PONIES IN ARMS 4. THE ONE TRUE RULER REVEALED

DATE- CLASSIFIED
TIME- IRRELEVANT

(In the darkest hour before the storm, one's actions will often lead them to the side that is sure to win in an upcoming conflict)

We pulled into what remained of the city at 01100 and were greeted by none other than a hoof full of griffons who seemed somewhat shocked at seeing almost a full contingent of ponies getting off the train. "Hold it right there you ponies, you know we don't allow your kind in this city right? Why don't you all just get back on your train and head back to where you came from before things get real bad for you all" A griffon calling himself Black Wing told us looking all of us over almost sizing us up for a fight. "We are not here for a fight; rather we are here on a mission of importance we have to get to stable 35 and fast. We are acting on behalf of Stable Tech, as soon as we are done I promise we will be out of your territory and never set foot here again ok” Black Wing looked at me and asked me if I knew of what had taken place between the ponies and griffons, and if I had why I would dare set hoof in griffon territory looking at me as though he was bracing for a fight

"Look, Black Wing is it? We aren’t here for a fight ok! if you want us out of your city allow us to do what we have to do, The lives of over 100 ponies hang in the balance and I don't intend on just allowing them to die ok!" "Fine we will allow you to take care of what you have to do, you don't seem to be threats and to be honest allowing ponies into our territory may actually help us with trade. It was Scar who was the one who made it an order to not allow ponies into Saltlick City and ever since he went into hiding we griffons have not had the best of luck in surviving the world these days. I mean hell with the ever present threat of the E.L.F along with the N.C.E we have been talking about asking the N.L.R for help, and seeing as you are in fact a major in the N.L.R I will take it upon myself to ask you, if you don’t mind having griffons in your army. I know that there is a war on the horizon and we wish to be on the winning side, again that is if you will have us" Looking at him with a half-smile on my face I simply said to the surrounding griffons, "welcome to the N.L.R any pony, or griffon willing to help us out is always welcome to join us" As soon as we disembarked the train and Smoky was pulling out of the town we were all led to city hall and shown the way to able 35. "Well that's just fucking great! I really hope that is a computer fowl up. If it isn't then we are in for a hell of a trot, and in to N.C.E territory at that" "Just fucking great, as if we don't have enough to worry about” I thought to myself.

At that I told my unit to follow us to the city hall with Black Wing and his griffons. "You all have the day off, take it to gather what supplies you will need for the trip ahead, and remember no drinking" They all looked at me and agreed to that, and in a flash they all were in formation right behind us. Upon reaching the city hall, Black Wing asked me to follow him to his office. "Now that you are here i need to tell you some things, things that are better left unsaid in company. Your second in command is permitted to stay seeing as she is a high ranking officer as you are. What I have to say is this, as the new leader of this city it is my responsibilities to make sure my griffons are safe and taken care of. I have lost quite a few of them to the N.CE, and have no intent on losing anymore! Seeing as we are now members of the N.L.R I highly doubt they will take it easy on us” Looking at a picture of a female griffon on his wall his eyes began to tear up, quickly replaced by a burning rage. With a voice on the edge of rage he told me that the N.C.E had assaulted the city in the past few weeks and had killed his wife in a battle costing the lives of several ponies, and griffons.

"Those bastards had no care as to who they killed or why, they claimed to be acting under the orders of the leader of the N.C.E. It was an obvious lie due to us having a ham radio and being able to listen in on any and all communications they transmit as they get close to the city. I knew they were lying to me due to hearing them say that their leader was away in San Fransiscolt on business and that he wouldn't be participating in the battle, but that he wished them luck" "The major would not have gone along with a battle so far away from replacements, and I know this for a fact! I served under him for a time before joining the N.L.R, and have a personal bond with him; he would not just attack a city for the hell of it. If any pony would order such an act it would be the second in command, Twilight Sparkle's brother, he is the one who does a lot of the training and prep for missions. He trains the snipers, along with any pony involved with clandestine activities; I know this for a fact. Major Read would not order such a thing and I can assure you of that” He looked at me with a hint of distrust in his eyes. And I put that to rest by pulling out a picture of our old unit with me and Harmony in it and his eyes relaxed along with his attitude. "I trust you, and I don't hold any ill will towards the major, I only hold it towards the N.C.E in general now"