As promised, five more tests later, the brass cylinder held up the best, was the lightest before and after firing and was the cheapest to obtain. With that single issue sorted, another brain storm came to Thunder Clap. To spent hours making a new rifle all together, thinner barrel, longer, and slimmer. Beneath the barrel, a space that ran its entire length for the storage of ammo. The three rounds if had to start weren’t enough, the space he had now could hold ten. Of cores the cycling mechanism had to be modified to pull the rounds out of the tube. Thunder Clap finished putting it together a month later.

He wore his light brown one piece snow suit as he walked out into the winter air. Snow had just begun to fall as Thunder Clap loaded the brass shells into the back of the rifle until ten rounds were on the inside of the gun. Thunder Clap held his breath again as he cocked the weapon. The cogs, levers and gears within moved in perfect sync; pulling the first round from the internal magazine and into the firing chamber.

He let out his breath when he heard the click of the hammer locking back when he put the lever back in place. But that was the easy part. Now came the real test. He already knew that it was going to work; he just needed to be sure that it wasn’t going to snap the shell in half when he loaded it. Now he just had three tests left.

“Point, shoot, repeat.” Thunder told himself as he shouldered the rifle.

The same tree Thunder Clap shot at two months ago stood before him barren and ready to face the crucible once more. Spangle was busy in Canterlot so he wouldn’t be there for the testing. Thunder took careful aim at the tree, right above the hold he made the first time. His mechanical hoof hovered over the trigger. His mind raced at anything that could possibly go wrong. Hammer breaking, barrel exploding, and what was even more terrifying to him, the gun not even firing.

He pulled the trigger. The hammer hit the back of the shell. Inside the firing chamber, the blasting cap sparked the gunpowder to life. The expanding gasses pushed the lead ball at the end of the casing and out of the barrel with a loud thunder like clap. The kick was substantially less than he had accepted. Taking the simple stock away from his cheek and looked where the ball hit the tree.

The hole was right bellow the first hole. Thunder didn’t’ budge. He cocked the MK. II again and shouldered it. One after one, Thunder Clap unleashed a lead rain on the tree in his back yard. All ten round left the barrel in rapid succession. His father came out at shot six and nearly fell over when the seventh rang out across the town.

“What just happened?” Autumn asked getting up.

“Something that could change this family forever.” Thunder said shouldering his creation.

Dear Nexus:

My Apprentice has made a massive break through with his project and is ready to present it to the Equestrian Military. He’s tested his creation and it has great potential in battle and can be safely used in your training exercises. I would like to see you and whomever is in command of the Royal Guard. He and I are anxiously awaiting your reply.

Your Friend: Midnight Spangle

Almost instantly, a dark blue and black bird emanating a shimmering midnight blue aura landed in the pigeon cage just as Spangle opened it up.

“Well you’re early Raven.” Spangle said to the glowing bird.

The bird squawked and lit the note Spangle had in his teeth in blue flames. The letter disappeared and the strangely beautiful bird took flight. Only half an hour later, the bird returned. It spit out a ball of blue flames. The flames swirled and formed into a scroll. Spangle opened the scroll and read the message as the bird took flight.

Dear Spangle:

I have been anxiously awaiting this news and as to what this so called project is. I, Captain Shining Armor, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna will arrive by chariot as soon as midday tomorrow to view this creation of your apprentice’s. I hope he will not disappoint us.

Your good Friend: L. Nexus

As promised, two chariots arrived after the snow had finished blanketing the ground the night before. The first golden chariot carried Princess Celestia and her sister, the other, carried two equally opposite stallions. The one on the right, a white unicorn with a blue mane golden Royal Guard armor, and the other dark blue, also a unicorn, with a black mane and dressed in black armor that had portions that seemed to have been taken from the top of a fish. They landed in the empty fields with two Pegasi pulling each carriage.

Thunder Clap was still in his winter one piece with Spangle wearing what use to be his dress uniform for the Royal Guard. When the Princess’ stepped out of their carriages both Thunder Clap and Spangle bowed to them and the Princess’ bowed back in return. Once the formalities were out of the way, Captain Armor directed the Princess’ to the back porch.

“It feels good to see somepony I know for a change.” the dark blue one said to Spangle.

“Nice to see you too Nex.” Spangle replied. “This is my apprentice, Thunder Clap.” he said motioning to the light gray earth pony.

“So you’re the talk of the town that Spangle’s been telling me so much about?” Nexus said with a smile.

“Y-Yeah, I’m Thunder Clap.” Thunder replied holding out his left hoof.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. So what do you have for to offer?” Nexus replied shaking Thunder’s hoof.

“I have something that will revolutionize warfare, forever. If you would please stand over on the porch.”

“I’d prefer standing with you if it’s all the same with you.” the white one said approaching the group.

“As would I.” Nexus said. “This is my associate, Commander Shining Armor. Captain of the Guard.”

“And what about you?” Thunder Clap asked.

“How rude of me. I’m Commander Nexus, Captain of the Evening Guard.”

“There’s two?”

“There are now.”

“Thunder. The MK. II?” Spangle interjected.

“Oh! Yes! I have created a mechanism that will make the spears and cross bows that you are using now obsolete. I have rebuilt the rifle.”

“The few Silver Bit rifles we have now are just in the defense budget as it is.” Captain Armor interrupted.

“You might want to get your money back, because this!” Thunder Clap said pulling the rifle from his back. “Is the only rifle you will ever need. This is the Thunder Storm. It holds ten rounds of self contained ammunition and can fire them in just under ten seconds.”

“Impossible.” Nexus said.

“You would think so, but…” He pointed the rifle towards the forest at the other end of the field and fired off three shots in rapid succession. “This isn’t your rich uncle’s rifle. It’s accurate up to twice the distance of the muskets you use and the ammo casings are easier and faster to make. Not only that, but you can carry more of these in one saddle bag.” Thunder took three more rounds out of his saddle bags and loaded them into the back of the Thunder Storm.

“It also reloads three times as fast as your muskets.”

“That is impressive.” Princess Celestia said surprised.

“I’m not even close to finished Princess. It-”

A sudden howl broke the earth pony’s presentation. At the other end of the field, several masses moved from the showy shadows of the forest. Then a pack of creatures burst from them, howling in rage. They looked like wolfs, but made of wood and tree branches.

“Timber wolfs!” Captain Armor shouted.

“Get the Princess’ inside Armor. Spangle and I will do what we can out here.” Nexus said flaring his wings.

HOLD THE CARRIOR PIGON! He has wings!? They looked off. They didn’t look like Spangle’s wings. These shimmered in the day light, reflected the reflection from the snow beneath their hoofs. They were made of metal. He had a set of Spangle’s Iron Icarus’ strapped to his back.

“Get inside!” Commander Nexus shouted.

The timber wolfs were fast approaching and Thunder Clap would have run inside, if he didn’t remember the fully loaded power in his hoofs. He turned to face the pack of wolfs and let loose a storm of hot lead from his rifle. The bar at the end of the barrel lined up to the brass ring in front of the stock. Captain Nexus nearly charged when Spangle stopped him.

Thunder Clap lined up his sites with the head of a timber wolf in his path. Everything slowed down as the sites lined up on the animal. He let lose with a shot and the timber wolf he was aiming at fell to pieces. Once his ammunition was depleted, he opened the lever and loaded a single round before immediately shooting it at another target. Before the wolfs could make it to the chariots, they all suddenly turned tail in retreat.

Captain Armor stood at the porch with the Princess’ looking on in amazement. Thunder Clap was out of breath as he lowered his weapon and looked to his boss. He put his rifle on his back and looked back at his house to ensure that the Princess’ were okay.

“Well, that was an extraordinary display of marksmen ship.” Princess Luna said.

“Agreed.” Commander Nexus said. “Would you excuse us please, we have a great deal to discuss this deal. Spangle, would you come with us please.”

“Sure.” Spangle replied as the Princess’ and Captain Armor followed them to the carriages. “So, what’d you four think?”

“I think your apprentice shows great promise Midnight Spangle.” Princess Luna said.

“Does he have price tag on his Thunder Storm Rifle?” Princess Celestia asked directly after.

“He does.” Spangle said with a sigh. “Somewhere in the ball park of six thousand bits.”

“Six thousand!” Shining Armor exclaimed nearly stopping in his tracks.

“Well, the ammunition takes up most of that price tag but that’s not that hard to meet right?”

“Like I said before, we can barely afford the Silver Bit Rifles we have now.”

“Captain Armor, with all due respect, I think we need those rifles.” Captain Nexus said.

“Where are you going to get six thousand bits a pop?” Captain Armor said.

“They’re deterrents. The Elements of Harmony are our magical deterrents. What if we face an enemy that they can’t fight. Something with an army.”

“Chrysalis had an army.” Celestia said.

“And the Elements didn’t even fight them. Given their bearers fought, but their Elements weren’t used in combat. Cadence only repelled them. My soldiers have been fighting your underground war against the changelings since I took over the guard and something like that rifle will make our fight easier.”

“As Captain Armor said, there is no money for us to meet these demands.” Celestia said.

“Sister, Lunarus has a fair point. Weapons like that can be a great advantage to Equestria should a conflict arise.” Luna said.

“But we have no money for these weapons. I’m sorry Captain Spangle, my mind is made up. And since Luna has fewer resources than I, there shall be no deal. I’m sorry. I refuse my kingdom be in debt.” Celestia said stepping into the carriage. “We’ll be on our way.”

“I think you should seriously reconsider this Princess Celestia.” Nexus said stepping in front of her chariot.

“Commander, just because my sister trusts you with her life doesn’t mean you have any power to make important decisions regarding my countries finances. I shall see you two back in Canterlot. Guards, we’re off.”

The chariot took flight leaving the three soldiers in the field.

“This isn’t over.” Nexus said stepping into his chariot with Captain Armor. “Let Thunder Clap know I’m sorry. We’re not finished here. Keep an eye on him Spangle, he shows some promise.”

“You think he’s one of them?” Spangle asked.

“He might. Keep me posted.”

“What are you two talking about?” Shining Armor asked.

“Above your pay grade.”

Spangle waved as the men took flight towards Canterlot.

Author's Notes:

Me: Two chapters in one day to make up for not being able to post over the weekend!
Nexus: Well that sucks for Thunder Clap. I really could use a Thunder Storm pistol in my-
Me: NEXUS AND FIREBRAND SITTING IN A TREE!!!!!
Nexus: Do it and I'll kiss Luna. Two can play this game Latin lover boy!
Me: I bet Dust Storm would love to hear that now wouldn't she?
Nexus: Tell her and we're both dead.
Me: ...
Nexus: ...
Me: Point taken.
Nexus: Next chapter then?
Me: Do the honors.