Chapter 6
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Fire burned as Headshot was bound to a wooden chair. He screamed for help as the flames came closer and closer to his coat. Inside the flames he saw a demon, worse than the ones he fought before and ten times more deadly.
The Demon broke through the flames and stepped closer and closer. Headshot's breathing was erratic as the Demon slowly pulled up the mask it wore as a symbol of horror.
"Hiya! Heady!"
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Headshot woke up with a start, sweat pouring down his face as his new wings twiched with every heartbeat. "It was just a dream." Headshot breathed a sigh of relief.
"What was?" Firecracker said through the window and startled, actually more like scared the living shitiles out of the poor Pegasus. Headshot jumped up in the air and panicked, hitting the wall as stars began to circle his head.
Firecracker stood over the dizzy Pegasus and smiled. "Good morning!" She smiled. Headshot began to calm down.
"EVERY FUCKING MORNING!" The sniper yelled and got up to his hooves. "Why can't you just sleep in like a normal unicorn once in a while?"
"'Cause I'm not normal!" She said and quickly made Headshot's bed. "And I love watching my favorite cyborg-Pegasus sleep! And... You were dreaming about me again, weren't you?"
Headshot blushed and matched the unicorn's coat color. "More like a nightmare!" He said as he averted his eyes from her red ones.
Firecracker waved it off. "Listen, Roland and that other alien girl with the blue tattoos were going to Sugarcube corner, I just came here to wake you up."
Headshot scratched his head. "Why didn't they just wake me up?"
"They tried. I'm the only one who could wake you up from one of your bondage dreams." She said and trotted down the stairs.
Headshot blushed again and stuttered his words. "But-It wasn't- I mean I never got to that- AGHHH! Why are you so difficult?!?"
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Cake Batter, the Cake family's eldest and only son, worked the oven while his sister, Lemon Cake, worked the cash register.
Lemon Cake yawned. It was going to be another slow day because of the repairs and nopony ever has time for sweets anymore. Lemon sighed.
"Sis... I'm bored..." Cake Batter groaned.
"Just one more day and Uncle Rum Cake will come back from vacation and the place will be booming." Lemon said to her older brother.
"Nopony says 'booming' anymore." The older brother said. "Today is going to be another boring day."
The bells on the door ringed and a familiar face came through the door.
"Hello, Cakes!" Twilight said, in a very unusually happy tone considering that its very early and you usually see the medical unicorn with a scowl on her face.
The Cakes were usually afraid of Twilight in the morning but something was off. "Twilight, what brings you here soo early?"
"Special meeting with the mayor and the aliens." Twilight said, happily. The Cakes looked sadly at eachother.
"Can... you have the meeting somewhere else?" Batter said, sadly. Lemon's eyes began to tear up. "You know... what happened during the attack... our little sister..."
"That's why we're having this meeting here. We got some good news that you two need to hear!" Twilight said and sat down on the table.
The door opened again and The Mayor and Angel walk through the door. The Cakes were greatful for the two vault hunters but just seeing them makes them remember their little sister, Cheese Cake.
Angel looked sad and tired, she had slightly red eyes and her hair was messy. Brick on the other hand was smiling at the two bakers.
The duo took a seat and ordered a large cake, courtesy of the mayor.
A few minutes later Headshot and Firecracker came through the door. Headshot was arguing with the unicorn but she didn't seem to mind the chaos.
Meanwhile...
Roland looked pass the rolling hills and thousands of apple trees on the horizon. "This is why I let Mordicai do the navigations..." He muttered to himself and decided to ask for directions.
Back at Sugarcube corner...
"What is taking that soldier so long?" Brick said as he finished his slice of chocolate cake. "It's been two hours now!"
Angel took a bite of her Angel-food cake. "Knowing him, he's probably lost somewhere."
Firecracker had an odd taste... A double-chili-rainbow-supreme-with-extra-hot-sauce cake. "Probably near Sweet Apple Acres. I mean that's the only place anypony could get lost."
Headshot took a bite of his vanilla sponge cake. "I'll go look for him." Headshot got up from the table and headed outside.
Twilight had an equally unusually taste... A complete replica of a pony head with a jelly brain. "I'll give it an hour."
An hour later...
Headshot opened the door and led Roland inside. "Found him circling the western fields for an hour... It was sort of funny seeing him walk around in circles."
Brick grumbled and slid five bits towards Twilight. "Told ya."
Roland saw a slice of cake just for him. "So... what's this about a bandit clan?" He said, munching on his slice of cake.
"You know about the three kids that died a few days ago." Brick said. "I already told Twilight but I can't be sure."
Twilight opened up a folder and map. "We believe that those three foals aren't dead." Twilight said. The Cake's ears perked up to the news.
"WAIT! You mean our little Cheese Cake is alive?!?" Lemon yelled.
"Maybe, we can't be sure. The Bandit clan is in good terms with the mayor and they said that Anarchy sent them the location and a picture of the three fillies." Twilight said and pulled out the picture.
Three fillies, an Earth pony, Pegasus, and Unicorn were tied up on a flag pole with Anarchy wearing a goofy grin.
"We need more info. I trust my source but I don't trust the guy who gave this info to my source." Brick said.
"Where do we fit into all this?" Angel said.
"We can't send in anypony or we'll cause a war. There is a Minotaur clan that's guarding the three fillies, The Hammers are crippled and need extra hooves-hands." Brick said.
"So you want us to infiltrate their base and rescue the fillies." Headshot said.
"No, I need you two to provide support for the Hammers." Brick said and pointed to Firecracker. "Roland and Angel would sneak in while the Hammers and you two provide a distraction."
"I'm a good distraction!" Firecracker chimed in.
"Meet with their boss, Sledge Hammer and he'll tell you how to get in." Brick said. "Me and Twi will need to stay in town. Honestly we're the only ones able to actually fight. That and Rum Cake is out of town."
"Rum Cake?" Roland said and finished his cake.
"Our Uncle." Batter said. His eyes were ablaze with determination. "He's the local Democolt and the owner of this bakery since our dad died."
"Our Uncle basically taught everything Firecracker knows about blowing stuff up." Lemon said.
"The only thing he told me was 'Gunpowder plus fire equals boom', and that’s the only thing you need to know." Firecracker said with a smile.
"I thought she learned how to make bombs from a book." Roland said.
"Basic bombs, she learned the big stuff from Mr. Cake." Headshot said.
"So, we're going now or what?" Angel said as she reloaded her rifle and was patiently waiting by the door. "Those fillies won't save themselves."
Roland nodded and got up from his seat. He looked to the two baker ponies and smiled. "We'll get those kids back." He said and turned his attention towards the Siren. "Let's go."
Brick led the way to the outskirts of town. Large hills were scattered across the landscape. "The Minotaur clan's base is inside a large cave system and the fillies are at the center of it. They have a forward base right outside, you two will need to get in through there." Brick said and pointed towards a large mountain. "You may want to stock up inside the Hammer's base."
Roland face-palmed, almost forgetting to restock again. "Right... Just point us in the right direction."
Twilight pointed to the mountain. "They're on the other side of the mountain." Twilight took out a small red pack with a white cross on it. "Here's a first-aid kit, just in case."
Angel took the med-pack and safely put it inside her inventory.
Roland and Angel left town with the two ponies.
Firecracker stopped mid-stride and turned towards the soldier. "I just remembered the turret!" Firecracker pulled out a small grey box with a red "danger" sign on it. "I couldn't get the rockets in but the flame thrower works like a dream..." She said and turned around. "Like a sick bondage dream..." She muttered silently.
"I heard that!" Headshot said and shot the mare with a water cloud, causing the mare to flare up, literally and metaphorically.
Roland took the small grey box. Roland examined the box and saw a small red button on the side. He pressed the button and threw it to the ground.
The box opened up and revealed a, relatively, small turret compared to the Dahl Sabre Turret. The Dragon turret was painted bright red with a little warning light on top of it. It beeped as it scanned for anything to burn.
Firecracker pulled out a small doll painted to look like a target. "The only problem with this thing..." Roland just noticed that the doll looked like Headshot. "...is that it can't hit anything at range..." She said and threw the doll in front of the turret. "... but anything that gets to close is barbecued!" She said and the turret burned the doll to a smoldering crisp.
Roland found another button on top of the turret and pressed it. The turret began to shrink back down to a small grey box, the box disappeared and reappeared on Roland's hand. "Oh and it's completely locked to its current owner. So unless you give it away, that thing is going to stick to you like a sticky leather rope!"
"FOR THE LOVE OF!!!" Headshot yelled and soaked the mare again. This went on for a few more hours.
Roland and Angel walked silently for the most part but Angel decided to break the silence.
"I saw your FaceDesk page on the ECHO net. I noticed that Lilith was the only one who ever commented on your page." Angel said. Roland gave her a side-ways glance.
"Yeah? So what?" Roland asked in confusion. "I mean she WAS my girlfriend."
"I mean, those comments were added after she 'died' how did Hyperion not see those comments?" Angel said with curiosity.
Roland scratched his chin. "Maybe... they just didn't notice?" Roland said.
"Impossible. Jack was on your account twenty-four-seven, he knew why you liked a page or why to feed your skags in Skagville." Angel said. She didn't notice the large gates in front of her.
"Oh. We're here." Roland said.
"State your business here!" A loud mechanical voice boomed out. "Unless you have official business with the leader or his daughter then I suggest you leave."
Headshot took out a rolled up scroll and placed it inside the mail slot.
The squad waited for a response.
"... Fine... Come in." The mechanical voice said and the large metal gates opened. The two humans and ponies entered the bandit town.
The town wasn't your typical bandit town, it didn't dead bodies littered around, and the citizens were friendly enough, considering that most bandit towns would kill you as soon as you step through the gates.
Two ponies stepped forward; their filthy clothes were covered in dust and dirt. "Follow us to the Den, where the boss is at." One of the "guards" said.
Ponies talked as the two humans were being escorted by four ponies. Some ponies gave a causious glance while others closed thier windows and stalls.
Roland and Angel were escorted to a large cave, judging by the way it opens the cave wasn't naturally made. They made thier way inside which housed several rooms and were lit with torches and flaming barrels.
It almost feels like a real bandit camp. Roland thought as they went further inside the cave.
Headshot and Firecracker were escorted to another room. "We'll catch up later. We got to set up these guys with some more firepower." Headshot said and opened the door that read "Caution: Explosive and volatile components and other hazards" Below the sign was another sign that read "Translation: LOTZ OF STUFFZZ THAT GOEZZ BOOMZZ"
Roland and Angel came to a large metal door with graffiti and other tags plastered on it.
"Father I do hope that you would at least consider wearing a suit, I mean this is a formal meeting with the heroes that saved Uncle Brick's town." A dignified and feminine voice came from inside.
"Hate to break it to you, Sweetie but I don't have a suit." A very loud male voice came from inside.
The two guards pulled open the large doors and moved to the side. Roland and Angel stared wide-eyed at the interior of the dirty, low-tech, bandit cave.
The walls were made from polished marble brick and the floor was perfectly shined and even reflected your reflecion. A high-hanging chandelier was glowing over-head. Paintings were covering the walls and sculptures of an elegant mare with a hammer and a diamond cutie-mark, several columes were supporting the ceiling over-head.
A large throne, along with a smaller throne, sat at the other end of the room. "You Roland? Angel?" The large, as tall as Roland, pony said.
A smaller mare gave a disapproving stare at the bandit leader. "Father! Where are your manners?" She said.
The large pony rolled his eyes. "Introduce yourself before asking for somepony's name." He said in a bored tone. And then turned to the two humans. "My name is Sledge and this is my daughter." He said and gestured a hoof at the young mare.
"Diamond Hammer at your service." She said and did a little curtsy.
"We heard that you saved Ponyville, for that we thank you, I have a very close friend that showed me how a true leader should act." Sledge said and gestured to a portrait of Brick holding a small hammer and shaking hooves with Sledge.
"Sorry for being blunt but I'd rather want to get straight to business." Roland said. "Three kids are in danger right now and we honestly don't have time for pleasantries."
Diamond came forward and looked at the two humans with a critical eye. "Of course but we must know how capable you are first." She said and several ponies came from hidden doors, wielding weapons. "I don't want to relay on two beings that may not be capable of saving the foals."
Roland shrugged. "Fair enough..." He said, remembering The human Brick's Slabs and their initiation.
Angel pulled out her rifle and Roland face-palmed, forgetting to stock up on ammo... AGAIN!
"Angel..." He whispered to the Siren. "Give me a few clips..."
Angel rolled her eyes and pulled out a few clips for his rifle. "You are hopeless." She said.
"That's what Lilith says to me all the time." Roland reloaded his rifle and waited for the first attack.
Diamond went back to her seat and raised her hoof. "BEGIN!" She yelled and lowered her hoof down.
Arrows and bullets bounced off the two heroes shield as they broke for cover and hid behind two different columns.
Roland shot a bullet at one of the ponies and the body fell limp and disappeared. "What the..."
"You don't think we would use real men, right? Thanks to a little magic and the advancement of technology, we made simulations that feels real as an actual fight." Sledge said and slammed his hoof on a button. "Sending in some Badasses!"
Roland and Angel dispatched the rest and waited for the Badasses. A familiar blur and buzz came from a hole in the ceiling.
Headshot zoomed down and picked up a rifle from one of the simulation soldiers. He fired his rifle, clipping away at Roland's shield.
Firecracker teleported in a blaze of red-hot fire and burned through Angel's shields.
The two humans stepped back and fired their weapons at the two simulation fighters which didn't seem to be fazed by the bullets.
Roland ducked down as flames flew pass his head. He grabbed the simulation Firecracker's horn and yanked on it. Roland then gave a hard right punch in the throat as she stumbled back and readied her flames once more.
Roland took the opportunity to test out his new turret. He threw the small grey box on the ground and the turret popped open and burned the simulation Firecracker. It was ineffective but slowed down the simulation.
The simulation Firecracker was about finished but Headshot rushed in to save the other simulation but was caught in the flames, singing his coat and tail catching on fire.
Angel used her Phase-Shift to pause the two simulations and the two humans opened fire. The two bodies fell limp and dissapeared like the rest.
Sledge gave a slow clap. "Impressive. I like you two already."
Diamond gave a much faster clap. "Good show! I haven't seen anypony beat that in a while and in record time too."
Roland and Angel smiled at the two ponies. "Thanks but we need to plan." Roland said.
"Right. I already have a plan. You two sneak in a back entrance my boys made a few days back while we provide a distraction by blowing up their compound and attacking their base. Your priority is the three foals. Understood?" Sledge said and pulled down a hammer from the wall. "Talk to me when you're ready. You can patch yourselves up at the local clinic or buy some ammunition from Flim and Sham Trading."
"And maybe get some new rifles? Those things work well but... they are absolutely rusty!" Diamond said, noting the old and wore rifles the two humans had. "Here are some bits to start you off." Diamond threw a small sack of gold at the vault hunter's feet.
Roland picked up the money and was shared between him and Angle.
Angel tapped Roland's shoulder. "Don't forget to buy some ammo this time." She said with a smirk.
Buying ammo, fighting bandits, attacking large bandit clans, this reminds me of the good old days. Roland sighed and stepped out the clean room and into the dusty cave.