My Little Pony: Raptor Rangers
Chapter 2: Settling In and Settling Down
The newly formed 1st Volunteer Aerial Light Cavalry Regiment flew out west toward Appleloosa which was the nearest town to their outpost. The outpost had wooden walls and ramparts with comfortable living quarters for the soldiers. There were small wooden cabins within the walls that can house two soldiers comfortably with all the necessary needs.
There is even a flagpole in the middle of the fort. In the middle of the rampart on top of the main gate was a swivel-mounted Gatling Gun to keep out any would-be attackers. For now the soldiers were settling down, and unpacking their belongings and resting. Gilda was cooking a soup from one of Ghislaine's recipes while Greta made sweet cornbread
"Essen is auf!" called out Ghislaine, the soldiers came running with mess bowls like moths to a lantern. It was a kale soup with potatoes and knockwurst with a sweet cornbread roll with butter for their first meal in the small outpost. As they ate their hearty meals, they saw the ponies in Appleloosa going about their daily lives in their small desert village
The meal times concluded with griffons lining up at the spring-fed water pump to use the water to clean their mess bowls and utensils. Princess Ghislaine got an idea, "Alright, birdies, line it up, double-time," she ordered to the soldiers under her command and they followed, "now then, I think it is time we do socializing in the village, any objections?"
"I must advise to you all, and make very perfectly clear to you, we are soldiers, it is our responsibility to make sure that the ponies are safe from anything that may threaten the village, other than that, the point is to be friendly and open to these good ponies, make friends and friendships," Ghislaine explained, the soldiers all looked around at each other
"I expect you all to be on your very best behavior around the ponies, treat them as you would treat yourself," Ghislaine further added, the griffon soldiers nodded in unison and grinned to the officer they often call 'Big Sister Ghi-Ghi', "alright then," the griffons came out of the outpost to the town. The ponies seemed surprised to see griffons in uniform.
"The soldiers, they're griffons," said a mare,
"Yep," said Braeburn with Sheriff Silver Star, "I heard talk about there bein' a volunteer regiment comin' out here, welcome to APPLELOOSA!" he held out his hoof for a hoof-to-talon shake, "my name's Braeburn, this here's Sheriff Silver Star, it's good to see y'all here, now we won't have anymore bad buckaroos sniffin' 'round here no more, no sir-ey,"
Because of their germanic-sounding names and the fact that their commander is from the Royal House of Von Adler, these new griffons earned the nickname 'Vonnies' which the soldiers took humor in. Another nickname is 'Bacon-Eaters' because of the smell of bacon or sausage that came from the fort some mornings meaning they're making breakfast.
"Has anything happened recently?" asked Gilda,
"Well...yes," said Silver Star, "we've had some run-ins with some real bad ones, the baddest from the Badlands, they're led by a unicorn stallion, 'Handsome Devil' Debonaire, you wouldn't think such a handsome pony can be so cruel," Silver Star looked away, "his gang's been bleedin' us dry of bits and when we don't pay...our ponies do...in blood,"
"Debonaire's gotta griffon in his gang, Geraldine Moon-Scar, quick as a hick-up with a tomahawk, stuck one mare in the back as she tried to flee, Sweetie-Cake, the last time they were here," Silver Star explained and a tear fell down his cheek, "I was powerless to stop'em," Gilda knew she did bad things in her past, but nothing as bad as Moon-Scar.
The Princess patted Silver Star on the side to comfort him, "Now don't you worry, we'll catch the 'Handsome Devil' and his gang, that's a promise," said Gilda, suddenly their came a unison gasp of horror as grey clouds began to hover over Appleloosa. The socializing with the ponies was interuptted by the very pony that is 'Equestria's Most Wanted'.
"You think so?" said a stallion (voiced by Troy Baker), he had dark grey fur and a black mane and tail. Her was as tall and built as Braeburn. His cutie mark was a heart with two crossed revolvers, "seems like Ol' Sun-Flanks will hire just 'bout anyone to help out 'round these parts, I didn't think she'd be that desperate, well, it is what it is in the end,"
"You'll hang for this, monster," snarled Glenda,
"Oh, I'm shaking in my hooves, Girly-Griff," Debonaire mocked in a sinister tone, the soldiers cocked the smooth lever action of their rifles and had eight of them aimed at him and ready to pump his guts full of 30-40 Krag. Silver Star got all the mares, stallions, fillies, and colts inside for safety. Braeburn stood his ground alongside the griffon soldiers.
Princess Ghislaine gritted her beak as she held up her taloned paw for them to stand down. From his designer flat-top cowboy hat to his leather vest and custom ivory-handed Remington M1875s in .45 Long Colt, he earned his nickname "You have no idea what you birdies are stickin' your lil' beaks in, if you're smart, you'd heed that warnin', 'til then,"
Debonaire was far away when Silver Star gave the all clear. Disappointed that Debonaire ruined their outing to see the ponies, The volunteer griffons went back to the fort. Gilda was not too keen about this pony either. Gilda treated the soldiers as family, "The noose might be too good for this one, if I had my way, I'd have Debonaire meet the guillotine,"
(Note: The Regiment's 'Gatling Gun' is the 'Machine Gun' from the movie 'Shanghai Knights')