Los Diablos: A New Beginning

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1: The New Section of The Deal
Chapter 2: Home
Chapter 3: The "Official" Meeting
Chapter 4: The Hunt and The Speech
Chapter 5: La Cocaína
Chapter 6: Ponyville
Chapter 7: Hostage Rescue
Chapter 8: The Gala
Chapter 9: Brothers 'till Death

Prologue

Two Years Earlier......

"Come on", Murad shouted from afar behind me. "Stop running, you're only going to die soon anyways. Stop delaying the inevitable". I ignored that bastard's smart remarks and kept booking it as fast as I could while occasionally dodging bullets. Why I felt like I could take on a Goddamn base, I couldn't remember. I was so fucking stupid, I should've brought Ricardo. I turned for a building and barged in. A man with Azerbajani gear and clothing saw me and was fumbling for his sidearm, but I took mine out faster and shot him squared in the face. The wall behind him was now painted red with the brains as the paintbrush. Sliding down the wall.

"Fuck", I mumbled to myself, I couldn't stay here, I opened a door to what was a garage and found some AK-47s, just my luck! I picked one up and loaded in a full magazine and pocketed a couple more and left. That bastard Murad would be looking for me. But I was going to be prepared when he did. As I stepped out, I saw what looked like headlights and gunshots in their direction. "Fuck me, it's Carlos and Ricardo, why the fuck did they follow me, I'm in a fucking base"! I ran toward the gunfight rifle held up close and got into the tall grass crouched and slowly made my way to assist my brothers. Not by blood, but by our unbreakable bond that binds us together. I peeked over the grass and fired at the roaches of the Middle East. I saw the men turn their gaze onto me and fired in my direction. I ducked and collapsed onto the ground going prone. I laid down on the ground until they had to reload. Then, using the cover of the grass, I crawled to the fuckers with the rifle in hand.

"o haradadır?" one of them said.

"Chingada tu madre hijue puta", I muttered. I rose up when I felt that I was close enough and fired at them. They dropped and I ran for the truck that they were using for cover and peeked over. It was Carlos and Ricardo. "Carlos!" I called out.

"Gonzalo?", the voice called back. "Is that you"?

"Yeah it's me what are you guys doing here?", I asked. "I thought I said not to come".

Carlos sounded like it was obvious when he replied, "you really think I'm going to let you fight these fuckers on your own"?

"I suppose not", I replied. "Get over he-"!

I couldn't finish as I was brought down and felt a warm fluid running down my stomach. 'Fuck', the bastard Murad must've got me in the stomach. I couldn't get up, the pain the shot was putting in my stomach was so bad I could barely look around.

"Gonzalo!", Ricardo ran up to me shouting as he saw and heard me getting shot. He pulled back to the other side of the car and laid me on the truck. "Fuck, your bleeding pretty bad".

"You think?!", I exclaimed, groaning in pain. Carlos ran up to me and crouched down beside us.

"The shot was not that far away, he's fucking close", he looked over and was brought down by a shot to the arm. "FUCK, right in the fucking left one, GODDAMMIT"! Ricardo was reaching out for Carlos but was hit and fell back, I looked up to the Murad smirking at both of us and pulling out his pistol. It was a Makarov pistol, this fucker really used an out-dated pistol from the communist days of Russia, Really? Now I'm really fucking pissed that I'm going to die.

"It's time I ended this little charade and put you boys down, not just because I want to, but because you little shits just killed my best men and blew half of my compound to pieces", he cocked the gun and pointed it at me. "Sorry that you had to go like this".

"NO!!!", I saw Ricardo get up and tackle Murad to the ground. "Get the fuck away from him you cocksucker"! He had started to hit him constantly until Murad had gotten a good sucker punch on him and sent him falling back down. Murad then quickly shot Ricardo point blank in the face. I was shocked at what I had just witnessed, another one of my friends had just died and was my friend since childhood, it was all my fault, because I basically brought them here when I found out about this fucking place. I looked at Ricardo's now lifeless body, blood oozing from what used to be his face.

"You BASTARD!", I yelled from the pain of losing another close friend and slowly bleeding to death in this godforsaken nation.

"I've had just about enough of you all!", Murad pointed the gun at Carlos quick, but I was quicker, I pulled my M1911 .45, and shot him in the back. He stumbled and fell to the ground. He was dead. His blood was now flowing onto the close-by stream, painting the water red. The bastard that pushed us into a life of crime, the one who made us become possible fighter of our nation into shitty drug dealers and nasty mercenaries, was now dead. I sighed and turned my gaze back to Carlos, he glanced at the body, then at me, then at Ricardo. He smiled and fell back.

"Carlos...", I groaned weak and barely able to move, but I was going to be damned if I was going to be there for my friend when he needed me right then. I stumbled off the truck and on the ground. I crawled to him and pulled myself up to inspect his wound, he had a nice fat hole where the middle of his forearm should be. "We did it man", I laid down next to him and slowly everything was going dark and red.

"We sure did, Gonzalo", he took my hand I looked back him, he shook it and said one last thing before dying. "Somos hermanos, por siempre". Then he fell back with his eyes open and stared at me with dull eyes, the color slowly draining from his eyes amd face. I even saw a tear falling down his cheek. It was all done, whoever said that revenge never gets you what you want, well guess what? I just killed one for he biggest leaders of ISIS, suck on that asshole. Though, I lost Ricardo and Carlos, and they were both my friends since we were both little. We even went to grade school together, we'd been really close during our end of the high school years and that everyone unfortunately has to go through.

Losing my friends was too much for me to handle and I started to let a couple tears fall down my cheek too. I reached into my neck region and pulled out my crucifix, I stared at it, this was the only thing I had left from my parents. I sat up looked to the heavens above and prayed the 'Our Father'. I was practicing Catholic since birth and I'll be damned if it isn't to death. "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen", I finished with a shaky ton.

"Forgive me Father, I did only what I felt was right", I picked up my 1911 and looked at it waiting for something to happen when it wouldn't. I cocked the gun back and found a bullet chambered. I pointed it into my mouth and prayed a silent prayer for forgiveness one last time. I pulled the trigger and everything went dark. It was all over......

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Two years later...... Present time......

"Come on Gonzalo", Chris yelled out to me from the Blackhawk. "We got to head over to Canterlot Castle". I ran to the chopper and hopped in.

"Go", I shouted at James. He pulled the lever and the chopper was lifting off and in the air. I could feel the breeze and took it all in, the peacefulness, the sights, and the smells. But I was curious as to why we were being called out to Canterlot during the day time, we always headed out during the night to avoid any risk of being seen by the locals. But the daytime kind of exposes us when we're in a helicopter that's black. "Why're we heading out to Canterlot at this hour? We'll be seen".

Michael turned his attention to me, "Celestia thinks it's about time we were shown to the world as an ally". He was looking pretty pissed too. "But I don't think that's the only reason, she wouldn't ever rush anything unless she needs something said".

"Do you think it has anything to do with us during the invasion of Canterlot with those changelings?", Chris asked looking toward Michael. "We made quite a mess with the mini guns tearing apart those rat-looking things apart you know"?

"It could be that", James shouted from the cockpit. "The element bearers must've seen us during our fiasco and told Celestia about it".

I went wide-eyed hearing that, "you mean those young mares that we're in charge of making sure the elements look good for the public?".

Everything was silent, save for the blades of the chopper spinning around, ready to slice anything that were to get caught in there. "Yup", Chris spoke up breaking the silence. "I'm pretty sure that's why now that I think about it".

I groaned in frustration, "Goddammit, now we got a deal with them when I need to focus on a deal with the Gryphonian Empire". I was conversing with the prime minister that if they hired us, 'Los Diablos', they would be getting constant watch from the satellites, and if anything were to go wrong, we would get over there cutie and help them ASAP. And for the satellites, I know, 'how the fuck does Equestria have satellites', I'll tell you. They don't, this planet, Equis, is actually Earth, after the human race was gone. How do I know this, because there are some cars in the Everfree and bits of human archetecture all over the world. So, with no one else using the satellites we used the computers we have to connect to them. Now, we have all the visual knowledge of the world around us that we could ask for. We helped the Equestrians map out the globe by sending the pics that we get from space. They even paid a hefty amount of cash too.

"I know but we have to deal with it, it's worth the pay man", Carlos said in the hopes that it would calm me down. He's right, protecting Equestria from the shadows as a mercenary group has its perks. We get paid 2,750 bits a day. A day! By the end of the year, each one of us has a million dollars for us to have in our names. It's been a pretty good job, we've been doing this for two years now and I have two million that I would have if I didn't have to pay 500,000 back to Celestia after she said I had to pay a little back for helping us to start the business again after we showed up here. At first, she wanted us to work for her as her citizens and guard of Equestria after hearing out story. But I didn't want to have any ties with her, but was also enticed by the offer. So I made an offer of my own, help us get started as mercenary business pay us exactly 2,750 each, and we'd pay her back the 500,000 that's shed gives us. If she agreed Celestia would have our support and we'd have money for helping out. She accepted and here we are now.

But I didn't pay the 500,000 alone, are you crazy? Each of us took part of our shares and paid her back. So now, we don't owe anyone a damn thing, amd we have enough money to be in the lower part of the rich class in this nation if we were to all combine our money. It's great.

"Yeah, you're right, let's just get this over with", I said with the tone of defeat.

Let's see what she wants......

Chapter 1: The New Section of The Deal

The whole trip to Canterlot from the Everfree wasn't that long and we could see a good glimpse of the city by now. I could only imagine why exactly she decided to meet us this early in daylight, when we could be seen and heard with this Blackhawk. I gripped onto the handle bar even tighter and the helicopter was pulling back to slow down and to start lowering altitude onto the platform that Celestia made just for us when we had similar meetings like this one. We landed and I hopped out swinging my head towards the big doors to tell my team to get moving. I opened the door and braced myself for what the next chapter of my life might entail.

Five minutes ago.....

Celestia's POV

"Princess, why exactly did that big-metallic-dragon-looking thing appeared and helped us out. It looked like something that would hurt us but it didn't, and the masked ponies that were in there?", Rainbow Dash was being persistent with trying to understand exactly what had happened last week during Cadence's wedding. As for as they know, a big black flying contraption came to our rescue and tore apart the changelings like it was nothing. They also know that there were lots of masked ponies in there. I've decided it's time. They need to know the reason why I've hired them is because of my student and her friends.

"Princess, sorry if I seem rude, but, she's right, I think we should know if that's all right with you?", Twilight asked, fiddling with her fingers.

I sighed, "I suppose it's time to tell you my little ponies". I took a seat at my chair, but they were all still standing. "Please sit, you'll want to, believe me".

Twilight took a seat by Rarity and turned to me, "What exactly is it princess?".

I took a deep breath and exhaled gently, "you all remember when you stood up to Nightmare Moon, right"?

They all nodded in unison, "well....the elements are duds. They have been since you used them on Nightmare".

They seemed shocked, I'm sure, but that was expected, "they haven't been in their full capacity to operate since that battle between you all. They just make bright lights now, I'm afraid".

"Princess?", Rarity spoke up. "Are you saying that we didn't do any of what we did for Equestria"?

I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I was holding in, "yes, that is precisely what I'm saying. Those ponies that you've seen out there helping us. They're not ponies".

Applejack raised a brow, "I don't get it princess. Who were the fellas"?

"They're humans. They're a group of stallions or men as they call themselves that do protection and that attacks targets or defend a pony or person that is a target".

"So you hired a group of mercenaries?", Twilight asked in shock. "I'm sorry, I didn't mea-".

I cut her off, "no it's fine Twilight, you have a right to question what is going on here. They aren't a threat to Equestria if that's what you're asking. But if we were to stop paying them, they'd pull out of Equestrian land and move on".

"So what exactly are they doing?". Rainbow Dash spoke up with her hand raised, "If we're not the ones helping Equestria, how're they the ones and what're they doing exactly"?

Pinkie was jumping in her seat with excitement, "YEAH!!!!!!". It took all I could to not laugh, "do they like parties? Are they nice ponies ar-".

I cut her off with an apologetic smile, "yes, most of them do anyway. A couple of them prefer to keep to themselves".

Fluttershy spoke up softly, "um, why is that exactly"?

I pondered on what I could say then opened my lips, "they've, been through quite a lot, so I'm afraid that you'll be seeing them sometimes in certain moods and other times, a different one".

"Are they bipolar?", Twilight asked.

"NO!", but I caught myself as soon as the word left my lips, "I mean...no. They suffer from depression and a couple of them are very alcoholic off-duty".

I heard a loud engine and rotors spinning, signifying that they've arrived. "Look, they've arrived, I'll explain more while they're here".

Twilight ears perked up, "so I'm going to meet a whole new species?". I nodded and I bet it took all she was worth not to shriek right where she was standing.

A huge knock could be heard and I ordered the guards to open the doors.

Gonzalo's POV

The doors open and I turned back at my guys one more time before we walked in, "remember, don't fucking make us look like microwaved pieces of shit, ok"?

Chris just rolled his eyes, "whatever you say captain". He gave me a mock salute and I chuckled. Crazy bastard.

I walked in to see the mares that I've been covering for a solid...what was it by now? Two years? Damn... time flies by. There was the librarian, the fashionista, the vet mare, the party mare, the tomboy, and the farmer. First time meeting them in person, not what I expected to be honest.

"Soooo", I began. "You're the element bearers. Correct?".

Twilight walked up to me with her hand raised, "it's nice to meet you Mr....?".

"Castillo". I answered. Knowing that she wanted to get to know me, "Gonzalo Castillo".

"Right", she said with a nervous chuckle. "My name is-".

"Twilight Sparkle", I replied, answering for her. I pointed my finger at the rest of the group starting with the tomboy, "And that's Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity, and Fluttershy". I reeled back my arm waiting for her to continue.

She stood there mouth agape for what seemed like half a minute, "how did you know who we are"?

I leaned back against the wall taking out a flask and opening the cap, "it's my job to know who you six are. I'm in charge of two things, protect this nation, and its element bearers, and I required a little bit of knowing the basics of what you do so we can respond at the right town or something were to happen".

She looked back at Celestia and she nodded, then turned back to me. "Y'know, your princess here has been very reasonable with helping us to start our business again and in return, we protect you all. I think that's a fair trade. What about you"? I took a sip out of the flask and closed it, putting it back in my vest pocket. Yes, we were all dressed in our tactical gear. Why? Because we'd just come back from the Everfree as we were called out here, I didn't have a chance to take any of this off.

She tried to find the right words but the Rainbow haired one, Dash, spoke up, "why do you think that you're able to just know things about us"?

I turned my gaze to her, "because we need to know who the fuck we're protecting and if we don't then we can't do that now can we? We'd spend most of our time saving people that's not in the job description. And if you needed help, we'd be too busy helping someone else to do anything".

"Darling, excuse me", The fashionista answered for her friend. "But why wouldn't you help the other ponies that may be in need. Why us"?

I scratched the itch on my head gently and respectfully answered, "because we're not hired to babysit the entire country. Do you know how time-consuming that would be for us. Plus, that's what Celestia's got her guards for".

"And why would we need you to babysit us we're grown mares", Rainbiw said with an annoyed look on her.

"Because the elements are inferior now, if you were to fight an 'all-powerful' villain, you'd fail within minutes. In other words, without us you can tell the whole world, 'hey! The men are gone, come and rape our women and children"!

Celestia got up from her seat to now most likely censor what I said, "what he means to say is that you all have required assistance since you're battle with Nightmare Moon". She looked back at with a glare of what a mother gives when she catches you drinking or something. A glare of daggers. Fuck.

"Why don't you introduce everyone else to the these mares Gonzo?", everyone looked at me and Celestia with brows raised, yeah I know, but it's my actual nickname. Don't wear it out.

I nodded with a sigh, "sure. This here is Carlos". I pointed back to Carlos and he stood by me with his hand up waving in a friendly manner. Carlos was just a half inch smaller than me. But he was the more athletic one, he always played soccer, I do too. But then again, doesn't every Latino play soccer?

"This here's Chris", he came forward and smiled as he waved. He was always in decent spirits, despite the circumstances. He was the complete athlete, he constantly played a sport back home. Football, rugby, soccer, etc. He was also the most fit man to run for a long while. He was also the second most dangerous man out of all of us. Also a Latino with a mixed African American heritage in there.

I pointed back again at the rest, "and Ricardo, James, and finally this cheeky bastard Michael". Michael's a great guy, not exactly a killer like I've been, but isn't afraid to do it if he has to. He's Caucasian, so is James, he's a Brit, and Ricardo's my friend since grade school. These guys, though we all have some major differences, are like brothers to me and vice versa. I trusted them with my life and they can do the same for me.

"They've all had my backs since I can't even remember a time when we didn't", I patted each of them on the back.

"Well, Gonzalo, just think of this as a new section of the deal I'm adding", Celestia spoke up again. "I think that we should make you all public. It's time now, besides, you might meet some ponies and make friends. You might like it. You'll still be paid in full of course".

I grunted and paced around he room for a minute. She's saying that it's time we come out of the shadows and be known to the whole world. What he hell? I've done worse in my time than being out in the open.

"Sure".

She reeled back in surprise, "really"?

I nodded several times, "Yeah,it's about time. I mean, it's been two years now, right"?

She beamed up at all of us, "thank you for giving this a try. I see you at another time, I have to get back to work".

I nodded, "alright, I'll see you six then at a time when Celestia or yourselves deem it".

I patted Carlos on the back and headed back out to the landing pad, "James get the bird ready".

He ran ahead to get into the cockpit. I turned back one last time and smiled a bit, more for that Rarity girl, she was cute-looking. I then headed out the door to the heli. I shut the door behind me and hopped in as the rotors spinned.

Mane six POV

"What did ya'll make of that?", Applejack asked, "mercenaries in Equestria"?

"If Celestia trusts them, I'm sure we can Applejack", Twilight answered with a sure grin.

Pinkie kept hopping up and down all over the place, "COME OOONNN, Applejack, they looked like fun"!

"But Pinkie", Fluttershy began. "I could see that they'd hurt before, all of them. I hope they're ok". She finished a bit timid than before she arrived.

"If they've done things for cash, then I'm not sure if we should completely trust them", Rainbow was never really all that into meeting new ponies she's never even heard before.

Rarity interjected, "darling, we should get to know them first before we go out there and judge them".

"Rarity", Rainbow began. "We both know you're saying that because of the smile that guy gave you".

Rarity scoffed, "I did not. I just think we should get to know them".

Rainbow giggled, "yeah...keep telling yourself that Rares".

Celestia decided to interject, "before you all go, Twilight, I have something I need to give you". She handed Twilight a dossier that was titled, 'Los Diablos: Bio and Psychological Reviews'.

Twilight raised a brow, "what exactly is this for, princess"?

"It's their simple biography and psychological reviews they've let me interview for when I first hired them". Celestia responded confidently. "I figured if you're going to meet them, you should the basics about them like they do for you six".

Applejack nodded, "sounds reasonable enough".

"Come on girls, let's head home", Rainbow whines in midair.

"Actually I agree with Rainbow", Applejack said in a tired manner. "We've been here a while and I'm so darn tired".

"Well my little ponies, I wish you the best of luck introducing our new friends out to the world", Celestia yelled out as they left the room.

Gonzalo's POV

I kept thinking about how my low cover job was going to go public now that I've avreed to Celestia's bullshit. Fuck me why do I always have to get myself in situations like these with other people. I kept thinking to myself on the fly back to the Everfree where our base of operations was at, 'what the fuck did I do?'.

Chapter 2: Home

"Bring the bird down here James", I shouted over the sound of rotors. He gave me the thumbs up and lowered the heli on the ground slowly and easy as to not fuck it up. I hopped out just before we touched the ground and landed with a thud. "Alright, lets chill out 'till Celestia gives us another assignment or the royal guards decide to pay up for another bounty". We had another agreement with Celestia's guards, you see, they go out into the forest and they do a bit of recon for her. Even though we have the Everfree on complete lockdown, they had to make up it seem legit that the curds still did their job. However, if we weren't around, a manticore or another predator would chew 'em up like gum.

And so, they've decided to work out another deal beside the one Celestia made with us, kill a manticore, bring it's fur as proof, and get a nice wad of five grand. I know, it's not the best option for cash, but if we don't have a job and get bored, it's nice to have something to do for a bit of money. They do have paper money here, similar to ours. They've mostly been paying cash to us, but since I've decided to go public, I might need to get a bank account soon. I'm not sure how everyone will react, but it's like my mom always said, 'primero comemos, entonces lo demás'. That means, 'first we eat, then we do everything else'. And I'm hungry as fuck and I can't think straight, I need to head home and get some food.

I walked down the steps off the helipad and walked down the B.O.E. (base of operations). It consists of a small helipad like I just mentioned. The big building with a radar dish, this place is a base left over from when we humans resided here on Earth. Most of this place was in ruins, but we made it work. We repaired the systems that connected us to the satellites that help us to watch what is happening globally. When we started the business again, Celeatia decided that we need a better place to live than in tents in the forest. So she hired some architects to build decent homes for us. I wanted to pay for mine as I'm sure the rest of my team wanted to. But she insisted and payed for our fucking amazing homes. They look like the mansion that the character, Michael Townley had from GTA V. Spanish architecture style at its finest.

I opened my door and headed inside to fix up some tequila, I don't want to be stereotypical or anything, but I loved it. The strong content of the alcohol in it doesn't bother me, well, until I'm drunk that is. That's what I plan to do right now too. Why? Because this marks the 7th anniversary of when I was torn from a decent life and thrown into one of hell. I was fucked, my friends were fucked, and my loved ones were fucked. That bastard took everything from me, I'd spent five years hunting him down. While on the side I collected cash to get the equipment to go out there, find him, and kill him. And I did, I shot him.

I did feel a bit of closure in the end. But the feeling of knowing that everything was taken from me because one man decided to fuck it all up for me. Fine, you can fuck me over, but don't complain when I come back even harder to hunt your ass down. I searched every corner of the globe for him, to hunt him like the dog he was.

I opened the bottle cap and took a deep swig of the familiar and cozy feeling of tequila. I fought he bottle down and sat down on the couch and switched on the t.v. Since we're connected to the satellites, I could tune in to tv shows before everything went to shit. They had recordings that they didn't bother to delete. Which I'm glad they didn't, otherwise I'd be bored outa my fucking mind. I brought the bottle to my lips and took another swig and stared blindly at the screen.

A few hours passed and I was nearly done with the bottle and my head was swimming around."whoah, I'm so fucked". I turned the remote to the tv off so I could head upstairs and go to bed. But I fell back on the couch and passed out with the bottle in my hand. At least I'd still get a good nights sleep.

Carlos's POV

I got a knock on my door and got up to answer it, I opened the door to find Luna standing there with a look of confusion. "Luna"?

She looked up at me, "oh, sorry Carlos but I was wondering if I could speak to Gonzalo about the new section if the deal that Celestia put in their contract".

I made an 'oh' look and replied, "yeah I know, and I understand". I looked towards Gonzalo's house across the street and kept telling Luna why she couldn't. "But you can't, its one of those days again". She made a pouting look which almost made me chuckle, so damn childish sometimes.

"Yes, of course. I understand", Luna got up to fly away but I put a hand to her shoulder to stop her.

"It's ok, you can tell me", I swinger my head to the living room. "I can tell Gonzalo when he wakes up from being a huge fucking drunk". She giggled and I led her to have a seat on the couch.

Feeling obliged I offered her a drink, "you want anything to drink at all"?

She shook her head, "no thank you, I shouldn't be here long".

I nodded and took a seat beside her and payed close attention.

She opened her mouth to speak, "if anything were to happen during your introduction, we feel that it'd be best if Twilight and her friends come over often to keep you company". Then she smiled brightly, "or she could help to show you around Ponyville, it's such a peaceful town".

I listened closely, I'm ok with it, but Gonzalo might be a bit annoyed that the mares'll be coming around more often than he expected. "I'm fine with it Luna, and I bet everyone else is too". She smiled gently, thinking that it went well quick. "But I can't speak for Gonzalo, I don't know how he'll react to this. He prefers to be alone".

She pondered this and came up with a solution, "we'll give him permission for free drinks at any bar if he chooses to accept this offer".

I thought about it, Gonzalo was a huge drinker. He made it his hobby, he'd always have a drink, at least one glass a day. But that's the minimum. The most I've seen him drink, it was two whole bottles of bourbon. He had wiped out in a hooker that night, yeah, this was before we ended up here.

"Sure, I'll send you a letter on what he decides to proceed with in terms of our agreement", she smiled and nodded.

"Fantastic, I'll be around whenever any of you need to reach me and the element bearers will be here in a couple of days to officially and properly meet and get to know you all".

I opened the door and held it for her, "oooh, such a gentlecolt".

I grunted, not this again with her damn games, "it's just the way we were all raised princess. We have to treat a woman, or I'm sorry, a mare, more properly than ourselves".

She beamed at that answer, "that's a great train of thought to have. You're parents taught you all well".

I nodded and she took off into the air.

Gonzalo's POV

I woke up with drowsy eyes, refusing to completely open so I can see where I am. After a few minutes they finally opened and I could see that I was laying on the couch, drooling with the empty bottle still in my hand. My stomach growled, shit. "I'm still hungry", it's alright. I got up and stumbled into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and pulled out the first thing I found, some ham and cheese, "yum".

I giggled and shut the door. I walked upstairs, nearly tripping and got to the balcony I had just outside of my room. I roughly opened the door and sat roughly on my chair. I put the cheese on the ham and took a bite. Not bad.

But after I was finished I was getting craves and needed to relax. I pulled out a cigar and leaned back. I put it in my mouth, then reached into my pockets and pulled out a lighter. It was one to those old-school lighters that could refill in fuel and that cap up on top. I flicked the cap off and brought my hand in front of the cigar and flicked the thing until it sparked and lit the cigar. I clinked the lighter off and put it back into my pocket. I brought my right hand up and took a long drag and puffed an ice smoke ring out into the fresh night air. I don't know why I found it funny, but I giggled a bit and felt childish. But when you're drunk, you don't care about what you're laughing at.

I took another drag and puffed out nice and gently to relax and to feel calm. But then the memories, the people I lost and loved. The innocent ones I hurt for money. All came flowing back to me like a steady stream, I desperately took more drags to calm down, but it was no use.

"Why did you leave me"?

I knew who's voice that was, "no, no, no, no, no, no,". I tried to deny hearing it, "I don't know what I'm hearing, go away"!!! But she was persistent.

"You could've told me that they were after you and not just you after them. Why?".

I took more drags, only now, my hand was shaking with every drag I took. I let out a drag with a sigh. "GODDAMMIT!!!!!", this is all my fucking fault that those people had to die. The emotions came over me like a tsunami and washed over me with so much power. It was too much to handle, I broke down and fell off the chair crying. I took the cigar and put it out and back into the box.

I went to the bed not thinking or saying anything. I think that I'm done with today, I need to move on with tomorrow, I just can't deal wth this right now. I took my clothes off and lazily threw them across the room and hopped into bed.

"Por favor, señor! No lo hagas!!!".

I tried all night, but soon, I finally started to drift off to sleep, I need it so bad I can't listen to this. You know, everyone back home? They called me a bunch of things because of the reputation I had as a merc. One of the worst ones was that I would do anything, for cash. That's not true, if I kill someone,with a bullet to the head for example. They're not suffering, that's my code. But the things Murad did to people, that's the person those people should've been persecuting, not me.

I'm not going to lie, I'm not a hero. I never will be. I'm just a bad guy who kills even worse guys and occasionally performs massive heists and drug deals. I do, participate in my career for cash, but come on. I have no other option, the clean world escaped me the day I was torn from it.

"All of you fuckheads in my head can fuck right the fuck off", I said to no one in the room. "I'm going to go to bed and even your wailing won't stop me". I hope.

I'm not sure what exactly I have to gain here, besides the money. What is there? Basic Info that was given to me about Equestria, the guards, the element bearers, and some of the most classified docs around here. But to be honest they're not that classified. I could tell what they'd be doing in closed sorts based off of a conversation with them. But the money is good.

Whatever...I'm just going to sleep this shit off...

Chapter 3: The "Official" Meeting

Rays of sunlight pierced my eyes and I tried to open my eyes, but they were shut. Fuuuck, that sun can be such a fucking prick sometimes. I slowly got up from my bed, trying to make due with my current hangover, my head felt like it was being smashed in by a stone. Repeatedly. I managed to not fall flat on my ass and get into he shower to wash up and clean myself from all of the liquor, and the sweat and my oily forehead. I got in and I turned on the showerhead and got right to it. While I was in there, I kept thinking about that deal that I was conversing with the king of the Gryphonian Empire.

Turns out, he's impressed and if things work out, I could two huge clients and make a fuckload of money. I'm already making a million bucks a year, but if my pay check were to be the same with the Gryphons, that could double it. Maybe more of they're willing to pay more for quality service. But I could think about that later, I need to change the subject in my head.

Oh yeah, I could probably get the boys together and head out to then at sometime, were going public and everything, bars got food too. We could just chill there and have a pretty great fucking time. It's perfect! Once I considered myself to be decently washed up, I got out, wrapped the towel around me and headed over to the closet, today's my day off. So now, I could dress up casually and just relax. But naturally, I can't sit still forever, so maybe I can do a bit of yard work out by the front. I don't mind getting into outdoors kind of jobs, I'm always getting my hands dirty, so this doesn't bother me much.

I picked out my outfit, black denims, nice black tennis shoes, a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up. I reached down into my drawer and got my watch out and put it on. I put a belt on and I was all set. I walked downstairs still trying not to stumble and thank fuck I didn't. I got into the kitchen got my morning's fix. I grabbed some bourbon and poured a small glass and downed it quicker than I poured it. I put the bottle back in the cabinet and went to the fridge to get some things to cook with.

Eggs, some hashbrowns and a bit of leftover steak. Perfect I cooked the eggs and the hashbrown while I put the steak in the microwave to warm up. I put the eggs and hash onto the plate and pulled out the steak. I grabbed some home made hot sauce, I got my mother to thank for that. This stuff is the shit with whatever the fuck you eat with it. I grabbed a fork and dug right in. I don't want to brag, but this food is amazing. I couldn't be any happier with this meal, the perfect cure for this hangover.

As I finished, I my doorbell was ringing. Must be Carlos, I licked my fingers and walked for the door. I pulled on the know and pulled the door towards me. Only to find that it was Carlos, but he wasn't alone.

"Hey man", he said bringing me in for a quick hug. I returned it.

"Oye, Carlos", I started.

"Yeah man".

"Que mierda están haciendo aquí?", I answered with a bit of an annoyed expression. He brought those mares with him. It means,'what the fuck are they doing here'?

He hissed and took a moment to answer, "Luna came to see you, but you were having one of those days".

I nodded, waiting for him to go on. "So she told me what she thought we should do and I would tell you about it the next day".

"And what's that?", I asked, still a bit skeptical.

"She says that these mares should hang around with us more often, maybe show us around town if we want to". bit my lower lip and shook my head. He didn't tell me about his shit sooner, but I was drunk, so I guess it's evened out.

I sighed, "sure, come on in guy and gals". I made a 'come closer' motion with my index finger and went in to get Some liquor drinks that I know is great for when guests come over. "You girls like scotch or anything like that"?

I heard a posh voice behind me, "yes please, no ice though darling".

I turned back, it was that fashionista, Rarity, "sure thing madame". Geez, did not figure her for a drinker. "Carlos, show these mares the couches please"?

"Sure thing", he called out.

I reached into the cabinet and pulled out a bottle of scotch and a couple of glasses. I always loved having a bit of scotch. Great for any occasion, but mainly, I liked it as a celebratory drink for making amazing deals.

I walked back and handed Rarity her glass and poured in the scotch, "I gotta say miss Rarity". I pulled out a chair and sat in front of everyone, "I didn't find you the drinking type, in a good way". I brought my hands up so she didn't find me offensive or anything.

She chuckled, "no its quite alright. I only have a couple glasses but sometimes I can get a little crazy". She finished that off with a smirk.

I just poured my cup smiling a bit, "I bet you do". I looked over and saw that Dash had glared a bit at Rarity with a smirk very quickly and went back to fiddling around with her fingers. Oooookkkk?

"Well...", Twilight started. "Carlos and Luna had us brought here so we can all properly get to know each other a bit better. Something about last time not being on a personal, friendly manner. If that makes sense"?

I nodded, "yeah I understand. They want us to try and be friends". Twilight nodded, but Carlos was a bit shocked. I guess he didn't think I would be as easy going as I was right now.

"Exactly, now we know your names. But we should get to know each other a little more in depth".

I looked at her brow raised, "alright". I leaned back in my chair, "nothing too personal and it's ok with me".

She smiled, "alright then. First things first, where were you and your friends originate from".

"Me, Carlos, Chris, and Ricardo originate from California, a state in the United States of America", she listened intently as she pulled out a small notebook (how?) and jotted down notes. "Michael and James are Caucasian, Michael's from Oregon, another state in our country and James is from a different one. England to be more precise".

"What're your languages? I know you speak Equestrian, but I heard you speak a different one just now", this was the bad interview that Carlos was so afraid of?

"I speak Spanish, but I also speak a couple others, French and German", I answered with a bit of pride. In my spare time, I like to learn different phrases in different tongues. It was fun, learning how to say 'fuck you', but also it was a tool for me to get around the globe, I was hunting down Murad then and needed to talk my way through to certain areas hat required me to know how to speak them. "Everyone here also knows the languages too".

"Really? We have Prench, Germane, and Puerto Caballo", she smiled and chuckled at how much of the similarities there were. I gotta admit it was a little funny and I laughed softly.

"Yeah...anything else?", I wanted to get all of this out of the way quicker.

"Let's see", she brought the pent to her chin and lightly tapped. "How did you six meet"?

I thought about it for a moment, trying my best to remember, "I've known Carlos, Ricardo, and Chris for thirteen years, and I've known Michael and James for about four years by now".

"How'd you get to know them?", she asked pen ready to jott down notes.

"Well the first four, I've known them since grade school, so we kind of just bonded since we were little. James and Michael have come to us when we were hiring and made the job, gaining our trust and bond on the way to the end". I paused to let her finish. "They're great guys and we've all had each other's backs like brothers".

She finished writing and beamed up at me with happiness, "it's nice to have people like that around you".

I nodded, "it is". I looked at the rest of the group, any other questions"?

Pinkie raised her hand, "yes"?

"Do you like parties"!!!!

I chuckled a bit, "no I'm sorry, but the rest of us do. You can throw one for them if you want".

She pouted and sighed, "are you sure"? I nodded to confirm.

"Do you take money and kill ponies just for the rewards?", it was that fucking rainbow haired mare.

"Y'know, I know all the names a merc gets, I've gotten them", I paused to look she dead in the eye. "Murderer, rapists, greedy bastards, heartless fucks, baby killer. You name it I've heard it. But that's not who we are, we have a code".

"And what's that?", she asked with her arms crossed.

I gave a hard cross look before resuming, "never kill children, and their lives quick and painless, never abuse them in any way shape or form other than performing the job description". I paused to take a hard drink and downed it, i poured myself another glass. "Any other organization has immunity like us, but they abuse that power all the time. They rape and kill, all of the targets, some not even targets. Of all ages. Sick fucks".

She sunk in her seat, now getting glares from all those around her.

"There's gotta be a limit, where even assholes like us say enough, is e-FUCKING-nough!", I raised my voice a bit, making the mares jump a bit. "Human stew?....cannibalism? That's my limit. I knew that right after I first left the clean life for the mercenary one". She gulped, obviously getting the point that she pissed off someone who's seen things no one should ever see.

"I think I'm down asking", she stayed silent during the rest of the meeting.

"Do you have any interests in fashion?", Rarity said, on the hopes that it would change the subject.

Knowing what she was trying to do, I went along with it, "yeah, a bit anyway. Why?".

She smiled softly, "well, I was wondering if at anytime, you and your friends would like it if you could all come down and I could make something nice for you all".

I guess it wouldn't hurt, I don't have a suit, neither does anybody else. But something was off, she seemed too excited to be requesting this. "Anything to gain from this"?

"Only the fact that I'd be making suits for a whole other species", she said as if I was stupid asking that and that it was obvious. I didn't think that wa stage while truth, but I let it go.

"Ok. Anybody else?", Applejack raised her hand and I called on her. "Yes"?

"Ya do any farm work?", I should've expected a question like this.

I nodded, "of course, I remember when I was younger that my grandfather worked on a farm. I'd visit all the time and help him out in any way that he needed". She reeled back, guess she didn't think that a guy like me living in a place like this could be non-hesitant when it came to getting your hands dirty.

"Darling", Rarity started. "Has anyone told you just how gorgeous your house is here"?

I chuckled and looked around, "no, not really. And it is nice. Spanish architecture at its finest, I love it".

"It is nice here", Fluttershy finally said sinking in her scarf.

Rarity's POV

This is actually the first time I've gotten a good look at this leader. He's got nice jet black hair, nice eyes, tan skin, he looks like he's 5'10". A bit taller than me, even by looking at him sitting down, I could tell he was pretty tall. He's even got an ice jawline, a bit of facial hair other than the patch at the top of his head. It looks like he had a beard. But it wasn't overgrown, it looked as if he kept it like that. Trimmed it even. He's even pretty easy on the eyes...no! Stop it Rarity. It isn't proper to ask or flirt right now. Ooohhh, but he's pretty good looking.

Topic change, I've gotten better looks at his team, most of them seem to be the same skin color, save for Michael and James, they're more of a pinkish whitish tone. I like the tan, it goes with Gonzalo's personality. I like it, he's an interesting conversationalist. Very calm and collective, with the exception of the one outburst, but I didn't blame him, sometimes Rainbow can be a bit much for even the most patient of us. He didn't seem to be very violent so far, to me, he doesn't seem to be that bad.

Gonzalo's POV

I kept talking about how the technology we had was so fucking amazing back home, I always admired the military's capability to create the most advanced technologies that the world has ever seen. I even hoped to enlist into the marines, but then, that whole revenge thing and crime world life ruined any chance for me to even get into the marines. Let alone be a part of recon one. The only thing I didn't like was how everything was always vano green, while it did make sense to be camouflaged, I always preferred black, hence the uniform that our company uses. Our logo, if you must ask, is a skull with two machetes crossing each other behind the skull. It signifies our Mexican heritage, our relentless fighting to get the job done, and how dangerous we can be.

But soon, it all went to the history part really quick. I explained the most basic, WWI, WWII, The Civil War of the United States, and the revolutionary war. It was a long one, so I'll save you the time, especially since I'm a huge history guy on the whole WWI war in general, I was always fascinated at how they were able to all of those things one hundred years ago. It truly was 'The Great War' if you think about it. I remember reading a quote in Latin from a history book once, it read, 'Si vis pacem para bellum'. It translates to, 'if you want peace, prepare for war'. I loved the quote so much that I made it my motto.

"That's all really there is to it in terms of the major wars that my country's been through, we've had quite an impact on the whole world through these wars", I said proudly.

Twilight was repulsed at first when I mentioned the words 'world war', but she relaxed when I told her it was a long time ago and that I had nothing to do with it.

"That's quite a lot to take in", she sat there sorting through everything I listed mentally.

"Uh, Twi?", Applejack asked patting her friend on the shoulder.

Twilight looked up at her, "yeah"?

"We should get going, it's getting late and I think we've gotten to know them pretty good so far".

"You're right, will I see you at Ponyville after you give the speech when you go public?", she asked.

I nodded and she got up to leave, I ran ahead and opened the door and held it open for all of them. I swear when Rarity walked past that she swished her tail around more often then I think ponies do. She also swayed her hips, subtly, and discreetly, but just enough so I can catch a glimpse. I looked away and wished them all a goodnight.

"Thanks for the scotch darling", Rarity said standing straight up. Must be trying to leave a good impression I guess.

"No problem, come back anytime I'm here, always up for a talk", I called out to them as they reached the Ponyville where they aren't in ear range. I turned to Carlos, "look man, I'm not mad. But would you mind telling that this kind of shit's going down before it goes down"?

"Yeah I'm sorry about that man", he said shrugging.

"It's fine, just warn me next time", I replied in a cool tone. "The door's open for you too if you ever want to just chill ok"?

He nodded, "have a good night".

'I hope I will', I thought to myself. Well...I thought that the meeting went along pretty well. Even if I yelled out once, it happens in any conversation, so I'm not that worried about it. I ene back inside to get one more glass of scotch before bed so I can get a nice buzz just before bed.

'What was all that nice stuff with Rarity?', I kept thinking the whole time. Must just be trying to not seem like a prodding dickhead like most of her friends are. Which I respect.

I'm just going to go to bed, tomorrow after a bounty hunt I need to be brainstorming on how to proceed with my speeches to the ponies in Canterlot when I'm shown to the whole world.

'Till then gents....

Chapter 4: The Hunt and The Speech

Later on that late afternoon, I decided to head out and capture a bounty if I can, it's times like these that I love the pay that the guards just hand out. I changed into my ghille suit and headed down into my private armory. We have one that we all share in the communication building with the SAT radars, but nothing is better than your own personal belongings in your own usages. I picked out my favorite weapons for occasions like these. The M21 semi-automatic rifle, equipped with a long range scope, not to mention a suppressor attached to it. Making this rifle the perfect killing machine with ten rounds a mag.

For a sidearm I always took my personal favorite, the Colt M1911 .45. This thing has saved my life and countless other lives when I killed Murad with it. I even gave it a name, Isabella. I attached a suppressor to the handgun and stuck it into my holster. I then left my house and jogged to the exit to our little compound, which is a huge gate that slowly opens for heavy cargo being carried by truck or for our one tank. However, I didn't fell like waiting a whole minute for a door to open, so I walked towards the small door by the huge game that me and the rest of my team uses when it's just us on dot heading out.

I opened the door and loaded my rifle with a fully loaded clip and cocking the gun back and releasing it. Locked and loaded. I walked onto the dense forest with the biggest reputation in all of Equis. The Everfree forest, not much when you're highly trained like me and my guys, we've been in places like fucking southern Mexico and this place ain't got shit on the dangerous places and people there. Not even close, seeing as a ghille suit is useless when they know that you really aren't a bush on the ground, i decided to walk as slowly as I could. Listening constantly if anything was going to sneak up in me. I may be not just a few hundred feet from the gate, but beyond our little safe haven is place that is dangerous. And I never underestimate anything.

I raise my rifle just below eye-level so I could be ready to shoot down anything stupid enough to try anything.

After a whole hour of trekking through the forest I heard a twig snap, I quickly got down and laid myself on the ground. I slowed down my breathing and my heartbeat, I kept my eyes trained for something that might've also been hunting. It was a few minutes and still nothing happened, but I know better than to just announce the all-clear too soon and waited. Finally I heard big thumping footsteps all around me and kept perfectly still, keeping my breathing under control and staying absolutely quiet.

Then I saw them, three huge fucking manticores just walking around me without having so much as a clue to where I could be. I stayed still, wanting to understand what these manticorea might do, and if they know I'm here or not. If they are, I can run a good amount, that is if my gun doesn't end the fight for me in a few seconds. They nearly stepped on me but I held my ground and stayed still, I heard one growl I frustration and nearly hit his own head into the tree.

I guess I was right, something was also hunting. And judging by how they stopped here and are not going anywhere, I'm the something that they're hunting. Well too bad, I don't tell like being someone's chewing gum today. I slowly and steadily pulled up my rifle, still staying on the ground, and brought the scope to my eye. I looked down the scope and pointed the center of the cross onto the first one's eye, I took long and steady breaths. I got the cross nice and steady and when I felt like the shot was perfect, pow! A silenced shot went out and pierced the manticore's skull. He fell forward and laid there while the others were freaking out that his buddy just had his head blown up. They started to run but I brought he cross on another one and pulled the trigger, hitting the manticore dead center on the back of his head.

The last one must've finally grown a pair of something, because he came running back trying to avenge his fallen brothers I guess. He tore up the area looking for whoever could've done that. Now, I had he perfect shot, but something prevented me from doing so, no. This kill is too easy, I got my six inch German dagger out and when it had it's back turned, I hopped onto the fucker and started to plunge my knife deep into its neck.

The beast yelped and I don't even know how with this thing in there that deep. He jumped up and down in an effort to knock me off but I wasn't having it. I kept on stabbing and stabbing, putting the balde as deep with every strike until he started to slow down. The blood must've been loss to a weakening level by now, and he fell on his side. I fell to my side too with a sharp grunt, "fuck"!

I got up quickly and pulled out my pistol in case this guy didn't feel like accepting his fate, he didn't move even a little bit. Yeah, he's dead. I holstered my pistol and reached down for my rifle, I used the strap on it to put it on my back as I brought out the Bowie hunting knife. I set it down and put my backpack so I could reach in it. I pulled out a plastic bag and opened it up for the fur. I picked up the knife again and poked him hard on his fur, blood seeped out. I then made a sharp turn and took out the knife and tried to peel off the piece of fur on this guy. I managed to get about 5 lbs of fur on me and I put all of that shit into the bag and fucked right off, I don't have a reason to stick around for any longer.

I picked up the bag and gripped it with my left hand and held my M1911 on my right, just in case anything wanted to get the jump at me since I couldn't be at 100% with this fur I got. It's not that it's heavy, it's that the guards got specific requirements, no-go if the fur is all fucked, why? Because they'll pull out a bullshit excuse and have me go back to get 'undamaged' fur. Picky fuckers.

As I was rehearsing in my head how I would go about with the speech, I almost ran into the door and chuckled at how stupid that would've been. I need to pay more attention when I'm out here, I could get jumped and not even know who hit me if I'm not careful with how I carry on. I reached for the touch-pas lock and pressed my index finger so it could register me in the system. "Welcome back, Gonzo", the computer said in a monotone voice.

"It's good to be back", I replied. I opened the door as it unlocked and headed inside the facility and looked around for my house and there it was. I pulled the grass-covered hoodie I had on back and pulled my face mask down so I could breathe in some fresh air. It felt so alleviating to be out of breathing in that thing for a while. Hen I noticed the street lights were on and that the moon was up and high in the sky.

"Huh?", I said scratching my head gently. "Didn't think I was gone for that long". I shrugged it off and headed inside to my garage and pulled out my table. I pulled out the bag and brought out the fur and laid it flatly. I took out the small hose I got and washed off and scraped off any and all fat, blood, whatever was sticking to it I washed off. Then I hanged it up to dry out and ready to go next time that captain of the Rita guard decides to come over. Oh wait, he's married and last I researched, he's out in the artic and has this one area covered with grass and plenty of sunlight (how?) and is coruling an entire empire. Good for him, but I guess next in command would come over to collect, I just hope that he's not a dick and pays well.

Oh shit! That's right, I have a speech to attend to in the morning, I wasted no time as I cleaned up any blood I got on me and hopped into bed to get a decent sleep before the event.

6 hours later......

I got out of bed and went straight for the shower as I didn't have any time to waste, it's 6:30 and the speech goes up at about 8:00. So I want to be ready, normally I wouldn't want to be a part of events like these but this is a perfect money making opportunity if I play my cards right. I could the attention of any potential clients as make a shit ton of money. I got out as I found myself to not smell like a pile of shit and got my best officer type of uniform on so I could get some decent vibes at this thing.

Once I felt like I was ready to go I walked out the door and ran for James's place and knocked hard, "James, you up? I need to you to fly me over to Canterlot for the speech". I heard footsteps and the door opened, James was also all dressed up in the similar uniform as me and was perky as ever that morning.

"Yeah. Let's head out for the chopper", I nodded and followed him as he ran ahead to get the thing started. The rotors spinned and I sat in the backseat and put in those headsets that they give you when you ride in a heli, it's loud and the headsets have microphones so people can hear you while you're in the air. "Hey man?!", I yelled into the microphone, unsure if he heard me or not.

"Yeah?!", he yelled back.

"Listen, we're going to land and I'll be doing most of the talking ok?! Just be there to help me answer any questions that I can't answer!", I yelled into the mic and sat down as the heli flew over town after town. This sight was amazing it's views like these that remind you that life is full of amazing things. Even if here are dicks in the world who like to fuck it up for others. I caught a glimpse of Canterlot and pointed it out for James, "right over there buddy"!

He nodded and started to slow down as we lowered altitude and began to settle onto the middle of the street that was clear of anyone. As I hopped out, I noticed that there a shit load of ponies all around me and waited for us to leave a 'do not cross' tape that had been circled around where we landed. 'Nice job Celestia, making enough space for us to land? Got to give you props there', I thought to myself as we maneuvered through the crowd and found the stage at last.

I ran up the steps where the security guards acted like a dick and didn't let me up, "hey fuckface, I'm the reason you're all here. Can you let me up"? He gave me a dirty look and I returned it right back him, but then a moment motherly voice came out of nowhere and saved the moment.

"Let him through or I'll deal with you personally Ironhoof", Celestia stood behind him with a look like the one she gave me the other day for that comment. The guy nearly pissed his pants and let me through. I walked up nice and calm-like with James behind me. "I must say that I didn't expect to see you both in your best uniforms".

I walked up he stairs and reached out for her hand she took it and we shook, "It's the revelation to the whole world, we kind of have to".

She showed us to a table at the middle of the platform she set up and sat us down as she sat beside us with microphones in stands and requested the crowds silence. I've never heard a crowd go quiet that fast my whole life, nice.

"We are all here to publicly announce that we've had a close ally for some time and would like to bring him out now and show him how great of a nation Equestria can be", she started strongly with a good book drawing everybody closer to attention as she went on. "His name is 1st Lt. Gonzalo Castillo III, and he is the leader of a mercenary company that I've hired to help kelp Equestria safe and to assist the Elements of Harmony in doing so".

The crowd reeled back at first, but then relaxed as she said that we were on their side and all that.

"Do you have any comments Lieutenant?", she asked handing the atte took of the crowd over to me.

I took a moment then answered, "yes. I'd like to state how it's been a pleasure to serve Equestria and to preserve the long lasting peace that you've all earned and will keep defending you all as one of the closest allies you'll have and to keep it that way".

She nodded and proceeded with the interview, "what do you think of Equestria already lieutenant"?

I replied straight away, "please, call me Gonzalo and as for how I like it here. I don't like it here". Her jaw dropped and the crowd gave out one huge gasp. It took all I could to not laugh, "I love it here, so far, it's been very hospitable and I'm dearly appreciative of that". The crowd gave out a huge sigh and Celestia relaxed a bit in her chair.

"You told me before you arrived that you have something to tell to the citizens of Equestria?", she motioned for me to give out my speech now.

I leaned forward and opened my lips to tell my speech, "I've been shown such hospitality that I've never been shown before my arrival to this great nation. I got my business started again that makes good money, We have amazing homes that the princess was kind enough to give us. And the fact that she's letting us get to know all of her amazing citizens out there and the fact that we can make this country stay the peaceful way it is".

I paused a bit before pressing on, "and I was at the bottom when I first arrived here, but thanks to the new beginning that I've been given, it seems as if I've gotten way more back for me than I was given back home. I'll give back and fight for you, 'till I'm in the ground unable to fight, thank you citizens of Equestria"! I finished with an enthusiastic yell into the mic as the crowd cheered.

Celestia ushered the crowd in silence and spoke again, "we're very thankful to have you with us and we hope that the mural feeling of close friendship may continue as we move on to further the future of Equestria".

I smiled, "I couldn't have said it any better myself princess".

She smiled back before adding, "I'd also like to invite you to a gala that we're going to be hosting for you and the rest of your men in celebration of you being such loyal and honest allies. I hope we'll see you there in a week from now".

I raised both brows and spoke up, "really"? She nodded and I kept going, "I'd love to. I'll see you there along with your great coleaders and advisors. I should be going now. But I've had a great first public impression of your country Celestia and I hope that we can go forward from here".

"Alright, but James?", she asked as he turned his head to her. "What do you think about our nation"?

He took a moment, but his British accent came forward like it always did, "I think it's absolutely amazing how you've treated us all and I look forward to the future princess".

She nodded and called over her security, "please escort them to their vehicle". They nodded and led us through the crowd and into the Blackhawk. I think it went really fucking well, I got to make a speech, do all that shit. I'm not sure if everybody watching might think of me as the best mercenary corporation out there, but I'm sure at least a few people might consider us.

Now we'd have to deal with paparazzi and all that, if we didn't have an entire forest to get through first. So good luck you creepy stalking bastards. If you can get as far to our house inmight even applaud you. All I really know for sure is how fucked up im going to get at the Ponyville bar when we finally decide to jaunt go out now.

I've been patient for two years, I can wait a couple more days

Chapter 5: La Cocaína

"Come on Gonzalo!", Pinkie shouted at me to hurry up. I don't know why I did, but I decided that it wouldn't be so bad if I went out to explore Ponyville. Unfortunately, Pinkie was the first one to find me and invited me to this shop in Sugercube Corner, apparently she both lives and works there. "We'll have fun baking together"!

I nodded not wanting to hurt her feelings, "what'll we be making"?

"Vanilla cake! Then if you want I'll take you all across town", she smiled the biggest toothy smile ever. I put on my best smile and I guess she bought it, 'cause she just led me inside. I walked in to the. Alert and was dumbfounded at the sight of this place. It's like a gingerbread house in real life, it looks like it's made out of fucking candy.

"Yeah, I'll consider that", I replied in the best manner I could in my position. Then suddenly two new ponies enter the scene and stand by the counter. One had yellow fur with an orange mane and the other one had a pinkish mane and blue fur.

The blue mare spoke up first, "hello pinkie! Is this the human that everypony's talking about"?

"Hi Ms. Cake! And yeah, he is, he's really friendly!", she presented me and I stood there smiling and reached out to shake their hands with respect.

"Well", Mrs. Cake began, "if you're a friend of Pinkie you're a friend of ours. What'll you be doing today Pinkie?".

"We'll be in the kitchen baking a couple cakes or so if you don't mind", Pinkie explained to them that she also wanted to show me around Ponyville too afterwards.

"In that case", I assumed it was Mr. Cake speaking now. "Afte your done baking, why don't you take the day off to show him around, it'll be easier for the two of you". I nodded, liking that idea.

"Thanks so much Mr. and Mrs. Cake, have a great day", she exclaimed. They smiled and led us to the kitchen and left to do counter work I guess. She took out a bowl, flour, spoons, eggs, all the shit you need for cakes ok? I'm not going list everything down for you. She placed it out in the table and sorted it all out as I watched. "You ever baked cakes before Gonzalo"?

I kept watching as I answered, "yeah, actually I did, when I was little my mom would cook for us often and I would always want to help. So, she taught me how to bake cakes as bonus alongside everything else".

She cut open a bag and put the knife she was holding away, "your mother sounds like so much fun to be around"!

"Yeah...she was the best mom a guy like me could ask for", she took the bag of flour and dumped it onto the bowl. But a funny thing happened, and I still can't explain it. But as I saw the powder fall down into the bowl, I saw that my surroundings were going black, and soon darkness surrounded me entirely in a void-like place.

4 Years Earlier......

But It gets interesting, a light was brightening up the pitch black void I was in, and everything cleared up and I saw that I was in a garage judging by the door I saw. There was three tables lined up next to each other, and workers around them with cards, mixing and filtering what was the only thing I could assume that was, La Cocaína. This was my old cocaine lockup when I used to be a part-time drug dealer so I could fund up enough money to hunt down Murad. Then I heard voices and turned around, it was my team. But how were they here wth me. As well as Spanish music playing in the background.

Wait, this is my mind, they're just a part of this or some shit. But if we're in my mind and this shit is happening, then I can only guess that I'm reliving a memory again and I'll just have to go through it again. "Carlos", James started. "Are you sure we should have nearly three hundred lbs worth of cocaine stored up here? Don't we have another place for this shite"?

He was pointing at the bundle of packed coke that we had ready to be shipped out at a moments notice.

"Yes I do. We need to be ready, the buyer wants them ready in a couple hours at this spot", he picked up a couple of bundles and handed one to him. "Help us out rookie and load this onto the truck". Oh yeah, I remember this whole memory thing, this was back when we first enlisted Michael and James into the company. At first they questioned our motives, but they soon began to trust us after this.

"Alright then", he picked up a couple more and loaded them into the back of the truck. "Can the rest of you lads help us. It might go long way". I nodded and helped him alongside the rest of us, to load he pile into the truck. A few armfuls after a few armfuls at a time, until the pile was nearly all gone and into truck. I picked up the last one and loaded the last one onto the back, closed the door and walked up to the side, and banged on it lightly to signal that the cargo was all ready to go.

"Alright, I need two guys with me in case this deal goes bad", they waited and I looked through each of them. What the hell, why not? "Michael, James, hop in we're going for a little ride guys". They nodded and hopped in, probably expecting me to bring Chris and Carlos, or Ricardo's on board. But not them apparently. I climbed aboard and sat in the back of the truck. It was one of those trucks that had one of those beds in the back so truckers could sleep in the back while they were on the road.

I laid down and played music on my phone with my earphones on while leaving one bud out so I could hear if anything happened. James looked behind from his seat and looked at me as if he was expecting something, "yes, James"? He reeled back, I was looking up at the ceiling so he must've thought that I didn't see him.

He opened his mouth to speak, "I just didn't think you'd pick us for this thing is all sir".

I groaned, "don't call me sir. Call me Gonzo or Gonzalo, anyone who's willing to die for us in battle is worthy enough to be treated like my brother, James".

He nodded and went on, "alright, do you know the buyers real name"?

"No", I answered. "And they don't know ours either. So let's keep it that way, yeah"?

Hey nodded, "sure Gonzo". I smiled softly, he learns fast.

"Gonzalo?", Michael asked out of nowhere. "Why do we sell drugs when we are a mercenary business"?

"Because my son", I begun. "It never hurts to make a little more money on the side". He nodded and sat back in his original position, and so did James.

A few hours passed and we reached the dealing zone.

"Alright guys, we're here, masks on now", I pulled my half-face covering mask with a a skull jaw to cover the lower half of my face while Michael and James had full face masks. Michael's was a skull with razor sharp teeth. James's had one that had more of ghostly look of a skull. The driver just pulled on a blank black balaclava and we hopped out. I stepped forward to greet the buyers.

"Hey! You G?", the first one of three said. Yep, at least three of them we're grouped up, standing next to each other. Wearing ski masks, probably two-bit thieves with a low budget for crime.

I raised my voice, "yeah!", which one of you is A"? The one in the middle stepped up and approached the truck. I reached for the handle and opened the door to show the merchandise.

He nodded in approval, "this looks like the real deal alright". He waved for his buddies to come over to try it out, I gave him a sample and he snorted it and reeled back. "Oooh, shit! This thing's got one helluva kick man"! Seeing as the deal was going just fine I waited for him to regain his bearings to close the deal and hand us our cash. "Alright, this is the real deal for sure dude". He waved his hand and his buddies came with a briefcase and opened it in front of us so we could check the cash.

"J, check to see if it's legit", he brought out a magnifying glass or whatever the fuck the thing was and checked it over. "We good"?

He looked up and nodded, "it's legit". I nodded and I had my guys unload the coke onto the other guy's trunk and I took the briefcase in hand.

We shook hands as they pile was almost unloaded, "pleasure doing business with you".

He nodded rapidly, "agreed dude, we'll deal like this again next month". The final pack was loaded and we nodded to each other and went for our cars when we could hear the one thing a criminal doesn't want to hear. FUCKING SIRENS!!!

"FUCK!!! BAIL!!!", we got into the truck through the trunk and booked it out of there. But this thing isn't fast enough to outrun cops so we left the door open.

I loaded my rifle and pointed out the back, but James stopped me. "Whoa, sir, what are doing"?

I looked at the car with my rifle raised, "getting the fuckers off of us"! I fired a few shots to see if they would fuck off. Sadly they didn't, they pulled out a gun from the paaenger seat and fired at us. Fine! I wanted to be nice and spare you cocksuckers, but I guess I'm just gonna kill you pigs. I aimed at the driver seat as fired a short burst, the honk went off and the car off course. A couple more cars showed up as well as a helicocksucker up in the sky.

"Michael, James, get the cars. I'll get the helicocksucker!", I yelled out as I flicked off the safety switch again. They nodded, knowing full well we weren't going to get out of here without a fight. I fired at the bird but only a couple bodies fell out and fell onto the ground, and the chopper didn't go down. I only hit the gunners, but the other guys did great. They shot down the drivers with ease and we jaunt needed to get rid of them heli. I went up to the front and grabbed an M203 handheld grenade launcher and loaded in a grenade.

I went back and aimed carefully. Holding in my breath and guessing where the heli was gonna be when I fired. Finally, I felt right, and exhaled, BOOM! The shot went out with a 'thump' sound and the chopper blew up in midair. The scraps falling down onto the ground and crashing, skidding all over the place. We were in the clear now, until the cops come to see whag the fuck happened. So we needed to get back to the lockup, quick.

"Punch it all the way back!", I yelled at the driver to get a FUCKING move on. He got the idea and put it full speed. I had to hang on to something to not fall off from the sudden change of speed, but we were moving and calmed the shit down out of me.

It didn't take long for us to get back and we hopped out quickly. I went around the back to talk to the driver, "thanks man, ditch the truck and torch it somewhere, and by the way, here's your cut". I handed a stack worth twenty five grand to the driver and he took it, said thanks and drove off quickly. I went inside to undress and change back into my normal, casual clothes so as to not be put in suspicion.

"Michael, James, come here real quick", I yelled over to them and they ran to me. "Look, you did good today, you took care of the problem when it occurred and controled it well. For that, I can now honestly say that you two have earned your into the lower ranks of 'Los Diablos Mercenary Services', welcome to brotherhood and businesses, where here, they become one".

They both nodded in unisonand said, "thank you sir". I nodded and said they could head home now.

Once they left, Chris came up to me with a laptop in his hand. "What is it Chris"?

He turned it around and showed me something that would lead me on the chase for that fucker for the rest of career on Earth. A location. Chris found a last known location of Murad in México. "Is this recent?", I asked, wanting to get all the details.

"Yeah, just an hour ago actuallY", he answered with a small smirk.

I smiled evilly inside, I need to get there now ASAP, "how soon can you get us transport into México"?

He thought for a moment to think it through, "about a day I can get someone we can trust for a decent price and have us there a day after that. How's that"?

"Just fine man, just fine".....

Present Time......

"Helllloooo"?!", Pinkie brought me out of my thoughts as I came back to reality. She stared at me with those pink eyes of hers, "you ok? You've haven't been well, 'here', since I started. I had to bake the cake without you".

I shook my head to bring me back completely, "yeah...sorry about that. But if you want, we can head out now".

She jumped up and down and just like that, her mood went from sadness to joy in half a second at least. She grabbed my arm and led me outside to the main, I don't know, courtyard? By townhall? I don't know, I haven't been in towns this small ever. "Ok. Where do you want to go first".

She took a moment,putting a finger to her chin, " I know"! She pointed to huge treehouse, "we'll visit Twilight,I'm sure she'll want to learn more about your species".

I shrugged, "sure, why not"? She led the way right in front of me and we talked. "Are you real close to Twilight"?

"Yeah! She's so nice to everypony and knows almost all there is to know about academics as she says", but then she turned to me. "Wait, how'd you not know that"?

"I don't know every little thing about you Six. I mostly just know what elements you each own, the fact that you're all friends, and that you live here, save for Dash. I don't know anything else after that", I said in a monotone voice.

She nodded and asked another question, "why'd you become a mercenary"?

I knew that a question like this would come up, so I just censored it for her, "someone took everything away from me and made it impossible for me to make clean money in the world. And being s mercenary seemed like a pretty good way to make money. Carlos, Chris, and Ricardo felt the same way as they were with me when this happened and together, we started the 'Los Diablos Mercenary Services'.

She beamed up at the name, "ooooh, that name sounds soooo cooool"!!! She skipped all of the rest of ay to Twilight's place. "Wish I owned something that had a name as coo as that", she mad a pouting face and I found it adorable.

"Well, maybe if you save up enough money and invest, you could probably make a business in stocks. Or, you could make up a product that everyone would love", I answered with enthusiasm.

"Everypony", she fired back.

"Whatever".

She giggled and grinned when we reached the door. "Ok, so Twilight is here most likely but be quiet. Last I heard, Spike was caught kissing Sweetie Bell and is now being lectured in how bad of a choice that was".

I raised a brow, "how'd you know that much"?

She giggled, " 'cause I'm Pinkie".

I sighed, realizing that it was hopeless to argue, so I braced myself to experience that all adolescent kids get at the age of change. 'The Talk'.

Chapter 6: Ponyville

"And please for the love of Celestia, don't ever get caught experiencing these desires Spike", Twilight had been droning on for quite a while as Spike looked worked out as fuck. The look on his face said it all, 'please help me'. I almost broke down laughing at the way she was explaining everything. 'Don't do it in public', 'be careful about when you date', and my favorite, 'always bring protection'. I was all calm looking on the outside, I'd master that so I could use that skill in everyday life, but in the inside, I was dying. This was so fucking funny I bet whoever was here beside me would break down laughing, I know Pinkie did.

I looked at Spike with a look of, 'I'm so sorry you had to get this talk'.

He looked back with a look of, 'we were only kissing'.

I returned it with a, 'just don't argue and it'll be over before you know it", look. He sighed and leaned back in his seat while she finished droning.

"Alright Spike", she concluded. "You can go and be back before eleven". She sat back in her chair caressing her forehead, rubbing it as she looked exhausted. Spike on the other hand was alleviated and gave up the biggest sigh ever.

He jumped up and ran for the door, "yeah I know, I will". He opened the door and threw it shut as he ran out into town.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm going to have to get over he fact that Spike is not a child anymore, that he's eighteen and he can date now", Twilight was still rubbing her forehead while groaning and got up to the kitchen.

"He is old enough, don't worry about it so much", I poured some tea for her and told her to sit back down. "So if he does fuck up and get someone pregnant, you can yell at him all you want".

She let out a laugh and nearly fell off the chair, "I guess you're right". I handed her the tea cup and took my seat a across from her. Pinkie meanwhile, was was struggling to keep still in her seat and was rocking the couch.

"Anyway...", Twilight began. "I've done some reading on your team with the dossier that Celestia gave me". I nodded, waiting to see where she was going with this.

"Is it true that you all had a drug thing going on in the past?", she asked with a worried expression. Wow, Celestia actually gave her the dossier that gave out full description of everyone.

"Yes", I answered with a blank face, not showing any emotion.

"Why"?

"Because Ms. Sparkle, some people back home have the unfortunate life of crime that they must associate themselves with in order to survive", I looked at her with my most annoyed/pissed off look I could give in the hopes that she would drop it.

But she doesn't back down,"but to tear apart a pony's life with drugs in order to get mone-".

I cut her off, raising my voice a slight bit, "you don't know why I had to make that money". She stopped, and didn't say anything for a good few solid moments.

"Ok", she finally said. "But tell me this".

Trying to get myself out of the conversation, I went along with her, "Sure".

"What did you use the money for?", she asked with a blank expression, trying to figure me out.

"Gear", I stated.

"What kind of gear"?

I laid back to get more comfortable, "gear that I needed in order to hunt down one of the most dangerous terrorist leaders in the world".

She raised a brow, "who was he or she"?

"An Azerbaijani who ruined my almost decent life and made it into one of hell. Making me turn from some young normal teenager into a deadly mercenary with the intention of revenge and wouldn't let anything stand in my way", I paused for a moment to let it sink in to her. "Not even law enforcement would stop me".

She took this into consideration and kept asking away, "did you get what you were looking for"?

I nodded, "yeah, I did, I killed that son of a bitch".

Pinkie, who I had forgotten all about her, was sitting next to me with her mane deflating. Twilight on the other hand was curious, "you're 23 years old right"?

I nodded and she took out the dossier, "it says here that you are the CEO, but it doesn't say when you're business started and you arrived in Equis a couple years ago if I'm right".

"You are", I insisted.

"So when did you start the company, and how long did it take for you to achieve your goal?", she asked, persistent as fuck.

"I was sixteen when my life collapsed before my very eyes. And every year, it seemed like it only got worse, especially during the later ones, I had spent five years hunting down that bastard and two here", I answered like it was no big deal, however, the look on Twilight's and Pinkie's face, begged to differ.

"That young?!", Twilight asked in complete and utter shock. "As a teenager"?!

I nodded, "age never really mattered to me in terms of one being dangerous, you could be my age and you could possibly be in a top military position if you really dedicated yourself to that goal". She stopped for a second to think about that. I knew I shouldn't have given all of my info to Celestia. Whatever, I'll deal with it.

"How can you think like that", she asked, not really knowing why I had to do these things and at no point stopping until the deed was done.

"Have you ever lost friends and family, whether you couldn't see them anymore or if they were killed before you're eyes?", I asked, she shook her head slowly and I proceeded. "It's not fun, it's gut-wrenching, it's painful and the only craving afterwards is the crave to make things evened".

Seeing as she couldn't answer I turned all around, "I wouldn't want you both to experience it to know, but I do want to respect what's in the past and to leave it there. I know we crave to understand everything, but something's are better left not being found out".

She swallowed hard, "one more thing, I swear". I nodded, giving her permission, "it says here that you have the most questionable mentality out of everpony else, why"?

I took a long moment to think about what to say, "when you've killed enough people like I have, you forget to care too much for the dead. Obviously I care about the innocent, but sometimes good people suffer while the bad and the neutral just don't feel anything anymore".

She nodded and I opened my mouth to speak, "I don't have any intention to hurt anyone unless I have to, or if I'm paid to, but you all have been great clients with little to no of the innocent involved in the jobs. So I see no reason to ruin what me and you guys have here". I sat there in silence with those two, not thinking or saying anything, just sitting there.

"Alright, it's ok Mr. Castillo, I'll never understand why you did the things you did, but I don't judge you", she looked with big eyes.

It was all she needed to say, "I appreciate that". I turned toward Pinkie, she was all sad and depressed now, I decided to do whatever she wanted to do so she could feel better. "You want to keep exploring"?

She looked up at me and I put on my best smile, she smiled back at me with an even bigger one, "sure". She got up and started to slowly get back to her energized self. "LET'S GO"!!! She hopped up and down and opened the door while I followed in pursuit.

She kept skipping around in a circle and I started to to chuckle lightly, "so....". She stopped and turned to me, "were to now"? Hopefully not somewhere where I'll be extremely fucked up emotionally.

"Hmmmmmm", she put a finger to her lips and squinted her eyes. Then she put them wide open, " let's head over to Applejack's place, she may need some help on the fields and you could probably get to know her better".

She ran off, without saying anything. Realizing she wanted to race I started sprinting, trying to catch up and soon, I was right on her.

"Thought you could start a race without warning me?", I said smirking as I passed her and ran as fast as I could to the fields she was talking about. I reached the farm and started to slow down as Pinkie came right after smiling wide.

"I didn't know you could run that fast", she said panting.

"Years of running", I replied immediately.

She kept panting as we walked up towards the barn where she tells me that Applejack could be. She walked up and opened the doors with a hard push.

"APPLEJACK!!!", she yelled.

A mare came out trying to see whether or not she was deaf, it didn't really affect me, gunshots have gotten me used to loud noises. It was Applejack, I haven't really gotten to know her that well. I suppose it's a

probably as good a time as any.

"Yeah?", Applejack asked, still trying to get her entire hearing back.

"I just wanted to have you two get to know each other a little better is all", she said with an in OCD that smile thrown in there as well. Damn, she really knows how to derail the mood that she's putting someone in from the one before. Props to you pink pony.

"Um", Applejack pondered this for a moment. "Sure, ah suppose we can talk".

"Great!", Pinkie exclaimed. "I'll leave you two to it". She left the barn, leaving me and Applejack the only residents.

"Sooo", she started. "Ah heard that you made a huge speech in Canterlot the other day".

I nodded, finally, something that doesn't involve my past. Thank you orange cowgirl mare, "yeah, I said that I would be preserving the peace and making sure that nothing in a negative way, changes".

She seemed to like that and smiled gently, "well ah'll let ya'll do what ya all do best".

"Celestia also said that we'd all be attending a gala in our honor apparently", I added.

Her ears perked up and her brows were raised, "really? I guess we'll be going then".

I turned to her dumbfounded, "what do you mean"?

She let out a breath, "it's just that Celestia was always insistent on getting me, Twilight and everypony else to attend since the last one".

I hummed softly, "yeah, I guess I'll see you Six there then".

She nodded, "see ya then". She's nice, and doesn't get in too deep to questioning me, I'm already getting the feeling that we're going to get along nicely.

I turned and waved my hand to bid her farewell and made my way towards central Ponyville to find a place to eat and get a good buzz. But as I found a bar with the name, 'The Dirty Prancer' (probably a strip club too) I heard a voice call out to me.

"Oh, I didn't expect to see you here Gonzalo", I remembered that posh voice, Rarity.

I honestly found her an nice gal, she certainly surprised me when I found out that she drank. I could tell that she was very understanding and that she wouldn't let too deep, I hope.

"Hey Rarity, I didn't think I'd run into you", I said smiling.

She returned the smile and spoke up, "up to anything, darling"?

I turned back to the strip joint behind me with my index finger pointing towards it, "I was just about to head inside to grab a drink. I got free drinks according to Luna. What about you"?

"I was just about to head out for the spa, but I spotted you and wanted to catch up I guess", she replied with a poker face even a guy like me could spot.

I decided to poke fun at her, "oh yeah? Getting nice and pretty for somebody"? I let out a mischievous smile as she went cherry red, yep, I still know to mess with a gal.

"No!", she blurted out. "I just fell that a lady should be probably presentable when she heads out. Nothing's wrong with that now, is it"?

I think I struck a nerve, but I kept up the smile, "suppose not, but a girl like you doesn't need to go out to spa all the time".

She raised a brow, "whatever do you mean"?

"I mean that you're already good looking, in my opinion, a girl like you doesn't have to be there, but that's just my opinion, maybe you do, but that's not of my business", I said with a shrug.

She apparently took that well, "really? You think so"?

"I know so".

She smiled, "thank you lieutenant". Putting emphasis on 'lieutenant'.

My smile disappeared with a look of annoyance, "so you've head about the speech"?

"Of course, news like that doesn't ever get put down, besides I wouldn't want to miss out the invitation to the gala", looks like Applejack's premonition was correct.

"There's an invite for you six too, huh?", I stroked my beard gently. "Well, I guess I'll see you there, and who knows? You might meet a stallion there".

I had wished her a goodnight and turned back to head in and probably get shit faced. I walked in and saw that this place was exactly like how I predicted it, dark, dim lights, a bar, a stripper pole, and a doorway with curtains that said 'VIP' right above it. It's a strip joint alright. I walked up to the bar and was greeted by a mare with very revealing tank top, if you asked me whether or not I could see them, I'd say, 'they're in your face, it's kind of hard not to'.

"What would you like?", she asked with a sexy smirk, all for business I guess.

I took a good look at he drinks behind her and selected, "Get me a couple of shots of 'Applejack Daniel's' please".

She kept up he smirk and turned around swaying her hips, "coming right up stud". I almost chuckled at how similar the clubs were here and back home, the girls trying to get the attention of the customer so they would buy drinks and dances. But they didn't need to persuade me, I loved as much as the next bastard, I'll get drinks regardless. She back and smiled as I took it and thanked her. I tasted the first shot, damn, it had at all, copying 'Jack Daniel's', but still good. I downed the rest and turned back to get a look at the dancers behind me.

All of them were curvaceous, had nice racks and had big smiles. Either they had customers here that they really liked, or the manger did a really good job of getting them to smile. Either way I babysat my other shot while staring, I don't feel like getting a dance now, maybe another time. I downed the second shot and asked for another one. Which she gladly filled up my cup and I thanked her and went right back to staring.

"I haven't ever met a human before", the bartender behind me said. "Maybe you could come back with me and I can see how you tick". She traced a finger on my arm all the while. Now as intriguing as it sounded, I wasn't really in the mood that night.

"Sorry love, I'm just here for drinks, maybe another time", she pouted but didn't press anymore.

I downed the last one and thanked the gal at the bar for her service and walked out, the place seemed nice. Maybe I would come at a later time for a dance. But I needed to get home. Then I heard and engine sound at the entrance and ran out. I found Michael outside with an Audi, black and beautiful as fuck.

"Michael, holy shit man, where'd you find this?", I asked with a huge smile.

"You remember that one huge basement door that we've been trying to break into for a while back at base?", he asked, grabbing my attention.

"You mean to tell me that this car was down there?", I asked gleefully.

"And a whole bunch of other cars too. But guess what?", I looked up at him. "This one's all yours man".

I went wide eyed, "you gotta be fucking with me?!", I exclaimed, not wanting to believe it.

"Nope, she's all yours man. But since you're buzzed, I'll drive you home and leave it in your garage", he replied, I nodded and got into the passenger seat. "Had a good time at the club"?

I nodded, "yeah, the girls there are pretty nice looking, we should all head there sometime".

He nodded and I was slowly falling asleep as the drinks started to settle into my system. Holy shit, this boy about to go night-night......

Chapter 7: Hostage Rescue

"Hey man", Michael shook me a bit to stir me awake as I raised my head. "You're home, here, these are the keys to the Audi, and good luck on the hangover". I nodded with all I could in my half asleep state. I saw Michael get out and help me out of my car and bring me inside while locking my car, he set me down on my couch and headed out my door while locking it. Alright, time to go back to bed.

8 Hours Later......

*knock *knock. Who the fuck could that be? I looked down at my arm to check the time. It's 6:30 fucking A.M!!! This better be fucking good, or I'm going to be pissed. I got up and nearly collapsed onto the floor from the hard hangover that the booze I drank was giving me. I reached for the doorknob and opened the door to find Celestia standing right there looking like she might shit herself.

"Jesus H. Christ you look fucked", I said with a shocked expression. "Look come in and I'll get you something to steady your nerves". I led her to my kitchen and opened a cabinet and pulled out some bourbon and poured me and her a glass.

"Now what exactly is wrong", I asked bringing the drink up to my lips, taking in the cozy feeling of liquor run through my body. "I haven't seen you this worried and frazzled since the day I met you when you needed help".

She took a drink and let out a long breath she must've been holding in, "there's a hostage situation". I didn't say anything and let her take her time and relax. "The princess of the Gryphonian Empire, daughter to the emperor of the empire, has been kidnapped".

"Where?", I asked. "Do you have a location or anything that leads to a location"?

She nodded and gulpedndown her drink, "Ricardo went to Gryphonia to negotiate with the king and the news of her kidnapping was explained to him". Wait, he went there without telling me? "And he was tracking down the perpetrators went and stumbled onto their base, he says that the location is deep at the Everfree".

I nodded and left to head upstairs into my room, "I'll get suited up and head out with everyone, we'll rendezvous with Ricardo and take them down".

She sighed, "I have to head back and try to calm down the emperor, he's not taking it well".

"Well his daughter has been kidnaped", I yelled out from my room in a 'It's obvious as fuck' tone. "But I'm sure you can charm him and get him to cool down".

She chuckled, "you always know what to say, how do you do it"?

"Practice", I replied. "Alright I got to go, I'll be back with his daughter as soon as I get her".

She nodded and left, I know because I heard my door open and close. I got my tactical clothes, gear, mask, gloves, boots and ran out my door to the armory. I went in and pulled my M1911 as holstered it, I grabbed an M1014 semi-auto shotgun and equipped a holographic sight to it and ran outside as fast as I could.

I knocked on each of their doors as loud as I could, "guys get the fuck out here, we gotta go and revue a hostage, get your gear on and meet me at the heli"!!! I ran back to the armory and grabbed a couple of flashbangs, and grenades. I ran back out to see that they're re running to the chopper and we all hopped in and took out seats. "James get this bird started now"! He didn't waste any time and the rotors wen spinning and off we went.

I got on my wrist touch pad and opened up the map to see where Ricardo could be located at. Hold on, it's pinging and pinging, aaaaannnd, pow! There he is, about 100 miles away from our location, I looked up to James and yelled over the rotors, "turn to the left a bit more and keep going for a 100 miles"! He turned back, nodded and turned the bird to the left and flew as fast we could. Hold on, buddy, don't do anything stupid while we're not there Ricardo, you crazy bastard.

Ricardo's POV

I just got to wait a little longer while the guys get here. Oh shit! I hid behind a tree as ponies that had camp gear and outfits passed by me, not even knowing just how close I am if the tree wasn't here to separate us for what would surely either be my imprisonment or death.

"mataa tazunn 'annana sanahsul ealaa dafe fidya", I couldn't understand a damn thing, but I kept quiet in case they said anything that might indicate a certain room or something that they might have the daughter.

The other voice spoke up, "waqal rayiys albank 'annah yjb 'an natawaqqae dafe alyawm 'aw 'ahditha, ghadaan". Fuck, what language is this? All I can hear is gibberish. Their voices got more faded and I concluded that they've left. I pulled out my M9 from the holster that I kept in my suit. You can never be too prepared. I raised it up around me, no one in sight, so I kept a move on while constantly checking to see if there were anyone around who might spot me, so far no one. I kept going until I numbed into one of their guys and we both fell in our asses. I raised my gun up first and he stopped in his tracks and stayed quiet.

"Don't fucking move or say anything", I whispered. He didn't respond , he sat there and lowered his gun to the ground and stayed still. "Put your hands behind your back". He did so and I blindfolded him with my tie, I can buy another one later. I whacked him in the head and he fell onto the unconscious.

"That's done", I said to no one in particular. I holstered my pistol and grabbed his gun, it was an AK-74U, this is a decent weapon to carry, reliable and good ammo counts. I took the mag out to inspect the remains if amount of bullets left in it. It was full, I loaded it back into the rifle and trekked on. This time I was making sure that I didn't bump into anyone again.

How did I get all the say here again? Oh yeah, I went on the search for the daughter of an emperor who's also the gryphon we're trying to get to become our client, and ally of Celestia. That fucking ship I took to get all the way here was awful, I had to sneak aboard but I couldn't get close enough to get her and they moved her here in this forest, which if my memory serves me right, this is the Everfree. So, I came from a country across the ocean back here, to he biggest forest in Equis. I can't even guess where exactly, but knowing Gonzalo and everyone else, they'll be on their way. My bet is that Celestia told them and now they should arrive with the heli.

But since the bird's loud we might have to go loud, "my God". I know just what that crazy bastard is gonna do, he's going to light this place up. He's going to get on the minivans and turrets and take out most of the guess through brute force. "I hope you're not going to fuck this up man".

I got back as I heard more voices than before and I peeked around the tree I was taking cover behind. There was a building surrounded by guards and looked heavily armored, to protect a siege. Well at least we won't have to adopt about snipers from the windows or accidentally shooting through the window and having any friendly fire. There were certain gaps of though and with every ten feet there was a manned turret basin he area, just waiting for someone that isn't one of them to come by and tear them apart. Fuck, where are those guys, I can't even get this close without being hunted down if I went loud.

I head a shit load of footsteps and went completely probed behind a bush and had let them pass by me. Their muddy black boots trudging past me and speaking in whatever language they were speaking. The footsteps and voices were gone, I got up and kept surveying the area. The group that just past me was now opening the door and as they enters I could see that the door was key locked. Should be simple enough to bust in. But the thing that stopped my blood as when someone shouted and pointed ear my location. I silently cursed at myself and uttered a prayer, but then I heard something. It was an engine and rotors.

I looked up to see a sight for sore eyes, a Blackhawk was just above me and gunning down everyone by the outer edges of the compound.

Gonzalo's POV

"Keep firing!!!", I yelled as I fired the mini guns onto the ponies below. If there one thing I know, it's that when we're alone and there's a base just in front of us that we're not affiliated with, we tend to not find them friendly or client-worthy. And right here, I can tell you if Ricardo has been following theee guys for a while, I can tell that whatever he's looking for is here. But more specifically, a princess.

The bodies down below were either torn apart or laying on the ground crying out in pain. A couple thuds from the heli could be heard, I looked around and saw that a turret was firing at us. "James!", I shouted. "Turn 90 degrees left"! He turned and I sprayed onto the bastard and he crumpled under the firepower. I got off the turret and Carlos took my place.

I held onto a handlebar and used my right arm to turn on my radio and call Ricardo, "come in man, you there"?

I got a long static but was soon receiving a crackling sound and I sighed, "what's up you crazy fucker"?! He yelled through the radio and I laughed hard.

I pushed the button on the radio to reply, "not much, we're going to rappel down to you, sit tight". I hung up and got the rope in position and my shotgun loaded and strapped on my back. "Go! Go! Go!", I yelled rapidlynas i dropped the rope and held on tight as I rappeled down onto the ground quickly raising the shotty in case anyone was stupid enough to get in front of me. I heard footsteps and turned with the sights on my eyes.

"Whoa, chill man!", it was Ricardo.

I sighed and lowered the gun, "radio me before you come out the brush like that. I could've killed you".

"But you didn't".

I shook my head as everyone else but James reached the ground. "Sir?!," James yelled through the radio.

I pressed he button and held it close to my mouth, "yeah"?

"What do I do?", he asked.

I pressed the button and repeated the process, "land on the roof and guard the heli, we'll be there as soon as we get the package".

"Yes sir"!

I raised my shotgun up and jogged for the door at the building. I hit the wall and the rest of us huddled on the wall. Everyone nodded so I stood in the front of the door, took aim, and shit the hinges out from the door and kicked it down. I quickly got back to the wall, as I reloaded three shells Carlos and Chris cleared the room. I enetered and when I got inside, i saw four bodies and nodddnto the two of them.

"Clear the building, one of these rooms has the hostage", as I finished a pony was running across the hallway, hru unlucky for him I shit him down. We walked up and the stallion was dead, I blew half of his torso off. "Keep going".

I pointed at Michael and then at me, signaling him to clear a room with me while Carlos and Chris cleared another one while Ricardo kept out six covered. I placed a charge so I could minimize the risks of getting shot with breaching via shotgun. I held the detenator and looked back. Michael noddd and I blew the charge, "breach"! We barged in as splinters flew everywhere and one guy tried to rush me with a knife, big mistake. I knocked him back with one shot and another one raised his pistol and pulled the hammer back with his thumb, his head exploded. How? I turned around and saw Michael's gun smoking and him looking crossed.

I sighed and checked all the corners until I conclude get nothing was here. Just cooking material, so this was most likely a makeshift kitchen. I shook my head and Michael frowned. "Fuck", he muttered.

"Hey guys, we got the package", Carlos reported in as cursed at ourselves, but our moods instantly changed and we ran over to their room. And there she was, a gryphon dressed in royal clothing and had her hands tied up. "It's ok", he cut the ropes off her and she stood up slowly.

"Where am I?", she asked as she took a good look at each of us.

"Everfree forest, princess", Carlos said as he checked her over to see if she was harmed at all. "She's ok boys, just a few bruises, but she'll live".

I sighed and turned the radio on, "James"?

"Yeah"?

"Have the heli ready to take off, we have the package, I repeat, we have the package. Unknown numbers of enemy combatants in the A.O, so see the job done", I answered as we put her in the center of us. Me and Chris in front, Carlos and Michael on the sides, and Ricardo on our six.

"Copy that, starting her up, hurry up boys", James replied as we headed up the stairway and kept advancing while constantly checking out corners. A stallion dame out of a corner and we all ducked as he fired above us, I shot him and his whole head blew off of his once whole body.

"Aaaahhhh!!!!!!", the princess shrieked at the sight and Carlos put a hand on her shoulders to try and calm her down.

"It's ok, it's ok, we're going to get you back to your dad", the princess looks up at him with matte cheeks and slowed her breathing down.

"We're here", I tried the doorknob but it wouldn't open. Frustrated I drew my shotgun out and pointed it at the doorknob, "fuck it". I blew it off and shoved it open, I turned and waved for them to hurry. Each one came out until Ricardo was last and I kept pouring the guns as I backed up to get in the heli with my team. Then a whole bunch of stallions came running out and I blasted three shots knocking most to them down. My shorty clicked and I looked down st it sharply, "FUCK"!!! I drew my M1911 and kept firing as I back up, it eventually cocked back and clicked.

As I reached for another mag I heard clunking and turned around to see Ricardo manning the minigun, "get the fuck down"!!! I didn't argue and laid down on the floor all the way as bullets ripped through the air and shredded the bastards to pieces. The spraying ended and I ran into the heli and gripped the handlebar.

"Go!", I shouted at James to get a move on and he took off into the air quickly made a getaway. We flew away as bullets hit the back of us every few seconds. And after a whole minute, I concluded that we were in the clear by now.

I turned my head to look at the princess, she was a little shooken, that much was clear. "Princess, you ok"?

She turned to meet my gaze and stuttered, "y-yeah, I g-guess so".

"Look I know what you saw was horrific, but we needed to save you and get you back to your father ok?", I gave her an apologetic look and she eased up.

"No, it's ok, I understand", she accepted the apology and the rest of the ride was spent in silence and heavy panting as we flew back to Canterlot.

Feeling curious I spoke up, "what's your name"?

She took a moment, then replied, "Natalia".

Right, gryphons have human names, I forgot.

Feeling exhausted, I took a deep breath and let the wind hit my face, as we were heading back. Some of us for a debrief and some of us for a family reunion.

Holy fuck what a ride!

Celestia's POV

"Celestia where's my daughter?!", the emperor shouted as he started to grow even more anxious by the minute. I told him to arrive and to expect his daughter soon and that she was in good hands. "She's still not here"!

I noddd slowly, "I'm aware Emperor Gregory if your daughter's absence, however you need not to worry". He growled but didn't say anything else".

Then I could hear familiar rotors and an engine. Theyre here! "Guards, get the door". They did so and the huge doors gave way for six humans and a gryphon by them.

Gonzalo's POV

The doors opened and we were greeted with the Emperor I had met with one his arms and cried out, "Natiala"!

She returned the greeting, "father"!

They ran to each other and embraced deeply. I patted my guys on the back, and told them how fucking badass and coordinated we were and how we successfully rescued a princess!

Celestia walked up to me and smiled brightly, "I don't know how, but you always come up in top".

I laughed pulled out my flask to get a drink into me, "I try".

Hopefully now, the princess gets better and so does out negotiations with the emperor about letting us operate on their soil. If it does go like I plan it to go, then we'll make a killing and protect even more people.

But first, I'm gonna finish this flask and rest up. God knows me and my guys need it.

Fuck me, what a rush!!!

Chapter 8: The Gala

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Chapter 9: Brothers 'till Death

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