The hunter

Chapter two

We walked through the forest as Tiara told us the town was taken over.

"Wait before we get to the town you need to know what you're fighting. A group of griffin bandits left over from the war a few years back attacked and took control of the town. The elements of harmony had been pulled from the town when the attack started. The guards didn't stand a chance against."

Soon we got the edge of the forest. I looked out at the now captured town. "Damn this is going to be fun." I looked back to them and then saw some griffins in the air. "Get down." I grabbed both their heads and made them hide behind some bushes with me. They flew over us and to the town. I watched as the when then I saw a black powder rifle on their backs. “Rifles that how the killed the guards quickly.”

“What are rifles?”

I looked back at Tiara when she poked her head out from behind the bush. I got low on the ground to make sure I wasn’t seen. “Black Powder Guns are firearms that employ early firearm technology, and hand loaded ammunition. From the looks of it, the invented a primitive version of a rifle. Their very dangerous weapons that were made for war.” I looked at Tiara and she was looking at the town. “Who were they fighting and where?” She looked from the town and to me.

“It was against the deer kingdom. The war started over a noble deer being killed in the griffin capital. From time to time border towns like our will be attacked for food and land. We thought we were safe from them but. When the attack started, the guards took the Elements and their families to safety leaving only fifty guards to protect. That’s when I let to get you for help.”

I nodded and got my scythe ready. “Ok, I’m going to sneak in so I want you two to stay here and hide till I’m done.” They nodded and I smiled. I stood up and looked around to see if anyone was around. When it was clear I walked out and dashed over to a house. While I ran, I saw they had the ponies in the cages with the males in chains. ‘What are you doing?’ I had my back to the house and slowly looked around a corner. I saw what looked like the bandit’s leaders. Only the few I saw had the rifles the rest had swords our axes. I counted about eight in the town. “No, too few they’d need much more to take the fifty guard. The rest must be in the houses or with the main force.

“Psst hey!”

I turned around and saw a mare guard. She had a few cuts and burns on her arms. She had a sword in hand and I got back to the house. “Tiara told me they killed all of you how are you alive?” She hung her head in shame.

“The other ran away after a few of them were killed. I’m the only one who stayed. Now who are you and what are you doing here?”

I looked back around the house. “Names Eric Kemp and a young mare named Diamond Tiara came to me for help. I saw a chance to get a good foothold with the town's citizens. The call me the beast hunter.” I looked back at her and she was slack-jawed.

“You’re the one who killed those pervert guards that were after you.”

I laughed and looked at her. “Hey, they killed themselves when they tried to take Sophia. So, I let them run right for a star bear.” She laughed a little as she looked at me.

“Well, that’s what they get then.”

“Ya now tell me who many are we fighting?” She got up beside and as I got ready to kill him if she tried anything.

“From what I have seen there are twenty of them. Only a few have those thunder sticks.”

I looked back down at her. “Those thunder sticks are rifles. A very old kind where I’m from. They work by loading a black powder that exploded in a barrel. The explosion fires a small metal ball that was made to punch through armor and bones. We need to get them first if we want to stand a chance.” She nodded and I smiled. “You are a treat most ponies I’ve meet hate talking about weapons.” She just laughed and pulled her helmet off. I saw she hand tuffs on her ears. I noticed fangs in her mouth with a few scales around her mouth.

“I’m a drake pony. My mom was a pony and my dad was a dragon. So, I can talk about stuff like this without it bugging me.”

“Ok then. I’ll handle the guard at my signal you free the ponies.” She gave me a thumb up. I nodded and dashed from house to house. When I was close to one of the rifle. I stabbed the back end of my scythe into the ground as I drew my knife. When the griffin was close I quickly grabbed its beck and pulled it behind the house. I slammed the griffin into the house and looked at the Griffin. Then I stabbed my knife in the chest of the Griffin. I looked closer and I saw it was old looking griffin with a few scars on his face. I saw the life in his eyes faded away as I pulled the knife free. He dropped to the ground then I took the rifle off his body. I looked at it and saw it was like the kind that was used in the civil war the 1861 model. The max yard is around a thousand if I remember right. I saw a leather bag on his side and I guessed it was his ammo bag. I took it and opened it and saw more black powder and three bags of bullets.

“Where did Sharp claw go?”

I quickly put my knife away and get the rifle ready to fire. Before they could get close I grabbed my scythe. I ran out from behind the house and charged the two surprised griffins. I lifted the scythe over my head and stabbed it through the chest of the one on the right. With the other one in shock, I pointed the rifle at the other one. I pulled the trigger and with an all too familiar sound of a gun firing. The sound of the life of my enemy dying. The sound of death and pain. ‘God, it was so long since I last stood on a battlefield.’ I heard rushing feet and I broke the door down of the house I was in front of. I dashed up to the second floor. I rushed into a large bedroom quietly shutting the door. I turned around and stopped. Right in from of me was the pony purple and orange pony.

“Oh no.”

I looked at her then I saw her arm was hurt. I sighed and pulled a rag I had in the bag out and threw it to her. “Rap the wound I’ll be gone in a second.” She looked at me as I loaded the rifle. When that was done, I climbed out the window and on to the roof. I looked around the town and I saw a bigger Griffin. I took aim at him as he started to fly into the air. When he was in the air I shot and hit one of his wings.

“AAAAHHH”

“What are you doing?!”

I looked back and saw the orange one. I looked at her and waved my arm. “Saving this town now hide in the closet.” I looked away from her and through the rifle in the room. I pulled my scythe out and jumped down to the ground. A large group of griffins was heading my way and I smiled. I ran at them with a crazed smile. I pulled my scythe back and swung it at the two in front. I cut their throats open and used the back to stab the chest of another one. Blood covered my scythe and the ground. I didn’t know how long it to but soon I had killed the whole group of fifteen griffins.

“Wow, you are a beast I like it.”

I turned back and saw the drake pony. I saw she had the towns ponies with her. They all looked scared and I looked down at myself. I was covered in blood from the Griffins. I just pushed it aside and wave them passed me. “Get them out of here I’m pretty sure I shoot their leader down. So, I’m heading to finish this off.” She smiled and nodded.

“Sure, go get’em stud.”

I smiled and nodded as she started leading them out of the town. I started to run to the area I shot the griffin down at. After a minute, I was looking at the last of the Griffins. They looked at me as I happy smiled and walked over to them. I saw the wounded griffin as I walked over to them. I spun my scythe and looked at them as two of them ran at me. I stopped spinning the scythe and grabbed it with both hands and swung it at them. I took both their head off and then throw my knife into the chest of the last one with a gun. I was left with two wounded griffins. I didn’t know how the other one was wounded but I didn’t care. I walked over to them and looked down at them.

“His death, itself come for us?”

I looked down at them. “If you have any last words I will listen to you.” The one holding the bigger one dug into her side bag and pulled out a letter.

“Please see to it that my wife gets this. You can find her in the griffin capital.”

I nodded then took the letter. With it in hand, I swung my scythe and took their heads off. They dropped and I stood over their bodies with my bloody scythe. I sighed and lifted the scythe and swung it down throwing the blood off. I took the second gun and another bag full of powder and bullets. I got my knife and slung my new gun around my back. I started to walk out of the town and back to where I left Sophia and the Tiara. When I got to the edge of the town I saw the drake pony running back. “Hey, over here drake!” She ran over to me and looked back into the town.

“Are they all gone?”

I stabbed the bottom of the scythe into the ground and started to talk with her. “Yep, I wiped the whole group out. What about the townspeople are they safe?” She relaxed and looked at me with a smiled.

“Yes, another unit showed up and is giving first aid to those that are hurt.”

I sighed knowing I could relax now. Then heard more hoofs and paws running towards us. I looked at the drake pony. I was Tiara, Sophia and more guards all running our way. Tiara and Sophia got to me and started to look at me. Sophia was scared stiff when she saw all the blood on me.

“ARE YOU HURT!? IS THIS YOUR BLOOD!?”

I smiled and wrapped my free arm around her in a hug. She cried a little into my shoulder and wrapped her arms around my neck.

“Seeing you like that scared me half to death.”

I patted her back and she hugged me a little tighter.

“So, are they gone?”

I heard Tiara behind me along with the guards coming up. “Ya, I wiped the Griffins there are no survivors. I was shocked when I found out they had these.” I let Sophia go and looked at her, the guards and an older looking stallion. I pulled the rifle off my back and showed it to them. “They have very primitive guns. Weapons made for hunting and war. My guess they weren’t bandits maybe mercenaries sent to take those elements you were talking about. I think when they couldn’t get their hands on them they turned on the town. From what I saw they were in cages I would bet money they were going to sell them as slaves.” All of them stiffened and looked at me.

“On the ground now!”

I saw a large stallion thing a hammer looked at me. I spun the scythe in my hand and looked at him. “I bow to no one. So, if you want me on the ground you better be sure you can kill me.” He raised his hammer then another guard stopped him. He had purple armor with gold trim. He walked over to me and I lowered my scythe. He held his hand out and I looked at it and then to his face.

“My name is Shining armor captain of the guard.”

I grabbed his hand and shook it. “Names Eric an ex-mercenary.” He nodded and we let go of each other’s hand. I leaned my scythe on my shoulder and then heard more hoofs coming this way. I looked back and I saw the farm pony with five more behind her. I saw it was the same group that was at the farm the day I first when out of the forest. They were talking to the townspeople and hadn’t seen me. I turned my back on them and started to make my way to the forest. “Come on Sophia it’s time to head home.” She smiled and followed me back into the forest. I fixed the two ammo bags I had and fixed the shoulder strap in the gun on my shoulder.

Sapphire pov

Two days had passed since Eric wiped the griffins that attacked the town. I had told them about Eric when the Princesses came to the town to see if everyone was ok. But when I told them how the other guards ran and Eric had to come and save us from the Griffins. The Princesses we’re furious with them once I gave my report. I was also given a promotion from privet first class to Sergeant for braver in the face of overwhelming odds. I didn’t feel like I deserved the promotion as Eric did the work. But now I was called to the throne room to stand before Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I bowed as they looked down at me.

“Sapphire Drake where is the one called Eric now?”

“I don’t know your majesty but I do know how he learned of our troubled.” She looked at me and guard nearby looked at me.

“How did he come to learn of the griffins?”

“A young mare named Diamond Tiara went to him for help. He saw a chance to get a good foothold with the town's citizens. As you both know they call him the beast hunter.”

“Rise and looked at us, Sergeant Drake.”

I stood up as I stood at attention. I saw Princess Luna and Princess Celestia had some papers in the air being held by their magic. Princess Celestia looked at me when she finished reading one of the papers.

“Sergeant Sapphire Drake if I put you in charge of the search for him do you believe you can get this young mare to lead you to him?”

I looked at her as I thought about Eric again. I did see some of his fighting styles with his scythe. Then I remembered something that was clear to me. I looked at the Princesses as I walked forward. “Princesses there is one more thing I believe you should know.” Princess Luna looked at me with an eyebrow raised.

“And that would be?”

“He knew about those strange weapons we took from the town. I’m not sure how to be he knew what they were and he took one along with a few bags. I also have a feeling that if I bring other guards then he may get violent.” They nodded as I bow to them.

“If that is all then please go and find him as soon as you can. Oh, take these as well and give them to the mayor to let her know the beast hunter is owned multiple sets of winter clothes. Have her send the bill to the royal treasury as well. it is the least we can do for his hand in the defense of Ponyille.”

I bowed then walked out of the throne room. I walked to my room in the barracks. I armed myself with a sword and a long bow with spear tip arrows. “Ok, let the hunt begin.”