Night of the Hunt

Written by: Jay the Stormtrooper
Editors: Camolot the Creator and Mr. Derpface

"Hmm, seems to be a full moon tonight."

The rhythmic creaking of an old rocking chair echoed around the balcony, drowning out the sound of the fire in the hearth. Svelte, silk curtains billowed in the gentle breeze of the balcony door.. The sky was devoid of clouds, the moon shining in all of its glory across the cityscape of the Equestrian capital city, Canterlot. The crown jewel which rested atop an enormous mountain that overlooked the towns and villages below it. An aged Earth stallion chuckled to himself and sighed as he stared out into the night, his graying mane and beard clashing with his olive coat.

He gazed at the heavens, watching the shooting stars dash across the cosmos, smiling to himself. Chewing on a lit pipe, he took a long drag before exhaling, allowing the smoke to fume out from his mouth. "A truly wondrous night."

"Master?" An adolescent Unicorn mare appeared from the office behind him and stepped past the curtains. Her white mane was tied into a bun, and sky blue coat shimmered in the moonlight. She blinked her purple-rimmed eyes, smiling as she spotted her mentor. "Talking to yourself again, I see."

"What else is an old stallion such as myself to do when he’s alone?" He chuckled, pulling the wooden pipe from his mouth. "How are you feeling, Azy? I hope our training session today was nothing too difficult?"

"Not… extremely difficult," she huffed out a laugh. "We've certainly done other exercises that are far more strenuous than the ones we did today.”

“Indeed we have,” he chuckled. “Even so, you’re always so eager to face down any threat you come across. Which leads me to believe that I’ve taught you almost everything I know, and that you’ve grown into a capable mare.”

The young mare trotted slowly to the balcony and stood next to him. “Do you really think so, Master?” she asked. “Have I really grown that much?”

“Why yes, heh,” he took the pipe out of his mouth, smoke fuming from his mouth. “If I didn’t think so, I would not be saying so."

She giggled briefly as she sat back on her rump, tail hugging her flank. A somber expression fell upon her face as she stared up at the sky, very aware of what was coming tomorrow night.

“Master? Could I ask you something?”

"Of course, my dear apprentice," he agreed with a nonchalant wave of his hoof.

"I am a bit... nervous. Scared almost." She looked at the ground as she confessed, pawing at it slowly. "This is… the first time I’ve ever been apart of a hunt. What if I… you know.”

"My dear, you have been training since you were first Awakened," he replied firmly. "You have the Blood flowing in your veins. This is something that you were born to do and you shall do it well."

"Are you sure of that, Master?" she asked, looking up at him hopefully. He reached over and ruffled her mane with his hoof. "Hee hee, Master please, hee hee." She moved away from his hoof. He fell into a laughing fit, smoke fuming from his pipe. "You know I hate when you do that."

"Oh I know," he said, coming down from his mirth. "Ever since I took you under my metaphorical wing, you've never liked that. So young and eager to learn, you were. And, that fire has yet to fade. No matter what, in my eyes, you will always be that enthusiastic little filly I met ten years ago. Since then, you've grown into a talented young mare. Remember, I've taught you everything that I know."

He looked down at her with his gray irises, framed by a scar running down the side of his left eye. "I have the utmost faith in you, Azure, and the highest expectations as well. You have the makings of a Master in you, and one day you may just take my place."

She smiled sheepishly back up at him, a strong feeling of affection for her Master burning in her heart. All her young life, she had seen him as her father. The memories of her past had long since faded since she had been Awakened. With no other parental figure to look up to, she began to see him as such. However, she made sure to keep the boundary between master and apprentice; although in her late fillyhood, she had accidentally called him 'father,' and even 'daddy' at one point.

To which he would react by laughing and taking her to do another rigorous training exercise.

"You really think I'd be a good Master?"

"I know so, my dear," he chuckled.

The two of them turned their gazes back to the firmament, watching the moon as it slowly ascended.

"It's almost time isn't it?" Azure asked.

"What is today?" he asked, removing the pipe from his mouth.

"The eve before Nightmare Night," she replied. "Tomorrow night all of the fillies and colts will be out and about. Collecting sweets and taking part in the festivities of the annual holiday. Oh, if they only knew what happened when the night reaches its peak."

"When their holiday ends, our work begins. It is better they do not know," he grumbled as he pulled a worn hunting cap that was hanging off the edge of his chair and placed it on is head, ears poking through the holes cut into the brim. "Do me a favor. Fetch me my wheelchair, will you?" She nodded and trotted back into his study, reemerging a moment later while pushing an old wooden wheelchair with her purple magical aura.

"Shall I assist you, Master?"

"No, no, I am quite capable." He used his upper body strength to lift his rump off the rocking chair, and Azure moved the wheelchair closer for him to sit down on its worn cushioned leather seat . He shakily stood on his hind legs and used his forelegs to keep himself steady as he transferred himself to the mobile chair. With a grunt, he twisted his body around and placed his rear down onto it with a sigh, tail sticking out from the back. "There we are. Shall we get moving?"

Together, they left the balcony of their tower, which was situated in the Royal Palace overlooking the rest of the city. They reentered the building, where the fireplace cast an eerie orange glow over the room. A desk covered with books and unopened letters stood proudly on the left side of the study. At the back of the desk was a large wooden chest that held many trinkets and treasures. Several layers of shelves climbed the wall above, which held bottles of various elixirs and potions, and some vials and jars of blood and organs of different kinds. A wooden workbench riddled with tools of all kinds stood on the other side of the room.

Disassembled weapons and firearms lay strewn across it; the wall behind was adorned with weapons of peculiar design, most seeming like overly large saws and knives in nature. Nearly all were in various stages of assembly. Bookshelves overflowing with tomes lined the walls of the study, dust thickly covering them and the stacks of books that had not yet been replaced.

In the very epicenter of the room was a peculiar looking lantern hanging from a three-foot pole. The glow it gave off was ominous, yet comforting in a hypnotic way. Its white light was slightly dimmer than that of the fireplace.

Almost as if it were dormant.

"Well, Azy, will you do the honors?" he smiled, gesturing toward the dim lantern as they approached it.

"Time to get to work then, Master?" she asked with a small smile.

"Indeed it is," he nodded for her to resume. She slowly approached the lantern. When she reached it, her horn lit up and she closed her eyes. A moment later, the lantern was suddenly shining brightly in the study, casting its gray light over them and shining out the windows. Azure opened her eyes and looked back at her flank, where her half-moon Cutie Mark began to change, rippling as it transformed into a trident-like symbol, with the three forks converging on a small circle below. "Mmm, the others will arrive soon. We must be off."

"Does this mean we have to go to... the meeting place?" she asked, looking down at him.

"Yes, it is time for us to go, my dear Azy," he replied. "And there will be much to do. I fear this night will be a long one."

"Don't worry, Master," Azure giggled. "The Hunt will be over before you know it..."

"...And whatever happens, it will all seem like a mere bad dream," he continued, laughing along with her. "Now, we must be off, Azy.”

"Yes, Master." Azure leaned close to the lantern and reached out with her hoof. She closed her eyes and focused.

Suddenly, their forms began to distort. Within seconds, their bodies appeared to be ethereal, until they disappeared entirely, transmitting themselves to another unknown place. The fire inside the hearth was suddenly extinguished as the pair disappeared from the room, the mysterious lamp the remaining source of light. Silence fell across the study. The moonlight shone through the curtains as they billowed in the soft wind.

"Tomorrow, the Hunt begins. And we must be prepared for a long night."

Author's Note

Here it is, guys. I told you I'd get this out someday! Get ready to embark on another journey, folks! I assure you, this will be a good one.

Much thanks to my editors for their work, my friends on fimfic for giving me their views on the story itself, and most of all thank you guys for giving this new story a chance. The next chapter has already been posted!

Peace out and have a good week :)