Tempest Shadow sighed, she had expected this once she had boarded the train. In the train station of the Crystal Empire, she and her friend were surrounded by soldiers with guns trained on the Psycho. But much to the confusion of the soldiers, the Psycho was actually asking for them to shoot his face.

"Listen, could you all just let us go? McShooty doesn't really bite." Tempest just wanted to move on and get to the address of the recruitment for Vault Hunters.

"Come on, blast me on the face! Unload your load all over the target that is my face!"

The soldiers looked at each other, disturbed about the Psycho, they were also discouraged with the way he spoke. Not a single one of them could pull the trigger. With only a bit of hesitation, they allowed them both to pass. But they kept their eyes on the Psycho who looked very dejected after being denied of his wish to be shot in the face.

Tempest was astonished, she had heard that the city was nearly razed to the ground, and yet everything looked as if nothing had happened. Sure there were still a few buildings being rebuilt, but the speed that the workers and some automatons were working was amazing. Earth ponies were great builders, but with the machines, they were even greater than before. The level of efficiency was higher than ever.

As she trotted along the streets, Tempest could feel the angry glares focused on her companion. She understands what they were feeling, had a few moments with some bandits herself. They were cruel and ruthless, dangerous and destructive. A group of lawless psychopaths. But from what Tempest had heard, there was one that really shook the city. From what she could tell, the bandits were led by a fearsome beast that devours all in its way.

The name alone would bring the citizens of the Crystal Empire to their knees, Krieg the Psycho.

Tempest understood that McShooty was a Psycho himself, but Krieg was far more than that. Krieg is the apex predator of his class, no one could stand against him. All that stood in his way was simply trampled like a fragile flower in a withering field of grass. The thought of facing this monster was discouraging, but being a Vault Hunter meant that she would someday battle against this monster.

She doesn't know what to expect, but all she could do now was enter the recruitment facility.

A regular building stood before her, unlike most buildings in the city, this one was made of wooden materials. It looked like it was rushed just for one purpose. There were a few soldiers on guard, and they eyed McShooty like a hawk.

"Ma'am," A soldier stopped her from entering the facility. "We'll have to ask you to keep this Psycho out."

"Very well." Tempest narrowed her eyes. "But if anything happens to him, then I'll rip your limbs off."

She turned to face the Psycho with the brightest smile she could muster, which was just horrifying for others.

"Hey Shooty! These kind gentlecolts had generously offered to shoot you in the face!"

This sent McShooty into a frenzied state. "YES! SHOOT ME IN THE FACE! DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!" He screamed out as he tackled the nearest soldier.

The others could only watch as the Psycho slammed the muzzle of the gun onto his own face as he motioned the weapon towards the downed soldier, daring him to take the shot.

"Now remember boys, anything happens to him, and I'll make you all my mares!" She warned them as she entered the building, leaving the guards with an insane pony that wished to be shot in the face.

Once inside, she saw a large gathering of creatures of different races. She could tell that the message had really attracted all kinds of people. Griffins, dragons, minotaurs, and even a few hippogriffs. It was interesting to see creatures of all shapes and sizes in one room, a lot of them dressed like your average mercenary. But her reason to be here was simply to make amends, unlike most of these creatures.

Tempest glanced around the room, she looked out for a spot to take a short rest while she waited for the recruitment to start. Her eyes landed on a bench that had only one pony that occupied it. She walked over to the bench and took a seat, her making sure not to make eye contact with the other occupant. She would rather not start a conversation with them and focus on getting the job.

"So why are you here?" Tempest cursed mentally, the pony besides her just started a conversation she was trying to avoid.

Not wanting to be rude, she turned to face whoever was beside her. An orange pony in a black hoodie jacket with a red and white streak going from his left foreleg to his right and a light chest plate that went over the white shirt under his jacket. Around his waist was a belt that had a small pouch and a few shotgun shells. But the most distinctive part was the mask, though his tail was blue showing that his mane was the same color, his whole head was hidden under a balaclava and on his face was a smooth white mask with two eye holes.

Tempest would have thought that he was some kind of bandit, or some teenager that wanted to be something. The way he dressed just made it look like that. Then her eyes landed on his cutie mark, a blue shield with a lighting symbol on it.

Compared to him, Tempest looked far more professional, with her black suit and armor. Her uniform from when she was a part of the Storm King's army, the only thing missing was the symbol that was supposed to be on her flank. It was replaced with a strange arc inside a ring, something her Psycho friend was very fond of.

Tempest raised a brow. "Question is, are you actually old enough to be here? Don't get me wrong, but you don't look like a badass."

The pony shied away, he coughed into his "hoof" as he stared at the floor. "Yeah... I couldn't really bring my uniform and armor. That was the one thing we Crystal Soldiers had to give up if we wanted to enter the recruitment."

"So you haphazardly put on the first few things you saw in some store, and thought it would be perfect for the job?" She asked as she tried to be nicer. "And if what you're saying is correct, then that means there are other soldiers here."

"Yeah, but they are just here for a chance to take revenge on the bandit lord. But not me."

"You're not here with the same purpose?"

"Nope! Just wanted something in life. Back before the changes, we were all just regular guards. But at some point in my life, I realized that I barely had time since we were always busy with our daily routines." He chuckled lightly as he scratched the back of his head. "And I figured being a Vault Hunter would definitely bring me bits and freedom. Does that make me sound a little selfish?"

"Listen, you sound like a good stallion, but we'll be chasing after some bandits. Can you handle that?"

"I ain't proud of it, but I already had my fair share of blood. And it's one of the reasons why I want to be a Vault Hunter. To take on those stinking bandits, and maybe be something more than some random face in the crowd."

Tempest smirked. "Well, how can people see your face if you wear a mask, huh?"

He realised his mistake and quickly took off his white mask. Then he lifted his balaclava and revealed his face to the world. "Flash Sentry, that's my name! What's yours?" He raised a hoof towards her.

She eyed his face for a second, he was certainly attractive. But something about his looks was tempting her to hit him. It was probably just because she was hanging out with McShooty too much.

She held his hoof with hers and shook it with a smile on her face. "Tempest Shadow. And I'll be honest, dump the balaclava, it makes you look like a burglar. And that mask as well, it's too plain."

Flash tapped a hoof on his chin as he pondered about her suggestions. He looked around and noticed a griffin with the coolest looking gas mask. He looked like a total badass. Without saying a word, he walked over to the griffin and tapped his shoulder. The griffin turned to face Flash, and with one quick move, they were knocked out. Everyone in the room stared at Flash as he robbed the unconscious griffin of their mask.

Flash wore the mask without missing a beat. "What?"

Tempest could only put her hoof on her face as she tried and understand what she had just witnessed. "Flash... just come back."

"Hey, what do you think you're doing!?" A minotaur approached the pegasus, his hand on his a large mallet.

Flash shrugged his shoulders. "Just helping out everyone in the room by removing the competition, there is only three openings for the job after all."

The minotaur nearly scolded his ears off, but he paused just a second to reconsider. He tried to argue, but then he understood that this job is very rare. Only three could have it, a job that brings adventure to someone's life, and it also pays well. With the support of the Crystal Empire, only the weak would ever deny this calling.

But as he was busy thinking about Flash's words, he didn't notice the pegasus flying up to eye level with his gun. Before the minotaur knew, his eyes started seeing stars as he fell over, knocked out like the griffin.

"Hey Tempest!" Flash took the mallet from the minotaur and tossed it over to Tempest. "This job only has a few openings, so why don't we team up?"

By now, the whole room had already understood what he was planning. They eyed each other and prepared their fists, hooves, and claws. And before anyone could even say a word, the whole room had turned into chaos. The creatures who came to sign up were at each other's throats, beating at one another and the soldiers only spectated the brawl. None lifted a finger to stop any of them.

A group of diamond dogs tried to sneak on Tempest, but they received a mallet to the gut for trying, every one of them. She proved to all that she was not an easy prey, with just one short moment of pain. Tempest looked back at Flash and saw him bonking anyone he could find with the butt of his gun.

As much as she was mad that he had started this mess, she couldn't help but smile. This was honestly entertaining to Tempest, either that, or she started loving violence because of McShooty. She didn't actually care in all honesty, there were faces to bash in and a job to earn!

"And y'all tellin' me, that some mercenaries are just gathered in one room?" Applejack couldn't help but ask as she and Twilight, along with Starlight and Rainbow Dash, we're falling Shining Armor with his two right hooves, Wilhelm and Nisha.

The three were leading them to the building where they were holding the "auditions".

"What's the problem with that?" The silent cyborg inquired.

"Nothing, just seems like a bad idea to bring some violent bunch together in one place." Applejack shrugged her shoulders.

"Don't worry AJ, I'm sure the CS guys would keep them in line!" Dash reassured her friend.

Shining nodded in agreement. "Dash is right Applejack, my boys can handle a few mercenaries! We've proven to everyone how capable we are, so there's nothing to worry about!"

"Uh, boss?" Wilhelm called for Shining's attention. He raised a hoof towards a very odd picture.

Right in front of the building that they've recently built was a Psycho French kissing a gun. Shining looked around and saw the soldiers that were told to stand guard were standing by the windows. Something inside must have distracted them from their duties, and somehow allowed a Psycho near the building.

"A ten Hut!" Wilhelm's robotic voice had surprised the group of soldiers, and they scrambled to form a line as soon as they realised who was there with the cyborg. "Mind telling me why is there a damn Psycho eating the muzzle of a gun?"

"Sir! This one is with a pony that came to see the Vault Hunter project!" One soldier explained.

"Why is this bandit alive then?"

"Sir!" Another spoke. "She threatened us with castration for each, sir!"

"Pitiful! Where is this mare!?" The soldiers pointed their hooves towards the windows.

Shining and his group walked closer to the glass barrier and peered through the windows. There is chaos in one room. Creatures of different races were senselessly beating each other for some reason that the group did not know. And amongst the mess was a unicorn with a broken horn.

"Tempest Shadow!?" Twilight and her friends exclaimed as they discovered the unicorn here of all places.

"Tempest is here to be a Vault Hunter?" Shining could only ask as they watched Tempest suplex a griffin. "Ouch! That gotta hurt!"

Wilhelm held his chin with his robotic hand. "Hmm, I think I'm seeing the second Vault Hunter right here!"

Nisha smirked. "Yeah, look at her ferocity! She's like an animal, and that's what we're lookin' for!"

Shining had enough of this senseless violence, he quickly stormed in to call it off. "Alright, alright! Shows over everyone!"

The whole room froze like a picture, and in the middle of it was Flash Sentry choking another pony with an electric guitar. He smiled sheepishly as he released the pony from his hold. Though his face was hidden by his new gas mask, Twilight and Shining knew who this pony was.

"Flash?" Twilight gasped.

"Who started this!?" Shining demanded an answer.

And all limbs pointed towards the pegasus. "Yeah..."

"Flash," Shining scowled. "why are you here?"

"Why else would he be here, boss?" Nisha approached the two as the others stayed and watched. "He's here to sign up! Now why exactly did you start this fight?"

Flash smiled proudly. "Competition, ma'am, I'm more likely to get the job if most of us are taken care of."

"Dudes right," Dash smirked. "there's only three slots and he's thinking ahead!"

"Hush Dash, it's like if you broke everyone's wings in a Wonderbolt tryouts." Applejack scoffed.

"Yeah, but it's a good plan." Wilhelm commented.

As they were talking about the current situation, Twilight couldn't help feel a little awkward. She had some experience with a different Flash Sentry, and she couldn't help but notice that he was wearing the same jacket. The only difference was the accessories, and that was the mask.

"You okay Twilight?" Starlight couldn't help but notice the alicorn's state. "Is this about Flash?"

"No, no. It's just kinda weird, you know?"

"Yeah, but he's not exactly the one you've met." Starlight reassured her.

"Yes, you're right, still..."

Back with the main topic, both Wilhelm and Nisha were conversing with each other as Shining was scolding Flash for unprofessional behavior that was unbecoming of a Crystal Soldier.

The other creatures could only watch as Shining was tearing him a new ear. "And what exactly do you bring to the table!? From what I've heard, you had lost your Loader bots in seconds!"

"Sir, there was a Goliath that went wild. With all due respect, sir, even our elites would be unable to handle a Goliath, much less a GOD-liath." Flash stood up against his superior, and stared him down.

"Ease up on the guy, Shining." Jack suddenly popped into the conversation. "I mean, look at him! Being so tough with all these guys watchin'. And trust me, I saw him take down two minotaurs!"

Shining sighed deeply and lifted up his Echo to his ear. "Shining here, what do you need, Jack?"

If the room was loud, then everything would have been silenced right now. If you hear the name Jack from anyone else, then you would think nothing of it. But when Shining, the prince of the Crystal Empire says it, then even a child who holds no interest in the world would be curious. The name was mysterious, no one knew who or what Jack had looked like.

The only thing anyone knows, is that he was the brains. Shining's strategist and partner. He was the pony behind Hyperion, the place that manufactured the Loader Bots. And the weapons and armors that were given to the army. And last of all, the one who brought two fearsome warriors, Nisha and Wilhelm.

That's why everyone was interested in who this Jack really was.

Everyone dared not to speak as Jack conversed with Shining. "Shiny, listen, I have been watching this guy from the very start!"

"Wait, you've been spying on everyone here!?" This caused everyone to gasp as their eyes widened, shocked to hear that Jack himself had seen the fight.

"Yes, and there were a lot of promising candidates!" Jack said as he hovered next to Flash.

And Shining knew what he was trying to say. "Jack, no."

"Shining, he's tough, quick, and clever! Just what we need for the team. And that's my final decision, Shining, give him the job so we can look for that artifact."

Shining groaned loudly. "Anything else?"

Though he never needed to, Jack went close to his ear just to whisper. The group of creatures waited, so did Shining's companions. Seconds later, he pulled the Echo away and sighed.

"Would Tempest Shadow please step forward." He called for the unicorn.

Tempest did not hesitate, she walked up and presented herself with pride. "I'm here your highness. Is there a problem?" She really hoped there wasn't, or else she would break Flash's back right there and now.

"There is no problem." Shining straightened himself as he eyed both Flash and Tempest. "Flash Sentry, and Tempest Shadow! Congratulations, you both are now official Vault Hunters!"

"Really!?" Flash was ecstatic.

And as for Tempest, she was passive. "Thank you sir, I'm looking forward to working with you and Flash."

Now that Shining was done with that, he turned to address the rest of the candidates. This was one thing that Shining didn't want to do, but Jack had strict orders, so...

"As you can see, two Vault Hunters were hired right in front of you all! That means there is only one slot left." Shining quickly ushered his Vault Hunters towards the door with his sister and the others. Wilhelm understood what Shining or Jack was planning. "And he had liked Flash's idea, so you may all continue! And no killing!" He said as he pushed everyone out.

The creatures stared at the doors, then at each other. None of them felt like doing it all again. The tension had become awkward, especially now that someone as big as Jack is currently spying on them from a remote location.

But as they were all standing around doing nothing, a single yellow mare with an orange mane had taken a step forward, with a woodcutter axe that was stained with dried blood. Around her forelegs were covered with tattered cloth and around her waist was a belt with a very intimidating combat knife that was pretty big, big enough to gut a Goliath. And on the back of the belt was a butcher's cleaver that definitely had seen some action. The most frightening part of the mare was her cutie mark, three ordinary carrots that were side by side.

She hefted the axe over her shoulders and stretched her back until a pop was heard. She faced the rest with a violent look and a twisted smile. "He said no killing..." She hissed. "But nothing about maiming!"

And Jack was surprised to say the least, he watched the mare as she bashed anyone close enough with the back of her axe and slammed her hoof at anyone who was lucky.

Jack was honestly impressed with her skills, and how quick she was with her enemies. Unlike Tempest and Flash, she was deadly and violent, some might say she's as feral as a Psycho. And as he witnessed her snapping someone's arm like wafer sticks, he knew right then that she was perfect. Jack was quick to leave the building to get Shining back.

This was honestly a success, and Jack wouldn't like it any other way.

Author's Note

That's right, this was my plan all along, Carrot Top is a Vault Hunter!

Here's the line up bois!

Shining Armor
As The Captain

Tempest Shadow
As The Brawler

Flash Sentey
As The Scout

Carrot Top
As The Butcher

And just for fun, I'm gonna think up their skill trees!

Here, have a taste!

Shining Armor
Action Skill: Shield Dome - A defensive dome that absorbs projectile damage until destroyed or end of shield duration. Shield Dome would also be able to push back enemies when activated.

• Shield Bearer: A defensive build that strengthens his defence and ability. It also increases sniper rifle crits and assault rifle damage as well as grenade damage for each stacks of a tier 4 skill.
  Tier 4: Role Of A Tank - Damage that the Dome takes are converted to ROAT stacks, the limit is 10. Each stacks is used on a tier 5 skill which gives bonus damage for assault rifles and grenades, and crits for sniper rifles.
  Tier 5: Counter Strike - ROAT stacks gives crits for sniper rifles, and damage bonuses for grenades and assault rifles.
  Tier 6: Bullet Bounce - Enemy bullets and grenades or any sort of physical projectile would be deflected upon contact with the dome.

• Corpsman: A support build that provides healing and ammo recovery with cool down reduction for Shield Dome.
  Tier 5: Leadership - When entering Fight For Your Life, Shining would activate a barrier that blocks any projectiles in front of him, but too much abuse would destroy the shield.
  Tier 6: Field Medic - Shield Dome heals a percentage of health of nearby allies when activated. (Requires Tier 3 stacks)
  Tier 3: Paper Cut - Any damage that is inflicted on Shining would be converted to Paper Cut stacks, which is required for a Tier 4 and 6 skill.

• Guardsman: Offensive build that favors the sniper rifle, shotgun, and pistol. (Best defense is the best offense)
  Tier 5: Quick Draw - Switching to a pistol gives bonus crits and damage for a few seconds/ Bonus melee damage (There is a cooldown for each switch/ melee strike)
  Tier 6: Siege Engine - Upon reaching 10% of health, Shining would be able to activate a Shield Dome that follows Shining wherever he goes. The shield would also passively deal melee damage during activation. It would also inflict elemental effect of the current weapon in hand as it activates. (This is more of a last ditch effort when things gets too hairy.)

I'm gonna think more and post them on the AN until I'm done. I'm not really gonna go full skill tree.

Maybe I should make blogs just for fun? I'll think about that, yeah!