Next Chapter.

Back in Equestria, all the outer borders now belonged to the griffons and changelings. All territory further than twenty five miles outside of Canterlot had been abandoned to griffons. Canterlot was being built into a fortress with walls, catapults, cannons, booby traps, and other defensive measures being taken for the inevitable attack.

"Let's go! We need ten more of those!" Soarin said as he oversaw the defense constructions. In a small chamber in the armory, Skullcrusher pulled out his private trunk. He opened and adorned his old battle armor. He felt the nostalgia of his combat days as the armor came in contact with his body. He pulled out his sword and began practicing fencing.

"Skullcrusher?" Applejack said as she walked in.

"AJ?" Skullcrusher said as he dropped his sword.

"What are you doin?" She asked.

"Uh nothing." He said.

"Yer not thinkin about fightin are ya?" Applejack asked.

"Well." Skullcrusher said looking away and putting his hoof behind his head.

"But you'll die! Yer blind out of one eye how are you supposed to fight?" Applejack said.

"They need everypony they can spare. If I can stand I can fight." Skullcrusher said.

"But-" Applejack said as she looked down.

"Hey." Skullcrusher said as he reached into the pocket in his vest. "I have something to tell you."

"What?" She asked.

"Applejack I really love you and I want to spend the rest of my days with you." Skullcrusher said as he knelt down. Applejack's mouth open as she knew where this was going. "Applejack, will you marry me?". Skullcrusher pulled out of beautiful ring and presented it to Applejack. Applejack's heart stopped when she saw this, if there wasn't an impending battle this would be the perfect moment.

"YES YES AH WILL!" She shouted as he jumped on him and kissed him. "Ah love you."

"I love you too sweetheart." Skullcrusher said as they nuzzled each other and kissed.

XXXX

COLTS Omega was being escorted to the crystal kingdom castle by Lieutenant Quartz. They soon arrived and they were brought into the royal hall where Prince Rubios and Queen Emeralda waited.

"Your majesty, I present to you the legendary COLTS!" Quartz said as he bowed and held his hoof to the COLTS.

"COLTS eh? State your names, equestrians." Rubios said.

"I am Captain Deadeye, Covert Operation and Lethal Takedown Squad Omega. This is my team: Sergeant Autumn Leaf, Corporal Big Macintosh, Lance Corporal Solar Blitz, and Private Silent Shadow." Deadeye said reinstating Big Mac's and Autumn's former ranks.

"It is an honor your highness." Autumn said.

"Indeed." Rubios said. "What brings you to our fair kingdom?"

"I am sure you are well aware of our war against the griffons." Deadeye said.

"So you come to bring war to us?" Princess Emeralda said

"Please let me explain your majesty." Deadeye said. "Equestria won't hold out much longer."

"What happens beyond our borders is none of our concern." Rubios said.

"But-" Deadeye said.

"I have spoken!" Rubios shouted.

"Yer majesty!" Big Mac said.

"Macintosh! What are you doing?" Deadeye asked.

"Trust me cap'n." Big Mac said.

"And who are you?" Emeralda asked.

"Corporal Big Macintosh. Ah understand why you want to avoid the war but the situation is worse than you think!" Big Mac said.

"If what I have heard about the great and mighty COLTS is true than why would you need our help?" Rubios asked.

"Because." Big Mac said as he explained what happened to the COLTS and how the changelings allied with the griffons.

"Well I didn't know that all happened." Rubios said feeling sympathetic to the ponies.

"Von Griffon won't stop at Equestria, he will continue to drive his war machine until he rules the entire world." Autumn said butting in.

"Equestria won't stand a chance if a full out attack comes." Shadow said.

"We need your help! Please!" Blitz said.

"You do realize many of my soldiers will be killed?" Rubios asked.

"With all due respect your highness. Nearly an entire generation of young stallions have been killed, my father included. Our casualties measured at nearly a million and half and that was four months ago." Deadeye said. "Millions of families have suffered from this war and many more will follow if you don't help."

"I guess you are right." Rubios said. "How do I know you are not changelings trying to trick me?" Rubios asked.

"Changelings can only take the form of another, they can't take the powers of another." Deadeye said.

"Very well than, defeat my elite guard and I will believe you." Rubios said as hundreds of elite crystal guards came into the room.

"COLTS you know the drill." Deadeye said.

"YES SIR!" The COLTS said as the charged at the guards. The guards fired spear and arrows at the COLTS but the super soldier dodged them all. The five ponies stood back to back and relentlessly fended off against the incoming guards. Eventually all of them were defeated and the COLTS stood victorious.

"Very good bow comes your final test!" Rubios said as he charged at Deadeye at full speed. Deadeye brought his hoof up and caught Rubios before he could deliver the blow.

"I see, you are who you say you are." Rubios said as flew back to his throne. "Our armies do need some brushing off."

"So you'll help us?" Blitz asked.

"Indeed we shall!" Rubios said. "GENERAL! Mobilize our entire military! All able bodied stallions willing to fight are to report to the docks this evening!"

"Yes my lord, when do we deploy?" The crystal general asked.

"Tonight." Rubios said as he assembled his army. Unlike Equestria and the Griffon Kingdom, The Crystal Kingdom was not a land-locked nation so it had a full time navy. The docks were pouring with young stallions and even some mares eager to fight. The crystal ponies were known for their reputations as warriors and their military life style. They had trained more troops and built more ships and artillery when the pony-griffon war started in case of invasion.

"You let mares fight?" Deadeye asked.

"Of course, they deserve to fight just as much as any stallion." Rubios said. "Isn't that how it works in Equestria?"

"No, up until the war started we were a peaceful nation and had no military expertise. It's all we can do to get the stallions to fight, let alone the mares." Deadeye said. "I see you don't have that problem here, there must he thousands of them coming in."

"Even if they are not in the military most of them have much fencing and sparring experience." Rubios said.

"Why is that?" Deadeye asked.

"It's our culture. Fencing, jousting, and sparring are very popular up here." Rubios said as hundreds of crystal pegasi flew overhead.

"Brother are you ready?" Emeralda said as she flew up adorned in armor.

"Yes sister, how are recruits coming?" Rubios asked.

"Excellent, I'm concerned we might not have enough supplies for all them." Emeralda said.

"We will have enough, go and prepare sister." Rubios said as he kissed Emeralda on the lips as she flew off.

"You two are brother and sister?" Deadeye asked surprised.

"No we are married." Rubios said.

"But-uh wait didn't-?" Deadeye stuttered.

"Again, it is our culture to respect each other as family. All stallions are called 'brothers' and all mares are called 'sisters' regardless of relation to each other." Rubios explained.

"Ah." Deadeye said. "I really need to get out more." Down below, Autumn, Blitz, Macintosh, and Shadow were being swarmed by crystal ponies.

"I want to spar with the great warriors!" A crystal pony shouted.

"Sorry guys uh we gotta save it for the grifs!" Blitz said.

"What warrior turns down a fight?" Another crystal pony asked.

"Well-" Autumn began to say.

"They must be fakers!" One arrogant crystal pony said as he charged at Shadow. Shadow merely blinked before he moved to the side and grabbed the crystal pony by the mane and slammed him into the ground, all in the blink of an eye.

"Well last time I checked folks, you can't fake that!" Blitz said. The rest of the crystal ponies backed off and moved into the boats. The Crystalian Navy had many frigates, cruisers, battleships, troop carriers, and capital ships. Each armed to the teeth with harpoon guns, catapults, and cannons. Each troop carrier carried nearly several thousand soldiers, and there were about 300 of them. Every other ship carried anywhere from five hundred to three thousand troops. The total of soldiers for the first wave numbered at 300,000. Another invasion force that would attack from the north numbered at nearly a million.

"May I have your attention please!" Rubios said. All the ponies faced him. "Tonight, glory or a glorious death await! Claws Von Griffon and Queen Chrysalis have invaded and purged our neighboring kingdom of Equestria! Millions of brave equestrians fell in the defense of their homeland and we shall honor their valor by fighting for Equestria!"

"Ah-ohh!" The crystal ponies shouted.

"We will begin the great liberation on the shores of Manehattan!" Rubios said. "From what the COLTS have told me, the shores of Manehattan have been heavily booby trapped and fortified by the griffons. For most of you it will be certain death going up that beach! But we will storm that beach nontheless!"

"AH-OOH!" The crystal ponies said louder this time.

"We're ready captain." Big Mac said as he and the other COLTS dressed in their battle armor and were fully stocked with weapons.

"Good." Deadeye said. "We are ready your highness."

"Good." Rubios said as Emeralda flew next to him. "TO WAR!"

"AH-OOH!" The army said again as trumpet horns resounded over the horizon. The ships set their sails and headed towards the shores of Manehattan.

"And so begins the deciding battle for Equestria." Deadeye thought.

When I first published this on fanfiction.net season 3 had not yet come out so I didn't know what canon crystal ponies were. That is why the whole crystal kingdom in this story is different than the one in the show