Chapter 5: March of the Griffons
"Are you Crazy?" said Twilight as the seven ponies waited for the new arrival. "I mean, asking for Delta was fine but to ask for an entire Special Forces team? You're just asking for trouble!"
"I've been asking for trouble for a long time, besides, a Special Forces team is anywhere from six to twelve members. There won't be too many bad vibes going around."
"So, just what do you plan to accomplish Nails?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Blackmane is in a very secluded area of Forshan, there is no way we could march up to their door without detection. I'm calling upon griffon help because they can fly and flying can get you places. From what I understand the team we are getting won't do anything that Delta doesn't tell them too, and I can control myself around griffons that I have never met. Let's just hope that I've never met any of them."
"You seem to be placing your trust in a supernatural force to keep you safe." said Rarity.
"More than you know." thought Nails as he spotted something in the distance. "There, it's the griffons."
Nails watched as Delta directed his team to land in front of the group. Nails looked at what Delta had brought. He saw a few with rifles, a gun he had seen used before, and one had a longer rifle with a telescope attached to the top of it. He had never seen something like it.
"What is that?" asked Nails as he pointed at the rifle.
"It's a sniper rifle." said the griffon holding it. "It's only the best gun in the world, there is nothing like killing someone from a mile away. I heard that you only carry a .45 revolver. A gun like that is too outdated to be useful."
"Careful Eagle Eye." said Delta, "You're talking about a gun I use and a gun that he could beat anyone with."
"I'd be willing to put that theory to the test." said the griffon that Delta called Eagle Eye.
"That's Eagle Eye, he's our team's sniper. He's a very talented marksman and has won several awards and commendations. That's how he got put into my Special Forces team."
"There isn't a soul in the world that can beat me with a gun."
"I can see that he's arrogant as well. Hold this." said Nails as he tossed his revolver to Eagle Eye.
Eagle Eye caught it and looked at Nails weird.
"Let me see you shoot those cans over there. Use as few bullets as you possibly can."
Eagle Eye looked over where Nails had indicated. There were five cans set up in a row on a low wall with a piece of plywood tied by a rope to the wall. Eagle Eye took aim at each can and fired. Each can fell with each shot. He shot the fifth can and turned to Nails smiling in victory.
"You're going to have to do better than that to beat me."
"I know. Set them up again."
Delta walked over to the wall and set the cans up again. When he came back, Nails began to talk.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, school is now in session welcome to Shooting 101. Lesson one, experience makes up in skill more than any gun. Lesson two; it's the man that makes the gun, not the other way around. Lesson three." said Nails as he drew his gun and took aim, "Always check your surroundings. Lesson four," Nails fired the gun. The bullet cut through the rope holding the plywood and it swung down knocking off all of the cans. "There's more than one way to skin a cat. Class dismissed." said Nails as he holstered his gun and smiled. Eagle Eye just sat there with wide eyes.
"I told you he was good." said Delta as he walked over to Nails. "So, why did you call me?"
"I have a problem. You know about the salt flats right?"
"Yes."
"Well, we have a target that is hiding in them. We can't attack from the ground since they would see us coming and the air is our only option. I need your team to infiltrate and capture the target. I already did an interrogation today so you can have fun with them once you capture them. They know where Iron Foot is located so keep that in mind."
"Aren't you going to go with us? Or are you scared?" said Eagle Eye.
"Is he the only one that talks?" asked Nails.
"The others haven't decided if they want to say anything since they know what happens when a griffon gets on your bad side."
"So they do." said Nails as he looked over the rest of them. "I promise I won't hurt any of you."
"Nails, I know you're trying to make friends but I really need to see what we're dealing with." said Delta.
"Ok then, follow me."
Nails led them to a room where a map had been laid out onto a table. He began to point out several features of the base they were dealing with. It was an old military base so its plans had been found easily. Nails spent several hours pointing out different areas that he believed would have been changed to improve security until he finally pointed out the most likely place that they would find Blackmane.
"You seem to have given this a lot of thought. Are you sure you don't want to participate?" asked Eagle Eye.
"Like I already said, ground troops are very easily seen in the flats and I would ruin the element of surprise. I hate doing it but its better this way."
"Besides, he's got a mare friend."
"Ohhhhhohoho!" was the response from all of the griffons.
"You guys are assholes."
"Aww, come on Nails!" said Delta, "Just having a little fun! I got to ask though, have you tapped that yet?"
"Shut the hell up you bastard."
"Nope, he's still a virgin."
"You know why I would never do anything like that!"
"Why? Because you're a little small?" said Eagle Eye which resulted in laughter from everyone except Delta.
"No, because there was once a mare that got raped and abused and taken advantage of by a village of griffons. And now that village is wiped off of the map because of how they treated my grandmother."
The griffons fell silent after that.
"Now, does anyone else want to make a joke? Anyone? No? Good. You should leave for the base tonight. The darkness should cover you until you're right on top of them. Those rifles will be useful in avoiding casualties, just watch out for crossbows. I've seen the arrows they use in those things and I would hate to be hit by one. Any questions?"
One hand went up.
"That don't have to do with me."
The hand went right back down again.
"Good. Well men, I wish you luck on your mission. Delta I would like to have a private word with you."
The griffon team except for Delta all left the room.
"I hate this prophecy." said Nails as soon as they were out of earshot.
"Don't blame me! I don't know when it was made or who made it."
"That's not what I meant. I realize that I can't change past, but I hate that the future is out of the question as well."
"Have you told any of them yet?"
"Only Rainbow Dash and I think she may be on the verge of telling someone else. I can only hope that she chooses the right person to tell."
"Nails, I have never known you to give up on a fight. Why are you doing so now? I could give you something to kill him with and you wouldn't have to die!"
"I'm sorry Delta, but this is my battle and you can't help me. I realize that I'm going to die."
"But, can't you do anything about it? Your country needs you!"
"You're right, my country does need me. Too bad they need me to die."
"Nails, it isn't like you to talk like this. Something's up."
"There's nothing wrong!" snapped Nails before he realized what he was doing.
"What is it?"
"I really do love her." said Nails, "I know it's not the prophecy making me like her, because I really do love her. The day that we got together, I made her a locket. It was beautiful; I melted a few gold coins and made it out of pure gold. I know that it wasn't the prophecy that made me do that. I guess it wasn't actually forced by the prophecy for either of us. What if the prophecy was just talking about something that would have happened anyway and I just blamed the prophecy for everything that did happen."
"I think you're right." said Delta, "Maybe, not everything in the prophecy is steadfast, and doesn't the prophecy say that Rainbow Dash would have to make a choice? It just said Equestria would suffer! Maybe that means only one pony dies!"
"But then that's one pony on my conscience for the rest of my life. Besides, I know exactly what would happen."
"What?"
"You are aware that the elements of harmony would go with us."
"So?"
"It just says that Equestria would suffer, not that it would suffer at the hands of the enemy. Surely what would happen is he would kill the elements of Harmony and keep them in Forshan."
"How would Equestria suffer?"
"For the rest of its days without the elements of harmony. They are for keeping the world balanced. I heard that the last time they were needed, there was some strange shit going on."
"Like what?"
"I heard from them that buildings were flying around, day and night each lasted a few seconds, they had cotton candy clouds and chocolate milk rain. Really strange stuff."
"So then, Celestia couldn't do anything about it?"
"No, she had to ask the elements to do it and without them Equestria would just become a mad house. The elements are passed down through generations, and so far none of them have any kids."
"If you hurry, you could change that." said Delta with a joking tune.
"Shut up. You should go talk to your team. I expect a full report on the mission when you get back."
"Fine, besides." said Delta as he turned to leave, "Resting in peace is the greatest reward a soldier can ever have."
Nails just sat in the room alone for a few minutes after Delta had left. He thought about what Delta had told him. It was an old griffon proverb that he had never really thought about until then. He started to think until he realized what it meant. It didn't talk about dying as the greatest reward, but that the greatest reward was finishing your job and going to rest one last time with a smile on your face. Nails decided then got up and left the room. He had to get ready. The beginning of the end was fast approaching.