The Element of Perseverance

Chapters

Thunder Clap
Flash of Inspiration
Brain Storm
Innovation
The Thunder Storm
Proposition
Dark Temptations
New Terms Part 1
New Terms Part II: The Shot
To Be Continued...

Thunder Clap

Deep in the forest of White Tail, a small town resides almost unknown by everypony in Equestria. That is until town entrepreneur, Midnight Spangle became the second richest pony in Equestria. He was second in charge of Lunarus Corp., the prosthetic company. He was the builder of their legs and wings but only oversaw the construction of them. Thankfully for the town, he kept the main pieces of the business he co-owned in Canterlot and Manehatten. Only special projects crossed his small machine shop in town.

One of those happened to be a lone farmer’s son and later his apprentice in town, Thunder Clap. His right foreleg was ripped from its socket and only held on by a single tendon after he tried manually un-jamming a harvester. The doctors called Spangle after they were forced to amputate completely to see if he could do anything. When the farmer couldn’t afford to pay for even the lowest grade prosthetic leg, Spangle started looking for loop holes. Under the nose of the unknown owner of the Lunarus Corp. and retooled it for Thunder Clap, free of charge since it costed next to nothing to resize it for the young colt.

The one catch was that they were the most high end leg anypony in Equestria could have. A normal leg would replicate the users natural strength, but this one would triple that and was also built for war. The armor plates were strong enough to take a direct hit from anything and only have a small dent. And when he said anything, he meant it. He pulled one of the new Silver Bit rifles on it and fired into it point blank range. There was only a scratch on the outer coating where the lead ball splattered.

Directly after that, Thunder Clap went to Midnight Spangle prepared to beg to be under his mentorship. He didn’t even have to resort to hoof kissing, he was accepted in an instant.

Many months have passed since Thunder Clap went under the tutorage of Midnight Spangle, and Thunder Clap was just starting to understand the most basic bits of advanced machining. He had been using his fathers harvester, the same one that took his foreleg, as a guinea pig and nearly blew up the barn when he tried taking apart the transmission. No pony in town knew how he was even capable of doing that, even Spangle. Thunder had just finished helping raise the new barn with Midnight Spangle when a question was brought up.

“Thunder Clap, how well do you think you understand what I’ve been teaching you?” the black Pegasus asked whipping saw dust from his wings and out of his matching mane.

“From the barn having to be knocked down after the harvester incident, ah don’t know.” the gray earth pony with a mint green mane replied whipping his forehead.

“Well, what about a gun?”

“A gun? Why on earth would I need to take apart a gun?”

“As it would seem, a friend of mine sent me a damaged Silver Bit rifle and has asked me to find out what’s wrong with it.”

“What do they think?”

“The hammer won’t go back and even when it does they say that the powder won’t ignite.”

“And you want me to put it back together after you fiddle with it?”

“No, I want you to head the project.”

Thunder Clap stopped dead in his tracks. “You want me to head a project?” he asked dumbstruck.

“It’s nothing huge, but I feel you can get it done above and beyond with this project.”

“Thank you! Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou a thousand times thank you!” Clap shouted happily hopping up and down.

“Okay, okay. It’s not like you just got a ticket to the Gala. I’ll have the rifle on your bench by tomorrow.”

“Okay. Yeah, I’ll be ready!”

“You better, I’m counting on you.” Spangle said giving the earth pony a smile as he walked off.

Thunder Clap waved with his robotic leg hoping his heart wouldn’t burst from his chest. Spangle wouldn’t have said it out loud, but that teenager was one of the most dedicated ponies he had ever met. He wouldn’t question anything unless he thought there was something wrong, which was almost never and he followed instructions to the letter and sometime didn’t things to machines that normally wouldn’t and through trial and error, seeing as science is 85% error that was most of the time, until something made it run with less stress on a essential component or used less power. Horizon waved back as he flew back to his shop in the middle of town.

Just as the sun started to set, a package arrived and Thunder’s robotic right foreleg would have crushed the package and snapped the rifle in half if he didn’t try his best to keep a level head as he took the package up to his room that he called his work shop. The box as beautify crafted. He carefully opened it and took out his tool kit from under his bench. Looking into the box, he saw the large rifle. Something of a oval cylinder, common sense told him that’s where that’s where the bullet came out of, sat atop a long wooden shaft. The cylinder had a pan and a hammer mechanism that held a piece of flint. On the what he assumed was the bottom was a small lever.

He took the rifle out of the case and found the schematics sitting at the bottom. He read them over started checking for the problems that the owner was having with it. He put the end of the shaft against he floor boards and pulled back on the hammer. It didn’t budge. He pulled harder until it finally gave and clicked back all the way. He opened up the pan to be sure there was powder sitting there waiting to go off when he pulled the trigger at the bottom.

He put the bottom of the shaft against his metallic under arm where his leg met the contact plate on the right side of his chest and put his left hoof in front of the trigger that had his right hoof poised over it. Looking down the barrel of the weapon felt clunky and unnatural, it was sliding around a bit in his hoofs. He pulled the trigger and watched hammer strike the pan in a shower of sparks.

He tired pulling the hammer back again but this time it didn’t budge no matter how hard he pulled trying not to break it. He set it up on the bench and ran his eyes over the assembly of the trigger mechanism. That had to be where the issue had to be. He had to be careful to ensure that the powerful springs inside wouldn’t cause the entire thing fall apart in a barrage of cogs and springs.

Using his right hoof, he held the trigger assembly in place as he unscrewed it from the main part of the weapon. He carefully pulled the trigger assembly apart and went over it a few time before finding the broken sprocket connected to the hammer. He then searched the organized chaos of his shelves until he found a sprocket that was the right size to fit in where the old one use to be. After screwing that back into place, he delicately put the trigger mechanism back on the gun with one eye on the instructions to be sure that he wasn’t putting it back in wrong.

After testing to see if it worked, he looked over the schematics a bit more before going back to find out why the powder wouldn’t work. How it should have worked, a spark form the flint would ignite the powder in the pan and that ignition would travel down into the blasting chamber where the main powder charge would explode and force the ball out the end of the barrel. The only thing he could think to do, and this is going to look bad if his dad stepped in, is that he would have to put his mouth on the end of the barrel and blow into it to see if the pathway to the blasting chamber wasn’t clogged.

He turned the rifle around and put his mouth on the end of it. He could smell pungent odor of burnt gun powder before his lips sealed up the end of the gun. Thunder then opened the flap that covered the pan and put his left hoof in front of the hole that lead to the barrel. He blew as hard as he could and he could feel his breath sticking to the inside of the barrel and not coming out the other side. He took the barrel away from his mouth and set the rifle back on his work bench. Thunder Clap stood in place and looked around his room for a moment.

“Where did I- Oh!” he said to himself.

He stood on top of his bed and opened a drawer filled with ever size pipe cleaner he could ever need. He sifted through it until he found the smallest one he could possibly find before returning to his bench.

“This auta fix ya up nicely.” he told the rife as he pushed the pipe cleaner through the small hole.

It took some pushing from his right hoof to clean out the passage for the powder. The white pipe cleaner came out covered in a clumpy black mess of old wet gunpowder. He blew back into the barrel and his breath came through the other end of the gun with a high pitched whistle. Thunder smiled in satisfaction and sifted through the case to find the required items to test fire the weapon.

Flash of Inspiration

Thunder Clap found a single roll of wax paper in the case along with a powder horn. Thunder carried the rife over his shoulder and made his way to the back porch. As he passed through the living room, the heat of the fireplace washed over him. His father saw him carrying the rifle and nearly spilled his coffee as he shot out of his chair.

“Where did you get that?” his father, Autumn Harvest, asked his son.

“The Boss gave it to me. It’s for somepony else. It wouldn’t shoot so he gave the project of finding out what was wrong with it.” The teenager replied happily.

“He’s trusting you to handle something dangerous? After what happened last week?”

“Yeah! It’s incredible ain’t it?”

“Where are you going with it?”

“Out back to test fire. The trigger mechanism had a sprocket that was snapped in half an’ the passage to the firing chamber was clogged. Nothing major I just need to make sure its shoots.”

“Do you know how to do that?”

“Yeah. I read over the schematics a few times. Come on! This’ll be fun.”

His father hesitated for an instant. He liked Midnight Spangle, but he wasn’t sure if his 17 year old son was ready to start taking on projects. The harvest was over and the barn was raised so all they had to do was tend to the animals. But after the transmission incident, Autumn wasn’t so sure that Thunder Clap was ready for something like this. The stallion thought for another moment before answering.

“Just don’t shoot the livestock.” Autumn Harvest said with a grin.

Thunder clap started thanking his father with rapid movements of his mouth before finally going out back to test fire the Silver Bit rifle. From what he schematics told him, he had to bite the hard end of the roll of wax paper off and pour the powder that was inside of it out into the barrel of the gun. His jaw held the hard end of the wax cartridge in place and he ripped it free with his hoof. Without spilling the powder everywhere, he dumped the black, explosive compound into the barrel of the gun. After the paper was empty, he tossed it to the side and took out the “ram rod” as the schematics put it. He used the long iron rod to push the gunpowder all the way down into the gun to ensure that none would be around the sides of the musket ball.

Keeping the ram rod in his left hoof, he spit the wax covered lead ball out of his teeth and into his right hoof. As easily as he could he pushed the lead ball, still wrapped in wax paper into the muzzle of the rifle. Once it was in a few centimeters, he used the ram rod to push it as far against the compacted gunpowder. Once the ram rod wouldn’t go down any further he returned it to its place under the barrel and went for the powder horn.

Not wanting to blast his other leg off, he put just a small amount of the powder in the pan and placed the iron plate over top of it. Careful not to use the extreme power of his right hoof, he pulled the hammer back and then put the rifle’s shaft against his cheek as he took aim at the tree directly across from his porch. He held his breath as the foresite lined up with the reticule at the end of the barrel. He quickly pulled the trigger as the site lined up on the middle of the tree and a powerful explosion deafened him as a bright flash took over the entire world in front of him.

The rifle in his hoofs kicked like a mule and knocked him on his haunches. He put the weapon down and rubbed his eyes with his left hoof. After blinking the white from his eyes, he saw the splintery hole in the tree, right where he had been aiming. A wide grin crossed his face as his father came rushing out to find his son on his ass grinning like a mad stallion.

“Son! Are you okay?” he shouted looked his son over before he notice something that was off.

Though most colts his age not only had a job but also had a cutie mark. Thunder always attributed his lack of on to him not having gone out and done anything other than work the farm. Now he had his first taste of the rest of the world and what the job he had could open up for him. Ideas flashed through his mind on ways to make the rifle more user friendly and ways to simplify the system of reloading it.

“Son?”

“Yeah dad?”

“You feelin’ right?”

“Right as rain dad.”

“More like lightning.”

“Hu?”

Autumn pointed his hoof to Thunder Clap’s flank and his eyes nearly jumped out of his head when he saw the golden lightning bolt striking air with a mighty white flash embroidered on his upper thigh. It took him nearly twice as long as the rest of his friends, but he finally had his cutie mark. Thunder Clap jumped to his hoofs and started squealing the manliest way possible in excitement.

“This is awesome!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Okay, son. Calm down. Ponies might start starrin’ at ya.”

“Right. Sorry.” Thunder Clap scrambled to pick up the rifle before running to Midnight Spangle’s work shop to prove his progress to his teacher. “I’ll be back in a flash!” (all pun intended)

Author's Note

sorry if this is underwhelming, but I have a lot on my plate at the moment so chapters are going to start trickling in rather then a steady flow.

Brain Storm

Spangle sat at his front desk looking over reports from the factories in Manehatten and Canterlot. He sighed happily reading that everything was going well in both cities. He filed the papers under the desk and looked that the mirror he had on his wall next to him. His mane was in a sweaty mess from cleaning out the chimney to the forge, but that was normal. The single lock of golden yellow in his ebony mane had draped down over his left eye and was stuck to his forehead. Spangle was about to get back to work when a loud crack cut through the still air of the small town.

After thinking for a moment, he passed it off as somepony chopping down a dead tree for fire wood. It wasn’t until his gray apprentice burst in through the back door carrying the rifle in his teeth.

“Ih dih hit!” he said proudly through his teeth.

“What?” Spangle asked taking the Silver Bit rifle out of the earth pony’s mouth.

“I said I did it! It’s fixed. And look!” Thunder Clap turned ninety degrees. “I got my cutie mark!”

Spangle looked at the clock on his wall confused. It had only been an hour. “That fast?”

“Yeah. There wasn’t much wrong with it. Just a broken sprocket and a clogged path to the firing chamber. It should shoot like it’s fresh from Silver Bit herself.

Spangle pulled the hammer back and listened to it go past half cock and then to full. The hammer went forward quickly with a loud crack and a shower of sparks from the flint and steel.

“Well, that is impressive. And you test fired it?”

“Yeah!”

“So that’s what I heard.”

“Yeah, it’s loud boss.”

“That’s impressive Thunder. I’m proud of you. I’ll start sending more projects your way.” Spangle leaned over and reached for the candy dispenser he had sitting on his work bench.

He pulled a lever and a single ball of bubble gum was ejected from the side of the machine and in to the air. Spangle caught the gum in his mouth and started chewing. Inside Thunder Claps head, a brain storm started to roll in. Gears turned, ideas and basic drawling flashed through his mind. Spangle took notice and raised an eye brow.

“You alright Thunder Clap?”

“Can I borrow that?” Thunder asked pointing a hoof at the candy machine. “And the rifle.”

“I can give you the machine, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to let you get the rifle back. It is mine after all.”

“You let me fix your rifle?” Thunder asked feeling honored to have handled Spangle’s Silver Bit rifle.

“I’m the one that broke it, and I thought that it was the perfect opportunity to see if you could apply yourself to a project. What are you thinking’ about?”

“It’s just an idea that I want to try and put into action.”

“Well, the dispenser is built into the desk but I can get you the schematics.”

“Thank you Spangle! You have no idea what this means to me.”

“I still expect you to keep up with the work I hand you, Thunder.”

“Of course, Spangle. I won’t let you down boss!”
Inside Thunder Clap’s head, the designs on paper spun around him as the scanned over the candy dispenser’s. Possible modifications, mounts, right down to the size holes he would need to drill for it to work. In his mind, the same lever action that was used on the candy machine could be used to cycle in the package with the bullet and the premeasured amount of gun powder in it into the firing chamber all at once. Thunder Clap rolled up the schematics for the candy machine, took the rifle in his teeth and ran back to his house to start work on his idea.

Spangle shook his head and made his way to a carrier pigeon cage set in his window. Ninety-nine percent of the time there wasn’t a pigeon in it. He would simply leave the note within it and his friend's bird would come by and take the note to its very important owner with in that day. Spangle took out a piece of parchment and took his shop pencil in his teeth.

Dear Nexus:

It’s been a while since I’ve sent you a letter through Raven Wing, but I feel this needs to be in front of you ASAP. As always, the factories in Manehatten and Canterlot are running smoothly and the complaints of malfunctions in either the MK. 2’s or the Iron Icarus’ are far below minimal. I might have something that would interest you and Shining Armor. If my apprentice is thinking like I am, then his project should make ranged combat for regular infantry very easy. I'll send you another letter when the project is in beta stages and keep you posted on any changes in development. And when you come to town, have your legs this time.

Your friend: Midnight Spangle

Spangle rolled the parchment into a scroll and tied it with a black ribbon. He placed the scroll in the cage and opened the door to the outside.

“Let’s see if that bird gets here on time today.” Spangle said to himself after popping a bubble he blew with the bubble gum he was chewing.

Author's Note

Nexus: Thunder Clap seems a bit childish for my tastes. How is he possibly going to-
Me: Shut up and go back to your own dimension Nex. Don't you have a maid to be bangin' right about now?
Nexus: Bite me.

Innovation

For days at a time, Thunder Clap would spend hours in his room trying to just replicate the design of Spangle’s candy machine. He even ordered one and took it apart piece by piece. The mechanism was simple manage of levers pushing the piece of candy from a holding chamber and into a holding chamber after it was pushed up. And when the lever was pushed down it cycled out the piece it had in the chamber and pulled one from the reserve while launching the piece it had ready into the air and then repeat. Spangle’s rifle wasn’t making things any easier; every way he could think to do it, he couldn’t find a good way to mount the design without cutting into the rifle.

Eventually, Thunder Clap was spending most of his time in the shop. Late at night he would forge all new parts. Piece after piece, a slimmer barrel took shape. The metal lathe roared constantly as he tried to find the right size for the musket ball. Once the barrel was done, Thunder Clap forged a housing for the barrel and the lever mechanism. He screwed in the barrel with his right hoof until it wouldn’t budge. After closing off the housing, Thunder Clap three rounds into the rifle. The idea was that when the package was lifted into the firing chamber, a needle would pierce the package of gunpowder, spill the powder into the barrel and a blasting cap would ignite the powder.

The Thunder Clapper Repeating Rifle MK. I was ready to be tested. It could hold three shots and be reloaded by a chamber in the back of the rifle. The stock was short and fit better to the under arm of a pony and the lever was shaped so that a pony could cycle the rounds with just one hoof and still not take their eyes off target. The only downside was that the hammer had to be pulled back manually and the blasting cap, comprised of shock sensitive compounds, had to be replaced after each shot.

Thunder Clap held his breath. With Spangle watching behind him, he cocked the weapon and watched the package enter the chamber. He was hard to force shut but some resizing could fix that issue no problem. Thunder pulled the hammer back, placed a blasting cap on the nipple and shouldered the firearm. There were no sites on the gun, seeing as it was only a month since he had thought of the idea, the prototype needed a basic test before accuracy could be fine tuned.

With a quick pull of the trigger, the hammer slammed the blasting cap and a quiet pop came from the rifle, and nothing else. Thunder Sucked his teeth and took the rifle from his shoulder, just as he was about to take the whole thing apart when a thunderous bang shot from the muzzle of the rifle and a cloud of smoke billowed from the end of the barrel. The kick knocked the MK. I out of his hoofs and dug the rounded stock into the ground. Thunder Clap fell back on to his back in surprise. With all of the air shucked out of his chest and his mint green mane singed.

Spangle was at his apprentice’ side within an instant. “Thunder!” he shouted at the young stallion.

Thunder Clap shook his head and blinked a bit before seeing Spangle next to him.

“What?” he shouted back.

“Are you okay!?”

“I can’t hear you!”

“Are you okay?” Spangle said articulating every word so Thunder Clap could have some chance of understanding him.

“Yeah, I’m good.” Thunder said as the world turned off the mute button. “I’m good.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know, I’ll have to open er’ up and find out.”

Thunder Clap took the rifle back into Spangle’s shop and carefully took it apart. Inside of the firing chamber, the charred wax paper stuck to the inside of the barrel and took about an hour to scrape it out fully. Thunder Clap nearly hit himself with his right hoof at his stupidity. Even if the wax paper hadn’t melted to the inside of the firing chamber, there was no way for the wax paper to be ejected from the weapon so the next one could be cycled in. He removed the other two and put them off to the side as Spangle walked in to the shop.

“You alright?” Spangle asked.

“Yeah, but the rifle didn’t work. There’s no way the wax paper can be used as a carrier for the round and be ejected.”

“Do you know what caused the misfire?”

“The pin poked the hole and spilled the powder like I’d hoped, but when the spark lit the powder; it burnt slow through the packing and then fired too late. Other than that, the lever system works great.”

“So, you ready to give up?”

“Not even close. Just because one prototype fails, that doesn’t mean that the idea doesn’t work. I just need to make something to hold the powder and the bullet that won’t melt when the gunpowder goes off.”

“That’s what I wanna here. I’ll leave you to brainstorm.” Spangle said moving upstairs to his office space.

Thunder Clap remained downstairs all day, cutting, hammering and welding six different metals into cylinders. At one end, a blasting cap was fitted to a small hole and held in place with some super glue. Once they were all finished, Thunder Clap loaded them with gunpowder, packed it down as far as it would go and put the first one in a vice. In his left hoof, a hammer ready to strike the blasting cap on the iron cylinder.

Just before Thunder Clap could hit the blasting cap, Spangle called from the stairs. “What are you doing?”

“Sorry, I thought you were working.” Thunder Clap replied.

“It’s three in the morning.”

“It is?” Thunder looked out of the window of the shop and saw the evening sky through the thinning threes. “It is.”

“Go home. Your dad probably worried sick about you.”

“I just have one test to do and then I’ll go home.”

“That test is going to be loud isn’t it?”

“Yeah it is. You might want to get your earplugs.”

The ebony Pegasus went past his light gray friend and pulled his earplugs form a small box after sifting through everything else. After the ear protection was secure, he stood behind Thunder Clap and waited for the test to begin. Thunder held the hammer back a moment before slamming it into the blasting cap. A small flash came out the end of the cylinder and a loud bang. Thunder didn’t budge, but Spangle, even with his ear protection, jumped. Thunder tossed the hammer and quickly took the cylinder from the vice in his right hoof. The thin iron cylinder was red hot and substantially wider.

“Well then. One design down and five more to go.”

“Five?”

“Five.”

Author's Note

Nexus: Do you have to punish poor Spangle like that?
Me: Who's the writer here and who's a creation of who's head?
Nexus: You know you can't exist without me so killing me in any way would kill you as well.
Me: If you don't stop doing this I'm going to write in you making out with Firebrand.
Nexus: You're bluffing...
Me: *holds up pencil and paper* Am I?
Nexus: How many jokes are you going to steal from that guy?
Me: *pencil come dangerously close to touching paper*
Nexus: Okay! I'm sorry. Can we just move on to the next chapter please?
Me: Gladly.

The Thunder Storm

As promised, five more tests later, the brass cylinder held up the best, was the lightest before and after firing and was the cheapest to obtain. With that single issue sorted, another brain storm came to Thunder Clap. To spent hours making a new rifle all together, thinner barrel, longer, and slimmer. Beneath the barrel, a space that ran its entire length for the storage of ammo. The three rounds if had to start weren’t enough, the space he had now could hold ten. Of cores the cycling mechanism had to be modified to pull the rounds out of the tube. Thunder Clap finished putting it together a month later.

He wore his light brown one piece snow suit as he walked out into the winter air. Snow had just begun to fall as Thunder Clap loaded the brass shells into the back of the rifle until ten rounds were on the inside of the gun. Thunder Clap held his breath again as he cocked the weapon. The cogs, levers and gears within moved in perfect sync; pulling the first round from the internal magazine and into the firing chamber.

He let out his breath when he heard the click of the hammer locking back when he put the lever back in place. But that was the easy part. Now came the real test. He already knew that it was going to work; he just needed to be sure that it wasn’t going to snap the shell in half when he loaded it. Now he just had three tests left.

“Point, shoot, repeat.” Thunder told himself as he shouldered the rifle.

The same tree Thunder Clap shot at two months ago stood before him barren and ready to face the crucible once more. Spangle was busy in Canterlot so he wouldn’t be there for the testing. Thunder took careful aim at the tree, right above the hold he made the first time. His mechanical hoof hovered over the trigger. His mind raced at anything that could possibly go wrong. Hammer breaking, barrel exploding, and what was even more terrifying to him, the gun not even firing.

He pulled the trigger. The hammer hit the back of the shell. Inside the firing chamber, the blasting cap sparked the gunpowder to life. The expanding gasses pushed the lead ball at the end of the casing and out of the barrel with a loud thunder like clap. The kick was substantially less than he had accepted. Taking the simple stock away from his cheek and looked where the ball hit the tree.

The hole was right bellow the first hole. Thunder didn’t’ budge. He cocked the MK. II again and shouldered it. One after one, Thunder Clap unleashed a lead rain on the tree in his back yard. All ten round left the barrel in rapid succession. His father came out at shot six and nearly fell over when the seventh rang out across the town.

“What just happened?” Autumn asked getting up.

“Something that could change this family forever.” Thunder said shouldering his creation.

Dear Nexus:

My Apprentice has made a massive break through with his project and is ready to present it to the Equestrian Military. He’s tested his creation and it has great potential in battle and can be safely used in your training exercises. I would like to see you and whomever is in command of the Royal Guard. He and I are anxiously awaiting your reply.

Your Friend: Midnight Spangle

Almost instantly, a dark blue and black bird emanating a shimmering midnight blue aura landed in the pigeon cage just as Spangle opened it up.

“Well you’re early Raven.” Spangle said to the glowing bird.

The bird squawked and lit the note Spangle had in his teeth in blue flames. The letter disappeared and the strangely beautiful bird took flight. Only half an hour later, the bird returned. It spit out a ball of blue flames. The flames swirled and formed into a scroll. Spangle opened the scroll and read the message as the bird took flight.

Dear Spangle:

I have been anxiously awaiting this news and as to what this so called project is. I, Captain Shining Armor, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will arrive by chariot as soon as midday tomorrow to view this creation of your apprentice’s. I hope he will not disappoint us.

Your good Friend: L. Nexus

As promised, two chariots arrived after the snow had finished blanketing the ground the night before. The first golden chariot carried Princess Celestia and her sister, the other, carried two equally opposite stallions. The one on the right, a white unicorn with a blue mane golden Royal Guard armor, and the other dark blue, also a unicorn, with a black mane and dressed in black armor that had portions that seemed to have been taken from the top of a fish. They landed in the empty fields with two Pegasi pulling each carriage.

Thunder Clap was still in his winter one piece with Spangle wearing what use to be his dress uniform for the Royal Guard. When the Princess’ stepped out of their carriages both Thunder Clap and Spangle bowed to them and the Princess’ bowed back in return. Once the formalities were out of the way, Captain Armor directed the Princess’ to the back porch.

“It feels good to see somepony I know for a change.” the dark blue one said to Spangle.

“Nice to see you too Nex.” Spangle replied. “This is my apprentice, Thunder Clap.” he said motioning to the light gray earth pony.

“So you’re the talk of the town that Spangle’s been telling me so much about?” Nexus said with a smile.

“Y-Yeah, I’m Thunder Clap.” Thunder replied holding out his left hoof.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. So what do you have for to offer?” Nexus replied shaking Thunder’s hoof.

“I have something that will revolutionize warfare, forever. If you would please stand over on the porch.”

“I’d prefer standing with you if it’s all the same with you.” the white one said approaching the group.

“As would I.” Nexus said. “This is my associate, Commander Shining Armor. Captain of the Guard.”

“And what about you?” Thunder Clap asked.

“How rude of me. I’m Commander Nexus, Captain of the Evening Guard.”

“There’s two?”

“There are now.”

“Thunder. The MK. II?” Spangle interjected.

“Oh! Yes! I have created a mechanism that will make the spears and cross bows that you are using now obsolete. I have rebuilt the rifle.”

“The few Silver Bit rifles we have now are just in the defense budget as it is.” Captain Armor interrupted.

“You might want to get your money back, because this!” Thunder Clap said pulling the rifle from his back. “Is the only rifle you will ever need. This is the Thunder Storm. It holds ten rounds of self contained ammunition and can fire them in just under ten seconds.”

“Impossible.” Nexus said.

“You would think so, but…” He pointed the rifle towards the forest at the other end of the field and fired off three shots in rapid succession. “This isn’t your rich uncle’s rifle. It’s accurate up to twice the distance of the muskets you use and the ammo casings are easier and faster to make. Not only that, but you can carry more of these in one saddle bag.” Thunder took three more rounds out of his saddle bags and loaded them into the back of the Thunder Storm.

“It also reloads three times as fast as your muskets.”

“That is impressive.” Princess Celestia said surprised.

“I’m not even close to finished Princess. It-”

A sudden howl broke the earth pony’s presentation. At the other end of the field, several masses moved from the showy shadows of the forest. Then a pack of creatures burst from them, howling in rage. They looked like wolfs, but made of wood and tree branches.

“Timber wolfs!” Captain Armor shouted.

“Get the Princess’ inside Armor. Spangle and I will do what we can out here.” Nexus said flaring his wings.

HOLD THE CARRIOR PIGON! He has wings!? They looked off. They didn’t look like Spangle’s wings. These shimmered in the day light, reflected the reflection from the snow beneath their hoofs. They were made of metal. He had a set of Spangle’s Iron Icarus’ strapped to his back.

“Get inside!” Commander Nexus shouted.

The timber wolfs were fast approaching and Thunder Clap would have run inside, if he didn’t remember the fully loaded power in his hoofs. He turned to face the pack of wolfs and let loose a storm of hot lead from his rifle. The bar at the end of the barrel lined up to the brass ring in front of the stock. Captain Nexus nearly charged when Spangle stopped him.

Thunder Clap lined up his sites with the head of a timber wolf in his path. Everything slowed down as the sites lined up on the animal. He let lose with a shot and the timber wolf he was aiming at fell to pieces. Once his ammunition was depleted, he opened the lever and loaded a single round before immediately shooting it at another target. Before the wolfs could make it to the chariots, they all suddenly turned tail in retreat.

Captain Armor stood at the porch with the Princess’ looking on in amazement. Thunder Clap was out of breath as he lowered his weapon and looked to his boss. He put his rifle on his back and looked back at his house to ensure that the Princess’ were okay.

“Well, that was an extraordinary display of marksmen ship.” Princess Luna said.

“Agreed.” Commander Nexus said. “Would you excuse us please, we have a great deal to discuss this deal. Spangle, would you come with us please.”

“Sure.” Spangle replied as the Princess’ and Captain Armor followed them to the carriages. “So, what’d you four think?”

“I think your apprentice shows great promise Midnight Spangle.” Princess Luna said.

“Does he have price tag on his Thunder Storm Rifle?” Princess Celestia asked directly after.

“He does.” Spangle said with a sigh. “Somewhere in the ball park of six thousand bits.”

“Six thousand!” Shining Armor exclaimed nearly stopping in his tracks.

“Well, the ammunition takes up most of that price tag but that’s not that hard to meet right?”

“Like I said before, we can barely afford the Silver Bit Rifles we have now.”

“Captain Armor, with all due respect, I think we need those rifles.” Captain Nexus said.

“Where are you going to get six thousand bits a pop?” Captain Armor said.

“They’re deterrents. The Elements of Harmony are our magical deterrents. What if we face an enemy that they can’t fight. Something with an army.”

“Chrysalis had an army.” Celestia said.

“And the Elements didn’t even fight them. Given their bearers fought, but their Elements weren’t used in combat. Cadence only repelled them. My soldiers have been fighting your underground war against the changelings since I took over the guard and something like that rifle will make our fight easier.”

“As Captain Armor said, there is no money for us to meet these demands.” Celestia said.

“Sister, Lunarus has a fair point. Weapons like that can be a great advantage to Equestria should a conflict arise.” Luna said.

“But we have no money for these weapons. I’m sorry Captain Spangle, my mind is made up. And since Luna has fewer resources than I, there shall be no deal. I’m sorry. I refuse my kingdom be in debt.” Celestia said stepping into the carriage. “We’ll be on our way.”

“I think you should seriously reconsider this Princess Celestia.” Nexus said stepping in front of her chariot.

“Commander, just because my sister trusts you with her life doesn’t mean you have any power to make important decisions regarding my countries finances. I shall see you two back in Canterlot. Guards, we’re off.”

The chariot took flight leaving the three soldiers in the field.

“This isn’t over.” Nexus said stepping into his chariot with Captain Armor. “Let Thunder Clap know I’m sorry. We’re not finished here. Keep an eye on him Spangle, he shows some promise.”

“You think he’s one of them?” Spangle asked.

“He might. Keep me posted.”

“What are you two talking about?” Shining Armor asked.

“Above your pay grade.”

Spangle waved as the men took flight towards Canterlot.

Author's Note

Me: Two chapters in one day to make up for not being able to post over the weekend!
Nexus: Well that sucks for Thunder Clap. I really could use a Thunder Storm pistol in my-
Me: NEXUS AND FIREBRAND SITTING IN A TREE!!!!!
Nexus: Do it and I'll kiss Luna. Two can play this game Latin lover boy!
Me: I bet Dust Storm would love to hear that now wouldn't she?
Nexus: Tell her and we're both dead.
Me: ...
Nexus: ...
Me: Point taken.
Nexus: Next chapter then?
Me: Do the honors.

Proposition

Thunder Clap took the news a bit hard. He stayed in a bit more and finished projects without so much as a question. And that was out of the ordinary for him. Even if he knew what he was doing, he would always ask if there was anything else he could do to make it work better. He hadn’t even come into the shop since Celestia had come by. Autumn and Spangle were starting to worry about him.

“What do you want me to do?” Spangle asked Autumn.

“He trusts your judgment more than me. He’ll listen to you.” The dark orange earth pony replied.

“Well you’re his father, you should-”

“He doesn’t look up to me like he does to you.”

This took Spangle back a bit. “Why’s that?”

“Ever since his mother died when he was a kid, he’s looked up to you as like a second father. Faust knows I’ve done almost all I can about him. I’m extremely proud of ‘im for just having such incentive to do what he’s done, but this crushed him. He won’t listen to me so you have to talk to ‘im.”

Spangle sighed looking up the stairs. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Inside, Thunder Clap’s room/workshop, hundreds of plans hung from the walls. He still hadn’t taken down all of his designs for the Thunder Storm Rifle. The fully built prototype leaning against his night stand. He sat at his workbench tinkering with the mayor’s alarm clock when three knocks came at his door.

“I’m busy dad.” Thunder said not looking away from his project.

“It’s me, Spangle.” Spangle said through the door.

Thunder ran his metal hoof through his mint green mane. “It’s open.”

Spangle pushed open the door and looked around the room. “Looks a lot like mine when I started out here.”

“What’d you want?” Thunder said blankly not looking up from his current project.

“You haven’t really shown up for work. Everything alright?”

“What is it with you and dad wanting to pick my brain apart like there’s something there that’ll fix everything?”

“Look kid, I don’t know if he says it or not, but he’s proud of you. You’re doing more than he ever imagined you could, or even I could. Hell, I’m proud of you.”

Thunder stopped tinkering with his current project and looked over to Spangle. “He’s proud of me?”

“It’s all a part of the job description. No matter what, he’s there for you. He couldn’t be happier to have somepony like you as his son.”

“He said that?”

“He did. He also said that this isn’t like you. That no matter what, you don’t give up.”

“They said it was too expensive. What could I possibly do to make it cheaper?”

“Metals, that’s the key to ever single project. That’s why there are only a few sets of the leg you have in all of Equestria. It’s extremely expensive. You just have to find the right metals that will hold up just as long as iron. If anything they would-”

“Make it lighter. Thanks Spangle.” Thunder Clap ran out of his bedroom with the Thunder Storm in his teeth.

“What about the mayor’s-” the clock started ringing loudly as the clock tower signaled noon. “Never ceases to amaze me.”

Back at the shop, Thunder Clap was pouring over documents and estimations. As to what metals would be lighter, cheaper and still hold up. Aluminum seemed promising. But after stress tests, it would need major maintenance after about a month of work. The only other option was steel. It was cheaper to produce than iron and was much stronger. the inner mechanisms and barrel would have to be replaced to hopefully put them back into budget for the Equestrian Military.

While he was forging a new barrel, an idea dawned on him, what if he were to not only rebuild the rifle, but rebuild the bullet. From experience testing the Thunder Storm, the ball had a tendency to pull harshly in any direction. The first thing he thought about was a torpedo, built so that it didn’t move anywhere but straight. Thunder Clap was in the middle of melting down lead into their new curved cone shape when a dark voice came from behind him.

“Why do you continue young stallion?”

Thunder turned around and saw one of the strangest ponies he could never have imagined. His blood red coat was covered in black stripes; his messy black mane blew in an invisible wind and a bright purple aura flowing from his green, serpent eyes.

“Can I help you sir?” Thunder Clap asked.

“I am interested in your rifles. The one’s you created.”

“You want a Thunder Storm?”

“No, I want hundreds.”

“H-hundreds? That would cost-”

“Millions, but I’m confident that we can reach an agreement.”

“What do you have in mind?”

“This must remain between only us. I have a- “hunting party” that needs a lot of firepower.”

“A hunting party? When do you want them by?”

“Meet me by the river in three weeks to discuss the deal in full. This requires, further discussion in private.”

“Thunder, who are you talking to?” Spangle asked coming downstairs into the work shop.

Thunder looked to his mentor. “I was just-” when he looked back to where the strange pony was, he had vanished. “A customer... He was just here.”

“You might want to take some time away from forge. I think the smoke and fumes are getting to you.”

Thunder looked back to where the pony was standing only seconds before and nodded. “I guess so. Is it okay if I ask you to finish what I was doing?”

“Sure thing. Go home, it’s dinner time.”

Author's Note

Me: Clifthangers to the max!
Nexus: I'm starting to question if he's even-
Me: In a tree.
Nexus: On the lips.
Me: We both die in that case.
Nexus: Is it me or is this just getting REALLY formulaic?
Me: Yeah. Let's just stop. You don't spoil the future chapters/installments and I don't make you bi. Seem fair?
Nexus: Good nuff for me. Next chapter?
Me: Next chapter

Dark Temptations

Two weeks later, Thunder Clap had finished putting together his new, lighter and cheaper rifle. He even put a small telescope with crosshairs put into one of the lenses. He was ready to present his creation to the military again. This time, only Captain Nexus and a red unicorn who introduced himself as Captain Brand Fire arrived. As best he could, he tried to barter a price with them but Captain Fire kept telling him that it was still too expensive even with the modifications. Captain Nexus, who had an eye patch for some reason, and Midnight Spangle tried convincing Captain Fire, but it seemed he was the one that would have to sign the check for the rifles. He admitted that the rifle would be useful after shooting it himself; but he never agreed on any price. He was adamant in his belief that the Thunder Storm Rifles were not needed. Thunder tried telling him that there was another pony looking for a shipment and that he wouldn’t be able to fill two large orders at once, but Spangle scolded him for trying such a tactic.

It was the truth; there was somepony that was looking at the rifles. After Shining Armor gave his final offer of nine hundred bits a pop, Thunder packed up his rifle and started towards the forest. Deep within the White Tail Woods, Thunder Clap walked in his brown winter zut suit and his rifle on his shoulders towards the river. He continued to wonder why he was doing this as he stepped up to the banks of the river. After all, the stripped pony didn’t say where on the river but it didn’t take long for Thunder Clap to see why.

“Hello again young Thunder Clap.” The dark voice said behind him.

Thunder turned and saw the crimson pony with the purple aura still spilling from the sides of his eyes. “Were you followed?”

“No, I have the newest version of the rifle if you want to test fire it.”

“I saw the test earlier. I wish to give you my price tag.”

“Your price tag?”

“I am King Sombra, Lord of Shadows.”

“Never heard of ya.”

“That does not surprise me. You know the evil that is the current government. One sided and believing only in the monetary gain. You hate it.

“Well, so what if I do? There isn’t anything I can do about it. So how much are you willing to pay for these.”

“My price is high young colt.” From behind Sombra several dark figures began creeping through the snow towards them. “I have something that can benefit both of us. I have an army ready to revolt. We just need weapons greater than those of the guards. You can provide those weapons. But my price for your help is high.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I sense your potential in you. You have a talent that can change this world with one shot. My price is the blood of somepony who has been a hindrance to my plans for years.”

“You want me to kill somepony?”

“Not just anypony, Lunarus Solaris Nexus, the pony that has denied you your future as Equestria’s next great innovator.”

“Wait, Lunarus? Like the CEO of the Lunarus Corp.?”

“Yes. He wishes to hold the place as Equestria’s greatest innovator. That is why he won’t allow your creation into his guard.”

“He’s been sticking his neck out for me this whole time. He agreed to come back and see what I’ve done.”

“Yet he does not accept your creation.”

“Captain Fire is the one that is denying the price tag.”

“The two are soldiers. You do not accept them capable of a ruse to preserve Lunarus’ position in Equestria?”

“Well, that’s a fair point, but I don’t think-”

“That you can do it? If you do this, you will be first seen as a murderer, but in time, the world will see you as a hero. The vanguard of a new era. You will have all of the power you have ever wanted.”

“I don’t want power.”

“What of the Timberwolves? I could feel your thirst for power when their lives were in your hands, the control. You felt like Faust herself, and you can have that feeling for the rest of your life. You could be that one who create a new day in technology and in the world.”

“I-I-”

“I shall return in three days time. And on that day you will chose. I sense your resistance, your fear and it is understandable. You will have an answer for me when I return."

“But-”

“Three days.” Shadows started swirling around Sombra as he spoke. “Three days and your fate will be decided.”

Sombra vanished in a column of black smoke along with the shapes in the forest. Thunder Clap stood there with his jaw on the rocky ground around the river. He had to admit, he was tempted. Sombra was right, he liked the feeling he had when he held off the Timberwolves. The control, the power of the machine in his hoofs; he liked it. But killing somepony, somepony he looked up to in some ways, that went against everything he was. Sombra was right though, he wouldn’t put it past anypony in Canterlot’s military to try and keep their fiscal status quo. Thunder Clap was spilt. He wanted power and revenge on one shoulder and the other earning his way through life rather than leaving a trail of blood. He had three days to chose.

Author's Note

Me: MOAR CLIFF HANGERS! yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.... Ah, looks like i need to charge my camera and get the salt ready for my hat.
Nexus: I AM GOING TO KILL THAT MASCARA WEARING ASS HOLE!
Me: All in good time my hoofed alter-ego.
Nexus: I want his head on a stake now!
Me: When did you get so barbaric?
Nexus: I just finished watching an episode of Revolution. Monroe is alive! I hate that i felt sorry for that bastard!
Me: So are you mad at a show or Sombra?
Nexus: BOTH! I'LL END HIM WITH A VERY MENACING SPOON!
Me: And I'm the one stealing jokes from Josh?
Nexus: Just bring up the next chapter Roman, please. Before I break into this story and kill him now. *that bastard child of tartarus*
Me: Gladly.

New Terms Part 1

The three days passed slowly as Thunder Clap tried to decide. The Shadow King had good points, Equestria was becoming more centered around money and if they didn’t have the money to have even a dozen of his rifles then he would never get it out there for anything more than recreation. And since one and every one million ponies in Equestria even hunt, the only logical choice was to change the system. Celestia had been in power for more than a thousand years and things have hardly changed.

But at the same time, he had to end somepony’s life. And not just somepony, Lunarus Solaris Nexus; his mentor’s friend and co founder of the Lunarus Corp. This went against everything he had ever been taught. He never even wanted to kill a fly if it were buzzing in his face. He didn’t know if he could even bring himself to kill somepony. The only reason he killed the Timberwolves was because they were threatening him. That was a moment of desperation, one he didn’t want to repeat unless absolutely necessary.

Thunder kept to himself those three days. He told his dad and Midnight Spangle that he was making another breakthrough with the rifle. Spangle understood and kept his inquiries to himself and his father respected his privacy. And on the day of The Shadow King didn’t bother knocking, he entered his room.

“Have you made your decision?” Sombra’s deep sadistic voices asked.

“I-I have.” Thunder Clap said nervously. “Thank you for the offer, but I can’t. This goes against everything I’ve ever been taught. I refuse to kill anypony. No matter how much I want to be recognized for what I’ve done. Not like this. I’ll make it better and they will accept my terms. I’m going to Spangle to have you arrested for conspiracy against Equestria.”

“I am sorry to hear you say that young colt. And so is your father.”

From the other side of the door, his father was dragged in, unconscious, by a pony-insect creature. Thunder Clap was lost for words. He wanted to go to his father’s side, but he also wanted to kill the pony standing in front of him.

“You see Thunder Clap; I cannot have you going to the authorities with this. I am however surprised that you declined. Anyone else would have taken everything I had offered.”

“I’m not anyone else it seems.”

Thunder was suddenly serious. This was a side of himself he had not yet seen within himself. He didn’t quite know what it was inside of him that was keeping him as sharp as he was, but he hoped the same side of him could get him out of this.

“It would seem so. Here is my new proposition, you will kill Lunarus Nexus or I will kill everypony you care about. And when he’s dead, you will become my servant.”

“What happened to vanguard of the future?”

“You threw that out the door when you said you were taking me to the authorities. Now, get your warmest cloths and your weapon, we have a little trip to take.”

Thunder Clap kept his hood over his mint green mane and keeping his golden yellow eyes under his welder’s goggles. Sombra walked in front of him with a black cloak over his face and body. Snow fell all around them as they walked through the streets of Canterlot. Thunder had his Thunder Storm MK. II on his back as they came to a massive clock tower.

“Why are we here? Couldn’t I just call him back so we can kill him in the woods?” Thunder asked.

“Because he walks down the main street every day. And on this day it shall be painted in his blood.”

Even Thunder Clap’s metal leg shook in fear from hearing The Shadow King say that. The clock tower over shadowed the entire main road on the mountain side city. They entered the tower and were confronted with a white stallion in golden armor.

“Halt! Royal Guard!” the stallion shouted seeing the two.

“Continue to the top. I shall speak with him.” Sombra said waving Thunder Clap up the stairs.

The stallion tried running towards them but slammed into a light gray shield around him. Thunder was too afraid to do anything so he began climbing the long staircase.

“You are another one of them aren’t you?” Sombra asked the stallion.

Thunder Clap wanted to ask what he was talking about but felt it beset that he get to the top and await for his name to be mud. He walked slowly, hoping that Lunar Nexus would walk past before he reached the top. Unfortunately, Thunder reached his perched at the top with the bells of the clock tower. He took his rifle out of its case and put it in the window sill. He looked over the streets and saw it bustling with ponies shopping for gifts with Hearths Warming Eve bonuses. Through the scope, he can’t see the familiar cobalt pony.

“Patience. He shall arrive in moments, and I shall be in position to take this world by force. There.” Sombra said pointing his hoof towards the east.

Thunder looked over his shoulder and saw a small group of the insect ponies that knocked out his father coming up the stairs as well. Thunder Clap sighed and looked down his scope. The cross hairs lined up on a brick wall directly in front of them. He slid his aim to his right and acquired a pair of familiar figures in his sites.

“Princess Luna’s with him.” Thunder’s shaky voice told his dark handler.

“Perfect, kill her as well. Lunarus first, then the princess.” Sombra said.

“But, what if I miss?”

“Then you die.”

The two spoke as they approached the tower from the other side of the street. Thunder Clap cocked his rifle and took aim at Nexus. They were thirty stories up and a few hundred yards away. He needed them to get closer. Down bellow, the two laughed happily not knowing that their lives were almost at their end. Thunder’s mind raced as they got closer, the crosshairs on Nexus’ chest. He could see the black leather jacket and his silver wings sitting out in the open air on top of the jacked. Thunder made up his mind in that instant. He was going to make-

New Terms Part II: The Shot

“I am not so sure if this is safe Lunarus.” Luna said.

“Have faith Luna. I’m sure this’ll work. We just have to keep walking and wait for the thunder storm.”

“I am still nervous being out with only-”

Suddenly, several successive claps of thunder ring out from high above them. A shield enveloped Luna and Nexus shot from the streets in a hiss of pistons firing, metal feathers colliding and snow being thrown off of the side walk. He soared towards clock tower as two more shots rang out.

-sure that nopony was hurt by Sombra again. Thunder Clap gripped his rifle with all his real and artificial strength as he slammed the stock into Sombra’s snout. As one of the insect ponies tried to charge him, he wheeled his Thunder Storm MK. II around and fired one round into the head of one of the creatures. Its head splattered in a shower of green. Thunder Clap didn’t have any time to think after that; he cocked the rifle again and started shooting anything that moved. Each shot slammed into its target with devastating accuracy.

He could see Sombra starting to stand, dazed. Thunder lined up a shot and put it right in between the evil pony’s eyes. His head jolted back and blood sprayed from the entrance wound as more insect ponies started coming up the stairs. Thunder ran the numbers in his head and he was out of ammo. He never bothered bringing more bullets thinking that he would only need the one shot, he only loaded the max tens shots. Thunder Clap turned the rifle in his hoofs and prepares to beat them all to death but a flash of light blinds him and everything inside the tower.

When the light vanished, a cobalt unicorn in a battle stance, wearing a black leather jacket, his mechanical wings spread wide and his black mane with small dots of snow in it standing in between him and the creatures. He rears up onto his hindlegs and crossed his forelegs across his chest with a loud thump followed by metal sliding on metal. From beneath his sleeves, two, one foot long blades extended as he took a new bipedal fighting stance.

“Who wants some!?” Nexus shouted.

The closest creature lunged at Nexus and he quickly thrust his spring loaded blade into the side of its head. The creature shouted in pain and then was promptly thrown to the side as he started dispatching more and more. In the midst of the fight, one of the insect ponies had gone out of a window on the stairs and had climbed behind Thunder Clap. Thunder turned and tried swinging the butt of his rifle into the creature. He was unsuccessful and the creature dug its fangs into Thunder Clap’s right foreleg. He fought with the creature for several seconds before a silver blade appeared in its left, glazed blue eye. Thunder shoved the creature off of him and looked to Nexus standing holding his right fore hoof with a blade missing.

“You okay?” he asked pulling on the other blade back into its hidden sheath.

“I’m fine. What-”

“You impotent fools.” A deep voice said from behind Nexus.

Nexus wheeled around and looked at the blood red pony standing up with a hole in his head spilling black shadows.

“I always thought I would be the one to put a bullet in your head Sombra.” Nexus said backing up to Thunder Clap, seeming to try and protect him.

“You know nopony can kill me. Only The Elements can break my physical body. Even then I cannot die. You have no power over me. We shall meet again Lunarus, and on that day you will perish. You will never find your final element Lunarus. Farewell.” Shadows swirled around Sombra and he vanished as he had done on the river three days before.

Nexus turned to Thunder Clap with a stone cold stare through his eye patch. “We have a few things to talk about young Thunder Clap.”

Author's Note

Me: YEAH KICK ASS THUNDER CLAP!
Nexus. THAT'S HOW ITS DONE! HE'S THE ONE I'M LOOKIN FOR!
Me: Remember the deal on spoilers Nex.
Nexus: Shut up. THIS IS GOOD FOR ONCE! I was on edge last chapter.
Me: Shall we finish 'er off?
Nexus: We shall.
Both: CHAPTER TRANSITION!

To Be Continued...

Under the castle and inside of the mountain, Thunder Clap sat alone in a cobblestone room with Commander Nexus. He hadn’t said a word for what seemed like hours, all he did was glare at him with his one good left eye and reading different pages of the same file.

After another eternity, Nexus finally spoke. “So you were atop the Canterlot Clock Tower with a rifle capable of putting a grapefruit sized hole the back of a pony’s head at three hundred yards with the most wanted stallion in the world. Now tell me, how does that sound to you?”

“Not good, Sir.”

“You don’t deserve to call me Sir, kid. Do you know the punishment for conspiracy to assassinate a world leader?”

“N-No sir.”

“At best, bad things. Never see the light of day again things.”

“A-And at worse?”

“Have you ever seen a hanging Thunder Clap?”

“N-No, Sir.”

“Well with what you’ve done, you’ll have one hell of a front row seat!”

“I didn’t shoot at you!”

“But you were planning to.”

“I didn’t shoot at you though!”

“Then what why were you up there if you didn’t plan on shooting me?”

“He had my father! Oh Faust, my dad. He still has him!”

“No he doesn’t. Spangle found him inside your home unharmed. Just unconscious. Lucky him.”

“You have to believe me Captain I-”

“Didn’t intend to go through with it. Did you think you would go down as a hero when you killed him?”

“No, I just didn’t want to do it. I don’t fight unless I have to.”

“That, I can believe.”

“What? You’re forgiving me that easily?”

“No, you’re not completely off the hook. Spangle.”

The heavy metal door opened and his ebony teacher entered wearing an old dress uniform.

“You said you retired.” Thunder Clap said looking over his friend.

“I am. But Captain Nexus asked to keep an eye on you after he met you.”

“Why?”

“Have you ever heard of The Elements of Harmony, Thunder Clap?” Nexus asked

“Yeah. I heard stories about them back home. What does that have to do with me? What does it have to do with Sombra saying I was one of them?”

“All in good time Thunder.” Spangle said.

“In that time, I suggest you get a little more proficient with that rifle.” Nexus told him moving towards the door.

“Why?”

“Because you work for me now. Welcome to the Evening Guard.”

For the next few weeks, Thunder Clap learned basic combat maneuvers from Spangle and Captain Nexus. Spangle helped him learn how to keep level under pressure and Nexus taught him basic hoof to hoof combat. The Captain also had Thunder Clap work on a special project to make his Thunder Storm MK. II smaller and more compact. He was only able to construct two prototypes that he fitted to two metal boots for Captain Nexus. The training wasn’t easy, but Nexus kept telling him that it would all pay off soon. Thunder didn’t know how literal that statement was until about two weeks after training was over.
To Be Continued...

Author's Note

Me: Ah, finally done!
Nexus: Kind of short isn't it? The last chapter?
Me: I feel it leads into the last one better. But I'm finnaly finished!
Nexus. You still have two more that need to get done dude.
Me:Don't remind me metal head.
Nexus:... I told you, and everypony, don't call me that.
Me: What are you going to do about it. 1: You're in Equestria. 2: I have nerd powers. 3: I have your powers. 4: I have hands
Nexus: I also know how to go through dimensions and I now have guns.
Me: In a tree.
Nexus: On the lips after zapping you to oblivion.
Me: Come at me metal head.
Nexus: Cut to black?
Me: Cut to black.
*black*