Thrill of the hunt
I ran. I don’t think I have ever run so fast for so long in my life. The trees were thick around me, their roots attempting to snag at my paws as I dashed by, their trunks a constant hindrance to my flight, and the great canopy of leaves they created blocking out the little light that the full moon offered. As my paws hit the uneven ground of the forest floor I bore my sharp teeth against the pain. I had been running for so long now, and in my panic I had not always avoided the obstacles the dark forest offered up before me.
To think that just this morning I had been enjoying a perfectly normal day. Pleasant even. A perfect sunny day in the countryside, the perfect way to relax after a ‘job’. I take pride in what I do for Equestria, even if what I do can never be known and I’ll never get a parade thrown in my honor. I take pride in it anyway because it makes Equestria safe from the monsters that plague it, and stopping them makes me feel like less of a monster myself. True, there are things I’ve done on the job that leave me up at night, well they would leave me up at night if the moon didn’t do that to me already. What? I have every right to ramble. I’m fleeing for my life, give me some slack.
So anyway like I said, it was a beautiful warm day, perfect for relaxing and enjoying ‘the view’. What a view it was, plenty of mares out enjoying the sunshine. It was about noon when I met her in the park. I had decided to go for a stroll and enjoy the fact that I didn’t have to be all secretive doing it for once when a mare walked up to me. She was drop dead gorgeous, a mare that makes you want to get down and thank Celestia for making you a stallion ya know? She had a lithe silver coated body that shined in the sunlight. Her hooves were polished so well that I could see my reflection in them, and she smelled of wildflowers. All she wore was a small golden pendant of Celestia’s cutie mark. Ya know, looking back somethin’ about that pendant made me feel uncomfortable. Probably shouldn’t have shrugged that off. Hindsight is perfect, right?
She walked right up to me with this little half smile on her ruby red lips and looked at me with the deep sapphire eye that was exposed on her face, the other was hiding behind her curvy blond mane.“Dobryj dyen privlikateenei.”
As much as I could have listened to that velvet like voice spout nonsense words in a thick Hooviet Union accent at me all day I was kind of hoping for something I could use in a conversation.
She rose her eyebrow at my silence before her eye widened and she got a cutest blush on her cheek. “Prostitye, forgive me. I sometimes forget to speak as the locals do. I merely meant to say hello.”
She said her name was Silver Wolf (or Silver Volf as her accent put it), that she was on her way to Canterlot as a tourist. Apparently she was hoping I could give her a suggestion on where to eat in town. I told her about a little place that makes the best sandwiches and before I could even work out how to ask her if I could join her, she asked me! Gorgeous mare comes to me and then asks to have lunch with her? Best. Day. Ever.
On the way to the restaurant she caught me eyeing her flank. I figured I was in trouble but she just smiles and says “Ah you are wondering about my milashka znak yes? I got it at a fair that came to my town when I was a filly. They had a booth with toy rifles. If you could get pyat’ perfect shots in a row a large stuffed bear could be had. I did it on my first try and then there it appeared.”
I realized she had mistaken my ogling for curiosity of her cutie mark, which upon inspection was of a black circle with a crosshair inside it. I smiled politely and told her it was a lovely story, all the while thinking of how lucky I was today, first getting this date and then getting caught looking at her flank without repercussions? Very nice.
After our meal we sort of walked around town aimlessly together. She was a pretty good listener, always asking questions and showing interest at the right moments of my stories. Of course I had to feed her a lot of bull about my life since the truth is pretty confidential, I can tell you but I’d have to kill you stuff. I saw that it was nearly nightfall and realized I had to cut this short. It was a full moon tonight after all, and although I know I wouldn't lose control I thought that the experience might be soured for her if I suddenly turned all canine monster on her.
She seemed kind of put out that I wanted to call it a night, but she perked up a little when I told her that I would love to meet up again. She got that little half smile I saw on her face when she first came to me and leaned in kissing my cheek, then purred in my ear “do svidaniya”. I knew I would be seeing that swaying flank in my dreams after she walked away from me.
I was safe in my apartment by the time Luna’s moon peeked up from the horizon. Contrary to modern fiction, changing is by no means a painless thing. I learned long ago that unless I wanted some awkward conversations with the neighbors that it’s best to gag myself before it happens. The change went without incident and I waited in my apartment for it to get later and the streets to clear out for the night. Normally when I change it’s by choice, but on a full moon it’s a compulsion, and with that compulsion comes the need to hunt. The wolf inside gets stronger with the full moon and if you want to keep control you have to learn to give in every now and then...keep it happy.
So I snuck out of my apartment and made for the woods outside of town. Plenty of wildlife in there to slake my bloodlust on instead of some poor pony. I was almost to the woods when I heard them. I could tell there were two of them, one on each side and big suckers by the sound of it. The pads of their feet were slowly drawing them closer while barely making a sound in the tall grass. If it weren't for my increased hearing I wouldn't have noticed them until they were on top of me.
I figured I was in luck, some dope of a predator thinks it can take a lycan down? Fine by me if dinner wants to deliver itself. At least that’s what I thought until they walked out of the grass behind me. My eyes shrank in fear and my pulse quickened. These weren't a couple of dumb dogs picking the wrong target, they were dire wolves. Don’t know what a dire wolf is? Imagine the biggest meanest lycan you can, then take out every last scrap of pony identity that a lycan has and replace it with even more pissed off wolf and you will have an idea. And these two made even that description pale in comparison. They looked like a couple of guard hounds from Tartarus with their blood red fur, yellow eyes, and foaming maws full of long sharp teeth.
You’re damn right I ran.
Those monsters were relentless. I ran around trees, through thorn bushes, even across running water and they still tracked me. Every time I tried to make a turn one of them would just speed up and block me off keeping me in a straight path away from town. Then things got much worse.
As I was emerging from another bramble bush a pony dressed all in black with some freaky mask that had glowing green eyes lunged out at me with a blade strapped to his leg. Normally a little knife like that wouldn't give me pause but when it scraped my side it felt like the blade was coated in freaking lava. I know what you’re thinking and no the blade wasn't silver...or it wouldn't matter if it was anyway because that’s as much hogwash as vampires bursting into flames in the sun.
Between the sound of my pursuers getting closer and the mystery pony of burning blade death I decided that discretion was the better part of valor and legged it after knocking the pony over with a quick buck...which isn't quite as effective with paws instead of hard hooves.
And now we are all caught up. Me running myself ragged through this forest with a cut in my side that won’t heal up as it should have by now. I don’t know if it’s just my panic playing tricks on me but I swear I hear multiple ponies following me now in addition to those wolves. Who are these fuckbags?! Are they from one of my missions for Luna? Did I screw up somewhere along the way and get found out?
I was shaken out of my questions when I emerged from the forest to the base of a grassy hill. I really didn't think I could keep this running up so I went for the best option I saw available at this point, take the high ground. My pursuers should be just as tuckered out as me from the run, so at least we would be even in that regard...right?
I found out the hard way that the answer wouldn't matter. As soon as I got to the top of the hill pain exploded from my back left leg as it was torn from my body in a rain of blood and bone that sent me crashing into the dirt face first. I looked back and saw the stump where my limb used to be, my liquid vitae quickly gathering around the shredded remains of my femur. Strangely I didn’t feel any pain, it almost didn’t feel real. Like I was seeing the carnage through somepony elses eyes, that wasn’t my blood on the ground. I was thrust out of my observations by the sound of some kind of explosion that echoed from far away. Turning forward once again I desperately tried to make my way forward by digging my claws into the dirt. I gave a strong pull with my legs only to have my right foreleg blown apart, blinding me as a mist of blood covered my face. I could hear another of those distant explosions over the sound of my own howl of agony.
As I lay there panting in a pool of my own blood I was aware of my pursuers surrounding me. The dire wolves growled from behind me and two of the masked ponies came to my front. I didn't have the strength to raise my head more than an inch or two, let alone tear their faces off like I so desperately wanted.
The pony to my right spoke to the group in a deep magically altered voice “Brother Greenfield wants it alive for testing, get it to the safehouse.” The other pony nodded and turned back to me. I stared in wonder as the pony lifted his foreleg over my head. The leg was wreathed in some kind of golden light that I could barely stand to look at. It was like he had wrapped a small part of the sun around his leg. The last thing I saw was that glowing hoof coming down on my face.
Far from the scene, laying on an outcropping of a nearby mountain a silver coated mare rose to her feet and swung a large Marett M82A1 rifle onto her back with a wide grin. She turned to the masked pony next to her that held a small telescope like object. “Ochenʹ khoroshiy comrade, we are done here. Get back to brother Greenfield and tell him that the mission was a success, the beast is now in the hooves of the order.” The masked pony gave a quick nod and disappeared in a flash of golden light. Looking in the direction of her fallen prey Silver Wolf let her grin fall back into her characteristic half smile. “Do svidaniya oboroten”
Being watched
Cheerilee’s hooves clip-clopped against the pavement as she walked the path through Hoofington’s city park, her green eyes taking in the scenery around her. In the middle of the city the park was like an island of nature. Electric lamps were spaced evenly along the path and lit the way, illuminating the mare’s magenta coat and two tone pink and white mane with the aid of a pale glow from the full moon.
With not much need for sleep, the nights provided Cheerilee with an excellent chance to get out of her house and unwind after a long day of teaching her math course for Hoofington U. She was thankful for being in the classroom again. Too often she was given administrative jobs, as they made it easier to leave and do work for Luna. For the past four years however, she had gotten to enjoy not only teaching again, but in a new and (as she felt) exciting university setting. The job of professor was certainly a big change from teaching foals. True, she didn't technically have a degree to get the position of professor, but with all the years she had to study Cheerilee found herself more knowledgeable in many subjects than the ponies that could tout offical education. The opportunity to gift some of that knowledge to the ponies in her class was a welcome one to the vampiric teacher.
An unfortunate side effect of this new role however was the absolute mountain of work she found herself swamped with on a weekly basis. Lecturing to over two hundred students four days a week was a draining experience on its own. Add on top of that the homework that needed to be graded and the lesson plans to make, and Cheerilee ended up a very busy mare. True, not having to sleep much left her with more time to get the work done than she would otherwise, but grading papers for so long could give even an immortal a headache. ‘Thank Luna for teacher’s aids’ she thought with a shot of mirth. Her job at the University had become much more bearable once a couple graduate students had been assigned to her to help with the more mundane aspects of her job. Even so, the occasional walk did wonders to relieve stress and give the mare a chance to think.
Cheerilee let a smile grow on her face as she listened to the nighttime noises of the park over the gentle lull of her self-maintained heartbeat and breath. Her ear twitched to the sound of a rabbit skittering under a log at her approach, crickets playing their music all through the park, and the sound of a stallion’s careful breathing and muffled hoof steps a distance behind her. Cheerilee’s smile vanished as she noticed the tail. She had been aware of the stallion following her since shortly after she left home. She had deviated her trip to the park nearby to see if the stallion was indeed following her or if it was a simple coincidence. Considering his persistence, it would seem her paranoia was correct. Although, since he actually was out to get her, then it wasn’t paranoia at all.
Turning down a dirt side path, Cheerilee walked calmly until a small hill blocked her from the stallion’s line of sight, then darted behind a bush on the side of the path. Letting her heart and breathing come to a stop, she waited in the concealing darkness of the shrubbery for her tail to make his appearance. Before too long, a white unicorn stallion in a black hoodie rounded the corner at a brisk pace. He came to a stop not far from the bush Cheerilee was currently in, his blond tail twitching in irritation.
“Where the buck...” the stallion muttered in a raspy voice as he turned his head back and forth looking for any sign of his lost quarry.
Cheerilee considered pouncing on him right there. The two of them were fairly isolated so it wouldn't be hard to beat some answers out of him or kill him without alerting anypony. She held back, however. It would be worth turning the tables on her would-be follower if she could track him to where he came from, or even better, the pony who had sent him. After another moment of indecision the stallion turned and started back the way he came, ignorant to the mare now stalking him in complete silence.
It was about thirty minutes before the stallion reached the front door of the apartment building across the street from Cheerilee’s current residence. She watched as the stallion stealthily slipped in the door to the lobby after a last look back and forth down the dark street. Cheerilee looked across the road to her own residence. If the stallion had chosen to set up in the building facing her home then it was a safe bet that he was staying in one of the rooms with a window overlooking her house. Now confident that she was being observed for more than just tonight’s walk, she made her way inside the apartment building.
It wasn't difficult for Cheerilee to follow the stallion up to the second floor by the smell of the park he trailed with him. Once in the correct hallway, she began quietly pausing by each door on the side of the building facing her home to listen for sounds of her stalker. She was five doors down when she caught the sound of a familiar scratchy voice.
“I was following the target through the park when I lost sight of her due to a hill. I decided It safer to return rather than blindly look for the target in the park. I can see when she returns from here.”
Hearing all that she needed to, Cheerilee easily bucked down the cheap wood door and bounded into the room. The stallion, now bereft of his black hoodie, spun to face her with a yelp, knocking a small glass object to the floor where it shattered. Cheerilee pounced forward, pinning the stallion on the table behind him that he had previously been facing. Shoving a hoof against the terrified stallion’s throat hard enough to silence him, her green eyes stared directly into his fearful ice-blue ones.
“When I take the pressure off your throat, you are going to tell me why you were watching me, and for how long. If anything else comes out of your mouth I will crush your windpipe, do you understand?”
Unable to nod with the schoolmare’s hoof on his neck, the stallion simply let out a small whimper in acknowledgement of her threat.
However, before Cheerilee could release the stallion there was a bright flash from behind her accompanied by the sound of hooves striking carpet. Throwing the stallion bodily away, Cheerilee spun to face the arrival, ready to fight.
“That is quite enough Miss. Cheerilee,” spoke the calm and authoritative voice of Princess Luna. She stood in front of the smashed in door to the apartment, wings spread and a forceful look in her deep blue eyes as her horn glowed with magic. Looking on in shock ,Cheerilee watched as Luna’s magic guided the stalker onto the ground from where her magic had caught him in Cheerilee's toss.
Luna stepped up to Cheerilee, looking down on the magenta coated vampire with a very serious expression on her muzzle as the white unicorn stallion followed at her side. “If you are done marehandling Mr. Midas, then we have much to talk about.”
Cheerilee was silent for a moment as she took in all that had just happened. “Yes... I suppose we do, Princess.”
Sitting down and using her wing to motion for Midas and Cheerilee to do the same, Luna looked Cheerilee in the eye. “I suppose it is a little late for a proper introduction, however this stallion here,” The white unicorn gave Cheerilee a sheepish smile with a half hearted wave, “is Mr. Midas. He is technically one of my sister’s guards. However, he has a gift that makes him useful to me.”
“Nice to meet you” Cheerilee said flatly, giving Midas a hesitant look. Turning back to Luna, Cheerilee raised an eyebrow at the Night Princess. “You still aren’t telling me what’s going on.”
Luna’s lips tightened into a straight line as she appeared to gather her thoughts before letting out a sigh and closing her eyes. “Over the past year, ponies in Equestria have been going missing. Ponies with... situations like your own.”
“You mean ponies working for you? Why didn’t you tell me?” Cheerilee found herself a little upset that such information would be hidden from her.
Luna was quick however to correct the teacher. “No, not my agents. The ponies that were disappearing were merely those with conditions like yours. Vampires, lycans, and other such beings. As for why you didn’t know, well, I do have other agents to assign to such things.”
Cheerilee once again looked to Midas, who seemed to have taken a great interest in his hooves at the moment, then back to Luna. “Alright, but that still does not explain why you have a solar guard stalking me.”
Cheerilee spoke with more than a little bite in her voice. The Princess had always shown herself to be trustworthy in the past and Cheerilee had complete faith in her, but it was very disconcerting to know she was being watched by the ponies she worked with. In fact... “And speaking of having me watched, how long has Midas been here?”
Cheerilee was fairly confident it hadn’t been long as she had not noticed him until that night, but she still wanted to know. Before Luna could answer Cheerilee’s question, Midas responded, “Actually I’ve been keeping watch over you for the last two months.”
The stallion’s raspy voice sounded like he had swallowed a piece of sandpaper, this was only exacerbated by his attempt to practically whisper his response to the mare. Cheerilee gaped at the stallion for just a moment before getting her look of shock under control. She would need to re-evaluate her opinion of his ability to remain undetected if he had gone unnoticed for so long.
Luna continued her explanation before there could be another interruption. “I assigned Midas to watch you after these disappearances affected one of my other agents. The agent was a normal pegasus, however considering her affiliation with me and some of my more unofficial work, combined with the disappearances of supernaturals I felt it prudent to have somepony looking out for you who could call me if needed.”
“But why not tell me so I could keep an eye out myself?” Cheerilee asked.
The princess let out another sigh and looked slightly to the side, avoiding eye contact with Cheerilee. “The truth is that the reason I kept you in the dark was so that you would behave normally. It was my hope that if there was indeed somepony out to get my agents that they would not be dissuaded from trying with you. I know you can take care of yourself, so the plan was that if you were attacked, Midas could alert me and I would be able to step in and apprehend the pony or ponies responsible. You noticed that I arrived quickly tonight when Midas’ message cut off.”
Cheerilee did not look happy at this news at all, it was only through years of practice that she did not bear her fangs in anger. “You were using me as bait?!”
Both Luna and Midas flinched at the mare’s shout. Luna was quick to respond in an effort to calm her. “It is true I was placing you in a position to seem like a good target. However! I did so knowing you are one of my most capable agents who is no stranger to combat, and even then only did I choose to leave you in the dark so long as there was somepony watching to let me know the moment you were in danger!”
Cheerilee closed her eyes and, taking a deep breath to calm herself, thought about what the Princess had told her. ‘The Princess did get here the moment something seemed wrong, and if this Midas was able to keep an eye on me for so long than he is obviously capable...’
Cheerilee looked up into the Princess’ eyes, noting a slight hint of sadness in them. “I understand why you did what you did Princess, but that doesn't mean I like it.” Luna gave a nod before Cheerilee held up a hoof so she could continue. “Seeing as I know everything now, I would like to be put on this case. It seems it concerns me anyway.”
Luna was silent for a moment as she looked at Cheerilee, then taking a look at Midas sitting at her side Luna smiled. She turned to Cheerilee “Very well, I suppose it would only be fair. I do have a condition though.” Luna used her wing to push Midas a step toward Cheerilee. “You are to take Midas with you as your partner in your investigation.”
Cheerilee looked surprised while Midas looked downright flabbergasted. The stallion began to attempt to speak to the Princess only to be interrupted by the royal addressing Cheerilee. “As you have seen from his ability to hide from you so long, Midas is more than capable in espionage. Furthermore, the gift of his that I spoke of earlier, is that he is clairsentient.”
Cheerilee looked at Midas curiously “That means you can...?”
“It means I can learn about the history of an object by touching it. Like who owned it or what it was used for.” The stallion seemed uncomfortable speaking about his ability but continued to explain. “The longer it was in a pony’s possession, or the more important it was to them the stronger of a mark that will be left on the item for me to read.”
Luna stood up “As you can imagine Midas’ abilities would make him valuable in your investigation. Truth be told, I would have placed him on the investigation before if I hadn’t felt he was the best choice for keeping an eye on you. Now that you will be joining the investigation yourself, there is no reason to keep him away.”
Cheerilee looked between the stallion and the lunar monarch before giving a definitive nod to the princess. “Alright, I’ll work with him, Princess.”
Luna took several steps back from the two ponies. “Very good, I’d best be back to the castle now. I imagine my sister is wondering why I left in the middle of dinner so suddenly. I shall have the details for the assignment to you by the morrow as well as a reason for you to take a leave of absence from your work.” And with a flash of blue light, the Princess was gone.
There was a moment of silence between the two before Midas stepped up to Cheerilee and awkwardly offered her his hoof. “Well um...I look forward to working with you, Miss Cheerilee.”
Cheerilee looked at his hoof for a moment before letting a slight smile grace her features, and taking the stallions offered hoof (slightly harder than needed) said ,“Likewise, just no more watching me, hmm?”
Midas winced as Cheerilee let go. She walked over the door lying on the ground and out of the apartment, saying over her shoulder “I’ll see you tomorrow then, be up early.”
As Cheerilee walked toward the stairs she heard the sound of magic and the scraping of wood, along with the sarcastic grumblings of a certain white unicorn. “Oh sure, don’t worry about the door you kicked in. Not a problem.”
Letting out a quiet chuckle as she stepped into the stairway Cheerilee thought to herself ‘That’s what you get for stalking a mare.’
