[Duran's POV]

Quickly gathering up supplies, I was rather thankful that I was home alone at the time. Sure, I'm going to drop by the school before we set off, but you can never be too cautious.

"You almost done?" Mark asked, popping his head through the door.

"Gotta get another set of reinforced cammies and I'll be." I replied, shifting through all of my clothing to find the set I'm looking for.

"Don't forget the spare boots." With that suggestion, Mark went out, probably getting in the Humvee. Finally locating what I was looking for, I put the items into a duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder, grabbed my rifle, loaded a magazine, cocked it, and was out the door.

There was a squad of changelings and a certain 'Cheeselegs' (by what Mark calls her) waiting at the Humvee.

"What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Mark asked, spreading his arms a little.

"Celestia demanded that I send in a squad to execute you for 'treason'." She commented.

"I take it you saw through her bullshit?" Mark said, leaning against the hood and looking at the Queen.

"Rather easily. She said something along the lines of murder, and I know that you'd only kill in self defense." She answered.

"Yea, she's the murderer. Killed one of my men, released vile excuses for humans into the castle with the intent to kill Dawn and I, and most of the night and death guards are dead." Mark growled, crossing his arms.

"I have a few 'gifts' for my allies, should you accept them." Cheeselegs said, causing Mark to stand straight.

"Depends on what they are." He said. With a nod of her head, another changeling walked forward and bowed to Mark.

"I'm at your service, master." She said.

"Cut the master shit and we'll get along." Mark replied instantly. "So, you're giving me an aide? What about the others?" With another nod of her head, a small group of changelings appeared out of nowhere.

"They are a squad of my Rangers." She said.

"That's hilarious. I'll take 'em." I said, startling the both of them.

"What do you mean by them being funny?" Chrysalis asked, narrowing her eyes a little.

"It's not an insult. I so happen to be a Ranger myself." I replied, looking over the changelings that moved to my side. "What're your names?" I asked. They gave off some fucking numbers, causing me to sigh.

"Give 'em codenames." Mark said. I nodded, and pointed to them.

"Striker. Silver. Wolf. Boomer." I said from left to right. They all nodded in acceptance. "We have one more member on our team, and I don't really know where he is at the moment."

"Can't you smell his pheromones out?" Wolf asked in confusion.

"We don't have specific scents, Wolf." I said. "We have names, faces, hair and skin tones to go by. His name's Callum, and his skin color is dark brown like mine. Go and find him, everyone. Wolf, stay with me." I ordered. They saluted and flew off, looking for the only black man in Equestria.

[Gallan's POV]

I waited for Pinkie to tuck the Cake Twins into bed, fiddling with a pouch that contained a magazine for my BAR.

"They're so cute when they're like this." Pinks whispered as I gently closed the door and followed her into our room.

I still cringe when I look around it, but Pinkie did make it to where it was less pink.

"Pinkie, I have something to tell you." I sighed, sitting on the bed.

"I already know." She grimly smiled. "Mark came by earlier and asked if I was still loyal to Princess Celestia, even after what she did." I feared her answer until she hugged me.

"Thank you." I whispered, releasing a breath I didn't know I held. We shared an embrace that lasted quite a while, until somebody knocked on the doorway.

"I hate to rush you two..." Mark quietly said, looking around while a bug-pony thing stood behind him. "But we need to get moving. Dawn's bought a shop in town, and we're making it the main headquarters."

"So does this mean that you all won't leave Ponyville?" Pinkie asked as I collected my weapons and strapped them onto my person.

"Only when we have to." He sighed. "And I'm also keeping them until all this schisse is over; too risky for any of you to interact. Twilight's in town and she's still with Celestia."

"I promise that I'll come back home, Pinkie." I whispered before quickly kissing her.

Before she could call out, we were outside and piling into the Humvee.

[Third Person]

"So, this is it? Why the fuck's it named Sand Dune's Fireworks Emporium?" Duffy asked once everybody appeared in the main HQ.

"My pony form's name is Sand Dune. Nobody in town except the Apple family and you know about her being me, and I'd like to keep it that way." Mark answered before pounding a fist into a seemingly random brick. It slid inward and showed a hidden staircase.

"Seems antique." Gallan commented as Mark used a torch (flashlight) to light the way down.

"But effective. Can't allow you all to be seen in the shop too much, so I asked Dawn to install this." Mark replied. The alicorn in question was already there, along with Luna, Williams, and half of the night/death guards that made it out of Canterlot.

"What's the sitrep?" Dawn asked without looking over.

"Twilight's on Celestia's side, but she's the only Element to do so." Doppel answered for Mark.

"I take it Chrysalis refused to side with her?" Luna asked Doppel, who nodded.

"My Queen is preparing the Delta, Rangers, and SEALs for war." She replied. Duffy looked confused.

"She has the same type of warriors that we have?" He asked.

"Sir Mark has told me what his military considers Delta and SEALs. Ours are named differently, but since I'll be working with Sir Mark, I'll reference them as he would. He also said that both of our Rangers are the same." Doppel answered.

"Sir Mark?" Dawn asked, raising an eyebrow. "Chrysalis knighted you?"

"It's either calling me Sir Mark or calling me Master." Mark grunted, walking over to the map. Looking down at it, he had to blink a few times to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"What is it?" Blake asked, before looking too. What he saw also rendered him speechless.

"Is that a map of America?" Gallan asked, peering over Mark's shoulder.

"Gentlemen and ladies..." Mark began. "The plans I had have changed. We're fighting on American soil now." He then looked at Dawn and narrowed his eyes.

"What?" Dawn asked.

"I have one question for you." He began, before taking a deep breath. "WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT WE'RE STILL ON EARTH?!" He yelled in a voice that would put the Royal Canterlot Voice to shame, because Luna actually shrunk back, and she was the master of the RCV.

"It's not like I saw a fucking map while I was trapped in America!" He yelled back.

"How far are we in the future?" Blake asked before Mark could continue. Mark was growling a little, but this was understandable.

"If I had to guess, I would say about a billion years." Dawn finally answered, pacing a little. "Our archaeologists have found several pre-Alicorn ruins, and that puts it back five hundred thousand years, at least." His horn flared and several photographs appeared on the map. Mark looked at all of them, and there was one he quickly identified.

"What's over this building?" He asked, showing it to Dawn.

"Canterlot, several miles under the mountain. We're roughly ten hours away from it if we walk the entire way. Why, what building is it?" He replied.

"This is the White House, perfectly preserved." Mark sighed, flipping through the rest. "Fucking capital of the United States and Celestia's sitting her ass right over it..."

"So, what now?" Gallan asked.

"Kill Celestia and her forces. The main objective hasn't changed, but we have one minor advantage." Mark said.

"And that is?" Luna asked.

All of the Americans answered.

"We're fighting on the homefront."

Author's Note

For those who don't read the comment section; this is not tied fully in with the fate of Marine in Equestria; this is an alternate universe to it. And I will admit, it is a bit cheesy.