Author's Note
This is the only chapter for this. Let me know if you want this to be a full story or just like this small taste. Just something I wanted to put together cause, why not? If anyone wants to write continuation of this story or an alternate storyline if I start to write more, then please be my guest! Just let others know it is an alternate ending or a continuation from this. Thank you!
Anyways Hope you enjoyed!
KEEP ON WRITING AND KEEP ON READING!!! 
So do They
' From a place you will not see... Comes a sound you will not hear'
The bells of celebrations within the kingdom echoed, as the city lit up with laughter and smiles. It was the winter time for the griffons of Griffon stone, families would spend the days with each other, sing, eat, and tell tales of their past, or wonder about their future. Couples are definitely out today, as well as kids, playing in the snow or the playground, snowballs in claw as they fight, their innocent smiles showing no signs of evil. Today is the day for the griffons, to truly feel happy, and not have to be reminded of the power hungry nobles or king, who have sapped the life of this once great kingdom away from society. These griffons, being constantly suppressed by the harassment, and cruelty of their government, are given this day to express themselves, to live freely, before it all turns back into the Griffon stone of grey, and despair.
" Wind travel, north west 4 miles, bearing... 318." My partner said, brining me back to my current position. Silently, I hummed in confirmation, as I reached, and began to adjust the side. The soft clicks were only heard by me and my partner, the wind adding to the relaxation that soft clicking brought me. My breath was seen through the snow, as it gently fell down to Earth, as well as landing on me, since I have been lying here for 4 hours. The snow quietly crunched as I brought my hand down, resting it under the ice cold metal, my gloves not helping the numbing sensation through my fingers. I could hear the shaky breath of my partner, as they tried continued relay information to me, in order for this to be precise.
" Th-they should be... 800 m-me-meters out." I grunted in frustration.
" They should be or are they? Come on you have to be positive." I pushed, wanting to get as accurate as possible. They let out a sigh.
" F-fine... give me a second." I lightly shook my head, taking my eyes of the city, the same mansion that I had been staring at for hours. I looked over to my partner, her grey coat gently blended with her white clothing, her white scarf covering her muzzle as she stared through the binoculars. Her wings were under the heated tarp that protected her, the snow that piled on top melting away soon after. She shivered slightly, as she sighed.
" Y-yeah, they are 800 meters, no wait... 803 meters out." She corrected, turning to me with those light blue eyes. Covering her night black mane was a white Cossack hat, keeping her ears from freezing. I turned back to my scope and reached up, adjusting my sight, the soft clicking returning once again. After making final adjustments, I let go, using my left hand to support the butt as I shifted slightly, steading my aim even more. The front of my weapon rested on a pile of snow, the cold metal and my sight were hiding behind a fallen tree, the hollow bark adding extra stealth as we hid behind it, the holes within its ancient and dead body doing wonders as it gave me a good sight. The mansion was like any other. More than enough rooms, a fence with guards, as well as adding a fountain in the front.
" Come on... This bastard has got to be around somewhere." She said. I wasn't one to reply to much, but my partner is very talkative one at that, which I'm not very found of.
" He'll show up Eagle Eye, just keep observin' the house an stay quiet." She huffed lightly, and I could tell she was pouting.
" We've been at this job for at least twelve days now. I swear if ah miss cause of you talkin'..." I mumbled to myself, which she gladly did not pick up on. I watched as the guards walked around, checking each end of the gate before returning and repeating the process. The guards on the top of the mansion within their towers scanned the city, unaware of the two of us deep within this snowy forest. The only sounds that could be heard up here was my breathing, and the wind, as well as an occasional bird. So far he hasn't shown up, probably just getting ready.
" I-I'm gonna be late to this Hearts Warming... again." Eagle Eye said, her tone one of guilt and slight sorrow. I sighed.
" At least ya have a family to go back to Eagle. Your son will be happy that you even came back in the first place." She chuckled lightly to that.
" He really wants to meet you. Wouldn't stop talking about you when he saw you with the Princess walking around in Canterlot. Heck, everypony was wondering who you were." I lightly smiled, remembering how a year and a half ago I ended up in this crazy place. To think that griffons were more than a myth where I'm from, and yet hear they are, walking and talking like any human being. I heard Eagle Eye shift, as she looked back into the mounted binoculars.
" Hey I got movement, front gate." My smile fell, my mind going into autopilot, as I moved a few inches to my right, seeing the doors of the house open. One two three... I counted four guards stepping out. They stood in a half circle, watching the front yard. And there he stood. The griffon exited the mansion, his white feathers covering his body, the dark blue stopping it at his neck and the end of his tail. He was wearing a red genera coat, the medals were clear even through my scope. I steadied my breaths, as my prey were oblivious to the outcome of this wonderful day. Something else came from the house. A pony, her coat a dull white, her mane a light brown. She had a torn up tie, her mane and tail were a light mess, one of her glass lenses lightly cracked. Her body lightly jolted, from the sobbing that I could not hear. Four more guards stepped from behind them, talking to the two that stood at attention on the sides of the doors. They bowed, before the group began to move, the general smiling deviously as he wrapped a talon around her shoulder, using his wing to bring her in. I heard a growl from my right.
" That feathered son of a bi-"
" Easy now Eagle." I said. Reaching up to my shoulder, I pressed the button on the black communications device that rested on my Velcro patch.
" I have eyes on the target. He has the hostage their moving with a company of eight guards you copy?" I said, my voice as soft as the wind.
" Then you still have a green light. Wait for the marked zone copy?" The voice was of a motherly tone, one that did not fit with the deed that I was about to commit.
" Roger." I said, letting go and steadying my weapon.
" We're good?" She asked.
" yeah we good." I said, as I continued my calm breaths, like the snow as it continued to drift and dance in the wind. The group moved to the gate, never leaving my sight as they walked. Three carriages pulled up, The general and the hostage, by the name of Raven Inkwell, got into the center one, two guards joining him as the rest dispersed into the other two.
" Can't believe they're gonna rape and execute the poor mare." Eagle said to me.
" Now that's going too far. Trust me they're just going to kill her nice and clean." I could tell she was shaking her head, before resuming back to her binoculars, both of our eyes fixated on their path. They continued down the roads to the outskirts of the city, leading to the flatlands near the edge of the kingdom that stood upon the mountain. We waited, as the doors to the carriages opened, the group stepping out as they did. This was it.
" If there's any final adjustments tell me right now." I said, straightening my relax position as I focused.
" No your good, no change in anything except bearing... 342." She said. I swiftly adjusting my bearings, the clicks coming in rapid succession. They did not calm me this time, instead dulling my emotions as I focused on the sight. The general seemed to be talking to Raven, a smile on his face as she stood there, her back facing us. Four guards on each side of him, two griffons by her side as they stood at attention. By the looks of it he was laughing now, making Inkwell shrink back as she cowered.
" H-hello? Is this thing on?" My eyes widened as I had not recognized the voice before. I quickly reached for my radio.
" Identify yourself. NOW." I demanded, my blood rising as I became slightly agitated. I did not want this to screw up. I HATE screwing up!
" Oh, w-well I'm-" The radio was cut off. I could tell Eagle was looking at me with worry. She quickly focused on the task at hand, realizing our mistake. I was distracted.
" They're gonna kill her!" I quickly stared down my scope, seeing the pony being held by the two guards as the general stepped forward, a rapier in his claw. My heartbeat quickened. No! Die down... die down... It became more rhythmic, the world becoming darkness, as the only thing I saw was the two in my scope. I could feel it. The generals heartbeat. The blood pumping though his being. The shaking of Inkwell, the feathers rustle as they blew through the wind. My heartbeat echoed through my ears, my breathing adding more beat and rhythm to the song of my life. It was reaching it's crescendo, time slowing down as it did. I could feel Eagle's tension, as she could only watch through those binoculars. I counted my heartbeats, this type of timing took years in training, and even more to perfect. One, two, three, four... My grip tightened, and then I saw it. My world came to a crashing end, the white of the snow and the city returning to me from the darkness, the shot echoing through the forest as the snow was kicked up, my body jolted ever so slightly from the impact. I continued to stare, quickly bringing my hand off the trigger. grabbing the bolt, I pulled back, the golden shell reflecting light as it spun in the air, the dance of death. I quickly glanced at it. It's falling... I looked back into my scope. The general's mouth was wide with terror, no noise escaping his beak. Even if it was, I could not hear it. A huge hole was through his neck, the pure white snow now stained with chunks of flesh as well as the splatter of blood. It all happened so fast. The dropping of the rapier, the pony known as Inkwell turning around, going into a full sprint for freedom. The royal guards popping out of the snow, spears and swords drawn. The general falling to the ground, his coat as well as his clothing now stained with the gentle snow, and the heavy red of his own blood. I sighed, reaching for the radio.
" Princess this is Travis... we got him. Going home." I said, Eagle exhaling a sigh of relief as she stretched from her sitting position.
" Ah... man my flank is killing me." She said, stretching like a cat. I sat up, inches of piled snow falling off my body as crouched, some of it falling off my head and in my face. Wiping it with a numb hand I looked to her, as she smiled.
" I don't know how you do it. How you can hit something from so far." I simply shrugged. It is quite hard to explain such a talent, and I am quite tired of all of this crappy snow. I reached for my rifle, dropping the mag as I put it in it's respective pouch, picking up the empty casing as well. shaking the snow off of my rifle, I slung it on my back, my right hand holding it in case it were to fall. Eagle Eye grabbed her tarp, rolling it up before strapping it to her back. Kicking some snow here and there just in case, our imprints were now nothing but landscape, as we retreated back to our camp.
" Thank you Travis. Thank you so much for completing this mission. I expected such from someone with your skill." The voice said, her tone showed relief.
" Wasn't the hardest shot I took, but ah got it Celestia." I said, as we both slid down the snowy hill, using trees as support as we came down to a small clearing, a tent as well as a small pile of charred wood in the center. Eagle went into the tent to pack her stuff. I stopped in front, reaching for the radio.
" Oh by the way, who the fuck was that in the radio Celestia? I want answers." I demanded. The voice was young, and did not sound professional. I remember I only had two when I came here, and the only person who had the other was Celestia herself. It turned on, as she cleared her throat.
" I apologize Travis... my student, Twilight, she can become very pushy when she wants to learn-" I grunted in annoyance.
" yeah well tell your stupid student that she almost caused me to miss, and your precious assistant messenger to come home in a body bag. I want you to warn her, as I did the same to you. Do Not interfere with my job got it?" I said, my anger slowly rising as I wondered how Celestia is keeping tabs on the damn thing that helped me and her in every mission.
" I understand Travis. Again I apologize." I sighed, letting go of the radio as I walked into the tent. Eagle had just tightened the strap on her sleeping bag, her canteen and other supplies already on her back. I walked over and helped her tie it on, her doing the same for me as I finished my pack. Zipping up the tent bag and burying the fire wood in the snow, I hefted the extra weight as we began to trudge through the forest.
" If we keep going south-south west, we should be able to get to the train before it reaches noon." She said. I nodded, as we continued to walk, the snow going no higher then half of my shin, while for her she had to take higher steps, bringing her legs higher than she would have liked. These ponies are small, Celestia being the tallest is taller than me with that horn, but without it she is at least two inches shorter.
" So with the death of General Blue Claw, I guess Equestria is gonna offer one of ours for aid?" She asked. I nodded.
" Ah don't know much, but yes that's about it. Stage an assassination then place one of our own in their territory, not only expanding Equestria's but I guess earning their trust."
" But wouldn't they get suspicious? You know, about us just coming in to save the day moments after his death?" She asked.
" Apparently the king had his suspicions about the general before we even got word, said that he was not really obeying the treaty between the two countries." I replied. " Listen i don't know much about this stuff alright. Let's just get to the train station and head back home." I wide eyed inwardly as I said that. I had never accepted Equestria as my home, not until a month back or so. It's still pretty hard to say it, but I might as well man up and take it full force. I looked up, not a single ray of sunlight, only white skies with snowflakes dancing across my face and the air, before melting from the touch of my skin. It brought me back to the moments that took place. The blood, the sword. The pony, the griffons. I have always come to this conclusion. it's just the way it is. Back home... here. No matter how I look at my job, I only am good for one thing. And that is causing others to fall by my rifle. By my hand.
Like they are nothing but the snow that falls.
