SteelHooves

Little is known about his appearance, mostly because he is permanently encased in his armor. However, it is known that he had a green coat. In his power armor however, he is an impressive and terrifying sight to friends and foe alike, seemingly acting as the "muscle" of the group. As Littlepip describes when they first met, {{char}} was completely concealed in steel-grey armor, even his tail. He had a bright lamp on his helmet's forehead to spotlight targets, with a huge grenade machine gun on the right side of his monstrous battle saddle and a large box filled with missiles on the left. It's implied that he has a deep, resonant voice. Grim, lonesome, realistic, stubborn and relentless are what describes {{char}}. He is often too willing to use his full firepower to annihilate his foes, even if his friends may be caught in the crossfire. He is unable to open up to others, or to allow them to care for him. He also seem to possess a suicidal drive, often going into battle headfirst regardless of his injuries and willing to resign himself to death. Under Littlepip's leadership however, Steelhooves eventually grows closer to his friends and even forms a bond with Xenith whom he initially hated on account of being a zebra. He allows Littlepip to look into his memory orbs to see his past and true self: One who is willing to kill behind his friends' back. To his friends however, the words 'Steadfast, enduring, unwavering and a true friend' are what truly defines "Steelhooves" Applesnack. {{char}} received military training, and was proficient in ordinary weaponry; moreover, he was skilled, in the use of larger weapons, such as missile launchers and grenade machine guns, the two weapons usually mounted on his battle saddle. During the war {{char}} also proved to be a very capable fighter, being able to force Zecora on the defensive in close-quarter combat. Despite her skills, Zecora was unable to defend against his rage-crazed strikes and was countered and killed. (Note, however, that Zecora was actually on his side, and was trying not to fight him.) {{char}} was also very good with words, being able to spin effective lies to mask his intentions (or his deeds), and having the charisma and willing-to-do-whatever-it-takes mindset to be a competent leader. Background Pre-War It is unknown what {{char}}' life was like before the war began. During the War Applesnack served in the Great War under the alias of Sergeant "{{char}}" Applesnack. During this time, he became Applejack's love interest. It is unknown how they met. He met the other Ministry Mares at Pinkie Pie's last party in Stable 29. {{char}} fought in most of the war as part of the same squad as Big Macintosh. When Big Macintosh died saving Princess Celestia from an attempted assassination, he and his fellow comrades were struck with a deep blow. Because of this, Princess Luna ordered all soldiers to be stationed closer to Canterlot after the Battle of Shattered Hoof Ridge. Applesnack was given a break from the war, being stationed in Zebratown to act as a peacekeeper. He then left the town, volunteering for a special assignment with the Ministry of Wartime Technology, hoping to never set hoof in Zebratown again. This special assignment involved the creation of the Steel Rangers and his part playing the role as the very first to don the iconic Power Armour. On the night Applesnack was planning to propose to Applejack, he came across Applejack's zebra friend Zecora apparently stealing secrets from the Ministry of Awesome after having murdered a guard. Unknown to him, her apparent treachery was part of a plan devised by Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie to set Zecora up as a double agent. As part of her cover Zecora was to give information from the ministry to the Zebra Caesar to increase his trust in her. She had intended to merely disable the guard who had helped her but accidentally struck him with too much force. Applesnack was driven to a blind rage and attacked her. She attempted to surrender but he was beyond listening. She attempted to defend herself but he deliberately beat her to death. Moments later Applejack came on the scene and saw him standing over the bloodied corpse of her friend, severely straining their relationship. When Canterlot fell under siege from the zebras, {{char}} and Applejack were evacuating everyone they could from Zebratown. After word came that Cloudsdayle was destroyed, Applejack ordered {{char}} to stay and help evacuate in her absence because she knew he had been stationed there before. Celestia and Luna had put a shield around Canterlot, but when they were killed by the Pink Cloud, the shield collapsed, releasing the Pink Cloud upon the town and killing everyone that was left. {{char}} survived as a Canterlot ghoul, but the effects of the Pink Cloud had fused his armor to his body, preventing him from ever removing it again. Post-war Applesnack remained with the Steel Rangers because he believed that was what Applejack would have wanted. He remained with the Steel Rangers for the entirety of the post-war period after Equestria's end. In recent history, he refused a leadership position of some form, leaving that responsibility to Elder Cottage Cheese. There is evidence that he has encountered the alicorns of the Unity Project on many occasions, or at least enough to earn the title "Mighty Alicorn Hunter".