Prolouge: Bored of waiting.
Waiting. That's all she ever did. Waiting for her eyesight to return 100%.
As Magnum continued to read one of those 'hoof-reading' books, when reading with touch, a knock was heard on her hospital room's door. "Come in." she said, not stopping her reading. The door opened, revealing Shining Armour as he walked into the room. He was holding a few 'Get-well!' cards, one from him, two from Rainbow and Octavia, one from Vinyl and one from all of Rainbow's friends.
He put the cards on the table near Magnum's bed. "So," he said. "How's your eyesight?" Magnum turned to the blur she could easily tell was Shining. "Getting better. All I can see now are multi-coloured blurs instead of three coloured blurs." she said bluntly. "I guess it's progress."
Shining nodded in agreement. "I guess so. Say, what'cha reading?"
Magnum stopped reading and closed her book. "It's one of Rainbow's favourite books, 'Daring Do and the age of survival.' It's an adventure classic."
"Neat! It's hard to believe that you're used to this kind of life." Shining said.
Taking a sip of her glass of water, Magnum spoke, "Hey, I'm a an ex-soldier. I was prepared for stuff like this, even though I didn't expect it to happen to me of all ponies."
"Still, all of this 'sniping' and 'assassination'? I don't think anypony would last this long without going mad." said Shining with a grin on his face.
Despite not having her proper vision back, Magnum still looked down. She then spoke, "You're right. They can't. Because I already had lost it a long time ago."
It was true. Some could say that Magnum had lost her mind the moment she had lost everything. The ponies she followed and respected performed a deed that she wouldn't forgive in a thousand years. She flew into a rage against those very ponies and was forced to resign before she got arrested. After that, she had no choice but to live this life.
In order to break the tension in the room, Shining brought Magnum some good news. "Oh! I almost forgot! I've also came here to tell you about the progress on the rebuilding of your bike." Magnum looked up and asked, "Really?! How is he?! Is my Cookie Rider ok?!" She was leaning towards Shining's face.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Calm down, Ms. Bullet-slinger. Your bike is nearly finished, just needs the right engine, which is very rare for a motocross bike." he assured her.
Magnum sighed in relief. She just hoped that they could find the right engine for her bike. It was a gift to her from her fiancé, Gold Cookie. She eventually named it after him. Ever since the day he died, she has had that bike with her for as long as she can remember. It was one of the two only things she had left of him. The second thing was a picture of her and Gold Cookie on the night he proposed to her. She keeps that picture next to her every night when she sleeps so when she wakes up, the first thing she sees is the face of her true love.
After calming down, Magnum asked Shining if he could deliver a message to Rainbow. "Say, can you tell Rainbow I said, 'Thanks for the book.' for me?" Shining nodded. "Sure thing." he said. "Get well soon, Magnum."
With that, Shining had left the room, shutting the door behind him. Magnum was alone once again.
She reached over to the table and used her right hoof to grab her tape recorder. She press 'record' and started speaking into it...
Audio diary section 142: Location, hospital. Status, vision still blurry.
I don't know weather or not Princess Celestia or Luna or even Twilight Sparkle can hear this, but I just hope that you can hear this. It has been twelve days since Rainbow had defeated Val and brought Octavia back to life. I gotta say, I'm really happy for them. I don't know if you wanted me to bring you back or not. Heck, I'm not even sure if you even made it back or not. Maybe you did and you're listening to this right now, or you didn't and somepony else is listening to this. Whichever it is, I just hope my message gets out there. I just keep asking myself whenever I make a new section in this audio diary, by the time this massage it heard, are you back and here with me? Or am I gone and there with you?
It has been officially 7 years since Rainbow Dash and Octavia Melody had come to me down for the bounty on my head and we ended up becoming friends. To be honest, I never thought I would become friends with bounty hunters. I never thought I'd even make any friends after I had lost you. We helped each-other out every now and then. I even helped them out with their hunts though-out Manehatten. I'm not sure if you would approve of this life that I live. I don't blame you. If you feel disgusted, then I won't stop you from feeling that way. Just know that I haven't stopped feeling the way I did about you. Everyday, I've always felt those same feelings for you.
If there was a way for me to see you again, I'd do it! Every-time, I try to do it. I'd hold a gun to my head for you. I'd jump off a building for you. I'd end my life just to see you, just to be with you, all just for you. I'd do all that, but somehow, I can't. Why? Why can't I end my own life? Why can't I see you again?
(Sniff!)
Do you remember the time when you asked me if I remembered the day we first met? I haven't forgotten. There's no way in hell I'd forget that day! I remember when you bumped into me and apologised to me. Your face was all blushed red and your hooves were twiddling. And your geeky smile, that very smile that made me fall for you. You tried to pick up all of my groceries for me but I ended up picking up all mine and yours. That day when you blurted out your question for me to go out on a date with you. You tried to cover it up by saying that it was just you being a blabber mouth. I couldn't reply because my body took control of itself. I answered your question with a kiss on your cheek. To be honest, I was going for your lips. Our first date was seeing the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle. It was beautiful, but not as beautiful as you were.
Speaking of memories, ponies keep asking me if I remember how the Republic Wars went down. So, yeah. I remember. I remember when the locals' homes became parts of a war-zone. When orders were our only chance of survival, when the clouds came over and rained down on us. I remember when we lived by a code, that 'comrade' actually meant something, when living meant more than surviving. When it meant helping those in need, protecting, saving. I only regret that I couldn't protect you.
So yeah, I remember how it all went down. Heck, I don't give a damn about any of that any more. You know what I remember most? Being on those wonderful dates. The night you proposed to me. All the planning for our perfect wedding. Your geeky smile. I remember you.
But now, those days are gone. Now, I'm a rogue mercenary. A sniper-for-hire. An ex-soldier. And for me, the shattered life is all that's left... But I'll always remember.
End section.
Author's Note
This prologue chapter is set after Bounty Hunters 2 and before Bounty Hunters 3. The rest of this story is set long before Bounty Hunters book 1. Just to give you guys a heads up.
Magnum's speech is based on/inspired by the trailer of my favourite zombie game yet, Days Gone!
