When I say Equestria, what do you think of?
No doubt it's those colorful horses in their perfect world, where destiny dictates a perfect life for every hooved creature lucky enough to be born. Favored by the land itself, ushered along by forces unknown, and surviving odds that should have driven them to extinction thirty times over. This is more than likely the land you have in your mind right now.
No doubt you picture the Castle of the Two Sisters in Everfree, or their many happy settlements. Every citizen with a smile on their face and food in their stomach, no worries in the world besides when their going to get those disgusting marks on the left and right sides of their asses.
This... This is merely half of Equestria. Who's the other half? Well that's a good question.
Welcome to Tallum. Or as it's disrespectfully called by equines, "The Griffon Kingdoms." Just like a pony to bastardize the name given to this land by those who first roosted here.
Tallum isn't much more than a mountainous wasteland, with glaciers cold enough to freeze your spit before it hits the ground lying in the north, and a few sparse grasslands in the south. The land in between is barren, rocky, unforgiving, and cruel.
Oh is it cruel.
In Tallum, there is no destiny. No predetermined fates and skills to guide you through life. Nor is there magic, or any supernatural forces to aid in our survival. Everything here was made by griffons who had to first make themselves. We are craftsmen, we are builders, we are warriors.
And we are going to die.
This is the side of Equestria you do not see. This is the side of Equestria that is hidden from the world. So before my race is smitten to the ground like farmhouse pigs ready for slaughter, just remember,
There is much more to Equestria, then what meets the eye.
For just a few months now, Tallum has been locked into a war with Equestria. Soldiers were deployed, battles were fought, and just as quickly as this war seemed to start, it was going to end. Griffons, with all of their pride and strength, simply couldn't keep up with the unicorn's advantage of magic. Whether it be struck from the sky by magical lightning, seared mid flight by flames hot enough to weld our armor into our skin, or gusts so strong and sharp that they tear the very wings from our bodies. We were outclassed.
After years of having no control in our own world, sitting idly by as the Alicorns controlled the very world we lived in solely for the good of the ponies, we were going to be eradicated. Peace wasn't an option, as Celestia had already refused. Long standing hostility has worn her patience and compassion thin. All we had left to cling to, was one strategic assault. Our only hope was to die trying to survive.
Yet, all was not lost. We had one weapon to aid us in our quest. And that, was Sombra.
Notorious in Tallum as the unicorn who never got his cutie mark, he was seen as born without a destiny, just like us. He ventured to Tallum as a teenager, supposedly to escape the constant ridicule and stigma from the ponies there. Without someplace he could call home, he went out in search of one, before arriving here. He joined our military, (with some difficulty) yet quickly rose through the ranks.
He was gifted. Abnormally so. A natural born magician, warrior, and tactician, he has been leading the war effort. Though we are losing quite wholesomely, he is the only reason we haven't been killed outright. Even with all of these skills, he never received his fate like most others of his kind have. Why? That is a question I do not know the answer to.
But... I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Pusil. I had been raised to hate ponies, and scorn all that they stand for. I had been raised to think all of these horrible things about those I had never even met.
And this... this is my story about how I learned that the ponies I had been taught to hate, were so much more than I ever could have imagined.
You will soon know why they call me Pusil, the Traitor.
Year 1349, Drafting Day.
I lived in a small oceanside village called Mulligan. The climate here was warm, compared to the freezing lands of the north. The griffons here were mostly fisherman, who lived off of the bounty of the ocean, far from the major cities that lie in the mountains, further inland. The war hasn't really affected us much, other than increasing the demand for the fish we caught. Overall, it was a nice place to live. For Tallum that is.
All of the griffons here could rest and fish peacefully. we were laughably far away from any major settlements, so any military action here would be ineffective. We didn't rest on any valuable resources, or present any geographical advantage, so as far as the war went, we shouldn't have had anything to worry about.
Shouldn't.
I remember the day so vividly...
I woke up that morning to the light pitter patter of rain against our wooden roof. My talons were aching, my wings were stiff, and my body was weary. Like every morning, I rolled out of my bed, sad to part with the warmth of my beat up blanket. I maneuvered around the many beds of my brothers and sisters, littered around the sleeping area, before reaching the door to the living room. If it could even be called that.
There was a long table with 9 small seats around it in the center, with a small fireplace and kettle for cooking meals just off to the right. I walked past that and continued to our door. I pushed it open, listening as the old wood creaked and stressed, threatening to fall off the frame at any moment. My family had learned to ignore the many desperate sounds of our house. If something broke, we just fixed it, but until that happened, nothing was touched. Resources were far to valuable to be squandered on repairs for comfort; if it worked, we didn't care to replace it until it didn't.
I stretched my aching muscles as much as I could, and began walking off. I passed several shanties like mine, before I was finally met with the choppy, deep blue surface of the ocean. I tiredly ran my dry tongue along the hard, salt caked surface of my beak. Every morning, I worked up an admirable appetite, and I could only thank the heavens that there was always fish in this ocean I could rely on. Other villages weren't so lucky, especially the ones in the mountains.
I flapped my wings lazily, causing me to slowly and wearily rise through the air. My eyes casually surveyed the murky surface of the shore for some breakfast, waiting for an odd splash in the navy ocean. The light sprinkle of rain tickled my face irritatingly as I rose higher with every sleepy beat of my wings. One thing that I did look forward to every morning though, was that when I rose up to catch my breakfast, I'd get a nice view of my whole village. It always brought a small, half smile to my face. Though our lives were hard and the times were tough, it was the little things like that which got me through those drowsy mornings.
I turned my attention back to the waters, before catching sight of a small series of splashes, just a ways off the shore. I focused my eyes and spotted a few jacks just at the surface. I licked my beak once again, before letting myself dive slowly toward the area. I felt the wind around me pick up lazily as I did my morning hunting. I outstretched my front talons, and brushed against the surface of the water, snatching up one of the fish before it knew what had happened. I ascended back into the air, before lifting the fish high above my mouth, and dropping it inside. I felt the slimy meal slide off my tongue and down my throat, before I began surveying the surface once more.
I hunted for around twenty minutes, before I had finally caught enough to satisfy my hunger. I landed softly on the shoreline, before casually striding back towards the shanties. However, before I was able to disappear into the small tangle of wooden shacks and lofts, a voice came from the docks.
"Pusil!" it called to me. It was a females voice, whom I recognized immediately.
I turned toward her with a half asleep smile. "Good morning, Ibis," I said with as cordial a morning drawl as I could muster.
Ibis was my only friend in the village. She was about my age, maybe just a little bit younger. For a griffon, she was quite small though, with her slender build and thin arms. She had deep amber feathers that slowly faded to white as they reached her neck and head, before ending in those brilliantly vibrant emerald eyes.
"How did you sleep?" she asked, striding over to me, her happy grin and half cocked head quickly bringing a smile to my face. "Judging from the time, I'm guessing well,"
I gave a small chuckle. I could feel my body waking up as she walked over. "Yeah, I did actually." I said, reaching a claw to scratch the back of my head awkwardly.
"Well I'm glad," she said with a welcoming smile. "Hey, uh... Pusil," she asked me a bit awkwardly.
We both opened our beaks to say something, resulting in a mash of sentences and another bout of awkward chuckles. I kept quiet and allowed her to continue.
"I wanted... I wanted to ask you something,"
My eyes widened with a little disbelief.
"Yeah?" I said, curious about her next question.
"I... I uh," she paused, a small wave of nervousness overcoming her tone, before she gulped hard and looked at me. "I was wondering if you wanted to maybe... Go flying around with me,"
My stomach fluttered a little bit. We hung out very often. Why would she be so shy all of a sudden about asking? Is she...
"Yeah, sure!" I said, perhaps a bit too eagerly. Dammit.
Her eyes lit up with relief, hearing my enthusiasm. I was a little surprised by her question, and well, it showed. She saw my understanding nonetheless.
"Awesome!" she said in her usual, happy tone. "I'll be done at the docks around sundown, we'll go then,
I gave a quick, eager nod, a small smile on my face.
Ibis grinned happily as she strode up to me, before she stopped and looked into my eyes. her emerald green irises always struck a tender nerve in my body, the color was as gentle and inviting as she was, beautiful and relaxing. She smiled once more, before throwing her arm around me and giving me a hug. I remember how warm her feathers felt, how happy I was when she was so close... Before she slid out of the hug, and went back over to the docks.
I wasn't totally sure of it then, but all our years of friendship was beginning to blossom into something much, much more. I remember how giddy I got that whole afternoon, how happily naive I was all day, and how bubbly she would be when the sun began setting.
And it will forever break my heart, knowing it never happened.
Ibis, like most of the griffons in our village, was a fisherman. We were in charge of exporting fish to some of the settlements farther inland. On top of her normal fishing duties, she had an extra responsibility of weaving the nets, but today they were just fishing. Every day, a small team of fisherman would go and catch as many fish as they could, before a group of griffons would arrive from Dinstraus at sunset. They took the fish back to the small city, and divided up between the cities farther inland, which were more prone to food shortages.
I didn't really want to become a fisherman. I wanted to do something different, but in a village as straightforward as ours, there are hardly any other options. There was no use for carpenters or builders, as everyone in our village had constructed their own homes. There were no luxuries, and art was a thing often considered without use. There was only fish, and as far as I could see, my future would be filled with it.
Until a few months ago, of course. Because of the war, we had the added choice of joining the military, but I just didn't pay any attention to it at the time. We were far south of the capital, so it was very unlikely that there would be any fighting here.
I gave one more glance at the docks, watching as Ibis strutted up to another fisherman, grabbing hold of the net he was using, and helped him wrestle the haul of fish up on to the dock.
I turned away and began walking back into town, my mind simulating every possible scenario of Ibis and I. My heart raced just thinking about her. I decided on going to the mountains outside the village for a little while, to work up some much needed nerve, as the last thing I would want to do is make a fool out of myself by being a nervous wreck.
I rose into the air once more, before zooming inland. I watched as the shanty town below turned to a dirt road, with small hills that slowly turned to mountains on either side of it. I followed the road for a good while, watching as the roughening landscape below twisted and twined around the thin dirt paths that led to Mulligan. As I flew, I even caught sight of the group of griffons from Dinstraus. They had a large wooden container behind them, which I assumed was on wheels. I normally wasn't in town by the time they showed up, so I didn't often see them. Besides, I had much more urgent issues on my mind.
I found a flat mesa in the middle of mountains and landed there. This little patch of land hung much lower then all the other mountain tops, and created quite a serene little atmosphere. Whenever I felt like I needed to get away from the town, I came here. It was nice and grassy on this mesa, with even a small cherry blossom that would turn the most brilliant shades of pink this time of year.
I landed on my mesa and slowly strode over to the tree, my mind still racing around the griffon at the docks.
Oh, how I allowed my mind to wander. I imagined our evening tonight... Perhaps I could take her here, a nice calm serene spot outside of the village. I imagined myself picking one of those beautiful pink flowers and giving it to her, taking her front talon in mine, staring into her mesmerizing green eyes as the last morning light faded into night...
I sat beneath my cherry blossom, dreaming. Every little thought bringing my heart closer and closer to her. As the time went on, I watched anxiously as the setting sun turned a vivid shade of orange, signaling the beginning of it's descent into the horizon.
I remember pacing around my mesa, the anxiety growing in my stomach as the time grew nearer and nearer. Suddenly, all of those beautifully choreographed scenes in my head began to go awry in every way possible. What if the cherry blossom fell apart? What if i could even find the mesa? What if she realized I wasn't interesting? My imagination began to worry me beyond my ability to act...
Before I stopped and reminded myself. This was Ibis. My childhood friend, and one of the kindest griffons I'd ever met. She wouldn't mind if any of those things ended up happening. Then I began thinking of how torn she would be if I never showed up... I pictured her crushed expression as the sun set behind her... Alone.
In retrospect, it's funny how worked up I got over it all. How trivial I learned love was.
Finally, I steeled enough nerve to flap my wings and begin my journey home. I felt the small pitter patter of rain against my beak once more, but honestly, it felt nice. The rain seemed beauteous and relaxing, like a small mist under my wings. Even the dark grey clouds had a beauty to them. Everything seemed nicer today.
I felt my nerves calm as I approached. Now was the time. All of my fantasies could be realized under my cherry blossom, on my mesa... Hopefully holding closely to my Ibis.
I saw the small jumble of shanties slowly approaching on the horizon, and a smile stretched across my face. I gave a few more excited breaths and dipped down for a landing. Every feather on my body tingled with anticipation as I walked into the town.
When I noticed most of the griffons that lived here, gathered in a large circle.
I couldn't tell what was happening from here, but I assumed it couldn't be much. There wasn't a whole lot of entertainment in our village, so perhaps they just found something to occupy them... All at once. Hmm...
As I thought to myself, I couldn't help but notice how out of place this was. Why were they all gathered around like that? As I approached, I heard the sounds of yelling and screaming... And crying.
Suddenly, my entire body froze with a clammy chill.
I looked closer and noticed something in the center of the circle... Like a large wooden box. I picked my pace up to a jog, and slowly began getting more and more fearful of what was taking place. Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice cry out, and my heart shot up into my throat.
"Leave him alone! Leave my brother alone!"
It was... Oh no...
I began darting to the circle in a full sprint, before I spread my wings and jumped over the crowd. I landed in a large plume of dust, before I managed to get a look around me.
Then it all made sense.
The griffons from Dinstraus I had seen earlier... They weren't from Dinstraus at all! And the storage wagon... I took a second look at it, and noticed that there were several iron bars in the side, planted firmly in a small, rectangular window.
Before me were 6 griffons, all young males, being shackled and led to the wagon by the group who came here with the prison cart. They wore red and black leather armor, with viciously sharp, glove-like blades on their claws.
That's when I spotted Ibis. Wrestling with a guard, who had a bruised male griffon at his feet.
"Ibis!!!" I screamed. Never had my voice sounded so broken and hoarse. I felt my blood shiver with fear as I heard the terror in my own voice. However, the guard didn't pause. He pushed Ibis to the side, before holding his talon in front of her. "Civilian, if you continue your assault, I will be forced to retaliate," he warned with a stern yell. Ibis ignored him, and came flying towards him in a flurry of wings and talons.
The soldier merely ducked and grabbed her by the back leg, twisted her around, swiping his claw at her. I heard her desperate and pained exhale of breath as the talon dug into her skin. She fell over herself with the impact, tumbling awkwardly to the ground.
I'd never moved so fast in my life. My wings were fully splayed as I slid next to her, quickly yet gently scooping her face into my hands. Suddenly, my heart sank with a sadness that I'd never felt before. Her left eye was shut painfully, with a nasty, red set of slashes riding mercilessly up her face. Blood began to leak in sanguine teardrops as they fell from her wound.
The guard who struck her down didn't flinch, his face simply remained stern and neutral. He watched Ibis as she hit the mud and slid a few inches.
Before I could process the emotions that drove me to do what I had done next, it had already happened.
My talon clenched into a fist and rocketed toward his calloused visage. I felt the bones in my talon vibrate as it made contact with his face, and I watched him reel back in pain and surprise with the force of my hit. As the griffon was just processing what I had done to him, his accomplices had already sprung into action. I felt a set of rough talons claw lightly into my side, before I was punched down. There was a flash of light, and a rough, loud smack against my head, before I found myself rolling in the mud. My brain processed this quickly, and I managed to get back on my feet quickly. Ibis was still in a heap on the ground, and I could feel my anger rising once again.
I watched the guards ready their talons, and I was about to slash out again... Before a strained, barely audible croak brushed against my ear.
"Please..."
I stopped dead in my tracks, my anger completely diminishing to pity and sadness.
"Pusil... Wait,"
Her eyes were closed and strained.
"Ibis!" I said once again, my brain holding on to the only word I could think of in this mess. I felt a hot wave underneath my skin, as a tear slid silently down my cheek. Ibis stood up weakly. She took a step towards the guard, before stumbling to the right, nearly tipping herself over. She caught herself before she ploughed into the mud once more, and walked slowly up to the soldier.
"Ibis..." I said once again, sorrow staining my words as I watched my friend struggle before me.
She turned towards the guard, and strained to open her eyes. "Please... Let my brother go," she pleaded. Her voice was tired and pained, and her face was bloody and sad... But she cared still for her brother more than she did for herself.
The guard looked down at her, a solid and callous scowl on his beak. "Sorry... But I cannot." he spoke sternly, aggravation in his voice after being knocked to the ground by my talon.
"Why are you kidnapping them? Why are you here?" she asked sadly.
"We need soldiers," he said flatly. "I'm sorry, but we are to return to camp before the sun rises. We will try to keep him alive as long as we can,"
I watched her face sink with sadness, and my own did the same.
"I... I beg you... Take me instead," she said, reaching a shaky talon towards him, only for him to shake his head sadly.
"No!" I said quickly, getting the soldiers attention.
"Release her brother," I said sternly, tough the sadness and pain was still audible in my voice.
"I'm sorry sir," he said to me, looking at me with a little repressed venom in his eyes. "As I said to her, we need-"
"I'll go."
There was a small, stunned silence as the griffons in red and black looked amongst each other.
Ibis' expression darkened. "Pusil... No, please!" she said in a hoarse whisper.
"One of us has to..." I turned to the soldier once more. "So I'll take his place,"
The soldier looked at me incredulously. "You do realize what you're signing up for, correct?"
I nodded silently, before turning to Ibis, who was now looking up at me, a face of pure surprise and horror.
"Pusil..." she said with a defeated whisper. There was no saving both of us, and the realization weighed heavy in her expression.
I closed my eyes and forced back another tear.
Soft sobs rung into the air.
I looked around at all the griffons around me, who stood there shocked and mortified... Yet no one moved from their place to help. Just like griffons to fend only for themselves.
The guard looked at me for a long time. Staring me directly in my soul... Before he turned to one of the guards near the prison wagon, and nodded.
Immediately, a griffon was pulled from the confines and set quietly on his feet. With a small turn of a key, the iron fetters fell from his wrists. He looked at the soldiers, confusion and fear in his face.
"You're free to go," said the one that held his irons.
He stood frozen there for a few seconds, before he slowly and cautiously walked away from them. He picked up his pace slightly, and stopped directly in front of me.
"Thank you," he said quietly and shakily, a relief in his eyes. I nodded at him, before he scurried over to his sister.
Then finally... the guards turned to me. I felt a wave of doubt as realized the price of my decision. While they looked at me, everything in the world went quiet. For a single, horrible moment, there was no wind. The ocean stopped churning, and the rain stopped falling. All I heard, was the sickly clanking of metal, as the now unlocked shackle dangled loosely from his claw.
The guard gave a long, silent nod towards me, holding out the chains.
I knew what was to happen next.
I took in a deep, shaky breath, drawing it slowly and shakily, before I took a long look at Ibis, who was being tended to by her brother.
I felt the mud under my talons squelch as it was lifted. Sorrowfully, I walked over to the soldier, a cold feeling of isolation washed over me as I drew nearer.
"Hold out your talons," he instructed calmly.
I raised my lead appendages, struggling to make them stay.
I took one last glance at everyone, and drew my last free breath. Ibis had managed to open her bloodied eye a little, and I could clearly see the hot tears as they ran down her face, mixing with the blood.
As the first cuff was snapped around my wrist, — click! — I couldn't help by let a tear fall from mine.
"Ibis," I called to her weakly. "I promise," I said, another hot tear falling from my face. "I promise I'll come back when this is all over..."
I saw a guard turn away sadly, as if he knew something I didn't.
Through my tears, I forced a small smile to my beak, even though my eyes told the true tragedy.
I felt the second cuff — click! — tightly around my other wrist.
Just as it did, I watched the griffon who I had attacked walk up to me. I could see a small purple area slowly deepening in color around his right eye, as he stared down silently at me. He helped me to my feet and slowly opened the back of the wagon, before allowing me to step inside.
I took a seat on the hard, rough wood, before they closed the door. I heard the clanking of a lock shortly after. There were several griffons inside, but I didn't pay any mind to them. I merely struggled to crane my neck, trying to get one last glimpse of Ibis before I was taken... But the window was just too high.
After a few minutes, I felt the wheels underneath begin turning, as the wagon drudged along slowly, and I was off.