A Hunter visits Equestria

"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them."

~Bruce Lee

It had certainly been a rather enthralling morning for the Apples. Applejack sat at the kitchen table. Granny Smith sat across from the orange mare, her brown eyes boring into the jade ones just a few feet away. Applejack was feeling mighty sorry for her actions, but Granny Smith was still a little peeved at her actions the hour prior. There guest as they would put it was currently recovering in the guest room upstairs. "Now Granny," Applejack began, "I know you're mighty disappointed with me, but I thought that thing was goin' to hurt you!" Granny pursed her lips a bit, holding her angry facade a few more moments before exhaling in a sigh, "Ah' know, Applejack. Just in the future try to talk before you start throwin' hooves." Applejack cringed. Yep, she deserved that.

The stairs squeezed under the weight of another, and as the two mares turned their heads, they saw Big Mac. The large, red stallion slowly trotted into the room, walking over to the kitchen and had begun cooking breakfast for the few occupants in the home. "Good mornin', Big Mac. You sleep okay?" Applejack asked quickly, trying to change the subject that she unavoidably started. Big mac had already gotten a pan on the stove when he heard this, his red muzzle turning. By now, his green gaze met hers and he replied, "Eyup." Though, by then the conversation died with the singe phrase. The only noise being the sizzling of the pancakes that were being fed into the pan. Then it hit her, Applejack's eyes widened as she asked the question that worried them a little, "Where's Apple Bloom?"

"I'm tellin' you, it's in here!" Whispered an excited Apple Bloom. The two fillies following behind her down the hall looked a little unsure. One, an orange Pegasus was looking to the white unicorn next to her with an expression that screamed, 'is she serious?' Her lavender gaze searched inquisitively to her friend, Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle was just as confused, if not curious at what Apple Bloom wanted them to see. She said they find some sort of alien. But aliens couldn't possibly be real. "Are you sure? You look a little tired, maybe it's the sleep talkin'?" Asked the orange filly, Scootaloo. Apple Bloom swiveled on her hooves, turning to her friend as she raised an eyebrow, "You don't believe me?" Asked Apple Bloom, looking just a tinge offended. By now, they were all positioned by the door to the room Roderick was in. The door was cracked open just a bit, letting the fillies look into the dimly lit room.

As Apple Bloom and Scootaloo argued, Sweetie Belle slowly trotted over to the door. Her green hues stared into the room from the crack, but without a proper look, she was just able to stare at a portion of the bed. Her eyes however did find something odd, which consisted of the white object protruding from the bed. Furrowing her brow, she slowly pushed the door open. Creeeeak! The arguing ceased instantly at this. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo tore themselves from each others muzzle, their once angered eyes looking curiously at the door Sweetie had opened. However, Sweetie flinched at the noise the door made, slowly looking over her shoulder with a nervous smile. She blinked though, hearing something rustle from the bed. This sparked something in them, since they all re-focused on the room ahead. It was actually quite dark in there and the curtains were closed. The sun however pushed some light into the room, however small it was.

The three carefully walked forward, their eyes searching the room for the supposed creature. However, the trio found the hunters weapons against the wall. The curved blade was resting against the wall, along with the folded up pole beside of it. Their eyes lit up with this and they scuttled as quietly towards it as they could, "Whoa! This is so cool!" Scootaloo exclaimed quietly, pressing her hoof to the cold blade. She ran her hoof along the symbols in the blade a few times and Apple Bloom joined. She found interest in the bandage-wrapped pole in front of her though. While the two were engrossed in the two contraptions before them, Sweetie had found hers traveling somewhere else. Sitting on the nightstand sat some weird object. It had a wooden hand, that extended into some sort of metal contraption. Near the end of it, however, the metal tube spread out wide. A small hook-like piece sat near the base of the metal tube. What could that be? She thought, walking over and hoisting herself up onto her hind hooves. Her front gently clopped onto the side of the stand, and she looked down at it.

The white unicorn fiddled with the thing a bit, a smile forming on her face at the strange thing. By now, she had pulled the hook piece back, causing it to click nosily; breaking Apple Bloom and Scootaloo out of their enthralled stupor. Now driven to something else, they quickly trotted over to Sweetie, standing up just as she did to look at the contraption. "What's that?" Asked Scootaloo, poking the object with her hoof. Her lavender brow rose in confusion. By now, they had completely forgotten they needed to be quiet. Their crusade was cut short by a deep groan just left of them. They tensed slowly, turning their cute little heads towards the source of the sound, only to be met face-to-face with a crow-like visage. They screamed.

Roderick groaned, something around him was constantly making noise and he could have swore someone was whispering. As the noise steadily rose in volume, he couldn't take it. He grunted in aggravation, turning on his side. As he slowly opened his eyes however, he was staring face-to-face with three fillies. One of them he knew quite well from the forest, but the other two were foreign. He raised an eyebrow under the mask, but they just looked at him for a moment. They screamed loud. His ears erupted with the sound, and he did the same, "Gah! What the hell!" he exclaimed, scuttling backwards and inevitably falling off the bed. He hit the floor, which shook most of the furniture in the room. The three fillies booked it towards the door, but his fall caused the cracked door to close with a slam. They were trapped with him.

The hunter was dazed for a moment, groaning in mild pain. He slowly hoisted himself up by his elbows, his legs seemed to end near the beds frame, the rest hidden under. He pressed his back against the wall and cradled his head soothingly. "Fuck, that hurt!" He hissed, threading his fingers under the mask and pulling it off of his head. His short, dirty-blonde hair shifted from the confinements before they were freed. His pale-faced visage twisted in pain. The crow mask was clattered to the floor beside of him, his hands working on more important things. As his digits rummaged through his hair, they ran over the growing bump. Just the slightest touched caused him to cringe, "Ow!" Well, at least he wasn't bleeding.

By now, the three fillies desperately trying to open the door had ceased their actions, looking puzzled at the creatures actions. It sounded hurt, but the beaked face showed no reaction to it. Then the face came off. Oh...It was a mask the entire time. the three thought consecutively. As they saw the creatures face, he looked quite a bit in pain. Instantly, the three's ears splayed back in guilt. They had just woken the thing of it's sleep, and what a wake up call it was. They slowly approached the thing, their tails clinging between their legs. As Roderick focused on his head, he barely registered the faint touch on his thigh. He opened his mismatched eyes, gazing over to the Yellow coated filly. The pink bow in her hair catching his eye for a split second, "We're really sorry for wakin' you." Said the first. The white coated filly came next, "Yes, we apologize. That was very rude of us." Then, the orange coated one, "What they said!" Just the way she beamed after saying that sentence sent Roderick into a fit of laughter. The other two sounded genuinely sorry, but Scootaloo just sounded excited.

Unconventionally, the noise caused a stir from below.

After the words had left Applejack's mouth, she knew something fishy was going on. Her green eyes narrowed slightly, but Granny just gave her a perplexing stare. Big Mac halted his cooking at the moment, looking just a tad worried as well. Knowing Apple Bloom, she was bound to go see that strange thing. "Should we go up the-" A loud crash from above caused the three to jump in surprise. Applejack stared at the two with wide, panicked eyes. Struggling to get out of her chair, she scrambled quickly up the stairs. Her ill thoughts were shattered when she approached the door near the end of the hall. Her equine ears perked up at the sound, three little fillies were giggling away. She looked puzzled for a moment, but ultimately she opened the door.

There, against the wall sat Roderick,--s Granny said was his name--the fillies were sitting in his lap and chatting it up profusely. Now that she had a good look at it, it was much more friendly looking. Her gaze traveled to the bed, where the crow-like mask was sitting. I guess it really isn't some kind-of monster... Stuck in her thoughts, she forgot she was just staring at them. By now, Roderick and the Cutie Mark Crusaders were just staring at her, "Uh...Sis'?" Apple Bloom asked, waving one of her yellow hooves in the air trying to catch her attention. The orange mare just stared at Roderick for the most part, looking a little surprised. Roderick, however was just minding his own business. He was scratching Scootaloo behind the ear; the filly in question had a look of pure bliss on her face, pushing her head into the males palm.

"Uh...breakfast...downstairs..." She muttered absentmindedly. Scootaloo pulled herself from Roderick's ministrations and perked up at the word 'breakfast.' Less than a second later, she scuttled out of his lap and ran to the door. Not wanting to be left out, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle trotted after her; disappearing behind the frame and down the stairs. As Roderick watched them leave, he chuckled. Slowly, he hauled himself onto his feet. Completely dwarfing Applejack in height. The male dusted off his trousers, heading towards the door.

"You coming?" He asked politely, poking her in the nose. A mischievous grin grew on his lips at the way she went cross-eyed. Snorting and shaking her head, she glared up at him. Roderick in turn just found it adorable. He turned before she could catch his eye and followed him as he entered the hall. The door frame was quite small, so he had to duck in order to get through it. By the time they made it downstairs, they were met with five set of eyes staring at them. The three fillies of course were munching down on what seemed like pancakes and hash brows. Granny was eating soup, and Big mac had a heavy helping of what he was probably going to have. Pancakes!

Granny Smith looked a little surprised, since she called Roderick across the room, "Roderick! I didn't know that's what ya' looked like! Finally stopped wearing the mask, huh? Well, sure are a handsome stallion!" She praised, grinning almost ear to ear. Roderick was just smiling warmly in return. It appears Granny is much more fascinating than I last thought. Seems I found a new partner to converse with. he mused silently, grinning just a tad. As he made his way to the table, he noticed the chairs were just a tad small for him, so shifting his gaze around the kitchen, he caught a midly-sized stool. After replacing the two, he sat down on the stool, looking down at the table and it's vast quantity of goods.

"Wait, he's a stallion?" Applejack asked from the left of him. Granny looked a little confused at that, and Big Mac just had a knowing look. His jade eyes help some understanding to that question. Roderick was a little curious as to how Granny knew this, but perhaps they had some type of creature here that resembled humans? That could help him understand the situation.

"Well of course he is! Can't you tell?" As if by that single question, everyone in the house should have known. Applejack was just completely lost now, looking like she didn't understand the language they were talking. After a moment of pondering, she gave up. A heavy sigh emanated from her muzzle, and as she acquiesced, she began eating. Roderick on the other hand picked up a plate from the stack and placed it in front of him. With fork in hand, he began picking things out to eat. He had left the hash brows because they were made from hay. Knowing hay was not consumable, he stuck with pancakes.

Silence reigned over the table. By then, the three fillies had already left the house on what they called 'crusading for cutie marks.' Now, Roderick hadn't the slightest clue was a cutie mark was, and upon asking, Applejack looked baffled, "What're mean you don't know what a cutie mark is?" Granny just a rose a brow, and Big Mac continued eating; but the way both of his eyes looked up from the plate now and again showed his curiosity on the subject.

"Just as I've said: I don't know what a cutie mark is," Replied Roderick, his brows furrowed in confusion, "Should I?" He honestly wished to know, since most of his time would be spent in this world and if he was to learn it's customs; he'd need to know what these 'cutie marks' were. Gazing at the three, he searched there faces for an answer.

Applejack was the first to respond, as expected, "A ponies cutie mark defines their special talent! As a colt or filly, most ponies try to find their cutie marks so they know what they'll excel in as an adult!" She exclaimed with enthusiasm. Roderick drinked in this information, thinking about it for a moment before realization donned on him.

"So, you mean to say. Those symbols on your backside determines what you'll be good at in life?" He asked, gesturing towards Applejack's flank with his hand. He pointed at the individual apples that seemed tattoo'd into her flesh. Judging from her cutie mark, she appears to have some experience with...apples? Not surprising, since all I saw was just one large apple orchard. "I guess I should have made the connection then. Most of your names seem to come from some type of apple. It was only a matter of time before I figured out you all have talents in apples." He concluded simply.

The apple family just nodded sagely. With that, they continued to eat; conversing on the various types of cutie marks and even how to generally obtain one. However when asked if he had one, he shook his head, "We do not have them where I come from." He stated, running a hand through his thick, golden locks. By now that sent alarms off in the various heads of the ponies in front of him. Questions brewed in their minds and it was Big Mac who actually spoke this time. Applejack was just as surprised as he, considering he hadn't heard him speak once. His barotone voice was quite soothing.

"Where do ya' come from, if you don't mind me askin'." Inquired Big Mac. Everyone seemed to quiet down after he spoke; their shocked expressions dying as they shifted their gazes towards him. Put on the spot, Roderick sighed, rubbing his forehead a tad before placing his fork down on the plate. Big Mac noticed it may have been a sore topic and opened his mouth to stop him, but Roderick rose a hand to silence him. He looked at them with his mismatched hues, blinking a few times before he began.

"I'm from Yharnam. I doubt you've heard of it here, considering It may have been on my own planet." He stated, Applejack looked puzzled at this, but he continued, "I say my planet, because I highly doubt this is the same one. On my planet, we did not have ponies as brightly colored as you." He pointed at Applejack, Big Mac, and Granny Smith. "Plus, it is not so peaceful in Yharnam. I don't dislike the calmness of this place, but when you've grown used to the fighting and the lose; it drives you. We were hunters, fighting to drive the beast plague from our home and awake from that accursed nightmare." He went silent after that, looking despondent. Applejack and the others were kind enough not to pry, but even then something had sparked interest Applejack. Didn't they have an organization like that here? She remembered Twi telling her about it one time...she'd have to ask her again.

As breakfast ended, Roderick went to help clean up the dishes, but Big Mac had already started. Asked if he could help, Big Mac turned him away with a shake of his muzzle, saying: "He had it". Not one to intrude on someone willing to work, he turned around, only to be met with the same orange mare as before. "Now, Roderick, I need you to come with me. It'll help work your legs, and I want you to meet someone. She might be able to help you get home!" Applejack exclaimed excitedly. As she headed to the door, Roderick stopped her, pointed upstairs where his belongings were. She insisted he didn't need them, but he went to get them anyway. An unprepared hunter was a dead hunter.

They were already on the dirt path to ponyville by the time the sun chose to shine fully on the land. Even with the sun out, it was a little cold. Roderick clutched the feather cape close to his body for warmth. Each step seemed to rouse the blunderbuss from his belt. Honestly, he had forgotten he even had the gun, only noticing that it had been on the nightstand. Surprisingly, it was loaded. That was odd, since he never left the hammer cocked back unless he was in combat. Someone must have fiddled with it; thank god it didn't go off. The folded pole of his weapon was deposited on his back, the curved blade attached to his left hip.

They walked in silence for the most part, just enjoying each others company. Not much was to be said, since most of their conversing had been done at breakfast. Applejack did notice that Roderick was taking this better than someone should have. Perhaps he was just open minded, or this just didn't surprise him after everything he had seen. The crow mask was hanging from his belt, leaving his friendly visage bare for all to see. Meanwhile, Roderick was stroking his goatee in thought. A moderate sized bruise was prominent on his cheek, though. Applejack followed her mind to the morning prior and how it happened. Her ears folded back in guilt, and as they continued to walk, she spoke up, "I'm sorry."

Roderick stumbled a little upon hearing her say this. It was mostly abrupt, and what exactly was she sorry for? Oh! Was she sorry about hitting him? Really? Just over that? He'd had taken worse as a hunter; sure he'd be unprepared for it, but it didn't really hurt him all that much. Knocking out, sure, but eh. Before she could even follow up, he chuckled, "Don't worry about it, Applejack." He replied, smirking down at her. The orange mare in turn was baffled. She hit him! How could he just shrug something like that off?! The way he was smiling down at her however made her sigh. She turned her head away from him, hints of a red adoring her cheeks. Roderick wasn't ignorant, he was able to see it even from there. He laughed a little, and in return was hit in the shin.

When they came into sight of Ponyville, Roderick was eerily reminded of home. Where he thought this would be a village, it was a bustling town with Victorian-styled homes. The bricked buildings and stone walkways made him halt in his steps. He just stood there and took it all in. He could see the various lamps perched near the side walks and such, even ponies being pulled in carriages. For ponies, they seemed to be rather advanced in technology. Surprising enough, they may have rivaled humans, since their buildings resembled these. As they strolled down one of the cobble-stoned sidewalks, he found he was the talk of the town already. The majority of the ponies were staring at him, some whispering among themselves.

He ignored most of the ponies and found his gaze traveling among the many signs of the shops around. While in his excited stupor, he barely registered the flash of light down one of the alleys they passed. He could have sworn he saw someone. Wanting to go back and check, the thought was removed from his brain, since his main source of attention was on a large tree that sprouted out in the center of the town. It wasn't just a tree, since it held various windows and a door. It was a home? That seemed...unorthodox. Applejack was already at the door by the time he was broken from his thoughts, jogging to catch up with her, he stood beside her, "Now, Roderick don't freak out if Twi tries to pick you up or something. She's a smart pony, but she tends to forget ponies have their personal space. If she gets a little out of hand, just poke her or somethin'," She concluded.

As the door parted, Roderick was met face-to-face with some green and purple lizard. The little thing seemed excited at first, getting an eyeful of Applejack, but when he saw Roderick, he completely froze. Applejack was concerned for the little guy, even prodding his scaly stomach a moment for confirmation, "Uh...Spi-" and then the little lizard screamed out: "MONSTER!" and ran back inside, slamming the door in his wake. Roderick sighed and Applejack groaned. Oh, today was going to be a long, long day.