The Huntsman

Nurse Redheart had been working with her patient for almost a week now, and throughout the week she had to learn almost her whole career over again. The patient was initially brought to her back in Ponyville for immediate treatment, evidently he had lost a large amount of blood and had been healed to suddenly, because of this his veins and arteries were mostly empty and air bubbles were allowed to form within his system. The bubbles eventually reached his heart causing him to suffer a minor stroke and a major case of cardiac arrest, had he not been brought to her immediately, he would have died.

After she had been able to get his heart beating again and he had been stabilized, she was instructed to travel with the patient to Canterlot, for security reasons. Treating the patient in his comatose state would not have been hard if this were a normal patient, she had taken care of plenty in her past, but she didn't even know what this one was. She had to learn its anatomy almost over night.

The princess and Twilight Sparkle had told her the creature she was taking care of was called a human and that his name was Jacob Rivers, they also said that she had to come with them to Canterlot because they didn't want anyone to freak out over the strange new creature. So until the human woke up she was going to be working in the capital.

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Jacob was alone. There was only him and then nothingness, every direction he looked there was only more nothing. He tried for what seemed like ages to walk to somewhere with something, but he only found more nothing. He grew angry at the nothing for not letting him leave, he yelled and swore at the nothing for days but nothing only replied with nothing. As his anger grew he felt as though something had finally appeared near him. He turned around and saw a massive beast that seemed to be made of bleeding fire.

The beast was at least 10 times his size and had claws that were as long as his whole body on both hands, It had teeth that could tear through flesh like air, and eyes that could burn through steel. The most frightening feature of the monster was not its claws or teeth, but its face. When Jacob looked at the creature he could only see his very own face.

They both stood there in the nothing for what seemed to be a full day, until eventually he decided to try and conquer the beast. He charged at it with his fist full of rage, but the creature only grew larger and swallowed Jacob whole.

And then finally. . . something.

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"AHHH!" screamed Jacob finally waking from his dream. He was breathing heavily and was frightened, but probably not quite as frightened as Nurse Redheart who had been preparing his feeding tube, when he awoke the scream caused her to throw the tube into the air and make nutrient rich fluid run all over the floor.

The room was very large. It held one bed, with an assortment of medical equipment next to it. A medium sized dresser with a mirror on top, and there were two sets of door. One was open and led out to a balcony, and the other was shut with a pony dressed in golden armor standing next to it.

Nurse Redheart managed to stop the feeding tube from spilling out fluids all over the place and said, "Oh my goodness, your awake. Guard go get the princess QUICKLY."

The guard standing next to the door opened it and ran out into the hallway before the door finally swung shut. Leaving only Jacob, the Nurse, and a pool of nutrients in the room.

Jacob looked to the small white pony standing by his bed wearing a cap with a red cross on it, he assumed that this was his nurse while he was asleep and asked, "Where am I, what happened and how long was I out!?" and after thinking about manners for a moment he added "And whats your name?"

The pony cleared her throat and answered, "My name is Nurse Redheart, I've been taking care of you while you were unconscious for the past 6 days after I restarted your heart during the summer sun celebration, and you are currently in Canterlot Castle."

He nodded as she spoke then asked, "Okay, so why did that guard need to go grab the princess so fast?"

"She told me to tell her as soon as you woke up," replied Redheart.

The human looked around the room once again still trying to get his bearings and then finally he looked at himself and noticed the I.V. sticking out of his arm, he pulled it out but then he looked at himself again and noticed that he was almost naked save his boxers.

"Hey Nurse, are there some spare clothes in that dresser over there?" asked Jacob.

"Yes, we had a whole new wardrobe made for you," replied Redheart.

"Okay then, could you give me some privacy while I change into something?" asked the human.

"Alright then," said the Nurse confused as to what the problem was, "I'll be right outside okay, just call for me when your done."

She opened the door into the hallway and stepped outside closing it behind her. Jacob slid out from under the bed sheets he was covering himself with and walked over to the dresser. Inside was seven identical sets of clothes. A pair of dark grey wool socks, and boxers, a pair of jeans that were dyed black, a white button up shirt and finally a pair of brown leather boots and a black jacket, at least they looked like leather it may have been a substitute but it was nearly the same. The jacket had a strange ordainment along the spine that looked like train tracks.

He put on one set of clothes, they seemed to fit comfortably but perhaps needed to be tailored down a size or two. He then looked into the mirror sitting on the dresser to look at himself, his hair had grown a considerable amount and he was overdue for a shave, but that could wait and with that, went over to go call for Redheart. Just before calling he forgot about his sword, he took it everywhere, so he searched through the dresser once again to see if it was there, it was not. He looked around his bed, and it was not there. He was growing paranoid but calmed himself saying it was probably with the guard when he ran out, he then exited the room and met up with the nurse outside.

"I told you to call for me," said Redheart.

"You said I've been out for a week I want to get moving again," replied Jacob.

The nurse gave him a look and said, "Listen you just woke up your not in much condition to be moving around so mu. . ."

"I know the limits of my own body," interupted Jacob. "And I'll be fine."

"If you say so," said Redheart.

The guard that was standing inside of the room earlier, and did not have the sword, galloped up to the two of them and said, "The princess wishes to speak with you in the throne room immediately, please follow me."

"Alright but first where is my sword," said the human with a tone of worry.

"It is with the princess now please follow me," stated the guard again.

So Jacob and the nurse followed the guard through a maze of corridors and stairs until they arrived in front of a large set of doors about twenty feet tall.

The guard turned to the two following and stated, "You go inside and speak with the princess," pointing to Jacob, "And you are free to return to Ponyville as soon as you pack your things."

"Oh, I don't get to meet the princess?" asked Nurse Redheart feeling very disappointed.

"I'm sorry but she asked to see him only," replied the guard.

She looked over to the human standing before her "Well I guess this is goodbye," she awkwardly stated, "Try not to get hurt so badly again alright."

She began to trot away but stopped when she felt something on her shoulder. She turned her head to see Jacob had his hand on her and was on one knee so they were at eye level with each other.

"I usually don't have to say many goodbyes but, you did save my life," spoke Jacob, "I can't thank you enough, but I will try and pay you back one day."

And with that he stood up opened the door into the throne room and was gone. Nurse Redheart still felt slightly depressed over having to leave a patient so suddenly but, she also felt a sense of anticipation towards whatever comes next.

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"Ah, I'm glad to see your finally awake." said Princess Celestia sitting upon her throne, "You had us all quite worried after you collapsed in the ruins."

"Well thank you I guess," said Jacob not sure of how to act around royalty. "I was told you have my rapier.

The princess levitated a wrapped bundle of cloth that was tied off with a gold ribbon from behind her throne and over to Jacob.  He untied the ribbon, but stopped before unwrapping the rest, he had a flashback to his battle with Nightmare Moon and remembered that after he had been stabbed the sword was destroyed.

He looked up the alicorn and asked, "But wasn't it completely broken?"

"Yes, but I had out finest mages, and even Luna reforge it," replied Celestia.

"Alright, but now how about getting me home?" questioned the human.

"Me and Twilight are working very diligently on finding a spell that will send you back, but it may take some time, months even." answered the alicorn."

And with that he began unwrapping the fabric and the first thing he noticed was the scabbard was new, it was a navy blue with a sun on one side and a crescent moon on the other, it also appeared to have the same metal ordainment that his jacket had all the way down the scabbard. He then removed the rapier itself from its home and saw that nothing had appeared to change about the blade itself, although it did gleam with a faint purple outline when held up to the light.

"Wow," said the hunter, "I doesn't look like it was ever used, let alone broken."

"It was no easy task but the scale in your bag proved to be the perfect material for a new edge." said the princess, "And my sister even added her own little gift to the blade as well."

"I'm not going to get stabbed again, are I?" asked Jacob sarcastically.

"Heh heh," giggled the immortal ruler, "Here I'll have the captain show you how to use it properly."

The hunter looked confused and said, "I already know how to use a sword, I wouldn't carry it otherwise."

Then a new pony walked into the room, he wore the standard armor that the rest of the guards wore minus a helmet, but this one had an emblem on the breastplate of a shield adorned with a purple star. He trotted up to Jacob and extended a hoof to him saying, "So your the one who helped my little sister save the day, names Shining Armor captain of the royal guard."

Jacob grabbed hold of the hoof and replied, "Jacob Rivers, and who might your sister be?"

"Twilight of course!" said the captain pulling his hoof away, "Though I suppose you had no way of knowing."

Shining began to ramble on about how thankful he was to Jacob for keeping Twilight safe, but he tuned most of it out, he couldn't grasp how happy-go-lucky this guy was, despite being a captain. He looked over towards the princess and mouthed the words, "This is your captain?" She replied back mouthing the words, "He is much more capable than you think."

Finally the princess interrupted saying, "Captain, don't you think it's time to show Jacob his swords new ability?

"New ability?" said Shining and Jacob in unison.

"Oh yes! I almost forgot why you brought me here." exclaimed Shining Armor facehoofing himself. "Here follow me out to the training yard, we have some dummies set up there."

So the two left the throne room and went down many flights of stairs to emerge outside in a sandy clearing filled with straw ponies wearing burlap clothes.

"Alright so why exactly am I getting a crash course in something I already know all about?" asked the hunter.

Shining Armor smirked and said, "Because we didn't just have your blade reforged we had it ENCHANTED."

"You did what now?" inquired Jacob.

"Your sword can now send slashes of energy from a distance that way you don't have to get close to the danger." replied Shining Armor, "Weapon enchantments are a rare art of magic, that is very difficult to perform. Even today, it's only doable for alicorns like the princesses."

"Oh so Celestia made it to where I can use it for long range attacks?" asked the human.

"Actually it was Luna who enchanted it," said Shining, "I think its her way of saying she's sorry for what happened."

Jacob could feel the same pain from when he had nearly died and shuddered, "Well, lets get on with it, how does it work?"

"Well first off it needs to be charged," said the captain, "Normally it could charge through just sitting out in the moonlight but for now we're just going to have a bit of ordinary unicorn magic get pumped into it."

The unicorn lifted up the sword and the strange metal thing that was on the scabbard began to fill up like a meter. Shining held the sword until the first of the six sections of it were filled.

"Man that thing takes a lot out of you," remarked Shining catching his breath, "Alright now draw your sword and prepare to attack a target."

Jacob did as he was told, growing excited over the fact that he would be using magic soon, the nearest dummy to him was at least thirty feet away from him but he stayed put.

"Okay, now imagine you are right next to your target, focus on it as though you can hit it from here," said the captain, "Now raise your sword and swing right through it all the way from here!"

Jacob felt a power like no other flowing through him he did as Shining had said and swung his sword with all his might, and cut right through the air and nothing else.

". . . . What happened?" asked Jacob.

With a puzzled look Shining said, "Maybe your just not trying hard enough."

So Jacob tried again and again and again, for over three hours with no improvement, the sun was beginning to set and he was growing frustrated.

"Are you sure this thing even works?" said Jacob more as a statement than a question.

"Yes the princess even had me practice with it to make sure that it worked," replied Shining.

The two were about to give up as the moon started to rise when from a walkway above they heard the voice of Celestia who was on her way to bed, "Captain did you remember to twist the knob at the bottom of the hilt."

"THERE. . . WAS. . . A KNOB!!!" roared Jacob at the captain.

Shining backed up a few steps and sort of chuckled out, "Oh yeah guess I forgot."

"HOW COULD YOU FORGET! shouted the human, "DIDN'T YOU PRACTICE WITH IT! Oh never mind."

Still upset he turned his sword upside down and saw that there was a small nob about the size of an acorn at the bottom that had several settings, each a different moon phase. He presumed it to mean he must set it to the corresponding moon phase in the sky and set it to a full moon.

Once again he took his stance and focused his mind, all he saw was the target dummy, he pictured himself in front of it mid-swing. Finally swung his sword with all his might, and a great slash of ivory energy flew from the blade and split the dummy right down the middle. As well as the one behind it, and the wall behind that.

". . . What setting did you put it to?" asked Shining Armor completely stunned.

"Full moon." answered Jacob equally shocked as he was impressed.

"We should get out of here," stated the captain.

Sheathing his sword in its scabbard, Jacob said, "Yeah lets get going!"

And so the two of them ran off inside of the castle and went to the room where Jacob had been sleeping earlier that day, which was now free of all medical equipment.

"Alright, since the alarm isn't going off I think that means we're not in that much trouble," said Shining Armor having finally calmed down.

"Good, replied the hunter. "Now tell me, why give me such a powerful weapon if I'm going to be sent home sooner or later."

"Oh well you see, we wanted you to join the newest platoon of the royal guard. The M.A.R.E." said Shining.

"The what?" questioned the human.

"The Monster Attack Retaliation Engagement, a small team of skilled monster hunters," replied the captain.

"So you want me to help you guys kill dangerous creatures that attack your citizens?" said Jacob.

"Well, only if you have to," replied Shining Armor, "We much prefer to relocate them if possible."

"Okay," said Jacob, "Now, what do I get out of this arrangement."

"Well, the standard military pay of 2000 bits a month, plus lodging, and equipment." answered Shining.

Unsure of how much a bit was Jacob thought about that deal very hard and decided to ask a question and then make his decision, by asking, "Where is that lodging, here at the castle? Also does that equipment include a new bow?"

Shining replied simply with, "That's right."

"Alright then I will join you guys, if instead of living here I can get my own place away from everything," said Jacob.

"What do you mean, and why?" Shining asked confused.

"I like to live in seclusion away from most other people," answered the human, "I'd like to have my own cabin in the forest."

"ARE YOU INSANE!" exclaimed the captain, "Ignoring how dangerous it is to live out there, it would cost a fortune to hire ponies to go out and help build a cabin!"

"Then how about a pay cut," retorted Jacob, "I'll take hmm . . . 1500 bits a month and you can use the left over money to build my house."

". . . Still that's quite dangerous for the builders." said Shining Armor.

"We can send out me or some soldiers to help out," stated Jacob, "Plus the forest really isn't that dangerous. I dealt with just as many dangerous animals back home, although not as fantastical."

". . . Fine, you got a deal," said Shining, won over, "But It will take a couple of weeks so you'll be staying here in the meantime."

"Alright then, when do I start." replied the human.

Shining answered, "I'll send a letter to you when we gather the rest of the team."

The two shook hoof and hand, and bid each other a good night. Jacob was then left alone in his temporary lodgings. He took a look around the room once again and noticed a glass of water and a plate on the nightstand. On the plate was a simple sandwich, Jacob had been so focused on other things throughout his day he forgot that he hadn't really eaten anything in over a week. He picked up the sandwich and took a bite, then immediately spat out what he had just tasted. He took off the top piece of bread, and saw it was filled with grass and dandelions.

"For God's sake!" said Jacob irritated, "I need to have a talk with Celestia in the morning."

So he wiped off what he considered lawn clippings and ate the bread by itself and took a swig of water. He placed his sword by the window, and then plopped onto the bed. The next day would no doubt be busy, so he needed to get his sleep.

The memories of his time spent in Equestria up to this point began flowing to him as he lay there trying to rest. He pondered the idea of fighting with a magic sword against all sorts of new hunts. The idea of a whole new world to explore made him feel like a kid again.

"I suppose this world ain't so bad," said Jacob to himself. ". . . But the second I get into the woods I'm catching some REAL food!"