Episode 2: The Swordsman and the Dog

Moonshine knew the risks, but he didn't want to take them. But now he had no choice, if the monster was permitted to go on, he could find the nurse or even worse, the base.

So, he took a deep breath, drawing his sword with his right hand as he stepped on the street, his eyes fixed on the monster.

First, he thought, he would need his full attention.

"I don't know who or what you are" - He spoke - "but I will make you answer some questions."

Moonshine was serious, he hated the need to fight, but after seeing the monster, he doubted he had a choice in the matter. And if it was just one enemy, he could take care of it.

But after Moonshine's statement, the beast had an evil smirk between its tusks.

And it hurled itself at Moonshine, using its long arms to increase the mobility the same way a gorilla would do. Moonshine had only a split second to dodge the monster as it jumped and, with both hands, descended on him using its hands as a sledgehammer.

Snow splattered all around, and Moonshine almost lost his balance, but with the momentum he had, he twisted his body and stroke with his sword; but the gorilla-like monster blocked the blade with its bare and thick arm.

Moonshine didn't understand why he couldn't cut the monster, but he could not finish his line of thought as the monster fist collided with his belly, sending him some ft backward, but Moonshine managed to resist most of the pain, and yet he knelled and almost threw up.

A light grunt could be heard from the monster, as Moonshine struggled to stand up, he realized the thing was laughing. That was the clue he was waiting for, and quickly looking around he didn't see Cheerilee, meaning she managed to slip through when the fight started.

Now, it was time to pay back.

The hunter licked his lips as he ogled his kneeled prey. After it attacked him, the hunter knew for certain that the prey, albeit brave, was weak.

But the hunter didn't understand why the prey didn't show fear in its eyes. On the contrary, the prey looked around as if the hunter was not there and, after a strange nod from the prey, it smirked. But the hunter felt furious for being looked down by a prey so weak.

"Now..." - Spoke the prey as it stood up - "Let's end this quickly"

The prey showed no emotion as he raised his blade at the height of his torso and adopted a strange posture. It enraged even more the Hunter, as the prey believed it could take him down.

The hunter then growled high and ran at the prey, jumping and using its strong arms and hands to smash it to a small pile of flesh.

But this time was different.

The prey knew what the hunter was going to do and sidestep to the left dodging the first hit. The hunter then swung his might arm into the prey that crouched avoiding another hit;

The hunter was furious, how could the prey DARE to dodge him!

One, two, three hits - and each time the hunter swung his might fist, the small prey dodged.

His anger was building up, and in his furious state he stopped caring about defense. All he wanted was to break this puny prey.

Stomping in the snow, the Hunter advanced yet again over the prey, but now he felt something. And when he looked at his right leg, he saw the glimmering silver blade of the prey buried on his leg.

The Hunter was astonished, how could a creature like that hurt him when not even a unicorn could?

But the hunter didn't give up, and using the other leg, he lounged at his prey, only for it to dodge again and, with a fluid motion, cut his left leg off with that cursed blade.

The pain was unbelievable, but he was bred by the queen to be strong, and not even this pain would defeat him.

The hunter didn't want to do this, he wanted to take this prey alone, but he had no choice. Not anymore. The prey was stronger than he believed.

And so he shouted in the language of Diamondia.

With a swing in the air, Moonshine took off the blood of his sword. This was his first real fight after finishing his training under ms. Jack, and he was relieved that it had fruits.

Yet, he was fearful. He had never killed anything, and in front of him was what was clearly an enemy – an enemy that almost took him down with only one hit – fallen to the ground, screaming incomprehensible things. Then, Moonshine remembered the questions he had earlier.

The beast was still screaming when Moonshine kicked his mouth, cracking one of its tusks and silencing it.

"Who are you and why are you following me?"

The thing smirked, something Moonshine thought wasn't possible with the level of damage it took, before answering.

"Me, Dog. You Prey. Dog Hunt Prey"

'Dog hunts prey', Moonshine was thinking 'what the fuck this 'dog' was talking about', but his thoughts were interrupted when the 'dog' continued.

"Prey strong, stronger than ponies"

Moonshine was even more confused, this monster was clearly not from the area, he knew it because of the book written by Ms. Fluttershy about Canterlot ecosystem, and it was even comparing him with mini horses.

Beyond that, this 'Dog' was intelligent and was talking to him. And this was what frightened him the most, he talked first just as a joke, he really didn't expect an answer.

But... then he noticed some tears coming from the tiny red eyes of the Dog.

"Why are you crying?"

"Prey strong, Dog wish to hunt prey..."

"What?"

"Now... Prey will be hunt by others dogs..."

Only then Moonshine heard the sound of many steps, or he should say fists, rapidly advancing over the snow towards him, and when he turned his head to look at the origin of the sound, his eyes widened.

Three more of the 'dogs' were coming, with one almost at his position, with one fist raised to an attack.

Quickly, moonshine tried to think of a way out, and the only thought on his mind was to escape, to flee through the ruined houses and, when safe, go to the base and report. The only thing he needed to do was dodge this first attack.

He was terrified, but had less than a second to calm his emotion, so he could dodge. The fist came with the scream of the attacking Dog. Moonshine could see clearly, and with a well-place movement he moved.

He felt the urge of success as he saw, almost in slow motion, the fist passing by his head, almost an inch from hitting; but as Moonshine was finishing his maneuver, something grabbed his leg – and his momentum stopped; The fist of his aggressor collided with his face sending him flying.

As moonshine was in the air from the attack, he saw what was holding his leg – the Dog he had defeated but not finished.

And as his conscience was fading, his last thought was "At least, Cheerilee escaped..."

And when he hit the ground, everything faded to black.