The landing boats approached the beach. The day was a gloomy overcast, and the winds tossed the sea. It didn't bother solar however. He was only focused on the battle ahead. Solar was a young lieutenant. Some of his soldiers were actually older than himself, but fallowed him nonetheless. It only made sense that they would. His special talent was leadership after all. He found that even A type personalities would follow him.
The count down to landing began. "60 SECONDS!" Solar readied himself. He turned around and nodded to his second in command, Cross Bolt. He nodded back. "30 SECONDS!" Solar picked up his rifle and loaded it. The rest of his Unit did the same. He took one more look at the beach and then turned around to engage his men.
"This is pony bay! The Griffons have claim all the land from here to Zebradale, and now they stand right here on our boarders. whoever controls this bay controls the outcome of the war. Taking this place for the name of Celestia may be the only thing that could turn this war in our favor. Now don't fight for Celestia. Don't fight for your country. Fight for your kin. Fight for your children. fight for your right to be free of tyranny. Fight for the Stallions at your side. Fight for your comrades. Fight for your fallen friends. Fight for yourself. WE ARE MARINES! HOORAW!"
"HOORAW!" The unit yelled in unison. Solar was young but his words didn't lose any of their power even to the older members of the unit.
"10 SECONDS!" Solar took a breath. The landing boat suddenly stopped. they were on land. outside the boat they could hear sounds of war mixed with screams of terror. The door mechanism clicked open with a loud metallic clang. Despite himself Solar was nervous. The door fell open onto the sand.
"Go Go Go" Solar yelled. the unit filed out of the landing bot. Instantly the machine guns perched atop the beach took out a third of his unit. The beach was soaked with blood. bodies lay scattered. Explosions tor into the beach. The water was no longer blue. It was a deep red. The entire beach was in chaos. Most of his unit had scattered in the confusion but there as a small group huddling behind a barricade. Solar rushed to them. He could almost feel the machine gun snapping at his heals as he galloped. He arrived at the group and found that his second in command was there."Cross whats the situation?" He yelled over the gun fire and explosion.
"We've got five men and two from another unit!" Cross responded. Solar nodded.
"You two! Were's your unit?"
"Don't know sir. Got all mixed up in the confusion".
"Whats your names soldiers?"
"I'm Sky Runner and he's Hot Shot"
"Alright. We've got to get to those guns at the top of the beach. This is the last cover were gonna have until we get to the top of the beach. Sky, Hot Shot. You two are unicorns. Do you think you could lift this barricade?"
"Together maybe for a short while. But we'll have to drop our rifles".
"That's fine. How long do you think you can hold it?"
"I don't know 10 seconds".
"Alright. We'll have to be quick. Run as fast as you can and stay behind the barricade. When we stop I want you two to stay here. We'll take out that gun. Here take this". Solar handed a Sky a radio."We'll call you hen we take out that gun. Once we do that get your asses up there. Is everypony okay with this?" The group nodded in approval. "Okay. On my count. Three!. Two!" The Unicorns readied there magic. "One!" The small wall lifted into the air a few inches off the ground and the group began to gallop up the beach as fast as they could. They got about two thirds up the beach before the barricade doped back to the ground. The two unicorns fell over with exhaustion. "Alright were almost there. Cross want you to through a grenade at that Machine gun up there".
"Sir it won't even come close.
"I know but it'll be a slight distraction. Might give us some time to get to the head of the beach. Now as for the rest of us. spread out. If we stay in a tight group it'll be easy for them to take us all at once. Once we get up there converge on the machine gun straight ahead. Once you here the sound of the grenade run. Don't hesitate. You hesitate you're dead. Ready Cross?"
"Yes sir".
"Alright. Whenever you're ready". Cross nodded. He took a grenade off his vest and pulled the pin with his teeth. Cross threw it as hard as he could. The grenade blew as it hit the ground. All the ponies rushed from behind the barricade at a full gallop. The cloud of dirt and sand from the grenade hadn't cleared yet. That was good. That gave them some time. The Group cleared the cloud and instantly the gunfire was on them. Two of The group were hit but they couldn't stop. Solar saw them go down and his heart sunk. He hadn't notice that he made it to the top of the beach. So had Cross and two others.
"Were's Blue and Spirit?"
Solar looked at Cross. "I'm Sorry Cross they didn't make it". Cross looked down. "I know you miss them but we can mourn them when we're out of hell. Right now we've gotta Take out that machine gun". Cross looked up and nodded. "Good no can you reach the machine gun with a grenade?"
"Not without breaking cover. I can toss it few yards without breaking cover though, but I've only got one left".
"Alright. We'll use it as cover. That grenade might give me enough time to get him with the rifle".
"Alright".
"Once I shoot get up to the machine gun as quick as you can and clear the box". Cross nodded. "Right. On my count then. Three, two, one". Cross tossed he grenade. It landed a ways up the hill. Solar had to wait a few seconds before the grenade exploded. Once it did Solar shot around as quick as he could and positioned himself were he assumed the machine gunner was.
As the dust cleared everything went slow motion for solar.He saw the gunner, and the gunner saw him. Solar's guess work was right on the money. The shot landed right between the griffons eyes and it fell back. Unfortunately Solar wasn't the only one who fired. Before he was shot the Griffin was able to fire three rounds from the machine gun. at the same time Solar's shot impacted the griffins head one of the griffin's shots impacted Solar's right forhoof. The other two went wild.
Solar fell back by his teammates who started up towards the machine gun. Solar laid there gritting his teeth from the pain. "Sir you alright?" Solar was surprised to hear another voice.
"Cross why the buck aren't you up clearing that box?" Solar didn't want Cross to see him in pain. Even though they were the same age Cross always had looked up to Solar.
"When I saw you fall back I stayed to make sure you were alright".
"Goddess dammit Cross! I told you to clear that box!" Cross shook his head.
"No"
"What did you say to me soldier?"
"No. I ain't leaving My CO until I Know he's alright". Solar looked down.
"Fine but hurry this shit up". Cross Nodded and ripped Solar's sleeve with his knife. Solar looked down at his wound and let out a sigh of relief.
"Looks pretty grizzly sir". Cross said jokingly.
"Walking dead am I?" Solar joked back.
"Definitely". Cross replied. Solar chuckled.
"Alright. Lets get up that hill". Cross nodded. The pair galloped up the hill together. Once they go into the box they found the other to ponies raiding the griffons body. One of the ponies came up to him holding a shotgun.
"Sir we found this by the body. Must have had it as back up. We think since it was your kill you should have it". Solar nodded and took the shotgun. It was a 12 gauge Remington pump action. Clearly made for Griffin use. He'd have to modify it but it was a nice prize.
"Alright lets get going. Give that radio". Cross handed him the radio. Solar turned it on and began to speak. "Sky Runner, Hot Shot. This is lieutenant Solar Runner. The machine gun is clear. Over". There was a few seconds of static and then a reply.
"Rodger that. We're heading up. Over". It didn't take long for Sky Runner to get to the box but he was alone.
"We'res Hot Shot?"
"He got tagged but I got through clean". Solar Nodded.
"Alright stallions. We've cleared this box but we've got four more to clear. Lets get to work". After they took that first box it was relatively easy for them to take the rest. Once the rest of the boxes were clear the rest of the pony troops were able to make it. Later that year Solar Runner along with the rest of hi unit would be awarded the Purple Heart and the Congressional metal of Honor for his actions at Pony Bay. Most historians and strategists agree that the actions of Solar Runner and his team was what indeed changed the war in Equestria's favor. Some say that if Solar Runner hadn't done what he did then the war would have been lost.
