Equestria, Canterlot
Grand Ballroom Approach

Around Eight PM

"I still can't believe it!" said Rarity. "The Grand Galloping Gala comes early this year, and it's all thanks to you Twilight!"

"Well, it wasn't my decision alone." Princess Twilight Sparkle replied. "Besides, after Tirek a lot of ponies needed some lightheartedness."

Spike nodded, but didn't say anything as he was occupied with a comic book.

"I agree." Applejack said. "Twilight, this night's gonna go swimmingly."

"I sure hope so." Rainbow Dash said. "Last time was a total nightmare."

"You're telling us." Rarity said. "I just hope Prince Blueblood isn't there."

Rarity gave a snort and shiver of contempt and pretended to pass out, causing everypony else to chuckle with laughter.

"Hey, Twilight, will Princess Cadance and Shining Armor be here?" Fluttershy asked. "I think I see their carriage now."

"Oh, yes." Twilight replied. "They're the ones who came up with the idea for tonight in the first place."

As the six of them and Spike resumed their conversation, their heads swirled with the imagination of how their nights will be spent.

====

The Crossroads

There was quiet, and stillness throughout the vast expanse of white. Then, a lone figure appeared. A human male in his forties or fifties, wearing a jungle hat and urban combat gear. A cigar was clenched in his mouth, and the ash flaked into his beard. As he stood up and looked around, he chuckled.

"Well, well." said Captain John Price. "I'm dead."

"Not entirely."

He turned to see a white, ethereal woman approach him. Her hair was flowing red, and she wore a thin robe. The only strange thing about her was the horn and wings she had.

"Who might you be?" Price asked.

"I am Faust, Captain Price." she said. "Walk with me, I've wanted to speak to you for a long time."

As Faust waved her hand, a stone walkway appeared in front of them. They strolled down the path, rocks appearing and disappearing from nowhere.

"So, I'm dead, aren't I?" Price asked.

"Yes." Faust said. "Your wounds were too great, but you accomplished your mission. The man named Makarov is dead."

"Good." Price said. "World's better off without him and his kind."

"I would agree with you, Captain Price." she said. "So many innocent souls came my way on that day in the Terminal. But that is not why I saved you."

"Saved me?" Price asked.

"When all beings die, they go to their rightful place." Faust said. "I brought you here because I need your help."

"Talk to me."

Faust waved her hand again, and a map appeared in front of Price.

"This is Equestria, the land I once called home." she said. "It is a land of magic, peace, and friendship. However, it will be endangered once again and this time, no one can stop it."

"Except me." Price said.

"Not quite." Faust smiled. "There are more I have saved, but they have not yet reached this place."

She sighed before continuing.

"Equestria has not had a war in over 1000 years, thanks to the power of my nieces, Celestia and Luna. They are currently throwing a ball in the Equestrian Capital, but it will soon be disrupted by unwelcome guests. They will die, along with many others...unless you and your friends intervene."

Price raised an eyebrow.

"Who's going with me?" he asked.

"Your allies, of which there are many." Faust said. "Captain John MacTavish, Gary Sanderson, Simon Riley, Yuri, Joseph Allen, and Team Metal. More will come in time, but they will be by your side once again."

"It'll be nice getting the band back together." Price asked. "One question, though."

"Ask it."

"Why us?" Price asked. "Why go through all this trouble to ask for my help?"

"Because you are the model soldier I need you to be." Faust said. "You are a paragon, Captain. And though your death was ill-conceived, you would come to me sooner or later."

Price nodded, recognizing her point.

"So, what are we doing?" he asked.

"First, you must deal with the unwelcome guests." Faust said. "Then, you will attack the gala yourselves, and leave this behind."

Faust handed Price a small object that looked like white-colored amber.

"Then, you must get the Equestrians to follow you at all cost." Faust said. "Specifically, and remember this, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. They are critical to your success."

"Right." Price said. "So, where do we start?"

"This way."

Faust led Price walked along the path and through a set of oak doors, into a room where Price's allies were resting on stone blocks. Price smiled at the sight of Soap, who was resting quietly, all evidence of his knife wound gone.

"If you'll excuse me, I will wake them, and explain to them what I told you." Faust said. "You will also find outside a large selection of armaments and equipment to browse at your leisure. It wouldn't be fair sending you all on such a task without proper equipment.

Price walked back through the doors, and in front of his eyes, rack upon rack of weapons appeared in front of him. Price recognized them as weapons he and his allies had used throughout their mission to end Makarov.

And on the table in front of him was a worn M1911 that Price had given to Soap upon his death. Price holstered the sidearm and began walking through the vast selections of weapons.

From small arms of all kinds, to launchers and explosives, to countless attachments such as sights and under-barrels, and grenades, flashbangs, radios...you name it, it was there.

"Hey, old man."

He turned to see Faust, accompanied by the members of TF141 and Team Metal, approach him. Soap gave his old friend an arm around the shoulder, and a smile.

"Hey, Soap." Price said. "Faust tell you what's going on?"

"Yeah." Soap replied. "Well, from saving one world to another."

"Let's kit up then, everyone." Price barked. "We've got a job to do."

As the men set about to choose their loadout, Faust smiled at the fastidiousness of the men before her. Each soldier tested several weapons before picking their loadout, and customizing them to their liking.

"Allen, heads up!" Soap said, tossing the CIA Agent a set of Frag Grenades and Flashbangs, which Allen caught with a nod.

"These look good as new." Roach said, modifying an ACR with an ACOG and suppressor, before attaching a grenade launcher. "Faust, your taste in guns is perfect."

"Thank you, Gary Sanderson." she said. "I have seen my share of modern war to know what would be suitable for you."

"In any case though…" Grinch said, as he prepared a CM901 with a Hybrid Sight. "We could take on an army with all this gear."

"I don't doubt it." Price said, picking up his customized M4A1 and MP5. "We all set, gents?"

"Good." Soap said as the remaining men finished their loadouts and approached him.

"Then I will send you off." Faust said. "Remember what I told you, Captain. You must get the Element Bearers to pursue you."

"I'll remember." Price said as a white vortex appeared in front of them. "We'll see you on the far side, Faust."

"Likewise." Faust replied. "I will part from you with this. Good luck, gentlemen."

As each of them entered the portal, Price dropped his cigar, stomped on it, and followed his allies through the vortex.

Then, all was quiet. Faust waved her hand and the weapons vanished from sight, the cigar as well.

"Godspeed, Captain Price." she said.

====

As the vision of the nine humans came back, they found themselves on a mountain precipice overlooking a enormous castle, built into a mountainside.

"They must like it big here." Sandman said.

"If it gets the job done, I really couldn't care.' Ghost added. "Price, what's the game plan?

"We need to find the unwelcome guests Faust spoke of and take them out, we cause as much of a scene as we can, finally, we get the hell out of here." Price said. "Until we're in the clear, weapons tight and low. Fire only on confirmed hostiles, and if you get spotted, keep it quiet and discreet."

"Roger that." Soap said. "Alright, let's split up. Team Metal, take Allen and Yuri. Ghost, Roach, with me and Price. We'll link up at that rotunda down there in twenty. Be careful, and check your aim."

"Roger that." the men replied. As they hooked up their lines and rappelled to the ground, the two teams split up and began their search.

====

"Twilight?"

Twilight Sparkle looked up from her plate of food to see Celestia approach.

"What's up?" Twilight asked.

"Everything seems to be going well." Celestia replied. "There hasn't been a single complaint so far. And it seems the Element Bearers are enjoying themselves."

Twilight looked around, and saw that Rarity was in discussion with Fancy Pants and Fleur-de-Lis, Pinkie was just being Pinkie, Rainbow was speaking with the Wonderbolt Soarin, Applejack was getting her own plate of food, Fluttershy was talking with Cadance and Shining Armor, and Spike was on a bench in the garden, reading a comic book he had smuggled in.

"It seems so." Twilight said. "Celestia?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think we'll have another Tirek situation?" she asked.

"I don't believe so." Celestia replied. "Tirek has been sealed away in Tartarus once more, and Cerberus assured me he won't escape again. However, now that you mention it, there is something on my mind I would like to discuss with you."

"What?" Twilight asked.

"I assume you've heard of the Griffon Land's current...situation?" Celestia asked.

"A little." Twilight replied. "Weren't they dealing with three different uprisings in three different areas?"

"Not anymore." Celestia said. "The three have become one, and joined forces against their rulers. What I am concerned about is that the rebellion leader, General Grythis, has made it clear he wants Equestrian territory along the border."

"That's not good." Twilight said.

"It isn't." Celestia said. "Grythis is, without a doubt, a killer and warmonger at heart. I've heard rumors that he kidnaps able-bodied griffons from their homes and trains them into soldiers, and that's just the beginning."

"Does ti get worse?" Twilight asked.

"It does." Celestia said. "It's also rumored he's torched ten villages and counting, executed prisoners of war, and is currently in control of the Griffonia black market. Apparently, he's coming for Equestria next if he gets control of the country."

"Can we do anything?" the Princess of Magic asked.

"Not yet." Celestia said. "Grythis's soldiers are far more experienced, motivated, and armed then our Guard, so we can't intervene just yet. I need your approval for a bill that will increase our military research budget."

"Of course." Twilight said. "If it's as bad as you say, then we need to be ready."

"It's not as bad as I say, it's worse." Celestia said. "King Goryn is hanging on by a thread to his throne, and his most powerful ally cannot help him. Quite a situation to be stuck in, and I hope to remedy that soon."

Twilight was about to ask what that meant when cracks of thunder erupted from outside. As the Gala guests turned to the main doors, a Solar Guard tore through the door and scrambled to his hooves.

"Get everypony out! We're under attack.." was all he could say before there was a crack of thunder, a spray of blood, and he fell dead. As the guests stood aghast, a platoon of Griffons wearing black appeared, bearing strange long objects. As they entered the hall, the clear leader strode forward, and motioned.

A second Solar Guard was dragged forward, bleeding and bruised. As Celestia strode forward, the Griffons did not flinch.

"What is the meaning of this?" she asked. "Whatever your dispute with Equestria is, I ask you leave my ponies out of this."

"You care for your citizens?" the leader asked. Celestia, surprised at his reply, nodded. The lead Griffon took one of the objects, pointed it at the Solar Guards head…

...then moved it to the side and fired, shooting one of his own soldiers in the head. As the body fell to the floor, the Griffon scoffed at the cries of horror.

"Care is without conviction." the Griffon said, pulling of his mask and revealing a bleached white face with a scar across his right eye.

"You will learn this, or succumb to the vultures." he said. As he walked back towards the gate, he turned back once more.

"Kill them." he said. "One bullet each, don't waste your ammunition."

As more Griffons appeared and loaded their weapons, Celestia prepared her magic to summon a shield.

Only, she didn't have to. A loud cry shattered the fragile silence, echoing through the scene.

"TAKE THEM DOWN!"

====

As Celestia summoned her shield around the attendees, she heard rapid cracks of thunder from both sides of the ballroom. As the Griffons returned fire with their own weapons, Celestia scanned the area, looking for the unseen saviors.

"Damn!" she cursed under her breath, maintaining the shield against the barrage. "Luna! Get everypony out!"

The Lunar Princess nodded and with a flash, they were all teleported away. As the Griffons lay dead or dying, Celestia lowered her shield…

…and then a final shot echoed, striking her in the leg. As she fell to the floor, she saw what had saved and then attacked her.

Nine strange beings approached from both sides, clutching weapons of their own. Celestia's eyes widened, recognizing them as Humans from the Mirror Portal. As they approached, their leader walked forward and placed a smaller weapon into the head of a wounded Griffon.

With a bang, the Griffon lay dead. As they approached, the human scoffed.

"We're not going to kill you." he said in fluent Equish. "Just make sure the Element Bearers follow us. Know that we're not who we seem to be."

Celestia could only nod, clutching her wounded leg. Then, the leader kicked her in the head, and she fell unconscious.

====

"Grinch, patch her up." Price said. "Will she live?"

"Not sure, Price." Grinch said, working away with a first-aid kit. "You might've cut an artery, she's bleeding bad."

"Just make sure she doesn't die." Price said. "One you're done, let's go. We don't have time to waste."

Price placed the amber chunk near Celestia as Grinch finished his rudimentary medical work. Then, the members of TF141 headed out through the garden and towards the castle wall. They planted ropes to rappel down, and soon they were out of the palace, heading towards the unknown.

Author's Note

Yep, it's back, and better than ever. I hope you enjoy!

Next time: Price and his team escape Canterlot as the carnage at the Gala unfolds...