//------------------------------// // Meet the Sniper // Story: Pony Fortress 2 // by Bahamut Omega //------------------------------// It was a peaceful day in the city of Cloudsdale. The pegasi were hard at work managing the weather, and some were even discussing the newest activities of the Wonderbolts. Still others were making plans for the Summer Sun Celebration. Despite it being a ways off. And in particular, one pegasus was hard at work training to reenter the Wonderbolt Academy. This mare’s name was Lightning Dust, and she now reclined on a cloud to take a rest before getting back to her practice. And she had just closed her eyes to enjoy the silence when a loud bang rang out. She never heard it because her head was no longer on her shoulders, and her headless corpse had passed through the clouds and was falling to the ground below. About a mile away, in a hot air balloon, a purple mare looked through the scope of her sniper rifle, admiring her handiwork with a satisfied smile as she adjusted her hat. Another happy customer. “Boom… Headshot.” XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX After returning to Ponyville, Twilight found a surprise waiting for her. Her older brother, Shining Armor was waiting to see her at her home, which doubled as Ponyville’s library. “Twilight, we need to talk,” Shining Armor said seriously. “About what, big bro?” Twilight asked as she settled down at her desk with a good book, smiling as she levitated a cup of tea to her mouth and took a sip. “What are you thinking, doing that second job of yours?” Shining Armor asked. “Sniping’s a good job, Shining Armor. It’s challenging work, lets me travel. I guarantee I won’t go hungry. Cause at the end of the day, as long as there are two ponies left on the planet, somepony is gonna want somepony dead,” Twilight said in a conversational tone. Even though she was talking about her second life as a professional killer. “Twilight, you’ve become a crazed gunpony!” Shining Armor snapped. “I’m not a crazed gunpony, bro. I’m an assassin,” Twilight said in a very matter of fact tone, as to encourage use of her term. “I don’t see a difference,” Shining Armor said. “The difference is that one is a job and the other is mental illness,” Twilight said in a somewhat annoyed tone. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Shining Armor was determined, and had tracked Twilight down when she went to her next job. "What are you doing here, Shining Armor?" Twilight asked, having just set aside a jar partially filled with urine, putting it with several others. "Twilight... have you been peeing in jars?" Shining Armor asked. "I don't have time for relief on these long stakeouts, so I keep the jars nearby," Twilight said. "Plus they're good for soaking enemies who get near me. I call them Jarate." "That's disgusting..." Shining Armor said as he moved to where he wasn't in the way. “I think his pal saw me…” Twilight muttered before backing away quickly at a gunshot bouncing off her roost’s rail. “Yes! Yes he did!” Shining Armor looked at the targets with a scrying spell, and saw that one of them was Gilda the Griffon, who had wronged one of his sister's friends in the past.“Twilight, you seem to let your feelings decide who you go after,” he said. "That griffon hurt one of your friend's feelings, right?" “Feelings?” Twilight asked. “Look, bro. You know has a lot of feelings? Guys who bludgeon their wives to death with a golf trophy,” she said as she took aim. “Professionals have standards. Be polite,” a shot rang out and Gilda went down. “Be efficient.” Another griffon went down from a headshot. “Have a plan to kill everypony you meet…” Twilight said as a third and final shot killed her last target. "Gilda's actions against Fluttershy have no bearing. Somepony wanted her dead. That's all there is to it," she said as she started packing her gear. “I’m worried about you, little sis,” Shining Armor muttered. “Shining Armor… let it go,” Twilight muttered with an annoyed look on her face.