Author's Note

Hey everyone, this is my very first story I've written in second person.
Special shoutout for Israel Yabuki, who inspired me to write something like this. Please enjoy the story.

A sight for a soldier's eyes

What many others wanted to do, was to make a difference in life, wanting to do something better. In your case, you wanted to be a soldier, to serve your country, to prove that you were more than capable into protecting others around you, even your loved ones and your home. There were many ways in doing it, like law enforcement, firefighter, paramedics. Or being secretive like the FBI. All except for the CIA. You don’t like secrets being kept, for how can you expect others to trust you, if you tend to keep things behind their backs. No…you decided to take a directive approach.

You wanted to be a soldier.

Your parents didn’t approve though. Your father was a veteran in the Vietnam War, and he had seen far too much that would prove very traumatic to others, especially the scorn he endured from society when he and his fellow soldiers returned home from there. Your mother on the other hand, her father’s brother died in the Second World War, and her father knows the true meaning of loss. Her father also fought when the Vietnam war began, but he was sent home when he had lost his left leg in battle. But you didn’t care, you wanted to make a difference, and if it meant stopping threats that came from another country, then so be it.

Then about a month later, shortly after your nineteenth birthday and months after you graduated from school, you decided to go enlist. There were many places to go to. But then you saw something that caught your attention.

The Navy SEALS.

There were many different units that had the country’s best to defend their country, the Navy SEALS were among the best of the group. Plus the only reason you wanted to give a shot was because of your favorite show, Hawaii Five-O. Seeing Steve McGarrett, performing his duty to help others, as both a Navy SEAL and Law Enforcement, you wanted to be just like him. Not only serving his country, but because of the Compassion he showed for others and the respect he’s earned. That’s one of the reasons you wanted to enlist, because not only did you want to serve your country, but also the compassion and respect you wanted to give to those around you.

In the end, you made your choice.

They warned you that the SEALS are among the best, and you wouldn’t stand a chance. You could only smirk, for boy they were going to be wrong.

You go through certain testing, to make sure that you’re in perfect health, and that you didn’t have any medical problems or conditions. Thankfully, you were smart enough to be healthy before your teenage years. You always performed your best in both body and mind, not like other jock heads around you. To make sure that your mind is still sharp, but also to ensure that your body is well trained. Guess that’s the reason why you were able to get a scholarship to a good college, and why you had to be extra careful to ensure you didn’t lose it.

Soon after that…your true test as a SEAL began, by going through different stages.

Stage 1, Naval Special Warfare Preparatory, or NSW prep as they called it, focuses on physical fitness, academic topics and mental toughness. To swim as they want it, to do pull-ups, push-ups and curl-ups as they wanted, even a four mile run. Guess the documentaries were true, especially since you had to run that long just to get something to eat.

Stage 2, Naval Special Warfare Orientation, or NSWO, focuses on tackling the Obstacle course, improving your swimming skills and Understand the values of teamwork.

Stage 3, which is the first phase for basic conditioning, or as they called it “Hell Week”. You’ll perform the same skills as the previous, only much tougher and you’ll also have less sleep, which helps see if you can take a short nap in case, you’re in the middle of enemy territory whilst your teammates will keep watch.

And during the three stages, you didn’t care how tough you were. What you did care about, was your fellow trainees. Many times they were close into giving up, but instead you chose to help them and support them, to ensure they reach their goals, even if they are at their breaking point. The instructors noticed this, and though they were strict, they deeply admire your commitment to ensure your teammates or squad, will make it through despite their own setbacks.

Stage 4, which is the second phase, combat diving, which that kind of training is a must. You train for aquatic operations, to endure stressful environments when facing certain obstacles, even when fighting from the waters.

Stage 5, the third phase, which focuses on Land Warfare training, which by then most candidates, including your fellow trainees, focuses on not just patrols in dangerous situations, but also basic weapons, marksmanship, demolitions, navigation, repelling and other combat tactics.

Finally, Stage 6, the SEAL qualification training, where you’ll focus on tactical advance training to join the SEALs. This also focuses on Weapons training, Maritime operations, Small unit tactics, Land navigation, Demolitions, Cold weather training, Medical skills, Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape.

Once you’re done, you receive your SEAL Trident and are assigned to a SEAL team.

In the end, you, along with the twenty four trainees that you helped, graduated and were now a full-fledged SEAL. And surprisingly, they gave you the rank of Lieutenant because of your commitment to ensure that your fellow soldiers make it through, and the Trainees that you helped were placed under your command.

For the past ten years, you served your country with honor and distinction. You were even promoted to Commander, a feat that no one thought would be possible. And to make it more memorable, you were even part of SEAL Team Six. And during your time of peace, you were able to have a family of your own, and even gained kids. A daughter that’s about 10 years old, and a son that’s about two years younger than your daughter.

However, all that changed when you were assigned to help the CIA. You didn’t want to help them because you know that they have a habit of hiding secrets from everyone. And if what all of Delta Special Forces and other Navy SEAL Teams have told you, the CIA can never be trusted, not with all the secrets they kept, especially the ones that went rogue. Though no matter how much you protest, you can’t disobey your Generals, so you had to go with them.

That’s when things have changed.

You and your team were assigned to a small town near the American Border between America and Mexico, where the CIA caught wind that a terrorist organization, calling themselves, the “Death Eyes”, somehow found their way to America and were planning to attack any city in the US. They said that they number by the thousands and have taken over a small town. So you and your team were stationed there to launch a missile strike, destroying the entire town. However…

Horror struck.

When you and your teams were sent to see if there were any survivors, you were horrified to see that there never was a terrorist organization, just an entire town filled with American citizens, including Tourists. But that’s not what the true horror was. The True horror…

Your wife and two children were there on tour.

And not just them, your entire unit’s families were there too as they uncovered many of their fallen family members. That’s when a group of soldiers from Shadow Company arrive. Just before they could pull the trigger on them, you easily kill them with your skills with your pistol. You kept one, the squad leader, to find out the truth. It turned out, the CIA group that recruited you were a rogue faction, who wanted America to be at war against the Taliban and to devote whatever resources they could for the kill. This…you weren’t going to let this stand. From then on, you and your entire team, along with the rest of Seal TEAM 6, whose families were also there, all came together to attack the compound the CIA group were hiding, along with the entire Shadow Company, holed up in a large compound that they took over a while back.

You and your entire Unit, launched the biggest attack ever. You stormed the entire compound, killing anyone getting in your way to get to them. During the fight, your entire unit was wiped out, but you were able to make it to the leader, the one responsible for all of this. Before he could escape, you fought him on the roof and with great force, after you tied his neck, you ended up throwing both yourselves off of the roof, where he was hanging from the side of the building. You landed on the ground, but you were suddenly in great pain. When you looked up, you saw a metal pipe had pierced your stomach. You didn’t have long to live. But then you heard vehicles and helicopters coming in.

Turned out, there were many Seal TEAM and Delta Forces who caught wind of what the rogue faction had done. They came around, sweeping for survivors. They captured many Shadow Company forces, even two CIA subordinates who were still alive. They rounded up your fallen teammates whilst they went over to you last. The last thing you could see, was them removing you from the metal pipe, trying to save you. And then…you fell into darkness.

***********************************************************************************************

You suddenly felt something on your forehead. It’s something…wet? You slowly open your eyes. You saw water dripping from your forehead. You must be in a hospital, for might be the nurse coming around to make her rounds. But when you opened your eyes, you were greeted by someone with a…Pony face?!!

“Whoa!!” you exclaimed and yelped when you jumped backwards, but then hit your head onto something. “Ow!! Dammit!!”

“Easy there!!” said the pony, “We don’t need you to have a concussion.”

You opened your eyes and you were able to take a good look at her. She was indeed a pony, but not fully. She had pony features, but she also had a human body. What was it, anthropomorphic? Good thing his daughter taught him that a year before she…

You once again looked at her. You noticed that she was also an inch shorter than you, or in this case, about 6-foot-2. Well, given how you’re about 6-foot-4, the same height as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson because of the amount of training you did in your teenage years and in the military, it would make sense. If she was that tall, then she would also have done some amount of training. She also had pony ears, brown fur, green eyes, and golden hair tied in a ponytail, same with her tail. She also had a G-Cup rack…whoa, what the heck, why are you talking about that now?!!

You also noticed that she was wearing a type of clothing, clothing that you’ve never seen before.

“What?” said the pony as she was looking at you with a flexed eyebrow.

“What…are you?” you asked. You mentally slapped your forehead for asking a stupid question like that.

“Oh, I’m a pony.” Said the pony. “As you might have noticed.”

“Yeah, some of the features,” you said, “Though I wasn’t expecting an…”

“Anthro?” said the pony, to which you nod. “Yeah, we get that a lot.”

“What kind of outfit are you wearing?” you asked, wanting to change the subject. “Are you in the military?”

“No, not really.” Said the mare, “I wear this outfit whenever I go hunting. Or when I’m busy fighting against Lord Dainn’s forces. But they haven’t been seen for a long time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh, this country was once at war about sixty years ago,” said the pony, which suddenly gave you mixed feelings, “But thanks to some friends of ours from out of the country, they were able to help free and restore the kingdom. Lord Dainn is still out there, but he’s been driven away from here long ago. But I’m afraid some of his forces chose to remain here to give us trouble at every corner.”

You sighed in somewhat relief, knowing that the war on this country was over. However, you grew concerned that there were still threats in this country. But then as you thought about threats, you think about that tragic day…the day you lost…

“Hey,” said the pony as she was getting concerned. “Are you okay?”

“Uh, sorry.” You said, “Bad memories.”

She then took a good look at you, and said “I assume you’re in the military?”

You looked at her with a flexed eyebrow, but then she motioned onto your body, which you looked. You saw that you had many scars. Comes with the territory when you fight against Terrorist groups over the years.

“Oh yeah.” You said. “Been in the army for almost eleven years. But in the elite division.”

“Which is?”

“Navy SEALs.” You responded. She once again looks at you with a flexed eyebrow, which you replied with “Long story.”

“Well, we have time.” Said the pony in question as she offered to help you up, which you accepted. But you felt yourself exposed because you were in your underwear. She pointed at the clothing and said “I took the liberty of washing them for you. Though I had to change the shirt. The rest of your wears were a bit damaged.”

“Understandable.” You replied as you got up and put your clothes on. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“Oh, my name is Goldenrod, you?” Said the pony in question. After you introduce yourself, she said “Nice to meet you. And Commander, huh?”

“Yeah, I worked hard when I was in training.” You replied.

“I can see that.” She said whilst she guided you out of her house.

When they got outside, you were shocked to see a big scary looking beast, making you yelp and stand in front of Goldenrod in order to shield her. She was a bit surprised by this, but then remembered that you weren’t from this world.

“Relax,” said Goldenrod as she moved aside and walked towards the beast, “It’s a Grogu Beast. They’re quite tame, and they only attacked when they’re provoked.”

She walked to the carriage that the beast was going to pull, with you following suit, but more carefully. Once you two were on the carriage, she signaled the beast to move, which it did at a fast but not too fast pace. As you rode with her, you decided to try to pass the time and talk to her.

“So…” you said in a nervous tone, “How did you get involved in the war.”

“I didn’t,” said Goldenrod, “My master rescued me when I was only a filly. She took me in and trained me how to fight. Overtime, she gave me a difficult task. And that’s to be to look after the sacred flame of Caribouria, the source of the kingdom’s power. Whilst at the same time, I was also assigned to look after the Knights of Harmony’s armor and weapons so that when the time would come, the chosen bearers of the Knights’ armor would wield them and save our kingdom.”

“And now that it is?” you asked.

“Well, there was no need for me to guard the armor and weapons anymore, since the Knights went home to protect their new home,” said Goldenrod, “And the King entrusted his entire company, his friends, to look after the flame to ensure no one would use it for their own personal gain.”

“So there’s no special forces or anything to look after this kingdom?” you asked, “Like a small squad?”

“Well, I’m not sure.” Said Goldenrod, “The King had been focused on restoring the Kingdom to its former glory. Plus our forces our spread thin with the reconstruction effort, so I’m not sure if we have anyone else to help look after the kingdom.”

You look down in thought, thinking that if the kingdom doesn’t indeed have any forces to help keep the balance, then no doubt more innocents in small villages would continue to suffer like this. You couldn’t stand the thought a family would be lost, just like yours. You gripped both your fists, for now you have made up your mind.

“The capitol’s up ahead.” Said Goldenrod, breaking you from your thoughts.

You blinked in surprise and looked ahead. For you were on the top of the hill and you were amazed by what you see. A large city like that, the kingdom of Caribouria, in all its glorious splendor.

As you rode through town, you see so many citizens, walking by on the streets. Each of them different, yet still try to get along. It was then, you realized your goal. This…is what you would do.

*************************************************************************************************

The two of you were in the throne room. And upon the two thrones, were two individuals. One who looked like a Caribou and wore the royal garments, which you realizes is the king. Whilst on the right, to your surprise, was a human female. She was married to him? How did that happen?

“Your majesties.” Said Goldenrod with a bow.

“Ah, Goldenrod. It’s been far too long.” Said the king. “How is the home that we’ve built.”

“So far it’s quite good.” Said Goldenrod, but then looked bored and said “Although a peaceful life in the countryside can be a bit boring.”

The Queen giggled and said “Well you said you wanted to live somewhere away from the noise. And we didn’t want to turn away an ambassador who sometimes visits other kingdoms to help find a peaceful solution.”

“I suppose.” Said Goldenrod.

“So who’s this human next to you?” asked the king. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Oh, pardon.” Said Goldenrod. She turned to you and said “Allow me to introduce to Thorin Oakenshield, the ruler of Caribouria. And alongside him is his wife, Lizzie Silver. Or in this case, Lizzie Oakenshield since the day she got married.”

“Please to meet your acquaintance.” Said Thorin. You introduced yourself and said your name and rank, leaving Lizzie surprised.

“Oh, I didn’t realize we had a soldier, and a Navy SEAL if you will.” Said Lizzie. She turned to her husband and said “Back in my world, the Navy SEALs are considered to be one of the best units in the country.”

“I see.” Said Thorin. He looked to you and said “And you happen to be a Commander?”

“That’s right.” You replied, “Served more than ten years in the SEALs, though my father and mother didn’t approve of me joining, considering both of them knew of the scars that would’ve been left behind.”

“And why did you?” asked Thorin as he leaned forward.

“I wanted to serve.” You replied. “I didn’t care how dangerous or traumatic it was. I wanted to make sure that the problems from another country didn’t happen back home. And if it meant that the country I served would sleep better at night, knowing that we’d be able to succeed in life, then so be it.”

Thorin could see in your eyes, that kind of drive and determination, he couldn’t help but smile and said “I think we found a solution.”

He stood up and walked over to you. The moment he was close enough, he said “Walk with me.”

The two of you walked together, wondering what he had in mind. As the two of you walked, he said “As you know, ever since we saved our kingdom, there are still some of Lord Dainn’s forces. You know the tyrant he had become and oppressed the country for a long time.”

“And from what Goldenrod told me,” you replied, “There were humans who helped liberate your kingdom, but there are still a pocket of Lord Dainn’s forces still out there.”

“Precisely.” Said Thorin. The two of you approached the balcony, where he leaned forward, and said “I had just freed my kingdom from a tyrant that was hellbent in destroying it. I do not wish to let this happen again. Which is why I am asking for your help.”

He turned to him and said “I know this is too much to ask, and I know you’re still trying to gather your bearings. But I need your help. From what I have witnessed, you are a soldier who knows how to get the job done. I need that kind of soldier who can help us. So I’m asking you. Will you help me?”

“Say no more.” You replied, immediately accepting his answer. “But on three conditions.”

“Name it.” Said Thorin.

“One, I will need a list of your best soldiers. We’ll form a Legion, so that whenever we go out there, we will be able to respond and help those in need. Two, I will need whatever resources you can spare in order for us to perform the best of our duties.”

“And the third?”

“No secrets.” You replied, which made the king flex an eyebrow. “I cannot display my trust on one who isn’t honest with me. If I am to make this work, then I work for you and only you.”

Thorin thought about it, then nodded in approval and said “Very well. I’ll make it happen within the week. In the meantime, you are more than welcome to spend the night here or at any other place until we can get you up to speed.”

“I’d appreciate that.” You replied. But then you said, “But I’d also like to have someone as my second in command.”

“Oh?” said Thorin, “Do you have someone in mind?”

You couldn’t help but smile, for you have just the one in common.

*************************************************************************************************

One week later, you were in a room, near a table, making what appeared to be weapons, whilst wearing armor that they said resembled to your uniform, but bearing the colors of the Oakenshield company. And soon enough, you were accompanied by none other than Goldenrod, who was wearing the same armor you had, and looked over the weapons you made.

“I can see you are creative when making weapons.” Said Goldenrod.

“It’s a hobby,” you replied, “When I was at the base I had learned to clean and fix weapons, and I also knew how to fix them, with the right parts. And I couldn’t believe that one of the humans thought of the same thing before I did.”

“It helped our archers numerous times.” Said Goldenrod, “And it also became very handy. Although…”

“What?”

“Why did you pick me?”

“Cause from the moment I met you, I could tell that you are also capable of fighting, someone who is also loyal and also passionate of helping others. Hence why you were the best selection. And second…”

You looked at her and you couldn’t help but smirk and said “I like your eyes.”

But as you looked, you failed to see the mare next to you blushing madly. She shook her head and asked “So what do you plan to call this group?”

“The Oakenshield Task Force.” You replied, “To show where our loyalties lie.”

“Smart thinking.” Said Goldenrod. “So, are you ready to meet your Task Force?”

“Are you goldilocks?” you retorted.

She suddenly grabbed you by your shirt collar and pulled you closer as she had an angry look. “Don’t. Call me that.” She responded in a harsh tone and let you go.

As she let you go and walked away to the door, you couldn’t help but blush. Wow, you haven’t felt that way since…you shook your head, wanting to focus on the job at hand. The two of you soon approached a door and opened it. The moment you entered, you saw a

Caribou, an Earth Pony, a Unicorn, a Pegasus, a Yak, a Griffon, a Dragon, a Changeling, a Hippogriff, a Kirin, a Wolf, a Deer, an Abyssinian, a Diamond Dog, a Harpy, a Ahuizotl, a Minotaur and a Siren, each bearing the same uniform you were, with weapons you gave them. But from right below them, were 82 others below, each representing their military, to help with the kingdom as well as prepare their weapons and transportation. All of them had coaches, being pulled by winged beasts, which would allow all of you to have an easier time getting from one place to another.

“You lot ready?” you asked, allowing the others to nod. “Then let’s do this.”

You and Goldenrod soon lead your new Task Force to help clean up the mess left behind by Dainn’s forces in Caribouria. And you would help protect your new home…or die trying.