The Champion Of Longsword

Shit... okay, are the others alerted?" he asked. "Yes they are hidden behind us" Swift replied. Night then immediately made a decision, as he knew that any hesitation only increased the chances that they would be caught.

"Okay follow me" he replied back. Slowly the two ponies slowly and quietly flew down the tree and rendezvoused with the rest of the partisans. They we're currently hidden within some bushes a few hooves back from the tree he had been sleeping in. "How many are there?" Quick Shot asked. "There's around ten Griffons, all look to be Reformisten soldiers" Swift Wing replied. Night then decided to speak up as he did not want to delay the execution of his plan any further.

"Alright listen up" he said, still slightly whispering. "We're going to slowly sneak back into the forest, then once we are a good distance away from them we will make a new camp and have two ponies on watch detail at all times, understood?" he said which all the ponies nodded their heads. "Good now I will take the lead, Quick Shot you watch our rear, and the rest of you get into a single file line and move where I move and only that". Nine heads quickly responded in confirmation once again. Night then slowly moved to the front of the soon to exist line of ponies. Once they we're all lined up, which only took about ten seconds they began to move slowly back into the forest.

Although some ponies we're causing a bit of noise it didn't seem like the soldiers we're noticing their movements, especially since they we're focusing more on setting up their camp. A fire soon drowned out their noise even more, even so Night decided to slow down a bit to try and lessen the amount of noise they we're making. Since it didn't really matter how fast they moved if it got them detected and the result being a firefight, however it slowly seemed to work as the amount of noise they we're making lessened considerably. Although some of the ponies of his team didn't quite seem to understand this. "Why are we slowing down, shouldn't we try to get out of here as fast as possible?" a mare from Lite Fire's team asked him. "Quiet, we mustn't be found" he replied. With that the ponies slowly disappeared into the darkness of the night.

A new day had dawned in Longsword. After slipping away from the Griffon patrol in the dead of last night the partisans had set up another make shift camp about two miles away, and the "camp" pretty much consisted of a few ponies sleeping in either bushes or trees. However today would be the day that they would be initiating the conclusion of their journey to Beakstadt. Personally Night felt excited, not just because he would soon complete a task that would hopefully help bring down the Reformisten but also because it seemed that for once they we're on the offensive, not the Griffons.

He looked towards the ponies he commanded. The pegasi we're sleeping in the trees (including himself) while the earth ponies and unicorns slept on the ground in bushes, while two ponies we're currently on guard. The reason the pegasi we're in the trees was that if they we're ever attacked then there would be ponies that could quickly gain a height advantage on the Griffons. That was one of the weird and very few things that the Reformisten Griffons and the Pony Partisans would agree on, having the high ground in combat often led to that individual or individuals to emerge victorious.

He looked towards the sun as it slowly crested the horizon towards the Riverlands. The Riverlands we're eight or so nations that called a mountainous region with lots of rivers and valleys their home. He didn't know much about them, their culture, or even what some of their species we're. All he knew was their names and their rough location.

Lake City, a small city state located on the shore of a lake. Deponya, another pony nation to Lake City's north. Diamond Mountain, a nation of Diamond Dogs, which we're well... he supposed the nicest thing to call them would be a canine that just much larger than your average dog, they called the mountain their nation was named after and the surrounding hills their home. To both Deponya's and Diamond Mountain's northeast was the Bakaran Republic, a nation of seafaring ponies well renowned on their expertise on sailing and building sailing vessels. To the east you would enter Nimbusian territory, which was the most aggressive Riverlands nation, a nation of ponies that had a warrior culture, where might basically made right, and by default law. Then to their south was Ponaidhean, he still had no idea how that was even pronounced, and knew even less about them other than they apparently we're a group of very religious ponies. If you went west from there you would come across the Kingdom of Wittenland, a nation that had been dominated by unicorn mages for centuries. He also knew from Lite that they used to control the Barrad Magocracy until Count Ambrosius's corruption by dark magic, and tensions we're still high between both nations. To their north you would come across the River Republic, the most dominant nation in the Riverlands, both in power and politics. They we're also the founder of a defensive pact that would call all of their nations together against any Griffon incursion. Apparently after Grover II's defeat the nation's banded together to make sure that the Griffons could never invade them as easily as Grover had.

The River Republic, as well as other nations in the alliance also deeply criticized the bloodshed caused by the Reformisten, and had warned Count Pallas to end his genocide of the ponies. Yet they never did anything more than that which deeply angered Night. "If they just marched in, shot a couple hundred griffons, and left us ponies in charge with a division or two then so many things would improve. It would probably only take a week he thought. Although he knew that would probably cause mass panic in the empire and to Griffons all over Griffonia so he could understand why they hadn't acted. "Damn politics at it's finest" he added.

A yawn brought him out his thoughts. Said yawn had come from Swift as she slowly awoke from her slumber. Her eyes opened which soon met his and a smile followed. "Good morning Night" she said. "Morning Swift" he replied. "Are you hungry by any chance, I know we haven't had a chance to eat ever since we escaped Visaginas" he added. "A little bit, I think we could all use a bite to eat to be honest" she said and gestured to the other sleeping ponies. "All right then it's settled, we'll have some breakfast before the march to Beakstadt" he finished.

As the hour passed the ponies slowly woke up, Night decided that they would all have one hour to eat before they would set out for Beakstadt. He hoped to conclude the journey by the next two days. They had already been marching for four days now and he could tell that they we're getting weary.

However he decided to put aside his worries for now and decided to indulge himself in his meal, that being some hay with strawberries grown on secret farms hidden in the forests. That was another thing that had amazed him when he first thought about it, you can be a super soldier, or have the literal best and most equipped army in the world, yet in the end every single soldier has to eat, or else they'll die.

Once every single pony had eaten they continued to march north staying close to the river, but making sure to stay well within the tree line. These parts of Longsword we're not so war torn. So much so that here the griffons didn't have constant patrols and barbed wire, and artillery bombarding suspected partisan positions, It was a lot more peaceful. As they advanced they saw griffons washing clothes in the river, farms, small villages, and the occasional griffon patrol, except these weren't Reformisten soldiers. Nope, these we're Longswordian army soldiers that they we're seeing.

Not many knew and even less understood this but there we're technically two military organizations within Longsword. The Reformisten and the Longswordian Army. When Count Pallas took over and began his descent into madness he originally ordered the army to carry out the brutal mass genocide of the ponies. However many refused to do this as they we're either hardcore imperial knights who felt it was a stain on their honor to attack innocents or just didn't want to out of the kindness of their own hearts. Many actually deserted to the partisan cause because of this as well, with their families often being targeted because of their actions.

In the end Von Katerinburg sent around 20,000 Griffon Reformisten soldiers down to Longsword at the count's request. Ever since those Griffons had razed half of Longsword to the ground trying to root out the ponies. They even weren't afraid to kill their own kind if they thought they we're a pony sympathizer. He'd seen many griffons killed for just being suspected as one, and it was very rare for the average griffon to help a pony because of this paranoia. It was also known that the army was becoming more and more disillusioned with the count because of these policies. Plus the main general of the armed forces, Field Marshal Conrad Von Silvertalon was known to dislike Pallas's policies in favor of the current leader of the Rosewood Order, Konrada Wavewing, which Pallas had abolished in order to gain absolute power.

Regardless there we're now two armies in Longsword now, and from what he had heard there may even be a conflict between them as well in the near future. As the Reformisten wanted their help in stamping out the partisans while the army wanted them gone and the bloodshed to simply end.

By the end of the first day they had managed to get within the halfway mark of the journey, the Griffking River. This river separated Longsword and Hellquill from each other. It was also the longest river on the Griffon continent and from what Night knew, the entire world as well. So in order to get to Hellquill and the town of Beakstadt the partisans would have to cross it. Fortunately the Griffons hadn't seemed to have as many border guards as he would've thought they would have had, so a crossing in the middle of the night was feasible. Unfortunately it was still very difficult since the waters of the Griffking we're very deep and fast. Making a powerful current that could sweep a small and unprepared craft under in seconds.

Thankfully the partisans had come prepared. That being a pony by the name of River Mist. A light blue mare that was from Lite's squad. Her special talent, rivers... or perhaps skill and knowledge of them now that he thought about it. Had never really been that useful to the rebellion, until now that is. Using her knowledge the partisans began the construction of a small raft with the last few hours of sunlight to take them across. Once this was completed they hid with their raft in a small inlet and waited for a chance to run the crossing.

"That's the second Griffon sky patrol within 5 minutes Night" Quick Shot confirmed as four Griffons flew over the center of the river, one from Longsword and the other from Hellquill. "All right good, once we get across mark this location for later use to transport the ponies we pick up from Beakstadt to Longsword" he replied.

"Understood comrade" Quick Shot answered.

As the moon slowly rose into the sky the ponies waited and watched the northern bank, about a mile wide the Griffking fanned out infront of them. Almost challenging them to come on. As he looked through his binoculars Night saw that there we're a few guard houses and occasional patrol on the opposite bank but nothing they couldn't deal with. He also knew that the sky patrols would likely decrease even more the further into the night they went, so it was decided that midnight would be when they crossed. All in all when the time came the ponies we're quite anxious.

"All right" Night whispered to Red Dusk and Swift Wing, "It's time". Slowly the partisans got into their small little raft that River Mist oversaw the construction of. Night, Swift Wing, Wild Strike, and another pegasus named Thunder Clap would provide top cover from any Reformisten patrols by silently killing any griffons that came by, as he knew that the river was just too large and the timing too short to try and time it so they wouldn't cross any patrols. Instead they would fly above the targeted patrol and quietly eliminate the Griffons before they saw the raft.

Once all the ponies we're in the small raft Night let River Mist take over. "Okay River, I am counting on you to get these ponies across the river safely. Please do not worry about time, we'll make sure time is on your side" he gestured towards his comrades behind him. "But please don't dawdle as well, I want to eliminate as few Griffons as possible" he added.

"Understood Commandant Night Storm" River Mist Replied. At that he smiled, it was always nice to have a determined soldier under his command. "Very good, go comrade, and do what you do best" he finished.

At that River Mist gave the command to push off, which was followed a series of grunts and the raft start to move towards the northern bank. As he watched them go Night felt some anxiety well up in his chest, Red Dusk, Quick Shot, and Bandage Heart we're on that boat, his family was on that boat. However he reassured himself that it would be fine, he reminded himself that Starry had hoofpicked the ponies for this mission, and he trusted Starry with his life, not many other ponies he knew could say the same.

At that he gave the order to the three remaining ponies with him to take off. They soon flew over the raft as they gained more and more height. About 1 minute into the crossing they spotted their first patrol, a squad of Griffons from Hellquill as they soared across the sky in a diamond formation. He gave a silent signal to his ponies and they silently positioned themselves over the Griffons. Then almost immediately he pulled a dagger from his belt and dove upon the lead Griffon. With the quietness of a small house mouse and with the speed of a Zebra he slashed the Griffon through the throat and kept up his dive to then twirl around and come at any might be survivors before they could realize what was happening, although he didn't need to. The other three had slashed their targets as well with the near lifeless if not dead Griffons fall into the waters of the Griffking, their bodies swallowed up by the water.

"Good work but remain on guard" he told the ponies. Then without waiting for any responses he shot up towards the sky. Once they we're at a good cruising altitude he looked for the raft. They we're about halfway across now. Also a fog seemed to be rolling in with was an unexpected but welcome surprise, as it meant it would be harder for any Griffons to spot them.

For another minute and twenty or so seconds they circled the raft until Thunder Clap said she spotted more Griffons. He looked in her direction and soon saw them himself. They we're maybe a mile and a half from the boat, the problem was that they we're on the eastern side of the boat coming from Longsword while they we're on the western side. This meant that the ponies not only had to spend a lot of time getting into position but it also meant that the Griffons would likely see the raft before they could kill them.

"Come on, we have to kill them before they see the raft" he ordered and dashed towards the griffons as fast as he could. Night went up at a near 90 degree angle before flattening out completely, by now the Griffons looked to have spotted the boat. He led the ponies over the Griffons and after a quick check to make sure that the partisans we're in position he dove on the soldiers. Just as their commander moved to go in for a closer look he sliced through his feathers... but only that, he had missed!

In a panic he pulled the same maneuver from earlier and just as he prepared to ram himself if it came to it into the Griffon he had missed he stopped. The Griffon he had nearly gone into a frenzy to kill was now falling into the Griffking below, with his friend right beside him. He turned to see Wild Strike hovering we're the Griffons had momentarily been earlier with blood on his dagger, he had managed to get both of them in one strike.

"Huh, nice work Wild Strike. I suppose Lite's assumption about you the other day was correct" he laughed. Wild Strike's face in return just scrunched up in confusion. "Eh don't worry about it comrade I'll tell you later, let's just make sure our fellow comrades get across safely for now" he added to which Wild Strike just nodded. As he looked towards the raft he saw that they we're just pulling up to the opposite bank, they had made it.

They flew over to them while taking out two more Griffons who we're near them on watch duty before joining them in the forests of Hellquill. "Well done all of you, we've managed to get across the river and into Hellquill undetected. Now we will make camp and in the morning will make our final drive towards Beakstadt, is that understood? he asked to which all the partisans nodded.

That night they made camp in the woods before moving out in the following morning. Since Beakstadt had been built along the edge of the river meant that they had to stay semi close to the Griffking. Which was somewhat risky but may have been a blessing in disguise since Night knew from Reformisten defectors that worked in Hellquill that most of their forces we're inland fighting the ponies anyway. If Longsword was known for it's forests, occasional swamps, and the pony partisans fighting in the forests. Then Hellquill was known for it's forests, many more swamps, and being a lot more rural. Not many Ponies nor Griffons settled up here due to the very cold, unforgiving, and dangerous climate and terrain. As since while Longsword was quite flat, the northern parts of Hellquill tended to be a lot more hilly, which led to higher elevations and a colder climate, which made it harder to build and grow crops.

It honestly made it perfect to wage a guerilla war like this, if only for the fact that Hellquill was also known for birthing the Reformisten ideology, and therefore the Griffons that did settle up there knew the land very well. So since the majority of the ponies in Hellquill already lived in it's remote southern forests we're attacked, those that made it to the north we're initially outfoxed and outmaneuvered by Griffons that knew the land. Only a small percentage of the ponies within Hellquill we're still fighting, which made Night very sad to say the least. Especially when he thought about all those souls that had been killed, enslaved, or we're still fighting for their lives. Although he did cheer up a little when he remembered what he was here to do.

At last they reached Beakstadt by midday. The small town was a small fishing village when it was first founded, and to this day had kept up that tradition. Griffons we're known for their love of fish, and since Beakstadt extracted the most fish within the two countries combined it had grown quite prosperous over the years. As they approached they city (stealthily of course) they met up with a pony who had been waiting for them in a bush. They we're then led through into a small sewer entrance and into the city. After ten minutes of wading through sewer water they reached a small hole in the wall. Said hole was very small and located near the top of the wall, making it very easy to miss. Once they we're guided through they ascended into what Night presumed was a small building, and judging from it's outside state that he saw through a window, presumably abandoned by the Griffons. The partisans we're then introduced to the presumed "owner" of the property, who seemed very surprised to see them.

"You actually managed to come all the way here"?! he said. "Well yes, we are ponies after all" Night joked. "Yes yes but still, I mean I had hope but I never really thought that length of a journey could be achieved. Whatever I suppose that no longer matters, let's go the others are waiting" he finished. The pony then led Night and his squad into a massive room nearly filled to the brim with ponies and the occasional Griffon.

"Can I have your attention please" he spoke aloud. With the ponies ending their conversations to look at him. "Very good, as you all should know today we have special guests in our mist, a group of partisans from Longsword" he stated, causing many of the ponies to widen their eyes as he moved out of the way to show Night and his nien of other ponies.
The pony then invited them to speak, however none of them moved. Instead they all looked towards Night since he was their leader. Eventually Night gave in and walked forward, he wasn't that good with speeches, much less having to come up with one on the fly, but he did his best anyway.

After a few seconds of conjuring up something in his head he addressed them. "Hello everyone, as most of you probably know, the current leader of our country is the mad leader of the Longswordian Reformisten, Count Pallas Dusktalon. For years this insane has been trying to exterminate us and our culture, to wipe it off the face of the face of Griffonia. However we have successfully resisted this lunatic and his cronies up till now and are finally on the cusp of victory, but we cannot do this alone. We also know that you have been fighting the Reformisten here and have not been as fortunate, as they continue to gain more seats on the Knightly Council here and continue to turn Griffons against Ponies. However he truly have a chance to strike back at the Reformisten and maybe even gain a position of strength to lead to their eventual defeat, that being the overthrow of Dusktalon. We also know that some of your leaders feel that fleeing to Longsword temporarily would be the best course of action, however we will not force this anypony, and so on behalf of the leader of the Longswordian Liberation Army, we request help from you, our brothers and sisters within Hellquill, to help us in overthrowing the count, and so I ask you... will you help us?" he asked.

Almost immediately every single creature raised one of their frontal legs into the air. Confused Night turned to their "leader" but was only met by a smile. "The ponies of Hellquill will help you in this struggle" he answered. Which made Night and his partisan compatriots smile in return, their efforts had paid off. They had just scored a massive victory for the revolution.