My Little Pony: Soldier's Side
Chapter 17: The Guns Fall Silent
The day had finally come. There was jubilation and dancing the streets of Griffonstone and Lev. The war was over. The combined forces of the Griffon Kingdom and the Imperial Kingdom of Orel had won over the overwhelming forces of Equestria. Tired from war and ashamed of the spilled blood of hundreds of thousands of griffons, Celestia surrendered.
A white flag flew over the tallest tower of Cantorlot Castle. The combined fleets of the Royal Griffon Navy and Imperial Orel Navy had plans to shell Cantorlot to make Princess Celestia give in, but thankfully the big naval guns of the fleet never had to be fired on Cantorlot. Queen Galiana, Princess Ghislaine, and Tsarina Guzel met with Princess Celestia.
"I am so sorry...for all the suffering I have caused," apologized Celestia,
"History will remember this, history is written in violence," said Galiana,
"Can you all find it within your hearts to forgive me?" pleaded Celestia,
"Yes...yes we can," said Princess Ghislaine, "here is hoping that such events never happen again," with a taloned paw-to-hoofshake between Princess Celestia and the rulers of the Griffon Kingdoms. Pacts of friendship were signed, and the ponies cheered seeing the end of the bloodiest conflict in the history of Equestria and the two Griffon Kingdoms.
To signal a formal end to the war, Queen Galiana and Princess Ghislaine unsheathed their 'Degen' swords, and the Tsarina unsheathed her 'Shpaga'. They touched the tips to the ground, and sheathed their swords. Princess Celestia acknowledged that victory belonged to the griffons. The ponies cheered. Even in the bitterness of defeat, there is friendship
"May there be everlasting peace between our great kingdoms," said Guzel,
"May there be peace and harmony between pony and griffon," said Ghislaine,
"And may the ties of friendship that bind us now be strong," said Galiana,
"This I promise, now and forever more," said Celestia, the armies of the Griffon Kingdom and Orel marched through the cobblestone streets of Cantorlot. These were followed by 'Kampfpanzer Jaguar' tanks and T-44-100 medium tanks. Then came GW Panther, Jagdpanzer Kanone E-60 12.8cm, SU-107-44, SU-152-44, and SU-122-44 self-propelled guns,
Light tanks like the T-116 followed behind to round out the parade. It was a spectacle to see arms and industry come from the two Northern Kingdoms. Soldiers shouldered their M1906 Luger Rifles and SVT40 rifles with fixed bayonets and flew in uniform and orderly formations with officers holding their swords with the tips of the blade pointed up.
"So...where do we go from here?" Princess Celestia asked the three rulers,
"We rebuild, as our friendship has been rekindled," said Princess Ghlslaine,
"Our cities will rise from the ashes of war," said Queen Galiana with a grin,
In the days following the celebrations, work went underway to rebuilt what was destroyed by war. Lima 1850 diesel shovels and cranes took the place of the tanks, and helped rebuilt damaged cities like Griffonstone, Hawksbill, and Kingstown. Never again will it rain shells or bombs from the sky. Still, the ponies brought aid to help the griffons rebuild.
'The greatest strength is not in power,' Ghislaine thought,
'But the strength to endure,' Ghislaine added in thought,
Within six months, Griffonstone had risen from the ruins, and Queen Galiana was back in the Royal Palace. The queen and her princess stayed in the summer palace to conduct their royal business. Life was back to normal in the kingdom as it was in Orel. The war has left it's scars on the land, and those who fought in it. There was no doubt about that.
"It seems not everyone will have a happy ending at war's end," said Ghislaine,
Queen Galiana shook her head, "No, for some this war will never be forgotten,"
"Those who live will remember the fallen," said Ghislaine looking at the graves,
Those that died in the war were buried in a special cemetery ten miles outside of Griffonstone. Here, the bravest of all the griffons, the brave fallen, are laid to rest on the sacred ground they so valiantly defended and gave up their lives for. There is also an eternal flame and monument for the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' at the center of the cemetery.
Thousands of graves covered the fields. A marble arch marked the entrance to the cemetery while a marble gazebo with columns shaped like ancient warriors from the past held the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier', "Come, princess, it is late, I have made us some tea," said Queen Galiana, and the two rulers of the Griffon Kingdom flew back to the castle.
"As the kingdom rebuilds, it is now time to move forward," said Galiana,
"According to the agreements, we keep our military holdings," said Ghislaine,
"That includes our warships, those are important," said the Queen, siping her tea,
"The question now is what will become of Equestria?" the Griffon Princess questioned, Queen Galiana nodded lightly to her daughter. The actions of a Kingdom can determine their destiny in the future. The next day, Princess Ghislaine went to visit wounded soldiers in the main hospital. Many of whom had served under her command during the war.
Many had lost wings and limbs to the carnage. She even saw the griffon that lost the top half of his beak to shrapnel. He now had a replacement beak made of aluminum-steel alloy replacing the wooden one she had made for him during the war. He proudly saluted the princess, and even hugged her. The princess kept her guards at bay. This felt right.
"Brother, my brother," she said to the soldier, a strong connection between comrades.
"A sister-in-arms you are, your majesty," said the soldier, letting go of the princess,
Princess Ghislaine put a taloned paw on his shoulder, "Get well soon, my friend,"
The End...Of The Beginning