Sunset Shimmer sat on the counter in Fluttershy's bathroom, sulking as she had the oozing cut on her arm cleaned.

"Oh my goodness, you poor thing! This must really hurt." Fluttershy cooed, lightly dabbing it with peroxide. "Have you had your tetanus shot?"

"Yes. I'm not a 'poor thing.'" She snapped.

"Well that's no way t'talk to your doctor!" Applejack objected from the door. Sunset snarled, but Fluttershy grabbed her arm in a surprisingly firm grip and continued her ministrations.

"I am bleeding! I have every right to have a bad attitude right now!"

Ten minutes ago Sunset, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Fluttershy had been at Castle CinderPly, playing a round of free-for-all. It had been too warm for her jacket, and Sunset had set herself up with Rarity's M16 on the second floor when Pinkie Pie had taken a very good potshot at her and made her flinch into part of the wall. The rough stone had cut a shallow but long slice from the back of her left hand halfway down her forearm; not particularly painful (although Sunset had screamed embarrassingly loud) but bleeding profusely. Fluttershy's house was easily the closest and within walking distance, and her cache of veterinary supplies were now being used to treat it.

Pinkie Pie hovered over them. She had been terrified that she had seriously injured Sunset, and was perhaps overeager to make it up. Sunset flinched as the deepest part of the wound was cleaned and she jumped in. "Are you ok!? Can I help!?"

Sunset sighed, anger and annoyance burned out. "I'm fine, Pinkie. My pride is hurt more than anything, it's really not that bad. We can just slap a bandage on it and head back out."

Applejack cleared her throat. "Maybe we should think about some per'tective equipment first. Like these." The farmer held up her own hands, encased in thin but tough workman's gloves.

Sunset nodded, holding her arm steady as Fluttershy finished wrapping it in a bandage. Her arm would be sore for a few days, but it was nothing to bad. "Yeah, sure. Where did you get those?"

"Lugnut's Local. Thought that was where ya got the goggles we been usin'?" Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"No, these came from Quill's and Sofa's hobby shop!" Pinkie Pie sang, brandishing her pair. She dropped the lenses as Sunset made to stand up, rushing to help.

"Pinkie, seriously, I'm fine! Let's go back to the truck, see if we can find something at the hardware store." Sunset flexed her wrist and elbow, testing the bandage's strength. Her elbow would be tender for a few days, but not debilitating. "I've been thinking about knee pads for a while now, too."

They where halfway back to where Applejack had parked her truck when Fluttershy's phone rang. She took it out to answer as they walked, and Sunset casually fell back a pace to eavesdrop before she even realized what she was doing. Feeling slightly guilty, she looked up ahead at Pinkie Pie and Applejack, hopping for an excuse to start talking and distract herself, only to realize they were doing precisely the same thing. Sunset suppressed a chuckle.

"Hello? Oh, it's wonderful to hear from you... No, not anymore, we had a bit of an accident. Sunset Shimmer cut herself and was bleeding everywhere, so we had to..." Fluttershy winced as a tinny "WHAT?!" made it out of the phone's speaker. Sunset thought she recognized Rarity's voice. Applejack and Pinkie Pie snickered and went back to whatever they had been talking about before while Fluttershy continued her conversation.

"… is all fine, there's not need to worry. In fact, we are going to go get better protective clothing right now, so it doesn't happen again. … Of course you can come, if you want to, I-I mean, we… oh. Um… I'm not certain… ah."

"Everything ok?" Sunset asked as Fluttershy lowered the phone uncertainly. They had reached AJ's truck, and split up to get in.

Fluttershy smiled weakly. "Oh yes. But Rarity may want to meet us at Lugnut's in order to… umm… accessorize?"

That brought Applejack to a full stop, keys in-hand. "Wait. How in tarnation does one 'access'erize' with kneepads and gloves?"

Sunset rolled her eyes, vaulting into the bed of the pickup. "I have a feeling we are about to find out the hard way."

"Shotgun!" Pinkie Pie shouted, diving for the door, then opened it for Fluttershy, who looked understandably confused as Pinkie hopped into the truckbed with Sunset. "You go ahead. I just like calling it. Like 'dibs.' Hey, why is it called 'shotgun?' It's a seat, not a gun. Hey, hey Sunset? Why is it called that? Why is anything called anything? Who came up with the word 'anything?'"

Sunset banged on the back of the cab, worried for her sanity if the trip took a moment too long.

Sunset pulled on the first pair of black gloves she found that were small enough and immediately noticed a problem. She growled under her breath.

"They really don't make these for girls with nails, do they? They're too short."

"Oh…" Fluttershy had found a pair of tan gloves with pink stripes across the back, both she and Pinkie Pie were trying them on. "I'm sorry, I hadn't thought of that…"

"Not your fault, nothing to do with you, chill out." Sunset said absently. She really liked the look of the gloves, too: black fabric with shaped caps over each of the knuckles and thin leather on the palms and partway up the fingertips. I feel like a badass just wearing them. I'll trim my nails, I guess. Pity.

"Incoming, brace yer'selves." Applejack muttered as the shop doorbell tinkled, insistently examining the display of wooden dowels next to the workman's gear. Sunset turned around and instantly facepalmed when she saw what was coming in the door.

"Uh, ma'am? Are you sure you got the right address?" The cashier gaped as a long and fully laden rolling coatrack was pushed past his register and into the hardware store. Pushing it was a very annoyed-looking Rainbow Dash.

"Don't. Even. Ask."

Rarity was right behind, trailing a rolling suitcas. "Ah, we found the place! Oh, don't worry, sir, we won't be long! Excuse me!"

Sunset left her hand over her face as she spoke, utterly amazed at the fashionista's adaucity. "Someone get the phone."

"Yeah." Pinkie Pie poked her head into the hangers. "You called it."

"Hmm?" Rarity ignored them, pulling Fluttershy closer as Applejack sidled away, looking at the gloves she had picked out. "Oh, dear, these are hideous! But they suit you the best from what we have available, so they must be saved, it seems. A-ha!"

Rainbow Dash stepped up next to Sunset, whispering over her shoulder. "You can't stop her when she gets like this. I got pulled in just because I happened to be walking down the street. Oh, those look cool!" She reached a machete on the rack behind them and Sunset swatted her arm.

The next forty minutes had them tossed about in a whirlwind of Rarity's creative direction, trying on different combinations of everything, badgering the clerk for different colors and patterns of pads and straps, and cycling through the hardware store's single restroom an what had to be the single weirdest fashion show the world had ever seen. In the end, Sunset ended up wearing a thin white longsleeved shirt with a black vest over it, and black slacks with a crimson stripe down the side. Simple grey knee and elbow-pads fit over it all quite well, and it was comfortable enough to wear with her gunbelt.

"You look like quite the dashing rogue! Give us a pose." Rarity insisted.

"I'll pose when there is a camera. This is not really practical, is it?" Sunset closed her eyes and folded her arms, cutting off any further conversation. Rarity was already distracted and not paying any attention.

"Rainbow Dash! Try these!"

Rainbow ducked as a pair of trousers where thrown at her. "Hey! Come on, Rarity, I'm just going to end up wearing a jersey anyway! I need something I can move in and get ripped up!"

One glare later and Rainbow Dash scurried into the back to get changed. Sunset did her best to get the situation under control, as it was starting to devolve into chaos.

"Rarity."

"And Pinkie Pie, if you can fit into-"

"Rarity."

"Oh, no no no! Applejack! We can't have colors like-"

"Rarity!" Sunset barked. Everything in the crowded hardware store isle came to a halt. Sunset pinched the bridge of her nose. "Isn't this going a bit far? We're scaring Junior over there."

All of the other girls looked toward the front of the store, where the still very confused and unnerved cashier stood behind his desk, one hand uncertainly inching toward the desk phone to call his manager. Sunset gave Rarity a pointed look. "We appreciate your willingness to do this, but there is a time and a place. I don't think 'in Lugnut's Local Hardware' and 'now' are on the list. Come on, let's take this step-by-step."

Rarity blushed furiously. "Oh dear. I got a mite out of control, didn't I?"

"Ah'll say! Come on, y'all. Let's clean up the mess we made." Applejack laughed. She had mostly managed to avoid the chaos by hiding an isle over, but was still sporting a new coat and scarf from collateral fasion. It only took a minute to gather up all of the clothing and replace it haphazardly on the rack. Sunset idly noted that Pinkie Pie was wearing somthing completely different from what she had walked in wearing,

"I don't know what came over me… quite silly. Quite a silly idea." Rarity said apologetically. Sunset patted her back.

"Hey, don't give up on it yet. Help us pick out some gloves, but we need to think practical first. It's not like we really are gonna be seen wearing this stuff except by each other and other teams, right?"

"I suppose you are right." Rarity sighed, then brightened. "Perhaps I could design uniforms sometime!"

"Yeah, there is a…" Rainbow Dash started to speak, then trailed off, turning away to examine a shelf of bolts and nuts and humming tunelessly. Pinkie Pie was on her in an instant.

"'There is aaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…' thing? What kinda thing?" She leaned slowly toward Rainbow, who stepped away.

"An… uhh. Nevermind!"

Sunset grabbed Rainbow by the shoulder and whispered in her ear as Pinkie Pie began vibrating. "You will tell her, because I don't know how much more Pinkie I can deal with today. I had to drag out a thirty-second explanation on the origin of the term 'riding shotgun' for nine minutes on the way here."

"STAGECOACHES!" Pinkie sang, somehow close enough to eavesdrop. Rainbow Dash and Sunset nearly leapt into the shelving.

"Alright, alright! I… I did some research!" Rainbow hung her head. Sunset blinked, nonplused. "Like, a lot of research. I even went to the library."

"Rainbow Dash does not read nor study unless it is life or death, dear." Rarity explained to the still bewildered Sunset, leaning in to listen. "This is quite the 'big deal.'"

"Anyway, I found out about the Yanhoover Survival Games." Rainbow Dash went on. "It's a huge convention for paintball and Airsoft, for like, four days. There a bunch of tournaments, different competitions for teams and singles, a real shooting competition with real guns, even a special ladies round that… uh, starts with a fashion show."

The girl's jaws hit the floor, all for different reasons, except Fluttershy who smiled cheerfully. "Oh! Just for the girls? That sounds wonderful!"

Rainbow Dash nodded. "Yeah. But the big one is the twenty-four hour game. A ton of teams go at it for the craziest capture-the-flag game you have ever heard of. It has a two-thousand dollar grand prize and huge trophy for the winning team."

"Two-thousand?" Applejack whistled.

"Trophy?" Sunset felt a stirring of familiar flame in the back of her mind.

"Fasion… show…" Rarity murmured, eyes glassing over.

"Well that settles that!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed. "We are so going! When is it?"

"Yesterday. The final day was yesterday, they do it every spring." Rainbow Dash stated. Three daydreaming bubbles popped at once.

"Damn." Sunset growled. "Fine. A whole year."

Fluttershy fiddled with the gloves she had selected, tan with a pink stripe along the back, looking thoughtful. "Well, that is a whole year to prepare, isn't it? We wouldn't do very well if we went a few days ago. Or even a month from now. I hadn't even fired an Airsoft gun before… how long has it been?"

"Seventeen days." Sunset said. "Eighteen since Pinkie Pie got them. But you're right, it's more time to practice. Come on, let's check out and… I don't know, what next?"

"Ah think we got everything we came for." Applejack said, looked them over.

Rainbow Dash grinned as they went to check out. "Are you going out to play another game? I'm in!"

Sunset spread her arms. "We kinda just came from there, I'd like a chance to relax first. Anyone want to go to Sugarcube Corner?" The girls all made various noises of approval as they made their way out of the hardware store.

The clerk at the desk breathed a huge sigh of relief as the door finally shut. He looked around the store to make sure no other customers, or his boss, had come in, then stealthily glanced at his cell phone to see if his picture had gotten a response.

> woah, dude! sunset getting another army? lol jk <

Pinkie Pie slid into her seat at the corner booth of Sugarcube Corner at high speed, jostling Sunset and nearly causing her to spill her smoothie. Rarity was the last to sit, sipping from a frappuccino with an ridiculously long name.

They all fell silent for a moment as they enjoyed their drinks, and Sunset's mind wandered. Rainbow Dash gave a sharp whistle over her milkshake to get her attention.

"Yo! Ground control to Sunny. Why the long face?"

Sunset blinked, but Pinkie interjected before she could answer. "That's her thinky-face!"

"Well, whatever the case, darling, you look positively distressed." Rarity noted. "What's on your mind?"

Sunset smiled ruefully, shaking her head. "Not much. I was just thinking about what I would be doing, right now, if..." She trailed off, no longer certain of where she had been going with that train of thought. If I hadn't cast that spell during the exam for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns? If I had never seen that mirror? If... If Twilight Sparkle had done anything differently? "...if I was still home, I guess."

"Well?" Rainbow leaned forward on the table eagerly. "What would you be doing? In your old world?"

"I don't know. Probably studying. Or on an errand for the princess." Maybe even ruling myself, Sunset noted, shrugging again.

"H'actually, Ah'm a mite curious." Applejack tapped her spoon on her banana split bowl. "Twilight kinda explained that there was three pony races, and we were her friends before, on the other side. She told us she was a unicorn, and Ah kinda figured out that RD and Fluttershy were pegasus'. Wings are kind of a giveaway." She finally looked up at Sunset. "What am Ah? Y'know, other me? In Other Equestria."

Sunset sat up, surprised at the question. "Well, I never met the other you on that side of the portal, but I got a good look when all of them were chasing me through the palace. You, er, other you is an Earth Pony. Strong, dependable... mostly strong."

"Ooh! Ooh! What am I?! What am I?!" Pinkie waved her hand in the air.

"Also an Earth Pony. Rarity and I are Unicorns. Other Rarity is a critically acclaimed dressmaker, and Other Rainbow Dash is one of the fastest pegasi alive."

"Fascinating. I always though I'd make a good magician." Rarity said, a faraway look in her eyes.

Sunset grinned, imagining the insanity that would ensue if Rarity was to make dresses with telekinesis. Her grin vanished, though, when a male voice chimed in.

"And, uh, what would I have been?"

Sunset spun around in her seat to see Flash Sentry standing outside the booth, looking uncomfortable. A host of emotions fought for dominance in Sunset's mind; rage, fear, joy... but shock won. "F-Flash?! What are… ah?"

"Coffee." Sunset's ex-boyfriend held up the paper cup. "I just wanted to know… did you know an other-me back where you came from?"

"Y-yes." Sunset clamped down on her feelings. "Very well. You- Other You is a Pegasus of the Royal Guard when I last went back. Did well, you always were the selfless type."

"Cool. Thanks." Flash nodded, then seemed to notice the rest of them at the table. "Oh, hey Pinkie. Looks like you've been having fun."

Pinkie grinned. "I'm always having fun! But I'm having a lot more fun ever since your parents sold me all of those Airsoft guns!"

Flash gave a short laugh. "Ha! I'll bet. You where lucky, they had no idea how much they where worth. You're using my old Mark Twenty-Four, aren't you? It's the only gun big enough to fit in that holster." He pointed toward her hip.

"Yup! You can have it back if you want to come out and play with us, anytime!" Pinkie offered. Under the table, Fluttershy put a hand on Sunset's leg, and Sunset released the death-grip she had on her smoothie glass.

"Thanks, but I don't play anymore. They're all yours. Have a nice day, girls. It's almost spring break!"

"Thanks!"

"You too!"

"Bye!"

"Are you ok, Sunset?" Fluttershy whispered. Sunset nodded, despite the pain in her chest.

"I will be." She groaned through clenched teeth. "Pinkie?"

"I'm sorry…" Pinkie Pie deflated, hanging her head. "I didn't think you would have cared."

Sunset nodded, slowly and jerkily. "It was just a bit of a surprise. A little warning would have been nice."

Both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy put an arm around Sunset's shoulder, and Sunset realized just how low she had sunk into her seat. She straightened up, rubbing her face. "Alright! Sissy feel-sorry time is over. Everybody about done?" Sunset looked around, most of the girls pushed their glasses away, except Rainbow Dash, who sucked hard on her straw in a rush to finish. "Good! It's been a bit to much stress for today, let's go shoot each other."

"WOOHOO! OW!" Rainbow Dash threw her hands in the air, then winced and grabbed her temples. "Brainfreeze. Ow, ow, ow."

They scooted out of their seats, collecting their things. Sunset looked up in time to see Principal Celestia stand up from one of the tables and walk over.

"Good afternoon, ma'am." Sunset said as she got close enough, feeling a little self-conscious about the empty holster hanging off of her waist.

"Good afternoon, girls. You look like you are ready for trouble." Celestia smiled gently at them. All of them adjusted their gear awkwardly, realizing for the first time how odd they must look with gunbelts and kneepads, even if they had left the weapons themselves at Fluttershy's house.

"We, ah, found a new hobby. Don't worry, we won't be playing anywhere near the school or town." Sunset pointed out.

Celestia gave a small laugh. "I'm not worried about you anymore, Sunset Shimmer. I can see already that you've made incredible progress since the Fall Formal."

"Really?" Sunset asked, legitimately surprised. Sure, she had been trying to be a better person, but she still made so many mistakes...

"Absolutely." Celestia placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sunset, those of us who care about you can see how much effort you are putting out, and that's the essence of progress." She took her hand back and looked around at all of them. "And you do not stand alone, clearly. I am curious, how did this... sport... start for all of you?"

The girls all looked at each other in surprise. "I dunno." Applejack noted. Sunset spread her hands.

"Chance, I guess. It's fun, it gives me something to focus on, and it really seems to bring us together. Mostly it's a rush." She gave a sly smile. "You should try it sometime!"

"Perhaps I should!" Celestia laughed, surprising them. "It's so wonderful to hear from you, can I make a small request?"

Sunset nodded slowly. "I don't see why not."

"I had the opportunity to speak to Twilight Sparkle at length before she left, and she went through a very similar process in discovering the magic of friendship. Her mentor had her write regular letters back with her friends about the lessons she had learned. Could I ask you to do something similar?"

"So, a friendship sit-rep?" Sunset felt a wry smile flicker across her face at the ridiculousness of the idea. "Sure, why not. I'd like a way to benchmark how I'm doing. Girls?"

"I think its a wonderful idea." Rarity said.

"Sounds fun!" Pinkie Pie bounced in place, miming writing in mid-air. "Dear Principal Celestia?"

Rainbow Dash raised her hand. "Can we use eMail?"

They all broke out in laughter, except Rainbow Dash, who stamped on the floor. "I'm serious! Writing is a pain!"

"You can, of course. I'll, ah, be sure I check often." Celestia smiled and bowed her head, stepping out of their way. "Have fun, you six!"

"So, what are y'all gonna play?" Applejack leaned back in one of the rickety wooden chairs they had hauled into the Castle.

Sunset shrugged, filling her pistol magazines with fresh gas. "I dunno. Something quick, sun is going down soon."

"Well..." Rarity stood over the table, practicing quick reloads of her M16. "Personally, I'm just a wee bit sore about our first-ever game at Canterlot High."

"V.I.P, then? Sounds cool to me." Rainbow Dash idly spun a magazine for her submachine gun around her fingers. "Should we do the same teams?"

"Sure." Sunset got up. "Applejack can join our team, so it's even. Pistols only? We only have five long guns."

"Ready to get your butts whupped again?" Rainbow Dash challenged.

"Ready to get shot in the backside again?" Rarity countered playfully, dropping her rifle and drawing her pistol.

"Alright, already!" Sunset raised her voice to get them back on track. "What's the objective point, so we can get the game started."

"Let's make it the pit in the courtyard!" Pinkie said. "If Fluttershy makes it there, we win. We'll start around the back, give us two minutes!"

Applejack got up and picked her Peacemaker off the table, flipping it through a complicated series of spins around her finger before returning it to her holster. She gave a sharp nod to Sunset and Rarity. "Le's get started!"

Rainbow Dash led Pinkie and Fluttershy out, and Rarity formed her team into a huddle.

"Well, ladies, last time we lost this kind of match. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash managed to cut us off and we could not prevent them from reaching the goal. Now, we should be able to to do a lot better."

Applejack tapped the brim of her hat. "I'm the best shot, and I have the most powerful gun, so I should stay within sight of the courtyard."

"Ok. Me and Rarity make a fireteam again?" Sunset asked.

"I don't think so." Rarity shook her head. "We'd best split up entirely to cover the halls. You can see all the way down each side from the first turn, and we should be within shouting distance."

"Sounds good. Break!" Sunset patted their shoulders and turned, out of the dayroom and pounding down the stairs, then turning right to the north wing. The hall ran east-west the entire length of the building, and she could clearly see all the way to the jury-rigged plywood door at the end. Rarity would be doing the same on the south wing, while Applejack remained in the dayroom as overwatch. She took a knee in the doorway to one of the classrooms and drew her pistol.

And waited. She maintained her mental count she had started when the V.I.P. had left.

One hundred and eighteen, one hundred and nineteen, one hundred and twenty seconds. Two minutes. Here goes...

A shadow broke the light showing around the edges of the door, and Sunset raised her pistol, lining up the sights. The rough wooden latch lifted painfully slowly as Sunset watched, focusing on controlling her breathing as her heart started pounding.

The door burst open and blinding light from the descending sun poured in, interrupted only for a moment by a flicker of rainbow-tinted speed. Sunset squinted and opened fire, working the Sigma's action as fast at it would go and firing in an expanding pattern designed to catch Rainbow Dash as she sprinted down the hall.

Rainbow Dash gave a faint smile as the pellets whizzed toward her, and bobbed to the side, pushed off of a doorframe, then leap into the air, landing feet first on the wall and continuing her run with improbable speed and athleticism. Gravity finally took over, dropping Rainbow to the floor where she tucked and rolled as Sunset stepped fully into the hall and readjusted her aim. She came up at point blank range inside Sunset's reach.

Panicked, Sunset fired again, missing by a inch over Rainbow Dash's back. The slide on her pistol locked rearward, signaling an empty magazine as Rainbow raised her weapon.

Sunset reached out and caught the slide of Rainbow's pistol, forcing it back. Rainbow Dash pulled the trigger.

The pistol didn't even click. Sunset felt a dizzy rush of adrenalin course through her veins.

They remained frozen there for a second, slightly hesitant. Sunset held Rainbow Dash's gun in place and smirked, tapping the release on her own sidearm and sending the empty magazine clattering to the floor. "Heh. The Sigma can't fire with the chamber opened, and now you have a feed mechanism jam. Let's see who has the-"

"Skills!" Rainbow finished, twisting away. Sunset whirled around opposite, pushing off back to back as she snatched a new magazine out of the slot on her belt and slamming it into the grip of her pistol. She thumbed the locking lever, sending the slide forward as she continued her spin to face Rainbow Dash, ready to aim.

They met forearm to forearm, and Sunset quickly pushed Rainbow's arm so that she could not aim as Rainbow did the same. The slide on Rainbow's handgun was fully forward again, meaning she had probably cleared the jam. The two paused again.

Sunset reached her free hand up and grabbed the top of Rainbow's gun again, Rainbow Dash did the same.

"Well. This is awkward. What now?" Sunset asked, flicking a stray lock of hair out of her face.

"You would be so toast if I had a knife." Dash made a face. "Let go on three?"

"Sure."

*POP!*

Sunset leapt back as Rainbow Dash yelped and spun around. Applejack stood just around the corner of the hall, condensed mist fading away from the barrel of her Peacemaker.

"Applejack! You shot me in the butt!" Rainbow Dash screeched, tossing her Sigma to the ground.

"Sure did. Heard the commotion, thought I'd help." Applejack tipped her hat. Sunset waved her back down the hall, completely ok with the underhanded attack.

"Get back to the courtyard, Pinkie and Rarity probably went together! Let's go!"

The two turned and ran back to the entry hall of the Castle, and Applejack leaned around the edge of the empty window. "Ain't nothin' in the courtyard yet."

"Copy." Sunset took a deep breath and called out toward the south wing; "RARITY!"

There was no response. Applejack winced. "Great. Jus' great. Now they know exactly where we are."

"And we know where they are." Sunset shot back. She aimed her sidearm and began firing steadily at the doorways as she walked toward Rarity's last position. There was a gasp of surprise as Pinkie Pie darted out of hiding and across the hall into another classroom. "Told'ya. I got this one."

"Have fun." Applejack snorted, peeking out the window again.

Sunset rolled her eyes. "Thanks, I will." She dashed to the corner of the door Pinkie Pie had dove through, then whirled through, pistol up and ready. The room was empty, except for a large cardboard box that had been used to bring supplies to the Castle. A tingle of paranoia tickled the back of Sunset's mind.

Is it big enough to hide a Pinkie Pie? Sunset stepped cautiously into the room, gun trained on the box. She carefully stretched out her toe and kicked it over. A number of spare parts tumbled out from under it and bounced across the ground. Metal gears? When did I bring those?

"HI THERE!" Pinkie Pie shouted, popping up from the window, outside the room. She swung her giant suppressed pistol up over the sill and opened fire. Sunset turned and scrambled for the door, diving down and sliding the last few feet on her new kneepads as pellets bounced off the cinderblocks around her. She pressed herself into cover, heart pounding as she fought for control of her breath.

"Did I get you?" Pinkie asked cheerfully. Sunset dropped herself on her side and rolled around the edge of the door, but Pinkie Pie was gone.

"No, you have to aim, Pinkie." Sunset taunted, mind whirring as she got to her feet. On a whim, she stepped back into one of the other classrooms, the one that the hyperactive party-planner had ran from initially. She hid in the doorway and listened.

"Umm..." Came a quiet voice.

"Quiet, Fluttershy." Sunset shushed over her shoulder, then did a double take and nearly choked in surprise.

Someone was in the room already, hands raised submissively. Sunset facepalmed. "Fluttershy? What the... I can't... really?" She holstered her Sigma, throwing her hands in the air. "I should be yelling 'hit' right about now! You had the drop on me!"

Fluttershy shrank back, and Sunset realized her voice was starting to rise. With effort, she toned it down to a hoarse whisper. "You can't just give up, you have a team relying on you. Just... try to think of fighting for your friends as another way of being nice! We can't be having this conversation all the time."

"I'm s-" Fluttershy started to apologize, but Sunset held up a hand.

"Fluttershy." She stepped across the room and took the shy girl's hand. "Maybe I'm not your friend yet, but I want you to try and do something for me."

Fluttershy shied away, but nodded. "I-I'll try. If I can."

"It shouldn't be hard." Sunset spoke slowly and carefully, lying through her teeth. "I want you to realize that I think you are the best player on the team."

"W-what?"

"I'll explain later, but right now, I'm going to walk back to that door. The game is still going, nobody has won." Sunset gently pushed Fluttershy's hand toward her holstered pistol. "I wonder what will happen when I do?"

Fluttershy quivered, and Sunset let go, turning her back and walking away the three steps toward the exit. Time seemed to drag on forever with each step until Sunset heard the "snap" of a holster clasp being undone.

Sunset grinned, ducking and drawing her own gun, turning back to face her new target. Fluttershy's eyes where hard and her mouth set in a thin line as she brought her weapon up in front of her. Sunset bobbed sideways, pulling the trigger hastily and sending her first shot high and wide. Fluttershy reacted, free hand snapping the slide of her pistol back, charging it as she pushing off with her right foot, juking to the left before Sunset's second shot cut through the place she had started.

Sunset turned her ducking dodge into a sideways sprint, firing one-handed as she scrambled for the wall, aiming out of the corner of her eye. Unsupported, her shots went wild, while Fluttershy brought her feet together and simply fell sideways. The black-and-silver of her Sigma rose and slid into place between her icy blue eyes, and Sunset knew right then and there there was no winning this duel.

*pop!*

"Gah! Hit!" Sunset stumbled into the wall, rubbing the base of her ribs where the shot had connected. She grinned up at Fluttershy, only to see her already recovering from her fall and dashing from the room. She crossed the hall, firing a quick burst of shots into the entry hall as she passed to dissuade Applejack from investigating.

Sunset remained in the empty classroom for a moment, running a finger along the guard around her pistol's trigger thoughtfully and massaging the newly-forming bruise on her torso. Maybe she can be good, if she can focus like that more often. That really hurt. She noted that this was the first time she had been hit in such close-quarters without her leather jacket on, then carefully peeked out into the hallway.

To the south, Rarity was leaning casually at the corner, trying to watch what was happening. She gave a flick of her head when she made eye contact with Sunset and started toward her, making sure to keep one hand raised.

"What happens to you?" Sunset asked.

"Oh, Pinkie Pie again. That girl is a master of the unexpected." Rarity said airily. "She held me up, I'm fairly certain she climbed through the window to get behind me."

Sunset nodded. "She tried something similar on me. Got out of it, but Fluttershy shot me when I tried to set up an ambush." Sunset explained, omitting the part where she had had an entire conversation about it.

Rarity seemed slightly doubtful. "Fluttershy, really?"

Sunset shrugged, remembering the icy look in Fluttershy's eyes. "She's got potential. I think we lose again, unless Applejack can pull a hat trick."

"Applejack is stubborn enough to give them a run for their money." Rarity commented. "Let's stay out of the way."

Sunset gazed longingly down the hall, wanting to see what was happening.

>FLUTTERSHY

What am I doing what am I doing? Fluttershy sprinted along the inner wall of Castle Cinder-Ply, ducking under each window, pistol ready in front of her. Pinkie Pie ran beside her, sliding to a stop at the edge of the main door and leaning around.

"Go! I gotcha!" Pinkie shouted, then jerked back.

*POP! POP!* A pair of high-power shots zipped through the door.

"Nevermind!"

Fluttershy darted across the doorway, providing her own covering fire as she went. Applejack ducked into a lower crouch and hesitated a moment too long to shoot back.

Oh my goodness, Fluttershy! What are you doing?! Part of Fluttershy's mind whimpered, but something else seemed to be moving her limbs. She lifted her weapon up in front of her and slid the magazine partway out, checking its contents. six, seven-eight-nine-ten-eleven... What am I doing!?

"Flutters!" Pinkie Pie snapped her fingers, then waved her palm over her head, then jabbed it toward the center of the courtyard, signaling I'll cover, you run for it.

Fluttershy shook her head, drawing a box in the air with her finger then making a sideways jabbing motion from her wrist; breach the door.

WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

Pinkie Pie's eyes went round as bubbles, then glimmered with excitement as she nodded enthusiastically. She reloaded her pistol, and Fluttershy followed suit.

Pinkie raised three fingers, then switched to two, one... and unexpectedly tossed her half-empty magazine into the room ahead of them.

"BREACH!"

Fluttershy was already moving, feeling like the world had had a film pulled away and was full of sharp edges as she wheeled around the corner, pushing her handgun out in front of her into a firing position. Applejack's eyes flickered up from watching the magazine slide across the floor and brought her revolver in line with her eye again.

Right hand grip set. Cup with left hand. Shoulders squared. Head up, don't tuck your chin. Lock right elbow, keep left straight but not locked. Thumbs parallel to barrel. Left eye closed. Front sight over target, rear sight comes up to alignment. Pad of finger on trigger. Smooth pressure, don't twist.

That's what I'm doing.

The tiny plastic pellet lanced out of the barrel in a puff of gas, and the slide of the Sigma flew backward and snapped back into place. Applejack winced and slapped a hand over the center of her chest, then danced back as Pinkie shot her twice more for good measure.

"Ow! Hit! Hit! Watch it!"

Fluttershy dropped her gun, bringing her hands up to her mouth in horror. "Ohmygoodness are you alright!?"

"Whelp, you're back to normal." Pinkie giggled, holstering her Mk. 24. "Weeee wiiin!"

"Dear Principal Celestia-"

"Her term of address isn't Principal, it's Miss. That just sounds odd, doesn't it?" Rarity noted. Sunset made a noncommittal grunt, making the correction and continuing to type on her laptop out loud.

"Dear Miss Celestia, Today we learned the strength that supporting your friends gives you. We already learned that one person alone is nowhere near as powerful as a team, but one person who fights for their team can rise above any challenge."

Fluttershy gave a small smile, blushing heavily before continuing the letter. "Knowing you have people who are relying on you can be stressful, terrifying, even..."

"But knowing those people are your friends and will catch you if you fall makes it that much more important!" Pinkie Pie added.

"Sincerely..." Sunset hesitated, having been about to put her own name, but all of them had contributed to the letter. "What do I sign?"

"'The girls?'" Rarity offered.

"We need'a team name." Applejack stated. "Somethin' we do that no'un else does."

"Shooting For Friendship." Rainbow Dash said. They all looked at her. "What? It's what we're doing, and it... it's..."

"Clever." Sunset praised, typing out one last line:

Team Shooting For Friendship.

Let's see where this goes...

She pressed "Send."

Author's Notes:

I must request that any edits or writing recommendation be sent to me as a PM, not in the comments. Please. Otherwise I LOVE COMMENTS.

I'mma back! YEEEAAAAA~!

Basic training was rough, the first few weeks of tech school was pretty crazy too, and technical issues abound ranging from no Internet access to loosing the entire episode... (This is the second re-write. The unintentional one). Yeah, this one has been rocky, but its the signal of new things to come! A new story arc, more exploration of the characters, a few entirely new characters, and, oh yeah, epic Airsoft action. The ladies are learning fast, and discovering new talents and tactics as they grow.

As usual, I love any input, from corrections to artwork, but I value reviews and analysis the most! (Talk to me there are no bronies in the 344th TRS I'm suffering withdrawal)

Extra-special thanks to Mason for dropping everything and editing this on short notice, getting it out to y'all extra fast. Without him, it would have been a whole 'nother week!

Stay cool, love and tolerate, don't do anything stupid. Love you guys. All the homo.