Short Hand: Monster Slayer · 11:52pm Oct 30th, 2021
Luna visited Shepherd in his dreams, as she often did.
Shepherd: "Mm? What can I do for you, Your Majesty?"
Luna: "it's a special request, really. I need your help."
Shepherd: "Eh? My help?"
Luna: "Yes. Would you like to help me?"
Shepherd: "It would help to know what I would be helping you with."
The world of the dream shifted... To a small house. A little foal was hiding in a closet and hiding as monsters rampaged through the place. Shepherd's eyes widened. He saw... Bodies...
Luna: "This poor foal... Monsters came and killed his family. He survived by hiding. He dreams of this, every night. I have sent monster hunters to pursue and slay these beasts... But that will not stop these nightmares. I have tried to help him, but my usual methods aren't working. The pain is too great, too deep. Can you help?"
Shepherd sucks in a deep breath. He nodded slowly.
Shepherd: "Let me try... Put me in with him."
And Shepherd was sitting with the foal, who was sitting in terror, covering his mouth, tears streaming down his face. He looked up at Shepherd in shock.
Shepherd: "... You're weak. You're helpless. You hate feeling like this. You don't want to be like this. You want to make them pay. And you want to keep anyone... Anypony else... From ever feeling like this again. From going through this ever again."
The foal barely managed a nod. Shepherd nodded back, and squeezed his shoulder.
Shepherd: "You can't do this now... But you will. One day, you will. But you can't shut out others trying to help. Even if they haven't gone through this... They still care about you."
The foal stays silent. But nods, still crying and shaking. Shepherd smiles. He closes his eyes... And manifests armor and a shotgun.
Shepherd: "Until then... The only way to slay monsters? Is to be stronger. Faster. Fiercer. Smarter. And scarier. And that's me."
He gets up, kicks down the door, and starts slaying the monsters furiously. Blowing them away with shotgun blasts, stabbing them with swords, smashing them with clubs, kicking and punching them down. He imagines Chewie, and together, they kill all of the monsters, pile them up, and then set them on fire.
The foal comes out, watches. Shepherd walks up and kneels down in front of him.
Shepherd: "... Your family is gone. But you will build a new one. You will rebuild your life... As long as you become stronger."
Luna smiles approvingly, as the foal's eyes blaze.
Foal: "I will... I promise...!"
Thus Equestria's version of the Goblin Slayer was born.
Or the Godamn Batpony.
or the Doom Slayer
which fits for the theme music i image forthis fight
5601997
Very fitting ♡
Definitely getting Batman vibes here. Are monsters a superstitious, cowardly lot?
I'm thinking Van Helsing
And the foal grows up to become The BatColt!!!
D'awww.....
This is the beginning of the Pony... Alexander Anderson.
Until then...
RIP AND TEAR
RIP AND TARE!!! RIP AND TARE!!! RIP AND TARE!!! RIP AND TARE till it's DONE!!!
5602029
There's a million things he hasn't done, but just you wait!
The look in that foal's eyes almost makes me feel sorry for the monsters...
...almost...
I swear to God if we don't see more of this kid in the future I will be angry!
5602939
I'll be angry as well. In fact, I'd pay to read a story about that colt going on to be like Alexander Anderson from Helsing Abridged.