Chpt 16- War Diaries I
#16 of MLP: A Hero's Rebirth
Day 1
Luna asked that I write within this book at the behest of Twilight. She said that it would help me stay focused and not flip out like I did when interrogating the gryphon known as Grain. Stars above I can still hear his roars of pain. The sickening sound of his bones breaking makes me sick to my stomach even now. We may have learned that King Greaves has kidnaped Tia to get to Luna and I but still, I turned into a monster. I am sure Celestia would cower from me or at the very worst, leave me. I wouldn't blame her I mean Lunar may have been whom I was but my instincts are still human and those are the ones I fear.
I guess Greaves didn't count on us finding one of his observers in the northern forests. What was his name? Gallen I believe his it was. We spoke as we left Canterlot with Luna, Twilight and her friends. Before that though Luna had made a declaration of war with the Gryphon Kingdoms. Then word spread throughout all of Equestria to those towns that were not already under gryphon control. Volunteers began to pour in from all over the country. Soon the large army we once had bloomed to twice it size.
Where was I? Oh yes, the gryphon. Gallen and I spoke of things that he had been doing. According to him, he and the gryphon Grain, the one I tortured, they were observers. Apparently they unlike other gryphons have the ability to sense magical fields. It was how they knew about my being in Equestria. He was actually surprised that the magic he felt did not come from a pony. I can't blame him though. Some days even I believe this to be nothing more then a dream and tat when I go to sleep and wake, I'll be back in my room on my bed, but don't. I wake to find myself next to the mare that will become my sister one day.
The road to Stalliongrad was a long one. We had to pass through the mountains beyond Canterlot.The craggy mountain passes were treacherous, the fear of a rock slide might not have worried the pegasi but to the unicorns and earth ponies a rock side was a very real thing. I had taken this time to get to know the soldiers that fought for and along side us. Two inpaticular stood out from all the rest. A pegasus stallion and unicorn mare.
The stallion, Haze, he seems to be well put together both physically and mentally. It turns out that he shows the same intellect as any unicorn. He belonged to Celestia's daytime guards and as such his coat was pure white and he had blue eyes. He wore the traditional golden armor. He was very knowledgeable about a lot of things such as history, the arts. Turns out he is quite the painter.
The unicorn mare, Misty is of a different nature. She belongs to Luna's night guard. Her demeanor is, I don't want to say cold but she can be rather distant. Either way she seems to have taken a shine to me. During the course of our trek she would sometimes just come up to me and start up a conversation. Most of the time it would turn into a debate of whether or not the one of us was right. Other times it just ended up with us laughing at ourselves.
We had reached the outskirts of Stalliongrad by dusk. It was then time for me to lower that sun for Luna. I still laugh every time I think about it. Me raising and lowering the sun, it's like a fantasy or a dream but... its not. All the ponies, Twilight included were just dumbstruck. They thought that only Tia could move the sun. The fact that I could do it, solidified that I was indeed who Tia said I was. Because no pony save for an Alicorn could do such a thing.
Anyway it's getting into the early morning hours and I hear Shinning Armor and Haze calling me to the fire. So with what might be my first entry into this "War Diary" I'll leave you with an old saying. "May goddesses watch over you and guide your path."
Tom walked over to the fire and sat down beside Shinning. "Writing in the book Princess Luna gave you huh?"
Tom nodded. "Yeah, she said it might help to quell my anger. But I mean can you blame me? I am sure if Cadence was taken, you would be just as enraged."
"I can't say that I wouldn't be. Cadence is the greatest thing in my life. I would have stayed in Canterlot with her if I could."
Haze places a hoof to his shoulder. "Don't worry she is safe, she has a whole regiment to guard her and the city." The pegasus looked at me. "I heard rumors of what you did to that gryphon to get this information."
The fact that someone knew about what he had done nearly made him sick. He did not want anypony, even those close to him to know about his dark deed. "I didn't honestly want to, he would not talk and we were losing time. He insulted me, insulted whom I was. I was fine with that but the moment he attacked Tia I just snapped. I couldn't deal with anypony, gryphon or not insulting the mare I love."
"Look don't worry about that now alright. Tomorrow we strike at Stalliongrad and take back the city from those feathered freaks."
"I agree with Haze. An attack on a city of Equestria is an attack on Canterlot itself."
Day 2
We struck hard, at their fortifications. Unicorns lobed condensed magic over their walls and struck at their towers. Naturally most of them took to the skies and thats where our pegasus forces came in. They slammed into each other, the sound of armor colliding with armor still rings in my ears... wait shit. I got to go, seems those bastards tried to surprise us.
Tom put down his journal and grabbed his sword. "Ballista!" That was all that was said as a large ball of fire flew over Tom's head and exploded beyond there camp. Tom along with a handful of unicorn and earth ponies rush to the failing wall they had blow up earlier that day. "Damn it I thought they retreated?"
"It seems a few of them stayed behind to continue the fight."
Tom looked up over the broken wall but could not see beyond the building. "Ah hell." He looked up and saw a cyan coated pegasus. "Rainbow I need you to fly up over the building and tell me just where they are hitting us from."
"Incoming!"
Another ball of fire flew over their heads and struck the camp, sending ponies flying. "Go rainbow I need that information."
"Sir are you sure it was wise to send in an unseasoned soldier?"
"Relax lieutenant, Rainbow Dash in the fastest pegasi in Equestria. She will get what we need."
Tom was right because a few moments later she flew down in front of them. "There are only a hoofful of them working a single catapult."
"That would explain the time lapse between shots. Where are they?"
"Center of town near the square."
Tom nodded. "Thanks Rainbow." The pegasus gave a salute and took off. He looked around the side of the wall and quickly ran to home and used the wall for cover.
"Sir what are you doing? The Princess asked us to guard the camp."
"How much of the camp will be left lieutenant? Rally up our forces."
Tom continued to move through the town silently but soon heard his name being called. "Lunar!" A dark blue Alicorn dropped down beside him.
"Luna what are you doing here? You should be back at camp to keep the troops morale."
"We could not stand by while thou risk thy life. Besides we have placed Twilight Sparkle in charge." Tom sighed because he knew that he could not change her mind. So accepting her help the two continue into the heart of the city as another flaming ball flies passed them.
"I sure hope she puts up some type of barrier."
Tom and Luna make their way through the back alleys and side streets of the city till they are only a few yards from the catapult. Tom peeked around the corner of a building they were hiding behind.
"Well how many are there?"
"At least five from what I can see, two cranking the catapult, two loading and firing and a spotter." Tom looked to the night princess. "Think you can cover me from the air?"
Luna flared her wings. "Just watch them try and stop us." She then too into the air and flew above the human. Tom took several rapid breaths before he turned the corner and bolted for the catapult. Luna flew and tackled the gryphon who floated in the air and slammed him into the ground.
Tom on the other hoof slit the throat of one of the gryphons on the ground but was soon surrounded by the other three. He looked to each of them, watching their movements closely. Then all at once they attacked. Tom ducked the first two swings, thrusting his sword into one gryphon's chest then quickly withdrew it and thrusts it behind himself and skewering the other in his stomach. Once he withdraws his sword he turns to face the last whom dropped down before him and begged for his life.
Tom held his sword to the gryphon's neck. "Oh please sire have mercy. I beg you." Tom grit his teeth the punched the gryphon with all his might, knocking him out." Tom then looked up to the floating Luna before she landed and trotted up to him. "We have to destroy this."
"Then allow us." Luna stepped passed Tom and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed an soon the weapon just collapsed. Tom on the other hoof used his magic to carry back the gryphon whom was out cold back to their camp.
"Maybe now I can finish my entry."
Sorry about that, damn bird-brains don't know when to quit. Where did I leave off? Oh right, The battle was pretty bad. Once they saw us coming they started to lob arrows at us. Good thing our unicorn squads knew shielding spells or else we would all be pin cushions by now.
We fought them for several hours tooth and nail. Lost a lot of good ponies today but even though they died defending their country, they did not die in vain. Truthfully we did not lose as may as we thought we would have. That group of gryphons that attacked Canterlot must have been part of the force that held the city. Because once we broke through their lines, most that were alive scattered and took to the skies. Our pegasi hunted most of them down but those that got away we saw heading north to what we believed was there capital.
Gallen told us that there were more towns under gryphon control so come first light we will be heading to them. First will be New Saddle then Canterbury, Dappleshore and Trottingham. From there we head through the Forsaken Forest towards Gryphus and Celestia. Stars guide me for I need thy strength more then ever. I have to save her, I will save her.
The gryphon we had taken prisoner just woke up not too long ago and Shinning started questioning him about their defenders of the other towns. I fear that if I got ahold of him that I would kill him. Anyway I should get things set up, Luna will need to talk with me later and I know it will be a long night. So good night my friend.
Tom walked into Luna's tent and cracked his head off on the wooden support. "Ugh goddesses that hurts."
"We are sorry Lunar, we know thou is taller then us. But that is not important right now. We wish to discuss our next course of action. It seems that Gallen has told us seems to be true. During the fight we had sent out the Wounderbolts to investigate and see if his claims were true. Indeed they were/"
"I had a feeling he was right. You don't get your ass handed to you and expect to stick around. Gallen has proven to be trust-worthy thus far so I hope no action is needed."
Luna shook her head. "Nay we shall stay our hoof till such a time that we believe he can no longer be trusted."
Tom nodded. "So where too next?"
Luna walked over to a large table of eastern Equestria. "There is port in Canterbury that ships supplies from Concordia to the south. New Saddle maybe closer and a costal city also but it would be in our best interests to take back Canterbury first and gain the ability to resupply our forces. If we do no then we are fighting a losing battle and that is something that we do not want."
Tom looked at the map, gritting his teeth ands slams the table, splitting it in half. Two of her guards step forwards with spears drawn. Other ponies look in who were passing by.
"That's not good enough. I say we stop all this pussy-footing around and take the fight right to Greaves doorstep." His eyes glowed white and his voice sounded doubled as he spoke. Luna put her hoof out to her guards to stop them before anything happened.
"We understand thy plight dear Lunar. Tia means much to you. But even though she maybe thy fiance she is still our sister. That will never change, so please restrain thyself. Thou is't not the only one whom wishes to see Tia again."
Tom's magical rage then subsides as he sighs deeply. "I am sorry little one. I was right beside her and I had done nothing."
"Thou was asleep."
"That's no excuse. I should have stayed awake, I should have stopped them from taking her. I was just inches from her."
Luna walked up to the human and stared up to him before pushing him over and staring down to him. "Now thou listen well. We have not been banished for a thousand years and learned nothing from it. We do not blame Tia for her actions and thou should not blame thyself for thou ability to not act. We have known thee since we were just a filly. Thou is a strong stallion Lunar Star whether thou can see it or not."
Tom sighed deeply before Luna stepped back and he sat up. "Now then we are giving thee team of ponies to go on ahead of us and take out the enemies defenses out before we arrive. This will drop the casualty rate and give us a strong hoofhold on the area. We give thee the option of picking your team of six ponies."
Tom had already chosen them. "I want Haze and Misty. Aurora and Starlight. Rainbow Dash and Sky High."
"Hmm three pegasi, two unicorns and an earth pony. Very well. We will make the needed preparations."