The Champion Of Longsword

The anti-regime posters we're absolutely everywhere. No matter where in the city Night went, there wasn't even a single street corner that wasn't covered in partisan propaganda. "Well it seems the partisans that did this we're quite successful" he thought. As he continued to silently sneak between alleyways and over rooftops he noticed that a lot of the posters depicted ponies and griffons that looked like partisans fighting against Griffonlike creatures in dark clothing, with the beaks and claws of them painted red probably trying to indicate that they we're covered in blood. Above and below the pictures was writing that depicted "crimes" committed by the Reformisten such as the slaughter of named villages, execution of random ponies, and just trying to simply wipe a species off the face of the earth as well.

Located at the bottom of every poster was more writing that demanded that the entire population of Longsword, be they pony or griffon, raise up in arms in a "just" cause to overthrow the "Tyrant Of Longsword", the Count Dusktalon.

"Ach, what a bunch of nonsense" he heard a voice say. Turning he saw from his position on a roof that a Griffon soldier was spatting to a bunch ponies about how even if they could get the weapons for an uprising alone they could never succeed in one. "Hm, I guess he is quite uninformed of the situation outside of these walls" Night thought.

Outside the walls of the great city of Visaginas, apart from a few very patrolled and guarded roads, was an absolute warzone. For nearly 10 years now the partisans and Reformisten had been fighting to the death to exterminate the other, which had left southern Longsword's countryside brutalized beyond all recognition. It was so bad that the planned "Griffonization", the Reformisten's plan on bringing Griffon settlers onto Pony land in order to settle it and destroy all traces of Ponykind in general was failing. Ironically because many settlers had simply been too scared to move here thanks to Starry's partisans. Although he would never harm an innocent Griffon family who'd done nothing to them, that family didn't know that, and he also didn't think that every single pony felt the same way towards Griffons. Especially the more nationalistic ones. Those fears where what had kept the Griffon settlers away for so long.

Plus there we're now more partisans than ever, thanks to him and his squad's efforts over 4,000 ponies had been rescued from Hellquill and brought into Longsword where the war was going much better. Apparently a few of them even began calling it the "Long March" or something, and from what he began to hear, it was quite a popular slogan.

He noticed that the sun slowly began to show itself once more upon the horizon. Ever since he was a young colt he'd always wondered how that happened, he'd been told by his parents that a god or goddess he had long forgotten about due to the war raised the sun, but from what he knew of the Griffon religion it was the same as well. Just a different god. To be honest religion used to be a big thing to a Longswordian pony, it was almost a national identity for them, and like so many other things the war had taken that away from them as well. Barely any of the older ponies that practiced it we're still alive, and the younger generation had almost no idea of any religion at all due to the war taking up all of their time. "All the more reason to free ourselves then, to reclaim our identity" he thought.

The griffon soldiers that guarded Visaginas began their day by coming out of their houses or barracks to get the pony slaves from the shoddy, rundown, "buildings" they kept them in. It was still bad but Night knew from experience that a Reformisten prison complex at least had a stable roof and walls. He also knew that the time frame they had to grab these ponies was very sensitive, any delay and the entire garrison and a decent size response force could be at the city in around 15 minutes, 10 if they really moved their flanks, and if he wanted to get out of the city and not be in a drawn out fight then they needed to move.

The Griffons began moving the ponies out of their "homes" and into the street. While most of the common Griffonfolk ignored them or what was happening all together a few did sneer, jab, and spit in their direction. Night tensed up at seeing this, and just as he thought about launching himself over the tip of the building a hoof found it's way onto the back of his neck. He looked over and saw Swift Wing's reassuring smile, he smiled in return.

The rest of the ponies he commanded looked to be in position as the Griffons brought out the last of their slaves. There we're four squads of them in total, each on a separate building in one of the four directions over looking the square in which the pony slaves we're lined up in. Visaginas, once a sprawling city of trade and wealth had been turned into a fortress of the poor, destitute, the hungry, and sick. Mainly because the Reformisten didn't care, as long as the ponies we're exterminated they could care less about the state of their country.

As the last of the slaves we're finally brought into a line, Night drew and cocked his rifle. With his comrades mimicking him and doing the same. The commander of the garrison then began speaking some derogatory bullshit about how Griffons we're superior to Ponies and that their only use in life was slave labor. That was until he shot the bastard straight through the neck, leaving him to choke to death on his own blood. The other squads as well as his own then lit up the Reformisten garrison, cutting down the surprised Griffons with rifle fire while the civilians panicked and ran away.

Once their numbers we're reduced enough Night charged forward with his trusty dagger to finish them off quickly. With a few pegasi following him they managed to complete this task with ease. Once the last Griffon had been killed he looked at his watch, it had taken them two minutes to put down the soldiers in the area, which meant they probably had around 3 before this entire area would begin to swarm with Griffons, and 8 before reinforcements would arrive. He quickly found a crate and jumped on top of it.

"Ponies" he spoke with a soft and yet commanding voice. "You are safe now, free from the oppression they" he gestured to the Griffon commanders body, "brought upon you. I know you have been greatly hurt, and the last thing you must want to do right now is move. But you will not be free for long if we do not leave immediately as Reformisten reinforcements will pour into this square and they will not take prisoners" he stated. "If you do not want to die to enraged genocidists then we must leave now" he said. The ponies looked shocked, this was certainly the last thing they we're expecting to happen today, with a few even crying of joy and hugging the partisans that freed them. But they knew that they couldn't stay here, and slowly began rising to their hooves before they began to make their way out of the city.

Thankfully there was an old sewer system that no one really went in, so it made escape quite easy. Letting the poor ponies move at their own pace rather than forcing them to run through gunfire in their current condition. As the ponies slowly entered the sewer tunnel Night and his squad stood guard along with the other partisans at the entrance. Shooting the occasional Griffon patrol as they investigated the gunshots. However it was soon clear that they would have to retreat, as the patrols got larger and the Griffon's more angry.

Finally the last of the ponies moved into the sewer entrance, but Night wasn't done with the Reformisten just yet. They we're going to pay for their crimes today. "Red Dusk, set up your machine gun about 100 paces back. The rest of us will be behind you with rifles. We're going to make those bastards pay for what they've done" he ordered. "Understood Night" Red Dusk replied. "Right, as for the rest of you" he turned to the other partisans with him. "Go catch up with Commandant Heavy Strike and help those ponies get out of here, me and my squad will hold them off" he stated. "It will be done sir" Commandant Fast Pace replied.

With that the two other squads raced off after the column of ponies marching away as Night and his squad set themselves up in a defensive position in the sewer tunnel. Red Dusk on the ground in the middle with his machine gun. Swift Wing, Quick Shot, and himself we're behind and next to him with their rifles, with Bandage helping Red Dusk manage his ammunition belts.

For a while there was nothing, not a sound, as quiet as a small house mouse. Then the sunlight pouring into the tunnel was blocked by an object. Then the clinking of armor and talons on the ground began, the Griffons were coming. "Einfach, sie hätten einen Hinterhalt anlegen können, sei vorsichtig!" a voice spoke. "They're coming" Quick Shot whispered. "Easy, not yet" he responded. Suddenly a bright light filled the tunnel once more, nearly blinding them. "Ich sehe sie, ich sehe sie, geh in Deckung!" the lead Griffon called out but was immediately killed as Red Dusk opened fire and began to pour hot lead into the small passageway. Although the Griffons ducked and tried to make themselves as small as possible their size advantage actually worked against them here. They tried taking cover behind support beams but it was no use, there was simply nowhere for them to go. Red Dusk cut them down while he, Quick Shot, and Swift Wing shot any survivors with rifle fire, while Bandage reloaded Red Dusk's spent magazines with ammo from his belt.

The few Griffons that did manage to make it out of the tunnel began panickily telling their commanders what had just happened. If the angry shouting and occasional gunshots we're any indication. "Wir kämpfen bis zum Tod, Eyrs mit uns!" a chant sounded. "Marsch" said a likely officer before 4 grenades we're thrown into the tunnel. They exploded and shook the entire earth. Then the Griffons began pouring fire into the tunnel as they slowly began to advance once more. A split second later Red Dusk's machine gun roared to life once again as bullets raced back and forth.

Fire, loud noises, and the occasional explosion lit up the passageway as both sides battled for supremacy. Although they we're cutting down Griffon after Griffon that didn't seem to matter as they simply replaced what they lost through reinforcements. They we're trading lives for ground, and it was getting to the point we're they actually had to fall back. He, Swift Wing, and Quick Shot covered Red Dusk and Bandage Heart as they retreated further back into the tunnel before they themselves would fly back while sticking close to the ceiling so Red Dusk could cover their retreat. Of course this meant he had to carry Quick Shot but hey, he was family, and he would do a lot for his family. This tactic was used until there we're simply no more Reformisten to shoot at. Although that was when the problems began.

"All right lets go, there's nothing more to do now" Quick Shot spoke. "Agreed" added Swift. They we're both infront of and looking towards Night, Bandage, and Red Dusk. Therefore managing to miss a Reformisten soldier who managed to survive and raise his rifle in the direction of Quick Shot.

"No" Night panicked, but it was too late. The Griffon squeezed the trigger on his rifle, although he was able draw his own pistol and put two shots straight into the Griffon's head he wasn't able to do it in time. The Griffon's round connected with Quick Shot's body where his leg met his torso. He grunted and fell to the ground, the bullet thankfully not striking anywhere very critical. Like his heart or lungs.

Bandage Heart moved before anypony else did, immediately at his side she began to treat his wound while he began barking orders. "We need to move! Bandage how bad is it?" he asked. "Not too bad, the bullet went straight through only clipping a little bit of bone" she replied. That was good, as he knew from experience it was very painful when a bullet struck a bone.

"Alright then I assume you can stabilize him?" he asked. "Yes Night" was the response. "Good because once you do we're moving. Red Dusk get your machine gun and ammunition packed up, I will watch our rear and make sure the Griffon's don't give us any more surprises, Swift you'll be upfront guiding us through the tunnel, understood?" he asked. He hoped that nothing else went wrong today but knowing his luck it probably would. "Understood" was the collective response of Red Dusk, Bandage Heart, and Swift Wing.

However as they began to pack up he trotted over to speak with Quick Shot. "Can you walk?" he asked him. "Somewhat" he replied. He tried putting his left hoof on the ground but was only met by pain shooting through his entire leg. "Ah, nope can't walk, sorry Night" he added. "Don't be, this is war, and war is very unpredictable" Night countered.

With that he noticed that the others had finished packing up and we're ready to move, Bandage had tied a small bandage around Quick Shot's wound to keep it from bleeding. "He's ready for transport" she stated. Suddenly they heard more Griffonian being spoken at the entrance to the tunnel. "Kommt schon ihr faulen Bastarde, vorwärts für das Vaterland, tötet den Ponie-Abschaum ein für alle Mal".

On that note it was time to leave and without anything being said the ponies quickly began trotting away from the Griffons, with himself carrying Quick Shot with his magic. For about ten minutes they trotted through the tunnel. Hoping that they could just waltz out the other side and not have to deal with an entire Reformisten garrison or a collapsed tunnel. Thankfully they we're moving faster than the Griffon's who we're searching for them at least, so that was a plus to their current situation. Every once and while they passed other tunnels that branched off to go to other parts of the city. It was at that point when Night realized how easily you could get lost down here, but they we're thankfully sticking to the main path. At last a light appeared infront of them, signaling the other end of the tunnel. Once they reached it they took cover along the sides of the tunnel like how the Griffon soldiers had done earlier before Swift Wing checked to make sure it was safe.

She slowly pocked her head out and looked around for about 4 seconds before stating it was clear. With that they quickly trotted out and dashed into a nearby orchard, surprising and scaring to death a few Griffon farmers who ran away screaming. Once they reached the end of the orchard they dashed over a small fence before racing into a forest that bordered it, being careful to cover any tracks they may have left as well.

Soon they arrived at the rendezvous point, they found that the ponies they had helped rescue earlier had been split into smaller groups divided evenly between the squads, with one group waiting for them. They still looked terrible, Night hadn't noticed earlier due to his focus on wanting to get the hell out of Visaginas. But know that there we're no such distractions he could see what had happened to these poor ponies. They looked beaten, starved, broken which he had seen before. What he had only noticed now was that many had dried blood covering their fur, whip marks on their backs, complete with tear marks being present on nearly every single one of them. "They probably had given up on life, and hope of an escape he thought. With that he was very glad they had come when they did for these ponies, given their current state, probably didn't have very long to live.

After that he began to look for a pony, and soon found him, Commandant Heavy Strike. Heavy Strike wasn't anypony special in the revolution, just an average commander. But he was the one that was going to be second of command of moving these ponies deeper into Longsword's forests. He knew he could do it and that was why he trusted him too, besides the revolution's high command hadn't been planning this prison break for months just get hunted down by Reformisten fanatics once they escaped.

"Commandant Heavy Strike" he stated to the light grey earth pony with a jet black mane. "Commandant Night Storm" he replied. A few of the ponies he had captured turned their heads, likely having heard of him but never actually believing he had existed. "Well it seems we we're quite successful today wouldn't you say comrade" Heavy Strike began. "Indeed, it is always an honor to kill Reformisten scum" he replied. "Of course of course, I assume the plan stays normal. We move them deeper into the forests to keep away from the Reformisten?" he asked. "Yes comrade, we will keep about 2 miles of distance in between and communicate using messengers, that way if one of us is ambushed there's 3 more parties they have to hit" he replied. "Understood" Heavy Strike finished.

With that the partisans began moving once again, back into the forests of Longsword. There was still the obstacle of getting past the Reformisten defensive line before they could get into the forest proper. But that was an obstacle for tonight, for now simply not getting shot took a higher priority.