//------------------------------// // Marching, worries and griffon problems // Story: Of a German and American soldier in Equestria // by redspark //------------------------------// Chapter 28 Marching, worries and griffon problems Davis contemplated the landscape before him with a tired face. His eyes scanned the desert land in front of him, the last frontier between Equestria and the griffon empire; the barren and burning landscape before him seemed completely uninviting for an individual, much less an army. He was standing atop a large rock that allowed him to get a nice overview of the way ahead, and he held in his arms a map of Equestria and the southern kingdoms. According to the map, it would be a three day journey across the desert until they reached the Northern Griffon Plains, and then another day before they reached the Griffon Forest. (He had laughed internally at the names, all with “griffon” in them.) He rolled the map and sighed. It was going to be one long and tiresome journey. Hopefully, by the time they reached the need for fresh supplies Louis would have already taken the port and established a firm supply line for his troops; that was the main objective of Louis' attack after all. They were to join his forces soon after, at the griffon capital which hopefully wouldn't be taken by then. He pulled off his cap and brushed off some sweat. That blasted heat was going to be very hard to overcome, at least emotionally. He was wearing a simple grey shirt without any insignia or any garment at all and long brown pants that seemed to make his legs burn with the heat. His normal general cap the princesses had made for him was safe in his tent and instead he wore a simple brown cap he had with him on the American uniform. It was one of the few things he had with himself that weren't from any army, Equestrian or American. He donned his cap again and walked back to where the rest of the army was. He took a few minutes to reach the marching lines of soldiers. He was still going towards his troops when a messenger pegasus landed in front of him. "General, sir!" he saluted. "I have a letter that arrived moments ago." He passed it to him. Davis took it and noticed the royal seal on it. It had obviously arrived from the princesses back in Canterlot. "Thank you," he said, saluting back. The pony saluted again and flew off. Davis slowly broke the wax seal and started to unroll the scroll-like letter. He was still getting used to those, as he was more accustomed to normal letters. He started reading... To General Davis of the Equestrian Army, General, I'm afraid we have bad news for you. After you left the main camp with the army, a colonel, friend of ex-general SilverInk and noble in blood, started to turn the nobles and the lords against our cause. It appears that to them defending our land is very different from moving out of our lands and into hostile territory and most are not looking at our plan as a viable option for our survival. Since I'm still supreme ruler of Equestria, I won't turn back the operation but you will now have to face a war on two very different fronts: the military and the political. I'm sorry to say that to our friends the lords you are not a very popular figure, and most will try to do what they can to place the colonel, a pony named Bright Hooves, in your position and remove you from command remove  from command. I'm trying my best to keep the rebellious nobles in line, but more and more are joining. I'll send you updates in the situation. Please do keep me informed as to how the campaign is going. Keep strong, Princess Celestia PS: watch your back at all times. Trust no pony until I tell you it's safe. I fear they might send an assassin for you. Davis slowly pulled his gaze off of the letter and then went to read it again three times more. He wasn't sure he had read it right. It seemed a little too confusing, and when he finally understood everything he couldn't help but to look behind him. Frustration slowly filled him. How could he fight an enemy army that wanted to kill him if, within his own forces, there could be an assassin sent by those "nobles" to end their problem once and for all?! He felt his anger rise, but he kept it at bay. He knew who he could trust in his army, and he would rely on those for his command. He was going to find it hard to keep on with the attack with that letter, but it was his mission and he wasn't going to back down now. His feet started moving again as he approached the lines of marching ponies. It had been a long walk that day. He soon was joined by his trusted officials: Golden, Ace and Tempered Steel. He summarized the letter’s warning for them and asked for their comments. Golden heard as Davis explained to them the content of the letter and then proceeded to stare at his hooves, deep in thought. He simply pondered on it for a moment before speaking up; his words were almost a whisper and anger filled it, which Davis noticed. "I can't believe it... Why would the ponies turn against their own? This makes no sense!" The rest nodded slowly. Golden looked at Davis. "I don't believe it, why would somepony send a killer for you, or why would somepony in the army you command betray you?" Davis sighed. "I don't know, but it's not something good. One can't expect to fight a war if their own are turning against him, and we sure can't fight if the ponies start to go against the war; Equestria needs to be united in order for this operation to succeed. If they end up getting the princesses to turn the army around, then we'll have no choice but to obey and then the griffons will be entirely to themselves to face against the changelings." Iroh looked at Davis. "But do they really need us? I mean, the changelings sure have a lot of strength, but... Can they really defeat the greatest warriors in all the land?" That brought a few whispers from the ponies around. That was true, and Davis had considered that a few times. Thanks to that, he already had an answer. "I believe they have the experience, but not the numbers. If they were able to, they would have already sent the changelings a long way off into their own territory. Since that's not happened, I honestly believe they can't do this on their own, and once they fall, we fall." The ponies sighed in unison. "We can't focus on the problems in Equestria right now. We are leaving it, anyway. Once were done with the changelings we can worry about politics and all that boring nonsense we soldiers weren't meant to meddle with." That brought chuckles and lifted up the air of tension a little. "Yes, I'm with you on this," Golden said. "I don't know if ignoring those high born ponies is a good idea," Tempered Steel said. "But I trust your judgement, General. Whatever you say, I believe." Everypony looked at Ace. He remained silent for a second with his eyes closed. He slowly looked up. "Well, what are you all staring at?! Of course I'm with Davis!" His outburst made them all laugh a little. "Very well, then let's forget this for the time being and move on with the problem at ha... Ahem, hoof." Davis pulled a map. "At the speed we're going, we'll reach the Griffon Forest in three days. That'll take almost all our water and food, since we're in a desert. By then, I seriously hope Louis will have the supply port taken for our use. If all goes according to plan, we'll have our first large scale encounter with the changelings at the capital, since those bugs seem to be moving as fast as we do thanks to the griffon defenses. We'll arrive just in time to stop a siege and to crush the changelings’ main force." Ace and Golden nodded. Tempered Steel simply chuckled. "What's funny?" Davis asked. "Well, it's just that I'm just a smith. My business is not planning wars." Davis nodded. "Yes, but knowing what our new weapons will go against is probably a good reference for you, isn't it?" Tempered nodded. "Yes, that is true." Davis looked at the three. "Alright, prepare to order your units to set camp in two hours; we'll keep walking for that time. By then we will have reached a nice high position to set up camp in case we have an undesirable visit from the bugs." The three nodded and went to do their jobs. Davis turned and looked at the marching lines; the worry of getting stabbed in the back hadn't left him, which caused him to think on it. He needed to be more attentive now. He trusted his friends, but he wasn't sure if he could trust every single pony under his command. He thought on that as he set off to walk along the lines, worried about everything the future was going to bring... ***   ***  *** "Come on! We have to warn the king!" a dark grey griffon shouted as he and a partner flew faster than normal. Behind them, the darkness of the night didn't allow them to see much. "I know, I'm flying as fast as I can!" the other one answered. The wind howled against their ears as they attempted to fly the fastest that their bodies could handle, if not even a little more. Soon, the sights of their destination began appearing: the capital city of Griffonia, home to the golden throne, stood in front of them. It took up the whole mountain on all its sides. The top was encased in a mighty castle that stood taller than all the surrounding mountains, and all its windows were lit showing off all of its magnificence. The two breathed in relief as they approached. The villages around were silent as they flew overhead, since most of their inhabitants had moved to the citadel in case of an attack by the changelings. Now, those villages were an eerie reminder of what would happen if they didn't stop the changelings. They flew upwards, gaining altitude as they approached the tip of the mountain, the golden throne.  The pair then landed softly on a courtyard in front of the main hall's entrance. It had a large fountain in the middle and was patrolled by the Kingsguard, the most elite soldiers the Griffons had. They had sworn their lives to protect their king, and because of that they had the best training and the best preparation, in contrast with the two couriers that had just arrived. The armor they wore was entirely golden and, from what the two had heard, it was enchanted to weigh little more than a feather. The helmets were pretty intimidating to look at as well. As soon as they landed they were surrounded by the guard. "State your business," the captain said. The grey griffon cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to come in like this to his majesty's courtyard, but I come bearing tidings from the war and was tasked to give them personally to the king." The guards looked at their captain. The captain nodded. "Let them pass." The guards moved out of their way. When they were about to walk for the door, the captain stopped him with a claw. "Don't try any funny business, Eh. I'll be watching you." The grey courier gulped and nodded. They started walking. The door opened and revealed the interior of the main hall; a large cathedral-like room with gigantic pillars and a throne at the end. There was a red carpet in the middle that led right to the throne. The two walked slowly, their claws making uncomfortable echoes through the room as they approached the throne, where a mass of griffons were massed together, looking at the king and another griffon that was talking. "...break us! Our walls won't hold against an army of that size, I guarantee that." The griffon that spoke sounded angry and his voice echoed through the room. He wore a badge around his neck that indicated he was an advisor to the king. "Sire, I know you've been convinced otherwise, but I must insist that you reconsider. We have more chances against them in an open field than locked in our fortress..." "Our impenetrable fortress, sire," interrupted another one. This one wore a black and red uniform with a badge indicating his rank as general. "Feel that word, advisor. 'Impenetrable' seems like a nice option to me." The advisor groaned. "I believe that trusting in a title we ourselves placed on a fortress that is supposed to exemplify our might could be a little biased, don't you think?" He turned to the king. "Remember that this fortress has had little experience with dire situations such as this." The general walked up beside the advisor and also looked at the king. "Sire, you know very well this fortress hasn't had the need to endure such a trial because no one has ever gotten close enough to pose a threat to the city. If that means that we have a first, that means it's time to prove our might and the might of our capital." That brought many nods in the crowd. "I don't believe..." the advisor began to say, but stopped when he noticed the king standing up. The king slowly rose. "After careful consideration, I have decided that staying in the castle is our best option, unless more opportunities are showed to us, we will hold them off within our walls. No creature has ever defeated the griffons in a war, and this won't be any different." He looked at his advisor. "Should the ponies decide to join us maybe I can reconsider." The advisor sighed when he noticed the two couriers standing in the side of the room. "Sire, I believe those two bring news," the advisor said quietly to the king. The king looked and saw them. "Ah, please approach and say what you must." The two gulped and approached timidly until they were right in front of the king and the general. The advisor stood by their side. "Sire," the both said kneeling. "We bring tidings from the sea." The king sat back on his throne and waved a claw. "The reunion is over." The griffons bowed slightly and walked out of the throne room, leaving only the two couriers, the king and the captain of the Kingsguard in the room. "Sorry, but when news is brought my officials tend to interrupt a lot and I can barely understand what the news is." He smiled. "Go on, what news do you bring?" The two bowed a little before continuing. "Sir, Admiral Davius sent us with news that they're retaking the coastal ports as we speak." The king brightened up. "I thought the coast was a lost cause... At least from the earlier letters he sent to me no more than a few weeks ago." He stood up and walked to the middle of the room, where in the floor, made with tiles, was the map of the surrounding lands of the griffon empire. "Our fleet was in full retreat to Equestria and the changelings had begun to use our own to hunt them down. What changed?" "Ponies, sir." The king's head rose as he heard that word. "Ponies?" He stared at him incredulously. "How can they have changed the tide of the sea war?" The grey griffon smiled. "They brought three ships, not really good ships, but enough to get the attention of the changelings that were in pursuit, which gave us the advantage to attack when they were trying to finish the Equestrians." The king nodded. "Anything else?" The other courier nodded. "Yes, even though the Equestrian force at sea isn't much, it'll give us an advantage over the changelings’ ground troops. Also, the general in charge of the Equestrians is... Intimidating. He is not going to lose easily." The king chuckled. "Intimidating, you say? No pony can pose a serious threat. Yes, they are our allies, but we have to keep in mind that their army is a foal compared to ours, and the thought of killing makes them sick. They can help as a distraction, but not even a general of theirs can do much." The two couriers looked uneasily between them. "Well my king... The thing is that he isn't a pony." The king looked at them, curious. "Not a pony, you say? What then?" "He's called a humoan, or huuumen, or something like that. He's a tall ape-like creature that possesses really weird weapons that fire smoke and kill instantly." He king started pacing. "So he's a mercenary from unknown lands? I thought the Equestrians were better than to go finding mercenaries." The grey griffon shook his head. "No sir, not mercenary. He seems to be fighting for Equestria out of sense of duty. It is apparently him and a partner that have trained the Equestrian army before this war." The king nodded slowly. "Very well. I hope this general of theirs prove to be helpful. I would not like to fall for false hope." He looked at the couriers. "Thank you very much for this news. Hopefully this will change something. You are dismissed." He shoved his claw in a gesture for them to leave. The grey was turning when his friend stopped him. "Wait, sire. There's more." The king looked back suspiciously. "What else?" "There's a force of around ten thousand Equestrians marching south towards us as we speak." The king coughed in surprise. "What!?" The two couriers nodded. "Yes sire, they are coming to provide aid in case they reach our city. At least, that’s what the Equestrian general told us." The king smiled. "Maybe they accepted our request... Maybe we'll have the chance to go back on the offensive after all." He shove his claws again. "Thank you again. Now leave, I have much to think about..." The two bowed and left the king to his thoughts.