The Emperor sends his regards, and his best...

EDIT: Fixed line coloration

Semi-fitting music: [link]

Whew, this took a lot longer than it was supposed to. Still experimenting with the pen tool and borderless coloring. I think it turned out alright. Biggest things going on here are 1) HOLY FRIGGING CRAP ON A STICK I DREW A FEMALE CHARACTER and as expected it's a little awkward, 2) drawing without the benefit of tutorials or copy-pasting show vectors, and 3) OMG FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

The uniform is vaguely based off of Napoleon's (Bonaparte not Dynamite) Young Guard, specifically the foot artillery parade uniforms around 1812-1815 (including the silly pom pom). The cannon is based on an older Royal French 12 pounder (but since griffons on the show are only about 4 feet tall, I made this one an 8 pounder).

Why France? Because GUSTAVE LE GRANDE!

Art (c)2012 LoneSentry

MLP:FiM is property of , Studio B, and Hasbro.

Pixel ID concept from .

Linework done in 0.5 and 0.7 mm pencil, colored in Photoshop CS5.1. 30 layers, 12 hours.

WARNING: TL;DR VERY NON-CANON FANWANK FOLLOWS

The Empire of Gryphus is a relative newcomer to the known world. Its line of Emperors pre-dates the nation itself and still cannot be compared in age with its southern neighbor, Equestria.

In some sense, Gryphus had always existed in the griffons that populate its lands. Shortly after the end of the First Harmony Wars, griffons freed from Discord’s service formed nomadic tribes. They roamed the mountains and red cliffs, fighting, trading, and foraging among themselves. Inevitably, the harmonizing influence of the Elements created order from this chaos. Tribes merged together, by marriage and by the sword to form a patchwork of small kingdoms, which shrank and grew as their fortunes changed. Yes, the lands to the north were a savage place to be in 800 BNR.

There were some, however, who wandered south and saw the sights of civilization. They saw how prosperous the Equestrians were, selling the fruits of their labor for profit instead of squabbling over some grove of berries. They were amazed by the flowing libraries of recorded history, the murals of Equestria’s past martial prowess, and the grand halls of the Cloudsdale flight academies. They saw, and they wanted the same for their people and posterity, for their own lands were torn asunder by civil war and border disputes with the buffalo tribes to the east and west. Griffons, in their opinion, had been punished for their backwardness. For agricultural, industrial, and military backwardness they shed the blood of their sons and daughters in an endless struggle.

The Classical Era saw a steady increase in the number of griffons passing through Equestrian schools and returning to the Federation of Griffon Kingdoms. History, technology, and strategy traveled with them. Small kingdoms grew large and stayed that way, and the standard of living generally increased.

1245 ANR saw the rise of Guilliaume I, at the time king of the city-state of Clawmont-Furrand. Charismatic, an accomplished orator, and a gifted tactician, he expanded the borders of his domain with words where he could and with force where he could not. He dismissed the stuffy old political elite and promoted new officials on basis of merit. In the military, it was said that even new recruits had been sized for their general’s caps. By 1260 ANR, he had conquered all but Birdeuax and Aviangnon, the two largest cities in the steadily shrinking Federation. With speeches and gifts he plied them, hoping to avoid further bloodshed. All were to no avail.

It was time to test the might of the newly formed Grand Army. Blue banners and golden eagles filled the skies over the Federation, silent against the opening barrage of the last civil war griffons would ever have to see. The well trained formations of Clawmont-Furrand easily swept aside the mercenary armies of Birdeuax and massive artillery pieces blasted the gates of Aviangnon wide open. Griffons in black shakos stormed the cities, wrestling its defenders into the ground with pikes, pistols and bayonets.

It was done in three days. Clawmont-Furrand now spanned all of the former Federation. Guilliame crowned himself emperor and proclaimed the Empire of Gryphus as homeland of the griffons who had fought and died within its borders.

The civil war was over. It had lasted nearly two thousand years.

--Geraud Hyacinthe, "A Definitive History of Gryphus, 32nd Edition", 3530 ANR

=============

There are few who still remember the defeat of the changelings in 5 ANR. Indeed, since the battle only lasted a few hours and the victory so complete, that it was but a footnote in the Canterlot archives. Yet, the very means by which that victory had been achieved, the use of a love-charged barrier spell, had only delayed their return.

No one would even see a changeling, much less fight one, for almost 3600 years, until Princess Cadence's magic had long since faded into legend. Indeed, it is difficult to mark exactly when the Second Harmony Wars began. There were no opening movements, no grand invasion, but most historians agree on 1320 ANR as the general time frame for when things started to go downhill. Equestria was silently infiltrated from the roots up. It began in the west when small townships reported strange behavior in the populace surrounding villages. Then trading caravans began disappearing. Royal Guard patrols sent to investigate also disappeared, or reported being attacked by civilians and other Royal Guards. By the time it was realized that changelings were back in Equestria, it was far too late to banish them again. They swarmed through dark corners of the Everfree Forest, far out of range of any spell.

Celestia and Luna wasted no time in reactivating the Equestrian Regular Army. However, as was feared, nearly five thousand years of peace had greatly outdated all of the ERA's tactics and most of its equipment. How could the weapons of the First Harmony Wars fight in the Second? The situation certainly did resemble those dark days, except this time there was a whole nation to defend and precious little time. It was not long before the Royal Sisters themselves were actively engaged in the defense of their land.

To the north, an elderly Emperor Guilliame watched anxiously as Equestria grew smaller and smaller. Even on his death bed, he knew that he could not afford to sit idly by. If Equestria fell, not only would he lose a staunch ally and trading partner, but the changelings in their multitudes would both outnumber his Grand Army and have troops of vastly superior quality. But he was far too old to lead an army into battle, and so, he bid his son to take the reins of the Empire of Gryphus's vast military machine and march south. Guilliame II, who had been trained in Cloudsdale Flight Academy and had many friends in Equestria, did as his father bid, and more.

Equestrian diplomats were sent home at the head of a vast column. It was every last soldier Gryphus could spare.

By now, Canterlot was the southernmost city that remained outside changeling control.

Canterlot mustn't fall, or so the ERA generalship posed. As long as the city in the mountains stood, it could bombard anything moving north into oblivion. The changelings would have to take it in order to complete their victory. A different queen led the horde, but she was no less powerful than her predecessors. She would break the ERA not through strength of arms, but psychological warfare. Her frontline units were composed entirely of brainwashed ponies. ERA troops, still raw, could not stomach the thought of killing former friends and family. It was a sinister plan that worked all too well.

The Elements of Harmony were the only things that would be able to stop Equestria from vanishing beneath the black swarms outside, but ever since the previous bearers had passed away, no pony could wield them. Celestia and Luna would have to take up the role again, but it would take time to remake the Elements in order for it to work for them.

Spring of 1321 ANR saw lead elements of the Grand Army marching into Canterlot. They sped through the heroes' welcome they received as graciously as they could and took up positions alongside the ERA. Blue-and-gold eagle banners flew next to their red phoenix counterparts. Battlemages found themselves sitting next to the massive artillery pieces that Gryphus was famous for. In the most battered parts of the line, the Imperial Guard and a few mauled ERA units were the only thing between the changelings and Canterlot. The ERA's Red Line had officially become the Rainbow Line.

The changelings regarded the griffons with cool contempt. So what? It was just more food for them.

Ensuing months would prove the griffons from the north to be poor fodder. Griffons had known peace for less than a hundred years, and civilization for less than two thousand. Years of civil war and constant vigilance against hostile buffalo tribes to the east and west had hardened them and made them cautious, some would even say brutal. Their love was not so easy to earn, nor feed on, and this made them less susceptible changeling magic.

The changeling queen now faced an enemy much inflated in numbers and strength, but could only extract a little power for her own troops. She could not stop the offensive here, not when final victory lay so close. The attack would be pressed to the last.

Morning saw the first real battle the Grand Army had had in almost a five years, and they went to it with a zeal not normally associated with griffons. The changeling horde's ear drums were split by the roar of Grand Army guns and the clatter of musket lines. Imperial Guard Chassuers brought down dive bombing changelings with long cannons filled with grapeshot while ERA pegasi and Guard Voltiguers chased stragglers. Those who got too close were promptly met by bayonets, swords, and canister rounds.

Emboldened by the fighting spirit of the griffons next to them, the ERA found its heart. Under the enormous weight of gem shards, shot, cannonballs, and flaming barrels of pitch, the changeling horde was broken.

In a twist of good fortune, many brainwashed ponies were left behind during the changelings' retreat and were freed from the Queen's control by some of the ERA's more senior battlemages.

The night was filled with good cheer as pony and griffon alike celebrated a small victory over a hitherto undefeated adversary. The victory was well deserved, but it did not mean the end of the war. The resolve of the combined armies was greatly strengthened, but it would be tested in the battles to come.

Four weeks passed, and Canterlot remained free. The changeling Queen was running out of patience, and she could sense the Elements were nearing their renewal. In order to break the stalemate, she herself would have to take the field.

Take the field, she did. And the stalemate was broken. No conventional or magical weapon could touch her, and she swept aside a huge portion of the defense line. Canterlot was prepared to fall in the battle for the city proper.

Neither the Royal Sisters nor Guillame II would have any of it, and neither would their soldiers. Ponies and griffons fought and died together in the streets. Some officers found themselves commanding mixed units, stubbornly refusing to surrender even a few centimeters of ground.

Vicious counterattacks were stonewalled, but they were carried out anyway. Anything to buy time, anything to delay the fall of the city for a few hours. Night fell, and the last refugees were carried away by train, north, to the wilderness. Green balls of flame tore the city's ancient architecture to into a moonscape of rubble. Even the mountains groaned under the bombardment. Occasionally, there would be an orange yellow flash, or purple streaks of light, signalling that there was still a defending army.

It was cloudy on the dawn of the fifteenth day, but light streamed through the streets. The Royal Sisters had done it. The Queen was banished beyond the gates of Tartarus. Her drones, now leaderless, panicked and fled...only to run into a classic pincer movement. ERA in one arm, Grand Army in the other.

There were no changelings left in Equestria or the wider world by midday.

The Grand Army marched home to their Emperor and the newly dug graves for their dead, glittering and jingling with Equestrian medals presented by the Princesses themselves, although some remained as advisers to the ERA. If there was any doubt as to the friendship between these two nations, it was most certainly gone now. Peace had returned to the world, this time with watchful guardians to ensure that it stays.

--Fountain Pen, The Second Harmony Wars, 1325 ANR
=============

There are guards, and then there are Guards...
-Unknown, 3456 ANR

Griffons have no known magical capabilities, and thus have always found some other means of doing anything, from agriculture to construction to war. The age of industry has left most of the Empire of Gryphus's military capabilities gunpowder based with an emphasis on maneuver and firepower rather than and mere contest of numbers and strength.

...

The Imperial Guards of Gryphus are among the most best soldiers in all the world. Each knows his or her weapon as well was his or her own body and will fight to the last if ordered to do so.

The minimum requirements for entrance into this prestigious cadre, as laid down by the current Emperor Guilliaume II, are 10 years good service as a regular soldier, relative youth, good physique and the ability to fly if hampered with either equipment or injuries.

...

The Guards artillery, like everything else to do with the Imperial Guards is above par compared to the rest of the Grand Army. Competitions between individual gunnery teams are held every year in Birdeaux during peacetime to keep teamwork, accuracy, and rate of fire up to high standards.

...

Artillery gunners are among the best paid soldiers in the Grand Army, even more so for a Guard, but it is considered a high privilege. Most gunners are lance corporals, although any lower rank can take up the role either out of necessity or merit.

The average 12 pounder gun has a crew of 15 commanded by a corporal, fed by a supply train that might number into the lower fifties and can expect 3 caissons of 350 rounds each. These are grouped into batteries of 4 guns led by a lieutenant, and further in companies of 8 guns led by a captain.

While the job of the regular artillery is to soften up enemy formations or emplacements, the Guards Artillery has two purposes. Firstly, it is to intervene when the battle is well developed and either plug breaches or exploit gaps with heavy volumes of accurate fire. Secondly, it is to provide counter-battery fire during infantry or cavalry movements and deny the enemy reach.
...

Chasseurs are light infantry, trained for marksmanship and battles of maneuver. They generally form scouting parties with their more lightly armed counterparts, voltigeurs, or form advance guards for larger formations. Chassuer Alpins are mountain troops, although they can also scale fortifications and dislodge well entrenched enemies.

The Imperial Guard has a comparatively small component of chasseurs, since by the time they are called into battle, the regular army has done all the scouting. Nonetheless, the Guards Chasseurs exist to embody the meaning of rapid reaction and accomplishing the impossible. Like their regular counterparts, the Guards Chasseurs also have mountain battalions.

...

The Long 8 Pounder, called "the Iron Talon" by the troops, is exclusive to the mountain battalions of the Guard Chassuers. A rifled gun made from iron, it weighs as much as the cast bronze 12 pounder, but is far more accurate and requires fewer rounds to destroy specific targets. Perhaps more importantly, it can hit flying targets and with grapeshot it can spell doom for flying cavalry. It is not suited for saturation fire and requires more experienced gunners for maximum effect, hence why most Iron Talons are commanded by master sergeants.

--Equestrian Defense Gazette, Issue 2, Volume 14, 1390 ANR.