“Alright, recruits! For those of you who don’t know why you’re here, you are the kingdom’s first line of defence against the mouse menace,” the pony staring at the head of the room exclaimed. A few stared at him blankly, which was to be expected. Also expected were the few exclamations from the gathered throng, eager to begin their career.
One thing that was different today, from all other days like this, was the lavender unicorn in the back corner, mouthing the words and counting the seconds until the next line. She had this speech memorized; as well she should, having heard it a hundred times.
“You entered this room as a mix of species: canine, feline, equine, human, and others that I don’t have time to list,” she whispered at the exact same time it was shouted from up front. “However, when you leave, you will all be the same: Mousehunters.” Ten seconds pause, then she continued. “The Hunt is as much a time-honored tradition as it is a war, and for you, it will be a way of life. Some, if not all, of you will not see the end of the Hunt. Many have, and many will, give it all they have. They are heroes, and all of you have a chance to join their ranks.”
There was another pause as the other pony looked over the crowd. “I thank all of you, as does your kingdom. Good luck all, and happy hunting. You are dismissed.” As the crowd dissipated, the young unicorn stayed where she was seated, looking up at the balcony where the princess stood at times. The pony that delivered the speech sat down beside her, took one look at the same balcony, and sighed.
“You know you don’t have to do this, right?” he asked. “You could stay in the castle. Princess Celestia would take care of you, just as she has for all these years.”
She looked him in the eyes. “Shining, you know just as well as I do that this is something I can’t avoid. I know you worry, but don’t. I’ll be fine.”
“Then join the Royal Guard,” he pleaded. “You still get to protect the princess that way, but you won’t be in constant danger. Twilight, I don’t want to lose you like we lost Mom and Dad.”
Twilight shook her head. “Princess Celestia doesn’t need protection, the kingdom does. She’s an alicorn, no mouse could even lay a paw on her. But she can’t be everywhere at once. And you won’t lose me, I’ll stay in contact. It’s not like I’m fighting the mice hoof-to-paw; I’ll have a trap.” She stood up and turned toward the door. “I promise I’ll be ok.” As she walked out of the room, she began to think about her past.
A long time ago, Twilight and her brother lived peacefully with their parents, nobles of the court. Her mother and father had met in Furoma, were wedded in the shadow of Dracano volcano, and earned their titles of Lord and Lady. At the time, they were among the top hunters. True, the children would occasionally be left behind while the parents went to deal with some rising threat amongst the rodent horde, but they were always reunited eventually. That is, until that fateful day, that day when Twilight first saw Celestia crying.
That day, the kingdom mourned, for a force of over a hundred hunters had been lost to the mice in what came to be known as “The Sandtail Disaster”. Many were captured, the rest scattered to the winds. Amongst them was Celestia’s sister, Princess Luna. Twilight had met many of the hunters herself; each name read from the list punched a new hole in her heart. None were more important to her, though, than her parents.
Princess Celestia had known that something like this would eventually happen. So, when the day had passed, she issued an edict, taking in all the newly orphaned children, no matter what species. Years passed, and many took jobs around the castle and surrounding town, whether guards, hunters, or something else.
That lead up to today. Today was Twilight’s first day of eligibility for Mousehunting. She had already decided to take up the title and all the responsibilities that lay with it. All that remained now was to go out and make her parents proud, wherever they may be.
Steps beside her shook Twilight out of her thoughts. Since she was trying to train herself to identify things without visual reference, she listened quietly. The other creature was just as quiet, though the footfalls quickly formed a distinct pattern. Four legs, longer stride than most ponies, and metal shoes. There was only one being in the castle that matched that description.
“Good afternoon, Princess,” Twilight said. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
Finally looking up, she saw a smile on Celestia’s face. “Must I have a reason?” the princess asked in return. “Do I not have the right to speak with a novice hunter without sparking a million questions?”
Twilight smiled back. It had been eleven years since her parents were lost, and it seemed that both she and the princess filled the holes in their hearts with the other’s company. This was common among the orphans from the Disaster, but Celestia seemed especially happy whenever Twilight was nearby. They spent most of their time together in the royal library, pouring over old tomes filled with hunting knowledge. It was for that reason Twilight felt comfortable going out to the Meadow today. She arguably knew more about the mice and how to defeat them than most other hunters.
“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Twilight promised. “I’ll come back, having proven I’m an effective hunter, and I’ll make you proud.”
Celestia chuckled. “I have no doubts, but I am already proud of you. Merely signing up is proof of courage. I have high expectations for you Twilight. I am sure you will do great things. However, even the greatest hunter needs help from time to time. For instance, right now.” She turned down a hallway, and Twilight followed, curious. She led Twilight to a chamber that had always been off-limits.
Opening the door, Celestia turned to look at Twilight. “I’m sure you’ve wondered what’s in here for a long time, haven’t you?” she asked. Looking inside, Twilight was rather disappointed. It was just a book. Something about it was strange, though.
Celestia noticed Twilight’s disappointment, and chuckled. “This isn’t just any book,” the princess explained. “I’m sure you can feel the power it radiates. This book is a repository of knowledge, gathered from across the kingdom over many years. Its enchantment allows it to update itself whenever something new is discovered. All those books in the library, and all the tidbits of wisdom older hunters have gathered? Those can all be found in here.” She picked up the tome and levitated it towards Twilight. “I’ve sensed an inkling of destiny about you, Twilight Sparkle. I know you will go on to do great things. I cannot go with you, but this can.”
Twilight took the book from Celestia’s grasp. “I am honored, Princess. I will not let you down.”
Author's Note
Welcome to MLMH! This is my second attempt at this fic, so hopefully it'll be better. Some things are different compared to last time: namely, all types of hunters are represented in one world, without the multi-dimensional mess that was the Tavern. Hopefully, there will be a coherent plotline from the beginning here.
