I stood up, wondering to myself who it could be at this hour, then came to the presumption it was probably Discord or Chrysalis. Scratching my back of an itch as I wandered down the stairs and to the front door, another report of knocks echoed.

“Yeah-yeah, I hear yah, I hear yah...” I called out, a small smile on my face from the thought of my friends. As I swung open the door however, my smile immediately died.

“Guh... Princess... Celestia... Luna... uhh!” I quickly took a bow, my stomach twisting as a shiver went down my back. Nopony outside my small circle of friends knew about Nightmare... and goddess forbid if either Celestia or Luna found out...

'DID THEY ALREADY?! Is that why they're here?!' I thought quietly, my mind racing.

“Please, Mister Parker, there is no need to be so humble,” Celestia announced in a friendly tone of voice, settling my anxiety. “I do hope we're not interrupting anything?” she asked with a friendly smile.

“N-no! No, nothing at all... uhh... please, please come in,” I offered, trying to make it as though I wasn't hiding anything.

Luna looked to me with a perked brow, one of curiosity but not suspicion. “You seem... unsettled, Mister Parker,” she mentioned and I swallowed deep, quickly changing my tone and demeanor.

“No, ma'am, I'm not,” I said with a rather blank expression, to which she cocked her brow even further, like I had seen her sister do so many times before.

“You're finger, you call them? They're twitching nervously,” she commented, to which I took notice.

“What? Nooo...” I said, my voice utterly devoid of expression, making me feel like an idiot. However, no sooner had I thought of my idiocy, did I laugh at a memory. Luna leaned her head back, shocked at my sudden change in demeanor.

“Something... you find humorous?” she asked, myself nodding.

“Sorry... there was a bad movie back on my home world with an actor who had a dopey moment and I... I just reminded myself of him when saying it like that... ahem, so...” I trailed off, hoping they would pick up on their reason for this unexpected visit.

Celestia and Luna both stepped forwards and began to take off their royal shoes. “Meh, don't worry about taking those off. I wear my boots around the house,” I offered, Celestia commenting jokingly in return.

“A house? It's more like a mansion. Why, the interior furnishing compares to that of the castle, wouldn't you agree sister?” she asked, Luna nodding in return.

I scratched my chin as I spoke. “Yeah but... don't ponies wear their shoes and boots and stuff in the castle all the time?” I asked inquisitively.

Celestia smirked with a slight chuckle. “I suppose...” she remarked and I gave her a nudge.

“Then come in, relax. My home is your home, you know?” I responded, Luna leaning over to whisper to her sister.

“He is much more relaxed in our presence than most,” she stated, Celestia nodding in return before speaking to me in a more serious tone.

“I'm afraid we must make our visit short, but however short it is, it is still very important,” she told me. “Come, let us walk, for our conversation should be private and away from open ears.” She began to trot down to the lower levels of the mansion, to which I followed casually, trying to hide my inner fears.

Luna trailed behind us but quickly got a look of immense... something, expressed across her face. I dunno what it was, but I passed it off quite quickly as Celestia got right to the point. “I have a favor to ask of you, Mister Parker,” she began.

“Derreck, please,” I directed her, to which a smile tugged on the side of her lips.

“Indeed. Well, Derreck, I have a favor to ask of you... a rather pressing matter has come to the attention of my sister and I,” she said, getting serious in tone which made my stomach sink.

'Does she know?...' I thought in a slightly panicked way. “Oh?...” I asked, trailing off to let her continue.

“Yes... and I'm afraid it involves someone quite close to you,” she mentioned, myself swallowing discretely to try and hide my still rising fears.

'Shit... fuck, what am I gonna do?!' I thought stressfully.

“Yes... that woman, the uhm...” she waved her hoof as though trying to think of the proper word to say. “The one from you world with the aircraft full of weapons... the uhm...” she trailed off again.

“Mercenary?” I asked, to which she chuckled with a faint laugh.

“W-well... well I was going to try and use a more polite word but if your comfortable with me addressing it as such, then yes. The mercenary woman,” Celestia mentioned and I brushed it off.

“Meh, we're not really 'close'. Just associates I suppose...” I mentioned. Luna spoke up, with curiosity in her voice.

“After all the fighting the two of you have been through together, we would have thought the two of you to have a bond of sorts,” she mentioned, still inspecting every little thing about the mansion.

“Well... we haven't been through 'that' much,” I commented, to which she perked a brow and countered.

“Curbing the coup d'état in the Griffon Kingdom?” she mentioned, myself shrugging. “Also, bolstering the revolution in Dragon's Lair?” she brought up another conflict we had fought side by side in.

“Well... I mean-” Luna cut me off with another.

“The evacuation of the villages in Zebrafrica from the tyrant warlord which you subsequently brought down in the following weeks?” she stated, myself dipping my head.

“Okay yeah... we've been through quite a bit together... but it doesn't make us close. It's a... well, she pays pretty good... err, the clients do and... I'm good at it but, I'm retired as of recent so...” I commented, to which Celestia inquired.

“So then, if you're retired, I... my sister and myself, are wondering if you have any play in her latest endeavor?” she asked, myself shaking my head.

“Which would be?” I asked curiously, her answer taking me off-guard.

“She's planning on offloading her entire arsenal to a criminal organization,” she mentioned, my jaw dropping. How did she know already? It was only yesterday Kianna asked me to come along.

“We will take that as a 'no',” Luna mentioned, seeing my bleak expression. “We shouldn't need to tell you this but this... deal of hers, poses a serious national security threat to the well-being of Equestria as a whole...” I dipped my head with a deep sigh.

As I looked back up, I saw Luna looking around with that estranged look on her face again. It was one of great wonder and curiosity along with some suspicion. “Something wrong?” I asked.

“I sense... something I have not felt in...” she trailed off and that's when it hit me like a freight train. She, of all ponies, would know... not just know, would feel, Nightmare Moon's presence as the duo used to be one in the same.

My stomach sank as I tried to think something up quick... and I did. “Oh... actually yeah... yeah there is something I should probably...” I trialed off as I waved them to follow me. “I probably should've told you both a long time ago after it happened but... well I just didn't know how to break it to you,” I mentioned, Celestia perking an interrogative brow.

“Well, what exactly is it?” she asked, myself shrugging.

“Well... let's just say it'd be easier to show you rather than tell you... plus I think you might want to see it for yourself,” I replied, the two princess sisters following me until we reached a room. “Just... uhm... try too... you know what? I'll just show you.”

I swung open the door, to which they both looked in blank expression, Luna's jaw dropping a bit as her mouth gaped slightly. I scratched the back of my head with a chuckle. “I uhh... heh-heh... had a bit of a weird encounter a while ago and came into possession of this baby and... well, believe me, I've been meaning to give it back to you but...” I trailed off as Luna slowly walked over and inspected her long lost weapon.

Celestia chuckled as she nudged me teasingly. “For a moment I thought the news would have been bad... something like... ohh I don't know... crazy, like Nightmare Moon was back,” she laughed, a shiver going down my spine.

Luna unsheathed the dangerous sword and admired it's grace as she slowly swung it about with bliss and elegance. Celestia gave me a nudge and motioned for the door. “Let my sister have a moment,” she told me and we both exited to the hallway, closing the door behind us before Celestia began to speak.

“So about this problem with Kianna-” I quickly cut her short.

“Princess... Tia... I'm sorry but I'm retired now,” I apologized. Normally I'd be inclined to help her in these situations but... funny to have it come from me but I just wasn't feeling the over the top action packed violence anymore.

“I'm sorry too Derreck, but there just isn't any other way. Believe me, if there was I wouldn't be here. But you can get closer to her than anypony. You're the only one who can do this,” she told me and I sighed.

“I'm retired,” I told her, to which she gave me a steely cold glare.

“Yes you are... with a known villain residing in a mansion you obtained through rather illicit means,” she told me, my stomach again sinking as my heart skipped a beat. “You may be able to pull wool over my sister's eyes, but the same cannot be done with me. I know about your romance with Moon... and to be perfectly honest I'm okay with that. I've seen that evil doers can change and it seems she has put aside her evil ways in exchange for new, better, ones. However, the matter at hoof cannot be ignored, for it threatens all of Equestria.” She... she was...

“You're... so that's it huh? Black-mailing me...” I muttered but she shook her head.

“That's all black-mailing is... a deal with no negotiations. Under normal circumstances you'd be arrested and thrown in the dungeons for harboring a villain such as her, along with all your other crimes... but I like you... I like you a lot... and I'm willing to give you a chance, a deal you can't turn down... because we're friends, and that's what friendship is all about, right?” she asked in a tone that was so truly genuine it made me wonder if she was clinically insane or just really good at making herself believable.

“Yeah... friends black-mail each other into getting the other to do what they want until they're no longer needed... err, I mean, make deals with no negotiations...” I remarked.

“Derreck, please, don't be like this... like I said, if there was any other way...” she trailed off just as the door to the room opened, Luna stepping out with The Shadow Blade slung across her back. Celestia extended her hoof to me.

“After this, we'll never bug you again. You can retire a national hero-” I cut her short as I shook her hoof in front of Luna, not wanting the subject of Nightmare Moon to arise in front of the younger sister.

“Fine... but no publicity... this is off the record...” I told her with a steely cold glare, to which she embraced me in a loving hug and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you Derreck. I just knew we, and all of Equestria, could depend on you,” she said, putting on a show in front of her sister. Her attitude made my skin crawl... so much for the rainbows and sunshine that was my first impression of this world...

As we separated from our hug, I too put on the faked disguise in front of Luna. “You two wanna stay for some pizza or something?” I offered begrudgingly, though kept it internal, putting on a friendly exterior. Really though... Luna wasn't so bad, it was just her sister but... I suppose you don't remain Equestria's ruler for over millenia by being a goody-two-shoes...

Celestia smiled but shook her head. “We'd love to, but we have business back at the castle. Perhaps we'll take you up on that offer another time.” I just... oooh I wanted to... her attitude was almost smug...

However, much to my annoyance, I was put completely off guard as Luna leaned over and smooched my cheek, leaving a mark of blue lipstick. My cheeks turned a faint cherry red, making the lipstick ever more noticeable, as she spoke. “Thank you for returning my sword. It means worlds to me,” she replied before the duo took their leave, leaving me in the doorway alone, contemplating everything...

“We can't!” Evan argued back, and I pivoted on my heels, leaving my back to him as I swore. “We swore we were going to leave that life behind!”

I tongued around inside my mouth before turning back to him, pointing at him as I started to lose my cool. “NO! YOU... you promised to Twilight you were going to leave that life behind! I made no such promise!” I yelled at him, Evan's expression suddenly shocked.

“FUCK!” I cursed at myself as I stomped and put my back to him again. I could tell he was hurt that I took that tone of voice with him. “Goddammit how the fuck did this happen?” I asked aloud, Evan still silent for the time being as I rubbed my forehead.

“Are you sure Celestia said it like that?” he asked meekly.

“Sure as shit that the sun will rise in the morning... for fuck sakes...” I cursed, angry with myself... angry with Celestia... angry with everything. “Why the fuck couldn't it have been like this in the beginning? Back when we were both striving for action... shit we could've been the world's hero ten times over...” I muttered to myself.

“I dunno... it just seems... out of character for Celestia to act like that... don't you think?” he asked, speaking what I had been originally thinking.

“Yeah but she's desperate,” I replied, Evan staying silent as I explained my train of thought. “Never before has there been this kind of problem. Yeah there's been... super villains... twisted magicians... lords of chaos... but all that can be handled with friendship and Elements of Harmony and all that gay crap...” I trailed off as I looked to the empty expanse of nothingness.

"It's not really 'gay'," Evan mentioned. I turned back to him to say something but then decided to stay silent for a moment. Whatever it was, their ways of dealing with things was stupid and ridiculous.

As I turned to him I finished what I had originally been saying. “But never before has there been a threat of uprising with firearms. They never existed on this world until we arrived... until we brought them here... fuck as if guns are the problem here...” I swore, hating myself for having to admit that.

“There has to be another way. May-maybe we can pay Kianna?” he suggested but I shook my head.

“She'd never go for that... she wants what we have... and we don't have nearly enough money to get her that... and I don't think Celestia is going to go for negotiations with a gun runner... ohhhh FUCK!” I cursed, stroking my forehead before chuckling.

“What's so funny?” he asked and I just continued to chuckle softly.

“First it was you... then it was me... now it's Kianna...” I laughed softly, Evan raising an unsure brow. “Well... think about it... metaphorically speaking, you were the first to lay down your guns... give up on the action, the... give up on the 'life'... then it was me. Kind of... I met Nightmare... relived my old legacy but then decided it wasn't for me and tried to retire on a high note... you know, go golfing, sit on the porch, watch the sun set in the distance...” I trailed off, Evan picking up.

“And now it's Kianna... seeing what we had, and wanting to give up the violent life for something more soothing...” he came to realization with what I was saying. I nodded.

“But someone's always there to drag us back into the action... everypony forgets... nothing is forgotten...” I sighed deeply as Evan asked what was already decided.

“So what do we do?” he asked, myself just closing my eyes as I shook my head in shame.

“We do what Celestia asks... and maybe she'll keep true to her word and let us live the rest of our pitiful lives in peace... pfft, exiled to a mansion in the Everfree Forest...” I joked.

“But what about my mother... Twilight?” he asked.

“Why do you think I asked Celestia to keep this whole ordeal hush-hush?” I asked rhetorically.

“No I mean... I'm supposed to talk with her,” he stated but I just brushed it off.

“Yeah, but that's the day after tomorrow. We'll do this tomorrow... it won't take long... maybe an hour or two... they're based out of that old fuel station, remember?” I reminded him, going back on what Kianna told us.

“There has to be some other way... tell them what's going on... maybe she'll understand and take off... disappear?” Evan tried to reason. “She was our friend!” he yelled. “She trusted us!”

His words hit me pretty hard. Those were the same inspiration words I told to Echo Jewel. He was right. She, along with Dwayne... they were technically, in some way or another, our friends... and they did trust us. It's why it would be so easy for us to pull off... Celestia on the other hand... well. 'Damn... why can't things be like they used to... easy decisions?'...

I awoke soundly to the wet feeling Nightmare's soft lips kissing my cheeks. I cracked my good eye and gave her a faint smile. With her one fore-hoof, she brushed aside my hair and gave me a dreamy look.

“Morning...” I mumbled groggily. She brushed her nose against mine.

“Pleasant dreams?” she asked, to which I rolled my eye and shook my head.

“Unfortunately not... ugh... for fuck sakes... if only it were all just a dream,” I grumbled. Nightmare nuzzled against me.

“What are you going to do?” she asked quietly, whispering her words into my ear.

“I dunno...” I leaned back and looked into her eyes. “My... Kianna, Dwayne... they trust me...” I dipped my head with a sigh. Nightmare lifted my chin with a hoof, looking deep into my eye with her own.

“Whatever you do, I'll stand by you,” she said before planting a kiss on my lips. “And whatever it is you choose to do, follow your heart and it shall guide you.” I laid there for a moment with her, before stroking her soft, furry cheek.

“I'm... I'm going to do what's right. Then, I'm going to retire. Fuck the legend... fuck my legacy... and fuck this country. We'll leave it all behind. Me and you... and together, we'll ride off into the sunset, raise our foal somewhere nice,” I said, Nightmare smiling.

“On a nice countryside... waterfall nearby... overlooking the horizon... with a picket fence, and a nice dog named Chip to-”

“What's wrong with Lassie?” I asked to which she laughed softly.

“Right... sorry I got lost in imagination... yes, a nice dog named Lassie to play with our child on the front lawn,” she cooed before we embraced in a loving kiss. Goddess damn me to hell for what I was about to do...

Third person...

Dwayne sat before his tactical monitor, tapping away at the keyboard. Several monitors lay before him, displaying security footage of the surrounding area. Reaching over with his right hoof, he tapped a few buttons on his laptop. All the technology that had been brought along with Kianna absolutely stunned Dwayne to no end. Never before had he seen such devices in all of Equestria. It was truly something to behold.

Tapping away, his left hoof moved over to a soda bottle with a straw, bringing it over and taking a generous sip. Looking back to the screen, his reflection mirrored off the glowing screen as he sucked on the straw, drawing more of the beverage into his mouth.

His calm form was abruptly interrupted as a blaring noise was set off, making him fling his soda in fright. The liquid splashed on his computer chassis and the electronics fizzled out, some of his computer screens blacking out as crackles of electricity fizzled out.

“Fsshh shit!” Dwayne cursed wildly as the noise continued. Looking around frantically, he spotting a rapidly blinking light, which was hooked up to the source of the noise. Grabbing the land-line phone off the receiver, he brought it to his ear.

“YES! H-hello?! Hello! Hell...” Dwayne panted, having not expected the call and been caught off guard by it. “Hello?” he asked as he finally settled.

“Dwayne...” came a steely cool voice from the other end. Dwayne's eyes went wide with realization.

“Derreck?” he asked in confusion before he finally snapped back into reality. “Oh shit... that's right, Kianna said you might drop by for that uhh... hey, come see me by the fue-” he was cut off abruptly as Derreck spoke over him.

“Is Kianna there?” he asked and Dwayne sighed.

“No, unfortunately. She was waiting for you but then decided to go on her own. Hey, why don't you come over, I know where she went-” he was cut off again by Derreck.

“Dwayne listen to me, you're both in grave danger,” Derreck told him, Dwayne pausing for a second. He thought for a moment as a shiver went down his back.

“Who?” he asked.

“Celestia. There's no time to explain... is this call being recorded?” he asked, Dwayne looking over to all his surveillance and security equipment, namely to the recorder that was taping every word of their conversation.

“Yeah. Kianna has me-” he was cut off again.

“Grab all your equipment. Recording devices, security footage, everything. You and Kianna need to disappear and you can't leave them a trail,” Derreck told him. Dwayne's heart began to thump.

“How?” he asked over the phone.

“I'm gonna come pick you up. I've got some money for you guys... I've got a plan,” Derreck replied. Dwayne cursed to himself before quickly yanking plugs from outlets, jamming a duffle bag full of equipment, and grabbing all his necessities. Reaching over for his one surveillance laptop in a hurry, he accidentally knocked it off the back off the table which was nearly butted up to the wall. Swearing to himself, he leaned down in his wheelchair and attempted to grab the fallen laptop.

Looking at the device as he attempted to reach it, he watched as the monitor displayed Derreck's battle truck pulling up outside. Dwayne wondered for a moment where he had called from but quickly brushed it off. “Son of a bitch!” he swore, looking to the power cord which was still plugged into the laptop.

Reaching for it, he yanked on the cord and tried to hoist the entire laptop to himself. The plugin on the laptop however, failed to support the weight and came undone, the laptop falling off the plug and still out of his reach. Looking to the screen, Dwayne watched as Derreck got out of his truck, waiting for him.

“FUCK!” He yelled, throwing the power cord across the room and knocking out a light. That's when an idea came to mind. Quickly looking around, he grabbed his soda bottle which still had a few sips worth left in it. Wheeling himself over to a large power outlet, he dribbled the rest of his beverage onto the electrical outlet, shorting out the power and causing the breakers to trip, cutting out most of the power, namely to those of the surveillance equipment.

“There... even if somepony was able to get the laptop running again... they'd think Derreck came and clapped me...” he assured himself, knowing that would be a viable story for Derreck to tell the princess so he and Kianna could disappear in peace.

Just before he left, he rolled back to his desk and retrieved his H&K pistol before wheeling away in a hurry, duffle bag loaded to the back of his chair. Racing outside, he spotted Derreck by the refueling tanks, door to his truck open.

“I sure hope that thing has a handicap ramp!” Dwayne called out with a laugh, a smile wide on his face.

He kept wheeling his way towards Derreck, however, ever so evidently, he started moving slower and slower. Things started to become apparent to him. If they were in a hurry, why didn't Derreck park closer... with the passenger or back hatch door facing him...

Dwayne came to an even slower pace as he saw Derreck's expression... and finally saw his gun, drawn from its holster with the hammer cocked back. Dwayne came to a stop with his wheelchair, sighing as he leaned forwards, sitting on his haunches.

“Huh... clever... hahaha... ha... ain't this grand...” he laughed heartily. “Kianna wasn't here so... you got me to cut out all the surveillance feeds so that when she does arrive... you can catch her off guard too because she won't suspect you... hahaha... yeah, jeez, can't believe I fell for that one...” Dwayne muttered with a chuckle.

“It's how it has to be... I'm sorry,” Derreck apologized, his handcannon never wavering in the slightest as it remained at his side.

“I know... we just... kinda wanted what you have... living off the grid in some... swanky mansion... free of the world's vices... it's just kinda hard to accept this, you know?” he asked and Derreck nodded.

Dwayne slowly drew his own pistol out and looked at the engraved slide. “Haha... she always thought I was a bit of a pussy, you know?” he asked, Derreck giving him a solemn look. “Guess I'm even going out like one too... but I suppose...” he pointed the gun towards the empty expanse and popped off three rounds before aiming it back to the warehouse and popping off three more rounds.

Looking back to Derreck he quickly snapped a round off at him that grazed his arm and drew a bit of blood, some splattering to the ground. “Say there was... a gunfight and shots were exchanged... hell I even clipped one of the bastards but... uh-oh...” he racked on the slide of his pistol and forced the gun to malfunction with a failure to feed. “My gun jams and the group of bad guys get the upper hoof on me...” he wheeled closer to Derreck as the big man looked to his bleeding arm which quickly sealed up as his healing factor kicked in.

“Why didn't you just kill me?” Derreck asked, Dwayne shrugging in return.

“Even if I did manage to somehow kill you, which nopony prior has been able to achieve... they'd just send somepony else. Besides... this way at least... we're still parting as friends, you know?” he said. “And... at least this way... Kianna won't think I was a pussy in my dying moments...” he spoke with a soft-hearted voice as he leaned back in his chair for his last moments.

“I'm sorry,” Derreck apologized one final time, Dwayne nodding in response.

“I know...” Dwayne replied as he looked death in the face. Derreck rose his cannon and put a round straight through Dwayne's chest, blowing out his heart and killing him instantly. The force of the gunshot was enough to cause Dwayne's wheelchair to roll backwards, blood gushing from the hole in his chest.

Taking a step behind the wheelchair, Derreck grabbed the duffle bag of equipment, slung it over his back and headed towards his truck. Stopping for a moment, he looked to Dwayne's pistol which lay on the ground, sun shining on the frame which reflected the engravings...

Derreck's perspective...

I knelt down beside the Gran Torino, polishing the rims and thinking to myself. 'Goddess... what have I become? A simple hitpony for the princess... and assassin with no morals?'

Every time the thoughts came to mind, I pushed them away with the assurance that I was doing this for my wife-to-be... for my foal-to-be... for my future... but it always brought on the thoughts that everything I had done had been for selfish reasons... it was all for me... and everything in my mind kept running in the loop.

I looked out to the afternoon sun, still thinking about what I had done earlier this morning. Looking back to the car, I began to polish the rims again. If only somepony would tell me what I did was right...

I heard a gasping and hack come from the roll-up garage door. Nearly jumping to my feet I watched as a bloody, battered Kianna stumbled into the garage, M16 with grenade launcher in hand as she coughed and swore. “Fuckers...”

I stepped back cautiously. I didn't have my handgun, or any gun for that matter, with me at the time. I was dressed in my greaser coveralls and tank-top. Kianna stumbled forwards, cursing wildly but never once drawing her gun on me.

“Fuckers killed him! THEY FUCKING MURDERED HIM!” She screamed, a shiver going down my back. What was she going on about...

She stumbled forwards and I lurched ahead to catch her as she fell. She was bleeding from a few gunshot wounds. None were fatal, or at least not to my knowledge. “They fucked... ack!” she began to cough and hack, spitting more blood out of her mouth. “Shitheads... fuckers... fucking mobsters!” she yelled, to which I was put in further confusion.

“Kianna... shit hold on!” I stammered, laying her down on some cardboard that I would lay on when working under my vehicles. Rushing over to the far garage wall, I grabbed the first aid-kit before hurrying back over to her.

I could easily just finish her off here and now but... something was way out of place. Why was she cursing mobsters, claiming they killed him... assuming 'him' was Dwayne.

Pulling off her tattered tank-top, I quickly began dressing her wounds, Kianna cursing the whole time. “Kianna... what the hell happened?” I asked seriously.

“They killed him... they fucking killed him... fuck!” she coughed.

“Who?! What?!” I asked in utter confusion.

“Dwayne... those fucking Liotta thugs... they fucking clipped him!” she screamed.

'What... what, no... how did the Liotta's...' I thought silently. “What do they have to do with this?” I asked in a serious tone of voice.

“Everything! The guns... Dwayne! THIS!” she screamed motioning to her own injuries. I was still lost in confusion.

“What do you mean? I don't understand... how the fuck are they part of this?” I asked. She finally calmed herself for a second as I finished dressing her wounds and let her slip her tattered tank top back on.

“I lied to you...” she told me, making me raise a brow.

'Lied about what?' I thought as I sat down on the concrete floor and leaned my back against the door panel of my Gran Torino.

She leaned her back against the wall across from me, coughing lightly but finally over her initial shock trauma. “It's a nice car,” she told me, myself looking back at the beast and nodding as I gave the metal panels of the body a slight rub. “When you gonna let me drive it?” she asked, a little disoriented but myself shaking my head as I tried to bring her back.

“Not anytime soon... back on subject... what do the mobsters have to do with all this?” I asked seriously.

“You know those... third-worlders I was planning on selling guns to?” she asked and I nodded. “Well... they weren't from the third world... nor were they in anyway living in serious oppression... or... or anything that I told you. It was all just a lie,” she informed me, my brow raising.

“So... who the fuck was it?!” I snapped, Kianna chuckling.

“The same ponies who got you what you have today...” she stated. My first thought was Flim and Flam... but that wouldn't make much sense. Second thought that came to mind was Old Applenathy of the museum, whom essentially made me rich but that didn't make sense either. Finally I came to realization...

“The fucking Liottas?” I yelled, Kianna chuckling.

“Bingo... I kinda figured you'd react like this so... that's why I told you they were third-worlders. Figured you wouldn't be the wiser,” she commented.

“You can't give the fucking mob guns!” I roared to which she just rolled her eyes.

“Oh you're one to talk... Mr. All High and Mighty. They made you who you are... gave you a mansion... made you rich... a made-stallion... nopony can touch you... I wanted that... hell, half of that... fuck, even just a quarter... and I was willing to do whatever it took so me and Dwayne could just...” she waved her hand carelessly. “Not give a shit about anything anymore.”

“By giving the fucking mob guns! They're criminals!” I yelled as I stood up, Kianna just nodding.

“What would you have done in my situation? Oh right, you don't have to think about that cause you already did it...” she snapped at me as I turned my back to her, stressing as I gripped my head of hair.

I took a deep breath and exhaled before turning to her. Obviously something had went south or she wouldn't be here... all shot up like this. “So what happened?” I asked wonderingly.

“Broke rule number one of gunrunning,” she grunted as she stood up. I blinked and thought to myself before turning back to face her.

“Which is what?” I asked, motioning with my right hand for her to tell me.

“Don't get shot with your own merchandise... bastards got greedy I guess... decided they didn't want to pay... and tried to shoot me down. I escaped same way you did... down the river,” she mentioned.

“Down the river?” I asked and she nodded, bringing up an old memory of Evan's.

“When we first met... had our first confrontation... you took the leap of faith off that waterfall... I kinda had the same idea... fall down into the rapids and off the waterfall... better chances than trying to stand my ground against all those guns... which is why, originally, I wanted you to back me up on this,” she told me, my frustration going through the roof.

“So now... what you're saying is that... these fucking mobsters have enough guns to essentially overthrow... oh for fuck sakes...” I muttered to myself as things got a whole lot more complicated.

Even if I did just whack Kianna here and now, I know for fact Celestia would recruit me to deal with this oncoming epidemic. The problem of my life is the thing I cherish oh so dearly. “And they fucking killed Dwayne... just came back and... I found his body at the fuel station. There was a gunfight and... I think he got one of them but his gun jammed and... who the fuck kills a pony in a wheelchair?!" she asked aloud before grimacing from the pain of her injuries. "I'm sorry alright! I just wanted what you have... and seeing as how you got what you have from the Liottas I figured they'd be the ones to go to!”

I placed my left hand over my face as I groaned. 'Nooo... things can't be simple anymore... they have to be complicated and difficult... fuck, why couldn't things just be the way they used to be... all cuddly and shiny and gay...' I thought to myself.

“Okay so... you tried dealing some guns to the mobsters out in Manehatten?” I asked and she nodded. “But they double-crossed you, killed Dwayne and took your guns?” I asked, Kianna nodding.

“So how the hell did you get back so fast? From Manehatten I mean?” I asked, to which she shrugged.

“Took a leap into the rapids... woke up just outside The Everfree in shallow water and made my way to the fuel station and... well here I am,” she commented. 'No... she couldn't still have her plane because that would make it too easy,' I thought to myself. I rubbed my eyebrows, trying to sooth my eyes as I took it all in.

Kianna grunted as she loaded her rifle. “So what are you gonna do?” she asked...

Author's Notes:

BOOM! Stuff just got complicated. I'm really sorry about the long wait but I got really busy and ended up twisted my wrist trying to screw around with a 6ft katana sword. My buddy said I can't wield it with one hand but... well, I'm a monster that can wield shotguns with one hand so I figured... anyway I twisted my wrist, cock-suckin' sword weighs more than most of my guns. Ahem, point is, I'm sorry, I'm an idiot and yes... if you're reading this (You know who you are) you were right. You can't wield it with one hand...
Anywho, hopefully (I'm almost positive I can get the next chapter out quicker, cause it's a cliffhanger and we all hate those) I can get the next chapter out quicker... sorry again for the wait