//------------------------------//
// I Said I'm Gonna Pilot That Thing!! 
// Story: Gurren Lagann: Equestria's Last Hope 
// by Chaos Seeker 
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	A green gunman grunts loudly as it pulls back it's giant arm for a punch. The thrown punch breaks the ground and sends Lagann, with Scootaloo and her friends, in the other direction, running with new momentum from the two towering behemoths. The gunmen gave chase after them.
“That's just not fair at all!” Rainbow Dash shouted.
“Sorry 'bout that. I should have told y'all. The surface is crawlin' with them, and I think they may have been friends with the one from before.” Applebloom informed the group.
“So there are more of those guys?” Rainbow asked.
“Yeah. Everywhere!” Applebloom answered.
“The surface is gonna be fun!” Rainbow said.
“It's horrible!” Scootaloo shrieked. She had Lagann stop and start digging with it's hands in the dirt.
“Just what do you think you're doing?” Dash asked her.
“Going home! This place is scary!the worst this back in the village were earthquakes! There weren't any monsters!” one of the gunmen kicked the ground out from under Lagann, tossing them all a few yards away.
“Now isn't the time to be scared and run away!” Dash told her.
“You can do it. You did it before.” Applebloom said.
“B-But I was guessing! It was all luck! I can't!” Scootaloo screamed.
“Screw this! Open it up and let me out!” Rainbow Dash demanded. Lagann's hatch opened and Rainbow flew over, drawing her sword. “Hey you two with the faces! Yeah you! The flawlessly awesome Rainbow Dash, having finally left the underground isn't gonna get pushed around by two losers like you! Especially not when the pride of Team Gurren is on the line!” as Rainbow finished the gunman on the right punched the spot she was hovering above. Scotaloo had actually saved her with Lagann and was carrying her while running away.
“What's wrong with you? You were gonna die!” Scootaloo yelled.
Rainbow Dash sat and stared at her. “How long will you continue to run?”
“What?” she was caught off guard. A gunman punched behind Lagann and they began to fly out of their reach.
“Look. We made it to the surface. Now's your time to throw away the little filly you were and move forward. Come on. Now or never, Scootaloo.” Rainbow Dash told her. Applebloom adjusted herself and was partially standing on Lagann. She was aiming her rifle.
“Okay. Keep it still.” Applebloom fired four shots at the gunman, but it still wasn't going down. Scootaloo was shaken by the noise of the rifle, and then Lagann began it's descent. “Um... we're falling again!” Luckily for the trio, Lagann landed gently on it's feet this time and didn't crash, spilling them out of it's hatch.
“Scootaloo, get us in the air again!” Rainbow said.
Scootaloo tried over and over. “I can't! It's not working!” she yelled.
“What? Why?” Rainbow asked.
“I-I just can't do this any more! I’m scared. Why don't you do it, sis?” Scootaloo pleaded, giving up hope.
“Scootaloo!” Dash shouted.
“You two need to quit your fighting! I’m tryin' to concentrate!” Applebloom turned back, took aim, and fired, but her rifle made a click. “Uh oh!”
“What's uh oh? That can't be good!” Rainbow asked.
“I'm out of ammo.” she told them.
“We're gonna die!” Scootaloo screamed. 
One of the gunmen pulled back a fist for a punch, and then out of nowhere a shot hit it's head, knocking it back a little, and then there was a hail of bullets. They heard the voice of their savior and turned.
“Hey Applebloom! You okay?” asked a blonde maned, wall eyed, gray pegasus.
“Derpy! You're here!” she yelled.
“They with you?” Rainbow asked. Applebloom simply nodded in response she was so relieved.
“Okay everypony! Keep shooting at the one in the front! Don't let it get away now!” the pegasus took up an assault rifle and fired like the others with her. The gunman that was about to crush Lagann was smoking and it's mouth opened up. A black thing with wings and holes flew out and hid behind a rock.
“Hey! Something came out!” Rainbow Dash pointed out.
“No! No no no no! That's my gunman!” it yelled with a faint hiss. The other gunman picked it up.
“We're leaving. We lost a unit and it's nearly sunset.” said the gunman.
“This isn't over!” said the creature. It was now fully in view. It had insect wings and holes in it's legs and arms, but it had claws. It had sharp teeth and a curved horn. It's ears were webbed like things and it had a reptilian like frill on it's neck. It's tail had holes as well. On top of that it's eyes were completely blue. The gunman ran off carrying the creature.
“Don't let up on them everypony! Keep firing! No mercy!” Derpy shouted. They kept firing until they were out of sight.
“So. That's what's inside those behemoths.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Oh. Those are changelings. They pilot the gunmen. They come every morning at dawn and leave every night at dusk.” Applebloom said.
“Why?” she asked her.
“I dunno. No one really knows.” she told Rainbow.
“So you've been fighting them all your life?” Rainbow asked her.
“Yeah, but I’ll tell ya 'bout that later.” Applebloom walked off.
Scootaloo was sitting in Lagann, staring at the central panel. It was dark by now and she had the key around her neck, not in the hole. Her reflection could be seen in the blank shiny interface. It reflected doubt. Rainbow Dash came along to cast that away.
“Heya Scoots. You were pretty good today. Pretty cool.” she said.
“What do you mean? I can't do this.” Scootaloo said.
“Nah. You saved my flank more times than I can count. So, ya know... thanks for that. I mean it.” Rainbow told her. Scootaloo looked up at Dash surprised at the words, but was then caught of guard by incoming hoof steps.
“Hello there little guy. How're doin'? You look pretty neat don't ya?” said a very large red earth pony with a blonde mane. He wore overalls. And had a piece of hay in his mouth.
“Huh?” Rainbow Dash looked confused.
“Oh. Sorry. I wasn't talkin' to any of you. I was talkin' to this nice little robot y'all got here.” he said.
“Robot, huh?” Rainbow asked.
“Yeah. This one's not something I see every day. Pretty interesting if ya ask me.” said the large earth pony.
“Hey Big Mac! Get over here! We've got to strip this down and get it back quickly!” Derpy yelled over.
“Okay. Well see ya around.” Big Mac trotted off.
“Whoa. Never seen a pony that big before.” Rainbow said.
“Yeah. He's huge.” Scootaloo said.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo relaxed and stared at the sky as the ponies they hardly knew worked on doing something they didn't quite understand. Rainbow stretched her fore limbs and wings.
“I made it to the surface. How about that dad.” she said aloud.
“Huh?” Scootaloo heard this.
“Nothing. How about this sky? I mean seriously. Screw underground! We've got this big round light and it's got a bunch of little lights around it. It looks so awesome and it almost like it's never really dark.” she said.
“Yeah. It really is wonderful.” Scootaloo said.
“Ya know, the big one is called the moon. The little ones are called stars.” Applebloom said, coming out of nowhere.
“Huh. The moon and stars.” Dash repeated.
“Yeah. Some ponies say that a long time ago there were ponies who would raise the sun and moon with magic.” she went on. They might have been princesses, but some ponies tell it differently.
“That's gotta be a crock. It's in the sky, so it's gotta be huge. Too big to move.” Rainbow said.
“Yeah, but sometimes I wonder what a world like that would be like to live in.” Applebloom said.
“Excuse me.” Big Mac had come up to the group unnoticed and had a square device in his hooves. “Sorry to interrupt this conversation of yours, but your little guy right here has quite a lot to him.” Big Mac showed them the tablet.
“Um... what are those lines?” Scootaloo asked.
“Oh. You don't know how to read.” he said.
“Read? Hey, sis? Do you know how to do that?” she asked Dash.
“Nope.” she simply said.
“Really?” Applebloom laughed. “Y'all are a bunch of bumpkins, aren't ya?”
“Now now. Ya aren't the most literary inclined pony yourself.” Big Mac said.
“Hey! I can read just fine.” Apple bloom retorted. She tried to reach for the tablet, but Big Mac pulled it away.
“I believe ya. Don't go messin' with my equipment.” he said.
“So we haven't exactly met. Who are you?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“The names Big Macintosh. Most ponies just call me Big Mac for short. Whichever is fine by me.” he said.
“Big mac here is the pony who works on our weapons and knows, well lots of things. He's smart.” Applebloom said. “Now I’ve got a favor I want to ask. Could ya carry this stuff back for me?” she asked Scootaloo. She pointed out their salvage. It was a lot of salvage, but packed onto a sled to be dragged.
“But, um...” she looked down at the drill. It had stopped working before.
“What's that? It's nice.” Applebloom said. Scootaloo looked at her for a moment and then back to the drill, and then it began to glow. She took it off, which she was getting good at, and put it in the hold, turning it. Lagann turned on and stood straight up.
“So it does work still. So follow me I guess.” Applebloom led Scootaloo away from Big Mac and Rainbow Dash.
“Confidence, spirit, something along those lines. That's how that thing works I think.” Rainbow said.
“Maybe. I’m not so sure, not yet at least.” Big Mac said.
On the way back, Rainbow Dash rode in Lagann with Scootaloo while Applebloom and the other ponies rode on the salvage train. Lagann was moving at a decent, but somewhat slow pace. Crickets were chirping.
“Sorry about this. If it weren't for us you would be safe in your village and it wouldn't be ruined, and to make it worse we're making you carry this stuff back with us.” Derpy said. 
“Well we do need everything we can find.” Applebloom said.
“Don't sweat it. Our village was boring and we wanted out anyway.” Rainbow Dash said. After another minute of travel they stopped suddenly.
“Hey! What's goin' on  you to?” Applebloom asked.
Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were staring at something. “What in the hell is that thing?” Dash asked.
Applebloom looked upon the skull. “That's somepony who was killed by gunmen a long time ago. It happens a lot on the surface...” Applebloom told them.
Derpy, Applebloom, and the rest of the ponys that Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo worked together to dig up a hole to bury the bones in. when they finished they stood and took a break after the hard work.
“That should be good.” Derpy said.
“We couldn't just leave him laying there.” Applebloom said.
“It's a waste of time.” Rainbow interrupted. “Why dig graves for the dead who get killed out here when you could do something more useful.”
“Hey! You never know when you'll be the pony laying there!” Applebloom told her.
“That will never happen. Our adventure won't stop until we've pierced the very heavens themselves, and then we'll keep on going!” Dash pointed to the sky.
Applebloom sighed. As they approached the village she was talking to Rainbow Dash. “You think it's great and wonderful up on the surface, but it's not. Appleloosa was an underground village once too, but there was somekind of accident and no pony could live there anymore, so we had to come to the surface. The first thing we saw were the gunmen, waiting to kill us. We can't go back home, so we gotta fight.” Applebloom explained.
“Sounds great! I’m definitely interested in that kind of place!” Rainbow told her.
Inside the village, which was a cave, the walls were a mix of rock and metal. There were tables and the place was well lit. the villagers were ogling Lagann while Derpy and some other ponies were eating. Applebloom brought a tray of food to Rainbow and Scootaloo's room, but found them both passed out on the floor after their first day on the surface. She smiled and left them.
“Look at that, kid. The surface.” she looked toward the sunset. The sky was red, making everything else seem red.
“There's nothing here...” she told him.
“Nah. Not a damn thing. No walls, no ceilings, and that's why I like it. A true pony's world, a world for a pegasus. So, you coming?” he asked her. She looked at the ground for a moment, and then backed away a little. “I see.” he tussled her mane a bit. Rainbow remembered everything about him. His trinkets, his face, and his clothes. “Well come see me when you're ready then.” he backed up and smiled. “Until then, Rainbow Dash, good bye!” he turned and his cape fluttered in the wind.
The sound of a large crash woke both Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo from their slumber. They jolted up and out of the room in a hurry while everypony else was calm, cool, and collected. Applebloom was nonchalantly cleaning her gun while the two pegasi panicked. She glanced over.
“Good morning. Sleep well?” she asked them.
“Hey! What the hell was that noise?!” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Oh. Every morning tends to start off with a gunman. It's something we've grown used too I guess.” Big Mac happened to be passing through. There was a loud banging sound. “Seems like another. Y'all might want to brace yourselves.” they waited for a moment and then the crash came again and both Scootaloo and Rainbow fell backward on their flanks.
“Two days in a row is a bit unusual.” Derpy said. She had a gun ready.
“Maybe they're mad about yesterday?” Applebloom suggested.
Rainbow was up by now. “Well whatever the reason is we have to fight them!” Rainbow was excited now.
“Well if you're gonna fight then you'll need this.” she gave Dash a pistol. “Know how to use one of these?” Dash took it.
“Of course! Just who the hell do you think I am?” she trotted over to Scootaloo after placing it in her pants. “Scoota, you've got my back in Lagann.”
“Um... Sis, maybe you should... You'd be better at it...” she told her.
“Nope. Nuh uh. It belongs to you, so you pilot it.” Dash said.
“Uh...okay...” Scootaloo caved in.
“Great. Everypony's counting on you.” she ran off.
“Heya there. Follow me.” Big Mac led Scootaloo to Lagann. He also gave her a blue jacket to wear.
“Um, thanks...” she said.
“Everypony should have a jacket. It can get cold.” he said. “So get in. put the core drill in and turn it.”
“O-okay” she got in Lagann and did as she was told, but to no avail. Lagann wouldn't start up. She tried multiple times, but it wouldn't work.
“Is it having problems again?” Big Mac asked.
Outside, two green gunmen were shouting taunts and making gestures with their arms at the ponies. They weren't attacking them, just taunting and being annoying. It was strange.
“They're morons.” Rainbow said.
“That may be, but we should use that to our advantage and get them while we can.” Derpy said. “So let's move o... Here's another one.”
“Really? Another one?” Dash asked.
“Y'all might wanna cover your ears for this one.” she took her own advice. There was a loud crash along with a blinding flash of light. The ground shook violently. The villagers could feel it and so could Scootaloo. She had flashbacks of being in the village, and then a realization.
“The earthquakes...” she said.
Back out side Rainbow Dash was looking at what had landed. It was a large red face with no arms or legs. It had blue around the mouth and the green gunmen were dancing around it. It's eyes opened and it's arms extended. They were yellow. It also extended it's legs and then roared.
“They did it!” Scootaloo yelled. “Those earthquakes were their fault! Every time! All those ponies! It's their fault my mom and dad are dead!” Lagann started up. Scootaloo screamed in her rage.
Back outside once more the trio of gunmen were approaching the village via walking slowly and menacingly. The villagers tried to fight them off, but the big red one got close and attacked the rock walls above them, making rocks fall.
“That big one is powerful.” Derpy said.
“I've never seen it before. Must be one of their bigger ones.” Applebloom said.
“Yeah, well I like the looks of that one. Especially it's face.” Dash said.
The all three gunmen were walking through the valley while a bunch of villagers waited in hiding. The wait ended when somepony gave an order and they opened fire, causing a giant rock slide.
“What'd you do?” Rainbow asked.
“We put explosives on top of the cliff.” Applebloom said. “And it worked great!” there was a roar. The red one threw the rocks off of it with a powerful energy burst and they went flying. It now had two black blades at the ends of it's arms. “That thing is tough!”
“That's good! Great even! I’m gonna take that gunman and make it mine ya hear? So cover my flank.” Rainbow Dash said.
“Wait, what? You're gonna do what with the gunman?” she asked.
“I said I’m gonna pilot that thing! If the changelings can do it I can do it too.” Rainbow Dash told her.
“Gee, your confidence know no bounds, does it?” Applebloom asked.
“Screw you!” Dash yelled.
Out of nowhere, Scootaloo in Lagann was running across the rocky landscape. “Sis!” she shouted.
“Haha! Just in time soul sister!” Rainbow Dash ran over and glided into Lagann.
“They did it! Every time those things land up here it becomes an earthquake underground!” she yelled.
“That explains all of them.” Dash said.
“These things, they killed my mom and dad!” Scootaloo  said.
“Okay, Scootaloo. It's great that you're motivated, but don't get hot headed. To win you need to be calm and cool. Listen. I’m gonna take the big red one.”
“What?” she asked.
“I'm sure I can get in by going through the mouth, like the thing did from yesterday. I’ll need you to get it to open up or something.” she said.
“Can you use it?” Scootaloo asked.
“How did know how to you use Lagann?” Dash asked.
“I don't know... I grabbed the controls and just went with the flow, like it was natural I guess.” Scootaloo answered.
“I'll do that then.” Dash said.
“What?” Scootaloo asked.
“You really just need fighting spirit. Seriously. It'll be fine, trust me.” Rainbow told her.
“I don't think that's how the world works...” Scootaloo said meekly.
“Whatever, let's just go!” she told Scootaloo.
“How is that not hot headed!” She shouted.
One of the green gunmen tried to grab them but they dodged and climbed up it's arm. It jerked to the side and Lagann was launched into the air, about to be punched by the gunman, but it was redirected at the last minute by a shot from Applebloom. The punch grazed then, Lagann rolled along the arm of the gunman, but the punch hit the big red one. Lagann's hatch opened up after it stopped spinning and Rainbow Dash jumped out and onto the red gunman's face.
“Ha! Soon you'll be mine!” she pulled out the gun and grinned. And held it upside down and slammed it against the mouth of the gunman over and over until it nearly shot her, surprising her. “Ah! What the hell?” she stared at it for a moment.
“Get off of him you filthy pony!” Yelled one of the green gunmen. The tried to grab Rainbow Dash, but Scootaloo intervened, holding it back with Lagann's hands.
“Hey! Scoots!” Dash was happy to see her.
“Don't you dare lay a hand on my sister!” Lagann produced a drill from it's head and destroyed the gunman's arm. Scootaloo them went on to force the red gunman's mouth open. “This should take a second or two.” she said. She got the mouth open and inside was a black creature like the day before, except this one had a bow around it's neck.
“Get out.” Rainbow Dash threatened it with the gun, which was upside down again, but this time it was pointed the right way. It looked scared. “This guy's under new management. Got that?” he was promptly tossed out of the mecha and it's mouth closed. “Heh, yeah! Now for some of that fighting spirit!” the interior flashed red and there was a beeping sound. The display gave her the impression she wasn't allowed to use it. The gunman shut down.
“Oh no! The commander has been killed! You ponies will pay for this! Pay I tell you!” Yelled one of the gunmen.
“No! I’m down here you idiots! Come get me! Help!” the changeling's pleas were ignored as they attacked Rainbow Dash in the red gunman. She was kicked twice and sent skyward. Lagann was then grabbed the moment Scootaloo thought to try and help Rainbow out. Lagann was thrown directly into the air and hit the red gunman, knocking it into the ground face first.
“God dammit Rainbow Dash! Why isn't this working? I just need more fighting spirit!” she slammed a hoof on one of the panels near her and the screen changed to the outside view, which was of a skull. She saw this and her heart beat faster. She could hear it beat. Her mind raced. Thoughts flowed and they all had one thing in common. The red gunman moved and stood up. As it did the display gave the okay and accepted Rainbow Dash as it's operator. “I'm not dying here, so don't screw with me! Just who the hell do you think I am?!?!” she shouted for all to hear. The two gunmen bared down on Lagann, but Rainbow had other plans. She came flying out of nowhere. “Just who the hell do you think I am, kick!” she kicked the first threat away into the other, but then she landed. “Hands of my beloved little sister punch!” she punched the first one, sending both flying into the small canyon, the punch broke the red gunman's arm into pieces. “Hey Scootaloo. Get up. It's time to finish this.”
“Hey, is that you, sis?” she asked her.
“Yeah. I got held up a bit. No big deal. Rainbow said. She picked Lagann up. “Okay, they're yours to get.” she squeezed Lagann a bit. 
“What?” Scootaloo was worried.
“Finishing move! Super ultra cannonball of victory!” she threw Lagann.
“I hope this works!” Scootaloo yelled. Lagann's legs turned into a large drill and flew through the air. The two gunmen avoided it and Lagann merely drilled into the rock behind them. The two began to laugh and taunt instantly.
“Oh really? You'd like to think that, wouldn't you?” Rainbow said, ginning madly. Meanwhile, Lagann was drilling in the ground.
“Rainbow Dash is counting on me. Gotta do this right.” Scootaloo brought Lagann out through a new hole, right next to the hole she made going in and flew through the taunting gunmen and into the red gunman's hand safely after they exploded.
“Whoa. That was over kill if you ask me.” Derpy said.
“Yeah, but is sure was cool.” Applebloom said.
“It's also kinda impressive. We never thought of takin' their gunmen before. Makes ya wonder at the new possibilities. Those two mares are innovative if anythin'” Big Mac said, staring at the victory pose of the red gunman holding up Lagann.
Sunset came and the two gunmen were still in that position. Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash were looking at it, like a trophy or prize.
“I've come to a decision.” Rainbow announced.
“Yeah?” Scootaloo said.
“I'm naming this thing Gurren. This place may get bad, but no matter how bad or nasty it ever gets, we'll fight our way through, me with my Gurren, and you with your Lagann. Sound like a plan?” Rainbow asked.
“Sounds good, sis.” she answered.
“Now all you have to do is wait for me you old man...” Rainbow looked up at the sky.
Rainbow led everypony back to the place where she saw the skull. They had shovels and it was now night time. The skeleton was in the giant crater left by Gurren. There were hand prints and foot prints of the battle earlier near by.
“So hey guy. Sorry to disturb you like that, but things got out of hand. I guess the least I can do is put you back where y-” Rainbow Dash saw something glint in the moonlight. It was a hooflet with a lightning bolt charm, one she recognized. “No!” she ran over and moved the dirt around with her hooves. She found a familiar red and orange cape along with the charm. Rainbow Dash's eyes were welling up. “Dad...” everypony gasped. “You died out here... You didn't wait... You said... No! Daaaaaaaaad!” Rainbow Dash shouted to the stars, moon, and heavens.