Hammer in Equestria

(With Vinyl 6 hours later)

Vinyl was busy talking to Pinkie outside Sugar Cube Corner with a small smile on her face.

"And then I was like oatmeal are you crazy!" The bubbly mare said getting a laugh from Vinyl.

"I know right only someone out of their mind would do that. So whens the next gig girl?" Unknown to a lot of people Pinkie Pie is Vinyls manager and a very good one at that.

"Weeeeeelllll I set you one up in Canterlot this Thursday at Club Memories. I even got you one booked in Trottingham during the Hoofball game." She said while Vinyl nodded with a distant look in her eyes.

"Hey Vinyl you ok?"

"Yeah just got a really bad feeling." She said just a ambulance flew past them with their sirens on.

"Oh man I hope whoever it is that they're ok." Pinkie said looking at Vinly who was watching the ambulance turn the corner.

"Yeah me too." She said as she walked to Rarity's place.

As she got there she could hear Rarity working hard trying to get dresses done for clients. Vinyl smiled creeping up behind her herd mate and put her hands over her eyes while nibbling on her ear.

"Guess who Rarity? If you get it right you get a treat later." Vinyl said working her way down the mare's neck getting moan from her.

"Oh darling if I say your name will you stop?" She asked starting to pant.

"Yes?"

"Then I won't say it just don't stop." She said before being pulled into a deep kiss getting a deep moan from the two mares.

"Oh Vinyl darling you really came in at the right moment. I was just about to go on a break." She said giving Vinyl a small peck on the lips.

"Yeah its almost closing time so why don't you come over to my place for a bit and Ill grab Tavi. We'll have a girl night out since Luke is going to be out all night and Sweetie Belle is probably gonna be out at Lukes all day." She said hearing multiple sirens zoom down the street.

"What in the world is going on?" Rarity said poking her head out of the window seeing three police cars fly down the street.

"Meh it's nothing don't worry about it now come on why dont you close up a little early and we'll go grab Tavi." Vinyl said while wrapping her arms around the mare feeling her lean into her.

"Ok I could do with some getting away. Why don't we bring a few of the other girls with us? I know Lyra and BonBon would love to have a girls night out." said Rarity looking over at the smiling DJ.

"Sure sounds good to me." Vinyl said walking out the house and flipped the sign to closed while Rarity locked up.

"I think Tavi might still be in the concert hall, lets check there first." She said leading the way as an ambulance zoomed past them towards the hospital as they walked to the concert hall.

They found Octavia packing up her things and even found Lyra and BonBon there.

"Hey! Just the mares we were looking for!" Vinyl shouted getting a smile from the three.

"Hello girls practising again I see." Rarity said watching Octavia nod.

"And with a small audience this time as well. Lyra, BonBon how are you girls?" She asked meeting them at the stage with Octavia jumping down and walking over to them.

"Been good Rarity how about you two? I hear your human is going to be gone all day today." Lyra said while they nodded.

"Indeed Luke is out training with the guards today in a live fire field exercise as he calls it. He won't be back till morning or even tomorrow afternoon." Octavia said shouldering her cello.

"So you two were looking for us? Why whats up?" BonBon asked while Vinyl smiled.

"Well we were wondering if you girls had anything to do tonight?" She asked getting a look from Octavia.

"No not that I know of, BonBon and me were just going to be lazy tomorrow since the store is being remodeled. What do you girls have in mind?" Lyra asked.

"Well dear Vinyl mentioned it to me and I thought it was smashing. Why don't we all have a girls night out since the boys are out in the field." She said getting a nod from the three.

"Oh good well I'll meet you girls at Vinyls house in a bit, I'm going to go grab a few things and then join you." Rarity said waving to her friends walking to her house.

The four mares chatted for a while longer before going home to gather their things before heading over to Vinyls house. After everyone left Vinyl sighed walking through town just enjoying the time alone for a bit, she loved her friends but she sometimes needed some time alone to collect her thoughts.

As she came to her house she went inside taking off her vest and throwing on one of Lukes large shirts that she stole that morning. She sighed and sat in a large chair just tired from everything today. She looked over at her window and saw Rarity walking up.

"Come on in Rarity the door unlocked!" She yelled from her chair smiling at her mate.

"Darling I'm glad you are hosting this little get together I know my house is a mess." Rarity said while Scratch waved it off.

"Dont worry Rare Im glad you guys are coming over. It'll give us some time to talk and stuff." She said watching Rarity set her things down in one of the guest rooms.

"Dont put your things in there Rarity you and Tavi are sleeping with me tonight." She said hearing a grunt.

"Why didnt you tell me that before I started to set everything out?" She complained just getting a smile from Vinyl.

"Sorry just slipped my mind couldn't keep my eyes off you babe" She said getting a blushing smile from Rarity.

"Oh you." She said going to Vinyls room. Just as the other mares showed up.

"Hey guys Bon you and Lyra have the guest room, Tavi you know where to go." She said giving a smirk to the mare who just rolled her eyes and went to the back while Rarity and Tavi shared a kiss.

"So Vinyl what are our plans for tonight?" Rarity asked as the mare shrugged.

" I dont know. I figured we trade stories after going out to eat." She said while the other mares walked into the living room not noticing the flashing red and blue lights.

"Sounds like a plan to me. Who’s hungry I haven't had anything all day." Lyra said getting a nod from the others when a knock came to the door. Vinyl got up and opened it to see two police officers at the door with a cruiser behind them with the lights on.

"Can I help you?" She said as he sighed.

"Vinyl Scratch?" The mare asked.

"Yea?"

" Im officer White and this is officer Rose may we come in? You might want to sit down." Officer white said as Vinyl let them in and sat down in her chair while the others sat on the couch.

"Ok good Miss Octavia and Rarity are here as well." White said taking a breath.

"Whats going on officer?"

"Ma'am today at exactly 1:43pm Chief Valentine was gunned down while performing a live fire training exercise by another human, former Captain Kenichi ambushed him and fired on him hitting Chief Valentine and four others." He said as the mares burst into tears.

"NO!" Vinyl screamed as the other mares went up to her crying.

"I do have some good new. The Chief is still alive but in critical condition he's in ICU as we speak." He said as Vinyl jumped up with the other mares and shot out to Vinyl's car as the officers met them.

"Just follow us and we'll give you an escort there." He said running to his car and they shot down the road with the sirens blaring. Vinyl had a death grip on the wheel with her foot all the way to the floor behind the police car.

As soon as they got to the ER Vinyl slammed it in park and jumped out with Rarity and Octavia. Just as they got in they saw a body being moved that was covered with a white sheet making them all fear the worst.

"Please no." Vinyl said as a green hand fell from under the sheet making her burst into tears thankful it wasn't Luke. They ran up to the counter where they saw Nurse Tenderheart manning the desk.

"Tender wheres Luke at!" Vinyl yelled as the poor nurse jumped in fear of the sudden appearance of the mares.

"Who?"

"LUKE! WHERE IS MY HUMAN DAMNIT?!" Octavia screamed finally having enough they needed to know if he was ok and they needed to know now.

"Um the human they brought in was in really bad shape and is still in surgery right now for gunshot wounds to the chest." She said whimpering in her seat.

"Calm down girls we're doing everything we to save him."

They looked over to see Nurse Redheart grabbing more supplies and handing them to her sister Coldheart.

"GO! We need to plug that artery now! MOVE!" She yelled grabbing a cart and wheeling it into the ER. Vinyl couldn't take it anymore and burst into tears as she felt arms wrap around her. She turned to see Mai who had been crying as well making it even worse as the rest of the girls burst into tears.

"Come on girls lets go into the family waiting room ok? Ill come get you as soon as we find something out ok?" Tenderheart said leading the distraught women away. Tenderheart couldn't believe how quick the situation escalated.

Just as she got the girls in the family room she saw the other four elements and three fillies and even Princess Luna with another human.

"Can I help you?" She asked meekly as Luna ran to the desk.

"Where is Chief Jake? TELL ME!" Luna yelled as Tenderheart narrowed her eyes.

"This is a hospital! Keep your voices down there are patients here trying to rest and we are in the middle of a crisis! We already lost two stallions today and if you dont calm down I will have security escort you out!"She said in a deadly voice before she was grabbed by her shirt getting picked up and brought nose to nose with the Night Princess.

"I would like to see you try to keep me away from my human. What is his condition and why is he in the hospital?" Luna said in a deadly voice with tears running down her face.

"Hhhe's in critical condition. He was attacked by his former teammate and shot three times in the chest. His armor saved him from the first two shots were deflected by his shields but the last penetrated hitting him in the chest. He was hit by from what Captain Shield said was heavy sniper rounds. They were fired quickly so his shields couldn't recharge." She said feeling Luna set her down with shaking hands.

"Its still being investigated princess please come with me to the family room there are others in there now waiting on him." Tenderheart said leading them into the family waiting room. Colonel Jake saw Mai and as soon as she saw him she ran to him bursting into tears.

"Shhh its ok Mai he'll pull through, he always pulls through" Jake said rubbing the sobbing girls back.

"That fucking bastard shot him! I I just saw him go down before I even heard the shots! He killed private Dew and injured three others! ILL KILL HIM I'M GOING TO FUCKING TEAR HIS INSIDES OUT AND FEED THEM TO HIM!" She yelled in rage holding Jake tighter.

The girls embraced Luna as she got closer crying hard and holding the girls tight. Sweetie Belle was in Rarity's lap just holding her as the two sisters cried. Octavia was with Vinyl and Luna who moved over to sit with Rarity.

Rainbow stood watching the red in use sign above the OR at the end of the hallway. She felt a hand on her and looked up to see Big Mac smiling down at her.

"He's gonna be ok sugar cube. That man is one tough guy ah know he'll make it." He said watching the trembling mare as she watched Nurse Redheart's sister Coldheart running in and out grabbing things that they needed before going back into the room.

"Please Luke you have to pull through. You said you'd always have my back, you can't leave me." She said just as she was pulled into Big Macs large chest and burst into tears clinching Macs shirt while Applejack was comforting Applebloom and Scootaloo.

Pinkie hadn't said a word as she stared at the OR room, her hair was straight and she was mumbling to herself with Fluttershy next to her crying softly.

(4 hours later)

The people sat quietly sniffing every once in a while. They looked up to see a bloody Nurse Redheart who looked tired as hell making everyone jump up and run to her.

"How is he?"

"Is he going t be ok?"

"Calm down please. We have a few close calls but he's stable." She said wiping some sweat from her forehead.

"Is he awake?" Vinyl asked with the other three girls beside her.

"No he's not awake right now and he's not breathing on his own right now. But you can go in to see him as soon as we get him a room." She said getting smiles from the family and friends.

"Oh thank the maker!" Luna said breathing a sigh of relief.

"Yes from what I can see only that single round actually hit him the others that hit were deflected by his shield." She said getting a nod from Mai.

"Our shields aren't made to stand up to the kind of rifle that Kenichi has. Luke must have gotten some upgrades from the black market if it stood up to two shots from Icemans rifle." Mai said smiling.

"So he isn't going to die?" Sweetie asked hopeful.

"No he isn't, chances are that his shields slowed the last round down enough that when it hit his actual body armor it slowed it down even more to the point that it is like a regular bullet wound." Jake said smiling.

"Yes but the round still did enough damage since it was straight through shot. It did hit his lung which I believe is one of his artificial ones since it didn't collapse and is repairing itself. Luckily it missed his heart but it still nicked a artery. Thats why Im covered in blood right now, well that and getting round shrapnel out without causing anymore damage." Redheart said.

"Would he have lived if he didn't have those things?" Scootaloo asked watching Mai shake her head.

"No if Luke had not upgraded his shields then he would have a hole about the size of you going out of his back. The rifle that Kenichi shot is a anti-light armor weapon. Its purpose is to take out light vehicles from civilian trucks to light armored tanks." Jake said watching them go wide eyed.

"Yes the other three that were injured died before we could really help them. They bled out on the operating table." She said in a hollow voice.

"Can I see them? They are my soldiers I need to see them." She said getting a nod from Redheart who led her to the morgue.

"Come on lets go see if Luke has a room yet." Vinyl said leading the way to Nurse Tenderheart.

"Come on guys he's this way follow me." She said walking towards one of the ICU rooms.

"He's inside and resting. He's on a breathing machine right now since he cant do it on his own now while his lung is repairing and its working his lung harder." She said as they walked up to his bedside. Vinyl sighed watching the heart monitor giving off a strong reading and grabbed his hand.

"Hey stud can you hear me? Im here, we're all here everyone came as soon as we heard." She said with happy tears welling up in her eyes.

"You really gave us a fright darling." Rarity said smiling squeezing his legs.

"I dont know what I would do without you dear Im so glad your ok." Octavia said holding his other hand.

"Luke you should know not to scare a princess like this. It is not something we want to experience again."Luna said rubbing his leg as Sweetie Belle got up on the bed with him and curled up on his side.

"Please be ok Luke. I don't want you to die." She said as he subconsciously pulled her closer to him.

The people smiled watching the two. Rarity couldn't keep her tears in any longer she was so happy.

Mai came in later with tears in her eyes and walked up to his side giving him a kiss on the head.

"Get better BB we have a murderer to find." She cradling his head and stroking his hair lovingly with a small smile on her face. Rainbow smiled as the others started to file out wishing him well.

"Rainbow you comin sugar cube?" Big Mac asked.

"No Im gonna stay here till he wakes up. He's my best friend and I want to be here when he wakes up." She said turning to him with tears in her eyes.

"You want me to stay sugar cube?" He asked getting a nod from her as he pulled her into a hug.

"Ok Ill stay. Just let me get some blankets from the house for us ok?" He said wiping her tears away smiling.

"Ok. Thanks Mac." She said flying up and giving him a peck on the lips as he started to leave.

"Ah'll be right back sugar cube." He said walking out the door. She turned back to look at her friend and the people around him. It made her happy that she was one of those people. She walked over to Luna's side and pulled up a chair for the two. Sweetie Belle had already fallen asleep on Luke side.

"Hey are any of you hungry? I can grab us something from The Tavern down the road." Lyra asked as a few nodded.

"Thanks Lyra." Vinyl said smiling watching the two leave. She looked back at Luke and could feel him holding her hand back making her worry just a little less. Now if only he would start breathing again.

After Lyra and BonBon came back and ate they headed home as well. After a few hours they all turned in for the night just hoping in the morning that he would wake up.

(Dream)

Luke floated through the blackness before it all fell away and once again he was in the plush living room with a fireplace. He smiled just as Luna came from the kitchen and pulled him into a searing kiss. He grew worried when he saw tears running down her face.

"Lu what's the matter darlin?" He asked but she held onto him crying while he rubbed her back.

"I thought I lost you Luke." She said getting a confused look on his face.

"Lost me?"

"Yes Luke your body is in the hospital right now. Do you not remember?" She asked now really worried looking up at him as he started to think.

"Yes I remember now I was hit by sniper fire." He said looking down at her seeing her nod.

"How bad is it?" He asked and heard her sigh before she started to tell him what's happened so far.

"Ok just give me a little bit of time ok? Im really tired right now Lu." He said as a bed appeared beside the fire while the two chairs vanished.

"Come on lets go to bed. I know you've had a long day." He said making her smile and nod walking over and climbing into the bed with her human.

(With Nurse Redheart)

Redheart sighed as she looked on at the group of people in Lukes room and smiled. But she couldn't help it as flashes came to her of the other four poor souls that lost their lives today.

(Flashback)

Redheart was talking to her sister Tenderheart when they heard the radio come to life.

[WE HAVE A 10-71 MULTIPLE SHOTS FIRED AND 5, 10-53'S NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AT ELKHORN OVER]

[REQUEST CODE 11 SHOOTER IS STILL IN AREA OVER]

Redheart watched as their ambulance crew shot out the door and could see the SWAT truck take off down the road with other police cars roar away with the medics right behind them with their lights and sirens on.

"Oh my isn't that where the royal guards are training today?" Tender said to her sister.

"Yes and Coldheart is with them. Come lets get the ER ready for incoming, LETS GO PONIES GET PREPPED WE HAVE INCOMING!" She yelled just as the radio lit up again.

[BE ADVISED WE HAVE A 187 SEND A CORONER]

Redhearts eyes widened at that. A 187 was a homicide this would be the first murder in Ponyville history. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She thought that everything was ready.

After a hour of waiting the first one came in and it made her eyes fly open. It was Sergeant Strike and his whole left side from the shoulder to his collarbone was a gory mess.

"Sweet Celestia take him to the OR now!" She said running with him as three more pulled up.

"OK PONIES LETS GO! LETS HELP THEM OUT!" She yelled directing nurses and staff where they needed to go as doctors ran in to Strikes room. She saw to her horror two more guards wheeled in one with a hole the size of her fist in his stomach and the other had his leg blown off and part of the right side of his chest was missing.

"By the goddess! GET THEM PREPPED FOR SURGERY NOW!" She yelled and looked back to see Luke being wheel in with a bullet hole in his chest.

"GET HIM TO THE ER STAT LETS GO MOVE!" She screamed as a doctor came up to her.

"Nurse the first patient is gone who can I help?" He said shaken as she pointed to Lukes room.

"Go to the human he has a gunshot to the chest and needs help now! Go get him prepped and move him to the OR now." She said as she walked in with him and got Lukes armor off to see the damage.

"We have bruising of the chest from multiple shots with one penetrating. Sounds like a lung shot we need to get him to surgery now come on lets go." She said walking out and saw them wheeling out Strike as they took Luke to the back. She saw Lukes herd at the front desk with her sister and moved to get supplies and help her sister out.

(End flashback)

Redheart felt a hand on her shoulder making her turn to see Coldheart pulling her into a hug and started to cry.

"Shhh its ok. We saved at least one today." She cooed to her sister who sobbed into her chest. She saw Captain Shield and Soarin walk in with a tired look on his face.

"Excuse me sorry to interrupt but is Chief Valentine here?" He asked as Redheart pointed to the room down the hall.

"Thank you." He said and went to his leader's side with the rest of his family. Redheart turned back to her sister who had started to calm down.

"He died right in my arms I I I just didnt know what to do? I panicked there was just so much blood I just couldn't think and the shots were so loud." She said bursting into fresh set of tears.

"I know shhh I know, come on how bout you take a break ok?" She said leading her to the break room so she could sit down.

"Its gonna be ok Cold. Everything is gonna be fine alright?" She said as her sister nodded.

After tending to her sister she went back to the front desk and sighed, today had been hell of a long day.

(2 days later morning)

Luke slowly opened his eyes blinking at the early morning light. He started to gag as Nurse Redheart was pulling his breathing tube out.

"Calm down and cough it helps." She said as he coughed helping her with the tube before it finally came out.

"There you go all better how are you feeling?" She asked smiling.

"Like shit to tell you the truth." He said his voice hoarse from the breathing tube making her giggle.

"How are the others did anyone make it?" He said barely above a whisper.

"No Im sorry sir but you men didn't make it." She said sadly as his head fell back into the pillow.

"I see. Where is everyone else?" He asked.

"They all went to get breakfast and I told them I would watch you." She said getting a nod. Luke sighed while Redheart looked over his vitals and checked his fluids just as Princess Celestia walked in.

"Luke I’m glad you're awake. I heard of what happened and that we lost four soldiers, how did this happen?" She asked making him sigh and told her what happened.

"I see that would explain it then." She said sighing.

"It seems that Kenichi was sent to assassinate you and Mai along with Colonel Jake. As soon as we got word of what happened we locked the borders down right as he got away followed by a declaration of war on us by the Griffon Empire along with several smaller nations. Ive called for a war summit with our allies and they should be here within the week." She said looking at his wide eyed expression.

"I need you up and ready Chief ASAP and at a 100%. I will have Mai bring the colonels plane back to Canterlot for debrief." She said