Just as the city came into view, there was a knocking at our cubicle door. Quickly, Slide-Back drew both of his rather ornate pistols, aimed them subtly at the door, and gestured for me to open. Nodding, I crept up to the door, grasped the handle, and at the count of three, pulled it open. Stood on the other side was a mare I didn't think I'd see again.
"Six?" I laughed, looking at the mare as I opened the door. Slide holstered both pistols, and relaxed. "Didn't think I'd be seeing you again!"
"Neither did I." she replied with a smirk, entering and flinging her hat onto the stand with the grace of...hmmm, I'll get back to you on that. "Thought y'all were dead after the whole 'hit in the face with a brick' fiasco at the battle."
"Battle?" Slide cut in, sitting up, "You were in a battle?"
"Yeah, I was." I replied, shutting the door and taking my seat again beside Six. "About three months ago, there was a threat made by Buffalo, that they'd raid Appaloosa. So, thanks to a Royal weapons shipment, we fought them off for a while. Six Shot and I were on sniping duties, and at that point she was the 'finest pie thrower' in the town, if not county. Anyway, the tower was rammed too many times and it fell over with us inside. I had a brick land on my head, went to hospital, went back home, shit happened, relationship with Luna, more shit, sex with Luna, more shit, wing gets holed, go to hospital again, leave Ponyville, get on train, meet you guys, tell this story. Simple, really."
"Yep." Six sighed, looking at the roof. "Oh, the days when I wasn't hunted by the Royal Guards."
"Same here." I added.
"Agreed." Slide said. "Well Thunder, we're nearly in Crowme: we assassins have dens all over the city. You'll see when we get there."
"Obvious dens?" I asked. "Will I be training there?"
"If you're accepted, yes. That wing with the hole? No problem. Mechanics and doctors we have are some of Equestria's finest...assassins."
"Nice. So I'll eventually end up like you two?"
"Y'all got that right." Six nodded. "Who knows, maybe one o' yer first contracts'll have somethin' to do with that weddin' in Canterlot."
"If it is, I'd hope it's not an assassination on Royalty. I'm already in deep-shit with them as it is." I laughed. "Maybe they won't suspect the stallion with the dodgy wing carrying a loaded rifle up a tower."
"Hmm. Well, we'll find out soon enough if you're assassin material. Before we get there, do you have anything you're particularly proud of that might be 'assassin worthy'?" Slide asked, leaning forward on the table. I leaned back.
"Well, the Afterburner over there, that massive bulky thing, is a flamethrower I built in ten minutes or so during a parasprite invasion." I replied. "I performed a 5 lap run of the Canterlot palace when I first began to date Luna, so that's stamina. I demonstrated RPGs to some lab-boys, and tamed an Ursa Major. So, not much stealth in my life."
"Hmm...maybe there is." Six noted. "You shot that Buffalo right between the eyes, yeah?"
"That I did, go on." I continued.
"Well, then you'll be of use. Y'all can use a rifle, y'all can kill." Six suddenly narrowed her eyes with a smirk. "That is; if y'all can take the guilt that comes with killin'?"
"Is this a trick question?" I snorted. "I already have the responsibility for the deaths of about 10 Diamond Dogs, after my former friends and I chucked them down a deep ravine where Terramorphous the Invincible promptly devoured them. That guilt left. Y'know, because they're just dogs."
"Ha, I suppose." Slide chuckled. "The only thing you'd have to consider is mostly what comes after training. All that needs to be done post-training is getting a signature appearance. I chose a suit, simply because a 47 year old stallion should wear a suit at all times."
"I haven't chosen yet; I haven't completed my darned trainin' at all." Six sighed. "It's the reason I'm comin' t' Crowme, to complete my trainin'."
"Well," I said, thinking of Sniper and Spy's signature looks, "I have some ideas. We nearly there yet?" I looked out of the window. As though on some form of cue, there was a sudden jolt as the train screeched to a sharp halt. The floor shuddered violently, before falling still as the hiss of steam washed over the platform. Outside, many Griffons were stood in important looking outfits, impatiently glaring at their watches. Meanwhile, there were some that just couldn't give a fuck.

"Well, that felt scripted." Slide said. "Answered your question, though. Let's go, I need to teach you two the route to the main den."

The streets felt like I had been truly taken back in time. Market stands were alive with bustling Griffons and ponies, all looking for a good bargain, while small foals and...whatever the hell baby Griffons are called ran the streets in the age old game of 'get the fuck back here so I can shank you in the spleen'. Guard patrols marched past, armed with the latest in wooden sticks with pointy metal bits on the end, and looked around subtly with glares at everything that was even remotely alive. The buildings appeared as though I were back in Pompeii, before the eruption of course. I couldn't help but smile to myself. Now I just need a trip to Nazi Germaney. Then I'll have been in almost every time period, except the future. I can fix that with my MAGIC SKILLZ.
"Welcome to Crowme." Slide-Back grinned, adjusting his suit. "Come, this way." Nodding, Six Shot and I followed the unicorn, walking between mares, stallions, guards, doorways, and Griffons as we trailed our guide. As we rounded a corner, I saw that the alleyway we had entered was dark, lit by a single bulb above a blue door. As we approached, the first thing that hit me was the blood on the door, splattered across the words 'THE UNDERGROUND'.
"Eesh." I whistled. "You gonna knock?"
"No." replied Slide casually. "Oh, and remember to stand on this manhole grid when you enter, preferably within the circle." Before I could ask why, a pneumatic hiss and clatter resounded below, as a golden cage raised up around us, before sealing itself into an elevator.
"Oh, this seems familiar..." I muttered as the lift went down. Slide was unfazed, still with a slight grin on his face, and turned to us.
"You two ready to see your new Base of Operations?" he asked. Excitedly, Six and I nodded. Lights flashed past, and as they did, I could see things going on. A break room, archery range, blacksmiths, armoury, bedrooms; it was a city beneath a city! Finally, the lift began to slow, and on a well timed cue the main hall became visible. Ornate oak furnishings made for an Inventory-like feel, with a bar below, books lining the walls, and lavish red carpets made it feel exactly like the place I dreamed of playing Poker in back on Earth. At the bottom of the elevator shaft stood a mare in royal guard armour. I tensed, expecting everypony else to be a guard. As the lift stopped, I gulped.
"Slide-Back? You home already?" she asked in a rather stereotypical British accent. "And you brought dinner?"
"Depends." Slide grinned back, stepping out of the elevator followed by us. "Fleur, I'd like you to meet Six Shot and Thunder Mustang. They're both experienced in riflework, and at one point worked together."
"Well, this is a find, eh?" the mare called Fleur asked. She seemed to be an exact clone of Fleur de Lis back in Canterlot. "Two assassins in one go? Nice." Fleur trotted over to Six, and looked her down, circling her. "So, how'd you get found, missy?"
"I was one o' the finest pie throwers in Appaloosan country." Six began, her blue eyes following Fleur as she circled. "Then came these rifles, and I found out just how good I was with 'em when Thunder here gave a demonstration. I quit my ol' job at the Salt Cube, figured I could earn more by shootin' and lootin' rather than servin' drinks. After, I hopped on a train t' here, and I met up with these two. You can guess the rest, ma'am."
"So, you recognise me as having higher rank?" Fleur smiled. "Well, that's a good start." Both mares shook hooves, before Fleur turned to me. "And you're Thunder Mustang?" she smirked, narrowing her eyes and circling me as well.
"Yeah, that's me." I replied casually. "And I believe I recognise you as Fleur de Lis, trophy wife of Fancy Pants?" Fleur suddenly scrambled slightly, looking shocked.
"H-How did you kno-" she stuttered.
"Do you remember the days after Equestria Daily published images of a mystery stallion kissing Princess Luna?" I asked. Fleur nodded, still worried. "Well, if you identified the stallion in the image as me, you'd be correct. Back in my hometown, things went slightly bad, and I followed a pair of stallions not against me down a few hidden tunnels to Canterlot. Stayed in the palace for a few days, thanks to some close ties with the Princesses, due to a broken wing. However, my companions left the castle to wander Canterlot. You might remember seeing a charoal black stallion with a Mohawk, and a small green Pegasus with a white mane?"
"They were your companions?" she asked, smiling slightly. "Wow, never would have thought it. But why are you here?"
"My wing." I replied, unfolding the wounded limb for all to see. A few other ponies walking by cringed at the sight, before walking over to hear the tale. "It was holed in a fight with Terramorphous, and when I went to hospital my friends tried convincing me to have an experiment performed on it to have it working again. I said no, and after an argument I left Ponyville with 5000 bits, a home-made flamethrower and a case of minor depression. But, luckily I met Slide-Back here, and here I am."
"Wow, that's quite a tale." Fleur whistled. "And you're apt with weapons?"
"You kidding? I practically invented the things." I snorted. Fleur just laughed.
"We'll see about that, you dashing rogue." she giggled, before raising a hoof to her mouth. "ROOFTOP!" she called. After a second or two, a blur landed beside me with a thump, shocking me quite a bit. Looking down, I saw the figure of a hooded stallion getting up.
"Sup?" he asked, dusting himself off. "New recruits?"
"Yes, these two seem to have some training with weaponry." Fleur said to Rooftop. "Send them up to the double bunking rooms. I think they'll need it after the things they've been through." Rooftop snapped off a salute, before looking at Six and I.
"Follow me you two." he said, "And try to keep up."
With that, the stallion ran, leapt onto a wall, and grabbed a wooden beam nearby, hanging upside-down.
"So? You comin' or what?" he chuckled. Six and I looked at each other, nodded, and ran after the stallion. At that moment, I knew I'd found a good crowd.

Author's Note

Spontaneous competition time!
Artists, Photoshop...ists, people-who-are-better-at-drawing-than-me-ists! I have realised that the story you all seem to love so much appears bland and bleak to those seeing it for the first time. SO! Thus, I am proposing ~~a duel to the death~~ a competition.
I told you to go right requires a cover image, so I believe YOU can be helpful to my EVIL CAUSE OF SUPER-EVIL-ANTI-PROPAGANDA-DESTRUCTION-INSERTOTHERWORDSHERE! Put your skills to the test, and use your imagination, pencils, crayons, breast-milk, and Napalm to create a cover image depicting one of the following:

The six guys and Mane six stood side by side, cautiously glaring at each other
Thunder being a psychopath, whilst Twilight facehoofs
The guys in armour, cowering behind a rock from Terry
One of the guys riding Steve!
Some part of the story that induced masses of LOL.
Just send a message containing a link to your entry, I'll draw the winner.
Prize: ~~the ability to be proud of the fact that you won~~ Your OC, with a speaking part, as a major side-character! (If...that makes sense? Probably not.)

BEGIN ENTERING, MINIONS! DOODLE WITH YOUR NAPALM!