The Wolf and the Unicorn

"Holy fucking shit!  You want me to do WHAT?" --- Hex

"Um, you want me to do what now?"

Celestia just looked at me with what equates to a smirk on her face.

"I want you to shoot me.  Not up close mind you.  I want the guards to understand the capabilities of your weapons so they will see why they should want to learn.  I even have a place in mind. "

I'm still not familiar with what is going on.  Back home we had a meme that would have fit this perfectly.  You know the one.  Anchorman's "Well that escalated quickly" one.

"To prove that your weapons are effective, I'm also going to post a few guards along the path to where I want you to take your shot from, should you prove capable.  I'd like you to use the same magic bullets that we are giving you for your other weapons on them.  Again, it will only knock them unconscious for a few hours.  I'll also have a prepared message for Twilight Sparkle to be sent the moment I get hit."

It really seemed like she covered the bases.  Probably a bad idea, but with the ruler of a country asks you to do something, you just do it.  It really didn't help that Luna only nodded along with her sister's statements while eating another apple.

A yellow haze enveloped a small box on the table next to me and opened it.  Inside the simple wooden box lay a bright yellow velvet interior with several rounds in different calibers laying next to each other.  The only difference was that the bullets looked like they were made out of swirling red magic.  Kind of cool in a fucked up way.

"I guess I have no choice on this Princess.  I'll do this, but only once.  I really do think this is too risky."

Little did I know I was right again.

Several hours later, I was back at my small cottage loading up a pack with the gear I felt I would need for an afternoon hunting trip.  Small pouches situated here and there as I adjusted the straps and weight of the pack, definitely not enjoying the weight of the situation the Princesses had placed me in.  Spare mag for the carbine on my left hip, magical ammo for both rifles resting snugly inside the weapons.  It was time, I guess.

The entire thing was supposed to be a surprise for the military and Elements, so avoiding everyone was the order of the day.  After making sure to activate the wards on my home, I locked the door and turned toward the forest.  The dim places between trees would be my camouflage for this.

As the dim light swallowed me, I gently patted the hex bag on my chest and the few runes I had placed on a string around my neck.  Hopefully I was wrong.  That was my last thought as the dark encompassed everything I knew.

"Apparently, you were not wrong in your thoughts, Child.  Now tell me, why should I spare your life.  There are many things that intrigue me about your actions, but I am uncertain of why.  Your chaos has a certain balance in it.  A balance I have felt a long time ago."

"Honestly, I don't really know.  As you said before, I've been spared before.  It would really suck to die again, only for doing someone a favor, but that's the way life is."

The dark voice chuckled softly.

"I've seen inside your mind, young one.  You will be spared for one reason alone.  I saw what my brother saw in sparing you.  There is still some purpose in your being that may be vital.  It may not.  Either way, your actions will have consequences.  Know this though.  We WILL meet again soon, and for the final time.  Until then, begone from my presence."

I could almost feel the voice dismissing me with a wave of its invisible hand, but other things grabbed my attention first.

My entire being felt as if molten lava was being pored through me, my pain quickly turning into silent screams as I fell to the floor of the dark room.  All I could see was light.  Pure, unadulterated white light flowing through my eyes.  I could almost feel my bones glowing, shattering, and turning to dust.

Back in Ponyville, something strange was happening.  Lavendar and Gold magics were slowly twining through the branches, tugging here and there to try to free Hex's corpse.  A crowd had began to gather, as the death of one of the locals was a rarity.  Moreso if it was a town hero.  Some ponies sobbed, others just bowed their heads in respect.  None expected what was to come.

Just before the energies could touch Hex, they were thrown back hard enough to stun both Twilight and the Princess.  The scent of burning wood began to fill the air as a golden light teased between the branches.  It only grew in intensity as the flames grew, until everypony was looking away from the miniature sun imbedded in the lofty tree.  That brightness only lasted for a moment, as it flashed to nothing and an earth shattering noise exploded in its place.

Nopony saw the flaming figure standing behind the crowd until it spoke.

"Holy fuck."

As one the ponies turned to see a very naked Hex standing, just for a moment, golden rays emanating from his body while black tendrils of magic curved around his skin.  Heroically, he tried to say something more, but the only thing that came forth was a groan as his eyes rolled back and he passed out.

Twilight and Celestia were the first to reach his fallen body, and the first to be confused.

"Princess, why aren't there crystals imbedded in his skin?  Why isn't he dead?"

A dark voice chuckled in the blackness, rumbling with black intent.

"Good luck brother.  We both know your plan is the only way to save this planet.  I wish you well."