1. First Session
I walked around the store room, clipboard in hand and a skip in my step as I hummed no particular tune to my self. It was the first day of the Canterlot range, something that I had put my heart and soul into to bring to life.
The acrid smell of cleaning solution wafted from the rack of the fresh, clean, firearms sorted neatly along the wall. I walked up the rack, eyeing the custom weapons and looking over my checklist, making sure they are all accounted for.
They were a sight to behold in themselves, the special unicorn guns shimmered under the hum of the bleached fluorescent light. The support crystals crafted into the stock had a slight glow to them. They allow unicorns better control over the recoil of the shot.
I continued on past the weapons rack and towards the ammunition cupboard. I set my clipboard down on a large table and pulled a set of keys from my pocket. I fished through each one until I found the one marked, ammo, and inserted it into the top lock on the cupboard doors, twisting it until a sharp, click, signaled its release. I removed the key and crouched down to the bottom lock, repeating the process and unlocking the case.
With the locks disengaged I stood up, swinging the doors open noiselessly. The oiled hinges working perfectly. I grabbed a box of training rounds. “Two thousand rounds should be enough, right?” I asked myself, the room dead quiet aside from my own talking. I put the box on the shelf behind me and grabbed the cupboard. I secured the box and placed it under the counter, ready to dispense.
Walking back over to the safety equipment I looked over the modified earmuffs and protective eye wear for the ponies. I picked up a set of the oversized earmuffs and had a laugh to myself “Silly ponies and their big bloody ears”
“Really? What about our ears?” A rather lofty voice snapped me out of my own little world. The telltale click tap of steel shoes on linoleum signaled her entrance. The royal blue coat and jet black maned unicorn paused shortly in the doorway before continuing into the room. She looked up to me with a smile, “Morning David. Ready for the first day?”
“Powder Pop. Hi,” I looked down at her and gave a little chuckle, “As ready as we will ever be, I guess.” I kneeled down and clenched my hand into a fist for a hoofbump. Regretting it immediately as I smacked my fist into the waffle textured steel of her shoe.
“Ow….” Powder Pop groaned as she adopted a pained expression. “That had to hurt.
“Shit!” I grabbed my fist, trying to sooth the pain. “I keep on forgetting you wear those stupid steel shoes.”
Powder Pop just laughed, “That has got to be the sixth or seventh time that you've done that, and it’s still just as funny,” she snickered evilly.
“Yeah yeah, keep it up,” I smiled. “Better than being a big eared pony weirdo.” as I stood up I ruffled her mane, earning me a glare from flustered mare.
She shook it off, “The recruits for the guard should be here soon,” Powder Pop said as she looked at the clock on the wall. “Ready to go?”
“Guess we’ll find out.” the sounds of many hoofs knocking against stone became noticeable. I leaned out the door and five kitted out guards were walking up the road to the building.
Powder Pop and I walked out to greet the incoming recruits. We both stood under the awning and waited for the recruits to line up in front of us. It was strange seeing the guard ponies look exactly the same, their armor masking their normal coat and mane.
The first recruit on the left stepped forward and cleared this throat, “I’m Silver Shot, and these,” he gestured vaguely to the others beside him, “are Brass Head.”
The second guard stepped forward and offered a salute, before stepping back into line.
“Nickel Plate.”
The third guard stepped forwards and saluted like the previous.
“and Lead Weight.”
The last guard on the end repeated the greeting.
I took a step forwards and introduced myself. “I’m David, I own and run this range. Any questions, any queries, come to either myself or,” I gestured to the royal blue mare beside me, “Powder Pop. She is the range Officer, her word is law out there. Follow it and we will all be fine, break it...and...well, let’s not find out.”
Powder Pop offered a smile and a nod of her head.
“If you will all please follow me over to the sign in, we will get you logged in and the safety equipment divvied out.”
I pointed at Silver Shot, “you,” then at Brass Head, “and you. Come with me.” I pointed at Nickel Plate and Lead Weight, “You two go with Powder Pop, then this will get done faster.”
Powder Pop called after her two charges and walked over to the sign in area and I followed with mine. I grabbed two of the steel clipboards I had prepared earlier with all the forms necessary that anyone who wishes to shoot at the range, to fill out.
I handed over the clipboards to the two guards in front of me. “Fill these out and then we can get started.”
I looked over to Powder Pop, her two guards were already filling out their forms. I turned to the side and grabbed five sets of pony earmuffs, safety glasses and a pair of earmuffs for my self.
I pushed three sets of the pony earmuffs and eye wear over towards Powder Pops side. The two guards in front of me announced that they were finished and I collected their forms and gave them a brief look over to make sure everything was filled out correctly. I glanced to my side and Powder Pop was doing the same.
“All right,” I announced. “Are you all ready?”
I was met with a chorus of “yes” from the guards.
“Sure am.” Powder Pop chirped.
I clapped my hands together. “Okay. Powder Pop can you please take the recruits up to the line and run them through the beginners drill. I’ll be up shortly with the weapons and ammunition.
“Sure,” came her perky reply. “Up to the line, come on!” she ushered them away up to the firing line.
I turned around, opened the door to the store room and walked in. “Right,” I thought to myself. “I need four of them and a pack of that and we should be good.” I mused out to no one.
I walked over to the gun rack and fished the key from my pocket. I unlocked the rifle rack with a loud click, the lock was undone and I proceeded to remove the steel wire that was threaded through the trigger guards of the rifles.
I grabbed a range bag down from the shelf above the cabinet and placed four of the rifles into the bag.
I threaded the steel wire back into the lock on the side of the rack and secured it with a padlock. I removed my keys from the padlock and put them back in my pocket. I slung the range bag over my shoulder and walked over to the counter where I picked up the training rounds.
I turned around and walked back outside, shutting the door to the store room behind me, and heading up to the firing line.
As I walked up to the firing line, pondered the layout of the range, something of my own creation. It wasn't very large, there were five bays beneath a steel shelter for the long range, and off to the side was a small close quarters course for training quick reactions.
As I reached the line Powder Pop had just finished the introduction.
“Are their any questions?” She looked over the four guards, who all shook their heads.
I butted in as I put the ammo box down on the bench and the rifle bag along side it. “We ready to go Powder Pop?”
“I think we are,” came her reply.
I unzipped the rifle bag and retrieved one of weapons. I held it in front of me with the muzzle pointed upwards. “This is a UFA-1. it based off my worlds AR-15 with a few unicorn friendly modifications made to it. Namely, the embedded support crystals.”
I pointed to the two crystals embedded on the fore end of the stock and and at the butt.
“A crystallised magnification scope.”
I waved my hand over the optic mounted on top of the weapon.
“And a crystal reinforced trigger that will prevent accidental firing if you shit yourself.”
I racked the slide. “This is a medium engagement weapon that we will be getting to know today, tomorrow will be close quarters weapons, and the day after that will be my favorite, the long range weapon.”
I set the rifle down and looked over the small group. “Over the coming few weeks I will be grading you on how you each handle the engagement range, and based on my recommendations. Either you pass, or you don’t, there is no middle ground! Any questions?”
“No sir!”
“Good...then let’s get started.” The days lesson went by slowly, the ponies getting acquainted with their weapons, no ammunition, no noise, no danger. A nice simple day of ponies fumbling around with potentially dangerous weapons, and me slapping them on the hooves whenever they would try to look down the barrel.
Midway through the lesson I decided to demonstrate the use of a UFA. “Listen up!” I called to the recruits. They all stopped looking over the rifles and looked up at me. “I am going to give you a short demo on how to load the magazine, insert it and fire it. Remember, magic away from the trigger area at all times. I don’t want to have to explain to Princess Celestia that one of the recruits blew his face or leg off.”
I picked up a magazine from the bench and held it up, “This is a standard thirty round magazine. There are larger capacity ones such as a drum magazine that can hold one-hundred and two-hundred rounds… but they are usually used by the suppressive fire crew. For your purposes just remember you've got thirty.” I grabbed a standard magazine and started loading it. “Now, who wants to see what these things can do?”
The group bustled nervously as I got into position. I stood at the line, loaded the magazine, and racked the bolt. With everything ready I picked a point down range, shooting a few rounds and pausing. I repeated until the entire clip was empty, hot brass jingling as I finished up.
I made the weapon safe, setting it down on the range table. “Alright...exciting right?”
The group laughed nervously as they adjusted themselves.
“If you lot are good, you might be able to do that next session.”
I cut the day short and gave each recruit a pamphlet on gun safety. “Memorize this, front and back. I want you to know this completely by the time you come back. Got it?”
“Yes sir!” The group saluted in unison.
“Alright...you can leave.” I waved them off. “Enjoy the rest of the weekend, but know those instructions by heart!”
The group dispersed into the warm afternoon. Powder Pop walked over as I started packing up the rifles. “Dave, good lesson today.”
I zipped up the bag and started taking it back towards the store room. “It was alright. Why’d Celestia even send these guys?”
Powder Pop shrugged. “Something about Appleloosa.”
I put the rifles away, Powder Pop following me close behind. “So...is that it, range is closed?”
I locked everything down and walked her outside. “Well, unless you wanted to shoot.”
“Well I thought--”
“No? Well, I’m gonna head home then. I need to get some ice on my hand.” I wiped my face and let out a loud yawn. “Same time on Monday.”
Powder Pop just stood there. “Sure...same time on Monday.”