Chapters My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
'Roar of the Unigriff'
Chapter 1: 'War'
Gryphons don't simply call the lands to the north their home. We are a testament to our ancestors whom settled in this land thousands of years ago. Over the centuries, both the Griffon Kingdom and Northland have tried to colonize our kind, and both of them failed. My name is Alejandra Irontalon, and I bid you welcome to the Kingdom of Aquila.
We are all gryphons, but we go by our ancient name. We are called the Unigriffs. We are the descendants of the strong gryphon and the unicorn. I am one of the leopard folk. I have the head, wings, and front talons of the gyrfalcon and the lower half and tail of a snow leopard. The feature that makes us different is our winglets which are actually horns.
During times of war, we have defended the lands with our traditional weapon, the rifle. A weapon as beautiful as it is deadly. In times of peace, we raise cattle in the spring sun. Today, I was summoned to the royal city of Raza to meet the Grand Queen, Esmeralda. Dressed in my finest uniform, I bowed to the kind queen with the utmost respect.
The thing is I am different from many gryphons or ponies because I can use magic. All unigriffs can use magic. It has not deterred me from my skill as a soldier. Our queen is the fourth in her bloodline. A strong warrior in battle and at the same time a fair and kind ruler to this kingdom, she has won the favor of her royal subjects such as myself,
"As it has happened many times in the past, I fear the dark clouds of war are gathering," said the queen, "you are one of my finest soldiers and commanders, Alejandra, my request to you is to go to see to Princess Celestia, and report to me her intentions, I shall have the army mobilized in your absence, I trust that you will see to this matter?"
I simply nodded to tell her it will be done, she smiled and nodded to me signaling that I am free to go. She truly is the essence of the gryphon folk of the kingdom. Esmeralda never puts others before her, and treats the gryphons as equals. With my 1907 cavalry dress sword, and Star Model 1914 pistol at my side, I took to flight to the Northland.
It was a half day's journey to the royal city where a guard announced me to the two ruling princesses, "Your Majesty, I present to you, Alejandra of Aquila," I bowed to the princesses to be respectful. Princess Celestia did not look to pleased to see me, yet her younger sister looked intrigued. Are such ponies shuttered from outside their lands?
"She's beautiful, and one that stands by her kind's traditional ways it seems" said the younger sister, "I am truly interested in seeing what lays beyond our boundaries."
"Don't let that catbird fool you, Luna, that is a decorated commander," she warned her sister, and faced me intensely, "now then, what are your intentions, gryphon?"
"Let us not be mired in base exchange, your majesty, for I speak on behalf of her majesty Queen Esmeralda," I said to calm the Princess of the Sun. It did not seem to work
"I come simply as an envoy, and I wish to know of your intentions," I said simply. I came dressed for the occasion of seeing the Princess of the Sun. I wore my peaked officers cap with black and green side feathers, and a dark green jacket with gold buttons and decorated with my medals for bravery and merit. I am not one to be underestimated.
"Don't think you can deceive us with your words of kindness, gryphon," she replied, I knew she would say that, but I can tell that she is getting rather angry, "you should know of my intentions, or better yet your queen will know of them by now just like the queens of your kingdom's past," as an act of defiance, I stood up from kneeling to her.
"Then to your words, I say to you the only way you will make us kneel before you is if you break our legs, even then we will stand and fight," I bided her farewell, and I took my leave of the grand royal city of Cantrolot, and flew back to Esmeralda's palace to tell her the news. I kneeled to the queen. I simply shook my head 'no' to tell her it is war
"As it is to be expected, then it is war she will receive," said the queen, I nodded as I bowed my head to her intentions, "their forces will come soon, we will make our stand as our ancestors have done in the past, it seems war will mark the destiny of all the queens that sit on the throne of this land, if that is my fate as your queen, then so be it,"
There seemed to have been a development I did not expect when I met Princess Celestia that afternoon. She has a younger sister that seems to have eyes of intrigue rather than malcontent. I too am interested in the one called 'The Princess of the Night'. Princess Celestia seems to cast a very large shadow as it falls down upon her own sister.
Esmeralda scratched her chin and nodded a single nod. We live in an age of guns, and we use a weapon that experienced ponies have learned to fear, the Luger M1906 Rifle. It is lightweight and powerful. By the time our queen took the throne of the kingodm, this rifle and the 8mm it fired became a favorite among our soldiers for stopping power.
It was only a matter of time before the ponyfolk invade our kingdom, and we will be ready to face them. Swords were sharpened. Rifles were being checked and loaded for the coming battles that lay ahead of us, and the bravery is strong in the hearts of our brave soldiers. We will not bow to Princess Celestia. This is our land. We will never surrender
Dark and Red (The Battle of San Caballero)
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
'Roar of the Unigriff'
Chapter 2: Dark and Red (The Battle of San Caballero)
Weeks had passed since my meeting with Princess Celestia, and it did not take long for the Equestrian Army to ready troops for war. I looked to see the scout I sent out report to me, "The Equestrians...they are on the march...2000 strong, they have cannons and machine guns too," said my scout, catching her breath, "will we fight, commander?"
I nodded, and signaled for my soldiers to get in position. I was in command of 1500 soldiers and officers. An Aquilan soldier wears a peaked cap and a jacket with a brown waist belt. We wear khaki green as our battle color. The Equestrians set up their positions on a tall ridge near the small village of San Caballero. This war had finally begun.
I looked through my binoculars as the battle unfolded. The infantry were advancing, "Stay forward!" said a commanding officer. Cannons began to rain down shells, and inflict causalities. The Equestrian Bren Guns laughed at our attempts to take the ridge with words of hot lead. We answered back with MG-39 Rh machine guns, and heavy losses.
The infantry were pinned down. I had my pistol loaded as did the soldiers with their rifles, "Ataque!" I roared as I led my soldiers to flank their position and save the infantry from getting slaughtered. Unfortunately, it seemed the Equestrians were already prepared for us, and turned their machine guns and artillery toward us, but still we charged.
Shrapnel filled the sky as we swooped in to attack. A shell flew right passed me. A soldier screamed the shell came right at her face, and she was silenced instantly and decapitated. A splash of blood hit the face of the soldier next to her. I pointed my pistol at my side as we flew in low and increased our flying speed, but I was stopped short.
A shell hit my side, and I was thrown to the ground by the shock. My pistol was thrown from my talons as I rolled on the ground. I had my back against a rock for cover, and I could see death all over the field. I saw a soldier trying to get his wounded comrade off the field, but an Enfield rifle found it's target, and shot the wounded soldier in the head.
The artillery fire was constant and murderous leaving soldiers limbless and headless. There was even a soldier crying out, and gathering her intestines in her talons. The cries of agony filled the smoke-filled air. I had to do something. I tried to reach for a rifle, but two bullets from an Equestrian Enfield rifle almost hit me. I got my talons on a rifle.
I cocked back the toggle action. A shell hit in front of my position and landed a direct hit on a soldier. A mix of feathers, small bits of flesh and earth rained down. She was completely vaporized. I turned, and started shooting at the gunner since some our machine-gunners are dead. Kill after kill, I was making each kill and each bullet count.
I hit the machine-gunner between the eyes, and watched him fall on his back. I saw another soldier try to take his place at the helm, but I would not let him as I killed him too. When I did all that I could, I heard the battlecry of an officer with a pistol and the infantry charged forward with bayonets fixed, and the flag of Aquila waving proudly.
The Equestrian lines broke into panic and their leader, Flash Sentry, was forced to withdraw from the field seeing the second wave of infantry swoop in and shooting down any pony trying to make a gallop for safety. Our soldiers cheered, and raised their rifles to the sky. We achieved victory, but it came with a price. This battle saw over 600 killed.
Soldiers were bandaged up with head wounds. Some were missing limbs, and some had to be amputated to avoid infection. I could hear the screams of soldiers pleading to the doctor not to take their legs. I looked at the field. The dead from both sides littered the ground. Their white eyes looked up at the sun while some seemed to be sleeping.
There were disembodied arms and legs, and some of the dead had their entire halves of their bodies blown off by cannons. I looked in the eyes of the dead. I saw no fear in them. If they died, then they knew they died for their country and for their land. They all died sending a message to Princess Celestia. We will all fight to the very last gryphon.
As a strolled the field, I looked upon a dead soldier. She was shot in the head, but her liver and intestines were in her talons. It seems our enemy will give no mercy to the suffering. Since we are not ponies, the princess will do everything she can to wipe us off the face of Equestria and into extinction. If that is the case. I will go down fighting.
I even found my pistol on the field, covered in dirt and blood. I cleaned off the handle, and put the sword back in my sheathe. My second-in-command, Elena De Amaya, came up to me, "I felt you could use some food, commander," she said kindly. The camp cook made Fabada to gladden the hearts of our brave soldiers. How very kind of him.
"Thank you," I said with a light smile and a nod to her. I sat down with the soldiers. They cheered as I came to join them for a meal. When I finished my meal, I decided to give a word to those I command, "Brave brothers...brave sisters...the Equestrians showed us is their intention, they wish to exterminate us, wipe us off the face of Equestria,"
"Then I say with pride in my heart, and no fear in my eyes, let them come, let them come with the full fury of their armies!" I said to encourage my tired and weary soldiers, "we will stand and fight, we will resist the Armies of Hell if we have to, because this...this is Aquila, this is our land, this is your land, and we will not give it up without a fight!"
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Indestructible (As Told By: Captain Elena De Amaya
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
'Roar of the Unigriff'
Chapter 3: Indestructible (As Told By: Captain Elena De Amaya)
Ponies do not give up that easily. I was put in charge of setting up our positions. We have taken advantage of the high ground. Now it was up to all of us to hold the line until reinforcements arrive, "Load up! Load up! Machine-gunners on the flanks! Now!" I ordered while the commander was seeing to the wounded from yesterdays engagement.
Soldiers moved into positions and loading rifles. Our machine guns provided support and also protected the flanks of our troops. The abandoned cannons were useless to us as the Equestrians used all the ammunition. I reported to Alejandra's foxhole, "Everybirdy is in position, they maybe turning up and down the line, but they will counter,"
Our MG-39 Rh machine guns were at the ready. It was only the first day of battle, the first day of the war. Nobirdy knows how many more there will be or how many will have to be sacrificed to protect our sacred land. That afternoon, it began to rain and the ground turned to mud. Our commander came out, and joined us in the mud and rain.
I felt her talon on my shoulder, "Gracias," I said with a nod and smile and looked down the sight of my rifle at the enemy trench, "bring on the hell," I muttered to myself,
"Here come the guns!" cried out a soldier as the whistle of shells echoed through the air and hammered the earth. Still we had to hold our ground amid the pounding of artillery shells at the break of dawn. One shell too many fell as it landed a direct hit on a soldier. She was vaporized in a bloody explosion with feathers falling down to earth.
When the shellfire ceased, we saw ponies coming out of the mist. With bayonets fixed, they charged the line, "Hold your fire, hold your fire!" I heard the colonel call out. Our task was to hold the San Caballero Line until our allies in Eastern Aquila mobilized. Before the battle, we received a message that they were on the march to our position.
When they were in range, close range, Alejandra gave the order, "Ahora!" She roared, and the fires began firing. Bodies of ponies fell in the mud and shell holes. Our machine guns were helping to hold the line. Bodies fell to the bursts of fire like tall grass to the mowing machine. Still the shellfire was constant and the enemy was now on top of us.
Bodies of good soldiers, brave soldiers were being thrown like ragdolls from the shock of artillery shells, and landing facedown in the puddles, "They're on top of us!"
I am thinking the Equestrians thought the shellfire would wipe us out. We are tougher than that. I unsheathed my ball-grip knife from my back leg sheath, "Aquí vamos," I said with a trench cub I forged. A round steel shaft and turned handle, and 22 inches long with ten 1 1/2 inch spikes affixed to the cylinder shaped head. A real nasty weapon.
I used my club to parry a rifle, and stab an enemy in the side of the neck. Another was coming in from behind to attack my cousin. I turned around, and smacked him upside the head with my mace. His skull cracked, and there was a spurt of blood behind he fell facedown in the mud. When you serve well with Alejandra, you know what she can do.
I looked to see how she was faring in her muddy foxhole. You soon find she is handy with other tools. Her close combat weapon is a short sword. With a 19 and 1/4 inch blade and 26 inches long, it was the last thing many soldiers saw. The colonel slashed aside an enemy in the throat and bleed out, and split the head open the other with a loud yell.
When it comes to close combat, our soldiers use anything from sharpened trench spades to knives, trench clubs and axes, "Good work, mi prima," I said to my twin Malina
My little cousin notched her first kills as a royal soldier, slitting the throat of an enemy and hitting another aside with her rifle stock. The Equestrians were turning back, and our rifles were shooting at them as they retreated. A couple fell in the mud as the ponies were sent packing back to their trench. I hugged my cousin knowing she lives to fight
I soon heard the sound of footsteps coming from our flanks. They weren't our relief troops, but something better that came right on time, "Adlers!" I called out, these are German-speaking Unigriffs from Eastern Aquila. Tough and rugged as the mountains they live in, we fixed our bayonets and charged alongside them into the Equestrian Lines.
The ponies turned and shot back, and the machine guns were spitting bullets. The artillery felled many, screaming in agony. By bayonet, rifle, and our weapons, we charged into the fire. Commanding the Adler Units is Victoria Von Lowe. Don't let the monocle deter you, she's just like Alejandra, but she speaks German, "Good to have you with us,"
"Oh yes, yes, it is a pleasure indeed," said the all-brown unigriff with a golden yellow beak, "her majesty sends her regards and some new weapons for us all,"
It is not hard to spot an Adler Unit soldier. They wear the M53 Stahlhelm and commanding officers wear the M34 peaked cap with golden laurel designs sewn into the brim and the coat-of-arms of Queen Esmeralda in front and facing the enemy, "The enemy is sending in more troops, her majesty felt we must do the same," said the Adler Unit officer.
The Adler Units settled down after a long march, and got to see their first taste of action on the first day they arrived. They were rewarded for their assistance with food from the cook. Sopa De Ajo Blanco was given out by our cook to go with our bread rations. Having the Adler Units was a breath of fresh air, knowing we are not alone in this fight