Author's Note

Disclaimer: This story is NOT cannon with Your Human and You and has yet to be approved by the AMAZING MadMaxtheBlack. This is my second time sharing one of my works. I hope you enjoy and wish me luck.[/cent

Walk, Walk, FASHION BABY

Roar a manticore, I hate those things so much. But that was the price I paid for living in the Everfree forest or to be more specific the Everfree Castle. I’ve lived there since my family “fell” into Equestria from our cottage in the middle of nowhere...I was six then ten years passed since. Both my parents are gone, leaving me with their equipment.

Both Lily and dad were into the survival thing but only mom did so for a living (ex military and an awesome hunter) and to provide food for the family. Dad was more of a home maker. Cooking, Cleaning, etc. Oh and he was amazing with needle and thread, all the clothing I owned back then was always handmade by either him or me and any food was caught by mom who always brought me along with her.

“You saw this coming, Lily, Papa. You knew I'd have to fend for myself.” I murmured as I finished off the dying Manticore before it’s roar could draw any other nasties to my encampment as mom called it. I just prefered to call it home.

Ten years ago

Mom and I almost fell prey to a dragon on the first day in this hellhole. Mom was tough and I was learning fast but we couldn’t take on a dragon, yet. We ran as that monster ate my Papa, not a tear was shed during our escape. We didn’t go near that cave for a full two years. During which we both trained to become what was necessary to survive in this enchanted world.

On our second year of living in this new world we found out where we were. This land was called Equestria and it’s ruling species were ponies that thought made me excited, I wanted to pet the pretty pony that was talking to her friend...IT WAS A UNICORN they’re real here!. I shook my head at how girly I was thinking. I took another look at the other pony to notice she had wings...A PEGASUS my favorite magical creature. If I didn’t want to go out then, I definitely wanted to now.

Mom stopped me and made a hush motion I gave her a “but why” face and she pointed behind them. They had humans in chains and I use the word human loosely they’re more like Neanderthal or Cro-Magnon (What I was a smart kid). They looked primitive enough to pass for them that’s for sure.

We had come across a few in our year here. Some were violent and wanted momma some women even wanted me, while others were docile and didn't care either way. We (more like mom) decided to live on our own and we discovered the castle. After she deemed it safe to live in we set up shop laid traps and various proximity alerts and I made a few adjustments to our clothes that were showing wear and tear.

Mom laid down the ground rules for our life in the castle one being that fires must be small enough to avoid giving away our location to predators or worse, Ponies. I agreed with her on all counts, I will not be a slave. I look at my reflection in a mirror and remember a history lesson mom gave me on our people. “This isn’t colonial America and I refuse to be a slave to a pony!”

“Well said, son well said. now let’s get some hunting done.” following those rules our lives went rather uneventful for the the next year. Until we were ready to kill us a dragon mom had reinforced twin sabers and I had dad’s katana and my own set of throwing knives and stars. Mom looked at it and said. “It was a good thing we had we had this stuff with us when we were dropped here. Survival would have been a problem otherwise.” I nod and we head to the accursed cave...time for some revenge.

Now we had been training for a full two years and one good thing about the castle is it spooks out any would be assailants or enslavers. Meaning we were somewhat safe in the castle. Training or no, we weren’t stupid enough to attack a dragon head on. My name wasn’t Link, Hiccup or Dragonborn. Hell I can’t even remember my own damn name. It was just a word to associate me with and since I had no peers I could speak with it was useless. The plan was to kill the thing in it’s sleep we had found studied it from afar and knew it had a soft underbelly that would be how we kill it, gutting.

The plan failed and it woke up angry. “Run honey, I’ll keep it busy so you can live!”

I had seen this episode before and wasn’t about to watch the rerun “Fuck that, mom!” I yelled as I bumrushed the dragon before she was fully aware and slashed her left achilles tendon. Her focus was solely on me, the one who was actively wounding her. Dragon or no an assault on the Achilles tendon is going to hurt like a hell. I had gone full berserker. If I was going to die, I would take this fucking bitch with me.

While she was falling to the ground in pain, mom was tossing acidic potions at her, making sure not to hit me. I had done a massive amount of damage to her legs in combination to the vials. But time was running out and I just didn’t care in my current state of mind. The dragoness came to her senses after the second vial. She gripped mom in a claw and began to crush her. The dumb bitch doesn’t see me as a threat, I’ll have to change that. By the time she grabbed mom, her legs were fucked acid plus an alchemically enhanced diamond cut Katana equals one paraplegic dragon.

Mom desperately struggled to loosen her hold of to no avail. If this kept up, she would undoubtedly perish. Slightly coming to my senses, I took action. Making a mad dash towards the bitches spine I used that momentum to do a savage spin. The shear force of that ungodly and impossible roll caused my mighty blade that I would later deem ‘Dragonbane’ from her tail to the nape of her neck. In my rage, I had completely taken a shit on physics. I would later learn how to do such feats without going primal.

The dragoness' grip had slipped causing mom to painfully flop to the floor. I, still not giving a shit that the bitch was now permanently paralyzed from the head down. Roar in a fit of rage that had not yet subsided and plunged Dragonbane into her cerebral cortex. I pull the blade out and flick the blood and greymatter from her (yes my sword is a she) and proceed to slash, gut, and stab the bitch long after she was dead; roaring a dragon’s roar. From what I had been told of the event, my eyes looked like the dragon bitch's.

Mom grabbed me. “Honey, that’s enough it’s dead! keep going and you’re no better than it or those native humans!” I turn to face my mother still worriedly hugging me. She was terrified, I could see that on her face but I didn’t care that bitch would pay for her transgressions and killing her wasn’t enough for me. I would make her very soul hurt by destroying the corpse. Mom looks in my blood lust filled eyes and does the only thing that could to bring me back to her. Mom disrobed and forced her ample bosom in my face, I cried “Shh, it’s ok honey. it’s dead and you’re not, now get a good look at me and enjoy.”

That night to calm us both from the shock of what had just occurred my mother, the only intelligent woman as far as I knew gave me a prize for my hunt like the wild humans do. She took my virginity. We both killed our morals to survive for two full years in this hellhole and mom..no LIlith refused to give in to her carnal desires with a native, so I was all that was left. We took everything from that cave and for the next six years my life with my Lilith continued as such we’d hunt skin and gut then eat our prey and then we “celebrated” as long as we could. Lilith insisted that I shot outside, not wanting to bring a child into this life of ours and I agreed.

Lilith and I refused to let ourselves become truly wild we lived by a code. Take only what you need to survive, thank the beast for it’s sacrifice, and carry on with life. The biggest part of our code was avoid any and all outsiders, no matter what. And so we did but sometimes we pilfered supplies from passersby, it was usually of the medical kind and a bestiary being the highest necessity.

For six years Lily and I lived a happy life together. Hunting, eating, sleeping, fucking. But that life would soon come to an end on the day after a ceremony the ponies of the adjacent town called “Winter Wrap Up” the day I hate most in the world, the day my Lily died. The anniversary of our lifestyle was approaching and I wanted to catch her off guard by making her something special a full week early. To pull that off I needed apples, her favorite fruit. I take a trip to the apple farm avoiding the nasties along the way the worst one was the coakatrice.

Out of everything in this world it looked the least like human legend...It was a fucking chicken. What the absolute fuck, these things were massive in human folklore so why is it so tiny. I dropped the subject when I noticed it could turn me to stone with one look. “I’ll be avoiding that and If I can’t I’ll kill it on sight” I had my trusty compound bow at the ready, not wanting to have Lily find me turned to stone.I should know by know that speaking of the devil summons him. flick and tango down I was taking no chances with those things, period.

Having lived here for most of my life meant I had scouted the place, and well. I knew what went down in at the farm by watching from the forest. There were four ponies living there with at least fifty humans for labor. I was about a half hour away. I had arrived at the farm and shot a rope arrow so I could pick apples from on high and avoid the local humans. I traveled from tree to tree using my bow and rope arrow as a detachable zip line on the taller trees to avoid being seen. after I take what I need, I take my leave with a small sack of apples. “Hold it right there, ya varmint!”

Shit I’d been made with no choice I shot a warning shot and quickly reloaded keeping aim at the orange mares head. Applejack was her name, I believe. I shook my head and remember the law of the hunter. Don’t humanize your prey don’t think about it, no matter what. The fact that I would open fire if she made one wrong move was made clear.

“Well I’ll be yer one of those rare humans from the zebra lands and y’all can use that weird bow! Take it easy feller, I don’t mean ya no harm.” She said as if trying to calm a wild beast. Well I guess that’s what I was to her.

“I’m sorry miss, but I need these apples.” I tossed her a satchel of gems as payment... and hush money. When I remembered one thing...humans can’t talk!

“Wait a apple buckin minute, did y’all just talk!” She said in disbelief. I can’t say I blame her if a pony started talking to me on Earth (I don’t say back home since I had spent most of my life in Equestria) I’d have thought I was going crazy.

She looked like she wanted to confirm it. “Now come on over here I won’t hurt ya.” She calmly said in her southern twang I found it refreshing to be talking to a pony, not to mention a gorgeous one like her!

I move closer and do something I had wanted to do for years. I scratched her ears and rubbed her belly a bit. “You forget things every day, you should be a good pretty pony and make sure this is one of them.” I said in a slightly menacing voice with a hand on Dragonbane. “Take the gems and leave me be, please don’t force my hand.” I said in a manner that wasn’t threatening at all but pleading. She did as I asked and grabbed it.

“I can’t take all this, it’s about twenty times more that what ya done took!” She said in a fit of brutal honesty. Good so not all ponies are scum then, nice to know.

“Then consider that my tab from now on, Applejack.” I said her name since she was no longer a threat in my book. I shook her hoof and a deal was struck since I’d pay for a years worth of apples and take what I need when I needed it and she’d keep track of what I took. I kissed both her cheeks in an adieu, that got her flustered.

“Look here mister, I ain’t no hoity toity Canterlot pony and you won’t be treatin me like one, ya get me.” I shook my head in understanding She was taking a talking human rather well or maybe this was just her business sense taking over her “common sense”. Either way I didn’t talk to her for too long and booked it in an alternate route to the castle. Applejack may be good but I don’t know about her Brother, Big Macintosh.

I decided not to tell Lily I had just been forced to take a shit on our code to avoid the fierce nagging that would persist. I arrive home to prep the best dinner we’ve had in weeks. “Honey, I’m...home” A manticore was tearing into Lily’s side. It wouldn’t enjoy it’s meal for long, for it would soon be our meal. Thwick and the fucker was dead via an arrow to the head. Another hunters rule...always go for the head, it’s less brutal.

“Nice shot, love.” Lily said in a gasp of pain. I understand that she was bit but It wasn't a big chunk I could suture it closed with the equipment we had in the...Oh GOD. it hit me she had been poisoned.

“Baby, I can help I just need to get the antivenom and you’re good.” I went to get the manticore antivenom we had on hand but she stopped me.

“Don’t leave me, love. I was poisoned by three of them look at the two on the floor.

I did and after I made a further assessment of her wounds while only one got a chunk of her to eat, they all managed to get some serious scratches on her along with all the venom that was pumping in her veins by now. It was too late. “You need to make this place more secure, okay.” She said in a voice I hadn’t heard in a long time, the voice of a mother. I stood by her side and pulled out my katana she shook her head knelt on her knees and I ended it. I stabbed her in the heart and gave her a quick death over the agonizingly slow and painful one.

I walked back to the farm holding her in my arms. I had to honor the number one rule for survival in the castle, no high flames. Applejack was still bucking apples and noticed me “Well howdy, mister human...Oh sweet Celestia what happened?!”

I needed her help so I played ball and gave her some info. I told where I came from, how I’d lived here almost all my life “I need a pyre for my.” I struggled to find the right word “Mate if you don’t mind and maybe some kind words from someone.”

“Well, I can help ya with the pyre. But as far as the words go mister human...What’s your name anyway?” I gave her the name that I no longer respect or remember and she agreed to say a few nice things for me.

Macintosh had helped me and Applejack retrieve the proper amount of wood for the pyre and he began to light a torch. “Big Brother this may sound sound strange, but let the human do it.” she didn’t actually ‘the human’ She said my name but as I said I discarded that on that day. It no longer held any value to me.

Macintosh gave her a funny look but looked at Lily and me and noticed we weren't theirs. His eyes were mostly on Lily filled with sadness at my loss. I’m just gonna assume he’s in on my charade. “Adios, my love.” I said in a low strained tone of voice and light the fire as Macintosh left me an AJ alone

“I’m real sorry about ya loss mister human. Knowing you ain’t no normal human I won’t leave ya here alone” She said and sat down next to me as I basked in the sorrow. That’s what a pyre is for after all to send the body on and take the remorse away from those that are left.

“Thank you AJ, I think I’d jump in with her if I were left alone.” I said while crying the only tears I’d be shedding for her, love or no sorrow could get me killed and that’s not what Lily would want. We both look into the fire but the light had drawn in another pony. It was the little sister, I think her name was Apple Bloom. She had a yellow coat and red hair and wore a bow, or was it a ribbon made into a bow? I don’t care.

“Whatcha doin, Sis?” Apple Bloom said with way too much cheer for my liking at the moment. But it felt good to have her around.

I opened my mouth then AJ shoved a hoof in it “She can’t keep a secret worth nothin.” AJ explained to me I removed the hoof from my mouth and began to speak anyway. I mean who’d believe a filly talking about talking humans.

“We’re having a pyre for my...dead mate. And before you ask she was taken from me by manticores. The word came out of my mouth like venom I once ignored them seeing them as more trouble than they were worth, but no longer shall I turn a blind eye to those fuckers! I put them below cocaktrice at kill on sight.

“Oh, well I’m sorry about your loss mister talking human.” She took it better than her sister had. “You look like you need a hug” I nodded and the both the girls hugged me while I sobbed.

It was a the longest night of my fourteen years of life. Big Mac came back out with the elder pony, Smith...no it was Granny Smith. “Well looks like ya got yerself a good pyre goin there, youngun. Who’s it for?” The elder asked respect and sorrow in her voice.

I was debating to myself on sharing my secret with the rest of the family. After all I’d be doing business with them anyway right? “It’s for my lover, her name was Lilith.” I said in a tone devoid of all emotion.

The elder nodded in confirmation and Big Macintosh’s brain crashed. “Well I’ll be darned, a talking human! I reckon you live in the forest what with all that gear on yer.” I nodded at the elders assumption. She was old and wise, I had no doubt that she had seen stranger things than a talking human.

Apple Bloom tugged at my shirt. “Hey mister human, why’d ya have the pyre here anyway?”

She asked in honest question so I gave her an honest answer. “We have...had a code, one of those rules was fires were not allowed to be this high.” Apple Bloom cocked her head in confusion. “It would compromise our camp to the nasties or worse ponies.” The last bit came out venomous and the poor filly looked terrified.

The innocent little filly tugged again for my attention. “Why do you hate ponies so much? We ain’t that bad!” She said indignantly.

“Ponies collect humans and shackle them for enslavement. They’re nothing but dumb animals to them and I can’t deny that. But I am not an animal, Apple Bloom.”

This time AJ asked me a question. “How do ya know our names anyway?” I had explained that I had cased this place as a potential means of food and gathering information on the outside world. “I guess that makes sense.” She replied.

We just sat there in silence staring at the pyre, just the four of us. Until a pink mare came along. “Ooh, whatcha doing Applejack? You’re having a bonfire and you didn’t invite your friends!” She reached into a hole and out came four other mares and a dragon. The monster hunter in me wanted to slay the foul thing until I saw it was about Apple Bloom’s age and calmed down.

And then the mare pulls out marshmallows from her mane and heads to the pyre. Needless to say I smack that shit out of her hooves and point at the still burning remains of Lily. “Oh, It’s a pyre I’m sorry ‘mister human’ and your secret's safe with me. Cross my heart and hope to fly stick a cupcake in my eye” How the fuck does she know my name or my secret? AJ looked at me and shook her head. I took that as “don’t question it” and went back to staring at the fire. Then Pinkie as I had dubbed her began to sing a ‘my heart will go on’ how the hell a pony knows a human song, I don’t know.

Big Mac had brought booze, a staple for this stage of the pyre. Seeing as everyone was good and sloshed and Spike the dragon was out of it, I started singing pirate shanties. The girls were too far gone to question a singing dancing human. Elder stepped in on the parts that needed an equine adaption. AJ and I had consumed enough booze to make a Valhallian warrior jealous. I think I could come to like the Apple family.

There was one pony who caught my attention. It was the white mare with a purple mane. She was on Applejack’s level as far as natural good looks came. But she was a bit prissy so I stayed near AJ singing, drinking, and making merry with my new friends.

Pinkie tapped me in the shoulder. “You’re a lively one. Wanna be friends?” Did I want to be friends with Pinkie, that was a good question. But with Lily gone I’d need friends and allies in Equestria or at least someone to “own me” I’d ask the apple family about that later.

After I gave it a good thought, my mind was settled. “Ok Pinkie, I’ll be your friend.”

“Ooh, ooh, how did you know my name?” I just blinked. That’s her actual name, seriously?

“Give me your birth name and I’ll give you mine.” I told Pinkie. I just had to know her full name.

Her face twisted a little and her mane deflated. “Pinkamena Diane Pie, but my friends call me Pinkie Pie!” she said with a hop and her mane returned to it’s puffiness.

I gave Pinkie my name, she seemed happy to have an official meeting. As the fire died down, the other mares began to head home. Why Pinkie could pull them out of a random hole and not take them home the same way, I don’t know nor do I want to. I grabbed the now sleeping Apple Bloom and followed Big Mac to her room.

“You can stay here if yer willin to pull yer weight, youngun.” The elder offered to let me stay but I just couldn’t after remembering Lily’s last words. Even if I had taken a shit on most of our code. it was a two person survival plan not a one, so I had to adapt and adapt I shall.

“I’m fine elder, I’ll just return to my camp. I can’t run from my memories forever I have to deal with it, or they’ll forever haunt me.” I replied to the elder in a brooding tone. Great I’m starting to sound like one of those novels Lily used to….no I won’t let a ghost pull me down, not even Lily’s!

AJ, now sober enough to try to talk me out of it got my attention with a kick. “Y’all ain’t goin nowhere right now, it’s the dead of night and you ain’t got but the two arrows. Now you best be marchin on up those stairs and be getting some rest. We can go to yer castle later and settle the air but for now follow me, please!” AJ asked me in a worried tone. Either she really feels sorry for me or we bonded over the pyre.

“You’re the boss, AJ.” I said in defeat

“Yer darn tootin I am” She walked into a room and I followed. With one look around I could tell this wasn’t a guest room, it was her room! “Now no need ta get flustered, I just figured leaving ya alone tonight ain’t a good idea. Who knows what y’all might do with the grief of losing yer mate!” She’s right I might just have killed myself if I went home now.

“Ok I’ll stay but Lilith wasn’t just my mate, she used to be my mother before that.”

AJ’s eyes bulged right out of her head. “She was yer what now? That just ain’t right, partner!”

“Who are you to question our morals! We survived a living hell together. My dad died the first day we arrived in the accursed land. Eaten by a dragon so we could run. A dragon that I killed in cold blood two years later. I went primal and got lost in my rage, she pulled me back and that’s how we coped with our life here for a full six years...and then she...she.” AJ grabbed me as I fell to the floor sobbing at Lily’s loss yet again. After all the day was not yet over.

“Shh. It’s alright sugarcube, let it out. And I’m mighty sorry for saying what I done said. I had no right ta question how y’all kept yer sanity.” When I stopped sobbing for the final time that night, AJ cleaned herself off and went back to bed. “Are ya gonna c’mere, or do I gotta lasso ya!?” I took her words at value and got in the bed with her, it was not sexual.

An early rise to a new morning later and a full quiver of arrows (wooden) later. AJ and I were on our way to the castle (after morning chores). I'm glad that AJ kept an iron grip on my torso as she slept, otherwise I’d most likely be dead by the nocturnal creatures of the everfree. Two arrows and no sword, the fuck was I thinking. I gotta get past this grief shit before it kills me and Lily kicks my ass on the other side.

Apple Bloom wanted to come with us. Something about an ruin exploration cutie mark. AJ answered her with a tail smack to her forehead. “Big Macintosh take her to school for me, will ya? Oh and Apple Bloom not that anypony would believe you, but no talking about ‘Mister Human’s’ speaking alright.”

“I ain’t gonna tell nopony about your coltfriend, sis! Just like ya said even if I did nopony would believe me.anyway!” AJ and I both blushed at her sisters statement

“I’m not her boyfriend!”

“He ain’t my coltfriend!” The two of us said at the same time. Immediately after we looked at each other and laughed.

“See y’all like two peas in a pod! If he ain’t your coltfriend then he oughtta be!” Apple Bloom said not backing down. I gotta give it to her, this filly’s got conviction. But yeah, AJ is not my girlfriend.

I think of how to use this situation and decide to give AJ a playful smack on the ass. “Well, we better get moving. Don’t want the nasties on us first thing in the morning do you?” My southern accent just slipped I hadn’t heard that in years. I hope she doesn’t think I’m mocking her.

AJ walks past and smacks me in the face with her tail...harder than I smacked her, but still playfully. “You’re right. We best get a move on!” With that both AJ and I made a mad dash. Apple Bloom tried to follow us but Macintosh and the elder stopped her from pulling any shenanigans. When we were far enough out of earshot. “Did ya have ta smack me on the flank. I don’t know what that means to humans where ya come from but that also has some serious meaning to it partner.” AJ explained

“Well I had ta get ya movin somehow now didn’t I?” Great I’m still talking like I belong on this farm. “And besides you’ve got a lovely flank, i couldn't resist.” I said with a smile.

AJ blinked, and nothing more. She's taking this pretty damn well. Seeing as I just told her I was an alien just yesterday. I must’ve earned her trust somehow considering I’m not in a lab or some such shit. Lily your paranoia was in vain, at least where the ponies I had made my friends were concerned.

Speaking of paranoia, I'm glad I always have my weapon at the ready. A Timberwolf lunged at AJ. As soon as I felt it come it had an incendiary arrow lodged in it’s cranium via my bow. AJ looked at her attacker dying a fiery death and then to me. “Well if my mind weren’t set then, it sure is now ya just saved my life! Welcome to the family!” Aj hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I retrieved the Arrow but it was dead and needed new flint. AJ examined the arrow. "I done seen this arrow before!"

Without missing a beat I reply. "Yeah, and it saved you the same way too! I was a brat and you were a filly back then. that'll teach you to not listen to your granny!"

"It really is a small world, ain't it?" She sighs and I nod as I held my hand out to her.

I waited for AJ to get her bearings and then pressed on. The rest of the trip was uneventful and for that I was glad. The only other specialty arrow I had left was a flash arrow and those were an annoyance for me to make. As soon as we arrived we retrieved anything we could take with us. I left my valuables in safe in the lower levels I had fortified into a deathtrap should any uppity ponies find my home. Magic or no anyone who saw this would assume the princesses had cursed the room so only they could enter.

We were ready to return to the farm after our third trip and my area in the loft was ready for me when we got back. AJ wasn’t having that one. “You want him ta sleep in an area where our humans could mess with his stuff or him?! Think about it Big Mac he’s an intelligent human that survived eight darn years in the Everfree. One of the males gets outta line and he’ll fight back causing the others to join in!”

I’ve gotta admit, Macintosh made a dumbass call trying to get me to stay so close to the other humans...why would he do...oh. I whisper in AJ’s ear “I think he knows we slept together and now he want’s me away from his sister.”

AJ’s eyes widen at that “Big Macintosh, I’ll have you know that ain’t nothin happen last night. I was on suicide watch!”

Big Mac looked at AJ then at me “Dude, I just lost my lover! What the hell makes you think I’d have sex on the mind anytime soon? Truth be told if not for AJ I would most definitely have left this world last night. Now don’t you feel like an ass?!” I turn around to see an actual Ass behind me. “no offense there man”

This guy must have either had no fucks to give or have some sort of visual impairment. “None taken.” With that the donkey walked off.

Both AJ and the elder made Macintosh take all my stuff to the room next to Applejack’s. I offered to help the poor stallion but it was his dumbass moment and his punishment so he took it like a man, or in this case stallion. I now had my own room in a safe, loving home but I had to say this. "I'll bunker down here with y'all but I have to keep my place. It was her dying breath that I do so." They all understood my need to keep my place. I would end up staying at the farm three times a week.

Present time

A familiar whistle pierced the air. As soon as I heard it, I knew she was being attacked most likely with her friends doing their usual “crusading” thing. So I quickly dove into action, running towards the screams at full speed. I’d be damned if I was going to lose another loved one to those things. I got there in time to see the two current crusaders plus a former crusader atop a tree branch plus Dinky, great so she’s officially one of them now. She had been Crusading with them since Scoots got her mark and title. Since there were two unicorns and a serious amount of adrenaline, I didn’t question how they got up there.It wasn't Scoots, her body is still recovering from that thrashing she got from fighting that bugbear the other day. She killed the fucker but it cost her. With a broken hoof and wing, it had to be pure magic that got them up there. However their safe haven wouldn’t hold forever it was a waiting game and the fucking manticore knew it.

I reach for my side quiver….shit no arrows, looks like this is going to be sword play. Pulling out Dragonbane I howl since the other crusaders don’t know my secret. The soon to be dead manticore notices me and sees a better meal in my well toned (but not overly muscular like the humans on the farm) form. The stupid fucker thinks I’ll be his lunch! Sorry pal but it’s going to be the other way around.

Like a typical manticore, it lunges at me. I dodge and slice off the most dangerous piece of the beast, its tail. It howled in pain and anger. If its attention wasn’t on me before, it surely was now. We pace each other waiting for an opening. I gave it one and it took my bait. With a clean motion I lopped its head off. It was a flawless victory on my part.

With it now dead, I quickly looked over the body and noticed that he was in fact a she….and pregnant. Fluttershy would yell at me for this but good thing I’m not “her human”. I love her like a sister, but I would rather perform seppuku than deal with her overly protective ramblings about the rights of other creatures. Yet she stood there last time I recall a human being publicly “put down” for “aggression” no love for humans....hypocritical bitch.

Her tone towards humans would soon change if I had my way. And had my way I did two weeks later, I scared the shit out of her just by smiling. The poor thing was a whimpering mess. I patted her mane and cooed at her, she calmed down...until I spoke. Being the manipulative little fucker I am, I got her to keep quiet and join the ponies who knows Hunter’s Secret cadre. With that split second of being sidetracked done and over with. I got to deal with this.

I cross myself for the life of the unborn cub. While I hate manticores, the cub had no chance at life...I preformed a C section as quickly as I could. Luckily enough, I managed to save the cub and it was now my problem great, just great.

After realizing I had almost forgotten the CMC I make a catching motion. They jumped in my arms one at a time Sweetie Belle was the last one… she was terrified of humans ever since her encounter with one last year. She screamed in my ear as I caught her...little ingrate.

“Your Personal human I awesome! Not only can he handle that sword like a pro he took down a manticore like it was nothing! If not for my injuries, I might have been able to help.” Scootaloo proclaimed in a shriek that reminded me of Rainbow Dash, the fastest flyer in Equestria.

“I can’t believe what I just saw… that...huaman performed a C section on that manticore and succeeded!” Sweetie Belle said in a cowering yet shocked tone. roarthe cub cried and that gave Sweetie's statement concrete evidence. Shit, this is bad I hope AB can come up with a good excuse.

I look to her. “Uh yeah, he may have some military training but remember he’s a service class as well and they’re usually smarter than regular humans. My guess is he saw the operation being performed on the farm and just copied it!” Thank you Apple Bloom, hopefully the reminder that I’m technically a service class human with some military training would throw them off.

Their filly minds grasped at that excuse, like an adult would all crusaders bought it, except Sweetie Belle. She saw me do it expertly without a moment of hesitation. Scoots was the only one not fooled but played along. She was on to me and I could do nothing. Sweetie Belle kept a suspicious eye on me (more like her only eye) too bad they couldn’t get her fixed in time the scar was gone but her eye was fucked, permanently. By the time she had gotten treatment the nerves in that eye were dead, at least they managed to fix her horn. Hell I’m the one that ran her into the hospital, her kicking and screaming the whole way. Thinking back I probably had her suspicions the moment I put her horn on ice, which is why she still has the thing.

“She’s on to me to me” I click in morse with my tongue to Apple Bloom.

“Oh hush, you. There ain’t no way she can be! I gave her a right proper excuse!” AB gave my paranoia no second thought

I’m just glad that morse code doesn’t exist here, there may be some similarities to hoof language but luckily enough for me the two are so inherently different that no one’s gonna catch it. The darn fools are just gonna think I’m makin music. I walked them back to Rarity’s house, not taking the chance of them doing something stupid when I left them. I stayed on point with the cub following my every move.

I guess I”m it’s dad now, I’ll have to sex it and have fluttershy give me the proper nutrients for it later. I can handle the meat and get milk from the cows (they love me) but the nutrients contained in mother’s milk would be a problem. I lifted the cub and found out that it was a she and put her atop my head she nested in my hair which at the moment was nice a poofy thanks to the shampoos and conditioners I get from Pinkie.

“Whatcha gonna do about that cub” AB clicked

“Who Missy, I’m keeping her. I killed her mother and brought her into this world. She’s my responsibility now.” I clicked but not all at once tongue cramps can be a bitch if you get them. AB smiled in approval.

We were out of the everfree and at Carousel Boutique in less than ten minutes. Looks like we made good time, Missy’s scent must of masked mine. I’d keep that in mind for later. The closed sign was up as well as a “humans prohibited” sign, I gave no shits and slammed the door open.

“What in the world is going on here!” The diva shouted at me. Since I couldn’t talk to Rarity I pointed at the filly’s then grabbed the frisby from Scoots and pointed in the direction of the Everfree. Rarity’s not an idiot she may hate humans but she knows I’m “clever” and got my point. “I What were you fillies thinking playing so close to the Everfree and then risking your lives to get a silly frisby back! What would you have done if Hunter weren’t there to save you!”

The diva addressed me in the new name I gave Applejack for my registration last year. It didn’t take much to bribe an official to fabricate my training papers and whatnot so I could continue to do what I do. Act like a soldier from time to time while being a “clever little human”.

“I’ll tell ya, at least one of us would be dead right now. Scoots and I done told them ta forget the darn thing but it had sentimental value to Dinky, so we had ta go get it. Scoots protected us for as long as she could but that manticore made her leg even worse. Lucky for us that I called for Hunter otherwise that branch woulda snapped and ya know the rest.” Attagirl, Apple Bloom. I’m glad I taught her how to assess dangerous situations the branch was probably her Idea to buy time for the rescue if not Scoots'.

Rarity blinked at AB’s matter of fact statement as did the others. “Young lady, where did you learn to think like that?!”

AB’s eyes were on me. The diva noticed and shook her head. She was most likely dismissing the truth. That’s when AB came up with a good excuse. “Hunter’s former handler taught me a lot about situational analysis before she left him in our care and left Ponyville to go back ta Canterlot, knowing her Hunter would be in good hooves.”

The marshmallow seemed to accept that answer “Ah, Midnight Blossom took a liking to you did she? That explains why you want to be a member of the Lunar Guard one day.”

The other members of the CMC’s mouths were agape I’m guessing this was the first they heard of Apple Blooms dream. Well to be honest I wanted to be a member of the Rising Tide, the best of the best of the Lunar Guard. However that was as big an honor as being in the Coming Dawn. I can dream but I know full well that a human will never be bestowed that honor, the Rising Tide are practically knights.

Dinky was about to say something most likely something stupid to ruin AB’s aspirations. I promptly covered her mouth….she bit me. I was losing blood but it wasn’t significant so I pass it off Missy jumps off my head and onto the nearby desk and licks my wound. Fluttershy came out of the next room in a dress, a damn good one but it was clearly machine sewn. I would love to get my hands on that fabric and make myself some new clothes, I had nothing but the shorts I was wearing. Good thing Lily had me make them adjustable up to three sizes higher.

Rarity escorted the fillies upstairs to the bath. Dinky was not looking forward to this, she hated baths from what bloom told me. Fluttershy’s eyes bulged out of her skull. “A baby manticore, now where did you come from sweetheart.” She cooed at Missy and Missy growled at her no doubt trying to “protect” her daddy.

“Missy that’s no way to treat my friend Fluttershy!” I reprimanded her. “I saved her by performing a C section after ‘putting her mother to sleep’. The bitch was trying to eat the girls so I did what I did.” Fluttershy hid under her mane a bit. She probably thinks I’m gonna let her go back into the Everfree when she can fend for herself! “I plan on keeping her but I’m gonna need the nutrients to do so.”

That made Fluttershy happy. She’s been trying to give me a pet since she found out I was sentient and now I have one. “That’s amazing news, Hunter. But should you really be talking right now?” I cock an eyebrow up and she does her usual shyness thing. “Um...I mean...what if Rarity hears you talking.”

I blew that idea off. “Rarity is so closed minded and her hatred of humans is so deep right now that I doubt she’d accept the fact that she heard me. So I’m good.” I said While Fluttershy was cleaning and dressing my bite wound. Apple Bloom is most likely giving Dinky hell for that right now. But as soon as I said that I passed out.

“Miss Fluttershy, what’s wrong with Hunter?!” I heard Apple Bloom worriedly ask as I came to.

“It wasn’t because I bit him was it?!” Dinky asked honest regret in her voice.

Without missing a beat Fluttershy answered them both. “No Dinky it isn’t. And he’s been poisoned by a manticore Apple Bloom. Before you ask it’s not fatal, since I gave him the anti-venom in time. But he’ll need to stay here for the night to rest and then he can go home.”

I could see blurs all the girls were here. One human swallows poison like a dumbass and he’s received by the six elements of harmony. I think back to Lily and realise how close that was, I’d do better to avoid close calls like that from now on and always remember to have an elixir on me. That stuff cures all ailments but it was a nuisance to make.

“He’ll have to what!” Rarity practically yelled in the royal Canterlot voice I had been unlucky enough to hear Twilight yell in at spike one day when I helped in the library. “I won’t have that thing anywhere near me or Sweetie Belle if I can help it!”

I was expecting Applejack or Apple Bloom to speak on my behalf but it was Fluttershy that did so. “Rarity, need I remind you that you are the element of generosity? Also that if not for this wonderful human, Sweetie Belle, your sister would be dead! Let’s face it out of the four of these fillies Sweetie would be the easiest prey with her limited visibility.” Fluttershy was in full “fuck you” mode defending one friend from serious harm by the hooves of another.

All Rarity could do was sigh in defeat as all five of her friends, the other two members of the CMC plus Scoots, and worse her sister; the very pony she was trying to “protect” from the “vicious human” shook their heads in disapproval at her statement. She had lost and there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. “Fine he can stay and heal, but he does so in a cage!”

Twilight brought in a cage she used for studying the more violent species from the everfree that I bring to her barely alive. I can pick myself out of this in no time and she fucking knows it, after all she read my file and Midnight Blossom was more than happy to agree to claiming to be my former handler...after all I saved her life and she owed me a life debt. Good thing she knew a guy and then boom I was hers and have been hers for about five years. I couldn’t help but laugh at the way they think humans age. I’m apparently half my fucking age.

After my small trip down memory lane I was out of it. I wake up at about one in the morning. Missy had taken my friendliness towards Fluttershy well and left with her according to the note that was under my bed. One thing I know about Rarity and Sweetie is they’re hard sleepers so I can help myself to some fabric. I break out of the cage and head to Rarity’s sewing area and proceed to help myself.

One fabric caught my eye it was rough like denim but smooth like suede and I immediately start the designs and got to work with a needle and thread. Unlike Rarity I don’t use a machine to sew period. Hand sewn is the best to me. Within three hours my ensemble was complete. I was pretty much wearing the Connor Kenway uniform with dark orange and black as the base colors and instead of it bearing the mark of the assassin, I had Applejack's cutie mark on it.

I stripped out of the shorts that were chafing me as is and put on my new clothing. It felt amazing I’m guessing that this was an engineered fabric but it could be less itchy. I’d have to work on that one myself since Madame Rarity refuses to make clothing for humans. As for right now I had to deal with the matter at hand, I was thirsty as a motherfucker and I would see that thirst quenched.

The sink was out of the question. The purification system was outdated and slightly noisy. It might wake them up and besides I didn’t feel like drinking water anyway. Opening the fridge I peruse its contents and find a glass vial containing what I was looking for, juice and it was grape, sweet! Grabbing the vial and quickly chugging it’s contents I finally quench the intense thirst I had worked up I was happy….until I read the note that was in the fridge.

“ Rarity, the contents of this vial are only to be consumed by you. This potion will make your features shine brighter and has been coded to your DNA, I have not tested it on anypony else but the samples of hair you left me have increased in their luminosity. It is with much importance that I state this once again. Do not allow anypony else to consume this potion. The possibilities are ranged and worse case scenario is their bodies reject your genes and their cells cease to function.”

I tossed the vial on the ground not caring if Rarity and Sweetie wake. My body begins to burn and I start a coughing fit. My eyes begin to fail me as I fall to the ground quivering in pain. It was like all my fibers were being unstitched and my very form was being resewn into something new. As this pain was coursing through me, I could only help but to mutter “Fuck you, Twilight Sparkle” in a soft pained voice. My goddess or no, she was the cause of this pain.

I don’t know how long I was sprawling about on the ground. To anyone looking at me I must’ve looked like a human that ate an avocado. For some reason the humans here can’t eat them but me personally I love guacamole. I thought of the perfect sandwich to distract myself from the pain when that stopped working I thought of how to “stabilize” Rarity’s new fabric for my own use. Oh the possibilities that stuff contained. It was some of the best fabric I had ever seen in Equestria, and it will be mine!

My eyesight returned to me in...damn I can’t even process how long it was. But when it did I could see and feel something wrong. I felt magic and saw an aura that wasn’t Rarity’s or Sweetie’s and the magic didn’t feel alien to me like it usually did. It fucking felt...right. I felt it building and suddenly became frightened, I had no idea on how to control this shit. Twilight never let me go near her magic books.

Trying to do something with the ever building force I remembered Newtons laws and applied them to this power. If I was assuming that magic was a like a bow string being pulled back and If I didn’t release it soon the whole damn bow (me) would break! I envision myself firing an arrow and swish a magic arrow shot out at one of Rarity’s Equinequinns ripping it and the wall it was next to in half.

If that didn’t wake one of them up I don’t know what will. With one look at the mirror that was next to it I could tell my features had changed...epicly. My eyes were now a vibrant blue and looked more like a pony’s than a humans’. My hair had become the same color as Rarity’s in both color and style.

The once punk hairstyle I had was now what Rarity’s mane would look like if she were a stallion. I watched in horror as my skin changed in texture it became fairer by the second great, I’m evolving into a pretty boy. If this is what my pokemon went through when they evolved, I’m so fucking sorry. This shit hurts like hell. I jested to myself at the pain and anguish both physical and mental that this change was causing me.

I noticed another physical change I was getting taller and my muscles were not getting bigger but rather becoming proportionate to my new size while maintaining my former build. Any and all scars I had were gone. I sighed in relief that I was still human, I was just a human that looked a lot like a Rarity that was possessed by Nightmare Moon.

By the end of the change my skin was as smooth as a baby’s bottom and my eyes were now a dark sapphire instead of the vibrant blue of rarity and my hair (I refuse to call it a mane) and new tail or was now amethyst in shade instead of brilliant purple.

I could feel myself losing my hold on the waking realm. This magic stuff was draining I reach out for a quill and some paper and instead it was encompassed in my black and orange glow. With little time left I scribed down a letter to Rarity. “Do not take me to a hospital, just get Twilight. If she asks...who am I kidding. When she asks, I’ve been spliced with your DNA. I survived and It was fucking Painful. Forever a lover of fashion, Elusive Hunter.” I laughed a bit at my name that now sounded like a pony’s. Thud and like that I was out of it.