Ponyville
One Week since Capture
====
Not much time had passed since the arrival of the Legion, Warborn, and Chosen, before the sparks of uprising began to take hold. In cities across Equestria, the smoldering fires of hope began to burn against the Iron Pact. However, there was still much work to do. The Stronghold in the Dovetail valley, occupied by Griffons, was also home to nearly 3,000 prisoners of war. They were used as slave labor in the iron mines nearby. Faust had communed with the Chosen, and selected them to take this fort. She had other plans for the Warborn and Legion, who were to assault a nearby fort as a diversion.

As for Ponyville, the new capital of a fledgling Equestria, the Knights, Vikings, and Samurai were hailed as saviors. They were not like the swaggering Minotaurs, the greedy Dragons, or the conquering Griffons.

Now, Ayu and the Orochi lead two hundred Samurai and many more men-at-arms against this stronghold, with orders to leave no Griffon alive.

====
Dovetail Mines
Seven in the Morning
===

"Ayu, we are ready." the Orochi said to his Leader. Ayu nodded and motioned for the Men-at-Arms to move up towards the fort. It was barely dawn, and as expected, when news of the combined Legion and Warborn attack reached the ears of the stronghold, the Griffons had rushed reinforcements to the battle, leaving few left at the Stronghold.
And these few were fresh and unblooded, with ten captains and officers for nearly three hundred defenders. This was what Ayu was counting on to happen. Ayu and the Orochi crept through the brush like snakes as they approached the gate.

"We shall silence them without mercy!." Ayu ordered to her troops. "NOW!"

The Griffon defenders, still sleeping in their beds, were startled by a cry of war that shattered their resolve. A few officers managed to rally them and move them towards the gate. In their haste, half were armed, and even less were armored. The Gate was opened by the Keepers, and the Griffons streamed out with a battle cry…

...only to fall back in terror as the Chosen appeared, their blades ready and their armor shining. Ayu's naginata was the first to draw blood, piercing the skull of a Griffon clean through. The Chosen then raised their cry, and advanced into the fort with weapons high.
====

The Orochi cleaved a Griffon's wings off before impaling him, staring at a group of soldiers whose officer he had just
slaughtered.

"Who's next?" he scoffed. The soldiers, enraged by their officer's demise, threw themselves at the Samurai. The Orochi merely grinned as his Nodachi began its bloody dance through their bodies.

"Like lambs to the knife." he growled, as he beheaded one, slit the throat of a second, and stomped on a third's head. He advanced into the fort with seven Men-at-arms behind him. Then, from a balcony above him, a heavily armed and armored
Griffon appeared with a roar of fury.

"You demons shall not interfere!" he cried, drawing a broadsword. The Orochi merely scoffed and readied his Nodachi.
The Griffon made the first move, slicing towards the Orochi's chest. The Samurai parried, landing a slash to the Griffon's lower knee. Taking the offensive, the Chosen warrior hacked away at the Griffon's armor, finally forcing the warrior to his knees, with Orochi's blade at his throat.

"Do it! Kill me!" he barked. "You're no better than me!"

"On the contrary, I am better." the Orochi scoffed as he stood back. "You fight well."

"To hell with you!" was the reply. The Griffon attempted to throw a hidden dagger, but three swift strikes later, and the
Griffon lay headless and armless on the ground.

"Pitiful." the Orochi scoffed.

"Orochi!" a Man-at-arms cried from the entrance. "The Griffons have surrendered the fort to us."

"Good. Tell Ayu I will join her shortly. I will take a look around."

Orochi entered the main office, and looked through the dead Griffon's papers. He was about to leave when he turned and saw something unusual. A map lay on the war table, with several pins stuck in it. The Orochi walked over, and peered at the paper. According to it, the Elements of Loyalty and Honesty were being held in a camp built on the other side of the nearby mountains. Kindness was in a city called "Manehattan", and Generosity was being kept in the capital of Canterlot. Furthermore, the Map displayed a perimeter around a "Crystal Empire" to the north, marked with "Heavy resistance, Do not challenge."

The Orochi rolled the map up and placed it in his belt before heading outside.
===
Ayu merely laughed as the Orochi approached, gesturing to the crowd of Griffon prisoners.

"They surrendered once you entered the fort." Ayu scoffed. "We have no use for them."

"I believe so, Ayu." Orochi replied. "It would be easier to kill them."

"We are not like the Blackstones, nor Apollyon, Orochi." Ayu said. "We will find out what they know. And then we will use them as we see fit."

"Understood."

The Men-at-arms confined the Griffons in the fort's prison, while Ayu and the Orochi headed for the mines.

===

The prisoners in the mine woke up to a disturbing series of events.

Their Guards were absent…

Their chains were gone...

And the doors were open. The three hundred ponies slowly exited the fort, and found the Chosen waiting for them, with food, weapons, and medicine.

"Who leads among you?" Ayu asked.

"I do." a pony stepped forward. "Brass Hoof, Third Solar Guards."

"Brass Hoof." Ayu said. "Arm what warriors you have and head to Ponyville. Princess Twilight is expecting you. You will find relief there. Now go."

"With pleasure." Brass said, saluting Ayu. "You have our thanks."

The ponies departed, and Ayu turned to see a Legion Men-at-arms approach and bow.

"Ayu, I have a message from Holden Cross."

"Let me have it." Ayu said. The Runner handed her a scroll and stood to the side. Ayu unfurled the scroll and looked at the writing.

Ayu,

Our battle is won. The Griffons put up a good fight, but were vanquished in the end. We are returning to Ponyville with our prisoners and a sizeable amount of loot. Follow as soon as you can.

Cross.

Ayu nodded to the Runner, who retrieved the scroll before heading off.

"Let us return home!" Ayu cried. Leaving one hundred to defend the fort, Ayu and her troops headed back to Ponyville, victorious.