'1356'
Chapter 2: 'Eve of Battle'
The forces of the Griffon Kingdom and Chefalien Hippogriffs gathered at the plains of Hawksbill. Their forces numbered around 8,000 strong including their knights. A popular helmet used by knights on both sides is called a 'Transitional Helm' or 'Kalota'. Others wear a chainmail coif and aventail. Such armor is often topped with the popular kettle helm
Genève and Wilhelmina led the army from the front and surveyed the field, wondering where the enemy was or what they were doing. Suddenly off in the distance, there came a low rubble of hooves that shook the ground with their march. The first thing the soldier-griffs and knights saw are a few spearheads coming up over the hills. Equestria has come
Those few spears turned into an army nearly 25,000 strong with 1,200 stallion and mare knights with fillies and colts-at-arms. There were Ponies of all kinds from Earth Ponies to Unicorns and Pegasi. They were armored and armed in the same types of weaponry as their Griffon and Chefalien Hippogriff counterparts. It is a sight to behold for the rebels.
Pony-Soldiers wear light blue surcoats with brigandine, plate armor and chainmail. They wore open-face bascinets with aventails and kettle helms similar to what the Griffon and Chefalien Hippogriffs wear. They are all armed with swords, spears, pole axes, battle axes of the single and two-handed types and 500 Longbow-Pony archers from Trottingham
"So many," said a soldier-griffon named Gertrude
"Most impressive," said the soldier-griffon Galena
"Numbers mean nothing," said Genève to them
"Is this your first battle?" asked Wilhelmina, she nodded
"It is not the weapon either, but the one wielding it," said Wilhelmina, the soldier-griff grinned and nodded to the two knights. The two wore chainmail coifs with aventails to go with their armor. Despite numbers being in high favor with the Ponies of Equestria, the rebels were not backing down from this battle and stood their ground on Hawksbill Fields
Genève rested a taloned paw on the pommel of her longsword as she looked at the gathering Pony troops that stood before them like a tidal wave made of iron and steel. She was unafraid of the overwhelming forces. Wilhelmina was at her side, and placed a gentle paw on her armored shoulder. Genève turned to her, and nodded with a light smile to her
The Griffons and Chefalien Hippogriff forces are outmatched and outnumbered. They have no means of magic, but still they stand their ground. Knowing that battle is immanent, the Griffon and Chefalien Hippogriff knights lowered the faceguards on their 'Kalota' helms, and unsheathed their swords or readied their weapons such as axes, maces, or lances
"Well, they won't surrender," joked Wilhelmina
"And they underestimate us," said Genève as a tease
"Are we ready?" she asked, Genève grinned and nodded
"Prepare for battle!" she roared, and the army cheered
Some of the Pony-Soldiers and Pony-Knights pawed the grass with their hooves as a stare-down ensued while the Griffon and Chefalien Hippogriffs growled and snarled as they clutched their weapons tight. Leading the Ponies from the front are Prince Blueblood and Fleur De Lis, "Just look at them, this rabble ought to know their place," said the Prince
"If that's what you call a rabble, I'd say they're well-organized and armed," said Fleur De Lis looking out and observing the enemy forces. Prince Blueblood huffed at the mare's words, "Griffons and Mountain Hippogriffs, one may never find a bigger definition of stubbornness than the one we have before us, still we ought to offer them Celestia's terms,"
"Celestia's terms? You might as well offer them to a stone, and at least a stone is more intelligent," huffed Prince Blueblood, Fleur De Lis made a glare at him. Prince Blueblood sighed, "alright, let's offer them terms, honestly, we're wasting our breath," Fleur De Lis galloped out to the middle of the battlefield. Wilhelmina and Genève took notice of that.
"Look, it's one of their commanders," said Wilhelmina
"Look over there, it's Prince Blueblood" said Genève
"So, the coward finds his courage?" questioned Wilhelmina
"To offer terms most likely," said Genève, "you with me?"
"Of course," said Wilhelmina, as a subtle act of defiance, she kissed Genève on the cheek before they flew down and landed with a griffon's grace on the middle of the field. They saw a white mare with purple eyes and a pink and white mane in a suit of gold armor with a white surcoat and a brass chainmail coif and aventail, "De Faucon, Van De Falk,"
At her side was a bastard sword in the Oakeshott Type XVII style. It had a half wire and half leather grip. The sword is 46in long with a 36in double-edged blade and an 8in grip. It also came with a matching dagger. The two could tell this is a member of Princess Celestia's Royal Guard "I am Fleur De Lis, and I'm here to offer the Princess's terms" she stated
"Lead this army off the field, and you will each be given estates in Trottingham, including hereditary title to which you will pay the same tax as a normal pony within the Land of Equestria," said Fleur De Lis only to get the 'silent treatment' for the Griffon and the Chefalien Hippogriff knights "your responses lead me to believe that this is not to your liking?"
"The terms of your princess are well and good, now here's our terms," said Wilhelmina, "lower your flags, go back to Equestria, and stop at every home along the way to beg forgiveness for 100 years of putting our kind in a conqueror's yoke, do that and you shall live, do it not, then the families of all the ponies here will mourn the loss of a loved one"