Phantoms Of The Past

The girls felt a massive reverberation jolt the ground. They assumed it was from whatever Hunter was doing, since the room began to warm and the few lights that were not broken begin snap on, and the entire ship moved as it came back to life.

However, something felt wrong to Twilight. A minute passed before the door to the main reactor opened and a massive wave of heat emanated from the room. Twilight quickly used her magic to make a shield and push the heat away from the group and then stepped forward.

Looking inside, she saw Hunter slouched in the corner.  His chestplate was glowing slightly red and the underlayer of his suit was smoking.

“Oh, this can’t be good. We... We need to get him out now!” Twilight said, starting to panic.

The unicorns of the group used their magic to pull Hunter out of the chamber.  Dragging him into the large antechamber, Luna used her magic to try and undo the clasps that held his helmet on, but failed on the more complex ring lock.

Twilight noticed the problem, and remembering how Hunter took his helmet off earlier gave her advice. “Princess, I think you need to move the top one clockwise, and the bottom one counterclockwise at the same time.”

Luna now managed to undo the seal and was rewarded with a sharp click.  Taking his helmet off, they could see that Hunter’s skin was red and hot to the touch; his breathing, rapid and shallow.

Twilight’s mind raced, searching through the medical knowledge she could remember to diagnose his injury. The only thing that came to mind was a heatstroke, but Hunter’s symptoms didn’t quite match up.   The second option, was that Hunter, having sat in an oven for a long time, had heat trapped inside his armor, slowly cooking him alive.

“We need to get him outside and into the cold air ASAP.”

Dash turned to Twilight and spoke. “And just how the hay are we supposed to do that?  After all of those turns and backtracking, I don’t think we even have a chance of getting out of here without help.”

“I’m with Dash on this one, Twah. Ah just don’t think we can get him out of this ship in time by walkin’. Can’t you or the Princess use yer magic to teleport us all outside?” Applejack asked Twilight.

“I...I don’t know.  There’s a lot to take in account, and I don’t even know if Hunter would agree to teleport.” Twilight answered.

Luna voiced her opinion:“Twilight, I believe this is a risk we must take.  Either he dies as we try to navigate this maze of a ship, or we to teleport him along with us. I think the latter may be the best choice.”

Twilight was unsure what to do.  She didn’t want Hunter to die. “I guess we have to risk it.”

Luna nodded at Twilight . “I will join my magic with yours.  It should give us a better chance of success.”  Luna touched her horn to Twilight’s, creating sparks as she began to cast the teleportation spell.

Outside within the camp, Shining was discussing Canterlot life with Commander Redoubt. A massive ball of energy then appeared and exploded outside the ship, spewing out several ponies and another figure.

“What in harmony are those girls up to?!” the Commander exclaimed, turning and looking up at the explosion.

Twilight, a bit shaken, stood up and looked around. Surrounding her were everypony on board, now thrown haphazardly into the snow.

“oops… I guess I forgot to take into account the flights of stairs we went up.” Twilight said to herself.

Hunter regained consciousness finding himself in the side of a snow bank. Feeling like he was being bathed in flames and slowly cooking inside his own suit. He began to rip at his armor trying to undo the clasps, but failed horribly with the lack of feeling in his hands. He only managed to get one side of his chest piece unlatched before trying to rip it all the way off, resulting in him bending the latches on the opposite side.

After struggling with the chest piece he managed to get it out of the way somewhat, he then started to pull on the seal of the nano layer splitting it down the front center. Hunter cried out in pain as some of the melted biomesh that stuck to the suit pulled off, taking some of his skin with it and causing him to pass out again.

After the initial display of magic and Hunters cry of pain the entire campsite outside the ship sprang into action, orders were given to medics to see if any of the ponies thrown out from the spell where injured, while orders were given to another group to prepared a litter to drag hunter back to the campsite. Once they had managed to get hunter inside the main medical tent and  placed him upon a table they began to work his suit off, after a while they managed to  take off most of the armor plates and slip the rest of his suit off. While the medics were busy with Hunter, others started to gather up some of the surrounding snow to cool him down and prevent complications from his heat exhaustion.

Luna and the rest of the girls where inside another tent, finishing up a more thorough medical exam. Once done the medic gave them all a clean bill of health with no one suffering more than a few minor scrapes. While the medic was packing up her things Shining Armor and Commander Redoubt both entered the tent.

“Princess, girls are you alright?”  The commander asked worried.

“And by harmony what is going on?! First the ship starts to rumble like it was coming to life, then you appear out of thin air being thrown about. ” Shining  asked in a commanding tone.

“And what happened to Hunter?  The medics told me he has numerous burns across his body.  Some of them are even life threatening!” The commander asked.

“We’re fine, and Hunter did do something within the ship i believe to make it work again. He also mentioned some kind of jargon about nuclear psychics and fusion reactors, he also relating them with stars.” Twilight answering their questions.

Shining, the Commander, and the rest of the group in tow made their way to the main medical tent where hunter was being kept, they were denied entry as the medics where still busy working on him.

“Is he going to make it?” Luna asked the medic that barred their way.

“We believe so, we seemed to have gotten his body temperature down enough and he began to rouse and mumble incoherently. His skin has also paled a bit and is cool to the touch, but the burns on his body and hands are a different story. Unless we can get him to more experienced healers we may have to amputate them to keep them from becoming infected.” the medic told them.

“When will you be moving him for better treatment?” Shining asked the medic.

“Until we know he’s stable, we can’t risk moving him.  It could be couple of hours or it could be tomorrow.”

“Okay. Let us know if anything needs to be brought to our attention.” Shining said before leaving.  The rest of the group, except the commander, split off to do their own things since they couldn't see Hunter and had nothing else to do.

“We best send a message to Canterlot and the Royal Crystal City to inform them of the situation.” The commander recommend to Shining while walking beside him.

Shining sighed. “I know…but I hate to do this to Cadence. I honestly believe that we‘re not ready to have an Alien sent into the Crystal Empire. The regions stability is shaky at best, and having Alien yet again injured now having to be sent there and treated could throw the balance off.” He finished, contemplating the issue.

“I understand Prince Shining, but Princess Celestia made it clear that she wanted the creatures cooperation as soon as possible. and having it die will complicate things in the long run.” Redoubt stated.

“What has Celestia so worked up about needing the Human alive and willing and not bothering to tell me or Cadence?” Shining asked him.

“I’m sorry Prince Shining, but I’m not at liberty to say at the moment.”

Shining huffed. “I guess we should send scouts out to see if the weather will permit long enough to get him out of here.

Hunter awoke under a light wool blanket. His entire body ached, but at least he felt cool... almost cold.  He sat up, realizing that he had no clothing save the numerous bandages covering his body and he began to scan the room noticing the canvas walls of a tent, and medical supplies place about, he then spotted his suit and armor piled in a corner. He stood up and went to cover himself with the blanket to finally notice his hands where heavily bandaged and that he had absolutely no feeling in them.

He made his way to his gear and kneeled down working out the kukri knife that was sheathed behind his belt, as it was the only one of his blades that easily accessed in the pile and also the only one with a handle that would fit in his mouth. Once he had worked it out and had it secure in his mouth he carefully began to run his bandaged right hand along the blade to cut off the bandages. After working his way through he dropped the knife and began to peel it away with his teeth, showing charred black skin.

Third degree burns how fucking wonderful.” Hunter said to himself grimacing at the sight.

Hunter wrapped himself with the blanket tighter and slipped out the tents flap and noticing that it was now night. He quickly and silently made his way through the camp and towards his ship, once he had cleared the camp he started to run hoping to get inside and get fixed up before he froze.

______________________________________________________________________________

Luna was with Fluttershy as they made their way to the medical tent that hunter was kept in, they moved around the guard ponies that were breaking down the camp as the scouts had come back not too long ago reporting a massive blizzard was coming this way and could possibly keep them trapped here for a few days, so when Shining decided that they would all hunker down in the ship for a better chance of surviving as the massive blizzards that constantly engulfed the Crystal mountains killed those who failed to seek stable shelter like a cave or crevice. She had the Idea that they could possibly use Hunters own medical supplies in the ship when he woke up and told them what to do. When they had gotten near the tent they noticed one of the medics was frantic.

“What’s going on, what’s wrong?” Luna asked the worked up medic.

“He’s gone! I got up to get something quick to eat and when I got back he had just vanished!” The panicking medic replied.

Luna peaked her head into the tent sure enough Hunter was missing but she spotted his stuff in the back corner, one of his knifes laid on the floor next to a bloody bandage. She looked back at the medic.

“Calm down, he could have not gotten far, he’s most likely making his way back to his ship. Gather those that aren’t busy with taking down the camp to look for his tracks.”

The medic shook her head and set out to find ponies that weren’t busy with the camp to help look for Hunter.

Luna and Fluttershy made their way toward the ship while the others looked around the camp trying to find of him

“Oh I hope he hasn’t passed out again in the snow he might freeze if we don’t find him soon.” Fluttershy said in a nervous tone

“He should be in here as there is no other place for him to go and I don’t think he just wandered off in a delusion he would have had to avoid the guards working around the camp to get out unnoticed.” Luna said reassuring Fluttershy

As they made their way to the ramp on the side of the ship Hunter had opened earlier they noticed fresh prints that that had to be hunters as they were roughly the same shape and size as his boot prints, once they made their way inside they could hear something rummaging about in the back .

“Hunter?” Luna asked towards the noise.

After calling out a massive red flash appeared, coming from a rod like device that was in a badly mutilated hand of Hunter, he also now wore some new type of clothing and the red glow gave him a freighting appearance .

“Good someone finally decided to come looking for me.” He said sarcastically

Hunter tossed the flare towards the two ponies lighting up the area a bit more as most of the lights in the cargo hold were broken.

“How about one of you come over here and give me a hand.” He said more as a command then a suggestion.

Luna looked down at Fluttershy. “Go tell the others that we found hunter then come back with the rest of your friends.”

Fluttershy nodded and took off flying to find the others as Luna made her way to where Hunter stood impatiently and she quickly looked over the red object that spat small flames that he tossed near them as she passed it.

“Sure take your sweet time don’t you.” Hunter said with spite in his voice

Hunter the best he could pointed at the far wall where a switch was located, Luna almost lost her lunch when she saw the very edge of his fingertips were bone.

“Go and use your magic or whatever that shit is and pull that lever.” He told the princess.

Looking away from the dreadful site of his hand and making her way to the lever he wanted her to pull, as she pulled it down massive clangs could be heard as massive lights above her turned on lighting up the area from the large doors they had gone through earlier to the edge of the ramp on the opposite side of the room, she also noticed as the rest of the girls began to enter along with commander redoubt.

“I see our a guest is up and walking again.” Redoubt said in a cheeky tone.

The group watched as Hunter stepped out into the bright lights making his way for the door leading farther into the ship, he now wore a clothing with a white and black camouflage pattern and a heavy jacket that seemed to have a hood lined with fur, then they noticed his hand.

“By Celestia’s light, Your hand.” The Commander stammered.

A thump could be heard as Rarity feinted and the rest of the girls gladly turned away from the sight to see if she was okay.

Hunter raised his hand and looked at it.  “Eh I’ve had worse.”

Hunter now ignoring them made his way into the ship Luna followed suit.

The commander mumbled to himself. “Princess you’re going to end up getting killed if you keep running off by yourself like this.” He turned to the girls behind him.  “One of you stay behind with Rarity the rest of you follow me and stay close.”

Hunter worked his way to the CnC  glad that for what light there was and cursing the ones that still sparked out at him, and not to long after working his way into the ship Luna had caught up with him.

“Why are you still Following me?” He said agitated

“Your hurt, and if we don’t get your hand looked at and bandaged up again you’re going to lose it.” She said concerned for hunters wellbeing.

“And why the fuck do you care if I lose a hand or not?” He retorted

“What is wrong with you Hunter? Ever since we left the castle I’ve noticed you become more troubled.” She was almost pleading with him for an explanation for his mood change.

“Maybe it could be that you and your sister are what’s bothering me “Princess”.” Hunter said putting venom into the last word.

Luna stopped, she felt like she had been slapped and she was confused all she and her sister did was help him never anything malevolent. Before she could think of anything to say she noticed dried blood on the floor, they were some near where they first ran into each other. Luna now thought that maybe saving Hunter the first time could have been what was causing him to be angry, perhaps humans didn’t like feeling indebted?

Hunter followed his blood trail from days ago into the CnC and once he had entered the room he pushed past the mess going towards one of the control panels and attempted to push key buttons, he winced as he pushed them wishing that all of the nerves in his hand had burned away.

Luna watched as black boxes that where every were start to flicker and come to life displaying random text and pictures while some sat still and black and a few others sparked from the looks of being smashed in.

Hunter watched as the ships main systems began to boot up running diagnostics on its firmware and hardware. He then made his way to the center of the room where a massive holoprojection table sat as it started to flicker to life.

The commander made his way through the hallways with the entire group now that Fluttershy and Rarity managed to catch up with them, he had tried to keep a good pace with Luna keeping her in sight and not too long ago he had almost charged ahead to lash out at the human when he spoke out at Luna and her sister in a disrespectful way, before they got out these mountains he would make sure the Human knew his place.

As the commander and the girls rounded the corner and entered through the door way they saw hunter leaning over a massive table with Luna sitting not too far back in awe, upon the table stood a small beautiful figure that showed some similarities to Hunter but was more feminine, It turned and smiled at them.