Chapter 8
The train station was once again an empty place, with only a man in a red coat, two women and a little girl to populate the place. They all looked a little sleepy, especially since it was eight in the morning and the sun peeking through the mountains. Shield Heart was keeping his right hand near his ribs, his fingers staying a couple of millimeters from his sidearm. "So I hope you enjoyed our light jog Rarity, because tomorrow we won't take it so easy on you."
The violet-haired seamstress simply smiled: "Oh please, I always jog five kilometers in the morning, so today's exercise was just a faster experience. Although it was a surprise that Twilight refused to join us, I believed that she would want to begin her conditioning as soon as possible."
"Actually," intervened Hawk as her index finger touched her lips "she went for a jog with Fire and Crystal. I saw her at the doorway a while ago."
"Makes sense, Fire is probably the one to take care of her condition training. I really don't have the patience required to properly train her." Shield said, his ice-blue eyes scanning the platform.
"Why are you so anxious? Are you expecting trouble?" asked Rarity with a raised eyebrow and her right index below her mouth.
"Always," he replied. "But I'm just getting ready in case the train comes with an unexpected surprise..." he paused as the screech of a braking train filled the station. The engine blew its whistle and released streams of smoke. out of the ten coaches visible only one swung its doors wide open, the emerging figure obscured by smoke.
The silhouette was that of a broad person with well-defined muscles, he or she had very short hair, and it appeared to be of a crew-cut fashion. The shadow stepped through the steam, revealing a man wearing a white wife beater two sizes too small. His denim pants were secured by a black leather belt with a golden bio-hazard symbol on the buckle. The belt also holstered two gold plated hand cannons. And his pants were also aided by suspenders, which held several 40 mm grenades.
His chiseled face was covered in a rather thin layer of stubble, his eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses. "Ladies, get your raincoats and umbrellas, cuz this Storm's gonna make you wet." he exclaimed, leaving a grin on his face. Both Shield and Moondancer sighed and dropped their heads in unison. "Say, where's that excuse of a man that calls himself my brother?"
"He's back at base, tending to our new recruit." replied Hawk. "Why didn't you come with him in the first place?"
"Cuz Thunder Storm don't take orders from that woman." he replied as he ignited a cigar and closed the black lighter. "You should know that by now pup." he lifted a duffle bag so heavy it appeared as if it was about to burst with his left hand, on his right he carried a two-headed battleaxe and slung to his shoulder was grenade launcher painted with grey matte paint. A pair of yellow wings suddenly erupted, revealing white streak patterns in a similar fashion to his hair.
He took a step forward and attempted to whistle through his cigar. "Well, they didn't tell me that I could find nymphs in this town." He added as he lowered his sunglasses to make eye contact with the seamstress.
She met his pearl white eyes and replied: "I am Rarity, and it is a pleasure to meet you sir." Shield immediately placed his right arm in front of her and forced her back. "I believe you must be Count Thunder Storm, the eldest of the Storm family."
"That's right babe, I'm everything your heart desires." he added with cocked eyebrow.
"For the love of humanity could you please shut up?" yelled Moon. "It's not even been five minutes and you have already managed to give me a migraine."
"It hasn't even been three..." muttered Shield. "Didn't you get my message?"
"Which one?" asked Thunder, once again cocking an eyebrow.
"The one that told you not to show off your guns on broad daylight." Shield say dryly.
"Oh yeah, I did get it. But how was I supposed to do that? I can't just cut off these." Thunder said as he flexed his arms.
"Why me?" sighed the man in the trench coat. "You need to hide them. This town doesn't like any sort of weapons."
"Don't worry, I got a plan that'll make my things invisible."
"You do?" and Thunder responded by flexing all of his muscles, prompting his tight shirt to burst into shreds.
"Behold Ponyville, the magnificent body of Thunder Storm!" Count Storm shouted as he showed off his pectorals. "No one will pay any attention to my weapons when these babies are in full view!"
"I'm not sure why you're still alive..." mumbled Shield as he trudged away from his nudist friend.
.oOo.
The walk through town went slightly better than expected, most women merely stared at him while others sniggered at Thunder's endless supply of pick-up lines. And to everyone's relief there was no showing of violence anywhere. No signs of Thunder's macho pride in danger or signs of infuriated women trying to crucify him.
Once they were home Shield forced Thunder to the basement, once the Count had put on another of his super-tight wife beaters of course. This left the violet-haired tailor with the rest of the crew.
"I see you've met my brother." Fire Storm said from the balcony above, his hands resting on the wooden rails.
"Yes, I have. I must say, I find it hard to believe that you are siblings. Your mannerisms are very distinct."
"Almost as if we were not brothers?" he added, a grin on his head.
"Almost." she replied. "While your personalities are vastly different you still utilize the same level of vocabulary."
"Still, it's hard for people to take me seriously. More than once have women thrown shoes at me just for being his brother, and I have no idea how many times I've been held at knife-point for something by brother did."
"Yet you fight alongside him."
"Yeah, I guess that's why we're brothers." he sighed. "Anyways, follow me to the backyard and we'll start with CQC 101."