Advent Of A Gunslinger

Soon enough, their airships would touch down once they had approached Klugetown from about a mile away to avoid being spotted. Whatever happened next rested entirely on Mio’s shoulders and the tom was prepared to set his idea into motion.

“Alrighty, amigos, we’re here,” Vido said as his ship came to a stop. “What’s our next move?”

“Leave that to me,” Mio said as he flicked his tail. He then turned to Spitha and said, “Love--gonna need you to stay above ground and attack with the minotaurs. Your scales are the most impervious to bullets so you’ll have the easiest time against them. There’s no way their energy weapons are even usable yet.”

The dragoness hesitated for a moment, unsure if she wanted to part with him. Ultimately, she had to cave and put her faith in the tom’s ideas. “...Alright, Mio. I’ll be waiting for you up here. Don’t…kick the bucket. Please?”

“I promise,” he replied as he planted a kiss on her cheek. “I love you. Now get ready.”

“Love you too, dear,” Spitha replied before spreading her wings and taking off.

“Now…” Axel trotted up to him moments later to discuss the nature of his plan. “Who exactly is gonna help us get underground?”

Mio turned to him and chuckled. “You really haven’t figured it out yet? It’s only because of your actions that I was able to convince them to help us.”

“For Novo’s sake--who--” From the corner of his eye, he was able to see…

Queen Fiona Floppyears and a small army of 100 Diamond Dog guards from Canina. Curiously, they were all wearing distinct, ‘Western’ attire. Cowboy boots, cowboy hats, vests, ponchos, the works…

“Mr. Remington! Mr. Thuong!” the golden lab called out to them, “We’re here to help! You want us to dig underground and create large enough passageways for you all to get through, correct?”

“Now that’s quite the surprise,” Kora commented as she walked up alongside them, “But welcome all the same.”

“Woah, it’s you?!” Vido squawked upon seeing them all, “Way out here? You guys really wanted to help us, didn’t you?”

“Of course,” Fiona replied, “We wanted to repay you for the hard work you all did to uncover those nasty hyena folk beyond our borders. Once a third party got involved, we were able to move in legally.”

Axel scratched the back of his head. The whole situation somewhat eluded him, but he went along with it. “...I ain’t much for politics, but I’ll accept yer gratitude, ma’am. What’s with the getups, though?” he asked, noting her western-themed attire.

“Oh, this?” Fiona tilted her hat upwards, “I figured that I may as well blend in, ya know? I’mma be fightin’ right alongside ya’ll so you ain’t got a thing to worry about.”

Fleche flew down, landing in front of them moments later. “Aye. Looks like my wee brother has made his name known across the eight continents, eh?” She gave Axel a friendly nudge via her wing, “Plannin’ on romancin’ the canids as well?”

“Wh--no,” Axel answered flatly before rolling his eyes. “Very funny, sis. But now ain’t the time fer muckin’ around.”

Mio stepped forward and caught the dog queen’s attention. “Miss. We need you and your fellow canines to dig tunnels for all of us to travel through underground. It’s the only surefire method we’ll have in order to take them out cleanly.”

“You got it,” Fiona replied as she turned to her subjects, “Everyone, follow me!”

Meanwhile, Vido, having already cocked his rifle, made his own decision on where to go. “I’m staying above ground with Celaeno and the others.”

“Wait, what?!” Kora hissed, turning to face the griffon. “If you’re doing that, then I’m going with you. I won’t let you out of my sight again, Vido.”

Since there wasn’t much room to argue, Vido accepted these terms. “No problem, gata. Let’s get a move on. I’ll take charge up here.”

Axel stepped up to the griffon and tapped a single claw-finger upon his chest. “You get back here alive. Ya hear?”

“I hear ya, don’t worry,” Vido replied with a nod, “Mama is still waiting for me back home.”

From nearby, Celaeno’s crew would make their appearance…

“I pretty much heard everything,” said the parrot lady, “I’m ready to go when you are, Vido.”

“Ya. This will be the start of a new era,” Chang chimed in, “One where everything shall be ruled fairly…”

Nearby, the osprey known as ‘Monocrow’ could be seen smoking a cigar. “My sister’s up there. Save her for me. Otherwise, do whatever you want.”

“Aw, c’mon, mate--ya ain’t gonna catch no trouts with ya beak flappin’ like that,” his vulture companion, Rusty, commented next to him, “This’ll be over before we know it.”

“Alright--gather your armor and follow me, amigos!” Vido took off alongside the latter group as they gathered themselves up in their metal plating, leaving Axel, Fleche, Mio, and the Diamond Dogs to travel underground.

“Guess it’s just us…” said the gunslinger. “You ready for this, sis?”

“Aye--as ready as I’ll ever be, brother,” she flexed her wings, “These numpty bastards ain’t got nary a clue what’s comin’ fer ‘em. Right, Mr. Cat?”

“It would appear that way, yes,” Mio replied, “I have confidence in all of our efforts.”

However, someone was missing. A certain cow-shaped young woman.

“Hang on, Axel,” Roseanne called out moments later. “You think I’mma just leave you behind? You’re like family’ta me at this point, ya know?”

Everyone turned in her direction. The minotaur gal was already armored up and ready to fight with her gun at the ready.

“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” Axel replied--smiling beneath his mask, something Fleche was all too quick to point out.

“Yer smilin’...I can tell,” she said while nudging him with one of her wings. “Feels good’ta see ya happy again…like the old days.”

“In a way…it feels like the old days already. Now let’s go.”