Hunter the Hunter

Hunter was sitting on the edge of his bed, polishing his sword. Ellie didn't do it properly, and actually waxed it. Probably because she wasn't expecting it to be used in any capacity. But truthfully, he was thinking. A pony died in the presence. (Robots don't count, fuck you.) And by his blade. Now, he knew that the 'nobody dies from injury' thing was bullshit, but whatever, this place is still paradise. Eh, whatever, the Great Ones fucked up, and now he had to deal with their bullshit. Lazy bastards. Twilight ran in, colliding with his chest, and after burying her face it his coat, began to bawl her eyes out. Hunter reacted quickly, hugging her back. "Why did she have to die?" She choked out between sobs. "Why?"

Hunter shushed her softly, petting her mane. "I'm sorry. It probably means jack shit to you, but Pinkie was a murderer. She had to go. It sounds horrible, vile, and repulsive, but she forfeited life as soon as she turned a blade onto somebody for reasons other then for self-defense." He looked at his hands. "I should know."

Twilight shook her head. "Don't say that about yourself, you're not a monster."

"But I am, Twilight. This will sound edgy as shit, but I'm not your monster. But if there's anything positive to come out of this, it's that many lives have been saved today."

Twilight looked at him, a frown on her face. "She didn't need to die..." She cast her head down.

Hunter held the sides of her head and made her look at him. "Twilight. There was no other way. I'm sorry to tell you this, but some people can't be saved from themselves. Some people just have to die for the betterment of the world."

Twilight sniffled. "I guess. I still miss her though, and I don't know why."

"It's okay. You miss the energetic pile of pink sugar, not the psychotic cannibal. Now, why don't we go for a walk? Clear our minds and perhaps make you feel better about this crazy shit?" Twilight nodded. They got up and walked out of the door.

They were eating at the Kenclucky's Kings of Krisp. Hunter was eating a chicken sandwich, while Twilight had hay fries. "This chicken tastes fucking amazing!"

A griffon chef poked her head out of the kitchen. She was wearing a hairnet. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

She was about to go back to whatever she was doing before she recognized him. "Wait, you're the guy who save the town!"

"Yes, I am. I'm not proud of the murdering part of the saving. Both me and Twilight here don't want to talk about it."

"Sorry."

"You didn't know, it's fine. Have a nice day chef." They finished and left after paying the bill. Twilight was talking about how the Elements of Harmony were now useless, as Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, was dead. "Do you know what the prerequisites for wielding them are?"

Twilight nodded. "A deep connection to what your element represents, and a deep connection to the other wielders."

Hunter thought for a moment. "Hmm....why not train new wielders?"

"What?"

"Not 'train' in the literal sense of the word, but nudge a group of people to interact with each other until they meet the second prerequisite? What you've said makes the Elements choose their wielders and shape them even if they don't know it."

Twilight was stunned. "How did you get to that idea? It's AMAZING!!!"

Hunter thought about it. "I...I don't know. What the fuck does this pendant even do?"

Twilight shrugged. "Whatever it does, it's extremely useful! You should write to Celestia about that idea!"

"Why not you?"

"You...said the idea first!"

"Alright." Hunter felt odd. Nauseous. His vision was strange, as if it was low quality. He felt something under his nose. Wiping it off, it was blood. Black blood. He could smell the rot of his own flesh. Twilight was trying to talk to him, but she was muffled. He heard a different voice clearly.

"You're dying on a lie." It said. He blinked.

He had no idea where he was. Twilight and the paramedic from earlier were standing over him. He threw up black, thick fluid. Felt like regurgitating cheap slime, and the aftertaste...he couldn't describe. "Ah, fuck." He said weakly. "How bad was the seizure?" They answered after a few seconds.

"We were scared for your life! We're taking you to the hospital." The paramedic told him.

"Ugh, the black shit is new."

"New?"

"This seizure was vaguer then usual."

"Usual?!" Twilight yelled, surprised. "These happen often?!"

"Yes. My mind can't handle the Insight. Eldritch knowledge, for those who don't know. i have too much of it, and so I have a seizure roughly every month. They are always preceded by visions and a voice telling me something important. However, what it tells me is usually very direct. It wasn't."

"What did it say?"

"It said 'You're dying on a lie'. Whatever that means, I need to find out. And FAST."

"Or?"

Hunter facepalmed. "Or I'm gonna fucking die, like it said." Hunter stood up with the help of them both. "What's your name, by the way?"

"I'm Para Doc." He held out his hoof, and Hunter shook it. "You sure you're gonna be fine?"

"From this seizure, yes. But it won't stay that way for long. I've been here for a day, and already I'm dying."

Hunter was sleeping when he was woken up. "Hunter. Don't be alarmed, it's me, Hugo." Hunter's eyes shot open and he saw a person wearing heavily damaged leather armor and missing an arm. "I have only one minute here, so I need to tell you something."

"What is it?"

"Eileen the Crow died an hour ago. She died permanently, due to having cut her Hunter's contract. She died for the final time, but wanted to give you this, and a note." Hunter was devastated. He reached out for the two items with shaky hands. The Blade of Mercy and a scroll. Hugo left, simply disappearing. Tears streaming down his face, he read the note.

Dear Hunter,

I hope that your hunt has gone well. Yharnam does not deserve you, yet here you are. I do not have much to say. I just wish that you not fall into the pit named depression and give into the night. You are stronger then the night. Know that I am very proud of you, and that I have moved on to a better place. I hope you can be happy for me, as I am for you. I am giving you my weapon, as I have no use for it where I'm headed. I hope the Great Ones show you mercy as well. Goodbye my son, for the final time.

Sincerely, Eileen the Crow

Hunter began to cry. He hasn't done that in a while, but he couldn't help it. He bawled his eyes out. Twilight ran in to see what was wrong, and after reading the letter, hugged him. She comforted him, and reassured him that she was where she wanted to be, and would be happier...