Griffon Homeland, Capital -- Ten years after Celestia’s disappearance
I was led into a palace by two aged war veteran griffons. Silver grey one on my right wore sturdy leather armor and had a crossbow on his back. Other dark brown one on my left wore the same but also had an eye patch over his right eye. Both clearly were annoyed escorting me.
We passed other lion and eagle hybrids, each giving me unfriendly stares, some even hiding their younglings behind them as if I was to attack.
I sighed. “You don’t seem too keen seeing me.”
“Citizens believe what they see, and if pony is to attack, they’re all the same,” Grey griffon responded, disinterest in his voice.
“And what about you, what do you think of ponies?” Griffon on my right shrugged at my question.
“I don’t care,” said other griffon. “I serve my tsar.”
We passed some more random griffons before we reached our destination. They opened wooden double doors and led me inside. Inside was luxurious; regal red, green and blue colors decorated many banners and curtains around the windows and on the walls. Acrylic paintings of previous tsars adorned the walls. Three silver chandeliers hung on the high ceiling, but none were lit, as enough light was coming from many molten windows in the room. Most of the interior was red brick masonry.
In the throne sat Terror Feathers himself. He was whole head bigger and twice the mass of common griffon. His white feathery head was adorned with deep scars around his right blind eye, and he wore nothing over his dark brown lower half. The throne he was sitting on was made from various cold weapons; many spears, halberds, swords, axes, maces, flails, and other melee weapons I couldn’t name or identify on the spot.
“Our Noble has arrived, sire,” both of my escort said in unison.
“Good,” tsar said, then nodded to both griffons and they made their leave, leaving me, Terror Feathers and another female griffon alone. “Please sit.” He gestured to well-crafted timber chair, near similarly well-crafted table and meal on it, before he got up off throne and sat there himself. I did what he asked, and so did female griffon.
“Let’s skip chit-chat and get down to business,” female griffon said. She wore silver dress, matching her body. “Under peace decree between griffons and Equestrians-”
“Stop wasting time; eager to start,” tsar interrupted the other griffon.
“We’re entitled to mutual support in dire needs.” She unrolled the paper from her dress and sat it on free space on the table. It was geographic map of griffon lands. Red, blue and green circles swarmed all over it.
“Green is Tiberium, blue are our forces, red are enemy,” Terror Feathers briefly explained. Then, pointed to borders with another nation that wasn’t Equestria. “Attacks began here.” There were a lot of red circles around that area, collided into ‘C’ of red circles and around Talon River. “I don’t know what’s so special about that place, but if they gone this far and even attacked us, it can’t be good.”
He moved ‘C’ length around red circles until he reached blue circle near the end of red circles. “Talon River continues flowing here and then up until the capital and here.” He ran his talon across the river until he reached capital on the map.
He returned his talon back to first blue circle facing countless reds. “You’ll dispatch here, as here is most likely to be attacked, or is being attacked already as we speak. There is Fonda Squadron in that area, mostly scouts and light melee infantry. If you succeed defending, you can start attacking enemy bases along the river.”
“What’s so special about our enemies,” I asked.
“They use some kind of new weapons that outrange and outgun anything we use. And they are these ‘Brotherhood of Nod’ forces, destroying our Tiberium mining operations and building their own. But I doubt they’re here for Tiberium, knowing that they spread all around the globe now, and even our lands are insignificant in comparison.”
“Before doing everything you suggested, I want to investigate their camp, introduce myself to them and ask them to cease attacking, and if things go horrible, I have all means of defeating them. In worst case scenario, I can escape.”
“What if you come and join them?” female griffon interjected. “Nod originated from Equestria. What if this is some kind of plan against our nation?” She was about to say something else, but tsar shut her beak with his talons.
“We trust you,” he said, before releasing her and glaring at her with red eye. She said nothing more.
~~~
Griffon Homeland, Somewhere along Talon River
I met with Fonda Squadron. Consisting mostly of scouts, they detailed in depth about Nod’s activity around this region. Apparently, Nod developed new Tiberium growing technology, and this place was suitable to use it for some reason.
I made my way to their first base. It was fairly newly constructed, having one Refinery and one Harvester working. Lots of raw material trash littered around the river, clearly in preparations of constructing something. There were militia squads trotting about.
“Hey you!” Some pony spotted me. “What are you doing here without your gear, private?” He was white earth pony or pegasus – he wore black armor with stripes and Nod’s symbol of Kane’s scorpion tail cutie mark, hiding most of his body beneath – and his mane was dark blue, he had bags under his eyes.
“I, uhmm, lost it,” I replied nervous. I wanted to tell him who I was and my business here, but somehow couldn’t make myself do so.
He stared at me, then sighed. “It’s another of these new recruits, not even knowing basic navigation around this place. I’ve told Kane that we should not send new recruits into battle,” he began his monologue. “All he was telling me that we need to leave our main army in occupied bases to defend if they were to be attacked, and that our new recruits will gain battle experience. And if something happens to them not as war casualty, I’m to blame. Now I’m having sleepless nights over that, and it’s all because of clueless little foals like you.” He poked my chest with his hoof, leaning closer to look into my eyes with his tired ones.
Then, he sighed again. “Go search around tents. You can’t miss the armory; it’s the biggest tent – safe Commander’s Quarters – that has boxes around it and weapons and equipment inside. There are some guides and other useless papers new recruits are being given that nobody ever reads. You’ll find sleeping bags there too; you can sleep where you please that’s not dangerous or in the way.” He yawned. “When you hear important loudmouth it’s your indication to move, and I can have my momentary rest rid of you, before encountering the same issues in the next occupied territory.” He yawned again. “Now get out of my face.”
I found the tent he described. No pony else gave me any mind more than a glance as I made my way inside. There were many said items lying about or in wooden boxes. It pained me to know that there were so many rifles and ammunition for them at hoof’s reach.
I picked ‘Militants’ Guide’. I skipped a lot of nonsense until something I was interested caught my eye.
[…] Our soldiers are using rifles. These are high-end ranged weapons, easy to use and deadly. Forged from glorious Tiberium and invented with care by masterminds behind Tiberium Harvesting, these weapons brighten the light of our tomorrow. Slick design that reminds of familiar crossbows’, easy to load and use for maximum efficiency in battle. Set of three triggers: first one for shooting, second for unloading empty magazine and third for securing loaded ones.
There also was a sketch of the weapon with numbered triggers showing where each one was and what did.
Tiberium has blessed us; we can make reliable armor from it. Nod’s Militant Squad is equipped with best rubber leather armor. It ensures moderate protection from any cold weaponry or an arrow and bolt. Also, it’s light weight, so our soldiers will never feel the burden of outdated heavy armor; only stay the nimble self we are.
I placed the guide next to others in one of the piles. I removed my saddlebags that were effectively hiding my wings. I equipped the armor, it settling tight on my coat and wings. I placed my saddlebags back on me and hid everything behind hooded cape. I levitated two rifles and secured them in special holders on my armor to hold them. I levitated some more spare magazines into my saddlebags and left outside. I didn’t bother taking any sleeping bags.
Ponies and other creatures were milling about, doing everything they please. Some chatting, others exploring occupied lands, few just sleep.
There were few ponies sitting lazy near Refinery surface. I approached them. They gave me just a glance, before returning to daydreaming. There sat three identical books named ‘Material Recipes’. I picked one and idly scanned its contents; there were detailed certain spells and conditions on creating various materials from Tiberium, including eatable ones and drugs. Making sure that nobody saw, I levitated the book into my saddlebag.
I had no time to explore the rest, as one stallion’s amplified voice killed all chatter and noise around me, drawing attention of everyone. “Rise, you sorry-bunch, in ten minutes you all must prepare to leave; we’ll be advancing further into these lands, claiming Tiberium and territory.” He stood on highest point on Refinery’s Silo. Nod Silo’s cylinder design allowing stability on it, unlike my first design that was circular around the edges.
Ponies began preparing, standing in a line to armory and in another to supplies.
“Others, you know who, are with me to discuss an assault.” He finished and hopped off the silo then slowly walked to Commander’s Quarters. Few ponies one by one gathered behind him, the grey coated and black manned earth pony or pegasus stallion, and followed. I decided to follow as well.
No pony decided to say anything as we made inside, in what looked like stone-mold bunker. There were dull grey shelves and blocks of paper on them. Few quills and spots of ink scattered on them. In the middle a metal cube that served as a table, and no chairs around it. Dim light, on otherwise bright day outside, entered the space through small holes near the ceiling that represented windows, and some more from the opened metal door we entered. They cared little about beauty of their base, and what I was seeing was indication of that.
Five ponies and I surrounded the cube. Grey stallion placed a map on the cube. It was the same one I saw Terror Feathers showed me of his lands. But this one was adorned with different markings of red, black and green. Lines, arrows and highlights colored the whole map. It took me a moment to realize what each color meant; red circles were Nod’s bases. Red arrows were troops’ movements, as stallion drew another one from the farthest red circle. Green was Tiberium. Black were griffons.
Possibly troublingly, there were red arrows and circles running through uninhabited mountains nearing the capital, and griffons didn’t know about it.
“Ah, it’s six of you here now,” a voice behind me said through the door. I didn’t turn, I knew who it was. Kane. But he wasn’t real; a decoy cast with unicorn magic, as he walked through me, metal cube and grey stallion oppose me. Then, turning around, he continued, “We have guests.”
“I called all that matter. If one of curious militia cowered from upcoming fight and wandered in here, I care not,” grey stallion exclaimed.
“Oh, but she’s no militia but a noble guest, a princess and dear friend of mine.” I grunted and fully exposed my head from the hood. “Twilight Sparkle.” Grin on his transparent face.
Ponies’ moods in the room soured. “Infiltrator,” grey stallion claimed. “What business do you have here?”
“Why are you attacking griffons?” I asked. I also released my rifles off the holders and levitated them above my back, aiming at ponies inside. I never used one and wasn’t intended to do so, but it gave me superiority over unarmed ponies. I couldn’t recall what made me do that, though.
“Simple,” decoy of Kane Hooves said. “They wouldn’t cooperate with us in civil and generous ways, so we’re forcing it on them now.”
He gestured other ponies in the room to leave, but my rifles prevented them from doing so, aiming at the ponies.
“I demand you cease attacking griffons and leave their territory.”
Kane tsked. “It doesn’t concern you,” he said.
“It does, I’m princess of Friendship and Harmony.”
Kane tsked again. “A puppet of unworthy and ignorant. But you can be free of these bonds. You know very well what Tiberium can do to our progression as pony race.”
Only pony race? I thought. He sounded selfish. “Why are griffons’ territory so important, and why exactly this Talon River in particular.”
“Now we’re talking. You know, Tiberium devours soil and grows like vegetation. Different kind of soil grows different kinds of plants. And Tiberium follows the same logic. What we’re here for is Blue Tiberium, and this place is perfect for growing it. And blue one provides us creation of liquid materials.” His transparent face was locked into a smile. “Now dear princess, I ask you kindly to lower your weapons.”
I felt cold cylinder to my back of the head. I turned to see three stallions militia aiming at me, and one of the weapons was right between my eyes, pressed closely. I could see more militia looking my way outside of the crumpled space.
“Time flies fast even if it’s mere minutes,” Kane said, walking through ponies to me. “You’re smart mare, and you hold a lot of power, even here among Brotherhood. Your inventions lifted our brethren to seek new heights; you opened our eyes wider to the magic of Tiberium.” I wondered how could this earth pony feel magic, and if any pony else did as much as me. Being that some of it was my magic, after all.
‘The loving touch of a sister, the gentle kindness of a mentor, the lunar might of inner dreams, and heartbeat of own body,’ I thought, unloading magazines from my rifles and dropping them off my magic on the ground.
No pony took their aim off me. “It’s good to reason with you.” No sane pony would reason with this stallion. I flared my horn and put every pony around me in coma with a spell. There were ponies outside that spell radius, but they weren’t fast enough to react as I teleported them out of sight.
I grabbed my rifles, the map and other papers with something written on them that I felt were important, and I heard Kane tsking behind me as I exited Commander’s Quarters. I galloped past lazily working Harvester and stopped near the armory. From inside and outside I quickly gathered all the weapons I could find and flared my horn, exhausting my magic and teleporting everything to one of griffon settlements that was safe from attacking just yet.
Holes in the ground around me began to form as ponies I teleported returned and were shooting at me but missing. I threw my hood away and ripped Nod militia armor. I clenched my teeth onto my saddlebags’ holders and, stretching my wing, took flight. Few more rounds pierced air around me but none hit home, and I got away.
~~~
I reunited with Fonda Squadron, what left of it; two young brown and silver griffons alike met me with some intel.
“Nod’s forces were advancing, but are now setting up temporary camp for night’s rest. They’re settled two miles north from here,” one of the griffons said.
“I would suggest attacking them during the night with all of the griffon glory we have, being two that left” other griffon suggested with a smirk.
“No,” I said firmly. “You two are to report to capital. Make sure they are prepared to defend. Nod is sending their elite squads to infiltrate the capital from the blind spot, that’s uninhabited mountains near the city’s east.” I heard gasps from two griffons. “There is stack of stolen from enemy weaponry near the capital, I used too much of my magic to clearly say where I teleported it exactly.”
“Capital is five miles from here.” Both griffons’ eyes widened.
“So, Nod got this close already,” I mumbled to myself. “Ok,” I began, “I’ll deal with this army myself.”
“Alone? Are you sure? They defeated everyone opposing them, and with devastating results.”
“There’s nothing I and power of friendship that unites us all in harmony can’t overcome,” I said proudly, holding my head up high and spreading my wings with grace.
Griffons exchanged looks between each other, before staring at me. One with doubtful looks in his eyes, and another with a grin on his face, but I could tell he doubted me, and that smile must have meant something else. “We trust you, princess,” grinning griffon bowed low to me, before spreading his wings and flying off. The other griffon did the same, and they both were out of sight.
I sighed. I flapped my wings and began silent hovering along treetops.
As I hovered, thoughts filtered my mind. ‘Harmony and friendship? It helped ponies many times – to get rid of the so called villains, that is. With my might and power, and not only mine, no villain succeeded.
‘And friendship I’m spreading like a plague, isn’t it a form of control? For unity to ensure peace, I always thought of it. But now, they take arms and point at others. It isn’t like it never happened before, and there was a reason for it, too. And what I did then: present myself, demand peace, and they listen, then round it up with a song.
‘Now, all I did was cower in shadows like a filly and strike them unconscious if needed; treating them as villains, and not offering a second chance to redeem themselves.
‘Ponies and other creatures aren’t the same anymore. Tiberium poisoned them. And I think it did the same to me now.’
“What happened to me?” I grunted, as I tried to scatter my ill and incoherent thoughts out of my head.
I followed trace of dead griffons and ponies that lead me through the obliterated tree branches along the river. I overheard some pony talking, giving instructions. Soon enough I found the source of the voice, it was familiar white pony with dark blue mane addressing one of militant squads.
“We must go forward, no matter what,” he said. “I don’t care that you’re hungry or tired. It’s been less than an hour before we left, you unfit sorry bunch.” He sighed. “Get out of my sight. I want my time alone without you.” Ponies he addressed nodded. “Now!” he screamed, and they dashed, startled.
Meanwhile, I managed to creep close behind him. But unfortunately, he turned and spotted me. “Great,” he said. “Now here’s one even without her armor.” He glared at me with his tired eyes. “Say, I know you. You’re that purple one who’s bad with navigation. Seeing you now without armor, I can safely assume you failed to find the armory.” He chuckled softly. “And what’s better, you managed to find your way here… you’re that bad.”
Then, all out of the sudden, with swift movement, he struck sharp knife into my neck. I lost control over my body, as knife pierced my neck bone, and I fell hard on the side from the impact. I gasped for air, but my attempts were in vain, as my vision dimed.
“I may seem stupid, but I assure you, I’m not.” He put his hoof and removed his knife from my neck. “Clever mind can defeat the stronger body.” He grinned. “Friendship – what a joke.”
He shifted his body in preparation to throw the knife at me. I closed my blurry with tears eyes in anticipation.
But it never came. Instead, once I dared to open them, the stallion was unconscious and lying on the grass besides me.
Grey figure stood between us, blocking most of my blurry vision. It was a griffon. “This isn’t good,” he said. With his talons he took a hold of my body, and spreading his wings took up to the sky. At some point I lost consciousness.
~~~
Griffon Homeland, Gravel Farm
I opened my eyes slowly, adjusting to the light. I was lying on shabby bed. Moving my head around, I saw dull stone, accompanied with wooden furniture and held with wooden supporting. I heard creaking noise, it was an old griffon female in a chair, spinning creakingly and knitting a small figurine. Glancing better at it, I saw it being lavender color pony with purple and pink stripes that ran along its blue mane and tail. She was knitting figurine of me. I could see there were more of these figurines on the shelf next to her.
I shifted my body to sit – I could move, I couldn’t believe it. “Sonny, your friend is awake!” she called. Within few moments a grey griffon flew in the room, dragging dust after himself.
“You’re ok!” he exclaimed. “I knew my momma is the best to treat anybody.”
“Your friend here took a fatal injury. Few could survive that, none recover like she did here.” She paused in her thoughts. “And recover this fast, within the night’s sleep.” She stared at me intently, stopping her knitting. “You alicorns are a mystery to old hag like me.”
“Momma, no need to downgrade yourself like that; you’re great, the best,” griffon said.
“I… Thank you. It’s probably natural ‘durability’ of an alicorn, I assume. But I never was injured this much as one, I couldn’t have known.”
“Well, uhmm… welcome to my house, our Gravel Farm,” he said then helped me out of the bed. “My name is Silverpawn and here’s Sally.” Old griffon nodded and went back to her knitting.
We exited the room and walked into what I assumed was a cave. “What exactly is this place?” I asked curios.
“It used to be a Gravel Farm that was passed through generations of my family. Its gravel was one of the finest within this land. But now it’s useless, as Tiberium is now ultimate everything thanks to your inventions.” He wasn’t pleased with that.
“I’m sorry.”
“I don’t blame you, but I have to do this military duty now to ensure mine and my momma’s survival. At first it wasn’t hard, was boring even. But now… you see.” We neared the door, he opened it and we entered the outside. It was nighttime.
Outside were many trees and a river nearby that branched into stone and ravine, and rippled quietly beneath. The door we exited and cave behind it was masked in stone, and it being grayish tint of brown.
“I know what you think,” he startled my admiration, “it looks like a bunker, isn’t it?”
“I suppose. Yeah, it does. Anyways, I should get back to my squadron. Do you know anything about them?”
Silverpawn chuckled nervously. “You’re probably looking at the last of them – me.”
I grimaced. “It’s that bad? What’s the position of Nod’s forces?”
“They left this place long ago; their leader, not Kane, adamant on pushing forward. I assume he thinks he fought the last of you.”
“Right, I need to head to capital and warn your leader of upcoming danger. I fear griffons I sent got caught and didn’t make there. How long until I get there?”
“Few hours for a good flier.”
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to convince your leader to award you greatly for saving me. Now farewell.”
“Wait!” an elderly voice called. “There’s something for you I must give.” Sally held a small red chest in her talons. “It’s from my great-great-grandmother Gilda.” She handed the box to me. “It’s been handed through few generations; for when you would arrive, we’re to give it to you.”
I opened the little chest. Inside was shinning golden figurine. The mare on figurine posed in grace, a pegasus spreading her wings in confidence. ‘Your most awesome friend’ was engraved on the bottom of it. It was very familiar to me. “Rainbow Dash,” I mumbled to myself.
~~~
Griffon Homeland, near Capital, Featherfly village
A bullet piercing my right shoulder with a burning pain greeted my arrival to a large griffon village. I instinctively put on a shield as more bullets flew my way. My shield couldn’t deflected all the bullets headed my way as more struck my body, but was enough to absorb most of the impact power to save me from fatal injuries.
My attackers were griffons shooting at me. “Stop!” I screamed. Shooting stopped.
“Oh no no no no,” one grey griffon began. He and another griffon, matching in color, flanked me from both sides. “She’s alive.”
“Yes, I see,” other griffon calmly replied.
“And we shot her!”
“We surely did.”
“We were supposed to follow her orders!”
“We did, and succeeded.” A smile crept on his face. I knew who they were, the griffons I sent to inform their tsar.
“Stop smiling dumb and help me get her to where we can treat her wounds!”
“Yeah, whatever,” he chuckled. They were just about to grab and lift me, but a bullet struck grinning griffon’s head and he fell dead. Few more bullets hit my flank before I put up a shield.
“Nod!” village’s folk shouted as more bullets seared past my shield and into unfortunate griffons that fell dead or in immense pain.
“I have to get your majesty out of here.” Grey griffon pulled me in his talons then awkwardly under my weight ascended in air. “You’re too hurt to do anything here. The folk will defend against the attacker.”
I glanced below, bodies fell to the ground as both oppositions exchanged bullets. Too much senseless death. “No!” I pushed free from griffons grasp with my telekinesis and hovered in air. “I’ll stop this. I can save everybody.”
“You’re in no condition to fight.”
“Go to your tsar and ensure his safety.”
“But-”
“You listen to my orders, now go!”
He stared at me for few moments then nodded and left. I descended down on the battlefield. I was already being targeted by Nod. I concentrated and released my magic into a spell that sent them in coma. My wounds ignited again upon release of that spell, and my hooves collapsed under my weight.
More ponies outside spell radius were enclosing rapidly upon me. I released the spell once again, standing. I felt wounds scream in agony and my spell fizzled, and I fell again. The range greatly reduced. Few shots hit the ground around me, but none actually hit me. But there was no need, I couldn’t move anyways. The only thing I felt was pain.
Nod’s militia ran pass me, giving no second glance as they passed, and deeper into the village. Griffons already lost; many dead or fleeing. One pony stopped before my body.
“You sacrificed your second life just to fall beneath my hoof, again.” White stallion with dark blue mane and bags under his eyes pressed his hoof on my head, forcing his weight on it. “Let’s see how good this head of yours is.” He grinned, laughing maniacally.
‘This isn’t cool’ a voice in my head echoed. Behind the stallion a crystallized crimson body of a pony pegasus formed. It hit back of the stallions head, knocking him unconscious, before shattering into million pieces and then into nothing.
Nod’s forces marched forward, ignoring and stomping over dead bodies of their enemies and comrades without care. I grimaced ‘it’s as if they are mind controlled’ I thought to myself. But I couldn’t have done a thing to stop them; I was left lying with the remains of a slaughter. Left to think about things until fate decides to finally take my life.
~~~
A sharp talon poked my side. “Missus, are you okay? “ It was a young chromatic grifflet poking me. She shrunk for a moment as she saw my head move, startled. “You fared better than others,” she said, before lifting me in her talons. “You’re heavy.”
We neared a cornered of one of the cottages and then down to a cellar. Grifflet lit a lamp, its dim light illuminating various jars with pickles or other marinated greens inside. Some old vehicle I know from books as bike. And there were few nets with potatoes inside.
She deposited me on a creaking chair and stood on hers to match her eyes with mine. “My parents always say ‘ponies are bad, they only want to hurt us’. Also, my history teacher taught me what equestrians did to us.” She sighed. “But why does it have to be this way? I have a friend, pony, who’s really kind to me and really cool. And you’re princess, missus, and you can tell what to do, why do you attack?” Tears were forming in her eyes.
I tried to speak, but my throat was dry, I began coughing. She took a jar from around and pierced its lid, opening it, and passed it to my hooves. It was apple juice, sour but it hydrated my throat enough to speak.
“It’s more complicated than that. We don’t rule over their will. We’re mere political idols and guardians of Equestrian land, nothing more. So, ponies have free will to do mostly anything,” I said. Grifflet was silent for a moment, before placing her talons over my neck, squeezing it. “I’m trying to fix it, and help griffons.” She released her grip off me and collapsed on the ground, crying.
“I don’t believe you,” she grumbled.
“Please, you need to trust me, like a friend. Let me be your friend.”
“I don’t want to be your friend,” she sputtered.
“But I do. The least I can do for you and your kind is to end this slaughter. And I’m going to stop it.” I stood from a creaking chair, confident. And like inferno my wounds ignited, and I collapsed, grunting.
“Missus!” she called, helping me back onto the chair.
“I think this mare needs some more rest.”
In a hurry she made some sort of bed; I laid down on old ragged mattress, dirty plush served as pillow and old war leather jacket as bed sheet. She patched my wounds with healing oils and bandages she found, before allowing me to rest.
“Thank you,” I said. “But I’m sorry; I haven’t asked your name.”
“Stella.”
“Thank you Stella.” I drifted to sleep.
~~~
The next day came early with a bang. I hurried out of the cellar. What I seen outside was devastating; new Nod’s war ingenuity roared past our hiding. The device was similar to Nod’s refined version of a Harvester but this was bigger, slower, and had a tube on its top.
I scouted more of the surroundings. More such vehicles formed few rows on the hill, giving vantage overview of the capital. Then, they fired with a bang, fire erupted from the tubes, and blips of explosion could be seen on the walls and towers of the capital.
“Oh no,” I said quietly. I looked over my shoulder to find Stella’s expression that of pure horror. “Please go inside, or they will spot you.” It required forceful push to get her stunned back to cellar.
I opened my bags and started going through papers I took from Nod’s camp. ‘I know something important is here’ I thought as I searched. And I found what I was looking for – it’s called Nod Cobra Artillery. The paper explained its design, features and limitations, and I easily found its weaknesses as well.
“Whatever happens, stay here and hide. I think I have a plan.” Stella mutely responded by turning off the light and hiding herself in a big cooking pot, still horrified.
I poked my head again. Cobra Artilleries were shooting every once in awhile. I also spotted some ponies loading ammunition to the artilleries from few cargo vehicles, one for few artilleries – and there were lots. Their attire wasn’t like militia’s but definitely had Nod colors of red and black and its icon of scorpion tail.
I waited patiently to make sure no more vehicles were arriving. Then, I made my move. Silently I crept to one of the ponies then released my paralyzing spell and dragged her body to the shadows where I equipped the attire. It was a bit small and uncomfortable for my wings. ‘Whatever, it’ll do’ I fumed in my mind.
I inspected the vehicle, comparing its designs from the papers I memorized to the real thing before me, trying to determinate the best approached of its weaknesses to disable and destroy it.
“Will you load that thing today or not?” Came annoyed grumpy voice from within the vehicle. ‘Oh no no no no’ I panicked in my mind ‘I can’t destroy it, it will hurt or kill its driver. But if I don’t, it will destroy the capital and kill griffon inside’.
“You deaf or asleep down there? Don’t let me get to you and smack you awake now.”
‘Is it justified to injure or kill him to save others? And not only him but other drivers in…’ I looked to my side, there were three dozen more Cobra Artillery vehicles. ‘All of these there’.
“I hope you forgive me, Celestia.” I released my magic, forming disruption spell on its engine. The engine began to spark and exploded, quickly destroying the vehicle whole and muting short screams of confusion and pain from the driver.
Ponies reacted to the explosion, startled. But their reaction time was too slow, as my paralyzation spell eliminated any attempts to stop me. And every vehicle faced same fate shortly as the first.
I stared at my work, molten flames dancing and laughing at what previously was two rows of Nod Cobra Artillery. ‘And I didn’t even try to talk some sense to them – jump and act. And now they’re dead.’ I collapsed to my haunches. ‘And others just in few weeks coma, why they deserve life and you don’t?’ I spun my head, battlefield of yesterday’s; bodies of ponies and griffons mutilated by passing tracks of Cobra Artillery. ‘And even they suffered as much, if not worse.’
Tears forming in my eyes now flowed freely. ‘And I justified killing them, too. No Celestia, I’m not deserving of forgiveness.’
Cold iron poked my head from behind. “You ruined our plans once again.” I spun my head a little to see white stallion with blue mane. His eyes were bloodshot red now. “I’m not going to waste time for you to escape again.” He pressed the lever of his rifle, but it missed. His target wasn’t there anymore, as I teleported behind him and delivered an impressive buck to his flank.
He hid one of the cargo vehicles, lessening the supports and forcing artillery ammunition to scatter about. “Why can’t you see like Kane does?” he fumed. “Tiberium is the future.”
“Why are you attacking griffons?” I asked simply, holding my anger.
“Little complication for bigger things. They’re unworthy and it’s justifiable.” He recovered from the kick and straightened himself to draw his rifle again. “And you’re one big complication, and annoying one at that.”
His rifle took aim, but was forced flying over and down the hill out of his grip with my levitation magic. “You and your kind forced me to kill ponies!” I was angry at myself.
“Inconvenience and delay. No pony matters, they’re just number. But I’m the hero to defeat tyrant alicorn.” He spun drawing his knife and equipped it with his teeth then charged at me.
He struck my shoulder join and then followed with a kick to my side, knocking me to the ground. Before I could recover, he struck his knife in the middle of my neck. “I’ll make sure it’s really done.” He smiled. “You’re the one to survive such wounds.” He pressed his knife harder.
I wasn’t trying to avoid him much. As he was attacking, meanwhile my thoughts were elsewhere. ‘-But if things are like this now, I’ll have to adapt.’
I opened my eyes, the ones filled with anger and pain. It took moments to realize foreign object in my neck and grinning opponent before me.
In quick succession I forced the knife out of my body, sending it deep across his right cheek and some of it along his ear, before it flew out of sight. His screams of pain were muffled by my anger screams, as I lifted his body with my telekinesis and repeatedly slammed it to the ground. I hated him, I hated what he and Nod were doing, I hated myself for what it made me do, and I let my anger fuel my actions.
It was short lasting, as I slumped to the ground from either tiredness or blood loss, or both.
After short time of not moving, white stallion stood. “I hate you.” He recovered his knife, but instead of attacking he pierced holes on both sides of his armor, exposing pair of white wings. “It wasn’t the last you seen of Silver Moon.” And with that he wobbly flew deeper to the forest from where Nod sent their troops from.
And I lost consciousness shortly after.
~~~
When I slowly awoke it wasn’t what I expected. Kane Hooves’ decoy was chatting with Stella, both were smiling softly. My groans caught their attention as I rose.
“You can’t move yet!” griflet protested, and forced her weight on me to lay down. “Please!”
Decoy flanked her to the side and smiled at me. “You’re in no danger.” I glared daggers at him, but he continued his smile. “You’re an amazing mare, princess, and you did everything to stop this fighting, you saved lives of your enemies and allies.” He bowed slowly.
“I’ve killed many-”
“Don’t you cloudy your mind with that. I’d blame Silver for that more than I do you. He thinks he’s second in command due to his rank and ill-influence within the brotherhood. That old colt feels vendetta with the griffons for what he thinks killed his parents when he was young. And probably that’s false.
“Anyways, I’ve been talking with your friend here and we came up with a reasonable proposal to end this fighting.”
“What do you want?”
“I want you to be Nod’s peacemaker, not related to Nod. You wanted to end this conflict, yes?” I nodded weakly. “So, you defeated majority of our forces, destroyed our artillery and bested our second in command. Kane cowards under your might and offers you and griffons a deal.” His smile widened even more.
“Which is?” I asked curios.
“I withdraw my forces from griffon lands to the beginning of Talon River and our best bases there. But griffon forces and their allies can’t follow us or get close to our bases.”
“Why are you proposing me this?” I tried to get up, but Stella prevented me from doing so, cooing warnings at me when I did.
“Third of my forces are pinned down and forced out of Capital due to traps that bunkered the main castle, or just dead. Other third are gathered and are in coma by your well-known spell and won’t wake up in days, and without proper care their bodies will weaken and they’ll be unfit for fighting… or walking, flying and using magic. The last of our forces are garrisoned in our main bases. And Silver dispatched untested siege vehicles that are now destroyed.” Short silence allowed me to sink everything. “So, you won.”
“What’s with the smiles?”
“I got what I wanted, regardless.” A small bubble appeared in from of him, it slowly formed into a block and then into a book. “And here’s a gift for you, my friend.” The book descended slowly into my hooves. ‘Tiberium now’ was its title. “Fresh first copy for my biggest fan, sister.” And with the last words his transparent decoy disappeared.
Mission Accomplished -- Debriefing…
Intelligence Database:
v Brotherhood of Nod
vv Units
vvv Infantry
Militant Squad
Basic Infantry. Strong vs. Infantry.
Abilities: Currently locked.
Upgrades: Currently locked.
vvv Vehicles
Cobra Artillery
Medium Artillery. Strong vs. Structures.
Abilities: Currently locked.
Upgrades: Currently locked.
Tiberium Harvester
Resource Vehicle. Weaponless.
Abilities:
>> Gathers Tiberium.
vv Structures
vvv Main Structures
Refinery
Resource Structure.
Processes and stores Tiberium
vvv Support Structures
Silo
Resource Structure.
Stores Tiberium
v Special
vv Units
vvv Infantry
Princess Twilight Sparkle
Super Infantry. Strong vs. Everything.
Abilities:
>> Alicorn Shield
>> Stun Spell
>> Teleport
>> Fly
Upgrades: Currently locked.