"I missed this!" Said Mane happily after finishing his third bottle of Crystal Vodka.

"Glad you're enjoying yourself." Commented Thunder Fists.

"Do you have another one?"

"Of course." And Thunder pulled another bottle from behind his desk. Mane tried to grab It, but the elder put it out of his range. "But only if you hear me..."

"... Must be important to take me away from a Crystal Vodka..." Mane guessed after remaining in silent for a short time.

Thunder Fists pulled his pipe, and holding It on hand, he putted tobacco inside It with the other. Then compressed and lighted It up with a wooden match, taking the smoke inside and putting It out with a easy sigh. And he began to speak.

"I have another work for you, and you are the best one for It..."

"Why me and not somepony else?" Mane asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Then don't interrupt me for the next moments, and I'll tell everything in one sitting. You may speak every time... uhm... I take a puff."

"I'm fine with that."

Taking another puff on his pipe, Thunder Fists breathed deeply and he started again:
"One of our contacts informed that the Royal Militar Laboratory invented a new kind of weapon. A cutting edge weapon, something that nopony ever thought about." And he stopped for a puff in the pipe.

"What is It?"

"I was gonna say that next. Imagine... a wooden plank, with a tube made of iron or steel, and under the board somekind of button, that once you press It, the tube spits fire on It's end, and a projectile made out of lead or iron comes out at full speed..." Another puff...

"What is so "cutting edge" in that? Sounds interesting."

"Well... once the iron ball is shot, gravity barely affects It! It's a thousand times superior to a bow and arrow! While with one you need to grab an arrow, put in the bow, pull, point and take a guess or aim. With this weapon, the "bullet", what they call It, already goes inside the weapon. You just need to draw, point or aim, click the button and 'BUM'! The target is dead..."

"Woa..." Mane let out in amazement. "What is the name of such creation?"

"There are different versions. One for short range, called "pistol". The long range one is called a "musket". And guess what. They are easy to fabricate! The Royal Guard and the Moon Guard started getting training, but they barely get used! Must be fun to watch" The elder takes the pipe to his mouth again.

"Are there any more details about this weapon?"

"Yes, if you are thinking in using them, and if you manage to get your hands in one! Every time you shoot, the weapon has a recoil. The small one is no problem, but the big one, if you are not used to It, It can hurt yourself badly in the shoulder if you don't hold It right. And remember the comparison to the bow? There's a huge flaw. To reload It, It can take an eternity. It's really slow for what I was told. For final detail, if you confront one, you must be quicker than your own shadow. Cause It's a matter of tenths of seconds. If you are in really close range, you're done..."

"So you've never seen one of them?" Questioned Mane.

"No. But they sound tantalizing to try."

They remained in silence, and the young stallion looks at the bottle on the shelf behind Thunder Fists. Answering his plea, the green elder gave him the bottle with a smile, which Mane grabbed quickly and drank slowly. Three gulps, cleaned the mouth in his arm, just to ask more.

"So... where do I enter?"

"Because we received a report they are being smuggled in somewhere..."

"Where, precisely..?"

"I don't know if I should say this... Crystal Empire."

Mane Shaker spitted the Crystal Vodka in hearing the location. His hometown was being target of crime, and of a new kind of threat. Not from a group precisely but such lethal creations. The consequences were unknown.

"Who? Why?" He asked right away.

"Who, we don't know. Why, possibly just for money. The chances point for somepony inside the Royal Guard, you see, they are recent creations and you know how they are heavily guarded by the elites in a vault. Only elites, officials and obviously, scientists can enter."

"This was unpredictable..." Mane sighed.

"I can tell that. Sorry Mane, but you were the most suitable one." Thunder stopped to hear the others talking outside. "And now you have a precious ally! There's nopony like her. She seems to like you..."

"Yeah... I guess..." Said Mane, controlling himself from the flashbacks of being locked on the dark room, bleeding and broken everywhere.

"She's also beautiful. You know... what are the chances?" Mentioned Thunder with a strange smile and a funny look.

"Stay out of my case, Thunder... and be the last time I ask you!"

"Oh, the gentlecolt defends his lady! HAHA!"

"Save your breath." And with this, Mane stood up in his hooves, and took a sip from the bottle. "Well, It seems I have no choice, being my hometown. I accept! Where do I start?"

"Where else but the place where they were created? Canterlot." Suggested Thunder.

"Oh for Discord's sake! You must be fucking kidding me! That place is like walking unarmed, towards an Elite Royal Squad, in the company of a battle wizard!"

"Don't be a pussy! Just go there! Also, take your time to start this time. you better describe the brief to the lady."

"I suppose. Well... Is this all?"

"It's all." Concluded Thunder Fists.

Mane took another big gulp, adjusted his jacket and turned his back showing off the name "Sombra" stitched on the back, in red thread on black leather, combining with his hair and tail. And in the moment he opened the door showing a group around Pinkamena, who seemed happily to be talking to them.

"Good luck" Said Thunder Fists.

Mane looked at the dark pink mare, and turned his face back to the elder one.
"I was born lucky..."

And with that, he left and closed the door behind him.