Chapter 4: The Squad Part 2

Hooooooooly crap it's been awhile… Sorry I haven't been posting everypony, now that winter break is over it's going to be hard keeping a rigorous writing schedule. That and the fact that I had to make some really tough decisions for this story. I've decided that it is for the better of the story that I'm going to have to cut some characters originally were plotted to be in the story. I just don't have a good way to incorporate them into the story as it is right now. There will be more characters that will be introduced later, but for now, just know that some that were in the character description in the beginning will not be in the story. I apologize for this :(…

But without further ado, let's get on with this.

Art Beat awoke from her doze with a start. She looked outside, seeing the sun starting to set and began to wonder when Rambo would be coming back. She lazily got up and stretched, trotting over to her artist isle to work on a portrait she's been painting. She loved to use different shades of red; crimson red, dark red, you name it, she had it. She looked at the work in progress, a small trail of red liquid coming from a pony collapsed on the floor shockingly similar to her boyfriend… She grimaced and started to darken the reds, making them more like blood. She painted the guts and gore making them more and more lifelike, drawing faster and faster. For this was a certain fascination of hers. She just loved to draw scenes of bloodied ponies, it was her way of letting out certain pent up negative feelings. She looked at her work, brushing a strand of her rainbow colored mane from her face. The life like details of the portrait made her squeal in excitement. The glazed eyes of the pony seem to stare off into emptiness…

"Ah, a rather gory display for the fragile artist wouldn't you say?" A voice echoed from behind Art. She whipped around only to see that no one was there, only a picture of Art, Sweetie and Rambo. "H-hello?" Art Beat called. She began to trot cautiously toward where she heard the voice from. Step by step, she inched toward the picture on the small table.

No answer…

Art picked up the picture and examined it closely. Nothing seemed to be out of order with it at all. Casting the voice off as imagination, Art set the picture down and turned around, trotting face first into the god of chaos.

"Hiya there Miss Arty" Discord chided, his malicious eyes gleaming at the frightened mare. "W-who the fuck ARE YOU?!" Art screamed, backing away from him. Discord ran a talon across Art's chin, "Oh don't be so frightened darling. For your information, I am Discord, God of Chaos and all things related t-" Art stopped him mid monologue, quickly regaining her wits "You mean THE God of Chaos? I remember Rambo saying something about you…" Discord snapped and disappeared only to be part of Art's unfinished drawing. The pony's eyes seemed to focus on Art as it got up, spilling the rest of its guts onto the bottom of the painting. "Strange how said stallion isn't back yet hm?" Discord questioned with a wicked grin, "I never thought that he'd be one to drink at a bar without his little waifu knowing…" Discord hopped out of the painting and snapped once more, summoning a crystal ball in the middle of the floor. Art sat down, wondering by what he meant. Certainly he couldn't be drinking it up in Ponyville… Could he?

The crystal ball shifted to a scene with Rambo Dash, Blarebun and Shadow Dash sitting in a bar, howling in laughter over a drink. Rambo suddenly stopped laughing and whispered in an urgent tone. "You all need to help me with this okay?" Shadow took a sip of his cider and asked "Does Art know anything about this?" "No, not a thing. " Rambo quickly answered. "I think you should tell her Rambo," Blare answered, "It could be detrimental to the relationship if she finds out on her own, it's better to tell her now…" Discord poofed the crystal ball away. "Sounds like something is amiss wouldn't you think?" Art sat there petrified. "He couldn't be… no, he's not like that Art, just calm down…" She breathed in deeply and asked, "Take me to Ponyville Discord." The spirit smiled and snapped his talon's once again, encasing both Art and Discord in a bright light…

"Maybe you're right, I'm going to tell her once I get back…" Rambo solemnly agreed, sipping his cider. Blare and Shadow nodded in approval. "So, I have some supplies for this trip back at my workshop we could use." Blare offered, "I have food and water for the trip, all we need now is… well, we are pretty set aren't we?" Shadow said. Rambo nodded, all he needed to do now was to convince Sweetie and Art of his trip. Rambo had sketched out a mental map and guidelines for the trip. There were going to be hot, harsh climates at day, while the nights would be cooler. If they could travel at night, they'd rest during the day, conserving water. But there was one thing they needed… "Guns!" Rambo realized, "We need to arm ourselves as well!" Blare chuckled, and motioned to his gun and flamethrower, I'm set, just waiting on you two." Shadow and Rambo looked at each other before making mental notes to arm themselves. As the stallions continued to drink, Sweetie heard everything, pressing her ear against the bar's walls. She quickly smashed a window and jumped through it, startling the 3 ponies.

"Celestia's sake SWEETIE?!" Rambo was utterly confused upon his daughter's arrival. Sweetie stood there with her hooves crossed, "I knew it! I knew you were planning something without telling us!" Sweetie was infuriated, she HATED surprises and this one was no exception. "Now Sweetheart, Rambo was only try-" Blare reasoned before being kicked across the bar by Sweetie. "SHUT IT!" Rambo backed away from Sweetie in response. "Sweetie, let's sit down and think about this rationally, we can talk this out once we get home!" Just as Sweetie was about to lunge at her father, Art burst through the door, shocked at the scene before her.

She saw a yellow coated pony in the midst of debris by the door and her daughter about to lunge at Rambo. Shadow stood there dumbfounded as he looked at Art. "Um… hi Art" He said shyly. Sweetie and Rambo looked to see a very concerned Art Beat standing before him. "Well," Art started, "It isn't what I thought was happening, but I can't say I'm pleased… Mind telling me WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!" Art was fuming with anger. Not only was Rambo in a shady bar with his friends, but her daughter was here with him?

"Mind if I take over now?" Discord asked as he materialized in front of the ponies. Rambo sighed and said, "I'll explain this…"

After explaining his plan for riches to Art, she had tears in her eyes. "Why didn't you tell me Rambo?" Her voice cracked with each word. "I was afraid it wouldn't be good enough to convince you from the start… that's why I went here, getting my best friends here together to travel, maybe… just maybe I could convince you…" Art mulled over this. While the situation in Trottingham wasn't exactly the high life, would they abandon that life for Appleosa? There was no guarantee they'd even find gold there, not even a guarantee that they would survive the trip! With marauders and robbers and Celestia know what out on the trail, is it really worth it? Art sighed, "If this is what you really, REALLY want to do Rambo… I'm with you"

To Rambo, those three words meant everything to him. He leaned over to Art and kissed her passionately as thanks. "I promise Art, we'll make it there and when we do, it's going to be great… Discord waved a tissue and yelled, "Oh bravo bravo! You brought a tear to my eye it's so touching…" Everypony looked at Discord with unamused faces. He stood up and stated "Ok, we're all pegasi here… well, except myself and Mr. Blaze Happy over there… let's make this interesting." With a snap of his talons, the wings of Rambo, Art, Shadow Sweetie and Blare disappeared. "And… why?" Rambo questioned. "Well it's going to be more fun for me of course!" Discord answered. "Aw don't look so glum you ponies, I have a gift for each of you, except Blare… he got knocked the fuck out…" Discord waved his hand and as soon as he did, weapon holsters appeared on Rambo, Art, Shadow and Sweetie, along with a weapon that fitted the holster. For Sweetie, twin pistols with a pink highlighted streak across the middle of them. She quickly drew them up and like the fit. For Shadow, he had a singular 44. Magnum and a survival knife that came with it. Truly a cowpony's pistol of choice. For Art Beat, she obtained a high powered crossbow with an assortment of arrows to choose from. A flip up scope was attached to the crossbow as well. On it, Discord left a note that read "By the way call on me whenever you want to 3" Art shuddered at the sight. For Rambo, he was given a Tac 12 shotgun with a variety of ammo to choose from.

"Consider it my gift. Ya know, now that I am reformed and all that jazz. Alas, now is the time I bid you all adieu for now… I'll be watching…" Discord snapped and disappeared. No one said anything until Shadow broke the silence. "I think we should call it a night… we meet here by 3 tomorrow" Everyone nodded in agreement and silently trotted back to their houses. Rambo, Art and Sweetie started back for Trottingham. Art was filled with worry, but at the same time, hopeful for what's to come.

The adventure began in a day's time.

AN: Yup that's how it is. I can't wait for the next chapter! Anyways, this story hasn't been "Romantical" yet but I assure you, it will. I have some things in mind for Blare, Sweetie and Shadow ;) But um… anyways, thanks for reading and until next time!
Later Brobeans, Rambo Dash