My Little Hunters

The Year: 3229 during the reign of the four princesses

Location: Canterlot Castle

Twilight had just received an urgent summons back to Canterlot at the request of princess Celestia, requiring that she also bring along her friends and after becoming a princess herself, Twilight knew that an urgent summons often means trouble.

"Princess Twilight! Celestia has arranged an escort for you." A guard shouted as he opened the doors to the royal carriage being pulled by two strange bird like creatures with tentacled faces.

"What the hay are those?" Rainbow Dash asked in discuss before Fluttershy broke out in a squeal.

"OH MY GOSH!! MAMMOTH BIRDS!! These are one of the newest species I read about! ohh aren't they cute?" She began to affectionately cuddle them like a mother holding her child.

"Cute isn't quite the word I would use." Rarity turned away as both creatures began nuzzling her. An hour later, Twilight and the others burst into the room to see Celestia discussing something with a few scientist who seemed to be worried.

"Are you sure none of the reports went missing?"

"None your majesty and we've had no others since."

"Very well, Dismissed."

With a wave of her hand the scientist bowed down as they left. The expression on the princesses face turned from serious to joyful when she spotted Twilight and the others.

"Twilight! it's good to see you again." She said with a hug, greeting her former pupil.

"I came as soon as I got your message."

"With MY help of course." Spike boasted as he polished his claws. Rainbow Dash ruffled the top of his head like a big sister picking on her little brother.

The princess escorted the group to the observatory where a map of the entire holographic map of the galaxy was on display. The view was breathtaking, there every planet hung in the air like a small fruit just waiting to be grabbed.

"Amazing isn't it? This map is a gift from our space division for funding their explorer program. Without it we may never have found the planets that we now call home." Celestia was interrupted when the map suddenly began to get all wobbly.

" So pretty..." Pinkie was mesmerized by the small yellow sun that hung above the miniature version of Equestria.

"PINKIE?!!"

"Sorry!" She quickly apologized as she brought both hands to her side.

"You were saying your majesty?"

"Yes. Thanks to our explorer program, we have found numerous worlds we can colonize and study. Giving us advances in every field of science. But last night I received some disturbing news." Celestia began scrolling through the star system before coming to a stop on a remote planet, near the borders of the known galaxy.

"This is Plane Shear. It is one of colonies still in development and it is also where scientists were studying the various plant life and animals living there....but something went wrong."

Images of destroyed buildings and dead bodies began popping up on a nearby screen, showing the devastation. The ponies gasped in horror with some looking away in fright. Twilight could not believe her eyes.

"What did this?"

"We don't know but as of right now the entire colony has been placed under lockdown. I need you and your friends to help investigate the recent attacks. Now I know it sounds dangerous but you and your friends have faced such dangers before and I know you will do so again."

"So. Certainty of death, high risk of running into some horrifying beast that'll rip us limb from limb while lightyears away from home?....sounds fun!" Rainbow Dash pounded her fists in anticipation after giving Applejack a friendly nudge.

"We won't let you down Princess Celestia!" Twilight said with a confident smile before they were dismissed.

Later

The group gathered at the space port and awaited the next shuttle to Planet Shear but to their surprise the entire dock was empty save for them.

"You'd think there'd be more ponies itching for a ride in space." Applejack said as she looked around while Rarity fiddled with her makeup.

"Space travel isn't for everypony darling."

"Well it's not just that. Because of the recent events a lot of ponies have been evacuating the colony and began to spread rumors."

"Rumors?" Fluttershy looked at Twilight with curiosity.

"I looked into the report Celestia gave me and found that the survivors saw what could only be described as well...a monster." Twilight looked through the photos in the file. They images were blurred showing they had been taken in a hurry and the only thing she could make out so far was that this so called "Monster" was huge; Very huge.

BONG!

"Attention. Flight 13 for Planet Shear has arrived, all passengers please deposit all luggage onto the loading bay." A flight stewardess called over the loud speaker. The ponies handed their bags to a service droid that had been activated when the ship docked in.

"Greetings ladies. I am Bucket and I will be your escort on this voyage."

"Pleasure to meet you buckets." Twilight said with a friendly smile as they boarded the ship.

"Check it out! This ship has a flat screen TV and mini bar!" Rainbow Dash was zipping all over the place, amazed by the ships interior.

"Please help yourselves. All expenses have been paid." Buckets informed the group as he began launch procedures. Spike had attempted to help himself to a glass of wine when Twilight snatched him up with her magic, still reading the report.

"No Spike."

"Aw come on Twilight! I'm eighteen!"

"And the legal drinking age is twenty-one so. NO!" This time she was more stern with him as she plopped him down next to her seat. Rarity and Applejack sat next to each other while Fluttershy tried to calm down Rainbow Dash and Pinkie who had been channel surfing for the past five minuets.

"Rainbow Dash. Shouldn't you um...relax a bit?"

"Are you kidding?!? They have TEN! THOUSAND! CHANNELS!!" Pinkie shouted in amazement. Fluttershy backed away slowly to Rainbow Dash who was just slouching there, going from channel to channel.

"Seen it! click seen it click seen it click AH HA!!" Rainbow had stumbled upon the hoofball finals in Manehattan where her old team; The Junior Speedsters were up against the defending champs; The Manehattan Monsters, much cheering and shouting ensued as they watched the game while Rarity snuggled with Applejack at their window seat. Their hands clasped together, each one with a wedding ring.

"Shouldn't you be over there darling?"

"What? And leave my gal all by her lonesome? I don't think so and besides." Applejacks voice became suggestive as she looked the unicorn in the eye with desire.

"I know of another "contact sport" we can play once we get there." Rarity gasped as she felt a firm grip on her left butt cheek before breaking into a devilish grin.

"You bad girl!"

"Love you too Rarity."

The couple gave a rather enthusiastic smooch before noticing the seat belt sign was turned on. Though disappointed at having their moment cut short, Rarity continued to hold Applejacks hand while brushing her mane away with the other as the ship began to disembark.

"To be continued." She whispered in her wifes' ear, giving a wink.

"Preparing to enter hyperspace. All passengers please fasten your seat belts and be sure your trays are in the upright position." Buckets began to fire up the engines as everyone braced themselves. Fluttershy-being the fragile pony she is-clinged to spike like a teddy bear and began to cut off his air supply. Pinkie and Rainbow Dash were laid back and relaxed, both were still focused on the game and passing each other snacks when they were suddenly flipped over as the ship took off.

"WHAT THE HAY?!?" Rainbow asked in outrage with a bowl of popcorn on top of her head.

"He did say fasten your seat belts." Twilight said smugly as she flipped through another page of the report.

"Shouldn't you put that down now Twilight? You've been reading it since before we left."

"Sorry Spike it's just I can't help but think what kind of creature could cause this level of destruction." Twilight was still going through the blurred pictures and could only make out bits and pieces of the beast.

"Fluttershy! you were at that lecture on alien creatures, do you know anything that might cause this."

"Actually I think this is the first time i've heard of this animal but from the uh gulp! pictures..." She shuddered, remembering the images she saw.

"This creature is definitely carnivorous and has a very big appetite."

"That's a bit of an understatement." Rainbow Dash said as she looked through the photos herself before giving a loud scoff.

"But whatever it is I bet I can take it-WHOA!!" A bit of turbulence struck the ship as Rainbow fell on her rump. Groaning from the bit of pain the rainbow hared mare looked out the window to see they had come to a stop in the middle of nowhere.

"Hey Bucket head! What's the big deal?" She asked while rubbing some of the pain off her backside.

"We are now orbiting Planet Shear and please. It's just 'Buckets'." The droid told her, sounding offended.

"I suggest you retake your seat miss, we'll be entering the planets atmosphere soon."

"Yeah whatever."

As Rainbow took her seat, Buckets tried to make contact with one of the planets landing platforms while Twilight briefed her friends on what they should do upon arrival.

"Okay everypony listen up. We'll need to gather as much information as we can so Spike and I will check with the officials while you guys gather information from the locals."

"Sounds like a plan!" Applejack said giving a thumbs up.

"Princess. We seem to be having some trouble."

"Trouble?" Twilight made her way to the cockpit to see Buckets fiddling with the various switches and buttons.

"I cannot establish contact with the station. It could just be interference from the planets surface."

"We better land anyway, our fuel is low."

"Very good your highness. Commencing landing procedures."

The ship was a bit shaky at first but the landing had gone smoothly. Rainbow Dash was the first to exit the ship and what she saw amazed her.

"No way...." She said in amazement seeing the landscape before her. A vast jungle stretching as far as the eye can see and a bright yellow sun hanging above, the sound of the birds and animals sounded out around the area. Rainbow Dash felt like she was in one of her Daring Do books.

"Beautiful!"

"That there's an eye opener. No doubt." Applejack whistled as she joined Rainbow on the railing.

"Oh dear." Buckets said aloud as the others turned to see what appeared to be a chewed up antennae. The droid analyzed some fluid found at the scene before quickly activating the landing bays elevator.

"I suggest we leave ladies. The creatures that did this are most likely to still be around."

"'Creatures'? as in plural?" Fluttershy asked nervously, cringing behind Rainbow Dash.

"Affirmative but don't worry. These predators are mostly active at night."

"Preadators?!?" Fluttershy shrieked as she used Rainbows wing for a shield. The blue pegasus wrestled it out of her friends grip before giving a scolding look that made Fluttershy feel embarrassed as the group followed the robot into the jungle below.

Despite the beautiful scenery they had witnessed, the ponies soon learned that the jungle was a treacherous place. Next to the unbearable humidity and mosquitoes, the path they followed buckets on was riddled with twigs and mud on every step they took. Rarity seemed to be the one affected the most.

"Ooh! This humidity is mucking up my mane! and my new boots are ruined!" The white mare complained as she looked at the mud on her boots but to Applejack this came as no surprise.

"Not to burst your bubble darlin but boots were made for this sort of thing." Applejack said casually as she trotted through the muddy soil to help her wife.

"And how come you don't complain when I muck up your mane?"

"APPLEJACK!" Rarities eyes shot daggers at the farm mare as the others giggled.

"Um Bucket? where are we going exactly?" Spike looked around, not seeing any visible path or buildings.

"There is a research facility just ahead from there we can-Warning! hostile wildlife detected! warning! hostile wildlife detected!" The droids head spun around with a red light like a police siren when one of his arms transformed into a gun.

"Weapon systems activated. Deploying UAV." Buckets head took off like a rocket after a strange energy field surrounded the group. Twilight and her friends were starting to worry.

"What's going on? Bucket?"

"Blitz leopards detected. This shield I deployed masks your presence but they can still hear you so I suggest keeping quiet." Just then one of the creatures came leaping out from the brush.

The beast walked on all fours like a dog but appeared reptilian, it had a large frill and whip like tail that seemed to give off a luminescent glow which it probably used to lure in prey before attacking with its razor sharp teeth and claws but what made this creature so dangerous was that it was with a pack as several more came leaping out from all sides.

"EE-!!" Every fiber of Fluttershy's being was telling her to scream. Thankfully Rainbow Dash and Twilight were able to shut her up before she could make the slightest peep.

"Nopony...move...a muscle!" Rainbow whispered through her teeth as the beasts drew closer. Rarity noticed a strange red dot on one of their heads when out of nowhere.

BAM!!

The first leopard was sent flying back after the first shot, then from the top of the trees a pony dressed up in what could only be described as a suit out of a sci-fi movie came swooping down with guns blazing. The entire pack darted around in all directions, dodging the gunfire.

"KEEP YOUR HEADS DOWN!!" The pony shouted through his helmet as he began to pick them off one by one. Twilight and the others did as instructed while the hunter chased down some of the beasts, whoever this pony was. He was good shot as several leopards were shot down in midair and after a few intense moments the firing finally ceased.

The ponies looked up to see the smoking corpses of the leopards and the pony who had saved them. From what they could tell he was a regular earth pony dressed in a space suit with a built in jet pack. Buckets head came flying in, deactivating the cloaking shield.

"Ah greetings sir! I was just out looking for you." The robot saluted him in respect. Twilight was the first to greet this masked stranger as she offered a friendly handshake.

"Thanks for saving us, I'm-!"

"Princess Twilight Sparkle and your friends Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Spike. We've been expecting you." The stranger removed his mask so to speak with them face to face. What they saw shocked them.

"Hi there." The pony said as he placed his helmet on the side but the group could not help but stare at the three large scars that decorated his face.

"Name's Trapper; Jake Trapper. Welcome to Plane Shear."

End.