The Pain Goes HERE!

Today was a great day for Cinnamon, she just heard that her father was going to be okay, he would be able to walk again thanks to the doctors, and the hospital bills were already paid by her handsome boyfriend, so there was nothing bad on celebrating by herself and buy some cinnamon rolls from the same bakery she goes to. She really loved cinnamon rolls, they taste amazing and if she could, Cinnamon would eat them everyday. Sadly, her story ends here.

BOOM!!!

The wagon she was right next to explodes, the mare couldn't do anything as she was obliterated by the blast, another wagon broke apart to reveal a hippogriff with packs of explosives and he was accompanied by bandits who began shooting at anyone that isn't them, soon more wagons would reveal the bandits that it hides, then they flood the streets.

Ivan who was an ex-Vladof soldier now turned psycho, laughed as he throws around his explosives, the rhythm of the timers on the bombs made the hippogriff very ecstatic.

Word quickly reaches the castle, not only a group of bandits snuck inside the city to terrorize the populace, but the city was also being attacked from the south, the soldiers were easily overpowered by the speeding bandit trucks. They did not slow down when they arrived in the city, the drivers wanted to feel the wind as they run over civilians, and they would leave explosives on the streets to cause even more destruction.

Celestia was having a peaceful walk in the castle's halls when it started, before she knew it, Crystal Soldiers began running about, she quickly stops one for answers. "You, what is happening!?"

"Your grace, the city is under attack! A group of bandits have somehow manage to sneak in wagons filled with explosives, they have breached our defenses and more are coming!" The soldier quickly explains, when he was done he went off to follow his fellow soldiers.

Celestia frowns as she watches the series of explosions through the castle windows, when she heard a click behind her, she looks over to a grinning Wilhelm. "Ma'am, we need to get you somewhere safe."

"I can handle my own." She looks back to the chaos happening in front of her.

"Suit yourself." Wilhelm takes out his Echo and activates it so he could broadcast a message. "Citizens of the Crystal Empire, this is Wilhelm of the Crystal Army, we request that everyone to come to the castle and seek shelter from the bandits, you all don't have to worry if you can't reach the castle in time, just look for Crystal Loaders or Crystal Soldiers, they'll keep you safe!"

"Where is Shining?"

The cyborg looks away from his Echo. "Hmm? Oh, he's leaving to defend."

"Then who'll be here to protect the castle?"

"Nisha and some soldiers."

"I see."

"..."

"..."

"Guess I'll get going." Wilhelm hops out the window, leaving Celestia alone, the princess felt great regret from watching the bandits attacking the city, deep down, she feels as if this was her fault, that she could have dealt with Krieg in a better way and he would have never came back.

Shining was sweating profusely, he looks around himself to find that the soldiers were in full gear, and he was only wearing his guard captain armor. He quickly excused himself to find a spot where no one would hear him, with his Hyperion sniper rifle, he calls out to his ghost.

"Hey Jack?"

The ghost pops in from the wall, the same smug look was still on his dead face. "Yeah Shining? Please don't tell me you're getting cold feet!"

"N-no, I was just wondering. How come I'm not wearing some high tech armor?"

"You see Shining," Jack begins to explain. "I wanted you to standout, so everyone could see you when they're saved from the bandits, and when your face is the only one showing, then you'll be remembered for a long time!"

"Oh, I actually understand that."

"Good, now get out there and make everyone remember! Also, don't forget to reload."

Shining inspected the Hyperion rifle that was given to him since they found the Constructor, Contingent Invader was it's name(I like the gun, so what?), Jack had given him tips on how to use the weapon and Wilhelm instructed Shining on what to do, use it when they are too far, use magic or the very sharp blade that it has on anyone who was too close. But there was still one thing, Shining has never killed, the two aliens he had hired to become his right hooves wanted to make sure that he was ready, and now that the city was being attacked, he has to man up and be ready to take a life.

"Sir, we're ready to move!" One of the Crystal Soldiers informs him.

"Tell them to search and rescue civilians, also give a speech, that'll boost their morale." Shining heard Jack from behind.

Shining nodded to both the soldier and Jack. "Alright, I need you to go out there and protect the civilians, this is what we have trained you all for, my sister has told me that these cultists will not show mercy, so I want you all to show nothing in return! The bandits have dared to attack our beautiful city, it is a crime we can't ignore, for that, we must show them what Equestria has to offer! Now get out there and save some lives people!"

"Hurrah!" The soldiers cheers loudly before departing to work, just another day in the office.

"What did I tell you? Instant morale boost!" Jack said as he pats Shining's back, though the living stallion doesn't really feel it.

"Shining!" The captain looks over to Twilight and his wife as they ran up to him. "Shining, what are you doing?"

"Twilight, I'm doing my job." He said before attempting to walk away.

Cadance steps in front of him, a concerned look on her face. "Shining, where is this coming from? Ever since a few days ago, you started acting strange! Especially when you hired those two creatures!"

Shining shook his head. "I'm the same stallion you fell in love with, I'm just more daring, that's all."

"What if you get hurt?" His sister spoke. "At least let me come with you!"

"No!" The captain firmly said. "I won't expose my own little sister to this violence!"

"I have already seen it! Other creatures dying? I've seen that, with my own two eyes!"

"Did she sleep?" Jack asked with a frown, knowing well enough of how this would turn out if she doesn't recover from the shock, her mentality would be questioned but as long as she keeps it together, she should be fine.

"Twilight, did you sleep well?" Shining repeated Jack's question.

The alicorn of friendship recoils slightly. "N-no."

"Then exposing you to more violence would be bad for you! Listen, those bags under your eyes is a clear sign that you need help resolve the problem, I'm your brother and you always come first, but the city is in danger, they need me and I can't do anything if I have to worry about you! So stay here and stick close to Nisha, she'll keep you safe." And without even letting her talk, Shining marches off with his gun, leaving his wife and sister behind the castle walls.

"Twilight?" Cadance looks over to the younger alicorn, she was obviously feeling emotionally bad.

The lavender pony turns away from Cadance. "Excuse me Cadance, I need to send a letter!" Twilight said before running off to who knows where, all Cadance could do was hope that the city would be saved quick enough, for now, she is needed by her daughter's side.

Baron grins widely at the destruction being caused at the city in the distance, the soldiers were scrambling by the sudden attack which allowed him and his bandits to gain an upper hand on the soldiers. All was going smoothly and if the scales tips to their favor, then maybe they could take over the city as a bonus.

But that would not come true when No Toes runs up to his side. "Baron, we got a problem!"

"Please don't tell me someone shot our reserved Goliath's helmet off." Even though he was brought back alive just a few days ago, he has a good understanding on why Goliaths wear those helmets.

"No, uh, this is actually much worse." The Baron looks back with a single brow raised. "Not only are the military equipped with Hyperion gears, but they got Wilhelm by their side!"

"The mercenary? How is he here!?"

"I don't know, but he's causing a lot of deaths on our side!"

"Call up Mint!" No Toes did what he was told, he took out his Echo to dial up the cult leader and hands it over to Baron. "Mint!"

"Oh, hello Baron! Did you already finish?" The cultist spoke. "Sorry, but the victory cake isn't ready yet!"

Baron frowned. "Forget the cake, we got a problem, Wilhelm is here!"

"Which one, the torso on robot legs with giant robot fists one or before that one?"

"I don't know what you mean, but he doesn't have giant robot fists." No Toes answered.

"Oh, I see... do you need help? The archives says that Wilhelm could easily defeat Roland and his friends, so I think you should get some help. Toodles!" The screen goes dark.

Baron placed his hoof on his face and groans loudly. "Guess we're on our own." He looks over to No Toes. "I want you to tell everyone to speed things up, find that artifact now so we could go back home faster! And no more looting, we need to work fast!"

"Alright!" No Toes runs off to deliver the message, Baron glared at the city, it would have been easy but with the enforcer around, then they could be wiped out.

A mare's scream pierces the air, she was held at gun point by two bandit Marauders.

"Look at this! What a very pretty pony we have here!" One of them spoke.

"P-please! Don't hurt me!" The mare said, trying to get away from the two.

"Oh, we won't hurt you, we just wanted to ask you for a hand, I mean, hoof." The two bandits started laughing at what he implied, the mare felt dread and concerned for her own life.

A series of gunshots filled the air, and the bandits falls over against the ground with Shining right behind them.

"Next time, hire a-*Urp*- by Celestia, that does not feel good at all!" Said the captain, nearly puking out his lunch.

"Shining, you didn't finish your one liner!" Jack complains.

"I'm sorry Jack, but I'm new to this!"

"Come on, Shining, you're ruining your own reputation by being a wuss about it! Does telling you that they are basically a bunch of nobodies help?"

"Of course not!"

"Excuse me?" Shining looks back at the mare he had saved from the bandits. "I just wanted to thank you."

Shining stood properly and smirks, like how Jack had told him to. "Your welcome, head to the castle where its safe."

"Thank you prince Shining." The mare leaves for safety from the mayhem.

Once again Shining returns to his work, thanks to Jack and Wilhelm, the captain could manage through the horde of bandits. Before he could take a step, Shining was hit by a bandit truck as it speeds through the streets, the stallion manage to hold on the hood of the truck with his rifle floating in the air, the driver was annoyed by this so he calls for his ally to get rid of the unwanted passenger.

A midget pony psycho hops over the driver with a hatchet, he aimed right at Shining but the captain easily deflects the weapon with his bladed rifle before pressing the barrel on the midget's face and pulls the trigger, coating the driver in red and blinded him with blood. The truck started swerving left and right, Shining quickly hops off and let it crash into one of the buildings, killing the driver and its passengers.

The prince looks around himself and finds himself in the marketplace, he dusts off the dirt on him before starting to walk over to the crashed truck.

"On your left Shining!"

When he heard Jack's warning, Shining quickly snaps to the left and fired a burst of bullets on a bandit that was too close for comfort.

"Second floor window, fifth one to the right, behind you!" The captain spun around to shoot down the bandit. "Nice one, buddy- shields up!"

Shining manages to cast a shield in time as hundreds of bullets almost hits him, the bandits slowly walks closer to him as they keep him still, when the bandits stops to reload, the captain took the chance to shoot back, he only got one before diving behind a fruit stand. The bullets once again started flying, the stand was reduced to almost nothing and no pony corpse behind it, a Bruiser looks over his allies in confusion, but he was soon shot down when he looked away, Shining had hugged the ground to avoid the oncoming bullets, he was lucky they didn't aim low enough. Using the element of surprise, the captain ran to different cover behind another stand, picking off another Bruiser as he did so.

After losing two of their allies, the bandits directed their anger to the pony, one of them threw a grenade at Shining, but as if he has a sixth sense he pops out of cover to use his rifle like a bat and sends it back to the pitcher, they couldn't react quick enough as the grenade explodes, taking everyone out in a single turn.

"And that's a home run! Go on Shining, do some victory lap."

Shining faces Jack with a a smile. "Thanks for the heads up Jack." His smile quickly disappears as he clutches his stomach. "I kinda feel terrible..."

"Just when I was gonna call you a badass." Jack then notices something moving behind Shining, the captain saw the ghost looking over his shoulder so he quickly turns around with his horn about to cast a spell. "Wait a second Shining, he's friendly."

And Jack was correct, because this particular bandit was Steve! "Heyo!" The griffon raises his talons in the air and dropped his paper bag, all of the muffins he had bought spills all over the ground.

Shining let out a sigh, he then motions Steve to leave which the griffon gladly did, all this action was happening so fast that the captain nearly shot Steve, well, he does look like the regular bandits.

"Shining, its Wilhelm! These bandits are definitely looking for something." The Echo on his side activates, the stallion took it off to answer the cyborg.

"Why do you think that?"

"Most of the buildings they're attacking are antique or pawn shops, whatever they are looking for, must be very old."

Wilhelm looks around himself, the antique shop he had recently killed bandits in, the pieces of jars and vases were scattered everywhere from the fight, nearly everything in the shop was worthless now.

"Wilhelm, I need you to find out what exactly is they're attacking our city for, and if you could, make sure they can't get it." He heard Shining give out his command through the Echo.

And with a grin, Wilhelm spoke. "Got it."

The cyborg pockets his Echo before leaving the building, more corpses were littered everywhere on the streets, he looks over to a pony Marauder that he left alive, the bandit's lower legs were not connected to him now but the wounds were closed thanks to Saint, his drone. Wilhelm activates the new function on his left robotic hoof that he had added, his hoof began unfolding and shifting into a new form, one that almost resembles a hand, the new digits moved up and down, satisfied with the response, the enforcer grabs the Marauder's foreleg and lifts him up to eye lever.

"What are you looking for?"

If the bandit wasn't wearing a mask, he would have spit on the cyborg's face. "I'm not looking for anything!"

Wilhelm tightens his robotic grip. "What are you and your bandit friends looking for!"

"I said nothing!" The bandit began squirming in the cyborg's hold.

"You all mostly attacked antique and pawn shops, so stop lying or else I'll break more than you leg!" To prove that he wasn't lying, Wilhelm crushes the leg his hand was holding causing the bandit to scream in agony as he bleeds from the crushed limb. "Tell me!"

"You f*cking skag sh*t!" The cyborg didn't rake the insult that well, so he slams his normal hoof into the bandit's stomach.

"I warned you!" He shouted as he pulls back his hoof again.

The Marauder coughs violently before holding up his hoof in front of his face. "Alright! I'll tell you, just please, I don't wanna die again!"

The cyborg smiled sadistically. "Go on."

"We're looking for a vault tech piece!" The pony with no lower legs finally confessed.

"Any more? I want to know what this vault tech do."

"I don't know, I promised!" The bandit looks at him. "That's all I know, so please, let me go!"

"What does it look like?"

"Its a large purple ring with strange writing on it! Come on man, I told you everything I know!"

Wilhelm pressed his hoof on the bandit's chest and hold him against the wall. "And I appreciate it." He releases the bloody leg that his robot hand was holding and began slowly moving it closer to the bandit's face.

"W-wait, I told you what you wanted," The marauder struggled in place. "please!"

"Sorry, but bandits are to be exterminated on site." Said the cyborg as his robotic hand firmly grasps the face of the bandit.

"No!" The Marauder managed to cry out before his face was instantly crushed by the power of the mechanical hand, the body no longer squirms so Wilhelm let the corpse go and watched it fall against the ground.

Before Wilhelm could move on, he heard a choking noise from behind, he spins around to find a gray mare with a long flat and darker gray mane standing there with a saddle bag on, it looked as if the mare was about to cry either from fear of the situation or because a pony killed someone, so the cyborg quickly tried to calm her down.

"Citizen!" His robotic voice made the situation worse, now the unknown mare just cowered on her spot and covered her face with her hooves. "Dang it, I'm not good with these..."

He shifts his stance back to standing on all four to be less intimidating.

"Ahem," Wilhelm started speaking lowly as to make sure that he doesn't scare her again. "ma'am, you need to go to the castle where its safe."

The mare did not move.

"Um, do you have any friends around?" She shook her head, still covering her face. "Family?" The mare nodded, finally giving Wilhelm something to work with. "Are they at the castle? No? Do you need d help finding them?" And thankfully there was a breakthrough, the mare uncovers her face and nodded. "Well, I guess we can go look for your family or something. But, would you be alright with me doing my job? I know how most of you ponies aren't used to this kind of situation."

The mare thought about while looking around the carnage, she then stood up straight and nodded with understanding of why these bandits were being killed, though she doesn't really like it, she still needed to find someone.

"Okay." Was all what Wilhelm said before standing back on two hooves, he motions her to lead the way which she reluctantly did and he followed behind.

Nisha reloads her Jakobs revolvers, twelve bullets recently used on twelve bandits trying to get inside the castle, even though she wanted to go out there to score some more kills, she was still satisfied with her current task. And even if they did pass her, the soldiers and the robots would give them a welcoming. She finishes loading in new rounds in time for another dozen of bandits charging in, this time they have a Nomad Torturer leading the way and uses him as cover, his species was hard to distinguish because of his large coat, but Nisha doesn't really care.

She picks off the chains that keeps the pony midget on the shield and frees him from his captor. "My midget!" Said the Nomad.

He shield bash the midget when it tried to attack him but that gave Nisha an opening, the Nomad was too slow when the sheriff shoots his allies down, a single bullet manages to go through three heads which gives Nisha more to work with. Deciding that he had enough, and that his allies are all dead, he started charging forward, Nisha shoots at the large hole the shield had but the Nomad did not slow down.

She curses that she had ran out of bullets, good thing she got something else, when the Nomad was close enough, the griffon took out her whip and cracks at the bandit, he stumbled back and tried to regain his balance, but Nisha did not stop whipping him and when she did, she was right in front of him. Nisha smirks at the Nomad while he was on his knees as a result of being attacked with a flurry of whips, she slides in both the muzzle of her guns through the opening of his hood and executed him on the spot.

She looks around herself, the soldiers were awfully silent, whenever the griffon looked their way, they would just return to standing guard. Nisha actually prefers that, you do your job and she does hers. If you asked her, she kinda almost liked being in Equestria, aside the sudden attack of bandits, this world was really peacuful, it kind of almost reminded her of when...well, she can't really think up a good memory.

There's no time to think of Pandora, right now, she needed to give the arriving bandits a good old welcoming party, Lynchwood style.