Southern Front- 170 miles from Canterlot.

One hundred army unicorns fired their arrows with their magic bringing down at least fifty griffons. The ponies had fought hard and valiantly and had repelled an invasion force of several hundred griffons. The commanding officer, Commander Soarin was quite proud of the troops.

"Excellent work, we have stopped the grifs from breaking through!" Soarin said receiving a loud victorious battle cry from the troops.

"Haha! Von Griffon can't stop us now!" A pony said as twelve griffons descended from the sky.

"Leftovers" Soarin commented. "FIRE!". The unicorns once again fired stun spells and arrows at the incoming griffons but the griffons used their wings to cover the front of their body and the spells and arrows simply bounced off of the griffons wings.

"What?" Soarin said shocked. "EVERYPONY! BATTLE FORMATION!". The ponies all went to their battle positions as the griffons landed hard on the ground. These griffons seemed larger and bulkier than usual and their wings seemed almost metallic. The lead griffon was none other than Captain Gore.

"Ponies, surrender now and your death will be relatively painless." Gore said.

"Captain Gore." Soarin growled.

"Well if it isn't Commander Soarin! How are the wonderbolts holding up these days?" Gore asked.

"Quite well." Soarin responded. "Seeing as you're not going to surrender, I have no choice but to attack."

"Oh that was a very bad bad bad choice on your part commander." Gore said. "STEEL TALONS! ATTACK!". Gore and the griffons swooped in at unbelievable speeds slicing and stabbing every pony in their way. Am earth pony tried to stomp one of the griffons skulls but the griffon picked up the stallion and snapped his neck with ease. Soarin was shocked, the earth ponies had proven time and again to be physically stronger than any griffon and the griffon had just snapped the earth ponies neck like it was nothing. Within fifteen minutes, all one hundred and fifty soldiers were dead but atleast one griffon had been killed and another wounded.

"AHHHH!" Soarin yelled as he flew at Gore as fast as he could but was met with a punch to the gut which sent him twenty feet across the ground. The blow was unbelievably powerful and Soarin was surprised he didn't die.

"Is that all you got commander?" Gore asked. Soarin spun around and flew towards the griffon again but was grabbed by his back hoofs and slammed to the ground, he was than beaten by three of the griffons.

"ENOUGH!" Gore yelled. "He needs to be able to fly back to Canterlot."

"What?" Soarin asked.

"Tell your princess this." Gore said as he grabbed Soarin by the mane and slowly slashed his face with his claws. "Our new Steel Talons are the most powerful soldiers this world has ever seen and that they will now sleep in fear every night till we find them and kill them." Gore said as he broke Soarin's hind leg than flew away with the other griffons. Soarin could not believe what had just happened. Only twelve griffons wiped out an entire company of soldiers! He had to get this to high command. He groaned in pain as he slowly lifted off and flew as fast as he could to Canterlot.

"Follow him." Gore said to a griffon who nodded his head and quietly flew after Soarin.

XXXXX

"GET YOUR FAT PLOT OVER THAT OBSTACLE!" A trainer yelled to Solar Blitz who had slipped as he was climbing up it. It was day three and twenty five ponies had already quit.

"SIR YES SIR!" Blitz replied as he successfully navigated the obstacle and headed for the next one. Silent Shadow was having no problem with the obstacle course since he was so quick and light on his feet. Big Mac and Autumn Leaf were having a harder time due to their bulk.

"HOLY CRAP! YOU TWO MOVE LIKE OLD PONIES TAKE A CRAP!!!" A trainer screamed so loud into Autumn's ear his eardrum hurt. Big Mac noticed he and Autumn were the only two still on the obstacle course. Macintosh knew their was gonna be hay to pay for that.

"FOR EVERY TEN SECONDS YOU TWO AREN'T DONE YOUR WHOLE PLATOON IS DOING FIFTY PUSH-UPS!" The trainer yelled. Not wanting to be the hated ones of the squad, Big Mac and Autumn sprinted as fast as they could but were still thirty seconds late.

"Thanks your pals here that will be 150 pushups!" The trainer yelled. All the ponies gave Big Mac and Autumn a dirty look as they started pushing. Big Mac and Autumn were expecting a scolding but to their surprise nopony approached them about it. After the obstacle course they headed to the armory and got weapons.

"Some of you are swordsponies and other are archers but here you will ALL learn how to use each weapon properly! I know for a fact every one of you has killed before but you must be able to kill without hesitation! You must kill every thing you see that has a beak and lion's tail do you maggots understand?" A trainer yelled.

"SIR YES SIR!" The recruits yelled.

"Excellent! In this pit is a juvenile manticore! He is still young and his claws and teeth are not sharp but he is still dangerous nontheless! I want you fillies to go in there and show us all what you got! Any takers?"

"SIR I'LL GO FIRST SIR!" Black Soul yelled as he pushed recruits out of his way to get to the trainer.

"A little cocky are we?" The trainer asked. Black Soul's dark appearance actually scared the trainer a little.

"SIR YES SIR!" Black Soul yelled.

"In that case." The trainer said as he kicked Black Soul into the pit. "GET IN THERE!" Black Soul got up and saw an enraged juvenile manticore coming at him. Even though it's teeth and claws weren't sharp enough to kill yet it was still powerful. Black Soul smile as he used his broken horn to stab the incoming beast in the eye.

"WOAH!" The recruits said.

"That's enough filly!" A trainer yelled but Black Soul ignored him. "I SAID THAT'S ENOUGH! DON'T KILL IT!" Black Soul continued his onslaught as he went to stomp the manticore and stab it until the beast fell down dead. The recruits all looked with fear and admiration on their faces.

"How was that sir?" Black Soul asked but was met with a slap to the face.

"YOU IDIOT! WHY DID YOU KILL IT! DIDN'T YOU HEAR US YELLING AT YOU TO STOP!" The trainer screamed showing no fear of the powerful pony.

"SIR I DID NOT SIR!" Black Soul said.

"You think these things grow on trees? Are you to stupid to follow my direct bucking orders!" The trainer asked slapping Black Soul in the face again. The rage was becoming noticeable on Black Soul's face.

"SIR NO SIR!" Black Soul yelled.

"GET OUTTA MY FACE!" The trainer yelled as Black Soul went back into formation. "Now which one of you filly pukes is next?"

XXXXX

Skullcrusher had just finished yelling at a Marine who had his top button undone on his uniform when he saw a colt waiting in line for the recruiting center at the center of Ponyville. All the other stallions in line were giving the colt a funny look. After ten minutes of waiting he finally made it to desk where an earth pony sat.

"Pipsqueak at your service sir!" The colt said in his british accent.

"Uh kid how old are you?" The recruiter asked.

"Not old enough." Skullcrusher said as he scooted Pipsqueak out of line. Skullcrusher was impressed with the young ponies enthusiasm.

"When will I be old enough?" Pipsqueak asked.

"When you're 18." Skullcrusher said.

"But that's eight years away! The war will be over by then!" Pipsqueak whined.

"I hope it is." Skullcrusher thought. "Now off you go."

"Ohhhh!" Pipsqueak moaned as he headed back for his house. Skullcrusher wished the stallions had the same enthusiasm as Pipsqueak did. Skullcrusher decided to see Applejack.

"I should bring her something, like chocolates or a flower! But isn't it a little early for that?" Skullcrusher thought as he saw a Marine walking by.

"PRIVATE!" Skullcrusher yelled catching the Marine's attention.

"SIR YES SIR!" The Marine said as he saluted.

"Private do yo have a marefriend?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Sir I do sir!" The private responded.

"Tell me what did you do to get her attention when you met her?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Sir?" The private asked a little confused.

"Am I a wall or something private? ANSWER ME!" Skullcrusher screamed.

"Sir, I brought her some flowers sir!" The private responded.

"Flowers eh?" Skullcrusher said. "Private you are dismissed."

"Aye aye sir!" The Marine said a little confused at to what just happened. Skullcrusher looked around town for a flower kiosk but all the flower kiosks were closed. Skullcrusher decided he was going to have to find some on his own so he went into the Everfree forest where he picked some beautiful wild flowers at the expense of being attacked by a swarm of bees who had a hive nearby and a manticore who chased him out of the forest. Skullcrusher got the flowers and headed towards Sweet Apple Acres covered in bee stings and a cut on his side from the manticore's claw.

"Stupid bees." He said as he rubbed the stings on his face. He noticed everypony giving him a funny look. He didn't know why until he realized he was a Marine sergeant carrying a bunch of colorful flowers, something you didn't see everyday.

"I really hope she likes these seeing as I got attacked and ridiculed." Skullcrusher said as he turned a shade of red. He approached Applejack's house when he suddenly got really nervous. He was more scared now than at his first battle. He sucked it up and he knocked on the door.

"Just a sec." He heard Applebloom say as the door opened and the filly poked her head around the door. "Hi Mr. Skullcrusher!"

"Hi Applebloom, um is your sister home?" Skullcrusher asked.

"No she's at a rodeo at Dodge Junction right now, she won't be back fer another day or two.". Upon hearing this Skullcrusher almost exploded, he went through all that to get the flowers and Applejack isn't even there!

"Well can you give these to your sister when she gets back?" Skullcrusher asked as he handed Applebloom the flowers.

"Wow, these are really pretty, ah'm sure she'll like them." Applebloom said as she put the flowers on a table. "Scuse me fer asking but what happened to yer face and yer side?"

"What, oh this?" Skullcrusher said as he pointed to the bee stings which dotted his face."I wasn't looking when I was picking these flowers and I hit a bee hive and they all stung me."

"What bout yer side?" Applebloom asked pointing to the cut on his side.

"Ran into a manticore and he got me down the side." Skullcrusher said.

"You did all that to get these fer mah sister?" Applebloom asked.

"Yes." Skullcrusher said knowing where this was headed. Just as Applebloom opened her mouth, a unicorn and a pegasus filly entered the house.

"Hi Applebloom!" They said.

"Hi Sweetie Belle, hi Scootaloo!" Applebloom said as she greeted her friends. Skullcrusher took note of their blank flanks and understood why the three were friends.

"Hey who is this Applebloom?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Girls, this Sgt Skullcrusher, he's the one who trained Big Mac." Applebloom introduced.

"Hi!" The two fillies said.

"Nice to meet you." Skullcrusher said as Scootaloo went up to him.

"He looks pretty beat up he needs a doctor." Scootaloo said.

"Are y'all thinking what ah'm thinking?" Applebloom asked smiling.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER DOCTORS!" The three shouted. They put nurses hats on and threw Skullcrusher onto a couch.

"Wait what?" Skullcrusher asked as Applebloom used a stethoscope to check his heart beat while Sweetie Belle looked into his ear and Scootaloo took his temperature.

"Hmmm, none of that helped." Sweetie Belle said. As they were doing this an orange mare made her way to the house.

"Ah can't believe they cancelled and didn't tell me till ah got there!" Applejack said to herself as she approached the door to her house. Before she opened it she heard voices and she went over to a window where she saw what looked like Skullcrusher and the CMC playing with each other.

"Aww he such a sweetheart helpin mah sister and her friends get their cutie marks." Applejack said as she smiled.

"Uh girls what is tha- HOLY CRAP!" Skullcrusher yelled as Applebloom brought in a defilibrater.

"Uh oh!" Applejack said as he ran towards the door.

"Clear." Applebloom said as she put the paddles on Skullcrusher's chest.

"No wait- AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Skullcrusher screamed as he tried to move and was shocked as electrical volts traveled up his body. He than fell to the ground limp and slightly twitching.

"Uh oh!" The three fillies said as Applejack burst in.

"What are y'all doin!" Applejack yelled as she jumped on Skullcrusher and without thinking gave him mouth to mouth CPR thinking he was dead. Applejack went for thirty seconds before she noticed his eyes were wide open and he was in fact conscious.

"WOAH!" Applejack said as she jumped back and turned red. Skullcrusher just sat there speechless.

"Uh are you okay?" Applejack asked embarrassed.

"Yeah." Skullcrusher said. Applejack turned to her sister

"Applebloom! What were you thinkin when you did that?" Applejack scolded.

"Ah was just tryin to help, he was injured." Applebloom said pointing to Skullcrusher's injuries. Applejack
s anger drained when she saw her sister didn't know any better.

"Hon, a defilbrator is used when somepony's heart stops beating not when they have a few cuts." Applejack explained. The CMC apologized to Skullcrusher than went outside.

"Are you sure yer alright?" Applejack asked still a little embarrassed. "Nopony gets shocked like that and just shrugs it off."

"I'm okay really" Skullcrusher said as he got up and stumbled a little. His mane which was slicked back was now standing straight up in all directions from the electric shock.

"How'd you get those?" Applejack asked.

"These are from bee stings and a manticore claw I can't remember how I got them though." Skullcrusher said. Applejack sighed, the defilbrator must have temporarily erased his short term memory. Skullcrusher got up to leave when Applejack stopped him.

"Hold on just where do you think yer goin?" Applejack asked.

"Home." Skullcrusher said.

"Ah don't think so you go to the hospital right now." Applejack ordered.

"Please, I'm fine, I'm a Marine I know what I'm doing." Skullcrusher said.

"Fine but could you atleast stay here, yer havin trouble walkin and ah just wanna make sure yer not alone if you fall." Applejack said.

"Okay." Skullcrusher said as headed inside with Applejack. The flowers he had got her had fallen under a table and were forgotten about.

XXXXX

Soarin could see the top spires of Canterlot over the horizon. He had passed numerous hospitals but he needed to get this info to high command. Unbeknownst to him, a killer was following. Soarin decided to land so he could quickly find something to use as a bandage to tie around his bleeding face.

"You didn't really think we'd let you live did you?" A voice said causing Soarin to turn around. One of the griffons from earlier was standing right in front if him.

"You scum." Soarin said weakly as the griffon prepared to attack. Even when he was at full strength he was no match for these griffons, he just closed his eyes and waited for the end to come.

"AHHHHH!" A voice yelled as a pony tackled the griffon down into a gorge. The griffon spun around and saw a pony in black armor facing him.

"What do you think your doing?" Deadeye asked.

"Killing you." The griffon said as he leapt at Deadeye and brought down his sword on the pony. Deadeye threw up his hoof and caught the griffon's arm before the sword could hit him.

"Impressive." The griffon said as he stood up on his hind legs. Deadeye saw this and did the same.

"It appears we both have the same alterations" Deadeye said wondering how in the hay the griffons were able to augment their troops since the ponies alterations were done with unicorn magic. "You must be the Steel Talons."

"How did you know?" The griffon asked.

"Just a little something when my team rescued Captain Shining Armor from your POW camp!" Deadeye said.

"That was YOU?" The griffon said as he charged at Deadeye. The griffon went to slash Deadeye's throat but the pony dodged it and delivered a blow to the griffons jaw. The griffon got up again and took his knife and stabbed Deadeye right in the shoulder. Deadeye fell down from the pain, even with his super healing powers it took at least an hour for an injury to heal. The two were at a stalemate. If the griffon had the same powers as Deadeye did, this was going to be a lot harder than originally anticipated. Not only that, COLTS were not supposed to be known to the griffons so Deadeye had no choice but to kill this one so he didn't spill the beans to the public. The two ran at each other exchanging blows and blades, each desperately trying to get a killing blow at the throat. The griffon was beginning to tire and Deadeye's superior training proved victorious in the end as he delivered a skull crushing blow to the griffon's face knocking him to the ground.

"W-w-what a-are you?" The griffon asked as he coughed up blood.

"I am Captain Deadeye and I am a COLT!" Deadeye yelled as he slashed the griffons throat finally killing it. Deadeye was quite bruised and cut up as he fell to the ground in pain. It would take at least an hour for his wounds to heal.

"Hey are you alright?" Soarin asked as he flew down.

"I'm fine, get that info to high command." Deadeye grunted as he tried to stand up.

"Sir!" Soarin said as he moved to help him.

"Get that info to high command NOW soldier!" Deadeye yelled. Soarin wasn't going to argue with a pony who just killed a griffon that had previously slew hundreds of ponies. Soarin slowly flew away leaving Deadeye.

"How could the grifs have gotten the same alterations as us? Only unicorn magic can do that. Is there a traitor somewhere in our ranks? No, I guess there just must be more ways than one to alter bodies." Deadeye thought to himself as he patiently waited for his wounds to heal. Meanwhile, Soarin had flown near Ponyville when is exhausted and injured body gave up on him and he collapsed onto the ground. Rainbow Dash was laying on a cloud where Soarin had crashed and went to investigate.

"Hello? Anypony there?" Rainbow asked as she approached the unconscious stallion. "Are you okay?" She asked. The stallion weakly responded.

"H-hey Dash" He said. Rainbow recognized the voice as Soarin's.

"OHMYGOSH! HELP HELP HELP!" Dash called out after seeing Soarin's brutally wounded body. She teared up as she ran her hoof through his mane and saw the three gashes where Gore had scratched him.

"What happened to you?" Rainbow asked as she held his hoof in her hands

"G-grifs, they were so strong, wipe out my w-whole p-p-platoon-" Soarin said before a wave of excruciating pain erupted throughout his whole body. He let out a cry of pain as his nerves entered a whole new world of hurt. Rainbow leaned forward and gently hugged him hoping it would ease the pain. Twilight was walking their way.

"Rainbow! Is everything alright? I heard you calli- OH NO WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM!" Twilight cried out upon seeing Soarin's beaten body.

"I don't know!" Rainbow cried.

"I'll teleport him to the hospital!" Twilight said as her horn lit up and the three ponies were teleported to Ponyville Hospital. Doctors and nurses ran to treat the wounded Soarin. Rainbow watched with tears in her eyes as the doctors tended to him. After an hour of treatment and surgery, the doctors came out.

"Is he gonna be okay?" Rainbow asked.

"We don't know, he has a broken hoof, several broken ribs, a lacerated kidney, a concussion, and he might go blind from those gash marks. Whatever did this to him must have been extremely powerful" The doctor explained as Rainbow's heart dropped.

"C-can I go in there?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes you may" The doctor said as Rainbow entered the room. Soarin was wrapped in casts and bandages and had numerous tubes hooked up to him. Rainbow held his hoof and rubbed his mane as she laid her head next to him. She let out all her tears and than soon fell asleep.