Rise of a Bounty Hunter

On the way out of town hall, I checked the gun I commandeered to find that it had seven rounds. I'll have to make each one count. One look out of the window confirmed that it was now night. The door was left ajar, so I peeked through the crack.

They know I'm loose. I took a deep breathe. I'm really do gotta make each shot count. Pressing myself to the side of the door, I shout through the crack.

"You have one chance to surrender!" I was answered by a hail of lead taking the door off its hinges. I had to drop to a crouch, though they seem to be focused on shooting into the door frame. After about half a minute of concussive thunder, all went quiet. It stayed that way until they started talking.

"Did we get 'em?" The thug's inquiry was answered by loud slapping noise.

"Go check, dumbass!" I recognize that voice. Thermite, I think. I shot her in the knee. Peeking out enough to see, but not enough to be seen, I saw her standing with a makeshift crutch and poorly bandaged leg.

I wait as I hear slow, cautious steps approach the door. A rifle poked through the door, bolt action. As soon as head entered vision, I jumped.

I grabbed his rifle with my free hand and angled it towards the floor as it went off. He tried to pull away, but I slammed the pistol into his forehead. Recoiling, he dropped the gun, and we were both out the door. The others saw us and raised their guns, including Thermite who held a familiar black revolver. In reaction, I grabbed the thug and used him as a human shield. He began to beg his comrades to hold their fire.

Each bullet that hit him caused his body to jerk. I raised my gun and fired, hitting one of the thugs between the eyes. Advancing with the meat shield, I fired and hit another in the forehead. Again, just above the left eye. And again, this shot removing most of the thug's upper cranium. I was close enough to throw the slab of meat into the second to last thug, who caught it with a look of fear on his face. He looked up in time to make eye contact with my bullet.

I turned towards the last thug, Thermite. She had a look of pure terror on her face as she hobbled back, tripping on a body. Pointing the revolver at me she tried to back even more desperately as I approached. The gun only clicked when she pulled the trigger. In response, she threw it at me. I caught it and looked at it. The silver writing on the ivory handle read 'Wraith'. I holstered it and pointed the other gun at Thermite, who's expression has only become more terrified.

"What are you?" I closed the distance before she could move any farther away, and placed a boot on her poorly bandaged knee.

"Where'd he go?" She shook her head.

"I don't kno-AGH!" I applied weight to her knee.

"Where did he go?" She was desperately clawing at my boot, but she was unable to move it.

"I can't, if I do Woody will- AGHH FUCK!" I began to grind my heel into her knee as I leveled the gun with her head.

"I'll do something much worse." I moved and pressed the gun against her other knee. "Where!" I demanded.

"The library! he's at the fucking library!"

"Who's with him?"

"He took the little brat and that's it! I swear!" I remove my foot from her leg, and put a round in her head. Looking around, I saw the townsfolk tied up in groups around the area, and they had a good view of town hall. Great first impression Rise.

"Wraith!" I turned to see Rex, Lightning, an the other guards approaching. They had a good number of thugs with them, all with hands tied behind their backs. "Where are the Elements?" Rex ran up to me.

"Town hall. Where's the Library?" I answered. The Princess had at some point come out of the building and is standing next to me.

"I can show you, I live there." She was noticeably trying to keep her gaze on me. The guards looked at the bodies in a multitude of expressions. Rex and the other guards began untying the people. I motioned Lightning over.

"Help Rex."

"But." I raised a hand to stop her.

"Woody's a class four bounty. He's too dangerous for a class three." She went to argue, but I pointed to the Guards. She relented and walked off. The Princess and I started towards the library.

When we got to the library, Woody was standing at the front door arguing with one of his thugs while holding Sweetie Belle by her arm. I motioned the Princess to stay behind me as I approached with my gun ready.

"Raise your gun, and you're dead!" I shouted. Woody immediately ran inside, dragging Sweetie along with him. The thug lifted the gun, but I put him down before he could really do anything. I tossed the now empty pistol away and grabbed the thugs gun. The Princess wore a shocked expression on her face.

"You just killed him!" I nodded and cocked the fully loaded weapon.

"I warned him." I entered the library only to her loud pops as Woody fired at me while dragging Sweetie Belle up the stairs.

After he made up the stairs, I followed with the Princess on my coat tails. I got to the top of the stairs in time to see a door close, and took cover next to it motioning for the princess.

When I opened the door and peeked in, I saw that it was a bedroom, and there was another door at the other side leading to a balcony, where Woody stood holding Sweetie in front of him while pointing his gun at me. He was wearing a helmet now, no doubt taken from the same bounty hunter as the rest of his armor.

"Well, laddy, I have a big fuckin' gun that can punch holes in armor like yours almost as if it were wet tissue paper." My eye was drawn to the hole in his chest piece. I raised my gun at him. He began to cackle. "But that little pee shooter you got there, can't." I reached up and pushed the button on my helmet to retract the visor, and took aim. The Princess saw this and protested from behind me.

"Rise! You can't! You might hit Sweetie Belle!" Without changing my gaze, I spoke.

"Sweetie Belle," She was terrified, "close your eyes."

"W-What?"

"Close your eyes." This time she complied. "No matter what, don't open them." She nodded. Woody leveled his larger than average pistol at me. My gun can't pierce that armor, but I'm a good shot.

POP! BOOM!

Woody stumbled back into the railing clutching at the hole on his chest piece. Blood oozed from it. Sweetie, noticing that Woody wasn't holding onto her anymore, ran forward, eyes closed, and ran into me. The moment she felt me, her arms wrapped around my waste. I placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her to the Princess, who stared at me in a mix of shock and irritation.

"You could have.." The glare I shot at her silenced her before I turned to the still alive Woody as he removed the helmet on his head. I began a slow walk towards him.

"I never miss." I spoke as I stood over Woody. He spat a gob of blood out before looking at me with a smirk on his face.

"A little to the left, and I woulda gotya." He let out a bloody cough. "So what now? You gonna arrest me, turn me in for a profit. Become the town hero." He chuckled before it turned into cough. "You do realize, that I've been captured before. They never could keep me in." I raised my gun and pointed at his head. His expression changed to fear instantly. "Now hold on laddy. There's no need for that, I'll come quietly."

"Alive or dead."

"What?"

"Bounty says: Alive or dead."

"Come on! Think about it, you'll get more if I'm alive! Please don't do this!" I lowered my gun.

"Did they beg?"

"Who?"

"The people you copy."

"What?" I pressed the gun against his forehead.

"Did Static beg for you to let him live?! Or did you just shoot him!" I shouted. He began mumble excuses. "Shut up! He had a wife and three kids. Parents who loved him. A sister who looked up to him. You're a monster." His expression changed to anger.

"And what about you! I saw what happened in town square! They had loved ones, too! Do you really think you have room to talk?! If I'm monster, what does that make you?!" I cocked gun.

"The worst kind of monster." POP!

Twilight Sparkle and Sweetie belle left after Rise and Woody started talking. Rex and the other bounty hunter ran up. Twilight smiled at Rex as ran up. He was the towns pseudo detective, and often had to stop by the library for research.

"Princess, are you okay? We came as soon as we heard the gunshots." Twilight nodded as the other elements turned the corner. When Rarity saw Sweetie Belle, she ran forward.

"Sweetie Belle!" Sweetie Belle met her half way, and they embraced.

"Are you okay, darling?"

"Yeah, thanks to Twilight and that scary guy." Twilight blushed at her inclusion.

"I didn't really do anything. It was Rise." Rex jolted and looked at the princess in surprise.

"You know?" They all nodded. He looked at Lightning."You?" She shook her head.

"They only took his helmet off."

"Well, um. Shit, I know there are lot things bounty hunters are infamous for, and there are awful stereotypes, but I swear on my duty and ability as a member of the royal guard, that Rise is a good guy." Before anyone could respond, loud shouting echoed in the night.

POP!

Everyone stood silently still for a few minutes. The door the library opened and a figure stood in the doorway. Clad in dark blue armor and a black trench coat, Rise stepped out gun in hand. He dropped the magazine out and emptied the chamber before handing it to Rex. He looked around, checking for anyone else, and reached up and undid the strap to his helmet. Taking it off revealed a head of medium length black hair matted to his head from the sweat. Sighing, he thumbed the newest scar on the right side of the helmet.

"A little to the left." He muttered before looking up to his audience. "I'm sorry." Looking at Rex he continued. "He's on the balcony." Rex nodded and went inside. Rise looked towards Lightning. "Good work." He turned his tired gaze to Sweetie Belle, "You alright, kiddo?" She nodded then Rarity stepped forward.

"Thank you." She walked up and wrapped her arms around him. He returned it with a surprised look on his face.

"That's new." She released him and took a step back with confused look on her face, a look copied by the others.

"What do you mean, darling?"

"Usually, I get paid, shouted at, and chased out of town when people know who and what I am. Never once have I been thanked." He shook his head. "I need some sleep, we can talk about," he motioned with his helmet, "this, tomorrow."

"You can do that at the guardhouse." Rex interrupted. "It's pretty empty most of the time." He looked at Rise with stern expression. "And we have a few things to talk about afterwards." Rise only smiled and nodded before putting his helmet back on.

"I'm going home then, I need the sleep." Rise said as he walked away, then he muttered something that the others almost couldn't hear. "If I can get it." Lightning flew off after him.

Rex took his own helmet off muttering to himself. "You're gonna tell me why you moved here Rise. Even if I gotta beat it out of you."