Caught Red Hooved

A few moments later they arrived at the Library. "Welcome to my humble abode." Twilight said as she opened the door.

"You really live here, Miss Sparkle?" Tobias asked

"Yes I do." She led them in. "Spike you awake?"

Red groaned in pain. "I feel like ow."

"Wow is he out of it?" Rainbow laughed.

"We should let him rest."

"There's a bed upstairs, Tobias."

"Thank you Miss Sparkle." Tobias carried Red up the stairs and laid him on the bed. Something moved at his feet Tobias looked down and saw somthing that resembled a dog bed, but what slept inside was not a dog. "What are you little fellow." He lifted the blanket to get a better look. "Well I'll be damned."

The purple reptile opened its eyes and stared at the hulking beast before him. "Hello." He managed to stutter.

"You must be Spike, I am Tobias I may not look it, but I'm a friend."

"It's nice to meet you, Tobias." Spike responded still a bit terrified. "Who's that?"

"My friend Frederick."

"What's wrong with him?"

"I do not know, that is why we are here."

"Well if I can do anything to help I will."

"Thank you Spike I'm not sure what to do, I am a soldier not a medic." Tobias shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "Is there any place I can sit?"

"Well we have a balcony, fresh air and quiet." Spike walked over to a door and opened it.

"Thank you Spike, they're waiting downstairs for you." Tobias ducked through the small door onto the balcony and shut the door behind him. He took a deep breath of the fresh air. "Aah I had forgotten what fresh air smelled like, and I forgot what quiet was." Tobias spoke to himself, and took another deep breath. "And to think it took total disaster for me to remember what it truly feels like to be at home." Tobias closed his eyes and took a very deep breath. Moments later he opened them and found himself in a dark room.

"Tobias Terrance, you are a piece of work, ya know that?" A man said as he walked through the door and sat down. "So you thought you could just run forever? That we'd never catch you. I'm gonna be honest wit ya we did too."

"I love a good challenge my friend." Tobias raised his hands and layed them on the table. "Are these really necessary?"

"No I suppose not." The man placed a key on the table and slid it over to Tobias. "Don't make me regret that."

"Thank you. I just believe in fighting fair."

"A mercenary with a moral code, ya know you never cease to amaze me, you look like a Toby can I call ya Toby."

"I don't see why not, but you tell me yours first."

"The name's James Lanche, here." James took a folder from his briefcase and slid it over. "I know all about you, it's only fair."

"Well Mister Lanche, I think you are trusting me a little to soon." Tobias opened the folder. "Let's see, James Lanche, C.I.A. former United States military awarded a Purple Heart at the age of nineteen, Interesting read, and it's just that. Isn't it Mister Lanche?"

"Alright ya got me Toby, what now?"

"Well Mister Lanche first you will tell me why I am here. Then we'll see."

"Okay we know that you have a questionable past, I mean c'mon your file is only one page thick. You ran from us Tobias, I think that raises a few questions. Like why, or what happened."

"I have fulfilled hundreds of contracts in the U.S. alone."

"Yeah we know, that's why you're here, we need your expertise."

"I've seen the movies you plan to waive all of my offenses if I help solve a problem."

"Something like that." James took another file out and slid it over to Tobias. "This is your target, his name is Trent Alveen, he's escaped our custody and needs to be dealt with quietly."

"Hmm, what do you need me for it's sounds like a simple fix."

"The simplicity stops there Alveen is a big player in the mexican drug cartel, and the black market."

"So he has alot of hands and can arm them easily."

"That's not all Tobias.."

"Just tell me where he is and that's all I need."

"Argentina."

"Good day Mister Lanche."

"Good luck Tobias." The two men shook hands and went their seperate ways.

"Hmm, Argentina." Tobias smiled and walked out the door to the chilly autumn air. A cold breeze blew through his hair. "Mother nature never leaves her children uncradled." The plane trip was a long one and after a long nap he arrived. Once Tobias arrived he went underground. "This Trent Alveen has a lot of friends, so this may be difficult." He navigated the Argentinan underground to the alledged warehouse where Alveen was hiding. What he found was exactly what he thought the temporary home of the target. "Hello is anyone in there?"

A small opening in the door slid open. "What do you want?" A gruff voice with a hispanic accent asked.

"Alveen."

"You got money."

"Are U.S. dollars acceptible?"

"Si si U.S. money is fine, if you have enough."

"I assure you I have more than enough."

"Come in." The man opened the door.

"Gracias, Amigo." Tobias followed the man

"Show me the money."

"Is this enough?" Tobias set down a wad of cash.

"Yes this should be enough." The man picked up the money and counted it. "Yes It is plenty. What is your fancy?" The man walked over to a door and opened it. "I got everything from knives to RPGs take your pick."

"Hmm I like this knife." Tobias picked up a dark green hunting knife. "And that Magnum .45." He picked up the gun. "And Alveen."

"Yes?"

"Adios." Tobias pointed the Magnum right at Alveen's face.

"Please don't hurt me." Alveen pleaded. "Let me live money is no object you can have every weapon here."

"Hmm I don't think so." Tobias pulled the trigger. The loud noise jolted him back to conciousness. He looked around and found a full moon above him and Luna beside him. "Princess Luna how nice of you to come and check on us."

"Tobias you are different from the other humans I have met."

"How so Princess?"

"You kill, but with a sense of honor. You give your opponents many chances to kill you, and you only need one."

"I have always thought that a man should never be killed without a chance to defend himself."

"I agree completely. I must return to the castle farewell Tobias."

"Farewell Princess." Tobias waved her off and went inside. Red was still asleep on Twilight's bed. "Any luck Spike?" He walked down the stairs and found everypony was asleep. "Well that answers that question. I'd better try to sleep some more. Tobias returned to the balcony after putting Spike back in his bed and covering the ponies with blankets. "Good night everypony."