My Little Pony: Storm of Steel

Chapter 6: The Risen Phoenix (The Kingdom of Falcão)

In this war of extermination to show the supremacy of the Pony over Non-Pony species, another kingdom has joined the fight against Equestria. To the Ponies, It's not just a war to exterminate a species that is not like their own, but also a war to wipe out different cultures and languages so Ponies will be the one species and English will be their language

From their capital of Gaia, one kingdom that has felt the wrath of Equestria's war machine and won will stand it's ground once more. That kingdom is Falcão. Another hippogriff kingdom of the mountain type, this kingdom was invaded twice by Equestria. Each time Equestria has failed in 1185 and 1362. Thus, Falcão is known as 'Equestria's Graveyard'.

"Why do this to our kind, Celestia?' pondered a 25 year old King

Falcão has also felt the wrath of Mother Nature in the Great Earthquake of 1755 where a magnitude 9.0 earthquake made a direct hit on Gaia which also triggered a tsunami and a firestorm. The disaster wiped out half of Gaia's population, but Gaia rose up from the ruins and it was rebuilt with a new city grid and it still stands strong. Now it is threatened

This threat was made of guns, tanks, and bombs. The Kingdom of Falcão is ruled by a strong and benevolent king in King João V and his beautiful and equally strong wife Queen Maria. They made pacts of friendship with the Griffon Kingdom, Chefal, Orel, Castillo and Aquila to agree to come to their aid when threatened. The king sighed from his balcony

"Again and again" said the young King of Falcão

"Again the Ponies come, and once again we must fight"

"Things are different now, my love" said Queen Maria

"Yes, it is modern war that threatens not only us, but every kingdom we have made a pact of friendship with" said the King, like Aquila, their armed forces are strong and well-trained, but lacking in some modern weapons. Their soldiers still used the reliable Mauser-Vergueiro 1904 rifle, and their officers still used the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver

Aid came sound and quickly to the kingdom in form of tanks and self-propelled guns from the Griffon Kingdom, tank hunters and artillery from Chefal, and aircraft from Aquila. Instructors came from their allied kingdoms to help train their Mountain Hippogriff allies on how to use their new equipment which came in their thousands by way of the railroad

Some sidearms are still mainstays within their ranks, the Model 1888 Infantry Officer Sword is one of them. Now it is become a ceremonial weapon for parade marches and friendly duels among officers. Still, the 'Exército Real' has modernized in the realm of automatic weapons such as their FBP Submachine Gun and their new MG9Rh Machine Guns

The King is as well-respected as he is handsome. An Imperial Eagle mixed with a Lusitano Stallion, he is what some would envision a young king to look like. His queen is a White-Tailed Eagle also mixed with a Lusitano. Beautiful and a strong and fast flyer with big and mature flanks, their marriage was not arranged by royal houses, but by a pure love

"It's interesting" said the Queen with a warm smile

"What is?" he asked getting her famous 'tickle scratch'

"The Ponies won't have just us to fight, but also the land itself"

The King smiled back as he looked to his wonderful queen, and kissed her knowing that she is right. In the allied kingdoms, the Haast's Eagle rules the skies and is the 'King of the Birds' in the Griffon Kingdom and the surrounding lands. There is one animal that rules the forests, and is well-respected by Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs, the 'King Grizzly'

It is known as 'O Rei Da Floresta' among the Falcão Hippogriffs and, like the Haast's Eagle, it is a protected species by royal decree. It has the size and muscular strength of Arctodus Simus, the bite force of Agriotherium, the head, girth, and fur coloration of Ursus Arctos Priscus, and the roar and claws of a Kodiak Grizzly, it is the ultimate grizzly bear.

A highly intelligent omnivore, it shares the forests of the Griffon Kingdom, Orel, Castillo, Aquila, and Falcão with the Dire Wolf packs which are also protected as well by royal decree in all of the kingdoms, and are also seen as sacred to the Wolf-Griffons of Castillo. Since the war began, Dire Wolf and King Grizzly attacks on Pony-Soldiers were common

Other animals that call the Griffon, Mountain Hippogriff, and Wolf-Griffon Kingdom's forests and mountains home include the Megaloceros, marsh frogs, common toads, and Aesculapian snakes. The 'Celestial Seas' of Falcão also help sustain the Kingdom's huge fishing industry with cod and sardines. One of the King's favorites is 'Bacalhau com natas'

"You are right" said King João to his beautiful queen

"I know" said Queen Maria, lovingly nuzzling his cheek

"Our ancestors have defeated Equestria before" she stated

"We can do it again" said the Queen as she received a gentle and loving caress of the cheek from the king. The uniform for the 'Exército Real' with their light blue-grey tunic jackets and peaked caps with brown leather webbing for holding items such as ammunition, still keep to the traditional ways while moving forward into a form of modern warfare

"The crown is heavy as is my responsibility to the throne and to the hippogriffs, I could not do this without you, you truly are a queen like no other" said João, his queen has equal say in matters like war and politics. The liberal monarchy is well-loved by the Hippogriffs that have seen the Aguilian Dynasty rise after the 1755 Earthquake. Now they must fight