Axel returned to the hideout and stood in the main area. Smoke was waiting for him.

"So?" asked Smoke.

"We failed." said Axel. "I--"

Smoke raised a gun and shot him in the head.

"You've failed me for the last time." Axel's body fell to the floor. "SOMEPONY KILL THEM!"

The ambulance arrived at The Wet Mare and the paramedics ran inside. Thunder was still with the mare he found. He was knelt on the ground, propping her up against his foreleg and stroking her mane.

They're here." he said. "Hang on."

"Th-thank y-you." said the mare.

A paramedic came up to them.

"What happened?" he asked.

"There was a shooting." Thunder explained. "She was hit."

"Any other survivors?"

Thunder shrugged. "No idea."

The paramedic put the injured mare on a stretcher and wheeled her out as Plumsweet and Candy came up behind him.

"You see. Plumsweet?" he asked. "That is exactly why I try not to have any connections or give a damn about anypony but me."

"But you helped her." said Plumsweet.

"I may be tough, but I'm no monster."

"You were gonna leave them to die earlier." said Plumsweet.

"I probably would've ran out and then run back in."

He let out a sigh and left the building, the two mares following close behind.

Thunder sat on the curb. cars zipping passed. Plumsweet sat down next to him.

"I thought you hated me because you wanted to."

"No." said Thunder. "I don't hate you. I want to like you, but... I can't."

"Why not?"

"I've survived so long without anypony that now... I feel I don't need anypony."

Plumsweet put a hoof on his shoulder.

"Everypony needs somepony." said Plumsweet.

"I've shut myself from love for so long... I don't think I can ever love again."

Plumsweet put a hoof on his cheek, leaned in, and kissed him. Then she pulled away slowly.

"What was that for?" asked Thunder.

"I kind of liked you, too. I just kept wishing you weren't such an asshole."

Thunder smiled. "I can't promise I won't do those things again."

"Well, we'll see how it goes."

"Isn't this sweet?" said Candy, watching. "Do I sense a threesome?"

"Now's not the time, Candy." said Plumsweet, still looking in Thunder's eyes.

"How about later at my place?"

"Candy." said Thunder. "Stop it."

"Fine." she said with a sigh. "But you two can't shut me out just because you're together."

Just then there was a commotion and the three looked over at the ambulances. one of the shooters believed to bed sat up on the stretcher and stabbed a medic. He rolled off, grabbed a pistol from the seized weapons and aimed it at Thunder.

"DIE!" he yelled.

Thunder ducked as he fired.

"Let's go!" yelled Thunder.

He ran into the street and held up a hoof as a car screeched to a stop. thunder walked around to the driver's door and opened it.

"Get out." he said. "NOW!"

The colt quickly undid the seat belt and got out, running away. Thunder and Plumsweet got in the front and Candy dove into the back, slamming the door behind her.

"I'm in." she said. "Go!"

Thunder stepped on the gas. Candy watched out the back as the shooter shot a driver and stole his car.

"He's coming." she said.

The shooter slammed on the gas, in hot pursuit of Thunder and the others. He caught up with them and hit them on the side. Thunder jerked the steering wheel to avoid hitting a car as he was pushed into the other lane. The shooter fired his gun out the window. Thunder drifted into a road on the left. The shooter followed. A parking structure was coming into view. A long factory was next to it, its smokestacks emitting fumes into the air.

"I have an idea." said Thunder.

"Oh, no." said Plumsweet, seeing the parking structure.

When they arrived at the building, thunder pulled into the parking structure and began going up the ramps, climbing to the top. The shooter was never far behind. They got to the top and Thunder drove full speed towards the edge.

"The hell are you doing?" asked Candy, freaking out.

"Hang on, girls." said Thunder.

The car shot off the edge and flew through the air.

"Holy shit!" yelled Candy.

The shooter drove off as well. The two cars sailed through the air and landed on the roof of the factory.

Made it." said Thunder with a grin.

"Are you crazy?" yelled Candy.

"That was kind of fun." said Plumsweet with a smile.

The two cars drove across the roof of the factory, dodging smokestacks and various poles sticking up. The shooter fired some more shots out the window. They were now nearing the edge of the building.

"Hang on again." said Thunder.

Candy held on to her seat belt. "Oh, shit." she said softly.

Thunder drove his car off the edge and landed on the road below. He swerved onto the sidewalk, taking out a few signs and benches. He looked in the rear view mirror and saw the enemy vehicle closing in.

"He just doesn't know when to give up, does he?" asked Thunder.

"What're you gonna do?" asked Plumsweet.

"Just kill the fucker so you cans top this crazy death machine!" yelled Candy.

"Check in the glove compartment." he ordered.

He drifted around a sharp turn, careful not to lose momentum.

"What for?" asked Plumsweet.

"Most ponies carry guns in case of emergencies."

Plumsweet opened the glove compartment and saw a pistol.

"What do ya know?" she asked, taking it out.

"Hang on tight." he said.

He sped up to stay in front of the shooter. He then slammed on the brake and jerked the wheel while putting the car in reverse. He slammed on the gas and began driving backwards. He grabbed the gun from Plumsweet, slid it on his hoof, aimed, and fired. The bullet flew threw the air and hit the shooter in the forehead. The car spun out of control and tumbled before hitting a pole and exploding. Thunder brought the car back around so that he was driving forwards again.

"That was awesome." said Plumsweet.

"Like I said." said Thunder with a smile. "Stick with me and you'll be safe."