My Little Pony: Iron and Steel

Chapter 4: The Kingdom to the South

In this time period, I have seen Equestria rise in the arts and sciences. With strong pacts of friendship toward the Griffons and Wolf-Griffons in the Northern Kingdoms, Equestria would come to the aid of their neighbors should a situation arise. This time it did. A griffon named Georgia arrived to meet with I, Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna with news

"Your Majesties," said Georgia kneeling before them,

"What news do you bring from the North?" asked Luna

Georgia caught her breath as it was a very long flight from Gorrion as it often takes a messenger two days to get to Equestria, "I bring news from the Northern Front, the Griffon Forces under her Majesty Queen Gustel have pushed back the Changeling Forces of Chrysalis," Georgia explained, and turned her eyes up at the princesses to see their reactions

"Why come here to tell us this news?" I asked

"Because there's a possibility of Chrysalis turning her eyes toward Equestria, I bring word from Queen Gustel and her Majesty Queen Maria-Elena, and they advise that you have your forces mobilized and at the ready," replied Georgia, with I responded with a nod as did Luna, Georgia was permitted to stay a couple days so she can rest her weary wings.

"You have our word, we will see to it that Equestria is ready to fight," I replied, where there has been a rise in the realms of arts and sciences, such can be seen in weapons of war. Like many powers, the matchlock was phased out in favor of a new 'lock'. Like the Changelings, the Soldier-Ponies of Equestria favored the wheel-lock for all their firearms

"What will we do, sister?" asked Princess Luna

"What we must in the coming storm," I replied,

Equestria is a heavily infantry-based army. Unicorns make up the majority of frontline troops. Armor consists of a helmet called the 'Pike-Pony's Pot'. It is made of steel, made in two pieces joined in a low comb and with an even brim. The main edge has a plain inward turn bordered by sixteen round headed lining rivets, and fifteen with square washers.

A special hole is cut into each helmet for the horn. The half-armor or munition armor is the protection of choice from the frontline soldier to the royal guard though the guards get the specially-crafted blued and gilded half-armors. With complex-hilted cut-and-thrust swords at their sides, Equestria relies on a tactic in battle known as the 'Pike and Shot'

"Surely Georgia is overstating the threat?" Luna questioned

I shook my head, "No, Chrysalis wants Equestria for herself"

"She will bring the full force of 'The Hive'," I added, and gave orders to Princess Luna as I walked passed the guards at the balcony armed with halberds, "see to it that we have our enlisted regulars ready to depart, summon reserves, we will need as many new recruits as possible for the war, I will request a summons to Earl of Grey and Valiant Charge,"

"As you wish, sister," said Princess Luna making her leave

War. It is the last thing that I wanted. There is truth behind Georgia's words. It seems as if Chrysalis could not conquer the Griffon Kingdom or Castillo, she will set her eyes on Equestria. If she succeeded in her campaign, Queen Gustel and Queen Maria-Elena would have been executed, and she would force the griffons and wolf-griffons to fight for her.

The next day, Valiant Charge arrived, "Your Majesty,"

Valiant Charge is a beautiful mare. As tall as some stallions and healthy, big and fully-matured in her flanks, she would make a great bride to a goodhearted stallion. The unicorn wore a suit of black and gilded half-armor, what the Gritish ponies call 'Greenwich Armor', and wore a helmet called a Burgeonet distinguishing her as a duchess and commander.

The richly tan-colored mare with a dark chocolate mane and tail kneeled. At her side is a sheathed cut-and-thrust sword which I know has a hidden wheel-lock gun at the base of the blade. She's told me it works, "It is good to see you in this time of crisis," I replied, but I noticed a detail, "if you don't me asking, but where is the Earl of Grey?" I asked

"He told me to inform you that he is mobilizing his ponies," she replied

"Very well, I understand as you do the circumstances," I asked of her

Valiant Charge nodded, "As of now, we have mobilized at best ten-thousand pikes and probably the same number of muskets, we may rely on the Griffons and Wolf-Griffons for aerial cavalry and the support of cannon, I have sent pegasi scouts to track the movements of the Changeling forces, they may be at the kingdom's borders within three months"

"How will we fair with the Griffons and Wolf-Griffons?" I questioned her

"One must not doubt their generosity, with their forces combined with our numbers will double, we will still be outnumbered, I pray that Queen Chrysalis is bluffing on her sheer numbers of soldiers, a part of me is telling me that she is not," Valiant Charge replied, she has fought well in battle in the past. I understand her concerns for the pony-soldiers.

"How soon can you have your troops ready to march?" I asked of her,

"If all goes to plan, I would say a month," Valiant Charge replied, I allowed her to do her business to prepare us for this coming storm. We will drive out the Changeling Hive with the sword, and the pike, and the musket of the pony. This is my message to you Chrysalis. Gustel and Maria-Elena are Queens. You will never be one. Not in this life, or the next