Los Diablos: A New Beginning

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?'.