Man if only I had a nickel for every hate-mail I have gotten for killing Soarin and Skullcrusher. I would like to point two things out

1. Despite all the sadness, I PROMISE you this will have a happy ending so don't give up on this story quite yet.

2. This unfortunately is the reality of war, people we love get killed on the line of duty. The main message I am trying to spread from this story is War=BAD. Nowdays, films and games portray war as a game and many people have lost sight of what a shitty mess it really is. Anyway here is the next Chapter.

Pinkie Pie was talking to Twilight in order to pass the time when she was grabbed by an ST.

"AH HELP ME!" Pinkie said as the powerful griffon snatched her by her mane causing tears to form in her eyes.

"PINKIE!" The ponies said as they all rushed to help but Pinkie was thrown into a new room. She was scared and her face had a very frightened look. She looked around to examine her surroundings.

"Still lame as ever." A voice said.

"Whose there?" Pinkie asked scared.

"Remember me dweeb?" The voice said again.

"G-gilda?" Pinkie said as the griffon walked into sight.

"You lame ponies took my friend from me." Gilda said as she spat on the ground.

"We didn't take Dashie from you, we tried to be friends with you." Pinkie said.

"By setting up all those pranks and making me look like an idiot?" Gilda said cracking her knuckles.

"W-what a-a-re you doing?" Pinkie asked nervously.

"Getting payback." Gilda said as she closed in on Pinkie.

XXXX

The COLTS went to an opening in the wall where a river lay below. They had both the bodies of Soarin and Skullcrusher. They could not afford to take the time to bury them and they could not carry the bodies with them so the bodies were put into a river which flowed into Equestria.

"Safe travels soldiers." Autumn said as the COLTS and Shining Armor bowed their heads in respect.

"Lets move we don't have much time." Deadeye said. The COLTS made their way through the base much more slowly now due to the fact the Steel Talons knew they were there. It was a painstakingly slow process but they eventually made their way to where they could see the mane six being held.

"Alright here is the plan, we will jump in stealthily and rescue them and than Captain Armor will use a teleportation spell to get us out of here." Deadeye said. "Can you teleport twelve ponies at once?"

"It shouldn't be a problem." Armor said.

"Alright, let's do this." Shadow said.

"Hey where is Pinkie at?" Blitz said as he scanned the mane six's prison cell and could not see Pinkie Pie. He heard a faint scream with his enhanced hearing and followed the source.

"Blitz? Where are you goin?" Big Mac asked. Blitz ignored Big Mac and continued to follow the source of the screams. He soon recognized the voice as Pinkie's. He immediately began pushing down the wall and broke through. Once he got in what he saw horrified him, Pinkie was covered in bruises and cuts and Gilda was about to punch her.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Blitz screamed as he ran full speed into Gilda and slammed her into a wall. A loud cracking sound could be heard as Gilda's skull met the concrete wall Gilda grabbed her skull in pain as she began to bleed. Blitz immediately ran over to Pinkie.

"Sweet Celestia." He said as he gently brushed her mane away from her face.

"B-blitzy?" Pinkie said as a smile crawled on her face. "I'm so sorry."

"Shhh, it's okay now." Blitz said as he hugged her. "Come on I'm gonna get you outta here."Blitz carefully picked up Pinkie with his front hooves and carried her back to the others. Three STs and twenty griffon soldiers entered the room and began tending to Gilda

"What happened ma'am?" The medic asked her.

"COLTS got pony!" Gilda said weakly. "Went that way!" The STs nodded and made their way to the direction Gilda was pointing at.

XXXX

The other COLTS were still trying to get into the cell from the sewer up above. They had bucked and punched the floor repeatedly but it refused to give.

"Oh where never gonna get in there!" Autumn said as he sat down. When he sat down he fell through the ceiling and landed in the cell.

"Talk about a hardass." Deadeye muttered to himself as the other COLTS and Armor jumped in. Rainbow and Rarity were still unconscious but the others were still awake.

"Fluttershy!" Shadow said as he ran over to the terrified yellow pegasus and hugged her. Fluttershy was having a panic attack and was too scared to acknowledge Shadow's presence.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked. She could not see the COLTS due to the darkness in the cell.

"Twiley." Shining Armor said as he hugged his sister.

"BBBFF!" Twilight said. "I was so scared!"

"It's okay Twiley, there is somepony else who wants to see you." Armor said as Deadeye moved in.

"Twilight I-." Deadeye began to say before Twilight ran at him and kissed him square on the lips. At first Deadeye was shocked but he went with it and returned the kiss.

"You still came for me even after what I said." Twilight said sniffing.

"Of course I did, I love you." Deadeye said as he hugged her again. Big Mac was having a hard time getting his sister out of her trance.

"AJ? AJ its me." Big Mac said as he shook his sister gently.

"Big brother?" She said.

"Eeyup." Big Mac said. Applejack smiled as he brother hugged her. Big Mac prayed that she wouldn't ask about Skullcrusher.

"Do you still love me big brother? even after what ah said?" Applejack asked.

"Eeyup, ah always will." Big Mac said. Autumn was checking on Rarity and felt a wave of relief when he found out she was uninjured.

"Alright let's get out of here." Deadeye said.

"Wait where is Blitz?" Shadow asked.

"And Pinkie?" Twilight asked. The ponies questions were asked when Blitz rounded the corner carrying a beaten up Pinkie Pie being shot at by griffons.

"Armor, prepare that teleportation spell! COLTS return fire!" Deadeye said as the COLTS fired at the griffons chasing Blitz.

"Twiley, I might need your help with this." Armor said as he powered up his magic.

"Right behind you." Twilight said as her horn began to glow. Each pony began to glow as the began to disappear.

"NOOO!" Gore screamed as he rammed his sword into the spot where Big Mac once stood. The ponies woke up to find themselves in Canterlot. Royal guards immediately went to their aid.

"Are you okay?" One of them asked.

"We accomplished the mission but we lost some good ponies." Autumn said with his head down. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash had all regained consciousness as Celestia, Luna, and Cadence went out to meet them. Cadence ran to hug her husband while Autumn and Rarity made up along with Shadow and Fluttershy. They all forgave each other of their past crimes to each other.

"Now where is that fiance of mine?" Applejack asked. Big Mac's heart stopped.

"Yeah and where is Soarin?" Rainbow asked. The COLTS and Armor went dead silent as sad expressions overtook their faces.

"Why is everypony so sad about them?" Rainbow asked oblivious to her lover's untimely death. Deadeye went to speak but Big Mac stopped him. Big Mac felt since Applejack and Rainbow knew him better he should tell them what happened, after all Applejack was his sister.

"AJ, Rainbow, there is no easy way fer me to say this, so ah'm just gonna say it." Big Mac said sullen. Applejack and Rainbow knew what was coming.

"Soarin just got moved to some post real far away and we wont see him for a while? That's why your sad, That has to be it right?" Rainbow asked fearfully.

"No ah'm sorry Rainbow. Skullcrusher and Soarin are dead." Big Mac said. "Both of em were killed by General Gore.". Soarin being stabbed and Skullcrusher being torn in two played over and over again in Shining Armor's mind. Applejack and Rainbow just sat there speechless.

"Yer lyin! YOU HAVE TO BE!" Applejack cried.

"Ah'm so sorry girls, they went down fighting." Big Mac said as he presented Skullcrusher and Soarin's dog tags. It killed him to do this. Applejack fell on top of the dog tag and embraced it tightly. She screamed and than began to cry as her friends went to comfort her. Rainbow Dash tried to hold back her tears but saw she couldn't she just grabbed Soarin's dogtag and flew away with it to a cloud high above Canterlot. Fluttershy was the only other pegasus so she flew up to comfort Rainbow. Big Mac went to his broken sister and hugged her tightly.

Short chapter but just wanted to give y'all something. Remember, this story WILL have a happy ending so stay tuned.

"It is the soldier above all who prays for peace, for it is him\her who must endure the deepest wounds of war."