Two horned kingsby Moonshine WingChaptersThe ArrivalThe pleaThe Arrival pt. 2The ArrivalNight has fallen in Equestria, and with Celestia having retired for the night, Luna was now holding Night court. She seemed...excited. Ponies rarely come to Night Court, so Luna used this time to think and ponder. Or daydream, occasionally...like she was doing now. One thing that lingered on her mind was King Iron eye. She never told her sister (or anyone for that matter) that she had...visited him a couple times over the last year or so. Images flashed across her mind of black satin sheets, moans and red hazes, sleepless nights (and days)...and the smile of genuine joy on his face when she'd see him... A dopey smile spreads across her face at these thoughts, and the fact that soon he would be here! She was snapped out of her happy reverie by a knock on the throne room door. Quickly shaking her head to dislodge these thoughts, she looks to the door. "Enter." she says, straightening up. One of her lunar guards walks in, holding a scroll. "A message for you, Princess. We detected no signs of tampering or magic on the scroll." the lunar guard mare announces. The scroll is enveloped in a dark blue aura, and levitates into Princess Luna's waiting hand. "Thank you, guard. You may return to your post." Luna dismisses the guard, who gives a crisp salute before leaving, closing the door behind her. When she was sure nopony was going to come in, she quickly opened the letter. "My dear Luna, I am on my way now, my army mobilized. I imagine the Bullivian minotaurs are as well. Though war looms on the horizon, I feel truly blessed that fate has given me the opportunity to visit you...I swear on all that I am that I will make sure your ponies don't come to needless harm. I have decided to aid Equestria in the coming war against the gryphons, and as stated before, I shall be there soon. Yours alone, King Iron eye" She let a happy sigh escape her lips as she rolled the letter back up. He was coming.... she felt better already, knowing this. Now, all she could do was wait. Her sister sent a letter to Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony earlier in the day, telling them to get ready to head for Canterlot, so she'd have to be careful about seeing him. It's nice, sometimes, to have some time to yourself. +++++ Said Elements of Harmony were on the train to canterlot the next morning, talking amongst themselves. Twilight Sparkle was wearing her white button up shirt and plaid short skirt. Rainbow Dash was wearing a somewhat loose fitting, black track suit. Fluttershy was wearing a yellow sundress, the same color as her coat, that slightly hugged her chest more than anywhere else. Rarity was wearing a body-hugging purple dress that stopped just below her knees, like her mane and tail. Pinkie Pie was wearing a pink sweatshirt and a pair of pink jeans. Applejack wore a checkered, buttoned shirt, undone at the top slightly, revealing her white undershirt, a pair of blue jeans, and her trademark stetson. "Do you think the minotaurs are actually gonna show up?" Rainbow Dash asks Twilight. "The princesses received a reply last night saying that they're going to help Equestria. I've read a lot about the minotaurs from Bullivia, and The only advantage the gryphons are gonna have on them is that they can fly...." Twilight shivers, recalling the information about the berserkers. "Now ah don' know 'bout y'all, but somethin' ain't right here. Is Bullivia tha only minotaur kingdom?" Applejack asks. "There aren't any records of another minotaur kingdom at the library." Twilight rubs her chin in thought. "I h-hope they're not mean..." Fluttershy wishes, more to herself than anything. Twilight gives her friend a reassuring smile. "It'll be okay Fluttershy-" Twilight cuts herself off as the train passes.... A giant, metal tortoise was at the base of the mountain, shining in the light of Celestia's sun. It had to be the size of Canterlot! How did that thing get there without anypony knowing if it was that big? The mane six gape at it, before Pinkie pipes up, "Hey, that looks like Tank!" The pink party mare exclaims, pressing her face up against the window. Everypony present just shakes their head at Pinkie's antics. Soon enough, they pull into Canterlot station, and they get off the train. Ponies were gathered together in the streets, watching something. The girls heard a repetitive *clank!*...*clank!*...*clank!* as if something metal was lifting and falling repeatedly. They follow the noise back to the source. These ten foot tall, clockwork minotaurs with glowing eyes were marching through the street towards the castle, in some kind of defensive perimeter around...something they couldn't see. "Hold on, I'm gonna get a better view." Rainbow says, flaring her wings out before taking flight. Rainbow peers over the heads of the clockwork minotaurs, then quickly zooms back to her friends. "There's a minotaur in a robe flanked by two ponies." Rainbow informs the rest of the elements. "What did the ponies look like?" Twilight asks, eyebrow raised. "They're both some shade of green, one's an earth pony, the other is a pegasus. The earth pony has a black mane and tail, with a beret. The pegasus has a white mane, and is wearing some kind of goggles, but for only one eye. Both of them have red eyes, like Vinyl Scratch." she says, looking back at the ring of minotaur machinations as they went further down the street. Twilight had heard some descriptions matching that before, but couldn't put her finger on it.... Applejack, however, went slightly pale as a look of realization hits her. "Whoever this minotaur is, they must mean business." Applejack mutters, staring after the group going down the street. "Everything okay there, AJ?" Rainbow asks, patting her friend on the back. "Yeah, ah'm fine." She straightens up, her smile returning. Twilight looks up at the sky, "Well, come on girls! the princesses are expecting us!" She urges, leading the way to the castle, followed by her friends. "I don't know about you guys, but I wanna go check out those minotaurs again." Rainbow says, her wings prepping for flight. "Just be sure to make it to the castle on time." Twilight replies. Rainbow takes off immediately afterwards, flying in the direction the strange group went. When she makes it to the group, she sees the ponies flanking the minotaur again. It's only then, though, that she notices their cutiemarks. The earth pony (a stallion, she could finally tell) had his cutiemark on his right hand. It was two shiny, metallic cone things crossed in an "X". The pegasus (a stallion as well) had his over his right eye. It was a circle with a cross going through it...What was it called again? A crosshair, there we go! It was a red crosshair. Suddenly, without breaking stride, the pegasus snaps his head around, looking directly at Rainbow Dash over his right shoulder. Vinyl's eyes were crimson, but this stallion...his eye color reminded Rainbow of Sombra's eyes, minus the green. He had some kind of metal device strapped across his back, which he adjusted slightly. Then, he mouths something at her. It's only after he turns to look in front of him again that she got the message. "Stay away from my little brother." +++++ Later, at the castle King Iron eye had reached the front gates, his bodyguards and machinations guiding him to the castle. The pegasus stallion looks at the earth pony stallion "You have your safety off, Fifty?" he asks, scanning the gates and guards with each turn of his head. "I never had it on, Forty Five." the earth pony replies with what other ponies would call an unsettling smile. "Now, Forty Five Caliber, Fifty Caliber, do your best to stay your hands while we're here. We'll be in the company of allies, and in your case, future employers." Iron eye advises them. Forty Five nods his head silently, while Fifty just puts his hands behind his back, whistling. Now, let's explain just what kind of weapons these bodyguards were packing. Forty Five Caliber had a scoped, gem powered beam rifle, with gem powered handguns in both sides of his vest, a combat knife in his pocket, a Fragmentation Crystal hidden in his pants, and a plethora of throwing needles hidden among his feathers. The earth pony, Fifty Caliber, has a belt fed, experimental Minigun, with high caliber revolving handguns hidden in his pants, vest, and inside a compartment of the gun, a belt of Fragmentation Crystals intersecting his bullet belt, with a bayonet on the end of his minigun, and a meat tenderizer strapped to the back of his right leg. You don't get far in the bodyguard/mercenary business without being sufficiently armed, and well versed in all weapons you carry. "Now, let's not keep our hosts waiting any longer." with those words from Iron eye, the eyes of the clockwork minotaurs dim, and they freeze in place. Forty Five Caliber, Fifty Caliber, and Iron eye leave the protective circle of clockwork guards, through the recently opened gates, and into the main room of the castle. Forty Five Caliber was scanning around with his eyes, not moving his head. Fifty Caliber was looking around with an almost childlike glee and curiosity. At the other end of the room were two thrones, a white alicorn with a flowing, pastel rainbow mane sitting in one. In the other sat an alicorn all too familiar to Iron eye. He smiled as he felt Luna's presence, approaching the thrones with his bodyguards following close behind. "Ah, princess Celestia! It's truly an honor to see you! Though, "see" is a relative term for me." Iron eye says with a small chuckle. Celestia gives him a princess smile. "Hello, I don't believe we've met." she says, with an airy giggle. This is a facade, but she didn't think anyone would be able to tell. "Ah, where are my manners? I am Iron eye, King of Cape horn! My cousin Iron Will passed through equestria fairly recently, and told me it was a marvelous place. You sent for my aid, princesses, and here I am!" his hands were moving animatedly as he explained, ending with a flourished hand on his chest. "Though, I think I arrived before the Bullivians." Celestia raises an eyebrow, glancing at her sister, who was smiling warmly. "Well, I thank you for coming at our call. There's no telling when the gryphons will strike, and we would very much appreciate our little ponies being protected during the times to come." Celestia says, then glances at Iron eye's bodyguards. Fifty Caliber was giving a toothy grin, waving. Forty Five Caliber simply looked at her, his face unreadable even to her. But one thing was for certain about these ponies... They were dangerous. Very dangerous. "And who might you two be?" Luna asks the two ponies. "I'm Fifty Caliber." Fifty said with a childish smile. "I'm Forty Five Caliber." Forty Five answers, his crosshair cutiemark seeming to glow as he wached the two princesses unblinkingly. "Well, I'd like to officially welcome you three to Equestria." Celestia says with a smile. She was gonna have her hooves full with these two. The plea"How could this happen?" Celestia asks herself, pacing back and forth in her private study, an open scroll lying on the coffee table. Now, the scroll itself wasn't what worried Celestia. Rather, it's what was written on it that caused her stress. For the last couple of weeks, tensions were high between Equestria and Gryphonia, the gryphons pushing for more land to house their "growing population" as they claimed. They demanded Stalliongrad and Trottingham be handed over. Celestia has been negotiating with the gryphon king, trying to make him see reason, but he wouldn't budge. It basically boiled down to "You give us what we want or we go to war" with the gryphons. So, hoping to avoid conflict, she sent one last note stating she would not be cowed, and they would deeply regret war with her ponies. She got the reply today. "To war, then." ****** "Are you saying what I think you're saying, Tia?" Luna asks, having been roused from her slumber and summoned to the study. Her ethereal mane, while still flowing in a nonexistent breeze, was still slightly messy. She was wearing her black nightgown. "I'm afraid so, dear sister. The gryphons mean to start a war on equestria." Celestia explains with a sigh, looking out the window, at the busy streets below. Her little ponies were going about there business, talking, little colts and fillies (whose parents weren't insufferable nobles) playing in the street. Equestia hadn't seen war in a thousand years, and even then it was more of a skirmish than an actual war. Now, the peace they've kept for so long will be broken.... "Sister, our army only has five-hundred and fourteen ponies, and they're the royal guard. Ponies weren't meant for war, but..." Luna trails off, looking away from her sister and biting her lower lip. "But what, Lulu?" Celestia asks in a reassuring tone. "Maybe we could send for help?" Luna finishes, looking back up at Celestia, who nods. "That would be wise. Why are you so nervous, little sister?" Celestia asks in her usual motherly tone. Luna looks Celestia in the eye, having found her courage. "Because there are few things that can match the battle prowess of a gryphon. Two, actually. The diamond dogs, who don't even have an official government, much less one that would help our country, and..." Luna didn't finish her sentence. But then again, she didn't need to. Celestia already knew who Luna was going to suggest going to for aid. "The minotaurs." Celestia states for her, her smile lowering just a millimeter. She never understood her sisters fascination with Minotaurs, they were so much like her little ponies, yet so...tough, warrior-like. They were mostly herbivores, but there was the occasional omnivorous Minotaur...Those became Berserkers, probably the most ferocious warriors she'd ever seen...even she had to admit they were brutal and barbaric. She let out a sigh, looking at her sister. "If the minotaurs actually answer our plead, I'll be happy to work alongside them." she says, after a pause. Luna's lips twitch upward in a smile, before she composes herself again. "I'll send the messages, seeing as how I'm up already." Luna suggests, the barest hint of eagerness in her voice. Celestia nods. "By all means, Sister." Celestia says by way of an answer. +++++ Bullivia, ancestral home to the Minotaurs was a country shaped like a giant pair of bull horns. Being located up north made sure it was cold year-round. The minotaurs that lived here were battle-hardened, tough, and stronger than even Big MacIntosh. The government was actually run by Jarls, headed by the king. The title of king was inherited by birth, but Jarls were chosen by battle and accomplishment, along with personal favor of the king. The current king, King Redhorn, was sitting on his throne, bored out of his mind. Sure, he had free reign of a country of warriors, but even warriors have paperwork if they hold any position of power. His light brown fur was recently scrubbed, appearing glossy in the light of the grand chandelier illuminating the gray stone throne room. His horns still had their usual red tint, his hooves were filed, and his gold nose ring was po lished. He stood a solid 8 feet tall (not counting his horns) and was strong enough to crush stone in one hand. It was while he was sitting here, bored out of his mind, that the royal messenger ran into the throne room. "King Redhorn! A message from the pony princesses!" the messenger, a somewhat short but bulky minotaur announces. The king looks over at him. "When will they learn that we have no interest in trading? Or peace treaties?" he mumbles to himself, which was still loud enough to be heard by the messenger. "Sir, it isn't a treaty this time! Equestria is going to war with Gryphonia!" the messenger explains, a smile growing on his face. Judging by that smile, the king already knew what was coming next and smiled as well. "Tell Jarl pearl-beard that I'll be going away for a while. And when you're done, rally the warriors and berserkers and meet me at the fjord." Redhorn commands, standing up and cracking his knuckles. The messenger slams his fist against his chest, the traditional acknowledgement of a royal order, and nods. "Yes, my king!" he leaves in a hurry, his two hooves clattering down the hall. Redhorn reaches behind his throne, feeling around for a bit before finding what it was he was looking for. He pulls out his steel broadaxe, sharp as always, and straps it across his back. "I hope the Berserkers are hungry, for soon they shall dine on gryphon!" +++++ Unbeknownst to all except Princess Luna, there is another minotaur kingdom. Cape horn, the mining and manufacturing minotaur kingdom. The governing body here was a little different. The king was the only ruler, and the way the king for Cape horn is chosen is odd indeed, but we'll get to that later. The kingdom was located at the sandy base of Mount Taurus, a mountain overlooking the southern sea. The residents here, both minotaur and otherwise were hardy as well, but were more diverse in terms of what was being made, or gathered, or done. The castle itself looked like a giant, brass tortoise. The pathway up to the castle's front gate was inside the mouth of the tortoise. The king, King iron eye, was sitting at his throne, simply enjoying the ever-present hum of machinery that could be heard inside the castle. His eyes were closed, not that it makes a difference to him. He's blind. He was born without eyes in his sockets, and had the sockets cauterized. After he was chosen to be king, he had a pair of glass eyes ,the color of iron, made. After he rose to power years ago, technology advanced at an almost unseen rate in the history of Equis. His horns were small, but sharp nonetheless, and he stood at about six feet and three inches in height. His coat was blue, and his hair was blonde with a black streak running down from the top of his head to his bangs. The kingdom was an epicenter of success. Not that he cared at all. He just didn't want his subjects to have to go without too much. Suddenly, his messenger, a young minotaur girl with long blonde hair and a bluish white coat, walks into the room briskly, then bows. "My lord, a message from the equestrian royalty." she explains. Iron eye turns his head to face her, his unmarked, metallic gray glass eyes seeming to look directly at her before smiling. "Ah, what does dear Luna wish of me now? Surely her heat cycle can be handled without me this time?" He gives a quiet chuckle, his almost dark chocolate smooth voice echoing through the throne room anyway. The messenger goes red at this, "M-My lord?" she sound unsure. He gives a small smile, "I jest, Vivi. Now, what does the message say?" he asks, giving the messenger, Vivi, a chance to compose herself. "Y-yes, my lord. It says, Hello, dear Iron eye. I wish I could've sent a happier letter, but dark times will befall Equestria soon. The gryphons have declared war on Equestria, and we may very appreciate your help. We've already contacted King Redhorn, but we have a feeling warriors won't be enough to fight off airborn gryphons. Celestia even promised to work with you, should you show up! Yours truly, Princess Luna" Iron eye's smile grows a little bigger. His smiles always seemed so warm...Vivi shook her head, clearing those thoughts. "Ah, so the gryphons have shown their hand. Or rather, their talon. Yes... Vivi," she jumps as he says her name, "Inform cousin Iron will that he's in charge while we're gone. Then tell the engineers to get us moving, if you please." he requests kindly, facing directly in front of him again. "Yes, my lord. Pardon my ignorance, but are you close to this pony princess?" Vivi asks, doing her best to hide her disappointed tone. He chuckles again, "Yes, I guess you could say that." Later The eyes of the great tortoise castle of Cape horn started to glow, purple light shining from the sockets of this great, mechanical beast. It slowly raised itself off the sand, standing on it's steel legs, and begins an earthshaking journey north, to Equestria. With every step, the lights in the tortoises eyes flickered ever so slightly. King Iron eye, still in the throne room, was smiling to himself at the thought of not only seeing Luna again, but being presented with the chance to try out some new "toys" his engineers had created the year previous. He could smell a conflict brewing. His smile drops. "I'll be there soon, Luny." The Arrival pt. 2Around the time the princesses were finished talking to Iron eye and his guards, the mane six were at the doors to the castle. They stop when they see the inactive clockwork minotaurs. Realization dawned in Twilight's light purple eyes. "That must been a minotaur delegate!" she exclaims, causing her friends to perk their ears up. "Correct meh if ah'm wrong, Twi, but aren't the minotaurs barbaric? Why would they use these fancy contraptions fer guards?" Applejack asks, indicating the minotaur guards. Rainbow dash wasn't listening, however, caught up in her thoughts. 'Who was that stallion? Why did he threaten me?' was currently running through her mind, accompanied by the image of his gleaming red eyes boring a hole into her...she was, for the first time since Sombra, scared. But at the same time, she felt....something, something she couldn't place. She's snapped out of her reverie rather abruptly when she bumps into one of the minotaurs guards, throwing her off balance and garnering looks from her friends. "You okay there, Dashie?" Pinkie asks, her eyes narrowed exaggeratedly, "You look like you're thinking pretty hard about something. Oh! I know-I know! It's that stallion from earlier, right?!" she continues, a grin spreading across her face. Strangely enough, Rainbow Dash gets almost imperceptively red at this remark. "Psh, as if! Now c'mon, didn't you say we had to see the princess?" Twilight nods at this, and proceeds through the castle's gold gates. Just as they enter the door, Iron eye was heading down a hallway off to the right, followed by Fifty Caliber. Forty Five Caliber stayed behind to talk to Luna. So when the girls walked into the throne room, they immediately saw Forty Five with Luna. Celestia gives Twilight and her friends her motherly smile as they walk in. "Ah, it's good to see you, Twilight! Thank you for coming on such short notice." Celestia says to them as they approach her throne. Twilight gives a happy smile back, "It's good to see you too, princess!" she says, her eyes lighting up slightly. Applejack tilted her hat, Fluttershy smiled, Rarity curtseyed, Pinkie gave an impossibly large smile. Rainbow Dash, however, was focused on the green pegasus currently talking quietly with Luna. He was wearing a vest, the same color as his coat, and black pants made of this unfamiliar material. His white mane contrasted with his black pants, and was kept back in a ponytail. He had some long, metal object strapped to his back, between his partially folded wings. 'He's here?' she thought to herself. Just then, he stops talking with Luna and snaps his head around to observe the Element bearers. As his cold, deep red eyes met Rainbow's magenta eyes, everything else seemed to fade out. She could just barely make out...curiosity and trepidation in his gaze....and something else, something that made a cold shiver go down her spine and her wings to ruffle. He was analyzing her. His crosshair cutiemark seemed to shimmer, then she felt somepony shaking her shoulder. The background came back into focus, and she realizes Applejack was calling her name. "Rainbow! What in Tarnation's gotten into you?" Applejack asks as Rainbow Dash looks at her. She can feel everypony's gaze, and goes red, embarrassed. "Ehehe, sorry everypony..." Rainbow rubs the back of her head awkwardly, glancing over at the green pegasus. His expression hasn't changed at all. "Ah, how rude of me," Luna says, following Rainbow's gaze. "This is one of King Iron eye's bodyguards. Care to introduce yourself?" she asks him. He steps forward, his face still unchanged. "My name is Forty Five Caliber. Currently working with my little brother as Iron eye's bodyguards and elite soldiers." he explains, keeping composure. 'Huh, explains why he's about as emotional as a plank.' Rainbow thinks to herself. Suddenly, something his wings catches Twilight's eye. "Excuse me, but is there something in your wings?" she asks, with a touch of worry. He gives a nod. "Yes. Lots of somethings, actually." He answers, his eyes locking onto Twilight. Twilight raises her eyebrows in curiosity. "If you don't mind sharing, darling, what are they?" Rarity asks before Twilight. "They give your wings a beautiful shine!" He raises an eyebrow, "Maybe we could continue this conversation another time? You're here to see Princess Celestia if I'm not mistaken, not me." he tilts his head toward Celestia, who clears her throat. "Well, soon King Redhorn will arrive, and I want you girls to be there when they're here." Celestia explains, giving an almost imperceptible glance at Forty Five. "Shucks, we can do that, princess!" Applejack says, tilting her hat down, slightly over her emerald eyes. The others nod in agreement. "Thank you. Feel free to stay at the castle, my little ponies." Celestia smiles at them, before her and her sister get up, heading down a hallway off to the right. Forty Five Caliber looks at the girls before asking, "Any of you know where we can find a sitting room?" "I do. Follow me." Twilight answers with a smile. She takes the lead, followed by all the other ponies present, walking down the hall King Iron eye walked through, before stopping before a door shortly after her. They enter the sitting room, complete with three armchairs and a couch. The couch was currently occupied by another stallion sleeping on said couch. He was the same green as Forty Five Caliber, but with a black mane instead of white, and this one wore a green beret. Forty Five raises an eyebrow at the stallion, walking to the couch. In one quick motion, he reaches inside his vest and pulls out some kind of metal contraption before banging it loudly against the thing strapped to his back, causing a loud *Clang!* The sleeping stallion wakes with a comic start, "I didn't steal the money!!" he says quickly, putting his hands up as he bolted upright. "I bet you didn't, Fifty, but you're taking up the couch." Forty Five says with the barest hint of a grin. Grumbling, this stallion gets up and stands beside Forty Five. He, too, has something strapped to his back, but his is wider, and shaped differently, with a blade sticking out on one end. He's wearing a darker green vest with black pants, black mane, and the same eyes as Forty Five Caliber, but his were more....expressive. He also wore three belts across his chest; two of them holding dozens of shiny, conical objects, and the third held about a dozen green crystals. "Ladies, this is my little brother, Fifty Caliber." Forty Five introduces the younger earth pony stallion, who gives a smile to rival Pinkie's. "Hiya! I like waffles!" Fifty exclaims randomly, earning him looks of confusion from the mane six. Except for Pinkie, who was smiling back. "I do too! I'm Pinkie Pie! I also like cupcakes, cake, pie, brownies, pancakes, muffins, candy, and lots of other things!" Fifty Caliber was grinning at Pinkie Pie now, as they moved to one end of the room "We're gonna get along just fine, Pinkie." Forty looked between the two ponies smiling at each other, and pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like "Tartarus, now there's two of them..." "Anyway, back to my earlier question, what are those in your wings?" Rarity says, taking a seat at the couch, joined shortly by Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash and Applejack sit at the armchairs. Forty Five grabs a couple feathers, shuffling them around, then pulls something out from underneath the group of feathers. They were throwing needles. At the sight of the needles, Fluttershy gives a squeak and hides behind her mane, while the other girls stared at him in shock. "Why the hay are there needles in your feathers?!" Rainbow dash asks in shock. Forty Five puts the needles back in their places. "Forty needles, actually. They're for silent take-downs." he explains, unfazed by her volume. "W-well, what's that thing on your back?" Twilight asks quickly in an attempt to change the subject. He unstraps the metal thing on his back and holds it in the crook of his arm. "This little beauty right here," he starts, with a small grin growing on his face, "is my weapon of choice. The king decided to do some research into weapons and crystals, then figured out a way to store magic energy into crystals. Then, a way to fire that energy, concentrating it into a beam. This....is the fruit of his work. The beam rifle. Punches holes the size of a pony's head through almost anything, and the wounds are instantly cauterized." The only pony that didn't seem completely nervous was Twilight, who asks angrily, "How many weapons do you have on you?!" "Not counting the needles, four." He replies with a straight face. "And my little brother over there has more." he adds, jerking his head towards Fifty Caliber, who was chatting animatedly with Pinkie. Finally, Fluttershy faints, followed by Rarity. Rainbow was openly gawking at Forty Five. 'Dang, they don't play around do they?'
The ArrivalNight has fallen in Equestria, and with Celestia having retired for the night, Luna was now holding Night court. She seemed...excited. Ponies rarely come to Night Court, so Luna used this time to think and ponder. Or daydream, occasionally...like she was doing now. One thing that lingered on her mind was King Iron eye. She never told her sister (or anyone for that matter) that she had...visited him a couple times over the last year or so. Images flashed across her mind of black satin sheets, moans and red hazes, sleepless nights (and days)...and the smile of genuine joy on his face when she'd see him... A dopey smile spreads across her face at these thoughts, and the fact that soon he would be here! She was snapped out of her happy reverie by a knock on the throne room door. Quickly shaking her head to dislodge these thoughts, she looks to the door. "Enter." she says, straightening up. One of her lunar guards walks in, holding a scroll. "A message for you, Princess. We detected no signs of tampering or magic on the scroll." the lunar guard mare announces. The scroll is enveloped in a dark blue aura, and levitates into Princess Luna's waiting hand. "Thank you, guard. You may return to your post." Luna dismisses the guard, who gives a crisp salute before leaving, closing the door behind her. When she was sure nopony was going to come in, she quickly opened the letter. "My dear Luna, I am on my way now, my army mobilized. I imagine the Bullivian minotaurs are as well. Though war looms on the horizon, I feel truly blessed that fate has given me the opportunity to visit you...I swear on all that I am that I will make sure your ponies don't come to needless harm. I have decided to aid Equestria in the coming war against the gryphons, and as stated before, I shall be there soon. Yours alone, King Iron eye" She let a happy sigh escape her lips as she rolled the letter back up. He was coming.... she felt better already, knowing this. Now, all she could do was wait. Her sister sent a letter to Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements of Harmony earlier in the day, telling them to get ready to head for Canterlot, so she'd have to be careful about seeing him. It's nice, sometimes, to have some time to yourself. +++++ Said Elements of Harmony were on the train to canterlot the next morning, talking amongst themselves. Twilight Sparkle was wearing her white button up shirt and plaid short skirt. Rainbow Dash was wearing a somewhat loose fitting, black track suit. Fluttershy was wearing a yellow sundress, the same color as her coat, that slightly hugged her chest more than anywhere else. Rarity was wearing a body-hugging purple dress that stopped just below her knees, like her mane and tail. Pinkie Pie was wearing a pink sweatshirt and a pair of pink jeans. Applejack wore a checkered, buttoned shirt, undone at the top slightly, revealing her white undershirt, a pair of blue jeans, and her trademark stetson. "Do you think the minotaurs are actually gonna show up?" Rainbow Dash asks Twilight. "The princesses received a reply last night saying that they're going to help Equestria. I've read a lot about the minotaurs from Bullivia, and The only advantage the gryphons are gonna have on them is that they can fly...." Twilight shivers, recalling the information about the berserkers. "Now ah don' know 'bout y'all, but somethin' ain't right here. Is Bullivia tha only minotaur kingdom?" Applejack asks. "There aren't any records of another minotaur kingdom at the library." Twilight rubs her chin in thought. "I h-hope they're not mean..." Fluttershy wishes, more to herself than anything. Twilight gives her friend a reassuring smile. "It'll be okay Fluttershy-" Twilight cuts herself off as the train passes.... A giant, metal tortoise was at the base of the mountain, shining in the light of Celestia's sun. It had to be the size of Canterlot! How did that thing get there without anypony knowing if it was that big? The mane six gape at it, before Pinkie pipes up, "Hey, that looks like Tank!" The pink party mare exclaims, pressing her face up against the window. Everypony present just shakes their head at Pinkie's antics. Soon enough, they pull into Canterlot station, and they get off the train. Ponies were gathered together in the streets, watching something. The girls heard a repetitive *clank!*...*clank!*...*clank!* as if something metal was lifting and falling repeatedly. They follow the noise back to the source. These ten foot tall, clockwork minotaurs with glowing eyes were marching through the street towards the castle, in some kind of defensive perimeter around...something they couldn't see. "Hold on, I'm gonna get a better view." Rainbow says, flaring her wings out before taking flight. Rainbow peers over the heads of the clockwork minotaurs, then quickly zooms back to her friends. "There's a minotaur in a robe flanked by two ponies." Rainbow informs the rest of the elements. "What did the ponies look like?" Twilight asks, eyebrow raised. "They're both some shade of green, one's an earth pony, the other is a pegasus. The earth pony has a black mane and tail, with a beret. The pegasus has a white mane, and is wearing some kind of goggles, but for only one eye. Both of them have red eyes, like Vinyl Scratch." she says, looking back at the ring of minotaur machinations as they went further down the street. Twilight had heard some descriptions matching that before, but couldn't put her finger on it.... Applejack, however, went slightly pale as a look of realization hits her. "Whoever this minotaur is, they must mean business." Applejack mutters, staring after the group going down the street. "Everything okay there, AJ?" Rainbow asks, patting her friend on the back. "Yeah, ah'm fine." She straightens up, her smile returning. Twilight looks up at the sky, "Well, come on girls! the princesses are expecting us!" She urges, leading the way to the castle, followed by her friends. "I don't know about you guys, but I wanna go check out those minotaurs again." Rainbow says, her wings prepping for flight. "Just be sure to make it to the castle on time." Twilight replies. Rainbow takes off immediately afterwards, flying in the direction the strange group went. When she makes it to the group, she sees the ponies flanking the minotaur again. It's only then, though, that she notices their cutiemarks. The earth pony (a stallion, she could finally tell) had his cutiemark on his right hand. It was two shiny, metallic cone things crossed in an "X". The pegasus (a stallion as well) had his over his right eye. It was a circle with a cross going through it...What was it called again? A crosshair, there we go! It was a red crosshair. Suddenly, without breaking stride, the pegasus snaps his head around, looking directly at Rainbow Dash over his right shoulder. Vinyl's eyes were crimson, but this stallion...his eye color reminded Rainbow of Sombra's eyes, minus the green. He had some kind of metal device strapped across his back, which he adjusted slightly. Then, he mouths something at her. It's only after he turns to look in front of him again that she got the message. "Stay away from my little brother." +++++ Later, at the castle King Iron eye had reached the front gates, his bodyguards and machinations guiding him to the castle. The pegasus stallion looks at the earth pony stallion "You have your safety off, Fifty?" he asks, scanning the gates and guards with each turn of his head. "I never had it on, Forty Five." the earth pony replies with what other ponies would call an unsettling smile. "Now, Forty Five Caliber, Fifty Caliber, do your best to stay your hands while we're here. We'll be in the company of allies, and in your case, future employers." Iron eye advises them. Forty Five nods his head silently, while Fifty just puts his hands behind his back, whistling. Now, let's explain just what kind of weapons these bodyguards were packing. Forty Five Caliber had a scoped, gem powered beam rifle, with gem powered handguns in both sides of his vest, a combat knife in his pocket, a Fragmentation Crystal hidden in his pants, and a plethora of throwing needles hidden among his feathers. The earth pony, Fifty Caliber, has a belt fed, experimental Minigun, with high caliber revolving handguns hidden in his pants, vest, and inside a compartment of the gun, a belt of Fragmentation Crystals intersecting his bullet belt, with a bayonet on the end of his minigun, and a meat tenderizer strapped to the back of his right leg. You don't get far in the bodyguard/mercenary business without being sufficiently armed, and well versed in all weapons you carry. "Now, let's not keep our hosts waiting any longer." with those words from Iron eye, the eyes of the clockwork minotaurs dim, and they freeze in place. Forty Five Caliber, Fifty Caliber, and Iron eye leave the protective circle of clockwork guards, through the recently opened gates, and into the main room of the castle. Forty Five Caliber was scanning around with his eyes, not moving his head. Fifty Caliber was looking around with an almost childlike glee and curiosity. At the other end of the room were two thrones, a white alicorn with a flowing, pastel rainbow mane sitting in one. In the other sat an alicorn all too familiar to Iron eye. He smiled as he felt Luna's presence, approaching the thrones with his bodyguards following close behind. "Ah, princess Celestia! It's truly an honor to see you! Though, "see" is a relative term for me." Iron eye says with a small chuckle. Celestia gives him a princess smile. "Hello, I don't believe we've met." she says, with an airy giggle. This is a facade, but she didn't think anyone would be able to tell. "Ah, where are my manners? I am Iron eye, King of Cape horn! My cousin Iron Will passed through equestria fairly recently, and told me it was a marvelous place. You sent for my aid, princesses, and here I am!" his hands were moving animatedly as he explained, ending with a flourished hand on his chest. "Though, I think I arrived before the Bullivians." Celestia raises an eyebrow, glancing at her sister, who was smiling warmly. "Well, I thank you for coming at our call. There's no telling when the gryphons will strike, and we would very much appreciate our little ponies being protected during the times to come." Celestia says, then glances at Iron eye's bodyguards. Fifty Caliber was giving a toothy grin, waving. Forty Five Caliber simply looked at her, his face unreadable even to her. But one thing was for certain about these ponies... They were dangerous. Very dangerous. "And who might you two be?" Luna asks the two ponies. "I'm Fifty Caliber." Fifty said with a childish smile. "I'm Forty Five Caliber." Forty Five answers, his crosshair cutiemark seeming to glow as he wached the two princesses unblinkingly. "Well, I'd like to officially welcome you three to Equestria." Celestia says with a smile. She was gonna have her hooves full with these two.
The plea"How could this happen?" Celestia asks herself, pacing back and forth in her private study, an open scroll lying on the coffee table. Now, the scroll itself wasn't what worried Celestia. Rather, it's what was written on it that caused her stress. For the last couple of weeks, tensions were high between Equestria and Gryphonia, the gryphons pushing for more land to house their "growing population" as they claimed. They demanded Stalliongrad and Trottingham be handed over. Celestia has been negotiating with the gryphon king, trying to make him see reason, but he wouldn't budge. It basically boiled down to "You give us what we want or we go to war" with the gryphons. So, hoping to avoid conflict, she sent one last note stating she would not be cowed, and they would deeply regret war with her ponies. She got the reply today. "To war, then." ****** "Are you saying what I think you're saying, Tia?" Luna asks, having been roused from her slumber and summoned to the study. Her ethereal mane, while still flowing in a nonexistent breeze, was still slightly messy. She was wearing her black nightgown. "I'm afraid so, dear sister. The gryphons mean to start a war on equestria." Celestia explains with a sigh, looking out the window, at the busy streets below. Her little ponies were going about there business, talking, little colts and fillies (whose parents weren't insufferable nobles) playing in the street. Equestia hadn't seen war in a thousand years, and even then it was more of a skirmish than an actual war. Now, the peace they've kept for so long will be broken.... "Sister, our army only has five-hundred and fourteen ponies, and they're the royal guard. Ponies weren't meant for war, but..." Luna trails off, looking away from her sister and biting her lower lip. "But what, Lulu?" Celestia asks in a reassuring tone. "Maybe we could send for help?" Luna finishes, looking back up at Celestia, who nods. "That would be wise. Why are you so nervous, little sister?" Celestia asks in her usual motherly tone. Luna looks Celestia in the eye, having found her courage. "Because there are few things that can match the battle prowess of a gryphon. Two, actually. The diamond dogs, who don't even have an official government, much less one that would help our country, and..." Luna didn't finish her sentence. But then again, she didn't need to. Celestia already knew who Luna was going to suggest going to for aid. "The minotaurs." Celestia states for her, her smile lowering just a millimeter. She never understood her sisters fascination with Minotaurs, they were so much like her little ponies, yet so...tough, warrior-like. They were mostly herbivores, but there was the occasional omnivorous Minotaur...Those became Berserkers, probably the most ferocious warriors she'd ever seen...even she had to admit they were brutal and barbaric. She let out a sigh, looking at her sister. "If the minotaurs actually answer our plead, I'll be happy to work alongside them." she says, after a pause. Luna's lips twitch upward in a smile, before she composes herself again. "I'll send the messages, seeing as how I'm up already." Luna suggests, the barest hint of eagerness in her voice. Celestia nods. "By all means, Sister." Celestia says by way of an answer. +++++ Bullivia, ancestral home to the Minotaurs was a country shaped like a giant pair of bull horns. Being located up north made sure it was cold year-round. The minotaurs that lived here were battle-hardened, tough, and stronger than even Big MacIntosh. The government was actually run by Jarls, headed by the king. The title of king was inherited by birth, but Jarls were chosen by battle and accomplishment, along with personal favor of the king. The current king, King Redhorn, was sitting on his throne, bored out of his mind. Sure, he had free reign of a country of warriors, but even warriors have paperwork if they hold any position of power. His light brown fur was recently scrubbed, appearing glossy in the light of the grand chandelier illuminating the gray stone throne room. His horns still had their usual red tint, his hooves were filed, and his gold nose ring was po lished. He stood a solid 8 feet tall (not counting his horns) and was strong enough to crush stone in one hand. It was while he was sitting here, bored out of his mind, that the royal messenger ran into the throne room. "King Redhorn! A message from the pony princesses!" the messenger, a somewhat short but bulky minotaur announces. The king looks over at him. "When will they learn that we have no interest in trading? Or peace treaties?" he mumbles to himself, which was still loud enough to be heard by the messenger. "Sir, it isn't a treaty this time! Equestria is going to war with Gryphonia!" the messenger explains, a smile growing on his face. Judging by that smile, the king already knew what was coming next and smiled as well. "Tell Jarl pearl-beard that I'll be going away for a while. And when you're done, rally the warriors and berserkers and meet me at the fjord." Redhorn commands, standing up and cracking his knuckles. The messenger slams his fist against his chest, the traditional acknowledgement of a royal order, and nods. "Yes, my king!" he leaves in a hurry, his two hooves clattering down the hall. Redhorn reaches behind his throne, feeling around for a bit before finding what it was he was looking for. He pulls out his steel broadaxe, sharp as always, and straps it across his back. "I hope the Berserkers are hungry, for soon they shall dine on gryphon!" +++++ Unbeknownst to all except Princess Luna, there is another minotaur kingdom. Cape horn, the mining and manufacturing minotaur kingdom. The governing body here was a little different. The king was the only ruler, and the way the king for Cape horn is chosen is odd indeed, but we'll get to that later. The kingdom was located at the sandy base of Mount Taurus, a mountain overlooking the southern sea. The residents here, both minotaur and otherwise were hardy as well, but were more diverse in terms of what was being made, or gathered, or done. The castle itself looked like a giant, brass tortoise. The pathway up to the castle's front gate was inside the mouth of the tortoise. The king, King iron eye, was sitting at his throne, simply enjoying the ever-present hum of machinery that could be heard inside the castle. His eyes were closed, not that it makes a difference to him. He's blind. He was born without eyes in his sockets, and had the sockets cauterized. After he was chosen to be king, he had a pair of glass eyes ,the color of iron, made. After he rose to power years ago, technology advanced at an almost unseen rate in the history of Equis. His horns were small, but sharp nonetheless, and he stood at about six feet and three inches in height. His coat was blue, and his hair was blonde with a black streak running down from the top of his head to his bangs. The kingdom was an epicenter of success. Not that he cared at all. He just didn't want his subjects to have to go without too much. Suddenly, his messenger, a young minotaur girl with long blonde hair and a bluish white coat, walks into the room briskly, then bows. "My lord, a message from the equestrian royalty." she explains. Iron eye turns his head to face her, his unmarked, metallic gray glass eyes seeming to look directly at her before smiling. "Ah, what does dear Luna wish of me now? Surely her heat cycle can be handled without me this time?" He gives a quiet chuckle, his almost dark chocolate smooth voice echoing through the throne room anyway. The messenger goes red at this, "M-My lord?" she sound unsure. He gives a small smile, "I jest, Vivi. Now, what does the message say?" he asks, giving the messenger, Vivi, a chance to compose herself. "Y-yes, my lord. It says, Hello, dear Iron eye. I wish I could've sent a happier letter, but dark times will befall Equestria soon. The gryphons have declared war on Equestria, and we may very appreciate your help. We've already contacted King Redhorn, but we have a feeling warriors won't be enough to fight off airborn gryphons. Celestia even promised to work with you, should you show up! Yours truly, Princess Luna" Iron eye's smile grows a little bigger. His smiles always seemed so warm...Vivi shook her head, clearing those thoughts. "Ah, so the gryphons have shown their hand. Or rather, their talon. Yes... Vivi," she jumps as he says her name, "Inform cousin Iron will that he's in charge while we're gone. Then tell the engineers to get us moving, if you please." he requests kindly, facing directly in front of him again. "Yes, my lord. Pardon my ignorance, but are you close to this pony princess?" Vivi asks, doing her best to hide her disappointed tone. He chuckles again, "Yes, I guess you could say that." Later The eyes of the great tortoise castle of Cape horn started to glow, purple light shining from the sockets of this great, mechanical beast. It slowly raised itself off the sand, standing on it's steel legs, and begins an earthshaking journey north, to Equestria. With every step, the lights in the tortoises eyes flickered ever so slightly. King Iron eye, still in the throne room, was smiling to himself at the thought of not only seeing Luna again, but being presented with the chance to try out some new "toys" his engineers had created the year previous. He could smell a conflict brewing. His smile drops. "I'll be there soon, Luny."
The Arrival pt. 2Around the time the princesses were finished talking to Iron eye and his guards, the mane six were at the doors to the castle. They stop when they see the inactive clockwork minotaurs. Realization dawned in Twilight's light purple eyes. "That must been a minotaur delegate!" she exclaims, causing her friends to perk their ears up. "Correct meh if ah'm wrong, Twi, but aren't the minotaurs barbaric? Why would they use these fancy contraptions fer guards?" Applejack asks, indicating the minotaur guards. Rainbow dash wasn't listening, however, caught up in her thoughts. 'Who was that stallion? Why did he threaten me?' was currently running through her mind, accompanied by the image of his gleaming red eyes boring a hole into her...she was, for the first time since Sombra, scared. But at the same time, she felt....something, something she couldn't place. She's snapped out of her reverie rather abruptly when she bumps into one of the minotaurs guards, throwing her off balance and garnering looks from her friends. "You okay there, Dashie?" Pinkie asks, her eyes narrowed exaggeratedly, "You look like you're thinking pretty hard about something. Oh! I know-I know! It's that stallion from earlier, right?!" she continues, a grin spreading across her face. Strangely enough, Rainbow Dash gets almost imperceptively red at this remark. "Psh, as if! Now c'mon, didn't you say we had to see the princess?" Twilight nods at this, and proceeds through the castle's gold gates. Just as they enter the door, Iron eye was heading down a hallway off to the right, followed by Fifty Caliber. Forty Five Caliber stayed behind to talk to Luna. So when the girls walked into the throne room, they immediately saw Forty Five with Luna. Celestia gives Twilight and her friends her motherly smile as they walk in. "Ah, it's good to see you, Twilight! Thank you for coming on such short notice." Celestia says to them as they approach her throne. Twilight gives a happy smile back, "It's good to see you too, princess!" she says, her eyes lighting up slightly. Applejack tilted her hat, Fluttershy smiled, Rarity curtseyed, Pinkie gave an impossibly large smile. Rainbow Dash, however, was focused on the green pegasus currently talking quietly with Luna. He was wearing a vest, the same color as his coat, and black pants made of this unfamiliar material. His white mane contrasted with his black pants, and was kept back in a ponytail. He had some long, metal object strapped to his back, between his partially folded wings. 'He's here?' she thought to herself. Just then, he stops talking with Luna and snaps his head around to observe the Element bearers. As his cold, deep red eyes met Rainbow's magenta eyes, everything else seemed to fade out. She could just barely make out...curiosity and trepidation in his gaze....and something else, something that made a cold shiver go down her spine and her wings to ruffle. He was analyzing her. His crosshair cutiemark seemed to shimmer, then she felt somepony shaking her shoulder. The background came back into focus, and she realizes Applejack was calling her name. "Rainbow! What in Tarnation's gotten into you?" Applejack asks as Rainbow Dash looks at her. She can feel everypony's gaze, and goes red, embarrassed. "Ehehe, sorry everypony..." Rainbow rubs the back of her head awkwardly, glancing over at the green pegasus. His expression hasn't changed at all. "Ah, how rude of me," Luna says, following Rainbow's gaze. "This is one of King Iron eye's bodyguards. Care to introduce yourself?" she asks him. He steps forward, his face still unchanged. "My name is Forty Five Caliber. Currently working with my little brother as Iron eye's bodyguards and elite soldiers." he explains, keeping composure. 'Huh, explains why he's about as emotional as a plank.' Rainbow thinks to herself. Suddenly, something his wings catches Twilight's eye. "Excuse me, but is there something in your wings?" she asks, with a touch of worry. He gives a nod. "Yes. Lots of somethings, actually." He answers, his eyes locking onto Twilight. Twilight raises her eyebrows in curiosity. "If you don't mind sharing, darling, what are they?" Rarity asks before Twilight. "They give your wings a beautiful shine!" He raises an eyebrow, "Maybe we could continue this conversation another time? You're here to see Princess Celestia if I'm not mistaken, not me." he tilts his head toward Celestia, who clears her throat. "Well, soon King Redhorn will arrive, and I want you girls to be there when they're here." Celestia explains, giving an almost imperceptible glance at Forty Five. "Shucks, we can do that, princess!" Applejack says, tilting her hat down, slightly over her emerald eyes. The others nod in agreement. "Thank you. Feel free to stay at the castle, my little ponies." Celestia smiles at them, before her and her sister get up, heading down a hallway off to the right. Forty Five Caliber looks at the girls before asking, "Any of you know where we can find a sitting room?" "I do. Follow me." Twilight answers with a smile. She takes the lead, followed by all the other ponies present, walking down the hall King Iron eye walked through, before stopping before a door shortly after her. They enter the sitting room, complete with three armchairs and a couch. The couch was currently occupied by another stallion sleeping on said couch. He was the same green as Forty Five Caliber, but with a black mane instead of white, and this one wore a green beret. Forty Five raises an eyebrow at the stallion, walking to the couch. In one quick motion, he reaches inside his vest and pulls out some kind of metal contraption before banging it loudly against the thing strapped to his back, causing a loud *Clang!* The sleeping stallion wakes with a comic start, "I didn't steal the money!!" he says quickly, putting his hands up as he bolted upright. "I bet you didn't, Fifty, but you're taking up the couch." Forty Five says with the barest hint of a grin. Grumbling, this stallion gets up and stands beside Forty Five. He, too, has something strapped to his back, but his is wider, and shaped differently, with a blade sticking out on one end. He's wearing a darker green vest with black pants, black mane, and the same eyes as Forty Five Caliber, but his were more....expressive. He also wore three belts across his chest; two of them holding dozens of shiny, conical objects, and the third held about a dozen green crystals. "Ladies, this is my little brother, Fifty Caliber." Forty Five introduces the younger earth pony stallion, who gives a smile to rival Pinkie's. "Hiya! I like waffles!" Fifty exclaims randomly, earning him looks of confusion from the mane six. Except for Pinkie, who was smiling back. "I do too! I'm Pinkie Pie! I also like cupcakes, cake, pie, brownies, pancakes, muffins, candy, and lots of other things!" Fifty Caliber was grinning at Pinkie Pie now, as they moved to one end of the room "We're gonna get along just fine, Pinkie." Forty looked between the two ponies smiling at each other, and pinches the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath that sounded a lot like "Tartarus, now there's two of them..." "Anyway, back to my earlier question, what are those in your wings?" Rarity says, taking a seat at the couch, joined shortly by Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash and Applejack sit at the armchairs. Forty Five grabs a couple feathers, shuffling them around, then pulls something out from underneath the group of feathers. They were throwing needles. At the sight of the needles, Fluttershy gives a squeak and hides behind her mane, while the other girls stared at him in shock. "Why the hay are there needles in your feathers?!" Rainbow dash asks in shock. Forty Five puts the needles back in their places. "Forty needles, actually. They're for silent take-downs." he explains, unfazed by her volume. "W-well, what's that thing on your back?" Twilight asks quickly in an attempt to change the subject. He unstraps the metal thing on his back and holds it in the crook of his arm. "This little beauty right here," he starts, with a small grin growing on his face, "is my weapon of choice. The king decided to do some research into weapons and crystals, then figured out a way to store magic energy into crystals. Then, a way to fire that energy, concentrating it into a beam. This....is the fruit of his work. The beam rifle. Punches holes the size of a pony's head through almost anything, and the wounds are instantly cauterized." The only pony that didn't seem completely nervous was Twilight, who asks angrily, "How many weapons do you have on you?!" "Not counting the needles, four." He replies with a straight face. "And my little brother over there has more." he adds, jerking his head towards Fifty Caliber, who was chatting animatedly with Pinkie. Finally, Fluttershy faints, followed by Rarity. Rainbow was openly gawking at Forty Five. 'Dang, they don't play around do they?'
