Chapter 7: Preparing For War
Gilda and Rainbow Dash woke up the next day and they blushed furiously when they realized how close together they were. The two fliers were right on top of each other. They had fallen asleep in each other's forelegs and they had only gotten closer overnight. The two fliers quickly got out of Gilda's griffon shaped bed and went into the kitchen for some breakfast. They cooked up two simple plates of hay fries and sat down at Rainbow Dash's table. The two fliers ate in silence. They thought about the war but then they started to think about each other.
I can't believe I slept next to her last night. Rainbow Dash thought. There's no way she loves me. I'm just her best friend and that's all I'm ever gonna be.
Should I tell her? Gilda wondered. Dash wouldn't abandon me. But what if she doesn't love me? We couldn't go back to normal if I blurted it out. I can't just say I love her and act like nothing happened.
The two fliers finished their breakfast and they washed their dishes. Trying to have a conversation was a bit awkward for the duo since they had slept so close together during the previous night. Finally Rainbow Dash managed to speak to her best friend.
"So G." Rainbow Dash began. "You think this war's gonna happen?"
"There's no way around it Dash." Gilda replied, feeling relieved that the rainbow maned pegasus wasn't talking about what had happened the night before. "We just gotta kick their tails and not get our tails kicked."
"I'm gonna show those griffons what they're messing with." Rainbow Dash said confidently.
"And I'm gonna show 'em my Seismic Slam." Gilda said eagerly. "They're not gonna win this."
The two fliers stared at each other for a moment before they spoke. Their confident grins had quickly faded away and then they were replaced by looks of extreme worry.
"You're nervous aren't ya G?" Rainbow Dash asked quietly.
"Yeah." Gilda replied honestly. "This is gonna be a tough one."
The duo left the cloud castle and headed into the streets of Ponyville. Every single pony that was walking through town had a serious expression on his or her face. All of them knew about how Grifforia had declared war on Equestria. The faces of the townsponies showed nervousness, discomfort, and fear. Gilda and Rainbow Dash tried their hardest to keep themselves calm as they walked to Twilight Sparkle's castle. They were going to meet with Princess Celestia as well as Princess Luna to discuss the plans for the war. Neither of them knew what to expect. They had had no idea what the plans would be. They didn't even know who would be leading them during the war. The way that the duo saw it, they were doomed to lose this war.
When they arrived at the castle they saw all of their friends seated around the table. Princess Celestia sat at the head of the table as the two fliers took their seats. The tension in the room was as dense as ground fog. There wasn't even one single face in the room that was showing any emotions besides nervous apprehension. Everypony turned towards The Sun Goddess and waited for her to begin speaking. Every one of the ten friends was wondering what she was going to say. All of them hoped that The Sun Goddess had a plan in her mind.
"Dark times are upon us." she said. "A war shall begin soon and Equestria must be prepared. I have summoned all of Canterlot's guards to Ponyville in an attempt to raise an army."
"Why here?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"What if the griffons attack somewhere else?" Twilight Sparkle wondered.
"My sources have assured me that their target is Ponyville." Princess Celestia said much to the surprise of the ponies that were sitting at the table. They didn't know that Princess Celestia had a spy. "I have a griffon that is willing to fight on our side. He will join us today but right now he is busy gathering as many allies as he can."
This announcement was met with a minute's silence. The ten friends felt a little bit relieved. At the very least they had an army ready. Who the leader would be and what the plans were hadn't been figured out yet. Every one of them looked at Princess Celestia and Princess Luna and hoped that their worries would be calmed.
"So what are we gonna do?" Lightning Dust asked.
"We can't just sit here." Rarity said.
"We need a plan." Spike said.
"What we need is a leader." Princess Celestia said.
"And I think we have one right here." Princess Luna continued.
The group of ten stared curiously at the two princesses as they continued. Who would be their leader? Did The Sun Goddess and The Moon Goddess have a plan?
"Gilda." Princess Celestia said as she looked the griffon in the eyes. "We want you to lead our army through the war."
"Do you accept your position as General Gilda?" Princess Luna asked as she waited for Gilda's response.
"Me?" Gilda asked in a stunned tone as her friends stared at her with wide eyes and dropped jaws. They couldn't believe that the two princesses were offering the position of general to Gilda. "You want me to be the general?"
"I could not think of anypony better." Princess Celestia said honestly with a faint smile on her face.
"You are the best fighter." Princess Luna agreed. "Someone like you would be a natural leader in times like these."
Gilda looked completely shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. They wanted her to lead Equestria in the fight against Grifforia. The brown and white griffon didn't know what to say. She was being given a very important position and she would be the one responsible for leading her army to victory. Gilda wondered if she was going to be able to handle such a difficult task. She looked at her friends and they all seemed to agree with the decision being made by the two princesses. Gilda's mind was set when she saw how her friends looked to her like a leader.
"I'll do it." Gilda said in a voice of fierce determination much to her friends' approval.
"Excellent." Princess Celestia replied with what looked like a grin.
"We shall leave you to think of a battle plan." Princess Luna said.
With that, the two alicorns left Twilight Sparkle's castle, leaving some eight very stunned ponies, one shocked dragon, and one astonished griffon in their wake. Gilda had now been appointed as the general of Equestria's army for the war that was fast approaching. Immediately everypony looked to Gilda for a plan.
"So what's the plan G?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Whatever ya want us to do we'll do it." Lightning Dust declared.
"Ah'll do everything that Ah can ta help." Applejack agreed.
"I assure you that I shall give my absolute best efforts during this war." Rarity said.
"The Great and Powerful Trixie is eager to hear your plan." Trixie said with a smile.
"I know that you can lead us Gilda." Fluttershy whispered.
"I won't let my BPGFF down." Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she made a Pinkie Promise.
"We're gonna take those griffons down." Spike said enthusiastically.
"You're definitely the best choice Gilda." Twilight Sparkle told the griffon.
Gilda couldn't believe what she was hearing. All of her friends were willing to fight for her. All of them were going to put everything they had into winning this war. Gilda had never expected to see anything like this from her friends. Most of them weren't fighters and yet all of them were willing to put their lives on the line to defend Equestria.
And I'm gonna be their leader. Gilda thought to herself. The griffon realized that this was indeed for the best.
"I think I can come up with something." she said. "I know everything about Grifforia's fighting style."
"And how do ya know that G?" Rainbow Dash asked curiously.
"'Cause my father took me to their training area every week." Gilda replied. "Wanted to turn me into a soldier."
Everypony in the room was stunned by this. Granted they had known that Gilda's relationship with her parents wasn't good by any means, but they had never expected this. The nine friends were stunned that Gilda's father had tried to turn the griffon into a soldier for Grifforia. Before the nine friends could say anything, they were joined by Shining Armor. The unicorn male told them that he needed to show Gilda the army that she'd be in command of. The griffon followed him as her friends followed her. They walked to an empty field and Gilda was fairly impressed by what she saw waiting for her.
Equestria's army consisted of roughly one hundred earth ponies, sixty pegasi, and thirty nine unicorns. Only one in every five members was male so majority of the army was female. Every single pony stood tall and proud. Every single one of them was ready to serve Gilda during the war.
"They're waiting for your orders." Shining Armor said. "General Gilda."
With that, Shining Armor joined the massive crowd of ponies and stood tall next to his fellow unicorns. Gilda was completely stunned. Every one of these ponies was loyal to her despite the fact that she was a griffon. Not a single face showed any sort of mistrust. Gilda wasn't certain of what to do so she instructed the ponies to train while she thought of a battle plan. The army of two hundred saluted as they got down to some practice. Gilda walked away with her nine friends following behind her. The group of ten sat down at a table outside of SugarCube Corner while Gilda tried to think of a plan.
"Can't believe I'm in charge." she muttered to herself.
Her nine friends assured her that she'd make an excellent leader and that they were going to support her one hundred percent. Each and every one of them had confidence in Gilda's leadership capabilities. The brown and white griffon smiled slightly as she heard the praise of her friends. This was something that she had never gotten when she had lived in Grifforia. None of the griffons there were as kind as the ponies that Gilda had met in Ponyville. All of a sudden they were joined by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.
"So how are things coming along?" The Sun Goddess asked.
"Trying to figure out a plan." Gilda replied.
"Do not worry General Gilda." The Moon Goddess said soothingly. "I am certain that you shall think of something."
"In the meantime we have some important news." Princess Celestia said.
Gilda looked the two alicorns in the eyes as she waited patiently to hear what they had to say.
"We have some very troubling news for you." Princess Luna said gravely.
"This war is being started by your father. "Princess Celestia said somberly. "He is Grifforia's general."
Gilda felt the bottom of her stomach drop along with the jaws of her friends. Her father was the one that was leading the assault against her home and her friends. The brown and white griffon was enraged. This made her so angry that she could hardly think straight.
"Should have figured." she muttered. "Only he would start a fight with us."
"There is something else that you should know." The Moon Goddess continued.
"We have learned that the weapon that Grifforia is using has been designed by your mother." The Sun Goddess said in a somber and heavy tone.
Gilda's eyes widened in shock. Her own parents were the ones that were trying to destroy her home and her friends. This was beyond what she had expected. She had known that her parents hated ponies but this was just plain crazy. They were starting a war and using some kind of weapon against them.
"Anymore good news?" Gilda asked sarcastically.
"Actually there is some good news." Princess Luna told her. "Our ally has finally arrived and he has brought his own army with him to help us with our fight."
"Well that's good to hear." Gilda said in a relieved tone. "So where is he?"
"Right here." a male voice replied.
The two alicorns moved aside and Gilda's eyes narrowed in anger when she saw who she was looking at. A muscular griffon with a dark brown body and jet black wings. His head had black feathers with bold red highlights. The scar running down his left eye stood out and Gilda knew exactly who she was looking at.
"You!" she said in an enraged tone as she stood up from her seat and glared at her arch enemy Grayback.