Author's Notes:

I apologize for taking forever with this chapter too, but I had the chapter written within the first week, I just hadn't edited yet and then... well, I got a .45ACP 1911 and... well... anywho, I lost track of time and when I finally snapped back into reality I realized "Oh shit... yeah." So I'm very sorry for the delay, but hey... I like guns... and big guns are really, really, really fun. Cheers...

Twilight's perspective...

I sat with myself, patiently waiting... the anticipation killing me. 'Maybe I shouldn't be too hopeful about this...' I thought, my heart ticking a few beats quicker than normal. My tongue gently rubbed against my lips as I swallowed deep.

Maybe he wasn't really that bad. Maybe I had judged him a little harshly...

I looked to my clock and saw yet another hour had passed but I merely brushed it off as nothing. It was still pretty early in the day, only being eleven o'clock...

I kept thinking back to all our romantic times together. All those nights out, dinners under the stars, late night movies with Lassie. Even the not so romantic times like when him and Dash got us kicked out, or when we'd be removed for bringing Lassie into a restaurant.

I leaned a cheek into my hoof as I sighed contently. All those good times...

Another hour passed by without much thought...

And another...

And another...

I looked to the clock in a curious way. Surely he would be here before dark. I was a little surprised to say the least, he was in many ways an early riser and liked to get around. So why-

My thoughts were cut short by a knocking at the door, which I quickly shot up to answer. Rushing over with a smile, I swung open the door. “Eva!-” I cut myself short as I was met by Sweetie Belle.

“Hi Twilight! Is Spike home?” she asked in a rather joyful tune.

“Yea-yeah... yes. Spike!” I called out, the young dragon hurrying down the stairs.

“Coming Twilight!” he called back as he scampered down the stairs in a rush. Running up, he came to an abrupt halt as he saw Sweetie Belle at the door. “Oh... heh-heh... h-hey Sweetie Belle,” he fumbled stammeringly with a bright blush.

Sweetie Belle looked to me with a bright smile. “Twilight, can Spike come play with me? I'm meeting up with the other crusaders and we're going crusading!” she chimed. I smiled faintly as I looked to Spike and motioned with my head for him to go play.

“Thanks Twilight. I'll be back to finish the chores later!” he said in an excited tone as both he and Sweetie Belle quickly took off, giggling together all the while. I leaned in the doorway with a sigh, watching the duo run off into town. The afternoon sun glimmered with an orange haze, basking the world with the day's last bit of warmth.

Trotting back over to my seat, I began to daydream again, thinking back on the good times we all had together. Spike, Lassie, Evan and myself... a family...

A thought began to surface in my mind. A thought not just about Evan but about his... motherly issues, along with that other half of himself. When he physically changes and refers to himself as 'Derreck'. I had never seen such a transformation.

While similar to that of Luna and Nightmare Moon, it differed in the fact the two changed on a constant basis. It was a true mystery...

Another hour passed and I sighed to myself, getting up to pour myself some tea. Trotting into the kitchen, I put a pot of water to boil before mingling over to the cupboards and taking out some tea bags...

Another hour slowly passed as I waited patiently in the library living room, my hoof tapping in periodic rhythm against the floor...

Another hour and I bit my lower lip. 'What if he doesn't come?' I asked myself in worry. 'No... no he'll show up... he will... I know he will...'

I took a deep breath and tried to relax yet no sooner had I, then the door opened. I sprang up, almost joyfully, as I scampered over. “Evan!” I announced but was abruptly bewildered when I was greeted by Spike and Sweetie Belle, whom looked at me with a strange expression.

“Wha...” Spike began in confusion.

“Oh... heh-heh... Spike. Sorry, I thought you were Evan,” I mentioned stammeringly, which only made Spike raise a brow.

“Why would you think I was Evan? Didn't you tell him to leave and not come back because you didn't want to see him anymore?” he asked then quickly sucked in, covering his mouth as he realized what he said.

His words... so simple and calm, struck me like a fright train, really hammering me where it hurt. I nearly stumbled forwards as tears began to water in my eyes. I had told him that, or something along those lines, after his court trial when I found out he was a cold blooded killer.

“UGH! Twi! I didn't mean to say it like that!” Spike rapidly apologized, alas it was too late. The damage was done but he was right, and I was foolish to think Evan would show up. I whimpered a sorrowful sob as I scurried away to my room...

Derreck's perspective...

I remained hidden in the thickets, looking out to the rather open field where the Hercules cargo plane sat stationary. Squinting my eye a bit, I scanned the area, spotting several Liotta goons...

'Ha! Me, calling them goons. These stallions, they used to be my brethren...' I thought silently.

'We don't have to do it this way. We can talk to them. Derreck! Please, just try to reason with them. We're in incredibly good standings with Mr. Leone and he'd listen to us and what we have to say,' Evan pleaded from the back of my mind.

'Doubt it... and even if he did listen, what's he gonna do? Just hand over all the guns for nothing? HA! He'll want something just as valuable and I don't know that Celestia would appreciate us conspiring with Kianna...' I remarked back.

'And why did we have to kill Dwayne? Why didn't we reason with him?! There has to be a more-' I cut him out, forcing him away and into subconsciousness. There would be no negotiations... no peace talk... that much I was sure of.

“Are you sure about this?” Kianna asked through our two way ear piece communications set.

“Not you too,” I grunted.

“What?” she asked back.

“You're not seriously having second thoughts,” I grumbled, Kianna nearly laughing.

“No, not at all... well, maybe just one, but... seriously? This isn't an eighties action flick or some convoluted action story. You really wanna just go in guns blazing?” she asked and I laughed.

“Fast and hard. Take them off guard and hit 'em where it hurts... just stick to the plan,” I replied, Kianna chuckling to herself.

“It's your funeral,” she mentioned.

“Just don't be late...” I joked, fitting Evan's 'Arnie' cigar into my mouth and chewing on it slightly. This was gonna be one helluva battle. These guys outnumbered both Kianna and myself... outgunned us... and had home field advantage.

All we had was the element of surprise and hopefully better training. After all, there were no serious types of firearms in this world before us. I took a heavy inhale. Was this stupid? Yes, very much so. Was this necessary... that could be questioned. Was I about to pussy out... fuck no.

Fitting the Eagle Eye over my good eye, I racked back on my AN-94's bolt. 'What an ugly gun...' I thought to myself as I tightened up my combat boots just that little bit extra too make them a little too-tight.

Standing up, I slipped on a battle vest, courtesy of Kianna and fitted with hardened plating. I made diligent to fasten the vest as I had my boots. Fitting magazines into the pouches for my rifle, I also slipped some extra magazines for Evan's handcannon into the vest as well. Reaching down to my left leg, I strapped my hulking Bowie knife to my outer thigh, sheathing it for a possible close quarters fight.

Pulling out a tube of face paint, I applied black stripes to my face and exposed arms. Gripping the AN-94 rather tight in my hands, I took one final deep breath before stepping out into the open, still undetected.

I closed my eye for just a split second and let it all set in. How far I had come since the beginning... how things had changed since then... and how they were about to change...

At first I was a little slow, my gear all jingling as I ran ahead at full mast. With a huff my body began to ascend it's limits, a red fume dusting off my heels. I remembered so vividly my battle with the Teumessian fox, and the gift he... err, she gave me. It better have been a she...

My body began to move at a tremendous speed, so much so that I started to become a blur of motion. Ahead, one of the posted sentries spotted me, which was a given since I was the only moving thing in the vast openness.

He tried to scream something out but was silenced by the sudden and very brief chatter of my rifle which spat out a two round burst faster than one could blink their eye.

The others all froze, sentry patrols halting in their tracks. I ripped off a barrage of sudden bursts that cut down several sentries before anypony could mobilize a defense.

In mere heartbeats my gun was empty and I was reloading on the move as yelling and hollering became the norm. Unicorns grasped their weapons with magical auras while several pegasi took flight.

In moments gunfire erupted, bullets flying all through the air as everything was silenced out in one massive barrage of lead death. Tracers whizzed by me at incredible speeds, bullets kicking up dirt around my feet as I charged foolishly forwards.

Flashbacks of Soviet wartime flashed in my mind. The second world war, at its peak... the thunderous boom... but not gunfire. Men... soldiers, charging forwards, their boots storming across the ground...

A lone bullet drilled a hole into my shoulder, bringing me out of my flashback. Blood spilled from the wound as I looked to the plausible suspect. A unicorn armed with a sniper rifle taking residence on a shoddily made lookout tower.

Firing from the hip, I chewed apart the sniper's nest and the culprit, getting a rather iconic scream for a reward as the unicorn fell from his perch...

The Mosin sniper rifle, Trillium, rested in my hands as I peered through the rather basic and rudimentary scope. A glinting in the distance brought a smile to my face as I quickly dialed in the shot and squeezed the trigger.

A brilliant flash erupted from the end of the barrel as a bullet spat out at sonic speeds. In mere moments, far off in the distance the same bullet collided with an elite German sniper-

A bullet collided with the chest plate of my combat vest, painfully dragging me out of my memory. Not too far ahead nested two ponies operating an original style M60 machinegun, one firing the weapon while the other fed the belt of ammunition to the gun.

Bullets zoomed past me, tracers missing my face and body on both sides by mere inches. My body moved with grace, running while at the same time reloading my odd rifle. Twisting the rifle ninety degrees, I used my left hand to charge the bolt before taking it into both hands and ripping off rapid bursts of jacketed ammunition.

One lucky burst caught the operator, making the loader hesitate just long enough for me to take an aimed shot for his head...

The MG42 spat out death incarnate, green streaks of tracer rounds blazing past and cutting down my fellow comrades. Charging forwards like a mad man straight out of hell, I rushed the machinegun nest.

AVT-40 in hand, I began to chug out my own variation of death. The gun bucked wildly in my hands, shaking in a near uncontrollable state as the gun began to smoke from the stressful overheating of the barrel.

A stray shot clipped the operator in the shoulder, making him fall back with a scream. Lunging forwards, I emptied the rest of the magazine into the loader, whom nearly frozen in shock and fear-

A vicious explosion hammered the ground just a mere few feet in front of me, the shock-wave blasting me back while a piece of lone shrapnel lodged into my forehead. It remained stuck between my unpenetrable skull and soft skin while my healing factor kicked in and sealed the skin around the base of the slag. Vision dazed, I looked to the side of me where my AN-94 lay smoldering, busted apart. I grunted painfully, smoke pluming off my chest.

Getting up, I looked to an RPG totting earth pony whom seemed shocked to see me getting back up, dirt and grit falling from my body. I rushed forward like a rabid animal as he tried feverishly to load another rocket...

The Tiger tank propelled a canon round that slammed against the tank just a few feet behind me. The explosion was enough to take me off my feet and hurtle me forwards. I lay face down in the ground, fighting still going on all around me.

Looking up from the ground, blood oozed down my face, between my eyes, as I looked to the Tiger tank, an exposed gunner operating the turret machinegun. With a fierce growl, I pounced forwards, starting my run almost like a ferocious wolf, foaming at the mouth and on all fours.

The gunner targeted me as I rushed forwards, bullets spitting up debris all around me. Taking a final lunge, time seemed to slow. The gunner able to do nothing but watch in horror as I leapt with supernatural prowess, leaving his gun's field of fire and landing withing inches of him. Lunging like a predator on his prey, I bite down on his neck-

Blood spewed into my face as I cut apart the rocket launcher totting pony. My claws, now unsheathed from between my knuckles and encased with Shadow Steel, were coated in the dead stallion's blood, along with the rest of my body.

I snarled viciously, the gunfire stopping for a moment as the others all looked in terror to the horror scene before them before quickly unloading their rifles into me. In a blaze of eruption my battle jacket was shredded apart in mere moments, my body turned into bloody Swiss-cheese.

They all stopped for a moment as smoke from their rifles obscured their vision. Slowly, and most terrifyingly, I stepped forth from the blustering smoke, their mouths all gaping in shock. My nose scrunched back as I bared my teeth in a vicious display before lurching forwards...

My sickly knife jammed into the Nazi officer's neck several times, blood splattering into my face as I finished him off. Standing up from the carnage, I looked around to the scene... the display, I had made... I nearly staggered as I tried to grasp all that was happening.

A hand grenade landed at my feet-

The explosion lifted me off my feet and hurtled me several yards away. Slowly trying to grasp my bearings, I looked up as a dozen stallions slowly trotted over with weapons drawn on me. This was gonna hurt.

I clenched my eyes shut and jolted as automatic fire erupted. Even so, I barely felt a thing. A low cycle chugging began as the group was quickly chopped into mincemeat. Tracers zoomed across the battlefield from a heavy machinegun...

Juggernaut roared into the scene, driving in reverse with the back hatch door open. From its confines emerged a gun so iconic it was still in military service back on my world despite it's age.

My vision zeroed in on the barrel where the engraved inscription read 'Ma Deuce'. The gun jerked and rattled despite its tripod mount, yet never the less rained down hell on its opponents...

Myself, along with thousands of others, ran forth towards the Reichstag building, firing wildly at any foolish enough to still oppose us. Squads of dug in Nazi stragglers tried to fight back but were nearly swamped by the onslaught of Soviet troops...

Juggernaut came to a screeching halt as Kianna emptied the rest of the gun's ammunition into the skies, chopping down the pegasi that were still circling and trying to take pot shots on me. They quickly diverted and headed back towards the nearby city of Manehatten.

The barrel of Ma Deuce smoked as Kianna disembarked from the titan truck. “I still would've liked to have taken the car instead,” she remarked as we looked to the crimson all around us. “Think they're all dead?” she asked and I shrugged.

“There's still more,” I reminded her, to which she laughed.

“So what now? We hit them where they live?” she asked and I nodded.

“Chop the head off the snake,” I replied. Truthfully, I didn't like the idea of whacking my old friend, Mr. Leone... but if whacking him meant stopping a possible uprising that would lead to the downfall of Equestria as I knew it...

“What about my plane?” she asked curiously. We both looked to her aircraft, still filled nearly to the brim with crates of various firearms.

“Get what we need. Burn the rest. They'll be of no use to us after this,” I told her.

“Nobody is gonna wreck my plane...” she said sternly but trailed off as I looked to her, the woman closing her eyes with a small tear droplet falling to the ground. “That was always my thing... you don't fuck with me... or my plane... or I kill you. But I guess all of that doesn't mean much now, huh?” she asked. I put my hand on her shoulder.

“The past... needs to be put to rest,” I told her and she nodded.

“Y-yeah... come on, let's do this,” she said regretfully. Stepping up into the cargo bay, we began to stockpile explosives in certain areas of the plane to ensure complete and utter destruction.

Before either of us could react, Kianna was struck hard by a pony whom tackled her to the ground. I grasped the moment at hand and ran into him full tilt, battering him to the ground but the stallion moved with grace and flipped my body off his with a few simple movements.

Both of us stood up and I went for my handcannon that was holstered on my thigh but quickly realized the strap had come loose and the gun had fallen from its place when the stallion had kicked me off from atop of him.

The stallion unsheathed a seven inch combat knife and weaved it about with what appeared to be a professional fighting style. “Alright... two can play this game...” I said as I pulled out the Bowie knife from my sheath.

The stallion edged around me, quarreling me and prodding my defensive stature. Taking a few quick and somewhat lazy swings, he tried to get a feel for my combat style. Moving with a brisk pace, he tried to penetrate my defenses with a quick stabbing attack that I quickly sidestepped and countered with three blistering fast slashes to his side.

The stallion gasped in shock and pain as he looked to his superficial wounds. Taking his knife in an inverted grip he tried again, lunging with striking precision that I countered with my own form of defense.

We exchanged a brief fury of cuts and stabs before stepping back, both of us having received numerous wounds. I leaked profusely, my healing factor having still not kicked in from my previous battle and the gunshot wounds still oozing blood like a leaking faucet. The shrapnel lodged between my skin and skull oozed a constant stream of blood that nearly blinded my vision.

Deciding to take to the offensive and brush off, I rushed him full on but was surprised when he ducked my slash and jabbed me full on in the gut. I gasped as the wind was taken out of me. It was like he had full on punched me in the solar plexus.

I grunted as he flipped me onto my back and began lashing out with a barrage of stabs to my chest. Goddess I was rusty at fighting. Shows what time will do to you...

I tried to fight back but ended up with more stab wounds. Going to finish me, he went to stab down on my neck. Lunging my hands up, his blade drove through both my hands and locked between my Shadow Steel encased bones.

Despite my usual strength, I was offset by my winded state, still having troubles breathing along with the fact he had perforated my lungs with his knife.

I grunted in effort but couldn't muster the power to best him...

Suddenly there was a tremendous roar and my mind just faded out. I could see everything happening but couldn't so much as blink.

My oldest friend and ally battered the stallion from the side, plowing him into a crate of weapons. Bashing him several times in the rib cage, my friend got off some very impressive hits before the stallion struck back, slamming my friend back into a crate of weapons opposite them.

Charging forwards, the stallion was suddenly kicked back as my friend performed a roundhouse kick that connected with the stallion's lower jaw. The fighter staggered, giving my friend just enough time to let out one final roar of... it sounded like agony...

Claws, identical to my own, emerged from between his knuckles. Evan soon became coated in a purely white, mystic aura that surrounded his entire body with a fiery glow. The stallion staggered back and looked in terrified awe at the sight just as my friend leapt forwards, impaling the stallion with his claws and driving them into his foe dozens of times.

Heaving him up into the air, Evan let the stallion become impaled one final time before the man shredded his claws outwards from each other, slicing the stallion in half.

I blinked in awe as I stood up. Staggering over to him there was a sudden thunderous boom that made us both jolt. A blue hue flashed the entire interior of the plane, entering from the opened cargo hatch at the rear along with some of the windows.

It was pouring rain outside... a thunderstorm had brewed... possibly the work of the pegasi that deserted. “Is this what we've become?” Evan asked quietly. “Demons?”

“What?” I asked back in curiosity. Evan slowly walked over to a window, leaking blood all across the floor.

Kianna grunted as she hoisted herself up, leaning painfully against a large ammo crate. “What's he going on about?” she asked, myself shrugging.

Pressing his hand up against the interior hull of the plane, he looked out the window. “Hey... whatcha lookin' at?” I asked, curious as to his thoughts which, for some reason, I couldn't sense beforehand like I usually did.

He looked out the window as blood, both his and the stallion's, dripped from his body. A flash of lightning struck again in the distance, coating the entire interior of the plane blue and that's when I noticed his reflection in the window.

The slag stuck in his head like a demonic horn... the gunshots riddled throughout his body... the blood, both his and others', coated over his entire body. His answer sent shivers down my spine. “Us...”

“Are we really going to do this?” Evan asked aloud, somehow no longer held back by the mental restraints I had tried to put on him.

There was another flash of nearby lightning that boomed and crackled immensely. I swallowed hard as Kianna looked to me, both of us soaked to the bone. “You think about pulling that piece of slag out of your skull yet?” she asked.

“He won't let me...” I remarked, much to her amusement.

“Oh, you mean your significant other?” she laughed. I nodded as I went to pull out the metal but was instead greeted by flashing lights and a sharp pain that made my arm stiffen and move away. At least my other wounds had healed properly, along with the excess blood being washed away by the torrential downpour.

I now dawned my black duster coat, since most of my clothing had been destroyed in the fighting as well. Underneath the coat was my holy cross Punisher shirt, just like old times...

“Leave it in... we deserve it...” Evan muttered as my body moved without my input, hand charging the bolt on my AKM, the AN-94 having been completely destroyed in the fight for the plane.

“So what's the plan?” Kianna asked in a somewhat calm voice. “Go in guns blazing?” she asked in a bemused voice.

“I was thinking more... nonchalantly,” I replied as I stood up. “Stay here... I'll be back,” I told her in a perfect one liner voice.

“Wait... so what's the plan?” she asked, myself shrugging.

“I dunno yet,” I answered honestly, leaving Kianna hiding in the alleyway as I strode towards the lane way that was blocked by a gate and two guards armed with assault rifles.

“Gosh they got those out fast...” I muttered as I walked towards the gate.

“The pegasus were probably moving them from the plane to here. The others were just standing guard,” Evan noted, myself nodding in agreement. “Think they know yet?” he asked but I shook my head as I approached them.

'No... or they would've shot me already,' I stated quietly.

“Mr. B?” One of the guards asked in confusion.

“Colts. Fine night for it,” I greeted them.

“Hey... whatchu doin' here? I thought you lived a day's drive away,” one of the guards noted.

“I do...” I trailed off as time seemed to slow. 'What am I going to say?' I asked myself then thought up a lie right quick. “I need to talk to Mr. Leone, it's real important.”

One of the guards moved to the intercom system while the other nodded and spoke directly to me. “I'd say so, some pegasus came flying back with their tails between their legs and were saying you attacked them. Of course Mr. Leone couldn't believe it so he sent some guys to go see if you were home... but I suppose if you're here already then that means-” he was cut short by the second stallion.

“Mr. Leone said to come see him right away. Sounded important. Real important,” the other stallion mentioned as the metal gate slid to the side and allowed me passage. I quickly headed up the paved lane way, passing several luxurious mobster homes on my way to the Don's.

A lot of stallion's were looking at me with death stares and I could imagine why. Had those pegasus blabbed their mouths like they undoubtedly did, then a lot of these goons probably believed me to have done it.

Stepping up onto the porch of Antonio Leone's mansion, the guard at the door stepped forwards. “Sorry Mr. B. You'll have to turn over your guns. The Don's really stressed with everything that's been happening,” he said, myself raising a brow.

“Why? What happened?” I asked, the guard giving me a strange look as I unslung my AK and handed it over, keeping my Desert Eagle hidden beneath my long black duster coat.

“You don't know? Isn't that why you're here?” he asked.

“I came because some crazy lady-” the guard cut me short.

“I don't want to hear it. I don't think you'd ever betray us, Mr. B. But you best go talk to Mr. Leone before explaining yourself to me,” he told me and with that I entered the home. It was just as snazzy as the last time I had been here.

Walking around, I led myself into the living room where Mr. Leone was waiting with some armed guards.

“Fuck... shit I didn't want to believe it but there's no way in all fucking Tartarus you could've made it here in just two hours,” he swore, the hard ponies raising their weapons on me.

“WOAH! Jesus sweet fucking goddess, what the fuck?!” I yelled.

“What the fuck yourself! Why are you here?” he asked violently.

“I'm here because some crazy bitch came to my house ranting that you guys killed her stallion or some shit and that she wanted to wipe you all out,” I partially lied, Mr. Leone leaning back in his office chair, deep in thought.

“So why didn't you just call me?” he asked interrogatively.

“Phone line's down. This is the same storm that swept through Ponyville just the other day. Must've knocked a tree down on the telephone line,” I lied. Mr Leone waved his hoof and one of the stallion's brought him over a phone.

“I swear to fuck if you're lying to me...” he dialed the old style phone and waited as the phone began to ring... and ring... and ring... and ring. He slammed the phone down. “No fuckin' shit... so why didn't you whack this bitch then and there?” he asked.

“I was with my family at the time. She burst into my home and had the drop on me and my folks. Didn't want to risk their lives so I convinced her I had nothing to do with... whatever the fuck she was going on about. She swore death upon all of you so I decided to get here as fast as I could to warn you but... I guess you got things under control. I mean... this is some pretty serious hardware,” I commented, Mr. Leone laughing.

“Yeah well this 'hardware' doesn't make these stallions any more competent. I'm assuming it was that crazy bitch that took out my guys at the plane,” he said and I butted in.

“Wait, what plane?” I asked but he merely waved his hoof as he stood up, the stallions still training their weapons on me. Suddenly, and without much warning, he slapped one of his body guards straight across the face.

“You goof! The fuck you still pointing that thing at him for?" he hollered in the stallion's face, the others quickly lowering their rifles as Leone turned back to me. "Sorry Burdick... err, Parker. I should've never doubted you. It's just that... well it's a long story but... ahhh, shit's just been real fucked up, you know?” He poured two glasses of liquor before walking over to me.

“I've got a really serious problem. You see, we just picked up a shipment of merchandise and somepony... something, took out my guys and the ones left said it was you. I know... everything is so crazy and fucked up right now that my own guys think you of all ponies are coming after us. Now, we still have about a quarter of the stash hidden away at my warehouse that I want to move out of town tonight. Problem is, if that bitch, or whoever it is that's taking out my guys, hits again, I want us to be prepared. Whadda yah say?” he asked, myself perking a brow.

“Are you asking me to track this mystery figure down and kill 'em or protect your warehouse?” I asked and Mr. Leone laughed heartily before turning back to his bodyguards.

“Why do I even pay you idiots when I have a guy like him around?” he asked aloud before turning back to me. “Seriously. Everypony else around here is pissing their pants, you show up and in five minutes you're offering to whack the fucker who took out a couple dozen of my guys. Goddess, I should kiss you!” he announced.

I took a sip of the liquor and swallowed it down rather harshly. He shook his head before taking a sip of his own beverage. “My boy, I really like you, truly I do. You show initiative, which is more that these foals can say,” he insulted his hench-ponies further.

“What I need you to do is head over to my warehouse. Take Sunshine and Buttercup, they'll show you the way. Get down there and make sure this thing goes through. When that's done come back here and uhh... we'll discuss this... this bitch that needs to be iced.” I nodded and two of the body guards stepped forwards. I took one last sip of my drink before setting the glass back on his table, giving him a nod which he returned.

Stepping back outside, my rifle was returned and the three of us headed out. “Mr. B, wanna take our motorized carriage?” they asked, motioning to the contraption that looked like a Ford Model T or something along those lines.

“Uhhh... you know... thanks and all, but I'd rather drive my battle truck. It's faster and I parked it just around the corner,” I informed them, having a different plan in mind. As we walked across the street on our way to Juggernaut, one of the hard ponies informed me of the location; a warehouse in close proximity to the city docks. The three of us headed towards the alleyway from whence I came, slipping out of view from the others at the estate.

No sooner were we out of view, did Kianna jump out and tackle one of the goons to the ground, myself swinging around, claws emerging from my knuckles, and stabbing the second stallion right through the throat.

He gasped in shock and horror, baffled mostly in disbelief as his life slipped away and he collapsed beside his lifeless friend. Kianna stood up, patting herself off as she looked to me. “So what next?” she asked.

I went to rub my forehead but flinched as I accidentally brushed my hand against that piece of metal slag. 'When this is done... I'm pulling that thing out...'

Third person...

“I don't care what Mr. Leone said! I want these crates loaded right away!” Yelled a demanding stallion as he overlooked the warehouse operations.

With a huff, he pulled out a cigarette before trotting over to a nearby alleyway corner to take a leak. Lifting his rear leg like a dog, he was suddenly taken off guard as a hand wrapped around his mouth, cigarette falling to the ground, a knife driving fatally into his neck as he was dragged into the darkness without so much as a peep...

Two sentries trotted casually along, weapons tucked at their sides. “This is retarded. Old stallion Leone is loosing his marbles. First he thinks it's Mr. B, now he's got him coming to defend us against some crazy twat we jacked these guns off of... I tell you, I ain't afraid of nothing. That bitch so much as-” he was cut short as an arrow silently lodged right through his skull, part of the arrow protruding from his eye socket yet his body kept staggering about lifelessly.

The other stallion kept trotting forwards but stopped somewhat abruptly as he waited for his friend to finish his statement. “What's wrong, bitch got your-” the stallion began as he spoke while turning but gasped as he saw the horror before him.

Even so, sooner than he could even blink, a figure emerged from the shadows and grabbed him from behind, hand around the mouth, a knife driving into his neck and pulling him back into the darkness along with the already dead arrow victim...

One of the laborers heaved up a crate and loaded it into the wagon before going for another. Stopping as he noticed a different kind of box, he pointed it out to one of his fellow associates. “What's up with that one?” he asked, the other looking over and shrugging.

“What do you mean? It's another fuckin' box. We gotta load 'em all,” he mentioned, the first stallion rolling his eyes.

“I know that, idiot. What I mean is, why the hell does it look different?” he asked, the second just shrugging.

“They all look different, feel different, hell half of these fucking crates don't even have the same stuff in 'em. Just load it already for fuck sakes,” he scolded the first. With a silent curse towards the other, the first stallion trotted mindlessly over to the cardboard box.

Going to heave it up, the box suddenly jumped up and encased him, bumping and bouncing several times before going completely still. After several moments, the box slowly slid off into the shadows...

One by one, stallions started disappearing from the workforce. One final stallion remained whom walked along, looking directly at his clipboard, not a care in the world about his surrounding. “You colts better hurry up. Mr. Leone wants this shipment out yester-” he was cut off as a big burly man grabbed him from behind and put him in a headlock. The stallion's clipboard fell to the ground as he attempted to break free.

The stallion squirmed and struggled as he tried to pull the man's arms from his neck. “Where the hell were these going?” Derreck demanded.

“The... safe houses... all around... the city...” the stallion gasped, Derreck giving him a bit of extra breathing room.

“Why?” he interrogated.

“Aw come on... I told you all I know... I'm just the driver,” he pleaded, Derreck instead pulling out his knife and bringing it to the stallion's throat.

“I think you know a bit more than that,” he replied, the stallion's eyes going wide with fear.

“Alright! ALRIGHT!” He kicked a bit as he wheezed for air. “We were planning a coup... raise a militia to overthrow Equestria... no longer will we... just operate from the shadows... we'll be the-” Derreck cut him off by snapping his neck.

“That's all I needed to know,” he answered back before looking to Kianna. “Guess these are all the guns, eh?” he asked, Kianna nodding.

“Looks like it... I mean, aside from the ones they armed their thugs with. What now?” she asked, the man perking a brow as he looked to the docks that the Liotta family now owned, or rather, used as a front...

Stallions mingled along the docks, some standing guard while others patrolled the surrounding area. Off near the entrance to the docks, shone a pair of headlights, followed by the rev of a magical engine.

“What the hell is that?” asked one of the stallions posted on guard duty as he squinted his eyes. The headlights suddenly started racing towards them, a flaming wagon in tow just behind the vehicle.

“Holy shit!” the stallion yelled as he raised his rifle and began popping off rounds towards the oncoming threat. Others quickly joined in, pelting the driver and riddling his corpse, yet the vehicle still continued forwards.

One of the mob ponies rushed out with a light machinegun, quickly setting up the bi-pod and blazing off a hail of lead towards the incoming vehicle and wagon. “Holy shit! Nothing will stop this guy!” yelled one of the stallions as he leapt out of the way.

In his last few moments of life, he looked to the driver, whom he recognized as the usual delivery stallion. 'But he's supposed to be at the warehouse...' his final thoughts went through his mind just as the vehicle and wagon collided with the dock crane, the blazing wagon erupting and going up in a tremendous fireball with a shock wave so powerful it shook the ground.

The fireball rose up into the sky, illuminating the city sky for a short time and gaining the attention of many residents in distant homes, some of which were over a mile away...

Derreck's perspective...

Rain continued to piss down, soaking my hair and neck but thankfully I still had my trusty old duster coat which, thanks to the oilskin exterior, kept me dry for the most part. “So this is where it ends...” Kianna muttered beside me.

“Yeah,” I replied, but she just chuckled.

“No... uhh, sorry. I was talking to Dwayne,” she commented, myself perking a brow.

“Didn't take you for a religious woman,” I remarked. She shook her head as she wiped her hair back.

“I'm not... it's just... kinda a nice thought to think maybe... maybe he's listening,” she informed me before cocking her rifle.

“Ready?” I asked and she nodded.

“I was born ready,” she quipped. Damn... she took my line. I flipped off the safety on my rifle and we both charged forwards recklessly, chewing apart the guards at the gate without much warning.

The gunshots quickly gained the attention of the others inside the estate and within seconds, all hell had broken loose. Bullets whizzed through the air in all directions, most of the mobsters not having an idea of where we were at the moment.

Kianna triggered her M203 launcher and blew apart the metal sliding gate, allowing us entrance as we blew into the luxurious estate, chewing down several ponies before we even stepped foot on the lane way.

The AKM bucked and kicked in my arms, hammering away at my shoulder as I took aimed bursts at our enemies... once my comrades and friends. Kianna moved with utter grace, running and gunning with utmost precision.

She launched another grenade round that struck the side of a building, exposing the interior as she rattled off another trio of shots. A group of heavily armed goons rushed down the lane way at us, guns blazing and illuminating the dark night with bright muzzle flashes.

I knelt down and held back on the trigger of my AKM, the bolt clattering back and forth as the gun ran in full-auto, empty casings being spat out just as fast as bullets left the barrel. The group was quickly cut down as I ran my sights in a straight horizontal motion, chewing them apart with jacketed bullets.

Slapping away the empty magazine, I fitted the gun with a fresh one and continued my assault alongside my only ally. Making a slow and bloody ascent to Mr. Leone's home, Kianna again thumped off a grenade round that blew apart his front door.

“I'll lead!” I told her.

“I want to kill that prick myself!” she yelled over the booming thunder of the storm and erupting gunshots. I let her lead the way into the mansion, chewing apart several goons as we entered. Up high on the second floor interior balcony of the home stood three stallions whom tried to quickly cut us down.

Firing from the hip, I let the gun guide itself, watching as wood splintered apart and bullets chewed up the hard-ponies.

From around a corner sprang a pegasus with a shotgun, thumping Kianna in the chest. “FUCK!” I yelled as I quickly swung my sights to him and blew him away, dumping my entire magazine into the punk.

Kianna coughed and gagged as I rushed to her aid. Patting her down, I sighed in relief as I remembered she had worn a ballistic vest as I had previously. “I think... I broke a few ribs...” she grunted painfully just as I heard the screeching of tires outside.

Hoisting her up we both watched through the blown out entrance as three old style vehicles took off, the middle carriage carrying Mr. Leone. Kianna and I both rose our rifles with one hand, our other wrapped around each other to keep her sturdy, and unloaded our magazines at the motor carriages.

“FUCK! He's getting away!” Kianna yelled as we rushed outside. Slinging the AKM across my back and sticking my thumb and middle into my mouth, I let out a loud whistle.

The Eagle Eye on my face indicated Juggernaut was on her way. Blowing right through the brick wall surrounding the estate, the battle truck skidded to a stop just in front of us. I helped Kianna into the passenger side before taking my own spot in the driver's seat.

“They went... gah! They went that way!” Kianna groaned over her pained ribs. I pinned the accelerator to the floor and took off after them, the truck's turbo quickly spooling as we hit a high RPM zone.

Quickly catching up with the group, the tailing car's occupants opened fire with their weapons, bullets pinging off the vehicle's heavy plated armor. Rolling down her window, Kianna called out a swear and lit into the vehicle with her M16 rifle.

The group of vehicles took a turn down another street which we quickly followed, only to be greeted by more bullets from the tailing car. Kianna was out her window again, cursing at them as she unloaded her weapon wildly.

One of her stray rounds clipped the driver in the head, the vehicle quickly careening off course and smashing violently into a brick wall, erupting into a plume of flame as it did so. “YEAH! FUCK YOU CUNTS! GAHHH FUCK!” she swore wildly, her busted ribs obviously giving her more grievance than she expected.

No sooner had she swore, did a wild bullet clip her in the shoulder. She let out a scream of pain as blood gushed out. Loosing her balance and nearly falling out the window, her grip on the M16 deteriorated and the weapon slipped from her hand, clattering in the street as we chased after the remaining two cars, the lead car falling back and coming in behind Leone's car to give him cover.

Grabbing Kianna by the belt, I dragged her back into the truck. “Take the wheel,” I ordered, Kianna hesitating for a moment. “You still got one good arm, steer!” I ordered as I popped open the driver door and leaned out, supporting myself on the door as I unholstered Evan's legendary handcannon and took aim.

Bullets from the defending vehicle whizzed by my in all different directions, never really getting close to their mark.

These goons were foolish, untrained... spraying and praying while also in a car chase... emptying their guns in wild fashion, not taking the time to aim. It wouldn't make much of a difference in reality, with Juggernaut being armored and all, but irregardless almost three quarters of their shots completely missed the truck.

Holding the door with my left and the cannon with my right, I took my time, ignoring the bullets that were spraying all over the street... ignoring the small distractions on the side... the pouring rain... the thunder of the storm...

My eyes squinted as I looked to my prize and led it... gently squeezing back on the trigger and finding her sweet spot... Belladonna tight in my hand...

She went off like a crack of thunder, so much so it nearly deafened me. The heavy slug chewed into the center bore of the tire's rim, blowing apart the locking lugs and wheel hub. The tire quickly wobbled before simply shattering apart, the vehicle careening off the road wildly and striking a building wall which jacked it up off the ground and rolled the vehicle.

Before I could take another shot, Leone's car erratically swerved off to the side and drifted around a corner. “FUCK!” I yelled as I got back in to slam the brakes. Kianna stopped me as she held the wheel to keep the truck straight.

“No-no! It's alright, that street only goes one way, take the next left and we might be able to T-bone him,” she informed me. With that I slammed the door while still driving, cranking the next left just like Kianna said.

Stomping on the accelerator, I gritted my teeth, hoping we didn't miss him. My hands gripped tight on the steering wheel as we headed full speed ahead. The engine roared out a mighty tune as the vehicle shook under the power of the motor.

My brows furrowed as blood dripped down my face. From the side street came Leone's car, like a bat out of hell. Time seemed to slow for just a fraction of a second as I saw his face, baffled beyond belief that we had caught up to him.

Time returned to normal as I plowed into his motor carriage, the impact jolting my truck slightly but sending his flipping over and skidding on it's side down the street. Bringing the vehicle to a stop, I slammed the truck into park while both Kianna and I stepped out, myself dawning the massive handcannon known as Belladonna while Kianna dawned her own S&W 629 Performance Center.

Walking up to the vehicle, I heard cursing and swearing from the other side. “Pricks! PRICKS! Look what you've done... FUCK YOU!” Leone swore as we circled around the vehicle, only to see the bloodied stallion slowly crawling out from his toppled carriage.

“Derreck! I trusted you! And... and you fuckin' betrayed me you snake!” he yelled, his words hitting me pretty hard. Before either of us could speak, Kianna cut in.

“You betrayed us first you cunt. Double crossing me on that deal!” Kianna yelled back. I took a moment to think how surprising it was that no police had shown up yet. First time I arrived in Manehatten I shot that thug and the police swarmed me like bugs...

Walking over, Kianna put her heel to his shoulder and rolled him onto his back. “This is for what you did to Dwayne you piece of shit!” she scowled scornfully.

“Derreck! Derreck... I made you...” he groaned, both Kianna and myself looking to one another before leveling our guns on the downed, and the city's final, mob boss.

“Say goodnight, Mr. Leone!” Kianna hissed before we both unloaded our respective handguns into the stallion...

'Police are still trying to piece together the events of last night's vicious attack that struck several locations of the city...'

The afternoon sun was still rather high yet gave off a late afternoon haze. The warmth of the sun beating through the window had my eyes half lidded as I looked out to the empty expanse of desert...

'Eruptions that some can only describe as thunder echoed across the city as groups of ponies fought against one another with futuristic weaponry. How the ponies came into possession of these exotic weapons is still being investigated...'

Juggernaut putted along at a gentle pace through the desert plains. The warm sun, made even warmer and cozier by the amplification of heat through the windshield, put me in a lax state. My lips were slightly parted as I let out a soft exhale, watching the odd cactus as we drove past it, the odd vulture in the sky...

'Police are still finding the bodies of ponies, with the death count now well over fifty, it has been recorded as one of this year's most bizarre, and deadly, cases yet...'

Leaning my elbow on the windowsill and my cheek in the palm of my hand, I steered with my right while looking to Kianna. Spotting a second handgun holstered in a shoulder rig. Taking a closer look, I noticed it was the same one Dwayne had when I...

“You kept his gun?” I asked in a soft tone, Kianna looking to me...

'Residents in the area are still coming to terms with the emotional aftermath of what some consider a full blown street war that ended as quickly as it had came...'

“Why not?” she asked me, myself shrugging.

“I dunno. I was just... asking, you know?” I replied, Kianna sighing. Silence, save for the lone tune of Juggernaut's engine, encased us as we drove through the empty expanse. Finally, after some length of time, Kianna spoke.

“So what now?”

'The sound of explosions shook nearby homes by the docks and in the inner city in a way that some believed it were an earthquake...'

“Well... I guess... I'll give you some money and you can disappear. And I'm gonna... fall off the grid... go golfing... spend time with my family...”

'One resident had this to say to police: Yeah, it was pretty wild, but I'll tell you something. It was just like last year. Wild explosions, thundering banging and that crane at the dock exploding and getting knocked over again. I hope it happens every year, wayyyyy better than the fourth of July...'

My truck slowly pulled up at the fueling warehouse. Slipping the truck into park, I looked to Kianna. “I'm sorry,” I apologized, the woman looking to me in a confused way.

“For what?” she asked and I sighed.

“For everything... for this... for Dwayne,” I answered, Kianna sighing as she rubbed her forehead.

“It wasn't your fault,” she replied back.

“I know... I'm just... I guess... my condolences,” I told her, a small tear trickling down her cheek. I twitched suddenly as the slag, which was still lodged in my forehead, caused me slight pain.

“You aughta see about getting that pulled out,” she joked as she got out. Walking around to my side, she popped open the fuel cap and shoved the diesel nozzle into the hole. “Fill it?” she asked and I nodded.

Jamming the cap in the nozzle handle to keep it on, she came back over to the door. “I'm just gonna go get a few things from inside. With all the commotion when I got back I didn't get to... ahem... yeah...”

I nodded to her as she walked towards the warehouse. As she walked away, I looked up to a dead security camera, taking note this is the exact spot I had parked when I clapped Dwayne... I hadn't parked her on purpose, nor did I notice until now...

Third person...

Kianna slowly walked inside, her body exhausted, sore, aching...

Slowly walking aimlessly around the warehouse, she reminisced on old times with her squad... Senka... Brick... Lug...

“Dwayne...” she whispered, another tear dripping from her eyes. As she walked around, recurring visions of them continued to play in her mind. Walking over to a filing cabinet, she began rummaging through it. Sorting through files, she tossed them aside. Most of it was Dwayne's things.

Finding what she was after, she held the small box in her palm. For a long moment she just looked at it, almost unable to find the strength to open it. Finally, and rather slowly, she flipped open the top to the little box and was nearly knocked to the ground by her overflowing emotions. The engagement ring Dwayne had given her. Tears dripped down Kianna's face as she wept, cursing herself for ever agreeing to the deal with the Liottas.

Slowly sliding down the wall, she took a seat and dipped her forehead into her palms, softly sobbing to herself on the marriage that could've been... what a wonderful life they could have had...

Tilting her head back against the wall, she looked to the ceiling, tears dribbling down her cheeks. She could hear all their voices. All her comrades, but most especially, she could hear Dwayne. His coltish laugh...

Figuring she should come to terms with herself sooner rather than later, she went to stand up then noticed something rather particular.

Under a desk at the far end of the room lay a laptop. Struggling to her feet, she slowly walked over and retrieved the device, hitting the power button but finding the battery dead. “Son of a...” she trailed off with a sigh before looking around and spotting a charging cable nearby.

Retrieving the cable she plugging in the laptop and tried to turn it on but to no avail. “Power's out...” she muttered, looking to the breaker box and walking over. A few, but not all, of the breakers had been tripped. "Guess that's why the pumps still work..." she mused to herself.

Flipping the breakers and reactivating the power, she headed back over to the laptop. Quickly booting up the device and bypassing all the passwords, she found herself on the main page. 'Just... even if it is his last moments... just to see him one last time...' she thought to herself.

Flicking through the gallery, there was a little notation that indicated the security cameras had booted up along with the laptop. Going through the gallery, she shed more tears as she looked over several images stored on the device's memory of her and Dwayne. Finding the security recordings, she hit the replay button and watched the events unfold before her, as though she was looking back in time.

For a long while nothing happened. Hitting the fast forward button several times, she sighed in wonder if the camera had even caught it. Then, to her shock, she watched as a truck pulled in.

Her stomach twisted as her heart skipped a beat. Derreck got out and began to speak on the outside phone, to whom she wasn't sure. After a brief few moments he hung up then drew his handgun. Shortly there after, the video feed cut out...

Kianna staggered back, unable to believe what she had just saw. But she had seen it nonetheless. Her engagement ring dropped out of her hand as they shook. She blinked and just stood their in disbelief. Her heart wrenched in her chest but she knew what needed to be done. It had all been a rouse. Slowly walking back out the door, she looked to the man sitting in his truck, so calm and peaceful.

Slowly walking over, she kept a straight face as she walked up to the driver door. “There's a vending machine in the back... want anything?” she asked, the man shaking his head.

“Anything at all, you can tell me... I'm not one to judge on your choice,” she spoke, her words having double meaning. Again the man shook his head.

“No... but I think the tank is full,” he replied, the woman chuckling as she fished through her pockets for some bits but purposefully dropped them, letting them roll under the truck.

“Fuck...” she swore as she crawled under the vehicle. Pretending to bonk her head, she took her combat knife and drove a hole in the tank. “SHIT! Maybe think about lifting this truck, you redneck,” she laughed in a seemingly playful demeanor.

Grabbing her coins as diesel poured out of the tank, she stood back up and looked to Derreck. “Last chance to tell me,” she said, her words again having two possible meanings, of which he didn't catch on.

“No. Really, I'm good,” he said, Kianna smiling as she turned around.

“Suit yourself...” she said, beginning to walk away but stopping to speak to him one final time. "You were right..." she mentioned, the man looking to her. "The past... needs to be put to rest." With that she walked away as her faked smile turned into a hateful, twisted, frown. Walking over to the side of the warehouse, Kianna looked back to the truck...

Derreck sat in Juggernaut, enjoying the warmth of the sun. With a sigh, he slowly opened his eyes. Catching a glance of a little blinking light, he took notice that the security cameras were now active again.

He thought for a brief moment before his heart stopped, stomach twisted, and the hair on the back of his neck rose up. Knowing full well what it meant, but not having much time for anything, the man leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes once more...

Kianna drew out Dwayne's pistol, it's engravings shining brightly. The woman looked to the truck, it's diesel splashing to the ground as it leaked profusely while she took aim and quickly squeezed the trigger. The bullet sparked off the ground, quickly igniting the leaking diesel. At first, the flames merely spread across the ground but within a heartbeat the flames traveled up to the underbelly of the truck and it erupted into a mass fireball that shot sky high, though the vehicle itself barely moved.

Kianna swallowed hard as she watched the truck burn, just like the burning hatred she had inside for the man whom had killed her fiancé...

Kianna looked hatefully upon the estate that once belonged to Derreck. Walking up to the front door, she rang the bell but got no answer. Ringing again but still getting no answer, she opted to simply boot down the door, entering with her gun drawn.

She would take the lives of his family, as he had done her, even if he wasn't alive to mourn like she would be. Quickly scanning the area, she found the immediate area empty. “Hello?!” she yelled out but got no answer. Sneakily creeping through the mansion, she eventually found her way to the kitchen where a large note was left on the fridge.

Kianna snatched it up and took a look.

'Dearly beloved whom has a sexy bod (Tee-hee, it's Lassie writing this by the way),

You were taking too long and I was getting super horny so we decided to go golfing. (Yeah I know right. How does horny and golfing mix? But I can think of more than one use for those poles)...'

Kianna stopped for a moment as she contemplated whether or not to keep reading. “Goddess... what a messed up dog...” Kianna looked to the letter and kept reading.

'...So we all opted to go to the golf course and go golfing for the afternoon while we wait. Hee-hee, we even convinced Dash and Scootaloo to come with us so I guess that means you'll 'cum' too, ha-ha...'

Kianna stopped again as she wondered to herself. “Goddess... this pooch is seriously fucked in the head...” she muttered before, almost reluctantly, continuing to read.

'So we'll all be at the golf course waiting for you when you get back,

Your super horny, drop dead sexy dog,

Lassie...'

Underneath was a set of lipstick marks, all different colors. One set was dark blue, another a lighter blue, the third a green color, and the last a cherry red with an arrow indicating to look to the back.

Flipping it over, there was another small message that Kianna read aloud. “P.S. The red lipstick was mine and Alfred wouldn't kiss the letter because he thought it would be inappropriate. I told him to relax since, you know, I kissed the letter with my other lips...”

Kianna trailed off for a second, wondering to herself. “Other lips?” she asked, before rolling the letter back over and taking a better look. That's when she finally clued in. “GAH, JESUS FUCK!” she nearly gagged as she threw the letter.

“What the fuck is wrong with this family?” she swore as her heart continued to beat rapidly. “Fuck that's gross...” she swore before finally getting her bearings together. “Okay... so the golf course huh?” she asked, slowly walking towards the exit.

Leaving the building, she walked over to the garage and looked to the covered vehicle inside. Walking over, she unsheathed the beast, tossing the cover to the side as she admired the Gran Torino, in all its glory. Walking along, she gently caressed all it's magnificent curves, the velvety smooth metal, the glossy red reflective paint...

Savoring the moment as she sat into the driver seat, she took Dwayne's pistol in her grip for a moment to look at the engravings. 'Amicitia est magicae'. With a scoff, she tossed the pistol onto the passenger seat, the opposite side of the slide facing her and revealing the second engraving...