The Rise of Wrath

As the small airship came down, Diceroll lept down down to help the griffons below secure the lines. Cadence shook her head. He was crazy. That's what made her admire him sometimes.

Shining walked up to her. "Hey honey, are you sure you want to do this? I mean, your two months pregnant. We could cancel..."

Cadence shook her head. "No. We've come across the entire Atlantic Ocean just to talk to these ponies, er, well, griffons.I'm not turning around now."

Just as she said that, the ship touched down, and the gangplank extended. Down below, Diceroll was engaged in a conversation with a griffon with a gold necklace.

When Cadence reached the end of the plank, along with Shining and two Royal Guards, Diceroll turned to them. "This lovely mare here will be our guide."

The griffon nodded. Then she turned to Diceroll and began speaking for several moments.

Diceroll nodded. "While she would love to take us directly to Lord Krieg, we arrived several hours early, and he is busy. Thus, she would like to treat us out to milkshakes." Even the Royal Guards looked up at this prospect.

The griffon said one other thing.

Diceroll smiled. "On her. And her names Cara."

Cadence nodded, and said one of the few things she knew in griffon: "Thank You."

Cara nodded. Then, she began leading them into the city.

Krieg was a small city near the coast of Northern Griffonia, near the straight between it and Eagland. (Real World Normandy).  It was very immersed with the pine forest, like most griffon structures, moving around the life rather then pave directly over it. Thus, the only truly crowded place where buildings weren't sparse was the market.

As the small group entered the market, Cadence stopped a moment to take in the smells. While the smell of meat was strong, it was wonderful in it's own, carnivorous way. And the sights of different griffons offering their wares, from strong perfume to simple little statuettes, it was wonderful.

She was interrupted by Diceroll nudging her shoulder. "Hey, guess whoes missing.

Cadence looked up, and looked around. No Griffon with a gold necklace. Cadence's mind immediately went to defensive strategies, when a whistle called out.

Instantly, she, and the rest of the retinue turned, just as the crowd scattered in screams of panic. There were five griffons, all armed with solid-slug cartridge weapons, one of which was pointed at a six griffons head. That sixth griffon was wearing a gold necklace.

Shining and the two guards went for their spear-rifles. Diceroll pulled a concealed magic missile pistol out, locked and loaded, which he turned as another hostile group of griffons numbering three flew in. Not looking good.

Cadence, holding no weapons but her magic prowess, shouted out, hoping she'd understand, "Cara, are you OK?!"

Cara simply smiled and nodded. Then, with starling suddenness, she tripped the one with the gun at her head, causing him to land flat on his face. She followed up by pulling a concealed solid-slug pistol of her own out of her neck feathers, and put holes through the five hostile's skulls.

The changelings fell over, quite dead.

Quickly, the remaining three enemies opened up, but Cara narrowly dodged, returning with her own pounding fury.

The changelings, though very skilled, we're outnumbered and outmatched by their foes. They were annilated.

Diceroll put his pistol away. "Ok, would somepony please explain what the buck just happened?"

Cara smiled, and spoke in accented Equestrian: "Captain Cara Krieg, Captain of the Royal Guard and eldest foal of Lord Krieg, at your service. And, now, I really owe you a milkshake."

...

"What do you mean Krieg won't see us!?" Cadance shouted at the griffon several minutes later.

Cara shrugged. "The attack. He doesn't want anypony in. Lockdown. If I could get you in I would, but I can't."

Cadance, still fuming opened her mouth, only to be interrupted by Diceroll. "Do you happen to know where these changelings came from? And what were they after?"

Cara scratched her head. "They seemed to be only interested in you. If they were after the Kriegs, they would have known about me. As for where they came from, I don't know. We're looking into it, but we can't be sure. I suggest you leave immediately. I'm sorry."

Cadance nodded. "Alright. Let's go. Thanks Cara, for everything."

Several minutes later, just as the airship left dock, Diceroll noticed something. "She never bought us milkshakes."

...

Fenris shook his head. "Sombra's not going to be happy."

Wrath shrugged. "A simple setback Fenris. This war requires sacrifice, and we have learned from our enemy. How is the project going?"

Fenris sighed and checked the data. "Exceeding expectations. We should be done in one month."

Wrath smiled. "Good, that's when we strike. Meanwhile, Fenris, I need you to rile up this game a bit."

Fenris raised an eyebrow. "Sir?"

Wrath chuckled. "Let's see how far these ponies will go, and see if Delta Source is to be truly useful."