My Little Pony: Raptor Rangers
Chapter 1: Blessed are the Peacemakers
Equestria in 1898. The kingdom has expanded to it's current size, and there is peace throughout all the lands. Even in the Griffon Kingdom as Princess Celestia and Princess Luna signed a peace treaty with Queen Galiana and Princess Ghislaine. This treaty promised friendship and trade between the two great kingdoms in the north and the south.
But there was a problem. The western region of Equestria where Appaloosa has been settled is short on pony-power. The Equestrian Army is stretched thin to keeping garrisons near the Badlands. Also it was a chance to improve on relations between the diverse species. Equestria needed help and support, and they would get it from a most unlikely ally.
A call went out to the Griffon Kingdom for a new volunteer regiment of light aerial cavalry. After the notices went out to the major cities like Griffonstone, there seemed to be no response from the griffons. Princess Celestia was getting frustrated as it seems the ink did not completely dry on the agreement made as some might say, but that was not true.
"Sister, the Griffon Kingdom is still up and coming, they need time to grow," said Luna,
"And to think I could count on them to answer my call? I was a fool to put faith in them," said Celestia,
"I wouldn't say that, your majesty," said Gabby the Mail-Delivery Griffon with a message,
Princess Celestia got the message from the Griffon Kingdom, and her call was answered. The message read that the best from the Royal Army of the Griffon Kingdom will help in the cause of bringing peace, and hopefully friendship, to the west. Celestia's eyes filled with hope, "By the way, consider me your first volunteer," said Gabby, making her leave.
These volunteer griffon soldiers get a very special uniform. They wear a slouch hat made of gray wool-felt with a leather sweat band, white hat band and border. The hat has a large cockade enameled in painted in black, white and red, the colors of the kingdom. The hat has a push/snap button behind the cockade to keep the right side of the brim up.
The jacket is khaki tan with brass buttons and blue and white collars and cuffs, a brown leather belt for ammunition. The difference in these soldiers and Griffon regulars is they are armed with Equestrian issued firearms. The soldiers get to keep their M1889 'Degen' swords. Their guns are the 1895 Winchester 'Flatside' Musket and Colt M1892 revolver.
"I would've expected more to make a regiment, but these will do," said Princess Celestia,
"We take what the griffons can offer, besides there is a princess among these ranks," said Princess Luna,
"Yes, but eight? That's barely enough to hold a tent let alone a wooden outpost," said Celestia,
These soldiers looked their sharpest for the Princesses of Equestria. Princess Ghislaine De Falkeland stepped forward as the alicorns inspected the single of griffons going out to the west. They were young, and looked forward to the adventures that lay ahead, "Princess Ghislaine, good to see you are well and in good health as usual," said Princess Luna,
Princess Ghislaine unsheathed her sword. The tip of the blade pointing to the ceiling as she rested the inside edge on her shoulder, "Thank you very much for this opportunity," said the griffon princess, Ghislaine is known as a skilled swords-griffon, lancer, and shot with a revolver and a rifle if needed. The princess put the sword back in it's scabbard.
"Right then, you griffon soldiers are the best and most skilled in the Griffon Kingdom, you have been chosen by your superiors to be members of the 1st Volunteer Aerial Light Cavalry," said Celestia in approval of all the chosen soldiers, even if there are only seven, "To start, I would like for you all to sound off your names starting from right to left,"
"Gabby!"
"Gretchen!"
"Glenda!"
"Gertrude!"
"Galena!"
"Gilda!"
"Greta!"
"Ghislaine...at your service," said the princess with a concluding salute, the griffons showed they had discipline put well into them by officers such as Princess Ghislaine. Officers like the princess have golden stripes with a white bordering to show their ranks. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna nodded lightly, and a few grins escaped while at attention.
"I expect you griffons to be on your best behavior around the buffalo and the ponies, any misconduct will be reported to me by your officer, and I will see to any necessary punishment," said Princess Celestia, Gilda made a 'gulp' as Celestia is not on to ruffle the mane of. That goes the same for Princess Luna, "get some rest, you fly out tomorrow,"
The griffons went to the nearby barracks where they were rearmed and given their supplies. The next day at first light the trumpets sounded at the barracks, some griffons wanted to sleep in, but Princess Ghislaine is not having it, "Alright you birdies, up on talons and paws, NOW!" belted the commander as she went through the sleeping quarters.
"I want you all to look your best today, we fly out to our fort out west," said Princess Ghislaine,
Gabby was helpful to the soldiers that need it, "Gertrude, the bent side of the hat is on my right your left," explained Gabby,
"Oh, I was wondering how this works," Gertrude replied, and the soldiers were ready to fly off to the west,
Within minutes, the soldiers were ready and came out of the barracks. A smile of approval graced Ghislaine's beak as the soldiers fell in line. Ghislaine's royal heritage goes back to the time of the Griffonian warrior Goda. Like her mother Queen Galiana, she is an all black bald eagle-black panther griffon similar in appearance to Gilda just bigger in size.
"For Equestria, for kingdom, for family," said Princess Ghislaine, unsheathing her sword,
With rifles at their sides and standing at attention, they sounded the Griffon Kingdom motto, "DUCTUS EXEMPLO!"