SECRET HEROES

Before it all, if you asked me if I even COULD save the world, or even just Equestria, I would’ve done two things: Laugh, and say “no.” In fact, up until near the end, I still would’ve said it. But that changed. My name is Firestar, and this is how me and my new-found friends saved the world.

It started as a normal day. Or, as normal as you can get when you’ve moved into a small town named Ponyville the day before. I hadn’t even finished unpacking. But I had the essentials. My clothes, my money, and my gun. It was a civilian-grade pistol, but even though it wasn’t the best around, it was dependable.

I was in the town square’s plaza, looking for food. One kiosk offered sandwiches. I decided to get in line. But when the person in front of me got out his money to rake off five bits, he only got two.

“Um,” he said, “sh*t, why did this happen to…” he trailed off, muttering incoherently.

I reached into my bits bag and took out three bits. Without a word I walked around him and placed them on the counter and walked back.

“What…” the man said, apparently speechless. He turned to me. “Th-thank you!”

I just smiled and nodded. The man grabbed the sandwich and strolled off to find a table.

I approached and said “One sandwich, please.” And drew out the five bits. But when I set them on the counter, the kiosk manager shook her head.

“Four bits, sir.” At my quizzical look, she added “that was real nice, what you did. A thing like that deserves something, at least. Four bits.”

I shrugged and placed four bits on the counter, putting the last one away. I grabbed the sandwich, thanked her, and started ambling around for an empty table. I saw the guy from earlier wave me over, so I joined him.

“I can’t thank you enough,“ he said. He opened his mouth to say more, but I held up my hand and stopped him.

“No need. I like helping others. I’m Firestar.” I held out my hand, and we shook.

“Leon.” he said, unclasping.

We chatted for a bit while we ate. As we were getting up to leave, a man came around a corner wearing the uniform of a Royal Guard. I saw Leon flinch, and start acting nervous and fidgety.

“You ok?” I asked.

He snapped out if it.

“Y-yeah. I’m goo-“

That’s when things went to he**. A part of the wall of a building in the corner of the plaza exploded.

Everything stopped. I saw the Guard had his gun out, but before he could take a step, a gunshot rang out. He crumpled to the ground, his forehead blossoming blood.

People screamed and ran. More shots started coming, and people started dropping like flies. Leon and I, though, flipped our table and used it as cover.

I took out my pistol, and I saw him bring his to bear.

I propped myself up. A dozen or so figures had come through the smoke. All carrying rifles.

I popped one and ducked back down. Bullets thunked into the thick wood. It wouldn’t last long. I turned to Leon as he took cover again from finalizing his own target’s life.

“We need to move!”

“Where!?!”

I looked around quickly. I spied an overturned kiosk made of metal nearby, thicker than the table. There!

“Kiosk! On me!” I sprinted for it, firing to suppress. I dived at the last second, but misjudged my timing. I ended up with my shoulders up past the kiosk. I looked up in time to end a shooter before he gave my head a new airway.

I scrambled back and crouched up. Then, I heard something.

Oh, great, more of them! I thought as I heard a large increase in rifle fire.

“Hey!” Leon yelled, peeking from the other side of our makeshift cover. “Soldiers!”

Oh, thank Celestia!

I looked from my side. Sure enough, multiple Guards had come in and engaged our attackers. But I saw a few of the attackers suppressing a kiosk. That one was wooden. And it was falling apart.

“Save that kiosk!” I yelled, already firing at its destroyers. After 3 went down, I saw a woman dart out from the kiosk over to the wall of a building. I recognized her as the woman who had sold sandwiches.

She was armed, and knew how to use it. During her run, which was a full-out sprint by the looks of it, she fired three shots. Three shooters went down. Headshots.

I ducked back down, and mentally whistled. She’s good!

A minute or so more of fighting, and the shooting died down. The next time I popped up, there was only one guy left, and he was already falling.

“Search and secure!” I heard a voice call out. Guards started coming out of the woodworks. There were at least a dozen. Maybe more.

After about ten seconds, I heard various calls of “Clear!”

I called out “Civilian! Standing up!” And put my gun down. I slowly straightened, and found multiple guns trained on me.
Upon seeing my attire, they went back down.

“I’ve got a guy with me, and there’s someone over-“

“Here.” I looked over, and sure enough, the shopkeeper was standing there, pistol holstered. Her hands in the air.

“What-Well I’ll be!” One Guard exclaimed. He walked over to her. “Jackie?”

She smirked. “You bet your a**, Allen!”

Seeing everything was all peachy again, I grabbed my pistol and holstered it.

Leon stood up. One Guard looked at him, then did a double take.

“Do I know you?” The Guard asked. Leon looked at him, then shook his head.

“I know your face…” the Guard continued. “I’ve seen it somewhere… oh well.”

Leon’s look of fear upon the Guard’s first statement vanished.

“Alright, boys!” The Guard leader, Allen, called out. “Let’s go! On the train!”

He came up to me. “We’ll all talk about what happened there, and then in more depth at the Castle.”

I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

He smiled at both my words and my clear, strong tone. “Good to know you’ll be cooperative. Not everyone always is.” He looked at everyone else.

“Move out!”

Author's Note

I'm only writing this for my friends, please do not criticize. If you spot something like a typo or something, that's fine. But I'm not looking for criticism. Constructive or no. I know I suck, and I don't have much of a care to get any better, unless it's subconsciously.