Chapters View Online
Chapter 1: The Crystal Empires' falling down... Falling down..
The eagle approached the Crystal Empire. "ETA 2 minutes, disengage stealth mechanisms."
RK, the only pilot said. "We are jumping into some deep shit, Elite."If we lose the Crystal Empire we lose the war, RK." Shruko explained.
"Drop me off in the castle tower, me and Elite will secure the courtyard with sniper fire. At the same time RK, you, Manuel, and X infill through the back, and secure the castle. Eliminate every Changling you you see."
The squad gave a unanimous "Roger."
Elite brought up a map of the castle with his magic, Griffon advanced recon reports an extraordinary force, exceeding 10,000. Any other squad would be mowed down on sight. A yellow dot appeared in the tower and a lot of red dots in the courtyard. "We have been given 30 minutes until the main army comes and reinforce us. We will be laying down continuous sniper fire. Got it?" Elite commanded.
The squad grabbed their gear, RK being the heavy support 'The heavy artillery' he says. Manuel the medic, He has a speed enhancer to get to hurt troops. X being the CQB specialist, he having portable stealth mechanisms.
The ship reached the tower. The pegasus and unicorn hopped onto the crystalline surface. "I never got to visit the Crystal Empire ya know.... Before the war and all. It seems really beautiful.." Shruko said, a hint of sadness in his voice.
"Yeah, me and Rainbow visited once, the market was bustling with the Crystal Ponies. Also-" He was interrupted by slight sobbing.
"W-What was that?" Elite said, putting his gun up.
The two snipers moved to the closet, where the sobbing was coming from. Shruko slightly opened the door to see a crystal guard cowering in fear, he chanted "T-The Crystal Empires' f-falling down... F-falling down..."
The sight scared the two battle-hardened soldiers."Great Celestia...." Shruko whispered at the sight of the guard.
He then raised RK on the communicator. "RK hurry up with that clean up we have a traumatized guard here. "
RK responded, heavy amounts of gunfire in the background. "Almost done, there are less Changlings in the castle. they must all be outside. On our way. "
Shruko sighed. "No, RK, get back to the eagle we need to evac this guard. HE NEEDS OUR HELP! " Shruko yelled to RK, his distress getting the better of him. He was always the caring one.
"Fine, fine. I need a minute to get to the ship. " RK said, then cutting his communicator off.
"Thank you." Shruko said, calming down.
After the first 20 minutes it was easy, slowly picking Changling grunts off with little effort. Then they got smart and shot back at them. But it wouldn't matter.
Pretty soon Canterlots army would come in and massacre the remaining Changling forces. After 10 minutes of constant sniping, war cries were heard through the entire kingdom. Shruko smirked. It was the army.
He took his helmet off and whipped his dark brown hair into shape. "Another day another success, eh Elite?" Shruko said.
"Hell yeah, Shruko..." Elite replied, sighing
"OH DEAR CELESTIA!! " RK screamed, then static, A fiery explosion was heard outside.
"RK!!!!!" Shruko yelled, flying out so fast he almost imitates Rainbows' Sonic Rainboom.
He then moved the wrecked eagle from over top RKs' body. "RK!! Speak to me, brother!" Shruko yelled, shaking RK's dead body.
"Don't die on us now!!" He screamed again.
Elite flew up behind him, his helmet retracting. "He's dead, Shruko, there's nothing we can do..."
Shrukos' head fell, you couldn't see or hear it, but he was sobbing, like a newborn filly. He just lost someone who was like a brother to him. Who wouldn't sob?
Elite raised a hoof to Shruko. He grabbed the unicorns' hoof too lift himself off the ground. He then lifted RK's dead body onto his back and began the long track back to Ponyville, and to tell Applejack of RKs' death.
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Chapter 1.5 Some Down Time.
As the two armored ponies made their way to the Apple family farm, Elite finally spoke a brief statement, "Don't be too harsh, with this, Shruko. We both know how... direct you can be."
Shruko brushed it off. "Sorry, there wasn't a 'letting down lightly' class in my training."
The family farm came in sight, and Shruko sighed. "Have you ever...wondered about why Discord hates ponies so much?" Said Shruko, trying to spark a conversation.
"How would I know? Aside from being trapped in stone... Twice, I guess he just decide to eradicate us. Of course, that wont work." Elite said, his helmet drawing back to show his face.
"Some even said he was Celestia's friend, then he went... Crazy." Elite gestured. He started panting as they got to the entrance to the barn, where Big Macintosh was getting ready for his day; He was injured again, so he had to work short hours.
"Hey Big Mac, you seen Applejack anywhere?" Big Mac nodded, and gestured towards the orchard.
"Thanks, tell Granny Smith I said hi, ya know, when her 5 hour nap gets interrupted by something; like it always does." Big Mac nodded again, and the pegasus and unicorn disappeared around the barn headed towards the orchard.By the time they got to Applejack, Elite had his head down and was sweating.
Shruko thought to himslf. "Elite may be tough... But he does have a pitch black coat. poor guy."
Applejack turned around. "Hey y'all! Back so soon? Is it over?". Shruko nodded.
"For now at least, We came here to tell you something...Very important." He said, taking his own helmet off
"What happened, Shruk? Who's that you got on your back there?" The orange mare asked.
"It's... It's..." Elite chimed in, but being to weak to talk, he had lost a lot of hydration. Again, pitch black coat, not a good thing.
"I got this, Elite, go get something to drink, I'll meet you at the castle." Elite nodded, put his helmet on, and flew up and sped of towards, what was gonna be a water-hole, but that's another story, er, chapter.
"Well, Shruk, what happened, don't tell me any lies now, we are too good of friends to have lies between us."Applejack said, worried, partially for Elite, and partly who was on Shrukos back.
"True... Ok, here's who it is." Shruko said, setting the body down, and disengaging a lock on the outside that lets the helmet come off in the event of the suit becoming too hot on the inside and the inside mechanics melted, or if the solider inside is dead. The helmet came off with ease, and Applejack gasped, putting a hoof to her mouth and teared up.
"I-Its..." She muttered.
"Yes, it is Riku.. I'm sorry for your loss..." Shruko put the helmet back on Riku's dead body, and lifted it onto his back.
"The funeral will be in a week, would you like to say some words about him there?" Shruko asked, and Applejack simply just nodded.
"OK.. I'll be going now.. get some rest, please, you look exhausted." He said, his wings expanding.
"I will..." She said.
As Shruko lifted up he waved bye to her. She waved back."I'm on my way to the castle Elite, hurry up." Shruko said.
"Ok, *commander *" Elite said mockingly.
"Shut up. " Shruko shot back, and raced towards Canterlot Castle.
--------------------------------------------End of Chapter 1.5, official end of Chapter 1------------------------------------
Chapter 2:Loss can be tough
Shruko set Riku's body down infront of the 3 princesses. "What a shame... He was my favorite out of you guys." Twilight said, putting her book down.
"Princesses... The Crystal Empire is secure. Queen Chrysalis, Discord, and their Changling army have been decimated." Shruko said.
"Very good, Shruko..." Luna said, motioning for the guards to take Riku's body to the mourge.
Tell me, Shruko..." Celestia said, sipping her tea. "How many were there?"
"50,000, tops." the sniper replied. "If it were less I'd be back before now."
"Very true." Candace said, appearing from behind the thrones. saddle packs filled with her personals.
Shruko bowed his head. "Princess Cadance..."
"Rise, Shruko." She said. "Well, it was good to see you girls again. But I have to get back to my kingdom."
Shruko turned to leave. "Wait." Cadance said.
"Yes Princess Cadance?" He said.
"Thank you for saving my kingdom, on behalf of all the Crystal ponies." Princess Cadence said, and touched Shruko with her horn. She then pulled put a gem from her saddlepacks with her magic. "Here, have this, and when we get back on our feet, feel free to visit us any time."
Shruko took the gem and put it away in his saddle pack. "Thank you, Cadance. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to find Elite."
--------------------------------------------A few hours later-------------------------------------------------------
"Elite?!" Shruko yelled, flying from waterhole to waterhole."Where are you?"
Elite then flew past him, Rainbow dash soon followed. "Right here, Shruko." Elite said, floating near his friend. "Need anything?"
Shruko sighed. "Yeah, for you to think of things to say about Riku."
Elite raised his hoof, he was about to say something.
"Nice. Things, Elite." Shruko remarked.
"Damn..." Elite muttered lightly.
"Well you have a week to think of something." The sniper said, before flying off.
"Riiight..." Elite said, and looks over to Rainbow Dash. "Ok honey, lets go." He said before flying off with her.
--------------------------------------------That night------------------------------------------------------------------
Shruko got to his house and sighed. "These mission are getting more dangerous..." He dropped his helmet and laid on his bed. "We keep losing more and more men every time we go out..."
He closed his eyes. "And Elite just acts like its fine..."
Later he sat up and looked out his window, "Damn thoughts..." he muttered. ""This stuff's gonna drive me up a wall..."
He picked up a cup and filled it with coffee. He then sat down in front of his window. "I wonder what Elite is doing..." Shruko then thought for a bit.
"On second thought.... Nah, I'd rather not know." He said, a slight smile appeared on his face. It quickly disappeared at the thought of Elite and Rainbow having good times. He then looked back at his empty house, and it dawned upon him. All of his friends had somepony to be happy with, he had no one.
He finished his coffee and got back in bed. His eyes, packed with sadness slowly shut, sending him into his dream world.
Shruko shot up gasping for breath, he wasn't in his house, he didn't know where he was. "Shruko? Shruko wake up! " He looked around.
"I-I can't see where am I?" Shruko asked desperately,
"Open your eyes, Shruko. "The voice became slightly clear.
"I-I know that voice..." He opened his eyes, and looked around.
"Good, now we can begin class." The teacher mare said. It was the dream again.
The other ponies snickered at the colt. "Great...." He thought to himself. He hated this dream.
"Shruko," The teacher said. "Since you decided to grace us with your... conscious mind, tell us, what do you think Harmony is."
"H-Harmony?" He said. "Come on, Shruko, you know this. " He thought.
"I heard he has no parents, that they abandoned him when he was a foal." A voice behind him said.
"So he's a blank flank, an idiot, and parentless?" Another voice said.
"Kids!" Teacher yelled. "That is enough!!"
Shruko looked down at his desk, at a picture he pulled out before he fell asleep in class, it was a picture of his parents. "Harmony is having no troubles, everyone is friendly..." His voice trailed off.
"And? Come on, Shruko."
Shruko closed his eyes, tears forming in them. "It's also a place, where..."
"A place? Please elaborate, Shruko." Teacher said.
"It's a place, where I don't exist..." The class, every last filly and colt, except one giggled and snickered.
"Ain't that the truth?" One colt said.
"I think he's crying, guys." A filly said.
"So he's a blank flank, an idiot, parentless AND a crybaby. This day can not get any better." The same colt said.
Shruko put his head back down on the desk, hoping to find salvation from the laughing and the remarks. Then, soneone put their hoof on his back. "Shruko..." The teacher said.
"L-Leave me alone..." He said, and got up, turned to the door and ran out of the school.
"Shruko wait!" The teacher yelled, running after the colt.
"I said leave me alone!!" Shruko yelled, running faster. "I'm not going back there, teacher!!!"
"I just want to talk!" The teacher replied,catching up to him.
"Talk about what?! How my parents left me to DIE ?!?!" Shruko screamed, With that he was picked up by his tail, the teacher and Shruko slowly came to a stop.
"Put me down!" Shruko screamed, "I'm never going back there!"
The teacher did just that, she put him down, but put her hoof up to him. "Shruko... Don't you move..."
Shruko complied and sat down. "W-Why did you chase me?" He asked.
"To talk, Shruko. I knew your parents, they didn't abandon you, they-"
"Yes they did!! They didn't tell me good bye, they didn't leave me at a friends house, no they left in the DAMN TOWN SQUARE !!" He yelled, and hit his hoof against the ground.
"That isn't true, Shruko... They went back to Cloudsdale... Your father didn't secure you well enough and you fell and landed in town square."
"You're telling me this to make me feel better..." Shruko spoke up. "well, guess what, it isn't working..."
"You aren't listening to me." The teacher said, in an annoyed tone.
"And if you don't bring me my parents I won't believe you either." Shruko shot back.
"OK... Come with me." The teacher said, turning to go somewhere. Shruko soon followed. They came to two gravestones outside of city limits.
"They looked for days, they didn't east, drink, sleep. They were going to look in another town when they..." The teachers voice trailed off.
"When they succumbed to exhaustion, hunger, and thirst, and they dropped dead, right here." She continued.
Shruko then shot up, his heart beating hard, cold sweat beading on his face, and someone knocking on his door.
"Who is it?" Shruko said, wiping his face on his blanket.
"You know who it is." He got up quickly and opened the door.
"Princess Luna..." He bowed
"You may stand..." Luna said. "You had that dream again, what troubles you, Shruko?"
"I-Its... I was just thinking of my school years..."
Luna chuckled. "Come, Shruko, you don't take me for a fool so easy do you?"
Shruko chuckled. "Please, come in." He said.
"I see you haven't forgot your manners, Shruko." She walked in and sat near a window.
"Well, I am in the presence of the Princess of the night, a snipers best friend." Shruko said, pouring the Princess a cup of tea.
"Very true, my student." she said, taking the cup with her magic.
Shruko sat adjacent to her. "Well, about my dream... It's just when I think of how happy my friends are, because everyone I know has a special somepony..."
Luna looked at Shruko. "Continue."
"And I have no one, and then I start thinking of my parents..." He said, looking down at his drink.
"Shruko, come here." Luna said.
He walked over to her, his eyes closed, Luna laughed a little and wrapped her wing around him. "You may not have a special somepony, but you have friends who would jump in front of a loaded gun in a split second. you have an entire empire thankful for what you did." Luna explained to him.
Shruko smiled and leaned on Luna. "Thank you, teacher. for making me feel better." He said and opened his eyes.
Luna giggled and stood up. "I should get going, get back to sleep, Shruko."
"Ok, Princess." He opened the door to let her out and moved out of her way.
She walked out, opened her wings and looked back at him. "Good night, Shruko, sweet dreams." She the flew off to Canterlot castle.
"Yeah... Good night, princess."
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Chapter 3: Some lines were never meant to be crossed
When not away at war, Shruko found himself doing the same things, in the morning he got his coffee, then he would take a walk around Ponyville, after that he'd either go to Sugarcube corner and get something to eat, hang out in the park, or fly around if there was truly nothing else to do. But not today, today just like very year, he'd go to the edge of town and put a flower on his parents graves. He picked up his helmet, put it on and walked out of the door. Something was odd about today, but he couldn't put his hoof on it. "Hey, Shruko!" yelled a familiar voice, it was none other than Pinkie Pie, bouncing up and down. "Hello, Pinkie." He replied and looked at her. "What cha doing? You gonna come to the Sugarcube corner? Me and the Cakes have done something really special for you." Pinkie explained, "Maybe later, Pinkie, right now I have to go see something, But I promise, I will come see this surprise." Shruko said, as he continued walking. Pinkie sighed "But its reaaaaaaaaaaaally really really really important you come see right now!" Pinkie pleaded. Shruko stopped in his place. "Ok, Pinkie... Tell me, whats so important that it can't wait 5 damn minutes...?" Shruko asked, turning to the pink mare. She grabbed him by the hoof, basically dragging hm "Come see! Come seeeeeeeee!" Inside his helmet Shruko rolled his eyes, knowing he can't stop her at this point. "Fine, but could you just let me go? I'm no foal I can walk myself, Pinkie." She, of course, didn't listen and continued to drag him.
In almost no time they were at Sugarcube Corner. "And you can't tell me why you're dragging me here why?" Shruko complained, "It's a surprise, silly!" Pinkie said, Shruko made her stop in place. "Pinkie I'm a hardened killer, I'd say that as far from silly as you can get." Shruko explained. "But, you're still the same Shruko before you enlisted and that Shruko was really silly!" He sighed in defeat. "True," He complied. "But really, what is so impor-" He was stopped by pinkie opening the door and a few ponies yelling "Surprise!!! " Shuko took his helmet off too see if it was messing up. "W-What is this...?" Shruko said, dumbfounded. "It's your birthday party, silly!" Pinkie exclaimed. "It was all Twilight's idea, she-"Pinkie was stopped by the purple mare "Pinkie had noticed that she had thrown everypony in Ponyville a birthday party except you, so I came up with the idea to use the time traveling spell to go back to when you were born which is today." Twilight explained to the shocked stallion. "B-But today is..." Shruko said, before he was stopped again, this time by another stallion "Today is the day your parents died looking for you oh boo hoo" Shruko's facial expression changed from shock to disgust. The voice was familiar, too familiar. The stallions voice rang over and over in his head "So he's a blank flank, an idiot, parentless AND a crybaby. This day can not get any better. " Shruko was on the ground, hooves over his head. The stallion spoke up again. "What are you gonna do, man, CRY?" Shruko stopped shaking. "No..." He suddenly shot up with his wings. Shruko grabbed the brown stallion threw him outside. He was soon followed Shruko ad grabbed his horn and pinning him to the ground. "Now it's time to repay you for the years of torment you gave me." Shruko growled. "Wait, wait. I-It was all just a joke, come on. Everypony needs a laugh every once in a while." The brown stallion pleaded, but it only further angered the pegasus. "Yeah, now its time for everypony to laugh at you." Shruko growled again. By now a group of the party goers and two more of the mane six surrounded the two stallions. "Whats goin' on Twi?" Applejack asked. Twilight explained that today is Shruko's birthday and how when the brown stallion spoke up Shruko blacked out and when he said something else Shruko snapped. She was cut off from explaining further due to a sickening crackand a bloodcurdling scream. "Fluttershy what happened?" Applejack asked the yellow mare. "H-He..." She stopped. "He broke that unicorn's..." She continued again. "He broke that unicorns horn." Fluttershy said before fainting and falling on Applejack. Shruko looked down at the brown stallion now writhing in pain. "Now... TIME TO END IT!!! " Shruko screamed followed by a maniacal laugh. He brought down the dismembered horn but was stopped by a loud boom. "It's princess Luna!" one mare exclaimed. "Shruko!! That is enough!!! " Princess Luna said, using her royal equestrian voice. He slowly came back to his senses. "W-What...? Princess Luna...?" Shruko said. "Shruko, what has gotten into you?" Luna asked. "I-I don't know..." He said looking down. "D-Did I do this...?" He asked, dropping the horn. Luna extended her hoof to help him up. "Shruk, come to Canterlot Castle, we need to see whats wrong, you come to Twilight Sparkle." "Ok, Luna." Twilight said. But SHruko only nodded.
At the castle Shruko was escorted to the throne room. Celestia, Luna, and Twilight. Celestia was the first to speak up. "Well, Shruko. Would you like to explain what happened?" Shruko sat in front of the three princesses. "I-I don't know..." Celestia nodded. and turned to Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle?" She said. "Ok, so Pinkie was throwing Shruko a party because we found out that his birthday was today so we invited everypony that he knew, and one pony spoke up and he just, snapped." Twilight said. "And-" She said before she was cut off by Luna. "Wait, that was the same colt from your reoccurring dream. That means-" Luna was cut off by Twilight. "That means when he snapped all the pent up rage was released. turning you into a different Shruko." Twilight finished. "I-I didn't mean to hurt anypony... Honest." Shruko spoke up. Luna looked down at him. "I know you didn't, Shruko, I know you too well." Celestia closed her eyes and nodded. "Very well. Go home, Shruko, get some rest." She said. "T-Thank you, Princess Celestia..." Shruko said and flew out of the castle. Celestia and Twilight turned to look at Luna. "You've become quite attached to him, sister." Celestia said. "What do you two do when you disappear from the castle?" Luna blinked. "I don't know what you're talking about, sister. All I do is go comfort him when he has that dream." Luna explained. "Yeah, you have been disappearing a lot when Shruko is home." Twilight added. "You have feelings for him, don't you Luna?" "Twilight Sparkle what are you talking about?" Luna replied. "He's been having that dream a lot recently. So I go comfort him, that's all." Twilight then teleported to Luna. "Come on, Luna, be honest. You like him, don't you?" Luna closed her eyes and pushed Twilight out of her face. "Look, Twilight Sparkle, I taught him about the night, he learned. Now we are friends, ok?" Luna explained slowly. "Suuuuuuuuuuuuure." Twilight replied. "Twilight Sparkle." Celestia said. "That's enough." Luna got up and walked to the balcony. "I'm going to raise the moon." She said. When she got to the balcony she sighed. "Besides... He doesn't like me like that... Does he...?" She muttered as she raised her sentient being.
Rainbow Dash was flying around, practicing new tricks she invented when she saw familiar a pegasus and unicorn in the distance. Before she could react, they flew past her. "Hey! Wait up!" She yelled, going near her top speed to catch up with them.
"Your girlfriends following us, Elite, spend some time with her, I'll tell Twilight, Luna and Celestia." Before the two knew it, she was flying in between them,
"Wait up! I need to show you two something!" Rainbow Dash yelled,
"I need to show you guys something!"
"The princesses can wait, Shruko, put the brakes on it." Elite said, looking around Rainbow Dash to Shruko. The pegasus sighed,
"Fine.." He groaned.
Elite looked over to Rainbow Dash, "Alright." With that, the two pegasi and unicorn slowed to a stop.
Shruko was the first to take his helmet off, his blue coat almost as blue as Rainbows, Then Elite, though his was connected to his suit, his pitch black coat shined in the sunlight, his jet pack keeping him afloat."Yes, Rainbow dear?" Elite asked.
"Watch this trick!" Rainbow pleaded.
"Elite this really can't wait! The changlings are probably half way to the Crystal Empire now!" Shruko yelled, seeing the force first hand.
"Changlings? I thought they were bound to their Hive." Rainbow Dash shuttered
"Discord is leading them." Shruko explained.
"And if we don't warn the princesses than fighting would be a lost cause." The armored pegasus said with distress in his voice.
"My recon squad, what is there to report?" Princess Celestia said with a warming voice.
"Princess, the Chaingling army has mobilized and is en route to the Crystal Empire as we speak, Discord is leading them." Shruko reported.
"Thank you, Shruko, I'll have Twilight inform Cadance as soon as possible." Celestia nodded.
"Princess we volunteer to defend the Crystal Empire, if thats o-" Shruko was cut off by a voice in his transmitter.
"Mayday mayday the Crystal Empire is under attack requesting reinforcements, ASAP." The voice cut off there.
"Shruko get RK on the communicater, tell him we need an eagle." Elite said, his helmet covering his head again."We are going to war."
"B-but..!" Rainbow Dash said, clinging to Elite.
"I'm sorry, another time, OK?" Elite reassured her.
"O-Ok.." She said.
"Get the squad ready, we leave at 0600 sharp."
"Roger that." Shruko said, before raising the rest of the team.
---------------------------------------------------------End of prologue---------------------------------------