Next chapter. In answer to the question on the last chapter. The COLTS are based off of the U.S Navy SEALs and of course the Spartans from Halo.

The next day Rainbow was looking for Soarin. He had been gone for a while because he was stationed at Fillydelphia but he was supposed to come back today. She found the stallion stretching out his wings near the train stop where a platoon of unicorn soldiers was boarding.

"Hey Soarin?" She asked which startled Soarin a little.

"Dash? You scared me" Soarin said as his breathing increased. "I like your scar.f". Rainbow blushed as she looked down at her orange scarf she was wearing due to the cold of the winter.

"Thanks." She said. "Listen um, I was wondering my friend Applejack is dating a guy named Sgt Skullcrusher and-"

"Did you say Skullcrusher?" Soarin asked rather interested.

"Yeah why?" Rainbow asked.

"The hero of the battle of Las Pegasus! He recieved the Equestrian Cross for his heroism!" Soarin explained.

"No wonder Applejack likes Skullcrusher so much." Rainbow thought. She didn't know much about medals but she knew the Equestrian Cross was the highest decoration you could receive "Anyway I was wondering if you wanted to go on a double date with us?". She asked nervous as to what he would say.

"That sounds awesome!" Soarin said much to Rainbow's relief. "When is it?"

"Actually it's in about five minutes." Rainbow said.

"Uh on we better hurry! Where is it at?" Soarin asked.

"Sugarcube Corner." Rainbow responded as Soarin took her hoof much to her surprise. She was a little confused but than didn't care since her crush was holding hoofs with her. She let out a little squeal, although she was a tomboy and acted all tough, she was still a mare. The two pegasi flew to Sugarcube Corner. The two entered the bakery and saw Applejack and Skullcrusher sitting at a table already sipping hot chocolate. Applejack was wearing a green scarf with green snowboots while Skullcrusher wore nothing to protect against the cold except for his uniform. He stood up and saluted Soarin as the pegasus approached.

"Commander Soarin, It's a pleasure." Skullcrusher said as he shook hoofs with Soarin.

"Sergeant Skullcrusher, It's more of a pleasure to salute you." Soarin said as the four ponies sat down.

"Howdy Rainbow." Applejack said.

"Hey Applejack." Rainbow greeted. The four ponies sat discussing numerous topics including the wonderbolts, applebucking, and occasionally a war story from Skullcrusher or Soarin. Above the skies of Ponyville. Three large griffons flew overhead and were descending, following them were sixty griffon Marines. Ponyville only had a guard garrison of thirty ponies due to its small size and distance from the frontlines. Although Ponyville was attacked by a large attack force which somehow sneaked it's way in six months earlier, other cities closer to the frontlines needed the larger garrison more so they were transfered. Ponyville was thought to be safe and the griffon attack six months earlier was just a fluke.

"Uh sir are is the Air Force doing practice or something today?" One of the garrison ponies asked as he looked through binoculars.

"No why?" Another garrison pony asked.

"Cause there is a bunch of- GRIFS!" The pony screamed as he realized it was griffons, not ponies that were coming.

"Sound the alarm!"

"Kill them all." The lead griffon said who was none other than Captain Gore.

"Yes sir!" The griffons said as they descended upon Ponyville. The ponies on the ground looked up and screamed as the griffons closed in. The thirty garrison ponies all went to engage them in battle but were overwhelmed by superior numbers and the Steel Talons troops. Twenty to the garrison ponies were killed and the other ten were restrained.

"Make sure nopony leaves this town to get help." Gore said to the griffon Marines.

"Yes sir!" They said as they dispatched around Ponyville ready to stop anypony who dared leave. Gore had been sent to find intelligence reports since Ponyville held a majority of intel due to it's supposed safe location and he wasn't leaving till he found it. Across the town at the edge of the Everfree Forest, five stallions emerged clad in black armor going to report to Canterlot.

"Are those grifs?" One of them asked as a griffon flew overhead.

"How in the hay did they get through?" Another one asked.

"It don't matter cause we're going to kill them. COLTS move out!" The leader said. The leader was Captain Deadeye and the other ponies were Autumn Leaf, Solar Blitz, Big Macintosh, and Silent Shadow.

"Aye aye sir!" The other ponies said as they silently made their way into town. The griffons were breaking into every house and building ransacking it and scaring the ponies.

"You two come with me." Gore said to the two Steel Talons he brought.

"Yes sir." They said as they made their way to Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie Pie was serving Soarin, Skullcrusher, Applejack and Rainbow Dash their food when a garrison pony was flung through the window.

"Here you go-AHHHHH!" Pinkie screamed as the garrison pony lay limp not moving.

"What the?" Skullcrusher said as he and Soarin both drew their weapons.

"Soarin! What's happening?" Rainbow asked as she got into a defensive stance with anger in her eyes.

"Nothing, everything is fine!" Soarin said nervously.

"Aw how cute." A voice said.

"No that can't be him! Is it him?" Skullcrusher thought.

"No please anything but him!" Soarin thought. Their fears were confirmed when a large griffon in armor walking on his hind legs entered the building. All the ponies in the room went to hide under their tables.

"Commander Soarin! I'm surprised to see you alive" Gore said as he looked at the other two Steel Talons with a death glare since Soarin was supposed to have been killed.

"Gore." Soarin spat. Skullcrusher's heart stopped. This was the same griffon who blinded him in one of his eyes.

"What a pretty little girl you've got yourself." Gore said as he approached Rainbow Dash who slapped his claw away and snorted. "Heh, she has more guts than you."

"Stay away from her." Soarin growled.

"Or what?" Gore said. "I don't know about you but I'm gonna get a drink." Gore walked up to the cider machine. "Commander you want anything while I'm up?"

"What do you want?" Soarin said.

"Hey I was just being polite." Gore said as he drank his cider and crushed the glass with his claw. "Mmmmm, I just love Sweet Apple Acres cider. Almost makes second guess having to destroy this town, almost." He said as the other two Steel Talons laughed. Gore looked at Applejack than looked at the cider label again and saw she was one of the manufactuers of the cider.

"You must be Ms. Applejack." Gore said approaching Applejack who was practically hypervenilating. This made Skullcrusher very nervous and angry.

"Hey Beakhead!" Skullcrusher cried out. "Why don't you dance with me instead?"

"Are you crazy you can't beat him by yourself!" Soarin whispered to Skullcrusher.

"I know." Skullcrusher said gulping as adrenaline began to pump into his veins.

"Ah I remember you!" Gore said. "The little pony who I blinded, I guess I should finish the job." All the ponies in the room had backed up into a corner with Soarin and Skullcrusher standing between them and the griffons.

"ATTACK!" Soarin yelled as the the two ponies charged at the griffon. Gore smiled as he grabbed both of them by the throats. He slammed Soarin into the ground and than threw him against a nearby wall much to Rainbow's horror as she flew over to him. He than took Skullcrusher and put his claw to the ponies eye.

"Say goodbye to you sight forever Sgt." Gore said as he brought his claw to Skullcrusher's face. Applejack tried to run to help him but she was knocked down by a Steel Talon, this enraged Skullcrusher.

"LEAVE HER ALONE!" Skullcrusher said.

"Ah you two are an item aren't you?" Gore said as he held Skullcrusher to Applejack's face. Skullcrusher could see the pain and fear on her face as tears formed in her eyes.

"Take a nice look because you will never be able to see her face ever again!" Gore yelled as he prepared to slash out Skullcrusher's eye when he heard screams coming from outside. A griffon was flung through the window with a knife sticking out of it's neck.

"Did those garrison ponies escape?" Gore thought. A pony standing on his hind legs walked in and pulled the knife out of the dead griffons neck. He was followed by four more ponies with the same armor. The armor appeared to have a black under suit with black armor pads covering the knee, thigh, buttocks, back, chest, and arms. There were a pair of boots that the pony appeared to be wearing. What was most striking was the emotionless helmet on its face.

"Applejack!" Big Mac thought as he saw his sister laying on the ground with a bruise on her face which enraged him.

"Who are you?" Gore asked as he threw Skullcrusher to the ground who was tended to by Applejack. Deadeye remained silent.

"A quiet one eh? You'll be fast to deal with," Gore said as he swung his sword down on the leader. Deadeye caught the sword before it could touch him. Gore's jaw hit the floor when he saw this.

"WHAT!" Gore screamed. These were no ordinary ponies.

"COLTS." Deadeye said. "Kill them all."

"YES SIR!" The ponies all said.

"Steel Talons attack!" Gore shouted. The ponies and griffons clashed in a great and violent battle. Solar Blitz was pressing the Steel Talon back when he saw a scared pink pony hiding under a table. Under his mask he could see her terrified expression and he felt bad for her since she had to see all this violence. He made a mental note to see her later after this fight was over. Blitz and Autumn were taking on one Steel Talon while Big Mac and Silent Shadow faced the other. Deadeye was going one on one with Gore. Big Mac bucked the Steel Talon but since the griffon was augmented so the blow only stunned him. Shadow snuck up and put the griffon in a chokehold while Macintosh ran the griffon through with a spear numerous timed before it fell dead. Seeing his comrades defeated caused Gore to back off.

"We will meet again! Retreat!" Gore said as he an the other Steel Talon flew away. Gore saw that all sixty of the griffon Marines lie dead on the ground. He vowed revenge as he angrily flew away.

"Skullcrusher! Are you okay?" Applejack cried.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Skullcrusher said as he attempted to move but was stopped by Applejack. She rested his head on her lap as doctors came in.

"You saved me." She said.

"Of course I did. I'd never let anything ever hurt you." Skullcrusher said as he nuzzled Applejack. Big Mac stood there in shock.

"Sgt Skullcrusher and mah sister?" Big Mac thought as the whole thing played out in front of him. He couldn't believe his sister liked his former DI! Rainbow was trying to get Soarin to wake up. He finally awoke after a few minutes.

"Oh my head!" He said as Rainbow hugged.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

"I'm okay it's you I'm worried about." She said as she ran her hoof through his mane.

"That's twice in six months I almost got killed by the same guy! What're the odds?" He said. Rainbow chuckled as he got up and stood on all fours. Other than a lot of bruises and a possible concussion, he was alright. Soldiers began to pour into Ponyville after they heard of the attack. Solar Blitz saw the same pink pony extremely shaken up.

"Are you okay?" He said in a deep voice so she wouldn't recognize it later.

"T-they almost killed us." She said quivering. Solar Blitz knew he couldn't stay much longer so he helped her up and took her hoof in his.

"It's okay, they won't ever come back." He said.

"Really?" She said looking up to him as her tears dried. "Whats your name?"

"O-3." Blitz said giving her his codename as he quickly walked away. Skullcrusher snuck up on Macintosh.

"Thanks for saving my butt there Macintosh." Skullcrusher said. Big Mac froze. How did Skullcrusher know it was him? Was a part of his mask missing and everypony could see his face?

"SHHH!" Big Mac said. "How did you know?"

"I was told of your talents and how they wanted you for COLTS a long time ago, that's why I pushed you so hard in training. Don't worry, your secrets safe with me." Skullcrusher said as he gave Macintosh a pat on the back. Along with the soldiers and doctors who arrived the rest of the mane six arrived to help Applejack, Rainbow, and Pinkie. Deadeye and the COLTS began to leave when they were stopped by a nearby soldier.

"Wait who are you?" The soldier asked. None of the COLTS answered as they sprinted off into the distance and disappeard.

Mission Success! Next few chapters will focus more on Luna and Mac. Time for some trivia, which famous fictional drill instructor do you think I based Sgt Skullcrusher off of?