Bitter Tastes

Chapters

Don't Look
Ashes to Ashes
Bad Dog Part 1
Bad Dog Part 2
The Ponies of Ponyville Part 1
The Ponies of Ponyville Part 2
Blightmares on Nightmare Night!
The Angel Witch
Full Moons Suck
Story Time Striker
Night of the Unliving Zom-ponies!
Unexpected Company
The Metal
Lunar Rising, Sunset's Eve
Bloodsuckers
Bloodlust
Sunfall and Sunrise
A Talk With the Princess

Don't Look

Bitter Taste

Rain, it was raining again.
A stallion stood in the rain.

Head held low.

Trapped in a dark forest, a young filly galloped for her life screaming as loud as she could, praying that somepony would come to her rescue. She was running from something she could not see, or outrun, each breath began to burn. The beast however, loved the thrill of the chase, its snarled in delight as it chased the filly; it's body was twice the size of an adult pony, but jet black, in the shadows of the forest the beasts true form was hidden from the fleeing filly. All she could see were those snake eye slights glowing, growing larger and larger every time she looked back. She screamed, her body burning with agony from exertion, she felt her end coming, the tree root protruding out of the ground tripped her, but didn't shorten the chase much, she wouldn't have been able to run much longer. The hidden creature let out a horrifying hiss, it had it's prey, the shadows still hid the creature as it got closer and closer. Those terrible eyes peering through the darkness at her. The power of its foot steps shook the ground getting louder and closer as it approached the filly. She looked away toward the ground.

Thud... Thud... Thud... Thud...

The terrified filly struggled to catch her breath, and get to her hooves, if she had the air for it she would have screamed.

Thud.. Thud.. Thud.. Thud..

The creature was getting closer, and all she could do is lay there, she tried and failed running away. She wanted a way out of this, she wanted to live. She contemplated resisting, but the image of what the creature did to her father was still fresh in her mind, the idea that daddy wouldn't be saving her...ever again, even if she survived, filled her last moments with a utter sadness.

Thud Thud Thud BOOM THUD THUD. A pain-filled roar burned the air.

“Fuckin' Hiderunners”

The little filly, too young to have her cutie mark looked up at her hero. Time seemed to stand still as she looked up to him. A stallion. He was a pale blue, like the sky on day that wanted to rain, he was nearly a foggy grey. His mane was black with a dark blue streak. He wore a trench coat which hid the majority of his body and a black cowpony hat. Most notable were his sapphire eyes... they looked... off somehow. He held a old rifle in his hooves, and had a lantern on his hip illuminating himself and the small area around him. His hooves slid a lever on the old rifle, then the powerful BOOM of the gun shook her out of her stupor.

“Stay down, and don't look kid” his voice pulsed in her ears, cool and calm and yet commanding.

The blasts made her ears ring, but she could still hear the beasts horrible bloodcurdling roar of pain as his hooves slid back and forth as he unloaded the contents of his rifle on the beast. His lantern shook with each blast, if she turned slightly she could have seen the beast that plagued her and her now dead family. Just a simple turn of the head. But she didn't do it. She wanted to listen to him. She couldn't do it. She didn't want the nightmares. More rifle bursts filled the air.

“Fucker, GO DOWN!!! YOU'VE KILLED ENOUGH JUST DIE ALREADY” He yelled pumping the last of his gun's ammo in to the monster. The resulting thud filled the filly with an calmness she thought she'd never feel again. Yet she could feel herself crying, the fear, sorrow, and other emotions swelled in her, mixing into a horrid batch she couldn't handle. She felt hooves pull her into an embrace, and she cried softly it to the stallion's chest.

“Its alright now, just let it out” He stated holding her close. She cried an incoherent mess that slightly sounded like “mommy” or “daddy”
“You are safe now, I'm here now, and I wont let anything get you.”

The two stayed this way for quite sometime. Until she finally cried herself to sleep. Not dreaming, her mind simply shut down.

She awoke in a bed, soft and warm the sun peaked in through a window, a worried looking green mare with a pink mane looking at her.

“You're finally up!” the mare said a smile coming to her face.
“Where is he?!” the filly asked immediately.
Shocked the mare responded “The pale stallion who brought you here?” The smile instantly dying. The filly simply nodded her head.
“Umm well... I don't know” the mare stated looking to the ground.
“Huh? Bu-”
“He came here in the middle of the night... told me I had to take care of you, said that you didn't have anypony else, said he'd be back before dawn but he's still not here yet.” the mare interrupted.
“So he could be here any minute now!” A smile jumping to the filly's face.
“Well... no, honey... you've been asleep for three whole days, I'm sorry but, I don't think he's coming back.” The mare stated then quickly trotted to the the misty eyed filly to give her a hug.
“Bu...Bu...bu..” The little filly couldn't even get the words out. He was her savior, and she would never even get the chance to say thank you.
“That's not fair!” The filly cried, tears and snot began to flow out of her face.
“I know honey, I know” The mare stated doing her best to tend to the filly who was obviously hurt. She assumed that the stallion was her father, but thought he still looked rather young and was more likely her older brother. She had no idea that the two were completely unrelated. She just assumed.

He had planned for that. He stood just outside the window, stealthy listening in. A smirk on his face, his hat hiding his sapphire blue eyes. He knows how ponies think and he knows mares, he played this mare into taking care of the filly, he figured he could trust a single mare but watched over her and the filly for past three days anyway. If the mare had any alternative motives with keeping the filly, they would have presented themselves within those three days of the filly being unconscious. From how worried the mare had been over the filly, he knew the kid was safe, and in caring hooves.

“Sorry kid” he whispered to nopony “Better this way”

He had done this before, this was his life, no matter how much he wanted to be there for the filly, he knew impromptu father was not his place, he had a job to do, a family business to run. His responsibility was elsewhere. Staying there for so long was bad enough. That's what he kept telling himself, but for some reason he had to make sure that filly was going to be alright. It would have been unsettling to not know she was 100% safe. He kept telling himself “No emotional attachments”

And with that he silently trotted off, the morning sun as radiant as ever.

Author's Note

The ride begins.
It gets worse later on.
It was a lever action rifle.

Ashes to Ashes

“Another round Striker?”

“Yeah, ...thanks.”

The pale blue earth pony stallion slid a hoof full of bits onto the bar, his eye's blocked by a black cowpony hat, and a honey yellow mare with a smooth bronze mane and tail served him a tall mug of hard cider. He took a drink and gave a sigh. Then there was an awkward silence between the two. He looked about the bar. The old building was built tough, it must have been seventy or eighty years old. The hardwood floorboards had faded in color with age, but had a layer of grime which gave them a greasy looking texture, they also carried stains that varied in size shape and color, reminding him of those ink blob tests. The walls were also a hardwood paneling of some kind, much less stained but just as faded. The bar he sat at was much newer, having been redone some time within the last two years or so. The only slightly scratched and stained mahogany still boomed color, and was polished repeatedly to a mirror sheen.

“You finish up that case over in Heartwoods?” the mare stated, breaking the silence.

“Yeah, it was a Hiderunner.”

“Damn that's... grim.”

“You can say that again, that fucker nearly shredded an entire family!” he stated loudly

“You save a few?” a hint of melancholy in her eyes and voice

“One” he replayed taking a long drink of his cider directly after.

“More then one, all it's future victims” she mended, as if already knowing what to say.

“It's just...” he struggled to find the right words, setting his half empty mug down

“Damn that little filly is going to end up so fucked up in the head!” he added, burying his face in his hooves.

“Did she see the the Hiderunner... like after it did its thing?” the mare had worry in her voice, not for the filly but for Striker, she had never seen him react so poorly to ponies who were... negatively effected by the event witnessed while out working a case. This wasn't like him.

“I don't think so, I pray she didn't... that would have been much worse.”

The mare cleaned a mug, taking a cloth in one of her hooves and rubbing the mug dry.
“Hiderunners...” She shivered as the word left her lips, a chill running down her spine.

“I really hate Hiderunners” he began. “Any creature who is willing to rip apart its prey then wear it's victims skin like a goddess-damned blanket as it hunts down its next victim deserves to be put the fuck down!” the anger he held in rang out more the longer he spoke, not wanting to burst he poured the rest of the cider down his throat to silence himself.

The mare was silent for a time, but her curiosity got the best of her as she poured him another drink.

“You ganked the Hiderunner right away, so what the fuck took you so long?” She asked sliding the drink to him.

He gave a snort/chuckle, placing more bits on the bar.

“Wanted to make sure that the filly ended up alright, so I just kept an eye on her 'till I knew she'd be fine”

OK something was up here. The mare thought to herself. The mare had spent her life giving Seekers like Striker a place to drink in peace. Striker came here often enough that she knew him by his full name, which doesn't seem like much but with Seekers full names warranted a high level of trust. This was not like Striker at all. In all of the time she had known him, he had never been the kind of stallion who “kept an eye on" any of his clients after the case was finished. So why did he do it this time? This was odd. She wanted to know more but knew if she pressed any further Striker would just leave the bar, he was obviously pissed about it and is usually more talkative. Instead she continued to clean her mugs, washing them, then drying them two or three at a time.

After a hour or so, Striker stood up.

“Well I got another case! See ya!” He stated in a hurry as he turned and trotted toward the door. His demeanor completely changed, a return to normalcy.

“Whoa another case already?! Don't you think you should rest up a bit?” the mare asked concerned and confused, not noticing his mood shift.

“Nah!” He turned his face to the mare, cracking a grin toward her. His sapphire eyes blazing under his hat, “I'm a Seeker, and I gotta job to do for a very important client!” he added

The mare grinned, her worry for the stallion fading as she reminded herself just how tough Seekers in general were, let alone one like Striker. She returned her mind back to the bar.

“Yo Golden Bear” He stated inches from the door. The honey mare looked up and was shocked. The stallion held a whiskey bottle to his lips and grinned from ear to ear.
“Apple whiskey taste better when you don't pay for it!” He mocked

“Hey! Now that's going on your tab Striker!!” She shouted at him as he galloped out the bar.

“Well at least he's acting like himself again” she thought to herself, her focus returning to the bar once more. But before she could focus, a shadow of a thought flowed across her mind like frigid water, giving her a chill flowing down her back. For some odd reason she couldn't help but feel like this would be the last time she would see Striker for a long time.

Striker didn't like trains, but he needed to get someplace far as fast as possible, and this was the best way to do it. Something about getting this many ponies together in such a small amount of space just bothered him. The train station was crowded and loud, two things he really hated. The line to purchase tickets was actually not that long, but felt like an eternity for Striker, waiting in line was yet another thing he hated. After much anticipation on his part he reached the ticket booth.
“One please” he spoke, the irritation clear in his voice. The mare in the ticket booth open a slit and Striker placed some bits within it, the ticket mare then slid him a ticket. Her voice sounded full of pseudo enthusiasm “Thank you and enjoy your trip” she droned

He waited for the train's door to finally open the noise of the crowd giving him a headache. Once the train was open, he quickly found a seat in the back and let out a sigh of relief. He stealthily pulled out a flask from his ever-present trench coat and took a quick swig. Sliding the flask back, and a letter out, he looked at the seal of Princess Luna encrusted on the cracked wax, he opened it and went over it's contents again.

Dear brave Sun Striker

We, I would like to reluctantly ask for your aid once again. Once thou hast finished thine current case, We I ask that you make haste toward the small town of Ponyville. We I fear that the town may be in danger, more danger then it can handle without the Sunfall Clan. The town has a reputation for... dramatic events so please take caution. Please inform us as soon as possible if you choose to aid us. We have faith in both your skill and blood, and wish thee good luck whether or not thou aids us or not.

Best of Wishes

Princess Luna

He grinned at the informality of the letter, it reassured him that his business remained between his clients and himself. With the letter came a small amount of bits, and a map on how to reach the town of Ponyville. He hoped that he would be able to sleep on the train, the trip would take about three whole days, but sleep would skip some of that, hopefully most of it. He wanted to speak to Luna from the dreamscape, she knew more about him then she let on, and he knew it. He had to admit to himself that part of the reason he was helping her was so he could learn more about what she knows about him, and Seekers in general. She was hiding something, but he didn't have all of the pieces to her puzzle, he would have to wait to start piecing things together.

The train started with a groan, as it slowly began to move along the rails. Doing his best to zone out all of the idle chi-chat among the ponies that shared the train cart he closed his eyes, the whiskey's fire still burning in his stomach, he hoped that he wouldn't finish the bottle he snuck on board before he reached Ponyville. He probably would though.

Mean while just outside the Everfree Forest the was a small cottage. Home to the young pegasus Fluttershy. It was mid afternoon and she was... well fluttering along searching for some of her animal friends who had gone missing. Normally animals come and go from her home, but she hadn't seen two or three of her little woodland critters in about a week, which was odd they usually at least stop by to say hello every few days at the least Not to mention how several of her woodland friends were visiting less often then normal.

She hummed a song to herself as she looked around getting farther and farther from her cottage. Suddenly she was hit with a rather odd smell, one she knew, but just couldn't put a hoof on. Ignoring it she continued on her merry way. The smell grew stronger however, stopping her train of thought. Deciding to investigate the smell, which was now pungent in the air, she followed her nose. She found herself just within the edge of the Everfree, a forest she knew well enough to live near peacefully.

Out of the corner of her eye she spotted it. Some kind of wounded animal laying limp on the forest floor, just beyond her sight, inside a hidden forest grove. She naturally went to investigate, worried and wanting to help, she approached the creature. Which upon hearing her enter it's little grove perked an ear. Her concern had clouded her mind, she didn't even notice how strange the grove was. The grass was dried and yellow. The trees were bare, and a sickly pale. A mild fog filled the grove. That smell was now brutally strong. There was no sound, just the labored breathing of the beast, and the crunching of dead grass at her hoofsteps. Now much closer, she had thought the animal to be a skinny bear.

Unfortunately the second it picked itself up and turned to look at her she was filled with absolute horror at what she saw. All at once she recognized the animal, and remembered what that smell was. The animal growled. It's entire body was black, jet black. Not because of its color of fur, but because the creature was burned. Charred black, the creature stood on all fours. She looked into it's eyes, which were glazed over and white. The shape of the creature was now much more horrifying. Bits of black charred flesh hung aching to fall off with the slightest breeze. She saw that it was not a skinny bear, but a huge dog it stood taller then she did. But more terrifying then its glazed eyes, size, and charred flesh was its jaw. The monster looked like it had been charred black, but whoever did so peeled the charred flesh off of the dogs jaw. Unlike the rest of its body, the dog's jaw was dripping with wet bloody flesh, nothing hiding its teeth, the dog looked like it was constantly baring it's fangs. It snarled, and she balked. Her mind went blank. The dog let out a hungry roar, as Fluttershy screamed as loud as she could. The sent of ash and smoke fresh in the air.

Author's Note

This one went smoothly.
Striker hates a lot of things.
Next chapter the ball starts rolling.

Bad Dog Part 1

Striker was upset. The train ride had been both long and loud. When he finally managed to fall asleep he never really entered a fitful deep sleep, just a quick dozing off. Then when he fell into a moderately good sleep, he awoke he found out he missed his stop and had to wait an entire day for the next train. Unfortunately he had spent the rest of his bits and more booze and didn't have enough for the train ride, and ended up trotting to Ponyville on hoof. The trip that should have taken three days took six.

After two full days of trotting, he was pretty tired and sore. After a brief rest, and climbing a small fence, he found himself in a rather large apple orchid. He quickly got lost in the maze of appletrees and hills. The green grass and appletrees looked the same in all directions. The hills were all slightly rocky, some with more stone protruding from the earth then others, and covered with a fine layer of grass. The trees filled the orchard, all boomed with life and plump apples, some needing a day or two more, while some waited to be picked, ripe and ready to eat.

“Hey!” the voice of a mare filled the air. Shocking Striker he quickly took note of effective place to hide if he had to run.

“Hey! What the hey are you doing on my apple farm!” The voice said. Hey looked to the mare. She was orange with a blonde mane. Applejack the Element of Honesty

“Just passing through,” He replied quickly “Trying to get to Ponyville.”

Applejack studied him for a second. Then, not really sure what to think of him asked “What's your name partner?” her suspicion strong in her voice.

“Striker” He responded quickly, and she eyed him then gave a sigh.

“Lost? Mah barn aint too far away, c'mon you look tired.” She stated turning her back to him, then quickly turned back “Oh ahm Applejack by the way” extending a hoof. He reached out, and was shaken violently by Applejack, his head still shaking as she turned to trot away.

He smiled with relief, ponies who grow up in rural places like this are so much more trusting and inviting. He remembered the last time he was in a place like this, he was still a young colt, little places where everypony knows everypony, and ponies didn't lock their front doors. He reminisced of his adolescence, learning how to shoot a gun, archery, knife-fighting, advanced close-quarters-combat practice with his dad. Unfortunately a dark breeze blew across his mind, as he remembered why he learned those things, and that Luna had sent him here so he could use those skills. There was something in Ponyville, and he had to stop it, and he was already late.

“We got a little walk ahead of us, were kinda far out.” She spoke to him, assuming he would respond, but he didn't. She cleared her throat. “Ah hope you don't mind ah mean.”

“It's no problem, I've been walking for a while.” he responded

“How long? The nearest towns is nearly three days away on hoof.”

“Nearly three days.”

“Oh, well ughh Ponyville aint far, well this is part of Ponyville, but ah own the deed to the land. So it's legally mine.”

“You must be proud.”

“Ah sure am! All this land and everythin' on it belongs to the Apple family, and we got here through hard work and dedication!” She rubbed a hoof on her chest, obviously proud.

He just gave Applejack a smile, not responding vocally. For a brief moment he remembered his family, then stomped that thought out like it was fire. Instead he distracted himself by admiring how attractive Applejack was. Her body was well built, muscular, and strong. Her fur was matted and covered with dust and sweat. Her hooves were coated in dry mud. Her mane was greasy and full of fly away hairs. With all of this some folks would have found her gross or uncouth, Striker however liked that in mares, seeing that they are willing to work hard and get dirty when they needed to. He also admired how muscular her calves and thighs were.

“Where you from? You don't look like yer from around here, and you aint dressed like no city colt neither” her voice drawing his attention away from her flanks.

“Well my family moved a lot when I was a kid, didn't stay in one place very long.”

“Oh, well then where do call home then?”

He shrugged “Any bar with some half-decent whiskey” his comment brought a grin to his face. Applejack rolled her eyes but shot him a grin. More silence until she broke it again.

“Yer, an odd one fella. You don't talk much do ya?”

“Not really. Not unless I need to say something that needs to be said.”

“Oh so you aint shy, you just don't talk much.”

He replied with a nod.

“That reminds me of my brother. He don't say much unless he has to.”

“I'm more talkative when I'm in my element.”

“When's that then?”

“When I'm drunk.”

That got Applejack to give a short lave and a sigh. She looked back to him, and he showed her his flask, nearly empty now. He trotted with Applejack for a solid twenty minutes before reaching the barn. Applejack wasn't sure what to think of Striker. He acted weird. Brooding, yet kinda funny when he wants to be. It was Odd. She wanted to know more about him. Striker on the other hoof, already had an idea of what Applejack was like, and was forming a plan in his head.

He thought to himself, She's a farmer, so she's seems to be a honest, and hardworking mare, pony like that in a town like this... she'll have some friends in town, she stays connected. When we get to her home I'll rest my hooves for a bit, and ask a bit about town, then get into some local gossip. Ask if anyone has been acting weird and investigate, I need to make up for lost time with this case.

They both arrived at the small two story home. With a smile, Applejack showed him around, excluding the second floor due to both her siblings having fallen ill and Striker not wanting to disturb them, she was obviously proud of her home. She gave him details about how it was built, and how strong it was. Striker was impressed with the level of quality and craftsponyship in the building. He grinned as he realized that the house was built by ponies like him. Before he could enjoy that anymore however, Applejack said something that gripped his mind.

“Just take a bit to rest up, I'll show ya to town when yer ready. Its no trouble, I was gunna see mah friend Fluttershy anyhow, dang girl got spooked by nothing again.”

Spooked again, hot damn this might be over faster then expected! ”What spooked her?” He asked.

“Huh? Oh it wasn't anything, that girl coulda gottin' scared by her own shadow.”

“Are you sure it was nothing, has she been acting strangely at all?”

“Ah guess, Ah haven't seen her in nearly a weeks time, that's not like her.”

“Would it be OK if I joined your visit? She wouldn't mind would she?”

“Ah guess that'd be alright, but why the sudden interest?” She suspected something was up.

“What if she did see something? I'd be glad to lend a hoof.”

“Y'all don't know Fluttershy, she is scared by everythin', trust me, she's fine.” she deadpanned

“Well there's no problem in investigating, and I have nothing better to do.”

A grin popped to Applejack's face. “Lemme guess you think this Fluttershy is the same Fluttershy who was a supermodel not to long ago huh?”

He had honestly never heard of a super model named Fluttershy before, but it was a solid form of cover. He acted shocked to hear this, trying to look like she had guessed his plan.

“Oh, I had no idea, I mean could they be the same Fluttershy? What are the chances pfffffft, but umm if they are one in the same, helping her out and getting an autograph wouldn't be the worst outcome.”

Applejack rolled her eyes, then gave a laugh. “Alright, alright, I'll take ya to her, but she sensitive alright so don't go all crazy fan pony. Especially if she aint fellin' good, got that mister.”

“Oh I'm a huge fan of Fluttershy, I wouldn't dream of doing anything to make her, or her friends for that matter... uncomfortable.” he stated with a salute.

And with that he had accessed his closest lead. He sat on his haunches for a bit before washing his hooves and face in the kitchen sink. He was once again impressed with the home. The two left a little while later. She showed him the motel, general store, tailor, library, and other places around town. Striker spoke very little. Usually replying with a gesture to show he was paying attention. Applejack made sure he knew everything about the town he might need to know. Then due to the sun beginning to set, they rushed over to get to Fluttershy's cottage before it got dark.

There were minutes of day light when they arrived. But before he even entered his attention was grabbed by the sheer number of scratch and claw marks that were all over the small cottage. He took a closer look following the perimeter of the home, as Applejack knocked on the door. She didn't notice his behavior as Fluttershy usually answers the door right away, her odd behavior grasping her attention
“Fluttershy... sugar? It's me Applejack brought a friend who wanted to meet you.” She spoke muzzle close to the door.

Striker took note of the claw marks that covered the building. Four nails, and what appeared to be more like tooth marks. It looked like something had been trying to claw and bite its way into Fluttershy's home. At least I found my case, now to solve it. As Striker was compiling his thoughts Applejack tried the door and found it unlocked, it slid oped with a creaking sound. The home was dark, and she barely saw the young Fluttershy curled up on the floor, in the general center of the room. Applejack's eyes went wide, she ran to her friend, not noticing Striker sliding in a second later.

“Fluttershy are you OK girl, what happened?!” Her voice was full of worry and concern. Striker just took in the building, analyzing it.

Fluttershy stumbled back awake. “Ah... Applejack?” She looked exhausted like she hadn't sleep right in days. Her eye's had bags under them, and were pink. Her mane was wild and matted.

“What in the world happened to you girl!”

“I think... I think I fainted...” She replied in a daze

“What happened to ya?”

“I was scared... couldn't sleep, I guess I just passed out” She looked to Applejack with a small grin.

“That dog thing still got ya all riled up girl?”

Fluttershy only replied with a nod. Applejack's face showed how worried she was, she just cradled Fluttershy in her hooves. She had never seen a friend in such horrible condition before. She blamed herself, she should have visited Fluttershy sooner, just because she has a habit of getting scared of nothing doesn't make the fear any less real. Hugging, their minds elsewhere neither of the two mare noticed how Striker had begun barricading all the doors and windows of the house. That is until he pushed a shelf over blocking the back door, knocking over a vase that crashed to the floor gaining the mares attention.

The two mares were very confused. Fluttershy however was more confused about the handsome stallion in her home.

“What in the sam-hill do you think your doin?!” Applejack asked

“Saving us, there is something out there, and it wants us dead.” He in a tone of pure ice.

“Huh?” Applejack looked more angry then confused

Before anypony could speak the front door banged and rattled violently. Fluttershy's eyes widened “Its not just a dream...” She plunged herself into Applejack's chest, as the windows began to rattle uncontrollably, then the other doors. One by one each door and window began to viciously shake. The barricades danced as Fluttershy began to weep. Applejack held on to her as if both their lives depended on it, Striker took up a position near the two and slid a sawed-off double barrel out of his trench coat, cracked it open, and slid two rounds in. The dancing was joined by loud banging, then the roars of a wild animal filled with bloodlust. After a minute or two the air was filled with an echoing howl. Then the banging and thrashing finally stopped.

Immediately Striker dove down and grabbed Fluttershy's hooves with his own, getting her attention, her puffy and sleep deprived eyes stared into his.

“Fluttershy right?” he asked, her only reply was a hard swallow and a nod.

“Listen to me Fluttershy, I'm here to help, but I can't do that unless you help me and do everything that I ask.” He turned to Applejack “You too” he added.

Applejack glared and gritted her teeth. Fluttershy gave a near silent “...ok...”

“OK good, Fluttershy you need to tell me EXACTLY what you saw, you did see something right, not to long ago? After you saw it things started to get.... bad right? What did you see.” His voice was still Ice cold.

Applejack wanted to speak, but she was trying to get a grasp on what was happening, she did not understand anything, the more confused she got, the more she turned to rage.

Fluttershy was silent for a moment then replied softly again. “I... I umm don't know”

“Yes you do, now come on”

“You'll think I'm crazy...”

“Really? Try me? C'mon just tell me.” She once again remained silent.

"Striker, leave 'er alone, she doesn't want to talk to you!" Applejack barked. Striker ignored her.

“Fluttershy, if you don't tell me what you saw, we could all die tonight, we are all in horrible danger right now, and we all need your help, I can save us, but not unless you tell me what you saw.”

That got her. “I saw... just inside the Everfree, this... this big dog, it was black but not really... it was burnt black and had no skin on its muzzle.” her own words made the mare cringe.

“...Shhhit! Shit! Fuck!” He swore, “That's not good, but don't worry, no need to worry just yet, Fluttershy how long ago did you see this thing?”

“Umm...” she was not accustom to such harsh language “About six or five day's ago I think.”

“So.... like tonight is the seventh or sixth night?”

“Sixth... I think.”

“Okay, we should worry! Fluttershy please tell me you have some bay leaves!”

She pointed a hoof at a shelf and he quickly ran over to it, then spilled a jar of bay leaves onto the floor. All at once the barricades began to rustle and shake violently. He pulled out a box of matches and quickly began trying to light a match, the banging and growling outside hurt his ears, and getting the match to light was hard, but at last he got it. Jabbing it into the pile of bay leaves, a small fire soon burned. As soon as the first waft of bay leaf smoke filled the air, the pounding stopped instantly. He gave a sigh of relief.

“OK, were safe for now, but only for a little while...”

“Who are you, how did you kno-” Applejack began at a shout, but Striker cut her off

“I know, I can explain! Alright!” He took a deep breath. “Let me first explain that there are some bad things in Equestria.”

Author's Note

Split this chapter in two.
Next chapter be ready for the gore tag.
Oh there will be some clarification also.

Bad Dog Part 2

“Let me first explain that there are some bad things in Equestria... some very very dark things.” he took a moment to figure out his words. Then hastefully worked to contain the fire, speaking as he worked. “Monsters, not like manticores, or dragons I'm talking about real monsters, the things of nightmares and bad slasher films. That thing out there right now if proof of that.” he stated finishing containing the fire.

“What is that th-” Applejack began, but was immediately cut off.

“I'll get there, just hold on. These monsters, they live in the darkest underbelly of society, and have been around since before Equestria. These monsters don't see ponies as anything but food, and as long as monsters like the one outside exist, so will ponies like me... Seekers. Seekers are ponies who seek out these monsters, and eliminate them. Unfortunately Seekers don't have a habit of dying of natural causes, so many have children and teach them how to be Seekers very early on. My father raised me a Seeker, and I've been one all my life. So this, right now, this is what I do, this is where I shine. I can get us out of her alive but I need you two, mainly Fluttershy here, to listen to me.”

“So you go around, huntin' monsters?” Applejack asked in pure disbelief.

“If I didn't do it somepony else would have to, and this isn't a life I would like to give anypony so yes, I am a monster hunter. Seeker is the name we use to not sound insane.”

This time it was Fluttershy who came in.
“That sounds horrible why would you do that, how could your father do that to you?” She asked, she hadn't realized that question might come off as insulting or rude due to her exhausted state, but even then it didn't seem to phase Striker

“Somepony has to stop that thing outside, and I really don't know why my father raised me to be a Seeker, seems like real dick move on his part, but with the things I've seen, the things I've done, there is no way I wouldn't teach my kids everything I could about that thing outside. That brings me to my main point, That monster out there is whats called a Black Dog, very nasty fucker."

Only Applejack noticed how he corralled the conversation back to his point, she wasn't sure how she felt about that right now.

“It picks a victim, that would be you Fluttershy”- he pointed a hoof at the mare, and she flinched -“and it intends to feed off all of your sadness and fear, it gunna murder everypony close to you, and leave you feeling guilty and alone. It makes it's victims feel responsible for the death of eveypony they once held dear. Its going to do the same to you, unless YOU kill it! It has to be you, not Applejack, not me, it has to be you.” He ended his statement by tossing his loaded shotgun at a stunned Fluttershy. It clattered against the floor at her hooves.

“Wha-why me?” she asked almost about to cry.

“It cursed you, you're its target, you have to break the curse.” It was actually a bit more complicated then that, but Striker did not think there was enough time to explain why. So he gave her a short answer, but ultimately it would have to be Fluttershy who killed the creature.

This time Fluttershy did break into tears. When she did the front door started banging again Applejack and Striker looked to the burned out pile of ash that used to the bay leaves. Her ran to Fluttershy, took of his hat and placed it on Fluttershy's head. “This is my father's hat,-” He picked up and put the shotgun in her hooves “- I'm going to get the Black Dog's attention, you kill it when it's pinned, I want my hat back.” He gave the mare one good grin then stood up, when he did the banging got louder, and the windows began to rattle. "My life is in your hooves Missy"

“Applejack, she's your friend, she know you better, she would be sadder if you died, so get into a good spot and hide, worse comes to worse get Fluttershy and run for it, I can buy you two some time but not much.”

Applejack cringed at her uselessness. Then gave Striker an admiring glance. He was willing to sacrifice himself to save them to ponies he hardly knew at all, she thought that was very noble of him, even if it left her and her friend in a situation far worse then the one they were in right now. If they couldn't stop the monster with his help, how would they fair on their own? Striker reached into his trench coat again. Sliding out parts of a gun, then assembling them into a lever action rife. The banging and howling from outside grew worse.

The sun had left them. There was nothing between them, and the creature which hunted them that was just outside. Only darkness. The growls of the Black Dog were tearing into the air like daggers. Striker grunted, the tension was thick, and he wanted this to end as soon as possible, he then trotted over to a blocked door and began removing the barricade. “I'm gunna speed this up a bit, Applejack stay back, Fluttershy it wants you alive, so don't worry! Get ready!” he stated as he removed a chair, the last piece of the barricade. The terrible pounding finally stopped. For a moment, there was only silence.

The door burst open with a roar, the Black Dog tackled the door down and glared at Striker, who had taken position to cut it off from the mares. The beast was bigger then Fluttershy remembered. It was bigger then she was, but more so, nearly a whole filly taller now. It was jet black save for the red meaty jaw, and glazed white eyes.

BOOM. The crack of the lever action pulsed in the air, a blossom of blood squirted out of the the Black Dog's chest, then immediately squelched back in into place. The Black Dog roared with anger. It pounced, front claws out at Striker. Striker was immediately pinned onto his back, he held the rifle on it's side as a type of barrier between him and the Dog. The two struggled, Striker tried desperately to push back it's massive upper body, he barely manage to kept it's claws and fangs inches from his neck and face. The Dog roared angrily, bloodlust on it's breath. Its massive size barreled down on Striker. It's whole body thrashed wildly, the claws on it's back legs gashing Striker's lower body. It's upper claws were caught and interlocked by the rifle.

Applejack could only sit in horror, watching as the massive monster tried to ravage Striker. She wanted to help, but knew that would only put herself in danger. She couldn't stop her self from thinking about how twisted her day had turned. She was to terrified, but she still cheered when the Dog lifted its upper half's claw in an attempt to swipe at Striker, only to receive a bash to the meaty jaw with the now freed stock of the rifle. Flinching back, it gave a second of recoil, giving Striker room to breath, he shouted “SHOOT IT!” but before he could say anymore the giant monsters snapped at his neck with it maw. Quick hoofwork ensured that the rifle was chomped instead of his neck. The Black Dog's razor sharp teeth and powerful jaw crunched the gun with a loud crack. It swayed it head to the side tossing the destroyed gun away somewhere.

Fluttershy stood petrified. Tears streamed down her face as she watch the desperate struggle. She wanted to help, she wanted to save Striker, she wanted to give him his hat back. She could do nothing, she was frozen, stunned by a combination of guilt, fear, and a clouded mind. Her body ached, her migraine pounded. She shook so dramatically that it took both her forehooves and her mouth to steady the sawed-off, but even then the gun was shaking. She tasted the metal of the gun, and the leather of the trench coat Striker concealed the weapon in.

The Black Dog gave a slight pull of the head, and tried again to crush Striker's neck. Striker, however, sacrificed his right foreleg instead. The Black Dog brought its fangs down on the limb hard, Striker could hear his bone crunch, Its teeth sank deep into Striker's leg. He let a scream of pain as his limb was trapped in the monsters jaw, he could see how his leg was now bending the wrong way, he was sure he would see the bone pushing against his skin, he could feel it. He could feel each rip in his flesh made by the teeth of the Black Dog. The white hot intensity hit him as he held back his wail of agony, instead he let out a long grunt of pain. He struggled to shout out “FLUTTERSHY SHOOT THIS FUCKER” Then like when a wolf tries to break the neck of a rabbit, the Black Dog shook it head violently, it was trying to rip the leg off. A disgustingly loud pop filled the air as Striker groaned. KABOOM

The shotgun filled the air with thunder, as in a single instant, the Black Dog's entire upper body, save for it's head, was exploded into gore. Meaty chunks and blood splattered against the floor and even the nearby wall. The head of the creature stilled crunched down on Striker's leg. It's lower half spewed out bloody and torn organs from the hole where it's two halves met, most of which poured down on Striker's abdomen as the Black Dogs back legs went limp. The wet sound of gore, hitting the floor with a splat, was the only sound that filled the air.

Striker was fading in and out of consciousness from the unholy pain filling his entire body. Not only was the leg bending the wrong direction, it was now horrible dislocated at the shoulder joint, moved nearly a whole inch out of place. His torso was bruised and scratched, but his lower abdomen was worse, having taken the most direct assault save for his leg. He had terrible gashes and cuts down his back legs where the beast's back legs had flailed, and he was already forming large bruises. He laid there in a heap of meat chunks, organs, and blood, fighting sleep. He tried to stay awake, but failed and ultimately passed out from the sheer pain.

Fluttershy had not been expecting the recoil, and even with two legs and her mouth, she was thrown on to her back. Unfortunately when she got to her hooves she saw the gore that covered Striker she screamed. She thought she had missed, and the Black Dog had succeeded in ripping apart Striker, then left, leaving him for dead as a pile of pony chunks. She immediately vomited, then fainted from exhaustion for a moment.

Applejack looked at the mess and tensed. Striker need help, but her basic medical knowledge might not be enough. She would need help. She would have to deal with Striker as best she could. Then help Fluttershy. Then get help. She looked at Striker's mangled leg. She though to herself Striker may not want to go to the hospital, and even then how would I explain this to a doctor? Oh, what do I do? Even then I can't tell anypony about this Seeker business! Her panic organized into action, she crudely cared for Striker, doing her best to remove the Black Dog's head, stop the bleeding, then to splint the bone, and pop his leg back into place. After he was stable enough, she cleaned up Fluttershy a bit, then woke her up. Fluttershy cried in panic when she awoke, but once she saw that Striker was alright she gave a sigh of relief. Then immediately fainted as she realized that the gore was what she had done to the Black Dog. Applejack gave a smile to her friend. She carried Fluttershy to her room and bed.

It was raining.
Raining again.
The rain never stops.
Striker sat on his haunches in the rain.
He was dreaming and he knew it.
The world around him was grim.
Nothing but gray all around.
A solid grey beneath.
A cloud of grey above.
Nothing but rain.
The soft sound of rain.
His only companion.
That is until hoofsteps pierced the rain. Drenched, he turned to look at the beautiful Princess of the night, Luna, not a single drop of the rain hit her. “You've done well Sun Striker, I thank you.”

Author's Note

That confrontation felt quick.
Yay Luna.

The Ponies of Ponyville Part 1

“BWAA!” the purple horn of Twilight Sparkle flashed as she instantly teleported a few feet back. She jumped as the pale blue stallion awoke with a start. Her face was close to his body, he had been asleep and she was using magic to scan his body. He looked at the two mares in the now sunlit cottage that belonged to Fluttershy. It was much cleaner then it was when he passed out. He looked at his now properly bandaged and splinted leg, it still hurt, but not nearly as bad at it had.

“Umm Striker? This is mah friend.” Applejack began “Ah kinda told her... everything. Ah had to Ah needed help! I hope you don't mind.”

“Twilight Sparkle.” she introduced herself with a cautious smile.

“I do mind, you had no right to go about telling my secrets, but you did it to help so I wont get mad. Ms. Sparkle my Seeker business stays between us.” he stated still partially asleep, laying on a couch, but still fully understanding what was happening now.

“I can do that.” She replied in a voice that didn't reek confidence.

He gave a heavy groan. “Can I trust you to keep my secret?” he asked with a glare.

“Of course, I'm not the kind of pony who blabs secrets or anything.” She said, giving a nervous smile.

“Good. Where's that little pegasus? Flittermy? Where's my hat?” he asked looking about the room.

“Fluttershy is getting some rest, Ah'll go get yer hat, ahm sorry, I forgot to get that.” Applejack remarked before making her way upstairs.

The room was now empty save for Striker and Twilight. Twilight cleared her throat.

“Umm I just wanted to say thank you for saving my friends. It looks like you really took one for the team. You're a real hero. And your secret is safe with me.” she gave another nervous smile

“I'm no hero, just doing my job Ms. Sparkle.” He stated coldly as he got up from the couch he was laying on.

“Oh Twilight is fi- hey! I just scanning you, you're missing a lot of blood. You should stay down and get some rest, try to sleep more.”

“I've been through worse Ms. Sparkle.”- He finished getting off the couch and began looking through the room. -”Where's my trench coat, and all my stuff?” he asked in a rather somber tone.

“You should really get some more rest Mr. Striker” Twilight stated with a concerned voice, as her horn glowed levitating a cardboard box from behind the couch. Inside it were numerous boxes of ammo, his sawed-off, cigarettes, a lighter, a flask, two journals of some kind, two bags of bits, a letter (the one he received from Luna), and a small lock box.

“Over the years I've developed a tolerance to things like... this.”- he wiggled his bum leg -”Don't you worry Missy, I'll be fine. You two didn't look through my things did you?”

“No, of course not!” She waved a hoof in surprise.

“Where's my trench coat?”
Twilight grimaced. “Ummmm...”

Applejack's voice cut in. “We uhhh, we burnt it, along with the rest of the Black Dog, it was coated in blood.” she told him as she lightly tossed him his hat.

He gave a sigh. “Well, if you two wouldn't mind could you point me in the direction of a restaurant, and where I could by myself a new trench coat?” he asked while putting his hat back on, then put his box of belongings onto his back.

“Umm, we could all... umm go out for breakfast, you did save all our lives.” Fluttershy's timid voice stated.

Everypony there was surprised to see her awake. Applejack looked apologetic.

“Come to think of it, you said that the Black Dog targets ponies close to Fluttershy. Well there aint a pony in town who aint friends with Fluttershy, so you actually saved the whole town!” Applejack said with a grin on her face.

“And I'd like to thank you more officially for saving my friends.” Twilight added catching on.

Striker gave another sigh. He knew that these mares had no intention of letting him go on his way. They wanted to say thanks. But he didn't like the idea of spending more time with these mares. They were nice enough, but he wasn't one who really liked having “Friends”. Seekers don't really have friends, and if that Seeker does, those friends usually do not last long. He really did not look forward to staying here longer. He gave a frown.

“There's no getting out of this is there?”

“Nope” the three said in unison.

Twilight, to her credit, did want to do something for the stallion who saved her dear friends. But she did have some alternative motives. She wanted to learn more about Seekers. Who are they, do they meet up, do most Seeker know each other? What of these dark monsters that hide in the dark? The idea of Black Dogs intrigued her. How did the creature do what it did. How did it harvest emotions for nourishment. Why did those herbs ward it off? She had tons of questions, and she wanted to be his friend, partially for more selfish reasons, but also to make a new friend.

Applejack was moreover just thrilled to alive. Her night was nightmarish. And she did not like thinking about it, but she was alive now! The sun was out and shining brightly in the sky! She wanted to spend time with her closest friends. She wanted to invite Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity, but wasn't sure how much Striker would like bringing more ponies into this. Even if they didn't learn of his secret, he didn't come off as a social butterfly. She didn't mind though. She saw Striker as a new friend.

Fluttershy on the other hoof, kept telling herself to be cool. To be direct, she had a crush on Striker. Not only had he helped her do something she never though possible for herself, but he was also quite handsome. Not only that, he had saved her life, and the life of her closest friends, whom he hardly knew for less then a day. He was a good pony, she could tell. She really, really, wanted to, at the very least be his friend. She personally wanted to be alone with him, but knew she probably wouldn't be able to with out turning redder then a tomato.

The three sat at outdoor restaurant. Striker's box of belongings sat underneath his chair. All quite content with eating their meal. None of them really spoke. Until the silence was broken by a somepony.

“OH. MY. GOSH. ARE YOU NEW IN TOWN? Because I know everypony in town, but I don't know you, so that means either I have been missing you, or your new in town! OHMYGOSH! I HAVE TO THROW YOU A SURPRISE PARTY! OHMYGOSH! I JUST RUINED THE SURPRISE. NOW IT HAS TO BE A WELCOME TO TOWN PARTY! OHMYGOOOOOOSH WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR LEG?!” the intensely pink pony stated somehow managing all that in a single breath.

"Oh boy..." Applejack stated

“Umm... I am new here-”Striker responded

“AH-HA I knew it!!” the pony interrupted “I'm your new best friend Pinkie Pie!”

“...ok?”

“So what happened to your leg?!, and don't worry I'm gunna throw you a “Welcome to town, hope you get well soon” party!?

“I don't really... need a party. As for my le-”

“DON'T. NEED. A. PARTY. AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!” and with that Pinkie ran off someplace screaming.

Striker looked to the three friends.

“Yeah... that's our friend Pinkie Pie.” Twilight said after a sip of her herbal tea.

“Ah think you broke her.” Applejack said with a laugh, before taking another big bite out of her waffles.

“Umm... yeah you should know there is going to be a party in your honor, even if you don't want it, Pinkie is going to throw one for you.” Fluttershy chimed in with a smile.

Striker was pretty confused. He was very disturbed that these mares were general not disturbed by the rather odd actions. He was not one for social gatherings... at all. He recalled the bad mood being at a train station gave him. “And she throws random ponies... parties on a whim?”

“Yup” Applejack spoke with her mouth still quite full of waffle.

“Well not so much random ponies, she actually selects specific ponies, but the whole party on a whim thing is pretty normal.” Twilight said, taking a careful bite of her toast.

“Normal? She does that regularly?”

“Oh yeah, fer birthdays, anniversaries, dentist appointments, you name it!” Applejack stated in between bites.

“And that's... normal”

“Well, that's Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy said sipping her orange juice.

It astounded him that that kind of behavior had grown normal to these mares. He gave a sigh and continued eating. The three hadn't bothered to stop with all the Pinkie Pie business, he realized that Pinkie Pie's behavior really was normal to them.

“Listen, you don't have to go, I'm pretty sure Pinkie wouldn't mind.... that much....at first.” Twilight told him in an attempt to be friendly.

“It seem like you are all very close, ponies like that don't get the best reception all the time. How well do you all know each other? I wouldn't mind going if it's a favor for you three.” He replied casually.

“She's one of our best friends, which reminds me, we have to introduce you to Rainbow Dash and Rarity as soon as possible.” Fluttershy spoke, then gave him a small smile.

Sticker thought about that for a moment. At first the idea of staying in town seemed... unfortunate. And the overbearing levels of kindness and friendship these mare were extending to him seemed....well overbearing. But he was starting to see how pleasant this could all be. Twilight had mentioned living and working at the town library on the way to the restaurant, that gave him a direct connection to the town library, and thus all the town's records if a new case were to pop up, like Luna had said might happen. Applejack would definitely give him a good name around town, as would Fluttershy, so he should meet very little resistance in his investigations. Normal ponies don't give information that Seekers look for to strangers. Their word would give him an edge. This Pinkie Pie was strange, but he was sure she could prove useful, perhaps her parties could help him create more allies. He didn't know about Rarity, or Rainbow Dash, but he was sure they would be useful to him at some point. However, it didn't feel right to him, if he were to just use these girls for his own gain. He actually liked them, and a rather large portion of him wanted to be their friend. But Seekers and friends don't mix. Yet these mares were so nice to him. The conflicting emotions bothered Striker, so he did what he always does when he is emotional confused or hurt.

“Hey, waiter, yeah you, can I get a whiskey sour, room temperature, no ice please.” His call gaining the attention to a teenage mare who didn't looked thrilled to be working this early.

“Hey, you can't drink, you are suffering from severe blood loss!” Twilight whispered.
He wave a hoof in response, “I'll be fine.”

“Sir, it's barely 8:30 in the morning.”

“I know the time, I could really use a drink.” The waitress gave a sigh and trotted away.

“You really should not drink.” Twilight's warning echoed the words Fluttershy and Applejack wanted to say.

“First, I'll be fine, it's one whiskey. Second, I have quite the tolerance to alcohol, I started drinking at a very, very, early age.”

Twilight said nothing. Her body language however was quite sharp. The three mares saw how bad his injuries were, and needless to say, they were all worried about him. Striker on the other hoof, knew his limits. He spent a long time training, so he knows his body well. He knew that he would have to take it easy for a while, his broken leg really slowed him down. But he knew that it wouldn't stop him from solving cases.

“So, you gunna go to Pinkie's party Striker?” Applejack said intentionally changing the subject.

“I guess, although I really need a trench coat first.”

“Well, we'll take you to the best tailor in town, she'll get ya what ya need.” She replied.

The rest of the breakfast went on without a hitch. The girls began to speak of their upcoming Nightmare Night plans; they were all going to pinkie's big Nightmare Night party, it was only three days away. Striker did not like Nightmare Night. Not because it meant talking to ponies, but because what a supernatural night that night really is. Nightmare Night, is the night were the spirit world is closest to the physical plane. Ghost and other type of spectres roam this night. It is quite literally the worse night of all the possible nights, for such an event. However Striker kept that to himself, noting wanting to burst the girls' bubble, they, obviously, were quite excited. They spoke to each other about costume ideas, and even convinced Striker to spend the night with them. His intentions were to make sure his newest companions were safe. They wanted to see if he would actually show up.

Sadly, as mid day began to arrive, the mare's had to leave due to their busy home lives. Twilight had work to do at the library. Applejack had a lot of explaining to do to her family. And Fluttershy was too nervous to be temporarily alone with Striker, so she made an excuse about finding her animal friends before running away. Striker was left just outside Carousel Boutique. Where he was told the tailor, Rarity, one of the aforementioned best friends, would assist him. With his box on his back he trotted in.

The place was much more high class then he originally anticipated. With elegant fancy dresses as decoration, extravagant wall fixtures,and paintings. The cat who napped silently on a pillow even seemed high class. However the overall classy feeling was dropped when he heard a white unicorn mare with a fancy purple mane, who he correctly assumed to be Rarity, and a unknown white filly with a much lighter shade of purple mixed evenly with pink as her mane color, argue. He tried not to eavesdrop but he did anyway, the silence of the shop making their argument seem loud.

“Aww that's not fair! Applebloom's cousin is only coming for a few days, we HAVE to spend Nightmare Night together!” the filly shouted.

“And you will Sweetie Belle, just not the whole night, I'm sure she wouldn't mind it on any other night.”

“But Nightmare Night is only once a year and were gunna miss it!”

“You wont miss it at all Sweetie, you just wont be up as late, its not that big a deal.”

“If Nightmare Night isn't a big deal then why don't you not go to Pinkie's party so you can watch us?! Besides you get to see you're friends everyday, Babs only comes to visit on special occasions! Occasions like Nightmare Night!”

“Sweetie Belle, enough is enough, you and your friends can spend the night together any other night.”

“But it's not fair! We don't even need a babysitter were not babies!”

“Sweetie Belle! I-Oh!” Finally noticing Striker “We can talk about this later!” She finished a statement toward the filly, then returned to her focus to the customer. “Welcome to... oh my, you must be Striker, the heroic stallion who saved Fluttershy and Applejack!”

Striker flinched in confusion. Had somepony told her what happened? How much did she already know!?

“Uhh... yeah.” He replied with an edge on his voice.

“Fluttershy has always taken care of strays, I warned her that one day something might get the wrong idea and attack her. Thank Celestia that you and Applejack were there to help!”

“How... who told you about this, it just happened last night.”

“Well Twilight of course, she saw the whole thing! How that rapid dog attacked Fluttershy out of nowhere, how you and Applejack saved her! How when it pounced at Applejack, you threw yourself in harm's way! She wrote me a letter explaining everything this morning.” she told him with a smile, her magic floating up a letter. “Your poor leg looks horrible! My, you are quite the hero.”

“Just doing what I can to help miss.”

“Oh my, listen to me gawk. You must be in here for a reason, what can I do for you?” She spoke, her grin never fading.

“I just need a trench coat, with a lot of pockets on the inside.”

Rarity gave him an odd look “That's it? A trench coat with extra pockets?”

He opened the box and slid out a small bag of bits. “Yeah that's it, how much will it be?”

“Well, just a simple trench will not do! I shall make you the finest coat any trench will ever see! Yes, I can see it now-” her horn began to glow, and magic began to levitate several objects from around the store “-you look the Roguish Type, yes I'd say this will go nicely!”

“All I need is a trench coat ma'am, I aint got much money, so a simple trench coat alright?”

“Money? You saved my friend's lives! You shan't pay a single bit for this coat sir!” Rarity boomed excited to see her vision become clear. Striker however was very surprised. She would go the extra few miles to make him a nice trench coat, but did not intend on charging him any money for it.

“Wow, umm that's very generous of you ma'am.”

“Oh shush, I'm just doing what I can to help sir." (her tone the same as his when he spoke those words seconds ago) "I'll have your order ready in a few hours.” and with that she left to the back room of her store, her cloud of utensils following her, save for a measuring tape, which quickly made its self very personal with Striker before leaving to catch up.

Striker, not having anything specific in mind just had a seat. Near the counter Rarity had stood behind.

The Ponies of Ponyville Part 2

Striker had been sitting on his haunches inside the Carousel Boutique for a solid twenty minutes. He had no intention of leaving until he had his trench coat. He wanted to rest his injured leg, and try to relax, get some of that rest he needed. He kept his focus to the ground, and tried not to eavesdrop anymore. He was able to distract himself for a while, it wasn't until he heard the store's door chime that he lifted his head enough to see who had entered, his focus setting on the events unfolding. Two more young fillies walked into the store. One a light cream color with a light red ribbon that perfectly matched her mane, which was a rosy scarlet. The second was orange with a shaggy purple mane.

“What did yer sister say?” The rose mane filly asked excitedly before sniffling loudly.

“Yeah! Is Operation LASNNTCMCG good to go?! Also we should consider changing the name of the plan.” the orange pegasus filly said in a rush.

Striker let out a grin, then set his gaze back to the floor.

“No... my sister wont watch us either. Looks like its an early bed time for us on Nightmare Night.” Sweetie Belle replied sadly. The two others replied with simular sad looks.

“Wait..”- the rose mane paused then let out what sounded like a wet sneeze. -“What's wrong with Operation LASNNTCMCG?”

“Applebloom you need to hurry up and get over that cold! If your sick then the plan is a bust anyway!” Sweetie told her just before the pegasus cut in.

“LASNNTCMCG is to long! Nopony wants even knows what it means! I don't even know what it means!”she told Applebloom loudly

Then in perfect unison the two other fillies responded “Operation Let's All Spend Nightmare Night Together Cutie Mark Crusader Go!” Their voices sounded like this was not the first time they had to remind the orange pegasus of that name. The little pegasus only grumbled in reply, turning around noticing Striker for the first time.

“Ahm fine, this cold'll be gone before tomorrow so we can still hang out for Nightmare Night.” Applebloom stated, but she didn't get a response. Instead she looked at a distracted pegasus.

“Hey... Sweetie Belle, who's that buck over there?” the pegasus asked

“Huh?” The two other stated again in unison, both noticing him for the first time as well.

“Oh that's the pony who saved Fluttershy from a rabid dog last night.” She replied coolly, as if it was the normal. While the other two seemed much more shocked.

“What happened to Fluttershy?”
“Yeah, is she ok? How this the first we've heard of this?”

“Oh, Twilight sent Rarity a letter this morning, and everypony is fine, well except for him. His leg is all messed up.” her voice was still very casual.

“Whoa...we should talk to him, see if it hurts... I wonder if he'll let us see under the bandage.” The pegasus replied excitedly. The two once again replied in unison, this time with an “Ewww.”

“Scoots! That's gross!” Sweetie exclaimed

“It'd be awesome!” Scoots' grin growing and growing on her face.

“If you think I'd be awesome, you can ask him yerself! If it's not super gross tell us to come see it.” Applebloom told her.

“What me? Like by myself? Nononono, one of you has to come with me.” Scoots' response sounded desperate.

“No way! You wanted to see his gross leg!” Sweetie shot back.

“I know but.. look at him! He's like super handsome, and probably super cool, I can't!” Scoots blathered quickly.

The two little fillies gave Scoots a devious grin. “Super handsome? He's super handsome? Not just handsome, he's super handsome?” Sweetie teased.

“Sounds like somepony has a crush..” Applebloom stated quite matter of factly.

“What? No way!”- Scoots tried to hid her reddening face -”He's not even that dreamy!” She immediately regretted those words. After a bit more teasing, Striker stopped listening. But he could still hear the louder bits, such as Scoots' various “Shut up!”s, Sweetie Belle's several “super dreamy”s, and Applebloom's laughes. He instead focused on Applebloom's voice. It had a similar southern drawl to Applejack's voice. He pondered if several other ponies in the town had that drawl, or if it had to do with “apples”. Then he wondered if Applebloom, and Applejack were related. He recalled something about Applejack's sister being sick. He quickly put two and two together, before his attention shifted again. This time to the little orange pegasus in front of him. However her face had decided it wanted to be red.

“Hi... I'm umm... I'm Scootaloo, it's ...ugh, very nice to umm meet you.” She had a hard time looking away from the ground.

Sliding his hat up, he grinned “Nice to meet you to Scootaloo. Something wrong?”

She looked up. Getting a good look at his face for the first time, she loved his flaming sapphire blue eyes.”N-no sir just umm introducing myself...”

“Well then it's my turn then isn't it? I'm Striker, what can I do for a cute little mare like yourself?”

“DIARRHEA!” She shouted her face a whole new shade of red. “I HAVE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM BECAUSE I HAVE DIARRHEA!!” She ran off to the bathroom as fast as her little legs would take her, even he nubby wings doing their best to push her forward.

The other two fillies were also much closer now as well. They were both laughing quite ecclesiastically.
“Hey I'm Sweetie Belle, sorry about Scootaloo. She doesn't actually have the Trots, she just has a big crush on you.” Sweetie stated with a grin, trying to hold in her laughs.

“Really? I thought she just really had to go.” Striker replied in a sarcastic tone.

“Yea, she aint normally like that at all. She usually has all the umm... bravado yeah. She has lots of bravado. Oh and ahm Applebloom.”

“Applejack's little sister?” he confirmed.

“Eeyup.” Her voice was a tad nasally, but the pride felt in her word, or her name that is was similar to Applejack's.

“And I'm Rarity's sister! Sweetie Belle!” she introduced herself

Scootaloo trotted back, once she saw how her friends were near, she stopped blushing so hard.
“Hey sorry about that.” she said with half a laugh.

Contrary to his hate of crowds and most random ponies, Striker actually liked children. He saw them as beacons of hope. Their tendencies to be optimistic and innocent were like burning lights to the world he mostly saw the darkest parts of. That and low levels of empathy often resulted in funny outcomes such as bullying and fighting for pretty much no reason. The two friend's teasing and mocking their third friend for having a crush being an ideal example.

Rarity had finished her grand idea. The near black trench coat would better match his pale blue fur. The mahogany colored trim stood out just enough that it would make his sapphire eyes pop. The custom fit should allow good flow with out being to loose, and fit comfortably with out feeling clingy. She was quite proud of her creation. She stepped outside to hang it for when he returned, but was surprised to see him already at her store.

“Oh no! Curse you Knight Hoof Puncher! I am dead now!” Scootaloo reared, then spun on her hind legs. Dramatically placing a hoof on forehead, she stuck out her tongue. “Bleahhh” she then fell onto her back eye's closed tongue still out.

“Aha! I have triumphed over the evil king, Lord VonPoopinhiemer! Also I saved you Princess Pretty Face!” Striker picked up Sweetie Belle into the air with his forehooves. “Now let us escape VonPoopinhiemer's castle.” he ran around the shop Sweetie Belle on his back. The girls, even the dead Lord VonPoopinhiemer giggled as he made running sound effects with his mouth.

Applebloom quickly tied a scarf around her head, it quickly became an impromptu beard. “I am king Sticky Butt! Thank you brave knight for saving my daughter!” she stated in the deepest voice she could muster.

“Stinky Butt? That's worse then Pretty Face!” Striker laughed with the girls, falling down to his haunches. Rarity gave a grin then coughed loudly. Upon looking at her he immediately stood up.

“Hey... my order ready?”

“It's been ready, three whole princesses ago.” She teased

“It's been ready for a while now then.”Sweetie jumped in.

Rarity gave a teasing grin as her magic gave Striker his trench coat.

“Oh really? What Princess was that then?” Rarity asked her sister.

“Like number Seven!” Scootaloo sprang.

“How many did you see Miss?”Striker asked, pulling on his new coat.

“Just that one, well it's ending.”

“Then that was the first princess.” He stated tilting his hat up.

“No it wasn't” Applebloom said giving him a funny look.

“I know it's just less embarrassing for me this way.” he replied to Applebloom giving her a big grin, then turned back to Rarity “S'a good fit, you sure you aint gunna let me pay?”

“Absolutely. Now then go on, go play with your new friends.” She teased more.

“Sorry girls, but I gotta get going. Need to get a room at the motel.” Striker said to his small audience as he began sliding his belongings from the box into their place in his trench coat.

The general sound of reply was “Awwwwwww.”

Then Sweetie Belle jumped” Ooo! Ooo! I have an idea! Striker do you think you would want to help watch Ms. Cheeralie's class on Nightmare Night! Last time our friend Zecora did it, but we haven't heard from her yet!”

Scootaloo hopped on that idea as well. “Yeah! We could really use a second show-fur!”

“Chauffeur.”Applebloom corrected

“That's what I said, show-fur”

“And then after do you think you can watch the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”Sweetie Belle cut in.

“Well..umm...” He looked to the fillies, then to Rarity, who just lifted a single eyebrow. Then after a bit second of thought. “I can do that, if I'm able, I'm new to town, ponies may not want to leave their colts and fillies in the hooves of a stranger now.”

“But you're super cool!”

“I am, but ponies don't know that just by looking at me.”

After a bit more talking, Striker left the store. He had to get a room at the local motel. However before he did that, he took a long walk around town. He knew that he really shouldn't due to his bum leg, but he just stayed off of it as much as he cold. He wanted to take in the town, and the townsfolk. He wanted to get a layout down of the town. He, however, found that his walk was much more enjoyable then he thought it would be. He saw the townsfolk going about their normal routines. Shopkeepers in their shops. Families causally enjoying the late afternoon. Ponies just walking about enjoying the day, enjoying life. Ironic really, I spend my life preserving this... peace and yet I will never enjoy it for myself. His leg ached. His body was beginning to hurt. The new custom fitted trench coat was starting to get heavy with his belonging in their place. He looked at the sunset and gave a grin. The cool breeze of the dusk giving him a slight chill. Getting late, I should head to the motel now. He began trotting to the motel, he was thinking about the coming days, perhaps it wouldn't be as bad as he felt it was going to be. He pushed open the door to the motel.

“SUUUUUUUUUUURPRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISE”

Pinkie jumped out of a crowd of ponies. “Welcome to your “Welcome-to-town-thank-you-for-saving-our-friend-surprise-party! We all heard how you saved Fluttershy! So this party had to be super awesome! There is soda pop, chips, cake, tons of sweets, and music! It's all for you, hope you like it! Everypony is soooooooo excited to meet you!”

Striker spent the next large sum of time meeting everyone who wanted to meet him, which was the majority of the town. He gave greetings and smiles to the ponies who he met. Although he really hated doing so. A lot of ponies in a medium sized motel lobby was not the greatest thing in the world for him. He had planned to stay on watch during Nightmare Night, scouting and keeping tabs and as many ponies as he could, however that the no longer work, his excuse for not being able to attend Nightmare Night with the school fillies and colts was that he would not be trusted, but now almost the entire town saw him as a great hero who saved a mare in danger, that plan would no longer be valid. However he really didn't mind. If he can't protect as many ponies as he could, at least he would be protecting all the young fillies and colts in an entire class.

“So you're the Striker everypony's been talking about” Rainbow Dash stated looking him over with her eyes.

“Apparently so, it seems I have quite a name around here now.” He replied with a sigh.

“Well you should, Fluttershy isn't exactly the most... tough pony around. I'm real glad that you helped her. It's pretty cool that you would do that, even for somepony you didn't know.” She told him with a light hoof tap to the shoulder of his good leg.

“Hey now I didn't do anything special, anypony would've done what I did in the same situation. Just the right place, right time.”

“Well that's just it, others would've helped, but they would've jumped in danger like you did. Oh excuse me, jump in front of the danger like you did.” She told him hopping down into a combat pose.
“That's why everypony think they're hero.”

“Somepony needed help, and I helped 'em, that's all, I don't know why such a big deal.”

She gave him a grin, ”Stop being so modest, you can brag about this!” She laughed.

And that was roughly his entire evening. However, eventually his body started to catch up with him. He started to get aches and pain over his body, got a headache that pounded his skull, and began finding it very hard focus. At that, he decided he was done. When a walleyed pegasus nearly fell on an impromptu dance floor, he snuck out. Outside the lobby, the music still boomed. Taking his room key, he made his way across the motel, where he would finally get some rest. Before he could however, he locked eyes with a zebra.

“Aren't you the stallion of the hour, what are you doing outside, shouldn't you be in there, soaking up those ponies' glee in stride.”

“Not really my scene ma'am, I'm just heading head off to bed. If you wouldn't mind could you not tell anypony, that I left, at least not immediately.”

“From what I've heard, you fought quite a beast for what's best, every warrior deserved their rest.”

“Thank you ma'am, means a lot”- then just realizing it he asked -” are you... Rhyming?”

“What if I am, do you think it's some sham?” She asked perking an eyebrow

“Just a little... Different is all. I take it that its some zebra thing?”

“In some ways, you should go get some rest while it still today.” she told him.

He laughed, continuing on his way.”That one felt a little forced.” She didn't reply, at least not with words. She gave him a smile, then a nod, and went on her way.

Striker's room was cold. In the small room, twin size bed, one window, full bathroom, the nightstand was just a stool. There was just the single armoire for him to hold his belonging, he didn't need it. He laid on the chilled sheets. Took off his trench coat, pulled out his machete, and stuck it in the bed, with an effortless toss, he threw his coat on to his ”nightstand” before laying down fully, and closing his eyes. He thought about his day, and his coming days, it wasn't exactly clear what was going to happen. And he really didn't know how he really felt.

Overall he liked the town, liked the townsfolk too. And the children were nice, took a quick liking to him. Unfortunately as much as he wanted to enjoy that, he couldn't help but fear, that their affection for him to would get them hurt. It's generally against Seeker rules that one would stop, sit down someplace, and live there for a while, befriending the locals. It just never tended to end will. He knew it, but he did it anyway. He was in a situation where he almost had to, it is not like you could just deny helping the Princess. It was against his normal rational way of thinking to live in this town the way he was already starting to. Yet at the same time, he really enjoyed. The longer he dwelled on it, the less the party he just escaped felt like it needed to be escaped from. That group of friends, just treated him so nicely.

He looked to the new trench coat, which in custom tailored, that he received for free. He thought of the warm hospitality Applejack had given him when he first arrived. He thought of Fluttershy's warm smile. Of Twilight Sparkle's very real concern for his well-being, even though they really did not know each other that well. Of Pinkie's good intentions. Of Rainbow's trust, based almost entirely on the opinions of her friends. Of those three... Cutie Mark Crusaders. It all gave him a warm feeling in his chest, he wanted to like it, but his entire life he pushed feeling like this away. And for good reason. He didn't want anyone else getting hurt. The conflicting ideas worried him. And he was all out a whiskey.

Blightmares on Nightmare Night!

Three days. It had been three full days since Striker had arrived in town. Tonight would be Nightmare Night. The excitement over Striker had died down, and been replaced with anticipation for Nightmare Night. From colts and fillies going door to door, to the more mature parties planed for the older mares and stallions. It was looking to be an great night.

Striker had spent his time at Twilight's library, searching through old archives. Nightmare Night made the wall between the living and the dead paper thin. He wanted to see the records of everypony that had every lived in town, he was surprised to see that he had all ready been put on file. To his chagrin, the Ponyville had a history of missing pony cases that seemed to make up a pattern. Occurring every ten years or so, a bundle of ponies go missing for good on Nightmare Night. Not believing in coincidence, he tried to dive deeper, but couldn't find much else. He was rather worried. It had been eleven years since the last disappearance on Nightmare Night that lasted more then a day or two. He learned quite a bit, although now he had promised to tell Twilight more about Seekers.

His plan to not spend the night with children backfired, so he had to make a new plan. He would now do his best to protect the children. He assumed that if anything got dark that Applejack, Twilight, or Fluttershy would come to seek his aid. His biggest concern was that he was starting to care about these ponies, and he might be getting them in more trouble and danger then they could think plausible. Ignoring those pessimistic thoughts, he prepped, making himself ready for just about any situation. He carried holy water, salt, several rounds of shotgun shells, his cast-iron machete, and even his lockbox in case of an emergency. He kept it all hidden underneath that trench coat. His bum leg would slow him down, but would do nothing to stop them from saving the lives of innocent of this town. Technically, he was supposed to arrive in costume, so he threw something together last-minute. A few more bandage wraps, and he became a burn victim.

The School was nicely decorated. With fake spiders and spiderweb adorning the ceiling and walls, several fake tombstones placed on the grass lot nearby and around the building. With the sinking sun, and ghostly wind the place would soon become “spooky” once night fell. Several colts and fillies waited impatiently inside the building's classroom. He gave a knock at the door. It quickly opened to reveal a pretty earth pony mare, Ms. Cheerilee, the schoolteacher dressed as a pirate, infamous Jolly Roger hat and eyepatch combo. Her white and blue striped clothes, did not match the red polkadot bandana, which was still slightly visible, she wore on her hair beneath the hat.

“Arr!” She played, happy to see him.

“Hey there Ms. Cheerilee, good to see you again. I'm on time right?”

“Oh your early, we have to wait for the sun to go down before we start anyway. Nice costume by the way, umm mummy?”

Striker gave a grin, scratching the back of his head with hoof. “Heh... Burn Victim... Yeah, still kind of getting settled, got dressed in a rush, hope this is good enough.”

“All that's fine, we're all just glad you showed up.” She beamed.

He stepped inside, taking in the classroom. Several pumpkins had been carved and placed around the room. They varied in size and shape, as well as in design. Some were cut... poorly, while others were actually very nice. Some had candle inside other didn't. One in particular had a second pumpkin placed on top of it, creating a kind of... pumpkin afro. Several crayon pictures were made of unique monsters by each student. Several were more cute then scary, while some were disturbing, even for him. The pony with a big triangle for a head and a large blade of some kind, and a white faceless pony in a fancy business suit with several tendrils out his back, in particular disturbed him the most. More fake spider webs coated the higher places. The students were all in costume, and had been waiting for this Night for a while.

“Striker!” Scootaloo's voice shouted out in happiness as she lept toward him in a big jump, her little wings beating fast.

She had a pretty intricate costume. She wore a dark blue hooded pullover sweatshirt, and a pair of dark brown cargo pants. The pants had been wrinkled thoroughly, and had duck tape around each leg at some point. Her hood was down, revealing her painted face. She had painted her face a near white pale, save for the near black red she had around her eyes and the corners of her mouth.

“I'm a Hunter, you know from the Left 4 Pony! That super awesome zombie game!” she bragged, obviously proud of her costume.

“Oh I see it now, very cool Scoots!” He lied, he did not get it at all, but she didn't need to know that.

“Check out mah costume Striker!” Applebloom stated as she approached him.

Her costume was also very intricate. She wore a pair gun metal gray goggles, and a yellow hard had that pushed back her mane. She had on a pair of brown overalls, over a button-up red collared shirt with a yellow wrench imprint on her shoulder. On each of her knees was a yellow knee pad, and she also had a work belt on her hips. To top it all off, she had on a yellow wielding glove on her right hoof.

“Oh that's really cool Applebloom!” Striker praised, once again not getting the reference.

“Yeah it's a great Engineer from Pony Fortress 2 Applebloom!” Scootaloo commented proud of her friends costume.

“My turn! Ta-daa!” Sweetie Belle shot in, giving a quick twirl.

She had on a orange workpony's jumpsuit, with a circle made of rectangles on her back. Her mane was entirely pulled back into a pony-tail manedo, save for small bits which became her bangs in front of her face. She had tiny white boots on, with a little metal looking stick that curved around the bottom of her hoof.

“I'm Belle from … umm what's it's name, how did I forget the name, you know the one with all the portals!” Before anypony else could speak, Cheerilee picked Sweetie Belle in her hooves.

“Look at the children! Aren't they the cutest things you have ever seen?!” Cheerilee squeed with delight giving a hug to each Crusader.

Cheerilee showed off her students and her classroom, explaining the decor that he already taken in. The Crusaders went around introducing Striker to their classmates. Most did not care, and were waiting for Zecora to show up. Time for the fillies and colts had nearly froze, especially because many of them were also waiting for Zecora.

Applebloom spoke with a bit of worry. “Hey where's Babs, shoulda been here by now.” As if on queue, a zebra burst through the school room's door.

“A little one! She wandered into the Everfree, a friend of Applebloom,! I'm sure if we don't act fast I'm sure she'll meet her doom!” The worry obvious in her voice.

The panic had come fast, in a rush, Striker had ran off, the Crusaders had followed, Zecora was not far behind them. All had gone deep into the Everfree. The tall trees and moist grass had a level of tranquility, that did nothing to the levels of panic going on inside all of their minds. The grass was so crisp that gave a slight crunch under their hooves, a quiet version of the sound made when they stomped a twig or dry fallen branch.

Striker ran as fast as he could, galloping fast enough to push himself in the lead, even with his mangled leg. He had given himself a single responsibility. Protect the children, and he was close to failing that already. He refused to let anypony get hurt. His leg protested but he kept charging forward. A filly's scream filled the air. He rushed, assuming the worst he galloped as hard as he could, then a contrast of color grabbed his focus.

He saw the mare, pure white fur, with a blood red mane, soaking wet, still dripping. Her mane clung to her face and body, as did her tail. She held a orange filly in her hooves. Cradling the frightened filly like a baby, she hummed a lullaby. They noticed each other at the same time. The un-equine screech roared like hooves on a chalkboard, only louder. He felt the screech deep in his chest, and in a single instant, everything went black.

Images ran through sight.

A stallion yelling.

Crying.

Fire.

Striker drifted back awake. He felt fuzzy. He picked himself up on to his haunches. He was in a odd room. It stank of mold, and rotten wood. Everything was made up of wood, very old, rotting, moist wood, there was more mold then wood in most areas of the room. The hard wood floors groaned as he got up on his hooves and took in his new surroundings. It was dark, near black, the only illumination coming from a barred window. He cursed. This was far from good. Ahead of him was a aged water-stained door. He noticed the window to his left, looking out of it he saw that the bars were to condensed for him to squeeze through, but they were also extremely rusted, with enough time he could probably get through with a bit of hard kicking.

He checked his trench coat, cracking a smile when he knew all his belonging were still on him, he tried the door. The door's knob turned, it was unlocked, or possibly the lock had broken open from rust. Using more force, the door gave a hard moan of protest, only opening when he began pushing with his entire body. The hallway was not much better then the room. The rug that once sat on the floor had been reduced mostly to clumps of mold. The stench of dead rotting wood still sat in the room hanging heavy like a fog. Not far away he could hear dripping. He looked to his right, the hallway went on, three more doors, then it turned to his left. He looked in the other directions, just a few feet until the hallway ended. The dripping got louder. He turned to go down the hallway, but he was meet by a soaking wet mud brown stallion, the water soaking in to his coat so deep he looked black, his eyes deeply puffed and fogged. His muzzle was hardly an inch away from Striker's.

Striker jumped back. Glaring daggers at the buck. Who looked at him in a daze. The soaking stallion stretched out a hoof, then opened his muzzle. The instant he did, water poured out like a faucet then for a second, he flickered like a dying light bulb, his entire body vanishing and reappearing. Striker did what came naturally, drawing his shotgun, he quickly loaded in his custom shells. Getting no threat from this the stallion moved at him, gurgling, “hhhhhhhhhhhhhh” Striker acted.

KRAKOW

The shotgun blasted like lightning, a flash of light, shining through the darkness. The stallion roared, water spraying out several newly made holes as it's body turned to ash and smoke. The smoke fled through cracks in the surroundings.

Ghosts, that's not bad, I'm well equipped for ghosts! Striker thought to himself. But, ghosts are not my only problem. That thing that grabbed that filly was no ghost. I wouldn't be surprised if there was something up with this building either. Shit, if I'm here then that kid is probably here to.

Striker loaded his shotgun, the sawed-off looked happy, loving to be used. He took pleasure in the sound of the gun cracking open and closed as he loaded it. (Which was not easy being that he had to do it with one foreleg.) He kept the gun ready, close to his chest, he made his way forward, walking slowly and silently. The squishy wood absorbing most of the sound his hoofsteps made. He heard them before he saw them.

“hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeellllllllllllllllllllllll” Two more of the ghosts were stumbling at him, hooves outstretched trying to embrace him. Both looked like the first. They looked like they were drowned, bodies bloated and regurgitating water from their muzzles. He instantly twisted around, not wanting to know what would happen if they grabbed him.

KRAKOW-KOW

He fired both shells of the sawed-off in quick succession. The two Ghost imitated the first, crying out then bursting into ash that fled away. He placed a shell in his mouth to reload, but two hooves wrapped around his chest from behind him. He felt an intense nausea come on fast, so he literally bit the bullet. He tried to turn, but the ghost had him. He began heaving water just at the ghosts had done. He kept his muzzle shut, but that didn't stop the water from pushing through his nose. He was being drowned, only in reverse. He acted quickly. He pushed his bad leg against the ghost while it remained solid, then with a bitter pop, he dislocated his own shoulder again. Taking the opening he squirmed, turning to face the ghost that grabbed him. It wore a doctor's scrubs. He spat in its face, once he did he couldn't stop the water from rushing out his mouth, but he had done it.

The Ghost roared, the bullet's payload shot into it's face, which began to burn away. With an angry roar, it burst away like the others. Striker fell on his back, then turned over, letting himself vomit out the rest of the water in his system on to the floor. He struggled to his hooves, then slammed his shoulder into the wall, slamming it back into place with another pop. He grunted in pain, whiskey would make a great pain killer right now. Picking himself up all the way, he quickly took note that the floor also silenced the ghosts.

He moved on, his only resistance being locked or jammed doors, or destroyed stairs. He found the one functional staircase and took it down. From the position of the light coming from the bared windows he figured he was three or four floors up. He made his way to the ground floor, to what looked like a lobby. He tried the double doors that looked like the front door. Locked, damn it I need an exit! He took a deep breath. Look for others, then make an exit strategy.

He heard a cry of terror. It had come from somewhere on this floor. He rushed at the source of the sound. More cries, louder and louder. He came to a door that the the screams came from, the door was jammed. KRAKOW The lock did not handle being shot point blank with a shotgun very well. With a hard buck, the door flew off it's hinges. He saw the filly in workman's overalls, Applebloom, cornered by at least five ghosts, each with their hooves outstretched at her.

“hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllll”

KRAKOW.

Two of the ghost huffed away in a fit. The other three ignored him. Not having time to reload, he rushed pulling out his machete. The grip tasted like rubber as he slashed through the ghost, who's body acted like a fog, a gas being pushed by the knife. The ghost screamed then vanished, flickering away instead of bursting away as smoke. The other two did not fair much better.

Applebloom's face was full of cheer again. “Striker!” she dashed and gave him a hug. He finished reloading before returning the gesture. “Everything's so crazy, where are we, what's happening!” she asked, hoping he had answers. He didn't

“I'm not sure myself, but we got ghosts.”

“Ghosts!”

“That's what those things are, ghosts, ponies who died and haven't moved on. Usually because their pissed.”

“GHOSTS!” she shouted pointing a hoof at the open doorway, Striker turned then saw the five ghosts he just sent away. He fired a single well placed shot, dispersing them. “They wont stop”- he pulled out a box of salt from his trench coat and began pouring a line in the doorway, then a circle around the room. When he finished the ghosts had already returned, they stood at the door way, but did not move forward. The small room they were in was old and stank of mold. Old boxes lined the back wall, and a desk sat in the corner, old and dilapidated.

“H-how?” Applebloom asked, her eyes not leaving the ghosts, who just stared at her, flickering occasionally like dying light bulbs. Striker put himself in front of her vision.

Showing her the box of salt, now roughly half empty. “Salt” he said calmly. “Don't look at them.”

“Wha-what? Striker Wha-” She stammered he mind not able to decide which question should be asked first. She didn't have to, Striker had done this before and knew what questions would come.

“Relax, panic and you're dead, stay calm and listen to me, and we can get out of here.” he stated, putting a good hoof on her shoulder. She responded by swallowing hard, then giving him a nod.

“Firstly, I'm what's called a Seeker, or a monster hunter... kinda.”- he gestured a hoof at where the ghosts were -”I deal with stuff like this, ghosts and stuff. It's what I do, what I'm good at. Second, look “- he showed her his machete -” that's cast iron, don't ask me why but iron is like... anti-ghost... sticks. They touch the stuff and it burns them. Pain being something they don't feel often they usually panic and go away. As for the salt, it's like ghost repellent, they hate the stuff, make a line with salt and they will NOT cross it, right now we are very safe. Now then, once again I have no idea why but look at this. “-he slid out a shotgun shell, then cut it open with the machete, reveling the large rock salt chunks inside in place of the normal pellets, he then hoofed three more shells to her. -” peppering them with salt like this usually sends them running for a while" he stated with a grin. "Third, in case of an emergency, if they somehow show up, I want you to put one of these in your mouth. IF they get close, if you know they are going to grab you, bite down as hard as you can then spit in their face, that'll get them off you.” he finished by giving her a hug and soft kiss on her forehead.

“That's... a lot da take in...” she replied looking to the shells.

“I know, and this is not the place nor time to learn about this stuff, but its ok right now, rest, you are safe. Even without the salt, I'm here, and I kick ass!” he bragged.

She gave a grin, “Thanks Striker, but aren't you scared?”

“Me?! Nah! Like I said this is normal, and as far as ghosts go they aren't exactly high on my danger scale, they can only get you if you are alone, trapped, and outnumbered.” he stated in a voice of complete calm.

She looked to him like an action hero, come to save her. Glad that he, of all ponies, came to her rescue. He was lying, he was terrified, and he already almost died because one snuck up on him. He got lucky, he happen to be reloading with one leg, so he had to use his mouth, if he didn't have a bum leg, he'd probably be dead right now, he doubted his ability to pull a machete out while being drowned. He knew, however that if he looked scared, Applebloom would panic, be more scared, she would not handle the danger of the situation very well if he too was acting scared. Instead he acted the badass role, coming to her rescue, gun blazing, knowing exactly what to do, and how to save her. He acted the part for the filly, and he would keep doing it for as long as he had to.

“Alright, I need you to stay here, I'm going to keep searching this place for others, stay here where it's safe.”

“But!”

“No, here“- he placed his machete beside her -“keep this, stay here and you wont need it, it's too dangerous for you to follow, I can watch my back, it would be harder for me to watch yours too.”

She knew she wouldn't win this argument

“Make sure that the salt line does not break."

He once again trenched through the building. Searching. He heard a recognizable un-equine screech. He ran toward it. The screech roared out again, he felt like a cold claw was pushing toward his heart. His nose began to bleed. Turning a corner he saw it again. The drowned mare. Still wet, still dripping. He quickly recognized Zecora and the orange filly the drowned mare had grabbed in the first place. Zecora was on the ground, clutching her ears, nose bleeding significantly worse then his. The orange filly was asleep, and seemed unaffected. He ran on instinct, firing both shells simultaneously this time. The blast was hard to control with a single hoof, the blast however did nothing to the drowned mare but make her turn around. She glared at him, he got a good look at her. She was no ghost. Her hooves had been replace by large disgustingly disfigured claws. And her mouth had been stretched, her jaw was more then her entire muzzle, it reached through about half her throat. The maw stretched open and she screeched.

The howl was hard, he instantly knew why Zecora covered her ears. His nose began to hemorrhage blood, and he could taste copper, he could feel the icy claw dig deeper. He didn't instantly recognize this creature, he wasn't sure what it was or how to kill it. So he acted quickly, reloading his gun. He pointed it straight at the creature ears, then rushed in closer.

“Let's see how you like it!” The ringing in his ears making it so he could barely hear himself.

KRABOOM

The blast sounded off like thunder again, but this time right in the ear of the creature. It flinched clenching it's ear, It could yell loud and be unaffected, but other noises could hurt it. Zecora had recovered, mostly, and with the filly on her back ran past the creature and Striker. Striker followed. The monster on their tails, he pushed himself again. He got ahead, then signaled for Zecora to follow him. He ran back to Applebloom. At the door way he lept over the salt, and crashed down beside a familiar tiny white unicorn. Zecora followed him, crashing beside him the unknown filly in her hooves. The creature stood at the doorway, looking at them, but stopping at the salt. Pissed, it screeched, but nothing happened it just yelled. The dark effects did not work past the salt. Then it Flickered like the ghosts, and vanished.

“Striker! The two fillies hugged Striker.

“Hey girls, glad to see you too.”

“Sweetie was running from the ghosts, I saw her and dragged her in here!”

“It was so scary! I thought I was gunna die!” Sweetie exclaimed.

However, his ears were still ringing, he couldn't hear anything. He laughed.

“I'm Babs Seed. Its a nice to meet you, thanks for savin' me an all. I'm sorry this is all my fault, I gots all you in to this.” the slightly dark orange filly stated timidly and with a sniffle.

“It is not your fault little one, you cannot change what is done.” Zecora tried to comfort the filly.

“Besides, fighting stuff like this is what I do.” Striker began. He reiterated what he had told Applebloom. The information came as a shook. Save for Zecora.

“If you are a Seeker, then answer these questions three, get them right, then I shall believe you are like me.” Zecora stated, once he had finished.

“You're a seeker too then huh? Well alright I'll play your game, make it quick.” Striker stated matter-of-fact-ly.

“Where are we now, that we must face such ghostly might?”

“We're in a blight, a place where a whole bunch of ghosts are trapped together.”

“When facing festering undead, what is the greatest weapon made.”

“You mean zombies? A Blade, I don't have to stop to reload a blade.”

“How do you kill a pyre, Stake through the face, or chain whip most dire?”

“Trick question, you cut off their their tails. Am I done, I have a plan.”

She nodded.

“Alright, I think it's safe to assume that the Crusader's got pulled here together, so were still missing Scootaloo. We need to find her fast, she is probably hiding somewhere, but there is also that thing out there, and the fact that this blight has trapped us means there is no getting out just yet. So I go find Scoots, bring her back,”- he pulled a journal book out his trench coat. -” this is a log of everything my family has slain. I'm pretty sure that whatever is out there is also in here, and it should also tell us how to escape a blight, you girls find all that. Then i can fix that”

“No.” Zecora said simply

“Why not?”

Zecora grinned “I have all my legs, I shall find Scootaloo, you help the girls find a cure for our plagues.”

Striker grimaced. He figured that would be fore the best. She could find her faster. It would be better.

“Striker, you might also want to rest you're leg.” Applebloom stated.

“I... I think you should stay, here with us.” Sweetie stated shyly

He gave a sigh, and handed Zecora his sawed-off, and his shells.

This time he couldn't argue.

Zecora took the gun as he explained his rock-salt filled ammo. The girls, however made it a point to do their best to help. Telling Zecora where Scootaloo would likely hide. Behind things, inside small places, ect ect. The information was too wide spread to particularly helpful, but Zecora was reminded that Scootaloo could be anywhere, and she should be thorough in her search. She left hoping to find the filly quickly and return.

Babs felt awful. She blamed herself. She had no idea that ghosts were real. She felt as if she dragged her closest friends into a terrible situation. Applebloom felt the same. She kept telling herself that if she meet Babs at the train station this would have never happened. Instead she had chosen to show off her costume to her classmates and friends. Sweetie Belle felt equally at fault, blaming herself for similar reasons as Applebloom. Striker wished he was better. Wished his leg wasn't mangled. He wanted to save Scootaloo. He wanted to kill that screamer.

“Babs... your name is Babs right? I was wondering if you could tell me about that... big mouth.” Striker asked, pulling out the journal from his coat.

“Babs Seed, Yeah.. I'm sorry, I know I got us into this...” she looked to the ground in shame

“No, you didn't, that thing out there did, that's why I need you to tell me about it, why it got you unconscious but wanted the rest of us dead. Listen Babs, it's not your fault, you were just at the wrong place at the wrong time, but that's ok, I can fix this, you don't know it yet, but I'm pretty badass." He grinned.

That put a small smile on all of the fillies. “It... it called me, it said, “come with me” and I did, I don't know why, but I did, it was like I was me, but at the same time.... I wasn't." she told him with a level of suspicion in her voice, she doubted he would believe that.

Striker grinned “Perfect that was exactly what I needed.” the three fillies looked to him with a puzzled look, he began fiddling through his notebook.

“How was dat what you needed.” Babs bulked.

“This journal, it a record, it is a log of everything my family has ever defeated spanning generations. It's in my hooves now. I look to it for guidance when I don't know what I am up against. If it's not here then I find out how to beat it myself, but that's rare, but I still add it to the logs. Or if I find something new about something old, I add to the records already in place.”

The girls looked to him oddly. “Yer family does this too?” Applebloom managed.

“Used to, I don't have family anymore, that's why it's mine now.”

“Oh ah didn't mean-”

“It's fine, as a single child who's mother died, I don't have much family to begin with, and my dad was a real dick so I didn't morn very much. Family to me is just a word.”

The girls weren't sure how to respond to this. They all felt that the information they were just given was very private. Not only that, but they had much deeper connections to family.

“I can be your family Striker.” Sweetie Belle smiled.

“Me too!” Applebloom added
“Uhh me three I guess.” Babs added with a blush,

Striker was not sure how to feel, act, or reply, in fact the feelings conflicted with his Seeker mind set, he really wished he had whiskey. He replied the best he could.

“...Thanks girls, look at this- (he moved the topic of the conversation) -I found what that screamer is.” he stated, looking and reading a page.

“Well what is it!?” Sweetie asked after a long pause.

“Well first, this building, it's what's called a blight. You see buildings and objects, like something very important to you, they have.... what is almost like a soul. Just like you and me they perceive what's going on around them. This building saw some bad dark stuff. That plus the large number of ghost concentrated here, formed what's called a blight. Like a ghost, but a building, a ghost building. It saw some bad things, and is stuck here, but it want's help, so it grabbed us all up when we got close. Now then, when you die and become a ghost, you gain characteristics, depending on your age upon death, and how you died. I think it is obvious but most ponies here drowned. Now then, with those two things plus an integral fact about ghosts. You see ghost become ghost because they don't know whats happening, they are scared and want help. But what happens if you call for help, but nopony comes, just other's with the same problem.”

“Umm, you cry, or umm ask for help?” Sweetie replied

“You try to find your family?” Applebloom told him

“You get mad, and angry...” Babs stated wide-eyed

“Exactly, these ghosts are pissed, they keep asking for help, but everypony the blight brings panic or something, so they are pissed. Finally, when you take a drowned mare ghost, then get it really pissed, and give it a deep feeling of betrayal you get what is known as, a Banshee. That's what is out there now, a mare in white, the mare in the lake, a Banshee. They can influence your mind, scream so loud that it hurts your soul. They are more then just a ghost, but not a lot more, they are still bound by salt, but iron in useless. They chose little fillies, then call them in, lull them to sleep then eat them. We need to dry off that bitch.”

“So... towels?” The fillies asked in unison.

“No...-” He turned the journal around showing them a mouth drawn picture of a Banshee, and a picture of a torch, pointing at the Banshee the torch's fire burned large. The next picture had a picture of the Banshee with an large ex crossing it out. “We kill it with fire.”

“Awesome!” Applebloom said with a jump.

“Whoa who did this, who's.... Radiant Sunset?” Sweetie Belle beamed looking at the drawings and the autograph on the page.

Striker hesitated a moment, but the girls didn't notice. “Don't know, maybe like an aunt or something.”

“Coooooool.” Sweetie bell replied.

“Now then, I have a new plan, once Zecora gets back with Scoots, I can lead our escape, and deal with this blight situation.”

“How? What's the plan.” Babs stated, pushed out of her self pity.

“Don't worry, it will only take a minute, I can explain once the other's get back.” He was ready now, sure of himself, he would get the girls out, then purify this haunted ground. He would take down about a flock of birds with a single stone. He hated himself for not seeing it earlier, it was so clear now, so obvious, but none of that mattered now. Taking off his hat, he pulled out a cigarette and a lighter from the inside brim, lighting the cigarette, he finalized how he would go about fixing everything in his head. Risky, stupid, and borderline bear-baiting... well I wouldn't need to do this stuff if it was safe now would I.

Only a few more minutes passed before Zecora returned with Scootaloo. She had been hiding in cupboards in a horrid kitchen. The Banshee was still out there, but they had not seen it. Striker once again explained his being a Seeker, and about ghost, the Banshee, salt and iron. Scootaloo was a bit... shocked, the surrealism of the situation got to her. She did not know what to say or think. If her friends had not been there she probably would not have accepted it as well as she did. She took a deep breath, then found herself surrounded by the other Crusaders. She had friends, she was not alone, she may not be safe, but she was definitely not alone. She looked to Zecora and Striker. Her saviors. The other girls felt the same way. They looked at the two with a new level of respect and pride. Babs did not know either very well, but with the events that transpired, she felt she could trust them.

“Alright, you girls head to the lobby, you'll see a pair of double doors, they will be locked when you arrive. I am going to cure the blight, so it should unlock, if it doesn't I'm sure you can bash the door down.” Striker said hastefully, looking at Zecora at the end of his statement.

“Where are you going then Striker?” Scootaloo asked, giving him a worried look.

“I told you-” he gave his best smile ”-I gotta cure the Blight!”

“In a situation this dire, you have fire?” Zecora asked, not noticing his cigarette. He responded by letting out a breath of smoke.

“Well, I see, though I must say, you are either braver or stupider then me.” She replied with a laugh.

“The answer is probably somewhere in between.” he joked.

Zecora gave him a sympathetic grin. She knew what it takes to stop a blight. She did not envy what he was about to do. She lifted his shotgun, returning it to him. She doubted that she would ever see him again. She would never say that to the fillies however.

“Keep it, keep the girls safe. I wont need it.” He stated, lifting his machete. She couldn't help but feel like he didn't think he'd survive either. It made her heart pang. However, Striker was pretty confident. Partly arrogance, he believed he could succeed and survive.

The two traded a glance, the girls gave Striker quite the hug. Then wordlessly, the group exited the room. Striker going in another direction. Part of him wanted to say good bye, but the other parts were confidant he wouldn't have too. Striker trotted quickly, not entering a full gallop, but keeping his speed up. The mares all galloped, rushing to the lobby.

Their hoofsteps were hardly silenced by the galloping of five mares. They ran. They had ghosts following. The powerful thundering of the shotgun pushed them back, but the group was getting a lot of attention. Zecora reloaded as she ran. The girls were scared. Their hearts pounded. Their little legs were getting tired quickly. They felt a burning in their chests. Their legs ached. They were slowing down.

Striker entered a large open room, full of old rusty, and soggy chairs. The room fell in on itself. Broken boards, mold and tattered papers littered the floor. He acted quickly. Motivated by the sound of thunder he recognized, even through the thick moldy floor boards, to be his shotgun. He picked up a chair and threw at a pillar in the center of the room.

“You hear that bitch!” He shouted picking up another chair. Then he smashed it down on to the floor as hard as his one good leg would let him.

“Dinner's ready! Come get some!” He threw more and more chairs into a pile, any of the wood he could get he splintered, then threw pieces into the pile. Until a spine chilling screech hit him.

“Hey there, I see you heard the dinner bell.” He knew how stupid this was, but he wouldn't let it get the girls.

The screech turned the fire in the mares' chests into ice. They ran as hard as they could. When they finally arrived at the lobby door, they ran into it, hard. The door refused to budge. Zecora gulped. Looking back into the lobby, filling quickly with flickering ghosts, legs outstretched.

“Hhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll”

She held up the shotgun, then gulped hard.

Striker looked at the Banshee. It body was still soaking. It looked angry, filled with an un-equine rage. He grinned spiting out his cigarette in to the pile of shattered moldy wood. He pulled out his lighter, and another screech raked through his head and chest. The small flame popped out the lighter. The Banshee roared again, and rushed at Striker. He dropped the lighter, flame still burning.

It was, honestly, a good amount of luck. The wood was moist, with a bit more time, it would burn, but it did not want to. The moss however, it was kindling, kindling that coated nearly the entire building's interior. The mossy pile lit up fast. Striker lept out the path of the Banshee. It reeled at the flames, stunned by the fast growing light of the flames. Sticker threw himself in to the beast's back pushing it into the fire. It gave one last final bloody roar as it's entire body went up in flames, causing the fire to explode. Flames licked across the room. The entire room was set ablaze. Striker was caught in the explosive blast. He struggled to catch his breath in the growing cloud of smoke. Yet he still managed...

“...I'm so sorry....” He stated, just above a whisper.

Zecora was sweating, the horde was encroaching, her back was to the wall. She was sure Striker had failed, but then she head the explosion, and she immediate bucked the lobby doors. They doors flung open and the mares dashed out, the ghosts stopped in the door way, glaring. Zecora's eyes widened as she saw the third floor, the fire was spreading, it tried to consume the adjacent floors. She gave a prayer for Striker. The fillies looked to the fire with awe. Gasping at the sight before them. All at once the ghosts looked up and flickered away.

Striker struggled desperately to reach some kind of exit. The walls were coated in flame, and smoke hung heavy in the air. He got on his hooves. Still dead set on doing what he believed to be right.

“I'M SO SORRY!” he shouted as loud as he could. “I'M SO SORRY YOU'VE ALL BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH.” he quickly found the room full of ghost each shambling toward the pillar of fire that was once a Banshee. “I'M SORRY I DIDN'T SEE IT SOONER, BUT I'M HERE, I BROUGHT THE LIGHT!” He fought for his breath back, pushing toward the nearest window. The heat was overwhelming. Every breath he took to was a double edged sword. He need each breath, but each one burned his lungs like hot coals. His head was still ringing, but slowly he made his way toward a window.

“HERE, I CAN,SAVE YOU, LET ME SAVE YOU, LET THE LIGHT SAVE YOU, LET IT FINALLY FREE YOU, LET THE LIGHT SAVE YOU. LET ME SAVE YOU, PLEASE, BATHE IN THE LIGHT!” He roared like the Banshee. He turned to see the Ghosts shambling into the fire, each one causing the fire to burn with more force, burn with more fury. With a smile he galloped with all his energy, leaping into an old burning window. The rusty bars were brittle, shattering apart with the collision. He found himself falling three stories down.

The fillies gave a cry as they saw Striker leap through the window, their hero's fate looking grim. Then he fell to earth with a hard smash. Zecora ran to help, then stopped eye's wide to see him begin to stand on his own. The fillies continued to run to his aid. He simply stood, looking to the building, now nothing more then an inferno.

Zecora looked to him fear in her eyes, she made the realization, and now the impact of her discovery really dawned on her. The book, his tenacity. It made sense.

“Striker, you just jumped out of a building!!” Sweetie cried.

“What did you do, why is the buildin' burning!” Applebloom asked in howl.

“What just happened!” Babs shouted.

“Striker! Did you do that!” Scootaloo stated reaching him then looking looking at the flames.

Striker grinned at the fillies, he fought to catch his breath, the cool air feeling amazing on his blazing lungs. If his entire body was in agony, from burns, or the fall, he did not show it. To them, he was just out of breath. That's all he would let them see.

“Its a blight, in order to fix it, you have to burn it.” Striker told them between breaths. “ And Banshees, liking wet places, didn't handle fire as well as she can take salt or iron. When you get down to it, Banshee's are spirits, just like ghosts. To save a ghost you burn the place it's haunting, or the ghost's bones. Banshees are just the same.

“Whoa, you're awesome, and you just shook off that fall!” The fillies cried with glee as they hugged the stallion.

“Well it's gunna take more then fire, brimstone and a fall to stop me!” He stated getting a grin from the girls, Zecora just kept her distance.

“Its good that we did this, blights are bad places, this one in particular has a sad origin.” Striker stated calmly, breath returning, as he gazed into the flames.

The girls all asked the same question. “What happened?”

“I read about it in Twilight's library, while not technically part of Ponyville, it was still recorded. It was a motel, out in the Everfree.” he began.

“There is no motel in the Everfree?” Applebloom stated with an off look.

“Not that you know of, this was about one hundred years ago.”

“One hundred!” Scootaloo gawked.

“Roughly, it's old so there is no being sure. Anyway the owners had built the place so travelers had a place to rest. Ever heard that the road to Tartaris is paved with good intentions? Before long, travelers would arrive injured from the trials the Everfree possessed, it became more of a hospital then a motel. A motel with out the proper equipment. So the place was full of sick ponies, travelers too mangled by the Everfree to travel, and infection... then the storm came. The place wasn't built to handle hurricanes. The nearby river flooded, it was bad. The storm was so bad the building seemed to disappear, and nopony took the path again. Eventually newer easier paths were made, and it was forgotten.”

“The Everfree isn't that bad...” Sweetie mumbled

“Imagine it one hundred years ago, before proper tools and supplies were available. Where it was even more wild and untamed.”

“Dat don't sound good.” Babs stated calmly.

“It wasn't, c'mon we should leave, get you girls back home. Sorry, I guess this ruined your Nightmare Night.” Striker told the girls with a sad smile. The girls took a bit, but eventually began making their way back to town. Zecora took the lead, claiming that she knew the way back to town.

The fillies all looked at each other and communicated with a nod.

“Striker... This was the awesome-est Nightmare Night EVER!” The fillies stated in unison, bouncing up and down quite excitedly.

“You were all like, Get back! Pshew! Pshew!” Applebloom beamed imitating Striker's voice, while firing an invisible shotgun.

“Or like, BLAM, POW!” Sweetie grinned.

“Aww man! Everypony is gunna be so jealous!” Scootaloo shot out.

“About that... umm can you girls keep this all a secret, like everything, me being a Seeker, and the whole haunted house thing.” He stated in his best “Friend” voice

“Huh? Why?” was the general response. Zecora had kept silent. Yet her ear perked up at this.

“The whole night, and Zecora and I's secret that we are both Seekers, lets just keep it all between us. If the townsfolk believed you, which I doubt they will anyway, well that may not put us in the greatest light, and ponies usually freak out when they learn that there are super bad monsters out there. I'd be much easier for the whole town if this secret stayed between us.” Striker explained calmly.

“Hmm, alright we can do that. It will be like a CMC team secret!” Sweetie Belle answered for all the fillies. The young girls all chirped happily, each telling each other what they had down before meeting up in the blight, their mood greatly improved now that they were safe. Striker was happy to see that the event of the night had left he girls generally unphased. Zecora was happy about that too, but her main concern was with Striker now.

By the time they arrived back to town, the main events of Nightmare Night were coming to an end, even for the older ponies. Being the closest home at the time, Striker and Zecora escorted the fillies to the Apple Family home. Once the adrenaline had worn off, the fillies found themselves exhausted. Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Babs Seed had all fallen asleep, only Scootaloo remained awake, but only by fighting the sleep creeping up on her. Striker carried two of the fillies, while Zecora carried the third, Sweetie Belle, on her back.

When they arrived, Applejack herself had not arrived home yet herself. So the small group let themselves in and got the tired fillies in bed. Zecora and Striker both agreed that they would give Cheerilee some explanation in the morning. However, before sleep over took her Scootaloo reached out from the bed she shared with her friends.

“Hey... Striker... Can I ask you a question?” She spoke in a silent voice, she was fighting sleep to the bitter end.

“You should get some sleep...” He replied with a smile.

“Aww... just one? Please?” She asked returning with a smile of her own. He sat on that for a moment.

“Alright just one, what's your question.”

“I was wondering... Tonight I was more scared then I had ever been my whole life. But... But you were not scared at all... Why not?... How'ed you get so brave?” Her words stung his chest.

“Well, to be honest, a long time ago I was scared, scared out of my mind. I... I have just seen a lot of stuff like this so... I'm really used to it. Not to say tonight didn't get scary, I was pretty spooked. Its like when you watch a scary movie. It gets less and less scary each time you watch it, some things still pop out and spook you, or you dwell on it to long then you can't sleep, but eventually, it gets kinda funny, you know?” He told her, brushing her mane back with a hoof, then finishing by giving her a kiss on the forehead. She grinned and gave a slight blush. Then with the last of her energy.

“Striker...”

“Yes”

“Thats... Thats... actually really sad...”

“......... I know.... Get some sleep kid.” his words fell on deaf ears, she had already fallen asleep.

Zecora hid her expression, but it was somewhere between understanding and hate. When they stepped out of the room, she noticed his limp, which was much worse now. She also saw that he was also burned up pretty bad. She wanted to let him rest, let him lick his wounds, but she had questions... questions she need answered.

“Mr. Striker, let us take a walk, we should talk.” she told him a a very uneasy tone. He looked to her, he knew these questions were coming. He was just hoping that they would come later.

“Alright... but can it wait, I could use a break.”

She lifted his shotgun she still carried and pointed it at him. That was answer enough. The two trotted outside, then made their way into the Apple family orchard. They both looked at each other. They were both exhausted. It was late, and they both needed sleep. They were determined to talk as Seekers first.

“Alright, you drag me out here at gun point, with my gun by the way, what did you want to know, how long I've been a Seeker? Or if you can trust me to keep the secret? What?” He asked annoyed.

“Be you Sunfall?” Zecora asked plainly, the gun in her hooves unwavering.

Fuck, already? “What's a Sun-fall?” he replied trying ignorance first.

KRAKOW-KOW She fired the shotgun at the dirt.

“You are a Seeker Damn it! All Seekers, even across the world in the Zebra lands, Seekers know of the Sunfall Do NOT lie to me!” She shouted. Striker couldn't help but notice she wasn't rhyming anymore.

“What the FUCK does it matter, It doesn't change ANYTHING!” He shouted back.

“It changes EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING, and you KNOW IT” She roared. Their eyes now locked.

“HOW, You saw me out there tonight, fighting things, saving FILLIES for Luna's sake!”

“ANSWER THE QUESTION!” She aimed the gun at his head.

“FUCKING SHIT, FINE, YES, I am Sunfall, not that it actually means anything since I hate that fucking name!”

“How many? Hmm? Kin! How many?!” She demanded

“None.”

“LIES.”

“That named killed my brother, my father had been missing for too many years to count, on a hunting trip, that doesn't mean good things for Seekers, and I killed my mother, so there HAPPY YOU BITCH! I'VE BEEN ALONE MY WHOLE LIFE, THAT NAME HANGING OVER ME LIKE FUCKING GUILLOTINE, SO THERE ARE YOU FUCKING HAPPY?.” He finally snapped

“I could end you, put an end to that cursed bloodline...”she spoke slowly, contemplating her choices.

“You could, but you should know, that I'll fucking rip you're fucking heart out before you do.”

Their eyes were locked. Neither blinked. Striker was pissed, he hated that name. He hated everything it had put him through, right now, he hated that Zebra, but before he did anything, he was waiting for her. Waiting for her to move, to strike.

Zecora looked at him, She knew that she should pull that trigger, she wanted to. She wanted the evil Sunfall clan dead. She wanted to be the hero who killed the last of the Sunfall. She looked at him. Remembering his bravery. His willingness to die for fillies, to put himself in danger to save both herself and the group of fillies. That wasn't Sunfall. The Sunfall were supposed to be vile, evil, put in the same category as the things she hunted. He wasn't evil. At least he didn't seem evil. But that could be Sunfall trickery. Then a fillies words rang in her head, Thats... Thats... actually really sad. I know...... get some sleep kid. She dropped the gun. He is no monster, he a Seeker the same as I.

“You and I... we share this curse.” She told him

“The curse of being a Seeker.” He finished for her. She gave him a nod.

“You don't seem evil, but I shall keep an eye on you. I spare you this time, be thankful.” she bragged with a grin. Striker chose not to tell her that she had fired both shells into the ground.

“Just don't point my gun at me again.” Striker added with a slight grin.

Zecora said nothing, she turned and went on her way.

“Alright then, I'm going to crash on Applejack's couch, the motel is to fucking far. I've been drowned, roasted and took a dive from three stories up. I'm fucking done, we'll talk again soon, about more then my name.”

“As you wish.” She replied.

Striker had arrived at Applejack's home just after she did. She looked as tired as he did. She gave him a grin. He was still bitter about the incident with Zecora.

“Hope the Crusaders didn't give to much to handle.” She stated with a smile.

“You'd be surprised.” he told her. He would have to tell her what happened eventually, but now was not the time. “Would it be alright if I sleep on your couch, I'm beat.” He really hoped that the darkness of the late night hide his burns and injuries.

“Yea, ahm sure that'd be fine.” She told him.

Striker sad his good night, then laid on the couch. He was tired. Everything hurt. He really wanted a drink. He knew he had a lot of explaining to give Applejack, he wasn't looking forward to it. Then there was Zecora, who knew he was Sunfall. He now had to watch out to keep a knife out his back. Then their was the fact he had been here for a few days, and yet he already had to handle two cases. At this rate he wasn't going to last long. He laid on the couch for sometime, his body wanted to rest, but his mind was everywhere. However, he eventually began to fall asleep, letting himself fall into slumber he would get his much need rest.

Rain...

Pouring rain...

Striker sat in the rain again.

He was soaking.

The ever living gray surrounded him.

Trapped him

Entombed him.

He heard her steps behind him.

“Mistress Luna, there was another Seeker in Ponyville. A zebra mare. She knows of my linage.” He wanted to be as proper with as he could. He wanted her to trust him. He wanted to know her plan.

“My apologies, I knew about that Zebra, but did not know that you and her shared professions.” She told him. Sitting on her haunches beside him.

“There was also another case, A blight.”

“So I saw in the dreams of four fillies. Once again the Pale Stallion comes to the rescue to save colts and fillies from their dreams. You do great work Sunfall, and soon it is this work that I am sure shall quell my sisters flame toward your blood.”

“Is that your plan? Make me into a hero?”

“Nay, All Seekers are heroes. I simply only trust you to protect this town.”

“Princess, if I may ask, what is your plan?”

“There are still pieces to that puzzles Sunfall, big pieces, as soon as I can tell you, I shall.”

“Please Mistress, don't call me that.”

“What shall I call you then.”

“Anything but that, or my real name.”

“Why not thine true name?”

“I hate that name.”

“Very well, My Lunar Knight, please take care of yourself. I must go, I have other engagements tonight.... Also.... I enjoy your true name Knight.”

He sat in the rain alone once again.

“Sun Strike is a stupid fucking name...” he mumbled to himself.

Author's Note

This took a while longer then expected.

Not exactly what I started with, but still.

Still rushed a bit so sorry about that.

The Angel Witch

Rainbow Dash, was a slightly above average pegasus. An excellent flier, and barer of the Element of Loyalty. She was simply doing her normal rounds. It had been a normal day, the definition of her normal routine. Woke up, did some light exercise, ate breakfast, then rushed to get her work of the day done so she could practice her flight maneuvers and get some lazy time in. Nothing abnormal at all. It was dusk and the setting sun painted the sky a calm orange. She really had no opinion of the sky, she saw it so often that the change didn't cross her mind. She was nearly done with her day. She had to fly over the highest level of clouds so she could check and make sure that no clouds were out of place, and no storm clouds had formed.

She was racing herself, pushing to see how fast she could go. She loved the feeling, the speed, the cold wind in her mane, the rush of it all. To her dismay she had to slow down to examine a rather large dark patch of clouds. She flew in at a high speed then slowed down upon entry. She soared through the clouds. They were thick, she could only see a few feet past the cloud. The clouds were definitely holding more water then it should. She was quickly noticing how her coat and mane were starting to get wet. Then, only for a moment, she thought she saw something move in the distance. A blur of a blur. Knowing few birds would go this high, and no other pegasus was on duty, She went after it, only to see and feel the blur zoom past her. She banked hard in an attempt to turn, only to see the shadow fly upward quickly.

She reacted quickly, Going up herself, she would see what was had been speeding around her. She flew upward, the moisture growing on her wings. She finally breached the cloud curtain. Only to see something that made her heart stop. It was only for a brief moment, but it had been enough to burn into her mind. Before she could think, before she could react, or do anything. She found waking from some kind of daze, she also noticed herself falling, fast. She struggled to balance herself mid flight, pulling up only a few yards from the ground. She landed not sure what had just happened, The memory of what she saw was fresh in her mind. She pondered if what had just happened had actually happened or if she somehow fell asleep mid flight. Either way, both of the theories seemed impossible.

It had been four weeks since Nightmare Night. Between Twilight's magic, and some good rest, Striker had finally recovered, he was back on all four legs. After the events of Nightmare night everything had calmed down quite a bit. The excitement around town had finally died down. He had spent the majority of his time between helping the Elements of Harmony, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Zecora, and coming up with excuses on why he couldn't take time to explain to Twilight more about the Seekers. He was making friends, the number of ponies who were happy to be around him were growing.

To his surprise, he wasn't sure on how he felt about that. He had been in town over a month, and for the first time in his life he had “real friends” and he had mixed feeling about that. He was raised a Seeker, so the idea of being “friends” with ponies had always seemed idiotic to him. He felt like he was setting himself up to get hurt. Yet at the same time there was something incredibly pleasant about getting brunch with six friends and doing something that wasn't monster related. Talking about the weather and what his plans were for the upcoming day seemed trivial, but being there, surrounded by friends... he liked it, even though he kept telling himself he shouldn't.

He liked Twilight Sparkle, she was nice, smart, and kept his secret. Albeit she did act a bit awkward, if he didn't know better, he would have thought that she was as new to making “friends” as he was. He liked Applejack, he appreciated a mare with such a optimistic and can-do attitude. However, He had recently told her about the events of Nightmare night, with Applebloom there at the time, she was more relieved then anything else. She did not like that Striker had waited to tell her, he knew it, even if she never directly told him so. He also liked Fluttershy, she was significantly more awkward around other ponies then he and Twilight were cimbined, but she was innocent, kind-hearted, and a good pony. He knew his secret was safe in her hooves.

He really enjoyed his growing friendship with the Crusaders. He found that he had been spending most of his time with the fillies. His actions on that fatefully night had landed him an honorary Crusader. Babs had left two weeks after Nightmare Night, but she enjoyed him as much as the other Crusaders. They played games like, War of the Space Pirates, Kingdoms and Ponies, Destiny Trucker, and Barkham Horror. He even helped them on several of their “crusades”. However the majority of his help came in the form of helping the Crusaders escape when their mischievous and careless attempts to get their cutie marks got them in trouble. For example, when the fillies tried to get their cutie marks in “Cat Burglary”and were almost immediate caught, he had told the Cake family that he would be taking the girls to their relative sisters immediately. What he did however, was take the three to the Ponyville movie theater to watch “Invader from Space 17 : the Revenge-a-nateing”

He hadn't really been spending a lot of time with his other three friends. In all honesty, he could only spend so much time with Pinkie Pie before he got annoyed by her. Rarity was very kind but they did not exactly share much in common. Rainbow Dash had been nice enough, but didn't exactly spend time with him. He had helped the girls with things they needed. Applejack and her farm, he helped Rarity, and Twilight's assistant Spike, who for some reason didn't seem to like him all that much, collect gems. He helped Fluttershy by helping take care of her animal companions. He would help Twilight sort books, then rush out when she brought up his being a Seeker. He even helped Pinkie Pie set up parties. However he had yet to do anything like that with Rainbow. Her being a pegasus, and his being a earth pony, he couldn't exactly help her with her normal routine.

As for Zecora, he had similar mixed feelings. As well as some other feelings. He had spent several nights with Zecora going over the number of cases she had handled in ponyville before his arrival. He spent most of his time concerned, the was something wrong, the town was being targeted, they were both sure of it. She had fought several creatures in her time here. No more then a normal Seeker, but she lived in one place, the town of Ponyville was attacked often. Their research and knowledge combined was not enough to give a definite answer to why Ponyville was some kind of monster magnet, or to where these monster seemed to come from. They assumed that its proximity to the Everfree had to play some kind of factor in the odd surge of happenings and cases centered around the town.

However, being a stallion, he couldn't help but be attracted to Zecora. She was very fit, more then any mares in town. Seekers had to be. She knew more about him then any other mare. She was a Seeker, she knew the pain he suffered, she could relate to him more then any other could. They had much in common, and he enjoyed the sound of her voice, and slightly alternative traits to Seeking. She was like a whole new batch of Seeking knowledge, he liked picking her brain. The more “romantic” thoughts he had of her were quickly smashed. He couldn't forget her readiness to kill him, or let his guard down around her. He knew that the Sunfall had a reputation. He knew that she would be tempted to end his life. She was a knife over his head, a very attractive, exotic, and attractive knife. Ever since finding out about his bloodline, she had stopped rhyming around him. He wasn't sure what to think about that.

Zecora herself was having similar mental battles. The stories he had shared with her reminded her of her own battles. She had been told to treat the Sunfall Clan with no better treatment one would give a daemon. Sunfall were supposed to be vile, and evil. But she could see the sorrow in his eyes. The same sorrow she had, that every Seeker had. She would see him playing with fillies, helping pony-folk around town, she saw his bravery, his strength, his want to keep the innocent safe. She saw the struggle he had. It went against everything she had been told about the Sunfall. How could such a stallion be evil? Being a mare, she couldn't help but notice his muscular build, his blazing sapphire eyes, his hard, yet smooth voice. But her more “romantic” thoughts of him were stomped by his bloodline. She couldn't escape the thought that this could all be some trick or sham. She would not forget that Sunfall are supposed to be evil, or let her guard down around him. He could be waiting for the perfect moment to stab her in the back. He was a knife lurking just behind her. A very handsome, and brave knife.

Then there was Luna. She visited Striker occasionally, in his usually reoccurring dreamscape. He briefed her on everything he had learned from Zecora, but she wasn't really surprised by it. He didn't like that. He was loyal to Luna. She was his ruler, his queen, by his blood he would fight for her. Yet he was starting to get more and more bothered by how much he knew she was keeping from him. If Celestia found out about him.... about everything he and Luna had been doing things could get bad for him. A lot depended on Luna telling Celestia at the perfect moment. He knew one mistake on her part, and he would be nothing but ash in mere moments. But what if that was Luna's plan. What if she planed to clear her name by offering him up on silver platter? He was loyal to Luna, but he couldn't shake the feeling he was being played.

Luna on the other hoof was having a hard time dealing with so much. She did not like keeping secrets from her sister, but she had to, she knew that her sister would not react well to being told about what she had been doing. She needed to keep Ponyville safe, while making sure Celestia did not know it was even in danger. She thought the best way to do this was to send Striker to Ponyville, but even that had risks. She knew about Twilight Sparkle, one letter to Celestia about the strange happenings in Ponyville, of the Seekers there, and things could get bad fast. She had to keep her sister in the dark. While also trying to figure out the cause for Ponyville's reputation for danger.

Things were not well in Ponyville, or Equestria. The entire country was at risk of a civil war, and at risk of being overrun by terrible creatures. And the only Ponies who knew about any of it were a Stallion Seeker having an existential crisis who was growing feeling for a Zebra who fought urges to kill him. And a Princess of the Moon, who did not have the greatest reputation in the kingdom. And neither of them really knew what was happening.

Needless to say, Striker was quite curious to receive a letter from Twilight addressing absolutely none of the drama he had going on in his head.

Dear Noble Striker

I know that you must be busy, and I hate to ask something like this from you. But after being informed about your brave feats during Nightmare Night, a gift from Applejack, I knew that you would be the greatest pony for the job. You see our friend Rainbow Dash has been through... an ordeal. An ordeal that you may … Seek out. It seems to be in area of your expertise. I would be very happy if you would take a bit of time to investigate the situation. I know you must be busy, and if it is inconvenient for you please feel free to say no.

Your friend

Twilight Sparkle

Striker was happy to take his mind off of the more intense questions. He was happy that Twilight called him friend. He was happy to get away from the Zebra mare who had wanted him dead. He hoped that nothing was wrong, that nopony was in danger. He also hoped that if something was wrong, he would get the chance to kill something, he wanted to escape. Escape into the darkness that he had spent so much time in. The darkness that just wanted him dead, none of the mixed feelings, politics. The darkness where he could get a large bottle of whiskey to himself with much less resistance.

Twilight's library was a mess. The place looked like it had been ransacked, books lay splayed all over the room. Papers lay scattered randomly over various desks and table. Rainbow Dash was pacing around the room, literally brooding up a storm. She was creating a small wind vortex, a number of loose papers twirled about in her wake. Twilight sat with a half eye-lided look on her face, her magic cleaning up Rainbow's mess as fast as it was made.

“Twilight, no offense but your “professional” is nearly an hour late! I'm sick of waiting!” Rainbow stated, her voice full of tension and anticipation.

“He'll be here... he probably just umm finishing up with his one of his several other clients.” Twilight replied in her calmest voice.

“I don't know Twilight... maybe this wasn't such a good idea...”

“It will be fine Rainbow, he can help... I'm sure of it.” Twilight had to do her best to hide the concern in her voice. She now had a general understanding on what a Seeker did and was based on the two cases She had learned about via Applejack. The opportunity to see him work was both horrifying and exciting.

Three knocks came to the door. They were quickly opened by Twilight's magic. Revealing Striker, no longer bandaged, in his trench coat and black desperado hat. Rainbow perked an eye at seeing him.

“Striker? He's your professional!” Rainbow asked giving Twilight a hard look.

“Sorry I'm late, I was trying to help the Crusaders get their cutie marks in...”-he gave a deep sigh and facehoofed-” random science, we tried relative doomsday theory, underwater astronomy, and dry hydro-physics. Things didn't go well. And yes I am quite professional.”

“One what kind of “Professional” says “I'm professional” after saying he spent the last hour doing fake science with a bunch of fillies who are trying to get cutie marks?”

“I'm not answering that.”

“Striker has tons of training in psychology! Just tell him what you told me and I'm sure we can settle this right Striker?” Twilight cut in

“Possibly, I'm really good at specific parts of the pony mind.” He replied sounding like a pseudo intellectual.

Rainbow gave another look at Twilight, who gestured for her to speak with a hoof. As Striker took a seat on the floor.

“Twilight! What's he doing here!” Twilight's pet baby dragon scoffed, as he entered the room in an apron carrying a tray of freshly baked cookies.

“Spike! I thought you left!” Twilight exclaimed

“I was going to... right after I made Rainbow some cookies to help her calm down.” Spike replied his eyes never stopping their glare directed at Striker.

“Here!”- her magic manifested a plain yellow dress -” Take this to Rarity and tell her to fix it!” Her magic then took the tray and set it on a coffee table, while it reopened the door and pushed him outside, while also floating him the dress.”

“Don't think I forgot about you!” Spike shouted as the door closed on him.

Rainbow was confused, she wanted to know why Twilight wanted her to see Striker so badly, and why she didn't want Spike here for it. And why Spike acted so negatively toward him.

“What's the deal with you two Striker?” Rainbow asked as she took a set on a couch Twilight's magic was moving in. Twilight was setting the room up for guests now that Rainbow stopped blowing the room about.

“I have no idea, I only met the kid once when we helped Rarity collect some gems. He didn't like me then either.” He replied as he took a new position in an armchair opposite of Rainbow.

Twilight gave a deep sigh. “He thinks you are after Rarity... and he has a giant crush on her so.... yeah.” now she was the one facehoofing.

“Really he thinks Striker wants Rarity? With all that time he's been spending at Zecora's.” the cyan pegasus spoke with a laugh, happy for the change in mood. “Which reminds me, whats the deal with that Striker?”

“Were not here to talk about me Dash, is was told you had an ordeal, is it ok if you tell me what this was?”

“Well I guess that is why you're here huh?” She told him, she didn't like the idea of dwelling on what she had been seeing. Twilight took a seat by Rainbow, she wanted to see how Striker would react.

“Indeed. If you do need my help, it would be best if we acted quickly.” He spoke with a powerful level of calmness, it almost compelled the mare's tension to soften.

With one last glance to Twilight, Rainbow clenched her teeth.”Alright... Alright, I'll start.” She took a cookie and quickly ate it.

“Well... I was just on the job... flying asking sure the cloud were all aligned right and had acceptable levels of moisture.” Her wings picked her up, she kept herself from moving, but her body began to imitate her words as she spoke. “I was flying fast, zoomin' through the air, seeing if I can beat my old record for finishing my cloud check. I'm just soaring minding my own business when I see this big patch of dark clouds, bank right curving in gently at my high speed. I see this blur s zoom past me, so I look into it, following it out the cloud curtain. Then I saw this... this thing! It was a pegasus... but not like one I had ever seen in my entire life. “ She looked around at the room nervously, then gulped hard. “It was this dark grey mare with a white mane and tail. Same size as me or Twilight, no cutie mark, and these giant wings! I mean giant white wings! They were at least five time bigger then her body it was freaky! What's weirder is that as soon as I saw that... thing, the next thing I remember is falling, I had to catch myself to land safely! Then there were those eyes.... they just looked... wrong, I cant forget those eyes! I see them every time I close my eyes!”

Striker closed his eyes, then stood up.”Its a good thing you came to me Twilight...” Twilight looked at her forehooves. “Dash you're going to have to play a bit of catch-up, for starters, I'm something known as a Seeker...”

Rainbow sat in a daze as she tried to process all the information she had just been given. She didn't want to believe it, but then Striker began telling her her own symptoms.

“Let me guess, you cant shake this feeling that you are being watched, you've had a string of bad luck, and you've probably felt like things are just... off?” He told her. Her only response was an silent nod.

“What does this mean Striker?” Twilight asked her worry heavy in her voice.

“We've got a problem... she's pissed of a Witch. Not just any witch... she pissed off an Angel Witch. This could get bad.”

“Witch? Angel Witch? There are more then just one kind of Witches?” Twilight intrigued

“Sort of, and when I saw witch I don't mean a green mare with a wart on a broom stick. Witches are mares, of any kind, pegasus, earth pony, unicorn, it doesn't matter. Any mare who plunges themselves in to dark magic, magic no pony with any interest in ponykind would dare even think about. They delve into the darkest spells imaginable, these aren't combat spells, they are full on horror in spell form. The farther into the darkness a Witch dives, the more they lose everything that makes them a pony, they go insane, their lust for more powerful spells driving them mad. An Angel Witch is a Witch that gave herself artificial wing, and has completely lost her sanity. The dark magic drains the users of their health. Tainting their wings mane and tail black. The farther into the darkness they dive, the lighter their manes and coats become.”

“Her mane was snow white...” Rainbow spoke softly.

“Exactly, in the past, ponies saw the white mane, tail and wings, and prayed to them as angels. When Seekers need a way to specify, the term Angel Witch seemed appropriate. This is bad, but shes is just a mare, she has to be put down like a rabid dog, but she's not an actual angel or anything like that. The scary part is that she's insane... insane ponies are very hard predict. Predicting attacks is key in stopping witches.” Striker spoke calmly, he tried to have his voice keep panic away.

Rainbow Dash gave a laugh. “This is a joke right, like just some big joke, hahaha jokes on ol' Dashie! Very funny!”

Striker gave her a look that silenced her. Twilight was shocked. But she had to know something.
“What are these dark spells? Not like exactly, but how much danger are we in I mean?”

Striker contemplated this a moment. Then decided on the best possible answer.

“Back when I was colt, I was working a case like this with my father. Some steel workers had disturbed an Angel Witch with the smoke from the foundries. The bitch placed death by irony spell on the mill. There was this Stallion who worked there. Out of the mill, he was the one skeptic who didn't believe my fathers words. So of course he was the first to go. He had two quirks about him around the mill. He worked with the liquid steel, so he often bragged about how well he could handle the stuff. And that he drank tons of coffee. He had terrible coffee breath. So that bitch thought it was real funny when he takes a drink of his coffee and nothing happens, then when he takes a second drink, the buck guzzles molten steel. I was in the room with him when it went down. It was brutal. A fucking terrible way to go, we was alive for fucking hours like that, and it wasn't like he would live, he had no fucking throat! But that cunt wanted to drag it out as long as possible. I put a bullet in his brain to stop the closest thing he could do that resembled a scream. So the cunt wanted me dead too. My Dad ganked that bitch before she got me, shived her three times then kicked her into a vat of liquid steel.” There was not a single thread of remorse or sadness in his voice. There was a level of eeriness to how coolly he spoke. Only showing emotion near the end. The two mares froze contemplating what they just learned. Rainbow was the one who thawed first. He didn't like telling them story, but that was enough to get them focused, to keep them from acting stupid, keep them on their metaphorical toes.

“And that kind of Witch wants me dead? Why me what did I do!?”

“It went to do... something, and came back to see its temporary home pushed into a cloud curtain, being the only pegasus around at the time, she blamed you.”

“But I didn't do anything!”

“Did I mention she's insane?”

Rainbow only replied with a glum look of worry

“Yeah.... but I think I have a plan.... so don't worry. She's hard to predict, but she's crazy so she isn't exactly smart. So instead of waiting for her to make the first move, why don't we we make the first move for her?”

Rainbow Dash was nervous, very nervous. She was sweating, breathing heavy, and felt like her heart wanted to beat through her chest. She was flying above the cloud curtain just as she had done before. Zooming just as fast, but her worry fought with her flying. She found it hard to focus, hard to enjoy the winds. She had a sinking feeling of being watched. She could feel that the Witch was near, that it was watching, she was scared. But believed in Twilight, she felt that if Twilight had faith in Striker, then she could put her life in his hooves and come out alright. That didn't help enough to quell the fear however.

Just like before she saw the dark patch of clouds,and with a gulp, she began to spin. She made a small gusty whirlwind, that quickly formed a tornado. The wind funnel shot out, curving perfectly at the patch of dark clouds. The collision poofed the clouds into nothingness. The tornado was done, it would whirl itself out soon. As soon as the Patch was clear, Rainbow bolted away going straight to Twilight's home.

The door was open when she arrived, she dashed in fast then stopped. Closing the door with a slam, she began to close all the windows and curtains. Then she sat in the center of the room. She waited. Paranoia strong in her mind, she flinched at nearly every sound she heard. The whistling of wind out side. The rustling of the leaves of the tree she waited inside. The distant sound oh hoofsteps, and ponies talking. The silence magnified every sound that was made. She sat for nearly an hour. Her fear keeping her glued to the floor. She simply sat there... waiting.

Then came a flash of light. From the light came both Twilight and Striker. She was going to get up, going to speak but as soon as he was manifested Striker boomed.

“Don't move! Don't even talk!” His body wasn't even facing her. He quickly turned searching for her.
“Don't do anything, just wait, let us handle this. Twilight! Search every nook and crack, were looking for a small bag, might be leather, silk, wool, any material just a small probably brown sac. Go!” His voice turning from calm and kind, to commanding and hard.

“On it!” Twilight returned, Giving him a dedicated nod, then focusing her magic, which began to rip apart the room. Opening and searching every book, looking through each couch pillow. Under every desk, ever corner, Twilight's searched for the bag that didn't belong.

Striker knelt down to Rainbow. “Never knew how helpful having a nerdy egghead unicorn could be.” He told her, trying to lighten the mood, he made sure to gesture for her not to speak yet.

“Hey I can hear you still!” Twilight replied, eyes closed, mind focused on her magic. He grinned, looking at Rainbow Dash again, and wordlessly speaking I know she can. That brought a smile to the panicked mare's silent lips.

“Hey Dash, don't worry, this should all work out fine. We'll find everything, then we can move to the offensive.” He words much softer now. He knew Dash was scared, he had been in her position several times before. He knew how she felt. The wait couldn't have been pleasant.

“Aha! I found one!” Twilight beamed, shooting over a tiny brown bag to Striker, who quickly undid the tie, revealing the contents. What looked like a tiny burnt stick and... teeth. Striker flinched.

“Good job, keep looking, you'll find three.”- then turning back to Rainbow Dash -” Hex bags, they cast the hex to target locations from a distance. This one held a Rupture hex. While this bag exists, any cut or break in your hide would burst with blood, even a paper cut would hemorrhage you dry.” he explained. Taking the bag in his hoof, before burning it with the lighter he kept in his hat. Oddly the lighter's flame was yellow, but the flame that came from the bag burned purple, and seemed to be pushed by non-existent wind. In seconds the bag had become ash.

The room was silent until Twilight found a second then third bag. Passing them to Striker who opened and analyzed them. “This one is a crash spell, next time you would have took to the sky you wouldn't have landed and lived to talk about it. This third one was a catalyst, would have made the other two much worse. The crash would have been much more bloody, and the hemorrhaging.... also bloodier technically.” Then Twilight stopped her spell, she didn't even break a sweat yet. Striker picked Rainbow up by her hooves.

“Is that all? Just three?” the unicorn asked.

“Yeah. Two would be too weak, and any more then three overload the hex, stopping all effects.” He told her as he simultaneously lit both bags on fire, both bags burning purple and being pushed by that slight imaginary breeze.

Rainbow finally got up looking to them both. “OK so I'm safe now right? Now onto the counter-attack right?”

Striker grinned, he had been waiting for this as long as Rainbow had. “Hell yeah, these flames here are pointing at the hex caster, I go that direction until I find her.”

“Then what sneak attack? Call the Calvary?” Rainbow replied happy to see the end insight before things got bad.

“Huh? No. I talk to her.”

“What! I thought you said she was crazy!?” both the mares echoed

“She is, so I see what's here deal, if she gets hostile”- Striker slid out a six chamber revolver from a quick draw holster he had hidden under his trench coat. -“I'll shoot her in the face. Witches are pretty into magic, and tend to forget the convenience of modern firearms.” he spoke from experience, and both the mares knew it from the way he spoke.

“So were just going to walk up to her! Hey insane mare who has a arsenal of dark spells of doom! We'd sure like you to stop, please don't kill us with BALEFIRE.” Twilight shouted.

“Relax. She's strong yeah, but those spells got casting times, unless there are multiple Witches, we come out of this victorious with ease. Trust me, she probably has traps set up for sneak attacks, or even recon. But she has to walk in and out on her own, so we just follow the easiest path. The path least like for her to booby trap is the path she has to take. Insane not smart remember?” His confidence didn't shake at all, his words were clear.

To the mares this seemed stupid. Suicidal even, they wanted to act, but not jump straight into the cross-hairs of the the very thing that wanted them dead. This just seemed foalish.

“I'm not doing that, its suicide!” Rainbow shouted.

“That seems very foalish as far as plans go Striker, I'm not going either.” Twilight added on, a touch on sadness in her voice.

“Neither of you were going in the first place, Dash is a target. Marked for death. If I don't come back in a few hours, I'm probably dead, so Twilight, I need you with her to teleport her out of town. I'm dealing with this solo.” Striker spoke with a hunt of confusion, he assumed they wouldn't want to be there for the offensive.

“Striker, if you do that you're gunna die!” Twilight exclaimed, worry thick in her voice.

“What do you mean you're going solo! That's stupider then your plan!” Rainbow argued.

The argument went on for a bit of time. Both sides thought the other side was acting foalishly. Twilight tried offering compromises, Striker and Dash refused to compromise. Eventually the argument turned to name petty name calling.

“Listen, I've done this before. You just cast a spell that will kill anything that has so much as a paper cut, and anything that tries to fly. Would you honestly think that your target is going even know where you are? Would you always assume that there might be a Seeker? Even then would you expect that Seeker to come knocking on your front door? No. Maybe maybe if you thought rationally, maybe if you were smart and planed for anything, but this bitch is insane, she's a psychopath. By definition rational and clear thinking are not things that she does! So let me do my job and save an innocent's mares life dammit!” he spat back at the two.

The two mares were quiet. Neither spoke, but Twilight glared at him then walked away, opening then slamming a door behind her with her magic as she left to another room. Rainbow just gave Striker a upset look, before following her friend, she didn't slam the door. Twilight was mad, she thought he was just making a stupid choice, that he was being childish and had some kind of death wish. Rainbow wanted to be mad, but knew she was the reason for this. She thought Striker was a dead stallion, and it would be on her hooves, and her friend was upset about to, she also blamed herself for that. Striker didn't like the fact the girls didn't trust him. He knew exactly what he was doing, and the mares were just making things complicated. Not only that, but these were his friends. At least they were. He wasn't sure of that now, but even if this ended their friendship, he had to save Rainbow Dash's life. They weren't Seekers and they didn't get it. Yet upsetting them like this hurt, the idea of losing their friendship hurt. This was exactly the reason why he avoided friendship, it just complicates everything. He knew he had been letting himself get to attached.

Striker silently left Twilight's home and made his way where the fire had directed. He was walking along the road. He was angry. He was mad at himself for being stupid enough to think he could have friends, and mad at the mares for complicating things. He knew his plan. He would take of this then let them know things were taken care of. Then head back to Zecora to.... no. He would return to the motel where he stayed. No need to tell the other Seeker that he handled a case by himself. He didn't feel like arguing any more, or talking even. He was in a foul mood. Then he took a deep breath, and focused his mind. He was on his way to kill a powerful and insane mare, he had to be smart, stay focused the case comes first.

He kept on walking. He used the sun to make sure he kept himself in the right direction. Eventually he came upon an old cottage just outside the small towns limits. The old building sat on a mostly empty field. The field was full of dead yellow grass, several small patches of greenish tint were scatted all over. On a small hill just behind the building, and in what would be the building yard sat black dead trees. The building itself looked unattended, as if nature had tried to claim it.

Striker checked his ammo. And loaded his shotgun just in case. Then walked straight to the front door, knocking three times. Clonk. Clonk. Clonk. No response. He turned, placing his back legs against the door, then gave a hard kick. With a crash the door flew into the building. Striker's eyes widened. He didn't see one Angel Witch. He saw six. They stood gazing into a ominous blue bonfire. Three had gray wings, two had white and one had black.

Oh fuck. Striker immediately drew his revolver aimed and fired off three rounds. Then rolled out of the door way.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Each shot hit it's target. One of the grays took all three. The first hit her right foreleg just below where leg met torso. Blasting the leg brutally off, pushing her upper-body up, and made her blood splatter the white just beside her. The second shot hit the same grey directly in the chest as her body was getting pushed up. The bullet left a small entry wound in her chest, but left a giant gaping cavity in her back. Her blood splattered on wall behind her. The others were barely realizing what was happening now. The third shot hit the gray a final time. Just above her eye. The shot painted the wall with chunks of brain. The lifeless body fell to the ground, reduced to large chunks by the revolver.

“ITS A FUCKING SEEKER!” he assumed the black yelled.

“I WANNA SEE HIM BLEED HIS LUNGS OUT!” a white roared as she and the other white made their way outside the building.

Striker ran to get behind one of tree in the yard. The two remaining grays laughed as they took to the sky. He didn't know what the black was planing. Then he did the smart thing and assumed a spell. Then he heard the sound of magic, turning to the source he saw the bloody white engulf herself in a black magic screen. She was a unicorn that became an Angel Witch. The magic field dissipated, and the white made an orgasmic moan as the blood on her body moved to her hooves and became a macabre pair of crimson spiked hoofs over her own. Her mad cackle filling the air as she flapped her giant wings. She and the other white flew at him in unison. He was being surrounded. Being grounded he knew fleeing would mean death.

He galloped out of cover looking up at the flying mares that begun to circle over him like vultures waiting for their prey to fall. Then the spiked hoofed white dived at him. That was bad, she didn't abuse their advantage in numbers.

BOOM. BOOM.

The first shot took off a wing, causing the white to unbalance falling on her much heavier side. The second shot got her right in the back behind the stomach as she spiraled down, once again leaving a small entry wound, and giant exit wound. He intestine and viscera sprayed out as she crashed to the ground. She cluttered, desperately trying to pull her body back together. All her blood painting her coat red. Blood spat from her mouth.

“I WONT... see him!... rape this... wo..rld....” she sputtered before finally dying.

Thats two down. Striker thought to himself as he ran to the only other tree. Two more grays, one white, one black, I can do this. He thought to himself quickly. Then he felt something grab him. He felt his body being picked up, looking around he saw that the tree he his behind had suddenly grew a face... and arms legs and teeth. Very sharp teeth. It's gaping mouth opened wide. It began to move him toward it's mouth. Out of the corners of his eye, he could see three flying close to him, laughing.

“No!” The black commanded. The tree creature stopped, half his body in it's mouth, its teeth eagerly waiting to rip him apart.

“He's... He's fucking S4! Make him suffer! Fuck the Sunfall!” She laughed. Suddenly Striker was being lifted by the three fliers. Into the air.

“You can't stop him! He shall awaken even if you stop us!” The gray roared spitting in his face. They flew him high, right into the cloud curtain. Unfortunately for them they weren't holding him very tightly, with the wetness of the clouds, he slid his sawed-off out.

“Hey? Head's or tails?” He asked. Grin on his face.

“Huh?”

“Heads!”

“Shut up gator bait!”

“Nope, Tails!” Striker boasted, turning slightly he let his leg loose enough to point the sawed-off right at the white's abdomen.

KRAKOW

The gun thundered, ripping the mare in two, she spat blood. Her body fell as the shock took over, her upper half letting go, falling into the cloud curtain. Striker pushed himself free enough aim right at one of the gray's head firing another shot.

KRAKOW.

The gray's head was reduced to jelly, a chunky red mist. She two fell in to the cloud curtain. Sliding out his revolver, he made one last shot.

BOOM.

The final gray's back exploded. The huge cavity in her poured blood and other viscera. She let go of him, as she desperately tried catch her insides, before fading. Then Striker laughed as loud as he could, falling to earth, with three corpses. He closed his eyes, letting the wind sweep up into his mane and coat, his back faced the ground, his body ready he accepted his fate. Dropping both his weapons he fell.

“TOOK SIX OF YOU CUNTS TO STOP ME, EAT SHIT AND DIE!” He roared as his final words, then he felt a sharp thud, and his whole body lurched. Opening his eyes everything spun. Then he hit the ground, hard but alive. Looking about He saw a familiar cyan pegasus.

“Rainbow!?”

“I wasn't going to let you die! Even if you're plan was stupid.” She replied.

“Hey one versus six and I got five, my plan worker pretty well.” he bragged. Picking himself up he looked to building where the black glared at him.

“Except where you fell to your death.” Rainbow told him sternly.

The blacks voice stopped their words.

“YOU! You killed my sisters! You are nothing! You are a wandering soul in the sea of damned! There is a storm coming! What are you seeking?!?! Death or Glory! Redemption?!” She wailed.

Rainbow flinched back. Striker glared back. “No idea, but I know I'll take whatever you bring, I'll ride your storm, I'LL RIDE THE LIGHTNING, MY FACE IS IN THE WIND, MY SOUL WONDERS, YET NEVER FAULTERS. YOU ALREADY LOST YOUR SOUL, MAY YOU FIND PEACE IN DEATH! AND SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!” He shouted, booming out as the black laughed, then she began to burn. In that eldrich blue flame, her body erupted. He glared even at the flames.

“S FOUR BURN IN THE ABYSS” she howled before cackling madly. He laughter echoed in the silence. There was no sound but the cracking of flame and her laugh. The other five corpses began burn as well. The Spectral fire some how reaching out and burning the dead reducing them to ash. After a few moments the building blazed. Soon the small coven of Angel Witches were nothing but dust in the wind.

Rainbow looked at Striker, she was looking for any kind of explanation. Striker was just breathing heavily.

“Thank you for the save, by the way.” he told her between breaths.

A few hours had passed. Striker and Rainbow returned to Twilight, who was pretty worried, after finding his weapons, they would need to be fixed. After some apologies, things were a bit better. Twilight and Rainbow, didn't know about Striker's fighting capabilities. They also didn't know much about Angel Witches. Who's main form of deadly spells all are based on hexes. Striker didn't think to tell them these things, and wasn't exactly used to sharing that kind of information. Neither side had all the information necessary to avoid a argument. Rainbow explained Striker's combat skills, and that he single hoofedly brought down five. He explained that they underestimated him. That six versus one, he should have died. Luck for him he got the surprise advantage. He got two before any fight started. He got a white by surprise as well.

“The job is done, I'll be on my way then.” Striker told them. He was done. He told himself he had been a fool to think that he should have friends.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa now. We saved each other's lives today. Don't think we're not celebrating! We can do something you like, umm like head to Berry Punch's bar!” Rainbow explained, gliding over in front of the exit.

“I'd rather not if you don't mind.” He replied

“I'd rather not have worried about you walking to your death. I could use a drink, so could you.” Twilight scolded him.

“I'm sorry about that, I am, but I think I'm just going to my motel room.”

“You're still in a motel, you've been here for like a month, why not rent a place, or find some place to stay.” Rainbow voiced

“I don't want to talk about it right now, can I just go please.” He replied

“Striker, you always do stuff for us. You help everypony in town, you help us with our work, and even go to Pinkie's parties that we all know you hate going to. Let us repay you by going to the bar together! It'll be fun!” Twilight sweetly replied.

“Alright fine, fuck it, I need a drink.” he relented. He wanted to get drunk, very drunk.

“Alright! I'll go see what the gang is doing! See if they can go to!” Rainbow beamed, dashing away to find her friends.

Striker looked at Twilight, who gave him a grin. He reached into his coat, pulled out the old Seeker's journal he kept. Then threw it on Twilight's desk.

“You wanted to learn more about Seekers. That is a Seeker's journal. My family keeps a record of every case we've ever done. You can read it if you like. Although I must warn you, it isn't much better then that stallion drinking molten steel.”

“After today, I don't know if I want to anymore...”

“You don't have to read it,”- he trotted over picking it up again. “but you can, to be honest this is more of a monster manual, but that's really what Seekers are. Monster hunters, who become monsters themselves.”

He gestured for her to take the journal. She just shook her head. He gave small laugh. He had decided. He was done fighting with himself. He was ready for friends if it would mean he can drunk.

Author's Note

This one is more about Striker.
More monsters next chapter

Full Moons Suck

Striker gave a heavy sigh. He stood as a body guard. He wore a fancy tuxedo, with out his hat, the streak of color in his mane was noticeable. His mane was slicked back just as it normally is, but Rarity had made him use actual hair products to make it look slick and dark. He looked good, his pale coat went well with black. He was not in a good mood.

Things were not looking good. He stood in a banquet hall full of fancy ponies dressed in suits and extravagant dresses. Among them were Rarity and Pinkie Pie, they both wore amazingly custom dresses. The banquet hall was full of chaotic noise, the bloody corpses of three ponies ripped apart by fangs and claws lay on one side of the hall, and the party attendants were on the other. A single window stood shattered, the long curtain used to hide it torn down. The moon was full and beaming. The party attendants were all in a panic, screaming and yelling running aimlessly in the hall.

He ripped off his bow-tie, then roared above the crowd.

“SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH, IF YOU WANT TO LIVE THEN YOU LISTEN TO ME! IF THAT'S GUNNA BE A PROBLEM THEN FEEL FREE TO GO OUTSIDE!”

Earlier

“Huh?” Striker replied, looking to the unique Rarity as he placed his flask to his lips.

“I said I was wondering if I could ask you for a favor.” Rarity asked, sugar in her voice.

“Well sure wad'ya need Ma'am” a touch of rust in his voice after the whiskey went down.

“I'm going to a party, it's in a town a few towns over, Rainy Peaks. Black tie, very fancy, I was hoping you would be kind enough to play my escort.” She told him smile on her lips.

“Huh, like a date?” He asked, lifting an eye brow

“Wha!? No, Nonononono! You see darling, I've gone to these type of parties before, and there are always... unsavory bucks who, how do I put this, only want me for my mare parts.”

“Oh, you want me to stand there and look tough so creeps don't hit on you! So like a body guard? I'm not sure I can do that.” He replied to her, taking another long drink of his flask.

“Why not? Don't want a certain zebra to get the wrong idea?” she teased.

He gave her a half eye-lided look.

“No, its just that... Well I don't want to hurt anypony Rarity.”

“I wouldn't need you to fight anypony! Nothing like that, I just need you to look intimidating, you don't have to go through with any violence.”

“I know that, it's just that I doubt my ability to stay in a crowded room with a bunch of snobby ponies, present company excluded of course, and not jab my hooves into someponies throat.”

“I've never taken you for the angry type.”

“I'm usually not, but I know how I can get, I don't want to sully your reputation because I can't control myself.”

“My repu- Striker... I'm not going for the status! I want to enjoy a high-class party, in fact forget the whole guard thing, come as my friend.”

Damn she knows how to get what she wants. “Alright, I'll do it,” He replied sternly.

“Oh great! Oh and Pinkie Pie is going as well, she's catering the event, so you can keep those rude creepy bucks of her tail too!” She nearly cheered “Oh and you're going to need a suit or tuxedo. I'm sure I can whip something up for you to wear, as a payment for doing this in the first place.”

“Yeah. Sure. I'll ware any monkey suit you want me to.” he stated, before taking another drink from his flask.

“Now then...-” she took a seat next to him. -” what's going on with you and Zecora?” She asked, wanting a moist piece of gossip.

He gave her another look. “Nothing”

“I don't know... You sure do spend a lot of time with her.”

When he thought about it, he really had been spending a lot of time with her. In fact, he spent more time with her then the Crusaders. The Crusaders were a close second. But with the Witches Coven that somehow got six whole witches that close to town, without either of them realizing it,things were off. The town of Ponyville had been attacked several times very recently. He had been spending more time with Zecora in order to figure things out. He figured it was only a matter of time before rumors started up. However, he actually did rather enjoy spending time with the zebra. They had much in common, their being Seekers and all..

“I spend a lot of time with her because we're friends. We have a lot in common.”

“'A lot in common like being each others special someponies?” She remarked.

This time she got more of a glare then soft look.

“Yes because the drifter who guzzles whiskey, and the hermit zebra have tons in common.” she voiced

“Well it's more like personal stuff... like hobbies and family stuff I don't want to talk about.” he told her sternly

“If its the whole species thing, nobody in town will judge you, we are all very tolerant here.”

He shot her another glare. “There is nothing going on between us. I'm leaving” With that he got up and began to leave.

“Oh, the party is in three days! Just come visit me before then!”

Rarity was a bit disappointed. She was hoping to get some gossip, but like she know knew she should have assumed Striker wasn't the kind of pony who would talk about that kind of thing.

“Striker he!, Check this out!” Scootaloo yelled from atop a building. She wore a helmet, and pillows under her wings and belly. “We're trying to get our stunt pony cutie marks!” She prepared to leap off the building toward a mattress that lay on the floor. The other Crusaders waiting there, Sweetie Belle's magic holding a camera.

That crush of hers wasn't getting any softer. She really wanted to just spend time with him, she had such an elevated opinion of him, she even tried to limit her going to the restroom. She even agreed to be the first one off the building in hopes that he would notice her.

“Yeah... how about I take you three to go see Hoof-Puncher Three Hoof-Punch with Vengeance.” He told them with a breath.

“That sounds like fun, can we just try this first?” Scootaloo shouted from the rooftop. She didn't want to seem clingy.

“Next showing starts like in five minutes! We need to go now!” he shouted back. Not really knowing if that was true or not, he just thought the girls probably wouldn't get a cutie mark by jumping of a building.

Almost instantly the three were by his side, quickly trotting toward the cinema. The three jumped with excitement. The have been waiting to see this movie, but their sisters didn't really like pointless action flicks. They all remembered how hard they tried to get their sisters to take them to Hoof-Puncher Two Code Name Punch-Hoof. The movies themselves were pointless, pretty poorly done and mindlessly violent. Obviously this wasn't a film to be praised, but it was more for the fun of watching and mocking a bad movie while enjoying action and unrelenting explosions. Unfortunately they were all to young to go see it on their own. They really enjoyed seeing them with Striker every so often.

“Striker! I was told I could find you here by a little bird, may I have a word?” Zecora asked at the entrance of the cinema. Apparently she had been waiting there.

“Now? Can it wait like a hour and a half?” he asked with a grin, gesturing toward the girls. With a grim look she shook her head no.

“It's alright Striker, you can go with your marefriend, we understand.” Sweetie spoke. Scootaloo gave a annoyed expression, and blew a raspberry simultaneously with the word “Marefriend”

“She's not... She's not my marefriend. (Scootaloo once again made a fart sound) But my friend needs my help so I'm going to help” He replied slightly flustered.

He went with Zecora while hiding a slight uncharacteristic blush. The girls simply bounced along, going back to their stunt-pony cutie mark plan. Scootaloo was a bit jealous, but at least she liked Zecora. He followed the silent zebra far away into a private ally, where she turned to him and gave him a worried look.

“We may have another problem.” she told him

“Damn right we have a problem!” he snapped at her, before she could react, he started on her.

“What the shit! You do realize that those are kids right, and that if you keep dragging me off with Seeker business they are gunna catch on. How long before they start asking Seeker questions, or try to get their Seeker cutie marks. I swear to Luna I will kill you before I let those innocent fillies even think for single fucking second that being a Seeker is a smart life decision!” he growled, trying to refrain from yelling.

That was far from what Zecora was thinking, or even planing to talk about. That idea had never crossed her mind.She frowned.

“I... I apologize, but this is of very critical importance. Look.” She showed him a map, with a number of exes crossing out towns, by each town that was crossed out was a date.

“These towns are being attacked. Cases of ponies getting their hearts ripped out.” She told him

“Werewolves...and or Lycans... fun.” he voiced with sarcasm, his mood shifting entirely.

“It looks like they are on their way to Ponyville, we need to intercept them. They will be in the town of Rainy Peaks in just three days!”

Striker groaned.

“We just need a reason be in town on that night, one that wont bring any suspicion to us.”

He groaned again

“What?”

“I have a plan... it's not a pleasant one.”

“What plan could you already have?”

“I need to talk to Rarity...” he sighed. Zecora only gave odd look. "Oh and we need to talk about what ponies are saying around town.

Rarity physically screamed. She beamed an impossible smile and grinned at a annoyed Striker.

“I KNEW IT!”

“Well could you maybe do that?”

“OOOOHHHHH HOW LONG!? HMMM???.”

He gave a deep annoyed sigh. “A while, just... can you do it?”

“Oh, so let me get this straight.” she couldn't stop smiling. “You want me to invite Zecora to the black tie party at Rainy Peaks as my plus one, and take you as our body guard so you can try impress her? Zecora, the mare you “have nothing between” hmmm?” She asked slyly, enjoying each word as they slid of her lips.

He groaned again. “Yes”

“I could do that... if you gave me some proof...”

“Proof of what!?”

“Well you said yourself that you and Zecora are just good friends, what if she asked you to make me invite her and this is a trick?”

“What? Just... can you do it or not.”

“Only if you prove to me that you like her...”

“You only want that so you can hold it over me and tease me, the tough drifter having a crush, hardy-har-har.”

“That's odd, I suddenly don't think I can invite Zecora...”

“Fine! How would I even going about proving myself.”

“Kiss her.” she replied simply.

He replied by looking at her like she was insane. There was a silence and Striker racked his brain for a reply.

“What? If you like her it shouldn't be a problem.” She told him calmly. Striker didn't think of himself as a quick thinker, but he was proud of how he responded.

“OK... I will... but only after you invite her!”

“Deal!” she jumped on that.

Striker was pretty good at understanding mares. He knew Rarity had been waiting for this exact moment. He knew should jump on the first thing he would tell her. He stated that he would kiss Zecora after she invited her, but didn't say when. He would just not do it, then bring out that loop hole when she brought it up. Then after the werewolves were dealt with, he knew that she would inquire Zecora about it, all he had to do is tell Zecora to tell her that he had kissed her and done deal! He enjoyed being able to read ponies.

The plan was now set in motion. They girls would go the party, and while they are there, he and Zecora would slip out then prowl the city for the creatures. Which they knew would be active due to the full moon that coincided with the party. If they were lucky, this whole night would go down without a hitch.

“Hey... there you are...”

“Why are you here!?”

“Its been so long...”

“I said why are you HERE?!”

“I wanted to see you.”

“That's a fucking lie!”

“How long has it been...”

“Why are you here asshole!'

“I came to see you...”

Striker woke up with a start. He was sweating intensely, but he was cold, he felt his stomach lurch in his gut. He hated how he felt, he knew he was dreaming, but the thought of the dream hurt his chest deeply.

Three days had passed. And they had all arrived at the party, which looked like it was still being set up. Striker wore his tuxedo and was sitting out side a carriage waiting for the mares who's bodies he was to protect. He had picked up his suit earlier and was drilled on whether he went through with his side of the deal. Rarity wasn't happy when he explain his loophole. However that made her create her own plan. She would go over Strikers head, straight to Zecora herself.

Rarity was a dress maker, she made enough money through her trade that she as not only well off, but had the ability to make elaborate dresses for those she cares about for little to no cost to herself. Needless to say being the generous soul that she is, she often makes dresses specially designed for her friends. She worked extra hard to create a fantastic wonderful dress for Zecora. It was custom made with the Zebra, it was black white and yellow, matching the colors she already liked to wear. The dress was elegant, soft back cloth would hang over her torso, while the white of the dress would cover her lower half, a black hood and scarf already attached Zecora would feel quite normal in the dress. The golden yellow stripes contrasted the plain black perfectly where they were placed. But they did not draw the eye away from anywhere else in the dress. To be honest on a pony the dress would have seemed like a bit much, but on a Zebra, it looked marvelous.

Striker was completely unaware that Zecora would be wearing the dress, or that she had been talking with Rarity. So he waited patiently, only sipping on his flask. He would have to make it last the night. He wore a the tuxedo that Rarity had designed for him, on his hip he carried a sheathed sword, a rather thin blade for a pony of his size. He kept it at his hip. A family heirloom he called it. The only other thing he had on him was his lockbox, in case of an emergency. The sun was falling, it would be setting very soon. He thought the event was a waste of money, and valuable time. He really didn't want to be here. He wanted to be out on the town searching for the werewolves. He stuck it out however, knowing that he and Zecora would be sneaking out the first chance they got. Pinkie would keep herself distracted, and Rarity would probably just be occupied by the party-goers. If everything went according to plan, then the night should end with a dead werewolf, or possibly werewolves.

The banquet hall was quite well furnished. The building itself was more of a castle then a mansion. The old cobblestone told ancient stories, and bore several scars. The old castle was illuminated by torches, the party had a Gothic, medieval theme. Yet of the few ponies who arrived early, including himself, Striker saw that the ponies were attending in modern era black tie. The castle was up a slight hill and sat roughly an hours trot from the main of the town.

The carriage gave a slight bob, then Rarity step out. She wore a elegant lacy white dress, Then Pinkie, who wore the same dress she wore to the Grand Galloping Gala. Then Zecora, who wore the elaborate dress Rarity had designed. Much to Rarity's surprise, he seemed unphased. However he would in fact be thinking about her in that dress for a long time. Striker gave a bow to each mare, then looked to Pinkie, asking if she needed help.

Their plan to get an extra pony in the party went a bit differently then expected, and went over oddly well. Striker carried a large number of trays with a wide assortment of sweets on them to the back entrance.

Pinkie herself had only a single tray. She looked to the single guard who stood at the back entrance.

“Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, I'm with the cake's catering service.” she smiled.

“Go on in.” The large dark black security stallion replied, not even checking for identification or if Striker was affiliated in. Rarity had similar “resistance” she walked in the front door unimpeded. Security didn't ask who she was, or even who Zecora was, or if she had permission to go to the party, or if she was a plus one.

After helping Pinkie, the party had begun. However to Strikers surprise this was not a “Pinkie” party, but much more a “Rarity” party. Instead of games, dancing, and cake, this party was just a gathering of financially well off ponies meeting in a place and mingling to classical music. And not the classic rock music Striker enjoyed. He looked about for Zecora, with her they could sneak out to seek out the werewolf.

After finding her, he had to bite his tongue to not jab a pony in the face as he crossed the rather large hall to reach her. Once he finally arrived, he was interrupted by the party hostess.

“Welcome and thank you for coming to my party ponies!” She yelled as the non-rock and roll classical music died down, and the quiet roar of the crowd was replaced by whispers. The Hostess was a mare dress head to hoof in black clothing, even her face, she looked as if she was going to a funeral.

“The night is young, the moon is full! And there is so much to do! So... my children. Why don't we start the show? Are you hungry? Eat up my babies!” She shouted, clonking her front hooves together. A single butler trotted to a window, then pulled down the curtain that hid it, the full moon blazing through the glass.

All at once three ponies dropped their drinks, their fine wine forever staining the old wood floors. The first to fall was a light blue unicorn in a three piece suit. He fell to his knees, screaming in agony. His body and bones groaned, grotesquely popping and pushing themselves into new places. He spine pushed against his skin and he howled in pain. His flesh began to grow, his hooves spreading out into claws. His body quickly became too big for his clothes and they tore at the seams. His fur grew long and shaggy. His neck popped, and lowered forcing his head lower. With a similar pop his spine stretched. Pushing out his tail, and extending his body. He had transformed. He was now a giant light blue wolf, he bore giant fangs and had giant red glowing eyes. His large razor like claws engraved the wood floor. He and two others, a deep sage green, and dark ocean blue wolf all howled together.

The party hostess beamed! “Feast my darlings! FEAST!” She too began to transform, but her shape shifting looked much more natural. Her body didn't pop, and she didn't make a sound. It also happened much faster. She had barely slid off her black dress to reveal black metal combat armor that her body grew into. She looked just as canine as the three who had turned, but she picked her body up, she stood on her hind legs, upper body not even hunched. The grin made horrifying by rows of large jagged teeth. Her claws were much longer, and sharper.

All of this had happened in seconds, and nopony knew what was going on, but in that single instant the three werewolves singled out a target. Before anypony could react, ask if this was a joke, or an elaborate prank, the wolves target was dead. His flesh and fancy clothing did nothing. Their claws and teeth shredded through him like a knife to butter on an especially hot summer day. Their teeth pulled at his flesh as they began to consume him.

All of the sudden the room was full of panic, ponies ran screaming everywhere, all the doors locked, they were all trapped inside. The werewolves pounced on their next victim, reducing the mare to ribbons in seconds, her bloody death cry went unheard within the panic. Striker rushed to the second victim, staring at the werewolves as they looked for their next victim. Striker wasn't fast enough. They grabbed a third pony, and he was gone before Striker opened his lock box, drawing from it a large revolver, a .44 magnum.

The wolves began to look for a new target, but the power of the magnum went off, the thunderous boom of the gun bringing the room to a less intense volume. One of the werewolves felt the gunshot with it's entire body. Knocked to it's side from all fours, it sprawled on to its back. It's claws desperately trying to dig in to its own chest.Sounds of canine anguish filled the air. In moments the medium sized hole in it's chest began to grow and spew up a pillar of fire. The other two werewolves watched, as the light blue werewolf's body was drenched in the flames, the tower of fire shooting high enough to touch the ceiling. The creature let out a pain filled howl, that turned into a scream of agony. The wolf's body returned to it's original pony form, the light blue unicorn could only scream as the flames consumed him. In this moment, no more then four or five seconds, the horrible realization of what the unicorn had done flooded his mind, along with confusion, and pain, pure white hot unbearable pain. Then only black charred bones remained.

Striker bit down on his blade hilt, pulling it from it's sheath. The thin blade glowed ominously. It was a bright metal, some kind of silver, yet it was more, the blade itself had an aura about it, and seemed to emit light. He barred his teeth and brandished his shining blade. The blade was anxious, it hadn't been used in a long time. It was excited to be out again, to let it's light shine once more.

The deep sage green werewolf charged him, thrashing at him wildly like the primal beast it was. Striker dodged, he made it look easy. Every swipe the beast made missed it's target. The wild monster attacked in a frenzy, yet Striker dodged. He was in a new mind set, he got like this when ever he used this blade. He had a zen like focus. He could see each attack, know where they were going and dodge. He reacted to each attack. The werewolf's attacks were sloppy. It flailed about. As Striker looked like he was dancing elegantly. Then once he began to understand how the creature attacked, he began to counter. Every missed slash from the werewolf gave Striker an opening. When the blade hit flesh, it acted like the blade was red hot, searing the flesh as well as slicing it. The tiny burning slashes seemed ineffective at first, but then began to slow the beast down. He knew his time to strike was drawing near.

Then he heard a cry, he turned slightly to catch Zecora in the corner of his vision, being pinned by the Ocean Blue werewolf. With the next attack with the werewolf he dealt with he thrust his blade into the monster's chest, but from the feel of the attack he knew he missed his target. Yet this would buy him the time he needed.

Zecora was trapped much like he had been with the black dog. Only the werewolf was much bigger. Zecora did her best to make herself a hard target as claws thrashed at her, only receiving small cuts instead of being rendered into ribbons. She couldn't see much, but she did see the blade pierce the monster's heart. The Ocean Blue werewolf went just like the one before him, the pillar of flame touching the ceiling. She saw him as he pulled her away from the tower of fire. She saw his blade, and her heart pounded in her chest. It can not be... that is not possible... that would mean she was sunfall...

“Seeker! Its a fucking Seeker!” The party hostess roared, then with a grim realization. “It's him! S four! Sunset's Shining Sun! Retreat! Secure the perimeter, nothing escapes! Tonight we kill a Sunfall or we die trying! Don't you dare let him escape! I want his head on a pike Damn it!”

The injured werewolf looked to it's commander then lept away, braking the revealed window, and tearing apart the curtain as it fled. Several security guards shifted as well, dropping their forms just as the creature who commanded them had, swiftly, without noise, and painlessly. They too fled to secure a perimeter.

“Shining Sun! Come to the roof if you want any of these ponies to live!”

“Why don't you come here cunt! Radiance wants to fight, come say hello with your face!” he replied smugly.

She only snarled at him, before leaping up to a balcony, along with three other bipedal wolfs.

Striker gave a heavy sigh. He stood as a body guard. He wore a fancy tuxedo, with out the hat, his streak of color in his mane was noticeable. His mane was slicked back just as it normally is, but Rarity had made him use actual hair products to make it look slick and dark. He looked good, his pale coat went well with black. He was not in a good mood.

Things were not looking good. He stood in a banquet hall full of fancy ponies dressed in suits and extravagant dresses. Among them were Rarity and Pinkie Pie, they both wore amazingly custom dresses. Zecora's dress had been slashed badly. Zecora herself wasn't fairing much better. Portions of her white, in her fur and dress, were painted red. The banquet hall was full of chaotic noise, the bloody corpses of three ponies ripped apart by fangs and claws lay on one side of the hall, and the party attendants were on the other. A single window stood shattered, the long curtain used to hide it torn down. The moon was full and beaming. The party attendants were all in a panic, screaming and yelling running aimlessly in the hall.

He ripped of his bow-tie, then roared above the crowd.

“SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTHS, IF YOU WANT TO LIVE THEN YOU LISTEN TO ME! IF THATS GUNNA BE A PROBLEM THEN FEEL FREE TO GO OUTSIDE!” he boomed. Accompanied by the boom of his .44, the room turned silent. “THATS BETTER! Now then, I can save you all, but you need to listen right now. I'm something called a Seeker...

The crowd was silent, all of the ponies in the hall were quiet, any skeptic didn't voice their opinions, they didn't want to anger the Stallion with a radiant sword, and a large magnum. Zecora wasn't in the best condition, she had gotten pretty slashed up, she tried to get on her hooves but had a hard time standing. Pinkie and Rarity trotted over to him as he approached her. He glanced at the three of them.

“You three make sure nopony tries to leave. Zecora can you handle one if they try to get you while I'm on the roof?” he told them. She shook her head.

“Striker you can can't be serious! If any of this Seeker business is true then the roof is obviously some kind of trap!” Rarity retorted

“Yeah! Going up there would just be silly!” Pinkie gleamed.

“There are five dead, No more. I can stop them, I know it. I know it's a trap but I know that this is our only option.” With that, he handed Rarity his .44 “Aim for the heart, silver through the heart is the only way to bring a werewolf or Lycan down. Oh the ones on all four, werewolves, on two, Lycans. Not much of a difference, Lycans are just faster, smarter, stealthy, and overall better.”

Rarity eyed the gun, “Our... Our only option! We can... we can run if we all flee I'm sure we can escape, get to the Equestrian Guard!”

“No... they are some of the best hunters, only four or.... five of us will survive if any... if we try to flee..” Zecora cut in

Pinkie and Rarity shared a confused look.

“She a Seeker too, now then I have Lycans that need to be dealt with.” He told Rarity and Pinkie who still held shock on their faces.

“Wait!” Zecora forced. He turned giving her his attention.

“What?”

“That blade.... that belonged to Radiant Sunset....”

“It did...”

“How did you acquire it?”

“How do you think.... they say I have her eyes...” he grinned, giving her a wink.

“That means...”

“Yeah that is what that means, let's save this talk for later alright, I got lives to save.” with that he left the mares, heading for the stair case that led to the roof.

Rarity and Pinkie looked at Zecora, but Zecora said nothing.

The moon was full, a slight breeze filled the air. Striker stood glowing blade in his mouth. The hostess stood arms crossed glaring at Striker, she stood on her back legs, easily three times Striker's height.

“I knew you'd come.” The hostess spoke with a cynical tone.

“So did I.”

“May I ask why?”

“No, this aint my first rodeo. How we doin' this, you send some cronies, I kill them then we fight? Or are we gunna cut out the middle mare and end this quickly?”

“I met Radiant Sunset, back when I was a pup, you share her arrogance boy.”

“I get that a lot, I also share her drinking habit.”

“You don't seem to understand your situation...”

“No I get it, oh trust me, I understand.”

“Then you are a fool” she laughed

“Little bit, can't argue that at all, but thats not why I'm up here.”

“Then you are insane.”

“Little bit of that too, well a lot a bit, but you have to be psycho to be a Seeker.”

“That is very true, then tell me why are you here?”

“Honestly, probably a whole mess of family and physiological issues, but really now, why does a stallion do anything? It's to impress that Zebra mare down there.”

“I saw you at the party, so serious, yet here you are so... different. So much more... narcissistic.”

“Yeah, well I'm a born Seeker, This is what I do.”

The Hostess laughed. ”So that's it then, you're going to die because you are trying to get your dick wet?”

Striker laughed back. “No, you're going to die so I can get my dick wet!”

Pleasantries over the battle began. Swift claws against a family heirloom. Stallion earth pony versus bitch Lycan. The attacks came fast from both sides. Striker wasn't going for a big hit, he wanted to burn her out. She wanted to shred him into ribbons. Her attacks went for the throat and vital parts of his body. He merely touched the edge of his blade to her flesh, searing it.

“Shining silver?” She asked.

He slid the edge across one of her back legs, getting her to groan a growl of pain.

“You tell me.”

This battle was not like the one with the werewolf, the Lycan wasn't full of bloodlust. Her attacks were not only fast but smart, planed, she was much more of a challenge then the wild animals that werewolves were. Striker was fast, but didn't have the shear stamina that she had. He could feel himself slow down. The attacks he once dodged, were beginning to touch, scratching at his tux and slicing flesh. He knew he would have to change his game plan, so he did, trading slashes for thrusts, he caught her by surprise, slipping past her defenses, he slid his blade into her lower abdomen. She lept back.

“Bring me his bowels!” she barked.

Three more Lycans came out of hiding. Each just slightly smaller then the hostess. The first lunged at him. He was smarter then they were, he knew that the hostess was the Alpha, the strongest, he got a good attack in on their best. Her minions were nothing to her. But her was still outnumbered three to one.

A Lycan landed on him, but was immediately flung of by his powerful legs. The Lycan landed on it's back, holding its chest, Striker had made sure that the blade pierced it's heart.

“MASTEEEEERRRRRRRR” the Lycan howled as it's body was turned to cinder by a pillar of black flame, almost exactly like the werewolf's.

The two other glared at him.

“He's Sunfall idiots! Don't underestimate him!” the Hostess roared clutching at the hole in her gut.

The Lycans rushed him, two against one Striker he would probably not come out of this encounter unharmed.

BOOOOOM

One of the Lycans was pelted with a burst of confetti, streamers, cupcakes, cake, ice cream, balloons, and various other party nicknacks. The blast knocked it off it two legs and nearly off the roof, it clutched the edge of the rooftop, draped in party supplies the creature was a more then confused.

Both Striker and the remaining Lycan were in shock.

“Pinkie!?” Striker voiced

“PARTY CANNON WOOOOO!” She screamed. “STRIKER I CAME TO BACK YOU UP! I GOT A CANNON! WOOOOO!”

“YOU LITTLE CU--” The second Lycan was cut off, Striker moved like lightning. He dashed and slid across the roof, his blade searing off both the Lycan's legs. It fell forward on to it's belly roaring in pain, just as fast Striker finished him, bringing the blade down right through his back and heart. He slid out the sword and rolled back as the sound of his .44 pierced the air along with shattering glass. Two Pillars of black flame shot out into the sky.

Striker ginned at the hostess. Ha he must have been dangling over a window, nice shot Rare. he thought to himself.

“BASTARD YOU HAVEN'T WON!” The hostess rushed him on all fours, eyes burning red, claws out, fangs bared. She snarled opening her mouth wide to crush him once she close enough. Instead she got a mouth full of party.

BOOOOM “PAAAAARTY CANNON WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!” Pinkie surged. Striker once again just like lighting he stuck after the boom. He ruthlessly gored the hostess's chest with his blade several times.

She let out a wicked howl. As she emitted a pillar of blue fire, the flames spiraling upward looking like a drill. Several more pillars of fire burst forth from where the other Lycan and werewolves were hiding. With their alpha dead, so were they.

Pinkie immediately rushed to Striker's side giving him a giant and powerful hug.

“Is it over?!”

“Should be, Alphas dead.”

“You did it! That. Is. So wonderful!!!” She squeezed harder, then jumped back in shock. A large stain of red growing as it soaked into her lovely blue and white dress. She looked like she wanted to cry.

“Ss...Striker...”

“I'm fine, I guess they got me and I didn't notice, sorry I ruined that dress Pinkie. Oh and nice save, was not expecting a umm... party.... cannon.” he replied small smile on his mouth.

“Striker you're really hurt...”

“I know, but that doesn't matter right now. C'mon lets go fix the mess down stairs.”

“It should matter, we would all be dead right now if it weren't for you!”

“No we are alive because that bitch got cocky, she thought she could take me and wanted me as a prize, she should of just thrown her attack dogs at us all at once, or she could have had them get you while she dealt with me. Not much better then dumb luck. No c'mon.” he bit back.

Against Strikers will, Pinkie forced herself into his side helping him stand. But not wanting to know what a blast from her party cannon felt like, he let her do as she please. Zecora was unconscious, Rarity held the gun and her. He eyes widened at Striker's injuries. But before anything could really happen he got them to go outside a sneak away from the castle.

“Wait were are we going?” Rarity questioned.

“Home.” Striker replied calmly, Pinkie glued to his side, Zecora on his back.

“That's it, you just up an leave.” She asked upset.

“Yup.”

“Well I hope you're happy...” she nearly shouted glaring at him.

“Yeah, relax I got a carriage waiting not to far from here, we wont have to walk.”

“It's not that! You just do this... Seeker business then you up and skip out before anypony can do or say anything.”

“Pretty much.”

“And you see no problem with this!?”

“No I see problems, but I also see more problems waiting to happen, I skip out on the drama.”

“And do you plan to skip out on your friends in Ponyville!”

“No.”

“How can I believe you! I just saw you use a glowing sword to send wolf monsters into pillars of fire! How much more is out there, how many ponies have you abandoned!? How many Rainy Peaks? How many Ponyvilles!?” she voiced on the verge of tears.

“Too many.”

“Rarity, calm down, Striker's our friend. He wont just abandon us, I know he wont. He didn't like those lame party ponies, thats how he is, but he just saved all of our lives, by putting himself in incredible danger!” Pinkie shot back in his defense. Silencing Rarity.

“Damn Pinkie, you are just covering my ass today aren't you?” he replied jokingly, cutting the tension.

“Heh... I guess I am” She gave a slight blush and scratched at the back of her head.

“It's alright Rarity, your point is valid, and understandable. But C'mon PINKIE PIE is the voice of reason here, you know shits messed up. Just relax I aint going nowhere... Still owe this Zebra on my back that kiss.” Striker told Rarity with a gin on his face before carting on. Rarity just gave a sniffle, then smiled following her two friends.

Striker sat in a carriage. His body was tired and his body was heavy. Across from him were the three mares he protected this night. All three were asleep. He thought about the night. Things seemed off. Werewolf's and Lycans are deeply involved, but he had never seen a pack of this size. He knew he got lucky. If they simply all attacked at once instead of drawing it out, everypony at that party would probably be dead. Then there was the fact that witch's coven was also quite larger then expected. Lycans usually stick in packs of three or four. Most likely a mother and her pups. And witches more often then not keep to themselves. Covens are rare. Covens of anything more then four are even more so. Things were grouping up. And all very near the town of Ponyville. Something was happening. Plus both groups knew about his real identity. S Four. Sunset's Shining Sun. They knew him. They might have even been expecting him to show up. Granted he did uses a very unique glowing sword.

Then there were his friends. The six mares who all know about his Seeker hood. He knew for a fact that it was only a matter of time before they all spoke about him together. They all had pieces about him. Things they learned, the six friends actually might want clarification. Would he lie to them for their own protection, or would it be better for them to know everything they want to know? What if he doesn't tell them, and they abandon him, or if they abandon him anyway when they do find out? What if when he tells them his secrets, they want to know more, everything even. What if Twilight finds out then immediately writes to Celestia? That's right! Shit! Striker groaned. He had forgotten, the only reason Twilight had not written Celestia about the whole Seeker business is because she respected his privacy. What if their wants for answers take them to Celestia? Would Luna protect him? That's right Luna! He swore more to himself. This was getting to be a too much for him. Too many different possibilities, and not enough information to do anything with it. He forgot about Luna he would need to tell her his findings. But he wanted to go over everything with Zecora first. He train of thought moved to Zecora, beautiful Zecora.

He looked to her from across the small carriage. With all of this shit going on he had completely failed to realize until now that he had dragged her into his mess. In fact he dragged all his new friends into his mess simply by being their friends. He hated himself for that. He hated his bloodline. Only for a single moment, but it was undeniable. For a second, he wanted to leave all this behind. He could protect his new friends by leaving, he could end the mess simply by leaving. Just getting his belongings, and walking away. No good bye, no going away party, just escaping in the silent and dark night.

He looked at Zecora, leaned over and kissed her forehead.

He grinned. He knew he couldn't leave this ponies. Ponyville was a target. They would be in more danger if he left. Zecora was good, but she didn't have Seekers in her bloodline. She didn't have weapons like his .44 or Radiance his family rapier.

He thought about his family. Maybe I should tell them.... well only in a worst case scenario. As a pony raised Seeker, he never made friends, he never trusted random ponies. However he couldn't deny that he had never gone this long with contemplating suicide for a long time. For the first time in years, and more then ever. He wanted to live. He wanted to see the Cutie Mark Crusader's faces when they finally get their cutie marks. He wanted to see Applejack in a few years, her farm doing great, getting rich with her dedication and hard work. He wanted to see Fluttershy, perhaps making more of a living as a nurse or veterinarian. He hadn't known these ponies long at all. Yet they met more to him then his bloodline ever has. Then his family ever did. He couldn't wait wake up tomorrow, feel better, and spend some time with the closest thing he has ever had to a real family.

“You know, you may want to talk to some pony about this reoccurring dream.” Luna stated in an elegant gown in the plateau of infinite gray that was Strikers dreamscape.

“Maybe...” He them began to tell Luna about his night, and his speculations and theories.

“You have done well, thank you for the information.”

“For your honor my mistress.”

“I have news.”

“Good or bad.”

“Depends...”

“Is your sister going to end this thousand year grudge by turning me into dust?”

“No.”

“So it's not bad.”

“It might still be bad.”

“Let's hear it.”

“I feel that there might be a attack on Ponyville very soon. Also I fear that Twilight Sparkle may tell my sister about you.”

“I thought about that too, next time I get the chance I am going talk to her about this whole situation.” He began once more, this time about his plan. Now that all six of the mares knew his secret, he figured he owed them a bit of an explanation. He would tell them anything they wanted to hear, and ask that Celestia never learns of him. Luna grinned knowing it would be the best option for the time being, if fact she might talk to Twilight herself about the situation.

Some time later.

Deep within the Everfree

The darkness danced like fire. Wafting over, the dead leaves of the forest floor consuming them like fire. A figure emerged. The darkness dancing on his body.

“You once fell once, but please heed my call and rise.”

“On this black night, I call you.”

“Bring the Sunfall to their knees!”

“Show them their demise.”

“For you this shall be no issue.”

“Rise! RISE MY UNDYING ARMIES!”

Author's Note

This one was done a bit a ago, the next chapters are just a bit much.

Story Time Striker

Striker sat in a circle, with all of his new friends. Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Twilight Sparkle, Zecora, even the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. They were all in Twilight's library's back room. The hallowed out tree made an excellent secret meeting place. Twilight had called the meeting, It was agreed that there was an air of mystery around Striker that everypony wanted cleared. He would not resist, he too believed they had a right to know. It was still early morning when everypony had arrived, Striker being the last.

“Alright, I assume we are all here so I can explain things.” He begun

“Kind of, we had some questions we would like answered is all.” Twilight replied.

“Yeah, I figured, but... umm I'd like to talk to ponies for a bit if you don't mind. It might take a bit, but it might answer some of the questions.”

Twilight and Striker looked to the rest of the ponies inside the library room, mostly everypony responded with a nod, or a “that sounds good” or something very close to that. After
Twilight's gaze returned to Striker, She gave a heavy affirmative nod.

“Alright... hello everypony-” Striker took a long and deep breath “- I know you all have questions. So I am going to tell you a story, which should answer them. If not I can answer everything you want to know.” He glanced quickly at everypony. He had to mentally prepare himself for this, he took a minute to compose his thoughts and go over the tale in his head. Everypony in the room sat anxiously waiting for him to begin.

“Well firstly you need a bit of background. Firstly, It starts with a mare. Radiant Sunset, my mother.” He pulled out his lockbox, which he immediately opened, and took a picture out. The old photo was a bit tattered, and dog-eared. The photo was of a beautiful mare, she had an elegant fire orange coat, with a scarlet mane with a very familiar streak, only it was a shade darker then Striker's. She also had Striker's burning sapphire eyes. Her cutie mark was a curved silver knife. He passed it around for everypony so see.

“She's absolutely gorgeous Striker...” Rarity said once her eyes set on the pictures.

“Wow, you look alot like 'er Striker.” Applejack told him.

“She comes from a long line of Seekers known as the Sunfall. Were have been Seeker's for generations, she wanted to change that. She had just finished a case, then met my father, Midnight Fire, a bat pony, I don't have a picture, just his old hat.” he continued

“You're part bat pony! That's awesome!” Rainbow voiced.

“You can't just tell by looking either, I would have never guessed.” Fluttershy explained.

“Yeah, I got most of my looks from my mother. Anyway, they got married, then had my brother Ghost Walk. We nev-”

“You have A BROTHER! Oh. My. Gosh!” Pinkie interrupted.

“Yeah, HAD a brother, we never got along, we hated each other, didn't bother mourning, pretty sure he woulda done the same.” he quickly replied.

“Oh.... ummm sorry.” Pinkie replied slightly embarrassed.

“Its nothing, don't worry about it. Moving on, a few years later, I was born. My mother, she originally wanted to keep her Seeker hood with her to the grave...” Striker spoke sadly.

“So if you're a Seeker, that means something stopped her plan, what happened?” Twilight asked, curiously.

“She died.”

“Oh...”

“Yeah...”

“How?” Applebloom asked, before getting a soft-ish hit on the back of her head by her big sister.

“I was born.” he replied, everypony was silent this time. The silence continued long enough for Striker to return to his story.

“I never knew my mother, and my brother blamed me my entire life for killing her. My father had learned about Seekers from her. But the death of the love of his life blinded him from smart decisions. He began to teach us how to be Seekers out of fear of losing us to. Me from birth, Ghost had experienced normal life before however, and didn't take to the Seeker life style well. For me, it's the only way I know how to live. Never stay in one place for long, don't make friends, keep in shape, and know how to stop monsters. Once I got older I began to dig around, find things about my mother, Wonder what normal ponies did. Where other colts played ball, I learned how to hunt with bows and arrows, the in and outs of various firearms, master weapons like spears, axes, and swords. There is a reason why we Sunfall are feared by both other Seekers and monster across the world. We are born and raised as fucking warriors. We live to die in combat, we are a family that has raised war against the monsters of the night for hundreds of years. Let me tell you right now, the things I saw, things I still see, their fucked! Yet I am so warped from it all, it really doesn't effect me anymore.” he gave a short pause, he could see the looks in their eyes, he didn't know what that look meant so he continued, he had never seen a look of sadness and fear like this, it had to much sympathy.

“So the story starts a log time ago back when I was about the crusader's age...

Striker was just a colt, he sat in a sky wagon with his brother, a dark pink bat pony with a dark purple mane, his cutie mark a shield with a moon crescent on it. The wagon was being flown by their father, Midnight Fire. A jet black bat pony with a even blacker mane. His cutie mark was a burning candle. They were flying somewhere near Las Pegasus. In the Marejave desert, around them was nothing but miles of desert. Dead plants with dried Joshua trees were the only thing that wasn't cactus or coyote for miles. They had been flying for a long time. His brother slept, the sun had set a while ago, but Striker couldn't sleep. He quietly snuck closer to the front of the wagon.

“Dad...” his voice had no gruff, gravel, or rust.

“Strike?” he was unable to safely turn his head to look at this speed. His voice was very close to what Striker's would one day, only much more gruff and hard.

“Yeah...”

“What are ya doin' up, y'all know ya should be sleepin'.” Midnight's voice had a twang to it that was similar to the Apple's.

“Can't sleep.”

“... Tired?”

“No, wide awake.”

“Well just close yer eyes boy, we'll be settin' down soon enough.”

“Alright dad.” With that he made his way back to his spot in the wagon, laid down, and closed his eyes. He wasn't tired, didn't know why. He had felt this electricity in the air all day. There weren't even clouds out here. Unable to sleep he did what he always did when he couldn't sleep. He began to mental dismantle then reassemble his favorite guns in his mind. He had a hard time focusing though, the night wind was surprisingly cold from the heat he had to deal with earlier in the day. The wind buffeted him quite a lot at this altitude. He envied his brother's wings.

They went on flying in the night sky for a rough twenty or thirty minutes before he felt the wagon touch the ground then park. He immediately opened his eyes, getting up in the wagon. His father was hitching the wagon to a post, glancing over to Striker he spoke.

“Sleep at all?”

“No.”

“Wake yer brother.”

Striker didn't respond, he just turned and prodded his sleeping brother sleeping several times. It wasn't until the seventh poke did Ghost walk stir awake. Only to be immediately awoken by their father.

“The hell you doin' boy?!” He growled, Striker hopped out of the wagon.

“Huh?!” his brother sat up straight but was still dreary.

“Boy! Don't you make me say it again!”

“Sorry Pa! I umm, ugh, umm”

“Where's yer damn knife boy! Damn it! What if that was some wagon robber, and he had already blew my brains out! How the FUCK are you gunna help yer brother if you got a bullet in yer head to you damn idjit! DAMN IT, AGAIN GHOST!” Their father gave a heavy sigh before shaking his head back and forth in disappointment.

Ghost held back tears, hopping down from the wagon, he wouldn't dare shed a tear. Not after last time. Striker looked just as disappointed, to him, being woken up, and not having your knife ready was weak, foalish. However that look disappeared when Ghost bashed Striker in the back of the head with a hoof. Striker just cringed, he was used to it. And if it helped his brother feel better why not take the abuse? He also noticed a tinge of... metal? He couldn't quite put a hoof to the smell.

The two brothers followed their father, they had arrived at some kind of motel/dinner. The place was surrounded by desert on all sides. It was literally in the middle of nowhere. The building was somewhat large. Resembling a red barn, the place had a buzzing neon sign that wrote “The Red Barn” unsurprisingly. The dirt road crunched under their hooves as they trotted. Ghost stretched out his wings.

The place looked like a bar, with a few extra doors. Neon signs over each. Over the one the just enter was “EXIT” to their left was “ROOMS”, “TOILET” was to their right, and “BAR” was directly ahead from them.

“Gotta take a piss?” Midnight asked looking to his boys. They both replied with a nod.

“Alright, just hold it for a spell, gotta get us set up first.” he replied. Before trotting up to the bar. In this one room, their were about seven other ponies. The bartender, two pegasus truckers, three earth ponies armed with guns and wearing Las Pegasus Defense Force. And a seemingly random unicorn in trashy torn clothing.

“Ey Midnight, howed that Lurker go?” the bartender told him

“Good as ya would think, can ah get a room, my kids need to piss.”

“Sure thing, want me to get you the usual Midnight?”

“Yeah, thanks.” he placed a small bag of bits on the bar stand. The beige stallion behind the bar stand gave a smile before, slowly trotting down the hallway behind him, turning out of sight. Midnight turned back to his kids.

“Dad?” Ghost questioned

“Yea?”

“Why are we here?”

“I'm thirsty, and we should take a break, catch up on sleep.”

“Alright.” he replied the sleep still strong in his mind.

“Hey, umm do you guys smell tha-” Striker began before getting cut off

“Here are your room and bathroom keys” the owner interrupted as he turned the corner, tossing the keys softly to their father. He tilted his hat at the bartender in response and turned to the bathroom. Their hooves knocked on the concrete floor. The florescent lights buzzed loudly in the silence of ponies drowning their sorrows at a bar in the middle of nowhere. The sound of a key wrestling with tumblers filled the air as their father unlocked the restroom door. He pushed open the door when a foul stench filled the air. Three immediately went on edge. They knew this scent. This was not the scent of pony manure, it was the unmissable reek of death. The smell of dead rotting flesh. The opened to reveal a butchered corpse. It had been horrible mutilated. Somehow, the corpse had absolutely no skin. Nothing but raw grotesque dad meat. Blood stained every wall and even the ceiling.

“Whoa Whoa Whoa now!” Applejack interrupted “This don't seem like a very... filly friendly story!” she told him, as she blocked Applebloom's ears. The filly herself had on a half-eyelided look on her face.

“It's not, but that is part of it, I can't take it out or else it doesn't have the same effect.” Striker answer,

Rarity was already doing a similar thing to Sweetie Belle. Who shared Applebloom's expression. “Well could you at least dial it down a bit.” Rarity asked.

“Fine, just... let them listen, anyway.

Striker and his father burst into action. Kicking in every stall while Ghost looked about investigating the scene and checking the windows. Striker assumed that this was the source of the coppery metallic smell he now recognized.

“Boys, wha'da got?”

“The victim has had all of his skin removed, no way to identify the corpse as of now, judging by the splatter stains what ever did this was at the door's entrance when it happened.” Ghost explained gesturing to the bathroom door, which remained spotless.

“The victim has no skin, but also appears to be beaten horribly, cause of death looks like.... blunt trauma, the guy's brains look like mashed potatoes. So that would rule out skinrenders, voice walkers, and ghouls, looks like we got a Hiderunner.” Striker elaborated to his father.

“Good job”- he propped open the bathroom door, -” Lock the doors Tex, we got a Hiderunner!” he yelled.

It only took a few minutes, but everypony had been put in the largest booth the motel bar had available. Only Midnight and his kids sat by the bar, discussing the situation.

“Strike, Ghost, go out to the wagon and get some guns.” Midnight finished by tossing them keys, Which Ghost Walk greedily took out of the air.

“You sure dat's a good idea Midnight?”

“They can handle themselves.” he replied, not giving so much as a glance in their direction.

The two brothers made their way outside. They quickly and quietly trotted to the wagon, once there, Ghost Walk moved below to the bottom of the wagon. Fiddling with the lock and key for a bit, he unlocked something, and a tray fell, revealing a number of hidden firearms underneath the wagon. Ghost took his old bolt-action hunting rifle, their fathers six-chamber revolver. Then Striker took his sawed-off (the very same one he had on his person as he spoke)and both his father's lever-action rifle, and lever-action shotgun, slinging both on his back. He took another blow to the head, and felt the guns slip off, his brother took the guns then dropped the key in front of Striker. “Lock up.”

He heard his brother trot away before he began to fiddle with the lock, but he fumbled, tripping slightly slamming into the tray, knocking something loose. A lockbox with a key taped to it. Deciding to hide it from the brother who had just finished beating him, he took the box and slid it under his sawed-off's holster. It fit so that unless you took a good look at him, you would not notice the bulge. He hastefully finished locking up before closing the tray and running to his brother's side. They entered into a rather unexpected scene.

Their father was pummeling the shaggy tattered pony, bashing him in the face over and over again with his bare hooves.

“Don't you ever say that again you sonofabitch!” he roared, the Las Pegasus Defense Force, or LPDF, simply watched not wanting to get involved. The bartender just shook his head. He turned to them as the slowly approached.

“About damn time! Give me my levers damn it.” Midnight growled. He snatched the two weapons from Ghost when his son moved them to him. He checked their clips before snatching away the ammo boxes Striker offered him. Arming both his weapons, he spoke.

“Theirs been a murder. It could be anypony here, Tex how many are here.” he still spoke with a blade on his tongue.

“In here? I reckon seven of us when you came in makin us ten, n' five more in their motel room.” the bartender replied

“Ghost with me, were gunna check on the ponies in their rooms, Strike, stick with the Tex here. The rest of you, anypony who has gon' into that bathroom cold be the murderer, don't let anypony out of yer sights, and keep an eye for odd behavior.” With that he kicked Ghost, getting him to follow as he entered the door the neon sign labeled “ROOMS”

Striker looked at the booth full of ponies, then picked himself up to sit on the barstand, for a better view.

“Pour ya a drink lil' partner?” Tex asked as he pulled a large double barrel shotgun out from underneath the bar.

“Whiskey sour, room temperature, no ice.” Striker replied. The bartender gave him a dumbstruck look, before he let of a soft laugh.

“I swear kid, every time I see you, I see more and more of yer mother.” Tex gave a heavy sigh before returning to surveying the room.

Striker slid out the lockbox and opened it. Inside was an old book, a large .44 magnum, several shiny silver bullets, and an old picture of a mare he recognized, even though he had never seen her in person. His mother, and he really did look a lot like her. He quickly closed the box, returning it to it's hiding place. He kept the book out, assuming it would go unnoticed he looked at the thick cover. He noticed that it was covered in a outrageous number of names. Each was scratched in with what seemed like some kind off knife. Their were tons of names. Solar Flare. Morning Glory. Dawn Blaze. Dusk's End. Sunny Centurion. Only one name was different, Sunset Eve, it was crossed out. The names went on and on, crammed into every nook and cranny. He saw two adjacent names. Radiant Sunset, and just below that was the name Sun Strike. His name.

Scootaloo held Striker's Seeker Journal, she looked for all the names he listed, she found each, including his. She looked to Striker and back to the book, feeling a sort of “unworthiness” she humbly set the book down.

Twilight gulped, she recalled Striker offering her that book, she was now much more happy that she denied it, she never knew of the journal's real worth.

“They're all fucking dead!” Ghost burst in, Striker just opened the journal, beginning to read some of the pages, each was detailed instructions on a number of monsters he had faced but even more were things he had never even heard of.

“Everypony in their rooms is fucking dead, no skin.” Midnight said as he walked in.

“Well... Fuck!” Tex cursed.

“So that means it's one of us. That's comforting.” Striker spoke sarcasticcly. Setting the book off to his side as to not arise suspicion from his father.

Everypony on the room was now sitting in the booth. They all sat in silence. The neon signs buzzed loudly. The light above them gave an occasional flicker. There was a long and paranoid silence. Nopony spoke. They all just eyed each other. Midnight kept a hoof on the table. He knew it had to be one of the LPDF. He wasn't surprised when the youngest LPDF began to talk.

“It was just... another case.” The young buck said with a powerful melancholy in his voice.

“Brace, shut your mouth.” The hard looking stallion boomed.

“Let 'em talk, say what ya gotta say boy.” Midnight replied calmly. Nopony wants to argue with the buck with the gun.

“We were... called in, a serial killer, took skin of ponies, sickest shit I had ever seen. Been fucking with my head for a long time, since we started following this... thing. Things were bad, we could never get a suspect, and we had a lot of clashing information.”

“It was... insane. Multiple accounts of ponies going missing, but also being confirmed that they were seen an hour or two later.” The third buck cut it.

“But shit got real fucked. We finally got a lead, a suspect. Well then the next body shows up and we bring him in to interrogate. He doesn't give us anything good, we let him go. Few hours later the lab comes up with an identity for or victim... The same guy, the prime suspect got butchered!” The young buck said, panicking with the later words.

“We were talking to a fucking dead pony! And now this shit!” The third pony nearly screamed.

“Calm down now, I'm going to try to get us out of this mess alive, but I can't if you are freaking your shit, SO GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER.” Midnight roared with his hoof slamming the table.

Yet another silence. Striker slid out the journal, skimming through the log he read about the case's his family had solved. Then he found one about Hiderunners, he dove in. Not noticing whether his father had his eyes on the members of the LPDF or him. Ghost just sat there fighting fear, or at least fighting showing it. He didn't want his father to see him scared especially since Striker was virtually unaffected. Striker was generally used to this type of situation.

“Where... where did you get that?” Midnight spoke.

Nopony replied.

“I SAID WHERE DID YOU GET THAT.” Midnight screamed, thrashing the journal out of Striker's hooves sending it flying across the room. Striker was significantly less adjusted to this situation.

“Under the wagon...” Striker shot back quickly.

“THATS NOT YOURS WHY WOULD YOU TAKE IT!” Midnight yelled, having lost all composure.

“Its... Its got my name on it!” Striker spat out.

“WHAT?!... WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU SAY!”

“I said my name is on it! Right under Moms!” Midnight nearly threw himself out of the booth galloping to the journal he looked it over, knowing exactly where to find his love's name, his eyes widened at his sight. He immediately ran back and grabbed Striker, throwing him down onto the floor hard enough to make Ghost Walk cringe.

“DID YOU WRIGHT THIS!”

“No! I just saw it! I swear. It was already their when I found it! Honest!”

Midnight just gaped at the name, unsure of how to react or respond. He just learned something that had completely blew his mind. Neither Striker or Ghost knew why he was reacting like this. They both knew that he got violent when their mother became a subject, but this was different. They were both frightened. Their father had always been.... fearless. He always had a plan, knew what to do, handle any monster, dodge or surpass every bump in the road. This was the first time either of them had seem him be completely shocked. Taking advantage, the gruff LPDF member stood up drawing his gun.

“Nopony move I'm in charge now, and nopony moves until I find out who's what!” He yelled

“You don't have to, I read it... in the book I was about to say it, Hiderunner's can't clean the blood underneath their severed hides or something, they smell like blood! We just smell each other and find out who smells like what!”

Midnight wanted to interrupt, wanted to tell his son to stop... but he was to slow. The second the words left his sons lip's, the gruff pony began to twitch. Something was festering underneath his skin. Pushing up from beneath the surface. He was the Hiderunner all along. The body in the restroom belonged to him.

The Hiderunner was a hideous beast. The stallions mouth opened, but instead of revealing a mouth, a skinless twisted and beaten face with the eyes of a serpent pushed out. The stallion's hide tore open, revealing something impossible big underneath the surface. The flesh of the creature was wet, and slimy like a fish or reptile, yet there was no skin. Just the rotting hides of at least a dozen ponies stitched crudely on. Several patches of skinless flesh still dripped. Too many legs began to uncurl as the creature finished unraveling itself. It stood easily three times the size of the largest pony in the room. It let out a loud hiss.

A hoof/claw slithered out grabbing both the third buck, and Tex, they screamed as it drew them in. The remaining members of the LPDF were simply stunned, petrified by the horror before their eyes Midnight grabbed his kids, and threw them and himself over the bar. None of them saw what the Hiderunner did. But they all heard it. The screaming just didn't stop. First came the crunch. Then the snap and pop. After what felt like hours, the screaming stopped, replaced by the sound of meat being ripped apart. Followed by a single gun shot.

“Don't look.” was all that midnight said, before he took a rag and a bottle of whiskey to make a Molotov cocktail.

The LPDF were no match for the creature, they simple did not know how to react. They didn't last long. Striker peaked over, the blood was everywhere, he wanted to vomit. Time seemed to slow down as he took in the two disemboweled ponies. The several clumps of meat that used to be law enforcers, and the ripped apart and torn corpses of the bartender and LPDF member. The flaming cocktail seemed to fly in slow motion. The trail and light of the fire staying just a bit longer. He lifted his sawed-off, aimed, and fired once, adjusted and fired again. He didn't want anypony who had to see that also have to get burned alive.

He felt a hoof push him down, and met the eyes of his father. Striker continued to gaze at his father, who stood up brandishing his rifle. Striker herd the explosion of fire. Along with the in-equine cry of agony. He looked up at his father, who slide the lever back and forth firing rapidly. He looked to his brother who sat there curled up in to a ball. He slid of his brothers hunting rifle, and stood up facing the flaming abomination as it motioned toward them. He stood by his father and fired, reloaded, and fired again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Striker and his father unloaded their weapons again, time after time. The Hiderunner continued lumbering at them, moving slower and slower with each “step”.

When the monster hit the ground, he felt a hoof grab him, and saw the other grab his brother. I seconds they were both pulled by their father out of the bar. The fought to catch their breath. The building went up in flames. Seconds later, they were loading up into the wagon. Before a minute had passed they were in the air, and the barn was just a light behind them. He saw his brother throw his head over the edge of the wagon and vomit.

He could not escape the strange feeling in his chest. He simply sat there, really not disturbed by the nights events, while his brother wiped vomit from his mouth. He was younger, but rather then fear the monster, he faced it, and shot it... a lot. For the first time, he realized just how.... strange he was, how far gone he was. Even at this young age, he was so... jaded that the brutal murder of nearly seven ponies really didn't effect that badly. That when he sees a twisted abomination ripping and smashing ponies, the first thing he does is shoot it's prey. Without a thinking, he just acted. For the first time he thought to himself... what the fuck is wrong with me?

After they had been flying for a while, their father slowed down enough for conversation.

“You too good?” Midnight asked.

“No, I feel like shit, that thing is burned in my eyes, I see it every time I blink.” Ghost nearly screamed.

“I'm fine... still gotta piss I guess.” Striker replied. Their father swung himself back, tossing a bottle of pills into the wagon.

“Sleeping pills. Take one Ghost, you need it. Strike just wait up.” Midnight's voice was calm and collected. Striker knew that tone. He dreaded what was coming next.

Their flying went slow for a while, Ghost passed out rather quickly from the pill. A little after he did, Midnight landed in the middle of the Marejave. Unhitched he grabbed Striker and took him a bit away.

“Strike, we need to talk.” was all he told his son.

They cleaned up enough of the area to take a seat, Midnight sat his son down, then sat across from him. Striker was confused, usually when he used “that” tone it meant yelling and hitting. Yet this time, there was only silence. Striker looked at his father, who once again seemed to not know what to do, deeply discomforting Striker.

“Umm Dad... what's wrong, you normally don't... do this.”

“Whad'ya mean?”

“You usually hit or yell at me when I do something bad.”

“You didn't do anything wrong Strike, you held up much better then Ghost actually... I'm... proud.” Midnight forced out the words, as if he wasn't sure if he said them correctly. He seemed to be looking around, avoiding direct eye contact.

“Dad, what's wrong?”

“Nothing...It's just that... well you are your mother's son.”

“Huh? What does that mean?”

“It means you are a lot like your mother... I can see her in you. Not just the eyes, I mean in... everything. How act, how you fight monsters, even how you walk and talk, just the way you carry yourself... it's goddess-damned insane how much you look and act like her...”

“Is that why your mad at me?”

“I'm not mad Strike... Listen.... “- Midnight slid the book out his hat. -” this belonged to your mother, and her mother before her, then I think her grandfather. It's a relic, it's got a mighty lot of smart stuff in there. It's yours now, so be careful with it, it's old.”

“I will I promise.”

“Yer mother wanted you to have it, along with some other stuff I'll give it it to ya when we go by Fillydelphia.”

“Sure thing dad.”

“Hey... you may want to look at yer flank...” with that Midnight got up and left to wagon.

“Striker looked at his flank, and gave a grin at the emblem. A beam of light shooting down, scorching the ground and giving a slight burst of flame where it touched. He figured it worked, being that his special talent was finding and smiting monster. It was something he had always done. But today was the first day he questioned it. Honestly he was a bit concerned what this would mean for him. Yet he was glad to have grown up a bit this night.

The girls all looked a bit... beaten. That was a rather, odd story. They were not expecting that to be a “How I got my cutie mark” story. But they all realized the same thing. Striker lived a very, very fucked up life. They knew he was rather... tough when it came to gore and bad situations, he had always been pretty calm. But to be so... well adjusted at that age.... Fluttershy got up and gave Striker a hug. The Crusaders all realized that when he said he was used to being scared, that he really meant it, and that he had been like that for nearly his entire life.

The Crusaders all felt a very powerful empathy for Striker, each girl got up and gave him a hug. Sweetie bell was crying, Applebloom and Scootaloo tried not to. Scootaloo saw him in a whole new way, she wasn't sure how she felt, but she knew she respected him.

Zecora felt a pang in her chest, she knew that Seekers had a rough time speaking about their lives. Yet she also felt a bit uneasy. She had been the only one beside Scootaloo, who held the journal, to catch right away that he had been lying about his name. He was Sun Strike, not Striker. Granted the difference was subtle, but it was still a lie, what else could he be lying about?

Striker felt... at ease. It was hard to explain for him, but he felt relived. Like he had been holding on to something heavy for a long time and finally let go. He reminisced about his father and brother, not sure if he would see them again given the chance.

“Wait wait wait, Your name is Sun Strike!?” Rainbow stated in shock.

“Yup, sorry about lying, just that.... well remember that name I mentioned? The one that was crossed out? Sunset Eve? Not to get into it, but he got into A LOT of trouble, and now the Sunfall bloodline are kinda.... wanted. I am technically wanted. You see we Seekers have to do things sometimes that appear to the public as.... in-equine. For example we may have to dig up a grave to burn a pony's bones in order to lay their ghost to rest. Well a lot of that kinda stuff that we do is illegal. The Sunfall is the scapegoat, they blame us for everything. I'm wanted for saving the lives of ponies everywhere. So -” looking at Twilight ”- Celestia cannot know about me or any of the things and happenings going on in town... or I will more then likely be executed.”

Twilight grimaced. “I'm sure that if we were to reas-”

“No, you think in the past two thousand years none of us have tried explaining to her what it is we do? She knows, she doesn't care, she wants us, namely me being the last of the bloodline, dead. She cannot know that I am here.” Sun Strike interrupted

Twilight looked to her friends, a nod from each made her decision. “Alright Striker-er um Sun Strike your secret is safe with me and my friends. We... we all agree that you deserve it.” Twilight began with a grin.

“You have personally save all of our lives, like twice!” Rainbow beamed with a hug.

“You fight for ponies you do not know solely because it is the right thing to do.” Fluttershy grinned, returning for a second long hug.

“You are willin' to die to save others, includin' mah sister. Yer a damn good fella.” Applejack grinned, coming into the hug.

“Umm your really cool! Umm Group HUG!” Pinkie shot out a smile and joined in the hug.

“You've been through so much... but you don't let it bring you down, you just keep marching through everything life throws at you.” Rarity spoke before joining the hug.

“We all just wanna see you again at the end of all this crazy.” Twilight said slowly as she stepped into the hug.

Striker wanted to push them away, but instead he just took it in... he was so happy to be here now. Not because he was in the middle of a group mares hugging him, but because one way or another he knew he was with “family” even if nopony said it, nopony had to. They all knew, and welcomed Striker or Sun Strike into their lives. While it did mean things got darker, it also meant that he was their. And everypony in that room agreed that he was well worth it.

“Sunshine Smile, Sun Strike, Strike, Striker. How many names kid?” a robed figure bound by chains and ropes. His voice was smooth, charismatic, he sounded like he could sell just about anything.

“Who the hell are you?!” Sun Strike shouted back. Noticing that all of his surroundings had turned black, he was surrounded by shadows and darkness, the only thing he could see was the mysterious Stallion.

“That doesn't matter boy. What matters is that you and I have a little chat.”

“What the hell is this, what have you done!”

“Calm down, I'm not like those “friends” of yours. I only have good things to offer you.”

“What are you talking about, explain yourself!”

“C'mon boy, you are a Seeker! You know better then this!”

“Start explaining damn it!”

“... Kid.... I want to help you, now are you going to listen to me or not, being here isn't exactly easy.”

Sun Strike responded with a calm nod.

“Good, now then. Sun Strike... I'm a smart pony, I may be trapped, but I know a lot. I know all about you, and your bloodline. I know everything there is to know about you and every single one of your friends.”

“That's impossible.”

“Impossible as in you lying? You did that quite a bit in that story of yours, you left out a good number of your father's beating, and all the parts where your brother beat you after. Oh and you forgot all the gory bits of details you saw when you looked over that bar. Not very nice of you to lie to your “friends” But that's ok. They aren't as good as they seem you know.”

“How do you know all that.... that's... not possible you weren't there.” Sun Strike gaped

“You don't have to be somewhere to know something. You know how to fix and make a good number of firearms, yet you weren't their when the the first gun was made.”

“....Who are you.”

“Like I said, that's not important. What is important is that you wake up boy. Time to wake up and remember that you are a Seeker. Do you honestly think those mares care about you? You know better then that! What happened to the Sun Strike? Or Striker, Blitz, Blaze. Whatever it is you call yourself now.”

“Why would they lie? Their my friends.”

“Friends? You are a Seeker kid, you don't have friends. You know that. To them your protection. You are means to an end. You are a tool. It may start simple. Oh Sun Strike could you watch my pet turtle? Oh would you mind taking out the trash. Help me with this yard work. Help me make this pony disappear.”

“They aren't that kind of ponies. What's your game? Why are you trying to turn me against them.”

“I'm doing no such thing! I'm trying to help you! Realize that they have leverage! They got you by the balls! You don't do what they say, all it takes is one letter to Celestia and BOOM your fucking dead. They know that, you are at their beck and call! Step out of line and you are dead, become inconvenient, and you are dead. This whole time you thought they were opening up to you? I is the opposite you fool! Those girls are gunna make you their little BITCH!”

Striker was silent. Then after a moment. “You're full of shit.”

“Maybe I am, just remember my words kid. Soon enough they're gunna turn on you. Soon I'm getting out, and you're the first one I want to see kid. I can help you, I can get you places you never even dreamed of, take you to the top kid. You and me, on top of the world.”

“Who the hell are you.”

“I'm not gunna lie to ya kid. You and and me are a lot alike, get blamed for a lot of shit we really involved with.”

“Who are you!”

“I am who I am”

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU.”

“WHY DONT YOU ASK YOURSELF THE SAME QUESTION FIRST BOY!”

Striker was thrown back into his the realm of the awake. He was serving himself a glass of milk to go with the cookies Pinkie Pie had brought. Then as if he had been gone a long time and forgotten, he remembered he was enjoying the company of his friends on a much less dramatic note. Just as he remembered he had been before he met, who ever that was in that dreamscape. Perhaps it was simply somepony in jail, a Seeker of some kind. But how would a Seeker know so much about him. Something was up, more pieces to the growing puzzle that was his life. Not just that, but he was reminded of the why he doesn't trust ponies. Although he refused to believe he was being used in some ponies game, that thought had crossed his mind before, and he was in a position in which he could do little to escape the wraith of Celestia if anypony in the room decided to reveal his identity to her. He wasn't in a good position, he didn't hold enough cards to feel comfortable. And all the other ponies seemed to have a stacked deck. Then there was the Zebra. He would have to decide very soon if he could fully trust Zecora.

“Sun...Sun Strike, you've been standing there for like, five whole minutes. Are you alright?” Scootaloo asked with a small nudge, knocking Sun Strike out his thoughts and back to reality.

“Huh, oh yeah sorry, just zoned out for a bit there. Umm milk?” He replied to the filly.

The morning passed quickly, but all things must end. And it was Applejack and Applebloom who were the first began to leave.Only to open the door to immediately slam it closed.

“Umm, folks, we have a.... problem outside.”

Author's Note

This one took a while to get right.

Night of the Unliving Zom-ponies!

Sun Strike slammed a zombie into the floor of Twilight's Library. She was a pale undead. Her body didn't react at all, the pale pony had blue and pink in her mane. The girls identified her as Bon Bon, a local. He inspected the zombie, her eyes were rolled over white. He took his blade and gave a slight cut on her cheeks, a slight drip of red fell from the wound. He picked her up and tossed her into a bookshelf. He galloped to her, taking out a rope, he bound her mouth.

“This is necromancy.” Sun spoke in a worried tone. “They have been cursed, we have to find the Necromancer, we can gank him ourselves, or get him to revert this curse. Either way this can all be reverted.”

“What do you mean curse?” Fluttershy asked

“Lots of different types of zombies.” He replied “Curses, infections, spore based, straight up undead pulled from the graves.”

“That's.... dark...” Rainbow commented.

“Very, now then this started with pulled from the grave, and their curse is spread through biting. All of you need to stay here.”

The collective group of his friends all gave him a look that told him that was not the most popular plan for them.

“Big Mac and Granny Smith are still at the farm!” Applejack and Applebloom spouted.

“The Cakes! AHH the Baby Cakes!” Pinkie burst nearly yelling.

“Fine, Zecora you can come with me, but thats it, everypony else is staying in here, barricade the doors and windows, keep low, turn out the lights and stay quiet. Also don't let anypony in, no matter what happens, nopony gets in until this is done. We'll go check on your families, then we will stop the whole zombie problem.” Sun Strike replied before anypony else could voice their concern. Zecora simply nodded, she wanted a chance to talk to him in private anyway. With a lot of reluctance and a bit of persistence, he convinced them of his plan, mostly due to some false confidence.

Once outside, Sun quickly took in his surrounding, the town went to hell real fast. The street was filled with the undead, most of the town must have fallen while he was telling his story. He was glad that his friends were safe. Zecora gave him a silent tap, he gazed at her, only to see she was informing him that they had been spotted. Four zombies, all town locals, were shambling in their direction. She gave him another tap, and the he followed her lead. Their hoofsteps grasping too much attention, they moved as swiftly and silently as they could. They traveled quickly into a building. Sugar Cube Corner.

The building was just as it had been. Sun closed the door behind him as quietly as he could. He placed a nearby broom in the door to keep the zombies that had noticed them at bay.

“We need a plan.” Sun whispered.

“We need to find the place where a necromancer would dwell. The family of our friends will be secured after the necromancer is dealt with.” Zecora whispered back.

“That's easy! The cemetery, we'll cut through the merchant district, get their as soo-” Sun was interrupted, when a zombie Mrs. Cake grabbed him from his side, yanking him to the ground. She had a bite on her neck. Her body was pale, and her eyes white. She was just like all the other zombies. Yet seeing Mrs. Cake, Pinkie's family, Sun felt as if he had to fix this. It gave him more determination, he was fighting for more ever had. Not just because the town would be dead if he failed, but because he would be failing the closest thing he had ever had to a family... or is that all a lie.

The undead Mrs. Cake moved down at him. Sun acted fast. Giving her a solid jab to the jaw her mouth shot up. When it did Sun rolled into her legs, causing her to tumble,as he stood he gave a kick, lining up perfectly to push the zombie a safer distance away.

“Catch!”

Sun turned, catching a empty burlap flour sack in his mouth. Swiftly he took the sack and placed over the slowly rising zombie's head. Tightening the bag, he gave her another kick, knocking her down. She would be a bit sore and confused when she would woke up, free from the curse, but better off then other ponies out there. Returning his attention to Zecora, he noticed that she had already had done the same thing to Mr. Cake.

“Hey, more like Sugar Cube Coroner.” Sun joked.

“I appreciate your attempt to lighten the mood but.... that was awful.” Zecora replied.

They both had the same thought at the same time.

The two Baby Cakes slept in peace in their crib, as the door to their bed room was silently opened by the two Seekers. The Seekers looked to the infants and were relived to see them safe. Sun looked at the Baby Cakes, then to Zecora.

“Zecora take them to the girls, then meet me at the cemetery. We can't leave them here.” he ordered

“Why not you? Or both of us”

“Because the longer the Necromancer's curse is out, the worse the situation gets if we fail. You go, and I can tread on alone. I.... I'm really good at dealing with zombies... just go.” His words wee followed by the sound of hooves bashing against a door. From the sound of it that door wouldn't last very long.

“There is no time to argue. We need to talk, there is much we need to discuss. Don't think that I shall forget that.” with that she gathered a few of the baby's toys, and their bassinet. Then made her way to the back door. Sun looked at the door that was being forced open by the undead. It would be his exit so that less attention would be placed on the babies and Zecora.

He felt another tap on his shoulder, he was inches from Zecora. For a long second, they both just stood their. Then to both of their surprise. Zecora gave Sun Strike a light kiss on the check. “Don't die.” was all she whispered as she made her way out the back. Sun Strike gave a slight laugh before removing the broom. Group of about fifteen zombies all pour at him.

The girls had just finished barricading the doors and windows. The lights were off, and they all sat close together. Outside the building looked like just another empty building. Just like all the other.

“So umm, Zombies. Witches, all this scary crazyness. Who knew?” Rainbow spoke, attempting to lighten up the mood.

“Seekers apparently.” Twilight replied.

“Speakin' of Seekers, poor Striker. Sayin' that buck's been through a lot is one hey of an understatement.” Applejack voiced.

“He had no family, he's all alone, and he fighting those.... things out there. He acts like they are nothing... “ Fluttershy whimpered.

“This kind of stuff, I can't believe it's “Normal” for him. What kind of life is that.” Rarity joined in.

“I wonder how long he has been alone. I wonder if its hard on him.” Scootaloo pondered.

“Being alone as long as he seem to have would be hard on anypony. Jeez, just not seeing you girls on a daily basis makes me feel bad, poor Striker, or umm Sun Strike.” Pinkie stated, her heart aching just a bit.

“Being alone would be hard for anypony, but Sun Strike is the toughest sumbitch I know. Takes a brave stallion to fight a giant wolf dog thing.” Applejack commented

“Or a pack of giant werewolves!” Rarity exclaimed.

“He saved me... all us Crusaders. He's such a good pony and he asks for so little in return...” Applebloom added on.

“We should do something special for him when this is all over.” Sweetie Belle sprang up as the idea came into her head. But before they could talk more a knock came at the door.

“Its me! Zecora! I have the young baby cakes!”

Sun Strike was galloping at full speed. He was rushing to the graveyard. If he could get there, he could end this. The shambling horde of undead dredged toward him. What started as a single zompony on his tail was now more like twenty or twenty-five. Significantly more then he could handle by himself. He had to keep moving. He had to keep running. No matter what. Trip and he's dead. Everypony he knows is dead, everypony he cares about is dead. He had to keep going. He wish he could fight the undead. He would be better off if he could kill the undead. But killing them now was no different then killing them when they were alive.

Sun Strike gazed at the cemetery gates a good distance away. He was in good shape, but his body was beginning to slow. His lungs were burning. And the mad galloping was beginning to get to his legs. He took a step and he felt his leg slide from underneath him. Acting fast, he threw forward his other leg, catching himself. He did not fall, but he had to stop. This brief pause gave the zombie a chance to catch up. The undead were beginning to swarm him. He dashed on, slipping past the undead in his path. He saw the fence and did not even think to go for the door, he just started to climb over it. He tripped on his landing. Hitting the hard ground even harder. The zombies thrashed at the gate. He looked up at saw much more “dead” zombies, who were rotting and falling apart, a few were even mostly bones held together by dark magic. A robbed figure turned toward him.

“Sunfall. We meet, welcome.”

Zecora and the mares were all hiding in basement turned laboratory of Twilight's home. The two baby cakes slept. The pounding on the outside barricade was only growing worse and worse. The hungry moan of the undead called out loudly. Filling the air with a horrible constant droning. Zecora gave a single nod and made her way up stairs. She need to reach Sun Strike.

The ravenous undead pony attempted to pin Sun Strike, only to get a sawed-off shoved in it's face. KABOOM. The gun went off like thunder, rendering the the zombie's entire head into dark red mush. It's body went on for a second or two while headless before slumping to the ground. The horrible rotting corpse hit the dirt once again lifeless.

Sun Strike took a step back. The rotting corpses of the graveyard were swarming him. The Necromancer was laughing. He couldn't wait to get his hooves on Sun Strikes body, as it would become his prize possession in his collection of undead servants. Sun Strike gave a grimace. Then a grin.

“How about you call off the swarm!” he called as he slammed the stock of the gun into a zombies jaw so hard that the jaw came unhinged, dangling on a bit of flesh.

“Why so you can die willingly? Or so you can just come kill me?” The Necromancer replied. His dark robes hiding his body and figure well.

“So you can undo your curse and not end up dead, this is my final offer!” Sun replied, swiping the rifle into the same zombie's head so hard it's white glazed over eyes flew out. Then he turned, aiming at an encroaching undead's head. KABOOM. The targeted zombie's entire head and most of it's neck was turned into chunks.

“You can not defeat me, he shall rise!” The Necromancer shouted back. His undead still crawling out of their graves.

“I'm gunna kill all this folks again! Then I am going to kill you!” Sun Strike roared. His machete sliding out and spitting a zombie's head in two.

Zecora was galloping past mostly empty streets. She had been in such a rush she didn't realize it. All the zombies were moving in the same direction. But not at her, but past her. They were moving to where she had been. She didn't notice. She needed to make sure the Necromancer was dead.

The mares all stayed in the basement. It was a pointless effort. The horde outside wanted them. They bashed at the barricade. Most of the undead were only there because so many others were pounding at the doors that they just went along with them. Some came following others. The herd of undead craving the flesh of the living. Their neighbors, friends. Ponies they saw each and everyday. Those ponies moaned. Pounding and pounding on the doors and windows relentlessly. Those friends, neighbors, they all wanted the mares to join them.

Sun Strike butchered another undead. He was coated in the near black blood. The stench of the dead filled the air. So repugnant that the air seemed to curl. That unmistakable reek of rotting dead flesh. At least twenty zombies were re-killed. Their bashed in skulls, messy gore chunks, and sliced heads matching the number of once again lifeless corpses on the dirt.

He found it hard to catch his breath. His blade swinging leg was tired, a deep burning in his thigh and calve. He switched it up. Biting down on the grip with his teeth. He ignored the rancid taste. He ignored the smell. He refused to die here. He had a lot more zombies to kill. They seemed to keep pulling themselves from their graves. He did his best to bring them down, but they just kept coming. He had to keep moving. Swing, run, swing, run,swing, run. His lungs burned, but he kept fighting. He refused to slow even for a second.

The giant rotting body of a large shaggy minotaur pushed it's at him. Holding a sledgehammer, it moaned much deeper then the ponies. The tool dragged a line I the dirt as it approached. The creature stood three ponies tall. It's stomach was open, crudely stitched together. It had several random minotaur limbs. Both of it's arms were separate colors, as well as several bits of it's chest, which did not seem to fit with the large body. The creature was also grotesquely bloated. It oozed an horrid black goo from all it's openings.

The mares were all terrified. The pounding just kept getting louder and louder. The bashing getting more and more constant. The horrid moan of the undead collecting into a terrible constant bellow. The wooden boards on one of the window was hit hard. So hard that it cracked. The barricade would not last much longer.

Zecora could smell it before she saw them. That horrible smell wafted in the air. She could see the bars of the graveyard's gate now. She was almost their.

Sun Strike hit the dirt hard, he saw it but wasn't fast enough to move out the way. The sledgehammer came down on him, hitting him hard on his back, a inch to left and it would have shattered his spine. His vision blurred. He was on the dirt floor. The undead surrounded him on all sides. He could barely make out the minotaur lifting the hammer again.

Then everything went black. He saw the face of the chained stallion. He was in that place again. His wounds and injuries seemed to vanish. He no longer had to fight to catch his breath.

“Looks like you need a bit of help?”

“I don't need you.”

“Looks like those mares sent you to your death.”

“I sent myself into this.”

“And you went in unprepared. You went in half-cocked, blood boiling with passion. You know better, those mares are making you rash. Making you Stupid. They are going to get you killed.”

“Shut up.”

“Let me help you.”

“Shut up!”

“I can help you save them.”

“Shut! Up!”

“Don't worry, this first time is free, let me help you, listen to my words.”

“SHUT UP!”

Zecora lept finished climbing the gate, she saw the bodies of dozens of the undead. She followed the trail then her eye's widened.

Sun Strike was drenched in ooze. The body of the minotaur laid in the dirt, it's body exploded out where it once looked bloated. It's head turned into mashed potatoes. The heads of many, many more zombies were so bashed in around him that it was hard to tell where one head began and another ended. He had his head slightly tilted. The hammer just as ooze coated as he was. He held it with his mouth and a leg.

“I don't need.... anypony..... WHO'S NEXT” He boomed between breaths.

Zecora ran to his side, then stopped as she noticed that the rotting meat chunks seemed to be moving. They all pushed themselves toward the Necromancer. The meat seemed to start piling up. The large pieces of minotaur sliding up two growing pillars of meat. Intestine and viscera stuffing itself into a gut. The hideous abomination, was forming into a giant meat minotaur. It's body was literally falling apart. There were no good heads, so the Necromancer's dark magic made one out of the pieces of others. Then the several bones began to connect on top of the meat. They began to form a type of frame. Several shattered pieces of bone moves into the creatures “head” becoming “teeth”.

“It's my master piece. The most beautiful creation I have ever given life. He want's you Sunfall.” The Necromancer grinned a grin full of hate and malice.

The doors and windows of Twilight's library were destroyed. The undead had forced their way inside. The mares and the babies all sat in silence. Each breath went as slowly as they possibly could. They wanted to live, and they sat there. In utter silence. Any noise meant death.

Sun Strike ran as fast as he could. He kept himself alive by circle strafing around the abomination. It's massive size and rotten flesh didn't help it turn very fast. The abomination completely ignored Zecora. Sun was keeping the monsters attention. Zecora went for the Necromancer. The master of the undead's dark magic was very powerful. She wasn't scared. She wanted him dead.

Zecora held a dagger in her teeth. She raced at the Necromancer. He laughed, thrusting a hoof at her. The bones of long dead pones irrupted at her from beneath the soil. The bones seemed to fling themselves at her even after their first attempt failed. She dodged elegantly. She flowed like wind, sliding between the bones. Her hooves danced about, she twisted and turned, slowly but surely getting closer.

Sun gained an idea. The twisted abomination urged toward him. He slid out his flask. Throwing out it's contents on the creature. Then he ran straight, the the rest of the bottle empty itself in a line as he galloped. The abomination let out a horrid gurgle that he assumed was it's attempt at a laugh. Sun stood his ground just under a tree. The abomination plunged it's own hand into it's gut. The ripped out a handful of intestine. The bowels of the monster snaked toward Sun Strike. Sliding and tainting the soil as the moved toward him. He struggled to lite his lighter.

Zecora got close enough to strike, she thrust her whole body at the Necromancer. He laughed more and more. He backed up then side stepped the blade. Then he utter a single dark word. Then a wall of impossibly dark light exploded around him. Sending the Zebra flying back. The swarm of bones began to hit her. The sharper bits not only clubbing her but gashing and jabbing her. She could taste copper.

Sun Strike was being coiled by the bowels of the abomination. Struggling as hard as he could he tried to pull himself free. He was being dragged through the dirt toward the monster now, it's intestines a crude rope. Every second he grew closer and closer to being pulled directly into the monster's own body. He didn't know what would happen, but it probably wouldn't be good.

The mares sat in silence. There was a banging on the basement door. Do they know were in here? What do we do? Should we try to get the babies out of here? I don't want to die. Alright girl, worse come to worse, you jump them zombie, let yer sister and yer friends get away.

Zecora lay under a bile of bones. He body gone limp she lay covered in several bruises and cuts. Sun Strike was nowhere to be seen. The Necromancer gave an honorable look at his abomination. The hideous creature let out its arms.

“MAAAAASSSTAAAARRR” it moaned clutching it's belly.

“What is it? Need more flesh?”

“MAH.... MAH.... MAAAHHHSSSTAAAAARRR” The miserable pile of flesh, fell to “it's knees”. Prompting the Necromancer to get closer to it, he placed a hoof on its belly in order to work his dark magic.

KABOOM.

The blast tore a giant hole in the abomination. It also blew the Necromancer's whole hoof not so cleanly off. The monster and his master both let out cries of misery. KABOOM. The second blast kneecapped the Necromancer and made the hole larger for the abomination. Sun Strike pulled himself out of the the monster's gut. Covered in meat chunks and gore.

“EAT ME AGAIN MOTHERFUCKER I FUCKING DARE YOU.”he roared. Sawed off in his hooves. Machete in his teeth. He cracked open the sawed-off. Fill two new shells. He fired both into the abomination's face. He loaded in two more, before taking out his lighter, igniting it and dropping it on the monster. Turning it into a moaning inferno.

“MAAAASSSSTTTAAARRRR”

Sun Strike grinned as the Necromancer pulled himself onto his haunches. He looked down at his mangled legs. His right forehoof was splintered like a piece of tree bark. His left foreleg had a hole where his kneecap should have been. He looked up at the barrel of Sun Strike's sawed-off.

“You know what this is?”

“My death.”

“Undo the curse, and I'll let you live.”

“Necromancers don't fear death. We just try to court her.”

“Well then you know what has to happen.”

“You were a worthy foe Sunfall, I respect you in my death.”

BOOM.

Sun Strike was helping Zecora move, he kept her weight on him. The ponies who ere once zombies were now simply unconscious on the floor, or road. He was returning to his friends. He couldn't help but notice how Zecora seemed to be nuzzling him. He trotted onward. They weren't horribly far away, but it was a much longer trip when they weren't galloping at full speed.

The mares all greeted them both with hugs. Then several comments about Sun's odor were passed around. The group was all happy that the death of the entire town was avoided. None more then Sun Strike. The group made their way out the basement, and out the fallen doors and around the unconscious ponies. They were going to tell the town that the water supply had been tainted.

Then a batpony in a black trenchcoat and desperado hat touched down in front of them. A jet black bat pony with a even blacker mane. His cutie mark was a burning candle. He turned and looked at Sun Strike. His eyes cold and hard.

“Hey there.” His voice sounded like he had been eating gravel.

Sun Strike's body was still. Eye's wide he bite down on nothing. ”Why and how are you here?” He barely edged out without screaming.

“You know this pony?” The mares questioned.

“He damn well should.” The stallion bat pony voiced

“....He's my Father.”

Author's Note

Midnight sounds like Old Snake from MGS in my head for some reason.

Also yeah he's Alive.

This was shorter in my head.

Unexpected Company

Things after Midnight's arrival did not go well.

There wasn't a lot of yelling. The girls left Sun Strike to his business without a word. They had a lot to explain.

Things didn't go very well, mostly due to the fact that he told all of his friends that story to help earn their trust. He also explained that his father was dead. His father showing up not long after didn't do him any favors with that. After getting several disappointed glares from his friends, he escorted his father to his motel room in utter silence. The girls would do what they could for the town.

Twilight Sparkle had mixed feelings. She already trusted Sun Strike, but she wasn't sure how to take the information she just got. At first she felt rather hurt, betrayed. But as she dwelled on it, she was starting to give Sun Strike the benefit of the doubt. What if he honestly didn't know his father was alive? Seeking can get... dark. What if he just assumed. Maybe I just... I hope Sun Strike can handle his father now. She trusted Sun, she saw him work and put himself in danger for her friends. She trusted him.

Fluttershy was worried. Not about whether or not to trust Sun Strike, no she trusted him. She was worried about how Sun would handle seeing his father again. From what she knew, his father was hard, there was a very likely chance that they had a falling out. (which they did) They both probably haven't seen each other in years! Oh, what if they both thought that the other was dead? This could end badly... Oh Sun Strike... I hope you'll be ok... She tried not to worry about it. She did.

Applejack sat across from Applebloom from within their barn. Both, like Fluttershy, had complete faith in Sun Strike. Neither took him for a liar. Yet both were concerned that something bad had happened or is going to happen very soon.

“Why would Midnight be here.” Applebloom asked.

“I don't rightly know...” Applejack replied, worry in her voice.

“You don't think that somethin' bad came up and Strike was forced to try to get a hold of his pa, do ya?” the rose maned filly asked in a rush.

“Nah, he thought his Pappy was dead, and even then I don't think Strike woulda even asked his Pappy fer help.”Applejack spoke slowly, like she was considering what she was asked as she spoke.

“Well then what if it's the other way around?”

“How do ya mean?”

“What if Strike's Pa came to Strike for help?”

“I can't say... I don't really know Midnight very well. Why do ya ask.”

"I just got this feeling lately... Like something bad is coming. Worse then the zombies."

That thought stuck in both their heads. What if Midnight had come for his son's help? How bad would things have to be for that to happen?

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo sat on a cloud. Neither had spoken for quite some time. Rainbow Dash was having a hard time. She really wanted to distrust Sun Strike. She did not like being lied to. She wanted to brand him a liar. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. She had seen first hand how hard Striker was willing to fight for his friends. Not to long ago she hardly knew the buck, but she had seen him fight and kill monsters intent on killing her and possibly one if not all of her friends. He was fighter. He was a warrior. She just learned that he was a warrior pretty much his entire life. Rainbow was far from deciding how she felt about Sun Strike. Scootaloo was not having such a battle. She was worried that Sun Strike would do something bad to Midnight. She had complete faith in Sun Strike's honesty however. He had saved her life, and been a great friend. Ponies keep secrets, that's ok sometimes. She had inspected that Seeker's journal. She knew much more about the things Sun had been through then other ponies. She thought that he earned his right to get away with a lie or two.

Rarity and Sweetie Belle had similar trains of thought. Like Twilight they were both hurt at first, but with a bit of time, felt better. They trusted Sun Strike, and more then anything else wanted to try to mend his relationship with his father. You don't spend a portion of your life thinking someponies dead without developing a few trust issues when they show up after you kill a necromancer with a shotgun.

Pinkie was busy planing a party. A big one. It was a surprise. She was mad a Sun Strike the longest. It started of as a spite party, being how she knew how Sun hated public places. Then began to blossom into something much more... Pinkie Pie.

They both sat across from each other. Two stallions. The last time either had seen each other they just had a giant argument. There are several kinds of Seekers. Seekers like Sun Strike, they put themselves on the lowest portions of the totem pole so to speak. For example, Sun Strike did not know Fluttershy, yet he was completely willing to play as live bait so that the monster that had begun to stalking her could be bested. He got thrashed up very badly due to this. Then there are Seekers like Midnight. They consider themselves... higher then random strangers in danger. For example, Midnight would have had Applejack play bait if he were in the same situation Sun had been in. It's not because Midnight is a jerk, well he is. But that isn't the reason he would do that. It's logic. Not considering the Element of Harmony, which neither would have known about at the time. If Applejack was some random pony of the street, how many lives would she save in her lifetime? One? Two? Midnight and Sun Strike are Seekers. Then kill monsters that prey on ponies, they save lives on a regular basis. So why would he put himself in unnecessary danger. If a random pony dies, all the ponies he or she could have saved dies too. Generally speaking that is not a very high number. But if Midnight or Sun Strike die all of the monsters they would kill keep living, keep killing, and more ponies die. They save considerably more lives in a few months then any random pony does in a lifetime. If at any point before coming to Ponyville, if Sun Strike had gotten himself killed, what state would the town be in? If the Black Dog hadn't gotten to the mares, the Angel Witches would have. If not at the very least Rainbow would be a goner, so would Rarity and Pinkie Pie, Lycan treats. Now the entire town owned it's existence to the Seeker being that he just stopped a Zombie outbreak from killing everyone.

Midnight thought that Seeker's should be willing to let others die in their place, Sun Strike did not, he refused to let anypony he could save die. Even if it killed him. The entire point of being a Seeker is to save others, and if you aren't doing that then why be a Seeker at all?

“Why are you here Midnight.” Sun Strike broke the silence.

“Ah could ask you the same question.” Midnight replied. Simply looking at him, Midnight still looked rather young, he only showed his age through his eyes and his voice, which made sounded like he had a smoking problem for his entire life.

“I'm in no mood for your bullshit.”Sun spoke sternly.

“Ahm your father, you should show me some damn respect.”

“I was raised by hate, and depression, not you. I'm not having this argument again, if you are here for a reason tell me or leave.”

“Your brother is dead.”

“Figured that, he wasn't cut out to be a Seeker in the first place. Anything else?”

“He was a damn fine Seeker. He died fightin' something big, more den he could handle. By the time Ah found out... was too late.”

“What, a Throat Hunter get to close?”

“Ah see yer takin' yer only brother's death pretty well.” Midnight gave his son an angry glare.

“He hated me and I hated him besides, like I said, I already thought he was dead.”

“You should still so some respect, thats yer problem, you aint got no respect.”

“Sorry I don't respect the “brother” who beat the shit out of me, right after you beat the shit out of both of us.”

“Ah did what had to in order to make you wha-”

“Like I said I am not having this argument again, so unless you have something else to say get the fuck out.” Sun interrupted angerly, he didn't want to be here right now.

Midnight suppressed some anger. He grunted slightly. “Ah came here cause ah heard that Sunset's Shinin' had gone soft... And ah need yer help. Figured that you had to be tougher since the last time I saw ya, and the whole gone soft thing was just some rumor. From what I saw, the rumors aint wrong.”

“I haven't gone soft, far from it. Also let me get this straight, you, you need help?”

“From how ah saw you huggin' dem mares ah think yer the softest you've ever been.”

“I just pulled myself out a zombie minotaur made of pony corpses, then blasted a necromancer's head in to pulp with a sawed-off.”

“So the dead have risen... this aint good.”

“That gotta do with what you need help with?”

“There been any witches round here? Or a Black Dog? Maybe some Lycans?” Midnight's word were drenched with a feeling Sun couldn't name right away.

“Black Dog. Then witches, an entire coven. Then Lycans in a neighboring city. How the hell did you know that.”

“They's signs. Yer brother was looking into something... At first ah didn't believe him. Then I saw it with mah own eyes.”

“What did you see.” Sun had never see his father act and move with such... fear

“The Metal.”

Sun Strike sat back in his chair, shaking his head softly. “There aint no such thing as The Metal. The Metal is just a legend.”

“What part of Ah saw it with mah own eyes did you not understand.”

Sun just laughed. “Obviously the core concept.”

Midnight held back some more. “Ah saw the damn thing. It was a fuckin' train on steroids. I aint never been scared of no monster. But that thing... it was more then a monster... It was the next step to the end of the world.” Midnight quivered just slightly. Sun Strike picked up on this. He saw that his father was actually scared. He was so desperate that he came to the son he swore he swore to never see again. Things were much more serious then Sun Strike had initially thought.

“The end of the world?” Sun asked, worry in his voice brushing the surface.

“Yeah...” Midnight reached into his trench coat and pulled out several old books. Even some tomes and scrolls.

“What is all of this?”

“Yer brother's research. He saw The Metal like ah did. But he was determined to kill that thing. So he did research. He found some dark shit. The Metal is a monster, but it is more then that. It's a key.”

“A... Key? A key to what?”

“The Bringer of the Darkness-” Midnight began flipping open the tomes, books, and scrolls. Pointing toward that word on each one. Darkness. “-He has many names, The End. Armageddon. Galactic Eclipse. He's everywhere, and ah mean everywhere. From ancient pony lore, to the buffalo, the zebra have shit on him, the antelope even the fuckin' Antelope! But all these legends end the same way, long ago he was sealed away. But these legends also foretold that he would one day be awoken and take up a pony as his commander and chief to lead his army from the pits of Tartaris to the heavens themselves. There are these keys, events that gotta happen top side so that he can be free, they unlock the chains that bind him to the underworld, Tartaris. There are a lot of these keys, to many to count, but they have to be done in some order, but the last few are the ones that are noticeable. Yer brother found the last keys in some old text that I can't figure out, and yer brother died before he finished translating” once again he gestured to scripts from the texts.

“From where it beganl the darkest hounds shall prey on the meek.” Sun Strike thought of the Black Dog and Fluttershy.

“The youth shall be hunted by the old in the far unknown.” The memory of The blight and Nightmare Night surged into Sun's mind.

“Both the enlightened and the Unaware shall fall witness to the blackest magics.” Twilight knew about his Seekerhood before Rainbow Dash did, and they both learned about the angel witches...

“When the moon is full, both the zealous and the noble she learn of the wraith of the Sun and the Wolf.” Sun gulped as his father spoke. Unable to push away the feeling of absolute dread forcing it way into him. Pinkie, Rarity, the Lycans...me... His heart pounded in his chest.

“Those who have fallen shall rise again, in name of another.” the zombies...

“When the Unrelenting Force meets the Unbreakable Wall.”

“When the Prince of Darkness lets free the Sun.”

“ And finally, when the one true light is branded by the sun.”

“Midnight... not only has nearly all of that already happened, I was in the middle of it all.” Sun Strike began to explain all of the things that had happened to him since his arrival in Ponyville. Omitting only Luna and the mysterious stallion, who he was now assuming was the Dark One. His father on grimaced more and more as he told his story thus far.

“Then it is just as ah feared. You must be the Sun in the prophecy. Yer brother and ah figured that the Unrelenting Force was talkin' about The Metal, on count of the legends talkin about how all unstoppable it is. He figured if we can kill it, then the Dark One would be unable to rise. Only problem is that he's dead now, and I can't kill The Metal alone.”

Sun Strike was in shock for a minute. He was a key piece what could very likely be the end of all things. He already played a large role in “unlocking” several locks. But he steeled himself. He was going to kill The Metal in order to stop the resurrection of an ancient evil. He knew that he could. He had something he never had before. Something to fight for.

“You can't kill The Metal. Isn't that the legend?”

“Yeah, well yer brother tried and failed. But now we can try to stop all this.”

“You and me against the Unrelenting Force. Not a very fair fight. And counting everything else that it's killed, this doesn't bode well.”

“It'll be tough, but we gotta do this. Before it meets the ”Unbreakable Wall” What ever the hell that is.”

“Got a game plan?”

“Don't die.”

“I like that plan.”

The two looked at each other. They both thought the same thing. It took the threat of the end of all things to get them together again. Sun let out a deep breath.

“Now it's my turn to explain something.” he began. Midnight didn't say anything, he just raised a curious eyebrow.

“Those mares, those are my friends. They are my family. I haven't known them for long, but they care. They care a thousand time more then you ever did. You wanna talk shit about them, you say it to my face. And don't you dear touch any of them. Especially those three little fillies. You hurt any of them, and I'll bash your head in so hard your gunna shit out your neck.” Midnight just gave the first breath of a laugh.

“Message received.” He replied then with a grin. “Anypony ever tell you that you are just like yer mother?” Sun gave his father a flat look. Then heaved a sigh.

“Yea.... I get that a lot.”

“She was a great mare.”

“So I've been told.”

“She'd.... she'd be real proud of you Strike.”

“Would she? I'm going against a shit ton of Seeker rules. Also in case you forgot, I'm kinda bringing out the end of the world.”

“True, but this entire time, you haven't stopped fighting. You are only here now because you care. Thats more then I ever did.“

“Would she be proud of the things of done? The things I've seen? I murdered a pony. With a shotgun. Blew his head clean off.”

“It aint about what you've done. It's about why you did it. You've been through hell. An you keep comin' out on top.” A long silence was followed after that. Sun could feel it, his father didn't want his only son to hate him. Not at this point in his old life. It was late, insanely too late. But This was his father's attempt to make his son feel better. To take the, world might end, stress away. If he really wanted to patch things up with his son. It was going to take a lot more then that. A life time of bitter tastes wont get washed away with the next drink. Like cheap whiskey, it burns all the way to the core.

“I need a drink.” Sun stated roughly.

“You aint the only one.”

Sun Strike sat with Luna in the dreamscape of infinite gray once again. The rain kept falling but neither of them were wet. They sat looking at each other, untouched by the rain. Sun was explaining everything he had learned with his father.

“That is all Mistress. I cannot confirm these things but as you can tell, they seem very likely.” with the princess of the night, his words lacked the fear they would have had normally.

“It is my greatest fear Sunfall. The End. I was praying that it would not come to this.” Her words came slowly and sadly. Like when explaining something dark to a child.

“Wait...you... knew?”

“To some extent yes. But We never thought that you were so... involved. If We did, We would have not sent you to Ponyville.” Luna sighed heavily.

“It was impossible for you to know Mistress... We need... something a plan. Right now we are bordering the edge of darkness without a guide.”

“Sunfall... if things grow worse... We-I may be forced to inform my sister... I should have told her long ago.”

Sun gulped. “Give me a chance to kill The Metal. If we can kill it before it acts as a key, we might be able to stop the end.”

“Sunfall...W... I am sorry, but I must tell my sister...soon.”

“I know. I know what shall happen once this is over. I've accepted it. My fate is sealed.” Sun gave the Princess a smirk. But Luna knew better then to believe it.

“I shall visit you in person soon Sunfall... We shall speak again.”

Luna vanished in an instant. When she did, Sun was soaked by the rain. He looked out into the nothingness. He sniffed. He wasn't sure if he was crying, he felt like he was, but he couldn't tell in the rain. He knew that once Celestia learned of him that he was dead. Not long ago that didn't matter to him. But now he feared not for himself, but for how his new friends would handle his death. Or if they would be safe without him there to stop the terror of the world.

“You don't believe that wenches lies do you?” That velvety smooth voice spoke. Sun turned quickly to see the chained stallion. The dreamscape was growing dark. Every inch of gray was replaced by black. All he could see was the chained stallion, as clear as day, he stood out amiss the darkness.

“Wench? You shall show the Mistress of the Night some respect!” Sun barked.

“You do realize that Mistress of the Night is a polite way of saying Whore right?”

“Shut your mouth monster!”

“She's playing you, using you to summon the dark one.”

“Why would she summon you!”

“Me? I am no Dark Lord. If I was I'd be in Tartaris. Not here.”

“Then where are you?! Who are you?!”

“I can't tell you that, besides it doesn't matter. My fate is sealed but yours is not. You can escape.”

“Dark Lord, I don't know why I was chosen for this, but I refuse to be your puppet.” Sun spoke with fire in his throat.

“Listen to me, Luna is using you to try summon the Dark Lord, and she going to blame it on you. She's gunna paint herself the hero who stopped you and earn the respect of the kingdom that sees her as a literal Nightmare.”

“I wont believe this lies. You voice falls on deaf ears. I shall slay The Metal. When I do I shall stop your resurrection.”

“Damn it! Don't end u----” His voice was cut off. Replaced by a much darker voice, much deeper. The chained stallion vanished. Sun was in pure darkness. He saw nothing, but he could hear cries of agony in the distance from all directions..

“You've already failed Sunfall. When I get out, were going to talk. I'm going to help you. Just give in already...”

“FUCK YOU.” Sun Strike threw himself up out of bed. His father was sitting by a desk, cleaning his guns by candlelight. He turned slowly, then rolled his eyes at his panting son, returning to his work.

“Sorry.... Bad dream.”

“How the hell aint you over them damn.. what're they called... night terrors? Had that shit since you were a kid and you still aint better.” Midnight shook his head. Sun hated that shake. That disapproving disappointed head shake his father did. It made him want to punch his father in throat.

“Yeah, a father taking you to kill monsters that store layers of pony skin over it's lack of skin, giving a colt nightmares. That's so unlikely.”

“Get some rest. Tomorrow we stop the end of the world.”

“You need rest too Old Man” Sun put pressure on the words, he knew his father hated it.

“Ah'll get all the rest ah need when ahm dead.”- He stood out of the chair -” Goin' fer a walk.” With that, neither spoke. Sun just rest his head on the pillow and Midnight walked out.

Midnight walked the night streets of Ponyville. He had no particular aim. He just kept walking. He didn't want to die. He was sad. He was a sad Stallion. A sad, old fucked up Stallion, far past his prime. The sound of a infant crying piercing the walls of a building could be heard, it made him think of his own children when they were that age.

“Hi there!” Midnight jumped back in an instant, turning with a slide, he was brandishing a large knife in his teeth and sent a confused Pinkie Pie a rather furious glare.

“Umm... Sorry...” She whimpered completely frozen, her hoof still floating to touch where his shoulder was.

“Yer one of Strike's friends aint ya...” He let out, not dropping his combat stance.

“Yes.” She squeaked.

Midnight dropped his stance and hid his knife. Pinkie unfroze and grinned openly at the buck who was now holding a plain flat expression.

“Whacha want then.”

“Sun Strike saved my life, I just wanted to meet and greet his dad. Also I wanted to know where he got his grumpyness and his dislike for parties.” She spoke rather quickly and excitedly for this late at night.
Instead of actually replying, Midnight just raised an eyebrow.

“Whacha even doin' out this late.” Pinkie just gestured at the house where the infant screaming was coming from.

“I'm their aunt. I was letting mom and dad deal with that sooooo I took a step outside and saw you! Speaking of babies, do you have any baby pictures of Sun Strike? Was he like this tiny little cranky baby who never cried or did anything? Was there a particular age where the grumpy began?” she said in a breath. She spoke far to much and fast for Midnight. But he looked at this pink mare and gave a soft sigh. He sat down on the dirt road. Pinkie sat with him.

“Well Ahm sure he got his hate fer crowds from me, Ah hate'em too. Same thing with his personality. He may look like his mother, but he mostly acts like me.” Pinkie grimaced, giving him a gross look.

“So there are two of him. Barf.” she stated pretending to gag.

“As for when he was a baby... yea he actually was a pretty cold baby. Parta me thinks that he would go in that diaper just to spite me. He just sat their most the time, didn't really cry to often, just sat there looking around. He has always been a bit annoyed at everything. So I guess he's always been grumpy.”

Pinkie gave another fake gag. Then beamed at Midnight. She had a rather large and unrelenting grin on her face that disturbed Midnight more then he liked to admit.

“Neat. Do you have a baby picture?” She asked with a grin.

“'Fraid not, pictures were more of his mother's thing then mine.”

“Darn! Oooo what about Zecora, has he told you about his love interest yet?”

“Love what? Girl you better speak a language I can understand.”

“The mare the whole town thinks is his marefriend? Has he not told you? You two have seen each other in ages, haven't you talked? Caught up?”

“We had other things to talk about.”

“Oh well. Tell him to meet Applejack at Applejack's barn tomorrow around noon! See you later Mr. Grumpy Senior!” With that Pinkie went back to her now silent home, and she did so with a hop that disturbed him more so.

He tried not to think of anything, he wanted to clear his head. He returned to his walk. He enjoyed the peace of it. The sound of the dirt crunching beneath his hooves. That fresh breeze in his mane. The beautiful clear open night sky. That fresh night air in his nose. He took it all in. He gave a stretch, his wings spread wide. His special trench coat let his wings out. It was special because he cut out holes in his trench coat so he could keep his wings out. Yet all of this couldn't distract him from what was keeping him awake. The single thought that burned him to his core. He had been trying to run from it his entire life. But it had always plagued him. He looked up at the starry sky.

“Sunset....”

It was early morning. Midnight and Sun Strike went about their morning. They both geared up, taking their several weapons and charms underneath their trenchcoats. They looked at each other for a moment. Without ever realizing it until this moment, Sun had never noticed how much he dressed like his father. In fact, he was wearing his old hat, and almost for got about it.

“Hey, Midnight, you want your hat back?” Sun offered. His father replied instantly.

“No, keep it, worn to all hell. Got a good hat now.” Midnight spoke quickly. Sun just let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

“Alright then. Listen, I'm gunna get us s'more hooves for this contract. She is a little roughed up, but I'm sure she will at least give us some advice.” Midnight remembered talking to that disturbingly pink mare.

“Uhhh, Zecora?” Midnight asked curiously. Sun raised an eyebrow.

“How did you know?”

“That umm, pink friend of yours, the odd one.”

“Pinkie Pie?” Midnight just shrugged.

“How, you've literally been with me since you got.... never mind.”

“That's it?”

“It's Pinkie Pie.”

“But-”

“Pinkie Pie. Trust me, stick around long enough and she... well she... umm Pinkie Pie.” Sun spoke while sounding rather confused himself.

“Oh, also umm she told me to tell you about a barn and Applesnack.” despite not knowing what he was saying, Midnight's voice didn't let that on. Sun just looked confused.

“What?”

“Meet apple at her apple barn or somethin, that pink thing speaks too fast.”

“Meet Applejack at her barn?” Sun said slowly.

“Sure. 'Round noon she said.”

“Umm alright then, I'll see if I can get Zecora on our side. Then I'll meet you at the barn. Just ask for directions, anypony in town will help you out, just try not to beat any kids alright.” With that Sun began to walkout the door of the motel.

“Hey, Strike you still got that book?”

“Aint got nothing in The Metal, the Sunfall are smarter then to try to fight that thing... well until me.” He reached into his coat and tossed the Sunfall Seeker journal to Midnight. After Sun finished walking out the door.

Midnight let out a rather heavy sigh. He took a seat on the bead. He put on a sad smile as he caressed the book and looked for the spot. He found his dead wife's name just above his sons. His sad smile turned into a frown as he looked at the name. Radiant Sunset. He gave a breath that fought back his tears. He wanted to cry, but he just couldn't anymore.

“I'm so sorry my love. I failed you...”

After composing himself once again, Midnight stepped out. And immediately bumped into Applejack. Litterally. Applejack picked herself up and was surprised when she saw Midnight. They traded an awkward glance and stare.

“Oh yer Midnight! Its good to meet ya! Ahm Applejack.” Applejack was unsure of how to treat Midnight, but she felt that kindness would probably be fine.

“Yer Applejack? Ah told Strike to go to yer farm. We are going to meet there.”

“Oh, umm Ah came by to tell him to head over mahself. Wait... why did you tell to go to my farm?”

“Umm... Pinkie Pie?”

“Oh... well alright... is umm, Sun here?” Midnight didn't understand how that was even remotely an answer to that question, it seemed that if anything seemed weird the phrase, “Pinkie Pie” was a plausible explanation. He made a mental note of that.

“Left a while ago to talk to Zecora.”

“Oh, well Ah got time. He sure takes his time with that mare.”

“So I heard.”

There was more silence, Midnight was far from talkative. Applejack had no reason to be here now, and felt uncomfortable alone with Midnight.

“You umm... you a seeker too? Like Sun Strike Ah mean, Ah aint no Seeker.”

“Ah am...”

“That's umm interestin'”

“Ah suppose.”

“He still wears yer hat right? You give it to him? Well at least he told us it was yer hat.” Applejack tried desperately to find something to talk about.

“Ahm surprised Strike even mentioned me.”

“Well... he told us you were dead.”

“Makes sense, Ah haven't even seen him since he was still a punk colt. Woulda thought the same thing 'bout my pappy if Ah were in his place.”

More silence. Applejack had trouble looking away from the ground. When she finally managed she tried not to sound imposing.

“Yer gunna meet him at mah barn right? Need directions?”

“Be nice.”

“Well uh, follow me ah guess.”

“Much obliged.”

Sun Strike made his way to Zecora's hut. He was going to ask her for help despite knowing that she was most likely still pretty injured. He was hoping to get some kind of advice. He was hoping that creatures like The Metal we not uncommon in Zebra lands and thus she would be able to provide them with some kind of anti-Metal stick or something. It was much more then a long shot, but he figured he would at least try.

The hut was more shut then normal. That is to say her windows were boarded and sealed. The shaded hut looked abandoned. He was not sure on how to take this.

Since his arrival Zecora had been having a hard time understanding. She was brought up to believe that the Sunfall were evil. But having been with him, and fought be side him, she had begun to trust him. That is until he told her that his father was dead. Then that very same stallion showed up not long after. She was far from happy about that.

Sun knocked a few time, waited, and got no response. Then knocked again, getting the same result. He tried this a few more times but never got an answer.

“Zecoraaaa!?” He gave at a quiet shout. “You here? Everything alright?” He had worry in his voice, and drew his machete as a precaution. He checked the door, shaking the handle before he attempted to break the door down. To his surprise the door slid open, it was unlocked. The interior of the hut was dark, the boards and covers on the windows stopped light from passing through the hut.

He took a step into the hut, looking about. The rays of light shot down, they were the only source of light in the darkness. Sun shadows stretched with the morning sun. He took a few more steps into the hut.

“Zecora!... Zecora!” he roared now. With what he had learned not long ago, this was far from what he needed.

He felt something move behind him, then the door slammed shut, he was trapped in the darkness. He felt something move again, and dodge instinctively, he felt something thin swipe past his back. He heard hoofsteps correcting a pony who had nearly fallen. Sun swiped blindly with his blade hitting nothing. The sound of hooves poising for another attack filled the air. What could have been simple steps to any normal pony, was something much more to Sun, other Seekers are just as dangerous as some of the monsters he hunted. Close Quarters Combat was a specialty of Sun, but he excelled at it when he was fighting other ponies. He trained enough to memorize the sounds hooves made during a fight. He grinned in the darkness as he prepped to counter.

He felt the adversary move on him, moving his torso down, he pushed forward, putting his enemy's weight on his back and neck. Sliding his forehooves forward through the enemy's legs, while simultaneously beginning to stand on his hind leg, he had lifted his rival into the air and pinned them in his counter grapple. With all his force he slammed himself and his opponent into the door of the hut at his back. Splintering the door and slamming the would be assassin into the dirt, he quickly picked himself up to his hooves to look at his assailant.

Zecora forced herself to her hooves, a large knife in her teeth, the tip and edge coated with blood. Sun suddenly felt the sting on his neck and shoulder. He may have predicted her attack, but she had made sure to slash him while she could. He felt the blood moistening his neck. He locked eyes with Zecora. They were both pretty angry.

“Zecora...-” his was a low growl “- What the hell are you doing!?”

“Killing you! Then I am going to kill your father!” She burst, the fury in her eyes.

“What the Hell?! Why?!”

“You LIED!” she lunged forward, knife in her teeth. Not wanting to hurt her further (breaking yet another Seeker unspoken rule) he dodged only, he did not counter attack this time.

“About what? My Father?!”

“Who knows?! You've lied once who knows if anything you've said was truth?!” She lunged forward again and again, each attack was for his throat, but Sun was faster. He dodge almost elegantly.

“I didn't know my father wasn't dead, even then I didn't think he would ever come to me, listen I need to tell you something important!”

“LIES.”

Her assault kept coming, but he kept dodging. He knew that without fighting back, he knew he could outlast her, even without her already present injuries. He would have to wait for her to calm down. After a while she slowed enough for him to speak to her.

“Midnight Fire is not Sunfall! I get that from my mother's side! He confirmed my brother as dead too. I'm still the only Sunfall!” He told her. Her eyes were still angry.

“Is your mother alive?! Don't lie!”

“Zecora, Do I act anything like a Stallion who had a mother growing up? Don't you think that if my mother was alive I'd be with her. I'm a Seeker, we live and die. If I had the chance to speak to her for even one minute I would take it. She's dead, I know because I killed her.” She said nothing, but her body fell, she shifted to sit down on her haunches, her eyes never left his.

“My mother is fucking dead Zecora, I fucking killed her! ARE YOU FUCKING HAPPY NOW, ALL THE FUCKED UP SHIT IN THIS WORLD... YOU KNOW IT, WE SEE IT ALMOST EVERY FUCKING DAY AND HER FUCKING SON KILLED HER. SO IF FUCKING DON'T MIND COULD YOU FUCKING GIVE ME THE FUCKING BENEFIT OF THE FUCKING DOUBT FOR FUCKING ONCE! OH AND THE FUCKING WOLRD IS FUCKING GOING TO FUCKING END FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!” Sun exploded, that is not how he wanted that to come out... at all.

Zecora looked at him with wide eyes. She looked like she wanted to cry.

“Umm.... sorry.... it's been a long couple of days for me...” he tried to mend.

“I'm sorry Sun... I...I well... its been hard for me too.”

“I shouldn't have snapped at you Zecora... you didn't deserve that.”

“I should trust you... you've saved my life... multiple times.”

“I need to explain somethings to you... but I think it's best if I explain inside, it's not safe to talk about it even out here.”

With a nod, Zecora stood up and gave a smile. She followed him into her hut.

Midnight Fire was sitting leaned back in his chair against the inside wall of Applejack's barn, hat over his face, cigarette in his mouth. Short dreamless naps were his main source of actual rest. However he could feel the eyes on him. With a heavy sigh, he sat correctly in his chair, and lifted his hat with a hoof. The six Elements of Harmony stared at him.

“Whatchu want?” his patience with these girls was already getting thin. The girls looked to each other, then Rarity stepped forward with a worried look on her face.

“Umm, we were wondering if you could answer some questions about your son for us...” She spoke calmly but her body language obviously wasn't getting the “do not freak out” memo. She was shaking slightly, and she wore a liar's smile. Figuring that he and his son were going to die soon, he couldn't find an excuses to not answer the mares.

“Fine.”

“Is his name really Sun Strike?!” Pinkie popped.

“Eeyup.”

“Why?” Sweetie belle asked with a slight head tilt.

“Don't rightly know 'is mother named em.”

“Is his brother actually dead?”

“Eeyup, He an Strike never got along, so he really don't care though.”

He spent a good amount of time answering the mare's small questions, they were mostly things like “How did Sun act when he was younger?” and things of that nature. He only refused to answer questions regarding Radiant Sunset, his wife and Sun's mother. However Twilight had been keeping herself in reserve, listening and noting things about Midnight in her mind. After a lull of questions began she stood up and glared at the old Seeker.

“Two questions, how badly did you beat Sun Strike when he was still a colt,? And two, why do you always refer to him as Strike and not Sun?” Her friends looked to her in a glance of horror. The first questions was easily something they had all wanted to ask but refrained from due to “respect”. Twilight needed to know.

Midnight just glared. He would say nothing here.

“So yeah, we're going to go kill The Metal, and hopefully stop the Apocalypse.” Sun spoke with a rather comedic level of calm. Zecora stood in a daze, she heard it, understood it, but took a bit to let it all sink in.

“That is...-” she gulped ”-...much to take in Sun Strike.” Zecora replied slowly.

“Yeah.... I know. I was hoping you'd have some kind of Zebra technique for killing this thing, or at least offer some help fighting the damn thing. But in your condition that's not an option.”

“How?”

“Huh? You're beat to hell, and me slamming you through a door didn't help.”

“No, how are you... doing any of this?”

“Any of what?”

“You just learned that the world might end... and you had a pretty key roll in it... and you don't seemed to be phased at all...”

“Well... I don't really like ponies Zecora. That plus my life really sucks, until recently, I had nothing, nopony. Yet almost everyday I got up, saved some lives, and fucked up some monsters. To be honest, I don't really give a fuck about the world. Let that shit burn. But, But! I have friends now... you, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy. I have something to fight for. I reckon that they wouldn't like the end of the world. So intend to do everything I can to save them. There is a lot going on in my head, I blame myself for all of this,but I have a real good system for ignoring the more complicated stuff.” He lifted is flask and drank from it, for a good ten seconds straight. He pulled away with a rugged cough.

“Taste like peppered boot. Not the best way to deal with things but it works. Anyway, the way I see it, I either die saving them, or die with them. That's better then dying alone, or ending up monster bait. Who gives a shit about the world? I don't. ”

“Everything.... literally the entire world could end!” Zecora gasped. Sun just shrugged.

“That's nothing new, the world almost ends all the time. The Dragonic Civil War. Nightmare Moon, removing dedicated sunlight would ravage agriculture, we would have all starved to death. The Throat Eaters! Everypony in the world almost dies every now and then. Whatever. Worrying about isn't going to fix it.”

“It's so sudden.”

“So? Most bad news is.”

“How are you so calm!?”

“Like I said, The world could end.... so what, worrying is only gunna make it harder to stop.”

“You mean to tell me that you intend to stop the end of the world by killing something that is invincible. And you really believe this is something that can be done.” Zecora worried.

“Have you met me? I kick impossible in the balls all the time. Remember when I nearly got burned alive and jumped like out a building, then got up to get kids home? How about when I fought a pack of Lycans and lived? Oh I also stomped a necromancer's zombie minotaur from the inside out. Next I have to kill something invincible. It aint easy, but I give it my all. I just the best I am.... aim for the stars... I know I wont get that far, but I try anyway.”

“Aren't you scared?”

“Somepony asked me that a while ago... I shouldn't have lied to her. Truth is I'm not. I've been through so much shit. Seen such fucked up bullshit. I learned that being scared is pointless. The only way to beat fear is to kick fear in the teeth.”

Zecora laughed. “You truly fear nothing.?”

“I'm scared that I might loss those closest to me know. So I'm gunna fight it. Simple as that.”

“You fear nothing, for you are fear incarnate. You do not fear death... Death fears you.”

“Pretty much.” Sun Strike grinned. He felt something he had never felt before. He couldn't name it, but it felt good. Like a fire in his chest. He reminded himself of whats important. The world might end soon. But that changes nothing. That fire was blazing. Confidence? Pride? He wanted to protect those he cared for. He had ponies talking to him in his head. He was the last of a long bloodline. Bravery? Vigilance? Encouragement? Motivation? He stopped trying, he didn't care. He just felt better then he had in a long time. He hadn't really thought about his accomplishments until now.

“Listen, take care of yourself. Here are my brother's books on the whole Apocalypse thing... I gotta go, my d... Midnight is probably waiting for me. Chances are that I'm going to die... so. Goodbye for now, unless this is goodbye forever.” He turned to make his way out the hut, but then he stopped to think for a second. Fuck it. “Oh and by the way, once I kill The Metal, you and me are getting a drink. Just you and me.” He didn't even look back. The hut door closed.

“I'd like that...” Zecora whispered to herself. She felt good for knowing Sun. He was.... something. Brave... Stupid? Perhaps he was just upholding the Sunfall legacy. She wasn't sure. But she was glad to know him. Even if he was going to his death. He showed her something she had never thought about before. Even if you dislike everypony around you, you fight for them with all that you are. You have to be willing to lose everything for ponies who don't care about you at all. He did that. All seekers do. But he did that despite hating most ponies. If he could kill and save ponies he didn't care for. What length would he go to in order save ponies he cared about. She gave a deep sigh of relief, If anypony could stop the end of the world... it was him.

Midnight leaned against the barn. The instant he saw his son he stood up. “Let's go.” Sun just replied with a nod. Ghost Walk believed The Metal was inside the Everfree forest. Deeper then anything else.

“Get any help from dat Zebra?” Midnight asked as he double checked his ordinance. Sun Strike slid Radiance out of it's sheath. It lit up the area, even though it was mid day now. It was excited for combat once again.

“Something like that.”

“Oh by the way, yer friend Twilight has got a mouth on her. Next time I aint gunna keep myself from kicking her across the room.”

“Hurt her and you're dead. Warned you once already, so that makes two, don't make it three times.”

Author's Note

Moving the plot along.

Mostly a plot chapter

Things are winding up!

The Metal

Father and son, the two dreaded their way through the Everfree. The forced themselves deeper and deeper in to the unknown. The terrain was new to Sun Strike, and it was Midnight's first time into the Everfree. They traveled for a long time, neither speaking, their only companion was the sound of the forest. After roughly two hours or so they noticed something very odd.

Things were silent. In the middle of the forest. There was no sound. No birds chirped, no bugs crawled, no critters scurried. The wind didn't even blow through the trees. It was as if nature itself, even the abnormal nature of the Everfree, had abandoned the area.

A low rumble shook the forest. For a few moments, it was as if there was an earthquake. The rumble and the shacking earth were similar. But anypony could feel that this was no earthquake. It felt wrong. Vile. As if the world was mad. They began to tread as lightly as possible. Midnight kept to a low hover to not make the sound of hoofsteps. The heard a growl, an angry spite filled growl.

They entered a clearing, about the size of hoofball field. In the center was a rather large boulder protruding out of the earth. It was surrounded by forest, but the light of the setting sun shined through in beams into the clearing. Soft moist grass and small hedges and other greens grew beautifully. The boulder had a good amount of green vines and moss growing on it, competing for the better spots. The two traded a quick glance before making their way across. The ground around the boulder looked... disturbed somehow once they got closer.

“WHO. DARES. DISTURB. ME.” an unbelievably low voice rumbled throughout the clearing.

The two jumped back, staring at the boulder, the source of the sound. Their eyes widened as the boulder that already stood three ponies tall decided to stand up. With legs as thick tree trunks, it rose. The Metal.

It slightly resembled a bear, that is in shape only. It's actual body looked exactly like a boulder, as did its legs, but at its ankles, the stone like flesh changed. Its back legs became paws, like that of a hound. It's front legs transformed into large, pony sized talons. It had a very long tail, it whipped around the air behind it. One could see the bladed edge of the appendage. I was like a giant, thick, bladed, whip. It's head protruded out like a boar, but resembled the head of snake, only furry, and with eyes like boiling metal, and large tusks... and antlers that shot out like a stag. Only the hunch of it's back had been visible through the surface of soil. It was massive. It was at least the size of a large building. Only with more claws, teeth, and tusks.

“Well sir”- Midnight began -“you can call us da grim reaper, cause were haulin' yer ass back ta hell.”

“YOU. MEAN. TO. END. ME?”

“Eeyup, we gotta a world to save, and that means you gotta die.” Midnight replied. The Metal let out a rumble they assumed to be a laugh

“THE. NAIVETY. OF. YOUTH.”

“How can you talk? Better yet how do you speak our language?” Sun asked, while drawing Radiance. He could feel The Metal's eyes on the blade.

“I. HAVE. BEEN. MUCH. LONGER. THEN. YOU. SUNFALL.”

“I guess that makes sense, but if you know the Sunfall, then you know you could die here.”

“THE. LAST. SUNFALL. FELL. TO. ME... SHALL. YOU. SHARE. HIS. FATE? SUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUN STIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKE!” The Metal exploded with a stomp that knocked Sun off his hooves. Midnight was off the ground, didn't feel it. The ground however felt The Metal. The earth shook from the stomp, but the earth under it's feet dented deeply, the ground even sank as it began to move forward.

Sun was on his hooves again in an instant, he pulled out his .44 while dashing back to try to put distance between him and the Metal. His father, while still in flight, pulled out a .357 magnum. Both fired as much as they could at it's face. Another of the Metal's “laughs” shook Sun Strike. The only notification that they even hit their target was the sound of the bullets hitting it's stone flesh.

The two tried to reload, but for such a massive creature, it moved horribly fast. The giant talons swiped at Sun, who dodged with all his force. He could feel the pressure behind the swipe, even though it missed. As he began to stand up he saw The Metal's tail flick. He jumped back and ducked at the same time. The tail barely missed. Slicing a small cut on his neck.

“YOU. HAVE. SKILL.”

Sun decided that being this close to The Metal wasn't smart. So he began to gallop as fast as he could away from it. Bending it's knees slightly, the Metal waited a moment then lunged clear over Sun and into his path, then with a breath, opened it's mouth, letting out a plume of lava. Sun stopped in his tracks and turned. The molten rock was only inches away. He felt the heat. It seared his coat slightly. He ran. He ran for his life. For a moment he thought he was at safe enough distance to look back. As he galloped away, he turned his head to look at the Metal again. He got lucky.

He turned his head perfectly. The Metal's long tail was swiping at him. Had he not turned his head, it would have slashed clean through the back of his neck, paralyzing him from the neck down. Instead, everything on his right side went dark. He had a gash across his face, but his right eye was cut clear in half. Blood poured from his face and eye. He cried blood. He let out a long terrible howl of pure miserable pain. Unable to focus due to the bits of his eye crawling down his face, he fell. Hitting the moist grass so hard he dug up some dirt, which quickly mixed with his blood.

Sun couldn't think. He was in such pain that, instead of trying to get up, he just laid there, clutching at the hole that used to be his eye socket. He kept screaming. Howling. Howling with pain. He writhed in agony. The Metal shook the earth with another laugh, it slowly began to make it's way toward Sun Strike. Who was in such a state, that he could not even feel the ground shaking. He realized two things at that moment however. One, losing an eye really, really hurts. A lot. And two, that tail was much longer then it seemed.

The Metal's tail dipped into the lava, Turning read hot... then made it's way toward Sun Strike. Ready to plunge into him.

Radiant Sunset sat at a window. Looking into the sky. It was a beautiful sunny day. She looked to her stomach, she was pregnant. Due sometime very soon. The baby was kicking quite hard. She grinned slightly. Looking back to the beautiful day. The home was peaceful. The nursery was a sky blue. The baby's crib sat empty, anxious to house a child again. The ceiling fan was decorated with tiny moon crescents. The door behind her creaked open. Midnight looked to her. The innocence was still in his voice and eyes. The years of seeking, drinking, smoking, and fighting had yet to scar him.

“What are ya doing Sunset? Everythin' alright?” he asked. His voice was clear, not nearly as gruff. He had yet to take up smoking.

“Of course! Everything's fine Midnight. Hey feel! He's kicking again!” Sunset beamed. Midnight just shied away.

“Ah umm.... well Ah don't want to hurt it.” Midnight said with a blush his color hid.

“Relax, c'mon!”- She took his hoof and pressed it to feel the kicking. -”He's a little fighter this one, fell that! He's gunna be an Ultimate Hoof Fighter!” She spoke with her heavenly voice, and a bit of a laugh.. Midnight just grinned as he felt the baby. Careful not to disturb the bundle.

“Oh by the way Midnight, I was thinking...”

“Not about any of those.... monster's right?”

“What? No! Silly, I was thinking about our little fighter's name! Sheesh, even if it was a monster, I could totally kill it while super pregnant! Hiya!” She let out a number of hoof jabs, then grinned at Midnight, who just wore a worried expression.

“Take it easy, you got life in ya remember.” he scolded.

“OK,OK, relax mister grumpy puss! Everything is going to be fine...” She gave him a loving look. Midnight let out a small smile and trotted closer to her.

“I'm glad...” he spoke softly.

“Remind me why I married you, Mr. Melancholy.” He answered with a passionate kiss... “Oh yeah....”
After a moment. Midnight sat beside her.

“So, ya still think it's going to be a boy huh?” Midnight asked taking in the nursery again,

“Obviously! Oh, and how do you like “Sun Strike” for a name?” she asked looking to her stomach.

“Sun Strike? Why?”

“You don't like it?” She asked with a dramatic frown.

“No, no! It's great, Ahm curious is all.”

“Well, I have to keep to the Sunfall legacy, but can't you feel it?! This little guy is meant for great things! He is going to change the world! I know it. He's gunna be a fighter! A real scrapper! I can feel it! He gunna strike hard!”

“He's gunna be tough huh.... wow.... Ghost Walk and Sun Strike....” he grinned.

“Midnight.... I love you....” She told him before giving him another passionate kiss.

Midnight held in his hooves a rock. Not just any rock. A large rock that looked a lot like a stalactite. He had left for a moment to find the largest, sharpest rock in the area. He was high, he was over the Metal. Who was laughing as his son began to scream. He waited... waiting for the perfect moment. Then let go.

Sun held his face, ignorant to his coming doom. The Metal just laughed. Then just stopped. The pointed stalactite hit perfectly. Midnight pierced the Metal, at the perfect spot. Where the tail and stone flesh met. Where rock became thick leathery meat. It pierced perfectly. Midnight zoomed down, lading on the Metals back, slicing the bits of soft meat underneath the surface with a knife. The Metal's tail fell off. It roared in pain.Yet there was no blood. The Metal reacted, quickly it began to stand on it's hind legs, vomiting a plume of lave down it's back. It cauterized it's wound and nearly cauterized Midnight as well. The tip of his tail burned. It's attention now on Midnight, it began to lash and claw at the bat pony. Who was just barely dodging the angry attacks, even while airborne. No matter where he flew, he was in range of an attack. Anywhere near it's head made him a target for tusks, fangs, and antlers. Anywhere lower and he could get shredded by talons. Any farther away and he became a target for projectile lava vomit. The Metal chased Midnight around for a while, ignoring the bloodcurdling scream Sun Strike let out.

However this was perfect. The Metal was focusing on Midnight, It hadn't realized that not only was Sun back up, but he was doing something. The two had just wordlessly began to set up a plan, or a play. And the Metal was far from noticing. Unfortunately, Midnight was not exactly young... he began to slow down. The Metal swatted him down hard. Midnight bounced off the dirt. But after getting to his hooves, instantly took off again. Much slower the Metal was having a much easier time getting to him, Midnight felt the wind pass him every time he dodged an attack.

After a few more minutes of this, then Midnight swooped down. By the Metal's feet. He picked up one end of The Metal's tail.The blade slashing his mouth as he flew with it. The Metal tried to follow him, but then noticed the stalactite pointing upward now. Then noticed the bit of it's tail jammed underneath it.... Looking down, it saw it's tail wrapped around one of it's back feet. On the ankle, where stone turned to fur. A weak point. Midnight soared upward. Th tail tightened, cutting into it's flesh. The Metal tried to pull away, but only tightened the tail, slicing off one of it's own back paws. It fell perfectly, toward the upward stalactite. However the Metal adjusted and missed being impaled.

It glared at Sun Strike. His face stopped bleeding. His face wore a grin. The gash on his face was burned badly. He lifted Radiance. The rapier was red hot. Heated by lava, he had cauterized his wound. However, rapiers are thin blades, and the process was... slow. His breathing was labored and heavy. He was in pain. Breathing hurt. His eye hurt. His face hurt. The Metal grinned back. It hadn't been a battle like this in a long time. Standing up, the Metal laughed again. Smashing the rock with a slam of its talon claw, and setting itself into a fighting position. Even with the lack of a back foot.

Sun was injured badly. He was missing a lot of blood. And an eye. The horrible burning on his face was far from pleasant. The cool air touching his self inflicted burns stung bitterly. Midnight was exhausted. His wings and back ached and burned, just like his chest and lungs. He could feel his heart beat in his chest so hard that with every pulse, a stab of pain shot out from his growing headache. He could feel a rib jab into his body, bouncing off the ground did some serious damage to him. The Metal seemed unphased.

The two gave each other a quick look and nodded. Midnight flew above, Sun began to gallop away. The Metal chased after Sun. Tearing apart the ground with each step. It didn't have to go very fast. It's size meant it caught up with Sun very quickly. It took a breath, opening wide, preparing to let out a wave of molten rock. Then Sun acted.

He lunged forward. Stabbing the still red hot Radiance into the Metal's gaping maw. Blood squirted out on him, the blood however was boiling hot, it scolded him where he was sprayed. Midnight rushed by, taking Sun in his hooves, flying out of the Metal's range. Sun held on to Radiance.

The Metal stood up on a stump and a paw. It stood up, searching for the two, but as soon as it looked up, it saw Sun holding Radiance. He was thrusting it downwards. With a bit on aim, Sun plunged Radiance perfectly in The Metal's right eye.

“HOW DO YOU LIKE FUCKER.” he roared as he galloped up the creature's body. This time he left the blade in. The Metal groaned. Moving it's talons close, trying to pull out the rapier Sun had left in it's eye. Midnight flew around it's wrists quickly, wrapping them in the razor sharp tail. His own legs now gashed due to holding it. Realizing the plan, the Metal slammed it's talons down, to the ground, pulling them apart, it shattered the tail into pieces. But in turn sliced it's wrists open. Boiling hot blood began to pour from the wounds.

“I. AM. IMMORTAL. NO. WHELPS. SHALL. BEST. ME.”

“I'M NO WHELP!” Sun yelled, dashing forward, jumping to the creatures largest protruding tusk, then using his .44 at point blank range, he began shooting the tusk's base. Midnight came down again, unloading his .357 it to the opposite side, causing large cracks to appear in the tusk. The Metal was still standing. It began to vomit out lava. The molten rock poured down it's face. Midnight grabbed Sun Strike before the lava did.

After the lava dripped off it's face it reopened it's eye. Immediately noticing that it's largest tusk was gone. Looking around it saw Midnight first. Instead of actually clawing at him. The Metal just flung it's claws limply in his direction. Its boiling blood burned. The Metal just let out a flurry of wild claw strikes. Slathering Midnight with hot blood. He couldn't take it, he hit his limit from the pain. Midnight roared in pain and fell. Hitting the ground hard, he laid still.

“ONE. DOWN.”

The Metal began to turn, looking for Sun. He sat still on the grass.

“GIVEN. UP?”

The Metal began to tread toward Sun. Sun just sat their unmoving.

It was raining.

Midnight held a crying foal.

They were both soaked.

They were both crying.

They both wanted Radiant Sunset.

Neither would get what they want.

The Metal moved slowly at Sun Strike. Who had yet to move. The beast laughed. Then so did Sun.

"LAUGHING. IN. THE. FACE. OF. DEATH?"

"I'm laughing at you! Do you know what the first thing I noticed about missing my eye?"

The Metal felt something slip. Something made it trip. A dried pile of it's own lava, cooled rapidly in the forest. The obsidian shattered. The Metal fell, it tried to catch itself but couldn't. That leg had no paw. It fell perfectly on the tusk. It pierced straight through the Metal's neck. Blood squirted out like a fountain. Sun Strike stood up, trotted over to the Metal, right to it's face, making sure to stay out of lava range. The immortal monster hadn't seen the trap. It was hidden on the creatures blind side. Sun just grinned.

"I'm missing a lot of my peripheral vision."

The Metal had been impaled through the throat, it let out a spray of blood. It's open bloody wrists had painted the field red. The missing leg was muddy and coated in filth. The Metal couldn't breath. There was a sharp tusk as thick as a tree in the way. It could only gag on nothingness. Gasping for air it couldn't get. The one eye was wide. In a last attack, Sun Strike was bashed by a talon from his right side. But he got back up anyway, if a bit woozily.

“I'm no whelp, I'm Sunfall.” Sun looked into the Metal's eye. The bright orange gave him a familiar sense of dread.

The Beautiful Radiant Sunset was coated in blood, and was breathing heavily.

A large number of headless ponies corpses lay about the room. Their heads not far away.

She looked around, noticing the only survivor, curled up on the floor in a corner. She trotted to him.

"You alright?" she asked.

"N..N...No." Midnight Fire mumbled in shear disbelief that he was alive.

"Good!" She grinned. Midnight just looked up to her from the floor, giving her a confused and horrified look.

"Well if you were OK, you would have to like... be a serial killer dude. See all the headless corpses and blood. Oh look at me I'm covered in it!" she beamed complete unaffected by the scene around her.

"What.... are you?" Midnight asked in horror.

"A Seeker, those were vampires, real annoying, but light-weights. We Seekers, don't like vampires, so we kill them."

"Vampires? Vampires are real!?"

"Oh yeah, tons of shit is real... Hey you're kinda cute, this Seeker business always gets me craving like a pie or something, and you look pretty fucked up man. Sun is almost up, we can get the breakfast special at this joint not to far away. Wanna get some grub?"

"Umm... not really..." He stated looking at the room of beheaded corpses.

"Oh, whatever, C'mon let's go!" She grabbed him by a hoof and began to pull him out of the building. Before they exited however, She quickly lit and tossed a match. The building began to burn very quickly.

Midnight awoke, he was laying under a tree in the grove. He could see the Metal's bloody corpse. The grove was dead. The grass had yellowed, the moistness was gone, now hard and dry. All the trees around them had turned black, and lost all of their leaves.

Sun sat leaning to a tree besides him. Midnight's body ached, and burned. He saw the makeshift wooden splint on his obviously broken leg. He couldn't stop feeling the burns he had gotten from the blood. He looked at Sun Strike. He didn't look well either. His face had a large gash across it., most of which had been seared shut poorly. The eye was held closed, blood had stained from it, giving him a look like he had been crying with too much red makeup on. He had several cuts and burn marks on his hide. He was breathing heavily, it was obvious he had been coughing blood.

“Why're you still here.” Midnight asked.

“You might have been an asshole, but you wouldn't leave me for dead, and with as many broken rips as I have, I aint carrying you.”

“We stop the end of the world?”

“Been thinking about that, and I think we fucked up...“When the Unrelenting Force meets the Unbreakable Wall.” Unrelenting, something without relent, an unstoppable force. Tell me, what is something that cannot be stopped? Something that anything alive must fear, even something that calls itself immortal feared it...."

“What? Ah aint gettin' it.” Midnight replied after a delay.

“I looked into his eyes as he died... The Metal I mean... our unbreakable wall.... It was scared, horrified to learn what happens next...” Midnight only looked to Sun Strike with a horrified expression.

“No......”

“Death.... It haunts everything. Always lurking.... Always waiting. Everything. An Unrelenting force that plagues us all.... The Metal, The Immortal being off ancient origins. The last of his kind... The wall that had not fallen....” Sun Spoke solemnly.

“That's... not possible.....”

“Short victory right?”

"I guess we have to play this by ear for a bit, we need to know if the world is safe or not."

Fluttershy sat in her cottage. Reading calmly, the small rabbit Angel at her side, taking a nap. The evening was starting with the sun had fallen. There was a soft knock on the door. She placed her bookmark, and stood up, walking gingerly to the door. She opened it just a crack to see who was out there. She saw Sun's good eye and face looking at her, she could still see the beating he took.

“Now umm, I could use your medical help again.... Umm my father too.”

“Did you two get in a fight? What happened? Are you alright?” She asked, her worry thick, but her voice still small.

“Well we did fight, but not each other...”

Fluttershy just raised an eyebrow, then began to open the door fully for the two. But half way through, a hoof stopped the door.

“Little miss, you might want to brace yerself, we aint pretty.”

“I'm sure I'll be fine sir.”

The two walked in and she gasped in horror at the burns and cuts. Midnight hovered with his wings instead of walking. Sun looked to her and she saw the large burned gash on the side and front of his face. She stopped all at once, holding her breath. Sun apologized more, then opened the hole that used to hold an eye to her, unknown goo slid out. She immediately ran to a window and stuck her head out, vomiting. Turning back to them she look at the two for a moment, then stuck her head out the window to vomit again. After the third time, she let out a sheepish smile.

“It... doesn't look too bad....” she let out mildly.

“I've failed you Princess, these “keys”... I..... I should be stopping them, not using them....”

“You have not failed Sunfall. You have avenged the untimely death of a large number of heroes.”

“I could bring the end of the world!”

“I have faith in you, faith that you can save us.”

“I have only failed... Tell your sister of me, let her end me, so that the keys will not be unlocked.”

“Sunfall... The keys, they are not just things, the exist not in reality, but in prophecy. These things are happening because it was predicted. I need you, if the die, then..... nopony can save us. “

“Surely you can, or your sister, you are gods!”

“We are merely royalty, our combat skills are nothing to a born warrior such as the
Sunfall. We need ponies like you. Do you know what would happen if the Goddesses told the public of the end of the world....there would be.... unrest.”

“Princess life in more valuable then unrest... But I see. I understand, but know.... know that my life is not worth the lives of the world.”

“Don't Worry, I am sure that your hooves can save us Sunfall...”

The rain had stopped.

Midnight held a stern face.

He lifted his lover's Seeker Journal.

He cringed.

Tiny hoof steps entered the room.

A small Ghost Walk trotted in.

“I'm scared... where's mommy?”

“It's late, go back to bed.”

“But”

“I SAID BACK TO BED.”

With a thick sniffle, Ghost quietly trotted off.

Midnight cringed.

Ahm sorry, but you need to be tough, tougher then me. Stronger, better... That can't happen unless Ah treat them hard.... I wont let them die early like she did.... no... they are gunna be hard, tough. Brave. They are going to make their mother proud.

Lunar Rising, Sunset's Eve

In a cobblestone hallway, two sibling bickered. The night was cold. The hallway was illuminated by torches. It was before the time where other methods became available.

“Are you sure of this brother?” A worried looking mare asked, hidden in robes.

“I've never been so sure of anything.” A much more adult stallion stood monolithic. Body encased in the thick armor of Equestrian Night Guards.

“But.... But what if Luna... fails.”

“It matters not. My loyalty, is to the Princess of the Night. As your should be.”

“I am loyal to Luna... but I fear her sister. She could reduce us into ash in seconds!”

“If death is what awaits me on my path, then I shall face it. I only hope that my death can aid the Princess in some way.”

“Dammit Sunset! You're going to get us all killed!” Sunset Eve looked to his sister.

“Our Princess has gone nightmare.... Nightmare Moon. My loyalty stands. I shall fight by her side, even if it means my death, This you cannot change sister.”

“But... what of the rest of us!? How can I buy mom and dad's medicine! What of the name of the Sunfall! We will be branded as traitors of the throne!”

“I already know this, my mind is steel sister. Nightmare Moon wants the throne. You may call it treason, but I never pledged loyalty to Celestia. Or Equestria. My blade is Lun... Nightmare Moon's.”

“Dammit Sunset Eve! You've damned us! Damned us all! That Nightmare! That is our princess now! She will never love you! Your pathetic! Fuck you!”

A shining rapier pierced the mare's throat. A youthful Radiance shined in the darkness.

“Her name maybe Nightmare Moon, but she is no nightmare. She is a mare pushed to far. Even if I am your brother, only death awaits those who do not respect the difference. It saddens Radiance for me to do this.”

He pulled out the rapier and thrust it into her chest several times in rapid succession. Then lashed across he neck. Her blood sprayed. She hit the cobblestone ground hard, dead. Her blood pooled around her body.

He left the hallway. Determined of his goal. Nightmare Moon would be meeting with Celestia. He was to be at her side. N matter the cost.

Celestia stood transcendent in a large court room. She held her head high, and was glaring down at a unarmored Sunset Eve. He was in chains. In the center of the room. At least twenty ponies made up a jury. Over thirty armed guards surrounded him, even more guarded every exit. The sun was setting. The large chandeliers and statues Celestia and Luna stood in the hall.

“Sunset Eve. You stand before Equestria, charged with treason, resisting arrest, and the murder of thirty seven of Equestria's finest warriors. How do you plead?” Celestia's voice had no mercy. Only Anger. Hate.

“Guilty as charged.” He grinned at the Princess.

“Any last word you monster?” she nearly barked

“Only that “Equestria's finest” are complete shit.”

“Enough! Sunset Eve I deem that you are guilty of crimes against ponykind. Kill him.” She nearly growled. She had to try very hard to hold back for the jury.

The executioner trotted up with a large broad ax. However the instant he got within swinging range of Sunset, he couldn't breath. Sunset had slammed his hooves into the executioner's throat. He was kicked the ax so that the blade slammed into the chain that bound him, he was freed, but still shackled. The jury panicked. Nopony else did. The guards surrounded him.

In a single instant, Sunset rushed a guard sliding his hooves perfectly, his shackle wrapped around a guard's neck, with a twist the guard was dead. He grabbed the guard's sword with his teeth as the body went limp. “SCREAMING, A NEW DARKNESS SHALL DESCEND ON THIS FRAIL WAY OF LIFE!” he roared.

Two guards rushed at him, one with a lance the other with a sword. The swordpony went down first, Sunset's blade kneecapped him. The Lancer got an attack off, but missed, then got his throat slight before he had time to recover from the attack. Sunset Eve was fast. Trained as a Equestrian Elite Knight, and Seeker. He was a force to be reckoned with. A downward thrust finished the swordpony.

“I'M DROWNING IN ENDLESS FATHOMS OF BLACK SPACE, YET I NEVER SO MUCH AS SCRATCH THE SURFACE OR DEPTH OF THIS DOMAIN.”

More guards tried to stop him. He killed five more. Only getting a small nick on is leg. The room was in full panic. There was too much blood. The guards were too scared, it made them easy targets. After gutting two more ponies Sunset looked at Celestia. She glared back.

“I SEE NOTHING, YET I SEE EVERYTHING. MY OWN MIND HAUNTS ME. I STAND HERE AT MY OWN WAKE, AND ONLY NOW I UNDERSTAND, THE GREAT SCHEME, THE KEYS! THE GREAT DARKNESS. I SCREAM BUT NONE LISTEN.”

A circle of light surrounded him. The goddesses' magic bound him. Wrapped him, then lifted him in the air.

“You kill my men, betray this country, and aid my sister into madness! Death is too good for you.” she spoke with hate on every word.

“I've seen the end Princess... Don't hold this grudge.... It all begins, and ends with you...”

“I swear to make you pay for your crimes. I have a special plan for you... your blood will pay for this as much as you will.”

“Hate... That's all it is now... hate.... fire and hate.”

“It is ponies like you who bring ruin into our world. You drove my Sister insane! You forced me to send her to the moon! I will never forgive the evil of the Sunfall!” With each word an explosion of light burst from the ring of light. Each burst seared Sunset. He was literally smoking. He burned so hot, that he seemed to emit steam of his flesh.

“I've spent my life devoted to saving ponies. Yet it is you that will ultimately make null my endeavor. Nopony should know what I know... Nopony... Nopony should..... ever... have to see... the darkness...”

More bursts of light. A normal pony would be driven mad by the holy pain. Yet Sunset never dropped eye contact with Celestia.

"You speak with insanity in your tongue."

"You don't understand Princess... I... saw things.... bad things that have yet to happen...." Celestia only replied with more burst of burning light.

"SILENCE!"

“When.... you see.... your sister again..... tell her.... tell her that I love her...” With one long last burst of light that filled the room with pure white light, Sunset Eve vanished. Celestia shook her head, an walked away.

Bloodsuckers

Many days had passed since the Metal had fallen. It did not take long for Sun Strike's injuries to catch up to him. To be honest he got very lucky twice. The last talon strike that hit him should have ended his life, but none of the talons had managed to give him more then a gash. All in all however, he needed to recover, and he got the time he needed to do that.

Once Fluttershy had treated them, he and Midnight Fire made a hasty exit. After getting their stories straight, they went their separate ways. Midnight flew off somewhere, Sun returned to his motel room for some much needed rest. He virtually collapsed as soon as he reached his bed.

Fluttershy made sure to tell all of his friends, and made it a point to go check up on him whenever possible. She mostly cleaned and tended to his eye. His burns just needed time to heal. She also made it a point to explain the dangers of smoking, drinking, and pushing ones body too far... every time she visited. He wanted to explain to her that with the monster hunting, there wasn't much of a chance that it would be cigarettes or his love of whiskey that kill him, and that he pushes himself because he know he probably wont get to old age. He doesn't tell her though. She still took away his spirits and his cigarettes.

Midnight visited only once, they agreed then and there that it would be for the best if they kept the "potential end of the world" information strictly to Seekers only. Midnight didn't want public unrest. Sun Strike was afraid of Celestia finding out. Midnight was pretty hurt too, but to him, leg wounds were pretty superficial, after all he could fly. More then anything he was bruised, but he was mostly fine after a few days.

Each girl visited him at least three times. They all gave him worried and concerned looks, gave him some reassuring statements, then perhaps a hug or two. He actually didn't like the attention, he mostly wanted time to think, but he couldn't when they came to see him. On the other hoof, he really enjoyed having ponies in his life that care enough to make sure he is doing well. Too much affection was much better then none at all.

The best and worst came with the Crusaders. The came for great periods of time, and had powerful hugs. Scootaloo and Applebloom both managed to sneak him a care package of whiskey and cigarettes when they came. He was glad for the chance to drink and smoke, but he reminded himself that he would have to talk to them about it. It was his fault. Teaching them how to steal for a chance at their "cat burglar" cutie mark was not the greatest choice on his part.

Zecora only visited once. Mostly to check to see if he was even alive. Also to remind him about that drink he owed her.

It had been days since then. Now he had recovered fully. He hadn't felt this good since before the incident with the Black Dog. His head was no longer wrapped in bandages, but he did wear an eye patch designed by Rarity, which he didn't really understand. Yes it was softer, but it wasn't like he could see it. His scars were now hidden by regrown fur. The only parts of him that had scarred badly were hidden behind his eye patch.

Once he took a step outside, he gave a good stretch and took a deep breath. He enjoyed the outdoors. It made him happy to see all of the townsfolk going about their daily lives completely unaffected by the monster and creatures he dedicated his life to protecting them from. Completely unaware that the world as they know it may come to an end. They lived in blissful ignorance, and he envied them.

He enjoyed the outdoors for the first time in a long time. The fresh air in his mane, he just loved that slight breeze. The sun's pleasant rays upon him. The feel of dirt and grass under his hoof. The smell of trees on the breeze. However, his mood changed quickly when he felt eyes on himself. He looked around for the one he could feel watching him, but couldn't see who ever it was.

"Sun Strike!" Scootaloo shouted "I brought you a care package, I didn't know you were feeling better!" Little Scootaloo galloped toward her hero, her little wings fluttered slightly, a tiny burlap bag on her side.

He looked down at his body, "Well I guess that those care packages are working little Missy!" He wore a happy grin on his face.

They shared a hug and Scootaloo hid a blush.

"I got you more whiskey and cigarettes."

"Now, not that I aint grateful, but how did you get this stuff? You know that stealing is wrong right?"

"Yea... I know, I just wanted to get you something nice..."

"Well, maybe next time get a card."

Scootaloo looked down at her hooves.

Sun Strike reached into the tiny bag, pulling out a bottle of whiskey and a big pack of cigarettes. Sliding out a single cigarette, he lit it up and took a long drag.

"Also don't smoke or drink, or else Fluttershy is going to lecture you. A lot."

"You endured the wraith of a Fluttershy lecture?" She exploded in horror and disbelief.

"I though I was going to get some free medical care... girly... I was wrong." he gave a shutter.

Scootaloo cringed, then gave a small giggle. Sun smiled at her. After more hugs, and some pokes to get a look under the eye patch, the other Crusaders soon joined up, again bringing about more hugs and smiles. After briefly catching up, the Crusaders agreed that they should be taken to lunch. They all knew Sun would be paying.

They sat down, ordered, and began to more thoroughly catch up Sun Strike. Things were pretty pleasant. Besides the odd look he was getting for being a grown stallion in a black trench coat, eye patch, and desperado hat, taking three tiny fillies out to lunch, it was rather good. They talked to him about school, and things like that. They filled him in on what their sisters had been up to. Nothing out of the ordinary. Applejack bucked apples. Rarity made dresses. Rainbow Dash... was being awesome. Things were rather normal. However, things got darker very quickly... as things with Seekers tend to go.

"So did you here Twilight and Lyra went missing yesterday?" Sweetie Belle asked casually as she enjoyed her fancy desert.

"Ah don't think so... that's kinda scary, all those mares who went missing and none of them have turned up yet." Applebloom answered.

Sun stood up and slammed a bag of bits into the table. He wore a grim expression on his face."Sorry to cut this short girls, but I got business to tend to." With that he rushed off. The girls frowned as they saw him gallop away.

Sun galloped hard, knowing that Midnight would already have something if this was a case. But first he had to go see if Twilight had really gone missing. Once he got to Library he immediately halted at the sign on the door. "TEMPORARILY CLOSED"

"Shit...."

"She aint here, got nabbed about a day ago." Midnight told him while perched on a tree branch.

"What did you do old man!" Sun snapped.

"Nothing, but something is gunna get to your friend if we don't work fast, we got a real problem." With that he tossed down a number of newspapers. Each had the same headline. MISSING MARES FOUND DEAD. Each was roughly twenty years apart. Sun examined each and every paper. Then dropped them, hating the words falling off his lips.

"...Vampyres..."

"Eeyup"

"Fuck...Vampyres, or Vampires?"

"The bad ones..."

"Fuck." Sun growled. He stomped the ground hard.... he was pissed, he was more angry then he had been in a long time. He blamed himself. If he had gotten back into action just a day earlier this could have been avoided. He was angry. Practically fuming.

There is a pretty big difference between Vampires and Vampyres. The two could get mixed up pretty easily, but there is a very big distinction between the two. Vampyres were significantly worse. Vampires crisp up in the sunlight like worms on a hot afternoon. Vampyres really don't give a fuck about the sun. Vampires have to worry about things like holy water, garlic, crucifixes, etc etc. All you have to do to kill a Vampire is decapitate them. Vampyres however, are completely unaffected by any of those things, but can only be killed by piercing their heart with a wooden stake, after they've been decapitated. The problem here being that they really don't care about if their head gets taken off, they still have full control of their bodies. Staking a moving body through a shriveled tiny heart can be difficult, even for expert Seekers. Vampyres also have the strength of ten ponies, and can move very quickly in the shadows. Vampires were just normal ponies with more then a few big weaknesses. Vampyres were very dangerous creatures.

"Are you sure?" Sun asked

"I got three of the fuckers not far from here. Figure you'd be upset about this, want to take out some pent up... frustration?"

"You got three? How?"

"How do ya think? Dead blood."

This is easily the greatest weakness to Vampyres, one Vampires don't have. Dead blood, for some reason Seekers don't fully understand, but assume has to do with life energies and what not. Vampyres are damaged by dead blood, that is blood drawn from a corpse, roughly at least a week gone. When ingested, it acts like a potent tranquilizer. However, if it were to ever make contact with their blood, it causes a brutal, and painful physical reactions.

"Good, I'm standing again, and itching for some action, not to mention that I'm fucking pissed. I wanna crack some skulls."

"Good, very good, Ah need that, Ah cant crack these fuckers."

"I can."

"That's why ahm here, waitin' fer yer sorry ass, c'mon, let's go, follow me." Midnight said as he glided down and began to glide down the road slowly, Sun following not far behind.

The building was old, and at the far end of town, the only building on the plot of land. It as one of those building everypony saw, but just never thought about. Sun followed Midnight in to the old dank building, it was nearly filled to the brim with cobwebs and other signs of age. Down they went into an old basement.

Within the old washroom, were three ponies, all bound by a comically large amount of chains and bindings. Each sat in a chair that had been bolted to the ground and back wall. The first was a pale green unicorn, however unicorn wasn't a very accurate description anymore. Midnight had obviously been trying to work this one over, his horn was a stub, and he was covered in gashes, bruises, and blood stained fur. There was a drain in the center of the room, sitting calmly waiting to be used. The second pony was a pale maroon bat pony, ironically it was a vampyre bat pony, he was significantly less injured then the others. There was a single light on an old chain, dangling from the ceiling of the basement, it was on, but every now and then it flickered. The third and last pony was a standard earth pony, a pale red, he looked like he had just been beaten recently.

The worse part of this... talk, was that vampyres cant die unless those certain conditions are met, if they had eaten recently, they can actually regenerate very quickly, but these starved vampyres were healing very slowly, but still at a incredible rate for a standard pony of any kind.

Sun looked at all three, then calmly lit up a cigarette, assessing them.

"You foal-napped one of my friends, I want her back. Let me explain that things will go much better if you just talk now. " Sun said flatly, none of them opened their mouths.

"Alright, tried this your way, now it my time, trench knife." Sun said calmly, as he approached the bat pony.

Midnight, let out a slightly audible laugh, then tossed his son his large trench knife, then returned upstairs. Sun trotted to the bat pony, then began to cut free a wing, which once freed shot out and stretched. Once it did however, Sun plunged the knife clear through the leathery wing, and into the white tiled wall.

"Nothing you can do would be worse then what the Mad Doctor will do to us." the bat grunted. Sun slid out his new bottle of whiskey and took a long drink. Then set it down not far away. Midnight happen to trot back in with some kind of radio set on his back. After a brief set up period, the radio began to play some classic rock music that pounded the small washroom. Sun did a little dance to the hard rock, pulling out the knife.

"-TERY REMAINS, FOR THEY SAY THEY STILL WAIT TO BE SEEN! ( a rather amazing guitar solo exploded out.)

As it played the music, Sun danced up to the bat pony again, then slammed the knife into his leg. Midnight trotted up soon after, and grabbed the bat's face. Sun took a long drag on his cigarette. Tapped away the ash. Then got very close. He pushed the burning cigarette toward the bat's eye. The bat instinctively flinched, turning his head way. Midnight pushed, and began to better hold it in place. The second time, the cigarette sizzled as it touched the bats eyeball. The scream came out, but could not win the fight against the raging rock and roll music.

"IT'S NEVER THE LIGHT YOU SEEK! OHHH YEAH! OHOHOHOHOHOHYAAAAAAA!"

Midnight slid Sun a jar of dead blood, and a crudely large syringe. The two closed in on the other eye. The bat pony returned to silence. The other two captured vampyres just watched in anguish. Midnight had to once again hold not just the bat's face still, but hold his eye open. To the bat, the needle crawled towards his eye, getting closer and closer far too slowly. Then with a little push, penetrated his eye. More screams were hidden behind old rock music. In seconds, the dead blood worked it horrible magic on the Vampyre. The eye bloated to the point where it looked like it wanted to pop, the veins on that side of the bats face and neck all bulged, wanting to break, the bat just kept screaming and screaming. His body couldn't hold back, his flesh turned a grim meaty gray-brown, and his veins surged, wanting to burst out all at once. Sun gave a slight sigh of sadness, as he lifted Scootaloo's gifted whiskey, taking one last long drink. Then he smashed it into the bats bloated side, spraying bitter blackening blood on the walls, floor, and nearest companion. Sun held the bottle over the bat, making sure he was coated with the powerful whiskey.

"Hey Midnight?" Sun asked, as the short pause between songs finished.

"Ya?"

"How do you like your cooked vamps?"

"Extra crispy, very very well done."

"Me too! How nice!" Sun replied with a fake smile, as he flicked his cigarette at the bat. It did not take long for the bat to turn into a inferno chained to a metal chair. The bat shook violently in his seat. Sun and Midnight both shared a laugh.

Vampyres can't die unless the parameters are met. Needless to say, they both really enjoyed torturing these ponies. They were both very good at it now. After a good ten minutes of burning and screaming agony. Midnight left and returned with a bucket of water and splashed the fire away, before leaving to retrieve more water. The bat's body was completely devoid of fur. Just a crispy black surface layer of meat. Like when you leave something on a pan for too long, and it chars into ash. Only that the bat was still alive through that process. Sun swiftly pulled out his sawed-off, and blasted the bat's head clean off, normally that could have regenerated rapidly with his being a vampyre, but the level of agony, exhaustion and other conditions, healing was nearly impossible. A stake through the heart was next.

This made the vampyre wither and die like a cut flower. His body, already crispy, flaked away, as he seemed to age two-hundred years in five seconds. His wither, dried, husk of a corpse still sat in the chair, not far from the other two. Sun grinned maliciously. "Ready to talk you two?"

They weren't. The father and son tried out a new technique on the pale red earth vampyre. Vivisection. A process where the two sliced open the vampyre, then removed all of his organs... while the vampyre could still fell all of them. However, this was not enough to break him. Coated in blood, and coating everything with blood, the two quickly came up with a plan of action. Midnight, had been prepared, producing a jar of maggots. After he did, he stepped out to dig a rather shallow hole. Sun couldn't help but laugh as he began stuff the flesh eating maggots into organs, before stuffing them back in to the vampyres body. Then after about seven minutes, Midnight returned, and the two buried the vampyre filled with maggots that would eat him from the inside out in a shallow grave. The two pushed a large boulder over that grave.

The unicorn gave in not long after that, they began removing his face with a trench knife dipped in dead blood. They killed him quickly, one beheading slice, then a stake through the heart. Quick and easy.

They learned that the girls were being held captive in a Vampyre nest in the Everfree. The two face-hoofed, they should have known that. The Vampyres had begun to move into a large destroyed castle ruins. This meant that they would need help. Who better then Zecora?

The two knocked on the front door of Zecora's hut. The door shot open, Zecora opened it in a rush, as soon as she saw Sun Strike, she began to speak.

"We have a very big problem! There are-"

"Vampyres I know, we already found out where they are nesting." Sun cut in, Zecora eye's widened. Then turned hard.

"They have Twilight Sparkle."

"I know..." Sun began to explain what they knew of the situation, most of which Zecora had already known. She grinned when he told her the whereabouts of the nest. She explained that she knew exactly where the ruins were.

They began their way toward the ruins soon after. They all had everything they needed. Midnight had his broad machete, and a lever-action-shotgun. Sun had his trusty machete, and sawed-off shotgun. Zecora had what she called a kukri blade, which just looked like a larger machete with a bit of a curve. Each took a turn dipping their weapons in dead blood before they left. Then it was a matter of sneaking. Their were guards around the ruin perimeter. Large, muscular, pale colored vampyre ponies. Their dead eyes keeping a look out. The Seekers were in a bush, hiding just barely outside the look out's vision.

Zecora reached into her saddle bag and pulled out several throwing knives. Next she opened her jar of dead blood. Dipping each throwing knife in, she grinned. After the Seekers watched the vampyres movements for about thirty minutes, they acted, knowing the general pattern that they walked in.

In a silent gallop they made their way toward the ruined castle's outer wall. Zecora danced on two hooves, then rolled forward, somehow in the process she tossed two throwing knives, that hit their target perfectly. The two vampyres that might of seen them, fell, the knives landing right in their throats, they wouldn't be making any sounds for a while.

Once at the wall, with Midnight's help they began to scale it. Their swiftness made them hardly noticeable. The sun was getting close to setting and a dark chilling breeze began to blow. Laying low, they snuck through the castle. Their hooves didn't make a single sound. They moved carefully, but kept a fast pace, not wanting to in one place too long. While on the move, Sun caught a glimpse of two vampyre, and barely overheard a few words.

"I smell something..."

"Me too." Sun just kept moving.

They entered a large open hall. Full of cages that looked new, sticking to the wall, they noticed two guards in the center of the hall. The building had no roof, and upon closer inspection, they notice that this was actually a old throne room, much like Celestia and Luna's. Only this one was full of cages. Cages full of mares. At least thirty mares were trapped in this place. Half were laying strapped to old mats, tables, or just the floor. Ten looked like they had been here for too long, and five appeared rather fresh, not looking as worn down as the others. Among those five was Twilight Sparkle.

This... this is why Sun Strike hates, just HATES, vampyres. The Vampyre birthing process can be... difficult for the mother. Mostly because they are literally growing a monster inside of their body. It is not uncommon for a baby to just tunnel itself out once it was done developing. Which is a nice way to say that they can very well burst out of their mother's abdomen like an alien from a horror movie where at the end a mare trots around with nothing on but a flamethrower and white cotton panties.

Not only that, but a vampyres only form of sustenance is blood. A mother must give up here own blood for the baby, so it is not uncommon for the mother to die from either internal bleeding, or severe blood loss. This is the only recorded situation in which standard death perimeters do not need to be met. The baby literally steals the life away from the mother. So to make up for this severe potential for population loss, Vampyres found out that their close relation to normal ponies allows them to work around this... kind of. Rather then have their own mares carry the babies, they get surrogates... usually by kidnapping mares, keeping them alive off scrapes, raping them until they are pregnant, then waiting to see if they survive the gestation process, if they do, then it starts all over again.

The very idea of this made Sun... very mad. So seeing the practice was far from good for him. Not only that, but they intended to do this to his close friend Twilight Sparkle...

"You two work on getting the girls free, I'm gunna cause a distraction." Sun stated as he took up his wooden stake, machete and sawed-off. The blade in his mouth, the other in hooves.

"How you aimin' to do that?" Midnight asked

"I'm just gunna... rage for a while."

Two Vampyres sat looking at Twilight just outside her cage. She sat in her cage, glaring.

"Whatchu you thik the Doc whats with this one?"

"She looks like she'd be a tight fit mate, thats prolly why. Wouldn't mind gettin' a taste of 'er mahself." Twilight's eyes widened, and a smile came across her face.

"You want the Doc's prize pick? That's fukin' crazy mate!" The Vampyre said with a laugh, turning to his friend expecting a head, but only saw the withering bloody stump. BOOM

It became a blood bath very quickly. Sun's blade rampaged as more and more Vampyres flooded into the room. Their focus solely on the Seeker butchering and actually killing Vampyre after Vampyre. Midnight and Zecora focused on getting the mares out of their cages, but they were quickly realizing that escape was becoming less and less of a option as the sheer number of Vampyres continued to rise.

Sun's normally graceful combat style was gone. He was too angry to fight correctly. Instead he just went wild. The Vampyres surged at him, moving faster then any pony could ever move. He quickly dropped his machete and stake and drew Radiance. He stopped caring about killing them, it would take months for them to recover after he was done with them. The Sun wouldn't do more then make an irritating rash for a Vampyre, but the solar powered rapier was still much more effective. He slashed and stabbed rapidly, quickly turning Vampyres into chunks. A flurry of swings, and any Vampyre foolish enough to get close was quickly turned into pieces. He hacked and slashed his way through the herd. This swipe takes a limb, the next took a head, then a big piece of meat, more limbs, more meat. Anything that close enough to land a good hit ate his sawed-off. It's thundering power reduced them to meaty bits. He just kept cutting them down. He was coated in their blood. That stench of copper was all he could smell. His one eye stung. His chest fur was dripping, his mane was soaked save for the spot that his hat did hide. He let out a lot of frustration. He was still angry about losing that eye. Every second he had some distance between the herd, he would stomp down on the growing pile of gore on the floor.

Midnight and Zecora had moved quickly, getting the mare out was easy. Zecora was a good lock picker. Midnight's lever-action made for an excellent lock-picking kit. They finally reached the last cage, nearest to the throne, Twilight's cage. She tried to hold back a scream.

"Quickly! He's coming! Get me out of here! Now! I can't use magic! PLEASE!"

Zecora couldn't beat this lock, it was much more complicated then the others. The cage was definitely made to hold more prized mares.

"Stand back!" Click. BOOM. Midnight picked the lock.

"We need to get out of here! NOW before.... "he" gets.... here...." Twilight said sadly.

The Vampyres had stopped. They now guarded each door. A single stallion stood in the hall. He and Sun had locked eyes. All eyes were on the mysterious stallion, some vamps even bowed. The Mad Doctor. His fur was as white as snow. His mane was long and shaggy, and just a bit darker then his fur, a very light gray. He had on a large black mantle that hid the majority of his body. The mantle stopped at the neck, transforming in to a popped collar. The elegant gold trim embroidering was amazingly done. Yet nothing was quite as amazing about the mantle, then it's silk scarlet inner lining. His chest was the only thing revealed. But that was hidden by what looked like a shirt that Rarity would have designed. Fancy ruffles, and ties held up the shirt. He looked like he belonged at some fancy party, not this old ruined castle. His voice was deep, but rolled off his tongue smoothly.

"You come in to "my" home, take "my" mares, and kill "my" children. This will not end well for you Sunfall."

"YOU FUCKING MAKE ME SICK! DIE MONSTER, YOU HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS WORLD." Sun roared in reply. Sun dashed at the Mad Doctor. Radiance glowed brilantly.

The Mad Doctor didn't move. Sun lunged forward with Radiance. The Mad Doctor poofed into a thick mist, dodging the attack. Rebuilding himself just to the side, a hoof slammed into Sun's throat, then began to lift him up. Standing on his two hind legs, The Mad Doctor stood, holding sun high into the air with a single hoof. For a second, the scarlet inside of the mantle seemed to lift, becoming a pair of large leathery bat wings, but only for a second. Just long enough to make a pony think it was their imagination. The Mad Doctor's glowing yellow eyes were locked on Sun's one eye. Sun tried desperately to break free, his two forelegs tried to pull his throat free. They couldn't.

Using his entire body, the Mad Doctor slammed Sun into the ground. Curling to his side, belly facing the leader of the Vampyres, Sun tried to recover. A powerful kick to his gut that sent him sliding nearly fifteen feet across cobblestone, keeping him from that recovery. Sun struggled to get up. The Mad Doctor slowly trotted toward him. When sun managed to get somewhat on his hooves, a surge of nausea hit him. He vomited, a disturbingly large amount of his own blood came out along with his last meal. Falling to the floor he nearly blacked out. The Mad Doctor just kept trotting for him.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.

Midnight unleashed a volley of shotgun pellets. They blasted the Mad Doctor into gooey mean chunks. Unfortunately, it was ineffective. The meat burst into a red mist that traveled back up into the air. The Mad Doctor reformed, even his clothes, if a bit messy. He glared at Midnight. Then transformed into a flock of bats that surrounded the father. The screeched as they clawed at him. Their tiny fangs stinging as they ripped into his flesh. Midnight braced, covering himself. As soon as he did the swarm reformed into a pony. Who quickly paced a hoof on Midnight's leathery wing.

And pulled.

"You got blood on my suit."

With a single pull and slight twist, the Mad Doctor ripped of Midnight's Wing entirely. Midnight did't scream. Didn't grunt. He did not react at all. He just fell limp. The pain. The horror. The tragedy of losing a wing hit him all at once. He blacked out almost instantly. The horrible pain, combined with the fact that he knew he would never fly again. That he would walk everywhere. That he was no longer a bat pony. That he was just a pony with fangs. The severe blood loss. He just rag dolled, falling limply to the floor.

Transforming again, the Mad Doctor shifted into a large wolf. He dashed for Zecora.

"I Surrender." She uttered, dropping her weapons.

"Good idea." He stated as his body grew back into it's pony shape. Then he made a skyward motion with his hoof. "Lock them up, don't touch any of them. Unless you want to be skinned alive and hung up."

The Vampyres quickly began forcing the mares back into the usable cages. Twilight gave Zecora a worried look. Zecora's passive and calm state were comforting. To bad they were lies. They had not planed for the Mad Doctor. Midnight was thrown in the same cell as Twilight and Zecora. They did what they could for him.

The Vampyre Lord prodded Sun. "Stay awake we need to chat."

"Fuck...er."

"Watch your mouth boy."

"Fuck... you."

"Never mind the staying awake thing."

The Mad Doctor picked up Sun's head and slammed it into the ground. For Sun, the world went black.

The mares however, watched their salvation get dragged into a dungeon. While being dragged, his hat fell, for the first time in a long time, they saw that streak of color in his mane. After being locked up, the hat sat on the bloodied floor. Zecora was very worried. This was not going to end well.

"What the hell is that guy?" Twilight asked quietly.

"He has many names. The Vampyre lord. Walker of the Damned. Cullen of the Meek. The Mad Doctor... My zebra tribe know and fear him. Legend say he was the first Vampyre. No matter what, our situation could not be more dire."

"But... why do monsters like this have a leader."

"Do not misunderstand, my dear. The follow him not out of homage or respect. No, the follow him out of fear...."

"Oh Celestia... What's happening!?"

"Try not to fall into the fear, tell me what you have seen here."

"Oh Celestia... This is bad, really bad. I was just minding my own business, then I wake up here. In some line up. That freak chooses me. Said I was lucky. That I should be thankful. Then I saw what this place is. They're taking mares and... raping them! This whole section of castle is just a forced surrogacy factory, and a dungeon. That... fucker, he wanted me to be thankful that he be the only one to rape me! This is so ... fucked! If you hadn't come when you did... then I would be just like nearly all of the other mares here. He was gunna...take...me. I was so... and there was nothing I could do." Twilight cried, she was stirred up into a furry. Zecora hugged Twilight.

"The Sun fight with us this day, Strike will save us, he will find a way."

"But he just lost... this is over Zecora."

"He was fueled by hate and rage, With his mind clear, I am sure he will free us from this cage."

"How can you be so sure."

"I'm not, but I have faith in Sun Strike. If anypony can, he will be the one who finally puts that monsters head on a pike."

"He... he has done a lot for us already."

"More then we know, he's done things like this his entire life. I didn't start until I was old enough to understand this strife."

"I know that, but... how... How can he save us from... this"

"I don't know, it times like this, you just need to have faith."

Twilight was more then a bit thrown off by the lack of an end rhyme. But she also realized that, as of right now, she needs Sun Strike to come through. And the more she thought about it. The more she calmed down. There was nopony out side of the Princesses she would rather have to rely on right then. She took a seat beside Zecora. Part of her wanted to cry. To scream. To die. But she smiled. She honestly believed that Sun Strike would come through and save them. Zecora smiled too. They were not worried. They had faith.

Sun awoke chained to a table. He grinned looking to the Lord of the Vampyres. The side of his head pounded. His body hurt. His stomach was in knots. He hurt. But he still smiled.

"Never thought I'd see you face to face Doc."

"Nor I you Sunfall."

"So what are you going to do now?"

"Talk."

"That's it just talk?"

"Indeed."

"I need to be chained down to talk?"

"A precaution."

"Scared huh? I would be too if i was who you are."

"My my, you seem in much lighter spirits."

"I am, I fell much better."

"Why's that?"

"I stomped on your hive fucker. Pretty much single-hoofedly. You men are real pussies now. No matter what you do, I'm winning. Bitch."

The Mad Doctor growled.

"You should show me some damn respect!"

"I've been getting that a lot lately. Funny thing is, I haven't changed at all."

"You are either very brave, or very stupid."

"It's actually both."

"Do not toy with me boy."

"I'm not."

"So can we chat now, or are we still learning how not to be an ass."

"That's offensive! I know some good donkey folk!"

"You do not seem to realize what situation you are in."

"No I get it, I am stuck talking to some motherfucking dipshit who has obviously thinks he is better then me."

"Do you have any idea who I AM. I AM BETTER THEN YOU"

"No, you are not, you really are not. And Yea. Your Dr. Acula."

Bloodlust

Long ago, Before Equestria was even a word. From a time of conflict and wars that are nothing but blurs on pony history. When each and every pony fought for land. Kingdoms fought for power. Down far south. Farther south then Equestria would ever know. There were three kingdoms fighting over a large plane of land. War took over. The smallest kingdom... didn't make it.

They had been at a stalemate for years, neither side could pull out ahead. Then, from out of nowhere there was a stallion who changed this, changed the war. All grew to fear him. He was Bloodlust, born by the blade, raised by the sword, and destined to die in battle. He was the Warlord and General. He fought along side his warriors. Brutal knights, covered head to hoof in thick armor, he and his knights were feared across the kingdoms. They fought and killed like a well oiled machine and changed the tide of the war. One of the kingdoms would fall. Bloodlust's army was approaching the rival kingdom's capitol. He had victory in his sights.

Earth pony knights encased in black armor stripped a battlefield. The knights stabbed at corpses. Any pony found hiding among the dead was beaten to death by their armored hooves. The blood was fresh, and the coppery scent filled the air. Many from both sides were dead, but anypony could notice that one side had more corpses, and those were mostly not Bloodlust's attended knights. Their enemies corpses were brutalized. Not merely dead, but destroyed. Severed limbs lay in the field. Pony entrails were left to fester. Many helmets were caved in, holding in the gore. The very slight drizzle of rain fell. The battlefield was shedding a tear for the dead.

Bloodlust removed his helmet. Reveling a scared face and short cut mane style. His face was scarred badly. Steel colored mane, and a silver hide. Several armored ponies came to him, giving a quick bow and salute.

"Warlord, shall we prepare the feast?"

"Yes go. My warriors need it. Make the greatest feast thus far. For tonight, brings not only another battle, but our last." Warlord Bloodlust replied.

"Indeed sir, shall I give you your privacy until the feast begins?"

"Make it so soldier."

"Very well."

His stallions went about their duties. They harvested what they could from the battlefield, any usable equipment was taken. The enemy dead were left to rot. Allied dead were taken and thrown into a bonfire. To die in battle was the ultimate honor for these warriors. Those who could, began crafting a feast for the ages. All kinds of food was being prepared, even meats and alcohol. After the dead were burned, the soldiers socialized, talking about their role in the battle. Who decapitated who, who bashed in the most skulls etc, etc. The soldiers under Bloodlust were notoriously brutal. He had them trained to be that way. Trained to be monsters on the battlefield.

Bloodlust himself simply trotted back to his tent after the battle. He was the highest ranking officer, but he fought besides his men, in every battle. He made it a point to lead his army by the front lines. He made a name for himself that way. He stepped inside his tent, it was smaller then the other officers' tents. He didn't want any more room then his soldier's barracks would allow them.

His tent didn't hold much. A warhammer, greatsword, and shield. A place to take off his armor. And a mat to sleep on. He dropped his helmet to the floor, then sat on his mat. He was wet with the rain, but he didn't care. He slid off his foreleg's armored boots. Then felt under his mat, pulling out an old wrinkled envelope. He smiled sadly at the envelope. He opened it with a smile that was much more real.

My Dearest Bloodlust.

I cannot wait for this war to be over... to see you again..., to feel you around me once more. This war has gone on for far too long my love. Each day seem to grow longer and longer, and I am laden with worry. I know of your skill and reputation, but I fear that only makes you a target. I pray to the great Omniscience that I will see you again. Soon this war will be over, and I will be waiting for you. Please be safe. Please don't forget me.

For You Only

Valley Falls.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Imagining his love, the smile on her face when he strode back into town a hero. He reread the letter too many time to count. He thought of Valley Falls, his wife and the love of his life. He longed to smell her sweet aroma. To feel her touch on his battle hardened hide. He fought for her. He would die for her. Do anything for her. He was easily one of, if not the most brutal warlord's in history. He got this title for her. He did all that, so he could protect her. Tonight, he would bring down an empire for her. It would be the final battle. They would ride in with the coming storm, under the cover of darkness, and the thunder of the storm, they would bring down the enemy capitol. After tonight he would be reunited with his love. This surprise attack would bring him to his love again.

Sadly, the enemies knew that Bloodlust was a key factor in their defeat. Stop him, and gain a great advantage. How to do that? Take away what he fights for. For on this night, the Night of the Great Storm, enemy spies would infiltrate Bloodlust's home, and kill his wife. Their hope was that if he lost her, his will to fight would be lost as well. Unfortunately, the war would end before word reached either them or Bloodlust... Bloodlust was going to end it. But the spies were already on their way, on their mission. Nopony in the world beside the enemy general knew that they were even there.

“War Master Bloodlust, the feast is ready to begin sir.”

“Very well...” He had spent enough time with this letter. He told himself that next time he thinks of Valley, that she will be right in front of him.

Time had come for the feast. Bloodlust spent hours with that letter, now he did not hide it, he just dropped it and made his way outside.

Once he arrived the feast began. Warriors drank, and ate to their heart's desire. They feasted until their hunger was gone, and then some more. They knew that for many of them, it would be their last meal. The storm was brewing. The soldiers were gorging themselves. After, they would rest. Bloodlust did not. He just steeled him mind for battle.

After the feast was long over. And the final light of the sun had faded. The army mobilized. The storm grew worse. The rain fell hard. The army trotted on. Straight to the enemy capitol.

The sky was black, no stars pierced the veil of the storm. A deep darkness gripped the kingdoms. That blackness hid the army well. The invasion had begun. The sound of thunder and lightning hid the sound of siege weaponry very well. The capitol walls were no match for the invaders. Howling winds hid the sound of screams, and clashes of metal weapons. Too many died there that night. But Bloodlust would have his victory.

The sky was black, no starts pierced the veil of the storm. A deep darkness gripped the kingdoms. That blackness hid the assassins well. The invasion had begun. The sound of thunder and lightning hid the sound of shattering glass very well. The old building's walls and doors were no match for the invaders. Howling winds hid her scream. Too many died there that night. But the assassins would have their victory.

Bloodlust had won the war. His man bowed to him as he took the rival kingdom's king into a large open hall. Then disemboweled him for all to see. So that all kingdoms would know not to fuck with the Army of Bloodlust, the Prince of Darkness.

The assassins had done it. They laughed as they dragged Valley's body out of the old building. They hung her from the building's roof, so that he would see. So that he would know that it was his leadership that brought such an ugly fate to such a beautiful mare.

The storm lasted ten more days.

No mail could be sent.

Bloodlust took his most trusted troops, and returned home himself. He didn't wait for permission. When he arrived back to his capitol with news of victory, he was held as a hero. The queen named him a hero to go down in history. Then he returned home. Anxious to see her. He never see her alive again.

He expected his love.

He saw a Priest of the Omniscience waiting for him.

His heart filled with ice and fear.

The Priest explained to him what had happened.

He made no sound. No tears. No sign of any emotions.

He instead trotted inside his home, not making a single sound.

He just stayed inside him home. For years, he just vanished. The Priest of the Omniscience would stop by to drop of food, and send him a prayer. Those prayers most not have worked.

So much time had passed that Bloodlust was a husk of his former self. He had become sickly and pale. His once mighty and powerful body had fallen. He was now more feeble and weak then he had been in his entire life. He was scrawny and his many was matted and shaggy. His silvery and metal color was all gone, like his whole body had been coated a boring dull grey. He just sat there in a chair. Just sat. Nothing else, just sat. He may have eaten when the Priest brought food to his door, but he just never saw the point. He felt nothing. He was blank. Not even pain or hunger. The bleak sorrow and horror had simply taken over. He was broken, he had given up.

He could hardly move, everything felt like a battle. Breathing was challenge. He sat there on his old chair. Blankly staring into nothing. When a dark crimson mare strutted into his view.

“Aww, your about to die old buck.” She told him. It took him a few seconds to even realize that she was there. She was an odd color. A color he had seen a lot but simply couldn't place where. Her mane was like silk, and elegant and beautiful midnight black. Her coat looked like velvet, an odd colored velvet. Her cutie mark was the same cross and omega symbol as the church of the Omniscience, only upside down. His eye's looked to her, but his body didn't.

“Shit! Did it take you forever to fucking get here. Now that you're about to fucking die we can talk baby.” her voice was as beautiful as she was. However he words were crude.

“Get out.” was all he stated. All he could state.

“You haven't even heard me out yet honey, I can help you. Make your dream's come true sugah.”

“I don't know who... or what.. you are but I don't care. Kill me or leave.”

“Don't you wanna know why I am here?”

“No, go away.”

“Oh well, -” she tossed her mane back “- I guess you'll just let Valley Falls down again.”

That cut deep.

“Valley... Valley Falls?” The very name cut into his soul.

“Mmmhmmm.” She hummed

“She's... dead...”

“But you can bring her back.”

“What? How? But she's been gone for so long..”

“Oh sure, but you know all that shit about your immortal soul. She still just hanging around, lost. She needs you, she need you to guide her back. But I guess your just gunna leave her... again. ”

“What necromancy is this?”

“Not necromancy exactly.... more like an extension of your power.”

“Power, I am but an old man.”

“That's where I come in, I can give you power, lots of powers. Power to bring her back.”

“What's the price? What's the catch.”

“No catch, but some warnings. Deals are final saggy balls, no backsies alright? And in this new form, you must feast on life energy to be... productive, not eating the stuff wont kill you, it'll just make you weak as fuck. And, you only get one extra life pal. Die somehow, and you're gone for good. Anything you create follows the same rules that you do. That's it. You get unimaginable power, and immortality. You can still get murdered, but you will live forever. That is to say you will never die of natural causes.”

“Life energy? This reeks of black magics... but... but Valley...”

“You game stinky? Being here is a pretty big chore, and really hard, so if this is happening act fast. Deal is leaving the table real soon.”

He stayed on this. He thought about, well... more over he thought of Valley Falls. They loved each other, but would this cross a line ethically? Of course this was wrong, but.... would the ends justify the means? To be honest, there was never a time he would have said no to this deal.

“I'll do it, give me power!”

The off-crimson mare grinned, then pulled his head toward her own. Forcing a kiss that was literally painful. She pulled her head away, tossed her mane back with a laugh.

The Bloodlust fell out of his chair, choking and gagging, unable to catch his breath. Then, for a while, he laid there motionless. After a few minutes, he stood. His coat was as white as snow. His mane was shaggy and just a bit grey compared to his coat. His scars had completely healed. His body was youthful and young again. He looked to the mare. His mind was fresh. He remembered the color. It was the same dark crimson as sitting or dried blood.

However, the mare somehow vanished a second later, she was simply gone. He looked about for her, but couldn't find her. But he wanted to figure out his new powers. He wanted to bring his love back. For the first time in a long time he took a step outside.

The sun was bright, and burned. Really burned... like fire! He jumped back into the shadows. The sun hurt him. He should wait for night to fall, but he had to find out how to bring back Valley Falls. He dressed in his thickest mantle and hood. They hid him from the sun. For a moment he worried about the potential heat. But after that moment he realized that he didn't really feel anything. He wasn't warm or cold, he could hardly feel. The sun had burned, but everything else felt numb. He didn't care. He trotted into the sun, into the town where he once lived.

In the following days he spent the majority of his time learning of his new abilities. He also learned of his hunger. His unrelenting hunger... When he first felt it he did not recognize the feeling, however ironic that may seem. He never truly experienced a bloodlust quite like this.

He trotted in the shadows, hiding from the sun. He stuck to walls and tried to remain out of sight. He felt sick, slow, clouded, his mind was acting like he was in slow motion. Then he saw her, a young mare, still full of life and happiness. Out of new found instinct, he stalked her. He kept back, keeping her in sight, but never entering her sight. Then, when she trotted into a shady alley to cut across some roads, he attacked. Fueled by something primal he never felt before, he pounced like a cat. His body slammed her into the ground, he was too fast. She never even screamed. The fangs he didn't even know he had yet sunk into her tender young throat. Her blood poured into his mouth, he drank it down greedily, then dropped her dead body on the dirt floor, her face forever trapped with the horrible expression of fear, confusion and pain. He let out a loud booming roar. His head was clear, his vision was clearer then ever. His mind was moving faster then he previously thought possible. He felt fresh, renewed, the life blood he drank filled him with energy and life. He ducked into the shadows, and felt his body want to move, he learned that he could move along the shadows at a high speed and remain completely silent. He loved his power, giving no consideration that they came with killing an innocent mare.

That night he beamed, flowing through the darkness he knew his goal, he knew what his next move was. After feasting again, he would find out how to bring back his love.

The second kill came easier then the first. Sleeping ponies have a poor understanding of what's around them. Once again brimming with stolen life, he slipped through the shadows, until he arrived at a graveyard. The night was a rush of zealous energy. He found his love's grave and dug her body up, it was dead, rotting, but to him, she was a beautiful angel still. He had no idea how to resurrect her. He was still an earth pony, so he didn't have magic. Then an idea popped into his mind. If drinking other's life blood gave him new life and energy, what would happen if somepony drank his blood? He bit into his hoof and held above his bride's mouth.

For a long moment nothing happened. Then her body began to heal It pulled itself back together. And Valley Falls let out a long gasp for air. She looked the same as when she was alive, only now she was much more pale, almost as white as Bloodlust. She gazed at him in sheer disbelief for a long time.

“Ba..bll...Bloodlust?”

“Yes my love...” he was having an incredibly hard time finding words to say.

“But, I was... I was dead, I remember dying...”

“I brought you back.”

“...How? Wha...why?”

Bloodlust looked at her, then breathed a sigh. He told her of bloody crimson mare, and what he had done to get here, what he was, what he turned her into to have her again. He told her of the years he spent waiting for death, the year's he spent feeling like nothing. He told her that the past days filled him with a whole new life. She cringed at nearly every word.

“Bloodlust... you're a monster....”

“I was a monster long ago, I fought and killed for a king I care nothing for, I was a nightmare on that battlefield. They enemies pissed themselves in my presence. I invaded a town, just like this one under the veil of a storm, and murdered, everypony. Yet I give up my life to be reborn, so that I can bring back the soul of my life, and... and I am a monster now? I have always been a monster, you knew that Valley.”

“Bloodlust, this isn't like you!”

“I spent a lifetime waiting for death so that I can join you in the after life, I did everything in my power to try to make you happy, that is what I've always done. I couldn't wait any longer.”

“This crosses a line! I'm a monster, you made me into a monster!”

“So that you and I can be together, forever, all eternity. I can build us a home in a forest, hidden away, just you and me, like we always dreamed.”

“At the cost of our equinity!”

“At the cost of everything. The feeble minded ponies of this land will not understand our love.”

“This isn't love! This is a desperate attempt to cheat death!”

“Not love! NOT LOVE! LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE FOR YOU. I WAS A MONSTER, I BROUGHT DOWN AN EMPIRE IN YOUR NAME! I BECAME A NIGHTMARE FOR YOU, ALL THE BLOOD I SPILLED, ALL THE LIVES I ENDED! AND THAT IS NOT LOVE!” he roared his fangs out and showing. Valley just backed into her coffin, terrified. Bloodlust stopped in his tracks, realizing what he had done all too late.

“Valley.... I'm so sorry.... I... I just.... I was weak. I had to go so long without you. I knew this was wrong, knew that this was... was evil! But... I wanted you back so badly.... I'm sorry...” He literally cried, unable to control himself, he fell to his knees. Valley saw that he was just a desperate stallion. He had gone far in to the dark side, and he dragged her in to it as well. But none of that mattered. She embraced him, and let him cry into her breast. They held each other for a long time. What they did, did not matter, as long as they were together, nothing else mattered. Their love was reason enough.

When the sun began to rise, He quickly led her to his home. The place where she was murdered. The home they shared for so long in life, they would share in undeath. With time, they both realized that the home would not do forever. He had a castle built deep in a forest, hidden away from the world. They had livestock to feed on, and they lived separate from the world outside. Just like he had always wanted. Just him, and his love. Bloodlust and Valley Falls. Together at last.

It didn't take long after moving into their new home for Valley to become the bearer of a child. She and Bloodlust never thought anything of it, it was a gift. They were full with "life" and happiness. However... as the baby began to grow, Valley became weaker and weaker. Bloodlust would not find out why until it was too late. By the time the baby was due, she was weak and feeble. When the child was born, Valley died. She was simply gone. Bloodlust tried to give her his blood to give her life again, but it was ineffective. She was gone. The child itself was undernourished. It passed soon after it's mother. He would that this was due to Valley only eating livestock, which did not provide enough sustenance for her or the baby to survive the birthing process. Once again. Bloodlust was alone. All alone.

This time, he had nothing to blame but himself. She died birthing the child he gave her. He killed her. This time, he wasn't silent. This time, he was pissed. He left the castle and went to the nearest town. Once their he ravaged it. He ripped ponies apart, he consumed not just their blood, but their flesh as well.

“YOU FUCKING CUNT WHERE ARE YOU, SHOW YOURSELF DEMON.” He thundered as he torn down ponies' doors searching for the crimson mare.

“What's on your mind champ?” her sweet voice was tender.

“FUCKING CUNT YOU MADE ME KILL HER.”

“He tried to slam into her, but his body just went through her, he crashed into a building instead.

“I didn't do anything.”

“YOU DIDN'T SAY THAT MY CHILD WOULD KILL HER.” He knew she wasn't really there, that she was intangible, he tried to bash her anyway.

“You and your bitch fed of the life and blood of things, did you think that your brat wouldn't do the same?” Bloodlust stopped in his tracks.

“I... YOU...you...”

“It's not my fault you were to stupid to think of the obvious. You killed her because you were stupid. That's on you, being here is a pain. I'm done.”

“NOOOOOOOO YOU BITCH, YOU FUCKING CUNT, YOU STUPID FU...fuuu.....fucking....” Bloodlust wanted to blame that mare. But he knew that he couldn't. She was right. It was his fault. He was a fool. And now he had to pay for it. His roar filled the air. Sounding like the cross between a manticore being stabbed and dragon growling. That roar, would haunt the dreams of all the survivors in the town.

He returned to his old castle. Alone. He walked though the halls, his steps echoing through the halls. Alone. He trotted past the graves of his child and love. Alone. They both died so fast, it was so unreal, that now, he was only fully of anger. Soon after a wave a sorrowed filled him. He wanted to die. But he knew that wasn't exactly possible at the moment. He was right on assuming that not being a infant, he wouldn't starve to death. And that not being a mare, he wouldn't be drained to death by his child, either. He was alone. Utterly and painfully alone. Sitting upon the throne he built, the seat beside him empty. He cried.

After his tears had fallen, he was done. He gave up again. He had become a monster, more of one then he had ever been. So why not dive right it? He would be branded a monster no matter what. So why not be a monster? He knew how to infect normal ponies after all. All it took was a mouthful of his blood. Before long, he would have an large pack of his own kind to command. His kind would come to be known as vampyres. Those of pure blood, or resurrected by pure blood, would be Vampyres, those who were turned from a living pony, or impure, became vampires. They would spread across the world and land like a disease.

When their numbers became a menace the Seekers put them in their sights. A war began. But Bloodlust did not care to win. He wanted to drag it out as long as possible...

“Dr. Acula? It's been a long time since I've been called that.”

“Prefer Bloodlust? I know that name to.”

“How do you know my names?” Bloodlust growled.

Sun sat up, the chains that had bound him fell to the floor. He gave a stretch, and an exaggerated yawn. The two's eye's met again. They both let a grin slide into their lips.

“I'm Sunfall, you know that. It's my job to know everything about fuckers like you.”

“Your words are going to be the end of you here boy.”

“Are they? Because the way this looks to me, I'm calling the shots.”

“Arrogant child.”

“Not arrogance, I just know that I am going to win this little “encounter” of ours on way or the other.”

“What makes you think that? You're but an ant to me, I swat you off my leg.”

“Really? Answer me this one, what the hell are you doing all the way out here? You hail from the south, far south. So what is the first Vamp doing out in Equestria's backwater? Sounds like you're hiding. You've been ignoring the Seekers, and now you are trying to mass produce a new generation. What's the matter? Population getting low?”

“You know nothing...” Bloodlust growled.

“I know that I killed way more vamps then what normally make up a nest this size. I know that you are fighting a losing battle here. And that you seem to be the one not showing the right amount of respect.”

Bloodlust laughed. “Me? I'm now the foul-mouthed son of a bitch.”

“Do you have any idea how this is going to play out?” Sun said with a bit of a laugh, and more disbelief.

“I kill the last remaining member of the Sunfall bloodline?” Bloodlust stated with a hint of pride in his voice.

“Maybe. Maybe...”

“What's wrong, what happened to that bravado Sunfall?”

“Oh its still here. Let me explain something to you old timer.”

“You have my attention. Speak, all warriors deserve to have state their last words.”

“This is going to end badly for you, no matter what. The only reason why I lost our fight earlier was because I was pissed, and I didn't know it was you that I was fighting. Now you lost that advantage, and I've calmed down quite a bit.”

“Foalish boy.”

“I wasn't done. Now then either I kill you, or you kill me. If I win, then I walk out of here and butcher this entire rape factory you've built. Or you kill me, and become the guy who killed the Sunfall. Now tell me, with a title like that, don't you think that all the other Seekers are going to e gunning for you? Who wouldn't want to be the Seeker who not only avenged the Sunfall, but proved that they are better then them by killing the killer , get it? It will either be me, or some other Seeker who wipes this place, and all other places like it off the face of the planet. If there are even anymore then this one. No matter what, you lose, and when you lose, I win. Get it.”

Bloodlust just stared for a moment. He wanted to disprove his words, but he couldn't. Sun was not far from the truth. Bloodlust was once a general, he knew that if he started this fight, that he would lose eventually. Sun grinned at his enemy's silence.

“Now then, as for the whole respect thing. You know who I am. You know what I've done. Need I remind you? Within the past few months alone I've fought and killed more then you can even fucking understand. I single-hoofedly killed a fucking Hiderunner. I blasted a Black Dog into fucking meaty chunks. I torched a Blight, and a fucking Banshee, then jumped out of a fucking building, and LAUGHED about it! I killed a coven of six, SIX angel witches! I turned a pack of LYCANS in to ash piles! I stopped a fucking zombie invasion, even AFTER I was eaten by a zombie Minotaur, and killed him from the inside for fuck's sake! I IMPALED THE IMMORTAL METAL ON IT'S OWN FUCKING TUSK! IF YOU THINK FOR A SINGLE FUCKING SECOND THAT YOU CAN BEAT ME, YOU BETTER TAKE A LOOK AT MY FUCKING TRACK RECORD, BECAUSE YOU'LL BE FAR FROM THE FIRST TO MAKE THAT MISTAKE AND YOU WONT BE THE LAST! I AM CALLING THE SHOTS HERE, AND IF YOU WANT YOU'RE SPECIES TO LIVE, THEN YOU'RE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I SAY BECAUSE YOU'RE MY FUCKING BITCH NOW!” Sun roared out like a lion.

The two traded glares. There was a silence. Sun composed himself.

“I know it may risk a losing battle, but while you have victory in the long run, I have your friends.”

“I haven't forgotten.”

“Then what is your plan here?” Bloodlust gave a sinister grin.

“Let's make a deal Doc. One where nopony goes home... empty hoofed."

Zecora and Twilight waited in their cage for what felt like hours. Midnight was down for the count. They doubted that he would wake up until morning. The two mares, however were too on edge to sleep. All they knew was that Sun Strike had been defeated, and that things were not looking good at all. They had no idea that as they sat worried in their cage, Sun was negotiating with the Vampyre Lord Bloodlust. They waited and waited. It was the dead of night, and it was dark. They both stood when they heard the creaking of and old throne room door. They strained to see through the heavy darkness. The sound of hoofsteps grew closer and closer.

Then like a beacon of hope through the darkness Radiance bloomed. Surrounding Sun Strike. Dressed in his trench coat. He held Radiance in his mouth and moved slowly toward the center of the room. Where he reached down and retrieved his hat. He glanced toward Twilight and Zecora with a sad look on his face. He put on a fake grin.

Bloodlust trotted to the cage door, unlocking it with a key. He opened it wide, then trotted to the next cage, unlocking that one as well. He went on halfway down the throne room. Unlocking half of the cages. Then he stood by Sun Strike in the center of the room. The group of mares all moved out of their cages slowly, cautiously. Bloodlust turned to the two new room guards.

“Guards, one of you get the one's we've already taken. The other tell the nest that the ponies leaving are not to be attacked. Anything stupid enough to go against my will shall regret that decision.”

The mares who had been taken grew even more pale. Twilight looked at Sun Strike.

“What? You... your leaving them here?” Twilight looked at him with horror filled eyes.

“That's the deal.” Sun said sorrowfully.

“But... but... they.... their gunna....” Twilight tried and failed to hold back tears.

“I know.... I know. The deal is that all of those who haven't already been... selected get to leave with me. All those who are already... you know, they have to stay.”

“But Sun!-”

“I know... The sooner you get over it the better. Sometimes... sometimes when things get bad. You have to bite down and deal with it.” He interrupted.

“Sun Strike these mares-”

“Twilight he knows, it is his cross to bare. Do not misunderstand, this was the best he could do, he does care.”

“I care a lot Twi... but it's either this, or we all die. I am willing to die to stop him, but I refuse to let my friends suffer for this. Just... please shut up. We can talk about it later I promise, I need to get these mares home.” Sun spoke with a unusual level of sorrow in his voice.

Twilight said nothing. She just looked to the ground and let the tears fall. The mares and the Seekers grouped up. Sun put Midnight on his back, and took point. Zecora kept at the back of the pack. Bloodlust saw his guest out into the forest. Once they went far enough, he vanished.

Sun escorted each mare back to their homes, he convinced them that it would be best if they told nopony of what happened to them within the past few days. He didn't worry much, even if the did tell others, nopony would believe them.

Zecora and Twilight did not follow him for this process. Instead they both went to Zecora's hut, which she was now thinking of relocating. They treated Midnight's wound with better tools and medical skills. After, they waited. Sun promised to return to them after he knew all the mares were home safely.

For a long time, they waited in more silence. Then there was a knocking on the door. Twilight's magic lazily pulled the door open. The two mares looked at the dripping wet Sun Strike.

He stepped in and sat on the floor by the humble fire Zecora had made.

“Jumped in a river on the way here, get the blood off.” he stated flatly.

“Is... is that it?” Twilight asked, obviously upset. She literally shook with anger.

“Twi... let me fill you in on something.”

“Please do.” She nearly growled.

“You do what I do long enough and you learn something. You can't save everypony. No matter how hard you try, ponies die. It's nature. That doesn't mean stop trying. At least that's never the way I saw it. I do my best to save everypony I can, but sometimes I fail.”

“Sun... you left those mare to be raped to death. RAPED. TO. DEATH.”

Sun took a long deep breath.

“This wasn't the first time I've had to deal with Vampyre nests. A long time ago. When I went Seeking with my brother and father, we came upon a nest similar to the one you were in. Fewer Vamps. We wiped them out pretty quickly. But all of the mares had been raped. This is where the problem started. To become a vampire, you have to be infected by a Vampyre, there are other ways too, but wont go into that. You get infected by getting their body fluids. Saliva, blood, other body fluids if you catch my drift. So all the mares could already infected. It doesn't always work the first time, with tolerance and all, there was a chance that some of them could walk away alive. It's not very likely, but it could happen. I wanted to get them home, hope for the best, save as many as I could. They both thought they were going to turn soon.” Sun had to fight back tears.

“I had to watch those mares get gunned down. I was so pissed that fucking left. All the anger I had built up, just exploded. I spent my life getting the shit kicked out of me, if not by my father, then by the brother who told me regularly that I murdered our mom. I fucking hate my brother. I was so done, so tired of being treated like garbage that I just left, trotted away. I just couldn't take the bitter taste of hatred day after day. You don't trot away from being a Seeker Twilight. I learned that the hard way.” His battle against his tears was getting harder.

“I was Seeking alone. And it was hard. I wanted to save everypony. But I couldn't. I have held so many ponies as they laid dying in my hooves. If I was just a little better, I could have saved them. There was this filly, little girl, like one the crusaders. Didn't even have her cutie mark left. Her daddy sold her to some demon for money. She got torn apart by Hellhounds, right in front of me. I couldn't do anything. Hellhounds can only be seen by ponies they are hunting, or who are close to dying. I was neither, I couldn't do anything. You can't save everypony. I gave that Vampyre those mares to save you and those I knew could be safe. I saved as many as I knew I could. I did... I did my best, all the cards were in my favor, but I still left them there! Killing them would have been better, damn it killing them WAS BETTER.” The tears came. Sun Strike couldn't fight any longer. He was done.

Zecora took a seat next to him and let his weight fall on her. She slowly took off his hat and set it down. Then held him close. His one eye wanted to fight the tears. He vented out the tears of years of abuse. Years of guilt. Years of blaming himself for his mother's death. Years of the shear horror that come with being a Seeker. Zecora had the same feelings, but now was not the time for her to express them. She wanted to cry to, she had similar feeling.

When Sun finally composed himself, he sat up, and gave a smile toward Zecora. He looked to Twilight, who looked like she had done a fair share of crying as well. Sun took another deep breath.

“Also, you should know... I think the world might be ending soon...” Sun began to explain the things his brother had found before his death. He and Zecora explained the things that must happen to let the Great Evil Lord free. Sun expressed his concern that the Prince of Darkness had just let the Sun free. Now only one last key had do be accomplished. The One True Light must be Branded by the Sun. Assuming that he was still the Sun in these warning, his plan was to lay as low as possible. He figured he should stay away from both literal and figurative “Branding”. Twilight reacted exactly the way he assumed she would. She freaked out, a lot. She panicked, then vomited, then hyperventilated, then paced around for a while. After she calmed down they shared a hug.

To be honest. Sun wanted to kill himself. If he was the Sun in this story, then if he was dead, then the Sunfall clan would be gone and the world would not end. But he was scared that “the one true light” was one of his friends, or perhaps his friendship itself. And him killing himself might “brand” it. If the world was going to end, he wanted to fight it until the very end. He was fully willing to die if it meant his friends would be safe. He was ready to stare whatever the end was in the face and fight it, even if it killed him.

They shared a hug, and he and Zecora walked Twilight back to her library. The parted with more hugging. He parted from Zecora. They both thought that morning was to close for them to try anything. It was an excuse not to try by both of them. Seekers are not exactly good when it comes to romantic interaction. The six mares that been watching them this entire time made jokes that they were acting like school fillies. They really had no idea how to really express their feelings for each other.

Sun got to his motel room with the injured Midnight Fire. He sat in his bed after setting his father down on a couch. He fell asleep almost instantly. He had gotten a lot off his chest. He had things he needed to say, and he finally said them.

Twilight sat crying by candle light. She hated what she was going to do next.

This is wrong! He trusts me! He trusted me with all that... personal... stuff. I... I can't just betray him! He... he's done so much for me, for my friends... but what choice do I have...

She was finding that actually doing what she told herself she had to do to be much more difficult then she intended. She couldn't stop herself from crying. The tears just kept coming. But with some focus, her magic grabbed a quill and some parchment. Having the two things in front of her brought more tears. She hated what she was doing.

She hated betraying the Stallion how had just saved her from one of the worst imaginable ways to die... who also blamed himself for all the mares he couldn't save. She dropped the quill. Unfortunately she couldn't cry forever. Eventually she was out of tears. Emotionally and physically exhausted, she laid numb. Then her magic weakly grasped the quill again. Dipped it in ink and pressed it against the parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia.....

Author's Note

The end is nigh!!!!

The End is super Nigh!!!!

Sunfall and Sunrise

Some time ago.

Sun Strike sat in a dark room. Just sat. This was not the first time, nor the last time he would contemplate taking his own life.

He stood up.

He held his sawed-off with a level of honor and respect that only a weapon that has never failed in it's life time gets. He wanted to die. He was done. Tired. Defeated.

He placed the firearm in his mouth, filling it with the taste of metal. He removed it and placed it on his temple. Then lowered it again. He again, just sat. He wanted to end himself. But pulling that trigger was hard. A good part of him didn't want to take the easy way out. The other part knew that being murdered by some monster would most likely be much slower and significantly more painful.

“Sunfall...” a soft voice echoed in the silence.

Sun reacted instantly. He aimed the weapon directly at the source of the sound. He pointed the sawed-off directly at the head of princess Luna. Who didn't even flinch. She just looked at him with sad eyes.

“Luna? Shit! Bring your Night Guard? Bad idea, nopony should have come here.” he said with murder in his flaming sapphire eyes.

“There is no hit squad Sunfall. I come in peace.”

“Yeah, and ponies enjoy their stay in hell.”

“Please, I need your help.”

“I'm not helping you with shit.”

“Why not? Is it not a Seekers duty to hunt down the wicked.”

“Yeah, it is. But did your sister taint you too? Apparently nopony but my own damn bloodline remembers what happened. You went Nightmare, we got blamed for it. Maybe not to the public, but Celestia's wraith is something you don't want gunning for your head. Your sister Celestia blames this bloodline for everything. EVERYTHING. She thinks we not only gave you the idea to turn nightmare, but she also thinks we turned you into Nightmare Moon. Nearly everything that these.... things that haunt this world kill, we get blamed for! We've been her fucking scapegoat for nearly a thousand years. I have so many warrants for my arrest, and so many prices on my head that its fucking sad that I haven't been caught and executed yet. Worse part is that I was fucking born with these targets on my back. I didn't even know I was a wanted criminal until I was almost arrested for what seemed like no reason. We've done nothing but kill the fucked up shit she refuses to see, and yet were still her number one enemy. Bullshit! You're playing some game you bitch!” his gun never dropped away from her head.

“There is a colt.” the princess replied coldly

“What?”

“There is a colt in this town. His mother was killed and replaced by a ghoul. He will die next, unless you save him.”

“Not falling for it, send your guards.”

“How? Tell them that a type of undead goblin has eaten a mare, taken her form, and now plots to eat and replace her entire family? Even if they would believe me, they wont be able to kill it. It will move far to fast, and they don't even know how to kill it. I don't even know how to kill it. You are an expert, your blood has been the expert. I need you. This colt needs you. This world needs you.”

“Bullshit. Fuck you, this is fucking twisted.”

“He isn't far, not more then an five minutes trot from here. I can't go, I'd get in a lot of trouble if any of this... Seeker business was brought into the public eye.

Sun glared at Luna. He lowered his gun. He looked to the floor.

“Shit!” He grabbed his trench coat and began to put it on in a rush. As he left, he pretended to ignore Luna's words.

“We need ponies like you Sunfall. Be careful where you point that gun.”

If this world needs ponies like me, then this whole world is doomed. He thought to himself as he galloped out of the door of his cheap motel.

Now

Sun was happy. He was living the way he never, for a single moment, thought he would. He was afraid that he would bring the end of the world. He contemplated taking his own life, or just fleeing and hiding away. But for all he knew that would bring the end. So he just stayed in the shadows, only emerging to spend time with his friends. He made his decision. No matter what would happen, he would stand by his friends, do his very best to undo everything that the end would bring. Even if it cost him his life. Other then that, he kept to his normal "fairly standard" life.

He enjoyed visiting Applejack's farm. He would help her around the farm, bucked apples, did some hay lifting, played with Winona, rebuilt the mare's barn. He was there to help, and idly chat with Applejack from time to time. They mostly just talked about what the was happening around the farm. He had a great respect for Applejack and the pride she kept for her farm, family, and work. He remembered that she was the first mare he met when all this started. He remembered thinking how he assumed she was just a pretty face with no brains. He know know that she is not only a real work horse, but also pretty smart. They had a real friendship. A real bond. Applejack saw him nearly the same way. She had this admiration for what he did. Respecting him for it, but also knowing that she would fair horribly if they switched places. She knew that she did what was considered hard labor, but fighting the things Sun Strike fought on a regular bases was terrifying. She had no idea how he was so unphased by everything he saw. More than the anything else, she respected how he fought for everypony, not just his friends, but every single pony, no matter the cost to himself. It was that pure goodness she saw in him that made her really appreciate that she got to be his friend. Some ponies may think that nearly dying for random ponies was a terrible life decision. Neither Sun or Applejack would agree with that.

He also visited Pinkie Pie, which really surprised them both. Sun and Pinkie were two very different ponies. Sun was serious, Pinkie was... well, Pinkie was Pinkie. They were closer to opposite then anything else. However, the night with the Lycan ordeal changed things a bit. Pinkie saw some dark things that night. She understood how a life time of that could make a pony... serious. She also did her best to help him. She saw how he fought, and how dedicated to his cause he was. She admired that. Admired him. Sun, saw good in Pinkie too. He saw that if and when things get bad, she would try to help, it may have been in her uniquely Pinkie Pie way, but she did help. He also lightened up around her after that. He could understand how she lightened somber moods. That if things are scary, having someone who is relaxed and funny, can calm things down. They had a good friendship, if a bit awkward from time to time.

Rainbow Dash and Sun Strike also had a odd relationship when they first got to know each other well. Not so much from how they saw things at a near polar opposite like Sun and Pinkie. Moreover that they just had virtually nothing in common. Rainbow Dash really didn't care for him to much when they first met. His general personality just rubbed off on her the wrong way. Sun really didn't care either way. Then the Angel Witches happened and everything changed. She saw how he fought for her, not due to their friendship or his own personal gain. But because it was the right thing to do. She saw him fight hard, and when she saw that she could help, she saved him. When Rainbow saved him, it made Sun really wish he inherited his father's bat pony...ness. Wings really seemed nice. He rather liked Rainbow after that. He respected her loyalty to both him and Twilight. She went out of her way to help hum, put herself in danger to help him. He admired her. The two soon found that they could talk about the various training regiments they did to keep in shape. They had a good friendship, they knew they could rely on each other.

He had mixed feelings about helping Fluttershy. Mostly due to the fact she always lectured him about his smoking and drinking habits. Also he was pretty sure that her pet bunny wanted him dead. But he knew all her nagging came from a good place. She just wanted him to be healthy. He helped her take care of the animals she normally treated alone. His very... home-brewed remedies were rough at times, but very effective. Fluttershy saw him in a much more heroic light then he would have approved of. She also had something of a crush on him, not that she would ever act on it. She was far too shy to do that, and for Sun well... oblivious was too nice a word. She didn't really mind though. She was happy to see him get along so well with Zecora. Perhaps a bit disappointed, but she knew that they would still be friends, she knew there were plenty of other stallions with significantly better health habits out there. They had a friendship based in few words and kindness. They cared for one another.

He and Rarity had a stressed relationship. Mostly due to the fact that 99% of what Rarity wanted to talk about with him was his time with Zecora. Which was something that he was not only very private about, but he was also extremely bad at explaining his feelings. Talking about his emotions was on the long list of things that Sun never learned how to do. There was also the fact that he wore the same trench coat and hat literally all the time. They had both gotten filthy and blood stained. And the closest thing that Sun did to washing clothes is when he'd jump in the river to bathe, which he usually did fully clothed. Sun really didn't understand Rarity and her clothing styles. Ponies generally don't ware clothes. They only weighed you down. But they could also hid things, like scars or weapons. But clothing designed to look nice just seemed silly to him. He had a good coat and a hat, that was all he needed. The eye patch just hid his gross scared eye hole meat. But even then, through all the differences Rarity was ready and willing to make him new eye patches and hats, (which he never wore) and he was ready to be a bodyguard or hired “muscle”. For the seamstress, everything he did with Zecora was like her soap operas. Where her to favorite characters were obviously in love, but neither of them would act on it. It drove the crazy. They had a rather odd relationship, but they were friends nonetheless.

Then there was Twilight. She was the last of her friends to be directly affected by something and have to completely rely on Sun Strike to save her. She was in a grim situation. She came very close to some very dark and fucked up shit. She saw the horror in front of her, she knew what she saw was something that she would never forget. But she not only saw Sun fight as hard as he could, but also save a lot of mares in the process. She was then given a lot of personal information from the Seeker, and she knew that he trusted her. He did, he believed that she would be the reason Celestia would spare his life, he believed that the magic of friendship would save him. He trusted Twilight, and cared for her, he wanted to protect her, and keep her safe. She may have been Celestia's student, but that did not change the way he felt about her. They were both good friends.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were also a strange case. He spent a good portion of his time with the three fillies. He had also taught them several things, like how to steal, and fight dirty. He was far from the greatest teacher on morality, but he did explain that one should only steal as a last resort. At the very least, he tried to teach them good things.

The biggest concern with the Crusaders was Scootaloo. He may have been oblivious, but Scootaloo did a very bad job hiding her feelings for him. He knew that she had a crush in him, and he had absolutely no idea how to deal with that situation in any way at all. So he figured that one of the mares would deal with that situation for him.

The other big concern was, that they had come to expect a certain level of his being with them. He was afraid of how they would feel after he left, or when he died. It was feeling like this that made him want to stay away ponies in the first place. The idea of hurting those you care about and being hurt by them, scared him. This was his first real experience with it after all.

He really like Zecora, he just felt comfortable around her. Perhaps it was because they were both Seekers. Or that they just interacted well. Or it was much simpler then all that. Maybe she was just hot. He was unsure. But he still really like being with her. She felt the same way. She was unaware of how, and why these feeling developed, and where they even came from, but she really didn't mind that they were there.

He and Midnight has the most uneasy relationship by far however. Midnight was an abusive father, who let his older son call the the younger one a monster for being born. Midnight had never technically stopped caring, he just wanted his kids to be tough so that they could survive, like his late wife wanted. Unfortunately this lead them to become Seekers, who had a nasty habit of dying on the job. After an argument over potential vampires, Sun had had enough and wanted out. He didn't want to stop seeking, he just wanted to quit his “family”. Sun still believes that this was the best decision in his life, outside of not killing himself, and going to Ponyville. He was compelled to finish the research his brother had started on the Immortal Metal, but he figured it didn't matter because he killed the Metal anyway.

After losing his wing, Midnight just up and left. He was gone for some mysterious reason, and left no word of where he was going. No goodbyes, he just trotted off somewhere.

Sun sat on his bed, cigarette in his mouth. He just rested on his back, enjoying the smoke and the peace. We wasn't sure how many cigarettes he'd get to smoke once the world ended. He just spent a day working with Applejack and wanted to rest up for awhile, just take it easy for a bit. That plan was going well until he heard a rapid knocking on his door. He lazily got up and trotted to the door. The knocking only sped up. As soon he fiddled with the door, it was pulled open by Twilight's magic. She looked horrible, worried, and exhausted. Like she hadn't slept in days. Like she could barely stand.

Sun was immediately refocused. Realigned.

“Sun Strike, something is going on! We need you! Follow me!” was all she stated before a flash of her horn gave her a head start. Sun grabbed his trench coat and Radiance before galloping off to help Twilight with whatever was going on.

They both galloped hard. Twilight was not as fast as Sun, so to keep ahead, she regularly teleported ahead. She was in such a rush, it made Sun worry about what could be happening. Their hoofsteps were the only noise down the late evening streets and roads of Ponyville. The pleasant breeze and winds were deceptively comforting. There was a intensity in the air, so thick that it felt like wading through water. This was a intensity that Sun did not sense in such a rush. He just galloped as fast as he could, so he could save as many as he could.

The galloped hard, They rushed passed the marketplace. They rushed pass the town hall. They ran into the Everfree. They kept going. They went deep. With a flash Twilight completely disappeared from Sun's field of view. All was silent. There was no noise as he galloped. He stopped. Waiting.... listening. Couldn't see far past the thicket of trees, and the foliage of the deep forest. His breath was hard and labored. He swallowed.

Then he heard it. The sound of magic. His stomach clenched as he felt his body lift into the air. He lost his senses when his flipped upside down. He felt a slight tingle. His entire body was slammed into a thick tree. Then he shot upward, and slammed back down into the ground. He felt at least two of his ribs break. He felt his body lift up again. His vision was shaky, he was dizzy from the sudden impact and the uncontrollable movements. He blinked away some tears and saw her. The Goddess. Great Goddess of the Sun. Princess Celestia.

“It is time to finally pay for your evil treasonous ways.”

Fuck

Their eyes met. She glared. He felt a fear unlike one he had ever felt. The ice of her stare bit into his heart. Her eyes were full of anger, hate, and violence. She had been waiting far too long for this. He always assumed that this day would come.

A tiny orb of light appeared simultaneously with her grin. Sun tried to look about. He had a hard time figuring out what directions was up. With a slight turn, he saw Twilight. Looking at him. It may have only been a moment. But their eyes met. Both their hearts sank.

The orb boiled and groaned. An explosion of light followed. Sun didn't remember falling down, or being on, or being knocked down to his back. But the terrible burning sensation overpowered all other thought in his mind. His torso that was facing the orb was scalded badly. He had no fur there anymore, and the skin was burnt a bright red. Breathing became much harder.

Sun pushed his body on it's side. He looked down at his own legs. He saw tiny rings of white light circle his ankles. He tried to get up. He might have been able to, but the light shackles burned as they met his flesh. He cringed and fell again. He tried to find a way out.

The trees around him had fallen. Uprooted and shoved down to the ground, it was as if a great wind forced down the trees around him. The parts of the tree that met the explosion were singed black. What he saw next hurt more the the burning of his chest or ankles. He saw his "friends". Every Element of Harmony just watched him. They watched him lay on the earth, and suffer. They saw him wrongly accused of treason among various other crimes they knew he didn't commit. They all held their tongue. None stood up for him. He couldn't comprehend why. Why was it, that his closest friends, the only ponies he had ever trusted, would simply watch him at a time like this.

The shackles around him burned deep into him. He could smell his own burning fur and flesh. Then it him, the realization of what was happening. The betrayal. The agony of utter hopelessness. He knew everything now. Damn, was he an idiot. That stallion that talked to him... it was Sunset Eve, and he had been right all along. This was happening because he trusted those mares. He knew, he understood, and now so too did Sun Strike. He wanted to laugh at the utter irony of it all.

The heat around his ankles began to grow. As did the pain. The shackles began to glow bright and burn not just his ankles but his legs in their entirety. The rings of light began to tighten. The pain grew worse. It was so bad that he wanted to vomit. The white hot unimaginable pain filling his entire body.Yet the utter sadness that he was now feeling from this kind of betrayal hurt a thousand times more. It hurt more then he ever imagined possible. It was the worst pain he had ever felt. He hurt deep in the core of his body. He just couldn't understand how they would let him die like this, even though he had done so much for them.

The pain grew worse. Light began to grow over where leg met torso. The terrible burning scorched his legs. He was able to see his own burnt bones. The pain brought him to the edge of consciousness. He wanted to let the dark bordering his vision take over. He wanted to black out and forget the pain. He wanted to scream out in pain. He was in pure utter agony. Yet he somehow held it in. He refused to give them his scream. He refused to die screaming. He was going to die fighting.

“Sister... That's enough... just end it....”

The sound of Luna's voice didn't help Sun feel any better. Even she who had kept him from taking his own life. Her words just hurt. Everything just hurt. The betrayal, the burning. His heart, his head, his body. His mind. He was done. He wanted to die. He was defeated.

“Very well, this scum must be purged from our world.” Celestia's words were hard and bitter.

With a glow of her horn, the rings of light faded back to their normal size, then moved to fit around his neck...

Only Celestia looked... everypony else... they all felt the shame.

Celestia held a very large grin. Her horn glowed once more.

A claw made of living shadows shot out the ground and grabbed the ring of light. A single claw quickly became six. The Claws were jet black, like looking at a place where no light could ever reach, darkness danced around them like steam over a hot cup of coffee on a cold winter morning. The living shadows caused the light to fade, and the ring was gone.

Celestia was in shock. “What black magic is-”

Her words were cut off when the earth beneath her began to shake. An earthquake.

Everypony fought to keep their balance, their attention going to the fissure ripping it's way to the surface of the earth, putting a gap between The Princesses , the mares, and Sun Strike. Dark light began to glow from the fissure. A Maniacal insane laugh filled the air along with the sound of the earth ripping itself open. A blood crimson mare, with a mane and tail of living dancing shadows, and wings made of scorched bones emitting dark light, and a horn like a twisted double helix floated up from the fissure with gentle motions of her wings. She was the same size as Celestia. Her eyes opened and burned bright, they were like small pockets of magma.

“I AM FREE AHAAAHAHAHAHAHA!” She took a deep breath, and had an eerie smile on her face. The quake finally stopping.

“Who ar-”

“SILENCE, this is my world now!” The Crimson Mare roared interrupting Celestia. Her helix horn glowed with that eerie dark light. The fissure below her roared, and a pillar of living shadows burst from the ground. Launching itself into the sky. The shadows spread throughout the sky, turning everything a dismal dead gray. It was like watching the near opposite of a Sonic Rainboom. It was an explosion devoid of color, it ate away the sky.

The mares looked in horror, but the Princesses acted, with a flair of their horns, A beam of magic shot forward. Their powers intertwined, swirling about each other as they shot for the Crimson Mare. The attack hit perfectly, hitting the mare so hard that she fell to the earth limply.

“Oh no I can't.... Nope.” The Crimson Mare shot back up with a face of a mare who just saw the funniest comedian in Equestria. She burst into laughter. “You call that an attack?! Ha?! You couldn't beat my demons off with that magic!” She laughed out loud, completely unharmed.

“What is she!?” Luna asked, shooting a look of panic at her sister.

“I don't know!” was all she could say

“Speaking of demons, why don't I show you real power! AHAHAA!” The Crimson Mare jumped up and stomped on the soil, sending her claws of living darkness to every nearby fallen tree. The claws grabbed each of the fallen trees by it's roots, then began to drag them together. The shadows pushed the trees together, and began to dig inside of them.

Before long, the trees had become a shadowy figure, some kind of shadow treant. It laughed as is made its way toward the princesses. It slowly lumbered toward them, yet the Princesses found themselves unable to move. Roots of living shadows had locked them, and the mares of harmony, in place.

The lumbering treant shambled toward the princesses.

An unearthly roar shook the earth. It was so glaringly loud that it made everypony's ears whine. Twilight tried to get her vision straight again, the roar knocked her senses loose, blurring her vision and forcing her to hear only a high pitched ringing. She bit down and tried to refocus. When she blinked away the fog in her vision, her jaw dropped. Pulling itself from the fissure, some”thing” was pulling itself out.

A giant claw made of living shadows shredded the soil looking for something to grab. The claw touched the treant. In an instant it stretched back and the shadows shifted. It took a second to really register what it became, but the closest thing that can be used to define it would be the head of dragon, with several gaping maws. The “dragon” 's giant maws crunched down on the treant and pulled it back down the fissure.

With another stomp, the fissure closed. The Crimson Mare laughed.

“That's the level of power between us “Goddesses”, Game Over, I win.” The mare laughed more and more. The claws still kept the everypony bound to the dirt of the forest floor.

“What or who are you?” Celestia growled out, as she struggled against the claws that held her.

“Do I really have to explain? I got tons of names, Queen of Pain, Baroness of Misery, The Iron Maiden, Lord Dead, The Dark Lord, God of the End. Personally, I don't remember what my real name was. I like going by Apocalypse, and/or Rapture. Yeah, let's go with Rapture .Those... just flow so well don't you think?” She replied casually.

Celestia just replied with a glare. She was scared, but wouldn't let “Rapture” see it.

Luna just looked to her sister, she had know that something like this was plausible, but she never thought she would see it first hoof. She blamed herself for letting it happen.

The mares were horrified. They felt miserable, and feared that the end may be near.

Sun Strike just laid there. He was fighting a losing battle against his body. His body was gone, it wanted to die. He wanted to die, but the will of a Seeker was stronger. He clung to life, but the blackness was slowly but surely winning. He could barely comprehend what was going on.

That stallion in chains... Sunset Eve was warning me this whole time..... he knew this would happen.... he tried to get me away from this.... how did he know.... what happens next.... am... am I going to die... No... not yet.... keep fighting... stay awake.... stay awake......stay....awake dammit!

Rapture trotted calmly toward the semi-conscious Sun Strike. She took a seat by him, looking over his horrible burns.

“Shit, you got roasted dude! That's fucking hardcore! Shit, you just don't die huh?” Rapture held back her laugh and waited for some kind of response. Sun's eye moving to her's was the closest thing she got.

“That's cool, you don't have to say anything sugar.” She gave him a very... sultry look with her glowing eyes and moved her body closer to his.. “I can make it all stop honey bunny, all the pain, the heart break....” She nearly whispered the words into his to his ear. She moved very close to him, her shadowy tail danced about playfully.

Sun's eye locked with her's, she respected his tenacity, he'd work perfectly. He could barely understand her. But he knew what she was saying. She had gotten his attention. She stood, and slowly began to trot about him as she spoke. She made sure that her flank was not only noticeable, but always in his sight.

“Listen, I know we just met, but I know how you got here, you know how I got here. Which I must admit, was pretty genius because it was easy. All did is switch a two names, you were the “One True Light” of the prophecy but only in the very last part of it, figure by the time anypony noticed, that it would be too late. I was pretty right, but really. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, was more helpful than this “Goddess” Hating you because she couldn't accept that she hadn't been there enough for her sister when she needed her the most. Shit did that make things easy for me. I was afraid that great great-whatever grandfather of yours might ruin everything for me, but you didn't listen so thats good... Enough about me though, I want to talk about you.” She once again waited for a response she didn't get.

“OK then... Let me just show you that I want to help you...” She suggestively trotted toward him, that sultry look still in her eyes.

Shadowy claws picked up his head with a intention to remain gentle. She leaned in slowly, and pressed her lips against his. Her dark magic flowed over his body. Starting from his lips, cobwebs of shadows spread over the surface of his body, resembling broken glass. They wrapped into his burns and bruises. In the next instant, all of his injuries were gone, there weren't even scars. Sun was amazed that he stood up, perfectly healthy. Everypony gazed in amazement.

With a bit of hesitation, he felt at his eye for a moment, and dropped the eyepatch to the dirt. Her magic brought back, even his eye.

“See...”- She grabbed and held his forehooves with her own -”I want to help you.” she was pouring honey in his ear.

“Why?” Sun asked with a level of fear and confusion.

“I'm a cold hearted bitch and a master of hate and evil. Revenge is mostly all of those things.” she said straightly.

“Revenge?” Sun didn't understand. She hadn't let go of his forehooves.

“This world has treated you like shit, beat you down, gouged out your eye, eaten you literally, you've been eaten several times!... You've been through so much shit... Aren't you angry? Don't you wanna get even! Everypony has done everything they can to fuck you over for their own gain!”

Pinkie gave a cross look. “Hey that's a Li-” Claws shot out of the ground, they wrapped around all the captured mares muzzles. Silencing them.

“But.... That.... It's not....” sun mumbled unable to process the information.

“It's true! And you know it is! These mare's had you kill everything that threatened them, then once the smoke cleared they sold you out! These bitches fucked you over! They lied to you, they aren't your friends their bitches! Every. Single. One. At least I'm honest with you!”

“But... I saved them....” he stated, moving his eyes to the ground...

“Exactly, that's all you were to them... a tool for their own gain. Me, I want you. I want to give you power, unimaginable power. Make you a fucking God! Like me! We can rule everything together!”

“Why do you need me?” said suspiciously his gaze never meeting her's.

“I don't.... But ruling the world is a lot of work, and I may need help. Who else better then the pony who has a reason to hate every other pony. It's Perfect. You and me. Gods. We wont just tear apart the world, we'll bend the world over and fuck it in the ass! We'll make the world and every last pony in it our little bitch!”

“....” Sun pushed Rapture away. And stared at the floor.

“... What do you say.... Did you want to die with all these cunts who stabbed you in the back, oh excuse me, I mean burned your legs off. Or did you want “me?” Oh and you also get to become a God.” She gave him a lustful look.

Sun just looked into all of his “Friend's” eyes. He saw His father and Zecora laying in wait in the trees not far away.... His mind immediately jumped to a dark place. They just WATCHED. I WAS BEING BURNED INTO DUST, BOTTOM UP, AND THEY JUST WATCHED. He thought to himself with pure anger. He had several feelings. He was experiencing new emotions. He didn't really know how he felt. But there was one emotion he felt familiar with. And he had a lot of it built up.

Anger. Pure, Bitter, Hate.

He gave each mare an angry hate filled glare.

“Yeah... Fuck these “ponies” They're all the same. Scum worse then the monster that hunt them down. At least some monster try to kill you honestly. With all the secrets and lies.”

“What is a pony? Just a miserable pile of lies! They are are nothing. They are”- She interrupted herself by kissing him again.

The waves of darkness completely coated his body. He screamed from under the layer of darkness.

Like jet black butterfly, he emerged from the cocoon of shadows. He was the same size of the other Alicorns. He didn't have a horn. Instead he had large antlers like a ram. He stretched long giant leathery wings. His body was completely coated in those living shadows. He was jet black. His eye's opened, exploding with a now literal flaming sapphire. He had a large set of claws instead of hooves. Even Radiance had transformed. The once thin, glowing white rapier, was now a large burning fiery sapphire Claymore. The large blade matched his eyes. They both burned like fire.

Sun let out a long deep laugh.

“They are beneath you....” Rapture finished.

“This is what it feels like to be a God?“

"Its amazing right!?"

"IT GLORIOUS!"

“Wanna test your might? Why don't you smite those cunts who fucked you in the ass?”

“With pleasure, M'Lady.” Sun spoke as he calmly trotted past Rapture.

“M'Lord...” She grinned a sinister smile.

Sun just trotted to group of mares. He walked with a swagger of pride and new found power. He loved the feeling he got while looking down to Celestia. They both knew that he could easily kill her. It would be like stepping on a bug. Easy.

“Kneel before me.” Her stated with a flap of his new wings.

The mares all obeyed, Luna knelt down. Twilight knelt. Rainbow knelt. Rarity knelt. Fluttershy knelt. Pinkie knelt. Applejack knelt. Shadowy claws stretched out and dragged Midnight and Zecora beside the none-alicorns. They both knelt. They all fought back tears. Save for Celestia, who glared at him. She did not kneel. Taking notice, Sun Strike trotted to her.

“Need I repeat myself?”

“I shall not bow to the likes of you!” Celestia spat. Sun just gave a small chuckle.

“Bow? I SAID KNEEL!” His claws erupted with blue eldritch fire as they wrapped around Celestia's neck. He choked her for a while, then processed by slamming her face into the ground, then a sapphire flame wrapped around her knees, forcing her to kneel.

“You are all in the valley of MY shadow now!” He growled. His the fiery rage pushing him past boiling point.

His anger pushing through his action, he firmly grasped her bowing head with a claw. A glowing pure white light began to flow from Celestia into his leg and body. He was draining her of her power. It started with her size. She shrank down to the average mare's size. Then her mane stopped flowing like light, and the extra colors in her mane began to blur and fade away. Her mane was drained of it's luster and color until all that was left was a bright pink. She looked like a pink maned pony, with nubby wings and a tiny horn. Her golden accessorizes fell to the floor.

Everypony stared in horror. He just stole the power of Celestia. As a result he had grown in size, and his mane of living shadows grew longer. His leathery wings grew large enough to hide his entire body.

“What have you done to my sister!?” Luna demanded fighting back the tears, as Celestia fell limply to the floor from exhaustion.

“Same thing she did to me, take away everything I ever had.” He replied meeting Luna's glare.

“Ooooo, buuuurn bitch!” Rapture added in.

“Shut your mouth!” Luna spat.

Sun replied for Rapture. Lifting a claw into the air, he gave a giant grin. It combusted into sapphire flames. He laughed as he slapped Luna across the face with the backside of his claw. The hit was hard enough to force the alicorn to the ground. Rapture just laughed.

“You're next.” Sun said calmly as his claw grasped Luna's head the same way he grasped Celestia.

The mares watched in utter horror. While both looking and feeling completely helpless. Zecora and Midnight looked to the floor in shame.

Rapture stomped the ground and sat down. As she let her body sit, a throne of molten rock shot up out of the earth, it cooled quickly turning into a shining obsidian. She sat on her black throne.

A slightly blue aura flowed into Sun's body from Luna, just as the light had done with Celestia. Just like her sister, her body shrank. She was now actually a bit shorter then most mares. The “stars” in her mane vanished, it stopped flowing out, and it lost it's luster. And lastly, her wings and horn shrank as well. She too, fell to the ground from utter exhaustion.

Sun's body was now even larger, his mane was now alive, as the darkness danced about his body. His wings also began to emit the shadows, coating his body in more living moving shadows. He let out a maniacal laughter as he reared up. His eye's were bright enough to blaze through any darkness.

He trotted over to the mares now. Evil grin still on his face. Rapture just watched from her throne. She was savoring this victory.

“I gave you all everything I had... EVERYTHING.” Sun roared his rage baring out. “ I stared death in the face, time after time I looked death right in the eyes. I never even blinked. Even when I lost one of my eyes! IT WAS CUT IN HALF. MY FUCKING EYE WAS CUT IN HALF AND I COULD FEEL EVERYTHING. YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THAT HURTS! THEN I BURNED IT SHUT MYSELF. I NEARLY BLACKED OUT FROM PAIN. I did that for ALL of you... and yet.... and yet you all stood silent as your princess tried to turn me into ash. FUCK YOU, FUCK ALL OF YOU. I've had to spit out the bitter taste of my hatred for so long... WELL NO MORE. NO MORE. All the blood I've spilled for ponies like you... what a waste. Fuck ponies like you all. Fuck you. That blood is on the world's hooves now. As is all the blood I'm going to spill. I'm God now, and now I am going to rain fire down upon all those who have crossed me! I WILL SMITE ALL OF THE PONIES WHO CLAIM TO BE INNOCENT, WHO CLAIM TO BE GOOD, AND YET DO NOTHING, WHO REFUSE TO SEE THE SHIT AND BILE THIS WORLD TRULY IS. WHEN THE WORLD LOOKS UP TO ME AND REALIZES THAT THEIR SAVIOR NOW STANDS OVER THEM, AND IS NOW THEIR GOD I'M GOING TO LOOK DOWN AND LAUGH! Trust me... I am a cruel and angry God.” he ranted...

“Not everypony betrayed you!”

“Yeah, punish all of us if you're going to hurt anypony!”

“We are the one's who deserve it, leave the others alone!”

The Crusaders... the three fillies stared down Sun Strike. Who just suppressed a laugh. Rapture was much worse at suppressing that laugh.

“And why do you think that is a good idea?” Sun asked sarcastically.

“Because you taught us that we need to stand up for ourselves, and those who can't stand up for themselves!” Scootaloo shouted.

The two, a filly and a God traded glances. Sun just laughed.

“I was lying, everypony is terrible. Me for example. I spent my life fighting for others, yet I got stabbed in the back. So now I'm going to crush everything.” With a powerful flap of his wings, a wave of living shadows pushed forward on the fillies. Hitting them like a brick wall, they were easily rendered unconscious before they hit the ground from the knock-back of the attack.

Sun and Rapture just laughed.

“I don't think you lot have all realized that you are all nothing but insects beneath my hoof, its not much more then stomping down on you now!” Sun added with a maniac's cackle.

His dark claws reached out, stretched out, like the heads of a hydra, they multiplied and grasped firmly onto each mare's throat. With a pop, their Element of Harmony appeared, each unique to it's barer. Lights drained from each one and all the way back into Sun Strike's body. The power of the Elements of Harmony were being drained into him. He drained each one dry. When he was finally done, the Elements were all a dull gray, and lacked any shine. They looked like a filly's rhinestone toy.

Sun laughed as each mare fell to the ground, his claws were the only thing holding their bodies up. Unlike the princesses, the six who bare the Elements of Harmony could not handle the essence drain. Each one blacked out upon being drained. Sun however, was now much larger, his body grew massive. His shadows spiraled with energy. Radiance blazed like a sapphire inferno. The massive blade and his size matched perfectly. The aura of both was melting away the trees and ground scape.

“Alright, now I know this is a bit rushed, but I want you to kill that Zebra. And your father, I don't want them trying to stop us. No offense, but Seekers can be a pain.” Rapture stated as she trotted over to the two she wanted dead, both completely unable to stop her or the rampaging Sun Strike.

“Well... The goddesses can wait. Anything you wish.” He finally drew the new Radiance. It burned with anticipation, Radiance was burning with passion, and couldn't wait to fight. He dragged the blade along the floor as he trotted forward. It both burned and sliced through the earth, leaving a hot scar on the trail behind him. He trotted until he was just feet away from Zecora and Midnight. His claw dug into Zecora's face as he suffocated her.

He was a master at this. He withdrew his claw once he knew she was also unconscious.

He glared at Midnight.

Midnight glared back.

Sun got a better grip on his blade.

Rapture was close. She wanted to watch this.

Sun braced for the swing.

Midnight did not drop his glare.

With his entire body, and all of his newfound godhood. He swung the blade. It's flaming passion leaving a trail behind it as it was swung through the air. To Midnight the attack moved as if it was in slow motion. It swung around straight for him. He closed his eyes, waiting for death.

However. Midnight was not the target.

Sun swung Radiance completely around his body. Slicing the majority of Rapture's neck clean through. Her head rolled back, only staying attached due to the bit of meat he missed.

She flicked her head back on with a jerk. But Sun was already acting. He plunged Radiance through her entire body. Her black blood dripped down her neck. Her hooves grasped at the blade. Her shadowy claws all reached to rip out Sun's throat, but his own shadows protected him.

“What the FUCK I MADE YOU A GOD” that sweet voice burnt into an unequine bellow of rage.

“In this life I may choose desolation... I can destroy what I fought for with my own hooves! But if I turn to the light, I know that I can protect those who I care about. Everypony that matters to me shall not die in vain!"

“YOU'RE A FOOL, YOU CAN'T KILL ME!”

“I know that you wouldn't give me the power to best you, and I knew that the princesses, nor the Elements of Harmony can kill you! But what if I used all of them, and the power you gave me, and send it straight through that gaping hole you call a heart!”

“IT WONT WORK!”

“THIS IS THE BEST I CAN DO, I WILL STOP YOU, EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!”

“FOOL, FOOL YOU HAD EVERYTHING, I GAVE YOU EVERYTHING, WHY WOULD YOU GIVE ALL OF THAT UP!”

“DID YOU THINK THAT I WOULD BETRAY MY FRIENDS FOR YOU? WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK I AM?”

With the push of his blade, sapphire flames blazed through Rapture's body. Sapphire flame roared through her eyes, mouth, ears, and nose. She screamed in agony as she was cooked by the flames. With drawing the blade, Sun made another giant swing. This time, Radiance easily sliced Rapture's head clean off. Her black blood spattered down.

Tendrils of living shadows acted like spider legs that poured out the base of her head. Lifting the severed head up on new legs. The head itself bloated into terrible mass, it bloated to the size of two or three ponies. It boiled with rotten flesh and pus. More living shadows crawled along it's surface. Her eye's were gone, replaced by oozing pus and every aspect that made the head “equine” in any way was gone. It was now a bloated... thing with a mouth and eye holes walking with spider-like legs.

“Decapitated, I still live. I still haunt. I Still Breath. Sanctify your weapon at hand. Sun Strike! I BRING YOU DEATH.”

Sun plunged Radiance deep into the bloated “thing”. He roared as it's fire blaze through the monstrosity. He cringed, as if knowing what would come next...

He whispered lowly, only he heard his words.

“...sometimes... we must purge.... things from our... world that... should not exist...”

It was just for a moment... an impossible moment. An instant. Just long enough to seem like the imagination. Midnight thought he saw somepony else... a red stallion. A blood red stallion... Sunset Eve.....

With all of his might he pushed forward. He channeled everything he could through Radiance. The powers she had given him, the powers he stole from the Princesses. The power of the Elements of Harmony. All of the light he had left to burn he used.

The resulting explosion was like fifty rainbooms... In a single spot. All at once. The wall of rainbow fire surged out. Repainting the world with color and light. Burning away the the gray. The blast was said to be heard from all corners of Equestria.

Sun stood holding the hilt of Radiance. Radiance was gone. She died so that Rapture could be defeated. He had returned to his standard size. He had no idea where his hat and coat were. The Everfree had nearly been leveled. It seemed like every tree for a solid mile all around them had been uprooted and thrown back. He slowly looked around. He gave a small smile when he saw the only ponies he ever cared about stir in their unconsciousness.

There was nothing left of Rapture or her throne. He wasn't sure if she was dead, or just got sent back to where she came. He didn't care. She was gone. He had done it. He had protected those he loved. He gave a grin, he was woozy.

It came quickly.

Sun dry heaved. Then heaved again. Then he vomited his own blood. A lot of it. Then he vomited blood again... and again. He fell to the ground, his body seizing and jerking wildly. He couldn't catch his breath, he kept coughing, he was choking on the blood.

Celestia pulled herself from the ground. She looked to her sister, who had been rendered unconscious from the explosion of light. She looked to her little ponies. The stirred, they were hurt, drained, but they would be fine. She looked to the convulsing Sun Strike on the floor. And all the blood.

She forced herself up. She felt weak, small. She could still feel the burns on her knees and neck. She slowly trotted toward him. But was too weak. She fell to her knees. Her only pink mane getting in her face. She ignored it, pulling herself along. She refused to let it happen like this.

Sun's body seized horribly. He felt rotten inside. It felt like his whole body wanted to rip itself apart. He tried to hold in his guts. He tried to hold on to consciousness. He tried desperately. He didn't want this... He didn't want this...

Celestia finally got to him. She grabbed his body and pulled it into an embrace, stopping his body from convulsing out of his control. She was crying... She held him close. She could feel his warm blood soaking into her fur. She looked down at him, still crying... still full of sorrow. His body wanted to move. Wanted to seize out of control. But he contained it. She helped him contain it. He gave her a cocky grin as she cried down at him.

“I got that cunt....... see I'm a good guy.........”

“I know...”- she had to choke back the tears, her hoof stroked his mane gently -“then you knew this would happen?”

For the first time, she realized how much Sun Strike had really given up. He had no life.... no friends.... no family.... all he was.... was a Seeker.... all he ever saw was the worst the world had to offer... yet.... yet he nearly died for it on a regular basis.

“Figured... as... much.” He whispered though fits of bloody coughs.

“That kind of power... flowing through a single pony.... through a mortal pony.... then storing it all... then losing it all at once....”

“Yeah, I'm... dead” He whispered sadly..

“Maybe... maybe I can save you.....” She told him.

“Hurts... it hurts all over....... Fuck it hurts....” he wanted to cry

“I know my little pony.... I know.....”

She held him as close as she could. She embraced his body tightly against her own.... She hated herself... This was all her fault... she believed that if she hadn't been so blind... none of this would have happened... and Sun would be ok...

“I... can't... feel.... anything.... tell the fillies that............ I'm sorry I yelled at them, gotta put on a show.... I'm so sorry.... sorry I wasn't good enough to stop all this.... good enough for them to actually care about me....”

She couldn't reply....

She kissed his forehead....

She felt his body finally stop.

She felt him breath his final breath.

She felt him go limp...

She felt the greatest hero in a long time die in her hooves.

He was just... gone.

It had been whole year since that day. An entire year since the day “When the Light was Stolen Away.” And it felt like a lifetime since the light was returned by “Sun Strike, of the Sunfall Clan. Equestria's Hero.” The day when Sun Strike was wrapped up completely, and his corpse burned into ash, so that nothing could ever take his body for any use.

The Elements of harmony eventually returned to their full power. As did the strength of the two Princesses.

When Sun Strike died, the gravity of his death weighed heavily upon his friends. Especially when they heard his last words. Ultimately, Sun had blamed himself for their betrayal. He thought that if he had just been a better pony, they would have cared more. He died assuming he was a bad friend. He died for the ponies who he cared for. He knew that if he did kill Rapture, there was no way his body could have survived. He knew that if he couldn't kill her... he would die by her might.
He was in a lose lose situation, unless he worked with Rapture... but that was never something he would ever do.

He got dealt a terrible hand. He could have folded, he could have switched to a Royal Flush... but instead, he played that hand.... so he could save his friends...

The mares felt terrible...

After Twilight sent that letter, Celestia bolted to Ponyville with Luna. Celestia told them that he was a criminal. A wanted Stallion. He was held responsible for a large number of grizzly deaths, several cases of grave desecration, he was even being held responsible for a large number of ponies who went missing, the list went on and on. Too many crimes to list. They all knew that the grizzly deaths were more than likely the ponies he failed to save, and that he hated himself for failing them. The graves must have been bodies he had dug up so he could burn their bones and free their spirits. They all knew that while he was being blamed for so much, that the cases where he succeeded vastly outnumbered his failures. They wanted to tell Celestia, but she was in such a righteous stallion-hunt, it didn't matter if they said anything. Rather than say something and become a target of her anger they just held their tongues.

Once he was gone, Celestia finally listened to their stories. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, Celestia stopped turning a blind eye to Seekers, and the seeming endless battle of light vs darkness. Luna explained to her how that it was nothing but loyalty that attached the Sunfall to Nightmare Moon, and the two sisters had a very long overdue chat about how Nightmare Moon came into existence. They both cried, they both felt better after.

Realizing her anger had consumed her, similar to the way Luna's rage had. She decided to do everything she could to make it up to the Sunfall, even if they were all gone. “The Day the Light was Stolen Away” was a mystery for the common folk, and it even concerned the world for a while after it happened. Looking weak, Celestia knew she couldn't show herself right after the event. She waited two days, by then, her size had mostly returned. With a bit of makeup, hair dye, and wind magic. She looked like her natural self. She told Sun Strikes story, glorifying him like some storybook hero. The day he died became a national holiday. Sun Strike was turned into a humble hero, who gave everything he had so that the world may be mended. Everypony loved him. Loved the idea that when the world was in peril, it wasn't the Goddess Celestia, or those who bare the Elements of Harmony. It was a normal pony, an earth pony to boot, who gave up everything he had for the world.

Nopony knows whatever happened to Midnight. He failed. He failed his only love, because of him, both her children were dead. He failed his children because he felt if he had been a better father, they would have survived. When everypony regained consciousness, He was just gone. Gone, and nopony ever saw him again.

Zecora was left rather broken hearted, but she worked harder so that no more ponies died. But she knew that she couldn't let his death be for nothing. She started a town guard for Ponyville. Being so close to uncharted territory was dangerous. Under her leadership. The town was protected from the wild unknown of the Everfree.

The girls still mourn for him. Still cry about that day. They drink whiskey together from time to time to commemorate him. They even let the Crusaders take a sip.

The Crusaders didn't take the news badly. He had told them several time that he would die. He told them he would more than likely die for them.

If I go and kick the bucket.... don't waste your time mourning me, you're three young beautiful girls, you have too much life to lead to waste time on some buck. Go live, go live and be happy.

They were ready for it. It still hurt, they still cried. Save for Scootaloo.

“Scootaloo, it's ok to cry.”

“Cry for what, he told us a thousand times that he was going to die. He wouldn't want me to feel sad anyway. Besides, he isn't really dead.”

“Scootaloo...”

“Well he IS dead, It's just that.... well real ponies never really die, even when they've been killed get it?”

“Scootaloo... that doesn't make any sense.“

“Well... Sun Strike is dead, that hurts. But he's not gone. He's everypony's hero now. Everything he died for is still here. He wants us to be happy, and I want to be happy... Well for a lot of reasons for that, but also because he wants me to be happy. He taught me tons of stuff, he taught all of us a whole bunch, and as long as we remember his words, and everything he taught us... he really won't be gone.... He's here with us. In our hearts and stuff.” Scootaloo spoke with pride in her heart, and a tear in her eye. She put on Sun Strike's desperado hat. She liked wearing it. She didn't fit the trenchcoat just yet. She kept all of his old belongings. His sawed-off, his Seeker's journal. Even Radiance's hilt.

All in all, it was a long, and sad couple of years. But it was also a good number of years. And happy years. The mares enjoyed life a little more now that they nearly lost everything. They would always cherish the time they spent with Sun Strike. Even the scary parts.

Within the year, the girls were kept up to date on the Sunset Squad, named after Sun's mother. Celestia's new secret service. A group of knights that had been trained in Seekerhood. It was a rather large organization now, and was doing a great job killing and seeking out things lurking in the shadows. They had saved thousands of ponies in the first few months of operation.

Celestia had called all of those involved with Sun Strike to a great meeting, where they would have a feast to honor him. It was a great meeting. Midnight didn't show up. Everypony drank, and ate well. They talked of their lives, and of pleasant memories of Sun Strike.

Like when he was working with Rarity, and Sweetie Belle thought it would be funny to make him try on every dress to see if they fit properly. He wore every single one she gave to him.

Or when he helped Rainbow set up a awesome new trick, and Scootaloo convinced him to lite the whole thing on fire to make it more “Radical”

Or when he spent the weekend at Twilight's, rearranging the library again and again with her.

Or when he made cake (cake being only a technical term, it was really more of an anthropomorphic gray ooze) with Pinkie Pie and everypony got sick because nopony wanted to tell how bad it was.

Or when he had to take care of Fluttershy's pets because she was sick. And Angel Bunny harassed him the whole time

Or when he was bucking apples, but had to tone it done so he didn't outshine Applebloom.

Everypony enjoyed it.

When being escorted out the castle, The group saw a member of the Sunset Squad trot to Celestia, whisper something to her and trot away. The group said their goodbyes to the princesses, and made their way back home. It was a happy train ride back home. Save for Scootaloo... she was lost in thought.

Only Scootaloo noticed it. She was very unsure.

The Sunset Squad are all dressed the same. Covered head to hoof in jet black armor, coated with a black trench coat lined with weapons, and cloaked by a hood. This way they didn't stand out much in a crowd, while they hid their weapons from the public. The only part of them even remotely noticeable was their eyes, and only their eyes.

It made sense as she pieced things together in her mind silently.

How could Celestia set up such an effective Seeker organization in such a short amount of time unless she had someone, one of the best, working with her. How could they be so good... hell how would they even know how to kill anything. Scootaloo personally had his Seeker journal. Why would Celestia name the elite Seeker squad after Sun's mother instead of after Sun Strike himself. Sun blamed himself for his mother death, this could be his way of giving her new life.

However, she was grasping at straws and she knew it. She also knew that Midnight could still be out there. And that he was one of the best. He could have helped Celestia with all these things. He could have trained recruits, after all, he trained his sons. And having failed his wife, could naming the best Seeker squad in history after his dead love might be a form of redemption.

She had no way of knowing for sure. It was impossible. She had never actually seen Sun Strike's dead body. And she never saw Midnight again either. Hell, they might even be working together on the Sunset Squad.Living in secret.

She also knew that Sun didn't think he was good enough for his friends, and that he would do anything to help keep them safe... even faking his own death so he could make this Sunset Squad with the princesses.

But as she trotted out that castle, everypony saw the stallion trot up to Celestia. But only Scootaloo noticed his eyes. His blue eyes. His burning blue eyes. More than blue, his burning Sapphire eyes. She stared directly into them for an instant. A single instant, they stared at each other. Just long enough to make the argument that it was her imagination. She saw his burning sapphire eyes.

Of course she knew that he wasn't the only pony with those kind of eyes. She wasn't the only mare with her off-purple eye color. But off all the ponies who would go and talk to Celestia directly.... there was that chance.

Or was she making all of this up? How could he have survived? It wasn't like somepony else could die for him... Did she just want to have some reason to think he was alive? She didn't know. She kept asking herself that. She didn't know how to answer. She gave up, she didn't care. To her... Sun Strike was alive and watching over her... a guardian angel. Protecting her. Keeping her safe. Keeping all of her friends safe. He was still out there somewhere. The pale blue cowpony in the desperado hat in ponies' dreams. The fighter in the shadows. The Hero of Equestria When the Light was Stolen Away.

Real Ponies never really die. Even when they are killed.

A Talk With the Princess

Striker sat in the rain. He looked at Princess Luna. The rain slid off her like water off a ducks back, rain couldn't soak her. All around him was grey, Only Luna and her heavenly presence broke the monotones of grey.

“I've been wanting to speak to you Mistress Luna.”

“And I you Sunfall.”

“Unfortunately now is not the greatest moment Mistress.”

“We know Sunfall, your physical body is in terrible condition.”

“Do not worry Mistress, only my leg is hurt, I will live.”

“We know, we have seen you fight through worse.”

“I assume you wish to converse Mistress.”

“We do, we have another request for you Sunfall.”

“I shall do what I can Mistress.”

“You have aided Ponyville, and for that you have our thanks.”

“Only because you guided my hoof Mistress.”

“Ah, you give us too much praise Sunfall. This is why we feel guilty asking even more from you. You see, that town is still not safe, it's proximity to the Everfree Forest has mad it a target. Beasts have always lurked in the Everfree but something has changed, they seem to be more active, I ask that you stay in Ponyville for a time and investigate this for me.”

“I must protest Mistress, I should leave as soon as possible.”

“We know Sunfall, we apologize, and ask that you break this rule.”

“Your will be done Mistress Luna...” he stated with a bow.

“You have our thanks once again.”

“Mistress if I may ask a question.”

She replied to him with a kind smile and a nod.

“How much do you know of my blood line?”

“Enough to know that we can trust you. We know you must have questions Sunfall, and please save them, we shall inform you as well as we can soon enough. We must first find a way to inform my sister of our.... meetings.”

“Very well Mistress, I trust in your word, I shall investigate the Everfree on your behalf.”

“Thank you dear Sunfall.”

The two sat in the rain for a time. Luna looked to him. He was drenched in rain. She gave him a grin and kiss on the cheek.

“We have other business this night, we bid you farewell.”

Striker blinked and she was gone. Faded away in an instant. He was dry. He gave a laugh that she dried him before she left.

Author's Note

First chat with Luna.
Short I know but this is just the two talking.