Boom! Clik-clak! Boom! Clik-clak! Applejeack rapidly worked the lever of her 12ga then ducked back behind the earthen berm as a volley of bullets from the bandits plowed into it. Safely behind cover the earth pony quickly topped off the tube magazine of her shotgun. She’d been patrolling a couple miles outside of town when she’d stumbled upon this group of bandits.

She’d whittled their numbers down, but she was in danger of being outflanked.

Eventually there was a lull in the firefight, as both sides tried to assess the effect of their fire and plan their next move. AJ had taken shelter in a clump of cottonwoods. The immediate countryside had gone quiet; all she could hear was the occasional muffled curses from the bandits and moans of their wounded. AJ was weighing her options when she heard from a few yards away a very rapid mechanical, clacking sound.

Takatakatakatakataka!

This was followed by a grunt and a heavy thud. From the surrounding bush she could hear the bandits calling out, trying to determined what was going on. This went on for several seconds then once again AJ heard the sound.

Takatakatakatakataka!

This time the response was a volley of weapons fire and cursing into the surrounding bush away from AJ. After the second burst the earth pony recognized the sound and smiled. Using the confusion being sown in the bandits ranks the earth pony sprinted towards the sound of gunfire. She’d just reached the stump of an old cottonwood when she saw one of the bandits pop up and fire into a nearby clump of brambles. Shouldering her shotgun she let the brass bead settle on center of the bandit’s chest.

Boom! Clik-clak! Boom! Clik-clak! Applejack was alternating 00 Buckshot and 1oz slugs in her shotgun. The range was 25yds but her brain still registered the bandit flinching as a few of the 00 pellets found their mark. Then a fraction of second later the bandit’s head detonated as 12ga slug vaporized their skull. The bandit collapsed in a heap on the ground.

The roar of AJ’s shotgun flushed the last bandit from their cover. A unicorn mare with wild eyes popped and started to level her rifle at the earth pony when once again their was the distinctive sound.

Takatakatakatakataka!

The unicorn twitched as multiple subsonic projectiles slammed into her chest and head. Then slowly she crumpled in a heap on the ground. From about 20yds away a new figure came sauntering into view. Wearing a worn, fade, and tattered Royal Kirin Defense Force uniform Autumn Blaze approached the fallen bandit. Keeping her weapon pointed at the bandit’s body she circled it until she was satisfied they were truly dead. With that accomplished she looked over at AJ.

“There you are!” The kirin smiled. “I’ve been looking all over hill and dale for you!”

Applejack grunted and looked down at her shotgun as she began the ritual of topping off its magazine. “Figgered I’d let ya sleep in taday! Ya were tired and it looked liked ya needed the sleep!” She muttered.

Autumn arched an eyebrow and wandered up to earth pony. Without warning she grabbed AJ’s face with both hands and gave the mare a long, slow, deep kiss. After many seconds they separated. The Kirin smiled at AJ.

“The only reason I was tired was because you wore me out last night!”

A Patreon patron reward for skyline-twilight.

<span class="caps">FYI</span>. Autumn is not carrying an AK or an AK derivative. Instead it’s a Chinese Type 64 Suppressed Submachine Gun.