She waited, watching the window through her lens. The timing had to be perfect, or the mission was doomed to fail. Lauren Croft wasn't the average sniper. Hailing from the southern reaches of Equestria, she served twenty-one years in the Army before moving to Canterlot's Royal guard, before becoming apart of the Space Marines. She was grey, with a mane as black like the night sky. Her cutie mark was that of a bullet, signifying her expert marksmanship. Planting her hoof down on the ground, she listened in for any movement coming from the direction of the house.
Sensing nothing, she picked up her heat-sensing goggles to try and find any potential targets. Scanning the horizon, she found everything to be seemingly normal during a time of war, most ponies asleep in their beds, or with their families in various parts of their homes. Turning her attention back to the target home, she spotted something new. In the room that she was staring at, there was a small, young pony sitting by a computer, its hooves typing away. Pulling out her radio, the expert marksman called HQ. After not getting an answer for around a minute or so, she heard a gruff voice on the other end.
"What in Celetia's name are you doing calling me in the middle of the bucking night!?" On the other end of the phone was her commander, Morning Light. Serving fifteen years as an officer, he had been known to pull off seemingly impossible missions by just his raw abilities. In times of dire trouble that not even the Princesses themselves could handle alone, they called him and his expert team to save the day.
"I found someone in the target house, though it turned out to be just a young colt. Should I still proceed with the mission anyways?"
"Why the hay are you askin that stupid ass question solider!? Of course go on about the bucking mission! We don't get paid our high end salaries just so that you can stand there and master-bate! We have a damn mission to do!" The earth pony could hear the slamming of a hoof on the other end.
"But he's just a young colt, a unicorn by the looks of it. We can't be caught murdering children in cold blood!"
"Listen hun, this wasn't my orders, but those of the Sun Goddess. You know what happens when somepony disobeys a direct order from Celestia!"
"Yes I know, but why the hay would Celetia want a young kid dead? Surely there has to be a better way than this." Croft pleaded with her commander. She wasn't about to kill a young child, and it didn't matter if he was guilty or not.
"Hey, I don't like the order too, but we have to do our job. We are the elite fighting group in all of Equestria, and if we don't do this job, some other assholes will! Now kill the target so that we can get you out of there!" Morning demanded.
"Yes sir." Croft said, reluctantly. Taking out her rifle from her saddle bags that were laying next to her, she carefully positioned her rifle for the best possible shot. Looking through her scope, she saw the dark green unicorn typing away, seemingly obvious to what's going on outside. Putting her hoof on the trigger, she took a deep breath, and fired.
The green unicorn in question was staring at a computer screen with dozens of different files on it. He studied each one carefully, making sure to memorize everything, as to avoid having to be forced to write it down. The young colt's name was Light Bulb. Born to two astrophysicists, he was a child prodigy. Graduating from college at the age of twelve, he was quickly hired by his parents company; Future Corp. While he wasn't really that athletic, or strong, he made that up with his brain. Rising fast through the ranks of Future Corp, he became the youngest member of its Bored of Directors earlier that Spring, just a few days before his fifteenth birthday.
Lost in the mountains of words that were appearing on the screen, he barely heard the ping from his computer. Opening the tab that contained the program PonyNet, he read the message from a user that was simply named Eye of Discord.
Are you studying the files?
Yes. Everything is coming along nicely. Light Bulb replied back. Just then, he heard the glass from his window shatter. Snapping his head, he saw that a huge bullet hole had been created, leaving glass scattered across the floor. Instantly, he typed Help! I'm being shot at! SEND BACK UP NOW! He tried to get under the table, but he heard a second shot right after he sent the message, and got struck in the head. His eyesight flicked for a brief second, before he fell limp on the ground.
(scene break)
The user known as Eye of Discord sat at his desk, shocked. Staring into his computer screen, he still couldn't believe what happened. One of his top agents was being fired at, and with the lack of replies, probably dead by now. Magically closing his laptop, he turned around and stared at the glittering, night sky that hung over Detrot. The Eye of Discord, known to the world as Freelance, was a unicorn who was born to noble parents right outside of Canterlot. A stellar student and athlete, he was well liked by other nobles of his age.
After graduating at the top of his class at the Royal Academy, he entered into a somewhat satisfying career in politics. He made a name for himself as a man of the people, voicing his support for anything that would change Equestria for the better. After losing an election after his second term, he decided to try and run for Mayor of Detrot. Winning the election was easy for him, though it came with a price. A group simply known as the Eye of Discord came knocking on his door one day to see if he'd join. He agreed, saying that the order that the Four Sisters had instilled has ruined the natural state of the world, and that chaos needed to rule. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became the head of the secret organization, bringing it to new heights. Five years later, he was ready to make a move on the Royalty, though he had suffered a major set back.
With Light Bulb's death, the files remained at large, and he had lost the point man of his own personal platoon. Turning back around, he levitated his shoulder bags that were on the edge of his desk, put them on, and clocked out for the day.
(Scene break)
Even though it was a young colt, the marksman couldn't help but just admire her handiwork. Sinking back down into the bushes, she called Morning again.
"Target is taken care of. Have you sent any backup yet?" She asked.
"Yep. We have an oldish Sandhawk transport copter headed towards you right now. If my estimates are correct, you should in fact see it right now." Morning replied.
"I see it commander. Should I report to HQ when I get back, or be dropped off at my safe house in Ponyville?"
"Um, why don't you go back to Canterlot for a few hours in case we need you, or the crew, again. After that, then you can go see your family in Ponyville." Croft said nothing in return, muttering to give her commander the answer. The grey earth pony walked over away from the house, and saw the Sandhawk touch down. Walking down, she was greeted by a blazing red Pegasus, that smiled widely at her.
"So miss, how did the mission go?"
"It went. Just take me back to HQ, I really don't want to talk right now Hot Shot." Hot Shot said nothing in reply, though he nodded which gave her the answer. He started the copter after Croft climbed in, and took off heading back to Canterlot.