"Hmm, we should probably use a name that fits our entire group as one. How about..." "The peasant four, that seems to be a fitting name doesn't it 'warrior prince' Edward." "Grrr, Blueballs of all the moments you could choose to be an annoying brat you had to choose now." "Oh please, you think just because aunty lets you stay here you are all 'high and mighty'? Please your just a joke! You and all your pathetic comrades." "Oh! Says the prince who has the only thing going for him is his so called 'birthright'. You are nothing Blueballs, you have no talent, no skill, all you have is your name. So tell me, what will you do if a griffon came in here and attacked you? Oh, I'm sure he'll leave you alone because you are a 'prince'. Listen Blueblood, your title means nothing unless you live up to it, stop acting like a priss and pampered doll, and grow a pair and act like a true prince, a true stallion. You ask why you don't have my respect, well that's because you have done nothing to earn it. You expect everything to be handed to you on a silver platter, while there are those like me who put our lives on the line to make sure Equestria is safe from the griffons. Tell me Blueblood, exactly what have you done to aid in the protection of Equestria?" "Well I have been a role model for those ungrateful peasants who are beneath me." "You're joking right? That is just what I am talking about Blueblood. You act like everypony else in Equestria has the pampering you do. News Flash! They don't! There are those who work their asses off each and every day to earn what they need. Farmers tend to the fields to grow the food that feeds them, their families and the rest of the population. Guards fight day in and day out to keep the griffons from entering Equestria. The only reason you don't have to work to earn what you want is because of a title you have no right to hold. You flaunt it like it is some petty object that can be replaced as easily as a cheap coat that can be bought in any store! Me, I earned my title, you know why? Because a warrior defends those who can't defend themselves, a warrior fights so others don't have to, a prince protects his subjects, a prince doesn't sit around and wait for what you want to happen, to happen! This is why I am better than you, this is why I don't respect you. So long as you live like some pampered doll, you will never EVER be a true prince." As I finished my tirade, had Blueblood's jaw not been attached to his head it would have hit the floor. Looking back at my comrades, they were all nodding in agreement. "You know drop the name, let those who hear of us call us what they want. We work as one, we work together!" Looking to Celestia, she nodded her head in approval, most likely to both my tirade at Blueblood and not having a name. "Alright then, I Princess Celestia hereby give you charge of Equestria's first Black Ops Team! Lead them well Edward. Construction shall begin on your personal barracks immediately, by the time you return from your next mission, it shall be complete." "Thank you Celestia now for the mission briefing." "Our scouts have reported griffon eggs being transported to a fortress about twenty miles within the griffon border. Your mission, infiltrate this fortress and destroy as many eggs as possible." "It shall be done, but princess do you mind if we bring a few eggs back, I believe that if we can train a few griffons properly, they could be great assets to our team." "Hmm, alright you can spare a few eggs, but the griffons that hatch will be your responsibility." "Of course Celestia." "Good rest now and prepare, you leave in three days." With that we were dismissed. Heading to the castle's forge, I began the process of creating something to replace Sombra's hand. "Lets see here, Oh! I've got it!" Beginning construction on Sombra's replacement hand, I tuned out all distractions. My only thoughts were in the metal in front of me as I shaped it into a mighty weapon. Hours passed as I toiled away, not stopping but for a drink of water. A day had passed and the replacement was complete. An 'arm cannon', The perfect replacement. Thinking to myself, I grabbed a new sheet of metal and began to work again, this took me less time as I turned the metal into a large scythe capable of cutting a man in two down the middle. "Hey Ironbrand, you mind sending someone to fetch a friend of mine by the name of Sombra Garra. I have something for him." With a nod of his head Ironbrand called over a page to retrieve Sombra. "I've some metal left over from the scythe, maybe I can turn it into a new weapon to add to my arsenal, but what to make?" Finally after thinking about it for an hour I began to work. Three more hours passed and my work was complete, getting ready to test my new weapon I approached the training dummy before being interrupted by Sombra. "Hey, so I was told you have something for me?" "Yes over on the table, an arm cannon and a scythe, the cannon has a special hook to hold one of your axes so you can wield two at a time." "great thanks, and do you know where I can get some new armor, I've grown tires of this." "Well give the look idea to me and I'll see it through." "Alright can you make me a suit of armor like a Renaissance knight but with a skull helmet with horns and red tinted glass covering the eye holes?" "Sure it should be done by tomorrow." With a nod of his head he left leaving me to work on his armor. I started with the most difficult piece, the helmet. A whole day had passed and I was finishing up on Sombra's armor. As I was setting Sombra's armor on a stand he entered. "Hey Edward, how's my armor coming along?" "Pretty good, I actually just finished it." Handing him his armor he put it on and twisted a bit to get a feel for the change from his old light armor to the new heavy armor. "Now I'm really going to kick ass! Thanks man." "No problem, just remember one thing." "What?" "Kick all the griffon ass you can!" Laughing we exited the forge to meet up with the others. Walking through the castle we stumbled upon a peculiar sight, Blueblood training in offensive magic. "WTF!? Blueblood, training in offensive magic." Hearing me he turned around. "Yes I am, I have thought about what you said and you are correct. I have acted like a spoiled brat all my life, never thanking for what I've got or thinking about how good I have it. You are truly a wise man and a great person, you taught me the error of my ways and for that you have my thanks." "Wow Blueblood, takes a strong man... err pony to say something like that, oh and by the way your using too much magic, with the amount you have, in a fight that would easily exhaust you and leave you wide open." "Thank you, I shall keep that in mind." "Good luck Blueblood." "And a good day to you Edward." With that little problem solved we continued the search for our squad. The sun was going down by the time we found them. "All right we have a big day tomorrow. Rest up we leave at dawn." Walking to the guards barracks I chose a bunk and went to sleep. "And so it begins." Getting out of bed I made my way out of the barracks heading to the front gate to meet up with the others. "Everyone's already here good, all right lets go."
Time Lapse 1 Week
"All right we should be nearing the border any day now and... did you hear that?" Walking toward the noise I saw a lone dragon beside three griffons. From what I could tell they were arguing before the other two griffons held back the dragon as the first one put some sort of talisman around its neck. The dragon went 'rag doll' before straightening back up. Turning around I began to make my way back toward the others before the snapping of a twig stopped me. "Shit how cliche, a twig snapping." Turning back around to face my new opponents I saw them send the dragon my way. The dragon had black and orange scales with dried blood on its claws and a scar going across its right eye. Unlike other dragons I've seen, he also had rather large spikes protruding from his chest. The dragon charged me coming in to strike at my head. Ducking below the strike I unsheathed my Tanto and struck at its unprotected back. Even though my strike landed dead center it didn't even leave a scratch. Jumping back I took note of the talisman around its neck, but the one thing that stuck out was the rune on it. It was the ancient Equestrian rune for control. Changing targets from the dragon to the talisman I grabbed a shuriken from my pouch and threw it hoping to sever the cord holding the talisman. Seeing the oncoming weapon the dragon surrounded itself with its wing protecting it and the cord from the weapon. 'I'll have to think of another way to remove the talisman.' Charging forward with my Tanto I unleashed a flurry of strikes on the dragon waiting for the moment to remove the talisman. As I completed my fifth circle around the dragon I saw an opening it was small but enough to remove the talisman. Grabbing another shuriken I threw it past the dragon's guard and severed the cord. As the talisman fell to the ground the dragon swayed for a second before righting itself and turning to the griffons. "All right you feathered bastards, now I'm pissed. You dare to use a mind control talisman on me! You are dead!" I watched as the dragon flew at the retreating griffons before stopping them and slaughtering them. "Thanks for removing the talisman, I'm in your debt. Name's Charizard." Judging by the depth of his voice Charizard was male. "Edward and you're welcome, so what did those griffons want with you anyways?" "Them? They just wanted me to attack a small village inside the border, 'Ponyville' I think is what it was called." "Thanks for telling me, me and a few comrades are about to attack a griffon hatchery, you like to join?" "Sure sounds fun, so long as I get to kill a few griffons." "I like you, there will be plenty to go around. Come on lets introduce you to the others." We walked back to the group where we received mixed reactions. "Whoa whoa whoa! What is with scales there?" "His name is Charizard and he wants to join in on the fun." "Hmm a dragon. He would be very beneficial to the team." Slade just grunted. "All right lets get going we should be nearing the hatchery." A few minutes passed before we decided to set up camp for the night. Grabbing my rifle I said a quiet farewell to the group before going and scouting out the hatchery. Climbing a tree to get a good view over the hatchery's compound, I tagged the buildings depending on what I saw. The compound had five major buildings; the main hatchery, the barracks, the armory, the bathing house, and the servant house where the nurses who took care of the eggs stayed. Mentally noting everything I saw, I began to make a plan of attack. Slinging my rifle over my shoulder I returned to the camp and reported what I saw to every one. "You sure this plan will work? What if something goes wrong?" "Then we resort to plan B, set charges in strategic locations and blow the place sky high." "Lets kick some ass tomorrow." "Yeah!" With that everyone went to sleep. I woke to morning light hitting my eyes. Sitting up I gathered my gear and weapons before rousing the others from their slumber. "All right everyone know the plan?" "Yeah, Slade and Charizard will attach the compound from above while me, you, and Khan will attack from the ground. We enter the compound, kill the guards, destroy the eggs save a few, and leave." "Right, lets do this!" With this we charged toward the compound. I unsheathed my Katana with my right hand and my Tanto in my left, Sombra Charged with his scythe in his right hand and his cannon arm at the ready, Khan strung his bow with an arrow set into place, Slade unsheathed his Katana as he and Charizard flew at a rapid pace toward the compound. Sending a fireball at the closed gate, Charizard blew them open giving me, Khan and Sombra access to the compound. Lighting a few bombs Khan threw them at the barracks destroying the walls and main support causing the structure to collapse killing those within. Next we barged into the hatchery, selecting the handful of eggs we would take and train. Taking out the 'bad boys' as he liked to call the most destructive bombs. Khan set one in each corner of the hatchery before lighting a fuse and following us out of the compound. We had run about five or so miles from the compound before the explosion was heard. Looking back we saw a large black cloud coming from where the smoldering ruins of the compound now lie. Cheering at a job well done we made our way back toward Canterlot. On the third day of our return trip to Canterlot, we were relaxing by a fire on the side of the road. The night sky hanging above like a beautiful piece of artwork. "You know Slade, I've been thinking and you remind me a lot like my old role model. His name was Ryu Saka Abakashi, a great paratrooper for the United States Marine Core. I was devastated to hear he pulled a 'Kurt Cobain' and.." Before I could continue, Slade had his Katana held against my throat. Giving me a warning glare, he sheathed his Katana and laid down on his mat falling into a deep sleep. "Okay that was weird and to be honest, kind of scary." "Yea I know what you mean, Imagine what he would say. By the way, Why doesn't he talk, and why does he wear that scarf?" "It would be best if I showed you Charizard." Making my way to Slade I pulled down his scarf revealing the scar from where the griffon slit his throat. As I was about to pull his scarf back up, something caught my eye. Two pairs of dog tags. Reeling back with a shocked face I looked to Sombra. "Whoa Edward, why do you look like you've seen a ghost?" "Because this is Slade 'Abakashi', Brother to Ryu Saka Abakashi!" As I pulled Slade's scarf up I felt his hand grab my wrist, looking to his face I nearly shit myself. Hey you would too if you had a guy like Slade glaring daggers at you. Releasing my hand Slade sat up before writing down on a piece of paper. 'So, now you know. Yes I am the brother of Ryu Saka, And yes I am technically 'MIA' but you don't know the full story, so let me enlighten you. Edward it would be easiest if you were to use a spell to show everyone my memories.' Nodding my head my hand began to glow pure black as I channeled the magical energy through it.