A unicorn stood as he watched his fellow soldiers turn tail and run, they had ditched their guns and packs and ran.
This private was named Ares, before him he saw fifteen thousand griffins below him marching up the hill to the narrow gorge in which his brigade was stationed. He turned to run as well but below he saw a village completely defenseless...........hell he was honored bound to fight for his home, his family and Equestria! Picking up his rifle he turned to face the horde. Stabilizing his gun he took aim, he waited until he could see their banners and the emblem on the flags.
He fired and slid the bolt back, a griffin screamed as it's eye exploded a d it fell dead. Rapidly he fired and reloaded. He felt so alone and yet his conscious was telling him that he a legion of heroes with him. He didn't know if he was dying or dehydration was taking its toll but he saw spirits standing with weapons raised and cheering him on. He had run out of brass to fire so he resorted to magic. He grasps the pendant his sister had given him, the only family he had and wept, but he knew she was counting on him to keep his oath. His parents should've named Fidel Covenant, he was faithful and a promise keeper.
Ares conjured up a broad sword and charged down the hill he was crazy but he still had thousands to kill and figure he needed to take the fight to the enemy. He getting tired, he killed at least six hundred griffin attackers he was about to surrender when he saw that the enemy had their general in the back and had a pony filly in his chariot, he found a reason to keep fighting he swapped weapons to a magic rifle with it he had unlimited rounds to fire off and this time it was equipped with a fully automatic setting. He stared blasting his enemy.
"kill that damned pony!" he heard the general scream over the den of battle.
"Just you try bitch!" the carnage that ensued was horrific many died and Ares fell to the ground exhausted but he had to keep going, he had ponies counting on him and a pony to save. He rose up and as as he charged again he used a sword again. He still saw the spirits of war heroes from Equestrian history above his head cheering to fight still. Looking to his left the spirit of the element bearer of loyalty ran along side him with a spear telling not to quit. On his right he saw the spirits of his parents, "Keeping going son, you must prevail! This is why you were born now fight like there will be no tomorrow!"
"C'mon kid keep going you're not done yet!"
"Press on Ares there is a 99.9999% chance of success"
"Round em up and move em out sugarcube"
"Darling you heart is the most fabulous thing about you it's as rare as a fire stone Ruby"
Ares conjured up a second sword and used his teleportation spell and he became more effecient cutting down his foe. He was then driven back to his starting position when looking back a pony came to watch the battle and the enemy was making it up the hill he teleported to the top of the hill and conjured up a bolt action Enfield styled rifle and fired as quickly as he could. He even conjured up more rifles and fired like hell. He reduced himself to one rifle and he fixed a bayonet to it and was ready to fight close quarters again. Covered in blood and sweat he he fought but he soon had to retreat. He decided that his final stand was at the city gates. The villagers were scared and his brigade had ditched the villagers to die alone..........he was pissed off now, the ponies screamed as fifteen hundred griffin lancers with spears and repeater rifles came charging. Raising his rifle he charged and gave them the bayonet. The villagers saw only one soldier had stayed to fight for them. Encouraged, the villagers charged with what ever weapons they had. And prepared to charge.
Ares had by this time made his way to the general, a large griffin and as the engaged Ares was impaled by a spear and as he gasped for air he saw the general had brought the filly over to watch him die. As the general raised his gun to blow Ares' brains out a blur of motion tackled the general and soon fell to the dirt with multiple stab wounds. Ares leapt up and removing the spear used his rifle bayonet to sever the general's head off. And as he collapsed he saw the wounded female griffin tear her cloak into strips to stop his bleeding and not her own.
A trumpet was heard and Ares' brigade reappeared and charged the villagers were relieved that they didn't have to fight alone. The griffin horde fled the field and ended up being routed out and killed. Ares saw his general walk up to him and the griffin he saw was suddenly and violently tackled. He could hear her ribs breaking and her wings break, to his horror the general had one of her wings torn off and the medics that came to tend to his wounds were shoved away and Ares placed himself between the griffin and the general.
"General Stoneheart sir, how could you just kill a creature who had the chance to take a life but chose to spare it? That is just cruel!"
"Know your place Ares! Now move and let me kill this wretched piece of shit."
"I do know my place general and it's right here!"
The general turned and stormed off as he ordered, "Kill them both!" Ares soon was staring down the barrel of a single rifle and he saw the round with his name on it. As the trigger was pulled he was shoved aside and he heard the screech that told him that a Griffin was shot. Enraged he summoned up a spell that sent his whole brigade to Tartarus fo a thousand years to burn alive. How could they kill a creature that easily could've killed him but risked their life to save his. Turning to the griffin he held her close as she felt her breathing slow down and her heart beats weaken.
He had victory that day but had to see an innocent creature die! He prayed to the alicorn princesses though they were years gone, he prayed that the spell he was going to cast would work.
A few weeks past and Ares could be seen in Canterlot with a griffin with a magnificently-winged griffin by his side, Ares looked at the griffin and spoke gently as they watched the sun set in the west, "Thank you Gaia for saving my life a few weeks ago."
"Thank you Ares for protecting me even though I was an enemy............I didn't think it was possible but you proved me wrong not all ponies are my enemies."
The happy pair sat as the moon rose and enjoyed a bottle of fine wine and enjoyed the peace they had