I. The Wonderful Land of Equestria.
15th Day of the First Sun
I've been thinking lately, no, I have been having weird thoughts. Years of my life and years of what I do and today I begin to question random things...or not so random maybe.
Maybe I'm simply beginning to lose my sense of purpose again, after having one for awhile, it is possibly beginning to dawn on me?
Or I am maybe reminiscing about the past?
I can never tell the true status of our world, I stopped caring eventually once I became a Hunter, still though. We go through two Different Wars, Resource Collapse, & A Fucker who wanted to watch the world burn that got what he wanted and we're still here. I don't know if I should be impressed that we're still here.
All these thoughts are why I have this journal anyway, can't bring my thoughts out on the job after all, but fuck my thoughts today have been strong.
Soon then an Alarm Clock rang as then a huge and scaly purple hand switched it off, deep rumbling groans are heard as well as the tall and fit figure stood up from his chair and closed the small leather book-covered Journal, walking from the table over to a closet.
Inside was armor, weapons, and clothing as the figure grabbed his getup, grabbing the hooded though partially shreded Red Cloak, looking more like a hooded cape as he slips it on, he then slips on some thick protected dark blue jean garments, many pockets are seen from the hips to his backside and thighs, a leather belt slips onto the gaments as well as two dagger sheathes rest on the hips of the garments along with other belt pouches. Hard Kneepads are tightened around his legs.
Next the figure slips some black metal wrist cuffs on, the cuffs going around right below his biceps too, matching Shoulder Pads were also equipped. Finally he slips his Sword with it's Sheath onto his back along with another weapon his bitsack tied onto his belt as he lastly wraps the soles and arches of his digitgrade feet in cloth tight bandages, his heels and toes bare as he does the same with his palms.
After a few finishing touches he stands up straight, adjusting the clothing and gear a bit, tightening his armor as the claw of one of his toes scratch at the wooden ground in impatientness, rubbing his eyes and looking in the mirror to see that same Purple and Green Dragon he is.
He adjusted his scaly and fin hairstyle, checking his teeth for anything before letting out a deep chuckle, "Who am I kidding?" He asks, knowing well the Mares in this city don't care for Dragons.
His thick tails moves around as he turns to leave the closet, closing it up as he walks to his Journal, grabbing it and pocketing it, he then leaves his room, locking the door behind him in an inn, soon then the door next to him opens, hearing and seeing that quickly rolls his eyes and mutters 'fuck' before turning around to see a Pale Pink colored Mare with a Magenta Mane, she wore gold earrings and gold fingerrings, wearing a white tanktop and some shorts, giving a stern and bitchy look to Spike with her arms folded.
"Hey Dragon, you got my rent today?" She asks.
"It's not rent day Spoiled." He simply says.
"I still want my rent."
"You'll get your rent when it's rent day, what...gonna spend it on some new jewelry again? Is that what this is about?"
"Better watch what you say Dragon, I can have you thrown out of here without your shit, it's an extra rent day today and if you don't comply then I'll grab some guards to throw your ass out now."
"You're really gonna fucking Extort me? I gave you last's rent."
"Oh yes, but you didn't pay it entirely~" She says with a devious smirk.
He knew and she knew that was a lie, Spike gritting his teeth behind his closed mouth he was getting pissed, "Are you fucking kidding me? This is bullshit."
"Oh and you think they'll believe a dragon?"
He rolls his eyes and grabs a few bits, handing them over to Spoiled Milk, she smiles and takes them happily, "Glad we could resolve this quickly, see you next rent." She says as she goes back to her room and shuts the door.
Spike growls in annoyance, turning and leaving finally, he had somewhere to be after all.
The Drake stepped through the grounds of the quiet town, the night sky hovering above with the moon looming over all. His attention to the sky ended up with him bumping into a Stirring Stallion.
"Hey watch where you're going you--" The angry tone instantly vanishes as the Stallion sees who he bumps into, seeing the Dragon look down at him with a disgruntled but casual look, he then chuckles nervously, "Heh I mean sorry...dude, guess you didn't see me from how big you are."
He rolls his eyes again, "I'm only eight feet tall, I can see you just fine."
"H-Heh right, s-sorry again."
"It's whatever." Spike says as he walks away, heading to the lit-up building, music playing inside.
As he enters the conversations quiet to see the Dragon that stood over all of them enter, used to the eyes, he pays no attention...walking over to a booth and sitting down comfortingly, he breathes deeply, closing his eyes to wait, the conversations eventually went back to their normal volumes as he laid back to mainly relax and relieve the stress from a couple of minutes ago.
A minute later the doors open and the conversations quiet once again with a few gasps this time too, the conversations ensue but the tones are gently different, heavy footsteps are heard as they came close.
"Why do you always pick the shitty towns?" Spike asks.
"They're the most quiet when they have the opportunity to be, everyone keeps to themselves more often, coversation isn't much outside a home, work, or a bar." An Average Deep-Toned voice replied.
Spike exhales gently and opens his eyes to see a Brown-Furred Gryphon standing in front of him, his getup was almost the same as Spike's. The Gryphon's cloak a much darker shade of brown instead with no sleeves like Spike, no shirt to wear either when all he's covered in his thick fur-like feathers and a muscular front, he wore dark leathery shoulderpads, wrist cuffs, and kneepads instead of metal for the Scaly one. His golden yellow bird-scales complimented his smooth brown fur nicely, the leggings on his jeans were a bit shorter than most, due to his large Digitigrade Lion Paws. Black Open-Clawed Gloves rested on both of his hands, his sharp-fingered talon trails the table as he moved to sit down, the Gryphon was just as tall as him, his wings folded under his cloak but Spike could see them gently rustle against the dark brown cloak. A smirk formed on the golden beak, his feral yellow eyes staring at Spike.
"Why do you ask? The Landmare being a bitch again?" He asks.
"Yeah, made me pay extra rent this time." Spike answers.
The Gryphon chuckles, "Seriously? You didn't try to do anything?"
"I can't really when the all the Town's Guards and People are shitty and don't like non-ponies, I was almost thrown into their cells if there wasn't a good bystander...and the fact that I'm a Hunter."
"And you just said they all don't like non-ponies."
"Oh fuck off Klyde," He says with a small smile, "Anyway, she seemed like an outsider too because of how she acts...and the accent so maybe that was why she didn't like seeing me being harassed."
"Huh, don't see alot of ponies that'll defend someone who isn't a pony, you got pretty lucky." Said Klyde.
"Well at least I'm not a Gryphon." He says with a laugh.
Klyde laughs along, "True."
After the two finish their small talks, Klyde grabs his satchel pouch, his Sword in it's Sheath right next to the Satch, the Sheath resting on his hip instead of his back like Spike's. He opens the pouch and pulls out a folded piece of Paper, "Alright so here's our contract today, guess what it is?"
Spike looks at the sketch, seeing the drawn monster along with it's description, his eyes dart everywhere, a hand resting on his chin, "A Keld? All the way out here?"
"Yeah, I'm surprised as you." Klyde confirms.
"What's the pay?" Spike asks.
"1,200 Bits."
Spike whistles, "Bit more than usual."
"Fuck yes, plus we're fighting something more exciting." Klyde says with a smile as he folds the paper back up and puts it away.
"Shall I grab our drinks?" Spike asks.
The eight-foot tall duo exited a bar a while later after having their drinks, the two walked south, heading to the outskirts, the two reaching a town checkpoint, guards watching as one of them approach the pair.
"Well look who it is always showing up at Night, the Hunters." One of the Guard says.
"At this point we shouldn't need verification when you just know it's us." Klyde remarks as he and Spike pull out their Hunter Identifications.
"Ah well you know I can't do that sadly." The Guard says taking the two IDs, soon his horn glows and after a bit he hands the cards back, "Anyway, stay safe you two."
The two nod as the Town Gates open and they soon venture forth, "Y'know that Guard's also not bad of a pony either...shitty towns sometimes houses the best of ponies too after all.
"Eh, I'll give you that." Spike shrugs.
The two walked the dirt path, soon then going off the path and into the woods nearby the town, "Keep your eyes focused, don't let them betray you." Klyde advises as the two's tones and stances change. Spike having a hand on one of his daggers.
"I know how to kill a keld Klyde, kicked the last one's ass after all" Spike says with a small chuckle.
"Then right after you collapsed from exhaustion and pain, you broke a few ribs that day."
"Yep, and I'm still proud of that." Spike smiles as then the sound of leaves rustle immediately brings them back into focus.
The Pair trail forward slowly, the two then turning to push their backs together, watching each other's hides, the Dragon picking up the scent of a fellow reptile, "It's close, very close."
The two then pull out their Blades pointing them forward, the leaves and grass continued to rustle, the Dragon and the Gryphon turned left and right slowly, both searching.
The Gryphon's eyes narrow, looking closely at a bare tree...looking closely at the bark...noticing the tree was breathing.
"On me, 12 o'clock." Klyde says.
Spike lowers his blade, grabbing one of his daggers, "3 seconds."
The tree kept breathing until three seconds pass, the Dragon then swiftly throws the dagger right at the Tree and it spilled blood and screeched as then a large ravenous chameleon-like reptile appeared, it's scales changed from bark brown to green, its camouflage deactivated as it then attempt to pounce on one of the two Hunters.
The two split and leap back from the Pouncing Keld, it's tail curls and uncurls continuously as it growls at the two, rapid clicks coming from their throat as they growled.
Spike then grabs his second dagger and tosses it at the Keld, though the creature dodges the blade as it stabs into the grass instead, staring at the Dragon and leaping towards him.
The Drake readied his main blade again as the Keld leaped at him, it's claws out ready to grab him, however instead he swipes at the Keld, dismembering one of its six limbs. The mutant reptile screeching in pain as its neon green blood spilled, while it was distracted by it's lost limb. The Gryphon immediately stomps his footpaw right ontop of the Keld's neck, immobalizing it temporarily as he drops to his knees to hold down the Keld. Klyde then grabs the Hatchet on his Gear Belt and immediately decapitates the Beast.
Drops and bits of it's blood splattered onto the Gryphon's feathery right cheek and his beak, he took a deep breath and stood up, grabbing the dead creature and it's blood-dripping head.
"Huh, well that wasn't as fun as last time." Klyde says.
"Because you took all the glory too quickly."
"You sure it's not because you've gotten more experience a year later?" Klyde asks.
"Nah, it's definitely your fault..."
The tall anthros made it back into town, the monster still being carried as anyone walking the town's paths would bear witness to the two large Hunters and their prize. Looking in awe and/or fear at the sight.
The two entering a large cottage before entering, an Equestrian Guard meeting them with a nod, "'Got another one you two?" He asks.
"Don't you know it!" Klyde says, "Fucker didn't give as much of a challenge as the last time we fought one of these."
"You're the only soul I know who would say such a thing, Kelds are a high-level danger on the list of creatures." The Guard says.
"Yet it only came into town for it's food instead of any townsfolk." Klyde retorts as he hands him the Bounty Paper with it.
"Yeah that was strange, maybe you killed a female that was gathering food for its young?" The Guard asks.
"Not likely, Kelds have a specific attention to Fruit and and it was mostly fruit that was missing from here, it can survive on anything but it's favorite treats are fruit, some have more love for it than others...it actually explains why there was no Hard Cider at the Bar today, it's stock of apples were stolen." Spike says.
"Huh, learn something new everyday, well anyway since this creature has a high payment, I'll need you to wait here so I can give you both your payments." The Guard says as he then walks away.
"Nice big payment for today." Klyde says.
"Yeah, plus I'm happy to do this one for free almost." Spike says with a chuckle.
"Why's that?"
Before Spike could answer the front doors open, the two turning to see who it is, "Hello? Are the Two Hunters still here--" she stops to see the two eight-foot tall Predators standing in front of her but that wasn't what made her froze in general, she froze as she saw Spike, her eyes springing...and Spike does the same.
She had a bright yellow sun-like coat, wearing ripped denim shorts and a tied white tank-top, she had some a few accessories on like a watch, necklace, wrist cuffs, and a sabertooth armlet, she had a long thick ponytail made that was as red as apples, same went for her tail as she kept staring at the Dragon, she then finally snaps out of it, "Uh sorry to bother!" She says with a cheeky chuckle, "I just wanted to say thank you for getting rid of that vermin! That damn critter was stealing all my Apples! No good for Business when you can't made your World Famous Cider, hard or not."
"Ah, so you are the owner of the Saloon?" Klyde asks.
"Mhm! I'm Apple Bloom, nice to meet the two local Hunters finally."
"I'm Klyde, and that's Spike." The Gryphon says.
"Oh yeah, we've met before, I just never got his name last time." Apple Bloom says as she looks at Spike.
The Dragon chuckles then explains to Klyde, "True, she was the one that kept me from being wrongfully imprisoned."
"They wouldn't have locked you up anyway!" Apple Bloom says.
"Yeah, why would they need a bonehead Drake freeloading in one of their cells?"
"Oh thanks." Spike says as all three chuckle.
Soon then the Guard returns with two big sacks of bits, the Hunter smile and pick them up, "Well there's that." Spike says as the two began to walk out, Apple Bloom follows!
"Wait, I want to thank you two somehow!"
"You don't need to do that." Klyde says.
"But I want to! There's not much apples left but fuck it...you two want some 'on the house' Cider?" She offers.
Spike then looks at both Apple Bloom and Klyde, "The reason I said I'd do this for free is because I love this town's Apple Cider, Hard or Not, and I'd rather not go without my daily cider." He answers to Klyde before nodding to Apple Bloom.
"Heh, never a truer statement has been made." Klyde replies.
"Ah shucks you two, I'm glad you both love it, it's a family recipe! Now let's get you two some of that good cider!" She says as she then leads the Hunters back to her Saloon.