"We're hitting the beaches in ten seconds!", The landing craft sailor screamed over the roar and swoosh of ocean, bullets, and stray Diamond Dog cannon fire.
"Listen up!", Captain Shining Armor screamed to his platoon not two seconds later. "We're going to hit these beaches fast and we're going to hit them clean! Keep your heads down the entire way... Unless of course you want to be sent home without a head. Lock and Load gentle colts".
I heard the cocking and smacking of each of my platoon mate's weapons. Then, I heard my weapon cock and smack. It was second nature to me now.
"We're on the beaches!", the landing craft pilot yelled.
"Alright", began Captain Shining, "Clear the mortal hole and move up the beaches! Do not stop! I repeat DO NOT STOP!!"
I barely heard the captain over the ding and rattle of bullets spanking the landing craft. The captain turned to me and Fireblast. We were going to be the first two out of the landing craft. I turned to Fireblast who gave me an approving, "I'm ready" nod. I turned back to the captain, and gave my nod. He, in turn, turned to the sailor. I turned back around.
"Opening bay doors! Stand back!", yelled the sailor.
I watched as the bay doors slowly crept down. I felt as if they were taunting me, telling me that my time was up. It sickened me. I almost puked. I blinked instead.
The doors went down into the already blood red sand. I flung my eyes open and rushed outside. Bullets were zinging this way and that. In the corner of my eye, I saw Fireblast get his right arm, left leg, and then left eyeball ripped off. It was in that order too. Fireblast went down. I, however, had to focus upon my own issues.
I sprinted forward. Where? I didn't have a clue. I ran in a zig-zag, as we were taught. My only cover was the already dead Equestrian Marines that not two hours ago I was eating breakfast with.
I ran to one body. It had guts and a spleen sprawled on the wet sand. As I examined it, a bullet cracked past my left ear and splashed into the sand. Pieces of sand flew up into the air and sprayed their hard, annoying bits everywhere. I took immediate notice and ducked my head. Just when I did, another bullet whizzed by and cracked into a nearby Equestrian marine. He was thrown two feet back...dead.
The chaos was everywhere. Medics were tending to the wounded before finding themselves wounded. Soldiers were being blown and shredded apart. Diamond Dogs... they were massacring every pony.
Another bullet interrupted me again. This one actually hit my helmet. I heard the crack and sting of the metal. I ducked down quicker than anything that I can describe. I slowly moved my hooves around trying to see if I was still alive or at least if I was hit. Miraculously, I wasn't. My helmet was the only thing which took the fall.
Bullets began to crack around my area more ferociously. This meant one thing... I was being targeted. The Diamond Dogs knew that I was around this area.
I couldn't stay here long. I knew that eventually the Diamond Dogs, the Dingoes, as we nicknamed them, would lock on to me and blow my head off. However, I had nowhere to run. Nowhere.
The bullets got closer and closer to my position. The situation was getting darker and darker. Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw an Assault Vehicle moving up the beach. It fired its shells hitting bunker after bunker, blowing them to rocky smithereens. That is where I had to go.
I grabbed my rifle and fired a three round burst. Then, I got up and sprinted over to the tank. As I neared the tank, I noticed that the captain was there. I also saw some of my other platoon mates. This was motivation. Adrenaline pumped and fused deeper and deeper into my blood. I made it to the tank in ten seconds flat... literally.
"Captain!", I screamed to Shining as I threw myself against the tank's side using it as cover.
"Hey there Sledgehammer!", he yelled back to me, "Glad you finally joined us!".
I gave the captain a smirk.
"Sir!", I said, "Anything that you need me to do!"
"Take this--"
"INCOMING!!!", Somepony yelled.
I turned my head before seeing a rocket flying straight for the front of the tank. I threw myself back just as the rocket slammed into the front of the tank. I heard a loud boom as darkness overcame me.
------------------------------------------------------------- Two Years Earlier ------------------------------------------------------
"Hey Rarity... Would you like chocolate ice cream or vanilla?", I asked my great marefriend.
"Oh Sledgehammer", she exclaimed, "You're such a good colt, darling. I am the luckiest mare in the world!"
"No Rarity... I am the luckiest colt in all of the world. I was able to find you, my crowning jewel, a precious and rare treasure."
"Oh Sledge... I love you."
I began to put my head forward, lips ready to kiss my love when the ice cream pony interrupted.
"Hey! Love ponies! Either order or take it somewhere else! I have a line, you know?"
"Oh sorry sir", apologized Rarity.
"Yes, sorry", I returned before re-questioning Rarity upon her ice cream of choice.
"I'll take a vanilla", Rarity exclaimed.
"Right on!", exclaimed the ice cream server before turning around to prep the frothy, white sugary goodness.
As Rarity and I waited patiently for our ice cream, I pulled out my wallet to pay the colt when he returned. When he did, I gave him the money, and he, in turn, gave me the ice cream. Then, Rarity and I went over to sit upon the benches overlooking the beautiful sunset. Man, was it beautiful. And it wasn't the sunset I was talking about.
"Man, is it beautiful", I whispered to Rarity.
"I know", she said, "The Equestrian sun is always beautiful when it sets upon the horizon".
"Not the beaches", I returned, "You-- You're just so sooooo beautiful."
"Oh", she said before turning away, blushing.
I continued to look at her, and then I noticed the little, watery droplet fighting to squeeze out of her eye. She was trying to hide it. She was trying to be strong, but she couldn't.
"Rarity?", I softly whispered into her ear, "Are-- Are you alright", I asked her, knowing the answer.
"Yeah", she said, but I could sense the lie within her voice.
"It's me, isn't it?", I asked her.
"No... It's ju--"
"Rarity, I know it's me. Please don't try to hide it. Please share it with me. Could you do that for me?"
It was after I said this that Rarity burst into tears, padding her perfectly shaped head into my shoulders, crying like she was a young filly who had just found out about the death of her father. Instantly, I wrapped my front legs around her, and hugged her like I have never hugged anyone before. I squeezed her tighter than ever. Then, I whispered as soft as I could to her.
"It's okay, Rarity, it's okay. Don't you cry, Don't you cry. I love you, my dear, I love you."
--------------------------------------------------------- Present Day ---------------------------------------------------------
"Hold this wound! Hold this wound!!", I heard a medic scream from somewhere very close to me. "Quick, Apply Pressure! Apply Pre-- Dink" I didn't hear the medic anymore.
As my senses finally started to recharge and come to again, I heard another pony yell something about blowing the gates. Then, as if out of nowhere, I felt myself being dragged across the coarse, now red sand. At first, I thought that I had been hit, but as my eyelids started to open, I noticed the captain-- Shining Armor-- was actually dragging me over to the, as we called it, The Wall. The Wall was basically a giant sand dune which offered just enough cover to prevent the Diamond Dogs from hitting us-- mostly, anyway.
When the captain had finally made it with me to the giant sand dune, braving hails of bullets and the entrails of dead or dying young colts, he threw himself against the sandy dune wall, and then called over for a medic for me.
"Medic!", the captain yelled, " Medic!!", he yelled even louder this time. Then, the captain started saying some pretty harsh Equestrian lingo before again calling, "Medic!!!".
Finally, some pony heard his call.
"What happened?", the medic screamed over the buzzing and dinging of bullets.
The captain didn't say anything, but instead just pointed his hoof over at me. The medic then rushed over to me and began to check me over. Apparently, he didn't find much because it didn't take him long before he pulled out a "shocker" needle. "Shocker" needles were nothing more than really long hypodermic needles which would get your heart and other organs moving again, and which, in turn, would then get you back into the battle. At the moment, "shocker" needles were only military, but that doesn't really matter.
Anyways, the medic stuck me with the "shocker" needle, and then, just as quickly as he came, rushed off to help some poor other Equestrian soul who was hit in this dirty plague called war. The captain also wasted no time getting me back on my hooves.
"Take this", Shining Armor yelled before tossing a T-53 "Dog Hunter" machine gun over to me. I missed the catch, and the weapon fell all over the sandy dune. I was angry with myself, but wasted no time and immediately picked up the weapon. I flipped off the safety, fired a barrage of bullets, and then threw myself into the sand next to the captain.
"What's the situation, sir?", I snapped to the captain.
"We have to blow this barbed wire, and then we have to push up to those bunkers. After that, the beach head is ours", he returned.
"Sounds good to me", I began before firing off another barrage of steel bullets that would tear right through any Diamond Dogs mangy fur and flesh, "Hey sir, where is the rest of our squad?", I asked.
The captain went silent for a second before turning to me, with, I swear tears in his eyes, and saying, "They're dead."
I looked back at him, and then shook my head. Secretly, on the inside, however, my heart was shattered. I mean all of my friends, the colts I had eaten breakfast with not two hours before, were dead. Dead. That sank deeper into my heart than I will ever know or can know. However, now was not the time, and I continued to unleash my steel one inch bullets of death and doom.
It took two hours before some pony finally was able to get "Snapper" charges in place. That is, of course, because the Diamond Dogs were tearing us to shreds for two hours straight. My estimation is that 3,000 colts died in those two hours. Later, I would find it to be about 4,567... dead.
"Blow the charges!", the captain screamed to the demolitions pony.
"Roger sir!", the demo pony screamed back. "Clear the shrapnel zone! Keep your heads down!", he screamed to every pony in particular. Just as immediately as he screamed it, every pony threw their heads down. Then, he activated the charge.
BABOOM!!!! The whole top of The Wall lit up like the fireworks and magic shows on Sun-Moon Day. Nothing of the barbed wire was left. We were clear, but next came the clearing.
"Over the Top!", a pony lieutenant shouted before picking himself up, and dashing over the top. Every pony else followed his example.
The bullets continued to dash and snap and crack at our hooves as each one tried to find its respective target. That was scary. Knowing that there were enemy soldiers who hated every part of your body, who were trained to kill, and who fired hundreds and thousands of little steel bullets at your worthless structure which is called a body. That was scary, but there was even worse. What was worse was the bullets themselves. Not only did they come out so fast that they could not be seen, but, if they hit you, they wouldn't let you just die. Instead, they would taunt you, they would make you remember all that you had done as you died, and then finally, they would take your life. giving you no mercy. That was the worst.
Somehow, the captain and I plus about five other guys made it to the wall of the bunker. We practically clung to the side of thing, no, we glued ourselves to the side of the thing, slowly moving to the corner part of it where we knew that there would be Diamond Dogs, and where we knew that that would mean more risk of death. That was what freedom cost. At least, that was what we were trained to believe, but I honestly didn't know if I believed that anymore. I just don't know.
We made it to the edge of the corner. I was the first colt in front, and therefore, I was to peek around the corner and see what I could see. It nearly cost me my life.
I crept my tiny head around the corner. As the first inch or so of my eyeball passed the edge of the corner, a hail fire of steel bullets blew past my head, some hitting the edge of the wall spewing dust and concrete. I reeled back faster than lightning, but not before a piece of dusty concrete jammed itself into my eye. I swore and cursed loudly at the stupid dust that had hit my eye, but I only got so far into my yammering before
the captain pulled me back, checking if I was okay.
"Sledgehammer! You alright?!", my captain yelled to me.
"Yes sir I am fine!", I screamed back both irritated and happy at the same time.
"Then what's the hold-up?", he barked back.
"Nothing sir", I snapped back. I pulled myself together before giving it another try. This time, however, I was smart. I pulled out a small mirror from my pocket, and grabbed a stick on the ground. Then, I asked the colt behind me for his chewing gum. He pulled it out and gave me it. I thanked him and then stuck the gum to the mirror, and then stuck the mirror to the stick. After that I slid the piece out, and used the reflection to tell me what mangy mutts were on the other side.
"Sir!", I screamed slash half-whispered to the sergeant, "There's a Diamond Dog machine gun nest on a hill overlooking the beach. About two feet below it, there's a trench of normal rifle dogs."
"Roger that", he snapped back before turning to the last guy in line right behind him. He whispered something to him, which I didn't quite hear. However, it wasn't long before I found out what the sergeant was saying.
A grenade was passed up the line, and given to me, the colt in front. It seemed like I always got this stuff. Always. Anyways, I pulled the pin on the grenade, counted to four, and then, turning the corner, tossed the grenade as high and far as I could, aiming for the MG nest. The grenade did its job and blew the mutts all the way back to where they belonged. The other Diamond Dogs, the ones in the rifle trench, reacted quickly, but not quickly enough. Not two seconds after I had thrown the grenade, the colts behind me and behind him rushed out, and unloaded a dozen well-placed shots. The bullets ripped the Diamond Dogs to shreds, spewing meat and flesh everywhere.
After clearing out this area, we headed for the back of the bunker. Dodging a few stray bullets along the way, we finally made it to the top. We moved to where the entrance was, and then prepared to blow it. Just before we did, however, I gave myself three seconds to look at the scene below and around me. It was awesome, but in a terrifying way. What I saw has never left me.
Down below, in the sea and beach, there were tens of thousands of ships, all Equestrian, all massive. Many, if not all, were blowing, no firing, their hundreds upon hundreds of shells, each ship trying to get more kills than the other. Then, I beheld hundreds of thousands of miniature boats, each one with about thirty colts in it, each one preparing to dump more colts. Then, I beheld the colts, many of them, like I was, scared for their lives, their safety, their families back at home. I also saw the blood. The beach was full of it. It seemed like there was just too much. The beach overflowed with it. I almost threw up at the sight. Finally, my eyes peered up and I saw--
"Sledgehammer! Come on! We're clearing this bunker out! Get yourself together!", my captain interrupted my chain of thought.
"Yes sir!", I screamed back as I rejoined my squad. I followed behind a red colt. He was big and tall, and strong looking too. I never would get his name personally.
I was the second to last colt in our file. We moved through the bunker, checking our corners, clearing out rooms. Everything was going as planned. Then, we hit the final room, where the main MG nest was. This is where everything spiraled out of control.
"Blow it", ordered the captain.
The Demo pony blew the small charge of thermite. The whole area lit up. I, who was now first in file, rushed myself into the main MG room. I shot the first Diamond Dog I saw and killed him instantly. Then, I turned to shoot the second. I aimed, pulled the trigger and-- click! I screamed at myself in anger, but only on my inside. I realized that I had forgotten to reload my weapon, and that cost me dearly. However, I wasted no time, and went to go tackle the Dog. Turns out, he had the same idea, except he got it faster.
The Diamond Dog, a huge mass of muscle, bulk, hair, and uncleanliness, flew right on top of me, ramming me to the ground. I felt the air get knocked out of my body, as I struggled to get this mass of muscle off of me. He countered. The Dog slashed his grotesque claws against my throat, and I felt the blood begin to trickle and squirt out of my neck. However, just as bad as this was, it was good. The blood squirted into the Diamond Dog's eyes, diverting the dog's attention from me. However, the diversion only lasted for half of a second, but it was just enough time for me to-- WHACK! I plowed my free hoof into the dog's face, giving me the satisfaction of a whimper. Then, I used my other hoof, which was now free, to smack the dog's nose. It was the hardest whack I ever gave because just as soon as I hit the dog's nose, I heard a crack. I had broken the dog's nose.
The assaulting dog began to whimper and cry, as I began to stand myself up. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the captain wrestling and killing some Diamond Dog. However, I had my own problems.
I sprinted forward, and jumped directly into the Diamond Dog's stomach. The Dog crashed into a wall, and then let out an angry growl. I took nothing of it, and began to start punching the Dog in the chest and stomach. Left Hoof. Right Hoof. Left Hoof. Right Hoof. I had always been a fighter, and a good one too. Now was no different.
The Dog continued to let out growls and whimpers of pain, but I showed no remorse. I continued to pile drive him, each time I hit, my hits were getting stronger and more full of anger. Each one portraying a message. Left Hoof-- How dare you take me away from my family! Right Hoof-- How dare you take me away from my friends! Left Hoof-- How dare you take me away from my Rarity! Right Hoof-- How dare you kill my only sister! Left Hoof-- How dare you turn my father against me! Right Hoof-- How dare you! HOW DARE YOU!!
I punched and punched. I was hitting so hard that cracks started to come out of my hoofs. I was hitting so hard that the Diamond Dog didn't say anything. I was hitting so hard that tears were streaming down my eyes. I was hitting so hard that I forgot all about the battle behind me.
"Sledgehammer!", I heard some pony yell, "SLEDGEHAMMER!!", louder this time. Then, as if out of nowhere,a jerk. I was thrown to the ground, but it wasn't by a Diamond Dog, it was the captain.
"Sledgehammer!", he screamed, "Sledgehammer", his voice quieter this time, "Its okay", he said, "Its okay." I didn't know it, but I was crying. I was crying a waterfall. Why? I wasn't sure exactly, but I think that it had to do with the messages, with the punches. The captain sat down next to me, and began to comfort me. In about three minutes, I finally came around. Finally.
"Thanks captain. Thanks."
"Its alright Sledgehammer... I understand what its like... I do..."
"I know captain. I know. Alright, I'm ready now."
"Good."
The captain got all of us back together. Miraculously, no pony had been killed or injured. That was a good thing. I thought too soon.
"Grenade!", some pony yelled.
We were all still in the room, so any blast that would have happened in there would have killed us. Well, actually, every pony was in the room, except for the big, red pony I had been behind earlier. He could have gotten away... but he didn't. The red pony rushed inside, pushed some black colored pony away, and threw himself upon the grenade. I looked up at the last moment to see a smirk on the Diamond Dog's face that I had beat the crap out of. He had thrown the grenade, meaning that I hadn't killed him, meaning that--
The grenade blew up and made an ear deafening noise. I heard sirens in my brain for ten seconds before I recovered. Slowly, I picked myself up with the others, and then we rushed over to the red pony. Blood and guts were everywhere. As for the red pony, he was dead. Dead. That wasn't the worst of it, though. The worst of it was that he had a family back home. Not just that, but he had a beautiful family back home. He had a young purplish colored mare for a wife, and he had two beautiful children, one boy, one girl. That was the worst of it. The worst. It made me sick.
Right before we left, I decided to read the red ponies name tag. It read PFC Big Mac.
