2 years ago, The Grand Galloping Gala

Rarity sat alone, far away from the Gala "Stupid prince... what a... a..."

"Misogynistic, thick-headed chauvinist in addition to being a complete and utter boor?" Blueblood asked, sitting a few feet back.

"Yes, thank you Prince Blueblood... wait-" she turned around "What do you want?"

"To be honest? I want to apologize for my behavior. My employer saw something in you that might allow you to work for her. I was told to do my best at acting like a noble but unfortunately... I think I did it too well."

Rarity snorted "Why act? It's obviously what you really are."

Blueblood sighed "By Luna's mane, do all you ponies have selective hearing? I'm not really a jerk, I was acting. I just wanted to apologize and tell you that if you harbor me any ill will, take it up with my boss."

Rarity turned "Who is this 'Boss' that you keep on talking about?"

"That would be us Dear Rarity Belle"

Whipping her head around, Rarity came muzzle-to-muzzle with Princess Luna herself "P-Princess Luna!"

"Blueblood, why do ponies shout our name and bow when they see us? It is wreaking havoc upon mine ears." Luna asked, cocking her head.

"I believe it comes with the title and station m'lady."

Luna nodded "Dear Rarity, t'was we whom asked Blueblood to act in such a way. As he said, if you bear any ill will towards him, kindly transfer it to us. We were testing thy resolve and will. Thou wouldst make a great huntress."

Rarity stared up at Luna "'Huntress'? I am afraid I haven't the slightest clue what you are talking about."

Luna exhaled "To put it in simple terms, you will be ensuring the safety of Equestria with your cunning mind and physical prowess. It is not a public position to be flaunted like a badge; mind thee, but with it comes lavish payment and equal danger. We hath watched thee since we met briefly after you and thy friends freed me from the Nightmare. You desire adventure, we can give it to you... on the condition that you never tell any of your friends about it... except for the young drakeling, we feel that he is capable of keeping thy secret but may also be a boon or a hindrance should you choose to enlighten him... the choice is ultimately up to thee. Our offer lasts until the sunset on the morrow. Come Blueblood, we have much work to do."

Blueblood nodded and follows, mouthing an apology.

Rarity blinked "What the hay just happened?"

Having arrived home from the gala, Rarity sighs and makes her way to bed "What a horrible night... first my prince charming isn't so charming and then Princess Luna..." she shivered at the memory.

Banishing such thoughts from her head, Rarity slept a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, she is completing an order when somebody knocked on the door "Comi~ing!"

Opening the door, Rarity's professional smile droped "Oh, it's you."

Blueblood bowed his head "Yes... hello Madame Belle."

Rolling her eyes, she motioned for Blueblood to enter "Unless you have an order to place, I must ask that you leave."

Blueblood frowned "I'm sensing you're still quite cross with me for lying..."

"What ever gave you that idea?" she scoffed, flipping her mane.

Blueblood swallowed "I'm here to tell you what being a huntress means. I'm not supposed to, but I believe that you must make an informed decision when sunset comes."

Rarity sighed and points to a chair "Fine, but make it quick, I have work I need to do."

Taking his seat, Blueblood clears his throat "A huntress is an individual charged with removing threats against the crown, society itself, and eliminating natural threats towards the lives of ponies. You will work under Princess Luna directly and take orders from her. This is a secret occupation and you must be discreet in your actions. The pay is base 2500 bits a mission with bonuses for stealth and how quickly you complete them."

Rarity stared at him "That sounds like being a mercenary for Princess Luna"

"In a sense, it is exactly that. And as with being a mercenary, it carries a number of dangerous situations. Should you choose to accept, you will be trained to better allow you to fight and adapt. Refuse it and you will hear from us no longer on the matter." he sighed "To be honest, I don't think a proper mare such as yourself should get involved in this. I've said my peace, the choice is up to you. May we meet again on more... agreeable terms" he bowed and walked out the door.

Rarity sat stone still, letting Blueblood's words sink in "Well... now I'm not going to do it."

Sweetie Belle skipped in, a rope in her mouth "Hi sish!"

"Sweetie... why is there a rope in your mouth?"

"Me an' the ozer crushadersh caught a manticore outshide zhe evahfwee! I'm whatchin' it firhst!" Sweetie responded, pulling a caged manticore through the door.

"... Sweetie, what have I told you about bringing animals into the house?"

Sweetie paused and puts a hoof to her chin "Well... mahke shure zhat it doesn't mesh wif Opal... an' dohn't mahke a mesh?"

Rarity nodded "That's pets, Sweetie. Don't bring any animals into the house that haven't been cleared by Fluttershy... take it back please."

"Ohkay!" Sweetie cheered, pulling the cage back out the door.

Rarity rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache forming "I worry about her sometimes..."

Rarity turned her sign to "Closed" and sighs "Well, I guess Blueblood told Princess Luna my decision."

"He did not, what is thy decision?"

Rarity jumped with an unladylike squeak "P-princess Luna! D-don't sneak up on me like that please!"

Luna shrugged "We apologize. What is thy decision? Do you accept our proposition?"

Rarity shuffles to regain her composure "I have decided to not accept. Not only does it seem dangerous, but I have my boutique to keep me occupied. I hope that my decision won't sour our friendship."

Luna nodded, seeming to contemplate Rarity's words "Understood. But... we cannot help but wonder how long your boutique will last. You chose a poor place to set up your shop, a small town where hardly anypony wears clothes all year. Not only that, but whilst you have a number of gems and the like from the local fields, the inherent impurities and flaws within such make them quite... worthless to sell or trade." to prove her point, she levitates a sapphire and shines a light through it "They look decent on dresses, but otherwise do nothing to enhance the value of the dress itself. You have the backing of the novue riche Fancy pants, continued patronage with both Sapphire Shores and a positive critique from Hoity Toity, but you cannot rely on those three to assist in keeping thy business afloat."

Rarity gritted her teeth "I do not rely solely on them! They just assist in getting my name out there, spreading good press about my work! They are friends, and very dear ones at that. I must ask that you cease critiqueing my life decisions or I will remove you myself!"

Luna walked over and stares down at Rarity "And how do you plan to accomplish such? I am a master at combat, magic, and strategy. And whilst not in my right mind, I did train and hone said qualities for a millennium. Should I so choose, I could easily overpower each of your friends all at once on the physical battlefield, and wreak unimaginable terror on the mental and psychic plains as well. But I will not for a multitude of reasons. I owe you and your friends a debt of gratitude for freeing me as well as becoming my friends, and even in the old days, you did not hurt your friends unless it was to their benefit." Luna's eyes turned a cold, icy blue "So, before you even attempt to challenge me, I must warn you that unlike my sister, I have the capability to not feel remorse for taking the life of another and did so many times in battle. You are strong for a mortal pony, yes, but remember, I am not like you."

Rarity shivered under Luna's gaze but steels her will "I am not afraid of you or your nightmares, Princess Luna. Strong you may be, I am not without my strengths either."

Luna snorted "I can read your thoughts, your dreams, and your body language. I can see every synapse sparking in your head, I can hear every thought and impulse long before your frontal lobe can process it into an idea. When you challenge me, you challenge somepony who can see your every action long before you even attempt to do them. The mind and body are my domain, Ms. Belle, but I am not without a spark of mercy. Try again."

Rarity suppressed a shiver "Oh really? I know how to fend of such warfare, Princess Luna. I just have to strike first and without thought. Find out your weaknesses and exploit them. That's how ladies fight, and that is how your confidence will be your downfall."

Luna grinned "But you forget, I am not a lady, I am a demi-goddess. Take a look at my mane, see the stars?"

Rarity nodded, confused.

Luna reached into her mane and pulled out a single star "These are actual stars, too small to host planets. but still very hot. White dwarfs to be precise, so called because of their size and heat. They are white-hot and should I flick it at your forehead, it will burn a hole right through your head. It might not kill you, but it will leave you a vegetable. And should I will it, I can turn them into black holes or stars the size of buildings that will burn and consume everything with a nuclear explosion contained only by my will." she smirked "My sister may control one yellow star, but I control countless white stars. She has the biggest, I have the most. She pushes the light, I MAKE it. Try again."

Rarity exhaled "That is all well and good, but it lacks the finesse and beauty one such as yourself should possess. Surely that must be a sore spot for you"

Luna chuckled "I abhor such ideas as 'Finesse', 'Manners' and other backwards customs. I writhe in my seat drinking watery teas and eating sweets daintily. I wish to chug coffee by the gallon, tear through rationed, high energy foods so that I can return to more important matters. My sister is a complacent, smiling face for her 'Little ponies', but as for myself, I prefer to make myself as common and mundane as I can, I do not live in the castle, I live in the slum districts, among those whom have nothing but dwindling hope."

Her gaze softened, but only for a moment "Those are my subjects, the lost, the forlorn, the mad, the hated, the outcasts that don't conform to my sister's idea of Status Quo. She has grown content on her peaceful throne, and I am the only one who is doing something about the problems we face. I asked you because I saw something familiar in you, a spark of madness, the desire to create change that will shake the world to its very core. And while I would love to be the huntress, I cannot because even now my sister deems my decisions foolish."

Luna growled, baring her teeth " So if not you, I will search for another, one without the concept of mercy, an unstable vagabond whom has nothing to lose. Maybe your friend Rainbow Dash..." Luna's eyes turn to dark teal slits "Or your sister, she has no concept of fear and is so young that I can sculpt her into the perfect huntress with the innocence of a foal. Somepony who will kill whomever I command her to and will do so without question. That would be a boon for you, yes?" Her scowl warps into a confidant smirk "No longer would your sister and her friends bring dangerous animals to your boutique, no more accidents that set you back weeks, no more abominations arising from your kitchen... in fact, I believe that I chose the wrong sister. You would think that I would remember that the elder is often the inferior... I do think that shall be a good phrase to put on a plaque or a shirt. Now then, I have a proposition to offer somepony with... less to lose."

Rarity blanched "No... not my sister! I won't let you!"

Luna paid no heed and walked towards the steps leading to the second floor but stops when Rarity placed herself at the foot of them "... What do you think you are doing?"

"Stopping you from taking my sister." Rarity growled.

Luna rolled her eyes "As with you, the choice is up to her. But I think that her undiminished sense of adventure will provide a suitable answer. Now please get out of my way."

Rarity shook her head "You'll have to go through me."

Luna sighed, exasperated "Did you just forget the conversation we had? You cannot hope to stop me because I am capable of exceeding you in every way. Now please remove yourself or I will teach you how it feels to have a white dwarf cauterize your intestines and lungs."

"Never."

Luna groaned, a single star leaving her mane "Always with the theatrics you modern ponies... fine. Suffer for your insolence."

Here it comes... Rarity thought to herself, throwing up a flimsy magic shield.

But nothing came, just the feeling of wind in her mane "What the-"

"I have no particularly good reason to kill you, so I just flew over you." Luna monotoned, walking up the steps.

Okay Rarity, you have one chance to distract her to come up with a plan!

"Don't even try it. I can read your thoughts remember? And do not fret, I will not tell her that you were a part of this decision. I am simply trading one sister for the other."

That's it! "Princess Luna... I wish to change my answer. I will be your huntress... on the condition that I do not have to kill ponies and you promise to leave my sister out of it."

Luna paused "Those are acceptable conditions. Trust me, you have not made an easy decision, but once you learn what this job is, you will learn to enjoy its numerous perks..."

"Perks?" Rarity asked, trepidation still in her voice

Luna grinned "Yes, you get to travel anywhere for free, meet famous ponies from around the world, eat foreign cuisines that are spoken of only in the most high class establishments, and get paid to simply get in, get out, and possibly kidnap some dangerous individuals that can't be caught by the law... like a super hero vigilante."

"A what?" Rarity asked, cocking her head.

"Like Batmare or Supermare!" Sweetie chirped, levitating a glass of water.

"Oh, I suppose that does have a certain- SWEETIE BELLE! How long have you been up?!"

Sweetie shrugged, sipping her water "Since Princess Luna asked if you accepted her proposition."

Th-the whole time?!

Luna smiled "You did well keeping quiet, little one. Now off to bed with you, unless you wish to have a Gru descend upon you."

Sweetie shivered and raced past both mares "I don't wanna be Gru food!"

Rarity stared wide mouthed "Wha- how in the-"

Luna chuckled "Young Sweetie was the one whom let me in the front door. I told her to keep silent whilst we talked, and she did so perfectly. She was the one whom suggested I choose her in your place a few moments ago. So, do you have any hotcake mix? I would fancy a plate right now."

Rarity fainted, muttering incoherently.

Luna shrugged "I probably over did it with the theatrics myself, I'll ask Sweetie where the hotcake mix is."

End epilogue

Author's Note

Note, after this chapter, it'll be in present tense except for flashbacks and the like.

Thanks for reading!