The next day, Head Hunter was reviewing the file for the next hit, while Raven Holm was out paying off the bartender for the previous night's brawl. Scout was going among the rooftops, scouting out the best places to be during the hit. When he returned, Head Hunter was planning on equipping him with stealthier gear.
It now comes to my attention that I have never spoken of the Hotel room in great detail. It was a simple room, painted an earthy green, with dark hardwood flooring. There where two windows on the far side of the room, each draped with dark red curtains. On one side of the room was the single bed, but it was a pony bed, so Head Hunter hung a sling in the other side of the room to sleep on. There was also a small coach, upon which Scout slept on at night. Right in between the two windows was the desk.
The hit for that night was one Sir Richard. Sir was his first name. Richard was clearly a pun, as he was the owner of a large amount of gold, which he used to fund the Rebellion. He was a dark blue Unicorn, further cementing Head Hunter's belief that the Unicorn are considered an 'upper class.'
He was not married, and had no family in town. What he did have was a large group of mistresses. Every new day was a new mare.
Head Hunter was examining the target's picture, shot at some party at an angle that showed his left side, when there was a nock at the door. Head Hunter looked at his watch. It was always on the fritz, but he could say for certain that Scout was not suppose to be back for another hour, and Raven Holm was not to be back for another two. Yet, there it was again, a nock at the door. Scout and Raven Holm both had keys, and could let themselves in.
Head Hunter stood up, and walked over to the door. When he opened it, he was shocked at what he saw. It was Ellen.
She was not exactly as he last saw her though. She replaced he usual black, close toed heels for dusty drown boots. Instead of skinny blue jeans she wore kaki pants. Instead of her pale blue jacket over a black or other dark colored shirt, she a Blu shirt and a dark brown vest. Yet it was when he saw her tan fedora with the right side of the rim bent up when it hit him.
She was a Fem-Sniper. A female Sniper. Like how the Lettuce twins spoke of in the other world.
"Well, are you going to let me in, or what?"
...
Scout loved being on the rooftops. He never experienced such a thrill as he did jumping from roof to roof. Ponyville was relatively sparse with buildings, and he only really had to run in the fields in the Crystal Empire. He loved the feeling of the wind before, but now he truly felt alive. He almost forgot his reason for being so high.
Richard's mansion was in Uptown Fliydelphiea, and, like other mansions, had some room between it and the other houses. Scout did mange to find the perfect place to get a shot off, atop the roof of an old shoe shop. He marked the roof with a small red flag, just large enough to see from another building, but not so large to be seen from the street.
He made his way back to the Hotel, and he managed to find the long way extending his trip by five minutes. Eventually, it was time to come back down to earth. He carefully slid down into the alley between the Hotel and the neighboring building, then made his way inside. He was about to open the door to the shared room when he heard a voice he never heard before. Feminine, with undertones that implied independence, and lack of fear. Slight accent suggesting whoever she was was raised on the west coast.
Throughly interested, Scout opened the door with a, "Yo, what's up?"
He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Head Hunter sitting in the desk chair, facing a woman dressed as a Sniper sitting on the coach.
...
Head Hunter stood up. "Well, one down, one to go. Scout, this is Ellen, a Sniper of herself."
"Sniper? But your a woman!" Scout exclaimed.
With one thin eyebrow raised, Ellen replied, "And what of it? Do you have a problem with me being a woman?"
"Uh.. Uh.. Uh..." Scout stumbled and stuttered in searching a reply.
Head Hunter laughed. "My friend here clearly has strange ideals. You let Mrs. Dash do that... What was it called... Thunder and Lighting? Gang? Group?"
"That was different!" Scout retorted.
"I can hit a can out your hand at one hundred yards... And not hit you. I am a better sniper than Head Hunter." Ellen replied.
"Please, Ellen, call me by my name, Tyson." Head Hunter said.
"Sure, why not." The hints of sarcasm were oh-so noticeable.
"And you are better than I WAS, not how I am. I can hit a pen sitting on top of a can in Scouts hand and two hundred yards... One handed." He said, half smiling.
"Pfft, as if. I think we need a proper face off. See who is the real sharpshooter." Jeered Ellen.
"Way, way, wait. I thought Mann Co. doesn't employ women." Scout pointed out.
Ellen was about to reply, but Head Hunter held up a hand to silence her. He turned back to Scout. "That is above your pay-grade, Scout."
"Pay grade? What pay grade?" Asked the confused Scout.
Head Hunter smiled. "Exactly."
"That is why I loved you, Tyson." Stated Ellen.
"Really? That was what it was? I mean, we rarely even talked. I was mostly telling you to go away." Asked Head Hunter.
"You mean you..." Ellen trailed off and assumed a concerned look.
"Lets just say that I did not understand women at all for a long time... And I still only graze the surface of understanding... Occasionally." Head Hunter shrugged.
At that moment, Raven Holm opened the door and walked in the room. He stopped still in his tracks and started staring and Ellen.
Head Hunter laughed. "Here we go again. From the top, everyone!"