The Unforgiven

Chapters

Chapter 1: The last crusade
Chapter 2: Missing
Chapter 3: The brothers
Chapter 4: Slaves?
Chapter 5: Get of my lawn
Chapter 6: Years ago
Chapter 7: Twisted lies
Chapter 8: Plan B
Chapter 9: I blame me
Chapter 10: Earned in blood
Chapter 11: Bullet with your name on it
Chapter 12: I lied
Chapter 13: Forgiven
Chapter 14: His forgiveness

Chapter 1: The last crusade

The Everfree forest was calm. The air was still and the temperature was only somewhat discomforting. Birds chirped and a lone gust of wind blew in the forest.

Suddenly a group of hooves accompanied by a single set of feet thrashed through the forest undergrowth. Giggles could be heard as three fillies trotted along fairly quickly. A small purple dragon behind them.

“And ah’m sayin tain’t no way we’re gettin a cutie mark by simply walkin through the Everfree” said the southern voice of the young filly known as Applebloom. Scootaloo face-hoofed, “Well duh, we have to adventure. Like Daring Do… that mare from the books that Rainbow Dash always reads. If we get adventuring cutie marks we’d be the coolest fillies in school”.

The trio continued on with Spike trailing close behind them. “Uhm… girls… why exactly am I here again?” he asked hesitantly. They all stopped and looked back to Spike. “Awe come on Spike, what’s the worst that could happen?” Sweetie Bell asked acting like nothing at all could go wrong. “Well… for starters we could run into a group of pony eating Timberwolves and” Spike began but Scootaloo cut him off as she began to make chicken noises. “Hey look, Spike’s a chicken” Scootaloo teased.

Spike frowned. “Hey I’m no chicken… I just don’t know if it’s safe to be in here” he said cautiously. Scootaloo continued to taunt him as she made chicken noises. “Alright! Cut it out already, I was just asking why I’m here” he told them with irritation in his voice from Scootaloo’s teasing.

“Oh come on Spike, it ain’t that bad. Besides it’s only a quick walk through the forest” Applebloom assured her dragon friend. “Okay whatever you say. But this place creeps me out” Spike said as they continued ‘adventuring’ through the forest.

Soon they came to a large fence with several signs reading ‘Keep Out’ or ‘No trespassing, violators will be prosecuted’. “Ooooooo spooooooky” Scootaloo said in her best scary voice, which didn’t frighten her filly friends but made Spike shake in fear.

“Come on, let’s go see what’s inside” Scootaloo said but Spike grabbed her shoulder to stop her. “Hold on Scootaloo… the signs say to keep out… I think we should listen” Spike stammered. Scootaloo made more chicken sounds, “Spike the chicken” she teased. “I’m not a chicken… I just don’t think it would be a good idea to go in there” Spike told her. Scootaloo raised the bottom of the fence linkage and allowed her friends to sneak under the fence.

Applebloom looked back. “Come on Spike, it’ll be fun ah promise” she told him. “Yeah and besides, you could always tell my sister that you heroically defended us in the Everfree. I’m sure that’ll make her melt in your arms like butter” Sweetie Bell squeaked.

Spike fantasized about Rarity. ‘Ooh Spike… you were so courageous the way you saved my sister from imminent demise… please kiss me’ the imaginary Rarity said. Spike lost track of what was going on and began to make the motions like he was going to make out with Rarity.

In his lack of attention he didn’t realize that it looked more like he was trying to kiss Scootaloo. “Hey knock it off, I’m not Rarity” Scootaloo piped up. Spike quickly shook off his fantasy and focused at the task at hand. “Oh… all right, but make sure you tell your sister that you were helpless against a Manticore and that I came to your rescue” Spike said as he crawled under the fence.

“Yeah, sure… I’m sure she’ll melt in your arms like butter” Sweetie Bell said casually as the group continued into the perimeter. “Oh man, if Twilight finds out I’m gonna be grounded for a month” Spike muttered to himself. “Oh stop worrying so much. Everything will be fine” Scootaloo told the worried dragon.

As they continued Scootaloo became bored. “Man… why would some-pony want us to stay out of here? It just looks just like the rest of the forest” she complained. “Maybe because of that giant metal monster made entirely of scrap metal!” Spike blurted out in fear and pointed at a large formation of scrap metal.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders all laughed at Spike’s fear of the scrap metal pile. “You silly, that’s just a scrap yard” Sweetie Bell squeaked. Spike realized that she was right and let out a relived sigh. “Hey come on, maybe we can get our cutie marks in… whatever it is that gives you a cutie mark from scrap metal” Scootaloo suggested.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Scrap Metal WORKERS!” they cheered and rushed off, Applebloom grabbing Spike by his hand and dragging him along with them. They approached the entrance to the scrap yard and Scootaloo gawked in awe as she gazed upon the scrap yard.

“Whoa… this place is sooo awesome. Hey we should make this our new secret clubhouse” Scootaloo told the others. “I don’t think that would be a good idea. Some-pony probably already owns this” Spike said fearfully, not wanting to be here any longer.

Applebloom looked over to the worried dragon. “Oh come on Spike, what’s the worst that could happen? A giant metal monster bursts out and eats us?” she asked and Spike nodded. “Yeah that’s a good reason, let’s get out of here before that happens” Spike said hastily.

But as he turned to run Applebloom held onto his hand with her hoof. Spike tried to run but couldn’t, his feet kicked up dust as he tried furiously to break free from her grasp. “Come on Spike, yah ain’t gonna leave us all alone are yah?” she asked. Spike cursed himself for going along with them. ‘Why did I let myself get into this?’ Spike asked himself then sighed as he reluctantly followed the others into the scrap yard.

Scootaloo was fascinated by every little piece of junk she came across. Sweetie Bell looked to a few interesting things but nothing really caught her interest. “Hey cool look at this!” Scootaloo called out to her friends. The others walked over to see some machine that kind of looked like the mechanical skeleton of a pony. “What do you think it is?” Scootaloo asked. “Ah duh-know, maybe it’s some sort a deformed freak a nature that’s gonna rise from the scrap yard grave and chase us tah the ends a Equestria” Applebloom laughed.

“Hey girls look… it’s some sorta… thing” Sweetie Bell called out as she banged on a large metal plate on the side of some sort of carriage. They all trotted over. “What do you think it was?” she asked the others. It had a sort of box like shape with tires and only bits of its original green colour were left. There was some writing on the side that had been faded out over the years.

Scootaloo squinted her eyes as she tried to read the writing. “Myst… myst… mysty… mysty macine… what the hay is that supposed to mean?” she asked then banged on the side of the metal carriage looking thing. “Can we please go… I don’t like it here” Spike pleaded.

“Oh come on Spike. This is excitin” Applebloom told her friend. “No it’s not… it’s nerve racking” he replied. “Exactly, that’s what makes it fun” Applebloom told him but he was still fear ridden.

“Come on, let’s go explore some more” Scootaloo said and both she and Sweetie Bell trotted off as Applebloom tried to convince her friend to come with them. “I don’t like this… Applebloom can we please go” Spike pleaded, almost in tears. Applebloom sighed to herself and quickly leaned forwards, pressing her lips up to his. Spike was caught off guard from the sudden advance.

He came to odds with himself and embraced her then very slowly she pulled back from the kiss. “Yah ain’t gonna leave me here all alone are yah?” Applebloom asked as she fluttered her eyes. Spike was choked up and couldn’t seem to talk, his heart was fluttering.

‘Did she just… Applebloom just kissed me… on the lips!’ Spike thought to himself. “Ooooh, Applebloom and Spike sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N” Scootaloo began but then suddenly Sweetie Bell screamed and ran past them. Scootaloo turned around just as a large stallion charged forwards and clocked her square in the face with a baton, knocking her out cold.

“Ruuuuunnnnn” Sweetie Bell screamed. Spike and Applebloom both turned to run but the stallion lept on them and tackled them to the ground. Sweetie Bell raced around the corner and slide underneath a pile of scrap metal. She was breathing heavily in fear. Three large stallions raced past her. “Where the fuck’d she go… spread out!” ordered a terrifying voice.

She waited for a few minutes then snuck out from under the pile of metal. ‘I’ll go get sis, she’ll make everything right’ Sweetie Bell thought to herself as she raced back to where she thought she had come in. But as she turned another corner she realized that she was lost inside the scrap yard.

She thought to herself quickly ‘If I just go in one direction than I’ll have to find the end of this place eventually’. She ran straight forwards. “HEY THERE SHE IS!” yelled a voice. Sweetie Bell scampered along and a big stallion burst out from behind a pile of metal. She dove between his legs and quickly scurried along.

“Get her!” ordered a voice. She skidded around a corner then lept into a crevice inside a wall of metal. Several stallions charged passed without even noticing her. Sweetie Bell turned around to run but as she turned around she found herself looking down the barrel of a Model 29 .44 magnum revolver. “Dumb bitch” said the stallion as he slammed the hilt of the revolver into her forehead, knocking her out cold.

“I GOT HER” the stallion yelled out. The others quickly regrouped. “Hey Daffodil… I think the bosses are gonna be pleased with this catch” said one of the stallions as he held up Applebloom who was struggling to break free. The stallion known as Daffodil stepped forwards and examined the young filly. He let out an evil smile “Yes… yes indeed… I think the bosses will be extremely pleased”

Chapter 2: Missing

Twilight finished writing her note to Celestia. ‘Where is Spike when you need him?’ she asked herself as she looked out the window. It was getting very late and she had explicitly told him to be home before dark. “That dragon never listens to me” Twilight muttered to herself as she looked to her clock to see that it was 8:30pm. She came to bear with the thought that he was probably at Rarity’s or something.

Twilight heard a knock from the front door. “Spike can you…” Twilight frowned as she remembered Spike still wasn’t home. She sighed then trotted down the stairs and to the front doors. As she opened the front door she was greeted by both Rarity and Applejack who both had looks of worry on their faces.

“Uhm… hi girls. Is something wrong?” Twilight asked curiously. “Twilight, darling please tell me the girls are here with Spike” Rarity pleaded frantically. “Uhm… no, they’re not. Last I checked Spike had gone out with the girls to go crusading or something along those lines” Twilight replied rather casually.

“Oh no… Twi, can we have a quick word with yah?” Applejack asked. “Uhm… sure I guess. Come on inside, I’ll” Twilight began but suddenly Rainbow Dash crashed through her window. “TWILIGHT!” Rainbow Dash yelled out but then spotted her friends and quickly dashed over.

“Scootalooins’thomeandweweresupposedto” Rainbow Dash blurted out but Applejack stuffed her hoof in her friend’s mouth. Rainbow Dash continued to rant on even with her friend’s hoof stuffed in her mouth. “Easy RD, easy. Just calm down. We’re all on the same page as yah” Applejack told her friend calmly.

“Okay… so what’s going on?” Twilight asked. Rarity let out a cry of dramatic stress. “Oh it’s just awful Twilight, absolutely awful. Just unbearably terribly awful” Rarity said as she flung her hoof to her forehead and fell back as she pretended to faint. No-pony caught her and she crashed into the floor with a THUD.

“Ouch! Hey, you were supposed to catch me AJ” Rarity scowled at her friend, Applejack just rolled her eyes. “Yeah anyway… Twilight our sisters are missin and we knew they was out with Spike so we were wonderin if they had come here” Applejack told her lavender coloured friend.

“Hmm… that is strange… I wonder where they could be” Twilight muttered to herself. “What about Pinkie’s?” Rainbow Dash asked frantically. “Hmm… well Spike does like pastries… I guess Pinkie might let them in after hours” Twilight said and the group quickly rushed out of the library and down the streets of Ponyville to the shop known as Sugarcube Corner.

Rainbow Dash didn’t even knock and simply opened the doors then rushed in. “Oh my, why hello Dash. I’m sorry but we’re closed right now and” Mrs. Cake began but the frantic pegasus cut her off. “Where’s Pinkie, it’s important” Dash told her. “Oh well… she’s upstairs in her room. I think she’s” Mrs. Cake began but the group rushed upstairs to find Pinkie.

Mrs. Cake watched them race away. “Always glad to help” she called out to the group then shrugged as she wondered what all that was about. Pinkie was in her room playing with an assortment of balls and other such toys.

The group burst into her room. “Pinkie! Have you seen our sisters… and Spike?” Rarity asked in a hurry. Pinkie looked up to them. “Well yeah, they came by this afternoon to eat” she replied casually then continued to launch a bouncy ball that sped across the room at speeds comparable to Rainbow Dash.

“Did they say where they were going?” Twilight asked. Pinkie nodded “Yep, they said they were going to the Everfree forest to adventure” Pinkie replied without a care in the world. “THE EVERFREE FOREST!” the group all screamed in unison, Pinkie scrunched her nose. “Yeah, that’s what I said” she replied as she continued to bounce her bouncy ball across the room.

“Well maybe they’re at Fluttershy’s, come on girls let’s go” Applejack said as she grabbed Pinkie and they rushed off. “HEY! NOOOO MR. BOUNCY BALL!” Pinkie cried out.

As they passed the front desk Pinkie reached out and grabbed a beautiful cake from the counter and swallowed it whole.

“Mmmm I love cake” she giggled to herself as she slurped the icing from her lips. The group now rushed to Fluttershy’s cottage. It was extremely late and they all hoped that Fluttershy would still be up.

Rainbow Dash went to barge through the door but found that it was locked. “Hey hotshot, maybe yah should try knockin fer a change” Applejack chuckled as she knocked on Fluttershy’s door. “Oh, coming… just one moment” Fluttershy called out in her timid little voice.

She opened the door to her cottage and saw her friends standing in front of her doorway. “Oh hello girls… I didn’t realize that you would be out so late” Fluttershy said. “Fluttershy, are our sisters here… and Spike” Dash asked. “Well no, but I did see them today. They said they were going adventuring” Fluttershy told the group.

“Fluttershy, quick, come with us. We need to track them down. They’re in the Everfree forest” Twilight told her timid pegasus friend. Fluttershy’s jaw dropped. “The… the… the Everfree forest… but Twilight… I don’t know… it’s kind of late” she replied. “Fluttershy! Our sisters are in the forest and they could need our help!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. Fluttershy perked up from her friend’s comment.

“Oh dear… okay, well let’s go. But we have to be very careful. It’s not safe at night” Fluttershy said and with that the entire group rushed out of the cottage and into the Everfree forest.

* * *

Hours later:

It was getting late, very late. Fluttershy had found the trail of the group of missing ponies, and dragon, and was following it intently.

“Spike is sooo grounded when I find him. I’ve told him dozens of times not to go out into the Everfree” Twilight muttered to herself. “Yeah, same with Applebloom. She’s got a lot a explainin tah do” Applejack muttered.

Soon they came across a large terrifying fence. Several signs warned every-pony to keep out, but the more terrifying thing was the razor wire at the top of the fence. “They went in under the fence” Fluttershy informed the group as she pointed to their tracks that went under the fence.

“Oh great… so what do we do now?” Rarity asked. “We go in there and get our sisters… and dragon, and then we get outta here” Dash replied. “Oh no, I am most certainly not going to get myself dirty crawling under that god awful fence. We’ll have find another way around” Rarity argued.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing!” boomed a loud voice. Every-pony froze from the scary voice. They all turned to see three stallions walked up to them. “We’re here tah… tah get our sisters. They went wanderin off and… and never came home” Applejack told the stallions who were now only a few feet away from the group.

One of the stallions stepped forwards. He had a terrifying revolver resting in a hip holster. “Don’t suppose they had a dragon with them?” the stallion asked. Twilight’s ears perked up from the question. “Yeah, they did. Have you seen them? Where are they?” Twilight asked in a hurry.

The stallion grunted. “They’re being detained for trespassing. They’re in their holding cells at the station” he told the group. Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Twilight all let out a relieved sigh. “Oh thank you so much for keeping our little sisters safe. Please can we go get them now?” Rarity asked in a very feminine voice as she fluttered her eyes at the stallion.

The stallion was taken off guard from her very seducing tone. “Uhm… You’d have to… talk to the bosses” the stallion stammered. “Well, could yah take us tah the bosses?” Applejack asked bluntly. The sudden bluntness shook off the daze he had from Rarity’s femininity. “Yes, follow me” the stallion said and led them to a group military Jeeps with M240 machineguns mounted on swiveling pivots.

“AJ… darling… next time allow me to do all the talking” Rarity whispered as they approached the Jeeps. Applejack leaned over to whisper back to her friend “Next time try not tah sweet talk some-pony with scary guns”.

The group hesitantly approached the Jeeps. “Well hop in. It’s a long walk to the station” the stallion told them. They all took a deep gulp as they embarked into the military class vehicles.

Chapter 3: The brothers

The Jeeps drove along the rough trail and the occupants felt every bump. The stallion with the large revolver drove one Jeep with the mares while the other Jeep had a stallion driving with the other stallion operating the mounted machinegun. The Jeeps stopped a few yards away from the front steps of a fairly large building.

The building was seven stories high with several glass panels for windows. “Come with me, and don’t try to take any detours. The bosses want to talk to you about you sisters” the stallion told the group. “And my dragon?” Twilight asked. The stallion nodded, “Yeah, and your dragon” he replied as he led the group towards the building.

The front doors were guarded by two stallions with battle saddles mounted on their backs. Each stallion had twin M249 SAWs mounted onto their saddle. The stallion gave them a salute which they returned as they allowed them to pass.

As they entered the front lobby Twilight was awestruck. Despite being in the Everfree forest, this place was absolutely incredible. “Please don’t deter. This way” the stallion ordered them. They all followed the stallion to an elevator which they took to the top floor.

The elevator pinged as it reached its destination and let the occupants out. The stallion led them down a hallway filled with office doors until they came to a door that read ‘F&F executive office’. “The bosses are waiting inside” the stallion told them as he motioned for them to enter. “Why thank you darling, you have been all too kind” Rarity said politely as they opened the door and entered the office.

The office was pristine and orderly. Behind a large desk was two very large office chairs that were currently facing away from the group. The large stallion outside closed the door to give them some privacy.

“Uhm… hi, we’re here tah pick up our sisters and dragon” Applejack told the two ponies who were sitting in the chairs. “Why dearest brother, I would remember that voice anywhere” said a young peppy voice. Every-ponies’ jaw dropped as the office chairs swung around.

“Yes indeed fair brother. It appears that it’s our old friends from Ponyville” Flam said enthusiastically. “Why yes brother. I do remember now” said Flim then they proceeded to make a song and danced around playfully.

The brothers stopped their gig and sat back down. “Cider?” Flam asked. Rainbow Dash nodded, “Please” she replied and Flim clapped his hooves. Several servant ponies entered the room with trays of cider.

“Please, sit down, sit down. Make yourselves comfortable” Flam offered. The group accepted their offer as they sat down, each with a cup of cider. Well minus Pinkie who slurped up several cups of cider all by herself.

“Uhm… thanks fer the hospitality” Applejack said hesitantly. “Oh please, no need for the polite manners. We’re all friends here. Now please relax” Flim told her. The group let out a sigh of relief. They all figured that the brothers would be rather scorned after what happened to them after the whole incident back on Sweet Apple Acres. Rumors had it that the brothers ran into financial difficulties after the whole ordeal and simply fell of the face of Equestria. Several ponies claimed that they had committed suicide, Applejack was thankful that those rumors were false.

“Wow, this is really good” Dash told the brothers as she finished her cider. “Yes, why thank you for the compliment. It is our finest grade of cider… I must apologize for our rude behaviour during that whole ordeal a while back. Truly we are sorry” Flam told the mares.

“Oh don’t sweat it. It’s over an in the past” Applejack assured the brothers. “Yes, well to any of which, may we ask why exactly you come here at such a late hour?” Flam asked. “Yeah well our sisters were out tryin tah get their cutie marks and a stallion told us that yah had them here, safe” Applejack informed them.

“Oh… so it was your sisters that were in our scrapyard… I see well that would explain it then” Flim said casually. “Yeah, they tend tah get outta hoof sometimes when we ain’t watchin them” Applejack chuckled. Flim and Flam both laugh heartily. “Yes well aren’t young foals always like that?” Flam laughed.

“Yes indeed, why I remember one time Sweetie Bell hacked up some finely woven quilts to try and make a parachute” Rarity laughed as they engaged in small talk. They all began to laugh and converse with each other like old friends getting together after a long time away.

“Well I do say that it is quite dangerous out there. They were very lucky to have that dragon with them” Flim told the mares. “Yes, little Spikey Wikey is quite the brave young dragon isn’t he?” Rarity asked rhetorically. “Yes indeed he is” Flam replied.

Twilight checked the clock on the wall, it was past midnight. “Oh… I hate to bring this to a close but it’s getting late. Maybe we can catch up another time. Can we have our sisters and dragon back so we can be going?” Twilight asked, almost certain that they’d say yes after the whole friendly conversation they just had.

“No” Flam said casually. All the mares’ faces went from smiling and bubbly to expressionless faces. “Alright, enough jokin. We really need tah be on our way” Applejack chuckled. “Oh we’re not joking. You can’t have your sisters back” Flim said casually, almost like it wasn’t a big deal.

“WHAT!” all the mares screamed in unison. “Well it’s very simple. The law states that any trespasser on Flim and Flam Enterprise HQ will be detained and put to work until further notice” Flam told them as he brought out a small law book. “That’s horse apples. Tain’t no law that says that” Applejack yelled.

“Well maybe not in the civil lands but you have to remember that this isn’t Ponyville or Canterlot. This is the Everfree” Flim told them. “That’s stupid give us back our sisters” Rainbow Dash yelled. Flam twitted his hooves. “Well… I suppose you could have your sisters back… if you sign over the deed to Sweet Apple Acres” Flam bargained.

“No way, no how” Applejack yelled. “That’s enough give us back our sisters or else” Twilight threatened. Flim and Flam both laughed. “Or else what?” both brothers asked in unison. “Or Celestia will have you arrested and brought to justice” Twilight told them. “Yes well that’s quite funny. If Celestia was to try and arrest us for nothing it would be a clear act of war in which we would have to retaliate” Flam told them.

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Yeah? You and what army?” she asked tauntingly. Flim stood up and pointed out the window to a very large army base. “That one” he replied.

Outside in the army base were grotesque pony creatures. They had black fur with a reddish outline around their entire body. Blood dripped from several of them. “Dear sweet Celestia! What are those horrid creatures?” Rarity gasped.

Flim and Flam both laughed. “Why they are The Bloody Hooves of course. They are what’s left of their bodies and souls after they died in the forest. If you were to try and have Celestia arrest us then we would declare war… and believe me, those ponies out there aren’t going to think twice about killing ponies” Flam told her with darkness in his voice.

“Now, like you were saying. It’s getting late so you should be on your way. I’ll have Daffodil escort you out of the forest safely. Tootle-loo” Flam said. The mares all turned to leave. “Oh and I wouldn’t try breaking them out either. This place is very-very secure” Flim told them as they left.

Applejack slammed the door as they left the office. The stallion, whose name was Daffodil, approached them. “The bosses have ordered me to escort you out of the forest. Please follow me this way” Daffodil told them. “Oh… well, being such a big and manly stallion like yourself, I don’t suppose that you could bring us to our sisters” Rarity said seductively.

Daffodil’s face was ice cold. His eyes gleamed and struck fear into the mares. “No. Now come with me” he said coldly and began to lead them out of the building.

Chapter 4: Slaves?

“But Celestia! Those are our sisters that they have kidnapped!” Rarity cried out. Celestia let out a defeated sigh.

“And I am truly sorry but there is nothing we can do at the moment. But rest easy in knowing that they are safe” Celestia told them.

“Those good fer nothin scammers” Applejack cursed. Celestia sighed as Applejack cursed to herself, mostly cursing Flim and Flam.

“If things were different then perhaps we could just go in and take your sisters and Spike back… but if they have The Bloody Hooves helping them…” Celestia trailed off as she shuddered.

“Princess… what are The Bloody Hooves?” Twilight asked. Luna stepped up beside her sister. “The Bloody Hooves are the remains of tormented souls that roam the Everfree, feeding on those they come across. Any-pony that is killed by The Bloody Hooves are turned into… one of them” Luna told them with seriousness in her voice. The information made the element bearers all shudder.

“So why would they help Flim and Flam?” Twilight asked. Luna shrugged, “Perhaps the brothers have something that they want… no-pony really knows” Luna replied.

Celestia nodded, “Regardless, I would be appreciative if you didn’t go meddling into their property again. Rash actions could lead to severe consequences for Equestria” Celestia told them. Twilight nodded, “Thank you princess… it’s late, we’ll come by later when we can think of something to do” Twilight sighed and with that the element bearers trotted off.

As the six mares left, Luna stepped beside her sister. “This is terrible… if The Bloody Hooves are helping them then what’s stopping them from invading Equestria?” Luna asked worriedly. Celestia looked out to the Everfree and sighed.

The white alicorn princess looked to her younger sister with weary eyes. “Not very much I’m afraid” she told her younger sister.

The element bearers trotted to the train station. “Ohhhhh this is just awful… just absolutely tragic. What are we going to do?” Rarity said in heavy distraught. The group embarked on a train back to Ponyville and they rode in complete silence the entire way back.

The group reached Ponyville around 3:30am. They all walked over to the library. “Alright… every-pony get a good night’s sleep and we’ll all meet back here tomorrow. Then we’ll try to think of something” Twilight told the others who nodded then all went their own way.

Twilight sighed heavily as she opened the door to her library. Without Spike here it felt so empty. She closed the door behind her, not bothering to lock it. She trotted up the stairs to her room in heavy distraught. Spike had left before but she had quickly encouraged him to come home. This was completely different, he may never come home.

Twilight lay in her bed but didn’t bother covering herself with her blanket. She was too out of it to even care. She looked out her window to the full moon and began to cry. “Spike… I’m sooo sorry… I promise I’ll get you out of there somehow” Twilight whispered as she cried herself to sleep.

Elsewhere in F&F Enterprise building:

Flim sat across from the three fillies and the little purple dragon. “Let us go! When our sisters find out you kidnapped us they’re going to turn your flank red” Scootaloo threatened.

“Ah but my dear fillies, your sisters already came by… and then they left when we told them that you all belong to us” Flim told them. He swished his cup of cider around then took a sip.

“No, that’s not true. If Rainbow Dash came in here looking for me then she’d bust us out” Scootaloo spat. Flim chuckled to himself as he took another sip from his cider. He took a look into the cup to judge how much he had left then looked back to the irritated and somewhat scarred little fillies, and dragon.

Flim sighed as he took another sip from his cider then flopped out a small law book onto the table and pointed at it with his hoof. “See this? It states that because you were trespassing on our property you belong to us until further notice” Flim told them then took another sip from his cider.

“No way! I’m not going to have you own me like a slave” Sweetie Bell squeaked. Flim chuckled then poured the rest of his cider to the floor. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it with a match then gave the burning match small quick jerky swings until the flame was extinguished.

Flim presented the fillies with a smoke. “Want a smoke? Ha-ha, just kidding, stay away from smoking it’s bad for your health” Flim laughed as he quickly took the cigarette pack back and stuffed it in his suit pocket.

“Forget this I’m outta here” Scootaloo blurted out as she lept up and raced over to the door but found it to be locked. She cursed to herself then grabbed the chair she was sitting on and tried to break the one way glass window. The window was actually Plexiglas and wouldn’t break from the force of the chair hitting it.

Flim sighed irritably. “Please sit down” he said but Scootaloo continued to try and break free. Flim grimaced in anger. “SIT DOWN!” he yelled. Scootaloo stiffened from his sudden outburst and very sheepishly sat back down.

Flim’s face relaxed a little and he let out a relaxed sigh of comfort. “Thank you… now where was I?” he asked as he thought to himself. “Oh yes of course. You belong to my brother and I and you will do as we order or we will throw you to the wolves… quite literally” he told the younglings. They all gulped in fear from the comment.

“Yes well now that we’re on the same page, please follow me to your residence where you will be staying” Flim said. They uneasily stood up and followed him out of the basement interrogation room. As they left the room they fell under the stare of several guard ponies with terrifying rifles who watched them intently. Waiting for them to make a wrong move so they could get some target practice.

The fillies and Spike followed Flim obediently. Flim whistled a catchy note as they continued down the dimly lit hallways of the basement. They approached an elevator and Flim dinged for the elevator which hastily came down to them. They entered and he keyed for the fourth floor.

The elevator ascended up to the fourth floor then opened, revealing another hallway that had beautiful paintings on the walls and a finely made red carpet across the entire floor of the hallways. Flim led them to a room number 408 and opened the door revealing a miraculous suite. The Cutie Mark Crusader’s jaws all dropped together along with Spike’s.

“Work detail starts around ten o’clock tomorrow morning and goes until six in the afternoon. If you’re hungry just call for room service” Flim told them then left them to their own device. The group rushed into the suite, closing the door behind them. There were four large beds, probably queen size, with red silk blankets.

“This place is awesome… hey look what they got in the fridge” Spike called out as he peered into the fridge. The others rushed over and gazed in fascination at the fridge’s contents. It was packed with sweets and pastries. They quickly rushed around the suite to see all the wonders that had been put into the suite.

“Okay… what do you think the catch is?” Scootaloo muttered as she ate a butter tart. The others stopped parading around and Spike stopped right in the middle of eating a jelly doughnut.

“Well duh, we’re their slaves. We ain’t allowed tah leave” Applebloom replied. Scootaloo face hoofed, “Yeah I know that, but if we’re their slaves then why’d they give us this wicked suite? I mean this place is better than Rainbow Dash’s house” she told Applebloom who thought to herself.

Applebloom rubbed her chin as she thought about it. “Yeah… it is nicer than the farm… and ah’m a little curious myself as tah why they’d give us this suite…” Applebloom trailed off as she thought to herself. Spike shrugged and kept scoffing back food into his mouth.

“Mmpgh… Who care’s… slave or not… this is great” Spike said. Funny considering that only a few hours ago he was shaking fearfully but now he hadn’t a care in the world. The others looked to him with curiosity.

“Yeah… it is great an all… but ah kinda miss muh sis” Applebloom said, the others nodded and Spike sighed.

“Well yeah, don’t get me wrong. I miss Twilight but at the moment what are we gonna do?” Spike asked and they all walked over to the window that overlooked most of the forest. Outside just past the headquarters perimeter sat the army base. The sight of The Bloody Hooves struck fear into the younglings and they quickly shut the curtains.

“Well either way… let’s get some rest before tomorrow. I have a feeling that slave work isn’t easy” Scootaloo told the others. They all nodded and trotted off to their own beds. But as they all snuggled themselves in to sleep, a lone howl of a Timber wolf could be heard.

They all zipped over to into the center of the room and squeezed each other tightly. Despite being in a heavily fortified building, the sheer sound of its howl was enough to frighten even the most fearless of ponies.

“Uhm… let’s sleep together… for warmth” Scootaloo suggested. They all nodded and quickly rushed over to one of the beds and hid under the blankets, shaking fearfully.

“Okay… I take it back… this place isn’t as awesome as I thought it was… I wish I was back at the library” Spike whispered fearfully.

* * *

The next morning:

Twilight heard banging on the front door. She groaned to herself drowsily. She was so down that she didn’t really want to talk to any-pony at… “Oh my gosh!” Twilight gasped as she looked to her alarm clock and realized it was 10:27am.

She quickly lept out of bed and rushed down to the front doors, quickly opening them to be greeted by her friends. “Sorry… I must’ve slept in…” Twilight apologized then she trailed off as she saw them all dressed in fine black suits. Even Applejack had a black suit on with an orange tie. Rainbow Dash had a pair of square sunglasses on and was looking very casual.

Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Uhm girls… what’s with the fine suits?” Twilight asked hesitantly. Applejack’s face spread into a fairly happy smile.

“Twi… we have an idea. Actually more like we know a stallion who can rescue our sisters and Spike” Applejack informed her. Twilight smiled happily but she was still curious about the whole suit thing.

“Okay… but what’s with the suits?” Twilight asked curiously. She had never expected to see Applejack dressed in such fine attire. Minus wearing a dress for very special occasions like her brother’s wedding. But wearing a fine suit just to go see a stallion?

“Here Twi, we brought you one to. And some sunglasses because they make you look cool” Rainbow Dash said. Twilight levitated the clothes over to her. They all looked like they would fit her perfectly.

“Okay… but seriously what’s with the suits?” Twilight asked, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity and Applejack sighed in unison. Dash was first to speak.

“Well… he’s a… a gentlecolt so we have to dress up real nice before we go talk to him” Rainbow Dash told her friend, obviously lying. Rarity scoffed.

“Ha! Gentlecolt is hardly an acceptable term for that brutish arrogant ignorant… ohh” Rarity scowled, obviously very irritated by the mere thought of this mystery stallion. Applejack gave her and aggressive nudge to the hip.

“Rarity hush… nah he ain’t… that bad. He’s just… a little crusty. But he’s really a… an alright stallion” Applejack muttered, stopping several times to make him seem a little nicer than he probably was.

“And the suits?” Twilight asked, trying to bring them back to the subject of why they were all wearing finely tailored suits. Applejack sighed.

“We’re hopin that we can make a good impression on him” Applejack told her lavender coloured unicorn friend. Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Why would you need to make a good impression on him? Aren’t you friends? Pinkie’s friends with every-pony” Twilight mentioned. Pinkie Pie was bouncing around excitedly behind the others.

Applejack sighed and looked down to the floor depressingly. She let out a deep exhale then looked back up to Twilight, “Pinkie never met him before and well… we aren’t exactly on subtle terms with him”

Chapter 5: Get of my lawn

It was noon and the air was humid in the Everfree. Twilight levitated away the sunglasses from her face to wipe the sweat from her forehead. “Jeeze… this stallion sure lives far away from everyone… even Zecora” Twilight muttered as they kept trotting along.

“Yeah… he uhh… likes to live alone… by himself” Fluttershy told her friend sheepishly. They finally came to a small wooden fence that had MJ&K inscribed in the overhanging sign.

“MJ and K?” Twilight asked curiously. “It’s his and his wife’s initials” Rarity told her. Twilight nodded and they very cautiously walked through the front entrance and down the dirt laneway.

About half a kilometer past the entrance stood a small little home, just barely bigger than Fluttershy’s cottage. It was constructed of cut down trees and had a chimney that currently wasn’t puffing out smoke. It was two stories high with a balcony on the second floor and a porch where a lone stallion sat. He couldn’t have been out of his forties, perhaps very early fifties but that would be pushing it.

They all walked up to the porch where the stallion sat in his rocking chair, slowly rocking back and forth. “About time you showed up… guess even death knew I wouldn’t go down without a fight” the stallion chuckled. He had dark brown fur with a lighter brown mane but had grey hair along the sides of his mane. He had a five o’clock shadow that was also starting to grey.

“Even the all mighty death needs half a dozen to take me down… guess that’s a record” he chuckled in a gruffly voice as he continued to rock in his chair. An empty whiskey bottle sat beside his chair along with the stub of a cigar.

“Uhhm… no, we ain’t death” Applejack told the stallion. He grumbled irritably as he recognized her voice. “I know that voice… yeah… yeah I remember you… remember you like it was yesterday” he grumbled as he rocked his chair forwards and stopped. He opened his eyes, revealing dark brown eyes that sent shivers down Twilight’s spin.

“Uhm… hello” Applejack stammered as she wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead. The stallion curled his lips, “And goodbye” the stallion snarled coldly then leaned back in his chair.

“Wait, please just hear us out. We need your help” Rarity pleaded. The stallion looked over to her in disgust.

“Well, you should have thought about that seven years ago. Now get off my property you stuck up bitch” the stallion spat. Rarity brought her hoof up and gasped from his rude and brash behaviour.

“That is no way to speak to a lady” Rarity scolded the stallion. He grunted as he became more irritated from her scolding.

“You aren’t no lady… my wife was a lady… you’re a conniving cunt!” the stallion snarled. Rarity’s face went red with anger and she was about to yell at the stallion before Applejack stuffed her hoof in Rarity’s mouth, silencing her.

“Sorry for muh friend’s behaviour… she’s a little… distraught” Applejack apologized. The stallion gritted his teeth. “None taken… now get off my property” he told her. Applejack sighed.

“Please Mr.” she began but he cut her off, “I said get off my property” he told her again in a deeper tone.

“Hey, that’s not fair. You haven’t even let us talk” Rainbow Dash blurted out. The stallion looked over to her with angry eyes.

“I don’t need to let you talk, now get back to the gay club you lezbo” he said insultingly. Rainbow Dash’s wings shot outwards in anger. “I AM NOT A LEZBIAN!” she screamed, the stallion chuckled.

“Well you sure fooled me” he chuckled. Rarity swatted Applejack’s hoof from her mouth and pushed herself past her southern friend.

“Now that’s enough. You are not allowed to talk to mares like that” Rarity scolded. The stallion rolled his eyes in irritation. “Great… the conniving bitch returns” he muttered.

“STOP FIGHTING!” yelled a voice and they all looked over to Fluttershy who flinched fearfully as every-ponies’ eyes gazed upon her. The stallion grunted.

“Oh for Celestia’s sake don’t piss on my porch” he snarled. Rainbow Dash looked over to the insulting stallion and her face reddened with anger.

“That’s it! I’m not gonna just stand by while you insult us” Dash yelled at the stallion. He sighed to himself then chuckled. “Well if you had of gotten off my property like I asked you to then we wouldn’t have been fighting” he chuckled “So I’ll ask you one more time… get-off-my-property” he snarled in a cold icy tone.

The tone sent more shivers down Twilight’s spine. She had stayed out of the argument due to the fact that she had no previous knowledge of this stallion. The others stepped forwards and Rainbow Dash poked the stallion in his chest.

“You’re going to listen to us and then you’re going to help us” Rainbow Dash ordered him. He leaned forwards so that he was face to face with the cyan pegasus. He looked directly into her moderate cherry eyes with his own cold, icy brown eyes.

“I’ve got a better idea… I’m gonna give you to the count of thirty to get off my property” the stallion told her. “One…Two…Three” he began counting. Rainbow Dash didn’t deter and stayed in her exact spot, staring him down.

He leaned back in his chair and stopped counting. Rainbow Dash smirked triumphantly but then the stallion reached behind his chair. Dash gasped as he swung out an old Russian SKS rifle that had a maple brown stock with a bayonet which wasn’t extended at the moment. He pointed the rifle barrel right into Dash’s face.

“Four” he said and Dash took a step back as she gulped. “Just…just hear us out… please” Applejack pleaded. “Five” he said with heavy agitation in his voice as he cocked back the charging bolt and loaded a round into the chamber. “Fuck this… Twenty three” he counted. The mares backpedaled off his porch and all ran, all except Twilight.

The stallion was about to smile when he realized that the purple mare was still standing on his lawn. “Why aren’t you running away with your friends? I’m not afraid to kill you” the stallion warned.

Twilight turned back to the stallion. “I don’t exactly know what that was all about… and you don’t seem like a bad stallion to me” Twilight told the stallion as she removed her sunglasses.

“Why don’t you ask your friends… they’ll tell you otherwise” the stallion hissed as he lowered his SKS. Twilight cautiously took a step forwards as she gulped. “Is… is it okay… if…if I come up onto your porch?” Twilight stammered.

“I suppose… just don’t piss me off” the stallion told her. She very cautiously stepped up onto the porch and stood before the stallion who was still holding the terrifying rifle. “So… why did you stay?” the stallion asked.

“Because…because my dragon has been kidnapped along with my friends’ sisters” Twilight told him and he chuckled as he heard the part about the sisters being kidnapped.

“Serves them right… guess it’s true when they say they’ll get theirs” the stallion laughed. Twilight frowned from his mockery.

“That isn’t very nice. Flim and Flam have kidnapped their sisters and my dragon and you are the only one who can rescue them” Twilight told him. He raised an ear from the comment.

“Were they on Flim and Flam’s property?” he asked and Twilight nodded. He chuckled. “Well that’s too bad. Guess the only way to get your dragon back is to give them something they want” he told her.

“But… but… you’re not serious are you?” Twilight gasped but he nodded. “Dead serious. I’m not on bad terms with F&F so whatever they do is their business and they leave me alone” he told her casually.

“But… what about their sisters… and my dragon?” Twilight gasped. The stallion shrugged as he opened a cooler. He rummaged around and pulled out a beer can labeled ‘Jack Moose’ from the bottom of the cooler then cracked it open.

“Well… it’s a real shame to hear about your dragon. But I can’t do anything for yah” he said then took a gulp from his beer. Twilight gasped in shock.

“So that’s it? You’re just gonna sit here and drink bear while our sisters and my dragon are being held captive?” Twilight asked. The stallion took the beer can away from his mouth and licked his lips, savouring the sour taste of the alcoholic beverage.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do. Right now I like F&F more than your friends. They helped me build my house and in return they asked for nothing more than simple friendship” he told her. Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Okay so I lied. They wanted me to show them how to make weapons but that’s small” the stallion told her.

“So just like that? Because you don’t like my friends you won’t help us save our sisters and dragon?” she asked and the stallion nodded.

“Yep… spot on. Now if that’ll be all I’d like to drink alone… well it’d be rude of me not to offer you a drink” the stallion said as he offered her a beer. She shook her hoof and denied the offer. “Well in that case I guess you should get off my property” the stallion said.

“But… Spike… please you have to help me” Twilight pleaded. The stallion rolled his eyes as he started to become irritated with the young mare.

“Listen kid, I don’t got nothing against you but right now I like F&F a lot more than I like you. Don’t take this in the wrong way but… get off my property” he said but Twilight simply stood there, almost in tears.

“Please… please you have to help me” Twilight pleaded. The stallion curled his lips as he leveled his SKS up again. “Don’t make me start counting” he threatened. Twilight’s eyes went wide in fear as she went to step back but lost her footing and fell backwards.

She landed on a garden gnome that shattered under her weight. The stallion’s eyes went wide as Twilight scampered to her hooves. “Please… I didn’t mean to do that… please forgive me” she stuttered apologetically. The stallion pointed the rifle right at her head. “Get-off-my-lawn” he hissed.

Twilight didn’t need to be asked twice. She quickly swiveled around and raced away in a fume of dust. A lone tear trickled down the stallion’s face as he picked up the busted pieces of the gnome. On one of the pieces read ‘MJ+’ but it had been broken off before the rest could be read.

He quickly found the other pieces that used to read ‘K’ but the letter had been smashed into tiny pieces. He began to tear up but quickly rubbed away the tears from his face and scooped up the rest of the gnome pieces.

Twilight raced up beside her friends who were waiting at the fence entrance. “Twi! Are yah alright?” Applejack gasped as Twilight raced up beside them, huffing exhaustedly from the quick run.

She looked up to the others. “Okay… now I know you said Pinkie doesn’t know him… but what in Celestia’s name did you girls do that made him so angry at us?” Twilight asked, still teary from her talk with the stallion.

“Well he’s a brute and there’s nothing more to it than that” Rarity told her hastily. Twilight raise an eyebrow. Applejack stepped forwards.

“Well tah begin with, his name is Metal Jacket… and there’s a little bit of a back story between him and us that goes back… ohh… six years…” Applejack began

Chapter 6: Years ago

It was a beautiful sunny day, Ponyville was calm and quiet. Applejack trotted along briskly towards the general store in search of formula for her new born sister Applebloom. Applebloom had only been born a few months ago but she ate like a horse, no pun intended, so Applejack would constantly have to travel to town for formula.

Along her way she bumped into Rarity. “Oh why hello Applejack, fine day isn’t it?” Rarity asked. Both mares were still in there teen years, Rarity being 17 and Applejack being 18 but they were only separated by a few months’ time.

“Oh uhh… yeah it is. Sorry Rarity but ah gotta split. We’re all outta formula again” Applejack told her close friend. Rarity let out a very feminine laugh.

“Oh yes, Sweetie Bell is the same way. Gosh sometimes I wonder if her belly is just an abyss” Rarity commented. Applejack chuckled. Sometimes she felt the exact same way about Applebloom. “So how has your day been so far dear?” Rarity asked, Applejack really didn’t have time for small talk but she stayed anyway.

“Well uhm… really nice so far. Hopefully it stays” she began but she spoke too soon. A thunderous BOOM rang through the town followed by several others. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. Ponies scurried about in fear. The booms were as loud as a crack of lightning, the shots echoed through the town.

“WHAT IN TARNATION” Applejack yelled. Rarity gave an irritated ‘Humph’ knowing exactly what was happening.

“I have had just about enough of that old stallion. Applejack come with me. We are going to report this directly to Mayor Mare” Rarity ordered her friend and dragged her off to town square where others scampered about in fear from the gunshots.

Their two other friends Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash where at town hall helping to put up a banner that said ‘Welcome to Ponyville’. “You know Dash you should really have it say ‘Welcome to Ponyville, Ignore the constant gunshots’” Rarity scoffed. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes.

“Yeah tell me about it. Jeeze it happens like every day” Rainbow Dash muttered. Rarity nodded. “Goddess I wish that stallion would just knock it off sometimes” Rainbow Dash wished.

“Indeed, well your wishes may come true. Come with us, we’re going to have him tossed out of town” Rarity told her friend. Fluttershy quickly flew down to her unicorn friend.

“Oh well Rarity I don’t know. That seems a little harsh don’t you think?” Fluttershy asked. “Ha! Harsh? That old mangy stallion has had several warnings about shooting guns within city limits. He deserves to be put out” Rarity scoffed and with that they all entered town hall.

Several office phones were ringing with complaints. Receptionists were doing their best to answer every call but they all said pretty much the same thing. The receptionists all said the same thing as well. “Yes we are aware of the shooting, police will be there soon to handle the issue, have a nice day” they would say frantically.

“MAYOR!” Rarity screamed out. Mayor Mare looked over and quickly paced over to them.

“Yes we are aware of the shooting and” the mayor began but Rarity cut her off. “No, don’t give me those horse apples. I want him banished from town never to return” Rarity yelled. The mayor’s eyes went wide.

“You heard me. Banned from town, never to return. Have the town vote against him” Rarity told her. The mayor gulped.

“Isn’t that a little… harsh?” the mayor asked but Rarity shook her head. “Not at all, he has been warned dozens of times not to discharge firearms in the town. And the town wants him out” Rarity said. The mayor rubbed her eyes as she sighed.

“Alright… if you bring him to town hall I’ll have every-pony here to vote” Mayor Mare said. With that Rarity and the others quickly trotted out of town hall and towards Metal Jacket’s house.

Fluttershy quickly trotted up to Rarity’s side. “Rarity… don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?” Fluttershy asked. Rarity shook her head.

“Not at all. This stallion has had too many chances to clean up his act and if he won’t abide the law then he shall be thrown out” Rarity said as they approached the dwelling of Metal Jacket.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. More gunshots rang out and the group flinched in fear but soon found that the shots weren’t directed at them. “GET OUTTA MY GARDEN YA VARMITS” screamed a voice then more gunshots rang out in quick succession. BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM.

The gunshots ceased. Rarity and the others walked over to the fence that surrounded the back yard garden of the property. “HEY, Metal Jacket!” Rarity yelled out and the stallion looked over to her.

He was somewhat old, being 51 years old, but he looked to be only in his late thirties due to the fact that he kept himself in shape through rigours training. He had left the military only last year after his wife Karen died of disease. He had found residence in Ponyville where they had first met and built a home where they had first expressed their love for one another.

Fluttershy screamed in utter horror as she saw the bodies of dead rabbits that had bullet holes in their bodies. “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!” Fluttershy screamed as she flew over to try and rescue the already deceased rabbits.

“Bastards were in my lettuce again. I’ve tried to keep them away by feeding them elsewhere but they just wouldn’t stay away from my lettuce” Metal Jacket replied bluntly.

“You horrible, horrible, AWFUL STALLION!” Fluttershy screamed as tears came to her eyes. “That’s it! Come with us, you’re being evicted” Fluttershy ordered but Metal Jacket simply chuckled.

“Evicted? For what?” he asked as he laughed. But Fluttershy looked at him with angry eyes. He laughed. “Alright, alright. I’ll come with you” Metal Jacket chuckled as he stood up and slung his SKS across his back. He also had a .45 caliber M1911 holstered at his hip.

The group led him away from his home but not before Fluttershy buried the deceased rabbits. They led him to town hall where Mayor Mare had rallied the entire town.

“Good now that we are all here we can begin” Mayor Mare said through a microphone stand. “Metal Jacket, you have been warned on several accounts that firearm discharge within town limits is illegal” the mayor said and Metal Jacket chuckled.

“My bad” he yelled out to the mare and she face-hoofed. “Regardless if you take the blame, our citizens have had enough of it” Mayor Mare began but Rarity and her friends quickly rushed up to the stand.

Rarity moved Mayor Mare away. “Enough of the whole speech. Metal Jacket you are being banished from town. All in favour?” Rarity asked and every pony raised their hooves except Metal Jacket.

He grunted to himself and his smile became an angered snarl. “Metal Jacket, you have twenty four hours to leave town, after those twenty four hours if you are still in town you will be forcefully removed by the authorities” Mayor Mare told him over the speakers.

Metal Jacket curled his lips in anger then stormed off to his home.

A few hours later,

The town all waited to see Metal Jacket leave. He pulled up in an old black 1975 Chevrolet K5 Blazer that was towing a trailer with a 1968 Blue Camaro with a fastback that had a white racing strip right down the middle of the car. He looked out the window, which he had rolled down, and stopped the truck just at the edge of town. A fat Cuban Cigar hung out of his mouth as he looked out to them.

“I better not ever see any of you good for nothing fucks ever again cause if I do… I’ll put a bullet right between your fucking eyes” he snarled then pulled out a detonator and hit the plunger.

In the background a massive explosion erupted that blew up his home. He moved his tongue around in his mouth then pulled away the cigar. He spat a large glob of spit at the hooves of Rarity then drove off in a fury, leaving the group that had come to see him off in a cloud of dust.

After the dust cleared Rarity coughed a little from the dust. “Well I hope we never have to see his good for nothing hide ever again” Rarity scoffed then trotted off. Applejack looked off into the distance as the truck sped off leaving a cloud of dust behind it. She sighed to herself as she remembered what she had originally come to town for.

Author's Note

I like this character. Now I know he's a stereotype, cranky old war veteran, but I think this guy is gonna be fun to work with just because he's more along the lines of an anti-hero but in the fact that he doesn't actually care what happens to the good guys. This is gonna be fun

Chapter 7: Twisted lies

“So that’s it huh?” Twilight asked and Applejack nodded. “Yah, ah’d reckon that about covers everything” Applejack told her unicorn friend who sighed depressingly from the information.

“So… now that we know Metal Jacket won’t help us and Flim and Flam have our sisters and Spike, what exactly are we supposed to do?” Twilight asked. They all stood there and thought about their options.

Rainbow Dash’s wings shot out. “I got it!” she exclaimed and they all looked over to her. “Okay, so we know that Metal Jacket is probably the only one who can rescue our sisters and Spike, so Flim and Flam probably know that too. But what they don’t know is that he hates us, so we just tell a little white lie and say that Metal Jacket is gearing up to get them unless they give us back our sisters… and Spike” Rainbow Dash plotted.

The others thought about it then nodded and all rushed off towards where F&F HQ was. “What if they don’t buy it?” Rarity asked and Rainbow Dash chuckled.

“They have to buy it. It’s very convincing” Rainbow Dash told her white unicorn friend. They all raced as fast as they could to the fence entrance. Two stallions stood guard while a few other stallions and mares sat in combat vehicles.

“Hey! Stop” ordered one of the stallions on guard. Rarity walked up and began to play her feminine charm on the stallion. “I’m sorry about the whole inconvenience but we’re here on official business for Flim and Flam” Rarity told the stallion.

“Sorry ma’am, specific orders: No-pony is allowed in without being identified” he said bluntly. Rarity walked up to him and began to seductively whisper to him. “Well… I’m sure a big strong stallion like yourself could… ‘bend’ the rules for little old me” Rarity said very seductively.

The stallion gulped and pulled on his coat collar as he blushed. He pointed over to the other stallion and motioned for him to open the gate. The gate opened and the stallion stepped aside to allow them entry.

Rarity stopped and looked to one of the vehicles. “Darling, would you be a dear and drive us to the headquarters building. It’s quite a walk” Rarity asked as she fluttered her eyes. The stallion nodded quickly and rushed over to a flatbed truck then motioned for the six mares to hop on.

They all embarked the vehicle and the stallion drove them all the way to the front steps of the headquarters building. The group disembarked the vehicle and as they started trotting towards the building Rarity stopped and blew the stallion a kiss.

He blushed furiously as his heart began to race. He hadn’t seen an attractive mare in the longest of times.

The group stepped up to the front doors where two stallions stood guard. They had watched the group depart the military vehicle so naturally they assumed that the six mares were part of the organization.

The stallions allowed the mares to trot past and the mares entered the front lobby. Pinkie was bouncing around erratically behind the others. Applejack and Rarity were playing it casual. Fluttershy was a little sheepish and had to cower close behind Rainbow Dash who was playing it a little too cool.

Twilight levitated her sunglasses away from her face to take a better look at the front lobby. “Okay girls just… where’s Pinkie?” Twilight asked and the others looked around to see that Pinkie had simply vanished.

Applejack pointed over to tables where condiments sat for the workers. Pinkie was literally sucking up an entire table of food, gaining the attention of several workers. Twilight grabbed her friend in her magical aurora then levitated the pink mare along as they walked further into the building.

“Pinkie… play it cool” Twilight whispered to her erratic friend. Pinkie squirmed to break free of the magic spell so she could reach the condiments but Twilight’s spell kept her trapped.

Several ponies still paid close attention to the group as they passed by. “Long day in the field” Twilight told one of the stallions as she chuckled uneasily.

They finally reached the elevator and the group entered it then keyed for the top floor. Twilight set Pinkie down. “Whew… okay, at least that’s over” Twilight muttered. The elevator ascended until it pinged and reached the top floor.

As the elevator’s doors opened Twilight’s face became a dire expression. There was some sort of party or festival going on because tables of food were set up everywhere.

“Pinkie I…” Twilight trailed off and sighed as Pinkie simply zipped away in a puff of dust. Applejack rested her hoof on her friend’s shoulder.

“We’ll pick her up on the way out. Come on, let’s go get our sisters back… and Spike” Applejack said and chuckled. “If only Spike was a female it would make remembering that part easier” Applejack laughed as they entered the top floor.

They all walked very casually and made their way to the executive office, well minus Pinkie Pie who was sucking back food. Twilight shook her head from her friend’s lack of focus.

Twilight opened the door to the executive office and they all entered. Flim and Flam spun around and Flim raised an eyebrow. “Girls! So nice of you to join the party” Flam said in a bubbly voice and Applejack closed the door behind her.

“Enough a the sweet talkin, we’re here fer our sisters” Applejack ordered but Flim and Flam both laughed from her order. “Well, where’s the deed?” Flim asked and Rarity leaned over the desk with a devious grin.

“We don’t need to sell you the deed. Metal Jacket promised to take our sisters back by force if you didn’t give them back immediately” Rarity told them in a sly tone. Both the brothers gulped and looked to each other. Rarity smirked.

Then brothers began to laugh hysterically which made the mares all look at each other then back to the two brothers. “That’s priceless… Metal Jacket helping you… he hates you more than… well I think he hates you the most” Flim laughed as he pointed to Rarity.

Flam chuckled, “Yes indeed. I do believe the term he used was ‘Stupid prissy conniving cock sucking cunt’… pardon my French” Flam told the girls. Their faces all turned to dire expressions as the brothers seen through their lie.

“So Applejack, you’re the honest one. Tell us exactly what Metal Jacket told you. Swear it on your sister’s life” Flam chuckled. Applejack gulped, she was a terrible liar and would never lie on her sister’s life.

She let out a sigh of defeat. “He told us to get off his property” she told them honestly as her head dropped in defeat. “Well… isn’t that just too bad” Flim said and clapped his hooves. A big stallion entered the office. “Carnation, if you wouldn’t mind to escort these fine mares off the property… and their pink friend out there” Flam ordered and the stallion nodded.

They all began to leave obediently, well except Pinkie who hadn’t noticed. A stallion walked up behind her. “Excuse me ma’am. It’s time for you to go” the stallion ordered but she shook her head. “No…mmpgh… not done…mpghp… eating” Pinkie mumbled through mouthfuls of food.

The stallion grabbed her with one hoof and dragged her away from the food table. “NOOOOOOOO!” Pinkie screamed in utter horror as she was dragged away from the food. She put up the most resistance of the entire group, despite her not having anything taken from her by Flim and Flam.

Flim chuckled to himself as he watched the group depart. “Daffodil” Flam called out and the big stallion entered the office. “I want you to go have a chat with Mr. Jacket… ask him to join our organization. Oh and make sure he see’s things our way and if he doesn’t… make sure he doesn’t see anything ever again” Flam told the stallion who nodded.

* * *

Elsewhere at a later time:

Metal Jacket rocked in his chair when suddenly his ear flickered. He heard something in the far distance that sounded like… a Jeep. Metal Jacket chuckled, only one pony, or rather one organization, ever came to see him in a Jeep. His old friends Flim and Flam or if not them then some of their associates.

Metal Jacket continued to relax until the Jeep pulled up onto his front lawn. Four stallions exited the vehicle then walked up to his porch steps and stopped. “Howdy” Jacket said to the group as he tipped his brown Desperado cow-pony hat.

“Mr. Jacket, our bosses require that you come with us” Daffodil ordered the old stallion in a blunt tone. “Nah… I don’t think so. I ain’t got no talents in life no more” Metal Jacket told him. Flim and Flam had asked him to join them before but he had turned down the offer.

“Mr. Jacket this is not up for discussion. Come with us now, or else” Daffodil said in a threatening voice. Metal Jacket curled his lips. Never before had one of Flim and Flam’s goons ever threatened him.

“Is that a threat boy? You better watch your tone… or else” Metal Jacket told him in a deep tone. The stallions chuckled to themselves.

“Listen up you old stallion. We have you outnumbered. So just come with us and don’t do anything stupid” Daffodil chuckled. Metal Jacket snarled as he quickly stood up to his hindlegs and kicked up his SKS up into his forelegs.

“I’ll show you stupid just so you have a reference” Metal Jacket snarled as he pointed the rifle at the stallion’s head. The stallions all stepped back cautiously.

“Whoa… easy old stallion… did you forget to take your meds today” Daffodil said insultingly. “Yeah… I took all my medications… did you remember to snort all your fucking crack or did you save some for later” Metal Jacket snarled.

“Easy… slow the fuck down. You don’t wanna mess with me” Daffodil told him. “Mess with you… I don’t want to mess with you. I want to kill you. I used to stack piles of your kind back in Saddle-Arabia and use your bodies as fucking sandbags” Metal Jacket told him.

The stallions all cautiously stepped back then rushed into the Jeep and drove off. They all had weapons but were too scared to draw them on the hardened war veteran. Metal Jacket smiled to himself as the Jeep sped off. He checked his watch. It was getting late and he still had to pick some vegetables and fruits for supper.

* * *

Hours later, First person perspective of Metal Jacket:

I knelt down to some local vegetables and quickly pulled the root out of the ground. It was kind of like a potato but more pointy like a carrot and had a light cherry fade to the peel.

I opened my backpack and set it down beside me. I had my old duster coat on to keep me warm tonight. Usually I kept my SKS handy while I went out but I needed the space on my back for my backpack so that I could collect the vegetables and fruits, the latter of which I had already collected.

I stood up and stretched, I should probably cut back on some of the dairy I was eating, that would really help out my back. I stretched painfully, boy I wasn’t as sprite as I used to be. I guess when they say ‘Old age will catch up to you’ they weren’t kidding.

I mean sure I look like I’m in my late forties but I’m fifty eight years old and feel every year of it. I knelt down to another patch of vegetables and pulled the roots from the ground. Much like a potato, only the root of the plant tasted good while the rest of the plant was actually quite horrid.

I checked the backpack to judge how much I had picked. I nodded to myself and figured I had enough to last me at least until tomorrow afternoon. Satisfied with my load I flung the pack onto my back and made to head back to my cabin when suddenly an ear piercing scream echoed in the forest.

I looked to where the scream had come from and figured it was at least one hundred or so meters into the forest. A scream echoed out again. I let out a disgruntled sigh, at least it didn’t sound like those stupid mares, and if it was them well… I’d just leave them to their fate.

I quickly rushed deeper into the forest. My hooves thrashed along through the undergrowth of the forest, my heart started to slowly pump faster. If I hadn’t kept myself in shape all these years then I’d probably be gassed by now.

I stopped and listened. I could hear my heart beating in my ear and it was somewhat distracting. I slowed my heart rate through steady breathing and the beating off my heart faded from my ears. Another scream echoed out but now I could hear hoof steps.

I quickly raced towards the origin of the hoof steps but then they stopped. I cursed myself and I could hear a faint crying. I stalked along very quietly, the moon had risen and somewhat illuminated the dark forest. I chose my steps very carefully and barely made a sound. All my stealth training from the military came back to me as I stalked along.

I entered a very small clearing were a dark blue unicorn lay crying to herself. Well at least it wasn’t one of those stupid mares. I rushed over to her side and she screamed in absolute terror, one of her wings hit me… wait a minute.

“Princess Luna?” I gasped in utter shock. Tears were flowing from her eyes as I stepped back. She looked up to me with fearful eyes. “You’re… not one of them… are you?” she asked and I raised an eyebrow.

“One of who?” I asked curiously and she leaned forwards to take a better look at me. She let out a relived sigh. “Uhm… is something wrong?” I asked and she sat down, breathing heavily.

“Yes… my sister asked of me to inspect Flim and Flam’s headquarters during the night but I was attacked by some of… The Bloody Hooves” she informed me then showed me her injured wing. It didn’t look too bad but it was probably too painful for her to fly.

“Well can’t you just teleport yourself out of here?” I asked and she shook her head. “No… unfortunately I am unfamiliar with that spell. Do you know the spell?” she asked and I chuckled as I rubbed the area where a horn would be if I was a unicorn.

“Sorry. I’m all earth pony” I said proudly. She let out a depressed sigh. “What’s the big deal. So you got attacked, we’ll just leave the forest” I told her but she shook her head.

“No… I have escaped them thus far but they will be back… and I fear that I may not be able to escape a second time” she said in complete distraught. I shrugged, “So why not just leave now?” I asked and she looked up to me as she wiped a tear from her face.

“It is not that simple. Once the forest has you at night… it may keep you trapped with The Bloody Hooves” she said fearfully. I rolled my eyes, not this old dragon tale. No-pony who enters the Everfree at night ever returns Ooooooh.

“Yeah I have a feeling that’s just an old dragon tale” I chuckled but it didn’t change her mind about the whole subject. I sighed and knelt down beside her. “Listen if it’ll make you feel better I’ll get you outta here. Beside I have this” I said as I reached to grab my SKS. It was a natural reaction but I frowned as I remembered that I had left my rifle at home.

She looked up to me and buried her face into my chest, her tears soaking my white t-shirt. “Please… will you stay by my side… I do not wish to die alone” she sobbed. I chuckled to myself. I guess even the almighty princess of the night could break down in fear when faced with the…

“BLOODY HOOVES!” Luna screamed. I looked down to her. “Hey you read my mind” I chuckled but she quickly backpedalled fearfully. I turned around to see a deformed black pony staggering towards me like a zombie.

“Jesus FUCK!” I yelled as I lept back from the sudden scar it gave me. Talk about a screamer. “One of us…” it whispered in a creepy tone.

“Yeah-yeah fuck off yah bozo” I told him but he lunged at my throat, his razor sharp teeth gleamed in the moon’s light. I brought my foreleg up to block his leap and he sank his teeth into my forearm.

I yelled out in pain and quickly swung my foreleg into a tree, crushing its head against the tree. It released its bite from my arm as it died and I staggered back but tripped over Luna who was huddling on the ground in fear.

“This is the end… oh goddess why did it have to end like this” Luna whimpered. I staggered to my hooves and looked around. Bloody Hooves came out of the forest from all directions and completely surrounded us. Luna stood up as well, whimpering to herself as The Bloody Hooves came ever closer.

“Okay… Luna blast them” I said but she was too fear ridden to focus enough and use her magic. “Okay… plan B” I muttered. The Bloody Hooves were now only a few feet away from us, we both lept to our hindlegs and used each other for support. Though the princesses were generally larger than most ponies, I stood only three inches shorter than her, and that was due to her horn.

“What’s plan B?” Luna asked. I gulped, “Well uhm… I was hoping that you had an idea” I told her. The Bloody Hooves
drew ever closer, now less than five feet away.

“Did you really think you could escape us… you cannot escape your fate… you are one of us” whispered all The Bloody Hooves in perfect unison.

Bloody Hooves approached from all angles. I felt Luna heart beating extremely fast, her sobs of fear were almost enough to drown out the dark sadistic whispers of The Bloody Hooves. Their dark sadistic whispers soon flooded into my ears and I wiped some sweat from my forehead…

Author's Note

This was the isnpiration for this chapter. Now the question lies "How the hell is Metal Jacket gonna get out of this one and save Luna? Or will they both meet a tragic fate like the filly in the video?

Chapter 8: Plan B

As they drew closer I snarled. “All right you mother fuckers… meet plan B. I call her Sasha” I yelled as I reached into my duster coat and drew out a mighty .50 caliber Desert Eagle. The weapon didn’t frighten The Bloody Hooves but it damn well should have.

I lined up the first shot with the closest creature’s head and pulled back the trigger. The mighty handgun thundered in the night air. The handgun’s muzzle blasted out a .50 caliber slug and expelled gas out the end of the barrel.

The first bullet slammed into the creature’s head which simply disappeared as its headless corpse fell to the ground. I casually swung my hoof towards another Bloody Hoof and pulled back the trigger again.

Soon the night air was filled with thunderous gunshots but still the creatures kept coming. I took a quick glance behind me to see The Bloody Hooves still approaching from Luna’s side.

In a quick fluid motion I twisted my body, slipped my left foreleg under her foreleg and brought my right foreleg, which was holding the Desert Eagle, up over her right shoulder as I ejected the spent magazine and used my left hoof to slam a magazine into the handgun.

Using her body as support, I fired off all seven rounds in the magazine in less than five seconds. The Bloody Hooves who were not killed by the handgun still staggered towards us.

In another fluid motion I twisted my body back around to my side, bringing her body with me and pulled off sort of the same technique except now I was a little bit unstable because I was leaning back a bit due to the way the technique is performed in consecutiveness. If I had to spin our bodies again I would be lying on the ground so let’s pray to goddess that they back off this time.

I fired every single round in the magazine but still they didn’t back off. ‘Last spin’ I thought to myself as I spun our bodies once again and like I had figured we ended up on the ground, with her body on top of mine, whimpering in fear. The constant gunfire had kept The Bloody Hooves back far enough that they wouldn’t be right on top of us.

“One of us… one of us” they kept chanting. “Fuck you that’s what” I yelled as I fired the remaining rounds of the gun’s magazine into the creatures. I began to slide our bodies back as I ejected the magazine and slammed another magazine into the gun.

“Okay… plan C” I said as I quickly went to get up but realized that Luna had fainted, either from the pain of her wing or the fear that had stricken her mind from the horrid creatures.

I grunted as I quickly rolled her body off mine then lept up. I grabbed her unconscious body and flung it over my back as I began to run. Several Bloody Hooves stood in my way but I fired a bullet into the head of any creature that stood in my way.

I raced passed their line and charged towards my house. I smiled to myself, I had encountered Bloody Hooves before on my walks and generally once you escaped them and got far enough away or to my house they leave you be, unless they’re really hungry.

I reached my home in a matter of minutes and quickly entered my home, locking the door behind me. I rushed over to my room and quickly lay Luna down on the bed. It looked like she had bite marks on her wing but it didn’t look broken, just badly bruised.

I casually trotted over to the bathroom where I grabbed some basic medical supplies. I looked to my arm which was still bleeding a little and smirked, I’d have to patch myself up after. ‘Lucky these things aren’t really zombies’ I thought to myself as I recalled being bit before and wondering if just the bite turns you into one of them but luckily a local zebra that lived in the forest told me otherwise. Though she warned me about wandering the forest at night and a bunch of other mumbo jumbo.

I ejected the semi spent magazine in my handgun and loaded a new one before sliding it into my chest holster and trotting back into my room where Luna was still unconscious. I pulled out some disinfectant and quickly began to dress her wound up properly.

In a few minutes I had her wing disinfected, cleaned and properly bandaged up. I tucked her wing up to her side but kept my hoof at her side. Her slow breathing reminded me of Karen whenever she’d rest my hoof on her chest and let me listen to her heart. Luna’s heart rate was normal now and she was resting peacefully.

Her mane gleamed in the moon light that shawn through the window in my room. I smiled to myself then tucked her into some rather fine blankets, making sure not to cover too much of her body due to the rather warm night air.

I trotted out of my room and into the living room of my small home then began to dress my arm wound. As I began to put the finishing touches on my medical bandages a window smashed and several Bloody Hooves tried to force their way into the building. I grabbed the medical bandage with my teeth and pulled the final stretch needed for the tension and wrapped it up as I drew out my Desert Eagle from its holster.

“You’re not welcome in my home” I snarled as I blew off several Bloody Hooves’ heads. Their bodies were kicked back onto the porch and I quickly unlocked the door and raced onto the porch to see that my entire front lawn was flooded with Bloody Hooves. I quickly fired the remaining rounds of my handgun, killing several of the night creatures, before running back into my room.

“Sorry Luna but it’s not safe here” I told her as I grabbed her body in my forelegs and quickly staggered out towards the basement door of my home. I booted down the basement door and hobbled down the stairs.

As I entered the basement I nudged the light switch with my nose then quickly rushed over to a blast door. I held Luna in one arm while I typed in the passcode then the panel beeped and the door opened. I brought her body into the bomb shelter room and set her down on the cot which just barely fit her body, and when I say barely I mean I curled her body up to fit it so I really didn’t want to be sleeping on this cot any time soon either.

I looked to the gun rack which was in the room. It held several weapons of all genres, well not medieval, and grabbed an M4 assault rifle that had an M203 40mm grenade launcher, a green laser and a 1.5x ACOG sight. I grabbed three magazines for the rifle and loaded a grenade round into the chamber of the launcher before rushing out and closing the blast door behind me.

As I rushed up the stairs I realized that the Bloody Hooves had already entered my home. I leveled the assault rifle at my hip and fired a quick three round burst into the first Bloody Hoof which sent it tumbling down the stairs.

Another Bloody Hoof entered the stairwell and I fired a single precise shot right between its dark red eyes. The creature fell back but then began to roll down the stairs. I hurtled over its body and entered the main floor of my home where several of the ghastly creatures had already entered my home. They were making their way towards the stairwell as they chanted their creepy rant.

I stood on my hindlegs then fired my assault rifle from the hip. The assault rifle chattered and the echo from the surrounding walls made my ears ring. The Bloody Hooves were all riddled from the barrage of automatic gunfire and fell to the ground.

With all The Bloody Hooves in my home dead I quickly ejected the spent magazine of my rifle and loaded a fresh one before rushing out onto my front lawn. Bloody Hooves approached my home in a seemingly endless swarm. I cursed silently to myself as I flicked on the green laser and quickly targeted the first vile creature then took it down with a headshot.

BANG

BANG-BANG

BANG-BANG-BANG

I started firing my assault rifle in longer bursts as the swarm of creatures became ridiculous. It literally looked like a friggin swarm of locusts or something.

I loaded my last magazine and fired the entire clip with one pull of the trigger then I squeezed off the grenade launcher. The 40mm grenade shell erupted by a large group of those goddess forsaken things and sent their lifeless bodies spiralling through the air.

I looked around as they continued to approach and sighed to myself. “Okay… Plan D… and if Plan D doesn’t work then I’m just gonna go all the way to Canterlot and launch a fucking nuke on this goddess forsaken place” I yelled as I galloped over to my garage.

As I entered the garage I tossed my assault rifle over onto the work bench then hopped into my K5 Chevy Blazer. I had removed my convertible top and had mounted a little something special for these sorts of occasions in the back of my truck.

I keyed the ignition and the truck roared to life. I didn’t bother opening the wooden sliding door and simply drove through it. Splinters and pieces of wood scattered about in front of the garage as my truck barreled through the garage door. I blasted the high beams on the truck which illuminated the area and made The Bloody Hooves all cringe in blindness.

I slid out of my seat and into the back of the truck. “Okay… say hello to my little friend” I yelled as I mounted the legendary Ma-Deuce, M2 Browning .50 caliber heavy machinegun.

I flicked off the safety and began to fire the mighty machinegun. The ear piercing chugging of the massive gun erupted in the night and would’ve sent shivers down the spines of any pony nearby, but these goddess forsaken creatures weren’t ponies anymore because if they were then they wouldn’t have kept mindlessly trotting towards me like zombies.

Their bodies were ripped into pieces as .50 caliber rounds struck their bodies. Limbs would be torn off, heads ruptured, torsos mutilated and all things in between as Ma-Deuce did her thing.

The mighty gun spat out brass casings and the gun’s barrel shot out a mighty muzzle flare that showed The Bloody Hooves where to go, though they should be turning tail and running at this point.

After a minute or so the gun ran out of ammo but left a trail of death and destruction in its wake. There were no creatures
left in my yard, well except their torn up bodies which I’d have to dispose of come morning.

Suddenly a lone gunshot went off and collided with my truck. I ducked down as yet another shot collided with my truck. Several consecutive shots fired off but I saw the muzzle flare as the shooter recklessly fired his weapon. ‘Amateur’ I thought to myself as I lept off the truck, using its body as cover. The shots continued but then stopped. He must be reloading.

I raced out from the cover of my truck and raced towards the treeline where I had seen the muzzle flare come from. “Fuck!” I heard a voice yell in frustration. As my vision adapted to the darkness I could see why the pony was frustrated.

That bastard Daffodil had an SR-25 which was currently jammed and he was trying furiously to dislodge the round that was jammed in the receiver. I chuckled and he looked up to me. I lept through the air and slammed a punch into his head, knocking him to the ground.

He rolled across the ground and lept up to his hindlegs as he pulled out a combat knife then waved it around. By his stance and maneuver with the knife I could tell he was uneducated with knife combat.

I lowered my guard to let him think he had an open shot. He fell right into my trap and rushed head on. As he charged directly at me I quickly re-entered a defensive stance but he refused to stop his charge. He lifted his knife into the air and tried to bring the tip directly down on my head. Like I said before ‘Amateur’.

I quickly moved my arms up behind his wrist, past the danger zone, and quickly snapped his wrist. He dropped the knife as he staggered back, screaming in agonizing pain. “Who sent you? It was Flim and Flam wasn’t it?” I ordered and he snarled. “I guess it’s no secret… and besides, they’ll never know I told you because I’m going to end you right… NOW!” He yelled as he shot his good hoof down towards his hip holster draw out his pistol.

I lept forwards and tackled him to the ground then pummelled his face with several powerful punches before standing to my hindlegs and picking him up by his jacket collar with my forelegs.

“You tried to kill Luna… and me…big mistake” I told him then slammed him into a pointy tree branch which impaled his chest and left him gagging in near death as his life drained away. I smirked “Stick around”

Chapter 9: I blame me

Luna awoke peacefully as the warm sunlight set along her body, entering the room through the window which somewhat amplified the temperature of the light. She felt warm, content and… ouch, her wing still hurt from last night.

She looked around, “How did I…” she trailed off as soothing, yet somewhat depressing, musical tunes filled her ears. She listened closely as she tried to recognize the song but couldn’t, it wasn’t anything she remembered but then again she usually didn’t go listening to music on her free time.

She crawled out of bed and stretched gently, as to not hurt her wing, before she trotted out into the dwelling of the house which was a stranger to her. She had never been in this house and had no recollection of how she got here. The musical tunes began to play lyrics which made Luna sort of sad from the depressive voice that sang it.

The rain has moved on

And left a new day

Nothing seems to move, everything is still

It's just a perfect day...

Luna’s heart beat painfully from the heart touching music and she slowly trotted towards the source of the sound. She reached the front door when she realized that one of the window panels were missing from the window ceil beside the door. She shrugged off any thought she had about why the window would be missing and quietly opened the door.

There she found the stallion whom she had met last night before fainting from the fear that had stricken her. He was relaxed and leaned back in his porch rocking chair, slowly rocking back and forth. He had a Desperado cowboy hat tilted down in front of his face. He looked to be asleep peacefully.

The shadows and light

That move with the wind

Hidden violets grow, splashed with summer spray

Just another perfect day…

Metal Jacket chuckled as he sensed Luna’s presence without even hearing her or looking at her. “My wife… Karen… she used to make me…(Sniffle) listen to this song with her while we sat on our porch in the morning… back in Ponyville” he said with deep sadness in his voice. Luna stepped up beside him as she continued to listen to the lyrics which Metal Jacket whispered along with in a depressed tone.

On the wild and misty hillside

Fear is nature’s warning

Hunger here is never far away…

As the lyrics continued Metal Jacket wiped a tear from his face. “I used to hate it when she’d put this song on… it made me feel so… so sad… and now it’s all I ever listen to, yet it makes me even sadder when I listen to it because it makes me remember her… and how she’s gone” he said as he tried to hold back his tears.

And all of this world

Is for children who play

Days that never end should always remain

Another perfect day…

The song ended soon after and Metal Jacket simply turned off the record player. He sat in silence for a moment before Luna broke it. “I’m sorry…about your wife” she whispered soothingly. “Don’t be… it’s not your fault, not some-pony else’s… not even those good for nothing fucks that call themselves the element of harmony bearers… it’s my fault” he told her and she stepped ever closer to him.

“How… how would it be your fault?” she asked and he brought his hoof up to his face to wipe more tears from his eyes. He had cleaned up the yard last night and it was clean, as it should be.

“I don’t know… but it makes me feel worse about myself if I figure that it was my fault and that she should have been with some-pony better than me” he told her, Luna took another step forwards.

“But why would you want to make yourself feel worse?” she asked and he leaned back in his rocking chair. “I never always blamed myself… but after those fucking mares back in Ponyville gave me the boot out of my home… where I first met her… let’s just say it’s never been the same” he told her.

She took a deep breath. “You shouldn’t blame yourself… not for what happened to your wife” she said, trying to sooth his nerves. He chuckled, “What does it matter now. I’ll be dead in a few years and no-pony will give a fuck. No-pony will come to bury my body. No-pony will miss me. Just some old stallion who withered away in the Everfree. So might as well blame me for all the world’s problems… probably make every-pony feel better… then maybe they’d remember me” he said in a low depressed voice.

“No! Don’t say such things. You’re more than just a scapegoat” Luna told him positively. He chuckled then tipped his hat up so he could look into her eyes.

“Alright princess… tell me. Do you know who I am?” he asked but she shook her head. He laughed in a saddened tone. “Exactly… no-pony knows” he said then took a deep exhale. “I am the one and only Metal Jacket” he said and she gasped as she remembered all the stories her sister had told her about him back when he served in the military.

He was just a sergeant but he had honours beyond that of even Shining Armor himself. He had saved Equestria from imminent doom more than once from opposing forces that threatened Equestria all by himself. He earned his honour in blood, unlike most ponies in today’s society who were called heroes.

“You’re… the legendary… Metal Jacket?” Luna asked hesitantly and he nodded. “I know right. Thirty fucking years of serving my country and this is what I get. Exiled into some shitty ass goddess forsaken forest and because what? I shot a gun in city limits? I killed some rabbits that were eating my fucking garden. Respect from today’s youth is just fucking pathetic. I’m just waiting for the day when I finally die. Then maybe I can be in peace” Metal Jacket told her.

She was at a loss of words but he stood up and stretched. “Well princess, I guess I should be getting you home now shouldn’t I?” he chuckled as he grabbed his old Russian rifle from the porch and slung it around his back then led her to his garage, which at the moment was still missing the front door.

“You own… vehicles?” Luna asked as she eyed his two motorized vehicles. Generally speaking not many ponies drove vehicles, mostly because of gas prices and the economy or something about the natural havoc that carbons caused or something ruther.

He nodded as he pulled out a set off keys for his old Camaro. He had tuned it up himself during his exile. He put a 454 big block with a supercharger then tuned the timing before reinforcing the pistons and combustion chamber to allow nitrous and other sorts of speed enhancing formulas to be used.

“Nice car” Luna commented and Metal Jacket smirked. “I called her… Karen” Metal Jacket told the princess before they both embarked into the vehicle. Usually Metal Jacket didn’t drive the old muscle car but he supposed that this was a special occasion so he keyed the ignition and the car roared to life.

Author's Note

Ahhhh, the depressing back story of a war veteran. Made me shed a tear, well actually not really but close enough

Chapter 10: Earned in blood

“Celestia! This is nonsense, they have our sisters held captive” Rarity argued. Celestia sighed as she tried to calm the infuriated mare. She had every reason to be mad, just not at her.

The throne room doors suddenly swung open violently and the group turned to see Luna, accompanied by Metal Jacket, walk into the room. “LUNA!” Celestia gasped and rushed over to her injured sister.

“I was foolish to send you out by yourself to the Everfree, please forgive me” Celestia begged but Luna nodded quickly.

“Dearest sister, I believe I have found some-pony who can help us” Luna said as she pointed over to Metal Jacket, who still had bandage wrap around his foreleg.

Celestia’s jaw dropped and she gasped as she realized who Luna had found. “M…Metal…Metal J…J…Jacket” she stammered in absolute shock. The element bearers stepped up beside the large princess but Metal Jacket ignored them, for obvious reasons.

“Princess! You know this… brute” Rarity said in a somewhat displeased voice. “Rarity! You shall not address Metal Jacket with such terms!” Celestia boomed in a sudden anger. Rarity stepped back and gulped.

“B…But I… he…” Rarity sputtered and Celestia shot her a cold glare, the white unicorn silenced herself. Celestia looked to the others who were also silent. “I take it you all know Sergeant Metal Jacket?” Celestia asked and Metal Jacket chuckled.

Celestia turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “Something funny?” she asked in a casual tone. “Yeah, it’s funny that you still call me Sergeant Metal Jacket. I’m not a soldier anymore ma’am, too old” he informed her.

Celestia looked back to the element of harmony bearers. “So I presume that you all have been aquatinted?” Celestia presumed and once again Metal Jacket chuckled. Celestia turned back to him as he smiled.

“Aquatinted is a very… light term to use. I would probably say… fierce enemies” he told her in a serious tone and Celestia looked back to the others then back to him. “Enemies?” she asked and he shrugged. “Enemies, opposing forces, fierce rivals… something along those lines” he told her rather casually. Celestia raised an eyebrow, “And how did this… rivalry come to be?” she asked and he let out a laugh.

“You remember my house? The one that I made where I first met my wife?” MJ asked and Celestia nodded. “Yeah well these good for nothings kicked me out and banished me to the Everfree forest. Well minus the pink one… and the purple unicorn, they had nothing to do with it so they’re not my timeless enemy” Metal Jacket informed the princess who looked back to the others with a raised eyebrow.

“Celestia, he was discharging firearms in town limits” Rarity argued then Fluttershy pitched in. “And he murdered innocent rabbits” Fluttershy informed her but Metal Jacket interrupted her. “Rabbits which I remind you were eating my garden” he told her.

Celestia raised a serious look then smirked. “Seriously? You seriously kicked out the most honourable pony ever to walk Equestria because he shot a rabbit? Now I know being a hero doesn’t give him the right to do wrong but seriously?” Celestia asked as though their argument was a joke.

“Celestia… you’re not taking his side are you?” Rarity asked and Celestia face-hoofed. The others had extreme looks of uncertainty on their faces.

Celestia looked up to them and let out a disappointed sigh. “Twilight, my faithful student. In all you readings did you ever read about a stallion named ‘Sergeant Mercy’?” Celestia asked and Twilight nodded.

“Yes. It was that saga of fiction stories about a stallion who single handily saved Equestria time and time again” Twilight replied but Celestia laughed. “My dear student… those were not fiction stories, they were true events. The true events of the stallion standing right in front of you” Celestia said and Twilight gasped as she recognized the resemblance Metal Jacket had with the stallion always on the front cover of the saga novels.

“But Celestia… they couldn’t be true… How could any stallion fend off demons from the underworld? And slay demon possessed dragons? And…and…” Twilight was at a loss of words but Celestia stopped her.

“You all don’t know because even though we offered Metal Jacket full honours he refused every single award. Said it was what every-pony should be like. Unlike most modern day heroes, Metal Jacket earned his honour and legend through blood” Celestia told them.

They were all speechless. “Well… Celestia it was nice seeing you again. Luna’s fine, her wing might take a day or two to heal up but she’ll be fine” Metal Jacket told the white alicorn who turned to speak with him.

“I suppose that you saved her didn’t you?” she asked and MJ nodded. “Yeah, The Bloody Hooves swarmed her but nothing a little bullet to the head couldn’t fix” he chuckled.

Metal Jacket turned to leave but Celestia rested a hoof on his shoulder. “Wait… listen I know that you’ve put in more blood and life than any-pony should but I need to ask if you will help us with one last task. It is a rescue mission” Celestia told him.

“I’m sorry princess. Flim and Flam’s factory is just too heavily guarded and I’m too old for that kind of thing” Metal Jacket told her, already knowing what she was going to ask him to do. “It is fine, I was just curious is all” Celestia told him then let him go on his way.

As Metal Jacket left the throne room Rarity spoke out again. “Celestia, you aren’t seriously going to let him just walk away” Rarity argued and Celestia once again shot her a terribly cold glare. “Rarity, I have a great respect for you. You have helped save Equestria time and time again. But do not tread where you haven’t been. Metal Jacket has served Equestria in ways you could never hope of doing. He has put his life on the line even before you were born. He was fighting demons more powerful than King Sombra while you were still an infant. Do not say that he cannot walk away if he wants to” Celestia said in a deep an agitated voice.

Rarity gulped as the princess became agitated with her constant arguing. “I’m sorry your highness” Rarity apologized. “I forgive you, but never forget that Metal Jacket is retired and can do as he wishes… Luna?” Celestia asked as she realized her sister was gone.

Elsewhere outside Metal Jacket walked towards his truck but suddenly three large stallions charged him then pinned him against the truck. Metal Jacket’s head bashed off the metal hood of his truck with a THUNK and he grunted in pain. Flim and Flam both trotted up beside him.

“Let me go you fuck heads” Metal Jacket snarled. Flam smirked, “Or what?” he challenged. Metal Jacket took full fledge of the challenge and quickly swept out one of the stallion’s hindlegs with his own, toppling the big stallion.

With the stallions confused MJ quickly spun his body, flinging the stallion on his right onto the ground then slammed a punch with his right hoof into the stomach of the last stallion. As the third stallion collapsed to the ground in pain, Metal Jacket looked to the two brothers who were struck in fear and awe.

MJ walked up to the brothers. “You know I like you Flam, you’re a cool guy” MJ said in a casual voice, Flam calmed down a little. “That’s why I’m going to kill you last” he said in a serious tone and Flam lept back into his brothers arms. They galloped off as Metal Jacket chuckled to himself.

“Metal” called out a voice and he turned to see Luna rush down to him. As she took the corner around his truck she tripped over the body of an injured stallion. Metal Jacket immediately caught her and she looked down to the injured stallion in curiosity.

“What happened to him?” she asked and MJ shrugged. “He’s just getting in touch with the ground is all” he replied but then Luna brought the subject back to why she had come out.

“Why won’t you save their sisters?” she asked and he sighed. “I’m too old” he told her. “Horse apples, you single handily saved my flank last night from a large group of The Bloody Hooves. You’re not too old” she told him and he looked away.

“It’s because of what they did, isn’t it?” she asked and he nodded solemnly. Luna stepped up beside him and whispered soothingly, “What would your wife think of this?”

Metal Jacket almost burst into tears right then and there but the years of war and killing had made him rather tough so it was somewhat difficult for him to cry in public.

“I… she…” Metal Jacket trailed off. Luna gave him a gentle kiss to the cheek. “Sometimes forgiveness is a worse fate to your enemy then fighting. If you show forgiveness and save their sisters then they can never repay you for what you did and they will never be able live it down knowing that you showed forgiveness to them even though they would not show you forgiveness when you needed it” Luna said.

Metal Jacket was taken back by her sudden, somewhat dark, change of attitude. Luna pulled out a bible, “Maybe you should read this. It tells of all sorts of things about the soul” Luna told him and he nodded but motioned for her to put it away. “I’ve read the bible before. It’s kind of dark in some spots” he told her then took a deep sigh. “Alright… I’ll do it… but I’m doing things my way”

Chapter 11: Bullet with your name on it

At Flim and Flam headquarters, in the workshop, Applebloom, Sweetie Bell, Scootaloo and Spike all sat bored out of their minds. As they continuously held the button to activate the conveyer they wondered to themselves ‘Why exactly are we called slaves if we aren’t really treated like slaves?’

They had been wondering that for the longest of time, well actually they had only been wondering it since they started working. Ever since they first came here they had been treated exceptionally well and it made them all curious as to why.

“Yah know it’s strange… Flim an Flam are treatin me better than muh own family ever does” Applebloom commented. Scootaloo nodded, “Yeah. Don’t get me wrong, Rainbow Dash is super cool but… Flim and Flam let me do almost whatever I want. Heck I got caught in the restricted area yesterday by a stallion who started to yell at me then Flam had the stallion apologize to me then he ordered the stallion to go wash the toilets. I mean what’s up with that?” she told the others.

Spike nodded. “Yeah, I accidently burned a couple books when I sneezed but Flim was totally cool with it and actually brought me down to the cafeteria to have lunch with him” he told the fillies. Applebloom sighed.

“They’re kinda like a father tah me. Ah ain’t never had a father and they’re nicer tah me then ah’d ever expect any-pony tah be” Applebloom told them. Suddenly the sirens went off, red lights flashed and the bombing sirens rang. Flim and Flam immediately rushed into the workshop and grabbed the group.

“What’s going on” Sweetie Bell squeaked. Flam hurried along with Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo in his forelegs while his brother took the other two younglings.

“We’re being attacked. We’ll be all right but we need to get you all to a safer place” Flim told the group as they rushed down towards the basement stairwell.

Outside Metal Jacket grabbed onto the M2 that was mounted onto the back of his truck. The mighty machinegun started to chug out lead death that obliterated any Bloody Hoof that was in the open.

The Bloody Hooves were stupid enough to simply start trotting towards the truck like the zombies that they were. “COME ON YOU MOTHER FUCKERS” Metal Jacket yelled over the sound of the machinegun as it continued to chug.

One of the vile creatures was splattered against a barracks tent, his innards painting the tent flaps with a crimson of dark red paste. Metal Jacket stopped firing the M2 and swung the massive machinegun around to the left side of the truck where a large group of Bloody Hooves were approaching him.

He triggered the machinegun and it once again let out a low thunderous chugging as it chewed through the massive .50 caliber rounds. Heavy lead slugs would slam into the horrid creatures and simply eviscerate their bodies into a gory mess.

A Bloody Hoof managed to stagger up to the rear of his truck and Metal Jacket simply stomped its head into the tailgate’s tip. The creature’s head ruptured under the impact and made a mess of Metal Jacket’s combat boots.

He grunted in disgust and kicked his hindleg a little to try and kick off the brain matter currently sticking to his boot.

He quickly lost track of his boot problem and began to fire upon The Bloody Hooves again. They seemed to just endlessly stagger out of the base like an army of fire ants. He cursed to himself and quickly slid back into the driver’s seat of the K5 Chevy Blazer.

He slapped the automatic stick shift into drive then hammered the accelerator, driving the truck strait towards the front gate of the military base.

The truck slammed through the flimsy gate of the base then Metal Jacket simply slapped the truck into neutral and slid into the back of the truck, mounting the M2 once again.

“Come on you sons of bitches… I’m waiting for yah” Metal Jacket muttered then quickly took aim on the first Bloody Hoof he saw and opened fire. The machinegun began to chug again and the Bloody Hoof’s body splattered against the ground.

Metal Jacket pivoted the machinegun in a counter-clockwise motion then acquired a new target. He unleashed hell on the corrupt ponies, whose bodies erupted violently when a .50 caliber round would strike it.

As Metal Jacket continued to fire his machinegun into the base he lost track of his rear. The Bloody Hooves approached his truck from behind and suddenly one of them started crawling onto the truck.

Metal Jacket spun around as he unholstered his Desert Eagle IMI .50 caliber AE then began to plug rounds into the heads of several of the vile animals that tried to attack him. The Bloody Hooves’ heads simply erupted into a shower of grotesque gore before their bodies collapsed onto the ground.

Metal Jacket slammed a fresh magazine into the handgun then mounted the machinegun again, swinging it back towards the group that was approaching him from the rear.

He needed some way to stop these things from… spawning. He grunted to himself as the M2 began to chug away lead death, blowing apart several of The Bloody Hooves. “I have to try something different” Metal Jacket muttered to himself. The famous line of some famous pony echoed through his mind. ‘Do… or do not, there is no try’.

Metal Jacket chuckled to himself. “Alright then… I’ll do it” he told the voice in his head. He quickly slipped back into the driver seat and drove towards the building that looked most likely to be a munitions dump. He drove the truck right into the side wall of the building.

The truck crashed right through the flimsy wooden wall of the building and slammed up into a pile of ammunition. Metal Jacket shook of the small daze he had received from the crash then tried to open the door on his truck. It was jammed shut, he grunted to himself then kicked the door off.

The door cluttered to the ground and he stepped out of the truck, a slight gash across his head was bleeding. He grabbed a pair of sunglasses from the glove box and slid them on.

A stallion who ran the munitions dump gasped as Metal Jacket walked over. He had black leather boots, black leather pants, and a white t-shirt underneath a black leather jacket that was padded with heavy Kevlar plates in the back and front along with lighter plates in the side.

“I need C-4” MJ said in a blunt voice as he picked up several blocks of C-4 from the counter. “Hey…hey you can’t do that” said the stallion behind the counter. Metal Jacket swung around then leveled a Spas 12 at his hip with one hoof. “Wrong” he told the stallion then squeezed back the trigger. The shotgun thundered and blew the stallion black into the wall before his body clumped to the ground.

MJ stepped up beside his truck and mounted several pounds of C4 onto the gas tank of his truck then grabbed his detonator. MJ extended the stock on the Spas 12 and used the arm support hook to hold the hefty shotgun in one hoof as he walked on his hindlegs, holding the C-4 detonator in his free hoof.

Several Bloody Hooves staggered over towards Metal Jacket but he simply lifted the shotgun in one hoof and fired the shotgun while he walked out of the base. It cycled in semiautomatic as it chugged out 12gauge buckshot, thundering in the air as it blasted away any Bloody Hoof in Metal Jacket’s way.

As he made his way back out of the base he dropped the Spas to the ground, it was empty but smoke still poured out of the barrel and open receiver. As he got a few more yards away from the base entrance he triggered the C-4.

The plastic explosives erupted tremendously and some of the glass panels on the F&F Enterprise building shattered from the shockwave force. Metal Jacket dropped the detonator to the ground and continued a slow walk towards the entrance of the F&F Enterprise building.

The element of harmony bearers rushed from the treeline. Rarity gasped as she saw the massive eruption. She gasped and rushed over to Metal Jacket. “Ignorance! What if my sister is in there?” she screamed but Metal Jacket paid her no mind and continued to walk towards the big building.

“Hey you, I’m talking to you” Rarity screamed then gave him an irritated kick to the side. The kick got his attention so he stopped and looked to her then in a blunt voice told her his thoughts. “I told you to stay away from the battle until it was done” he told her in a blunt tone.

“I don’t care about what you told me to do, you may have killed my sister” she screamed. “She was not in the military base” he replied, still in a blunt tone. Rarity’s face went red with anger. “And how would you know!?” she screamed.

Metal Jacket stepped back then unholstered his Desert Eagle and pointed it at her towards her head. The gun clicked as Metal Jacket thumbed the slide release. Rarity gasped and as he went to pull the trigger she squeezed her eyes shut. The handgun thundered,

BOOOOOM

Author's Note

So we find out that the cutie mark crusaders and Spike have sort of been brainwashed and then BOOM cliffhanger

Chapter 12: I lied

Rarity stood there shaking fearfully, sweat beading down her head. Her breathing was heavy and erratic but then she realized something. She wasn’t dead, well at least not at the moment.

She slowly opened her eyes to see Metal Jacket with his Desert Eagle still pointing at her. The barrel was still smoking but then Rarity finally noticed that he wasn’t aiming directly at her. She looked behind herself to see the body of a Bloody Hoof lying on the ground, missing part of its face.

She turned back to Metal Jacket, absolutely speechless. “I…you…but…” Rarity stammered, completely shocked that he would save her life from sure death. Metal Jacket smirked, “Trust me” he told her then turned and proceeded to the front doors. The element bearers had seen what had happened and immediately rushed over to their friend.

Fluttershy was the first to speak. “Oh my gosh, Rarity are you okay?” she asked in her quiet voice, which over the sound of gunfire, was almost impossible to hear. Rarity nodded slowly as she watched Metal Jacket walk towards the building entrance. Somehow he had perfected the art of walking on two legs.

Rarity gulped before talking, trying to calm herself enough to talk without stuttering. “He…saved my…my life” she stammered, still shocked by the fact he had saved her. It was shocking especially after all the harshness he had showed towards her and the others.

Inside the building Flam directed a line of defence in the building lobby. “Alright, I want blue team set up over there. Red team I want on the balcony and…” he trailed off as a large translucent panel of glass was riddled by loads of buckshot.

The automatic chugging of an AA12 shotgun filled the air and then in a sudden display of destruction, the glass panel simply shattered apart and Metal Jacket started walking forwards, an AA12 in each hoof with a twenty round drum magazine on each gun.

The guards all pivoted towards Metal Jacket but he was already firing upon them. As the AA12s chugged, ponies would be kicked off their hooves and knocked to the ground. Flam looked to the guards as they were all slaughtered before his own eyes. “Hold him off” Flam ordered then turned tail and galloped off.

Metal Jacket curled his lips and snarled as he continued on his onslaught. As he continued to walk forwards he noticed floor tiles by his hind hooves getting chipped away from bullets. He turned his body to see multiple ponies trying to pot shot him from a balcony ledge.

He lifted up the AA12 in his left hoof and fired the remainder of the magazine into the ponies on the balcony ledge while he fired the second AA12 at the remaining ponies on the ground floor. One of the ponies on the balcony let out a comical scream as he fell off the ledge and hit the floor below with a THUMP.

Metal Jacket walked over to a heavy steel table and simply gave it a light kick with one of his legs then took cover behind it as he began to reload both shotguns. He slid a magazine into the first shotgun then cocked it back but just as he loaded the shotgun, a pony slid around the side of the table with his assault rifle drawn.

Metal Jacket squeezed the trigger on the loaded shotgun. The first shot missed but the second shot slammed against the stallion’s foreleg knee and blew the limb right off. As the stallion began to scream a third load of buckshot fired and blew off the pony’s head.

Metal Jacket decided that perhaps one shotgun was enough and stood back up. Ponies had created a defensive line to fight him. Metal Jacket held back the trigger on his shotgun and held back the trigger as he made one slow horizontal sweep with the shotgun, chopping away the defensive line with a spray of 12gauge buckshot.

Stallions and mares were taken off their hooves and tossed about as they were struck by the barrage of lead
buckshot. ‘At least they’re more of a challenge than The Bloody Hooves’ Metal Jacket thought to himself as he shot the final pony down.

He slid out the empty drum magazine of the AA12 and slipped in a fresh one then began to trot towards the elevator. ‘If I was the brothers then I’d hide… either in my top office or the basement’ Metal Jacket thought to himself as he walked over to the elevator doors then buttoned for the elevator to travel to the top floor.

Metal Jacket was breathing with a slight discomfort in his breath. Blood from his head gash had started to leak into his eyes. He took off his glasses for a moment then wiped the blood from his face before sliding the shades back on.

On the top floor ponies sat outside the elevator and waited for the doors to open. The elevator shaft stopped humming then pinged as the doors opened. Every single pony in the office began to mercilessly fire into the elevator, soon a cloud of smoke filled the elevator from all the gunfire and bullets slamming off the elevator wall.

After about twenty seconds all the ponies stopped firing. They waited for the smoke to clear and as it did a figure kicked down the door to the stairwell and began to fire upon the ponies in the offices.

Ponies screamed in horror and agony as buckshot blew them away, usually toppling their bodies over a desk or knocking their body through drywall. As Metal Jacket continued to walk forwards a lone stallion lept out from behind a wall and stuffed a shotgun barrel right into Metal Jacket’s chest.

He pulled the trigger and the blast sent Metal Jacket hurtling back through a wall between him and an office. He smashed through the drywall then lay there with smoke emulating from his chest. The stallion chuckled as he walked over to finish the job but as he got within a foot of Metal Jacket and pointed the shotgun barrel to Jacket’s head, MJ quickly grabbed the barrel of the shotgun and snapped the gun out of the stallion’s grip as he drew out his Desert Eagle.

“Don’t give up your day job” Metal Jacket quoted then fired a lone round into the stallion’s head, blowing off the majority of the stallion’s skull.

Metal Jacket stood up. The Kevlar plate in the jacket had stopped the load of buckshot but know the plate was warped and pressing hard against his chest. Metal Jacket quickly removed the leather jacket and walked back into the hallways with just his Desert Eagle.

He quickly approached the office of Flim and Flam. He tried to open the door but it was locked. Metal Jacket knocked on the door. “Hey boss, your pizza’s here” Metal Jacket said in a joking voice. He chuckled then stepped back and booted the door down.

Flam screamed like a pansy as Metal Jacket entered the room and smirked “Knock-knock” Metal Jacket said with a smug look. Flam hid behind the safety off his desk and when Metal Jacket would try to go left he’d go right. When MJ would go right he’d go left.

Soon Metal Jacket grew irritated of this stupid predicament and simply grabbed the heavy table and threw it through the window, shattering the window panel as the desk fell to the ground. Flam tried to backpedal but had nowhere to go. Metal Jacket quickly scooped up Flam by his hindleg and held him out the window with just his left hoof.

“Ahhhhh oh sweet Celestia NOOOOO” Flam screamed in utter horror. “Okay Flam…where’s the girls…and the dragon” Metal Jacket grunted through extreme effort. “I uhh… I don’t know” Flam lied. Metal Jacket gave his arm a little shake and grunted. “You know Flam…gravity makes it hard for me to hold you… and this is my bad arm” he told Flam who now dangled high above the ground. “Ahhhh…. They’re in the basement… where it’s safe…” Flam stammered through fear.

“Hey Flam… remember when I told you I would kill you last?” Metal Jacket asked and Flam nodded. “That’s right Metal… you did” Flam cried in fear. Metal Jacket’s face was expressionless, “I lied” then Metal Jacket released his grip on Flam.

Flam screamed as he fell the entire seven stories of the building and crashed into a pile of explosives which just so happened to explode upon impact. “Well that hit the spot” Metal chuckled then turned and walked back to the elevator. He buttoned for sublevel floor and quickly arrived in the basement.

As soon as he entered the basement a mare swung around as she heard the elevator ping. She was too slow and Metal Jacket quickly snapped his aim up to her and fired a lone round right through her skull. He walked over and picked up her
Spas 12, quickly unfolding the stock and using the arm hook like his last Spas.

He turned down a hallway where several young fillies and a purple dragon dashed towards him then stopped as they saw him enter the hallway. They saw Metal Jacket, who was rather terrifying and scary, and turned to run the other way but a stallion was trotting up behind them with a Glock 18 drawn.

“Flim and Flam ain’t here to stop me from killing you little bitches this time” said the big stallion as he raised his Glock up to the young fillies. They took a quick glance back to Metal Jacket who also had his shotgun up. “Get down” he ordered them bluntly and they all quickly fell to the floor.

Metal Jacket triggered his shotgun and the blast struck the stallion in the upper left shoulder and was about to knock him onto his back when in a fraction of a second Metal Jacket fired a second blast into his gut which kept the stallion from falling back. He fired the entire magazine capacity into the stallion who finally slammed back against the wall then began to slide down the wall.

As the stallion slid down the wall Metal Jacket walked over to the fillies. “Come with me if you want to see your sisters” he told them and they immediately lept up and began to follow him.

As they all reached the elevator hallway Flim skidded out from the stairwell. “Stop!” he yelled and Metal Jacket stopped as he racked a fresh round into his shotgun. “Girls, get away from him. He’s evil” Flim warned the fillies. “Don’t listen to him, he lies” Metal Jacket told the fillies.

“No, he’s lying. I may have taken you away from your sisters but that was for your own good. Think about it, ever since you have been here your life style has improved greatly and think hard. Have I ever lied to you?” Flim asked. He had a point, he never had technically told them a lie so far.

The girls looked back to Metal Jacket who had the shotgun trained on Flim who was a few dozen feet away. “Drop the gun” Applebloom ordered and Metal Jacket gasped, ‘Were they serious?’ he asked himself.

“I’m here to save you. Your sisters hired me to rescue you” he told them. Flim countered his statement. “Yes and look what he’s done. He’s killed every-pony here except us. He’s evil” Flim told the young fillies, and the dragon.

“SWEETIE BELL!” cried out a feminine voice. They all turned to see their sisters standing a few feet behind them. “SIS!” all the fillies cried out while Spike simply rushed over to Twilight, they all had tears running down their faces.

Metal Jacket smiled to himself. He heard Flim yell out in anger and saw him draw out a Berretta M9 then point it at Rarity. “NOOO” Metal Jacket yelled out and lept in front of Rarity just as Flim fired. He felt the bullet strike him and gasped as the bullet travelled through him. Every-pony screamed, except Flim.

Author's Note

Dah-dum tssh. Yeah so anyway, tomorrow morning I'll write the ending chapter(s) and try to make it happy but really how the hell do you make an action book happy ending. I mean "They all lived happily ever after" doesn't really cut it when a whole bunch of the people in the story have died, even if they're the bad guys.

Chapter 13: Forgiven

Flim turned tail and rushed off down the hallway as Twilight quickly levitated Metal Jacket’s Desert Eagle up and tried to shoot the fleeing stallion but was uneducated with how to operate a firearm and missed terribly.

Metal Jacket grunted in pain. The bullet had slammed through his top left shoulder, rendering that limb pretty much useless for the time being.

Rarity gasped in shock. That was the second time he had saved her today. “Why? Why did you save me?” she asked curiously. Metal Jacket groaned as he stood up to his hindlegs, holding his wounded shoulder with his right hoof. “I’m not quite sure why. I’ll get back to you on that one” Metal Jacket told her then ran off to where Flim had snuck off to. Right before he descended into the cooler room he looked back to the group.

“Stay here this time” he ordered them then ran down the small set of stairs and entered the cooler room. There was a small hallway with several crevices between pipes and cooler lines.

Metal Jacket was sweating heavily. It was blisteringly hot down here and sweat beaded into his eyes, stinging his vision. He wiped the sweat from his face but as he did a second bullet slammed through his left foreleg.

He cried out in pain and fell behind a big steel beam that helped support the floor. Another shot went off and pinged off the steel beam. “How’s your foreleg Jack?” Flim asked, abbreviating his last name into a short form.

“Why don’t you come over and I’ll show you?” Metal Jacket snarled. Flim chuckled as he levitated the Berretta. “Now thanks Jack… I think I’ll just wait here” Flim said in a semi fearful voice.

“Come on Flim, put that chicken shit pistol away and fight me like a stallion. You don’t need a gun to kill me, I only got one foreleg left” Jacket told him, poking at Flim’s ego. “I’m not foolish… I’m not disarming myself to fight you” Flim stammered. Metal Jacket pulled out a combat knife that had a seven inch blade and tossed it over to Flim.

“Wouldn’t you rather drive a knife through my skull? Slit open my throat? Make me suffer for what I did to your brother?” Metal Jacket told him. Flim looked at the knife and imagined himself driving the knife into Jack’s stomach as he watched the life drain from Jack’s eyes and he would beg for a quick death. But if he simply shot Jacket then the death would be quick and painless, something he didn’t deserve.

“You’re right Jack… I don’t need a gun to beat you… no…I’m gonna drive this knife right through your heart” Flim said in a sadistic voice. Metal Jacket crawled out from behind the steel beam and staggered to his hindlegs. “Come on Flim… let’s party” Metal Jacket said. Flim grasped the knife with his right hoof and a dastardly smile spread across his face.

Flim let out a scream as charged towards MJ, swinging the knife insanely. As he got within striking distance, Flim started swinging the knife at Jacket’s exposed stomach area then used an uppercut swing to try and cut at his throat. Jacket dodged the swings as he pulled his stomach backwards to dodge the gut swing then tilted his body back to dodge the uppercut.

Flim swung the blade in his hoof so the blade tip was facing downwards then tried to drive the blade straight down on Metal Jacket. Jacket shot out his right hoof and grabbed Flim by the wrist to stop the swing then twisted Flim’s wrist as he pivoted his body.

Flim screamed from the jolt of pain and lost his grip on the knife handle, dropping it to the ground. Jacket kicked the knife away and it skidded behind some heavy pipes. Flim head-butted the back of Jacket’s head and sent him staggering forwards before finally getting his balance.

Jacket spun around as Flim charged towards him. Flim tackled the large stallion through a metal door and they both fell off a railing. They fell several feet below and crashed into the floor of the generator room which was humming loudly.

Flim stood up and booted the still wincing Metal Jacket. “You’re old Jack… you should never have crawled out of that hole of yours” Flim sneered as he continued to boot Jacket in the head. Jacket rolled over just as Flim went to curb stomp him.

He rolled to his hindlegs and stood up quickly just as Flim charged him. Jacket gave a straight kick that slammed against Flim’s face and staggered him back. As Jacket charged towards him, Flim blasted him with an energy blast from his horn, burning the front of Metal Jacket’s shirt.

Jacket pulled off the rest of his shirt pieces and went shirtless, exposing his muscular frame. Flim charged him and slammed Metal Jacket into a hard steel pipe. Jacket’s head bounced off the pipe painfully and he grunted in pain.

“How does it feel to be a dying stallion Jack?” Flim asked but then Jacket gave him a back hand and sent Flim crashing into the generator electrodes. Flim’s body was electrocuted by the electrodes and he screamed violently as electricity coursed through his body. “You tell me” Jacket quoted but he spoke to soon.

Flim somehow managed to fall from the electrodes, still alive, and charged back at Metal Jacket. Flim grasped Jacket in a magical levitation spell and tossed his body across the generator room.

“I’m gonna kill yah Jack. Real slow and painfully” Flim sneered in a sadistic voice. Flim grasped Metal Jacket’s body and began to slam him back and forth against two pipes and each side of his body.

The force from each impact eventually broke one of the pipes. Metal Jacket groaned in pain and Flim laughed hysterically from the spectacle he was creating. As Flim slammed Metal Jacket into the busted pipe, MJ grabbed the pipe and tore it off the wall.

“Think…fast” Metal Jacket said and heaved the pipe at Flim whose eyes went wide as the metal pipe flew through the air. The pipe slammed into his chest and pinned him against a water cooler. The pipe punctured the water cooler and steam blasted through the pipe that had impaled Flim and kept his body pinned to the water cooler. Flim gasped and gagged as he held the pipe, blood coming up through his mouth from the sudden trauma. Steam continued to spray out of the pipe.

“Looks like it was too much pressure for you Flim. You should let off some steam” Metal Jacket commented. Flim’s limbs went limp and he slumped over but steam continued to spray out. Metal Jacket turned to leave but then spotted movement above him and looked up to the stairwell to see Luna standing there. She had probably seen the majority of the fight.

“I brought your car” she told him.

Author's Note

"Let off some steam Flim" bwahahahaha

Chapter 14: His forgiveness

Metal Jacket stepped out of the front doors, which had been blown off from an explosion. Celestia had the entire Royal guard in front of the building, probably preparing for an attack.

Metal Jacket began to walk towards his car but Celestia stopped him. “Leave anything for us?” Celestia asked. Metal Jacket’s face was expressionless.

“Just bodies” he informed her. She sighed and looked around to the destruction he had caused but it was probably worth it. He may have just saved Equestria again.

“We’d like you to start up a unit comprised entirely under your command. All it would take would be you coming back” Celestia told him.

“This was the last time Celestia” Metal Jacket told her then began to walk back towards his Camaro. Celestia smiled, “Until the next time” she said and Metal Jacket turned back to her. “No chance” he told her then continued to walk towards the Camaro.

Rarity rushed up to Metal Jacket. “Where are you going?” she asked and he stopped to think about it.

“Somewhere far away… in the mountains maybe” he told her. She sighed, hoping that perhaps she could somehow make this up to him.

“Why not come back to Ponyville. We’ll let you build up your house again and live alone by yourself. We’ll try to get used to your gunshots going off at random times” Rarity offered but he shook his head.

“No… I couldn’t go back… I don’t think she’d want to see me” Metal Jacket told her and she scrunched her nose. “Who?” she asked and Metal Jacket let out a deep sigh.

“My daughter… we never spoke much… she left when I was serving the country overseas and we never really talked when I came back. I heard that she was cross-eyed and a mail pony or something” he told her. Rarity gasped as she realized who he was talking about.

“Wait, I know your daughter… well sort of. She resides in Ponyville… here this is her address. It’s the least I can do” Rarity said as she scribbled down an address onto a piece of paper and handed it to Metal Jacket.

“Thank you but… I don’t know if she’d even want to see me anymore. We uhh… never did much together and I didn’t really father her the way I should have” Metal Jacket said with a tear.

He began to walk away again and sat down in his car. The engine rumbled to life and he drove away, the others watching him go. “Goodbye… you old brute” Rarity said and a tear trickled down her face but she wasn’t quite sure why.

* * *

Days later:

Derpy Hooves sat in her home and ate muffins. She giggled to herself and crumbs littered the ground around her. Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Derpy Hooves looked over to her door.

“It’s open” she said through a mouthful of muffins. The door knocked again and she sighed as she stood up and trotted over to the door. As she opened it she was greeted by the sight of a stallion. He was an older stallion, maybe 52 by Derpy’s first guess.

“De…Derpy” stuttered the stallion as a tear trickled down his face. He was wearing a pair of camouflaged cargo pants and a brown duster coat. Derpy was taken back by the stallion’s sudden emotional image but then something tingled in the back of her mind.

“D…da…da…dad?” she stuttered. They both stood there for several minutes, tears flowing from their eyes. Metal Jacket raised one of his hooves as to hug her, his hoof was shaking erratically. His breathing was heavy and he tried to keep himself balanced.

Derpy literally surged forwards and grabbed her father in a tight hug as they both began to sob. In the background a faint musical tune could be heard.

My child arrived just the other day

He came to the world in the usual way

But there were planes to catch and bills to pay

He learned to walk while I was away

And he was talkin fore I knew it and as he grew he’d say

“I’m gonna be like you dad, you know I’m gonna be like you”

Rarity watched from her boutique window with a pair of binoculars. She smiled as the stallion known as Metal Jacket met with his daughter for the first time in ages.

“I’m so sorry… I should have been there for you… while you were growing up” Jacket sobbed. Derpy couldn’t talk as her own sobs silenced her voice. “I…I love you dad” she said through heavy sobbing.

“I love you to…” Metal Jacket said but his voice was cut off by more of his crying. They continued to hold each other then they finally managed to tell each other how much they missed the other. Derpy invited her father into her home so they could catch up on old times. Metal Jacket smiled. “I promise I’m never going to leave you again” he told her as they trotted into her home.

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon

Little boy blue and the man on the moon

When you comin home dad I don’t know when

But we’ll get together then

You know we’ll have a good time then

My son turned ten just the other day

He said “Thanks for the ball dad, come on let’s play

Can you teach me to throw?” I said “Not today

I gotta lot to do” he said “That’s okay”

And he, he walked away but smile never did

He said “I’m gonna be like him

Yeah

You know I’m gonna be like him…

Author's Note

Well tears came to my eyes, and I'm a friggin brute of a man/guy so that's really depressing. But it's a happy ending if I ever read one