The King Returns

Damn, Twilight asked a lot of questions that day. It took Princess Celestia five minutes to get her to stop so I could meet everypony else.

She almost had a heart attack when I told her what my diet was. After Princess Celestia reassured her that I wouldn't hurt anypony, she seemed to calm down. That, or she had one Hell of a poker face. After I told her that meat provides nutrients that I need to survive, she said she understood. Celestia also told me that I could hunt something called a "Manticore". I didn't know what that was at the time, and I remember that I had wished I was able to hunt deer or squirrel, but beggars can't be choosers.

After I met Twilight, I was introduced to Applejack, then Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash and finally, Fluttershy.
Yeah, the fact that we were both shy didn't help conversation at all. We finally found common ground though; we both love animals. Granted; some animals I love to hunt, but others I love because they're cool. She actually understood right off the bat about my diet. She didn't seem horrified about it at all. I guess it's where she takes care of all animals, at least a few are meat-eaters.

After all of the introductions were over, Princess Celestia turned to me.

"The ponies you just met are very special. They are the bearers of The Elements of Harmony. In the order you met them, they are; Magic, Honesty, Generosity, Laughter, Loyalty, and Kindness. They keep Equestria safe from evil. There are a few reasons that I've invited you to live your life in Equestria. I have reason to believe that you are the Base Element."

"What's the Base Element? And what makes ya think Ah got it?"

"The Base Element is the element from which the Tree of Harmony was created. It is very elusive; it travels between worlds, finding a being on said world worthy enough to bear it. As for your second question; Alicorns and Unicorns alike are able to sense magic within a being or object. When you walked through those doors, I could sense a very powerful aura of magic around you." she said. The way she spoke was so comforting, like she was my mom.

I never knew my real mom. She died in a car accident when I was two months old.

"Ah guess so." I said, shrugging.

"Alright Mudd, you will be staying here in the castle for two days, then you will go to Ponyville with Twilight and her friends. While you are here, we will work on getting you the things you need."

"Well, if Ah'm gonna be huntin' for Manticores, then Ah'm gonna need mah huntin' rifle. Ah'm also gonna need ammo, and some knives to clean the meat." I said, scratching my chin.

"Then let us find Luna. She will be able to help you retrieve these items. Perhaps then you can demonstrate to Luna and I what a 'hunting rifle' does." she said, obviously cautious of bringing human weapons to her world.

"Fair 'nuff." I said with a smirk. "Fair warnin' though, it might get a bit loud."

After a few minutes searching the castle, we found Luna. She was sitting in a room with some bookshelves and a fireplace, Celestia and Luna's private reading place, drinking tea.

"Good evening Lu Lu. How's the tea?" Celestia said cheerfully.

"It is quite nice, Tia. Hello again Mudd, would you like some tea as well?"

"No thank ya, yer Highness. We was actually wonderin' if you could help me get some stuff 'n thangs Ah might need from mah world."

"I think that can be arranged. Here, come sit." she said, motioning towards the other chair. I went over and sat down. It was pretty comfortable. "Now, just lay your head back and close your eyes." She charged up her horn and I did as I was told. As I closed my eyes, I could feel myself falling asleep from her magic. "Now, open your eyes." I did as she said and found myself back on Earth, standing in front of my house with the familiar woods surrounding us.

"All you have to do is go inside and retrieve what you need. Then when you wake up, it will be with you." Luna said from beside me.

"Alright then, Ah'll be right back." As I walked in, I looked to the right and saw my Dad playing on the I-Pad, probably talking to someone about a hunting dog. I made my way back to my room and looked around. I spotted my dresser opposite of my bed and pulled the first drawer open. There, I found Evelyn in all her glory. An M1911A1 Colt, identical to the ones used in WWII. On the left side of the slide, engraved in cursive, was her name; "Evelyn". I held her in my hands for a bit, admiring the craftsmanship of such a beautiful weapon.

After about a minute, I loaded her up with a fresh mag and grabbed my holster; it's a right hand holster that sits horizontally at the small of my back. That way, Evelyn sits flat against the small of my back, with the grip pointed up. I affixed the holster to my belt and slid her into her new home. Perfect fit.

I walked over to my gun cabinet and, after getting it opened, retrieved my Winchester Lever-Action and my 1903 Springfield. The 1903 Springfield was the same gun my Paw Paw Bill used in the Korean War. I wasn't going anywhere without it. I retrieved all the ammo I had for each one; about five-hundred rounds each. Putting all the ammo for each gun in a backpack, I started to make my way out, until something caught my eye. Sitting on my bed, there was a square pillow, made from a red plaid shirt that belonged to my Paw Paw. My Aunt Lena, who I've always called Sissy, made it for me when he passed away.

I wasn't leaving without it, either.

I grabbed the pillow and tucked it carefully into the backpack, then slung it and the two rifles over my shoulder. Making my way out into the hallway, I noticed a truck pulling into the driveway.

What the Hell? Almost nobody knows 'bout this place, all 'cept... My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of knocking at the door. I watched as my Dad got up and answered it.

"Chief Hanlon," my Dad started, talking to Police Chief James Hanlon, who was undoubtedly here to tell him about me, "What brings you here?"

"William," He started, "I'm afraid I got some bad news for you. We responded to a call about gunfire in town, your boy was involved."

"Involved how?"

"He, well... Willy, he was killed."

I don't want to explain everything that happened next, I'll just say that things got... Emotional. Not wanting to see my dad like that, I quickly made my way past them. The door shutting behind me, I made my way over to Luna.

"Do you have everything?" she asked, eyeing the rifles on my shoulder.

"Yeah Ah got every- shit, hold on a sec." I said, remembering that I needed my knife. I thought about where I had it last, The saddlebags!. Making my way to the side of the house, I found what I was looking for; my Paw Paw's 2002 Honda Shadow 750. I looked in the saddlebags, and sure enough, my Smith & Wesson Search & Rescue was in there; Skoal Wintergreen Long Cut can lid super glued to the sheath and all. There were also a few cans of Skoal there too, unopened. I was about to take them, when a thought crossed my mind. Why don't Ah jus' take the it with me? I thought, letting my eyes wander over the Shadow and finally settling on the near-full gas can next to it. Ah did inherit it after all...

I love my Paw Paw very, very much.

"What is that thing?" Luna inquired as I rolled the Shadow up to her.

"This is mah Paw Paw's motorcycle. Ah jus' had to fill 'er up right quick, even brought the gas!" I said, gesturing to the now only half-full gas can, strapped to the passenger seat back rest with bungee cords.

"Well, it appears that you share Twilights OCD."

"Sure do! Got OCD, ADD, ADHD, Written Expression Disorder..."

"Alright, I get it." she said, holding a hoof to my mouth. "I will wake you when I get out, I must be awake to bring you and your things back." With that, she disappeared in a bright flash, leaving me to get one last look at the place I grew up before the world around me faded away into blackness.