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COLTS-01 Everfree Forest

Colonel Striper watched as the new COLTS recruits trained, he felt a little bad for them cause they were going to miss the holidays. His thoughts were interrupted when a unicorn doctor entered.

"Uh sir, we have new information regarding the COLTS." The doctor said. Striper didn't like the sound of this. His whole life doctors always brought bad news to him. He hated doctors ever since his wife died at childbirth.

"Go ahead doc." Striper said sighing.

"It appears the magical alterations they received have more...negative side effects than we originally thought." The doctor explained.

"What do you mean?" Striper asked now concerned.

"Physically, the COLTS are in perfect shape with no side effects. It's mentally I'm worried about."

"Cut the crap and get to the point doctor!" Striper shouted.

"Yes, well as you know the COLTS alterations also made them to be more aggressive and quick to anger, they also have violent thoughts." The doctor said.

"I know, thats what we wanted." Striper said not seeing the point of this conversation.

"I'm not finished. Because of their tendency to violence, they may snap under enough stress and anger and become mentally unstable and might start attacking ponies." The doctor said.

"WHAT?" Striper yelled. "You're telling me this NOW! AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN DEPLOYED INTO CITIES?"

"I'm sorry but the results just came out now! We also made them like that so they would be lethal!" The doctor said.

"How angry would they have to get?"

"Even though they are prone to anger quickly it would still take a major event like the loss of a family member or close friend." The doctor said.

"Great now their identities really have to be kept a secret! Find their families, I want bodyguards protecting them 24/7! Nothing happens to their families got it?" Striper ordered.

"Yes sir right away sir!"

"I also want any close friends they had pulled from the frontline!" Striper ordered. "And do not give the new COLTS the aggresive enhancer!"

"But sir they wont be as lethal-"

"Listen you idiot do you have any idea how bad that would be if they turned on us? It would take hundreds no maybe even thousands of regular troops to bring them down! You have seen what they are capable of! They would kill every last one of us!" Striper explained.

"Aye aye sir!" The doctor said as he ran away to carry out the orders.

"Unbelievable that idiot tells me now!" Striper said. He shuddered to think what would happen if one of the COLTS went insane. He finally decided there was no choice, he would have to tell the princess.

"She is NOT gonna be happy when she hears this." Striper said as he prepared to travel to Canterlot.

One hour later- Canterlot

"Could you say that again Colonel?" Celestia asked shocked and angered. Striper explained the situation regarding the COLTS.

"You imbecile!" General Silver Star yelled as he banged his hooves on a desk.

"Colonel what you did to those ponies goes way beyond what is allowed by the military!" Celestia said furious at what Striper had done to the COLTS.

"We outta court martial you for this!" Silver Star yelled.

"Court martial me? For what? Following orders?" Striper said. "You wanted super-soldiers and I gave you them!"

"Sister in his defense we did ask for them." Luna said to Celestia trying to stick up for Striper.

"Your higness with all due respect, these COLTS are extremely dangerous! They could wipe whole regiments of soldiers." Silver Star said. "I'm ordering a kill code for them."

"General you cannot be serious right now! They saved who knows how many lives at Ponyville! What about Gore and his Steel Talons? The COLTS are the only ones who can stop them!" Striper said.

"They are too dangerous to be left alive Colonel!" Silver Star said.

"Listen these are MY soldiers! I trained them and they are like my sons! I'll take on full responsibility if things get out of hand!" Striper said.

"What do you want to do your highness?" Silver Star asked.

"Colonel Striper I am extremely angry at you for what happened here, however the COLTS heroic actions did save many lives so I am willing to let go of the fact they are dangerous for now." Celestia said. "But you must understand if they snap we will be forced to put them down"

"I understand." Striper said as Celestia and Luna walked out of the room.

"I swear Striper if one hair gets out of line I WILL have you and your COLTS strung up and executed!" Silver Star said.

"Tell me that again when the COLTS take out Von Griffon." Striper said as he left Canterlot.

XXXX

The apple family had returned home after their heartwarming reunion. Big Mac held the door open for his sisters as streamers and balloons shot out into his face.

"AHH!" He yelled as he spit a streamer from his mouth. He looked up to see a pink pony staring at him.

"Pinkie! What is this?" Applejack asked.

"Big Mac's second return party!" She said as the rest of her friends, Soarin, and Skullcrusher came out from behind bushels of hay.

"How did you know he wa-Oh nevermind!" Applejack said. Somehow Pinkie knew everything.

"Um Big Mac when did you get so tall?" Twilight asked as she walked out.

"What do ya mean?" Big Mac asked. "Ah've always been tall."

"But now its more than usual." Twilight said.

"Come to think of it." Applejack said walking next to her brother. "Yer more than twice as tall as me now!"

"And more muscular." Rarity said. Everypony looked at her. "What? It's true!"

"What were they feedin you?" Rainbow asked. Big Mac looked to Skullcrusher for help.

"Must have had a army growth spurt!" Skullcrusher said.

"What do you mean hon?" Applejack asked.

"You see, sometimes when your in battle for a long time the adrenaline rush makes your body get bigger." Skullcrusher said sweating and shifting his eyes.

"Way to go Sgt! That's was the worst lie ah've ever heard!" Big Mac said as face-hoofed himself.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!" The ponies all said.

"Yeah an if thats true how come you had no growth spurt?" Applejack asked.

"Uh hey it was just a guess." Skullcrusher said as he gave a 'sorry man' look to Macintosh.

"Well all that matters is that he's back right?" Soarin said as he flew in at the last minute trying to distract the ponies from the subject.

"Yeah your right." The ponies all said.

"LETS PARTAY!" Pinkie said as she began blasting music. Macintosh excused himself with Skullcrusher to the other room as the other ponies celebrated. Twilight suddenly remembered something.

"Spike write a letter to the princess." Twilight said as the dragon pulled out a quill and paper.

"Dear Princess Celestia-" Spike said as he wrote the words on the paper.

"No not to Princess Celestia this time." Twilight said.

"Who then?" Spike asked.

"Princess Luna." Twilight said smiling. Macintosh shut door behind him as he walked into the private room with Skullcrusher.

"Army growth spurt?" Macintosh asked with a stern look.

"Hey its not exactly easy to lie when you have the element of honesty looking at you in the eye!" Skullcrusher said. Macintosh never thought he'd see the day where he spoke to his former DI like that.

"Ah also wanted to talk bout that." Big Mac said referring to Skullcrusher and Applejack's relationship.

"Why do you not approve?" Skullcrusher asked.

"Ah approve alright, ah just wanted to say thanks for lookin after mah sister while ah was gone." Macintosh said.

"Your sisters sure do care about you." Skullcrusher said "Little Applebloom asked everyday when you were coming home."

"Eeyup! That's her alright." Macintosh said.

"Private Macintosh what did I say about saying 'eeyup' in my beloved Corps?" Skullcrusher said jokingly in his mean voice. Macintosh just laughed.

"Come lets go join the party." Skullcrusher said as the two went to enjoy themselves. Big Mac went up to Soarin.

"Thanks fer savin mah butt back there." Big Mac whispered.

"No problem. I guess you can't tell me the real reason you are so tall though?" Soarin asked.

"Eenope, sorry." Macintosh said.

"Thats too bad. oh well" Soarin said as the party continued. There was a knock the door, Rarity went to open it and saw Fluttershy all bundled up in clothes.

"Sorry I'm late I brought a guest if that's alright. It is alright right?" She asked.

"Yes! Another new friend to make bring them in!" Pinkie said.

"Okay, It's okay Shadow you can come in." Fluttershy said as a gray stallion peeked his head around the corner. Macintosh and Shadow made eye contact.

"Big Mac?" Shadow said.

"Silent Shadow?" Big Mac asked.

"Oh you two know each other?" Fluttershy asked.

"Err yeah. We uh met at Hoofington." Big Mac said.

"Makes sense ah guess seein as you were there fer six months." Applejack said.

"But Shadow told me he was at Trottingham for the last six months." Fluttershy said. All eyes were on Macintosh.

"How could you have two have met at Hoofington when he wasn't ever there? Applejack asked giving her brother the evil eye.

"This was a different time before the war started!" Big Mac yelped. "We just happened to run into each other now!"

"Okay Big Macintosh, ah believe you." Applejack said. Both Shadow and Big Mac wiped sweat off their head as they were almost compromised.

"Everypony this is Silent Shadow, he's the one from Appleloosa." Fluttershy said.

"The Ghost of Appleloosa!" Soarin said as he flew down. "Pleasure to meet you in person sir."

"Nice to meet you too commander." Shadow said as he introduced himself. Shadow went up to where Big Mac was sitting.

"Thanks for looking for me after I fell." Shadow said.

"We did! When ah saw Fluttershy takin you to her house ah knew you were okay." Big Mac said.

"Well I'm glad you did, she is wonderful." Shadow said looking love stricken. Big Mac smiled, Shadow and Fluttershy were so timid, they were perfect for each other. Speaking of couples, he had missed Luna very much. There was another knock at the door. Twilight went to answer it this time.

"Good evening princess." Twilight said.

"Good evening to you Twilight Sparkle, where is this important thing you said you fou-" Luna said as she made eye contact with a red stallion sitting at a table. Macintosh's stomach turned upside down as he spilled his hot chocolate all over himself but was to distracted by Luna to notice.

"Big Mac?" She said as she walked closer. "Is it really you?"

"Eeyup." He said gently as she got up to his face.

"Holy Manticores! He wasn't joking when he said he was seeing Luna! Great now Autumn and I owe Solar Blitz 50 bits!" Shadow thought recalling a bet he made with Solar Blitz.

"Um I think we should give them some privacy." Twilight said as all the ponies went into the other room.

"Big Mac what happened to you? You just disappeared." Luna said.

"Ah was at Hoofington fer six months." Big Mac said.

"But I flew over there numerous times and the CO said you were never there." Luna said. Now Big Mac was in trouble. "You've also grown so much." Luna gasped as she suddenly put two and two together.

"You're a COLT aren't you?" Luna said.

"Ahhhh! How did she figure out! Well she is a princess so ah guess she should know this stuff." Big Mac said as he put his head down and stood up on his hind legs.

"Yes Ah'm a COLT." Big Mac admitted. Luna gasped as she remembered what Silver Star said if the COLTS ever got out of hand. She could never imagine Big Mac ever hurting somepony. Should she tell Big Mac about what could happen to him? No not now, it might be too much for him. She suddenly remembered it was time to raise the moon.

"Excuse me Big Mac but I have to raise the moon." Luna said as she was bout to leave.

"Can ah come with?" Big Mac asked.

"You really want to?" Luna asked happily.

"Eeyup!" Big Mac said as he trotted over to her. He grabbed a blue scarf for her and put it around her neck for her. "It's mighty cold out there." Luna felt a warm feeling run through her as the stallion put the scarf around her. Luna flew outside as Big Mac followed her. Luna had to get to a cliff to raise the moon so she flew quite a distance away. She was shocked to see Macintosh sprinting full speed nearly passing her. She flew up to a cliff that was about twenty feet high.

"How are you gonna get up-" Luna said as Macintosh took a leap from the ground and landed right next to her. "Here." She finished. Luna used her wings to hover as her horn lit up, as she ascended so did the moon. Macintosh was taken aback by the sight, she looked so majestic raising the moon. The skies darkened as mane flew through the cold winter breeze. She descended back to a shocked Macintosh.

"Princess that was amazin!" He said.

"Really?" She asked.

"Eeyup! Ah never seen the moon rise like that before." Macintosh complimented.

"Nopony's ever complimented my nights to me before." Luna said. Macintosh put his hoof around her shoulder.

"Yer night is beautiful." Macintosh said. Luna couldn't take it anymore. She started to cry.

"What's wrong!" Macintosh said worried he had upset her.

"Big Mac thou have no idea how much that means to me. You're one of the only ponies including my sister who has ever really talked to me before." Luna cried slipping into the old Canterlot dialect. "Thou are so kind to us even though we almost killed everything in Equestria, you're kind to me even though we are a monster."

"Yer no monster." Big Mac said. "Ah don't blame you at all fer anything that happened. We all have done things we aren't proud of in our past but we learn to move on."

"Thou are not scared of me?" She asked through her tears.

"If ah was scared of you would ah be here right now?" He asked. Luna's head fell into his chest. Since he was so much taller now she seemed small in comparison. Macintosh rubbed his hoof through her sparkling mane as she let all the pain from a thousand years of regret fall out through her tears.

"Ah know what will cheer you up." Big Mac said as he picked Luna up on his back.

"Big Mac what are you?" She asked.

"Hold on tight." He said as he jumped off the cliff. Luna was scared from the sudden fall and she gripped tightly on to Macintosh's neck. She noted how strong and muscular it was. Once they hit the ground he all out sprinted. He was going so fast the trees turned into a blur. He began to slow down as he approached his destination. Macintosh could practically feel Luna's heart beating rapidly on his back.

"Consarnit! Theres a rock in the way!" He said as he gently let Luna down. "Hang on ah gotta move this." Luna was still in shock from the sudden speed run and the adrenaline was still rushing through her veins. She saw the massive boulder that lie blocking their path. Macintosh once again stood on his hind legs and put his front hoofs under the boulder.

"Big Mac we could use our magic to move that." Luna said as Macintosh responded with a light grunt. Her eyes widened as he picked up the boulder and gently moved it aside. That boulder had to weigh thousands of pounds and he moved it like it was nothing.

"Here we are princess." Macintosh said as he held out his hoof. Luna shyly took his hoof as he led her to the opening. In front of them was a frozen lake.

"You ever ice-skate before?" He asked.

"Not for a thousand years. Do you even have ice-skates." She asked as Big Mac jumped on the solid thick ice to test it's durability.

"Who says you need skates?" He asked as he used his hoofs to glide across the ice. He skated to where Luna was and took her hoof. "Careful now." Luna slowly walked on to the ice and slipped as soon as she got on but Macintosh was there to catch her from falling. She eventually got her back hooves on the ice balanced but her front hooves were wrapped around Big Mac's shoulders still.

"Come on." He said. "Ah'm watching ya." Luna slowly took her front hoofs off of Macintosh she almost slipped a few times but regained her balance.

"There ya go!" He said. "Now just glide by pushin off with yer legs." Luna did as he told but she slipped yet again only this time her face was about to plant on the solid ice. Macintosh flew in at unnatural speed and caught her before any damage was done.

"Ah told ya ah was watching ya." He said as Luna smiled at him. She got back up on her hooves and with Macintosh's help, she was able to skate around the lake. After about ten minutes, Luna fell into a hole in the ice and landed in ice cold water. Macintosh caught her hoof as she fell in and pulled her out. She was freezing cold. Macintosh picked her up and walked over to a rocky cliff where no snow was on the ground. He laid down next to her and used his body heat to keep her warm. It seemed to do the trick because she soon stopped shivering. The two sat there and looked at the moon before looking back at each other. Big Mac took note of how beautiful her eyes sparked in the moonlight. Luna got closer to Macintosh as she snuggled up against his body. Her face was laying against his neck. He put his hoof around her and cuddled her.

"Big Mac." Luna said.

"Eeyup?" He responded.

"This has been the best night of my whole life, thank you." Luna said.

"Eeyup." He said as the two nuzzled each other as they held each others hoofs. They slowly looked back at each other and their heads moved closer to together. Their eyes closed as their lips met. For a moment, both forgot their was a war going on as all their troubles and worries vanished for that perfect moment.

"I love you." Luna whispered into his ear.

"Ah love you too." He said as the two fell asleep under the moonlight with smiles on their faces and love in their hearts.