"My Little Airman pt 22 No Rest for the Wicked" By PonyAirman (https://pastebin.com/u/PonyAirman) URL: https://pastebin.com/68znXbzE Created on: Sunday 20th of May 2012 04:32:42 PM CDT Retrieved on: Monday 26 of October 2020 04:40:15 AM UTC Part 22 No Rest for the Wicked >A few hours later in your room... >It felt good to be officially defending Equestria >But it also felt humbling to have just performed at a funeral, leaving you with a bittersweet feeling >To take your mind off your emotions, you inspected your "gift" >It was definitely big enough to cover you if you were to crouch, but it also gave a good amount of protection when you stood >As for the material, you found it was made of bronze, with a little wood part near the handle. How they managed such accuracy from just a paint job on your jet you had no way of knowing >You grab the handle and fit it on your left arm >Maybe it was your genetics, perhaps it was your soldier training, hell maybe it was even magic, but for some reason you couldn't explain, the shield felt natural, almost like it was a part of you >You undressed and jumped onto your bed, shield and all. >The sun was setting, and it had been a long day, starting with waking up in your recliner... >Oh, yeah...her. >Following the hectic nature of the day, you had forgotten that she hadn't come over >Well, what were you going to do about it? >She's infatuated with you, and you're unsure of how you feel >Perhaps this was a good thing >You don't really belong with anyone. Being a soldier, death is your business, and though you've been dealing it lately, one day you might find yourself meeting with it on the battlefield >If that day comes, it's best to leave as few mourners as possible >But would you be happy with that? >A knock on the door interrupts your thoughts Come in >"Good evening, Anon." Oh, hello Shining Armor. >"You left the party pretty early. Something on your mind?" No, not really. Just tired. >"I can imagine. We need to discuss what's happening this week." >Oh yeah, he did hint at a new "threat" to Equestria. >Just means you're back to work What are the details? >He sighs >"We don't have much information on the threat itself, like I said earlier. All we know is that something might be coming to Canterlot." >Oh no alert level yellow. Are you fucking kidding me? >He sees the look on your face. "Trust me, Anon. We wouldn't do anything if we didn't believe our intel wasn't credible." Alright. So what's the plan? >You prepare yourself for disappointment >"The plan as it stands right now is that I will enclose Canterlot in a protective shield barrier that will keep anypony and anything with malicious intentions out of the city. Princesses Celestia and Luna will take turns looking searching for any signs of magic being used to break through my shield. My guards will be split between three eight-hour shifts. Half of the on-shift guards will be searching for any threat that might have gotten in already, and the other half will increase security around the castle." >You had your mouth wide open >This was the best plan you had ever heard from him. >Noticing your expression, he replies, "My special talent is defending and security, after all. This shouldn't come as a surprise." >Wait a second The princesses are also going to be involved here? >"Yes. It was Princess Celestia's suggestion, and honestly, we could use all the help we can get. They're the most powerful magic users in all of Equestria, and would be able to see any magical disturbance in my barrier." Ok, so when did we hear about this threat? >"We heard about it shortly before you arrived this morning. Princess Celestia had a vision of...something. She saw a creature of some sort, but more or less a shadow of it. Whatever she saw, she saw it causing panic during the wedding." >So we're relying on dreams? >No idiot, visions. Magical visions. >Damnit, this is really getting inconvenient. Magic is the answer for everything it seems I noticed you didn't say anything about me. >"Well, I was getting to that. You're going to be in a tower with your M1, ready to fire on anything that approaches the castle without permission. You will have two pegasi, a defense unicorn, and an earth stallion guards with you. You're free to assign them whatever shift you want them on. They'll help you keep an eye around the castle and the off-shift ones will provide you food. Oh, ok. I'll be sure to WAIT JUST A SECOND. Provide me food? >"Yes. We need you up on that tower 24/7, until this threat is over." I hope you know, I'm not trained as a sniper. >"I do know. Please think of this as...more or less, a morale assignment. My guards will feel much better, knowing that the Beast of Sparta is watching over the castle, and it will still increase security on the castle." When is this starting? >"It's already starting. Please get prepared. >You stop yourself from moaning as you get up. >Getting dressed, an idea pops up in your head. Hey Captain, I need something for my rifle. Think you can do the spell Twilight Sparkle- >You pause for a second >Don't even think about her right now -does to bring stuff from my mind to existence? >He rose a brow at your pause >"I guess I could try, but we should really have her here. She's more experienced using it." Not an option. She's some time away and you're here right now. If we are to begin tightening security now, we need everything done ASAP. Please try. >He considers what you said. >Come on, make the smart choice... >"Ok, I'll try it." >Good. Best to keep Twilight out of this. >You close your eyes, and visualize the item you need. >A head-splitting pain hits you for a second, and then it's gone >Mostly. You feel a lingering sting, but if it got you what you needed... >"What is this, Anon?" >He holds out his hoof, and reveals a telescopic sight It's a scope for my M1. It'll improve my accuracy. >"Is there anything else you need?" That's all I need. I'll head up now. >"Thanks for joining the Guards." >You nod, and he leaves. Fucking A, you can't get a break >You pack your M1, scope, and some ammo, and equip your M9 and knife. You strap your shield to your back. >It might come in handy, who knows? >As you leave your room, you notice a general bustle in the castle >Guards are running everywhere >An earth stallion and a unicorn run up to you. >"Sir! We have the honor of being assigned to your detail!" What are your names? >The unicorn answers first. "Sir, I am Star Shine." >"Captain, my name is Lucky" >So Star Shine the unicorn and Lucky the stallion...ok. Good to have you two. You two know which tower we're supposed to go be in? >They answer in unison "YES SIR!" Lead the way >They walk in what you presume to be the direction of the tower Why are we walking? >"SIR, you're carrying-" I don't give a SHIT about what I'm carrying, Shining Armor said we need to be in place NOW! LET'S GO! >They're now galloping at top speed >You're barely keeping up with them at a sprint, and you're already breathing hard >Fuck running >In less than a minute, you're at the bottom of the tower andholyshitIhavetoclimballthosestairs >"Sir, allow us to help you!" >You try to find the source of that voice when you're suddenly swept into the air >Two pegasi picked you up and flew you to the top of the tower >When you landed, you un-slung your shield and set down your pack I assume you've also been assigned to me? "YES SIR!" Names? >"Sir, I am Blazin' Blue!" >"Sir, I'm Lightning Strike!" >Star Shine and Lucky show up >All in unison, they yell "SIR, THE SEVENTH PROVISIONAL SQUAD REPORTS AS ORDERED!" Seventh Provisional Squad? >"YES SIR!" >You think for a moment Hmmm... I don't like the name. From now on, we're the First Equestria Aerial Regiment. We are FEAR! We will be feared by all enemies, foreign and domestic! >"HOOORAH CAPTAIN!" >You check your watch. It's about 1920 We have been assigned to guard the castle against anything suspicious. You will take shifts assisting me, and when I am sleeping, two of you will be on guard. Should the two that are on see something out of the ordinary, you WILL wake me up and I will take the shot. We have been authorized to use deadly force, but we will use it ONLY if we are 100 percent positive that the target is hostile. Understood? >"YES SIR!" Lucky, Blazin' Blue, I want you two to rest. Lightning Strike, I need coffee right now. Get some for me, and then rest. Star Shine, you're with me right now. >"YES SIR!" >Only the unicorn stays in your eyesight. Lucky and Blazin' went inside the tower, and Lightning took off. >You examine the tower >It was a decent size, with an outdoor lookout that gave you complete 360 degree coverage of the castle. Inside was living quarters looking big enough to hold six ponies comfortably. >Looking down, you had a clear shot of anyone trying to assault the castle >Well, it's home for the next...however long this was going to last Star Shine, get me a piece of paper and a quill >"YES SIR!" >This yes-sir thing was getting annoying. Talk to me like I'm a normal pony, got it? >"Yes Captain." >Sigh And tell the others to relax around me as well. There's a time and place for formalities, and this isn't either. >"Understood" >Sigh >He runs in the tower and comes out in less than twenty seconds >"Here you go, sir." >You take your requested items, and draw a simple bulls-eye star Shine, do you think you can magically hold this about twenty-five meters away? >"Yes, I can do that." One more thing. Can you hold a barrier around it? >"Of course, sir." >Like a good soldier, he immediately did what he was asked to do. >Your improvised target was now hanging steadfast against the sky >You put a clip in your M1 and take out the scope >A sudden feeling makes you pause for a second >Resuming your action, you attach the scope to the rifle >A very, very faint voice calls out to you, screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" >"Sir, are you ok?" >Looking up, you realize you had taken a knee Somewhere, there is a gun collector who just got his jimmies rustled... >"Sir?" It's ok though. There were some variants of the M1 that were used for sniping... Now, keep that target up! >"Yes Captain!" >You take aim for the center, take in a breath, slowly release it, and pull the trigger >The echo resonated throughout Canterlot. You're fairly certain everyone in the castle heard it at least >Looking through the scope, you see... the bullet hole is a few inches down from the center >You correct the sight according to the results you saw. >Again, you take aim, breath, slowly exhale, and fire. >Another loud crack that rocks the sky >You look again through the scope, and find a bullet hole where the center was >Perfect Now send it 100 meters away, and mend the bullet holes if you can. >"Yes, sir." >Sigh >You barely see it under the moonlight Can you put a light spell on it, so I can see it? >"I think so." >And you can now see it glowing against the sky >You take aim...and pull the trigger after your breaths >Every pony must be hearing your target practice >And the results are... >The bullet hole is a few inches Northeast of the bullseye >Carefully, you adjust your sight, aligning it as best as you can >One more time >You take aim, breathe in, breathe out, pull trigger >It takes a moment for you to find the hole, but it's only a milimeter away from the center >Perfect >Now, you're accurate enough to hit something below you. Maybe not a headshot, but it'll hit. >You fire the rest of the bullets at the target, taking careful aim. >The PING echoes, and the clip springs out, falling off the tower >There are plenty of guards looking up at you, and you hear their cheer as the PING reaches their ears >Looking through the scope... >There's no center anymore. It's been shot through >Good enough We're good now. I don't need the paper there anymore >"Understood." >You turn and grab more ammo, putting the clips in your pockets >Thank Rarity for this tiger-stripe uniform. It will serve you well >Slinging the M1, you see Lightning Strike return with a thermos of coffee Good job soldier, now get some rest. >"Yes Sir!" >Mother Bucker-I mean Fucker! >Shit, this place was starting to affect your vocabulary >Star Shine levitated the paper and bullets back to the tower I don't care what you do with them, but make sure they're not in my way >"Roger." >Hmm...He might keep those as mementos. Whatever floats his boat >You pour a cup of coffee, and take a sip >This is going to be one hell of a shift.