New Life in the New World

Chapters

1 - The New World
2 - Introductions and Questions
3 - An Uninvited Pest
4 - The Monster Inside

1 - The New World

Agony. Blinding light. The thunder of magic beyond control ringing in her very bones. All Cadence could do was writhe in mind-shattering pain while the magic surge coursed through her body. She didn’t care how this happened, couldn’t think of anything besides the white-hot fire that was burning her up from the inside, centered on the lower half of her swollen belly. Cadence had thought that giving birth to her first foal would be painful, but nothing had prepared her for the magical surge that had accompanied the final pulses of contractions. Now all she could do was ride the out-of-control wave that her own body had created, the rising power pushing her mind and body beyond their limits. Then, in a final, earth-cracking burst, the magic detonated, engulfing her entire existence in pure power.

Completely spent, Cadence felt her consciousness fading to black, even as her weary and rattled mind wondered to itself, I don’t remember there being birdsong in the Crystal Empire.

Astera shook and rattled as the earthquake vibrated the foundations of the camp, crates of various ammo and provisions falling to the ground as hunters and researchers alike fell to their knees or completely flat. The source of the shockwaves was easy to deduce, the pure pink beam of energy shooting into the sky from within the nearby Ancient Forest, a dead giveaway as to the cause of the shaking. Thankfully, the beam as well as the earthquake faded away quickly, leaving shocked and battered Commission staff in its wake.

The Commander and Admiral, having regained their footing first, took stock of the situation and then shared a glance between themselves. The Admiral smirked at the smaller man beside him, rolling his massive shoulders a few times as those most able helped to check any injured.

“Well, life certainly never gets dull around here.” The Admiral chuckled as the Commander glanced into the sky above the Ancient Forest, as if searching for something in the parted clouds.

“Sure, seems that way.” The Commander returned his gaze to the hunters and Commission core personnel as the population of Astera gathered around the Council Table, thankfully with only minor scrapes or bruises to show for it.

“I was about to call for a council meeting,” the Commander smiled as he looked over the eager and attentive faces before him, “but it seems I needn’t have bothered.”

“We won’t let a few shakes keep us down!” One of the A-list hunters called out, his affirmation echoed by several of the Fifth Fleet.

“What are our orders, sir?” Ah, ever eager to go, those two. The best duo of Astera, their very own Sapphire Star and his Handler stood beside one another in the very front row, ready and waiting.

The Handler’s standard hunting gear was a far cry from the elder dragon plate armor that was worn by her partner, but the Commander knew that if push came to shove, those two would be their best shot at seeing things through.

“Investigate the disturbance in the Ancient Forest.” The Commander’s voice rang out loud and clear, “See what you can uncover about those tremors and that beam of energy. I want to make sure Astera is secure, no matter what you might find in there.”

Both nodded, “Understood, sir.”

The Handler smacked her partner on the shoulder with an open palm as they turned to go, “Come on, Partner! Let’s see what we can find!”

The Commander hummed to himself as the Admiral walked past him in pursuit of the duo, “And where are you off to?”

The Admiral laughed thunderously as he glanced over his shoulder, “You don’t think I’m going to let those two have all the fun, do you?”

A soft chuckle was his reply, “Try not to trip on any loose roots out there.”

Another hearty laugh echoed back as the Admiral marched past the gathered hunters, leaving the majority waiting for further instructions.

The Commander nodded once to himself before lifting his head high, “Alright, while our hunters and the Admiral investigate the disturbance, I want everyone else on standby to support them in the event it is needed. Let’s make sure Astera is ready for whatever comes our way! Dismissed!”

A cacophonous cheer rang out as the trio walked through the great bone arches that gated Astera, hooking onto their wingdrakes with their slinger grappling hooks before flying off into the midmorning sky. They had no idea what they would be flying into, but all three had the distinct feeling that they were in for another exciting adventure.

Cadence groaned as she came too, her mind sluggish and every inch of her body sore from something she couldn’t remember. She could hear birdsong above and around her, dirt under her barrel, and a strange warmth paired with a tugging sensation on one of her teats. Her ears flicked to and fro, her eyes screwed shut as pain wracked her body from every angle. She hissed a breath through her teeth as she tried to open an eye and was met with a blinding ray of sunlight for her trouble.

Trying once again, slower this time, Cadence was able to get a blurry image of her surroundings, the greens and browns a far cry from the blues and pinks that her crystal palace walls glowed with. The tugging on her teat ceased after a few moments, drawing her attention as a small and warm object moved up and onto her side, curling up under a wing and emitting a soft coo.

Memories and fragments of scenes started to come back to Cadence’s mind, her body still too sore and unresponsive to even contemplate lifting her head, let alone seeing what had crawled under her wing. All she could do for the moment was stare at the trees and bushes in front of her, partly obscured by a curved wall of dirt that rose from her position. Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment, her brain realizing that it wasn’t a slope up to the bushes, but a slope down to her body from ground level. She was in a shallow pit, and from the heat emanating from the soil around her body, one that had been formed by a large discharge of energy from her position.

Cadence grunted as she forced her weary body to follow her brain’s commands, its first order of business being to lift her head and look over her shoulder. Her vision swam with the motion, even as slowly as she had moved, but thankfully cleared a few seconds later as she lifted her wing to see what had been pressing into the side of her barrel.

Bright, blue eyes met her own, a tiny horn centered between sky blue and pink curls and a near-white coat, all bundled up under two large wings that were tipped with the same blue and pink feathers as the filly’s mane. A happy burble escaped the foal’s lips as she crawled forward along Cadence’s body, her movements jerky and unstable as Cadence realized what had been happening before. Her foal had been feeding on her milk while she had been unconscious and had sought a safe place to rest afterwards under her wing.

A warmth very different from the raw magic surge bloomed in her chest as the foal, no, her foal, crawled up to her shoulders, emitting a soft sound of worry as her tiny bundle of joy held one cheek with a tiny hoof.

She’s worried about me. Cadence realized. Barely old enough to feed and crawl and she already can tell I’m feeling terrible. A rattling cough shook Cadence’s body as she tried and failed to laugh, “Don’t worry little one, mamma’s going to be okay.”

Her words obviously had no meaning to the newborn, but her tone of voice thankfully seemed to calm the filly, her little jaw opening wide in a huge yawn that almost made Cadence squeal with how adorable it was. Her foal curled up on her side, allowing Cadence to shift her back under a wing as the filly went to sleep, a smile on her face as love for her child filled her being with hope. If they could survive being transported to who knows where by an alicorn-level magic surge, she was sure they could find a way home, together.

Cadence’s ears perked as a rustling in the bushes caught her attention, her head shifting around as she scanned the nearby foliage. Her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat in terror as she spotted several huge lizards, their scales alternating between bright yellow and forest green in horizontal stripes that ran the length of their bodies. Small, orange eyes locked onto her and her foal as the group of six spread around the crater edge, almost as if uncertain about the energy and heat still emanating from the loose soil. Cadence tried to light her horn, to form a shield between her and these monsters, but after her surge she was completely spent and only got a small spark of magic for her efforts.

The lizard in front of her sniffed around the edge of the crater for a moment, turning sideways and allowing Cadence to see how massive it was compared to her. It had to be at least ten hooves long, compared to her own five and a half, which meant it was at least as long as Princess Celestia, only standing maybe four hooves at the shoulder but still much bigger than any lizard Cadence had seen before in her life.

Cadence knew there was nothing she could do in her weakened state to defend herself or her foal. So, with nothing else at her disposal, Cadence fell back on the oldest and most reliable method known to ponydom, “SOMEPONY! ANYPONY! HELP US!!”

The Royal Canterlot Voice seemed to startle the lizards into backing off for a moment, the pure, unadulterated terror in her tone waking her foal and causing her to start crying, but Cadence didn’t care. She knew that without help, they were done for, and would do everything in her power to get them home safely.

The Admiral and the two Fifth Fleet hunters shared a glance as a cry echoed from within the Ancient Forest. While the words hadn’t been fully understandable given the distance, the desperation in them certainly had been. The Handler nodded to her partner as they began running towards the source of the call, the Admiral jogging along beside them as they pushed through the thick vines that blocked off the inner groves from intruders. The Handler was the first to enter the clearing on the other side, with her two companions right behind her, and what they saw was enough to put even the Admiral on pause.

“Well, heh, would you look at that?” The Admiral muttered as the trio took in the scene before them.

A pack of Jagras had surrounded a small crater in the center of the clearing, the dirt and rock still smoking in places from the heat that had previously been present. Yet it was what lay in the center of the shallow depression that caused them to pause. At first it looked like a Kirin foal that had been born with an odd color mutation, but even a cursory inspection of the creature revealed that it was by no means a Kirin. The pair of wings on its side and the golden armor that was covering parts of its body quickly tossed out any notion of this being a familiar species. The creature’s eyes locked onto them but seemed unable to move as the Jagras started to close in on it from every side.

“Help us.” Three sets of eyes widened in shock as the creature spoke to them, a desperate plea in its, no her, tone, “Please.”

A high-pitched wail echoed around the clearing, and if it was possible, the hunters’ eyes would have widened even further as they spotted what seemed to be a foal on the creature’s side, hiding under a furled wing in terror as the Jagras pack moved in.

The hunter duo only needed a moment to react, the Handler nodding to her partner as the armored man drew his long sword from its scabbard on his back. “You take care of the Jagras. I’ll see if she’s alright.”

“Got it.” The words were slow and measured, but clear with his intent. He reached into one of his armor’s pouches and pulled out a small bundle that flickered and glowed, “Shield your eyes!” He called out, quickly loading and firing the bundle from his slinger into the air above the crater.

The creature shut her eyes tight just as the bundle burst, the flashbugs inside giving off a blinding light as they died and causing the Jagras to reel back in pain from the assault. The Handler charged through the incapacitated monsters and up to the creature’s side, looking over her body for wounds or other injuries. Meanwhile, her partner charged in with his sword at the ready, the three-meter blade slicing through the smaller reptiles with ease as his fluid movements carried him in a deadly dance around the crater. In moments, the Jagras were either lying on the forest floor, dead, or racing into the bushes in retreat, leaving the hunters with a wide-eyed creature of unknown origin in their hands.

The foal had stopped crying for the moment, its wide eyes tracking the Handler as she knelt beside the two creatures, even going so far as to partly crawl out from under its mother’s wing. The larger female, wary and exhausted, watched the other hunters’ approach with apprehension in her gaze.

“Are you here to help us?” The question was softly asked, but understandable.

All three hunters shared a glance before turning back to the creature. “We are.” The Handler’s voice seemed to reassure the creature, her body relaxing like a tremendous weight had been carried off her shoulders.

“Thank you.” The creature’s voice was weak, but a smile was present on its lips, “I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t shown up. Please, take care of my daughter while I recover. I’m just so tired after using up all of that magic.”

Magic? The thought raced through all three hunters’ minds as the larger creature let out a gusty sigh, her eyes closing as her body relaxed fully. The foal seemed to notice her mother’s unresponsive state and let out a soft whine as she crawled up to poke gently at the larger creature’s cheek. The Handler reached out carefully, not sure what capabilities this new species might possess, and checked along the mother’s neck for a pulse. Thankfully, one was present, if weak and slower than what most would consider healthy. The Handler nodded up at her two companions, before standing up with a thoughtful look on her face.

“What kind of monster has the ability to talk like a human does?” Her words were softly spoken, as if afraid of waking up the creature before them.

“Beats me.” The Admiral muttered in reply, “But I know one thing. This is not the place to be doing research on the subject. We all know that those Jagras were just the welcoming committee. Much nastier things are bound to show up sooner than later.”

The Handler nodded along with her partner, “Agreed. Let’s get them back to Astera and see what we can do for them once we’re all safe.”

The Admiral grunted as he bent down and picked up the small creatures, his massive arms nearly thicker than the mother’s entire body. The foal whimpered softly as he settled them both in his grip, but otherwise didn’t move from her mother’s embrace even as the hulking man carried them out of the clearing with ease. The Handler shared a glance with her partner, both nodding in agreement even without needing to speak.

“Don’t worry, partner, she’ll be alright.” Her voice held a confidence that hadn’t been there before, as well as a beaming smile. “She’s tougher than she looks, just another mystery for us to unravel.”

They walked out of the clearing after the Admiral and his cargo, whistling for their wingdrakes before hooking onto the small wyverns’ harnesses. The Admiral was already on his way back, given the shrinking form in the distance, so they signaled their mounts to fly faster to catch up. As they made their way back to home base, both wondered for a moment how this would change things moving forward, and what surprises would be in store for them now that these new creatures had appeared.

Author's Note

Welcome hunters and monsters of all ages to the first of many chapters in my latest book! Hope you all enjoy what you have seen so far, and I'll include some pictures for those of you that have not had a chance to see the characters from Monster Hunter World before. Let me know in the comments how I've done so far, they feed my author brain like the sweetest cookies, and leave a like if you want to see more!

As for the pictures, here's our stoic Commander:

Followed by his hulking companion, the Admiral:

The intrepid Handler:

And given the Sapphire Star is the playable character in the game and is basically whatever you want them to look like, I'll let the descriptions of the character later on fill in the blanks for that purpose.

Also, a quick glance at what a Jagras looks like:

Thank you all so much for reading my new book, and I'll see you all next time,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.

2 - Introductions and Questions

The Commander stood with his arms crossed while the others gathered around the Council Table, his gaze traveling over the excited members of each fleet as they chatted amongst themselves. The Admiral and the two Fifth Fleet hunters had returned from the Ancient Forest with something very unusual, two somethings to be precise, and now it fell to him and the other members of leadership to find a solution to their new situation.

A single raised hand was enough to silence the chatter before him, his voice carrying clearly to those gathered, “It has come to my attention that the team we sent to the Ancient Forest found something unusual near the Great Jagras’ den.” His gaze landed on the Handler and her partner in the front row, “Report what you saw and explain your reasoning for returning with the two creatures we currently have in one of the bunkhouses.”

“Sir!” The Handler replied, “We encountered the creatures near to the Great Jagras’ den after hearing a distressed cry coming from the area. We investigated the disturbance and found both creatures sitting in a small crater just inside the boundary of the forest. A pack of Jagras had surrounded them and seemed intent on killing the pair. It was then that, well…the bigger one asked us for help.”

This caused a chorus of mutters to pass through the gathered hunters, several moments passing before the Commander’s raised hand was able to quell the confused chatter, “Explain what you meant by ‘asked you for help’.”

“It was exactly that, sir,” the Handler continued, “it, I mean, she, spoke to us and begged us to help her and her offspring. It was like some kind of dream, but reality.”

The Commander nodded, turning to the Chief Ecologist on his left, the wizened Wyverian seated upon his trusty stool with a series of large tomes strewn about his squat form, “And what can you tell us about these creatures? Have we ever encountered a monster that could talk to humans?”

“While monsters all over the world show varying levels of intelligence,” the Chief Ecologist stated after turning several pages in his current tome, “none in our records have ever shown the ability to converse with humans or Felyne assistants. Even the Elder Dragons, with all of their power and supposed wisdom, given the ages that they are purported to live up to, have never shown that skill.”

“So, what exactly does that mean?” The question had come from the Provisions Manager on the Commander’s right, the dark-haired woman standing beside her fellow researchers as she continued, “Are we dealing with some new kind of intelligent monster?”

“We won’t know for sure until our guest wakes up and we can confirm that for ourselves.” The Commander replied, “In the meantime, we’ll send more teams into the Ancient Forest to see if any other evidence can be gathered concerning the pink beam of energy that erupted from within the area, and to keep any monsters that are already natives from getting too out of hand.”

“What should we do, sir?” The Handler asked, an eager gleam in her eyes.

“For now, stay here in Astera and monitor the creatures you and the Admiral brought back.” The Commander glanced over his shoulder at the much larger man beside him, “Since we don’t know what kind of threat they could pose to the base, or what connection they have to the energy beam witnessed earlier, I believe we should have a strong hunter team on standby, just in case.”

The Admiral chuckled, “From what I’ve seen they don’t seem like much of a threat, but caution has always been the motto of the Commission, so I agree with the Commander’s idea.” He glanced at the Handler and her partner with a knowing look in his eye, “Something tells me we’re going to have quite a few surprises in store, and it would be smart of us to have the best hunters on the job.”

The Commander nodded, “Then it’s settled. While the rest of the Fifth Fleet investigates the remainder of the Ancient Forest, the core team members of Astera and you two will remain behind to see what we can learn about our new discovery. We don’t know what we might uncover once they wake up, but I need everyone on their toes in case things get out of hand. Any questions?” A collection of shaking heads was his reply, “Alright then, you have your assignments. Dismissed!”

Cadence awoke feeling much better than she had before. Her body no longer felt like it had gone through five rounds with an Ursa Major and lost. For a moment, she snuggled into the sheets that covered her body, humming slightly in comfort as she tried to remember the crazy dream she had been having. Something about a surge and her newborn foal?

A soft tap on the end of her muzzle made her giggle, her eyes fluttering open as she spoke, “S-Shining, that tickles.” Her giggles cut off suddenly as she spotted the face of a foal in front of her, not that of her husband as she had expected.

Her body jolted upright in an instant, her gaze taking in the wooden walls and swinging hammocks that hang between the posts of several double beds, the soft sounds of waves lapping on a nearby shore and the scent of salt wafting through the air. Her wings flared as her eyes grew wider and wider with each passing moment, the strangeness around her and the alicorn foal that was crawling up to snuggle against her exposed belly proving to be too much for her mind to handle all at once.

“I-It wasn’t a dream.” She realized in an instant, “I really did have a magic surge while giving birth.” She glanced down as her foal began to feed, her wings folding slowly as she got her panic under control, “Okay, so what happened to the forest? And those giant lizards?”

Faint memories of tall beings surrounding her as she lost consciousness came to mind, her eyes widening in realization as she glanced around the space she had awoken in, “This is a bunk room.” Her voice was a whisper as she folded her wings protectively around herself and her nursing foal, “So those things from before must have brought us here. But why?”

Cadence flinched as a door opened at the top of a small set of stairs opposite the bunk she sat upon, revealing a tall creature that was somewhat familiar to her. Its small eyes widened as its lips pulled back to reveal a set of sharp teeth, Cadence’s fear spiking as she realized that the creature in front of her was a carnivore!

“Oh great!” Cadence’s ears perked as the creature cried out in a distinctly feminine tone, “We were starting to think that you were going to actually need healing items before you would wake up!” The being walked forward quickly on two long legs into the room, followed by what looked like a walking suite of armor.

Fear spiked in the pink princess as she spotted the absolutely massive sword strapped to the armored creature’s back, and she curled protectively around her foal as she leveled her horn at the approaching creatures.

“S-Stay back!” She cried, her voice cracking as the creatures paused near the base of the steps, “I-I don’t want to hurt you, but I will if I have to!”

The smaller of the two creatures glanced over its shoulder at the hulking armored being behind it, “Wow, I never thought I’d see the day that a monster was more scared of us than we are of it.”

“Monster?!” Cadence cried, “I’ll have you know that I have never done anything in my life to be called a monster!” Sparks flew from the tip of her horn as her emotions flared, but nothing more, although she noticed that the creatures had taken a step back at her outburst.

“Easy, easy.” The unarmored creature spoke slowly while making a downward motion with its forelimbs, “we aren’t going to hurt you.”

“Then why did you call me a monster?” Cadence demanded, “And furthermore, why am I here?”

“I think I can answer those questions,” A powerful voice spoke up as the door opened again, revealing a dark-skinned creature with a shortly cut mane and beard of silver fur, “if you would be kind enough to answer some of mine.”

Cadence gulped as the two creatures from before saluted and stepped aside for the newcomer, her fear rising as the moderately armored being stepped up and crossed its forelegs before her.

“To start, creatures that live in this land that are not part of the sapient races are called monsters.” Cadence’s fear faded slightly when the new creature did nothing save for talk, her curiosity rising as she processed the new information being shared, “Most of them are only as intelligent as the average wild animal, with a select few being able to form basic skills like tool use and simple strategy when faced with the unknown. We refer to them as monsters not because they are bad or evil, but because of the power and danger that is often expressed by their existence when compared to the comparatively weaker sapient civilizations.”

Cadence slowly folded her wings back against her sides, her eyes wide as she tried to form a response to all this new information, “So, you weren’t calling me a monster because you thought I had done something wrong?”

A soft sound that seemed to be a chuckle rang through the small space as the being shook his head, “No. It is simply because we have never encountered your kind before, and made an assumption based on the data we had available.”

“So, what exactly do you want with me?” Cadence glanced between the three larger beings, her attention clinging to the sword strapped to the heavily armored one’s back, “Am I your prisoner?”

A shake of the older being’s head made her sigh with relief, “The Commission’s sole purpose is to study and catalog the creatures and ecology of the New World. We are a group of researchers, hunters, and scientists. If you are willing to cooperate with us, we would be more than willing to assist you in return, should you require it.”

Cadence considered the being’s words for a moment, her foal turning around and babbling happily up at the smaller female before them as she crawled forward towards the edge of the bunk. Cadence quickly reached out and picked up her daughter with her forelegs before she could fall off the bed, her words following an exasperated sigh as she met the gaze of the silver-maned creature.

“I’ll do what I can to answer your questions.” She spoke with all of the royal bearing she could muster as she gathered what little of her courage remained after the shocks she had been subjected to, “I only ask that you treat my daughter and I with kindness while we figure out what is going on.”

A nod was her reply, the older being turning towards the younger duo as he spoke, “Make sure our guest is comfortable while she recovers. I’m assigning you two as her guides and guardians while she is in Astera.”

“Astera?” Cadence asked.

“It is the base of operations of the Commission in the New World.” Was her reply, “You are currently in one of our hunter bunkrooms, but we can see if any other accommodations would be better should you need it.”

“Oh, umm, this is okay, I don’t mind.” Cadence felt completely out of her depth, it was all too much at once! “Umm, could I ask another question?”

“Go right ahead.” The aged being said calmly.

“Umm, what exactly are you?” Cadence felt foolish for not knowing but she had never seen creatures like these before.

“We are humans.” He stated bluntly, “We make up the majority of the Commission’s staff along with Wyverians and Felynes, a pair of other races that work alongside us in our work.”

“Oh, I understand.” She really didn’t, but she felt it would be better to pretend until she had more to go on, “I’m Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but I prefer to be called Cadence if you don’t mind. I’m an alicorn, a rare kind of pony.”

A silver eyebrow rose quickly at her words, “Princess? Well, Cadence, we’ll do what we can to make your stay a pleasant one while we conduct our investigation.”

“Investigation?” Things just kept getting more and more out of Cadence’s depth, “Do you mean me?”

“Partly, but there was also a large disturbance in the nearby Ancient Forest that led us to finding you and the little one being attacked by that pack of Jagras.” He paused for a moment as he gestured to the other beings in the room, “These two helped to rescue you and got you back to Astera along with the Admiral.”

Cadence’s head was starting to spin from all the new things she was hearing, “I guess I owe you a thank you for saving our lives.” She glanced at the smiling face of the female and nodded, “If there is anything I can do to repay your kindness, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Oh, it was nothing.” The smile on her face only seemed to grow as the female slapped an open paw on the shoulder of her companion, “we were just doing our part to make sense of everything that was going on. No harm, no foul.”

“We’ll leave you to rest for now.” The elder human interjected as he turned and motioned with a foreleg for the others to follow, “It has been a long day for everyone, and I imagine you need some time to think things through. We’ll come back in the morning and see what can be done to clarify things on both sides. Goodnight, princess.”

With that, the trio departed, the wooden door closing with a soft squeak and leaving Cadence alone in the bunkroom with her daughter still held close to her barrel by both hooves. The filly squirmed for a moment until Cadence set her down next to her belly, trying and failing to put together all of the new things she had heard from the…What were they called, humans? She shook her head as she laid back down and curled around her daughter, sheltering her with a wing as she kicked the sheets back up and over their bodies. It had gotten darker in the bunkroom as the light faded between the cracks of the wood plank walls, and a large yawn cracked her jaw wide before she could stop it.

“I guess we’ll see what happens in the morning.” She muttered to herself as she took one last look around the strange place she had found herself in, “I hope Shining and everypony else finds me soon. This is all just too much for me.”

Her sleep was fitful at best that night, and the morning dawn came far too soon for her liking, her eyes opening with great difficulty as she heard a knock on the door across the room. She forced her exhausted body to respond as she lifted her still-groggy daughter onto her back between her wings, stepping down from the bunk as she did her best not to stumble.

“Well, time to see what crazy adventure we’ve found ourselves in, little one.” She muttered to herself as she climbed the steps to answer the door, “That reminds me, I need a name for you.” She shrugged as she set the idea aside for the moment, “I’ll get to it later.”

Her horn lit with a soft blue glow as she opened the door before her, taking her first look at the new place she had found herself in, “Yes? Can I help you?”

The Palico on the other side of the door only had a moment to let out a happy meow in greeting before her eyes widened in shock and an ear-shattering squeal echoed through Astera. A pink and white missile barreled into the hapless Felyne as the door closed behind them with a thunderous crack, the ball of fur and feathers tumbling down the steps and nearly knocking over several humans that had been standing in the way. Needless to say, Cadence’s adventures in the New World were certainly off to a crazy start, as evidently her newborn daughter was a cat lover.

Author's Note

Well, this certainly took a turn. Cadence is certainly going to have to learn on the fly for this one. What with all the new creatures and people she'll be meeting while in Astera. Hope everypony is enjoying the latest update, and don't forget to leave a comment in the towel section below to let me know how I'm doing!!

Also, here are some more pictures for those that are not familiar with the Commission Staff from Monster Hunter World.

The Provisions Manager and her companions, the Tech Chief and Analytics Director,

And here, we have the ever-helpful Chief Ecologist;

And finally, for those that have not seen the absolutely adorable fellows for yourselves, the Palicos, or Felyne race;

Hope you are all enjoying the book so far, and I'll see you all next time!! Remember, leave a like and comment to your hearts' desire!! They're an Author's food don't ya know!

Until we meet again,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.

3 - An Uninvited Pest

“I’m not sure if I should be upset or cooing from cuteness overload right now.” Cadence muttered partly to herself as she stood beside a very large table, surrounded by beings of every color and form imaginable as she glanced to her left, wherein her daughter was clinging to the fluffy form of their housekeeper.

The Felyne, a pure white female who reminded Cadence of a Siberian cat from back in Equestria, was calmly cradling her daughter in her forelegs while the foal batted her whiskers with the tips of her wing feathers. The small creature’s ice blue eyes were filled with both wonder and everlasting patience as Cadence’s foal giggled and cooed, supporting the foal in her grasp with just enough force to keep her from wiggling free. While it was an adorable sight, Cadence still felt slightly betrayed by her newborn, having seemed to forget she existed in favor of their diminutive, if astonishingly soft, companion.

A cleared throat to her right brought Cadence back to reality, her gaze turning up to face the silver-maned human from the previous day, “Yes?”

“We are ready to begin, if you are as well, Cadence.” The alicorn still felt intimidated by the human’s gruff exterior but pushed that uncomfortable feeling aside as best she could, nodding her consent.

“Then let’s get council underway.” His voice rose a few levels in volume as he addressed the gathered beings across the table from them, Cadence was only able to see over the edge of said table by half a hoof, such was the difference in her height from those around her, “For those of you that do not know, this is Princess Cadence and her daughter, the two creatures that were found in the Ancient Forest shortly after the disturbance that occurred yesterday. She has offered to help us with our investigation, and to provide what information she is able about the circumstances we now face. Treat them with the respect and dignity that every race deserves and do your best to help them in turn while we sort out this mess.”

Cadence waved a hoof nervously, uncertain of the gathered beings before her, “Um, hello, I’m Princess Cadence, but just Cadence will do if you prefer. I don’t know how we ended up in this place, but I want to learn as much as I can and will help to the best of my ability. I ask that you treat me and my daughter well, and I hope that we can become friends in due time.” A smile managed to break through her nerves as several of the humans and Wyverians, she didn’t yet know the differences between them, cheered in approval at her words.

“So, what’s the plan, Commander?” A shorter female in the front row called out. Cadence recognized her as part of the group that had greeted her back in the bunkroom when they had first awoken.

“At present,” the Commander replied from Cadence’s side, “we have yet to find any additional information concerning the disturbance in the Ancient Forest. However, multiple teams have reported back that the local wildlife has become highly agitated since the event, with even usually passive creatures attacking hunting parties on sight.”

Cadence shivered as her mind brought forth the Jagras pack that had nearly killed her and her daughter when they had first arrived in this new world. Faust only knew what else lived in the area if these trained hunters were having trouble.

“With that in mind,” the Commander continued, “all expeditions and quests now have a two-person minimum, even for the more experienced members. We have had a few injuries due to the local monsters’ increased aggression, let’s not add any more to the list.”

“SIR!” Cadence flinched slightly at the call that erupted from the gathered beings, her ears folding close to her head before slowly rising once again.

“Now then, we should begin comparing notes concerning –” the Commander’s words were forcefully cut off as a thunderous roar echoed through Astera, dwarfing the volume of the gathered beings many times over as all eyes turned towards the rising sun.

Cadence covered her ears with her hooves, pulling her daughter and the Felyne holding her against her barrel with her magic, shielding the now crying foal and cringing housekeeper with one of her wings. Her gaze followed those of the beings around her, squinting in the glare before widening in shock and fear as an enormous, winged shadow plunged from within towards the Commission’s base. A second, mighty roar erupted from the creature’s mouth, revealing razor-sharp teeth as the spiked behemoth landed in the courtyard behind the gathered hunters. Two huge wings spread wide in a threatening display as its beady, golden eyes locked onto Cadence and her charges with deadly intent.

Commission staff ran in every direction as the monster, Cadence understood now why they were called such, squared its front legs in a broad stance and roared a third time, non-combat personnel taking cover as hunters raced towards the creature with weapons drawn. Cadence’s eyes widened as the heavily armored being she met before led the charge, the long blade on his back pulling free from its scabbard as the gathered hunters confronted the massive creature. Even as big as they were compared to her, they were dwarfed by the hulking beast that slowly lashed its tail, its gaze shifting towards the hunters for a moment before returning to Cadence and her daughter.

“Nergigante, the Eater of Elders.” Cadence’s blood ran cold at the Commander’s words, “It’s never left the Elder’s Recess before, let alone attacked a settlement. Why would it suddenly do so now?”

“My guess,” Cadence jumped slightly as another heavily armored being stood up from his stool behind the Commander, his aged voice muffled slightly by his helm as he drew his own dark green blade, “it’s here doing what it does best, hunting for food.”

Cadence felt some measure of relief as the older hunter stepped between them and the monster, his stance loose but ready as she glanced up at the Commander, “So what does that mean?”

“Given what we know, Nergigante feeds on other elder dragons, targeting the weaker or wounded members of their species.” Cadence’s eyes widened as the pieces began to come together in her mind, “Most likely it sensed the energy surge from the Ancient Forest and has traced it to a new food source.” The side glance at the foal in Cadence’s grasp confirmed her worst fears, her breathing accelerating as her eyes locked with those of the Nergigante, the beady, golden orbs boring into her with lethal intent.

“For Astera!” One of the hunters cried, a roar of agreement following the declaration as over a dozen hunters descended on the Nergigante, blades flashing and explosions rocking the base as the monster met their charge head-on.

Cadence was frozen in place, awe-struck as the hunters worked in perfect sync, distracting the beast from one side while another hunter attacked from the side or rear. Sparks flew from various parts of the monster’s body as metal impacted against armored scales, but there didn’t appear to be much damage after the blade struck or arrow impacted. The Nergigante certainly wasn’t sitting idle as its attackers swarmed around it like an angry beehive, its wings dropping to the ground and sweeping upwards to knock hunters away while its tail whipped back and forth to clobber attackers behind it. Huge claws tore holes into the courtyard’s flooring as the beast’s forelegs pounded anyone unlucky enough to get too close, its massive horns hammering into the ground before surging upward and launching multiple spikes from its head and neck at the hunters.

Horror began to set in Cadence’s mind as multiple hunters were dragged out of the fight by their fellows, bleeding from massive cuts or impaled by the creature’s spikes. The number of hunters able to continue quickly dwindled as more and more were injured or thrown clear of the flight by lashing wings and tail, until there were only three hunters left standing before the terrible monster. The hunter familiar to her was one of them, although even they weren’t unscathed, chunks and pieces of armor missing from various parts of their gear from glancing blows or deflected spikes.

“This isn’t good,” the older hunter muttered under his breath, “this one’s a lot stronger than the previous Nergigante we’ve battled.”

“Evacuate all non-essential personnel,” the Commander ordered, “take any wounded with you and wait for our signal flare to return. We need to get everyone out of harm’s way.”

Hunters and other staff scrambled to do as instructed, even as the battle continued to rage around them.

“That means you too, Princess.” The Commander added, “Get clear of the base and stay close to the other hunters. We’ll handle this and let you know when it’s safe to return.”

Cadence nodded but was unable to do anything before noticing something changing in the fight before her. The Nergigante didn’t seem to be as focused on the hunters attacking it, its spikes no longer a pale white on its back and limbs. The now jet-black spines were deflecting nearly every attack put against them, and its gaze had once again locked onto her and her daughter.

Cadence’s eyes widened as the beast roared, charging past the hunters harassing it and barreling directly towards them, its jaws opening wide and its foreleg winding up for a massive strike as it reared up on its hind legs. Cadence blankly recognized that she was about to die, the hulking mass behind the incoming strike would surely flatten her if the massive claws didn’t rend her in two. The aging hunter before her turned around and dove against her, wrapping his arms around her barrel as he pulled them against his armored chest, propelling them out of harm’s way as his sword clattered to the ground.

Nergigante’s strike impacted seconds later, shattering the hunter’s blade and driving its foreleg through the wood planks and dirt up to its elbow from the extreme force. Cadence grunted as they rolled free of the attack, the hunter drawing a smaller blade from his belt as he squared off against the massive creature.

Cadence’s heart was hammering in her chest, terror overcoming her thoughts as the elder dragon completely ignored the hunter before it, slowly prying its foreleg out of the ground before advancing on them with saliva dripping from its panting maw.

A deep, rumbling sound came from the beast, which Cadence almost took for growling at first, only for her eyes to widen in greater horror as she began to recognize the sounds as individual words.

“Prey. Weak. Humans. Weak. All are weak.” It was like the rumble of distant thunder mixed with the grinding of stone against stone, a force of nature given voice as the beast batted the older hunter aside with one massive paw.

It gazed down at Cadence and her quivering charges, an almost prideful gleam in its gaze, “Prey. MINE!”

Cadence screamed as the beast surged forward, mouth wide open and teeth gleaming as it attacked with glutenous fervor. Her horn sparked, died, sparked again, then erupted with a brilliant glow as a shield dome surrounded them with its bright pink energy. The Nergigante’s teeth screeched as they ground into the magic shield, the feedback from the impact making Cadence’s already throbbing head shatter into a full-blow migraine as the beast pulled back, swiping at the shield with its forelegs. Each titanic blow sent additional waves of agony through Cadence’s already strained ability to focus, her entire being condensing down to a singular goal.

Keep. The shield. Together!

Sound was muffled from outside the protective sphere, her eyes shut tight as all her focus remained on keeping the shield up until the monster left them alone. Either that, or she passed out from mana exhaustion again. Time lost all meaning as she lay there, curled around her daughter and the housekeeper as she used her wings and body to protect them as best she could. Her entire existence was focused on keeping them alive, even as her head pounded with each racing heartbeat and her horn buzzed with overcharged magic energy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, a gentle tapping on the shield pulled her from her single-minded focus, her sudden return to reality finally breaking the hold she had over her shield. The dome sputtered and faded out of existence as her bleary eyes took in the concerned expressions of the humans and other Commission staff, the young female from before smiling down at her as she crouched.

“Hey there, are you alright?” Her energetic voice soothed some of the worry in Cadence’s mind, for what little it could process anything beyond the agony of her headache.

“I-I think so.” She carefully unfurled her wings, revealing the housekeeper had done a similar shielding hold around her daughter, the foals crying a welcome distraction from the terror from before.

Cadence carefully pried her daughter from the Felyne’s hold, cradling the newborn in her hooves as she pushed herself into a sitting position. Much as she wanted to just lie down and sleep, she had to be certain that the monster was gone before she could allow herself to relax.

“Where is Nergigante?” Her eyes roamed around the courtyard but saw no sign of the hulking monster, the only remains of its presence being the scattered spikes sticking out of various objects around the area.

“It flew off after it couldn’t break your shield.” The Commander stated as he stood off to one side, “We’ve had trouble with monsters like that in the past, but never something like this.”

“Nergigante hunts other elders for food.” The eager female piped up, “Why would it come after us in Astera?”

“My guess,” the Commander replied, glancing at Cadence’s horn, “is that it can sense the energy given off by these two, and thinks that they are the perfect easy meal.”

“I-It wanted to eat us.” Cadence’s voice cracked as her mind conjured the monster’s face in horrifying detail, “I-It said that we were its prey. I-It called all of us, weak, like it was playing with a toy.”

“Hold on,” the Admiral interjected, “are you saying you understood what a monster was saying? It wasn’t just roars and growls?”

Cadence nodded, her body shaking as she held her daughter closer, “It was horrible, like something out of a nightmare. It wasn’t saying much, but it said enough to get the point across.” Cadence looked up at the gathered Commission staff, “It called us prey, said that all of us were weak, that its prey was his and his alone.”

“It must be something about where you come from,” The Commander held a hand to his chin, “or the energy you seem to possess, that might explain your ability to understand monsters. This will require further investigation, but right now we have a bigger problem.”

“What’s that?” Cadence wasn’t sure she wanted to hear what could be worse than a huge monster attack.

“Nergigante is nothing if not a tenacious beast.” His words brought a hush over the gathered crowd, “Once it sets its sights on something, there is very little that will deter it from the hunt. It will be back, so we need to prepare for once it does.”

“How?” Cadence’s voice cracked as her wings curled around both her body and her sniffling daughter, “How do we stop that thing when all of your hunters weren’t enough to hurt it even when they worked together?”

“Good question,” the Commander nodded once, “but I think we might already have an answer.” His hand stretched out and pointed directly at her, “You could very well be the key to our mutual problem.”

“ME?!” Cadence’s voice was almost a screech as her eyes widened in shock, “What do you mean, me?! I don’t know anything about what’s going on! I just want to go home and forget this ever happened!”

“And yet, until we find a way to get you home,” he countered, “you’re stuck here and Nergigante won’t wait around for you to pull yourself together. Your power was enough to repel a monster that even our best struggled against. I believe we can teach you how to use that power in a more offensive way, to take care of the beast before it can harm anyone else.”

“Y-You mean,” a fearful realization began to dawn on Cadence as she looked at the gathered beings around her, “I-I need to fight that thing?!”

“Not alone,” the older hunter spoke up, his grip tightening on the hilt of his shattered blade, “we will be by your side and can teach you how to battle monsters.”

“B-But I’m not a fighter!” Cadence felt like she was losing more and more control of the situation with each passing moment, “Equestria has been at peace for almost a thousand years! Nopony has had to fight in centuries!”

“But this is not Equestria,” the Commander countered, “this is the New World, where every day is a battle for survival. Here, it is kill or be killed when you face off against a monster. We can teach you what you need to know, but unless you do, you’ll be just as helpless as you were today when Nergigante shows up again.”

Cadence’s eyes watered as fear gave way to frustration, her headache not helping her jumbled thoughts at all, “I just want to go home. I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Sniffs forced their way from her muzzle, unbidden, as she held her daughter close to her chest and face, crying into her daughter’s mane as the dam finally broke. Sobs wracked her body as tears glittered in the morning light, her breathing ragged and her body shaking from the excess adrenaline and emotion as she did her best not to completely fall apart. Royal decorum could go buck itself, she just wanted to go home!

A soft coo pulled her thoughts out of the stress-induced quagmire she had found herself in, a tiny hoof against her cheek distracting her as her watery gaze finally managed to focus on the little alicorn in her grasp.

Soft, sky-blue eyes wandered over her face, a second tiny hoof joining the first as her daughter cooed again, her gentle touch and innocent concern a soothing balm to Cadence’s fractured composure. A giggle escaped her muzzle as the tiny filly did her best to rub away the tears that stained her face, a smile curling her lips just a bit as she nuzzled against her daughter’s face.

“Thanks, I needed that.” It was a whisper, but the strength had returned slightly to her voice as she lifted her head, meeting the patient gaze of the Commander as her expression hardened. “So, what do I need to do?”

The hint of a smile almost made itself known before disappearing again, the Commander’s gaze travelling to the young duo who had greeted her when she had first awoken, “You two, I have a new assignment for you. Your guardian and escort duties have been upgraded to instructor status. Teach Her Highness everything she needs to know about hunting monsters. Don’t leave anything out and see to it that she finds herself a suitable weapon.”

“Yes, Sir!” the excitable female replied with a salute, her battered companion simply nodding in agreement beside her.

“As for your daughter,” the Commander continued, “she won’t be able to go with you while you are training and hunting, so we will need to assign her a caretaker while you are otherwise occupied.”

“Heh, I’d hate to see the face of the poor sap who gets stuck with that job.” The Admiral laughed to himself.

“Well, you might need to find a mirror then,” the Commander’s voice held the barest hint of a smirk, although his face betrayed no such emotion, “because that was exactly what I planned to have you do, given you were so eager to bring these two back to Astera when you first found them.”

“Huh? Wait, what,” the large man seemed to be completely at a loss for words, “but I’m your superior! You can’t order me around!”

“Then think of it as you taking responsibility for bringing two unknown creatures into the base without understanding anything about them,” the Commander countered firmly, “as well as the mess that Nergigante made afterwards.”

“But I, he just,” a groan escaped his mouth as he rolled his head back and sighed, “this is going to be a long day.”

Cadence glanced up at the Commander, her grip tightening on her daughter, “Are you certain she needs to be looked after? Why can’t I just do my training here in Astera so she can be at my side?”

“Because the most effective method of training for a hunt is to go on a hunt.” He replied, “There is only so much that can be shown or learned from a book. Most of a hunter’s skills and training are built upon real-world experiences, because that is where the application of what you learn and the adaptations to fit the situation become necessary.”

Cadence sighed, “Very well, just, be careful.”

She had a feeling that this was going to be the start of a long, stressful adventure, one that she liked less and less as she learned more about this New World.

“Whoever said motherhood would be easy is a bucking moron.” She muttered to herself as she followed the Commander towards a side gate on Astera’s perimeter, towards what appeared to be a training area, “Shining, please find me soon.”

Author's Note

For those who are unfamiliar with our resident Elder Porcupine, here is an image of the oh-so-tenacious Nergigante.

Such a handsome face, at least when he isn't using it to pile-drive you into the ground and then pincushion your corpse.

Anyway, thank you so much for your patience with this book. My muse was struggling to figure out how best to get the plot rolling, so to speak, so it took me a bit to figure out the best course of action.

Drop a like, leave a comment and let me know what you all think of this latest update! I hope to update more in the near future so keep an eye out for new chapters, now that the story has actually gotten up and off its feet.

See you next time,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.

4 - The Monster Inside

Cadence was all together too tired for any more excitement, but it seemed that her day was far from over as the Commander led her and her two companions into a secluded glade, scattered training equipment and a rack of weapons to one side, cluing her into the space’s purpose immediately. Much as she despised the concept of harming another living being, the Commander’s previous words acted as a powerful motivator, alongside her own desire to protect her daughter, whom she still hadn’t found the time to properly name. An exasperated sigh escaped her muzzle as their small congregation came to a halt, the Commander turning around to face her with a stern expression.

“Now then, let’s go over some basics before we have you choose a weapon.” His already no-nonsense tone had hardened until it could be confused for a block of granite, “Each of these weapons have a variety of capabilities, some that will not be obvious from the start. Part of a hunter’s training is not only to learn the attacks and counters each tool can perform, but to unlock the potential hidden within. Our smiths have forged these weapons using parts from the various monsters that inhabit these lands, and as such, they are much more than simple iron and steel. They hold power to wound and even kill the most powerful of creatures, but they can also harbor risks to even the most experienced.”

The Commander nodded to the warrior behind Cadence, the heavily armored man drawing his long, slightly curved blade as he walked into the training area. The Commander stepped back alongside Cadence and the hunter’s handler, his arms crossed as the swordsman took a combat stance in front of a large, upright log, covered in what looked like cured animal hide.

The warrior wasted no time demonstrating his skill, slashing and hacking against the pillar with his blade, causing sparks and splinters of wood to fly with each graceful strike. It was almost like a dance in Cadence’s mind, the fluidity of the hunter’s movements seemingly to pair perfectly with each deadly swing. Then, as the hunter swung through with a wide, horizontal slash, an ethereal glow became noticeable around the human’s weapon.

Cadence’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping as the hunter repeated the movements twice more, the glow around his blade changing from white to yellow until settling on a deep crimson. His strikes were no longer glancing off the pillar, now slashing deeply into the hide and even the hardened wood beneath with each attack, an almost imperceptible hum resonating from his sword.

“Now you see.” The Commander’s voice was soft but direct as the hunter sheathed his weapon before striking with a blindingly quick drawing slash, “This is the power of a hunter who has mastered his weapon. He doesn’t simply use the blade in his grasp, but they have grown to work as one with hunter and weapon joined into a singular unit.”

Cadence watched, awestruck, as the hunter thrust forward, kicking off the ground to heights far higher than should have been possible, before bringing the blade down with tremendous force in an earthshattering vertical strike, a crimson line searing through the air in his wake as the glow around his sword shifted back to yellow. For a moment, nothing seemed to have happened, but as the hunter sheathed his blade, something about the pillar captured her attention.

The Commander, evidently not done shattering her expectations, walked up and tapped the pillar to one side of the hunter’s slash, the alicorn’s wings flaring in shock as one half of the pillar creaked ominously before falling over, revealing the perfect split down the middle left behind by the hunter’s weapon.

“This is the hidden potential you must learn to master in your own weapon,” the Commander stated simply as he turned to face her, “whatever form it might take and whichever weapon best suites you. Every hunter finds their own unique path and must prove their worth to whichever weapon they choose, or they quickly find out that this world can be a very dangerous place for the unprepared.” With that ominous warning, he indicated the stacks of various weapons to one side of the training area, “So, how about you take a look and see which of these might fit your needs?”

Cadence nodded, trying her best not to stare dumbly at the now half-pillar still standing in the clearing’s center, her wings folding slowly against her flanks as she trotted over to the racks to inspect the various weapons. On first inspection, she was already able to rule out several of the weapons, mostly because there was no way she could ever use them, even with her Earth Pony strength to assist her. How in the world were these beings able to swing around a hunk of metal that was easily four times her size and probably six times her weight without breaking bones? She shook her head to remove the distracting thoughts as best she could, glancing at the more manageable weapons to see what might be usable.

Normally, she would have used her magic to lift the weapons, but with her horn dangerously overtaxed from two days straight of overexertion, she dared not use it for fear of damaging the still-sensitive organ. Losing her magic could be fatal in this new world, so she would need to learn how to use these tools without it if she wanted to make any kind of headway in a reasonable timeframe.

A simple sword and shield were her first choice, the buckle of the small circular shield strapping to her left foreleg while she gripped the blade in her right. Already, she could see a problem, as moving with these tools would require her to use both forelegs but were too heavy to be readily used in flight. She glanced at her companions’ bipedal stance before shaking her head, the notion of hopping around on her hind legs in combat, an absolutely absurd idea too ridiculous to even consider.

Placing the sword and buckler back on the racking, she realized that almost all the weapons before her would require a stance like her companions. Unfortunately, that limited her viable choices down to almost nothing, her gaze finally settling on a duo of short swords that were about the length of her wings. An idea popped into her mind as she tilted her head this way and that, inspecting the blades before her as she considered the possibilities.

“Could you grab some rope?” She asked as she pulled the weapons down, “I’d like to try something.”

The Handler jogged over to a large, red chest and pulled a bundle of hemp rope free with one hand, “Like this?”

“Yes, thank you.” Cadence nodded as she grabbed the rope with her free hoof, “Now, how exactly to do this?”

It took some trial and error, especially without her magic to simplify the process, but with the help of the hunter and his handler, they were able to secure the blades to each of her wings, their cutting edges secured right in front of each wing’s elbow joint. It wasn’t pretty, and it made her wings feel like they were being held down by lead weights, but it at least allowed her to move freely and still bring each weapon to bear against the remains of the post.

“Very creative,” the Commander mused as she practiced tapping each blade against the pillar in slow, horizontal movements, “would you still be able to fly like that?”

“I might be, given time for them to get used to the weight,” she replied, “but my biggest worry is these blades coming off in the middle of a fight. They aren’t exactly standard issue pegasus wingblades.”

“Fair enough,” he replied, “we’ll see if the smiths can cook something up that is a better fit for what you need.”

Cadence was about to fold her wings against her sides, when something overcame her thoughts, to the point that she was quite literally unable to think of anything else. The Commander’s voice, as well as those of her companions, faded to the background as a singular desire overran her being. Her wings, almost like they had a mind of their own, drew upwards towards each other, the silent whisper in her mind growing louder with each passing breath, until the blades crossed over her back in a perfect X.

RAGE! FURY! DEATH! The emotions seemed to spring forth from nowhere as her teeth ground against each other, her hooves digging into the dirt as an inequine scream of pure, unadulterated anger tore itself from her throat. Her vision was tinted red, as was the rest of her body, as pure energy seemed to crackle beneath the fur across her entire being. Whisps of bright red-white power snapped and crackled in the air around her as her gaze locked onto the pillar before her, her wings slashing out in a flurry of strikes almost too fast for her eyes to follow. Splinters flew and hunks of hide fell to the ground in ribbons with each passing moment, the pace and ferocity of her attacks rising with her emotions as the rage inside her grew to blinding proportions.

Then, like a flame snuffed from a candle, it all crashed to a halt, her breathing ragged and her body coated in sweat as the red tint faded from her eyes and from around her body. Her legs and wings shook, her body barely able to hold itself upright, even as her eyes tried and failed to process the carnage she had caused. The pillar, or what was left of it, was little more than a splintered hulk of wood, with none of the hide covering left intact on its outer surface.

“Not bad.” Cadence’s head slowly turned to stare blankly at the Commander, “You will need to learn control in order to master those blades, but it looks like you’ve found your weapon.”

Horror overcame her frazzled brain as she gawked at the aged human, “What?! But I completely lost control! It was like I was taken over by something else! What about that could possibly lead you to believe that these would be a good fit?!”

“Because the blades and the instincts within connected with you at all.” Was the blunt counter, “Most beginners never even realize that the Deamon’s Fury is even a possibility, and yet you were guided by the weapons towards that power on your very first try. That speaks of an innate affinity you have deep inside you. Now you must master it so that you can gain control of these new abilities you have been shown how to access.”

Once again, Cadence tried and failed to form a rebuttal to the human’s words, a sigh of exasperation seemingly her go-to response to recent events as her breathing slowed down to a normal speed. She glanced back at the blades affixed to her wings, her trepidation of using the Deamon’s Fury again front and center in her mind as she carefully removed the short swords. She needed to think, preferably for a very long time about what she had just experienced and heard before she could make a decision.

She placed the blades back on the rack and walked out of the training area, trying her best to ignore the feeling of being watched tingling on the back of her neck. The faint call of their power, the potential to rend her enemies asunder, it was a siren’s call that she fought against as she entered Astera proper. Thankfully, the silent cry in the back of her head faded as her ears picked up the scattered conversation from the other Commission staff, a sigh of relief coming unbidden as her head dropped low for a moment. Her heart finally slowed to a normal pace, and she winced as her wings flared in pain, her muscles having worked themselves beyond their current limits in her artificial fury.

Another wince crossed her face as she rolled a wing joint, a hoof lifting to massage the sore muscles as she grumbled under her breath, “I need to get more flying in. It’s been too long since I last had a real wing workout.”

Training with her possible weapon choice placed on hold for the time being, Cadence held her head high as she walked towards the bunkhouse entrance, wherein she could hear her daughter giggling loudly alongside the deep, booming laughter of the Admiral.

“Why does it seem like I am getting to spend the least amount of time out of everyone with my own daughter?” She asked herself as she paused in front of the doorway, “Who I still need to find a name for. Ugh, I’ll figure it out when my head doesn’t feel like an Ursa Major sat on it.”

The doorway creaked as she pushed it open, her tail slipping into the dimmed space before the door closed with a click, the prevailing silence lasting all of five seconds before the entirety of Astera rocked from the Royal Canterlot Voice.

“YOU NAMED HER WHAT?!?!”

Suffice to say, the Admiral had some explaining to do to one very puffy pink pony princess.

Author's Note

Woohoo! I'm on a roll! Bet none of you expected an update this quickly! To be honest, neither did I, but the inspiration juice was flowing, and I decided to simply jump in with four hooves!

As always, leave a like, follow and leave a comment down below of what you think of the story so far. Did you like the weapon Cadence chose? Did her reaction to Demon Mode catch you by surprise? What do you think the Admiral named the foal to make Cadence that mad?

Looking forward to hearing from you all, and eager to keep the momentum rolling,
Shadow Quill, Messenger of the Moon.