Chevaux Sans Frontieres - II

>The chariot flies across the skies.
>You look out to the scenery while the two mares converse.
>“I-I don’t know how to deal with this, Twilight. How am I going to live like this?”
>“I’m sure we’ll figure something out.”
>“You don’t get it! I lost a part of my life! I lost the thing that made me ME!”
>Losing a part of yourself.
>You knew that pain too well.
>“Rainbow Dash, you’re more than just a pair of wings!”
>“Yeah, well flying was my talent, and now it’s gone! I’m worthless now...”
>After a few minutes of silence, Rainbow Dash finally speaks up.
>“Hey, thanks for saving me back there.”
“No problem.”
>“This is Big Boss. He’s a human, and he’s not from around here.”
>“Well, gotta give Big Boss some credit. I’d probably be dead if it weren’t for him.”
>“Just wait. He will be what turns the tables for us.”
>Rainbow Dash.
>A bird stripped of her wings.
>Was there any way to replace them?

>A while after, the chariot made its way back to Canterlot.
>Somber feelings still lingered.
>As soon as you landed, Rainbow Dash was taken to the medical wing to be treated.
>“Boss, I can’t thank you enough for what you did.”
“I just did what I needed to do.”
>A certain motherly figure approaches the two of you.
>“Big Boss. A job well done.”
“Huh. Thanks.”
>“The rescue of one of Twilight’s dearest friends will help our situation tremendously. Take some time off. You’ve earned it,” she says with a warm smile.
>You nod and head off, Twilight following.
>“What are you going to do now?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll just wait for the next mission.”

>You are Twilight Sparkle.
>Big Boss saved one of your best friends.
>He couldn’t save all of her, though.
>Rainbow Dash's wings were gone, and with that, the very core of her being.
>She was taken to the medical wing for healing, but they couldn't give back her wings.
>There was nothing you could do about it, and nopony to blame.
>You follow Big Boss around as he aimlessly strolls through the castle.
>“Twilight, is there any place where I can get some rest?”
“Well, we have some guard bedrooms, but you haven't exactly requested a room yet.”
>“And where can I go to request a room?”
“Just follow me.”
>Big Boss follows you to the Guard Office, and they provide a room for him.
>The office staff tells him where the rooms are, and he starts for them shortly.
>The two of you reach his new living quarters, and you decide to ask him something.
“Boss, do you there's any way we could help Rainbow Dash?”
>“Prosthetics,” he answers before quietly closing the door.
>Prosthetic.
>An artificial body part; a prostheses.
>Wings.
>This kind of technology has never been delved into.
>It was the only way you could save her.
>You head off to the library for research.

>You are Big Boss.
>You have just told Twilight the only probable method of bringing back Rainbow Dash’s wings.
>You weren't entirely sure if it could work though.
>You're pretty sure that prosthetics were never explored in a place like this.
>Then you remembered that arm.
>You look back at your left arm, reminding yourself that it was flesh and sinew.
>The room you sat in was cozy.
>You rummage through a cabinet's drawers and come across a cigarette box.
>It wasn't the smooth Cuban cigars you liked, but how bad can Equestrian cigs be?
>You find a matchbox and open the window.
>You strike the match and light up the small stick of tobacco.
>Gently sitting in your fingers, you bring it to your lips and breathe it in.
>This is the best smoke you've ever had.

>You continue your most sacred of rituals.
>You pull out an ashtray from the cabinet, and you tap the cigarette while watching the ashes drop.
>Equestrian cigs really do a better job at easing your mind than the cigars back at home did.
>You amble to the open window and waft the cig's smoke.
>You observe the scenery before you, watching stallions and mares exercising themselves for the battles to come.
>You could train them better.
>You could meld and shape them into true soldiers.
>You should save that for later.
>After a few minutes of continued smoking, you notice that the cigarette is almost at its end.
>You extinguish the cigarette in the ashtray and leave it.
>Feeling relaxed, you exit your room and head outside.
>You saunter around the hallways, occasionally walking past some guards, receiving congratulations and compliments from them for your work.
>Already being congratulated like a hero again.
>All that sneaking and shooting has left you kind of hungry.
>You encounter another guard and ask her,
“Hey, you know where I can get something to eat around here?”
>“Mess Hall's at the next hall to the left. Eat your heart out!” she says with a smile.
>You head down the mentioned hall and you open the doors to the cafeteria.
>The cafeteria reminds you of the mess hall back at MSF.
>You remember the occasional home cooking from Paz, and its effect on your soldiers' morale.
>Perhaps Pinkie Pie could do the same.
>Your nostalgia trip is interrupted by a stallion shouting, “Hey, it's the human who saved Rainbow Dash!”
>Cheering and compliments followed shortly.

>“Cheers for Big Boss!”
>“Amazing job!”
>All these pastel ponies cheering for your recent achievement.
>You make a small smile before going for a tray and some food.
>The ponies serving lunch placed salads, fruits, nuts, soups, and sweets like those seen in Sugarcube Corner.
>The vegetarian kind of soup, of course.
>You walk to a table and seat yourself.
>The ponies around you lift their drinks up in appreciation and pat you on the back.
>As you fill yourself up, the ponies around you bombard you with questions.
>“How did you get here?”
>“What are you?”
>“How did you manage to sneak around a griffon outpost AND save Rainbow Dash?”
>You were here now. Might as well tell 'em.
>After quite some time with your sub-par storytelling about your rescue op, you seem to have made quite the impression on the horses.
>The tale leaves them impressed by your actions.
>A stallion sitting next to you speaks up, “That’s impressive. Wish any of us had half the courage you did.”
>You nearly forgot that these ponies were just ordinary civilians called to take up arms.
>They were all pulled into this mess; to fight for their lives.
>You’ll have to make the best out of this soon, but that’s for later.
>You continue your R&R with the ponies, chatting with them about their lives, eating, drinking, and just enjoying their presence.
>The stallion that talked to you a while ago, you found out, had a talent in metalsmithing.
>Maybe he could do something with that Browneigh .45 of yours.
>You were still enjoying your break when you decide to ask him a favor.
“Hey, why don't you use your skill with metal to work something for me?”
>Surprised, he glances over and says “Sure, what do you need?”
“I’ll get into the specifics later.”

>You found out that the metalsmith’s name was Steel Cog.
>For some reason, that name sounded oddly familiar.
>You follow him out of Canterlot Castle and to his smithery which, conveniently, was close by.
>“So, what do you need?” He asks.
>You pull out your pistol and place it on his hoof.
>He examines the pistol and says, “A .45. My great grandfather designed this model. What do you want me to do with it?”
>You take your pistol back and start disassembling it while you speak of your required specifications.
“First of all, the feeding ramp has to be polished to a mirror sheen, so it doesn’t have any feeding problems. Replace the slide with a reinforced version, and make sure it meshes perfectly with the frame. The frame itself has to be iron-welded and scraped down multiple times for maximum precision. The front strap part of the frame should be checkered to dig into the hand to prevent any slipping. Make the sight system into a 3-dot type, with an enlarged front sight for superior targeting capability. Replace the regular hammer with a ring hammer to enhance the cocking control and increase the hammer-down speed. You’ll have to eliminate the grip safety to accommodate for it. The thumb safety and slide stop should be extended to allow for more precise handling. The base of the trigger guard needs to be whittled down for a higher grip. Change the trigger to a long type for easy finger access. Make a new trigger pull, but make sure it’s about three-point-five pounds, a pound and a half lighter than normal. The magazine well needs to be widened to make it easier to put in a new magazine, and the magazine catch button needs to be cut low to avoid hitting it by mistake. The mainspring housing must be changed to a flat type to increase grip, and fit it with stepping so it doesn’t slip from recoil when firing. Finally, add cocking serrations to the front of the slide, so cartridges can be loaded and ejected faster in an emergency.”