Shifted

Luna held the weapon in her magic and looked at it curiously, turning it over and looking at it’s polished details.

“Don’t look down the barrel, ever. It’s not loaded but if you find a gun, and you will find a few, now only will they be loaded with ammo but they could be trapped or poorly maintained and fire at random or overcharge in your magic grip. This is a standard issue laser rifle, you’ll see weapons like these all over the place but mostly used by low level guards or new adventurers who think the world can be taken with guts and pride.

“The trigger is there, like I said. Some weapons I can’t use because they’re based on magic and I’m not a mage. You can use them, though. They may or may not have a trigger or have something else. I won’t be able to help you with those so be, fucking,” Luna’s ears twitched, “careful.”

“We do not appreciate such vulgar language and a girl like you shouldn’t speak as such. However, We understand that… ahem, I understand that I am not at my home and shouldst understand or adapt to your language.”

“What, no one swears where you’re from?”

“We, do, however the term ‘buck’ or ‘hay’ is used, except by the elite soldiers or ignorant peasants. No, no longer are they peasants,” she sighed, “I was gone for too long and missed the equalization of the tribes.”

“You’ll have to tell me about that later, right now point the rifle down range and load your first clip. It’s an energy clip with two shots I found during a scouting mission last week. That’s another thing, weapons need ammo, some bullets and some energy. Magic ones will never need anything as long as you pump your own power into it.

“The clips you find might have a charge or bullets in them, so save whatever you can because recharging an energy clip can be expensive and bullets run out too fast when you’re in a fight.”

Luna aimed the rifle toward the rebuilt hill and target, loaded the weapon carefully and winced as it clicked into place, locked in it began to hum for a second before falling silent in her hold. “Okay, now I shot it?”

“Shoot it, and no. First you need to look down the sights. Lower the rear to your snout-”

“Muzzle.”

“-that, and… wait, your face thing is a muzzle? That,” she giggled, “the rifle’s barrel is called a muzzle sometimes. That’s pretty cool.”

“May we continue?”

“Yeah, ahe-hem, lower it and look down the whole rifle and there are two sights. The rear one lines up with the front one and you cover the target then pull the trigger.”

Luna lined up her sights on the target and grinned widely. Nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing happened.

“The safety’s on, remember?” Luna blushed and nodded, disengaging the safety and taking aim again. The trigger made a light click and Luna frowned.

“Nothing happened.”

“No, you fired it and missed really bad. Laser and most energy and magic weapons don’t make noise except for the vaporization of the air as they pass through. There’s a switch by the trigger you can press and it’ll simulate a sound so you know it fired, but it takes away the element of surprise.”

Luna looked and clicked the switch then sighted again, pulling the trigger with her magic she flinched as a buzzing sound left the weapon.

“That’s better, you hit the dirt that time, but you’re not getting near the target. I only had the two shots to spare so we have to call the energy weapon trials and go into the bullets. Same rules, except you’ll see where these go and everyone in about a half mile will know you fired and they’ll be able to figure out where you fired from if they’re good at what they do.

“Take my weapon and be bucking careful,” she said firmly as she smirked. Luna smirked back and traded the weapons taking a look at it and loading a clip with three shots. She looked down the sights, turned off the safety, and pulled the trigger. The shot was so loud Luna dropped the weapon and backpedaled, ears flat to her head and her tail low.

Ariel’s laughter echoed as Luna collected her senses.

“That was not funny,” Luna said shaking her head again.

“Hay, sure was to me,” she grinned.

“I believe I will use the quiet ones. Ponies have better hearing than humans, I believe. That caused me pain.”

“Woah, you’re not gonna kick me in the crotch, are you?” Ariel restrained a laugh as she crossed her legs and covered herself.

Luna rolled her eyes and smiled. “You have not done anything to deserve as such, and I happen to like you.” They shared a hearty laugh as Luna picked up the rifle and pulled the clip out. “Here is your--”

The final round in the chamber discharged and sent the rifle spinning from Luna’s grasp. She fell to the ground with a scream and covered her head, Ariel did the same. The rifle clicked as it landed in Raul’s hands.

“Holy crap, chica’s. Ya tryin’ ta wake the dead? It’s suppertime and we’ve gotta get back into town before nightfall… and I’m sorry to hear about your fight with Aran. I never knew him to fight so dirty as to kick a woman where it hurts.”

The females stood and gulped. “He got what he deserved.”

“Haha, yeah, he’s not gonna pee for the next two days, I bet. C’mon, let’s get some food. We have ham, hamburgers, hotdogs… and a full salad for the Princess.”

Luna sighed slightly. “Thank thee, Raul.”

“Hey, wasn’t me, they have a few dee-bee’s that can’t eat meat. Just, stay away from anything purple, Luna.”

“He’s right. It might be alive.”

“But, you said they were vegetables.”

“They are.”

Luna took in what they said and shuddered.