Hunter In Equestria: Chapter 11

The balloon arrived above Canterlot two hours later, enough time for you to get suited up and ready. Your midnight blue scales shone in the sun, polished to their peak for once. You gave Twilight a nod, looking over the side of the balloon and into town. There didn't appear to be much damage at all, though a few twitching ponies were in the streets. Dead or simply unconscious, you didn't know. You hoped for the latter though, that would make this day just perfect.

 

The wyvern in question wasn't in sight, but you heard a terrible scream come from inside a building. Not a pony, the wyvern you were searching for. The loud and LONG scream narrowed the selection of wyverns down to two: Either a Gigginox or a Khezu. Both avoided the sun like the plague, and both had a scream like the one you just heard.

 

Only one way to find out.

 

"Twi, this thing have a rope down?"

 

"No, it doesn't. Why?"

 

"Just weighing my options. I have to get down there quick, after all." You replied. You backed up to the opposite side, planning on doing something either awesome or stupid. The jury was still out on it.

 

"Wh-what are you doing...?" Twilight asked, eyes wide.

 

"This."

 

You sprinted and vaulted over the side, as Twilight's quickly fading voice screamed at you for being such an idiot. You spread your arms out to slightly slow your decent, aiming for the slanted rooftops. You angled your body in such a way that you turned that straight-down momentum into forward-down momentum when you hit the slants, coming to a rolling stop when you finally hit the cobblestone streets. You stood and flipped Twilight a thumbs up, and the sheer outrage on her face made you giggle internally. Taking a few tentative steps and feeling no severe injuries, you considered that a successful landing.

 

The jury made its decision: Awesome.

 

You turned your attention to the city, which was deadly quiet. The fleshy wyvern that screamed was no longer making sounds, and you had been too high up to pinpoint exactly where it was. You knew a general area, and that was it.

 

There were three buildings it could be in, and you didn't have a three-sided bit. Too bad. You decided to go towards the bakery, because if it was what you thought it was, the smells would lure it right in. The wall and accompanying window were broken, debris all over the floor. Glass shards and blood were also on the ground, though no pony corpse. Either the ponies here had gotten away or...you stopped that train of thought right there, that was something you didn't want to think about.

 

You kept your eyes on the ceiling, knowing the clingy wyvern loved to set ambushes. Curiously enough, the ceiling was quite high in these Canterlot buildings. That was simply bad news for you, that meant that whatever you were about to get into a fight with would have more room to move.

 

"Anonymous? Where are you?" Shining Armor shouted. Exactly the pony you *didn't* need to see right now. Stepping out of the building, you put your finger to where your lips would be. Pinkie had gotten it, but you weren't sure he would. "What are you doing in there?"

 

You groaned mentally, all this noise would just alert the Khezu/Gigginox to where you were. You made a slashing motion across your throat, maybe he would get that one.

 

"Hey, don't you make threats!"

 

No dice.

 

"Shut up!" You shouted, perhaps a bit louder than you intended. You heard shifting above you, but when you looked, the wyvern was gone. "Dammit!"

 

"Anonymous, we're looking for that...thing. What are you doing in a bakery?"

 

"The same damn thing you're doing! It's one of two wyverns, and the BOTH don't like the direct sunlight. They'll try to stay out of it, and these tall buildings make it easy enough. Just...stay here." You felt a little...powerful ordering around the Captain of the Guard like that, but he did as you said. "If you see a white fleshy thing with wings, shout."

 

You inspected the building next to it, a perfume shop. You nearly gagged on entry, but managed to keep it under control. You figured the creature would avoid this shop, the heavy scents messing with its sense of smell. You checked the ceiling, just in time to see a suction-cup like tail vanish from view, back into the bakery.

 

"A Khezu, okay. Simple enough." You muttered, just as Shining Armor shouted.

 

"It's in here!"

 

The sound of wet flesh on stone echoed, and you heard electricity building up. The blind wyvern launched a trio of bolts along the ground, the middle one heading for the armored unicorn. He raised a small magical shield, which absorbed the orb easily. He retaliated by tossing the spear he had brought, which penetrated clean through the Khezu's left wing. It flinched and yelped in pain, taking a few steps back and tossing its ugly head about. Saliva hit the ground and burned several holes in the wooden planks.

 

You stepped into the bakery, just in time to get pounced on by the heavy beast as it turned towards and attacked the closest sound.

 

"Get it off me!" You shouted, your arms pinned under its legs. You struggled to get them free so you could reach your knife, but the crushing weight locked you in place.

 

Shining ripped the spear out and stabbed the Khezu again, though the wyvern ignored the wound this time. The jaw filled with razor sharp teeth got closer, and you figured you had maybe two seconds to get free and stab this thing in the neck before it tore your own neck out.

 

A chair slammed into the Khezu's head, causing it to fall over, dazed. You scrambled away, too busy fleeing to actually stand up or even look for your savior. Having put a thick wall between you and the disgusting wyvern, you stood and brushed yourself off, shuddering due to a mixture of disgust and fear. Khezu were always horrible creatures, and you hated hunting them. It was also slightly embarrassing that a hunter of your grade had nearly been killed by a creature several ranks below you.

 

Armor continued to stab it with his spear, apparently aware offensive magic was pointless...unless he just didn't have any, which may have been the case. Other guards began to join the fight, when the Khezu covered itself in an electric field. A chair hit the field and simply combusted on impact, showering the wyvern with flaming bits of timber. The wood sizzled into the Khezu's skin, making it grunt in pain and retreat. It fled outside into the sun, where it flinched at the ambient heat.

 

Twilight had landed her balloon at some point and was flinging objects at it, whatever she could rip from the ground. She had probably also thrown that chair that saved your life, and the second chair that forced it out into the open.

 

The Khezu took flight, which was when the Pegasai in the Guard took off after it, forcing it down again. It emitted an electric field the instant it touched ground, frying one unfortunate guard that got too close. He screamed for a brief second before falling silent, his body convulsing on the ground. The abhorrent wyvern stood, smelling what it thought to be a fresh kill. You had to stop it before something truly ghastly happened in front of Twilight.

 

You drew Golden Eclipse, sprinting for the wyvern. Just as it opened its razor-filled maw to...consume the unconscious guard, your heated blade met its neck, biting deep and igniting the fatty flesh beneath the skin. It shrieked in pain, lashing out with its neck and striking you in the chest. You slid back a bit, feeling a light bruise forming already. Pressing the assault, your weapon found its way into the beast's left thigh, cutting precious tendons and muscles and setting the fatty flesh on fire again.

 

It burned satisfyingly, and you struck again. This time, a spurt of blood was the response to your attack, indicating you just cut something vital. A table smashed into the Khezu's side, causing it to lose its balance and fall over. If you had any traps, this would be the point when you'd capture it. Too bad you weren't quite in the mood for mercy.

 

You attacked it viciously, blade biting deeply and easily into the fatty creature. Golden Eclipse slashed into its head, and severed its brain stem. It instantly and suddenly fell still, and you wrenched your weapon free. You flicked the blood and brain matter onto the ground, then wiped the blade down with a fire-retardant cloth from your pouch. Didn't need that shit cooking off and making the weapon stink like death.

 

"Anon, what was that?!" Twilight shouted as she trotted over to you. "Why did you jump!? You could have hurt yourself, or worse!" You looked at her, your incredulous expression hidden by your helmet. You had nearly been EATEN, and she was worried about you jumping out of the balloon?

 

She ran up and slugged you in your armored gut, which only caused her to recoil in pain and you to give a wince of sympathy. "Ow..."

 

You rolled your eyes, then took your helmet off, grinning. You were still pale from your close call, though if anypony noticed, they didn't call you on it.

 

"Come on Twi, I can't make safe decisions all the time."

 

"Unsafe decisions are one thing, completely STUPID is another entirely!"

 

You just chuckled and ruffled her mane, which caused her to recoil away from you. Yeah, definitely didn't like this Twilight much, you missed the happier and more colorful one.

 

Wait. More colorful...

 

Why did it take you this long to notice? Her coat was still dulled out, and she had been angry at just about everything for the past day or so. Just like Fluttershy had been months ago.

 

"Twi, what's bugging you?" She opened her mouth, and you cut her off. "Be honest."

 

She closed her mouth and was silent for a few minutes, which let Shining Armor walk up to you. You looked over to him and Twilight looked away, glad to have a distraction.

 

"Well, it could have been a lot worse." He started. "Two dead, thirteen injured, and roughly thirty displaced from their homes." You nodded. Back home, wyvern attacks were much, much more lethal. Thirty dead was the lowest you had ever seen on an attack on a major city.

 

Granted, back home much more dangerous things than a Khezu attacked cities...things like a Lao Shan Lung. If something like that had targeted Canterlot...there wouldn't BE a Canterlot anymore, that you were sure of.

 

You imagined that, if whatever was just plopping these things down wasn't doing it at absolute random, that Khezu wouldn't have bothered a soul.

 

"Thanks for your help, Anonymous." You arched an eyebrow at Shining Armor.

 

"I'm sorry, what?" You asked, sly grin on your face. "I'm having trouble hearing right now, could you say that a little louder?"

 

"Thank. You. For. Your. Help." The unicorn said, slightly louder and with a small glare, completely aware you were screwing with him. He looked over to his sister. "Hey, what's wrong sis?"

 

"It's nothing..." She replied quietly. Shining then returned his questioning gaze to you, and you simply shrugged.

 

"Don't look at me, I've been trying to figure it out too." You replied.

 

"Twily, want to go get some ice cream?" Shining asked, turning to his sister once again. "I'll get you your faaavoriiiite~!"

 

She looked at you, and you simply gestured to Shining. "Hey, don't look at me. I wasn't invited." You smiled at her. "Go, I'll be here when you get back. I promise."

 

"Okay..."

 

Shining gave you a genuine smile this time, then gestured to another guard. "Sergeant, take over the clean up. I've got something...important to take care of."

 

"Yes sir!"

 

"And let Anonymous help, he probably knows more about that blasted thing than we do." Shining continued, before walking off. "Come on Twilight!"

 

She gave one last look at you, and you waved her off. Some time with her brother would do her some good, you figured.

 

You looked at the wyvern corpse, then sighed. It would be a shame to waste all of those parts, but you figured magic powered most any machinery they had...if they had any at all. Those Electro-Sacs would be of little use in that case.

 

The Khezu clean-up took roughly three hours. Magic and flight really did speed this up, though even dead as it was, the Khezu was immune to telekinetic lifting.

 

The Khezu had been disposed of, instead, by a large group of pegasai to some location, you weren't sure where. They didn't tell you either, but you supposed it wasn't your concern, really. The unicorns and earth ponies had been doing the heavy lifting around the attack site. Cleaning up broken walls, keeping buildings standing until emergency supports could be placed, and the like.

 

You had been helping the earth ponies clear the area of wreckage, tossing things into a pile of debris that the guards had been collecting. It would still take much longer to finish up than getting the Khezu corpse out had.

 

The area, which you had learned was the shopping district, was beginning to come back together however. Really only the bakery and perfume shop had been badly damaged at all, with a restaurant having scorch marks from some errant thunder orbs. The two deceased ponies had been taken to the hospital morgue, and you felt a twinge of regret for not having been there faster.

 

You shook your head clear of those thoughts. No pity party for you today.

 

You looked around briefly. Pinkie Pie had a habit of popping up out of nowhere whenever the word 'party' even entered your mind. Seeing no poofy-maned pink pony (and silently sighing in relief), you got back to work.

---

 

Night had fallen and the guards had cordoned off the three damaged buildings, along with roughly ten feet in each direction from said buildings. You yawned, muscles aching from the last five hours of work. A guard gave you a voucher for a nearby hotel.

 

"A gift from the Princess, for your help." The pegasus said, before walking away to his post. You noticed he hadn't said which, though you didn't particularly care at the moment. A gift was a gift.

 

"The Mareiott?" You read off the voucher. "Come on, does everything here have to be a pun..." Groaning, you walked the streets, looking for the hotel.

 

It would have helped to look directly in front of you, where a giant building labeled "Mareiott" sat, but you were too dense to do that. You instead spent an hour looking for the place, only to dumbly realize it had been sitting there the entire time. Resisting the urge to slap yourself, you stepped through the front door. You still had your armor on, so a few intimidated looks were sent your way.

 

"Uh h-hello s-sir. How may I h-help you?" The mare at the counter asked, shaking slightly. You produced the voucher, and she looked it over. "The P-Princess' private room? Hold on..." You arched an eyebrow. Really?

 

She trotted away, voucher in her mouth. You waited, tapping your armored fingers on the counter to some random beat in your head. You waited, waited, and waited some more, gradually growing more annoyed as time went on.

 

After almost ten minutes, the mare came back, and gave you the room keys with an apology. You waved it off, too tired to really be too irritated.

 

Besides, you'd have been suspicious too, in all fairness.

 

"We'll see you in the morning, have a good night sir!" She called.

 

"Thanks!" You replied, eager to get some shut-eye. You weren't concerned Twilight wasn't back yet, she was with her brother. She deserved some time to vent to someone, and who better than a sibling?

 

You unlocked the door and stepped into the room, and it was immediately apparent which Princess gave you the voucher. The entire room was painted a dark blue, with a matching bedspread and pillows. There were various nightstands and desks, though why someone like Luna would need the desks was beyond you.

 

The bed itself was massive, much larger than any pony, or even you, needed.

 

You pressed on it, and it flexed easily. Suddenly giddy, you began to quickly take your armor off. You leaped back onto the bed, and you sunk into it. It was easily the softest bed you had ever had the fortune to sleep on, and your relaxed sigh echoed throughout the massive room. Maybe you could convince Luna to let you use this room more often...

 

A hoof knocking on the door jerked you from your daydreaming.

 

"Sir? Room service!" A male voice called through the door.

 

You hadn't ordered room service. Keeping a hand on your knife (you supposed you were paranoid), you opened the door...to see Luna faking a deep stallion voice. She smiled at you and invited herself in.

 

"I take it I have you to thank for this?" You asked, gesturing to the grand room and letting go of your knife at the same time.

 

"Yes, and it was my pleasure to let you use it." The Princess replied. You noticed she had her customary silver crown and shoes on, so you figured things had been patched up nicely enough. Still, you had to ask.

 

"How did things go with your sister?"

 

"She apologized for her rash actions, and we agreed to end this thankfully bloodless conflict. We both had acted like schoolyard fillies, there was no reason for anypony else to get hurt. I just got back from Baltimare to tell the Resistance there that Celestia had essentially surrendered. My sister would like to speak to you tomorrow, to apologize personally." Luna explained, amazingly not taking a single breath throughout. You figured she had to have an impressive lung capacity, what with using the Royal Voice frequently enough.

 

You nodded. "So, what brings you here then?"

 

"I just came to check on my favorite human."

 

"...I'm the only human here." You deadpanned.

 

"My point exactly." She replied, a small smile splitting her muzzle. You smiled back, chuckling.

 

---

 

GODSBEDAMNED CELESTIA AND HER SNIPER SUN!

 

You growled and sat up, rubbing your eyes. You glared at the window that had its blinds drawn back for some damn reason, and got up. Twisting your back and popping your spine, you got suited up and went down for breakfast, grumbling all the way.

 

Breakfast was waffles with various fruits, which was fine by you. You picked an orange and some strawberries, slicing said red fruit and essentially decorating your waffle with them. You ate in silence, then got up and returned the keys to the stallion behind the counter.

 

"Thank you sir, have a good morning!" He said, too cheerful for this early in the morning. You mumbled a thanks, walking out and into the city. Several ponies gave you a wide berth as you made your way to the castle, though most didn't react to your presence. The guards didn't stop you as you walked up the steps to the castle. It was like you had done this just the other day...

 

Well, from your perspective, you HAD just done this two days ago.

 

The guards opened the doors for you, and you stepped into the throne room. Celestia was looking better, definitely more cheerful than she had been the other day.

 

"Ah, Anonymous, I wondered when you would arrive!" Celestia said brightly.

 

"I tried to get here as soon as I could." You replied, still slightly sour about your abrupt awakening. "Princess Luna said you wanted to see me?"

 

"Yes, I did. Anonymous, I am truly, deeply sorry for what I did. You didn't deserve that, and more importantly, Twilight Sparkle didn't deserve that. I was rash." Celestia's voice became morose, and she looked away from you. "Did she tell you what happened after you were banished?"

 

"No, she didn't have the chance to. She was busy...obliterating herself with alcohol."

 

Celestia's regretful frown deepened. "I had no idea...Anonymous, she cut off all contact with me. Twilight went as far as to end our teacher-student relationship..."

 

Ouch.

 

Still, it was a start. That's probably what's bugging Twilight, now that you knew.

 

"So, do you want that back?" You asked. "I could probably convince Twilight to return to being your student."

 

"I would like that, but...I just need you to bring her here. I think we need to have a private conversation."

 

You nodded.

 

"Last I know, she was with her brother. That was yesterday, so I'm not sure where she is now." You thought for a moment. "Twilight might still be with Shining Armor."

 

"That's what I thought as well. They were and still are inseparable." The Princess said with a small smile.

 

"Well then, I have my task. I'll be back shortly." You gave a small bow, more out of habit than necessity, and left.

 

A quick chat with a guard revealed that Shining Armor had taken the day off, likely to spend it trying to cheer Twilight up. That was all fine and dandy, but it didn't get you any closer to her.

 

You wandered the streets almost at random, taking the chance to explore the city while you were searching for the purple mare. Hours passed, it was almost as if she and Shining Armor were avoiding you...hell, that might have even been the case.

 

Eventually though, you caught a glimpse of Twilight's tail as she went around a corner. Dashing in that direction, you rounded the corner just in time to watch her and Shining Armor teleport away.

 

"Son of a bitch!" You shouted, having just missed them. A few ponies gave your angry armored figure a wide berth, but you simply sighed dejectedly. She *was* avoiding you. Guess it was back to the hot-

 

Wait. That voucher was one-day so...You were effectively homeless today. Perfect.

 

You supposed you would go back to the castle, seeing as Twilight was still with her brother. Maybe there'd be a spare bedroom you could appropriate.

---

 

Luna pulled the moon up and arranged the stars before you had even arrived, and you were beat. You had been walking for at least twelve hours in full armor, and your back was killing you. Out in the field? You'd just take it off and make a fire. Couldn't exactly do that in the middle of a crowded city.

 

You trudged up the stairs to the castle, and the guards pulled the doors open for you. Nodding, you walked through the empty hallway, boots causing an echo in the vacant space. The guards went to open the throne room doors for you...when Twilight crashed right into you.

 

"Ah, sorry, sor-Anon?"

 

"Oh, Twilight! I've been looking for you!" You said, relieved you had found her. "I take it you had a chat with Celestia?"

 

"Mmhm!" She chirped, in a much better mood than she had been. Her colorization was back, so that chat had to have been positive. "We apologized to each other, and I'm her student again!" She grinned widely at you. "Where have you been?"

 

"All over the city." She gave you a strange look.

 

"...why?"

 

"Because I was looking for you...?"

 

"Oh, sorry." Twilight gave a sheepish smile, looking away. You smiled too.

 

"I take it you feel better?" You asked, bringing her gaze back to you.

 

"Yeah, I vented to my BBBFF, I'm okay now."

 

You gave her a blank look.

 

"Your...what?"

 

"My BBBFF? My Big Brother Best Friend Forever?" She made it sound like the most obvious thing in the world.

 

"Ah..." Was your only reply. Twilight took a deep breath, then let out a relaxed sigh.

 

"I'm tired. Today's been fun though. Got to hang out with my brother, Celestia took me back as her student..." The amethyst mare trailed off wistfully, then looked at you. She then mumbled something under her breath.

 

"What?" You asked, wanting to know what she said.

 

"Nothing, nothing!" The unicorn said defensively, blushing furiously. You shook your head and smiled, she'd tell you when she was ready.

 

"Well, I don't have anywhere to sleep tonight. The room voucher I was given was only good for one night, and I don't have the bits for another night."

 

"Well then, lucky for you that I still have a room here!" Twilight had a smug grin plastered on her face, and you were too tired to do anything about it. "It's this way!"

 

She trotted down to the left, and you followed the mare. With a quick pulse of a raspberry colored aura, a large wooden door unlocked. The door itself swung open to reveal a moderately sized room with the walls covered in, what else, books. An ornate chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the bed in the center of the room had clean white sheets on it. It was barely big enough to fit you, let alone both you and Twilight.

 

Twilight must have noticed this too, as her horn lit up again. She grunted with exertion as the bedframe and mattress expanded like the guest bed at the Library. Eventually it was roughly the same size as her first try with matter creation, and the aura left both the bed and her horn. She was worn down after this, but less so than when she first tried the trick. You picked her up and gently tossed her onto the bed, where she bounced and giggled.

 

You began stripping your armor off, noticing not for the first time the smell of sweat. You excused yourself from the sleepy mare to take a long, hot shower.

---

 

You had been clean for fifteen minutes, but the hot water was doing wonders for your sore muscles. You guessed that you had been in the shower for at least half an hour, but you really didn't care. The only one who might would be Twilight, and she was probably too tired to disturb you.

 

Eventually, you turned the water off and stepped out, drying yourself off with a towel. Sighing lightly, you got dressed and exited the bathroom to a sleeping Twilight. Softly smiling at the snoozing unicorn, you climbed into bed and pulled her close, with her slow, deep breaths helping ease you into your own sleep.