It had been five days since Matthew passed through Coltera Ridge. The citizens were still talking about it and concern spread from household to household. Some of the ponies visiting the small town grew curious, thinking it was just a local legend. Others, believed that what they heard was an adaptation of another Equestrian myth.

"The Shadow of Death?" A traveling mare asked, buying supplies, "That's just an old mare's tale. It's not real."

"No!" The shopkeeper stallion replied, nearly jumping over the counter and grabbing the traveller, "It's real! I saw it incapacitate five strong stallions. It terrorized the local seamstress. And disappeared into the dark forest, leaving no trace."

"Yeah, okay. Look, can I just buy my supplies and go? I have to reach the Western Mountains before the snow buries the only trail. I don't have time to waste on stories and myths."

The shopkeeper showed a face of disgust in what seemed rude to him. But, rather than argue, he rang up the supplies and watched as the traveller left with a full pack. On her way down the street, she saw a large group of ponies and griffins enter the town.

"Halt!" A guard pony called, approaching the group.

Grimshaw stopped, holding out his claw to signal the others to do the same.

"State your business." The guard said, scanning the large group.

"Gladly." Grimshaw replied, reaching into his bag and pulling out a scroll, "My crew and I are looking for the mayor of this fine town. We were instructed to locate something lost for the princesses. Could you show us where town hall is?"

The guard looked from the group to the scroll and saw the royal seal on the ribbon. His eyes widened slightly, before stepping to one side.

"It's the building on the far end." He said, pointing to a brown square building, "Mayor Birch Wood will be inside, along with Major Silver Spear and Sheriff Axe Blade."

"Thank you." Grimshaw replied, looking back at his group and waving them forward.

However, the griffin noticed that one of his crew wasn't falling in.

"So," Dust Roo said with a sly grin, talking to an attractive young mare who looked annoyed, "you ever seen a stallion with this many scars?"

"Dust Roo, fall in!" Grimshaw barked, approaching the stallion, "I'm getting very tired of your antics and disrespect. Your on thin ice already, I suggest you watch your step."

Dust Roo glared at the griffin, but knew if he tried to fight, he'd lose. So, he chose to obey and rejoin the group.

"My apologies, miss." Grimshaw said, approaching the mare, "He's a bit of a loose cannon, that one."

"No, it's alright." She replied, putting on a sly grin herself, "Between you and me, I think the creature that came through here is better looking than him."

The mare chuckled to herself, while Grimshaw looked at her inquisitively.

"Erm, yes." Grimshaw chuckled, rubbing the back of his head, "Well, be that as it may, I'll try to keep him in line. Good day, miss."

He returned to the front of the group and began leading them to town hall. Reaching the front door, Grimshaw addressed the group.

"Miss Arrow Heart," Grimshaw said loud and clear enough for them to hear, "you and I will head inside and speak with the mayor. Trackers, you spread out and see if you can find a trail. The rest of you are on supplies, we're running low. Dust Roo and Gord, see if you can buy a couple of wagons. It would be easier to carry weapons and supplies that way."

The blue griffin and stallion groaned, but didn't argue as the group split up. Satisfied that they all did as they were told, Grimshaw and Arrow Heart approached the door.

"Uh... Grimshaw?" Arrow Heart asked, stopping him from pushing the door, "Why'd you ask me to come in with you?"

"You've got a level head." Grimshaw replied without hesitation, "In truth, you're probably the only one who does, other than me. And I need that. Not loose cannons. Otherwise, I might as well let Dust Roo run this bunch."

Leaving it at that, Grimshaw pushed the door open and entered, followed by Arrow Heart. Inside, they saw another young mare behind a desk. She didn't look up as the pair approached her.

"Excuse me." Grimshaw said, resting a claw on the desk, "Is the mayor in?"

"She's busy with someone else." The mare replied, filing some papers, "Do you have an appointment?"

Grimshaw rested the scroll on the wood and tapped it with a claw to get her attention.

"No, but this is important. We have to see her. Please." Grimshaw said, seeing the mare recognize the royal seal.

"Oh... U-uh..." She stammered, adjusting her glasses, "One moment, I'll announce you. Wait here."

They watched as she left her desk and enter a door off to the side. A short time after, she stuck her head out again.

"She'll see you now." The mare said, returning to her desk.

Grimshaw and Arrow Heart nodded in response, before approaching the door and entering. Inside they saw three ponies, each a different race. A white unicorn mare in a suit jacket sat behind a desk, addressing a blue pegasus guard stallion and a dark grey earth pony stallion with a sheriff's badge. All three watched as Grimshaw and Arrow Heart approached.

"I hope we're not intruding." Grimshaw said, "But, we're in a bit of a hurry."

"A griffin tom and a unicorn mare..." The mayor said, tilting her glasses, "Odd couple, but I'm not one to judge."

Arrow Heart and Grimshaw froze, exchanging awkward looks. But relaxed a little when they saw her grin.

"Forgive my humour." The mayor chuckled, rising from her seat, "Mayor Birch Wood, at your service."

"It's still strange, though." The guard said, eyeing the pair, "The secretary said you were messengers from Canterlot. But, you certainly don't look like any royal messenger I've seen. Who are you?"

Grimshaw introduced them holding out the scroll, which the mayor took and opened in her magic.

"We're hunters looking for that." Grimshaw explained, gesturing to the picture on the paper, "The princesses have asked us to track it and capture it. Alive."

The three ponies exchanged looks and remained silent as they studied the creatures figure. Then the mayor pulled on a string connected to a bell outside her office. This caused her secretary to peek her head around the door.

"Water Lily, could you bring Needle Point here?" Birch Wood said, laying the paper flat on her desk, "It's important."

Water Lily nodded and left, causing Arrow Heart and Grimshaw to exchange curious expressions.

"So, the two of you were sent to hunt this thing?" The sheriff asked, pointing at the picture and raising an eyebrow, "All by yourselves?"

"We're actually part of a larger group." Arrow Heart replied, "There's thirty-seven of us in total."

"Thirty-seven?! And you all just waltz into our town, without consulting anyone of authority?"

Birch Wood slammed her hoof onto her desk, stopping the sheriff's ranting.

"Enough, Sheriff Axe Blade." She said sternly, readjusting her glasses, "Coltera Ridge is open to whoever comes here. No matter how many there are. But, you are correct. Thirty-seven is a large group. Which makes me curious..."

A knock on the door caused all of them to look and saw Water Lily return. Behind her stood another mare. However, her bloodshot eyes had bags under them, her hair was a mess, and she trembled as she stood.

"Needle Point..." Water Lily said softly, seeing the mare flinch, "Hey, you're okay. The mayor and the others just want to ask you some questions."

The mare took a few shaken steps forward and breathed deeply.

"Y-you want to know what I saw, don't you?" She began, barely holding her composure, "You want to know about that... Monster?"

The two hunters nodded, while the other three ponies watched. Needle Point undid her scarf around her neck and revealed a faded bruise.

"He grabbed me and forced me against a wall, choking me." Needle Point explained, feeling her neck, "He told me that if I screamed or fought, he'd kill me. He told me to make him some clothes and watched me as I did. I could feel his eyes on me when I wasn't looking..."

Needle Point pause as she regained her courage to continue. Everyone could see that she was traumatized, but were patient to let her speak.

"He started talking to himself," she said, remembering the odd behaviour, "sounding as if there was someone else in the room. But, it was just the two of us. Once I was done with the clothing, he dressed himself and said I did a good job and be rewarded. That's when he took out his dagger and tried to stab me..."

She closed her eyes as tears formed.

"I-I managed to grab a pair of scissors with my magic and stab him in the shoulder. I ran to my room and hid in my closet. He came and tore my room apart, finally finding me and trying to kill me again. I closed my eyes, but opened them again to see him choking and throwing himself around. He broke the window and fell."

Needle Point wept and sat on the floor as Water Lily and Birch Wood approached to comfort her.

"I remember him calling out for someone named Matthew to get out of his head. I-I don't know what happened after."

The sheriff stomped his hoof on the floor, getting everyone's attention.

"He took down five large stallions and disappeared into the forest like a coward!" Axe Blade snorted, "Even having the nerve to say he was sorry. If you ask me, a good apology would've been turning himself in and rotting in Tartarus. Or someplace he can't leave."

Grimshaw and Arrow Heart exchanged glances, knowing how that outcome would turn out. Then Arrow Heart turned back to look at Needle Point and stepped closer.

"Do you remember what he was wearing?" Arrow asked softly, resting a hoof on Needle's shoulder.

The unicorn seamstress met the archer's eyes and almost immediately calmed down.

"An all b-black outfit." Needle Point sniffed, "A long coat, pants, shirt, and b-boots."

"Thank you." Arrow replied, stepping back, only to be stopped by Needle Point catching her receding hoof.

"When you find him, kill him. Kill him so he won't hurt anypony else. I saw in his black and red eyes something horrid and merciless. He has to be stopped."

Arrow Heart was bewildered slightly, but said nothing as Needle Point released her. Grimshaw began to feel the tension in the room and placed his talons on Arrow's shoulder.

"We should be on our way, Miss Heart." He said, turning back to the others and shaking their hooves, "Thank you for your help. We'll do what we can to make this right. You have my word."

With that, he rerolled the scroll and tucked it into his satchel, before leading Arrow Heart out of Town Hall. As they exited, they saw several of their group waiting for them. Gord and Dust Roo among them with two loaded wagons. The others were still wondering about town, but were still within eyesight.

"Clothes?" Grimshaw questioned, taking a seat on the steps, "I've never heard of an animal that takes clothes."

"I don't think it's an animal at all." Arrow retorted, placing a hoof on her chin, "I honestly think this is an intelligent being. Perhaps as smart as we are, if not smarter."

"I'm not sure I follow..."

"Think about it. He escapes a super max prison, kills ten guards, steals a dagger, and runs. He can build fires and make a spear out of a tree branch, which we saw a few days ago, and he comes here demanding clothing made especially for him. I doubt all of this is luck, coincidence, or random behaviour from some creature."

Grimshaw said nothing as he put the pieces together. Everything Arrow Heart said did add up to a level of intelligence. But, it still left the question as to exactly what they were after. However, his thoughts were interrupted by another one of their group running toward them.

"We found the trail again!" The hunter gasped, heaving in as much air as he could, "It took us to an abandoned road with a sign that says, 'This way to Blackstone Castle.' But, there are some weird looking wheel marks there too. They don't look like wagon tracks though. Maple Root and Fall Moon want to know if they should wait. It's just north of here. About half an hour walk, maybe."

Grimshaw adjusted his hat and stood up, blowing a whistle through his talons.

"Go back and tell them to wait. We'll be along shortly." Grimshaw said, before turning to look at the group, "Alright, listen up! We got the trail again. But, this time tread carefully. The thing we're after might be more of a concern than previously depicted. Get your gear together and watch your step. Dust Roo, Gripps, and Wind Rush, you'll take the rear. Gord, you're with me and Miss Heart up front. The rest of you will be grouped in the center. Any questions?"

"Do you have room for two more?" A voice called out from above, causing everyone to look up.

Appearing from the bright sunlight, two alicorns appeared, hovering gracefully above the hunters. As they landed, everyone bowed, from the hunters to the guards and civilians of Coltera Ridge. When everyone stood again, they saw Luna with a sword sheathed on her back. While Celestia had a strange weapon holstered on a belt with little brass and lead objects around it. The alicorns were also dressed in armour, each coloured to suit the princesses.

"Your highnesses!" Major Silver Spear exclaimed, having stepped out of town hall and bowed upon seeing the alicorns, "It's an honour to meet you. Is there something we could help you with?"

"Major Silver Spear, your reputation proceeds you." Celestia said regally, "We require your guards to assist us and this hunting party. How many do you have here?"

"O-of course your highness. There are currently forty-two in this unit." He said, pulling a whistle out of his pocket and blowing it, "Fall in!"

Within seconds, every guard in Coltera Ridge was standing at attention, awaiting further orders.

Author's Note

Hey, everyone.

I kinda rushed through this chapter a bit. However, I didn't want to keep everyone who's still interested in this story waiting. So here you go. Also, I decided to add the guards and the princesses to the group because I couldn't get the story to work properly in my mind, with going by 3 different perspectives. Hopefully, this works out as good as I hope it will.

Thanks for hanging with me here, if you still are.