AUTHOR'S NOTE:Guys, make sure I can PM you first. Then submit your OC. If you weren't anonymous and I didn't respond to you…tough luck, I didn't like your character, don't freak about it. That being said.

Firework belongs to Nwtp-dreamer

Quantum belongs to thebluemage1

Crackle belongs to UpsidePickle

Anarchy belongs to Poisonkash

Cryo belongs to Xionic13

Cloud Chaser belongs to Arceusgod


"Backstabbers put on a front that appears accommodating, loyal, and yes, even sacrificial. Then, without warning, they raise their knife, and by the time you see the glint of the blade, it's almost always too late."

– Les Parrot


Repercussions

Cloud Chaser

Time: 11:48 PM

Location: Ponyville, Joke Shop

The night was chilly as ever. Every house in Ponyville was in a state of absolute tranquility. Save for one. While the majority of the store's lights were out, one eerie candle illuminated the back window. It was barely noticeable…just what Cloud Chaser was looking for.

The winged, sky-blue filly lingered awkwardly behind the door. She knew that they wouldn't let strangers in until exactly midnight. But she had time to spare. The truth was Cloud Chaser was a bit nervous…alright, maybe terrified. According to the rumors, the herd was a ruthless group of hardened criminals. She heard whispers of ponies that showed no mercy, killed without hesitation, and felt no remorse. Still, the thirteen-year-old pegasus pondered while looking at the ground, sounds fun.

Some would call her brave, most would call her brash, but she didn't care. Make no mistake. While a couple of bits weren't bad…she was in it for the fun. Despite knowing absolutely nothing about breaking the law, she came to the herd first.

"Pretty ballsy," The husky compliment came from a meter out, more or less.

Cloud sharply raised her head to adhere the bulky stallion.

This new pegasus seemed to be at least three years older than Cloud. His coat was a hard orange, and his mane was a messy mixture of blue and white. "What are you doing here?" The newcomer interrupted Cloud's observing.

"What do you think I'm doing tall, dark, and ugly?" She remarked.

The insult bounced right off of him, "Wow, and I thought my little sister was immature…do your parents know where you are?" He asked plainly.

This drew a laugh from the sky-blue wiseass "Good one! Hehe, parents, who needs em'?"

"Oh, I get it." The filly's vague hint had reached him. "My name's Firework by the way, yours?"

The sarcastic filly just shook her head sideways and smiled.

"Pfft, fine." They both waited by the door; uncomfortably silent, until the next wannabe gangster showed up.

"Ah reckon this is the place." A distinct southern dialect arose from the bowels of the night. Before long, the owner of the accent; an eighteen-year-old, white earth stallion adorned with a Stetson, made himself at home with the other delinquents. His long, shaggy, pink mane evoked a muffled giggle from both Cloud Chaser and Firework. "Ahm Quantum, pleasure to meet cha'!" the hill-pony greeted with an overly eccentric tone.

"Firework, thug for hire," They bumped hooves. Quantum had eventually taken notice of the winged filly casually leaning on the wall of the Joke Shop. "Well howdy there friend." He tipped his hat.

"I'm not your friend cowpony, so back off." Cloud hoped her front was intimidating.

"Alright, fair enough…Still happy to meet cha' though."

These guys aren't that bad, the proud filly thought with a sneer I can hold my own here.

"HI!" A certain tenderfoot's high-pitched shout nearly gave Cloud a heart attack. "I'm Crackle, it's so great to meet all of you, I'm so excited, just, AAAHHH! You know? I'm so pumped, let's bucking ATTACK! I'm so ready guys!" The bubbly light-yellow earth filly shocked Cloud Chaser. Not only was there another mare striving for the herd, but she was also Cloud's own age, give-or-take a year.

Only five minutes and so many ponies were being introduced to Cloud's world. But there was still more to come.

There was a drop in temperature…a blue unicorn male; with a carefree black and blue mane joined the band. He looked harmless, with a small, annoying grin permanently plastered onto his muzzle.

Something about him unsettled Cloud, the air was just…cold…this indescribable wind emitted from the horned stallion.

Everypony stared uncertainly at the stranger.

The unicorn sat directly under the window "Sup', I'm Cryo."

"Hi! I'm Crackle! And I'm…" Crackle went off on her life story.

Meanwhile, a white-grey earth filly wearing a ragged hood and cloth on her hooves, trotted out of the darkness. "The party," She stopped in the middle of the bunch "has arrived!"

"Hi The Party, my name's Crackle!" Crackle bounced unremitting, completely devoid of Cryo for this new, new pony.

"No, actually, call me Anarchy!"

This was one of the most diverse assortments of ponies in Equestria, and soon, they would all be part of one, big, dysfunctional family. Finally, the door opened. And what waited beyond was an experience the likes of which any of them couldn't have imagined.


The recruits ambled into a dank room, which housed only a long table and candle.

Cloud Chaser was scared for her life.

"HEY!" The herd bellowed for the three fillies that had arrived. No doubt, every single one of them would pounce on the fillies if they had the chance. Yeah, most of them would have definitely had their way with Cloud, Anarchy, and Crackle…then kill them without a thought. Try to imagine, hardly being able to converse with anypony outside the herd. Having little to no time for yourself, constantly worried that you'll die for some reason, or worse…go to jail for the rest of your life. The pressure was overwhelming. Knowing that every day could be your last, wouldn't you do the same? Just to get it out of the way.

However, good old Mister Moneybags wouldn't have that. "STOP!" his command had taken immediate effect.

Doll Face put her hoof on his shoulder, but he quickly threw it off. Sheer rage boiled within his entire body. Moneybags would never get over Pyro's death. He had always treated Pyro like dirt, like an insignificant cur. Moneybags bailed him out, raised him, virtually, Pyro was his son. And some asshole with a knife took all that from him. Never again…"Hey there rooks. You're lucky. This initiation's gonna be a little different...AXIS!"

The addressed pegasus flipped a switch excitedly.

What Cloud saw hit her like a freight train, "Dear Celestia…" before them, a bright light blared on what was Striker; he had been chained to the nearby brick wall.

"Bastard tried to bite his own tongue!" Moneybags strolled over to the prisoner. "Newbies, for your initiation you have to watch everything…and don't look away, no matter what." He undid the piece of cloth in the betrayer's mouth. "Any final words, Striker?"

The backstabber looked Moneybags in the eye, and then spat in his face. "I was just lookin' out for number one."

He had Moneybags' adulation. "In a weird way…I kind of respect that." He put the cloth back in Striker's mouth. "Alright fighter, you're up."

Axis blazed into the prisoner's view, before brutally pounding both of his hooves into Striker's face. His smile got bigger every time he punched the murderers jaw, blood splattering all over the wall and him. "This is for Pyro!" A loud crack erupted from the spot, Axis had broken Strikers left foreleg against the hard surface he was tied to. "This is for the herd!" A spontaneous snap shook Cloud Chaser; Axis had broken his other foreleg, "AND THIS IS FOR ME!" he suddenly head-butted the glutton for punishment's head against the brick wall, ending Axis' session. "Arkane…he's all yours."

The midnight black unicorn teleported in front of Striker.

So far, Striker remained stolid. Never giving his torturers the satisfaction of expressing pain, that was about to change.

Arkane held his gaze with the backstabber…and then blew his eyes up, in a magnificent purple flame.

The screams were deafening, despite having his mouth covered, it pierced Cloud like an icy sword. The immense pain…she almost threw up. She took a chance and looked at the other hopefuls. Most were the same as her, except for Crackle and Cryo. Their smiles were actually growing, they hadn't been so happy in their entire existence.

"Vengeance…" Arkane ended his session.


Solar Flare

Time: 12:25 AM

Dante took a stand.

Sol put a hoof on his back "Please, Dante. Don't do this."

"Pfft, what's the matter Sol? You want him?"

"No…Dante this, isn't right."

"Isn't right, this bastard killed Pyro and you-"

"I know that Dante. But we're no better than him if we go through with this."

"Don't hold me back Sol." Dante jumped in front of the prisoner, shaping a scythe with magic.

"NO!" in an instant, Sol sent an arrow directly into Striker's heart.

In his last moments, Striker turned his head slightly toward the direction the arrow had come from, and gave one last defiant smile before passing away.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Moneybags was about to burst.

"The ends do NOT justify the means!" Sol dropped the crossbow. "We couldn't just torture him like that, if we did, we'd be no better than him! And if you guys think the opposite…then kill me."

Moneybags paused "…Doll."

Doll Face was startled, "Y-yes sir, I mean, Mister Moneybags?"

"How many lieutenants do we have?"

"Uh…well we're supposed to have two but…Pyro's dead."

"Congrats, kid." Mister Money bags smiled and slapped on his sunglasses. "Sorry kid, I mean…lieutenant."

Sol was frozen in stupor.

"You stood your ground. When everypony else wanted Striker to suffer for what he did. You went with your gut, and did what was right. You were under pressure, and you grabbed the bull by the horns. You're a leader kid, I can see it."

Everypony gawked at the announcement.

"Oh, almost forgot, welcome to the herd rooks!"


Next Time: Derpy Hooves needs protection from herself...and something else.

Always accepting OC's, as long as they're good, and I can PM you. R&R as always.