Rise of a Bounty Hunter

It was a quiet morning. The cool Fall breeze and naked trees told of the coming winter. It was still early enough that only the stall owners were present. I recognized Applejack at one said stall with a younger girl, who had an adorable pink bow in her hair.

"So where do you live?" I sighed, it was a quiet morning. I pointed at my home down one of the roads leading from the market.

"Over there, towards the ominous forest." I walked over to the farmers stall. Applejack was too preoccupied setting up the produce to sell, but her young helper was not so indisposed.

"Hi there mister, wanna buy some apples." I do need to get some groceries.

"Sure," the little girl shot me an ear to ear grin before sticking her pinkie fingers in her mouth, turning to Applejack and letting loose a sharp whistle.

"Hey Applejack, we got a customer!" Applejack turned and looked our way.

"Howdy," I returned her wave and leaned against the side of the stall, "how's Ponyville treatin' ya?" I shrugged.

"It's still early, but it looks promising." At this, she smiled. I motioned to the produce on display. "How much?"

"One bit an apple." I pulled out 24 bits and placed them on the counter. Applejack counted them out, then handed me a bag of apples.

"Thanks, hey Lightning do you.." When I turned, I realized I was alone. "Where did she go?"

"Who ya talking to, sugarcube?" I shrugged.

"My new roommate," I looked over to see a mass of people crowding around a tall building, "Hey Applejack, can you point me to town hall?" She then pointed towards the gathering crowd. "Great, thanks." I marched off to the edge of the crowd, where I found Lightning floating away from them. "Hey, why'd you run of?"

"I saw these people gathering around the town hall. Figured I'd see why." She landed next to me and motioned at the crowd, "looks like a mob." They do look angry, so I got closer and started listening.

"We don't need no bounty hunters here!"

"Merciless killers is all they are!" Well that's not necessarily true.

"They'd only bring trouble!" After getting to the front of the crowd, I saw Twilight Sparkle talking to an older women with grey hair and half moon glasses. The princess turned to the crowd and raised a hand, motioning them to calm down.

"Everybody, please calm down, I'm sure whomever this bounty hunter is, they're not a danger to you or your loved ones." There were many, and I mean many, shouts from the crowd disagreeing with her. After half an hour the crowd finally cleared out. I saw lightning napping on a bench.

"Yo, get up, we need to talk to the mayor." After several prods, she got up and we made our way into the town hall. The lobby was warm and empty, only a receptionist sat at the front desk. She had baby blue hair in a pony tail. We got her attention when we approached the desk.

"If your here to complain about the bounty hunters, I'm afraid we can't do anything about it. Otherwise, how may I help you?" She had chipper tone. I pulled my license out of my coat and presented it to her. Her eyes widened in fear, and I swear I heard her gulp.

"We need to talk to the mayor, if she's available." I tried to use a softer tone as to avoid frightening her anymore. I have a feeling I will deal with this women quite a bit.

"I-I'll go get her." I nodded as she got up and nervously walked up the stairs. Lightning and I sat down in a couple of waiting chairs.

"So," I look over to see Lightning fidgeting in her seat, "The people here don't like us much, do they?" I shrugged and leaned in my chair.

"You won't find many who do outside of Canterlot and Cloudsdale."

"What makes them so special?"

"Well," I sit up, "the Pegasi were very militaristic way back when, in fact that's where the Equestrian Bounty Hunter's Coalition started."

"What about Canterlot?" That got a chuckle out of me.

"Shit, everyone in Canterlot wants someone dead, and besides, the ground based bounty hunters have to have a place to gather and call home without fear of fellow residents taking up arms. Where better to have those who'd shoot you in your face for money, then with those who'd stab you in the back for even more selfish reasons?" Her gaze shifted to the floor for a few seconds before she looked me in my eyes.

"why'd you join?" I sighed.

"I grew up in West Canterlot, and I saw so many criminals and monsters get away with theft, rape, and murder. I was just tired of it, so when I was old enough, I signed up." I stood up. "But, no matter what I did, or tried to do, someone somewhere got hurt." I sighed. "I joined because I wanted to make the world a better place for others." I was about to ask her the same question when I heard steps coming from behind me.

"Mr. Aero, I'm Mayor Mare, it's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." The older woman, who was talking with the princess earlier, greeted me with an obvious nervousness, and offered me her hand. I smiled and shook it. "I'm terribly sorry about how the people of Ponyville have... reacted to your's and miss Dust's arrival."

"That's actually what we're here to talk about." Her expression became more worried. She opened her mouth to say something, but I interrupted her. "I need to request that our identities as bounty hunters be kept hidden. I'm not telling you to deny that we're here, just don't tell everyone our names, or show them our looks. For obvious reasons." She nodded.

"I think we can do that." I offered my hand along with my winning smile.

"Thank you very much, Mayor Mare." She let out a giggle.

"Please, just Mayor is fine." I nodded then motioned to Lightning that we were leaving. She then picked up a large duffle bag and followed me out. I, in turn, hefted my bag'o'apples over my shoulder.

We walked to my house in relative silence. Lightning looked to the ground like something was on her mind. I entered my house and shivered at the sight of my couch. After putting the apples away in the kitchen, I scanned my living room for the basement door. Upon seeing the door with a keypad next to it, I silently cheered to myself.

"Put your bag by the couch, and come over here." I said giddily, not even looking in Lightning's direction as I made beeline for the basement door.

"What's got you so cheery?" I scoffed as I put in the code. A hiss came from the locks behind the door. I opened the door and rushed down the stairs and turned on the lights. The walls were with lined gun racks and crates.

"This is the armory. If Rex is just as obsessed with being prepared now as he was ten years ago, there should be something here for you." She raised an eyebrow as I saw two crates that were about a foot taller then me.

"What would that be?" I moved my hands, presenting the crates in a flashy flourish.

"Your standard class 3 hunting armor." I grabbed a crowbar conveniently sitting on another crate.

"Wait, I get armor?" I began the process of opening the boxes.

"Class 1 and 2 bounties are considered so easy by the council, that the respective hunters are expected to supply their own arms and armor. Class 3 and 4, though, are considered dangerous enough that equipment is supplied." The first box opened to show the contents. A feminine shaped mannequin wearing in a dirt green jumpsuit with bits of off white armor covering it with a similar colored helmet. The helmet was simple. It had a wide, tinted visor that would allow excellent peripheral vision, along with face cover that altered the wearer's voice. I took it off and turned towards my protege. "When we're doing our business, wear this at all times to conceal our identity. I wish we didn't have to, but with the animosity that some of the people have to what we do, It's an unfortunate necessity. The visor and face mask are retractable." I demonstrated this by pushing a button on the side, causing the visor to slide up into the forehead, and the the mask to split vertically and recede into the cheeks.

"Neat." I nodded with a smile. I do really like the design of the armor. "Kinda wish it was a different color, though." My smile grew a bit.

"That's the best part," I used the crowbar to open the second crate, showing my armor, "Unlike the guards, we can customize to our hearts content." I admired my own armor. Like Lightning's, Mine was on a mannequin, but there are few other similarities. The jumpsuit was the same dirt green, but the armor plating was a dark blue. It was marked and scarred by five years of abuse. over top the armor was a black trench coat, unlike the one I'm wearing right now, this one was thick enough to offer minor protection from things such as light blunt weapons. It even once prevented a knife from reaching my heart. I could still see the stitches on the left breast.

"That's pretty cool." I turned to look at her.

"It is isn't it? We should head back into town, the only form of food in the house is apples." She when up the stairs, while I stayed just a little bit longer, looking at my armor. It has saved my life so many times before. It has stopped bullets, knifes, hammers, and even explosives from ending me prematurely. I placed a hand on the chest piece. The suit was like an old friend. I gazed at the scorch mark next to my hand. "We've been through a lot haven't we? It's been a good run." I shifted my eyes to visor and furrowed my brow. "But, we'll find him first. we'll stop Zee. Then I can die content." I turned and left, turning off the light as I went.