Court Jester

ACT 2 FINALE PART 2: With A Flourish...

Much would need to be done in order to ensure my own victory. I glanced around the large town, finding myself thinking of ways to deal with my problems. Train incidents, robberies, oil baron, and gang. All in one day, let's fucking go.

I observed the residents of the town, each either cowering in fear, or whispering amongst each other. They'd heard the tales of the man in bandages. Their fear was like a wave, it swept all throughout the town. On the way to the train station to pick up my new equipment, I was confronted in front of a haberdashery. The small blue building seemed rundown, but out of the shadows slunk a cat-like pony, who walked slowly but with purpose. They kept their eyes on me as they approached, and I had to fight the urge to draw my gun.

"I don't think you want to find out why they shiver in fear when I approach." I said, keeping my voice low and monotonous.

"Similarly, I don't think you want to find out why we're here. Walk away right now, and I won't kill you." The cocky beige unicorn replied. I drew iron before his horn even lit up.

A flash of intense light, and his horn had been shot off, along with his hat. Another, and below the left front leg's knee, there was nothing. Dual splotches of red painted the ground, and the beige mythological creature. I pointed my gun at his head. "Tell me where your friends live, and maybe I won't paint the gravel with your grey matter."

"P-Please don't kill me! They go into this cave to the southwest of town, I've never been in there and I don't know what they do!" He managed to whimper out. I promptly blew his brains out. I opened the cylinder and reloaded the three spent bullets. With a click, I holstered. I searched the body, finding some ammo and a pouch containing several maps of the area. I continued on, putting those things in the bag on my back.

The town was quite beautiful, contrary to the name 'Arid Basin'. Trees were a common sight, as were small patches of grass that was actually green. Little pink flowers and white ones grew off to the side of the gravel road, which had sprigs of clovers or little saplings growing through it. I enjoyed the smell of fresh air, but then I began to quicken my pace.

I soon arrived, just as the train pulled into the station. Speaking of such a place, it was quite nice. The raised deck had many different creatures milling about, a noticeable stream of such mythological beasts pouring out from the train, which was garishly colored. It looked like someone regurgitated ice cream and cotton candy, then threw it up on a train. I had to avert my eyes to keep from bleeding from them.

I walked along, noticing that most either glared or cowered. Few continued on their way, nervously glancing at me occasionally. I ignored them, and focused on getting to the cargo compartment. As I approached, I noticed a line of ponies retrieving luggage from the cargo compartment, a bellhop zipping around in the train car, grabbing up suitcases and satchels and other such things. I noticed a long metal crate on top of several wooden ones, kept near the back of the car.

I patiently observed the ponies, but soon I grew worried. I thought that I might lose too much time waiting on these ponies, so I merely skipped ahead in line. They seemed to be cowed by my reputation, so I continued to the front of the line. I began dialog with the bellhop, flashing my badge of office. "Mind fetching my package?"

He nodded about fifty times, then quickly scurried off to fetch the box. He levitated it over, straining slightly. I took it from him, and I nearly dislocated my arms when he dropped it into my grasp. The damn thing must have weighed over fifty pounds! Slowly retreating from the car, I made my way to the local inn, or saloon, or bar, or whatever the hell you'd like to call it. Tavern seemed apt, as it was quite medieval English in appearance.

I entered the tavern, named The Brass Goblet. Inside, it seemed homey and a little cooled off compared to the outside. I examined the occupants of the inn, noticing that most looked like reputable folk, which seemed to be a complete shift in nature from all the other types of seedy places I've seen. I knew that my room was already paid for, so I decided to forgo the process of talking to anyone, and just head upstairs.

On the second floor, I soon found my new dwelling. Inside, I found many amenities, including a package on the desk. I plopped the crate on the trunk at the foot of the bed. Examining the room, I found it to my liking. One bedroom, a bathroom, and a small kitchen area complete with dining table. It seemed out of place for this supposedly nasty town, but I knew that crime always hides behind lies and pretenses. This was likely a front, one to distract tourists from discovering the awful happenings of this place.

I opened the package on the desk, finding a key. A lighter and a sheet of paper were also inside. I placed the two items on the desk, and took the key over to the crate. It fit the lock. I held off on opening it quite yet, and instead used the lighter to reveal the message on the paper. It read:

"Dear Asrael;

For too long has ponykind suffered the wrath of those who would do harm unto others, and we have developed tools to prevent such things. Medicine, self-defense techniques, and semi-automatic projectile weapons. These all pale in comparison to the tool of destruction you will need to defend the crown and its associates. This weapon is too dangerous to ever fall into others' possession, so we have carefully enchanted it to be bound to you, and by extension your soul. It fires magical ammunition, which you are quite familiar with, I'd imagine.

Inside this box is the Arcana Powered Automatic Rifle mark III, a weapon we have chosen to present to you. It fires silently, kills quickly, and will most certainly help you in your next endeavor after this one.

Your employers, Celestia and Luna."

I was excited, sure, but I still didn't agree with the idea of being tricked like this. Not that I had a choice, but... Actually, I do. I could run off into the badlands with all my stuff and this experimental technology, then live a quiet life. I won't live a quiet life, but I will run off and enforce the law elsewhere. I'm done with Equestria. This place is awful. I hate it here, and I hope to never come back for any reason.

I opened the container, and found the APAR MK3 to my liking. I loaded it with a magazine of Arcana crystals, which I had become intimately familiar with during my time in the forest and way before that. Arcana cartridges are made of specially carved crystals that channel magic from the solar-powered magical battery inside the gun.

I sighed, slumping over on the bed. I look around the room, and I can't help but feel awful. All those ponies I've murdered in cold blood, just for money and to make myself feel better. I don't know why, but I've always gotten a rush out of killing anything. I suppose it may just be a predator's nature, but when I kill these ponies I can just pretend I'm euthanizing some horses back on the ranch. No skin off my back, it is just a poor sick little horse. Too old to be useful. Too sick to move. Too injured to walk.

For the first time in a long time, I felt genuine tears cascade from my tear ducts down to the bandages that cover my face. The reminder of an event that took everything that mattered from me. I closed my eyes, and I calmed myself. I opened them slowly, wiping away the tears. I leaned forwards, pushing myself off the bed with my hands. I picked up the rifle, slinging it over my back. Then, I slung my bag over it too. It rested against the gun.

I picked up my typewriter and set it on the desk. I would be back for it later. There were several ways to get out of town. I could rent a motorized carriage, and just run off with it.

I took out the light, took out a pack of smokes, and lit up. I felt it was needed. I tucked the two items away secret-like.

Before I left for the place where I knew the murderer to be, I transcribed the contents of this journal into a book, for Celestia to understand my motives. I left out some parts, such as where I'm going, but I made sure to leave in all the parts I could. Hopefully, she will understand that it would be unwise to come after me. I embellished some parts quite a bit, to make me seem much more dangerous than I actually was.

The cave in front of me was large. Its entrance was about twenty to twenty two feet tall. I debated rigging an explosive using some black powder and Arcanite crystals, but I saved that idea for later. This was personal.

You don't murder an entire family and shoot me down in cold blood without facing my wrath. Especially if I know those people.

I adjusted my vest and duster. My knife was ready to be pulled. I had my rifle clenched in my hands, the safety off. The silencer rune on the side glowed. A cigarette was between my lips. I felt ready to face a seven nation army, and not break a sweat while doing so. Of course, I knew this was implausible, even at peak human physical condition, but I still felt ready to face anything these bastards could throw at me. I purchased a greatsword on my way out of town, which was basically a longsword due to my size. I had rigged a quick sheathe for it on my back.

I was about as ready as I could be, to be honest. This was it. The culmination of my efforts. The end to another adventure. I steeled myself, marching forwards into the darkness, the dim glow of the cigarette my only light.

I soon snuffed the cigarette out, seeing a lantern-light up ahead. A wooden table had five seated. A sixth chair was pulled out, presumably for the boss man. I delivered five quick shots to each, carrying on. I lit another cigarette, as I saw the end of the cave coming up.

I exited into a bright light. The sun was setting. A cliffside was above, a faint shadow of a figure cast across me. He stood against the sun. I raised my rifle to fire, but the figure leapt away from the shot. The pony rushed towards me, guns blazing. He was a pegasus, so he naturally took to the air and began firing from above. A shot pierced my duster, grazing my left arm. I ignored the pain, running and gunning. The weapon clicked dry, so I switched over to my six-shooter. I scrambled up an incline, rushing to a rock that would protect me from his attacks.

Just as I slid into cover, two shots fired where my torso had been, not seconds ago. I returned fire, watching as the pegasus passed over. I vaulted my cover, narrowly avoiding two bullets that pinged off the rock. I returned fire again, this time clipping one of his wings. He went tumbling, but I followed. He landed, I fired, he fired, we both leapt away.

I reloaded my rifle, holstering my empty six-shooter. I unloaded a magazine into the unaware pegasus, whose leg and torso were perforated by my rifle.

I stood over his corpse, reloading a bullet into my pistol. "There's a game we play back home, called Russian Roulette." He seemed to understand. I handed him the gun. It clicked. He handed it back.

"What are your last words?" I asked him.

"Go to Tarta-" He was interrupted by a gunshot. I closed my eyes as blood splattered across my clothes. I reloaded the pistol, then holstered.

"You aren't leaving, Asrael." A voice behind me said. I turned. The princess of the sun stood there. She had no guard. A motorized carriage. She had no wings. A horn. Different mark. Hair wasn't flowing. Pink.

I drew. I fired. I hit her in the head. I watched as it slowly knit itself back together, but I merely commandeered the carriage. I retrieved my typewriter and bought some cigarettes. I left.

The world is shifting and changing. The last of the first age's technology has faded. The first gives way into the second...