Benny walked in with a false air of calm and confidence, and he was certain no one noticed or paid any mind. The HLF were in their corner talking to Felicity and were daring one another to drink a bottle of something a zebra had brought over. A brown unicorn mare having a argument with a few other members of PER. Easy to tell which ones were PER cause a few always seemed to have a slightly glassy stare compared to the other ponies. . . and some of them blinked in unison for the most part, that helped.
"So, What's up?" Benny asked walking over to where a few other exterminators had sat around a cowboy, a swordsman, and a cowgirl. He locked eyes momentarily with the tall blond man sitting with his crew.
"What's going on assclown?" The blonde man started.
"Aw come on Randy, ya know that thing wouldn't have blown up if you'd handled it more carefully." Began the brick red earth pony next to him.
"So. . . I see you’re still babysitting these guys Donny, how's things been going?" Benny just grinned as the man in the green coat frowned for a moment before shrugging. He grabbed his weapon of choice off the table. An old Harpoon and tapped the end against the floor with a thump.
"No clue, showed up knowing about as much as you do man." Benny shrugged back. Donny sighed and shifted his weight to the left.
"So, we’re supposed to be meeting with the cowboy fella? All right." Benny meandered over to the big table giving a chuckle as Randy glared and spat waiting till Benny passed. Benny slipped around to the large table near the bar and pulled up a chair. Receiving a nod from Charlie, and a small wave of the hand from Buster.
"Well, who might you be?" The cowboy questioned tilting back in his chair, much to Phil's disdain.
"Oh, good. This is Benny, he's the younger brother of Bert. He's letting us use this place as a temporary headquarters since ours was sort a blown up." said the pearl pink unicorn with a frustrated sigh.
"Yep, Randy is a dick." Muttered the fuchsia pegasus.
"Bit, dammit There is no proof I did that!" Randy yelled from the next table.
"No, no fucker you don't get to talk to me or Sheri, I'm walkin on hooves because of your damned stupidity!"
"Honey, Bit, I'm going by Pixiel now." The Pearl Pink pony smiled.
"Stop being so good natured about this, and my name's Charlie, not Bit!" Charlie said stamping a hoof in agitation.
"Well, this is certainly interesting but I wanted to cut a deal quickly with the exterminators on behalf of the U.S. Government. As you know there's been things popping up lately, giant bugs, monsters, and legends come alive, yada yada." Hawk glanced, somewhat agitated at being cut off, at the black haired man.
"Yeah, I knew a guy who lives down in Buckley, One day woke up. Whole damn town was in black and white like a movie, cept the earth ponies only the earth ponies, I know it was weird. He said it was kinda like that one movie, Pleasantville." Chuckled the black haired man, cigar dangling from his lips.
"Buster, could you kindly 'not' interrupt the clients?" Pixel said shooting the man a death glare.
"Eh hmm, we were trying to get in touch with the leader of your group. . .You do have a leader for your group?" Zorro said leaning in shooting a smile towards Pixel who only seemed to narrow her eyes more.
"We did, but he bought the farm so to speak. "Benny frowned leaning back in the chair, and propping one foot on the table.
"Sorry to hear about that, I'm sure he was a good man." Hawk tipped his hat.
"What?! No he isn't dead." Benny said eyes widening a bit as he tipped back a little too far for his own good.
"Well, pony now. Bastard ran off, and well there's been so much shit been stirred up lately we couldn't just close up shop. So to speak, Pixel, me, and Donny are sort of our 'elected' leaders." Buster said, chewing on the end of his unlit cigar (It's impolite to smoke in the presence of company.)
"Hey Donny get over here!" Charlie yelled at the man, as he moved over using his harpoon to support his weight a bit.
"The name's Hawk. Pleasure to meet ya." Hawk said reaching out to grab Donny's hand. "So, How long have you been with this lot?"
". . ." Donny shrugged.
"A long time?" Hawk said raising an eyebrow beginning to grow impatient.
". . ." Donny held up two fingers
"Would you say they’re good at what they do?"
". . ." Donny nodded slowly.
"What's wrong, cat got your tongue?" Hawk chuckled.
". . ." Donny frowned deeply for a moment, before giving a grin.
"Umm." Benny said looking up at Donny, who gave a small nod and smile.
"Donny. . .Donny sort of, had his tongue cut out. . . A few riders caught up to him after he stopped them from ganging up on a pony, Nearly beat the poor fella to death. Caught him, knocked him out and cut out his tongue." Benny relayed slowly. "No need to worry about it though, the folks who did it to him are missing equal pieces themselves. . . now." Benny looked at Donny for another moment before giving another short nod.
". . .How do you understand him?" Hawk said with a questioning brow.
"Well, when you work with Donny long enough, you just sort of understand what he wants." Pixel answered.
"Well, on to business, then." Megan began wanting to hurry with the proceedings.
"Right, business. we want to contract you to help in maintaining the region. you'd be supplied with all the equipment you need, and the pay's good." Hawk started again trying to keep a friendly face whilst ignoring the smoke filled bar room.
"What's the pay?" Buster said spitting a bit of cigar pulp into an empty glass, ignoring the rage in Phil's eyes, as the man glared daggers at him from across the room, and further ignoring Joe's attempts to calm him down.
"About 80 bits a day apiece." Megan replied quickly.
"That's. . . actually fairly reasonable. 80 a day flat rate?"
"For the most part, you'd of course be compensated for hunting down bigger game so to speak."
"Well, all right." Buster began before being interrupted.
"Well, what about reimbursement for lost equipment. Benefits, are we being just contracted or are we being 'bought out' so to say?" Pixel said shooting Buster another agitated look.
*~*~*~*
Terry and Mikey watched the meeting take place with mild interest.
"Ya know, I joined this gang to kick ass and burn shit up, right?" Terry moaned.
"Terry, we're not a gang. For the last time were like town militia or something." Mikey said doing his best to keep from falling asleep.
"Well, yeah. I still say the fuckers need to learn to defend themselves." Terry Chuckled "Teach them to kill off bedbugs and shit."
"Oh god, don't bring those things up. Hard as hell to kill, drain a pony dry in five minutes." Freighter shook his head trotting over to the group.
"Yeah, hard to hurt too."Terry began slowly, flicking the lid of his Zippo open and closed.
"Heh, not for me!" Freighter grinned.
"Yeah, but we don't normally carry 40mm Cannons on our backs." Mikey yawned. "Bored. . . This is not entertaining at all. need caffeine." Mikey yawned again, eyeing a container of coffee sitting on an unguarded table. "Sweet!"
"Hey, hey don't drink that!" Joe said reaching out to stop Mikey as he tipped the container and poured it down his throat.
"Hmm, this is pretty damn good!"
"Hey, don't drink that, it's garbage!" Terry shot.
"How? tastes fine to me." Mikey chuckled gulping down more. He jumped a bit as Terry reached over.
"May I see that for a sec?" He said gesturing to the glass.
"Be my guest... Could use some more sugar though." Mikey frowned. Terry dabbed a finger into the liquid and brought it to his lips.
"MY GOD, that, that, that?" He said, beginning to tremble a bit. "How much damn caffeine can you need in a drink!?" Terry said, shaking from the massive caffeine high. Mikey looked over Terry’s shoulder and watched as Randy walked over slowly and pulled up a chair.
"Meh, I don't get what all the fuss is about. New contract big deal, all I really understood out of what they're saying is we can get more explosive ordnance. To tell the truth I could give a fuck less after that." Randy droned, shooting a quick glance to Freighter then turning his eyes towards the larger man. "Heh what's wrong you dandy, can't handle your whiskey?" Randy laughed.
"It's coffee, dick!" Mikey snapped causing Randy to laugh louder, attracting the attention of Bert.
"Always stirring for a fight, ain't ya. Prick." Bert said strolling over. "Hey if I remember right, weren't you the guy who blew up my shed a year back?" Bert said with a pop of his knuckles.
"Nah, that ain't me." Randy said looking at his drink intently now as though it were the most interesting thing in the world.
"Yeah, by what I've been hearing. Yes, yes it is like you. Get a little mad blow something up. I don't like cowards who set traps, at least a gunman has to look at ya." Bert sneered. "Also If I find proof of that, you're going to be paying out your ass for that shed. . . was a nice shed too."
"Well, no worry I didn't do it!" Randy said casting a baleful glance towards the snickering Pixel before she returned her attention to her meeting.
". . .Bitch. . ." Randy sneered.
"What was that? Speak up. Can't hear you." Bert said leaning towards randy with his ear cupped. "I'm not quite sure I heard ya."
'Oh I'm gonna get that cunt.' Randy thought as he just sat there and gritted his teeth and glared at Bert. Thunder roared in the distance as the rain picked up more.
*~*~*~*
"Why must they be so loud? Bruce sighed. He had long since quit his game with the other dogs and was sitting with Vince at the bar. . . with a little difficulty.
"Hue-Mans not know how make stool." Vince whined doing everything to keep from falling.
"Heh, My frien’ you are not havin’ half the difficulty as the other drunks at this place." Bruce grinned gesturing to a passed out patron on the floor.
"Why we not go back to New Foalsome. Liked it better?" Vince said raising a shot glass to his lips before lapping it up quickly. With a scrunched face he continued. "You miss?"
". . .No. . . I don’ much care for tha’ place anymore." Bruce said with a distant look in his eyes before smiling. "Well, we mus keep an eye on proceedins. there is bound to be a figh’ abou’ to star at any momen’." he said with a slight sadness mixed into his Cajun accent.
"Heh, Hue-mans are funny they alwa-. . ." Vince was still for a bit as he sat up straight, his ears began to twitch. Bruce seemed to notice it to. "Hear somethin’ funny." Thunder rumbled in the distance.
"Somethin’ scratchin’ at the glass. . . Oh merde." Bruce rolled his eyes as he saw the silhouetted figure press up against the glass. The figure had begun to scratch at it playfully with a scythe.
"Bad man?" Vince said scratching behind his ear. A sudden flash of lightning in the distance highlighted the burlap sack head, and face painted in dry blood with a crudely made smile.
With a crash the first few tumbled in and bum rushed the nearest people towards them. Scythes tearing through the flesh of one patron easily. the second one didn't get a chance to even swing it's scythe before it's head exploded in a burst of straw.
"Well, this jus’ got interestin’. . ." Bruce said watching with mild amusement as Mike and Terry, not missing a beat, stood up and began to launch furniture at the advancing straw men as they poured in through the front door and windows. Benny had ducked behind the table Hawk had recently overturned and was pumping lead into them with his small revolver. Bruce yawned as Bert, with a nearby bench in hand, began to tear through them faster than they could pour into the bar.
"Oh ho ho, watch them go!" Vince chuckled as HLF grunts and Felicity began to help drive back the onslaught. Felicity Tearing them apart with her claws, and the HLF grabbing makeshift weapons.
"Watch this!" Bruce chuckled grabbing a can of hairspray from his bag. "Misstu Terry, Cath Thi!" He laughed tossing the can to the confused looking man before chuckling again, Terry grinned wide before pulling out a zippo.
***
"BURN FUCKERS BURN!" Terry Cackled like a mad man. Using the rigged up Hairspray flame thrower.
"Got, Dammit TERRY. STOP. LIGHTING THEM ON FIRE!" Mikey yelled, catching another Scarecrow’s scythe mid swing with the bar stool. "It doesn't work fast enough!"
Freighter cackled like a mad pony. "TRY AND PUT UP A FIGHT AT LEAST!" the red earth pony growled as he pounced on a scarecrow, laughing maniacally. Tearing away it's scythe and tearing it apart more, as he shook his head in a gleeful rage like a big dog with a new toy.
'Jesus, Terry And Freights Have to be related somehow or something. Ax crazy runs in the family? wait. . .How the fuck is he using that scythe like that, doesn't that hurt his teeth?' Benny thought quickly, hurling another bottle at the advancing scarecrows, and firing more rounds into them.
"Ha, this seems to happen a lot here!" Hawk laughed blowing multiple holes though the advancing hordes in a blink of an eye.
'All right, Cowboy here is really good with a revolver.' Benny thought quickly slamming ammo into Marie, before letting her add her own insults into this huge argument little as they may be.
"So have you always used a woman's gun?" Hawk chuckled giving a quick glance at Marie as he reloaded.
"Size doesn't matter!"
"It does when you need to kill!"
"I believze that ze sword is much better, no reloading!" Zorro chuckled slashing through the straw with little effort.
"Ah don't care. KILL 'EM ALL!" Bert shouted taking three of the straw men off their feet with a swing of the bench.
"Randy, don't you fuckin dare throw that dynamite!" Charlie screamed as he bucked another scarecrow in the face.
"Fuck you I wasn't going to throw it!" Randy hissed before licking his finger tips and putting out the lit fuse.
"Heh, congratz cowboy. you just hired a mildly stable group of psychos!" Benny chuckled shooting a scythe out of one of the scarecrows hands before Freighter began to tear it apart like a feral dog. ". . . Hey where's the gal with the rifle?" Benny cast a quick look over his shoulder watching as she was '. . . was taking NOTES?!' He thought with a screech "Hey, shoot something!" Benny yelled at Megan, but she simply motioned for him to pay attention to the fight.
"We were going to see what you could do, but a live demonstration works best don't you think? She's taking notes to see what you folks need to work on."
"We're being evaluated. . . NOW!?" Benny shouted.
"Hell, sooner the better, the quicker we get you guys on our side the faster we can head on out." Hawk shot back.
". . .All right." Benny stopped, realizing that there was stuff trying to kill him. "WHY THE FUCK CAN'T ONE DAY BE NORMAL IN THIS TOWN!" Benny just watched as Terry barreled through a group of flaming scarecrows to help Freighter beat them down, having grown bored (Or running out of hairspray.) The fighting began to wind down as less of the strange scarecrows charged in. Abruptly as it began the assault ended.
"Heh, that's the last of them." Benny chuckled "How you doin cowboy?"
"Decent." Hawk said reloading his gun. "Thought for a minute there I was going to have to break out the Dynamite." Hawk chuckled as Randy seemed to perk up.
"Woah, you had Dynamite, why not use it?" Randy grinned.
". . .Because that's fucking insane." Pixel sighed, "Hey Bit, where are you Bit?"
"Over here honey." The Fusicha pegasus pony said pushing his way out from under the overturned shelf.
"Heh, my gun don't work on straw men too well I guess." Benny snickered.
"Finally got a decent gun, huh. Where'd you find it?" Bit laughed.
"Yep, So. . .We start cleaning up or what?" Benny said scratching his head.
"Yep, I guess." Bert said nonchalantly walking away from the carnage his bench wielding fury had reeked earlier. Everyone began to groan as the lights began to flicker.
"Seriously?!"
"What the fuckin ‘ell?!"
"I'm gonna bust some major ass!"
"Heh, wish I had my Good Burner."
"Fuck everything. Why the fuck can't tonight be normal, every night is fucked up like this!"
"I don't get paid enough to deal with this shit!"
"Yeah, get some tables blocking them doors boys!" The HLF's impromptu leader cried. "We got incoming!"
". . ." Benny rushed to look out the window, and everyone began shudder as the temperature began to drop. The wind seemed to pick up more, slowly at first, then it began to rise to an ear splitting howl. The lights began to brighten and dim, bulbs blowing here and there with a pop, and then the wood of the old bar began to creak as in the distance the sound of someone whistling could be heard far off in the distance, slowly at first as the room darkened and the air began to thicken, a dark electricity in the air. It could have been the wind at first glance, but it picked up into a mournful melody that began to chill their blood. The group began to shake more as the lights faded away and they began to see their breath as the man on the hill approached.
"No, no there's no fucking way. . ." Benny whispered to himself unintentionally. He knew him from somewhere. . . far off, far away. He knew him from what seemed like a lifetime ago.
There on the hill stood a shadowy figure of a man, tall and lean. With a near luminescent Cheshire smile, a green glow coming from the black depths of his mouth, and another darker and unholy light of green flickering flames in place of his eyes. Somewhere in the distance howling could be heard over the hellish wind, as lightning lit up the sky for a moment. They could see the gaunt figure of the man as he moved down towards the bar. He kept moving his neck back and forth a bit as he walked, like he was trying to work out a kink that refused to give, like he was trying to work out the soreness of some unseen rope. . .
"Bensen. . . I know you're in there. Come out, come out." They heard the voice come as a horrid dry disembodied whisper, that seemed to flow through the room, It was getting harder to see farther away. like some horrible unseen fog had began to roll in and cloud their minds.
"I've come back now. . . and I want mine. . ." Came the same disembodied voice, still a whisper with a trace of a malicious laughter hidden in it.
"All right, barricade the doors and windows." Hawk glared looking around. "NOW!" everyone began to scamper about, helping the HLF and PER bar the doors and windows.
"Who the fuck is that?!" Phil screeched as the wind began to rock the bar.
"I just wanna go home, that's all I want. I want to go home and wake up from this nightmare!"
"Please, I can't die, I-I won't die. NOT YET!" Shrieked Randy launching himself out a window landing flat on his face before scrambling towards a van in the back lot.
"Folks calm down!" Bert said motioning for everyone to keep calm. " There’s at least forty folks here with guns and can fight! No one is gonna die." Bert truly hoped that.
"All right. You red head!" Hawk said pointing an accusing finger towards Benny, taking only a moment to find the short man who had wedged himself in between the wall and shelf. "Story time. Why the hell is he calling you out?"
"I have literally no clue." Benny said sliding out from behind the case.
"Usually when the dead come back, and call you out by name, yeah guess what. It means you've fucked up bad. So come clean right now so we can figure out what to do!" Hawk said, glaring at Benny.
"Really, no clue." Benny could see it in the man's eyes, something had changed. He was dealing with a professional killer, not some happy cowboy wannabe, he would kill him. he'd seen that look a hundred times before. 'Damn, this guy grips his gun any harder and he's gonna break the damn thing!'
"This will go much easier if you'll just come up to whatever the hell it is!
“Alright, Cowgirl is getting her rifle ready, Bert's helping them barricade, no help there. Bruce is. . . laughing at me?!” Benny glowered. "Look, I don't know. Seriously. I can't think of anything."
"Aww, you know that ain't true, Bensen," hissed the voice, they less heard it as more it pierced their ears. "Why, you could say he looked up to me! from his knees, after he STUCK ME WITH A KNIFE IN THE RIBS AND LEFT ME TO CHOKE TO DEATH SLOWLY!"
"Wait, what?" Benny questioned no one, keeping an eye on the steely eyed cowboy. "I never did anything like that!"
"Oh ho ho. Yes, like you didn't slaughter my town! I'm not here for me alone, I'm here for all those poor souls that you killed in cold blood. Slaughtered where they stood." The air seemed to thicken, Hawk's hand tightened on his gun. Benny was panicking
"Why, how. . . I never did anything like that!" Shrieked Benny.
"Actually, I want to hear this now, myself." Hawk replied eyes narrowing on the shaking man.
". . . Creeks cross. . . Benny, is that true?" Buster said stepping up to the two. "So, does that mean you killed Zekey, Pete, and Petal as well?!" Buster was nearly frothing at the mouth. "WHY, have a fuckin argument with them. Was that it?"
". . .N-no, Zekey was my friend I'd never!" Benny began to back away slowly. He backed into Randy.
"Vengeful little prick aren't ya? Bet it was you who caused the explosives to go off at the yard!"
"That wasn't me either! I even told you not to keep the explosives in the main building!" Benny shot back trying to move out of arm’s reach.
"IT MAKES SENSE, YOU TRIED TO KILL ME ONCE! We should have seen this coming." Randy shot out.
"Now, everyone calm down. . ." Pixel said "Let's be calm about this. . . EVERYPONY SETTLE THE FUCK DOWN!" She boomed horn beginning to glow. The men had no intention of settling themselves, as Buster took a head long dive at Benny. Benny leaped over him, and tucked into a roll as Hawk's revolver leveled with his head. He rolled behind the bar and let out a shriek as a lit red stick landed in between him and the bar. With a quick grab and bite, Benny bit the fuse off and spat it to the side.
"SETTLE DOWN, AND ACT LIKE ADULTS!" Pixel boomed again, her horn erupting in a spray of pink that struck the three men. For a moment they all looked a little lost, and dazed.
"What just happened? Where the fuck did Benny go?!" Randy spat
"I want tha’ little prick right here. He is going to explain what's happening."
"He ran, that's all the proof I need!"
At that moment the door and all the furniture piled in front of it exploded in wards, showering the group with splinters. The wind died down as the man marched in, wind dying down to a dull roar so they could understand him.
"All I want, is the red haired man If any of you try and stop me. . . it will not end favorably." The sheriff said in a grating monotone.
"Now hold up!" Joe said stepping up "I want an explanation here. what's going on, and why the hell do you think he's the Creek Cross Slasher?!" Joe screamed. The sheriff walked over to him, heels of his boots making a steady click on the floor, and stopped in front of him.
"You never listened to your teacher or momma. . . did ya, Boy?!" He spat the last part.
The Sheriff chuckled as his arms shot out, pure cracking black lightning, striking Joe in the chest with the force of a sledge hammer, with a snapping sound of bone and a hiss of burning flesh as it tore through. Joe stumbled backwards, a blue smoke pouring from his mouth and wounds as he screamed, before slumping to the ground. Everyone stared slack jawed as the burned part of his chest began to crumble into ash and blew away leaving, revealing bone and charred meat.
". . .Jo-Joe." Phil began quietly looking at the man howled in pain. Phil rushed to him and watched in horror only for a moment before attempting to treat his wounds.
"Aww, did I do that?" tutted the Sheriff with false remorse. "Now. Anyone else wish to stand up for the little runt?" The sheriff said stepping over Joe as he headed towards the bar.
"What, Happened at creek's cross?" Megan asked somewhat hesitantly keeping her rifle trained on the Sheriff. He turned his head to her slowly and grinned a horrible, soul chilling grin.
"Why, he killed everyone there. . . man, women, pony, child, and foal. You know what is worse? He did it with a grin!" The sheriff shouted, his fiery eyes glowing brighter.
'I didn't, no no I didn't do that!’ Benny screamed mentally at himself. 'They don't give a fuck. They need someone to blame for that. I can't reason with a lynch mob.’ Benny fingered the hammer on Marie. 'I can run for it. . . If I'm quick I just migh-.'
"Make it halfway cross the floor before your gunned down." Bruce whispered from his seat. "I know what you’re thinkin’, don't run. . . not yet."
"Wha-." Benny mouthed to himself. 'Why would Bruce help me?"
"I'm sorry, Boogeyman, Saint, or Devil. You ain't gonna get hold of my brother!" Bert shouted veins popping up on his neck. "You can't go around killin’ folks! You honestly think he has what it takes to kill someone willingly!" Bert snarled.
"I'm more than willing than to let that go. . . step aside, and you won't die." The Sheriff hissed.
"Ahmm, Gentlemen. . . there is no need to fight here. Why Benny is right here." smiled Bruce coyly.
'I sure hope this prick knows what he's doing.' Benny thought to himself. as he stood. "I did not, I repeat NOT KILL THEM!" He tensed as he saw the cowboy reach for his gun, but his hand only rested on the grip.
"LIAR! YOU KILLED EVERYONE OF THEM!" The sheriff barked soot rising from the flames of his 'eyes'.
"As I was saying, no one will be dying here today!" Bruce yelled again pulling a small mason jar from his jacket. With a toss the jar smashed into the Sheriff's side, and smoke rapidly filled the room.
" Adieu, les connards!" Not even hesitating Bruce charged after Bert and Vince as they plowed through people in the way to the door. "Run for your lives mon ami!" Keeping low to avoid gunfire and thrown bottles. Benny, Bruce, Bert, and Vince rushed outside.
"You explain what's going on now!" Bert yelled at the small ginger man as they ran.
"LATER!" Benny hollered as a bullet clipped his ear. "Damn! The vans keys are in it!" Benny screamed kicking up loose gravel as he dashed for his van, beating Bruce by a mile. They hurried into the van slamming the door behind them. In mere moments the van screeched out of the parking lot and down the road, the road. . . to destiny!
*~*~*~*