Button Mash had gone looking through his Dad's old stuff again. If his mom caught him, he'd most likely get a week without video games. But he was after something he'd only gotten a faint glimpse of on a shelf. It was no doubt a video game, it had the bright green features of most of the cases he had for an older console.
He cautiously stepped into the room, and sighted the object exactly where it would be, on top of the shelf. He went up and grabbed it, and ran away as fast as he could. Sadly, he tripped over something he never got a good look at. This didn't deter him from trying to get out with his mom not knowing.
He got out, and bolted for his own room down the hall. He tossed the game onto his racecar bed, and shut the door. He would play it now, but he was going to see his good friend Sweetie Belle. For now, he'd read the cover before heading to Sugarcube Corner.
Haylo: New Griffonstone
***
Button Mash took a big swig from his milkshake as he listened to Sweetie Belle talk with the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders.
"So then what happened?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"She really did it. With her EYES CLOSED!" Scootaloo said.
"Wow, I wish that we could've seen it!" Applebloom said. "So, Button Mash, how have you been lately?"
"Well, I found this old game my Dad used to play. It's called Haylo: New Griffonstone. If you want to, we can go play it at my house. But it's a secret though. My mom said I'm not allowed to touch my Dad's stuff." Button said with an ear to ear smile. He was super excited to play his new game.
"I'm not very good at video games." Scootaloo said.
"Me neither." Applebloom said.
"I'll try it." Sweetie said. "That was really fun the one time you two played Shyrim with us though. It won't be as fun without you."
"Only because you knew what to do and we didn't... Hey, Applebloom, I have an idea!" The pegasus filly waved her hoof, gesturing the earth pony closer. "We could have a chance this time, Button hasn't played this game before!" She whispered. Applebloom agreed, nodding in approval.
"Alright, we're in as well."
"Good, your controllers have been gathering dust." Button said.
***
"Mom! Is it alright if my friends come over?!" Button shouted.
"Sure!" She shouted back. Button grinned and waved the Cutie Mark Crusaders inside. He galloped up to his room and found the game exactly where he left it, on the bed.
"It'll take me a little bit to set up the console. Here's your controllers." He pushed three devices that had their cutie marks on them. Clearly, Button has too much time on his hooves. It didn't take him long to plug in the console, it was a mere matter of plugging a wire into a wall, and then another from the console to the television.
"Do you think that this thing even works?" Scootaloo asked.
"I hope it does." The colt said and pressed the start button.
The light glowed a bright green similar to that of the game case.
"It works!" Sweetie said.
"Ok, let's play!" Scootaloo said, becoming more competitive all of a sudden. Applebloom analyzed the cover, that displayed several ponies, with a bulbous purple ship in the background.
Button voiced his agreement by placing the game in the console. The white screen dissolved into a dark black that transitioned to a light blue. He recognized this as Space. A low, yet loud wail sounded, accompanied by a heart thump that was the drums. And as they seemed to pass stars, the voice intensified, and stopped, the camera resting on a planet that looked similar, yet alien to them at the same time. The screen went to black, and reappeared with two options, behind them was Haylo: New Griffonstone in large white and ghostly lettering.
Button's jaw dropped in awe. This game, this GLORIOUS game, had amazing graphics for a game that his father played. He could only say "Whoa..."
"I don't get it." Sweetie Belle said. Button played enie menie minie mo until he landed on a word he didn't quite understand.
"Start coop champagne?" Button asked as he pressed it
"What's a coop?" Scootaloo asked
"Like a chicken coop?" Applebloom asked no one in particular.
***
The year is 2552. The "United Equestrian Space Command" is at war with an alien alliance known as 'The Covenant'. They have burned our worlds, leaving billions in their path of insatiable destruction. New Griffonstone is a Gryphon controlled world. They have built hundreds of ships that help repel the Covenant threat. Now, the ultimate question remains, can the heavily fortified world stand resolute against the seemingly unstoppable onslaught?
When the planet is under attack, the United Equestrian Space Command has their response. An elite team of ponies, the Greenhorn-III Foxtrots, have been dispatched to assist the gryphons defend their home. Will the small force be enough to save New Griffonstone? They are the best of the best. And failure could result in the end of the war.
They must win.
***
A ship slowly approached the planet they had seen moments ago. After the speech, which only Applebloom and Sweetie Belle understood, they knew these were the Equestrian Greenhorn-III Foxtrots.
A unicorn walked to a Gryphon in a room that had many computers, and a grand window that granted them a view of the planet. Both the pony and gryphon were dressed weirdly.
"Captain Red Feather, Greenhorn Team Tranquility is ready for deployment." The mare spoke. The voice was filled with bitterness.
"I'll send you to the relay station like Lord Cowl ordered. After that, we will continue the fight in orbit." He responded. "A Pelican should be waiting-"
"Sir, Covenant ship, approaching on starboard!" A gryphon yelled from one of the computers.
"Get me a firing solution. We need to buy time for the Greenhorns to get planet side." Red Feather ordered. "All hands to battlestations. This is not a drill." He said through a speaker. "It's time for you to get your people out of here. Good luck." The Greenhorn nodded and galloped out. The camera flickered and showed four tubes, and the Greenhorn they saw run out of the room with Red Feather appeared, and pushed a button. This caused the four players to have their screen split.
Chapter 1, Winter Wrap Up Emergency
"Greenhorns, get up. We've got to get out of here before the Covenant blow this thing to smithereens." She said, and waited for the four. They were presented with a menu, prompting them to pick a suit. Button's father had unlocked all armor, so the young ponies chose the most appealing.
After a long five minutes, they chose their armor. Scootaloo chose the Grenadier set, Applebloom chose the EVA, Sweetie Belle chose the Air Assault, and Button, who's hoof slipped, accidentally chose the Operator set. They had their armor colored like their fur and manes.
"Welcome to Tranquility Team." She said this in a sigh, and continued. "Follow me, the others are waiting." They got a good look at her armor. She had her helmet off, revealing a comforting face, a blue coated and maroon maned mare.
They complied, picking up the controls quickly. Alarms blared as they moved down the hallways.
"What do the Covenant look like even?" Applebloom asked. Soon, she would have her question answered.
"Everypony on board!" She shouted as they galloped to a plane of some sort. Four other Greenhorn-IIIs jumped to attention and got in the Pelican.
The mare's armor had some difference to her coat and mane, having black with purple marks.
"Leaving already?" A shorter Greenhorn that sported dark green armor asked.
"Covenant are already engaging, and we need to get on the ground. New Griffonstone declared Winter Wrap Up Emergency two days ago. Our first objective is to assist in a massive counter offensive on Covenant territory." She said.
"What if there is no one else?" A white and blue one, a unicorn asked. So far, Sweetie was the third unicorn on the team, with Scootaloo and the shorter Greenhorn as the only Pegasi.
"There is, we received word they have been holding out for a full week now."
"Maybe the Covenant is running out of money." A steel grey and black Greenhorn said sarcastically.
"Here are the new arrivals." She said. "I'm Silent Charm, this is Talon Hoof, Uncommon Gem, Dusk Chime, and Morning Dew." She pointed to them as they were introduced. Talon Hoof was larger than most of the Greenhorns, and stood behind them. Uncommon Gem wore the white and blue. Dusk Chime was by far the most interesting, having several drawings adorning his armor. Most of these were silver skulls. Morning Dew was the short green pegasus. At least his armor was. There wasn't much of a hint on what color their coats might be.
"Greenhorns, I won't lie to you. You're stepping into some horseshoes most would rather leave unfilled." Silent Charm said. Button pondered what this could mean.
The scene ended, and they were shown a view of the ship they brought to New Griffonstone from far away. It was being blasted apart by a bulbous purple ship that reminded them of the case of the game. Fiery red explosions could be seen across the hull. Some shots were fired from the grey Gryphon frigate, but a blue mist blocked any shot that hit it. Finally, the ship exploded, a ring coming from the center and expanding, and fading as quickly as it expanded.
New Griffonstone was going to be a difficult fight, no doubt about it.