Code of Law. Codename: Code-X
I was doing pull-ups when my prison guard-a gray stallion with an officer's uniform-comes in and throws a white short sleeve, a pair of cargos, and combat boots through the bars. "Get dressed. Somepony's here to see you. Don't worry; we gave them a rabies shot before they came inside." I just smirked as I dropped from the bars. That was the joke the guards used when they wanted to be absolute dicks. I asked him to put the keys on the hook next to my jail cell. He did, then galloped towards the visiting room as I walked up to my mirror above the washbasin. I was lucky to have the luxury of shaving, which is good since my facial hair grows like wildfire.
As I grab my straight razor and shaving cream, I look in the mirror. I had a muscular build, tan skin (Naturally tan, not sun-made), and Handsome features. I had Dark green eyes, and dirty blonde hair. I turned on the faucet, and put my hands under it to cup the water. I then splashed my face and grabbed the shaving cream, shaking the bottle before pouring it into my hands. I lathered my face with the shaving cream and then flipped my razor open.
As soon as I finished shaving, I grabbed a rag and wiped my face. I then changed out of my jumpsuit and put on the clothes the guard gave me. I then slipped my hand through the bars, grabbed the keys, and unlocked the door. The guard looked at the watch on his right forehoof and yelled, "Damn it, Stronghold! We ain't got all bucking day!" I did the standard procedure for visiting time, and grabbed a pair and bionic wrist-cuffs that connect to each other when they're put on.
I melted into a shadow and appeared next to him with the key's ring in my hand. He snatched the keys from me with his mouth and put it in his officer's saddlebag. "Well, come on, then. Go in the room. Once you step inside, we will remove the cuffs." said the guard. I asked why, and he simply shrugged and said, "Orders from the visitor."
I stepped inside, and the wrist-cuffs unlocked, hitting the floor with a loud clang. I rubbed my wrists, thinking 'I don't care what those guards say; I'll never get used to the irritation those cuffs cause.' I then heard a voice that sounded a lot like Dad's say, "Hello, Stronghold. Please, sit." I did, then tried to recognize the face of the person sitting across from me, which was hard to do, because his face was concealed in darkness. "So, who are you and why did you ask to see me? In fact, how do you even know who I am?"
The man leaned to the right side of the chair and smushed his cigarette in the ashtray. He then said, "I know a lot about you. I know your full name is Cody Xavier Stronghold. I know you ran away when you were eight, and I know...you're my son," he said, leaning in to let light streak across his face. It was none other than Dad, with gray hair on the sides of his head and his beard. "WHY ARE YOU HERE, HUH!?! TO SEE IF I'LL CRY AND SAY 'I'M SORRY, DAD? I'LL COME BACK WITH YOU?' OVER MY COLD DEAD BODY, DAD!!!" He just simply looked at me and said, "Not asking for that. I'm here...to give you a second chance at life. To prove you can be trusted."
I looked to my side and chuckled. I then put back on my straight face and said, "A second chance, huh? What's in it for me?" He smirked and replied with, "I thought I made it obvious; your freedom." I guess my face turned to shock, because he said, "No kidding around. Completely serious right now. What do you say, huh?" I thought about it, then shook his hand and said, "Fine." "Alright, then," He said. "Tomorrow, I'll go to court and pay for bail. Come see me at the local cafe down at Canterlot. Okay?" I nodded, then after the visit, I cried tears of hope.
Because second chances are rare these days.
The Next Day...
I'm finally leaving the jail. So I'm putting my pull-ups bar away. Just as I finished, my prison guard throws in a pair of cargos, combat boots, and a black short sleeve muscle tee. I put the box the bar is in aside and change out of my jumpsuit. I put on the clothes, tied up the boots, and walked out of the prison cell, box in hand. The guards directed me to the entrance of the prison. As they did, they joked about how they'll see me back behind bars soon. It would only be a matter of time, they said.
Looks like I was going to prove them wrong.
I got to the nearest train station and hopped aboard the train that would go to Canterlot. When I got there, I met Dad at the local cafe, showing it was time for a meet and greet.
"Okay, so; why did you ask for my help, Max?" I asked Dad as he lead me somewhere at the edge of Canterlot. "Not yet ready to call me Dad, eh? It's cool. I understand completely why you'd hate me. You blame me for Flutters' death, can't believe I got married to someone else, and you're angry because I put you in jail. I had to. You were spreading crime. It's my job to stop it before it leads to worse. Just want you to understand that." Said Dad as he stopped by a store for some groceries. I stayed outside, bought a pack of cigarettes and smoked, then smashed it out after with my foot.
Suddenly, time froze, and I looked up to see a woman about my age with green eyes and red-and yellow hair. she was lithe, and she was wearing a leather outfit. She ran up to me and grabbed my arm. I pulled it back and said, "What the hell you doing? And why did everything stop?" She looked in my eyes and said, "That's not Max. And time didn't freeze, it's slowed to a near stop." "Then who is that?" I asked. Her response; "My target. Disguised in a 99 cent costume of Max Stronghold. He used magic to make it look real."
"Well then, what now?" I asked.
"We run. Time will go back to normal once we get within ten feet away."
"Fine by me. Lead the way." She grabbed my arm and pulled me along with her. "But hold on a second," I said after we got ten feet away. "If he's your target, then why run?" Time went back to normal, and we kept running. She told me her objective was to inform my Dad of his last whereabouts. Then, a group of gangsters surrounded us with guns in hand. I looked around, and saw that underneath the Max costume was a Unicorn Stallion with a red horn and eyes of green and red. He slowly moved towards me and said, "I am King Sombra, and if you think I'll let you get away that easily, you're sadly mistaken."
A few ponies noticed the king, and panic erupted, all of them scrambling for shelter. They opened their curtains and watched. I said back to Sombra, "I agree." and kicked him in the face. He fell back and put his hooves over his face, screaming, "Kill him...and the girl!" They charged me and I said, "WARNING: HIGH LEVELS OF STUPIDITY APPROACHING!!!" and punched all of them in a row, snapping their necks in the process. I thought that was all of them, until one grappled me from behind. I was about to respond when another one came and punched me in the gut. I elbowed the guy behind me then reverse grappled him before the other guy punched him. Then, I Grabbed the gun out the guy's holster and shot both him and the guy that punched me earlier.
I then unloaded the gun and tossed it aside. I turned around when I saw one of the guys try to sexually harass the woman. So I ran and punched him in the face. He wiped the blood off his chin, then spit some blood out. "Don't fuck with a woman when a dude's nearby." I said. He started punching me, then I blocked his fist and I threw punches of my own. We kept kicking and punching for at least a few minutes. Then, I ended it when I grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back. I then tugged, breaking his arm socket. I grabbed his head, and pulled back real hard. He ended up with his head hanging by a thread of skin.
I tossed his body aside and grabbed the woman's hand. I said, "Are you alright?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Now, where is it you're taking me?"
She looked at me and said "Your REAL fathers' Base of Operations. The edge of the world, home of the Equestrian Guardian." I rolled my eyes and said "Okay. What's your name?" She again looked straight at me and said "Sunset Shimmer. Now, let's go." We fled the scene, leaving two things to happen; King Sombra vanishing in a cloud of black smoke, and me looking at her...hindquarters, I guess you could say.
"Alright, we're finally here." said Shimmer as she opened the door. We got there by sunset, and man is it beautiful.
By the way, I meant both Sunsets.
When I entered the house, Dad was talking to Princess Luna, the one that suggested my head stay where it is even though I committed high treason against the kingdom. She told me she had a feeling I'd save Equestria one day. I told her, "How, if I'm going to be stuck in a jail cell?" Apparently, I didn't think I was going to get out at some point. When they saw me, they stood, and dad had a shocked look on his face. Princess Luna just smiled and said "We shall speak later," to him and walked away. Dad came up to me and hugged me, saying "I missed you, son." I shrugged him off, and said, "Yeah, whatever. What's the deal? I just got dragged into something only thirty minutes after I got released. What's going on?"
Dad looked down, and raised his arm. He shot a ball of energy onto the wall, revealing the Crystal Empire. He zoomed in, and asked me, "What do you see?" I told him, "Dark clouds and black mist." He told me "That's King Sombra. You punched him, and he vanished yes?" I nodded, and Dad said "He went back to the Crystal Empire to try to take it back." "So he didn't learn the last two times he was defeated, I see." I said. He nodded. "Since you're here, I need your help. We need someone to sabotage the army Sombra has put together." I said, "Okay, but on one condition; I choose my partner, My actions are not to be stated to either of the Royal Sisters unless needed, and I get a codename so that no one will uncover my identity." Dad said, "Fine. What is your codename?" I thought on it, then said "Code-X."
