//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: Mortals and gods // Story: The Unicorn Wars: Griffania // by Constellation //------------------------------// "Awaken."I heard a voice order and I instantly was conscious. I opened my eyes and saw that I was no longer in the mud of the Mallhearen plains, to my right was the Sarge and Swift Steel who were both just getting up, then I looked to my left where the rest of my squad was also just aroused to consciousness. I finally pulled myself to my hooves and then looked around, as I looked my heart began to climb out of my chest. The room was a circle with fine stone work, and sitting in a circle encompassing the room were great thrones, twenty four thrones that held twenty four Draconiqui, we were in the counsel of the Draconiqui. As soon as I realized where I stood, I fell onto my face before the gods, and it took my squad only a second to realize the same, and they too then fell down before them. "Rise faithful ones."Baal-Hamon the head counselor of the counsel of the gods said. Once he gave the order we all stood up, I could now see his throne, which stood much higher then the rest, beside his wife's throne which sat across from his. "It is not my place to ask,"The Sargent started."but, why have we-" "Been summoned here?"Robigus cut him off, she then continued."To do our biding." "These are trying times."Baal-Hamon started."The lesser races fight their wars, and we fight our wars-" "But,"His wife Tanit took over."it is time we fight the same fight." At this my squad shared a worried glance with each other. "My lord,"Sarge started."how could we fight a war that only you can fight?" "With our help!"Discord shouted with glee. "Discord,"Quo, god of order started."control your childish tendencies." "Now where's the fun in acting normal?"Discord asked. "Stop this pointlessness,"Tanit commanded."you are both acting like children." "Good."Discord cheered. "The new goddesses rise,"Baal-Hamon continued."and soon they will be a threat to even us." "Impossible,"Maximus stated."what could stand against the counsel and not fall?" "The earth ponies have for generations worshiped the sun and moon,"Baal-Hamon started."and we have been able to keep the two sleeping goddesses asleep, but, lately the Unicorn Empire's conquest of their subjects has caused them to stir. "Can they not be made part of the counsel,"I started."like Discord?" "They are not Draconiqui,"Baal-Hamon said with poison in his voice."they are ponies, with wings and horns." "Heresy."I mumbled. "Yes, it is just that, my faithful one."Robigus said. "I agree that this heresy must be stopped,"Sarge said."but, how can we help?" "With our blessing."Baal-Hamon said reaching out his claw which began to glow with his power, then the rest of the counsel did the same. As the glow around their claws began to disperse, my uniform, and the uniforms of my squad began to take on the same glow, I could feel the power flowing through my body, and I could feel a shield form around my uniform. My battle worn grey shirt and pants were replaced by officers dress blues, the dull brass buttons became gold in a flash of light, my griffon sword flowed with power the likes of which I had never known, a musket appeared before me, the same kind that the Emperors personal guard used, and, my uniform, though it felt soft and week, I knew it would block any normal attack. "Take these gifts, and stop the new goddesses from awakening."Baal-Hamon commanded. "And there just might be a surprise at the end!"Discord shouted and jumped out of his seat. "How will we know where to go?"Ice Heart asked. As soon as she finished a rolled up map flashed into existences in front of the sarge, which he then picked up and opened. "You must return to Equestria and go to this mountain where their heresy was born, and strike the two sisters down," Baal-Hamon said."Then, our counsel will be safe." "But the military will not let us go anywhere without their approval, and I doubt that they will believe us."The Sarge said. "We have contacted general Burning Sky, he has already sent a squad to look for you."Baal-Hamon answered with amusement in his voice. "Now, you must make haste,"Robigus started."there is not much time." "Yes, go now with our gifts."Baal-Hamon said, then he extended his paw and the world left us. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Here they are,"I heard a voice shout."I found them!" After that I heard many hooves trampling the ground on their way over toward me and my squad, I tried to open my eyes, but that only made my head hurt even more, so I just laid still. "What the-"I heard a voice start, but then another voice answered his question before he finished. "It was a flash rain storm, they'll sink you fast."It said. Then for what felt like hours, the unseen voices dug me and my squad out of the earth, and then dragged us onto the sunny surface. "Come on,"Another voice started."we need to get them back to the General." Then all sound stopped, and I once again drifted into sleep.