Just remember, when on a hunting trip, it's always better to shoot first and ask questions later. More often than not, your question will involve wondering what the thing hiding in the shadows is. The answer is simple: if it has razor sharp teeth and no regard for table manners when eating, kill it."
- Clovis the Black, 2E 459

Chapter 1, Page 97 of the Hunter's Guidebook

Day 1

The Hunter Sanctuary

Noctus stood before the door of Willow's bed chamber, an internal debate burning within him.

How in the blazes do I even go about this? he tapped his rear hoof impatiently. The other Mentors make this sort of thing look easy.

The struggling newly-appointed Mentor gritted his teeth as he thought back on the several teachers he had in his time as an Acolyte.

Perhaps, I could channel my inner Mentor Broadside? His brashness always motivates those around him...

He shook his head, realizing that was not like him at all.

What about Mentor Snowflake? She's not as loud or bossy, but she does inspire her students to work hard...

Once again, he shook his head upon realizing that Willow was not the easiest pony to deal with. He would need to be assertive with her so that she would get moving.

Yes. That's it. Assertiveness. He snorted silently as he readied himself. I hope she's ready to meet a new Noctus. I will not be taking it easy on her at all! With that resolve in mind, he turned around and bucked the door open. It impacted the wall with a loud crack and he stepped in with a mad look of determination on his muzzle.

"Up, Acolyte!”

After completing the complicated ritual that was finding the bath house, washing up, going back to her room to get dressed, and finally reaching the Dining Hall to eat breakfast, Willow already felt herself becoming rather tired. She had a difficult time finding where exactly the bath house was located and, upon locating it thanks to another Hunter mare, gave herself a well deserved bath. Although, there was no time to waste mulling things over in the bath water. She quickly washed her mane, coat, and tail and used her magic to dry it off quicker.

Now she sat in a busy Dining Hall, where other Acolytes, who were probably just reaching their adolescence, ate along with her. Noctus stood behind her, leaning against the wall as he watched her eat with a stern eye. Upon surveying the area, she could see several other Hunters dressed in the same light brown vest and white shirt that Noctus wore. More than likely, they were Mentors watching over their own students. Sitting here amongst younger ponies reminded her of her school days as a filly. Though, the books she read during class could never hope to prepare her for this.

The meal she was currently working on consisted of things she picked off from platters placed on the massive oakwood table. The smell of the food made her realize that she was hungrier than a starving farm dog. In front of her, sitting upon a golden ceramic plate, were three slices of bacon, two sausage links, three slices of ham, scrambled eggs, a couple of slices of toast, and for some reason pancakes as well.

Willow's stomach growled in appreciation as she shoveled fork after fork of the tasty morsels into her mouth. Mere minutes passed until her big plate of food was empty. Still hungry for more, she began picking at the platters once again. She felt no shame in doing this. The other Acolytes seemed to be doing the same. One thing that bothered her, however, was that she felt no objection to eating meat. Strangely, she seemed to be enjoying the taste. She dared not dwell on it too long.

Before she sat down to eat, Noctus explained to her the importance of a good breakfast. Midway through her second serving, she actually felt her stomach expand from the amount of food. Nevertheless, she was satisfied.
Now that she recalled, Noctus warned her to eat everything she put on her plate. Something about, "not a single bit of food is to be wasted". Finally, she finished her second plate and felt energized for the day ahead. Turning back to Noctus, he nodded in accordance and stepped towards her.

"Are you finished eating?" he asked.

"Uh-huh!" she smiled, patting her belly. "I sure am full. Real good food, ya know."

"You can thank Mistress Patience later," he muttered in reply, "Now come, pick up your plate and take it to the kitchen for cleaning. Meet me back out here and we will walk to the main training complex. I managed to reserve an early time slot for us. Quickly, go."

Willow nodded and scraped up whatever pieces of food were left and scarfed them down. She then magically lifted her plate , walking past several other Acolytes who finished eating and going to meet up with their Mentors. However, along the way, more than just a few of them spared curious glances at her, brows furrowed. With her augmented hearing, she could hear them snicker and gossip about how stupid she looks eating with a bunch of fillies and colts. Though some of the more rude remarks about her being an "old lady" angered her some, she did her best to ignore the snide comments and continued into the kitchen, where she saw a large trough filled with dirty dishes stacked sideways on a rack. The cooks paid her no mind as they worked at the stoves.

She then placed her dish on the rack and continued to walk out, but a harsh-sounding voice stopped her.

"Oi! You!" Willow turned to see Patience, the Quartermaster. She wore a white apron and a hairnet that kept her mane in place, which was tied up into a tight bun. On her face was her usual scowl, a toothpick still lodged in her mouth.

"Yes?" Willow asked in response.

"I 'ear ya started yer trainin’," she muttered, toying with her toothpick. "Good, that means I won't be wastin' good grub on yer arse. I got one rule: ya don't work, you don't eat at the end of the day. Simple as that. Ya hear?"

Willow said nothing as she acknowledged the older mare before exiting the kitchen. Upon entering the Dining Hall again, she noticed the room was emptier, other Acolytes walking past her into the kitchen with their plates.s The other Mentors gathered up their students and herded them out into the Main Hallway. She spotted Noctus standing near the exit and quickly followed. Trotting up next to him, he spared a glance at her before turning his gaze back down the hall.

"So, what are we doing today?" she asked.

"We're starting off your training, of course."

"With what exactly?" she asked again.

"You'll see."

Willow scrunched up her nose in frustration. "You still have a knack for not answering my questions."

He turned to glare at her sharply, causing her ears to fall as she shrunk under his gaze.

"I would advise you not to invoke my ire," he warned, "or else, you might find the consequences severe."

She narrowed her eyes in confusion before shaking her head, letting out a disheartened snort. "Fine," she muttered under her breath.

They took a turn down the to the left of the weathered cobblestone hallway. There, they came across the familiar sight of the lounges, where several Mentors along with their Acolytes sat, reading books and giving them small lessons and insights. Willow recognized the area when Azure had taken her on a tour of the Sanctuary. She noticed a large set of double doors. Behind those doors was the central training complex.

As for what they were going to be doing in there, she had not a clue.

Noctus pushed the door open with his head and motioned for Willow to step in. Inside was the familiar environment of weapon racks, dummies, and other training equipment. The floor in front of them was covered by what looked like a large, rectangular training mat that spanned across a large portion of the circular room. A loud thud echoed as Noctus closed the door behind them and appeared in front of Willow, an unreadable look on his face.

"Willow," he said, garnering her attention, "before we begin, I must ask something of you. Will you listen?" She nodded once. "Good. Now, if you are to become my student, I require this of you: you are to listen to and obey everything I tell you. Without question. Understood?"

"Yes," she answered, though slightly hesitant.

"Good," Noctus nodded curtly before moving towards the mat. "Now, come and sit here. Your lesson begins now." Willow complied and moved to the spot he told her and planted herself on the mat, noticing the cushioned texture. "Sit up straight and listen closely."

Willow straightened out her posture and listened intently, ears perked up.

"Tell me something," he said as he began pacing back and forth in front of her, his tail sweeping across the mat as he made gentle, yet firm strides. "What is a Hunter?"

Without taking too much time to think, Willow chewed on her cheek briefly before coming up with an answer.

"Somepony that... hunts?"

"Yes, but that is not the exact answer I was looking for."

"I..." she looked away from him. "I don't know what to say."

"Allow me to enlighten you then. Pay close attention." Willow stared at him as he paced with curious eyes. "Upon becoming a part of the Order, Hunters swear an oath to defend Equestria from the beasts that stalk the night and prey upon the weak. We hunt the very things that haunt your dreams and kill them with extreme prejudice."

He stopped to give her a hard stare. "A Hunter is a ruthless stalker of the night, a warrior who has no fear, mercy, or weakness!" Noctus circled around behind Willow, leaning over her.

"Before you can become one of us, before you are allowed to proudly bear our mark, before you are you are to prowl the night as a Hunter of the Order," he paused for a second, "you must forget everything you know. Forget all that you were in the past. Forget everything about your past life. Once you do that, you will become a shell of your former self."

He stepped in front of her again. "And, when that day comes, you will become filled with something even greater," he said, "but before that, you must learn this first lesson: what makes a Hunter?"

She stared at him blankly, mouth ajar.

"Answer!"

"I... I don't know!" she squeaked out, "W-Weapons?"

He offered her a small smile. "Correct, however, let me ask you this: you take away a Hunter’s weapons and armor,their guns and ammunition. What have you left them with?"

"T-Their hooves?" she asked.

"Precisely," he nodded, resuming his pacing, "their hooves. Look at yours for me." She looked down at her hooves, which had become chipped and scratched from the events that took place before. "What do they look like?"

"Uh, hooves?" she arched a brow at him.

"Wrong!" he snapped, causing her to flinch, "You mustn't look at them as if they were normal hooves." He walked over to one of the wooden training dummies and used his head to push it over to the center of the mat. "Get up," he ordered as he placed the wooden dummy in front of her.

She rose to her legs and stood up straight.

"Now, what I want you to do, is buck the dummy as hard as you can."

Willow didn't say a word as she nodded. Turning around, she leaned on her fore legs before shifting her weight through her body towards her back legs. Her rear hooves impacted the chest of the dummy and sent it flying less than about a five or six feet away. She turned around to see Noctus with a frown on his face. Although, she felt quite impressed with herself.

"You see, that is what ‘hooves’ can do," he grabbed the dummy with his mouth and stood it back up. "Stand back."

Willow moved back several feet as Noctus stood next to the dummy. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath right as he took a hard step towards the dummy. With a loud yell, he jumped and sharply twisted his body, delivering a swift one-legged buck straight to the midsection of the dummy. A loud crack echoed through the room as the dummy was split in half by the sheer force of Noctus' kick, falling to the ground in a splintered heap. Willow's jaw hit the floor as Noctus landed flat on his hooves, eyes widened in shock.

He turned to her, a hard look on his muzzle. "And that, is what you can do with hooves that have been turned into weapons." He walked up to her and stared deep into her eyes. "Any fool can pick up a sword and swing it about or pick up a pistol and fire it. A weapon is only as good as the one who wields it."

"You yourself must become a weapon," he continued, stepping towards her, "before you can even think about learning how to fight with weapons, you must first learn how to fight without them. And that is where we will begin."

Day 8

The Hunter Sanctuary

"Whoaaa! Oof!" Willow's breath escaped her as she hit the ground with considerable force. She clenched her eyes shut from the sharp pain that erupted from her back. Gasping, she turned over on her side, taking in as much air as she possibly could. "Damn... dammit..."

"You're never going to get the Kitai form down quickly if you don't follow the movements," Noctus stood above her, sweat dripping from his forehead as he looked down at her. "That's what this form is all about: anticipation and reaction."

"You... could take it... a little easier on me," Willow pleaded in between coughs, rising to her hooves again. She adjusted her sweaty, white training gi.

Noctus shook his head in disapproval. "The beasts will not take it easy on you, and neither shall I," he shifted into a fighting stance. "Again! And this time, pay close attention to my movements."

For the first week, Noctus showed no mercy on Willow in her martial arts training. During that time they spent hours on end in the training complex, working on what Noctus made known as Shuryo-hei, which he said was loosely translated as "Hunter Sparring". A practice that originated from a land in the Far East. The name made little to no sense to her, but she assumed it held some sort of symbolic significance to the Order.

Willow shook herself off, loosening up her muscles as she shifted into a stance that Noctus taught her. She offset her hooves, one standing behind the other, with her head dipped close to the ground. Her young Mentor did the same, though his stance projected practiced ease and confidence, while hers was inexperienced and meek.

"Are you ready?" he asked and she nodded sharply. "Very well. Begin!" Noctus rushed forward and whirled around on his front hooves, delivering a swift roundhouse kick towards her head.

Willow’s ruby eyes narrowed in concentration, as her sharp vision picked up on his wide, yet graceful movements. Almost on instinct, she ducked her head below his kick and moved in to counter with a push of her two front hooves, just like Noctus had taught her when they were practicing movements on the first day. However, he noticed this and dipped his hips low, sweeping his legs around quickly.

Willow's front hooves missed as the front half of her body soared over Noctus' head. He spun his rear hooves around in order to sweep Willow off hers. However, her body seemed to move on its own as she jumped up into the air, just high enough to avoid Noctus' blow.

She quickly twisted her body, impacting Noctus' left shoulder with her right hind leg.

"Augh!" Noctus groaned as the impact sent him away a few feet. They disengaged and circled the training mat. As they did, Noctus noticed a different look in his opponent's eyes: they bore no fear. He suddenly felt as if he was fighting another pony entirely.

Willow's hooves crossed the other as she circled Noctus, waiting for him to make a move. In the back of her mind, she felt slightly different. She felt more confident. Her blood felt like it was boiling. Her breathing was slow and steady despite her rapid heartbeat.

"You seem to have anticipation narrowed down, however slightly," Noctus smiled coyly at her. "But I wonder, how are your reactions?" With a sharp inhale, he yelled out as he suddenly charged towards Willow, raining down blows with all four of his limbs. Though she was still a beginner, Willow did her best to dodge every single one.

He shot forward with a left jab, and it impacted the left side of her face.

"Gah!" she cried out, stunned from the blow, but she had no time to recover. He followed up with another sharp jab with his other hoof, one that Willow was able to swat away with some difficulty. He wasn't giving up though, he came at her with another sweeping blow that grazed her as she jumped over it once again. She decided to charge forward and deliver a jab aimed at Noctus' muzzle, however, he saw it coming and dodged it, disappearing from Willow's vision as he went for her midsection.

He wrapped his hooves around her barrel and hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Oof!" she yelled out once again, rolling over onto her belly as more pained shot through her body. Noctus placed a hoof on her back and another just below her neck, using his superior earth pony strength to pin her down. The two of them panted heavily from the intense sparring session. Willow's cheeks flushed as she realized the position she was in.

"You know, another thing you should work on..." he took a deep breath, "Is... unpredictability. Otherwise... your opponent will know... what comes next."

"I'll... keep that in mind..." Willow's lungs burned as she struggled to catch her breath. He decided to let her go and offered a hoof to help her up. Suddenly, an unexpected idea popped into her head. With a faux grin, she grabbed Noctus' hoof with both of hers and shifted her weight violently in the opposite direction.

"Whooah!" Noctus yelled as his world turned upside down. Before he could roll over to his legs, Willow pounced on him, pinning him down to the floor by placing one hoof on his stomach and the other on his neck with great strength that even she didn't know she had.

"Looks like the tables have turned, my dear Mentor," she said in a voice that seemed two tones too far away from her own. This voice almost seemed different. As if she were another pony that oozed with confidence. Noctus stared into her fiery red eyes, which had suddenly taken on a predatory glimmer.

A large grin slithered its way across her muzzle.

"So, how was the finish, Master- ah, I mean Mentor? Are you... satisfied?" she said with a breathy tone that bordered on seductive, her muzzle inches away from his.

Despite the chill running down his spine, Noctus regained his composure.

"Willow, what are you- are you feeling alright?" he asked, struggling against this different mare's hold which, now that he noticed, was far stronger than his own.

"Of course I'm..." Willow then began to feel her heartbeat fall to a gentle rhythm. Her breathing had slowed. And then, reality came rushing back to her. The fire inside her eyes had faded, her grin disappearing quickly, and her herculean strength had gone away, just as quickly as it appeared.

She shook her head, eyes shut tight.

"Wha- what? Nocty? What happened to..." she blinked her eyes in confusion before realizing where she was standing and stepped off of Noctus, her cheeks as red as her eyes. "I... I don't... what's going on?"

"I can't be sure," he got up to his hooves, "all I can say, is that, was unexpected." He dusted off his black training gi and straightened himself out. "That's all for martial arts training today. Lesson is over." She didn't say anything back and nodded at her Mentor. The two stood a few paces away from each other and bowed politely, as was customary in Shuryo-hei.

"You are dismissed," he said quietly, almost under his breath, "go on and head back to your dormitory. You'll have the rest of the day off for yourself. Be sure to look over your study materials. You have a lecture tomorrow. Dinner will be ready in the Dining Hall shortly. And rest up. Understood?" Willow noticed that he was unable to look her in the eye.

"Yes," she replied. They gave each other one final parting bow and Willow exited the training room, leaving Noctus, who had plenty to reflect on, alone.

Hot steam billowed up from the hot rocks placed on top of a pedestal seated in the center of the sauna. The evaporated liquid floated around the bath house, dampening the coats of the few occupants. A few mares of differing solid colors stood around the female section of the bath house, the wooden boards beneath their hooves dark and damp from the hot steam. White, fluffy towels rested on their shoulders, some wrapped up in their manes. In front of the hot stones rested a large pool filled with boiling mineral water, heated to comfortable perfection.

In the pool rested Willow, her sore body relishing in the soothing warmth of the hot water. She laid her head against a towel on the edge of the pool, her fiery red mane wet from the steam. Eyes closed, she had sunk her shoulders below the pool water, allowing her body to gain some sort of relief from the strenuous exercises Noctus put her through. Dark bruises spotted her body, and were more focused along her back and shoulders. A large welt was being fostered by her left cheek, clashing with her beige coat.

Wincing, she gently caressed the purple lump. Noctus had delivered a particularly nasty strike to her face. What devastated her more is that he seem to bear no remorse for hurting her the way he did.

Then again, she thought, he does kill things for a living.

She scowled as she sunk deeper into the bath water, leaving only her nose and eyes above the surface. Dammit, this is the worst.

"Hey there, love," a bright and cheery voice greeted her from behind. Willow turned to see Powder Keg's apprentice, Azure Skies. "How's it going?" The young mare had just entered the bath house, a towel draped over her shoulder. It seemed she was intent on taking a dip after a long day.

"Fine, I guess," Willow replied, "Well, as fine as it can possibly be."

"From the looks of that big ol' shiner you have on your face," Azure placed a hand on her hoof to stifle a laugh. "Doesn't seem like Noctus is taking it easy on you, is he?" Willow opened her mouth to answer but Azure interrupted.

"Don't worry, Master Keg didn't exactly take things easy on me either when I was a filly," she smiled casually as she trotted over to the entrance of the bathing pool. "It can be hard in the beginning, it always is, but I think one of these days you'll get used to it."

Azure used her magic to toss her towel over to the edge of the pool and waded into the warm waters. Willow's ears perked up when she suddenly heard Azure utter a loud moan that almost echoed off the wooden walls of the bath house. The young mare felt her cheeks burn up as the Hunter mare sunk her head under the pool water and then rise back up, her mane now wet and stuck to her face.

"Ugh! I really needed that!" Azure chirped as she made her way over to one of the benches that sat underwater in the pool. "Just came back from a week-long hunt! Got myself a few beasties out there. Some quite nasty."

Willow felt herself become uneasy as Azure lounged closer to her than she was comfortable with. "Oh, didja really? That's, uh, really great, ya know?" she tittered nervously. The light blue mare wore a small smile, her violet eyes shimmering in the warm light cast from the lanterns that hung on the walls. Leaning an elbow on the edge of the pool, Azure sighed as she tilted her head back.

"You can't imagine how tight I am right now," she groaned, stretching her fore legs. "My whole body feels like an overstretched rubber band. I could definitely use some loosening up." The young Acolyte couldn't find words to say, only giving the other mare a shy smile and a nod. "So, what have you and Noctus been up to?"

It took her a few moments to regain control of her mouth. "Oh, uh, nothing too difficult I guess. He's just been teaching me a lot of fighting moves. He says I have to learn how to fight with my hooves first. Besides that, he's also been going over history and stuff about the Hunter Order..."

Willow prattled on about the training regimen Noctus had been putting her through, Azure listening, although she was fading in and out.

"...And like, he's been telling me all this stuff about the past and it's pretty interesting, but... I just lose track sometimes, ya know?"

"Yeah, yeah," Azure nodded, empathy evident in the young hunter's eyes. "I understand, love. It can get pretty difficult sometimes."

"Difficult doesn't even begin to describe it," Willow continued her rant, "I'm scared. All this stuff I have to look forward to. It's overwhelming."

Azure scooted closer and placed a hoof on Willow's shoulder. "Listen, Willow," she said, "I know I can't relate that well to what you're feeling." Willow frowned for a moment. “I do know you went through most of your life believing that nightmares were just that: only nightmares. Am I right?"

Willow nodded meekly.

"I thought so," Azure chuckled, leaning back onto the pool once again with a wry smile on her face. "That's the way it is for most mundanes. They see a few otherworldly beasts and suddenly nothing is the same again. It's kinda humorous, really." She laughed and placed her hooves behind her head, eyes closed as she allowed the warm bath waters to soothe her.

"How?" Willow asked incredulously. "How in the world is that funny?"

Azure peered over to the acolyte with one eye and a smirk on her muzzle. "When you've seen what I've seen, and done the things I've done, you'll understand."

She didn't answer back, but sat in the bath water silently. Willow thought hard about Azure was telling her. Though she couldn't relate very well to her situation, she at least showed some sympathy. That was something few ponies have shown her recently.

"Azure?" she asked, turning over to her peer.

"Just Azy will do," she sighed blissfully as she sank deeper into the pool.

"Okay, Azy?" she asked again.

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember anything about your past life?"

Azure opened an eye and peered at Willow. "What do you mean?"

The young mare balked as she tried to find the words to say what she meant. "It's just, ever since the operation, I've been forgetting certain things. Just, small details about when I used to live in Ponyville. I'm worried I'm going to forget everything, ya know?"

The hunter mare took a few moments to answer. She stared up at the ceiling, seemingly contemplating disclosing her own internal affairs. "Well," she began, "I guess... sometimes I am a bit curious about my past life. Y’know, who I was before Master Keg took me under his wing."

"He isn't a relative?" Willow asked.

"No," Azure shook her head, "he's only been my mentor, however, I do like to see him as a father. Although, I never addressed him as such. He made sure to drive the point home that he wasn't my father."

"Why would he do that?" Willow seemed aghast that Powder Keg would do such a thing to a young filly.

Azure merely giggled at her tone. "In the Order, the bond between a Mentor and his Acolyte is a sacred one. As a Mentor, they serve as their guide into the ways of the hunt, as well as teaching them the realities of the world. In a sense, the Mentor is a parental figure, however, they are still just teachers."

"So, Noctus is my teacher, then?" Willow queried.

"Yep! And you better listen to him well!" Azure laughed before she stood up in the bath water, her coat thoroughly soaked through. "Or else you'll end up dog food!" Willow gasped silently and swallowed hard upon hearing her remark.

She then walked towards the small staircase at the edge of the pool and got out of the water. "That's all for me, love. I'll be seeing you around." The hunter mare gave Willow a tiny wink before shaking the excess water off her coat.

Willow watched Azure dry herself off, not out of interest, but curiosity. Almost immediately, her eyes were drawn to the tiny, but noticeable scars that spotted her body. They were mostly centered on her forelegs and shoulders, though there were few near her rump and on her hind legs.

Dear Celestia, just what has she been through? she thought to herself as Azure's magic encased her towel, forcing it to move around her body and further dry her coat. However, she failed to realize that she'd been staring for far too long.

"See something you like, love?" Willow nearly flew out of the bath upon hearing Azure call her out. "If you want, I could go get us a private bath," Azure gave her a playful grin and wiggled her flank teasingly at Willow.

Her muzzle suddenly heated up by a thousand degrees. “Uh, nope!” she shook her head frantically, “I’m fine!”

The hunter mare flashed another casual smirk before before laughing it off, shaking her head as she walked out of the pool room to the dressing room. It took Willow a few moments to cool herself down in the warm bath water, which seemed to be a futile effort. She finished washing her mane, coat, and tail before rinsing off as quickly as she could.

Later that night, she arrived at her dorm room and immediately undressed, placing her garments on top of the wooden table in her room, ready for the next day’s challenges. Upon laying down on her soft four-poster bed, Willow fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow.

“Master Arion?” a male voice called out from the door to the Vice Councilor’s study/bedroom. The dark blue unicorn sighed as he took another sip of tea, his eyes illuminated by the flames burning within his fireplace. Turning over in his seat, he saw a Raven dressed in their usual black, feathery garb.

“What is it, Rime?” he asked drearily, “New developments hopefully?”

“Nothing as of yet, sire,” the stallion underneath the mask muttered in a low, rumbly tone. “Although, the new Heir seems to be making herself comfortable around here. I’ve heard the council voted to appoint Noctus as her teacher.”

He frowned as he turned back to stare into the fire. “Yes, indeed,” he floated his teacup back onto the saucer and exhaled heavily. “This complicates things. It appears that Zeron was as true to his word as I once thought.”

“It would seem so, sire,” the Raven agreed, nodding.

“Hmm, and here I was thinking that all the Heirs were killed long ago,” he chuckled ruefully, “it seems I was mistaken.”

“Sire, if I may make a suggestion?” Arion gestured for him to continue. “If you so desire, master, I could take care of the problem. She is defenseless. Weak. Her inherent powers are absent. With one-”

The old master held out a hoof to stop him. “No, that will not be necessary,” he said, “for now, I shall allow things to unfold. She may have the blood of an Heir, however, she is untested. For all we know, she may not even be deemed worthy to partake in the communion ritual.”

“And what if she proves herself worthy, sire?” the Raven asked with trepidation barely evident in his deep voice.

Arion shook his head slightly. “It matters not,” he said, waving a hoof dismissively, “everything is slowly falling into place. When the time is right, she will not be strong enough to stop what is to come.”

The Raven stepped forward cautiously. “Do you think Powder Keg is aware?” he asked curiously.

“Powder Keg has grown old, and with old age comes blindness,” he explained, “a sort of blindness that not only affects the eyes, but the mind as well. I assure you, he is clueless. And make sure it stays that way. Anything else to report?”

The Raven shook his head slowly. “No, sire,” he replied, “nothing else of interest.”

“Very well then, Rime,” he sighed, “remember, you are my eyes and ears. Keep yourself vigilant.” The Raven nodded. “Good, you are dismissed.” Without another word, the masked pegasus turned and left the room, the wooden door closing softly. Arion turned back to the fire, lounging back into his leather, cushioned armchair and smiled to no pony in particular.

Taking out a small pocket watch, he popped it open to check the time. Chuckling, he closed it and placed the watch back into his robes. He then looked over to a picture frame. One that has been weathered with age, the gold now faded into a tinny, brownish color. The black and white picture was of a unicorn mare with a neutral expression, one that could equal Minela. He picked up the picture frame and flipped it over, unscrewing the bolts that held the back lid in place. Two pictures fell out. The other behind the picture of the unicorn mare.

His smile slowly grew into a wide, maniacal grin as he picked up the picture to gaze at it.

“My dear lady, the time is almost upon us,” he whispered to the picture as if it was real. His eyes were suddenly red, and not from the fire, but from something else entirely. The shadows of the flames danced across his face, his lips rising slightly to reveal a sharp pair of incisors.

“The night has just begun.”

Day 22

The Hunter Sanctuary

“Even in death, the blood still imbibes us. It gives us no solace. We all end up in the Dream. Wandering aimlessly as we hunt and kill to our heart’s content without care for consequences. In other words: once a Hunter, always a Hunter. Dying isn’t an excuse for retirement.”
- Jaded Sun, 3E 645

Chapter 5, Page 231 of the Hunter’s Guidebook

Willow sighed in frustration, fidgeting in the spot she laid upon on her bed, several books before her open to pages she needed to review. The bun that held her hair together had become undone slightly, locks of her mane hanging loosely down her neck.

“Let’s see, Father Holy Cross went on an expedition to find a mythic Darkbeast in the year of 189 in the First Era, a hunt that went horribly wrong according to…” she craned her neck over to a different text, which detailed the events of that fateful hunt. “‘Darkbeasts: Myths or Legend?’. Let’s see… Cross lost most of his hunting party in an effort to take down the beast, members of the hunting party were all initiates of the Healing Church, some of whom were high-ranking members of the Choir…” Willow muttered to herself as she studied like a mad mare for a test that Noctus was supposed to be giving her a few days from now. If she failed, then that meant he would make her do extra hours of physical conditioning.

Willow’s ears twitched as she heard a particularly heavy sound of hoof beats coming towards her room. The rhythm was deliberate and quick, it was one that she could recognize. She lifted her head from the pile of books she sat next to and stared at the door, waiting for him to knock.

Two subtle, yet noticeable knocks came from her door. “Willow?” Noctus’ voice called, “are you decent?”

“Yes,” Willow was slightly confused at the question. The wooden door opened and in walked Noctus dressed in his usual uniform. However, he carried what looked like a large piece of black cloth, neatly folded as it rested atop his back. “What is it, Noctus?”

He bore a solemn, nearly somber expression as he approached her bed. “There is something I must show you,” he said, “however, you will need to wear this.” Noctus reached back and bit down on the piece of cloth, letting it unfold; it rolled down to the ground and was revealed to be a sort of cloak with a hood connected by a silver brooch marked with the Order’s insignia.

“What is that for?” Willow asked, reaching out with a curious hoof to feel the thin silk cloak.

Noctus tossed it towards her and it landed softly on the bed in front of her, and she glanced between him and the cloak with a confused look. “Please, put it on and wait for me outside your room. You have five minutes.” He didn’t say another word as he quickly trotted out of the room and closed the door with a click.

Willow stared at the black cloak, thinking about what exactly this could be for. The jet black color made her feel as though this entailed something saddening or perhaps even depressing. She thought back on how she felt upon arriving here in the Sanctuary, believing her guess would not be too far off. Pushing the books towards the center of her bed, she rolled up her parchment and closed her inkwell, tossing the quill off to the side. She did not bother putting the books away on the shelf. Given the amount of time Noctus gave her, cleaning was the last thing on her mind.

Putting on her uniform and fixing up her mane took less than a couple of minutes; the cloak was tailored to her size and she splayed out the whole thing with her magic and put it on display, inspecting its finer details. To her eyes, there wasn’t anything too special about it. There could have been some sort of deeper meaning to this cloak, but she would think on that later.

“There,” she sighed, sticking her head through the collar, the hood falling down her back. Inspecting herself further with the mirror next to her bed, she saw that it covered up her shoulders completely and some of her chest and upper fore legs, but completely concealed her hind legs and cutie mark; the fibers of the edge of her tail stuck out from under the hem. With that, she made sure she did not look too hideous and turned towards the door, where she expected Noctus to be waiting. Much to her expectations, there he stood in the hallway, several other hunters walking by, all of them, including Noctus, wearing the same black cloak she was. Noctus stood with his usual neutral expression, his eyes partially concealed by the hood.

“You took longer than I asked,” he reprimanded sternly, “nevertheless, we must get going. Come. We’ll speak on the way.”

Willow nodded, and followed him out into the main hallway. Upon arriving there, she saw that the hallway itself was crowded with other hunters, all of them standing along the wall. There seemed to be a larger number of them. Perhaps some had come back from hunting?

“What’s going on?” she quietly asked Noctus as they walked up to the line, a couple of hunters in front of them glancing back and silently stepping aside, allowing the two of them to stand in line with everyone else. “Nocty?”

“This is something I need you to see,” he whispered to her, “for every young Acolyte, coming to terms with death and the inevitability of it is a difficult thing to do. Watch.” Off in the distance, Willow could hear the beating of hooves coming down the hallway; the gentle thumping of a drum echoed in her ears, a solemn, yet eerie chanting could be heard, growing louder and louder as something drew nearer. Willow grew nervous not knowing what exactly was going on. Curiosity got the better of her as she slightly poked her head out from the line to see who or what was approaching.

However, she flinched when Noctus roughly nudged her side and whispered into her ear.

“Stand up straight. You must remain silent. Show some respect.” Willow didn’t protest as she reverted to her original position, but took a light step forward, relying on her peripheral vision to see. The sounds drew closer. From here, she could make out what the chant was saying.

Finita est die, in noctis venit

The tone was unsettling and eerie, yet it possessed a haunting and beautiful sadness; the chant echoed within her mind as she pondered exactly what those words meant.

Salva animam, decidant in aeternam quietem.

Soon, she heard the heavy fall of hoofbeats come ever closer to where she stood along with the rest of the hunters that lined the hallway. Willow moved her gaze to the far right and spotted a slow moving procession. The ponies before all seemed to be bowing their head slightly as it moved forward, their mouths moving as they whispered an inaudible phrase. The procession was lead by two hunters, the pair dressed in white hooded robes, their faces covered by a cloth mask. In back of them was a fairly-sized coffin, a banner draped over the top of it; the Order’s symbol emblazoned on it. And in the back of the procession were two more white robed, masked hunters, unicorns by the look it since they carried lit torches that were encased by distinct magical auras. Bringing up the rear was the choir made up of mostly earth ponies that were singing the haunting songs.

Manet consopiri sempiterno A deep voiced part of the choir sang out, their rumbling voices reverberating through the hall.

Sed et lenire anima somnium The higher pitched section of the choir responded. In the background were backup singers who carried somber tones, both high and low octaves. The deeper chorus possessed a strong tone, almost as if they were narrating the story of how this unfortunate hunter met their end, of how their honor, strength, and valor all led to their glorious death in battle, that their end bore some modicum of purpose.

But the higher voice spoke of the tragedy. They spoke of the devastation, the heartbreak, the grief, and the sorrow felt after their passing. The chorus and the lead singers repeated the phrases several times as they inched close and closer to where Willow stood. A tear threatened to leak from one of her eyes as she listened to the hauntingly beautiful singing.

“Willow,” Noctus whispered to her softly, “when the procession passes, you will say ‘tum somnum, venandi, understand? It is a must.”

She wanted to ask what it meant, but the question died in her throat as the procession neared and Noctus, who stood next to her, bowed his head and whispered the phrase.

“T-tum somnum, venandi,,” Willow bowed her head briefly, disappointed in herself for butchering the pronunciation. However, she figured that Noctus would probably teach it to her later in their language lessons. After what felt like an eternity of standing in the hall, all the hunters that lined the walls began filing down the passage in the direction that the caravan left.

Her legs had become stiff from standing for so long, but she shook it off when Noctus ushered her along with the others. They walked for a little while, taking a few turns in the castle halls, until she saw a rather large open doorway with big iron gates, two Ravens standing guard on the sides of it and two torches hanging on the wall behind them. All the hunters began exiting through the large doorway, and as she drew nearer, she felt a cool breeze graze her coat. On the wind she could feel a sort of dampness against her hide. Upon closer inspection, she could see that it was raining. However, the rain wasn’t a downpour, but a gentle drizzle. Lighter than teardrops.

“Nocty, it’s raining,” she said to him under her breath, staring curiously up at the sky as they walked.

“I know, this rain is called Tears of the Mother,” he answered quietly, “it only ever happens during an occasion such as this.”

“How can that happen?” Willow asked in amazement.

He turned his hard gaze over to her. “Willow, this Sanctuary is much more than just a castle.”

His cryptic answer lingered in her mind as the two of them walked out of the castle and out onto what looked like a courtyard. She remembered in her lessons that this dimension in which the castle rested reflected upon their own emotions. It bewildered her to no end.

Willow’s crimson eyes widened, marveling at the pleasantness of the scene before her. The entire yard was inundated with white flowers that seemed to shimmer from the cool rain water that fell from the heavens. Up in the sky hung dark gray clouds that concealed a luminous moon; its light shining down upon them. She could see them all walking towards an area enclosed by an iron bar fence. Every one of them passed through the gate silently. Off in the distance she could still hear the choir singing.

She also relished in the feeling of the cold air. It had been some time since she’d been outside. Initially, she was perplexed to see that it was always night at the Sanctuary, and the castle itself surrounded by a forest that stretched for miles. Noctus then explained to her that it was simply an illusion, and the ones who created this dimension made everything according to design, a design with an unknown purpose lost to time.

Eventually, they arrived at a graveyard. Countless tombstones lined the path as they approached the deceased’s burial site. The hunters in attendance all began lining up in columns. No matter the occasion, Willow was amazed by the organization and uniformity of the Hunter Order. She took her place a few rows away from the front, where the choir and the procession leaders stood next to the coffin, waiting for everyone to get settled. A singular aisle was open in the middle, and Willow looked back to see several other hooded individuals approaching. The wheelchair being pushed by none other than Azure was a dead giveaway.

The Council took their spots at the front, the rain gently cascading down from the sky. Willow’s face was damp from the rain, but the cloak succeeded in keeping the rest of her coat dry. All of a sudden, the choir’s song was finished. Total silence shrouded the graveyard, only the soft pattering of the rain could be heard.

Powder Keg was wheeled to the center of the aisle, where Azure stood silently next to him, an uncharacteristically sorrowful frown adorned her expression. Her horn ignited as she closed her eyes, pointing the tip towards her master’s mouth. The elder hunter pulled back his hood to reveal his scarred face and graying, combed mane and beard.

“My fellow hunters,” he began, voice amplified just so that his voice could be heard over the rain by Azure’s spell. “We gather here on this night to commemorate the passing of one of our own.” He paused a moment to allow his words to linger. “For centuries, the Order has faced many hardships. The names of the brave, valiant, and courageous who ventured into the long dark and did not return are forever interred here in this hallowed ground. But they are more than just names on stone.”

He took a moment’s pause. “They are treasured memories. Brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice to allow Equestria to see the light of day once more.”

“On this night, ponies sleep tightly in their beds, while we stand ever vigilant. Ready, willing, and able to fight for them, and even give our lives if need be.”

Willow looked around to the others, able to catch a few glimpses of their faces; underneath the cloaks, she could see tears rolling down their cheeks. Though that could just be the rain.

“In the end, death comes for us all,” Powder Keg continued, “it is a fate that none of us can avoid. But it is what we do in our life is what matters the most. Hunter Cut Up was one of the bravest fighters that I have ever met. However, his death was not in vain. His efforts yielded to us a successful endeavor. And because of that, he will be able to join our fallen brothers and sisters in the Hunter’s Dream. Where he may hunt, fight, and feast until Mother Artemis calls him home.”

“Noctus,” Willow said quietly, “who was this pony?”

“Cut Up was part of the Wolves of Artemis,” he explained, leaning in closer to her, “I knew him. He was a good stallion and a hell of a hunter. I don’t know how he died, but what he did must have been important. Or else they would have just placed him in the Hall of the Fallen.”

“And why didn’t they?” she asked. She knew that all hunters who fell in battle were interred at the Hall of the Fallen, which was their crypt. From what Noctus told her, the crypt itself was massive. However, this graveyard. Just by standing here, she could feel this place held more than just sentimental value.

“Because,” he replied, turning his head to stare at her, “this place is where only the bravest and fiercest of hunters are buried. It is an honor and a privilege to be placed here when you die.”

She arched a brow in confusion. “What do you have to do to be buried here?”

“You will learn that soon enough, now listen,” he shushed, gesturing towards the front.

Willow nodded in understanding. Powder Keg had seemed to finish his speech as they were speaking.

“Now, we shall proceed with the burial,” he said. He paused a moment before letting out a war cry. “Et finivit venari”

“Et nunc ille requiem,” The hunters responded. With that, the other hunters dressed in white robes, which were now soaked, grabbed the banner that rested atop the coffin, and began folding it carefully into a neat rectangle. Meanwhile, the choir started up another song, this one bearing a similar tone of sorrow to the song they sang before.

“What did they all say?” Willow asked.

“‘His hunt has ended and now he will rest’,” the young hunter replied, “this phrase is said at the end of every funeral. Remember that.” She nodded. “I’d like to know something, Willow.”

“What?”

“What did you feel from seeing this?” he asked.

“I… I guess sorrow, sadness,” she answered quietly, “I didn’t really know Cut Up, but I- I just can’t help but feel… sad. This graveyard is beautiful, but it’s a different kind of beauty. I can’t explain it.”

Noctus nodded slowly, eyes locked on hers. “Remember this feeling, Willow,” he said, “it is important for you to realize this: no pony lives forever. Even the best of us.” When he said that, the ponies up front began filing towards the coffin, placing a hoof on it to pay their respects. Each column soon followed after that.

“Remember, be respectful,” Noctus whispered to her as she approached the coffin. It was a dark brown color, almost like chestnut or cedar. The cloaked pony before her had taken some time, kneeling down in front of the coffin and whispering some unknown prayer. They finished, rising up from the ground and gently placing their hoof on the coffin before proceeding. Now it was Willow’s turn.

As she approached, she could feel the eyes of the white-robed hunters watching her every move as well as those of the High Council. She felt as if they were probably scrutinizing her silently. Nevertheless, she mimed the motions of the other hunters and tapped her hoof against the coffin. For a moment she lingered, staring at the casket. It was wet from the rain and cold to the touch. Sadness crept into her breast. It swelled like a bruise. A tear escaped her as she stared at it; she could see her reflection in the shiny wood staring right back.

Finally, she left. She left and followed the line of hunters back into the Sanctuary. Very few words were exchanged between the two of them as they made their back to the dormitory section of the castle. Noctus could see it in her fiery eyes that what she saw in the graveyard had affected her in some way. Beneath this was a lesson. One that he hoped she would never forget.

That night, as she lay in bed, Willow had trouble falling asleep. She thought about what Noctus had told her. Before, the very notion of death terrified her. Of course, it was the juvenile fear of death, the fear of not achieving life goals or making dreams become reality. Now that she had already come close to death’s cold, yet comforting embrace, she didn’t feel as scared as she was before.

With her new powers, perhaps she would be able to do more. Maybe even make something of herself like she always wanted. This was her chance. The chance she’d been hoping for all her life. Those thought lingered in her mind as she closed her eyes in an effort to sleep. She slowed her breathing as she pulled the sheets tighter around her body. And soon enough, sleep finally took her. The flame from the fireplace cast a gentle orange glow over her bedchamber, crackling softly in the night as Willow dreamed.

“This was most unfortunate,” Powder Keg grumbled, brow furrowed, smoke seeping out from his lips as he spoke. “Cut Up did not need to die. He shouldn’t have died. How did it come to this?”

Arion, Minela, and Zeron stood before him, uncertain expressions on their muzzles. The leader of the Ravens leaned against the wall adjacent to the cobblestone fireplace in his study, staring into the fire as he reflected. The two other councilors were seated in chairs that rested in front of Powder Keg’s oakwood desk. His wheelchair creaked as he extinguished the flame in his pipe before setting it down on an ashtray next to him. The air in the study reeked of tobacco smoke and his desk was littered with bits of ash.

“At the very least we can say that his mission was successful,” Arion said, a rueful smile on his muzzle. “Hunting down a Cleric beast after it had claimed the lives of three others before him is quite an accomplishment.”

“Indeed it is,” Minela concurred, nodding, “this can also be considered, however, a pyrrhic victory. Cut Up’s entire hunting party was slain in the process. However, the circumstances of their deaths seem fairly curious.”

“That’s right,” Zeron chimed in, turning towards them, “when they didn’t report back, I dispatched a platoon to their last known location. They were found less than a few miles away from the scene of the battle.”

Arion scratched his chin curiously. “Hmm, most questionable, indeed,” he wondered, “were there any indications of what killed them?”

“From an examination by Bones, he told me that their wounds indicated an attack by a Greater Beast,” he explained.

The older mare scoffed and shook her head. “How does a pack of Wolves get taken down by a mere Greater Beast?” Minela asked suspiciously, eyes narrowing as she stared hard.

“And Cut Up was no amateur,” Powder Keg added, “far from it. I’ve seen the boy take down beasts of that stature for fun. Nor was he a fool. He knew how to choose his battles.”

The Vice Councilor gave his superior a shrug. “Accidents do happen, master,” he said, “perhaps he could have chosen the wrong battle this time. I’ve seen even the most cocksure of hunters fall prey to their own egos.”

“His ‘ego’ was not as big as you think, Arion,” Minela scolded harshly, “he was neither arrogant or foolish. His skills were on par with even the deadliest of hunters throughout our history.”

Powder Keg leaned back into his chair, pooling his thoughts together as the two councilors in front of him spoke.

“Yes, but we cannot leave out the possibility that his death was a tragic accident,” Arion warned.

“Precisely, it is a ‘possibility’, not a credible fact,” Minela argued, “furthermore, who or whatever killed him had the strength to face down not only Cut Up, but three of his cohorts, all of them being just as skilled as he was. If there was indeed an accident, then somepony must have been left alive. Zeron?”

The old stallion peered at her from the fireplace.

“What was found at the scene of his death?”

“Blood, for one thing,” he began, “lots of it and some of the blood on their bodies wasn’t theirs. The cadavers were riddled with claw and teeth marks. They died fighting something horrific.”

“Yes, but what exactly?” Powder Keg asked. “What could have been so deadly that it was able to kill one of our strongest hunters? Was there a carcass of their foe?”

Zeron shook his head. “No, whatever killed them got away,” he reported with a grim expression. “My Ravens scoured the surrounding area for days. Nothing found.” Minela scoffed audibly, causing the stallion to glare at her. “Something on your mind, Minela?”

“Your birds seemed to have lost their touch,” she remarked, frowning deeply, “otherwise they would have found something by now.”

He seemed to take major offense as he let out a snort and took an aggressive step towards her. “Well if it wasn’t for your incompetent Wolves, then perhaps we would not be in this situation, would we?”

“Indeed, or maybe we should allow the new Heir to go out there herself and have a look?” she chided, a half smile on her muzzle, “she would more than likely give more effort than your little chickens do.”

“Alright, listen here you-”

“Enough,” Powder Keg interrupted, holding up a hoof, “there will be no more of this. Zeron, I would like for you and your Ravens to look deeper into this and see if there is anything more you can find about this mysterious deadly beast. Understood?” The stallion nodded with pursed lips. “Good, you’re dismissed.” Zeron didn’t say a word as he exited the study.

When the door closed, Arion gave Powder Keg a questioning look.

“And what would you have us do, master?” Arion asked curiously.

“For the moment, nothing more than what you already do,” he said, “keep to your duties. Our primary objective is to get through this night. I won’t allow Cut Up’s death to be in vain.”

Arion gave his fellow hunter a smile and nodded. “Of course, master,” he said, rising up from his seat, “I will see myself out. There are some things that I must attend to. Master Keg. Minela.” He bowed his head at the both of them. His horn lit up as he was about to magic open the door.

“Oh, and Arion?” Powder Keg stopped him before he could. The Vice Councilor peered over his shoulder to the elder stallion, brow arched in curiosity.

“Keep an eye on Zeron for me, if you will,” he requested, “he has been acting strangely as of late. I’d like for you to keep tabs on his behavior for me, since you seem to get along with him the best out of all of us.”

He grinned at his superior and nodded curtly. “Of course, master,” he replied politely, “as you wish.”

With that, he resumed exiting the study and closed the door behind him with a thud. As he did so, his demeanor changed entirely. His casual grin morphed into the equivalent of a snarl as he marched down the stone corridor. As he approached a corner, he could see a shadow just on the other side.

Stopping just before the turn, he let out an exasperated sigh and hung his head, eyes closed.

“Don’t tell me,” he groaned, “you’re upset aren’t you?”

Zeron appeared in front of him, his signature scowl wrinkling his muzzle. “You’re damn right I’m upset,” he growled, “What in the blazes were you thinking?” Arion stared at him with a bored expression, however a small smile began forming on his lips.

“I only did what I thought was necessary,” he casually shrugged his shoulders, “he was getting close. Much too close for comfort. I couldn’t allow him to foil the plan. Therefore, preventive measures had to be taken.”

“Preventive measures?!” Zeron snarled as he grabbed Arion by the collar of his robes and shoved him up against the wall, forcing the latter to stand on his hind legs. Though, his expression changed little, his eyes only widening slightly.

“Cut Up is dead!” he hissed. “We’ve already raised the suspicion of not only the council, but others as well! Too many ponies have begun asking questions! How long can we keep this up?!” Zeron’s bright eyes stared into Arion’s maroon orbs, begging for some sort of answer.

“As long as you and the Ravens keep things quiet,” Arion answered casually, though he was struggling under Zeron’s stone grip. A strained grin formed on his muzzle. “We’ll be able to go through with this.”

The stallion seemed undeterred as he tightened his hold on his cohort. “And the girl! What are we going to do with her?!” Zeron asked desperately. Suddenly, a manic grin formed on Arion’s muzzle, his teeth showing.

“When the time comes, she will be dealt with,” he assured, his eyes widening as well as his grin.

“And what of Sanguinaire?!” he asked desperately, “Already she’s begun asking me questions and I can only deceive her for so long before she is able to catch on!”

Arion’s mad grin widened. “Oh, then if she gets any closer than Cut Up did, perhaps I’ll have her disposed of as well- ackch!” The unicorn stallion choked on his words as Zeron pressed a hoof against his throat, the former’s snarl deepening.

“If you touch her,” he growled, eyes widening in fury, “I’ll slit your throat!”
“O-Oh?” Arion choked out. “Making- argh, threats now… are w-we?” Zeron lessened the pressure on his throat and allowed him to speak. “I d-don’t believe you’re in any position to make threats to me Zeron. Remember this, the Ravens may follow your orders, but those orders come from me. Therefore, they follow my orders. They all swore fealty to their superiors, and in this case, I am their superior.”

The older pegasus let go of Arion and allowed him to stand on all fours.

“Remember that next time you try to threaten me,” Arion warned, the grin from before appearing for a brief moment. “Now, either you continue to follow my orders to the letter, or I can have your own birds kill everypony you ever cared about. Understood?”

Holding back a retort, Zeron had no choice but to comply. “Yes,” he answered, nodding.

“Good,” Arion chuckled as he resumed his stroll down the corridor.

“What would you have me do for now?” Zeron asked grudgingly.

“For now,” Arion let out a sinister laugh, “for now, simply keep an eye on things for me, will you?” The stallion’s laughter echoed in the stony corridor as Zeron was left standing there, a thoughtful frown on his face.

I hope we’re doing the right thing…

Day 33

The Hunter Sanctuary

“We can be dreams, but we may also become nightmares if we wish. To master the art of fear, is to master our enemy. Of course, to them, we are their neverending nightmare. I don’t know if they can feel fear, but we will teach them to.”

- Caron Grimtalon, 1E 96

Chapter 2, Page 134 of the Hunter’s Guidebook

“What we're doing today is fairly simple,” Noctus explained as they approached a dim section of the castle. “Although, it is no less challenging than any other task I've given you so far.”

Willow frowned as she let out a scoff. “Really?” she asked, “so this isn't as difficult as making me spar against three ponies while blindfolded? Or making me write a meter’s worth of parchment on the accomplishments of some obscure character from the Order's history?”

The young mentor stopped in his tracks, peering at Willow who had gained a questioning stare.

“What?” she queried. Without giving her an audible answer, Noctus felt the need to express to her how much she has changed. From the past few weeks that she has been here, slowly her attitude and even her vocabulary has begun to change. Even her disposition. Already she has begun to shed her usual meek and mostly reserved personality, though her newfound persona leaves a little more to be desired.

He had failed to notice how snappy she'd been lately, but now was the first time he truly paid attention to it.

“Nevermind, follow me,” Noctus shook as his head as they continued down a dark corridor of the castle. The torches possessed weak fires that helped little to provide light, but only enough to see clearly. They took another turn into a hallway, where at the end of it rested a door. Two small candles sat upon alcoves on either side of the arched cobblestone doorway.

“As I was saying,” he said as they stopped in front of the door, “today's lesson will be simple, but no less easy. I've trained you in strengthening the body with physical exercise and preparing your mind with rigorous study. However, your spirit remains to be tested.”

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, mouth hanging open slightly. “Okay, so, what will we be doing then?”

“That will be up to Mistress Elani,” Noctus replied just as he nudged open the door with his head. He gestured for her to walk in. She felt a sense of unease in the chamber she entered. It was dark, save for a small circle of what appeared to be candles in the center. However, it was the chamber’s sole occupant that caught her attention.

“What in the…” Willow gasped as she saw what looked like a striped pony, only until she realized she was looking at a zebra. Though it was the position that this mare was in that shocked her the most. The zebra, whom she assumed to be Mistress Elani, was suspended several feet in the air balancing herself on a wooden staff; she held out her other limbs for balance while one of her forelegs held on to her staff. Upon closer inspection, Willow realized that her pupils were milky white. At first glance, she appeared to be blind.

The young mare shot Noctus a peculiar look and he cleared his throat loudly.

“Mistress Elani?” he asked cautiously. The zebra mare’s ears twitched as Noctus spoke. She blinked her eyes once, causing the white hue in her pupils to disappear completely; they were replaced by two aqua blue orbs. Her mane hung down loosely as she kept herself balanced in the air by the edge of the staff.

“Hmm, Noctus, yes?” she spoke in a deep, velvety accent as she hung upside down. Her mouth curled into a casual smile. “I’ve been expecting you.”

The mare let out a throaty chuckle and slowly, yet gracefully lowered herself down to the ground; her hooves daintily touched the ground and got back on all fours. Her black and white mane was swept to the left side of her head and cascaded down over her ear. The mare radiated a feeling of empathy and gentleness. One that Willow hadn’t felt in a long time. It almost felt motherly.

Willow stood silently as the zebra mare approached them, scanning over the small details of her body. Elani was thin, yet it was vividly clear that she was in a good state of physical fitness. Her lithe form enumerated strength, guile, and flexibility. On her flank was a runic tribal marking, one that she wasn’t very familiar with.

She blinked her oceanic eyes at them curiously. “And I presume that this young one is Willow?” Elani questioned Noctus with raised eyebrows.

“Yes, indeed, mistress,” Noctus answered, nodding, “I was hoping you could assist me with a certain lesson.”

The older mare’s smile widened slightly. “Of course,” she said, “before we continue, allow me to introduce myself.” Elani turned towards Noctus and bowed, pressing a hoof across her chest. “My name is Elani. I serve as the spiritual healer for the Order.”

Willow reciprocated the same gesture, just as Noctus had taught her in their earliest lessons.

“It’s good to meet you,” she replied politely, “my name is Willow. I’m an Acolyte of the Order.”

“Indeed, that is very easy to see,” the mare giggled, “by the look of that braid, into a true hunter you will be made.” Willow, thrown off by the sudden rhyme, offered the mare a polite grin.

“So, you’re the spiritual healer for the Order?” she asked, “what does that involve?” Elani offered no answer. Instead, she walked towards the far left side of the room, where a sort of dresser with various shelves rested in wait.

Quietly, she began sifting through the drawers in search of something. “In the motherlands of Zebrica, I was the inyanga for my tribe, but in your tongue, it means herbalist, or healer,” she said, pulling out a white, marble mortar with a wooden pestle. Reaching into another drawer, she pulled out a jar of what Willow assumed to be herbs of some sort. “It is a position that is passed down through generations. My mother trained me, and hers before as well. During a hunt, I am called from the motherlands to do my sworn duty to the Order.”

Pouring out a smidge of the herbs into the mortar, she closed the glass jar and placed it into its respective shelf.

“Hunters of the Order are often subject to a certain degree of madness,” she continued her spiel as she ground up the herbal mixture, pouring water into the bowl from a nearby flask. “Centuries ago, a Huntress came to my village. And she sought out a way to help cure or stifle this madness.” She gently placed down her tools and turned around to face Willow.

“Since then, the priestesses of my tribe have been training generations of Hunters,” she went back to mixing, pulling out a vial of Goddesses know what and poured it in. Willows ears twitched when she could hear bubbling. “We train them to resist the madness that builds within as they hunt. A sort of madness that stems from bloodlust and the influence of the Blood Moon. Through herbal treatments, they learn to become one with fear and control their emotions.”

Willow remembered reading about this in her studies. Hunters can resist the Blood Moon, but they are not immune to its maddening rays of light. The beast blood that runs through their veins can hasten that process. When that happens, they become more beast than equine.

“A hunter can only withstand the madness for so long.” Elani seemed to be finished with what she was doing as she put down her tools and faced the two of them- with a bowl of steaming hot- whatever it was on her back- and began trotting over to them. “They come to me whenever they return from a hunt. My herbal remedies help them calm their nerves and maintain their mental homeostasis.”

Willow eyed the mysterious mixture before her curiously, taking a cautious step back as Elani drew close to them. “And, what is exactly is that?” Willow queried, “just what kind of lesson do you have in store for me?”

“Before I may answer that, I’ll be needing you to come here,” the zebra mare held the sizzling cup in her hoof as she motioned with her head towards the circle of candles. “Sit there, please. And relax your body.” The young Acolyte did as she was told and sat down directly in the center, where Elani stood a few inches away from her muzzle, holding the steaming mixture.

“Remember to calm yourself. Mind and body. Shut your eyes, clear your head, and hear nothing, but my voice.”

Not realizing it beforehand, Willow lowered her tense shoulders, taking a deep breath and letting it out as she closed her eyes, ears perked as she listened to Elani’s smooth voice.

“Now, breathe. Deeply.” Willow felt a gentle warmth graze against her nose, assuming that it was the mixture of herbs she had prepared for her. Its unknown purpose and function invoked worry within her mind, but decided to push it aside for now as she had done many times since she’s started her training.

Without a single utterance, Willow inhaled through her nostrils, allowing the oddly sweet-scented aroma into her lungs.

“Again,” Elani ordered, “exhale through your mouth.” Willow breathed in again, opening her mouth slightly as she allowed the air to escape past her lips. “Once more.” She repeated the process. Though, as she inhaled the herbal mix for the third time, she began to feel strange. Her head began to feel as though it was vibrating; she felt as if her body wasn’t there, but simply her spirit. As if she was disembodied and became nothing but a breath in the wind.

“Remember, listen to my voice,” Willow found it hard to focus now that she felt completely disoriented. Even with closed eyes, she began see what she perceived to be stars. The medicine mare’s voice drifted in her head like a stray cloud. Everything had become so distorted. Reality seemed to split at the seams. Rippling and churning like an ocean. A pounding beat echoed in what she felt was her chest. A heartbeat. Was she beginning to panic?

What in Celestia’s name is going on? she almost gasped when she could practically hear her thoughts as if she was talking out loud.

“Focus, young one,” Elani’s voice called out through the void Willow suddenly found herself in. “Use my voice as a focal point. Keep your thoughts under control.” Try as she might, Willow slowly began to panic.

“I can’t, s-something’s wrong…” her voice echoed, “I feel so… strange.”

“You must move past that, and focus your mind, now,” she warned, “can you do that for me?”

“I’ll try,” she replied, unsure.

“There is no ‘try’, young one,” Elani chuckled, “you will focus. Or else you shall become prey to your own madness. Calm yourself.”

“How?” Willow asked, staring at the stars in her vision.

“Only through sheer will can this be conquered,” Elani began, “or else, by your deepest fears will you be murdered.”

Willow gave no reply as she felt her disembodied form take in a breath, using Elani’s voice as the center of her attention. As she did so, she began thinking of things that could comfort her. A slice of delicious cake. Chatting with friends on a Sunday afternoon. Or even a stroll through the park during the evening time.

She suddenly felt herself become calm and collected, if only slightly. “Okay, I’m calm.”

Elani let out a faint giggle. “I feel there is hope for you, yet,” she said, but Willow couldn’t shake the feeling of an incoming rhyme. “However, fear is not an easy feeling to forget.” Her cool rhythmic manner of speaking calmed Willow down just a little more. “Time for the next phase. First, I would like for you to think of a memory.”

“What kind of memory?” she asked, fearing the answer.

“Particularly, one that incited great fear and agony,” Elani said sternly, “you may or may not remember, but simply think, and you will pull it together.”

Almost instantaneously, Willow began thinking of one memory that perfectly fit the bill. Without even thinking about it, she began thinking of all the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that she felt on that night. She said nothing as a clear picture was painted in her head.

The forest. The Blood Moon’s rays peeking through the leaves. And especially the horrid monstrosity that stood before her in all its hideousness.

“Tell me,” Elani demanded, “What do you see?” Upon hearing those words, everything in her vision twisted and contorted, the bright beautiful stars fading from existence. Light bent all around her, until suddenly it turned dark briefly. Before she could wallow in that darkness for long, reality shifted violently, causing her to become motion sick as the new environment spawned before her.

And then, there she was. Back in the forest again. Willow felt the bumpy ground beneath her hooves and the cool air which carried a bitter scent. One that, if inhaled for too long, could make a pony sick. It was pitch black. Only the shadows of the trees stood out from the Blood Moon’s crimson light.

“I’m back here?” she asked aloud, shocked to hear her voice so vividly once again. “What’s happening? Elani?” Willow called out into the night, hoping someone would answer her. As she surveyed her surroundings, she realized that her eyesight couldn’t very well adjust to the darkness. “Noctus?!” Silence answered her, save for the idle sounds of the night.

Her horn ignited in a bright glow, illuminating the area around her. She quickly regretted her decision. Looking around once more, she realized that she indeed stood in a forest, but not the kind she remembered.

Bodies. Everywhere. Bodies of ponies, griffons, and some she could not tell from how mutilated they were. Willow gasped loudly, jumping violently as she realized that she was quite literally standing on a pile of bodies. A scream was trapped in her throat. Not a sound came out. Fear flooded her senses. Her knees were locked and she couldn’t move at all.

“Help…” Willow inhaled sharply as she heard someone cry out, however silently. A rustling in the bushes behind her followed. She whirled around quickly to see a silhouette stepping out from the thick brush. “Help me…”

“Hold on,” she said, carefully stepping over the corpses that littered the ground despite herself. “I’m coming!” Though she loathed to step on these bodies, she couldn’t help not resisting a plea for help. Eventually, she reached the wounded pony (or at least it looked like one). “It’s okay, I’m here-”

Again, she regretted her actions. This… pony- no, whatever it was, completely fell out from the bushes. Although, before she could help, it looked up at her, eye sockets completely void of anything. Pure darkness seeped out from its eyes.

“Help me, please…” it rasped out in a voice that made Willow’s hide crawl.

The scream from before erupted from the bowles of her lungs. Tripping over the bodies, she tried desperately to get away from this bloodied creature, who had suddenly began pawing at Willow in an attempt to grab her.

“Please… why…” it rasped, “why… won’t you… HELP ME~!” it screeched loudly, forcing Willow to groan loudly in pain. The piercing noise stung her ears as if it were a swarm of bees. “YOU LET US DIE!”

Willow screamed once again, this time finding purchase as she backed away.

“WHY?!” another screech came from behind her. This time, the creature took the form of a wounded pegasus, whom Willow thought was a corpse. Its body was covered in gashes. A wing hanging limply, half ripped off. “WHY DID YOU LET US DIE!?”

It cried out once more as it shambled towards her. She couldn’t scream anymore. Her lungs burned as she began hyperventilating. All around, the thick brush of the forest rattled as more and more of those things appeared; some even began rising from the ground beneath her.

“S-Stay back!” Willow warned, her head on a swivel as she tried to maintain distance from them. It was of no use. She felt a bloody hoof wrap around the back of her neck. “Get away!” she screamed, pulling out of the headlock and throwing a sharp jab at the one who tried to harm her.

However, her blow only seemed to anger the eyeless creature. It let out an ear shattering screech as it charged forth with killing intent. Thankfully, she was able to dodge and the creature went tumbling forward, smashing into another of its own.

Soon, more of them poured out from the forest. Regardless of her warnings, they advanced on her without mercy.

“Help us…”

“You let us die…”

“We’re dead thanks to you…”

“It hurts! It hurts!”

“Kill me! Please!”

So many voices pounded against her exhausted ears. On all sides they stood, slowly closing in for the kill.

“Get away from me! Please!” Willow begged, a sob escaping her. Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Feel our pain…” one of them muttered.

“Yes, feel our pain…” another agreed.

“Feel our pain… feel our pain… feel our pain…” they all began chanting.

“Join our sorrow… join our sorrow… join our sorrow…”

They all began chanting as they tightened their circle on her. Willow cowered in the center, covering her head with her hooves as she began weeping loudly.

“Don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me,” she whimpered over and over. They paid no attention as multiple hooves and talons all reached out to her vulnerable body.

Then… pain. Willow screamed as she felt them begin to tear into her. She felt rough tugging at her hide before suddenly feeling it give way. She felt her mane and tail being pulled, shortly before she spotted patches of it all over the ground. Most horrifying of all, the warm feeling of her own blood was splattered on her body and her face. The stinging pain of teeth digging into every inch of her body caused her vision to turn red briefly.

Shortly after, blackness seeped in from the corners of her vision. In a way, it was relief. She didn’t have to see those creatures tear her apart anymore. It was almost over. There would be no more pain. No more suffering.

Just death. Sweet, blissful death…

“There!” Elani cheered brightly as she pulled her lips away from Willow’s. “This should bring her out of it.” The zebra mare rubbed away excess liquid away from her mouth.

Noctus blinked once, shocked at what he just saw. “Erm, why did you just…”

The mare only smirked at him before he could finish his question. “Simple, this antidote can only be applied through mouth-to-mouth contact,” she said, “this should bring her out of her stasis right… about…”

Willow, who was lying prone on the floor, suddenly started coughing and gasping for air.

“Now!” Elani said, clapping her hooves. Then as gently as she could, the mare assisted Willow in sitting up straight, the latter still coughing madly.

“What… happened to… me?” she asked between coughs.

The healer’s expression took on a grim appearance. “Your untrained mind unfortunately succumbed to fear and madness,” she said, “you were unable to fully realize that everything you saw wasn’t real.”

Willow regained control of her lungs and gave Elani a questioning look.

“So, everything I saw…” Willow looked down at her hooves, “none of it was real?”

“No,” Elani shook her head.

“But, it-”

The older mare held up a hoof to silence her. “Yes, I know it felt as though it was real,” she explained, “however, you would be surprised what the mind can conjure up when under extreme duress.”

“That mixture you inhaled,” she forced Willow to look her in the eyes, “was a test, young one. It is a concoction known as Waking Fear. It causes even the most faded of memories to become real, before twisting it into something even more terrifying.”

Willow scoffed, scowling deeply. “And how was this supposed to help me?”

At that point, Noctus stepped forth . “At any moment during a night of the hunt, Hunters can, and often will come across certain monstrosities so vicious and terrifying, that most ponies will die of sheer fright. We are not immune to fear, but we can control it.”

Elani nodded in agreement. “Indeed, and you must learn to control your fear,” she tapped Willow’s chest with a hoof. ,“if you ever wish to adapt and adhere.”

“Willow,” Noctus called and Willow turned to him. “When the day comes, you will have to go out into the night. However, before then, you must learn how to control your emotions.”

She blinked at him curiously. “Don’t tell me we’re going to have to do this again,” she groaned, ears flattening.

The young mentor grimaced and approached his young student, gently patting the top of her head. He forced a friendly little smile on his face in an effort to comfort her.

“Yes, but for now, I believe some time for recovery is in order.”

Author's Note

Alright, so, this one took me a little while to do. Mostly because it was very long. And I mean really long. It took a few months to write it, and then another month to edit it completely. I had to fix it up on my own sadly. Truthfully, I couldn't ask anyone for help. Fourteen-thousand words is too much to ask for just anyone. Although, I did reach out to an editor's group, and, of course, no one really wanted to help. I could understand that though. It's a lot to do.

So, for those of you reading this, please enjoy this next installment.

Thanks for reading,

• J.

P.S. Let me know if I missed any mistakes.