" Applejack growled painfully.

"We can only hope," Fluttershy sighed. Applejack looked a bit surprised at the usually quiet mare's blunt remark, and it hadn't gone unnoticed by the yellow pegasus. "I hate him just as much as you do AJ, he was just awful to us and you were right to put him in his place."

"Yer right Fluttershy, he needed a good whack to his ego, he was standing to high up fer his own good." Applejack said with a nod. The other two ponies burst into laughter at the strange exchange of words.

For the next half hour the for ponies got to know each other, talking about where they were from, about they're family, and about the strange things they did as kids. Applejack even told them about the day her dad got sent in to fight. They talked about a few other things as well until they heard the conductor shout, 'All ponies on the train, we have reached Canterlot, please exit the train!'

"Well, that's us," Lightning Shield said, "maybe we'll see you again, Sunny Days." With that, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Lightning Shield scooted out of the seat to leave.

"Count on it," she said, watching the three ponies leave the car. "Good luck out there!" Sunny Days called as the door to the car shut.

Applejack grabbed her duffel bag and slung it over her uninjured shoulder and turned back to the two pegasi who were holding their bags as well. "Need some help with that bag?" Lightning Shield asked.

"Nah, ah got it," Applejack replied as the three ponies turned to the exit.

When the three ponies stepped out of the car they were greeted by quite a surprise. Not only had the captain, Shining Armor, come to greet the newbies, but next to him was none other than Princess Luna herself. Everyone was staring, jaw-dropped, at the lunar alicorn. "Better get over there and explain your bandages to them, it seems they haven't gone unnoticed to either of those two," Lightning Shield said.

Proofread by CowgirlVK, please go check out her page guys... she is a great writer.