GunAnon-6-Dog Eat Dog

>You and Shooter have been walking towards the western side of Ponyville. Heading to what he said was an open area of hard dirt and stone.

>"Anonymous, this will not be a killing mission. We are to rescue the two children and get out, I don't feel like cleaning blood off my armor again, it tends to stain".

"Well alrighty then, that's...interesting".

>Shooter slows down and looks up to you questioningly, "Anonymous, have you taken a life before"?

>Well, you have.

>It was in self defense and the protection of your family, but you have.

>It was about 1am, you were in the 11th grade. A man punched through your room's French door in the middle of the night.

>Luckily you were already awake doing homework, and taking the Beretta out of your desk drawer you racked the slide and fired 4 shots.

>3 hit, one missed. Thigh, lower stomach, and the last round hit him in the chest. The fourth round sailed past him and through the window, eventually hitting the barn outside your house.

>You remember there being a lot more blood than any movie would depict. It had gotten all over your shirt and the desk, you still have nightmares about it.

"I have, it was in defense of myself and my family. It wasn't very enjoyable at all, in fact even though the man most likely deserved it I still felt terrible after it happened. Was in therapy for weeks and never went back to school for about a month. And when I did go back the other people there knew what happened and avoided me wherever I went. Only my closer friends stayed around and kept contact."

>Shooter nods his head as the two of you walk through a small forest area, "Well, at least if it came down to it you will do so. Don't want a weak kneed guard in my section, now, about these diamond dogs. They are mostly just miners that dig up gems and other such precious metals. They have a severe infatuation with them,and hold them on a pedestal higher than themselves. Every once in a blue moon we have a problem with them kidnapping ponies and holding them for ransom, only agreeing to be paid in gems. Our mission is to get the two children and get out, no killing shall be done. It'll be bad on our relations and quite frankly I don't like being in their natural habitat".

>A natural habitat for a talking dog? Knowing this world it could only be something completely off kilter and illogical.

>"Well here we are, wanna draw straws or should I just hop down"?

>What, it's a hole.

"It's a hole. They live in a hole"?

>Shooter chuckles a bit, "Not exactly" as he starts to smooth out the edges of the 3 foot wide hole in the ground. Looking into it you can't see the bottom.

>You swallow and look up to Shooter.

"That looks deep, you think it's safe to go down"?

>"Only one way to find out".

>He isn't going to jump in that is he? He may be some kind of bad ass but he can't be that stupid.

>A din of mechanical noises and scraping emit from Shooter's left hoof as it converts into a hand. After it's done he picks up a rock and drops it into the hole.

>Only a second passes before you can hear it hit the bottom of the hole, "See? It isn't that bad. Shit you can probably just stand in the hole, like a prairie dog or something".

>The only thing you can give him is the most deadpan stare you can muster, he notices and starts chuckling again, "This is going to be soooooo fun, can't even take a damn joke".

>In a rush of servos and clanking Shooter hops into the hole and hits the bottom with a heavy thud, "They could at least clean up down here, c'mon guardsman it's go time".

>Trying to not let the new found nervousness overcome you, you sit on the edge of the hole and lift off.

>Your feet hit hard dirt, brushing some specks off you stand up to full height. As you do so the top of your head brushes against the pointed and jagged ceiling of what looks to be a very, very badly dug out tunnel. Each end going a separate way.

"Hopefully this isn't the entire tunnel".

>Shooter chuckles a bit, "Claustrophobia"?

"Funny".

>This isn't going to be too bad, just a little rescue huh?

>Shooter starts down one hallway, "Follow please".

>"Now, on the way here I was going through some scenarios in my head. This might not be as easy as I had hoped, it seems from the markings I found on the sides of our entry and from these tracks here there's Alpha Dogs present".

>Ducking under a low part of the tunnel, you take a breath of the stale, dry, and dirty air that seems to permeate through this whole tunnel.

"Alpha Dogs? Are they just bigger ones"?

>A nod from Shooter, "Yes, an average Diamond Dog stands at about 5 and a half feet. An Alpha Dog is much, much taller, and more aggressive. They stand at around 6 and a half feet to even 7 feet, when dealing with an Alpha Dog you need to be aware of their front paws at all times. They're faster then most can see, and sharp as shit".

"Oh that just sounds fun"...

>He turns his around to cock an eye at you, "Don't know if that's nerves or you're starting to warm up to this".

>Entering a larger room, you spot a figure facing away from you. About 40-50 yards away, spear in hand, and whistling to itself.

>Slowing down, you look to Shooter for any instruction. But he's just standing stock still staring straight at what you assume to be a Diamond Dog.

>They're just dogs on their hind legs, with hand-like paws.

>Still waiting for Shooter you steady your breath and crouch down lower.

>A very low whisper comes from Shooter, "Hey Anonymous. I'm going to open my autoloader on my left barrel, take out the shell as quietly as possible. Got it"?

>You nod to him, and wait. The softest of clicks sound out and the metal release slides out very, very slowly.

>Grabbing the back of the shell with your fingertips, you slowly pull it all of the way out.

>14.5x114mm.

>Holy fuck this is an Anti-Tank round.

>The slide release closes again with a soft click. And Shooter looks towards you with another whisper, "I'm about to stun him, this is going to be loud...VERY loud...".

>Another nod to him as you put the shell in your back pocket, it's weight readily apparent.

>Shooter nods back, as he scratches two words into the dirt.

>Ten seconds.

>You steel yourself for the sound as Shooter takes aim, barrel moving with slight electrical noises and clicks.

>3...2...1...

>Boom, well...Boom is a really large understatement.

>The force of the cannon shakes your bones.

>The entire tunnel rumbles as the flash blinds you, the sound deafening you. With the ringing invading your inner ear.

>When the dust settles and your ears regain their function, you spot Shooter where the Diamond Dog was. Right barrel pointing straight at the poor thing he stunned.

>"Colt and Filly, tell me where they are before you become mist".

>The shaking Diamond Dog coughs and spits on the ground as you approach, its small yellow eyes boring into you in a mix of reproach and curiosity.

>"*cough cough* Tired of being pushed around, won't...*cough cough* tell you..".

>"Fine, Anonymous I suggest you look away".

>Ah shit.

>You turn your head away as the Diamond Dog let's out a yell, "Alright alright! They in the east dungeon. Locked up, Tiny has the key. Don't hurt me"!

>"Better", as Shooter lashes out with a right hook across the dog's face. The sound of metal meeting bone hitting your ears, as Shooter looks to you. "You still alright? You can stop at any time, I will think no less of you".

>You shake your head to him as the two of you start down another tunnel.

"Just thought you said this wasn't going to be a killing mission, sounds like you busted the side of that dog's skull".

>"Just enough to knock him out, don't want dog's running around screaming that we're here".

"We're going to do that to every one we see"?

>"Well, now that we know Alpha Dogs are here, this will most likely end in battle. Just trying to lessen the amount of alert until we meet. So I would suggest you ready your...weapon".

>You comply as you draw your pistol and rack the slide. You de-cock it to set it to a double action trigger.

>The two of you have been traveling down this tunnel for some time.

"Shooter, you think this is a bit too...quiet? There's no one else here".

>"I was thinking the same exact thing Anonymous, be ready for anything. And don't worry about consuming all of your ammunition on this rescue, I believe I have the equipment to fashion you some more ammo afterwards".

>Well that's a relief, you were worried about that.

"Shooter, I have a problem with killing those that don't attack me or attack anyone else. I can't just shoot one of them on sight".

>"Good, that's not a bad thing. Problem is here they will most likely attack us on sight. They know we're here for the kids, luckily they wont kill them. So we don't have to worry about that".

"How do you know that"?

>After the two you check a corner you start down another tunnel heading east.

>"Diamond Dogs, even the Alphas, are very adamant about not hurting children. I can guarantee you when we get there they wont be tied up or anything. Just in a cage with an ample supply of food and water".

>You nod as you approach another clearing.

>"Just hope that we can avoid a confrontation, no matter how far fetched that is. We need to some sort o- Shh"!

>You stop dead in your tracks and crouch down, Shooter's ears going in every direction, a look of concentration on his face.

>Struggling to get any sound to your ears, Shooter takes small steps towards the wall. He motions for you to follow.

>Crouch walking over you get beside him again.

>Shooter whispers, "I can hear them in that room over there". He points to a door over to the left, "What sounds like two dogs and the kids are in there. Nothing seems to be going on though, if we can quietly get to that door we can get a jump on them".

>You nod to him and let him take point outside of the door, as he sets up you keep watch.

>He puts his left shoulder against the door, "On three, I'm breaking in. One. Two. THREE".

>He pulls back and busts into the door, sending it flying into the room. You can hear his guns prime as you bring yours up level with your chest, putting it on the dog in the center.

>"Alright, dicks-for-shit. Hand over the key so we can get the kids and leave, and we won't send you running with your tail between your legs all the way to Tartarus".

>The dog you're aiming at speaks up in a voice even more annoying than the first dog's, "I have key, but you my metal friend are not in a very good situation. You see I have Aplhas here with me, and not just this one". He points to the big dog behind him, you're wondering if your 9mm can even do any real damage. Sure it'll go right through him but that's really not what you want in this situation, the two children are behind him.

>The tiny dog continues, "So you just gonna have to hand over the gems we want if you ever want to see little ponies again".

>The Alpha dog speaks up, a coarse and heavy voice coming from him, "Let's just kill the metal one and the weird hairless ape Tiny. I'm hungry and those morsels of meat you call food did not do nothing to help my appetite".

>Wooooooh, this is NOT going to be fun.

>The one you assume is Tiny let's out an annoyed grunt, face...pawwing, "Fine, just keep this away from kids. Don't want them going back all messed up in the head".

>You tense up as he says this, take it somewhere else? You're pretty damn sure that there's no where here that will keep these kids from seeing or hearing what's about to happen. Even if the two of you would be able to-.

>The entire room shakes violently as another ear splitting boom rings out, only this time there's no flash. But the Diamond Dog you knew as Tiny is no more, all but some shreds of meat and bone are left. With a cone of blood spray trailing behind the site splattered on the wall.

>You would wretch at the sight if there wasn't a 6 foot bipedal dog charging you with a spear and the most deranged of looks in his eyes.

>You squeeze the trigger of your pistol, firing a shot into the gut of the dog. He hasn't stopped charging you, ducking to the right you ready the pistol and fire another shot. This one skips the wall behind the dog, who readies his spear and thrusts at you.

>You try to dodge it again but you were too slow, the spearhead hits its mark on your left shoulder.

>You fall on your back as the dog turns around to get at Shooter, who is at the cage where the kids are, trying to free them.

>The pain is only mild but you know when this dies down it's going to hurt.

>Using your good arm you fire 3 rounds into the dog's back, each hit luckily and the beast falls to its knees. Eventually collapsing on to the floor.

>"Anonymous you alright? Doin' okay"?

>Grabbing the spear with your right hand you give it a yank and pull it out, wincing at the now apparent pain.

"Yeah, yeah I'm alright...".

>You slowly lift yourself on to your feet and walk towards the cage that Shooter had just gotten open.

>The little unicorn colt speaks up first, "T-Thank you guys, I was trying to keep Feather Shimmer here calm as long as I could but I didn't know if anypony was coming to save us".

>Shooter smiles a warm smile that seems very unlike him, "Well young one we're here to get you out of here and to safety. Do you know how you were brought in here? The way we came in won't work".

>Shooter looks to your wound on your shoulder, which is slowly gathering more and more pain as the adrenaline fades. "Are you gonna be fine? It doesn't look deep from here but I am unfamiliar with your anatomy. We can try to bandage you up before we try to find a way out, at least stop the bleeding".

"Yeah that would be -urg- great. It's starting to hurt pretty damn bad".

>Shooter rips some cloth off of the fallen Alpha dog and fashions a makeshift bandage out of it, switching his hooves to hands he wraps the cloth around your shoulder and pulls tight. Sealing off any bleeding and keeping pressure on the hole.

>"There, it won't do shit for pain but when we get back to Ponyville we can have you taken to the hospital for treatment".

>You nod to him as you meander over to the fallen Alpha dog, not really looking at anything in particular but deep in thought about what just happened.

>"Don't beat yourself up Anonymous, you said it yourself you only kill in defense of you or others. And in this case it was the defense of these children and you yourself".

>You do a slow nod as you turn around.

"Yeah but it doesn't change the fact that I've ended a life. That dog might be an asshole but he probably had some sort of wife and a child, he's the son of a dog that might not be a bad person. They're the ones that suffer the most from this, not him".

>You point to the dog's corpse.

>"It can't be helped and you know it. One must scratch their hooves on the mountain before they can get to the summit".

>With a defeated sigh you holster your pistol.

"So, do we know the way out"?

>Shooter points his head towards the unicorn, "He says he knows the way they came in, problem is there might be more dogs. Only way I can think of is the way we came in, but there's no way those two can...wait a minute. Oh buck...".

"What"?

>Shooter adopts a very slight sheepish expression, "The joke I made about you being able to see out of that hole we jumped into. You can just carry the two kids and lift them up out of the hole".

>You shrug.

"Yeah, that would work. But what about you? I'm pretty sure with a fucked shoulder I cant lift your ass up".

>Shooter knocks on one of the jet turbines with his hoof.

>Oh, well okay then.

"Well, we go out the way we came in"?

>A nod from Shooter as he turns around to the kids, "Alright you two, we're going to go out a different, safer way. Just follow me and guardsman Anonymous here and everything is going to be alright".

>The two kids say their acknowledgements and the four of you exit the busted doorway and turn right, heading down the tunnel.

>The trip to the hole was very uneventful bar a close call with one of the dogs that heard the scuffle from earlier.

>"I'll fly up first just in case, you guys stand back. Don't want to turn you into charred meat".

>As you take the children farther away you can hear Shooter's engines priming and before long he launches upwards out of the hole in a flurry of noise and sand.

>Waiting for the sand to settle you bring the kids up to the bottom of the hole.

>"It's clear Anonymous, you can bring them up".

>You bend and grab a hold of the unicorn as Feather Shimmer flies out of the hole and on to the surface.

"I never got your name, you know that"?

>A surprised expression and an equal voice answers, "Oh! My name is Mint Cookie, as you can guess I'm pretty good at making mint cookies".

"Ahhhhh, well alley oop".

>You lift the unicorn up with your right arm over the hole so he can hop on to the surface.

>Alright, you turn.

>Wait...well shit.

"Shooter, I can't climb this one handed. I can barely move my left arm".

>Shooter's face pops up over the hole, giving you some slight relief from the suns bright light.

>"Ha ha, oh shit we didn't think of that. Well hold on a sec".

>He reaches down with his right hoof, which has switched to the mechanical hand, "Grab on to my hoof, I'll pull you up".

>You grab the cold steel of his hoof as he pulls backwards, pulling you up enough to get on to the surface ground.

>Getting to your feet you brush off some dirt and check yourself.

"Alright, I'm ready to go".

>"Alright, let's move".

>The walk back to town was long, the only upside was the jittery talk of the colt and filly. Voicing their thanks and how they came to be...foalnapped.

>"Me and Feather Shimmer were playing around the edge of Whitetail woods and we saw this shiny butterfly, I mean we never saw one like this before! It was a shiny red with little blue specks, well we followed it into the forest and we ran into those mean Diamond Dogs. They took us and put us in that cage, and then you two came along"!

>His beaming smile couldn't get any wider, "You guys are the best"!

>Shooter chuckles to himself as the four of you make your way out of the forest, you can just make out the center of town from where you are.

>Feather Shimmer finally speaks up in a very hushed and quiet voice, "Y-yeah, you saved our lives. T-Thank you".

>Shooter answers before you can, "Well, it's what we're here for. To keep you safe".

>More idle chatter takes place as you enter the edge of Ponyville, as the four of you enter the main square a frantic voice screams, "Feather Shimmer! You're okay"!

>A cream colored pegasus zooms down to the ground in front of you.

>Feather Shimmer runs towards her, "Mom"!

>The two embrace as Mint Cookie bounds over, "Hey there Mrs. Shimmer, sorry we ran off like that. But I protected Feather Shimmer the whole time! You should have seen me"!

>The mare looks incredulously at the colt, "Oh really? Well that makes me feel better".

>The mare is clearly playing with him but he buys it.

>Shooter approaches the mare, "Excuse me, but can I leave these two in your care? I have to get my guardsman here to the hospital, he had sustained some injuries on our little rescue".

>The pegasus smiles, "Of course, thank you two really. I don't know what we would've done without you two stallions".

>"It's no problem ma'am, you have a good rest of the day. And you two behave yourself".

>He walks back to where you're standing, "See that? That's why I served in our military and accepted this position in the guard. The smile of a family reunited will never cease to bring me feelings of warmth and purpose, hopefully it will do the same for you one day".

>As the three ponies walk off into the market area, Shooter takes a deep breath.

>"Well, this could've ended a lot worse. C'mon let's go get you patched up, one armed guards don't render much use".

>Your second deadpan stare of the day burns itself into Shooter.

>"Jeez, no fun. Well let's go, before your un-funness gets contagious".

>Following Shooter the two of you arrive at the hospital, where you had gotten stitched and bandaged up right.

>At the door of the hospital you look into the setting sun.

>First day on the job, isn't so bad.

>You say your farewells to Shooter as he lifts off and rockets towards the Everfree forest.

>And with that you make your way to Twilight's, sure to get an ear full when you get there.