257 years. It had been 257 years since the Elements of Harmony had been used. There was just no need for them. Enemies had turned from villains with magic powers to greedy countries with too much money and power. As the times changed, the Mane six slowly faded into the background. The world no longer needed the Power of Friendship and opted for the power of firearms. That’s not to say that you should assume the Elements all died. No. Each one is still alive all these years later. Kept alive by the Power of Friendship or something. No one really knew. They went their own separate paths after their rallies for peace failed, but each are still alive.
But…this story isn’t about them…more or less…it’s about you- a gun for hire. With your Griffin Rifle and trusty revolver, you make a living for your family. Over the years you made a name for yourself, by not caring what the job was. As long as you go paid, you did it. For a while, everything seemed to be a dream, but for now, times were tough. No one seemed to need you and your skills, and those who did paid low. A job was a job and your little filly needed hay in his belly.
You open a folder on the table as you and your child ate dinner. It was your most recent job. You didn’t have to kill anypony, but just intimidate some merchant to accept some trade agreements. It paid decent, and your hooves didn’t get bloody, so you didn’t care. It was something that could be done in the tomorrow. For now, you needed to get some sleep, and prepare your child for school.
“Alright, Little one, time to sleep.” You say in your nicest voice.
“But...but.”
“No buts. March your flank to your room. You have school in the morning.”
“Alright…”
You watch your kid walk up the steps to her room. Her short legs made it hard for her to take each step. It was sort of cute. She took mostly after the other parent but took your race-an earth pony. The thought of the other pony filled your mind. One day, they got up, left, and never returned. It didn’t matter. They were missing out on such an amazing kid.
You shake the thought out of your mind and head to bed yourself. A simple walk to the couch and youre ready to sleep. There was no need to get comfy when you had an early day in the morning. You yawned before laying your head down on the couch cushion, yet something keeps bothering you. You lay there for a while before figuring out what it was- you didn’t reload your weapons. One never knows when nightly intruders were coming. Really quickly, your reloaded both your weapons and went to sleep.
Sleep took you quickly in its grasps. Within moments, you start to dream. Weirdly enough, you haven’t had a dream in a while. In this dream there were six, lit candles, each on a golden stand. They burned brightly lighting your darkened dream world. Behind the candles were six translucent ponies. You couldn’t see them too well, but they looked like the Elements. The Purple one, Twilight Sparkle, started to float forward. She was about to speak, yet before she could, your alarm went off.
You awoke with a jump. Your mane was disheveled, and the cushion was covered in your drool. “What was that all about?” you ask yourself. You shake the dream out your head, and you get your day started. It seems your kid had left for school already, so you were free to leave. You strap on your rife to your back, put you revolver in your holster, and put your favorite knife in its sleeve. You were ready for the day. Well except one thing. You poor a quick shot of Applejack Daniel’s and drink it. It burns on the way down, but it helps wake you up. After another shot, you open the door and walk to your objective.
The entire walk from your cabin to the merchant’s house was filled with thoughts of that dream. It was weird. You had nothing to do with the Mane Six. Never met them before. The closest thing you had to them was the shots you drunk earlier. Well, it didn’t matter; you had a job to do. A job to earn enough bits to feed yourself.
You reach your destination and take out your binoculars. Within seconds, you find your target- a chubby, white unicorn stallion, who was alone outside. This was your only chance. You ran towards him at full speed. He didn’t see it coming as you tackled him to the ground. You then get your knife and put it to his throat.
“Look. I’m going to make this really simple.” You say as you press the knife deeper, “You accept Silver Dollar’s deal and you keep your head.”
“N-n-no! His agreements are terrible. Only he will make money! I’ll be ruined.” The unicorn replied. He began to cry and whimper. You knew what you were doing was wrong, but it was for a living.
“I…don’t…care. Accept it or your pretty little fur will be red instead of white.” You knew if your daughter heard you, she would be scared. You decide to change your approach as your head feels with the image of your dream. “Look…just accept it. It’ll be easier on the both of us.”
“What if…I double what he is paying you? Hmm? We both can forget this ever happened?”
Double the bits sounded nice. All the food and ammo you could buy. As you thought on the proposal, your dream began to fill your mind. It moved everything else out if the way. No matter how you tried to get it out, the six candles kept returning. You couldn’t work like this; not this distracted. You just couldn’t.
“Alright…give me the bits.” You say, “Don’t tell anyone. You never met. Get out of town.”
The unicorn got up, gathered a trunk of bits, and gave them to you. After he did, you disappeared, yet remained close to make sure he packed his bags to leave. He did. Walking in the shadows, you made your way home. The bits made it hard to walk, but the joy they brought made it worth it. You unlock you door, throw the bits in your safe, and lay back on the coach. The day barely started, but you were already over come with a feeling of tiredness. Soon, your eyes were unnaturally heavy and sleep took its grasp on you again.
The candle dream started again, yet this time, it ran smoothly. The candles appeared and they burned brighter. The faint Elements came into your sight once more. Twilight came forward with a smile on her face. This time, your alarm didn’t go off and Twilight was allowed to Speak.
“Hello, Mercenary. “ She said, “Unfortunately, our last meeting was interrupted, but now, we can finally talk.”
“Uh…what is going on here?” you ask as you watch Twilight’s figure harden.
“You see, we require your services. “
You begin to think about those shots from earlier. They must be affecting your dreams. After this is over, you’re going to stop drinking. Well, drinking as much as you usually do. Quitting all of the sudden could be dangerous. Plus, it would be a waste of your entire stock in your cabinet.
“I can assure you that your drinking has nothing to do with this dream. Though, slowing down couldn’t hurt.” Twilight turned to her friends who all agreed with her. “Now, you know we Elements have been on this planet for a long time. Trying to bring and preserve the power of friendship, but now we grow tired.”
“Then sle-.” You start to say before Twilight interrupts you.
“Not tired from lack of rest; tired of living. We have seen the world descend from the world we grew up in and protected to something vile and evil. The world no longer needs us; we no longer need the world. The years pass and we watch everyone around us grow old and die. We are tired of watching and waiting for death. So we call on you to bring it to us.”
“Are you asking me to come kill you?” you ask. This dream has to been a side effect of the alcohol.
“Yes we are. We can’t do it to ourselves or harm each other. Trust us; we have already tried. We need an outside source to do it. So we ask you to do the deed.”
You begin to pinch yourself, trying to wake yourself up. This was honestly the weirdest dream you ever had. The Elements asking you to come help them escape from life. You have killed a few ponies in your life, but still…killing the Mane Six entailed something else. It meant killing hope. Killing friendship. Killing probably the most innocent ponies on the planet. Even if all of this was real, you wouldn’t-couldn’t- do it.
“Sorry, but it’s a no. I can’t do it.” You reply, “I don’t think anyone can.”
“We knew you were going to say that…so…we have an incentive for you.” Twilight’s horn lit and in a flash, a huge bag appeared in your vision. “In this bag are bits. Enough bits to where you don’t have to work for twenty years. This is only a fourth of your payment…if take on the job…all of it will be yours.”
You look at the bits. There are more there than you have seen in the last six years. You would be a fool not to take the bits, but killing the Elements is considered treason...but...you have no choice. Work is slow and this seems like the best option. You sigh as you decide to accept the deal.
"I accept the deal" you say.
"Good. When you awake, there will be a folder with our locations in it." Twilight responded as she stomped her hoof.
You awoke on the couch. On your chest was a thick folder. When your opened it, everything Twilight said would be in it was in it-Pictures, locations, and it even included tickets to their homes. You thought maybe the dream had some real aspects to it. Or someone was setting you up. Either way, when you saw the bits on the table, you knew you had to do the job.
It took you three days to get prepared for your trip. Having to find a baby sitter was hard. Especially when you told them you would be gone for around a month...maybe more. You finally found one, told your filly to be a good girl, packed your bags, loaded you guns, and left for your first target-Applejack. Contrary to belief, she was located at Sweet Apple Acres. She moved to Appleloosa after Ponyville became a more industrialize city.
The train ride wasn't long, but boring. The scenery wasn't what is was so many years ago with the rolling hills, and lust green grass. It was dried, dead grass now with burnt trees. The land was preparing to be built on. Yet, something changed. The closer you got to your target, the greener, more natural your environment got. The trees were healthy. The grass was green. You got off the train at Appleloosa only to breath in the freshest air you ever breathed. The townsfolk looked at you weird, but you didn't care.
You slowly walked up to a house and on the front steps was an orange pony. She smiled before jumping of f the steps and walked towards you. Weirdly she gives you a hug and drags you towards the apple fields.
"So you're the one who came to dispose of me. I thought you'd chicken out. Now, before we get down to business. Let's take a walk.
