The COLTS immediately headed for the war room upon hearing the news about the invasion of the crystal kingdom. Big Mac had seen first hand what skilled and tenacious fighters the crystal ponies were but they would be severely outnumbered since most of the crystal army was in Equestria. They eventually made it to the war room where they would be debriefed.

"The coward griffons DARE attack MY CITY?!" Rubios screamed in fury.

"Calm yourself brother, our soldiers will defeat them. Remember it is quality over quantity." Emeralda said.

"Do not worry, the COLTS will help defeat the attacking griffons." Celestia said.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" Deadeye said as the COLTS entered the room fully armored.

"COLTS we have a situation but first I have something to show you." General Blue River said as a platoon of unicorns brought in five large boxes.

"What are those?" Big Mac asked.

"We have upgraded your armor." Blue River said. "It is more flexible while retaining it's near indestructability. It is also fireproof and your gliders have been upgraded so you can now fly."

"Woah!" Blitz said as he analyzed the armor.

"It can also lower your metabolism and heart beat to the point of near death but you can still survive without food or water for years! Think of it as a sort of suspended animation." Blue River said. The COLTS quickly adorned their new battle armor. They all began using their gliders to fly around and practice aerial combat.

"This thing is sick!" Autumn said as he landed back on the ground.

"There are also built in camera's just above the visor so we can monitor your actions. Now for bad news." Blue River said. "As you know the crystal empire has been invaded by the grifs. With most of the crystal army in Equestria the crystal kingdom is left mostly unguarded. The crystal ponies are much better soldiers than the grifs, but they are outnumbered eight to one."

"Well what are waiting for?" Autumn said as he prepared to leave.

"Not so fast soldier." Blue River said. "We have much more urgent and disturbing intel."

"What would that be?" Shadow asked.

"The grifs have a base set up at Mt. Hooverest. We had no idea what they were doing until now. They are mining deep underneath the volcano so that the lava inside of it will come gushing out over all cities in Equestria at once." Blue River said. Everypony in the room gasped at this disturbing revelation.

"How did you find this out?" Celestia asked.

"I discovered it." Astro said as he flew in through the balcony. "I was on my way back to the castle when I noticed some griffons on the ground. I infiltrated and stole the document that the general has in his hoofs."

"If the grifs succeed, all of Equestria will be covered in molten rock." Blue River said.

"How do we stop it?" Deadeye asked.

"If you can collapse the tunnels the grifs have dug it will stop the lava flow. However if you do this the entire mountain will collapse in a matter of seconds and you will have a small escape window." Blue River said.

"Understood sir, we will not fail." Deadeye said.

"One more thing Captain, Astro also confirmed that both Gore and Von Griffon are there. If you run into them you know what to do." Blue River said.

"Yes sir!" Deadeye said.

"This is mission will be ultimate test of your skills and courage. I've never seen the COLTS quit, and I don't believe I ever will." Blue River said.

"Rubios, Emeralda I'm sorry but the COLTS will not be able to assist your soldiers." Blue River said to the rulers of the crystal empire.

"We understand, however we must go and defend our kingdom." Rubios said as he and is wife left to defend their home.

"COLTS! ON ME!" Deadeye ordered as the super soldiers rallied on their captain.

"What is it sir?" Blitz asked.

"Listen, I'm going to let you all decide something." Deadeye said.

"What sir?" Big Mac asked.

"If we are going to get this thing done in time, we have to leave now." Deadeye said.

"But we wont get to say goodbye to anypony." Blitz said.

"That's why I'm letting you decide if you wanna go or not." Deadeye said. "You can choose not to come and spend time with your loved ones but just know the less of us that are there the less chance there will be of success." The COLTS all thought about this, they all wanted to spend just one more night with their marefriends but they could not risk the safety of all Equestria.

"I'm going." Macintosh said first.

"Count me in." Blitz said.

"Yeah this'll look real good, I'm here while my team is out risking their lives! You can bet I'm going too.'" Autumn said.

"Your troops will follow you to whatever end sir." Shadow said stepping up. Deadeye looked at his team, he smiled as they all stepped up.

"Alright, gear up." Deadeye said.

"Where are you boys going?" Astro asked.

"Don't even think about it Astro, the Princess needs you here." Deadeye said. "Besides you don't have your armor anymore."

"Didn't stop me last time." Astro said referring to when he took on Gore without armor at the Hearth's Warming Eve Pageant at Ponyville.

"Yeah and look what happened, you died." Deadeye said.

"I can't just sit here and do nothing when I know what is at stake!" Astro said.

"Fine, you can go aid the crystal ponies, they need all the help they can get." Deadeye said.

"Understood, good luck captain." Astro said as he flew back to Celestia.

"Celestia." Astro said. He wanted to make amends before he left.

"Yes?" She asked sadly.

"I know what I did all those years ago was terrible but I have to tell you something." Astro said.

"What?" Celestia asked.

"All those years ago, an evil unicorn named King Sombra had created spells which could turn ordinary ponies into superponies. He used this magic to corrupt and created unspeakable horrors that he used to attack my father's kingdom." Astro explained. "The griffons had also allied with him and were attacking us. Starswirl the Bearded had managed to get ahold of these spells that Sombra had used. My father said that he needed supersoldiers to combat Sombra's minions and I volunteered."

"You mean?" Celestia said.

"Yes, I was a COLT all those years ago, however, the dark magic residing in those spells was what caused me to go crazy which is why I killed that griffon that one day and attacked you." Astro said. This news hit Celestia hard.

"I knew about King Sombra but all I remember about him was that he enslaved the crystal empire. I don't recall any of this other history." Celestia said.

"You are blessed that you don't. My parents kingdom was wiped off the map. You also remember that your parents disappeared that day after they left to aid my parents." Astro said.

"You mean that my parents were-" Celestia said beginning to tear up.

"Yes, both our parents perished in an attempt to subdue him shortly after I was imprisoned. His army was subdued but his dark power could not be undone and he survived." Astro continued. "He than enslaved the crystal empire until you and Luna sealed him away. Claws Von Griffon is a direct descendant of the griffon king who served with Sombra which is most likely why they are at war with us now."

"I d-d-didn't know all o-of that!" Celestia said sniffling. "Astro I never would have imprisoned you had I known what happened!"

"Shhh it's alright." Astro said as he hugged a crying Celestia. He knew something else was bothering her though. "Is there anything else wrong?"

"I-I-I ordered the execution of all those COLTS!" Celestia cried. "Three hundred innocent ponies all dead because I was too blind to see through the changelings tricks!"

"It's in the past now, a lot of horrible things happen in war." Astro said trying to comfort her. "You know there is one more thing I've been dying to ask you for a thousand years now."

"What?" Celestia asked as Astro knelt down and pulled out a large diamond ring.

"Princess Celestia, I have loved you since we were foals. Will you be my wife and queen?" Astro asked. Celestia's jaw hit the floor when she heard this. She wanted to jump and scream yes as loud as she could but she was a princess and had to maintain royal matters.

"Yes! I WILL!" She said as Astro kissed her.

"I must go aid the crystal ponies, I will return and we will marry." Astro said as he began to fly away. "Till then my queen."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The COLTS were boarding the battle carriage that would take them to Mt. Hooverest when Soarin and Skullcrusher ran into them. Macintosh assumed they were wanting to come with so he stepped off the aircraft to talk to them.

"Listen, ah reckon y'all wanna come but-" Big Mac said.

"Macintosh, I'm retired. I'm getting too old for this kind of stuff." Skullcrusher said.

"I though you were only twenty two?" Soarin asked.

"You know what I meant." Skullcrusher said. Big Mac understood his former DI. Skullcrusher had been blinded, torn in half, and mercilessly beaten numerous times by Gore. It was a shock he was still kicking.

"Besides, we are aware of the mission that you are going on. We would just be in the way if we went." Soarin said.

"Ah see, thanks fer understandin y'all." Big Mac said.

"Listen Macintosh, In basic you never ceased to amaze me, I'm asking you to amaze me one last time." Skullcrusher said.

"You and the COLTS have been through a lot over the past year. I know you won't fail." Soarin said.

"Thanks it means a lot." Big Mac said. "One more thing, Skullcrusher if ah don't make it, please watch over mah family for me."

"You got it Devil Dog." Skullcrusher said as the carriage took off and headed towards the COLTS final and toughest mission. As much as Soarin and Skullcrusher were happy to not have to face Gore again, part of them wished they could have gone.

"Gentlecolts?" Blue River said walking out onto the platform.

"Sir." Soarin and Skullcrusher said saluting the general.

"At ease." Blue River said. "What do you boys have in store for yourselves?"

"Retirement." Both of them said at once.

"I see, well that's too bad you would have been fine candidates." Blue River said.

"Candidates for what?" Soarin asked. Blue River tossed each of the them a portfolio.

"Let me know what you think." Blue River said as he walked back inside. Skullcrusher looked down at the cover of the portfolio and gasped at what he saw written there.

COLT-II Supersoldier Program

Author's Notes:

"In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons."