"Shit! Shit! Shit!" I yelled in panic.

I've been sprinting for what seemed like hours without end. My lungs feeling like they had burning lead shoved into them did not help me move any faster.

'How the hell did I get into this!?' I thought to myself as I heard the roar of the beast, still in pursuit.

A few minutes ago...

"Bring it on you sun'a'va bitch!" I yelled in anger.

The beast only roared at the challenge as it put weight on it's hind legs. I could tell this was going to be tougher than fighting a grizzly bear... I almost chuckled as I remembered how many cuts I got during that fight. As the beast pounced, I took my chances and duck & rolled to the side, firing a shot into the creature's side. It howled in pain as it turned to me again.

I only had enough time to move, as a scorpion-like stinger impaled the ground where I once was.

"Damn! Your a lot faster than you look." I said to him, hoping to piss him off.

It worked as the beast howled in anger, pawing the ground.

'A frontal charge huh? This'll be fun!' I thought to myself as I stuck out my hand.

Giving him the "bring it on" sign, I then pulled back all my fingers except the middle one. Wiggling the insulting digit at the creature. It took this as a sign, and charged without slowing.

As it was about to pounce, I raised my gun. But instead of firing at the body, I aimed at the paws, releasing 2 shots into his right as he jumped up. I had only a few seconds to dive forward under his legs. I'm not sure, but I might or might not have kicked it in the balls.

To say it wasn't pissed would be to call a grandma a little young girl. I cringed when I remembered the hangover I got after that night. I came back just as soon as the beast began pawing the ground.

It began to charge again, limping only slightly as it closed the distance to me in only a few seconds. As I tried to barrel-roll out of it's path, the creature struck me with one of it's bat wings. I couldn't think as pain enveloped my entire chest. When I regained my senses, I realized I was flying through the air.

Oh, this is gonna hurt.

I landed on the ground hard, barely able to hear the *THUMP!* sound when my body landed. My back felt as if it could break at any second, while I think I may have bruised a few ribs.

'Okay, plan B... Fuck this!' I thought as I got up and sprinted and or quickly limped into the nearby brush, hoping that I can get away.

I could only look back in wonder at how I had gotten away. Only to for my head to turn in front again as I noticed the beast barreling right after me. I took a chance, and fired one shot in it's direction; hearing the howl of pain brought a smile to my face. But I knew I wasn't out of the woods yet.

Another pun!? What is with me and this new world?

I broke into a clearing, mentally face-palming myself as I realized I had just sprinted in a wide circle, arriving where I first fought the beast. I at least spotted my duffel, sliding to it, and unzipping it in under a second; I pulled free the machete, as that was all the time I had before the beast came crashing through the bushes. Steam bursting out it's every breath.

Yep, it is definitely, without a doubt... pissed.

As I realized this, it tried to strike me with it's stinger. Like the wolves, my instinct took over as time seemed to stop. I analyzed the beast's parts. The stinger should be the first to go, considering it could inject poison, even if I were to kill it, I would be dead later within the day. I then looked at the wings, with those it could just fly around and find me again.

Decisions, decisions...

I went with the tail. And in one fluid movement, I arced down the deadly sharp blade, and severed the tail in one swift motion. The beast howled in pain, as it pulled back only half of it's tail. Pointing my gun at it's face, I see that my previous shot hit it in the eye, as blood was pouring out of the new wound.

Snapping out of my trance, I fire into it's face yet again, hitting it directly up & through it's right nostril. It roared again as it's blood sprayed out everywhere, covering me as well. Get up to it's hind legs to take a swipe at me, I ducked to the right as I shot it in the other paw. Howling in immense pain, the creature jumped back; barely missing a swipe from my machete. I smiled as it was wounded beyond recognition.

"Sorry big guy, time to be put down." I said aiming my revolver for the kill shot.

*CLICK*

I paused.

*CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*

I could only stare in utter stupidity as I realized I used every shot. The beast looked at me, it's eyes spewing hatred.

'Well fuck...' I could only think as I started sprinting down the path, shoving my revolver in it's holster, and grabbing the duffel, not losing an ounce of speed.

'God damn it!' I thought as I sprinted through more forest brush, the beast charging right after me.

I continued sprinting for a few minutes, panting heavily as my adrenaline was making me sprint at a faster rate. I jumped through bushes as I saw what made my heart soar.

Foot prints.

Without wasting any time, I started running as fast as I could toward the direction I had come from the town. I didn't look back as I could hear angry roaring in the distance; this was gonna be a close one. As I was nearing the edge of the woods, I spotted five more colorful ponies.

I was considering on stopping, until I heard the roar of a mad animal hellbent on tearing my apart. As I came ever so closer, the five ponies could just stare in fear and awe as I approached them.

That look of awe finally turned into full fledged fear as another roar emanated from behind me. I finally was close enough for talking, but instead; I decided shouting would have to do.

"Run, run, run, run, run!" I yelled at them.

As I past them, all the others except one ran. The last one, a butter-yellow winged pony stayed behind. As the beast approached it, all the ponies, including I, stopped dead in our tracks. I could only look in utter horror as the beast came slowly toward the little pony. But what sent me into confusion was not the fact that she was about to get eaten; but the fact she was trying to talk to it.

I was close enough to hear a little of what she was saying, but it was more like a calming whisper.

"There, there; It's gonna be okay..." she whispered.

I stood there with the other ponies and gawked; I noticed the beast's next action. It had started to raise one of it's bloodied claws in the air, about to hit the poor yellow equine. All the other ponies looked in total horror as well. As the little butter-yellow pony looked up, she could only lose all her courage and compassion as the beast claw was raised as high as it could go.

I had no idea how I could help, so I only prepared for the inevitable.

Yet it never came.

I watched as the mutant creature brought it's paw down. Only to miss the poor pony by only a few inches, I looked closer to see small darkish-purple areas all around it's body, mainly on the head. I smiled at another old memory.

I sit in a small cave with a dying fire. A man sits across from me, taking small swigs of whiskey as he sharpens a knife across a whetstone. Finally, he looks up at me as I dunk another small bullet into a dark, greenish liquid. I only look up as he groans and points a finger at me.

"Why in God's name do you do that?" he asked in annoyance.

I merely stared at him. With a shrug, I say a comeback.

"Well, why do you always drink before we do a job?" I retort.

The man's face contorts to a sneer as he places the whiskey bottle into a small, grey duffel bag.

"Alright, that's enough out of you." he said.

"Still, why do you do it? I'm pretty sure if anything alive has tons of bleeding holes in it, means it's dead." the man stated, glaring at me while raising an eyebrow.

I shrug at this. I dip another five bullets in as I come up with an excuse. Finally, I think of one.

"Because, it doesn't waste ammo." I said, raising an eyebrow back.

The man's face turned to one of shock. Then one of joy as he burst out laughing.

"Ha! Fine, I'll accept the excuse for now. We best be moving, don't want the bastards to get away with any of the others now, do we?" he exclaimed as he sat up, sheathing the knife in the process.

"No. No we do not." I say as I join him in standing.

The smile never left my face as I approached the poor yellow pony. I stare at the creature as more of it's skin turns from a darkish-yellow brown, to dark-purple. I look at the small equine, her eyes were just... staring at the beast. I merely bent down, as I heard her whisper one word.

"Why?" she whispered.

I couldn't hear her, so I bent closer, saying "What?" as I did it.

"Why?" I heard her say.

Her words only confused me, before she finally turned and glared directly into my eyes. Her eyes brought pain, but not the physical kind. The eyes felt as if they were piercing my very soul. I couldn't even think as she shouted.

"WHY!?" she roared.

"It was hurt! It only wanted me to help! So I ask you why!?" she screamed, tears going down her face as she bore her eyes into mine.

I felt something I never felt before. Something that feels so wrong, yet you cannot help it.

I felt shame.

Shame for taking the beast's life. Shame for ending it, without reason.

Then, I felt something else.

I felt empathy. I continued to stare into those eternal orbs as they brought up these feelings. Finally, as tears fell freely, I said the only thing I could.

"It would've killed you..." I said as I got up, fearing her gaze as I turned my back to it.

I could still feel the pony's stare as I turned my back to look at the others. They all looked shocked as they continued to stare between myself, the creature, and the butter-yellow pony.

I stared at them as I found a new feeling from the yellow one's stare.

Anger.

I turned back toward the little pony. Glaring at her as she flinched at my sudden movement. Her eyes still trying to recuperate into that stare.

"It would have killed you, if it wasn't for the poison. My poison. It would have torn you limb-from-limb as it bit into you, and chewed on your organs," I stated without any emotion.

The pony, which now I saw had wings. So the "pegasus" merely looked shocked at me as I went into some detail of what would have happen. She looked in fright as I took a step closer. Shaking as more tears trailed down her face.

"That creature, is a monster." I stated as I pointed to it.

It is a shocking revelation; considering what I have done. The blood of hundreds stain my hands. And yet, I find peace in knowing they cannot harm those who cannot protect themselves. I soften my glare, as the pony could only sob as she turned her head to the ground. With a mighty sigh, I decide to do something I haven't had the liberty of doing in a very long time.

Taking care not to spook her too much; I walk up to her, crouching to her height. She didn't even look up, as I leaned in closer. Finally, I wrap my arms around the sniveling pegasus. She only flinched but for a moment as she came to embrace me the same. Sobbing into my shoulder.

I could only remember the hollow words that were taught to me by none other than the person who treated me as an actual son. No. An actual living mortal being that's still human. His words echoed in the back of my mind.

" We are only as immortal, as the things we kill. If we do not stop those that would kill not for the greater good, but for purpose like that of greed and sin. Then are we truly the same as them?" the voice said, making my eyes water.

I could only smile at the request that came after, remembering how I chuckled at said request.

"Oh, and before I forget. Go grab my 7th bottle of booze, I need to get drunk. Or else I'm not gonna have the energy for tomorrow. Those slavers are gonna learn that if there's anything more dangerous than a Dead-man, it's two Dead-men and one who's drunk! Ha ha!

I let go of the still sniveling pegasus, I looked to her; knowing that it was sorrow and anger that took hold of her heart. I turned to the other ponies, staring blankly at there shocked faces. As I try to say something, but the yellow pegasus beats me.

"Thank you," she whispered, trying to contain her tears.

I looked down, and smirked. She bent her head down low, but before she could apologize, I lifted her chin so that she could face me. Her face was matted with tears. I could merely chuckle as I reminded myself of my sister, when I was young.

"Do not apologize, for something that you thought had to be done. You felt pity for the creature, therefore that pity turned to anger when confronted with it's killer." I stated, my smirk turning to a smile, as I saw understanding in her eyes.

She trotted over to her friends, who for many still had their mouths agape. Finally after a few minutes, a purple horned pony, a unicorn, decided to speak up.

"Uh, are you the creature that saved our friend Applejack?"

I processed the question. Even if I did answer truthfully, I would most likely be untrusted merely for my size, and the fact that I killed a creature that seemed to upset the pegasus. I stared at the unicorn for a minute before replying.

"Does it matter?" I asked, knowing that they were most likely going to bring me back with them.

"Well, we wanted to thank you, but, if I may ask? What are you?" she asked.

I merely shrugged, which seemed to get a small annoyed eye-twitch out of her.

"Well, could you please come back to ponyville, not only does Applejack want to thank you, but I also need to inform Princess Celestia of your actions."

I stopped breathing for a few seconds. Did she say Celestia?

'That was the one Discord wanted me to kill, so if this purple unicorn can bring her to me; then I could get back home even faster than I realized.' I thought to myself, smiling to the group of ponies.

"Go, I'll meet you there in an hour or so." I say, pointing the direction out of the forest.

The pony merely looks at me, confusion spread across her face. Realizing she most likely wanted to keep me in her sight, I decided to end the conversation.

"I lost something special to me, I have to get it back, Go." I say while turning around, walking deeper into the forest.

Those were the last things I said as I walked back down the path to the crater. I didn't look back, but I knew they left. Rain poured down again as I continued down the trail. I thought of what I was gonna do when I got to the town, but first I have to find the knife. I approached the crater, the rain erasing almost any evidence of a fight. I searched until I find a small amount of bark pieces leading off into the bushes.

'Now, the real hunt begins.' I think as I reload my revolver.

I decided to count how many rounds I have left. I empty the small bag in my hand, counting how many filled my palm.

"9... fuck, guess after this I'll be using my blade and my wit." I said to no one in particular.

"Heh, who am I kidding; only my blade." I chuckle.

As I finished returning the bag of bullets to the duffel, I turn around and start to approach the bushes. As I look back at the crater, I could only imagine what that storm did to me. One way or another, I'm going to find out.

This Discord thing maybe powerful, but nobody is ever truly immortal. Right?

Well, can't worry about it now.

Author's Note

Well, I know there's probably grammatical errors here and there. But I at least got it out.
Hope you all enjoy! Sorry for the wait!