It had been nearly a week since Kickback arrived in Hoofington, everyday his confidence faded ever so slightly, the urge to find his sister’s killer slowly began to become weaker and weaker. Every now and again, he would question his motives but whenever he did, he just thought about everything. He imagined his sister’s face as she died, he recalled his times in Ponyville and every time he did, he found new reason to press on. The craving for revenge was as strong as ever, the longing to see his friends again drew him back from the crusade but in a way, it drove him. He knew that once he was finished, he could go home…go home? At that thought, Kickback realised something, he had a home, not a practical one of course, technically he was rich and homeless but isn’t home just a place where ponies care about you? The scarlet stallion began again on that thought, they cared, they really did care for him, he could imagine how they were taking his absence but never coming to a conclusion whether they were saddened or ecstatic about it. He had indeed told his grim tale and showed all of Ponyville what he was. His memory brought him the images of that day, it was a nice Summer morning but he knew a storm was brewing as he sat on that bench, plotting and waiting to make his move on the changelings. The way ponies looked at him when he was revealed, the thing that they said but one small yellow filly was unmoved. Kickback remembered the heart tearing moment of seeing Applejack, lying there on the ground in the middle of the street, the sound of demonic cackling in the air, the large dark figure of whom approached the downed mare. The crimson colt remembered the shout that emitted from the bottom of his lungs as he dashed in front of AJ and revealed himself to her. The numbing sensation of strong magical blasts bouncing off his shield like nothing, the struggling feeling of slow, advancing hoofsteps and the urge for retribution that consumed him whole. Kickback remembered the nervous shouting Chrysalis made, of which just made him angry and more confident, how he shoved away her attack with a warcry. He stopped when he forgot a moment…the look that Applejack gave him when he turned to her with what he felt was a sad look, she just stared at him in amazement and horror, how beautiful she looked like without her hat, he distinctly remember the phrase that he spoke that went without response:

“I’m sorry”

Kickback had apparently said that out loud as the stallion behind the bench looked at him quizzically.

“Ya say something?” he spoke with a rather gruff tone. As Kickback thought about his recent past, he sat upon a stool, his forelegs resting upon the counter as he backlegs hung off the edge. The hooded stallion looked to the bar-tender with a surprised look before quickly fading into a calm one.

“Nah” he said nonchalantly before turning his vision towards the hard, wooden surface once more.

“Ya wanna dr-”

“Applejack Daniels, mate” Kickback cut off the tender with his answer.

“Alright, hang on…Here”

“Thanks…and leave the bottle” he said before placing the glass to his muzzle and consuming the warm liquid…the natural way. It wasn’t the first time, the hooded colt had come to this bar and he was sure it wasn’t going to be his last. The bar-tender was a tan stallion, looked like he was in his late forty’s as he sported a long brown moustache accompanied by a beard of the same colour, his mane and tail were short and a nice shade of dark blue. His name was Eagle, fitting due to the fact that he possessed large tan wings protruding from his sides. Kickback rather liked the colt’s fashionable tastes, he wore a single layer unlike himself but it was a nice white hooded jacket, after taking his first drink, Kickback pulled his hood off his head and let it rest on his neck.

“Thirsty, Kickback?” Eagle inquired with a hint of a joking tone.

“Yeah, much actually”

“Is it a mare?”

“Might be…don’t quite know at the moment”

“Well, I’ve been here for years and every time Ah see a stallion with your look…he’s normally got girl trouble” Eagle consulted with a grin but a very sympathetic tone.

“I suppose…but it’s not just the one…it’s more like four…”

“Whoa mate, four?…wow, you must quite the lady-killer”

“Don’t call me that” Kickback spoke up with a irritated voice.

“What?”

“…Killer…”

“Don’t suppose their anypony Ah know?” Eagle inquired, not really caring about what was just said to him.

“Two are elements of harmony, another has this…thing about creatures called…ugh, what were they called…Humans! That’s it and the other is a famous DJ, ring any bells?” The scarlet stallion listed off.

“Which two? I dunno names but-”

“Honesty and Loyalty…”

“That DJ wouldn’t happen to be-?”

“…Vinyl Scratch”

“Whoa, steady on mate, when you go for mares, YOU GO FOR MARES” Eagle somewhat complimented. Kickback let out a chuckle, as to why? He didn’t know, even thought he wasn’t going for them at all, it felt nice be considered just a normal stallion out on the prowl for the opposite sex. When he put it like that though, he regained himself a bit and returned to his calm expression before having another drink.

“Damn, this place is quiet…” Eagle complained as he glanced about the building’s interior. Only a few ponies with a depressed looks occupied the tables that littered the bar. Kickback took notice and felt a wave of defeat as he looked around the room. His eyes then spotted the stage, never had it really stuck out to him but there was indeed one.

“Hey, Eagle”

“Yeah?”

“You are aware that’s it’s like…three o’clock, right? Not everypony wants to get drunk right after work” Kickback deadpanned.

“I know, it’s just…I’m just sayin’ ” at that, the scarlet colt facehoofed.

“Yeah, okay bro, I’ll cya later” Kickback said as he rose from his seat.

“Alright, bye” Eagle waved at him before Kickback through his hood back on and placed several bits upon the counter, attending to the bottle, Eagle realised that it was now empty. As the hooded colt made his way over to the door he could sense Eagle’s annoyance and surprise as to what he left, he smirked at himself before entering the streets of Hoofington once more.

Ponyville

“Oops, did I just say that out loud?” Discord said with a chuckle yet nervous tone as he put a taloned hand to his lips.

“Whatever is he doing there?” Rarity questioned, to nopony or chaotic being in particular.

“Explain yourself Discord!” Twilight ordered. The draconequus looked down towards Fluttershy, she nodded with a hint of sadness.

“Alright, alright…he’s there because he’s looking for somepony” Discord partially explained much to the annoyance and growing impatience with the spirit.

“Who and Why?” Twilight asked angrily.

“Somepony by the name of ‘Grimlock’”

“Why?” Applejack asked, Discord took notice of her and the cyan mare, their gazes were ones of annoyance, anger, concern…and a hint of relieving happiness.

“Alright, turns out the same ponies that made him what he is…made another…also turns out that said pony murdered Kickback’s sister: Dana…so now he’s trying to look for him in Hoofington” the hybrid explained, more thoroughly.

“He’s going to kill him, isn’t he?” Twilight asked, still visibly angry.  

“Well…most likely, yes” Discord answered before an expected silence fell upon the group.

“Ah-…Ah understand” Applejack commented.

“If somepony hurt any of mah kin…I dunno what Ah’d so” the orange mare added.

“Did he say when he’d be back?” Dash asked.

“No…too bad aswell, I think he’s rather intriguing” Discord said with a paw to his chin, he seemed to be thinking, about what? Nopony knew, it was hard to tell therefore it was a very good question.

"At least we now have a destination" Twilight said, catching glares from everypony around.

"No we don't, we haven't agreed to anything yet!" Dash argued, still not convinced about anything the purple unicorn had to say.

"Twilight, the elements won't work unless we work together" Rarity consulted.

"We're not doing this" Applejack commented sternly. After that, a slince fell upon the group, a long and drug on quiet atmosphere that was uncomfortable to say the least. Until the point where it felt like hours, a singluar, raspy yet soft voice spoke through a nervous although confident tone.

"I have an idea" everypony and spirit turned to the shaken cyan mare, of whom stood up proudly as she smirked through her now tear baren, determined expression, a surge of reassurance ran through her, which was more than a little contagious.

"Let's go see him"

"Where are you?" Kickback let out as he stood at the edge of a well known bakery, gazing around at the setting sun and the way it imbued the town in an orangle glow, casting enlongated shadows from everything in ithe lights way. Kickback's hopes slowly began to fade as he looked down at the street directly below him. The scarlet colt removed his hood and put a hoof to his face, he rubbed his head into his leg in exhaustion, annoyance and sadness. Prized memories of Ponyville became less clear by the day, soon all that was left was jumbled images of certain moments that occured last yearand the less valued ones that happened not so long ago. Without knowing or consent, a single drop of salty liquid escaped the stallion's left eye, at that, he paused before wiping away the tear with shame. Moments passed, the crimson pony never leaving his position as he just continued to think to himself. After what felt like an eternity, he heard something, something...unnerving, something cryptic...a chuckle, a faint chuckle that emitted from the distance. Kickback frantically looked around to find nothing until he gazed upwards to a taller aparment building. There, atop the highest point of the structure was something Kickback hadn't ever thought he'd see, a stallion. Not a regular colt, no, his coat was a dark grey, his mane, a shade of crimson, much like Kickback's own coat. His tail was short cropped, unlike his own, his irises were rimmed in a dark blue shade. That's when Kickback noticed the grin on his muzzle, then he saw that the grey colt was draped in a leather, tan jacket, Kickback thought himself made for a moment as he could sear he saw portions of it glow an eeire red colour.

Both unhoded stallions stared at eachother from afar for a long moment, the scarlet colt's expression was one of stoic despite the mixed emotions of confusion, curiousity and annoyance building up within him. The other stallion stood there, watching the scarlet pony from above, looking down on him with a malicious look. Before anything else, the grey colt turned around and walked out Kickback's sight. The scarlet stallion stared at where the mysterious pony once was for a moment before the realsiation hit him, a barrage of emotions ravaged his mind as he began to grit his teeth. Rage built up from within as he connected the dots, he flet something as he stared at him, a sense of connection almost, Kickback began to growl through his teeth as his breathing became heavy.

"Grimlock..." he let out as he slowly pulled his hood over his head.

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