The Hunter

  The next few days, were spent rebuilding Ponyville. Luckily, the town wasn't heavily damaged. There was a hole here, fire there, and a there was a time where I nearly lost my thumbnail due to a hammer. I've spent some time helping out, but mostly, I've been recovering from the past. I still can't get the memories out of my head. They continue to bother me. Their skeletons in my closet that refuse to leave, and continue to torture me.

  Ever sense the attack, the security has never been higher. Guards are everywhere around town. Walking up and down streets, flying above us, and guarding the entrenches into town. I heard they have discovered an alliance between Griffons, and the other humans. I didn't even know Griffons existed!

  Pretty much everyday, everypony has been distant, not talking, staring out into space, and just seemed vacant. Everypony had something rough happen to them on the day they first attacked. Wether it was major or minor, we were all shaken up. Sense that day, number of missing ponies, have doubled. Nopony knows where they go. Even the most professional of investigators and detectives, can't find a trace.

  Today, I was planning to help the Apples make food for those who have lost their homes and everything in them. I was planning to climb trees to pick apples sense I'm not strong enough to "Buck" a tree, but something much more interesting happened. Something that might just have a benefit in this whole mess.

  "Trevor! Trevor, get up!" I heard a voice say as I was shaken awake.

  "Huh? Wha?" I said as I sat up urgently.

  "Look outside!"

  I noticed that Applejack was the one that has woken me up. She had a nervous look on her face and stared at me, while she pointed a hoof to the window. I scrambled out of the bed. I hurried over to the window and looked outside. Outside, a large, clear, purple dome has completely covered us! It stretched from what seemed to be Ponyville, all the way over here!

  "What in the world?" I exclaimed.

  I put on my ragged clothes. (Yes I still wear them) I ran into Applebloom's room. She was at the window , looking at the massive dome.

  "Applebloom, where is Creamy?" I asked.

  She pointed to her bed, where he was currently sleeping. I did hesitate to pick him up. He began to cry.

  "Sorry, bud." Was all I said.

  "Are you ok?" Applejack asked Applebloom as I left.

  We all gathered in the living room. I grabbed my guns and put them on. We hurried out the front door, with my hand on my magnum. We ran out roughly five yards from the house. We all looked around us. The dome structure, stretched high over our heads. Purple volts of energy spun around, like endless lightning bolts.

  "Look!" Granny exclaimed.

  We all looked to what she pointed at. There on the other side of the dome, was a guard from Canterlot! I handed Creamy to Applejack, incase I had it use my weapon.

  "Hey!" Big Mac called as he raced over, with all of us closely following.

  The guard saw us coming, and approached the other end of the dome. We waited patiently as we ran over.

  "What are y'all doing?" Applejack asked.

  "We are taking the proper steps to keep you safe." The guard stated.

  "By trapping us like rats?!" Granny Smith exclaimed.

  The guard was taken back by this. His head shot back like he smelled rotten fruit.

  "You guys aren't trapped! Look, just watch this." He said.

  The guard stuck out a hoof to the dome. A bright light began to form. A sound of crackling was made. In seconds, his hoof stuck out to us on the other side.

  "This force field is simply for keeping those things out. You can can come out, but only under guard protection."

  We all relaxed a bit. Everyone of us all gave a big sigh in relief.

  "Ah ok", I said, "thought it was martial law or something. That would suuuck."

  "Oh yeah, there's a problem with you." The guard said, pointing a hoof at me,

  I gave him a look of concern. "What do you mean?"

  The guard stepped through and was right in front of me.

  "I've been sent down here to fetch you. The princesses are in Princess Twilight's library, waiting for you now."

  I looked at everypony. They all gave confused looks. Big Mac shrugged. Applebloom cocked her head.

  "Why? Is there something wrong?" Applebloom asked.

  "I think the princesses would rather tell you than I. Trevor, if you would follow me." The guard said.

  He began to walk towards Ponyville. I looked at the others, then followed him; and the others did as well.

  15 MINUETS LATER

  I knocked on the freshly replaced door of Twilight's house. There was a stirring inside. The door lit up, and opened. We stepped inside to see the princesses. Surprisingly, my friends were there too. They all sat on large purple cushions, waiting for me. Another crusader were there as well. Sweetiebelle sat next to Rarity like a pup. Scootaloo was probably with her parents.

  "Well what is this? An intervention?" I asked, giving a nervous laugh.

  Nopony laughed.

  "Ah Trevor, nice of you to join us. If you would please have a seat." Princess Celestia said.

  She pointed a hoof to an empty cushion. I gave her a nervous and pleading look, think that I did something wrong. I walked over to the cushion and sat down.

  "So what's going on?" I asked, rubbing my hands together.

  "Well, it's somewhat of a serious topic." Luna said.

  Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Not one bit. Many possible things popped into my head in that split second. The thought that most concerned me, is my way home. What if I wasn't able to go back? They all looked at me like they had serious news to tell me, like they were about to tell me a family member has passed. I looked at both princesses. I took in a deep breath, then exhaled.

  "I'm not gonna be able to go home, aren't I." I asked glumly.

  Already, the sadness began to wash over me. My hands became shaken. My inside felt like they were on fire. I knew that I wasn't going home. For what reason, I don't care.

  "What?" Twilight asked. "Oh no, of course not!"

  "Wait...what?" I asked.

  I looked up, an uncontrollable look of confusion stuck to my face. My hopes lifted.

  "What did you say?" I asked.

  "You're able to go home, just not yet. What gave you that Idea?"

  "Oh thank god." I said in relief, chuckling a bit. "To actually think that I wasn't gonna be able to get home. Can you imagine? That would be insane!"

  "Yeah! That would be to cliché for this type of fan fiction!" Pinkie exclaimed.

  We all looked at her in confusion and surprise. I looked around to see other confused faces. All, except for Pinkie's. I shrugged. I guess it's just Pinkie being Pinkie.

  "Well anyway, what did you bring me here for then?" I asked.

  "Well, it's about the force field." Princess Luna stated.

  "Oh, ok. What about it?" I asked.

  "It's not going to work for you." Princess Celestial said.

  I shrugged. Didn't seem like a big deal. No biggie.

  "Oh, ok. No biggie. It's all good." I said.

  "No Trevor, it is." Twilight said.

  I raised an eyebrow in interest. I stretched and cracked my back. I lied back and crossed my arms.

  "Aight, lay it on me." I said.

  "Say theoretically, that the enemy was to breach the force field. The whole town has a chance get out safely, but you can't. What if you become trapped? The ponies can pass through with ease and no trouble, because they are citizens of Equestria. You on the other hand, you're not." She continued.

  "What are you getting at?" I asked suspiciously, my eyes narrowing; and my head leaning back slightly.

  All of the ponies looked at each other as if it they were gonna give me bad news. The Apple family, looked around just as confused as I was, but at the same time they knew what was about to be said. I did too. Even though it might've seemed like I didn't, I knew.

Twilight turned to me. She closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath.

  "To guarantee a better chance of your safety, we would like to become a citizen of Equestria."

  My eyes continued to stay narrowed. I bit my lower lip as I processed this. I let the words settle in my ears.

  "Sooooo, when you say become an Equestrian, do you mean a person who lives here?" I asked.

  Twilight nodded.

  "Uh huh." I replied.

  I sat there and thought about it.

  "Welp, I appreciate your thoughts and concerns about my safety and well being, but I don't think that that's exactly necessary." I said with a smile.

  As I kinda expected, it wasn't much of a problem. I really didn't think that it was needed. Plus, what if it would be harder to leave? I don't know how if works with new citizens. I even didn't know how it worked back home. One, I would probably have to go through a bunch of paperwork and stuff. Two, it could possibly make it more difficult to go back home. I don't know how, but I just have a hunch.

  "Trevor, you have to listen. If they are able to beach the force field, then you could be in danger." Twilight interjected.

  "Hey, if they breach it, wouldn't it break; and I'll be able to get out?" I asked questionably.

  "Well yes, but it would soon regenerate after a unknown period of time. Wether it is five minuets, or five hours, it is best not to take the risk. Trevor, don't you fear them? After what happened in Appaloosa, does it concern you that you and everypony's safety is in jeopardy?"

  I sat up. My twiddled my thumbs as I thought of the words to say.

  "Look, it's not that I fear them. You have no idea how bad I'm terrified of them. I'm scared and angry at them. In my honest opinion, I don't think that things are drastic enough to become an citizen of Equestria." I said.

  Princess Celestia approached me. Her eyes glared down at me. I honestly got a little frightened by this. It was like Fluttershy's stare!

  "Trevor, I don't know if you noticed, but we are at war! I have ponies out there, looking for those things as you sit here now. They are risking their safety, if not their very own lives for us! I've sacrificed enough already. I don't want to sacrifice any innocent pony or HUMAN lives too."

  Suddenly, the doors busted open! It was Vinyl Scratch. She had a look of worry on her face. She saw the princesses and ran to them.

  "Princess Celestial, Princess Luna, you gotta come!" She gasped. She was out of breath from running.

  "Hold up, Vinyl", Twilight said, "what is it?"

  "It's a human! Another human at the outside of the force field!" She gasped again. Her breath was rapid and deep. Her expression of fear made it all the more concerning.

  I sat up instantly. I grabbed the rifle off of my back. I told her to lead the way. Before any of the ponies could react, we were already headed out. I ran after Vinyl as ponies were panicking. I saw a group of gathering ponies at the edge of town. I skidded to a stop at the edge of the crowd. Hastily, I pushed my way through the ponies.

  "Excuse me. Coming through." I said as I made my way through.

  I came through the other side. I got to see the human that they all gathered around.

  The human was male. He was yellow. I mean he was sun yellow! He was, tall, muscular, and pretty banged up. Cuts, bruises, and scrapes littered his body. He was weak from dehydration, and hunger. His eyes were slightly bloodshot and his eye lids drooped lower than normal. That's what really bothered me. I could see his eyes. They weren't glowing.

  "Stop right there, Human!" I heard a guard shout from the other side. Guards were on him in seconds, pinning him down. He struggled and groaned for mercy and help, but no pony came to help.

  "Wait! Stop!" I yelled as I approached the force field.

  They stopped and looked at me. The guy looked at me, then his eyes widened. He started shaking widely, but the guards stopped him.

  "Hey you! Help me! Please!" He yelled as he was lifted up.

  Twilight came up and stood next to me. She seemed like she was about to scold me for running off, but she spotted the non glowing eyed human; and was with me in letting him go.

  "Guards, let him go!" She commanded.

  The guards stopped and gawked at her in surprise.

  "Princess, he is a soldier of the enemy!" One insisted.

  "Let him go. Bring him to me." She commanded.

  They gave a look of disbelief. They looked down at the terrified human. One sighed. Their horns lit up. A hole was formed in the wall. The dragged him through by his feet, like garbage bag. They let his feet drop. They landed with a thud. They stood back, standing on each side of him.

  "Everypony, stand back." I said aloud.

  I pushed ponies back and held them back, giving Twilight space for him. I took my rifle and aimed it at him. The human saw this and went ballistic. He began to scream and get up, before getting held down by Twilight's magic. Twilight turned to me. She glared at me. I lowered my gun to the ground.

"What are you thinking?! You scaring him! You gotta calm down!" I thought.

  "Come with us." Twilight said sternly.

  The boy was holster to his feet. Twilight began to walk in front of him, leading the way to a destination. I followed close behind, gun pointed at the ground; and a guard of each side of me. We followed her back to the treehouse. Twilight pushed open the door. Everypony, including the princesses, stared at the boy. He stared back and looked around wildly, scared out of his mind.

  A chair appeared in a puff of smoke. He was gently forced into the chair, putting his arms on the arm rests. Purple light held his wrists on the rests, and his legs to the legs of the chair.

  We all left him to the guards, who were ordered to simply watch him closely. We entered the study to discuss what to do.

  "What is he doing here?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "What are you thinking, bringing him inside?"

  "He has no glowing eyes." Applejack said. "What if he is not like the others?"

  "We need to ask him questions." Princess Celestial said. "We need to interview him."

  There was a commotion of agreements.

  "Twilight, I would like you to do a lying test. Ask him thing like who he was, and where we come from. Trevor, I think you can manipulate him. Sense you are both humans, I think you can talk to him. Make him spill the beans. That is, if he has any to spill." Princess Celestia continued.

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "A thought has crossed my mind. Could it be possible that he is from YOUR world, and not theirs? What if he is just like you?"

  I considered that thought. I thought about it and came up with a plan. If he is from my world, then I'll have to comfort him, and ease him into what's going on. If not...well I'm gonna get my answers. I just hope it doesn't have to come to more "Drastic" actions.

  We all down to the bottom floor, where he waited for us. The windows and blinds were shut, to prevent anypony from looking in. He saw us come down, and he began to get jumpy.

  "P-please! Don't hurt me! I can explain!" He cried.

  I raised my hands. I leaned in closer. I shook my head as I made my way slowly closer to him.

  "Woah woah woah, buddy. Chill out. We just want to talk." I assured.

  He shook his head wildly. He tried to struggle in his chair, but it was held down firmly by Twilight's magic. I popped out my clip in the rifle. I unloaded the rounds in my magnum. I unstrapped everything, including my knife, and put them in the kitchen.

  "It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter at all. After what I've done, they'll do something to me for sure." I moaned, looking at the ponies.

  "So you're one of 'em." I said.

  He nodded slowly. He eyes suddenly widened and he flinched, as if he said something that he wasn't supposed to say. He shook his head wildly again.

  "But I can explain! You've gotta listen! I did those things against my will!" He said.

  "Yes, we are aware of that. Twilight's has told us about what happened in Canterlot High." I announced to him.

  He looked over at the purple Alicorn, who stared back at him. He turned to me and nodded.

  "Yeah, I remember her. Never really saw her, as I had a sick week on the days she was there. I've heard about what happened at school. I couldn't believe my ears at the time."

  I grabbed a seat from the kitchen. I moved over to him. I sat on it backwards, and rested my arms and chin on the backrest.

  "So, you' seem pretty consent with telling us this. Why is that?" I asked.

  "Like I said, I was under control, but at the same time I wasn't." He said.

  "Explain." I commanded politely.

  "Well, when Sunset Shimmer turned again. She put these spells on people. Sometimes it made their eyes all glowy and green. Other...well...they change. They turn into these horrible monsters! They grow wings, fire like hair, and long and gangly a limbs. Whoever was affected by this magic, they do whatever she says. The problem is, I watch what happens!"

  I frowned. I was confused.

  "Go on." I said.

  "They lose control! They do the horrible commands that she gives, but we watch it happen! We lose control of almost everything, except for out eyes and our thoughts! It's like we've been possessed by an evil force, but we are fully aware of it! No matter what we do, no matter how bad it is, all we can do is watch." He continued glumly.

  He looked down. He looked at the wooden floor and ran his restrained foot along the wood.

  "I should know", he said, "I was one of them."

  "But how?" I asked. "How are you back to normal?"

  He looked up. He said to words so plain and casually that I shuddered.

  "I died."

  The whole room gasped. Fluttershy seemed lightheaded. She seemed wobbly. A commotion of questions rose up behind me, but I quieted them down.

  "What did you mead when you said died?" I asked, make a parentheses motion with my fingers on died.

  "Ok this is going to sound insane, but you have to bear with me." He said. He took a calming breath.

  "When you die when your under the spell, you resurrect. It doesn't matter if you have a hole in your chest, or your head gets completely blown off, you regenerate. Everything lost, is grown back! Skin, bone, tissue, nerves, everything! The limbs you lost, grow back like lizards! By the time you're fully healed, you wake up. The monsters are different. They turn into this jelly-like substance. Whoever was the monster, falls out of the stuff completely unharmed, like it was a shell."

  Something in that explanation, threw me off. I couldn't place my finger on it. I shook it off, but it still etched in the back of my mind, like trying to remember a celebrity that you've seen on a movie. I stroked their hairs on my chin. I thought about Appaloosa. Those boys that I've whooped. That means that I didn't kill them! I'm not a killer! But it sure did feel like I did some brutal damage. The thing is, I can fight. Fight like "Disturbing" style.

  I didn't even know I could fight well, until I encountered those spiders in the tunnels, when Joel and I brutalized them.

  Looking at the boy, he seemed oddly familiar. Too familiar. That feeling still bothered me. That feeling which I felt like I've seen him before. The specific injuries he listed were all to familiar as well.

  "Where was your first town to attack?" I asked, beginning to put the pieces together.

  He gulped. He started to say something, but he stopped. Tears began to flow from his eyes freely out of fear and regret. I turned away from him, anger, guilt, and disbelief was boiling up inside of me.

  "Ap-ap.." He began.

  "Spit it out." I growled.

  "Appaloosa." Was all he said.

  "You remember me, don't you?" I snapped. "You remember me pretty god damn well, don't ya?"

  He looked down.

  "I'm the one who killed that pony."

  I didn't say a word. Nopony said a word. It was so quiet. The only noise, was the mumbling of Creamy, who was held in Applejacks arms.

  "Did you mean what you said", I asked calmly "when you said you couldn't control what you did?"

  He looked up at me. He began to nod slowly. He awaited my reaction. I nodded back in reply. I took a few steps back, I scratched the back of my head as I thought about how to react to this situation. I looked over at Twilight, and began to walk in her direction. I leaned in so I could whisper to her.

  "I'm gonna step out for a minuet. Do you think that you can do a lie test while I'm gone?" I asked.

  She nodded, and began to approach the boy. I turned and walked over to Applejack. I leaned my back against a bookshelf that had a large claw mark on it from the first day. I looked down at Creamy, who dumbly grinned at me. I reared out a finger and poked him gently in the nose. He giggled, and tried to catch my finger, as if it was an insect.

  "Hey, little guy." I cooed quietly.

  He babbled something in baby talk in response. I gave a weak smile as I continued to poke his nose, and he tried to catch my finger.

  "So what do you think?" Applejack asked.

  I looked at her. My grin turned into a stern, blank expression. I shrugged.

  "Don't know." I said as Creamy began to chew on my pinkie finger.

  I cringed at the feeling of his gums on my finger, but I managed to keep a strait face.

  "He seems to be telling the truth. Can't tell for sure though." I continued.

  Rarity walked over to us with Sweetiebelle at her side. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I had to get Sweetiebelle away from that discussion. Nopony deserves to hear such horrific things." She said.

  I waved her off, symbolizing that it was ok. I invited her to stay with us. She brought all of out cushions over with her magic. We seated ourselves down.

  "So if you don't mind me asking, what are the two of you talking about?" Rarity asked.

  I was about to reply, but Applejack nudged me. I looked over at her. Her green eyes, darted from me to Sweetiebelle, who patiently waited for an answer.

  "Umm...the thing about my citizenship in Equestria." I lied, winking causally at Rarity.

  Rarity nodded. Her facial expression gave an understanding look. I nodded, knowing I was about to have an interesting conversation.

  "In my personal opinion darling, you should do it." Rarity said, getting strait to the point.

  "I don't want to." I said. "I just don't think it's necessary."

  "Oh why not?" Rarity asked.

  "Well, the main reason is, that I think it's a bit drastic and rushed. I don't think I need to become an Equestrian over concerns over a magic wall." I said.

  They considered my opinion. They all nodded approvingly. I held up a finger to show that I wasn't finished.

  "Also, I'm not really Equestrian material."

  Their eyes widened. I shrugged. It was all I could think of to use as a response. Rarity closed her eyes. She raised a hoof, while head head pointed downward.

  "I would like to object." She stated.

  Rarity got up. She walked over to me. She knelt, so we were face to face. She brought her hooves to my face. She plucked me closer, so we were eye to eye. I was close. Uncomfortably close. She opened her eyes. She stared into my eyes, as I stared awkwardly into hers.

  "Listen to me." Rarity said. "You ARE Equestrian material. You might act a little different, but that doesn't mean anything! You have the loving aspects that we have. You have good nature, a pleasure to be around, and is loyal to his friends."

  "But I don't act entirely like you guys." I exclaimed, still whispering. "In my world, we have different socially acceptable rules of society. You can't just simply start singing at the crack of a whip. If you did where I'm from, you'll get looked at like a freak! Iv'e heard ponies sing five times out loud ever sense I got here! Plus, you can't just simply make friends like you do here! It's much more complicated back home. If you started talking to me out of the blue in my world, I would be weirded out!"

  I was about to continue, but Rarity shook her head. "That doesn't matter." She said.

  "Of corse it matters! The Apple family took me in, and treated me like one of their own! Not that there is a problem with that. I'm grateful, but we don't do that in America."

  She shook her head harder and faster. She took it hard enough to frizzle her hair. She calmly set her hair back into place.

  "That has nothing to do with this. If you haven't noticed, we are living in fear! We need everypony to be as safe as possible. Including you. You are in fact, Equestrian material. You might act different, but that doesn't matter. Wether you are Equestrian or not, you need to be safe."

  Out of nowhere, Rainbow Dash fell down from above and landed on the floor. Between me and Applejack.

  "Yeah, she's kinda right." Rainbow agreed.

  I flinched at her random appearance. The other ponies just nodded and thanked her for her agreement.

  "How long have you been liste...." I was saying, but trailed off.

  Everypony was looking at us, specifically me. My face began to grow hot. Perhaps I was talking a bit too loud. I sheepishly waved at everypony, embarrassed.

  "Umm, Trevor?" Twilight said.

  I looked over at her. "May I speak to you?" She asked.

  I got up and walked over to her. She stood a few feet away from the boy who was looked at Twilight and I in a very nervous fashion. She pointed at the boy with a hoof.

  "He is telling the truth." She said.

  "So...everything he's said, is true?" I asked, for clarification.

  She nodded.

  "Is there still a reason to keep him tied up?" I asked.

  "None that I can see, no." She confirmed.

  She announced to everypony else how he was telling the truth. Princess Celestial and Luna, will have the guards leave him alone. They were skeptical at first, but they trust her completely. The mating bindings on his whist and ankles, faded into nothing. The boy rubbed his wrists as he stood up. He instantly walked over to me. I stood back, thing he was about to attack me, but he stopped right in front of me.

  "Is she ok?" He asked, a look of worry, stuck on his face.

  The good feeling that I had a few seconds ago died. I looked down. I jammed my hands into my jean pockets. I tapped my heel against the floor. Shaking my head, I turned to him.

  "I'm sorry...she uhhhh...she's not good." I said, trying to dance around the news.

  "How bad is she?" He asked, getting more worried, his regret becoming more, and more visible. "I really want to explain things to her."

  I knew I had to tell him. I didn't want to, but I had to. I can't avoid the news for much longer. I have to tell him now.

  "She passed away." I mumbled.

  I could feel his regret emanating off of him. He didn't say anything, but his face said it all.

  "She died shortly after your attack." I went on.

  He sat down. His hands hid his face. He shook his head.

  "No, no, no, no, please. Please tell me that she is alive." He begged.

  "I'm sorry." I said, my head hung low. "She's gone."

  I patted him gently on the back. I noticed that everypony, was looking at us. They stared at the two of us, sympathetic, and depressed. They all looked away, but I knew they would listen. By this time, the boy was getting frustrated with his actions. He slammed his fist onto the floor in anger.

  "How could I do such horrible things?!" He exclaimed. "How?"

  "It was not your fault." I assured. "You had no control over those actions, because that spell did."

  He shook his head.

  "If not anything..." I said, but paused. I sat down next to him.

  "It's my fault." I finished.

  "No." He mumbled.

  "No, it is. I could've stopped you. I should've seen it coming. I could've pulled the trigger earlier, but I was to weak to do it. I was to scared. If it wasn't for me unconscious after pulling that trigger, she would still be here right now." I said, pointing a finger to the ground.

  I was about to say something else, but I couldn't find the words.

  "I don't even know if I can live with myself." He sniffed.

  The boy stood up abruptly. He walked over to the door, and opened it. Twilight reached out to stop him, but he stopped before she could even finish her sentence.

  "I don't mean to be rude, but I need one of ya'll to take me to the hospital. I've been scratched by this sharp plant and the forest and it REALLY stings."

  Fluttershy drifted over to him. She took him by the arm and began to escort him away. The door shut softly, barely making any noise. Outside, a commotion of questions and shouting came from the ponies, waiting hastily outside.

  "WILL YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE?!"

  I jumped at the sudden thundering shriek. The shouts from outside, instantly died. Rainbow Dash shrugged.

  "Fluttershy is like that sometimes."

  Princess Celestia and Luna stood up and left the treehouse, heading back to Canterlot. Everypony but, Applejack, Applebloom, Rarity, and Sweetiebelle left. For an hour, I've just mainly say there. Every now and again, I would get up to get a glass of water, to make it look like I was doing something.

  As I drank my fourth glass, I thought about what the boy said, as I rubbed and scratched Joel head with my other hand. The fact that they can regenerate destroyed tissue after death. That means that if every one of those demon things die, then that means they can come back as normal, civilized humans. Perhaps we could gather enough to form an army! But what about the normal human with glowing eyes? Is that kid right about the whole regenerating process? Or will they just die?

  That question has been stuck in my head for the longest time.

  Maybe I could lead them. With my stealth in hunting, proper training, and teamwork, we could take them down!

  I shook my head at the thought.

"No, no, no, no, Trevor. That's insane! You can't go out there! What are you thinking? Like what Princess Celestia said yesterday, you have no military training. You'll die or worse by the time you go out there; and you can't join the royal guard."

  "Um...excuse me, Trevor?"

  I felt a hoof, tap me on the shoulder. I lowered the cup from my mouth to see Rarity in front of me. I put the glass down onto the floor next to me. I gulped down the rest of the water in my mouth.

  "Yes?" I asked.

  Rarity's eyes lowered downward to my body. I got a weird vibe, and brought her attention to me. Her eyes darted back to mine. Her cheeks went went to a dull red.

  "Oh uhh sorry, Trevor. I can't help but look at your clothes." Said Rarity.

  I looked down at my raggedy clothes. Blood stained, dirty, and torn to high heaven.

  "I see where this is going." I said, fiddling with a hole I found in my collar.

  "If it's no trouble, I would like to take you back to my boutique, to take your measurements. You're gonna be here for a while, and you're going to need more clothing. I can try to repair those clothes that you wear currently, but well....I don't see them coming back."

  I shrugged. "Like I have anything better to do."

  We said our goodbyes to Twilight, Spike, and Applejack. Applejack offered to take care of Creamy while I was gone. Rarity, Sweetiebelle, Joel, and I, walked through the town. Everywhere I looked, Ponyville seemed like it was starting to get back on it's feet. Shops were opening back up, and ponies seemed to be wearing weak smiles on their faces. They were weak, but it was better than nothing.

  "Glad to see things finally start to turn around." I noted as we walked.

  A smile came on her face as she looked around.

  "Yes, it is a delight to see things go for the better." Rarity said.

  "It is quite nice." Sweetiebelle agreed.

  "Do you think that boy will be alright?" Rarity asked.

  "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be fine...I hope." I said under my breath.

  We didn't really say anything more for the rest of the way there. The only thing I talked about really, was Joel and his love for peanut butter. That's pretty much it.

  When we entered the boutique, Rarity instantly got to work, while Sweetiebelle and Joel, played upstairs. She was so determined to give me new clothing, I was literally dragged by her at a point. She escorted me to this room further upstairs. She opened the door to reveal the basic workshop for a tailor. Sewing machines, yarn, and fabric galore.

  The thing that really put me on edge, were her mannequins. The creepiest freakin mannequins I've ever seen. They were shaped like ponies as expected, but they were slender, in poses like animals from a carousel ride, and their faces were completely blank. Figures, kinda ironic they they looked like carousel animals, because this place is called Carousel Boutique.

  "Alright, let's begin." Rarity said.

  She directed me to stand still, my arms spread out, and legs slightly apart, so it looked like I was about to do a splits. A roll of measuring tape, began to glow a bright blue. It lifted itself off of a nearby desk, and floated over to us. A notebook and a quill, was pulled out of a drawer from the same desk.

  She began to take my measurements. Arms, legs, shoulders, everything.

  "Trevor, may I ask you a question?" Rarity asked.

  "Yeah, shoot." I said.

  She was silent for a couple seconds before she spoke.

  "Do you miss your family...your home?"

  "Of course I do. I think about them all the time, ever sense I got here. Well....not exactly all the time, due to what I've been through, but I miss them a lot. Why?" I asked.

  She shrugged. "Well don't take this the wrong way, but...you've never seem homesick, or anything like that. I was.... I was just curious."

  "I do miss them." I said.

"I'm just concerned about what they'll make of me when or IF I get back. I mean face it, right off the bat, they are going to notice my eyebrow split in two. They'll eventually notice the fang marks on my leg."

  "Well, they'll have you back and safe and that's what matters, darling. Sure they'll notice a thing or two different about you, but in they end that won't matter." Rarity said.

  "I guess." I said, as Rarity finished measuring my legs.

  "I do know for a fact, that you are going to get quite popular when you get back. You might not have gotten around much before, but now that you'll be back, everyone is going to want to know everything about you." Rarity said, making me look even excited to head home.

  I can see it now. Me, entering schools for the first time in forever. I go in all awesome and cool. Everyone gawks in my returning presence. All eyes on me. Everyone compliments me on looking awesome with my split eye brow and my other scars. Clair herself, will run over to me. Eyes dripping with tears of joy, and wearing the hottest tank top I've ever seen. She gives me the first and best kiss I've ever had, and she becomes my girlfriend.

  I hold her to my side. "Let's ride." Is all I say.

  Suddenly the ground erupts from below me. A gigantic Joel erupts from the earth right beneath us. We ride him into the sunset, while I shoot a huge LMG in one hand, and throwing random grenades in the other. I turn to Clair, who looks at me romantically.

  "What about you boxers?" Clair said.

  I give her a confused look. "What?"

  Suddenly, everything exploded, and I was plundered back into reality. I found myself looking down at Rarity, who had the mesuring tape in her magic. She looked at me patiently.

  "Your undergarments, what about those?" She repeated.

  I shook my head with the speed of The Flash.

  "Nope. Defiantly not."

  "Oh please. What are you shy about? I'm not wearing anything and I'm just fine." Rarity said, starting to get impatient.

  My cheeks felt like they were on fire. "You make it sound so awkward!"

  "Oh stop whining! I've never heard so much whining, and that's coming from me! Look at it this way, you are going to need more clothes. You can't just expect to wear the same pair for Celestial knows how long."

  I groaned. "Fine."

  I undid my belt and dropped my jeans. They fell to the floor with a thud. She took a look at them, and jutted down a few notes. I sat there awkwardly, hoping nopony would look in through the windows.

"Oh I almost forgot, I have a guest bedroom, so you can sleep there, instead of sharing with another pony." Rarity said happily.

I looked down. "She told you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  "Oh yes she did. She also told me about the time you slept with her only in you boxers!" She shot, with an evil grin.

  My mouth dropped to the floor. My eyes widened, and my cheeks felt like they burned off from acid.

  "You make it sound so bad!" I exclaimed.

  "Uhhh." A squeaky voice came from the door.

  It was Sweetiebelle. She stood in the doorway next to Joel, her eyes were as wide as dinner plates, and her cheeks were a tomato red. Worst of all her eyes were glued to the back of Rarity's head, which was right in front of my exposed boxers.

  "Trevor did what?" She squeaked.

  I looked down at Rarity, then at her in pure horror. I raised my hands in defense. I took a step back.

  "Uhhh..it's not what it-" I was stopped in mid sentence, because I tripped over my jeans.

  "AHH FU-!"

  THUD!

  I hit the floor hard. The only notice I heard, was Rarity, laughing her flank off.