Author's Note

If you guys like this idea then I’ll write some more chapters, I know this isn’t as good quality as it could be but I needed the idea out of my head and if I do write more chapter I’ll look into getting an editor.

The First Contract

The pile of recently forged bullet casings stood meticulously organized across the dark oak table. They shone dully in the dim flickering light of the forge that was used to create them.

Along the side of said dark oak table rested a long line of recently pressed rounds. This line led all the way to a well used bullet press that itself was hinged to the edge of the table. A piercing shriek loosed itself from the aging machine as the silhouetted figure seated before the machination operated it.

The press stopped with a click, pulling the lever back and reaching out the man grabbed hold of the newly pressed bullet. Holding it up he studied the deadly little piece of metal he had just created, satisfied with what he saw he gave a nod and carefully placed the bullet in line with the others he’d finished.

Letting out a sigh he placed his hands on the arms of his chair and stood up, cracking his neck the man stretched backwards till his spine popped. Grunting with satisfaction he turned towards the crackling forge, walking forward he stopped in front of the fire.

The intense heat hit him in waves, his exposed forearms taking the worst of it. Smiling slightly he squated down and looked into the fire, his lengthy sweat soaked red hair fell down over his deep blue eyes.

“Just a little longer.” His smile grew.

Coming back up he walked over to the other side of the room and started up the sink, placing his hands under the water he began scrubbing at the black grime that clung to every square inch of his skin.

A sudden frenzied banging erupted from the flimsy wooden door that barred the dark room from the outside world.

Turning towards the door with a raised eyebrow the man stopped his scrubbing, placing his hand on the sink’s nozzle he shut off the flow of water. The banging on the door exploded once again, with more intensity this time,”Open up! We’re here on business from the princesses!”

His brow raised as he dried his hands on his pant legs, raking a hand through his hair he stepped towards the door. The rough bottom of the door scraped loudly along the floor as he opened it, flinching as sunlight poured into the room he shook his head and narrowed his eyes so as to see.

Just outside the doorway stood two ponies, the first a white pegasus mare in full Solar guard armor, the second a dark blue bat pony mare in full Lunar guard armor. He noted this as he had never seen a bat pony before, heard of them yes but he had never actually seen one up close before.

Both guardsponies looked like they had a long day, each was breathing heavily and their fur looked like it had been through a washing machine filled with sweat.

“Can I... help you?”

“Yes, um are y-“ The Lunar guard leaned forward on her spear shoving her face into his and cutting off her Solar counterpart.

“Mind if we come in? It’s hotter’n Luna’s tits out here.” It struck him that her accent was reminiscent of a northern Londoner but with a bit more articulation.

Her Solar guard counterpart half heartedly hit her in the shoulder,”Celestia damn it Screech you know we can’t impose ourselves on the citizenry.” Her accent was a common upper crust Canterlotian one, not surprising as a lot of guards sounded like that.

“But it’s fookin’ killing me out here, look!” Holding up her hand Screech showed off the sweat literally dripping from her scruffy fur.

“Well it’s not like I’m in much better shape either, Tartarus I’m sweating in places no pony should ever sweat!” The Solar guard gave a frown,”So the least you could do is act with some common decency like me, last thing ponies want is to be annoyed in this heat.”

Screech went to respond but the man spoke up,”I don’t mind letting you two in, but it might not be much cooler in here.” He stood aside and pulled the door all the way open.

Screech walked on in and sighed as she entered the dark room,”Can’t thank ya enough for this.”

The Solar guard stopped just inside the doorway,”Yes thank you for your kindness, by the way I’m Silver Wing.” She held out her hand.

Accepting her handshake he replied,”I’m Samuel.”

“I’m Screech.” The bat pony said nonchalantly as she sat herself down in Samuel’s chair.

“So I heard.” He sighed as he made his way towards the table.

“Screech you didn’t even ask for a seat, have you no manners?” Silver wing scowled at her parteners behavior.

“No it’s alright, here, I’ve got another chair you can use.” He came out of the darkness his arm linked through the back of another wooden chair.

Silver Wing gave a thankful nod as he placed it down next to her, sitting down she looked up to find him leaned up against the wall,”Can I get you guys anything? All I really have to tap water but it’s better than nothing.”

Both looked at each other before shaking their heads no,”Alright then. So what is it you’re here for then?”

Clearing her throat Silver looked to Screech, getting the message she began,“Are you Samuel Jones, first and only human in Equestria?” Screech’s tone became professional and her accented words seemed to disappear.

Raising his eyebrow Samuel nodded and answered,”Yes that would be me, why?”

Silver wing spoke up completely ignoring his question,”Are you or are you not a professional hunter?”

“Well I don’t know about professional but I am a hunter...”

Silver crossed her legs over one another,“Please don’t dance around the matter Samuel, we want an anwser.”

Screech nodded in affirmation of her partners comment then leaned forward in her chair, ears swiveling towards Samuel,“Were you or were you not the hunter that stopped the timber wolf infestation that plagued the Apple family farm last year?”

Samuel nodded,”Yeah, that was me... Mac himself asked me to help out, I couldn’t turn the guy down, especially since he helped me out so much when I first got here...”

Silver, again interrupted him in a condescending tone,“No need for the whole story, though I’m certain it’s interesting it is not what we are here for.”

Samuel frowned, this mare comes in preaching manners and now she’s a total bitch? His patience was beginning to run thin,“Well then why the hell are you here and why shouldn’t I just kick you out?”

Silver raised her brow,”I think it’s time to explain ourselves don’t you Screech?”

“I do,”Screech clapped her hands and rubbed them together,”Celestia herself has asked us to contact you, says she wants your help in a matter of utmost importance.”

“Yes,” Silver chipped in,”She wishes to purchase your services.”

Sam crossed his arms and looked at the mares with a lowered brow,”Huh?”

Silver spoke up,”Celestia wishes to hire you, there is pressing matter that needs to be attended within the Everfree forest.”

Samuel narrowed his eyes and held up his hands,”Now hold on, let’s slow down here, what the fuck are you two on about and how does it involve me? Please explain this.”

Screech chuckled,”You might want to sit down then.”

Samuel nodded, pulling up another chair he set himself down across the table. Silver placed her arms on the table and interlocked her fingers,”So where would you like us to begin?”

“From the beginning if you’ll please.”

Silver started with a sigh,”About two months ago the town guard received reports of what looked like raids on local merchant caravans in the western fringes of the Everfree. Naturally the guard assumed it was the work of bandits and so without any preliminary investigations they sent out a trained force disguised as a caravan to try baiting the bandits out.”

“Real fookin’ mistake that was,” Screech’s accent fell back into its original state,”They had no idea what they was gettin’ into and it cost em’.”

“Yes it cost them dearly, the force was found torn to shreds.” Silver looked Samuel dead in the eyes,”Literally ripped apart and seemingly feasted upon, we have no idea what did it but it certainly wasn’t the work of bandits.” She let out a breath,” it was not a pretty sight... After that we were sent for by the princesses.”

Samuel nodded,”Okay, now who are you two, exactly.”

“Investigators for the crown.” Answered Screech,”Can’t say much more’n that.”

“As I was saying,” Silver continued obviously annoyed that her partner answered for her,”We came out here to investigate these fatal occurrences and found that it must of course be some kind of beast. S-.”

“We got our findin’s all the way up to the princess herself,”Screech cut in,”Even asked er’ for support, an’ you know what she told us Sammy colt?”

He sighed,”No Screech, I really don’t know what the princess told you.”

“She sai-“

“She said that we were to hire a professional hunter,” Screech gave Silver a dirty look to which Silver returned with a smile,”She said support wasn’t available because Luna’s armies needed all the support Equestria could provide, this war with the yaks isn’t exactly going as well as it could be after all.”

“So then you came to me?” Sam guessed.

Screech gave a full smile showing off her fangs,”Correct monkey boy.”

Silver shook her head and looked at Sam,”I’m sorry for being so short with you earlier Samuel but I am eager to end this beasts butchery of our people, will you take this job or not? You will be paid well and you will be doing a great service for Equestria.”

Samuel looked down at the table, his eyes tracing the many bullets he was making,”Are there no other hunters you could get for this? I mean hell, I’ve never hunted the kind of monster your describing right now.”

“Nope, we ponies are good at many a thing but killin’ animals ain’t one of em’, Tartarus you should see the one pink haired pegasus just outside of town sh-“

“Look Samuel the fact is we don’t have a military force big enough to deal with this and the idea of hunting whether for survival or sport is horrifying to even the most violent Equestrian, so will you or will you not accept this... contract?”

He looked up and into Silver’s eyes with his own,”...I’ve done a lot of research on Equestrian wildlife since I’ve been here, the many different kinds of animals.” He looked over towards the forge,”The common animals and the rare ones, big ones and small ones, docile ones and dangerous ones... shit I’ve spent a lot of time flipping through boring ass books just to memorize what to look out for when hunting.”

“And?”

“I’ll do it to the best of my abilities, but I’m going to need you to show me to the last place this “beast” attacked.” He stood up.

Silver stood up with him,”You want to investigate the scene?”

“Yep, maybe get an inkling of what it is I’m agreeing to kill... or be killed by.” He turned around and faced the wall then grabbed hold of a long wooden object.

Silver sniffed and looked down at the table,“When would you like to go then?”

“Right now. When the hell else would I go?” He gave her an odd look as he turned around.

Screech smirked as she pulled herself up out of her chair,”A stallion of action? I like it.”

Silver sighed and looked up, noticing what Samuel was carrying she cocked her head,”What is that?”

“A rifle.” She gave him an empty look, sighing Sam explained,”It’s what I use when I hunt.” Stepping by Silver he grabbed a handful of bullets,”It’ll take me a second to get ready, gotta grab some gear, if you don’t mind waiting outside it’ll only take me a couple minutes to gather all my stuff and then we can set off.”