//------------------------------// // Chapter five: // Story: Not the best training // by PurpleArtist //------------------------------// Twenty-three years ago.  Equestria Army Training Depot #12, Southwest, Equestria in the countryside far from Los Unicorna. In a barracks made of wood.  "Special Forces?" Asked Scrumptious, "How'd the Tartarus did we get here? The regular army I can see. Mountaineers maybe, the Marines that's fifty/fifty for me. But Special Forces?"  Purple replied, "What's wrong, your white collar background is too weak for hard work out in an open field?"  Purple went over to his bunk bed while chuckling. He had a good sense of humor. "Oh fuck you," said Scrumptious, "Oh now he has a sense of humor."  The door swung open and all of the recruits including Jackpot, Scrumptious and Purple lined up in attention with bolt-action rifles at their side.  A Pegasus stallion came in and told them to exit the barracks and to stand outside even though it's pouring down raining. They all did. They were then divided up into a group of twelve whoever was on the left side of the barracks was called Able and whoever was on the right side was called Baker.  Purple, Scrumptious and Jackpot were all in Baker. The drill sergeant then told the ponies in Able that they had to stand in the rain. She isn't their drill sergeant but somepony else is and told Baker to double time it over to the obstacle course.  They all jogged over to the obstacle course. "Come on, we can do better than that group!" Said Purple.  They did do the obstacle course but Scrumptious almost fell into the mud pit but both Jackpot and Purple caught him with their hooves and got him back up.  "Why didn't you two let me fall?" Asked Scrumptious. Purple replied, "Nopony gets left behind. And I mean nopony gets left behind no matter what! If I become an officer I'll be FOLO aka First On Last Off."  They finished the obstacle course but the two freed Jackpot when he got caught up in barbed wire. It didn't help that bullets were flying over their heads while the two lied in mud while freeing Jackpot.  After the obstacle course the group went over to a firing range.  "Every single one of you will get two boxes of thirty-aught-six rounds. Each box has fifteen bullets or three stripper clips with five .30-06 bullets!" Said the Drill sergeant, "All of you will get two boxes and find a spot on the range!"  Everyone got two boxes each and went to an open spot on the firing range.  "Ready on the left? Ready on the right!" Said the drill sergeant, "Load the rifles and fire!"  All but Purple stood up and shot while Purple lay flat on his stomach. Purple's target came down but came back up with a single white circle on it meaning he was hitting the bullseye. Nopony could believe it and Purple wasn't even trying. They moved to another area after firing off all fifteen rounds. In the other area each one got a canvas satchel with four sticks of plastic explosives inside with a timer.  "Do not play with it!" Said the Drill sergeant, "That's high explosive and it is live!"  They used the satchel charges to blow up some rundown armored wagons on the satchel charge range. They all went to the mortar range afterwards.  Purple, Jackpot and Scrumptious got onto an Equestrian M242 81mm mortar. The drill sergeant told them that the coordinates are seven-three-zero. "Set coordinates to seven-three-zero!" Yelled Purple, "Repeat coordinates to seven-three-zero!" Scrumptious dropped an 81mm mortar down the tube and the mortar fired. The shot was short and landed next to two mannequins dressed as Equestrian soldiers.  "What the fuck was that!" Said the Drill sergeant, "Was Icy was he fucking your girlfriend and Heaty not giving you a blowjob!" Purple replied, "I said the coordinates you said which is seven-three-zero I even yelled it. Guess they just fired it without asking for the coordinates to confirm." "If you two don't know the coordinates then ask for them again!" Said the Drill sergeant, "Got machine gun fire and artillery shells flying overhead you two don't pull the 'I think he said this so it'll be this' card. You two killed Icy because he was fucking your girlfriends and killed Heaty for not sucking you off. You three get out of my sight!"  *** Present day.  "Oh dear Luna that Drill sergeant was a bitch," said Purple, "I wanna say that he'll scare Master Shi. He whipped us into shape to make sure we were tough enough to be trained in combined arms, specializing in amphibious warfare, specialized in the most arduous mountain missions in high altitudes and low temperatures. We were trained and equipped for conditions that ordinary soldiers aren’t expected to excel in. We were trained to improve our skills and their ability to fight for longer before having to be resupplied. We could be behind enemy lines for a year and we wouldn't need to be resupplied because we were trained to be adaptable and to use the enemy gear as well."  Purple had a box on his back and he went outside of his house and he sat on his butt where he started a garden to grow fruits and vegetables.  Purple then sung the Equestrian Elite Special Forces anthem: We are the Equestrian Elite Special Forces, Proud defenders of our land, Our courage and strength will never falter, As we march with our heads held high. We are the best of the best, Our loyalty is unwavering, We will fight until our dying breath, For the honor of Equestria. Our training is rigorous and tough, But we embrace every challenge, Our skills are honed to perfection, For we are the guardians of our nation. We are the best of the best, Our loyalty is unwavering, We will fight until our dying breath, For the honor of Equestria. We stand united in our cause, To protect and serve with pride, Our determination knows no bounds, For the safety of all we hold dear. We are the best of the best, Our loyalty is unwavering, We will fight until our dying breath, For the honor of Equestria. We are the Equestrian Elite Special Forces, A force to be reckoned with, Our legacy will live on forever, For we are the defenders of Equestria. "They drilled that damn anthem into our brains during the final few weeks of training," said Purple, "Out of one thousand recruits only two hundred and fifty passed with the rest either dropping out or had to quit due to injuries. If the rest of my family… no the rest of my family if they stub their hoof at the end of their bed then they'll call out of work and make it more dramatic than it really is."  *** Twenty-three years ago at leader training. Due to Purple showing leadership skills he was put in a leader training to see how he'll do at the platoon level.  "What's wrong, Private?" Asked Purple to Private Sapphire Breeze.  Private Sapphire Breeze replied, "My hoof hurts. Feels like a boil or something." "Remove your boots, socks and frontal hooves gloves." Ordered Private Purple Artist. Private Sapphire Breeze did with her holding back of letting out a painful sound. Purple saw a foot blister on her back left hoof. "Draw hoof powder and fresh socks from supply," said Purple, "Everypony check your hooves and wings like Breeze and me. I mean everypony."  *** In the distance. "He has potential to be a great leader one day," said a military officer. Another military officer replied, "Yeah it's hard to find officers who actually care about the soldiers under their command."  *** Present day.  Purple lit up his horn and teleported to Canterlot but he was outside Canterlot Castle because he's prohibited from entering Canterlot Castle for sometime.  "You can't enter the Castle!" Said a Royal Guard stallion.  Purple replied, "I'm going in to get my stuff so either stand aside or I'm going to go through the two of you!"  The two Royal Guards refused to get out of Purple's way and Purple just grabbed the two by the back of their heads and smashed their heads together hard enough to knock them out.  Purple knows all of the patrol routes or the Royal Guard's inside of the Castle and knows when they're going to be somewhere and what rooms they'll enter and whatnot. Purple also used the air ducts to his advantage to get to his office and bedroom.  *** In Head Guardian Sapphire Rose's office.  Purple decided to visit Head Guardian Sapphire. "Princess Twilight and I talked to someone who you were under her command the other day," said Head Guardian Sapphire. Purple replied, "Sapphire have you ever seen your friend get burned by napalm that when you grabbed them even with magic that the fur and skin peel off like nothing. Or have you ever had to carve out the burning fragments out of his or her face with a knife when a friend or fellow soldier has been hit by white phosphorus munition and no you can't use water because the White Phosphorus would just take the oxygen out of the water to keep burning… Have you ever seen your friends choked on Chlorine gas, Mustard gas or Phosgene gas and the only thing you can do is watch? Have you ever seen two friends get shot where one gets shot and the other gets shot trying to help the first one only to get run over by a tank?... Have you ever seen your friend fall into a vat of molten steel? I've… I've seen friends die in ways never imaginable. Have you ever seen a friend get shot by a prototype wonder weapon that'll more or less cook you inside out with volts of electricity?" "I've seen friends come and go Prince Purple," said Head Guardian Sapphire.  Purple replied, "You can drop the Prince part. You can just call me Purple instead. Also when I was in the military I performed missions that ordinary soldiers couldn't. And everything I did as a soldier will haunt me until the day I die. Honestly I was hoping I would've become like my biological father and adoptive father."  "Which was?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire. Purple replied, "They were in a Maintenance company of the Second Ranger Regiment. They fixed stuff for the Equestrian Army Rangers and they would capture enemy equipment to tinker with them to see how they operated and how they worked. A few times my biological father would have to kill but when they came back they easily readjusted to civilian life where my biological father was happily married and he and his wife offered support and he could open up to her and she would listen. My adoptive father was the same but he would drink a bottle of whiskey or scotch every night before bed. But me? If I tell somepony what I did then I would have to kill them or a military assassin would kill whoever I tell. Also I heard you talk to somepony about your background. Before you say it no I won't tell anypony even though you don't entirely trust me but we all know we have different backgrounds."  "Before you go Purple," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "I'm going to make this clear. If you threaten a Government worker in front of me I'll lose my temper and I'll kick your ass or take you to a Royal court."  Purple replied, "Where I'm from and grew up at. You have to talk to somepony where straight up yelling at them got you hit and it doesn't matter if you're a mare, stallion or a government official. The moment someone yells at you it means they want to fight and I could've fought Master Shi in that hallway. Also if it was a fight and there is only way to defeat me in a fight which is… To the death. If it's a non lethal fight then I'll just keep getting back up no matter what. Also you can fight me or kick my ass it won't do a damn thing. Not even taking me to Royal Court to have me thrown into a dungeon. No dungeon or prison can hold me every time I was a POW. I could escape within a day."  "So basically you're telling me that you're above the law? If I have to kick your ass then I will. I don't back down from any fight. You're telling me that you're so above the law that any prison we put you in you'll break out of? Wow you're arrogant and I don't care if you don't like someone yelling at you or not. Pulling out a gun on someone isn't cool. That's what criminals do especially  when they realize that the pony they pulled their gun out on won't defend themselves," Head Guardian Sapphire said. "You're acting like a criminal Purple. Ignorance of the law isn't an excuse to break it. You obviously don't know how to respect others in authority."  She narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't like ponies who don't know how to follow orders just because of where they came from. I came from a culture that had different laws and different ways of dealing with things. But when I learned what laws were here I didn't start breaking the law because of my culture and getting mad because somepony yelled at me and it hurt my feelings. You know what? I've lectured you enough for today."   Purple didn't respond, he turned around and walked out.  *** Seventeen years ago.  Twenty-three year old Purple was lying on the ceiling of a helicopter. He looked up and it was nighttime. Last I remembered it was day time, Purple thought, Gotta find the rest of my team and find a way out.  Purple then fell out of the helicopter and landed on all four hooves like a cat. He saw enemy ponies searching for survivors so he drew a bow and arrows and killed the enemies in the area before moving down a trail that split into two.  Purple went right and encountered two Equestrian Special Forces soldiers hiding where they're injured and didn't have any medical supplies. Purple used his only medkit on the two, wasting his.  The three drew their combat knives out and moved through tall grass and snuck up on the enemy and took three out before going loud to kill the other five.  "That's for the assist," said a Bat pony mare Special Forces soldier, "We'll find our way back to our team. You'd better get back to yours."  Purple replied, "Stay safe you two and don't get yourselves killed."  The Bat pony mare and Earth pony stallion went their own way and Purple went his own way. Purple crossed a rope bridge and heard gunfire coming from a nearby village.  Purple equipped his assault rifle and lent a hoof to a five pony team of Equestrian Special Forces Commandos.  "Command, we've stirred up a hornet's nest! We need chopper support ASAP!" Said an Equestrian Special Forces soldier. Base Commander replied (over radio) "Roger that. Helicopter inbound. ETA is two to four minutes." Purple joined the Equestrian Special Forces soldiers in the battle.  An Equestrian Military gunship helicopter arrived and supported them where after a few minutes the Equestrian Special Forces soldiers let out a cheer.  Purple left them to continue to look for his team even though he would rather work solo ever since Jackpot and Scrumptious death. He then heard some more gunfire in the distance so he trotted carefully and found some more Equestrian Special Forces soldiers under fire from enemy soldiers inside of a building and outside. Purple equipped his trusty sniper rifle and picked them off until two Equestrian Air Force planes flew overhead dropping Napalm. Purple went on his merry way until he found a blood trail and he found it but only found seven mares wearing skin-tight black leather outfits. Purple found his squad all killed by the seven mares.  Purple got rid of his weapons and knife.  No-one else will say it, so I will. The fact that I never give up is one of my good points! Purple thought, Let's fight!  Purple and the mares fought in hoof to hoof combat and when one held Purple and a Pegasus mare came at him with a knife, Purple bucked the mare with the knife and she flew right into a tree killing her and he head-butted the mare who was holding him.  Purple grabbed the mare who was once holding him and he snapped her neck like cracking open a walnut. Purple battled the other ones but one of them charged at him with a knife. Purple grabbed her wing and ended up stabbing that mare with her own knife. Purple then grabbed the knife and threw it when another Pegasus mare went over to grab Purple's automatic rifle.  An Earth pony mare charged Purple only for him to grab her and slam her against a tree hard enough to kill her. Then he killed the remaining few before he grabbed his gear and placed a CASEVAC beacon on the ground for his dead teammates. Purple walked off to only Luna knows where. This would or will be a hell of a story to tell my fillies and colts one day, Purple thought, if I do have foals of my own. At least I'm not a sexist pig like Base and the rest of my family who see nothing but mares as property for stallions to use at their own free will. If I have a wife I'll treat her like a Queen or a Goddess and give her the love and support and space to be a good husband to her.  *** The Gate Guardians training center.  "What do you want Purple?" Asked Master Shi. Purple replied, "A duel. Just me and you." "Why should I have a duel against you?" Asked Master Shi. Purple replied, "You can kick my ass for when I drew my military sidearm on you and when I snapped at you and Head Guardian Sapphire the other day. Also I've been kicking other ponies asses for so long, I figure it's time I got mine kicked. Also I won't fight back so you take all of your anger out on me."  "I'm not going to fight someone who isn't going to defend themself," said Master Shi. Purple replied, "Fine. Same conditions but I'll fight back as well." Master Shi agreed and the two entered the ring. Master Shi didn't hold back but Purple did and Master Shi took out all of her anger onto Purple besides him pulling out a gun on her and snapping at her and Head Guardian Sapphire Rose the other day. After the duel. "Alright Purple go see Doctor Snake," said Master Shi, "That's an order!"  Purple did as Master Shi did so she won't go to Head Guardian Sapphire Rose to say that he refused to go to Doctor Snake. Purple did even though Purple said that he couldn't and still doesn't feel the pain that Master Shi put on him. "You know you can fight back in the ring?" Asked Doctor Snake. Purple replied, "Yeah I know but I hardly fought back but I still somewhat fought back so Master Shi could kick my ass."  Doctor Snake dismissed Purple and he went on his own way.  Purple then went to go walk around Canterlot Castle to collect his stuff and avoided detection by Princess Twilight but Tumble came up to him and told him that Head Guardian Sapphire wants a word with him.  *** Back in Head Guardian Sapphire Rose's office. "Am I in trouble?" Asked Purple.  Head Guardian Sapphire replied, "No Purple you're not in trouble. We just want to have a word with you."  "What do you two want to talk about?" Asked Purple. Master Shi replied, "I've talked to Head Guardian Sapphire and I want you back in the training if you'll promise to ease up on the fighting. If so then we'll allow you to restart training." "No offense but I've already got training," said Purple, "I'm trained in Direct Action, Special Reconnaissance, Unconventional Warfare, Counterterrorism, Counterproliferation, PSYOPS, Information Operations, Raiding, Amphibious operations, Mountain warfare, Arctic warfare, Urban warfare, Jungle warfare, Counterinsurgency, Demolitions, Assassination, Amphibious reconnaissance, Hostage rescue and Counter Narcotics operations. But I promise that I'll hold back and not send another Guardian or Reserve Guardian to Doctor Snake."  Master Shi replied, "Cyclops?" "No it's PSYOPS," said Purple, "It means Psychological Warfare. You know to demoralize the enemy."  With that Master Shi left.  "Master Shi told me that you told her that she could kick your butt in the ring without you fighting back," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "Is that your way of apologizing to her for holding a gun to her or yelling at the both of us or both?"  Purple replied, "Both. I Have nothing to say for myself for what I did. I'm truly sorry and it won't happen again. If I do it again next time don't fight me or drag me to court just kill me it'll be better for everyone involved."  "Why would you want someone to kill you instead of being in a fight or whatnot?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire. Purple replied, "Have you ever been suppressed by family members that you can't do anything fun? Have you ever had sisters who could stroll up to your date and woo your date? My family keeps me suppressed where I can't do anything fun and my brother and other stallions with some mares in my family do that. Have you ever walked out of a movie theater and got beaten up for no reason? I'm not making assumptions, I'm just asking. Also I did hear you talk to somepony about your background and I overheard it through the door. I was going to ask you about training but I overheard you talking to somepony and when they said 'Nope! That was it and I will keep your backstory a secret'. I decided to sneak away without making a sound. Don't worry I'm not going to say anything because honestly your past is your business and not anypony else's and I won't tell Princess Twilight."  "Just stand up to your family and stand your ground to show that you're not afraid," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "Also thank you for speaking the truth and not blabbing your mouth."  Purple replied, "Last time I stood my ground I got put in an intensive care unit at Canterlot Memorial hospital. Also you're welcome. Also if it'll make you feel better you can beat me up or just smash my head very hard into your desk until I end up brain dead because I snapped and lost my cool the other day." "It's fine. I'm not going to smash your head into my desk or into anything, I don't get into fights that I don't need to. But thanks for the apology," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "You can go now."  Purple left Head Guardian Sapphire Rose's office and went to walk around Canterlot.  A Pegasus mare in Purple's family approached Purple and started to throw insults and humiliating nicknames at him. "Leave me alone!" Said Purple, "I'm not in the mood!" The mare replied, "Nope, insulting you and making fun of that you don't have a wife or a girlfriend of your own is entertainment and your pain and suffering is the rest of our family entertainment!" "Have it your way then!" Said Purple. Purple placed his left wing onto her mouth and snout and he took his right with which he held a fighting knife and stabbed her in the side of the neck before putting the knife back and teleporting home. Do I feel bad killing my cousin once removed, Purple thought, To be honest everypony else will see me as a bad guy for that but honestly my family will jump in bed with the enemies of Equestria and they'll sell each other out. Honestly I feel a little better because I bet when Phantasia does start a war on Equestria she'll gladly jump in bed with him and be at home and mother foals from him and be home to cook, clean and wait for him.  *** Purple hass a whiteboard on wheels in his study. He has several pieces of paper with a photograph of a tall pegasus stallion. His fur was white, his mane was black, and his cutie mark was a silver shield with a gold crown in the middle of it. What are you planning, Purple thought, My sister and the other mares in my family will call you 'Prince Charming' . They'll gladly marry you, be home to cook, and clean for you and to pop out dozens of your foals. What is your endgame? Why do you want to take over Equestria besides that Mares can rule and stallions don't? Why did you fire all but three mares in your army? I maybe sad and bitter for not having a special somepony but I'm not going to start a fucking World War about it. Guess I'll have to do some more reconnaissance on him when I'm not training with the reserve guardians.  Instead of being burnt out by overthinking something Purple went to tend to his garden which he grew carrots, apples, oranges, tangerines, Bananas, Cocoa, Coffee, Corn, Cotton, Pineapples, and Sugar. He didn't grow beets and beans because he doesn't like beets and beans don't sit well with his stomach and not with him. *** Later. Princess Twilight visited Head Guardian Sapphire.  "Purple visited Master Shi and me earlier," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "And Master Shi kicked his butt in the ring as some kind of apology from him."  Princess Twilight replied, "I prohibited him from entering the castle. Look I'm not defending him but he's usually not so wound up so tight. He's a real nice guy and he's the type you want by your side.  "Maybe next time if you're going to prohibit someone from entering a place," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "Then make sure they haven't been trained to infiltrate heavily guarded places to come and go and nopony is the wiser. I don't entirely forgive him but I'll let it slide this time next time he snaps at me or Master Shi then he's no longer going to be a Gate Guardian. If he snaps at me again then I'll either kick his butt or drag him to a Royal court."  Princess Twilight replied, "Having him thrown into a dungeon won't work. Every time he was a Prisoner of War he would've escaped after a whole day and any enemy soldiers who either tried to stop him or got in his way were… Eliminated. Also if he were to be executed he'll have somepony to tell you 'Thank you' for having him be executed."  "Why would he thank me or somepony for killing him?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire. Princess Twilight replied, "He's already 75% dead on the inside of losing friends and loved ones and him not finding a special somepony. To him he doesn't fear death and he's just waiting for it. Every day he's just waiting for the Grim Reaper to knock on his door to drag him to Tartarus. Well he thinks he's going to Tartarus when he does die. Also sorry for setting you up on a date with Purple. After your date he told me that he already knew your answer before it began and he told me that Prince Blueblood showed up. You should've let Purple drag Blueblood outside. At least Purple isn't like Blueblood or the rest of his family."  "How's that?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire. Princess Twilight replied, "Prince Blueblood has kept proposing marriage to you even after you said no including when you threw three sofas at him. The other stallions in Purple's family including Purple's brother Base they'll keep coming after you day in, day out. No matter what you do they'll keep coming back trying to break you down so they can 'sleep' with you. I know you're a tough independent mare but at least Purple knows what the words 'No' and 'Not interested' means while Blueblood, Base and the other stallions in Purple's family can't take a hint.  "But he is a nice guy but he's just wound up tighter than a wind up toy. Even though when he snapped I'm sure you don't want to be friends with him anymore but get to know him and sooner or later his walls he put up to keep others away will come down. As he says he feels like a Colt who lost his parents in a store but his parents left the store and don't even know that they left him behind. I know and he knows that what he did was wrong and unforgettable but he doesn't know who is friendly or enemy and thinks everypony is a potential enemy."  "I'm not forgiving him entirely," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "But I'm letting it slide this time. Next time he snaps at me or pulls a gun out on a Guardian or a member of the Gate Community then I'll kick his butt or drag him to Royal Court. I know everypony has it rough but what he did was extremely hostile and rude. I know he told me that if it'll make me feel better then I can kick his butt."  Princess Twilight replied, "Oh if a Gate Guardian does betray you and the other members. Purple would say 'Treachery is a tactic that nopony should rely on. It sully's your name and makes you look like you'll betray anypony at any time'. He says that because he had a traitor in his unit who killed his girlfriend and their unborn foal. No Purple hasn't found the traitor yet and it's like the guy vanished like a ghost. Since that day he doesn't get to know others well because he lost his friends by getting hot under the collar or putting too much trust in ponies. But Purple is a stallion of his word and he can be trusted and keeps promises. Also Purple hates traitors."  "I think 'hot under the collar' is an understatement," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "But everypony gets mad from time to time. But I think he's just bottling up every single anger and frustration he has and not doing anything to vent it or to let it go. I know where he's coming from with being angry but I don't snap at others."  Princess Twilight replied, "You destroyed part of your office on your 3,101 birthday. But everypony is different. But I think his former commanding officer is right. I think it's best to cut him loose. Instead of keeping him here. Only reason he's a Prince is to make me happy. He was happy when I asked him because he was an ambitious young stallion who then got married two months later and fourteen months later he and his first and only wife peacefully separated."  "Why did he and whoever he was married to separate?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire. Princess Twilight replied, "Because he and Ms. Rebelnova only saw each other about once every other week. And what made it final was when she was pregnant with their first born she suffered a miscarriage. So she decided it would've been better if he stayed in Equestria as the Prince of Defense. What she didn't tell him was he got her pregnant again and has a daughter and he met her last year already seventeen with a job and that he missed everything in her life and she told him that he can't make up for it. So since then he tried to find another special somepony but he already lost several. I'm just asking to give Purple another chance as a friend." *** Nineteen years ago. Twenty one year old Purple was in his olive drab tiger-stripe camouflage uniform and he's with a Unicorn mare in the same uniform. Their mission was to take the factory out of commission by destroying the furnace, destroying the refinery and to destroy the steelworks. The Equestrian Air Force would destroy it but due to the amount of Anti-air positions it won't be worth the risk. After the duo destroyed the refinery the two went to destroy the furnace. The unicorn mare fell into a vat of molten steel and Purple took his B.A.R and killed her to put her out of her misery. He also shivered on the inside because he knows that molten steel is very hot but doesn't know how hot. Purple went on his way and destroyed the furnace and steelworks. When he gave his report a military officer said that the mare who was with him will be replaced like nothing. "Like nothing?" Purple said with an angry tone of voice, "Like NOTHING! I don't know who the hell you are but we are not nothing! We are not toy soldiers you get to play with on a fucking map that's miles from the war! We are individuals who have personalities and lives! Officers like you I hate because you think were nothing but expendable cannon fodder!"  *** Present day. That night still haunts me, Purple thought,  Don't know how painful it was when she landed in a vat of molten steel. Just pure pain is what I heard when she screamed above her lung capacity. Purple looked at photographs of his past even in his military service and the ones that when he was a soldier he's wearing a tiger-stripe camouflage uniform, olive drab uniform, white uniform, tan uniform or desert camouflage uniform. He's either wearing a boonie hat or helmet.  "They call me for any situation that any other tier one special forces soldier can't handle," said Purple, "Just talking to myself. Because I don't have any friends or loved ones to be with… Why do I hear a sweet voice in my head?" There was one photograph of Purple in a Gridiron football uniform when he was in high school he did football because Base played Baseball in high school, not adding he didn't want to play a spot that his sexist, misogynistic and patriarchal brother plays for a living.  *** Forty years ago. "Look at him Albatross!" Said an iceberg blue Pegasus mare with chocolate brown mane and tail. A cardinal red unicorn named Albatross came over while wearing his dark olive green army service uniform with a golden lozenge patch with a dark blue background with a golden 'RANGERS' in it. Albatross replied, "What are you going to name him honey?" "I'll name him Purple after his fur. I'm naming him Purple Eastle Artist," said the mare. Albatross replied, "That's a wonderful name Harp. Want me to go get Base and Blue to meet their baby brother?"  "Yes, go get them so they can meet Purple," said Harp. Albatross got Base and Blue and the two immediately hated Purple. "You two may not like him!" Said Harp, "But you two will love him because he is your brother. That or you two can be grounded until the day you two leave home after you get jobs to get your own places!"  Base and Blue went out to visit their granduncle before they had to leave Sire's Hollow back to Asterope. "Purple?" Said Harp, "Don't know if you can understand me due to you're a newborn. I want to say that one day you'll do great things that'll help others and one day you'll sweep a lucky mare off of her hooves and you and her will do great things and you'll have lots of little ones. Me and your dad love you Purple and we always will you're going to be the type of child that any parent would want and you won't be embarrassed by us and you're going to be the type of son that any mare would be glad to meet. You're our little one and today you start being a joy to the world because you're special and you'll bring love and compassion wherever you trot to."  Albatross replied, "Yup Purple you're going to do great things one day. Don't know what job you'll do in the future but whatever it is we'll support you and we'll always be there for you. I hope you'll get a job that'll support you and your future family one day. But we'll always be with you no matter what. We'll always be right here."  Both Harp and Albatross put their right hoof where Purple's heart is. Newborn Purple cooed at them and he waved his two frontal hooves at them. *** Present day. "Was it me that got them killed?" Asked Purple, "Did I cry or do something that a foal does that attracted the timberwolves that got my biological parents killed? Was it me? It had to be me that got them killed! I had blood on these hooves since I was three days old! That's what Base, Blue, and the rest of my family have been telling me since when I was four years old that I killed them!" Later that day Purple went back to Canterlot to his safehouse which was a studio apartment with a separate bathroom and kitchen. He had a side room with a weapons locker with a Tac-Vest in the storage room. He has three more weapons lockers with one having a eight round semi automatic shotgun, a M1928 Thompson styled SMG, and a eight round semi automatic rifle. Of course he has them under lock and key. He went out to do some errands and got a bite to eat. He noticed two stallions following him everywhere he went. When he went to go get a bite to eat he noticed the same two stallions sitting outside of the building and the two stallions were in another building. Purple paid for his meal after eating but snuck out of the restaurant. "Where did he go?" Asked the stallion. The other stallion replied, "I don't know, I don't have eyes on the back of my head."  Purple knocked on the glass.  "Hello there." Said Purple before he punched through the window grabbing one of the two stallions and pulled the stallion pistol out on another. "Show me it!" Said Purple. The Pegasus stallion slowly got his pistol to show Purple. "Now throw it to the other side of the room!" Said Purple.  The Pegasus stallion did. "Who are you two!" Demanded Purple. Pegaus stallion replied, "We can't say. If we do, we'll be killed or kicked out of the group!"  "I'm going to take a wild guess," said Purple, "You work for an assassin group… I don't like being tailed! Go back to your boss and have him tell you two are nice boys but let a real pony do the work."  Purple then left and threw the unicorn stallion pistol into a trash can. Untrained spies, Purple thought, Can't even tail somepony without whoever they're tailing noticing. At evening at a peaceful sunset Purple went to go get a bite to eat at a nice restaurant. While eating he placed Bits onto the table to pay for it before the waiter asked if he would like the check or dessert.  Purple was arrested for the assault of the two stallions earlier. The two cops didn't know Purple and didn't  care. When they tried to get his hoof prints and wing prints he fought back refusing.  One police officer banged the table with his twenty-three inch oak baton into intimidating Purple which it didn't. When a Pegasus stallion cop tried to take Purple's dog tags Purple grabbed the cop wing and broke it in ten different places. It took forty other cops to separate Purple from the pegasus cop who's wing he just broke.  When the precinct officer asked who in the world made Purple even though they didn't know Purple's name. A unicorn mare came.  "If there is a God then he or she didn't make Purple," said the unicorn mare, "I did. He and two hundred and forty nine others. So I came to get him." The cop asked why he should and asked who she was. "Divisional commander Ruby Velvet," said Ruby Velvet, "Also I'll give you several reasons for who you're messing with. Purple Eastle Artist he was trained and is an expert in guerrilla warfare, a master with guns, knives, crossbows and with his bare hooves, trained to ignore pain, suffering, to ignore weather, to live off the wilderness, to eat things that would make a wild animal puke! To kill and win by attrition. You don't want to seem to face the fact that if he breaks out that'll be your problem where even if you have every cop and national guard ponies hunting Purple he'll slip through and take some out here, badly injure some there."  The cop replied, "Sweet Celestia. Where the Hell do you ponies come from?"  "He can kill every cop in this precinct and not lose sleep over it. Once he sees somepony as an enemy no matter who they are… with Purple with every cop in here he'll take you all out within twenty minutes doing it quietly or five minutes or less if he wants to run and gun," Said Divisional commander Ruby Velvet. The cop replied, "I don't know who the fuck you are but… What the Tartarus is going on?"  The cop, including the others, went down to the cell area and Purple just blew through all of the cops like nothing where Purple dealt with each opponent very quickly and relied on targeting weak spots such as the eyes and nose, knocking people down and incapacitating them while they were struggling to get up. He only left one cop alone because he knew that there was more to Purple than what met with the eyes. They were trying to harm him and he was only defending himself. When Purple entered the lobby he saw Divisional commander Ruby Velvet standing there.  "Seems like protecting your ass is becoming a job of its own," said Divisional commander Ruby Velvet, "The war is over. It ended eighteen years ago! Stop acting like it's still going on!"  Purple replied, "I can't get it out of my head. I have had the same dreams for the past twenty years! I can't talk to anypony about it and sometimes when I wake up I think I'm still in the war. To you, you can turn it off and pretend that the war never happened because you have a girlfriend to be with! And you have stuff to do to keep your mind busy."  "I was with you in the mud and the blood Purple," said Ruby Velvet, "I was with you and been through the same stuff as you. It was a bad time for everypony but it's all in the past." Purple replied, "In the past? For you and everypony else it's 'in the past' but for me I get to keep living the same trauma and nightmares day in and day out like if they happened not one second ago! You can do as you please and you don't have to live in fear! Every day I live in fear and if I do something then I'll just get beaten up!" Purple then walked out of the police station and went to his studio apartment but he made sure nopony was following him. He just jumped into bed and cried his eyes out. At night Purple went to go get something to drink and while he was at a bar some ponies wanted to fight him. "Listen I'm going to tell you this now," said Purple, "Walk away now and we'll pretend this never happened or the eight of y'all can be crying for your mother's in an intensive care unit in a level one trauma center."  A Pegasus stallion replied, "Oh ain't that cute. He thinks he can fight all eight of us and win."  Purple put some Bits onto the table. "Alright all eight of you will receive an ass kicking you never got before," said Purple, "But when I do kick your asses I don't want to hear any of you crying or wanting your Mama's!"  The nine of them went outside.  "Seven of y'all are going to receive an ass kicking never imagined," said Purple, "The eighth one is gonna run like a foal to find a beat cop or the nearest police precinct."  The eight stallions scoffed and they had no idea what's going to happen. The eight then formed a circle around Purple and they cracked their necks and the Pegasus ones cracked their wing bones as well. Purple cracked his neck, wings and legs. The Earth pony stallion charged Purple but he grabbed his back leg and Purple broke the earth pony stallion hind right leg in ten different places before flipping him onto his back.  "I'm going to cut your ass!" Said a Pegasus stallion. The Pegasus stallion charged Purple with a butterfly knife only for Purple to grab the guy's wing and have the knife come around to stab the Pegasus holding the butterfly knife.  "That's not fair!" Said the same Pegasus stallion. Purple replied, "In war you fight for survival so it's fair!" Purple then head-butted the Pegasus stallion so hard that he knocked the stallion out cold. All but one decided to fight which only ended badly as Purple kicked their butts and the seven of them lied on the ground moaning in extreme pain and the eighth stallion ran off to find a beat cop as Purple predicted but that was during the fight. *** At a Canterlot Police precinct. "Anything you have to say?" Asked a Canterlot Police mare. Purple replied, "Last time I checked Standing your ground is a form of self defense. They wanted to fight me and I defended myself." "You should've run away or gotten somepony to help you then!" Said the same police mare. Purple replied, "Where I'm from, running away from fights makes you look like a coward and little bitch who'll run away from your problems! Also I'm trained to fight anypony and win. Final thing is that I'm not in here with you, you all are in here with me!"  "Is that a threat?" Asked the same police mare. Purple replied, "I can either go and we can pretend that this never happened or when I do escape unlawful custody whoever is in my way won't have the same luxury of walking away."  "That's it I'm booking you for threatening a peace officer," said the police mare. Purple replied, "It isn't a threat but the truth and a promise. There's about twenty cops in here, not including the civilian staff. I can sneak out like nothing or fight every single one without breaking a sweat."   The police mare did book Purple for fighting the seven out of eight stallions and more or less threatening a peace officer with violence. Of course Purple did as much resisting as he could. "We can play the easy way or the hard way!" Said the same police mare, "The hard way is that I cave your face in with my nightstick!"  Purple replied, "You don't scare me. Also if you try to strike me then that'll be the last thing you'll ever do. I've been through stuff that makes me not scared of assholes like you! At least I don't use my position in power to do whatever I want unlike you and other cops who use your badge and power to terrorize and threaten others. I don't. I'm not scared of you or anypony!"  The police mare drew her revolver and pointed it at Purple's head with only an inch between Purple's forehead and the barrel of the revolver.  "There was a time when I would be scared and afraid," said Purple, "As a Colt and teenager I probably would piss myself… but now I don't feel a Luna damn thing!"  Purple knocked the gun out of the Pegasus mare's wing and punched her hard enough to send her flying back and she hit a wall at an angle that killed her. "Could've let me go because I didn't break a crime defending myself," said Purple, "She tried to intimidate me but next time don't threaten a member of the Equestrian Special Forces."  Purple took the revolver and the ammo for it and he casually strolled out and no cop or civilian staff batted an eye. Purple also visited a friend who's a mare and is a lawyer whom the two get along fine. He told her how he was arrested for self defense and how a cop threatened to beat him up and held a gun to his head.  When she asked how he got the gun he told the truth and told her that he did hit a cop in self defense and she agreed and said that cops who intimate others with the use of force aren't no better than common criminals who do the same thing. Purple teleported to his house and kept the gun but he went back to turn himself in for assaulting the cop. Of course when he did three cops dragged him to the basement to open a steam pipe to burn him with scolding hot steam. Purple defended himself against the cops who wanted to severely hurt Purple but one cop got face full of steam including his left eye and the other two cops Purple peacefully pacified. "Protect and serve my ass!" Purple said, "More like 'Terrorize and intimate' I turn myself in for a crime I did but if this is the punishment to torture those then you're not any better than criminals and mobsters!"  Purple then left and teleported to his house in the middle of nowhere.  *** Canterlot. Tomorrow morning. "Thanks for coming here Ruby Velvet," said Princess Twilight, "I mean Ms. Divisional commander Ruby Velvet. Please have a seat."  Divisional commander Ruby Velvet sat across Princess Twilight.  "So what can you tell me about Purple's military service?" Asked Princess Twilight. Divisional commander Ruby Velvet replied, "You know everything that isn't labeled as 'More Secret than Top Secret'. But what do you want to know?" "Do you think Purple's lack of humanity in him," said Princess Twilight, "And him being broken at his core made him invaluable?"  Divisional commander Ruby Velvet replied, "He is invaluable and irreplaceable." "Can you tell us why he would snap?" Asked Head Guardian Sapphire, "Or hurt others in non-lethal training exercises?" Ruby Velvet replied, "What are you after?" "Purple's psych evaluations routinely exhibited mildly sociopathic tendencies, difficulty with socialization," said Princess Twilight, "He really can't fit in and make friends and hampers him from finding a lover."  Ruby Velvet replied, "His after action reports show efficient behavior operating in hazardous situations even with allies who say that he snows efficient behavior in hazardous situations."  "I don't want to sound rude," said Head Guardian Sapphire, "But do you think that Purple succeeded because he was or still is at his core, broken?"  Ruby Velvet replied, "Don't underestimate the Equestrian Special Forces… But most of all, don't underestimate...him." Ruby Velvet told both Head Guardian Sapphire and Princess Twilight about Purple and now he's either an irreplaceable ally or your worst nightmare and they want the former not the latter. "When did you meet Purple?" Asked Princess Twilight. Ruby Velvet replied, "February twenty two years ago. I was running black ops in New Maryland. He was loaned out to me while he was only eighteen where he already got a silver star, bronze star and a purple heart. He served his country with honor and distinction." After an hour passed.  "I must go now," said Ruby Velvet, "Got to keep my ears to the ground to listen what's Phantasia's next steps." Head Guardian Sapphire replied, "How do you know about Phantasia?"  "Three or four words," said Ruby Velvet, "Special Reconnaissance and Intelligence. Also you've met Brigadier General Flavor Wings she also told me. I specialize in intelligence gathering as well. Also he's no secret about 15%-40% heard about Phantasia. Don't know if it'll help but he just fired all but three mares within his army."  Head Guardian Sapphire replied, "How do you know what's going on in his group?"  "Intelligence gathering," said Ruby Velvet, "Also I had a mare in there until he told the mares to fuck off. He made a mistake by doing that. Good day Princess and ma'am."  Princess Twilight replied, "Who are you?" "Divisional commander Ruby Velvet," said Ruby Velvet, "Serial number 5620483RV. Second Infantry Division, Fifteenth Regiment, Fourth Battalion, Recon company. Also no the Second Infantry Division isn't an infantry division it's special forces with its members acting like an regular infantry. We are not G.I's.. That means General Infantry/Government Issue. Have a good one, my duty calls."  Before she left she told the two that Purple got arrested twice of course the first time he was being followed and the two had guns and thought they were assassins or hired killers and the second time was in self defense because eight ponies wanted to kick his butt. "What would you do if somepony even a pony who works for law enforcement who thinks they're above the law?" Said Ruby Velvet, "Purple doesn't think he's above the law, it's just that the military rewired him so if anypony no matter who threatens or attacks him, he'll be forced to defend himself no matter who started it. Also I'm the one who trained him to escape so whenever he escapes then it's my training. No he isn't above the law he's just been rewired that he sees dungeons, jails and prisons as nothing but as Prisoner of war camps. So thank me and the military for that!" Ruby Velvet then left to go back to do her job in an anti-partisan/counterintelligence mission to defend Equestria from foreign spies, foreign intelligence agencies and from groups wanting to overthrow or rebel against Equestria.