After Spike became an official member of The Solaris Mafia Family, he's been given a new type of respect for the rich criminals throughout Manticore. Celestia and Luna's gang was well-loved by everyone in town, besides Sombra's gang who they feared the most.

The purple dragon was given some small-time jobs in the family, such as being a chauffeur for the sisters or helping Flash around back with a few errands or fixing some cars, which was surprisingly a bit easy after Flash gave him a few pointers; but to him, he'd never be as good as Thorax.

He was also hanging out with Applejack and Rainbow Dash a lot outside of work. Usually just hanging out at the bar or just eating breakfast before work together. Luna noticed this and so she talked it over with Celestia and both of them made the 3 of the partners in crime officially.

A few months later, Celestia decides that Spike is ready for some of the big important jobs she usually gave to RD and AJ, also so Spike could gain a little experience.

The purple dragon sat in The Sisters' office with Applejack and Rainbow with him.

Celestia was looking at them with a smile. "Alright...today we're gonna pick up some protection money from a few places in town: a restaurant, a grocery store, and a hotel in the countryside."

Luna nodded and leaned forward with her hands together on the table. "There was a slight problem at the grocery store...the owner was having trouble with getting the money so she said she'll pay a little more..."

Shadow walked over to the table with his arms crossed. "Spike, I'm sure you know how the protection business usually works?"

Spike nodded. "Yeah, same as everyone else. You don't want the mob to destroy your shit, you pay the fine."

The bat pony nodded. "Good, but unlike most families who use well-known threats...that's not the case with us..."

"That's right..." Twilight added. "Creatures who pay us, receive services. Services so high, that even the Solar Guards can't give."

Applejack turned to Spike. "Yea, just a month ago, me an' Rainbow dealt with some violent wannabes who were waving some guns around at the restaurant and being a couple of smartasses...the owner was very pleased bout that."

"Alright...I think I get the gist of it..." Spike replied to AJ, turning to Celestia who now spoke.

"Good...now all we want you to do, Spike, is drive to the locations with the girls. Applejack and Rainbow will do the collecting. Go and get a car from Flash, OK?"

Spike nodded.

"Good, but just to be safe...get a gun from Shining too," Luna added.

"Yes, bosses, so you girls ready?" Spike asked, standing up, AJ and RD followed suit.

"Let's do this!" Rainbow replied, leading Spike and AJ out of The Sisters' office.

The 3 partners walked out of the back and Spike told the girls to get a car while he gets his weapon from Shining. He walks up the metal stairs and enters Shining's gun office. He sees the white unicorn messing around with something, his back turned to the purple dragon.

"Uh...Shining?"

The white unicorn turned around and looked at the purple dragon. "Hey there, man."

"Whatcha working on?"

"Oh..." Shining turned around and showed him that he was working on some type of automatic gun. "I've just been tweaking with a few weapons and trying to see what I can come up with on my own..."

"Ah...what kind of weapon."

"Well..." Shining walked to his desk and placed both of his hands on it. "I'm working to see if I can make a non-lethal weapon, like maybe make a firearm that fires special bullets coated with a sleeping spell. Twilight is helping me with the experiment after hours, just like old times."

"Old times?"

"Yeah...Twilight and I were very close when we were kids." Shining sat down. "But...after our parents got killed in an accident...she began to change..."

"Change how?"

The white unicorn looked up and smiled. "Well, when we were growing up, she was always so happy and smart, she loved to learn and I loved when she told me facts I never knew about certain things..."

He paused for a minute and dropped his smile. "But...after the deaths of our parents...she became this whole...different pony. She barely ever smiles anymore, and she never went to another library ever again. She mostly has spent her time in a shooting range with a big unsettling smile on her face every time she held a gun..."

"How did you guys come across Celestia and Luna?" Spike asked, intrigued

"She saw how good Twilight used a gun so she hired her. And as time went by, she became Celestia's consigliere. I joined as their weapons expert just so I can stay close to Twilight...to protect her, even though I knew long ago that she didn't need me anymore..." Shining confessed his entire story to Spike.

The room was completely silent for about a few minutes before Shining broke it and stood up. "So...now that all that mushy shit is out of the way...what can I do for ya?"

Spike nodded, remembering why he was there again. "Oh yeah...I was assigned as a driver for RD and AJ to collect some protection money and Luna wanted me to get a firearm just to be safe...so maybe some type of small gun would be enough."

"Ah...gotcha." The white unicorn reached under his desk and took out a black revolver with a brown grip. "How about a Smith & Wesson Model 15 double-action revolver? It carries 6 .38 Special bullets and is fitted with a 4-inch (100 mm) barrel."

"Ha, egghead much?" Spike laughed, picking up the revolver.

"Hey, they don't call me a weapons expert for nothing," Shining replied with a wink.

The purple dragon looked it over in his hand and aimed it, looking down the sights. "Yeah, I think that'll do...I wasn't planning on using it anyway..." He slipped inside his suit and waved goodbye to Shining.

Once the door closed, The unicorn went back to working on his non-lethal weapon.

Spike walked down the metal staircase and sees Applejack and Rainbow talking to Flash. He jogged over to them and they took notice. "Hey guys, sorry I took so long, but I got the gun."

"Great, now I can show you how to get in today's car," Flash replied, leading the 2 mares and drake to a blue subcompact car. Spike leaned in and watched Flash pick the lock. "It's a bit faster than the Micro but it's still a bit slow when you start it up, but on the bright side, look how easy they are to nab. just stick the lock tabs together and boom you got it."

"Thanks, Flash."

"No problem, enjoy it." Flash walked away and went to another car he had in the garage and began to work on it.

Spike sat in the driver's seat and watched Rainbow move the passenger seat down so she can get in the back, AJ put the seat back up and sat down in the passenger seat. "Alright, Spike let's go."

Spike drove around town while getting directions from AJ on where the places were, the first stop was the grocery store.

Applejack sounded the horn and out walked a blue unicorn mare from the establishment carrying a black suitcase. "Hey AJ, RD, come to collect?"

"Yeah, ya got it?"

The mare nodded and gave them the briefcase full of dollar bits. "Sorry I was late on the payment last time, the business was slowing down that month..."

"Hey, it's no problem, we'll give your regards to the sisters. See ya."

The store manager waved goodbye and watched Spike drive away from the restaurant.

A Few Minutes Later...

After collecting the money from the grocery store and restaurant, it was time to collect the money from the hotel in the countryside.

Spike pulled up near the hotel, which was basically in the middle of nowhere. It was a small looking place that could probably hold more or less than 50 people. There was some rust and rot coming off some metal and wood on the building, but overall it looked like a decent place.

Applejack climbed out of the car along with Rainbow who pushed the seat down to get out too. Rainbow bent down and looked at Spike through the window. "OK, Spike, me and AJ are gonna get the money together since this place can be a bit on the creepy side. So just wait out here and we'll be right back."

Spike nodded and watched RD and AJ enter the hotel through the front door. The purple dragon decided that now would probably be the best time to gas up the car, he was driving around a lot. He looked and saw a gas pump close by, so he grabbed a jerry can from the trunk and began to fill it with gas after paying.

Once he fueled up the car, he heard loud gunshots coming from inside the hotel. Spike dropped the jerry can after he jumped from the sudden 'bangs', not noticing that he spilled the last few contents of gasoline on the ground.

The rookie ducked behind the car, took out his S&W Model 15 revolver from inside his suit, and aimed it at the door, ready to shoot.

The front door opened and Spike gasped, Rainbow Dash came out with a hole in her stomach. She wobbled a bit and dropped to the ground with a thud.

"G-God D-Damn it....F-Fucking....B-Bastards..." Rainbow rasped.

Spike ran over to the downed mare and grabbed her. "Shit, Rainbow!" He looked up and saw a red and black pegasus stallion come out of the same entrance and he aimed his Heckler and Koch USP at the dragon.

"Tell those whore bosses of yours that this place belongs to Don Sombra now...so beat it or you'll end up worse than your friends."

Spike growled and fired his gun at the pegasus, knocking him straight in the head. "Fuck him..." He looked down at the pegasus. "Rainbow...I need to get you to a hospital..."

Rainbow shook her head. "N-No...get AJ first...they're gonna beat info out of her..."

Spike nodded and dragged Rainbow to the car and sat her up against it. "I'll get her..."

"W-Wait..." Rainbow called out, stopping the purple drake before he moved. She reached into the chest piece of her dress and took out her Glock 17 along with two clips. "H-Here...t-take my g-gun..." Spike took the pistol and slipped the revolver into his pocket. "I-It c-carries more bullets than...that Model 15 ya got...now hurry!"

Spike nodded and ran in, almost immediately he was met with an avalanche of bullets coming his way from 7 ponies. He ducked behind a table and fired back at the ponies shooting at him with Rainbow's Glock. He managed to get 2 ponies in the head and killed 2 more with multiple shots to the torso.

Then out of nowhere, Spike took a hit in the neck from a blue unicorn mare holding a Tenring Custom Colt 1911. He fell over gripping his neck but after a few seconds, the pain just disappeared like it wasn't even there in the first place. He backed his hand away from his throat seeing a just a drop of blood on his palm.

He checked his neck again but no blood was added to his hand once he separated it again. His train of thought was cut out after a bullet whizzed by above his head, He got back to focus and fired back at the ponies shooting. He missed a few shots and ducked back down, reloading Rainbow's gun with one of the clips she gave him, he also took out his Model 15 revolver began to dual-wield fire both guns.

Spike heard a door open in front of him and saw another goon carrying an Ithaca 37 with an attached strap. Before he could aim at the dragon, Spike fired his Model 15 and is hit the pony in the torso along with a headshot. When the pony dropped, his shotgun landed near Spike.

The dragon saw it and put his pistols down and grabbed the Ithaca, cocking it.

"Let us hope I can use this correctly..." The rookie told himself. He popped up from his cover and shot one of the three ponies with the shotgun, throwing her over the bar counter with a hole blown straight through her torso. The other two ponies were too distracted with the dead mare that it gave Spike a chance to shoot both of them in the head with Rainbow's Glock.

Applejack standing up in a room and had her hands chained to the ceiling, a white pegasus stallion was circling her with a baseball bat.

"Now...I'm gonna ask you again..." The stallion said. "What are those bosses of yours doing?!"

"We jus' came to pick up some money from the owners." Applejack replied. "Don't be an idiot..."

"That's not good enough, I'm gonna smack your fucking legs till your bones turn to dust, speak!"

AJ snickered a little. "OK, OK...yer dad likes it up the ass...what do ya want meh to say ya, dumbass?"

The stallion growled and smacked Applejack in the stomach with the bat, making her grunt and cough. Then he walked around and smacked her in the back, the stallion hearing a slight crack and a mare scream in pain.

The orange earth pony dropped her head down and breathed heavily. The stallion used the bat to push AJ's head up to look at his scowling face. "Very funny. You think you're a smartass, you redneck bitch?!"

It was AJ's turn to growl a bit. "No...Ah'm chained up in a hotel a long way from home...while some pegasus-fuck threatens me with a fuckin' baseball bat...so no bud...Ah'm not the smartass ya think Ah am."

Spike heard some shouting after he went up the stairs with his Ithaca pointing in front of him. He opened the first door and saw AJ chained up as a stallion with a baseball bat was about to whack her again. Before he could though, Spike grabbed the stallion's arm and as soon as he looked at the dragon, he punched in straight in the face.

The stallion fell to the floor but before he could get up, Spike unloaded his shotgun on him, shooting him over and over 5 times. By the time he finished, Spike couldn't even make out his face anymore.

He looked at the chained up AJ and smiled. "You good?"

"Y-Yeah...thanks, Spike." AJ coughed as Spike dropped his Ithaca on the floor and used his Model 15 to shoot AJ's chains loose, finally releasing her.

Just when they thought they could go, a bullet landed directly into Applejack's leg, she screamed in pain as she fell into Spike's arms. Spike looked and saw a blue unicorn burst out of a nearby closet with a bag and a Colt Detective Special .

"Don't move or I'll pop you too, ya stinkin' lizard!" The mare said, looking around the room, seeing the 200% dead stallion as she continued pointing the gun at him. "C-C'mon, j-just try it ya bastard!"

Spike sat on the floor with AJ still in his arms as he and held one of his hands up, his other hand was still holding on to the orange earth pony who shivering a bit in pain from the bullet wound in her leg as she too looked at the mare. "O-Okay Okay...just take it easy...everything's fine...just go."

The goon slowly made her way to the door, making sure her gun was still pointed at them."Stay right there, don't try to move a fucking inch!"

"I won't, don't worry...just go..." Spike watched as the goon ran out of the room, Applejack slowly looked up at him, speaking a bit with a pained groan.

"N-No...s-she has...our dough....we have to get her..."

Spike looked at the door with a growl and stood up, wrapping AJ's arm around his back as the two slowly walked out of the room.

Once they got outside they saw Rainbow still breathing heavily with her stomach wound, She slowly pointed at the mare who sat in her car, trying to start it.

Spike looked around and saw that the jerry can he accidentally dropped was finished leaking gas and the liquid was closing in on the mare's car, he suddenly got an idea and turned to AJ. "Applejack listen...I need you to help Rainbow up and drive the car a few feet away from the tanks."

"W-What?" AJ asked.

"J-just do it...and be careful," Spike replied, taking her arm off of his back and giving her his Model 15 revolver.

Applejack holstered the gun and limped over to the blue subcompact car. She placed Rainbow carefully into the passenger seat after helping her up and started the car, driving a good distance away from the hotel's gas tanks.

Spike looked down at the trail of gas and took out Rainbow's Glock, pulling the slide back a bit, seeing he only has one bullet left.

The mare finally managed to start the car but when she heard her passenger door open, she looked to her right and saw the dragon that she told not to move, she watched as Spike grabbed the bag of money and shot the gas trail with the final bullet.

He saw the mare getting ready to pull out her revolver but he threw the empty Glock at her, distracting her enough to allow the ignited gas to come closer to the car. Spike ran and jumped forward once the fire got too close to the mare's car and it along with herself was engulfed in flames.

The dragon landed on the ground and saw the burning car along with a bit of the mare's body burning with it. It triggered some PTSD with Spike, remembering the time he saw that car explosion when he first met Rainbow and Applejack.

He shook it off and stood up, along with dusting himself off. He ran over to his partners and showed that he got the money with him.

Applejack congratulated him and Spike drove the three of them to Celestia and Luna after a job well done to get healed up.

Author's Note

Phew...Done