A familiar colt finished putting a curtain up for the living room in a home he used to recover, it was a new one and the one previously up had holes, so he thought he is thoughtful.
"Dear, you really shouldn't be up, in fact-!?"
"Mrs. Gladie, I decided to use a heal spell on myself, I saw a certain colt do it, so I gave it a try and I feel fine."
The nurse thought to herself, why, why is he still here, does he want to clean the home for them? Because it sure seems that way, what a nice colt, makes sense since he is a colt of the law. She walked towards him and looked at him with a stern face, a face a mother would give if their filly ignored them.
"You know that spell is forbidden since it caused more casualties than saving lives? It's also against the law, and you shouldn't use it."
The colt turned his attention from the window and faced her with a serious expression. The husband walked in from the kitchen, after coming downstairs.
"Fillies are in bed. What's going on here?"
The wife gave her husband a cold glance. It send shivers down his spine; the colt laughed to nullify the previous emotion.
"This colt used a forbidden spell. One paramedic or doctors are not supposed to, and I told you already why."
"Yes you did dear, and let's stay quiet, we don't want to wake the fillies."
The deputy wasn't going to be scolded, he had been too many times in his life and this current time is not happening, he is trying to save lives, he can't if he ain't recovered. He's aware of the forbiddance of healing yourself because it's more dangerous than it is helpful, one mistake and that pony is finished.
"I know you don't approve of it, but I let you know, you don't know me, I may not look it, but I am older than you both combined. I know this by indefinite fact, I used this spell so I can quickly stop the menace to our village, I am trying to help, certainly, you know that?"
The wife and husband stood a the colt with a blank expression, there's no way he's older than them, that would make him over 80 years old, but he doesn't show it, why is that? Is it biology? That can't be it, must be a curse or a certain spell, but judging by the colt's reaction it's best not to ask.
"I understand that dear, but, just... Be careful, my husband heard everything on the roof, and from what it sounds like, he's a heinous colt, a one with zero consciousness."
The mare swiped her hoof in anger. The husband walked forward and decided to elaborate.
"If you want my opinion, he's more of a problem and threat than Nightmare Moon was. I suggest you watch your back with him and don't fight or attempt to arrest him alone this time."
Bullet thought back to when Comber stabbed him in the back with a pebble, "watch your back," this nearly set Bullet off with ferocity, the expression he made obviously made it clear, he was mad cause the colt is right.
"Yes, you are right, I should watch my back, but you two don't know Comber or his father, if you think Nightmare Moon was a big threat, trust me, she was the tip of the iceberg shot off, trust me. I need to be going, I need to regroup with my colleagues and department."
The pair thought to themselves, he really is a colt of the law, and a loyal co-worker, there's no doubt about that, but why attempt again? If the police department couldn't stop him, then he alone stands no chance. Bullet walked towards the pair, he had a serious expression, that went blank, before a smile, he was grateful for being saved by this family, they obviously are in a good position and have fillies, but even while sleep and could hear them needing financial aid, Bullet horn illuminated, startling the couple, before opening a magic safe and opening at an angle for 3 bags of bits would fall. The group was shocked, is he paying them for saving him? No, he shouldn't, they were just assisting the law, they really don't need the bits. The magic safe poofed, and the room went from whitish to black.
"I figured you saved my life, and it would be selfish if I didn't return the favor in some sort of way, thank you very much."
Bullet's voice was formal and respectful as he spoke. The group was finacially secured, they didn't need more bits, it would be rude if they don't take the bits he's offering, it a gesture from a gesture they suspose.
"Dear, you're welcome, try to stay safe next time alright...?"
"And don't mess with that colt, he"ll kill you next time in a gruesome way I don't want to know, he's heinous."
Bullet took their words in, slowly processing them and looking at the group as he did, such random family cares so much about him, ponies personally he nevee met yet until now. bullet walked towards them and hugged them, his eyes filled with tears feeling the guilt from what he's done throughout his life.
"I sincerely thank you for saving my life even though I deserve nothing but death."
The colt and mare used a hoof and hugged him, after, letting the colt step back a bit and they saw the tears, they heard the voice was sorry but wasn't expecting his eyes to show it in tears, but why does he deserve nothing but death, what has he done to make him, a colt of the law say such a thing, did he falsely imprisoned ponies? Or did he do such worst things, was he that colt's friend? They want to ask, but rather not know due to the fact they might make him lose his job and face justice himself.
"Whatever you did in the past is in the past, stop worrying about it, you're making amends by doing what you do, arresting criminals, like that colt you fought on the rooftop."
Bullet was 15 hoofsetps back, wiping the tears from his face and eyes and responding with a fragil tone,.
"You're correct and that's what I shall do, you both have a great night, and please, stay inside, keep your fillies safe, you two are perfect parents, only if my parents were around for me to be perfect."
The couple smiled but frowned at the same time, is he saying he lost his parents as a child, that is so sad and scars him, but that may explain the guilt he must be feeling and the crimes he may have done were because of that, maybe he took justice into his hoofs by being a deputy? Bullet walked to the shadow-covered door, reaching a hoof out and grabbing the door knob which was made of gold, ready to turn it.
"What happened to your parents?"
Did they abandon him as a filly or did he lose them due to murder? They wanted to know because the mother was not only a nurse but was a therapist.
"Trust me, you don't strive to know, please don't, they were hunted by one of the workers where I was working. I will leave as I prefer not to keep remaining on this subject."
The colt walked toward him with his wife and frowned, before smiling at him. The colt placed a hoof on Bullet's left shoulder with his right hoof. This surprised Bullet but he kept his cool, it felt comforting.
"Don't remain on the subject. use it as a learning experience, I know it's hard since they were your parents, but please don't let that cause you to fall too, just like my Dad..."
The colt took a breath and sighed, he guess he should tell him. The wife knew what he was going to talk about since he talks to her about it and recives guidance for his mentally because of it; it works, he feels better all the time until reminded of the subject as this moment's doing.
"My Dad couldn't let the loss of his sister go, he strived on this subject for years, until he finally died due to a heart attack, too much stress kills you, as a rope tightens, if it tightens too much, you have to loosen up, so I tell you, I don't know what happened to your mother or Dad, but I do know, if you remain on it, the guilt, regret and grief will lead you to your doom."
Bullet Listen carefully and took the information into his heart, he differently ain't lying since he knows himself, he knew this information already, but for a colt to share personal information like that, he must trust him, most ponies who know him, it's because of his badge, and his serious face, but these ponies view him as a pony and not an authority figure such as a deputy with a ton of experience. His eyes shoot open like, well... A bullet, his heart raced that word, no, wait-! Bullet pulled his gun out and searched for a pony, the couple freaked out and took cover, it was noise making, but they had to hind behind their couch, which was gray, they started believing the colt is crazy, why did he pull his gun out? The colt thought about dishoofing the deputy but quickly stop thinking about doing that action because the wife with calming words, brought him back to his senses, just who did he think was in the room, nopony can be here, their door is shut and the room is pitch black unless they can teleport which is for this town impossible.
"Who did you think was here sir? Calm yourself, was it something I said?"
The husband colt said with regret in his heart, that he has a feeling it is a trigger, a PTSD trigger, the wife confirmed this, but what was it, was it Comber?
"No, just, don't worry about it, I know I caused alarm, but trust me, if, let's stop talking about it, I am sorry I caused alarm, and trust me, my intention wasn't to cause harm to you guys or your fillies."
The deputy took in a deep breath, reaching for the doorknob. The deputy thought it was dark outside, his head ached, reliving the events that transpired with Comber; how he could've won, what he could've done to defend better, his failure was more of a learning experience for the deputy, his guns didn't work, but why? How did he know he was going to get sniped? It doesn't make sense. The couple stood back on their four hooves, facing the once panicked deputy with a stern look, like when a parent caught their filly doing a wrongful deed like stealing or fighting.
"Well, I sure hoped not."
"I knew there's PTSD within you, no matter how tuff you appear or you think, your mentality is different from your physical body. Quite frankly I'm surprised and relieved the fillies didn't wake up from the panic."
The mother replied with a smile, and the husband chuckled. The mother turns to him with a jokingly devious look. He's responsible for the filly's slumber through the panic, did he put on the fog sound machine again?
"Honey, did you turn on the fog sound machine, because if so, good thinking."
The husband laughed and put his hoof at his sides. He got a big head.
"Why, yes, it was brilliant, but the only thing more brilliant than that is you, dear."
The mare blushed with embarrassment, theychave a guest.
"Thank you, dear, you're too sweat."
Bullet felt love, it was a mix of emotions and sensations, he wanted to fall into the love, but at the same time wanted to reject it. He remembers why he became a deputy, to protect families like this from villains and criminals, such as Comber; he will stop Comber, he doesn't know how yet, but he knows he will somehow find a way; he just wished when Comber helped them he would stay on the same path.
"I respect the love you both have for each other, and the compassion for other ponies' lives such as myself, I thank you once again for saving my life. You reminded me why I became a colt of the law, to protect families and ponies like your family."
The couple felt warm in their heart, they smiled, the wife leaning on the husband with comfort.
"No problem, always happy to help ponies."
"You be safe out there this time. Make that colt pay."
The deputy smirked with determination; he was going to make that colt pay.
---
)"Remember to use these skills for defense and heroic actions, not for fun or entertainment, and Celestia forbids criminal activity.")
A familiar colt laughed. He wasn't going to use these skills or techniques for criminal activity, he was going to use them with the thought of helping ponies.
("Don't worry master Cinom, I won't corrupt your teachings.")
A smile appeared on the unconscious Cinom face, he was in some sort of dream; reliving the events that transpired in the past. An owl flew through the fog and whoed at him, he woke up, wondering what the sound was. He saw the owl fly east of him, through the fog, did it even exist in the beginning? He attempted to get back on all four hooves, before collapsing back down onto the ground he awoke on; he knew the reason, the pain, the betrayal, the beaten, the letdown, and the loss. He felt bruised, bloody, but alive, which he was glad to be, he attempted to use magic, his horn lit.
"He's not the colt everypony is thinking he is, why didn't he kill me like he said, I sense no-!"
Cinom thought back to the event when Comber told him that, he was angry, or annoyed, and his temper is like his father's, so he might have just meant it at the time, and with flexibility, he changed his intentions. Cinom healed himself, after healing himself, receiving the courage and adrenaline to get back on all four hoofs, his horn stopped illuminating. Cinom closed his eyes, and took a deep breath in, the fog around him which was thick as butter, disappeared, Cinom opened his eyes.
("There we go, no more fog. I hope Rainbow Dash is ready to defeat Comber.")
Cinom knew Comber was trouble, but not this troublesome or strong, he might be too much for Rainbow Dash to take on; maybe she should avoid and hide from him? She is younger than Cinom is, so maybe her speed and newfound skills will be enough.
---
("This village is so peaceful, I respect that, friends and family that cares for each other, my father considered this village pathetic.")
Comber was back in the graveyard, walking down the stony path and towards the area he always lay down, expecting to see his stone; he was surprised, he saw a red carpet on the stone he lays on, but why is there a carpet, in a graveyard? That's dumb... But wait, somepony had to put that there precisely for him, since all of the other stones don't have one and it's a coincidence that it's the stone he lays on, Comber walked over to the rug, feeling it, he crossed his left hoof on it, he knew what rug this is, it was a synthetic rug, well that's nice but synthetic from this village will have to be from the boutique or a furniture store, which he remembers seeing, and there sign was closed, so whoever delivered this rug is somepony outside and knows him.
("Wait, no, it's-!")
"Like the rug, I placed for you, Comber!?
A familiar pegasus landed in front of Comber, her wings clearing the fog as she flapped, blowing the fog towards him, Comber hoof palm, sliding the hoof down with disbelief and a tiny bit of irritation, this pegasus stalks him like a hawk and he knows it, he starts to regret saving her; he wasn't going to let a filly pegasus be killed by a prideful killer, pathetic if you take pride in killing a filly, it is dispicable.
"So you put this rug on the stone I lay on, why? And you stalked me once again didn't you?"
Lighting Dust laughed, having flashbacks of the police station getting defeated, and especially the part where he brutalized Bullet, she doesn't want to get on his bad side; especially angering him, that would be a brutalized wish.
"So, ain't you gonna leave Ponyville?"
Comber sighed with more annoyance. She even knows that too... He's normally stalks his victim but she stalks the assassin, she is really uncommon. Why does she do it to a pony she knows is dangerous?
"One, why are you stalking me? To, you know I'm dangerous, so why be around me? And three, why did you put a synthetic rug on my stone, yes I know it's synthetic since my old job had them at the front door, can you please stop stalking me?"
Lighting Dust gave Comber a stern look before a confident smile formed, she has an idea, one that may get his full attention. She knows he likes to fight, so... She'll challenge him, and see what his interest is.
"So you knew, was it my wings flapping? How about I stop if you defeat me in battle?"
Comber at first he thought he heard her wrong, did she, just challenge him to a battle? Is she stupid? Insane? Has a death wished? He knows she has no martial arts experience while he has many belts in many categories in martial arts, especially when coming to debilitating ponies. Why does she want to battle? Comber's face grew with a tiny bit of shock and concern.
"You want to fight me? What on Celestia's throne for? A free target perhaps? A bribe? If you don't answer me I will not battle you, as I see no fun in hurting a pegasus, one who doesn't know how to fight or who she's fighting."
Lighting Dust got annoyed and angered, doesn't know who she's fighting? Pfft, nonsense, she's fighting a killer, and who saved her, but why? Doesn't matter now, and the reason, oh she has one.
"I know who you are since after you saved me, I saw a lot of killers when I was 15, I believe they were killers since all had knives and wanted to kill you, and from the sounds of it, it's envy, and you killed them all, and secondly, I want to see if I was Rainbow Dash, how I would fare against you and more importantly, see if I can outlast Rainbow Dash, heh heh, who knows, maybe I could defeat you? You never know since I know how you like to fight and that you don't kill innocent ponies."
Comber's face grew weary and angered, he wanted to slap sense into her. The weapons they had wasn't just kinves, they were daggers and more like spears, but yes knives,
"Would you wake up, your rivalry with Rainbow Dash is over and you did outlast her, you are still alive aren't you? So leave, because if you battle me, it's going to hurt if not get you killed, I'm not pure, and you keep trying to prove it, what good do you see in me?"
Lighting Dust flew in a circle around Comber and landed in front of his face with confidence, and a smirk. She stepped forward slowly, before stopping; her face nearly touching Comber's nose.
"You save the inncoent, that is why I see good in you. Just like I said when I was in the Wonderbolt Academy, I can handle this, and you will be the one to get hurt if you ignore me because I will attack you to force you to fight me then? How about that, Comber!?
A smirk grew on Comber's face, he wasn't angry, if she wants to battle him this bad then she will get a battle, he was a tiny bit tired, but he guess he does not have to wait for another job when a pony is forcing you to fight them, specifically a pegasus. Comber stepped back 5 hoof steps.
"If you so desperately want to fight me, then so be it, give me your best attack."
Lighting Dust smiled; she was happy Comber accepted her offer, she wants this battle to be payment and proof of saving her wasn't useless. She flapped her wings harder than normal; Comber noticed this, he may not be a pegasus, but he sure knows that the force of the wind, which to him, ain't impressive, but to the ponies of this village, it would be impressive, but the stamina it's taking is going to be a problem, for her, that is, never put an excessive amount of force behind attack unless you are sure you can land it and it should be intended for a finishing attack, unless... She believes she can defeat him in one blow or is just showing off or is she just showing off? Probably the last thought.
"Prepare you-!"
Comber got in his stance, he slowly put his hoofs into position, he dared her to come towards him, Lightning Dust laughed, she's not bright but she's definitely observative, she knows better not come to him, he would parry and counter her attacks, she started to turn and blasted off at high speed to the right, was she running away, again, an excessive waste of stamina, if she's running away her speed would be acceptable, however, she's not, she wasn't lying, so why? Is this the only way she thinks she could damage him? Lighting Dust flew around and acted as she was going to attack with her right rear hoof, but stopped, she flew away again and again, before nearly kicking the assassin in the back of the head, he invaded her attacks one by one, before blocking an attack and grabbing her hoof before throwing her away from him, she flew again at him, Comber blocked the attack with a vertical hoof, before giving a wicked smirked, he guess he should attack, he uppercut her in the stomach, with enough force to stun her a moment, before flying off again, this battle is, getting annoying, she's agile, but the hit and run strategy is getting old fast, Lighting Dust burst at him at top speed, Comber planted all hoofs on the ground, he invaded with his body by moving to the right and using his left hooves to grab her by her back and neck, he spun 180° and threw her, she flew throughout the air, crashing through 3 graves that gave the mare pegasus lacerations; blood rushed from the lacerations as she got back on herb four hoofs, she wiped the blood out of her eyes. The pegasus felt a sharp pain, some of the gravestones shattered in her, she bit her teeth as she pulled them out, she started to whimper and then yell, this is painful, blood gushed out of her torso and wings, she held it with a hoof injury free. Comber slowly walked over to her, she turned around with disappointment in her eyes and a tiny bit of fear, she was afraid he might brutalize her, but knew he won't kill her.
"Please, never challenge me again, if I would to take advantage of the situation-!"
Comber teleported in front of Lighting Dust in his stance; Lighting Dust back away a little, Comber threw a punch, stopping before it hit Lighting Dust in the face, she felt the wind, if he would hit her with that attack, she would have a traumatic brain injury and be knocked out, the gravestones broke due to the force of the wind, 4 gravestones cracked, Lightning Dust closed her eyes in fear and preparation for the attack; she slowly opened her left eye, spotting a hoof still in front of her face, as she the right eye. Comber gave her a smirk, before healing her with his magic.
"Don't challenge me again, remember that you did poorly, but be sure to pull those gravestone pieces out of your flesh when you get home and with bandages nearby too. Also, stop stalking me like you promise."
Comber confidently told Lighting Dust, before walking towards his stone to lay on. Lighting Dust stared at Comber, shd felt humility from this battle, why did she do it, stupid compassion, look where it got her. Was he even trying in the battle, she's stupid, she watched as he lay on the stone, his two hoofs behind his head, him looking at the sky, she smiled before flying away, she flew up into the sky where Comber was watching and wrote: thanks for saving me! Comber felt a little happy and satisfied, he saved a grateful pony, not many ponies are, like Abdeath, he's too prideful to accept the help of another pony.
("After the nap I think I"ll head back to my hometown.")
Comber grew a smile as he closed his eyes. No sun, no rain, a perfect weather day for him.