Hunters

The sun slowly rose from the hills overlooking Canterlot, basking several ivory rooftops in its welcoming light. One of these ivory rooftops was connected to the home of a pair of young Hunters.

The windows were decked in very fine curtains, though despite their quality they were helpless against the sun. Sunbeams penetrated the drapes' defenses like a piercing arrow, hitting a pair of closed eyes right on the mark.

The woman groaned, moving away from the sun in defiance. With a contented sigh, a smirk spread across her face, happy to have bested her stubborn enemy. However its warm embrace caused her some discomfort. A short string of grumbles later, she took a quick glance at her alarm clock.

“Aw come on! It’s six in the morning! Can’t you just wait for six more hours?!” she whined at her even more hot-headed adversary. Three seconds of increasing warmth was her limit. “Fine! Be that way!”

The girl grumbled as she threw the sheets to the side, slowly crawled out of bed, and lazily walked to the restroom. On the way she spied her partner still asleep in his own bed, free from the menace of the sun. She couldn't stop an eyebrow from twitching.

What a jerk. This room should’ve been mine. It's way cooler! Her eyes went wide as an idea sparked in her mind, followed by a grin that put a mad scientist to shame. I can make this room even cooler! A good prank in the morning is just what the doctor ordered.

She raised her left index and middle fingers. As she chanted, her hand glowed a faint blue. In her right hand a miniature tornado formed, which caused her to giggle softly. This is gonna be sweet!

Her eyes locked onto her partner’s bed. With a light flick of her hand the small tornado landed right underneath it. She angled her fingers towards the floor, causing the twister to grow and lift the bed into the air, so high that his nose was half a foot from the ceiling.

With the winds blowing so fiercely, the rest of the room was forced to take some punishment. The desk near his bed wobbled as it scooched away. Unfinished homework strewn across the floor was whipped around to smack against the walls, before one flew like a drunk butterfly right onto his sleeping face. His green eyes shot open. Thinking quickly, he went with his foolproof emergency plan. He jumped like a skydiver out of a burning plane.

He yelled “Banzai!” as he fell to the floor, tucking and rolling to the door as he ran out into the hall, breathing heavily. What just happened? What’s going on? Why do I feel like this has happened befo-A laugh to his right made him aware of his partner.“Really, Rainbow Dash?” He growled. “Did you really need to do this just to wake me up?!”

“Wake you up?” She chuckled. “I just wanted to pull a joke on you, Soarin! Not wake you up!”

”Hey! I thought we promised we wouldn’t prank each other with magic anymore. Not after that time your tornado spewed hot oatmeal all over the cafeteria!”

“Oh did we?” she replied coyly. “By the way, it’s your turn to make breakfast.” She gave his head a quick pat before continuing her way to the bathroom. Soarin waited until Rainbow had closed the bathroom door, before he rubbed his hands together with a grin. “That’s fine. I’ll make your favorite.”

“Oh look. Cold Cereal. Again,” Rainbow said with an emotionless face. She hesitantly brought the spoon to her mouth, before letting it plop back into the bowl.

“Well, what did you expect? It’s not like either of us know how to use the stove,” Soarin shot back, taking a bite out of his toast more harshly than he meant to.

“Hey if you can’t cook how did you get that?!” she pointed at the toast.

“I used the toaster.”

“The broken toaster?”

“Then I used the stove.”

“The stove we don’t know how to use?”

“Then, I used my own body heat.”

“You aren’t that hot.”

Rainbow sighed before pushing her chair away from the table.I need something to get my mind off that goop. She stood up and made her way into the living room, but after quick scan of it she frowned.

“Hey, where’s my book?” she asked, turning to Soarin.

“What book?” Soarin asked around a mouthful of toast.

“My comic book! ‘Daring Life?’ Where is it?!” Rainbow asked frantically looking for her comic.

“Oh that. Um. I don’t remember where I put it. Sorry.”

“Sorry?! Ugh! I was just getting to the good part! Vigil Shinestar was about to enter the Door of Despair and battle against the Ebony King!” Rainbow hung her head.

“I really don’t get why you like that book. It’s nice and all, but way too cheesy,”  Soarin said as he took a spoon full of his breakfast.

“It’s not cheesy!” she shot back running down the hall to her room.

“Hm. Ya know, I think I might remember where I left it.” Soarin yelled back. He took his and Rainbow’s bowls to the sink. As water hit the dishes, the loud sound of sprinting feet ran up to his ears. Soarin turned around to find himself face to face with an almost foaming snarl.

Rainbow wrapped her fingers around his neck, quickly closing around his throat in a grip that would put a vise. Her eyes burned with desire, the heat inside causing Soarin to sweat as she strangled him. “Where? Where?! Talk!”

“Gak! P-professor Toity’s class I think!” Soarin stammered. He felt the blood drain from his face, as well as the warmth from his cheeks. I don’t want to die this way! I wanted to die by eating endless pie!

“Then let’s go already!” Dash yelled as she dragged Soarin away from their home. He coughed twice before inhaling deeply and letting out his breath slowly.

Today’s going to be a long day.

Dash walked up the stairs of the Holy Sun School, dragging Soarin along by his shirt’s collar.

“You can let go of me now!” Soarin said desperately.

"No way. I’m not letting you get away,” Rainbow growled. “We’d better find my comic or you’re getting a hundred kicks to the face!”

“Wasn’t the tornado in my room enough?”

“Maybe I’ll drown you in that cereal. Or better yet, choke you with your stupid toast!” Rainbow grinned, licking her lips noisily in ecstatic anticipation. Soarin knew there was no escape from Rainbow Dash when she was ranting. As Dash continued to list the various ways to end his life, Soarin spotted a familiar figure quickly approaching them.

The older man wore a pair of magenta sunglasses with a matching tie, complementing his black dress shirt beneath a periwinkle vest. A pair of black slacks and leather shoes completed his ensemble. He held a folding fan in his hand, the easygoing motion causing his meticulously styled cobalt grey hair to bounce in the modest breeze.

“Hm? Miss Dash? Mister Gale? What are you two doing here? Do either of you have my class today?” he spoke as he waved his fan. His voice was thick with a heavy, posh accent.

“Sorry Professor. We just need to look inside for a bit,” Soarin said, waving at him.

“For what exactly?”

“My comic!” Rainbow yelled. She pointed at Soarin. “He said it might be in your class!”

“How gaudy! Who would seriously value a comic?” his tongue came halfway out, held back by teeth as he grimaced. “It is the lowest form of entertainment.”

“I thought that was puns,” Soarin thought aloud.

“Yes, for the masses. As for myself comics are disgraceful and ugly. As such, retrieving one is even more disgusting.”

“Hey my comic isn’t disgusting!” Rainbow roared.

“Well I’m surprised, Professor,” Soarin said with a half-grin.

Professor Toity peeked over his glasses. “At what?”

“I mean it’s surprising you’d leave such a disgusting thing in your classroom. If I saw something as gross as that I’d want it out of my classroom for good.”

"That is… most insightful, Mr.Gale,” he responded slowly. He handed Dash the key. “Please make sure to remove that trash from my classroom.”

"No problem,” Dash said through clenched teeth. Fearing for the key’s safety, Soarin quickly swiped it out of her hand before she could crush it into scrap. Dash followed after him as he headed for the classroom.

"Wow! I didn’t think he’d just give us the keys. We’re lucky he hates comics.”

“Shut up and get my comic!” Rainbow demanded as she pushed him towards the classroom.

Soarin flopped onto his desk chair, opening it to reveal a massive mess of papers. With a sigh he dug through them, pausing every now and then to marvel at a page of missing homework. It’s gonna take me a year to go through this mess.

“Find it yet?” Rainbow called to him.

“Not yet. Probably be easier if you helped.”

“I didn’t lose it. You did.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Soarin sighed, pulling more papers out until he grabbed something rather thick. Pulling his arm back, Soarin was able to read the cover’s title.

“Daring Li-” Soarin began, before Rainbow tore the comic from him. The sudden maneuver made Soarin lose his balance and fall headfirst to the floor.

“Ow,” Soarin groaned as he rubbed his chin. After a few moments, he noticed Rainbow’s shoes in front of him. His eyes traveled up her legs, past her black pants and dark blue coat, and into the terrifying look on her face. What he saw was not a glare, grimace, or even gritted teeth. No, Rainbow’s face was far more grotesque than that.

She was grinning.

“What? What is it?” he squeaked.

“I was just reading my comic. And I noticed something strange.”

Suddenly she pushed the comic in front of Soarin. What he saw made him frown deeply.

“So. Can you explain why there is bubblegum on my comic?” Rainbow Dash asked sweetly.

“Uh. I was attacked by bubblegum ninjas?”

“No.”

“A bunch of pink elephants sneezed on it?”

“No.”

“You’re mad aren't you?”

“Do you even need to ask?” Rainbow asked, still grinning. Despite the warm sunny day outside, Soarin felt as if he’d been doused with ice water.

“Oh crap!” he screamed as he ran out of the classroom.

Soarin dashed down the halls with Rainbow in hot pursuit.

“Get back here, Gale!”

“Not until you’ve chilled out!” Soarin yelled as he ran.

“You’re gonna pay for this!”

“Need to catch me first!” Soarin rebuked as he burst through a doorway.

The room he’d scrambled into was a pearly white, heavily packed with grey tables and plastic chairs. Pancakes and bacon filled the air – and his nose – before he dove under one of the numerous tables, earning him quite a few odd looks from the students inhabiting the room.

Within a few seconds Dash burst in, scanning the room.

Where is he? She slowly walked between the tables, keeping an eye out for Soarin. He, however, did his best to move quickly and quietly from one table to the next. Though fear pounded through his mind, Soarin kept moving carefully to not alert Rainbow.

Soarin could almost taste the exit before him. The scent of salvation was overwhelming. If only the exit was not ten feet away.

As Soarin contemplated what to do he felt a breeze. Oh, no. Don’t tell me-

He turned around to find Dash was throwing her little tornados under each table. As each table rose Dash would calmly look underneath it. When she found nothing she’d move on to the next one.

I always forget how well she can make those tornados. Maybe her name should’ve been Tornado? I wonder if she’d take that as a nickname. Maybe I should ask her. When she doesn’t want to kill me. Suddenly Soarin found a small tornado a mere five feet away from him.

In desperation, Soarin sprung from his hands and knees towards the exit. Despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins, he only managed to land halfway.

“Gotcha!” Rainbow yelled triumphantly, as she dashed towards Soarin’s prone form.

Soarin scrambled to pick himself up and tried desperately to sprint through the doors. He slammed one behind him, hoping to gain some much-needed distance. As he raced down the hall, a door crashing open and howling winds shouted the outcome of his endeavors. I got to ask Flash for one of his smoke bombs! I have to get somewhere Dash can’t use her wind magic. Her comic! She’d never let it get damaged. And she hasn’t bought any for a while, which means… the library!

Soarin turned towards the staircase, taking the steps four at a time as he surged his way up. With every inch he took, Dash gained a foot. Each time Soarin unleashed an extra burst of speed, Dash doubled her own.  I wish I was a horse. Or a spider. I know there’s a horsefly, but is there a horsespider? As long as it has more legs then it’d be okay!

A student stepped through the library’s doors, balancing a stack of books higher than her head. As she walked forward with her feet spread apart, Soarin took a chance.  He slide-tackled between her legs, let out a quick “Sorry!” and headed for the comics section.

Too bad she was wearing pants.

Soarin stopped in front of the racks, lightly gripping the hilt of his sword. Softly, he tiptoed to stand before the shelf dedicated to the ‘Daring Life’ series.

Rainbow leaped into the room, a powerful gust of wind trailing behind her. As she rose from her kneeling position, multiple thuds sounded from behind. Following the thuds was the voice of a young woman.

“Oh come on!”

Rainbow Dash winced with a grimace. “Sorry!”

“No more hiding, Soarin! Get out here!”

“Not hiding, Dash.” Soarin spoke confidently. Dash stepped slowly, her feet feeling like lead weights. When she reached the comics section, she gulped once before turning around the corner.

“No.”

“That’s right, Dash.” Soarin gave her a devilish smile. “Hurt me and your comics will suffer my fate!” he laughed maniacally, twirling an imaginary moustache.

“You monster! How could you take these poor, awesome comics hostage? Have you no shame?!” She shook nervously, gritting her teeth as her hands balled up into fists at her sides.

“Miss Dash! Mr. Gale! Please be quiet!” a loud whisper hushed them.

“Sorry Miss Cheerilee,” they said in unison.

“Let me go and your precious comics won’t get destroyed.”

Rainbow glared daggers at her friend. “This is a dirty trick.”

“Well, I’ve always been a bit dirty,” Soarin said chuckling “The gum in your comic is just one example.”

Rainbow stood still for a moment, then slowly narrowed her eyes. A violent wind began to form around her, gaining strength with her hardening glare. “Oh, you messed up big time!”

The wind made Soarin blink twice, before he started to sweat.

Oh, crap. She’s not really gonna use it, is she? Soarin’s grip on the hilt tightened as he braced himself for an incoming attack.

Rainbow raised her left hand. Wind began to swirl wildly around her arm, contorting into a claw the size of a cow.

Yup. She’s gonna use it.

“Gale Tech: Azure Ripper!”

Soarin had little time to act as blades of wind were coming fast towards his face. All ideas for blocking them fled from his mind like frightened puppies, and with bookshelves on either side of him dodging wasn’t an option. As the scything air flew closer, Soarin let out a squeak of terror before closing his eyes.

“Geo Tech: Stone Wall!” Cheerilee shouted, creating the technique’s namesake in front of Soarin. Rainbow’s wind struck, barely disturbing the sturdy barrier. Soarin opened his eyes to join Dash in a stare of surprise.

Cheerilee stomped up behind Rainbow Dash, a vein pulsing on her forehead. “You are not going to destroy any of the books in here!”

“B-but,” Soarin and Dash stammered.

“Geo Tech: Terra Wave," Cheerilee said in her inside voice. With a clap of her hands, the floor underneath Soarin and Dash began moving them to the exit like a rumbling conveyor belt.

They were dumped on their rumps outside just as Cheerilee reached the doors, scowling like a demon with a hangover. “If you two are going fight, do it outside of the library. I came here early to drink my coffee in peace, and I won’t let you ruin that for me. Is that understood?”

Both of them nodded hastily, which caused her to smile warmly. “Good.”

After she quickly and quietly closed the doors, Dash and Soarin shared a sweaty stare. They let out identical sighs before returning their gazes to the huge, ebony doors.

Soarin and Dash sat for what felt like an eternity, until the marble floor suddenly became too hard. With sore backsides they stood up and dusted themselves off before Soarin took off again.

Rainbow groaned as she quickly rose to her feet. I’ve had enough of this.

She straightened, letting loose a heel kick as she leaned back. From the sole of her boot came a gust of wind that flew towards Soarin’s unprotected back. She smiled as it struck him square in the center, sending him tumbling face first to the ground. He slid along the polished floor for ten feet, before tucking and rolling forwards.

With a wide grin he stood up and kept running, never losing momentum. “Nice try, Dash!”

Her brow drew down and smile widened. I’m not finished yet.

Dash launched another heel kick, and smoothly followed it up with a spinning back kick. Both sent beach ball-sized vortexes spiraling at Soarin, who turned his head around at the shrieking winds. Uh-oh, Dash is getting serious. Better do something, and quick!

]He swiftly turned around, sliding a few feet before dropping into a quick-draw stance for his katana. Soarin’s eyes focused on the cyclones bearing down on him, until they came within reach of his sword.

“Hail Tech: Sudden Frost!”

With a click and a swish, his blade cut through in a horizontal slash, sending the frozen air to the floor and ceiling to shatter like fine crystal.

He smirked while sheathing his katana, but looked up at the sound of footsteps. His smirk dropped. That attack was so she could get closer!

Seeing Dash quickly closing the distance was enough to get him moving at full tilt again. Thankfully, the nearby stairwell provided a convenient means of escape. Not even bothering to use the steps, Soarin jumped from one landing to the next until he’d reached the ground floor.

He was not alone, however. Dash had copied his idea, practically flying down the stairs. She continued launching kicks as she ran, flowing from axe-kicks to jump-kicks to wheel-kicks in a non-stop progression of acrobatics and rushing wind. The rattling of lockers and falling portraits were enough to bring out the faculty from their classrooms.

Not a smile could be seen on their faces, though frowns and glares were in abundance.

Soarin ran down the hall, ignoring the angry shouts of teachers as he passed by. He turned the corner, passing professor Toity in front of his classroom. The man made no sound, but stared at him over the edge of his folding fan.

Halfway to the end of the hall, Soarin felt a pressure on his chest. His feet were moving as fast as ever, but he made less and less progress forward. Dash’s footsteps became louder by the second in his ears, and the pressure steadily increased.

He looked down, seeing a silver ribbon stretched across his torso.

This looks like Professor Toity’s… Oh no-

A tug on his shirt and a loud ‘gotcha’ was all he remembered before flying backward.

All Dash remembered was Soarin’s elbow in her stomach.

They sailed through the air, unable to make out any of the blurry faces. Both of them did, however, hear a distinct voice over the wind whistling past their ears.

"Sage Craft: Spider’s Net!”

Rainbow felt a crisscross of ribbons at her back, stretching back to slow her down. Unfortunately, Soarin was right in front of her, pushing them both deeper into the net. In a split second, they shot forward, then back again, repeating the process like a bungee cord before finally stopping.

When the world finally came back into focus, Soarin and Dash saw professor Toity standing in front of them. As they hung like flies in a spider’s parlor, the professor stood with his hip cocked, fanning himself slowly.

He snapped the fan shut, pointing it at them. “Had either of you been awake during my classes, you would have learned a simple counter for the spell that launched you both back here. It was called Sage Craft: Finish Line. I expect a two-page report on nonverbal spells from each of you by tomorrow morning, as well as a practical example of how to respond to spells of this nature. This will, of course, be in addition to any punishment Headmistress Celestia deems appropriate for your most unbecoming behavior.”

By the time he was done lecturing them, most of the teachers had blocked the hallway, vocalizing their support of his actions. And complaining.

"Good job, Toity!”

“They interrupted my meditation!”

“Serves them right!”

“You’ve ruined my morning coffee!”

Professor Toity raised his hands for silence, waiting until the din died down. He motioned towards Rainbow Dash and Soarin, curling his fingers to touch his thumb. “Sage Morph: Spider’s Purse.”

The edges of the web separated from the walls, ceiling and floor, before joining together like some massive fishnet. As the spell finished reforming the net – complete with a bow around the top – professor Toity looked around at the teachers gathered around him. With a flick of his wrist, his fan opened, slowly moving up and down.

“Would someone be willing to carry these two to Headmistress Celestia’s office for me? I have a class in ten minutes I simply must finish preparing for.”

Each teacher raised a hand. Some of them raised both.

While being hoisted by the mob down the hallway, Dash grumbled, “Soarin, get your shoulder out of my face.”

A piece of the net was in his mouth as he replied, “Only if you get your bony knee out of my butt.”

“My knees aren’t bony!” she growled, before biting him.

“Yee-ouch! Miss Cheerilee, Dash is nomming my shoulder!”

She looked down at Soarin with a smile as she helped lift the net. “Suffering builds character, Mr. Gale. Bear with it.”

By the time the group had reached the doors to Celestia’s office, Rainbow Dash had stopped chewing Soarin’s shoulder. Miss Cheerilee knocked while the other teachers untied the bow.

With a click, the doors opened to reveal the headmistress. Cheerilee curtsied like a princess before speaking. “Sorry to bother you so early in the morning, Headmistress.”

“Not at all, Cheerilee. Though I am curious as to what brings you, as well as so many faculty members, to my office at this hour,” she said, quirking an eyebrow as she smiled.

She gestured with an open hand towards the now-free pair. “These two.”

Celestia covered her mouth with her fingertips as she giggled. “Well, I must say I never expected to see this first thing in the morning. Hello Miss Dash, Mr. Gale. Would you both be so kind as to explain what happened?”

Soarin sighed as he placed another book on the shelf.

“That one doesn’t go there,” Rainbow said, kneeling in front of the bottom row.

With a grumbled curse, he shelved it three books down to the right. If I’d known the headmistress was gonna make me clean the whole school for a week, I would’ve just let Dash kick my butt. It wouldn’t’ve been as bad, or taken as long.

“This is cruel and unusual punishment, Dash.” he moaned.

She turned her head to look at him, one eyebrow quirked. “Who you telling? You think I want to touch egghead books all day?” Soarin stopped, frowning. Crossing his arms, he leaned his shoulder against the bookcase to give Dash his attention. “Aren’t we in this mess because you got mad at me for putting gum in a book?”

“It’s. A. Comic. Not a book. They’re completely different,” she said, scrunching up her face.

Soarin and Rainbow Dash finished the mystery section before moving on to classical literature. It was not until they were halfway through that Soarin took a look around, even going so far as to peek around the end of the aisle. He scratched his head on the way back to Dash.

“Where do you think everyone is?”

She shrugged, continuing to shelve books. “I don’t know. I think I heard Celestia was talking to some foreign guy.”

Soarin tilted his head to the side. “Really? Who?”

“I don’t know.”  Dash said, rolling her eyes.

“Was he a ninja?” he grinned, bouncing on the balls of his feet.

She waved off his enthusiasm with one hand. “Naw. I heard people say he looked like an ogre. Like a human ogre.”

“Doesn't mean he's not a ninja. Maybe he’s a fiend? That’d be surprising. I never took Celestia to have a thing for fiends,” he said, stroking his nonexistent beard.

She dropped a book, which fell to the floor with a thump. “You aren’t suggesting…”

He stared at the ceiling as he spoke, “Well… she's alone in her office with some big, handsome stranger from a foreign country. What would you do, Dash?”

Dash raised a finger, opening her mouth partway before she stopped. After a few moments of contemplation, she pulled her finger back and grimaced. “I don’t want to know.”

Soarin shuddered. “Me neither.”