I look through the pile of onyx beside me and sigh as I finished the flashbang shots for my weapons. It has been two weeks and a half since Pyrrha, Penny and I have moved into this house and so far things have been pretty relaxed for us.
Pyrrha has taken to sitting in on some of the classes at the school house and got a job as Ms. Cheerilee’s part-time assistant for marking exams and the like, as well as teaching a few classes on Remnant and the Grimm. She was rather hesitant to teach at first but according to the CMC, she has gotten used to it already.
Penny spends a lot of time at Fluttershys. Apparently almost all of Fluttershys animal friends like Penny. Even Angel Bunny. She has been pretty chill and has been helping Fluttershy with some of the animals as well as patrolling the perimeter of Ponyville so no Grimm get in. So far she has only had to take down one Beowulf and a few Creeps. She has also been getting lessons from Pyrrha as well so she can unlock her Semblance, since being a machine before, she could only generate aura.
I have mainly been going through the gems I got from the range and thinking of uses for them, like making ammo for me and Pyrrha to use in our weapons as well as making some new weapons like the onyx powered flashbangs to temporarily blind Grimm. So far I have two prototypes. I have also been patrolling the perimeter like Penny and so far I have dealt with a flock of small Nevermores and a couple of Ursa. I have also helped Luna a couple of nights ago with some nightmares after a flood on the coast and getting magic lessons as payment.
Aside from that I have been hanging out with Scootaloo and her friends and Screwball when none of us are busy. Turns out Screwball and Scootaloo both live in a local orphanage, Screwball since her family is unknown (Discord) and Scootaloo after her parents went missing one day when they were going to the Everfree to get some medical herbs to sell. After I talked to the both of them, Screwball and Scootaloo actually got really close, even letting Screwy become an honorary CMC in spite of her having a Cutie Mark already.
Things have been pretty good here in Ponyville. I found a couple other tokens like a purple snowflake for someone named Jack Frost and a cell phone for someone calling themselves Ichigo, but I haven’t been summoned yet so there have been no problems of a separate dimensional style yet.
But I was wondering about why there haven’t been any major Grimm attacks lately. According to the princesses, the Grimm became much more active after Lunas return and yet there hasn’t been a major attack since Ponyville when I arrived. Maybe it was my knowledge of Grimm or something, but I had a sneaking suspicion that something was coming, something major.
Sighing, I get up from the work desk and up the stairs. It was around five thirty and it was my turn to make dinner for the three of us. After talking to the others we came up with a plan of me and Pyrrha taking turns to cook for the first few weeks till Penny can get the hang of it and not pull a Sweetie Belle and burn the food.
Getting the ingredients together, I start to make some fish and a garden salad. We talked to Fluttershy and she said she would get us some fish and maybe other meats so we don’t just eat fruit and vegetables all the time. Getting the pan we were given by Mrs. Cake ready, the front door opens and I hear the girls talking.
“Adam! We’re home!” Penny calls out. Turning and going past the wall separating the kitchen from the main room, I see as Penny and Pyrrha walk in and remember to take their shoes/boots off. Penny was wearing a dark green t-shirt with her symbol on the back and a pair of grey jeans with her bow in her hair like normal. Pyrrha is in a pair of tan pants with a yellow dress shirt and green hair band holding her hair back in its ponytail.
“Hey girls, just starting to make dinner. Pyrrha, why don’t you set the table and Penny you can come and help me.” I tell them, Penny smiling and all but rushing into the kitchen. I just shake my head and smile at her eagerness. After about ten minutes, the food is ready and we are all at the table taking what we want and begin to eat while talking about the day.
“Who would have thought those two spoiled little fillies would make such a racket at getting a pop quiz on a Friday! Me and Cheerilee should really talk to Mr. Rich and Silver Spoons parents about their behaviour. Even I have limits and those two are testing it!” Pyrrha complains, munching on her salad. Penny and I laugh a little at her predicament.
“The CMC did warn you. They said Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were a handful. But hey, as long as those kids learn about the Grimm and the dangers they pose, they will know to stay away and will thank you later.” Penny says. Lately she has been getting better at speaking more naturally as opposed to her almost robotic tone and phrasing. Though she does slip every now and then like Luna and her older style of speaking.
“Penny is right Pyrrha. And besides, remember what Dr. Oobleck says, ‘Knowledge is the greatest weapon of all.’ Keep that in mind and you should be able to pull through.” I say, patting her shoulder.
Pyrrha goes to continue when we hear a buzzing sound and the sapphire ring on my hand glows bit. A few days ago the princesses had sent me, Pyrrha and Penny personal gem rings enchanted to work like Spikes magical fire so they could send letters directly to us and vice versa. Mine is a sapphire, Pyrrha’s is a ruby and Penny’s is an aquamarine.
The gems glows a bit more before a mist appears before turning into a scroll, landing in my hand. Looking at it, it has Celestia’s seal on it and is marked as urgent. I quickly unseal it and begin to read aloud.
Dear Adam and company,
It has been a while since we have written to you and I wish it was with good news. Unfortunately this is not the case. I recently received a report from Appleloosa. There has been a large gathering of Grimm spotted on the edges of the Buffalo’s territory and the ponies and buffalo are worried they are getting ready for a large assault.
I ask that you and your team go to Appleloosa to deal with this threat. I am going to be sending Shining Armor and a squad of royal guards as well to act as support, but I know it is best if I place my trust in you and your friends.
Please respond immediately with your choice. Sincerely yours,
Princess Celestia.
As I finish reading the letter, I look to Penny and Pyrrha, the duo looking worried.
“Pyrrha, do you think you can stay here for defence while Penny and I go to Appleloosa?” I ask her. Pyrrha thinks for a moment and nods with a determined expression. I get a scroll and quill from a shelf and begin to write my response.
Dear Princess Celestia,
I talked it over with the girls and we decided that Penny and I will be going to handle this while Pyrrha stays here in Ponyville as a last line of defence while we are away. We will be taking the earliest train to Appleloosa in the morning. Just be sure that Shining and his squad are there when we arrive.
Sincerely yours,
Adam Taurus.
I roll the scroll up and place a seal on it before pointing my ring at it and a silver magical flame comes out and ‘burns’ the scroll, sending it to the royal palace. I quickly get my shoes on and grab a bag of bits to go to the train station and get our tickets.
“Girls, I am going to get the tickets for tomorrow morning! Should I grab anything else while I am out?” I call, before Penny pops her head out of the kitchen.
“Can you swing by Sugar Cube Corner and grab a box of muffins for the morning? So we don’t have to rush and get them before leaving.” She asks. I just smile and nod to her. Every since Derpy has made her some muffins a week ago, that is all she wants to eat for breakfast.
Going out the door and to the station, I make it just before closing and get two ticket for the seven a.m train and walk into town to the famous bakery. There were still a few ponies out, most closing their stands from the day. They wave to me and smile, I respond in kind. The town had gotten used to me and the girls so most of the town know we are not a threat. It take a few minutes, but I arrive at the bakery and walk in to find a few ponies eating at the booths and for Mr. Cake to be at the till.
“Evening Adam! What can I get ya?” He asks as I walk up.
“Evening Carrot. Can I get a box of assorted muffins please.” He nods and goes to the back to get the box for me.
“Howdy Adam!” I turn and see AppleJack in line behind me with a smile.
“Hey AJ. Whatcha doin here?” I ask as Carrot comes back with half a dozen muffin and I pay.
“Just picking up an order of apple fritters. We just sent the apples over here so I wanted to grab some for tomorrow before the morning rush.” She says, Mr. Cake already having her order ready. The two of us decide to walk to together as both our houses are the same direction for a bit. “So anything going on with you and the gals? Any problems or events?” I just nod with a small frown.
“We just got a letter from the princess. Apparently there is a large group of Grimm gathering just outside of Appleloosa and me and Penny are going to be taking care of it tomorrow.” I tell her and she gets a worried expression.
“Appleloosa? Hmm, do ya mind if I come along? Some of mah family lives there and I’ll be worried sick if I don’t make sure they are fine.” She says. I look to her and stop walking.
“You know we aren’t going sightseeing. It is likely we will be forced to fight a bunch of Grimm.” I tell her and she looks up to me, dead in the eye with determination.
“Ah know, but if any members of mah family are in danger than ah ain’t going to be sittin around on my flank while they fight.” She says. I just sigh. I learned in the time I have known her, when AppleJack decides something, she almost never changes her mind.
“Alright, but you will stay with me, Penny or a royal guard at all times. No heroics.” I tell her with a pointed finger. She nods. “Ok, meet us at the train station in the morning for the seven o’clock train.” After that we split up to go to our respective homes for the night.
The next morning, me, Penny and AppleJack are waiting on the platform for the train to arrive. Penny and I were back in our original outfits, but with small differences. The back of my jacket had my eclipse wolf symbol instead of the rose, curtsy of Rarity and Penny also had her own Grimm mask and a dark green jacket. I made a mask for Penny and Pyrrha that both have the material used for sunglasses built in so they could use the flash shots without worry of blinding themselves.
Even though they were hesitant, I pointed out the White Fang don’t exist here in Equestria and that I was thinking of starting my own squad of the royal guards eventually, with their own masks to differentiate them from the White Fang of Remnant.
Penny and I munched on our muffins waiting, while AppleJack ate her fritter in silence. It lasted for a few minutes before the train pulled up and the conductor walked out.
“Next train to Appleloosa! All aboard!” He call out and we walk up and show our tickets. Getting in the train, only one or two other ponies enter after us. The train starts to move and I look though my scroll and put my earbuds in to listen to music. Before I can hit play, Penny pokes me and points to my headphones. I just smile and take one out for her to listen too. I go through and put my music on shuffle. The first one that played was oddly appt for some reason.
Home from Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams.
https://m.As the song begins, Penny swings her legs in tune and then lays her head on my shoulder. I just smile and look out at the passing scenery. AppleJack just looks to the two of us and smiles.
‘Those two are mighty cute together. Now ah can see what Rarity and Fluttershy were saying about them.’
Me and Penny just listen to my music fo the rest of the trip while AppleJack pulls out a book she brought. Looking out the window again, I can see the town just a couple of minutes away and I pause my music. Looking to Penny, she seemed to have fallen back to sleep holding my arm. How is it I didn’t notice yet? I put my hand on her shoulder and gently shake her awake. Her eyes flutter open and she yawns and stretch’s a bit before returning my earbud and getting ready for the train to stop.
Walking out of the train and onto the platform, we are greeted by the sight of a town that looks like it belongs in an old western movie with ponies and buffalo walking around. There is also about a dozen guards around the town. Walking into town I quickly see Shining ordering a trio of guards around.
“Shining Armor!” I call out. He turns and sees the three of us and smiles, though his is slightly confused by AppleJack being here.
“Adam! Penny! Am I ever glad to see you two. We’ve got what we can from the locals and it looks like the Grimm are gathering for one large assault.” He says after shaking our hands. AppleJack coughs and gets out attention.
“Um, if it is ok, ahm going to go look for mah family.” She says.
“Ya won’t need to look far cousin.” Turning we see a yellow earthpony stallion in his early twenties, in a sheriffs outfit walking up alongside a thin buffalo girl that looks like she is in her late teens, in a traditional First Nations outfit of a poncho and feathers in her hair.
“Braeburn! Little Strongheart! You’re ok!” She says, pulling the duo into a hug. Penny and I chuckle and see they are starting to have trouble breathing.
“Hey AJ! You might wanna make sure you don’t take them out before they can help with the Grimm.” I say, and she looks to see her cousin and the buffalo’s faces going a little blue. She lets them go and they begin to gasp for air.
“Ya ok little Heart?” Braeburn asks the girl, helping her up.
“Yeah. I’m ok BB.” she says and the stallion blushes a little. I look between the two and smirk at the blatant relationship between these two.
“Well AJ? You going to introduce us?” I ask and the mare blushes with embarrassment.
“Right. This is mah cousin Braeburn, he is the deputy of the town. And this is Little Strongheart, she is basically the ambassador for the buffalo and ponies of Appleloosa.” She turns to her cousin and friend. “These two are Adam Taurus and Penny Polendina. They are huntsman, it is their job to deal with Grimm, the black creatures that have been showing up lately.”
“Howdy you two./ Hello, nice meet you.” They say over each other. Me and Penny smile at the duo and shake their hands.
“Well, know that we’re all acquainted, how bouts we head over to the sheriffs office and make a plan. Cheif Thunderhooves and sheriff Silverstar are already trying to come up with one.” Braeburn says and we all nod. We walk for a minute before arriving at one of those old fashioned jail buildings. Walking in, I see an older looking stallion with a black moustache talking with a large buffalo in native chief cloths going back and forth about something.
“I still say we should get everyone ready for a fight in case these monsters attack us.” The chief says. The sheriff goes to respond before seeing our group as we all walk in.
“Prince Armor, Braeburn. I hope you two have come up with something.” He says. Shining smirks and steps aside as Penny and I walk up to them. The two leaders raise a brow at us.
“Hello Chief Thunderhooves, Sheriff Silverstar. My name is Adam Taurus and this is my partner Penny Polendina. We are huntsman sent by the princess to deal with these Grimm.” I say and they look to us in surprise.
“Wait. Adam Taurus? As in the same Adam Taurus that duelled Princess Luna to a draw a few weeks back?” The sheriff asks and the newcomers all look to me in shock. I just nod and raise my shirt and show my scar from the fight. The others look to me in shock and awe before the chief gets a smile on his face.
“Well, it seems we have a true warrior on our side!” He says, clapping me on the back before looking to Penny. “And considering this young mare is your partner, I assume she is very skilled as well?” He asks, and I just smirk and nod to Penny. She puts on one of the most innocent smiles I have ever seen...then extends a dozen of her swords behind her to act like wings. The four newcomers all jump back at this.
“Sweet Celestia! I knew being a huntsman you’d have to be good, but this is nuts!” Braeburn says and the others nod. Me and Penny just laugh at their reactions.
“Well now that introductions are done, how about we get down to business and think of a plan to deal with the Grimm.” I say at the two leaders nod before pulling out a large map of the area. A few sections are marked with apples, a few with buffalo headpieces but there is a large area blacked out at the edge of the buffalo’s territory.
“All we really know for sure is that, a little less than a week ago, about five days, a large horde of these ‘Grimm’ went past us and towards the old abandoned rock quarry for some reason. A lot of them stopped and a few even got close, but they did not attack us. We also heard a loud screech unlike any we have heard before about two days ago. Since then more and more Grimm have gone to the quarry. We believe that the Grimm are gathering and getting ready for a large assault on us.” Thunderhooves explains, pointing to a few spots in the quarry. I look to Penny and see that she may have the same idea as me.
“Does anyone here know the terrain leading up to the quarry?” I ask and Strongheart raises her hand and nods.
“Grimm are naturally attracted to negativity, so they should have sensed all the panic from the town and the tribes and attacked, yet they haven’t. Grimm hierarchy works through the laws of strength. The bigger, stronger and more experienced a Grimm is, the higher up the chain it is. The only reason the Grimm wouldn’t attack, would be if either a very large or very powerful Grimm ordered them not to.” I say, and go through my scroll and put it in hologram mode.
“Off the bat, I can think of four Grimm that could fit that criteria. A King Taijitu, a Nuckelavee, a Gargantuan or worst of all, a Grimm Dragon.” I say, showing the images of the offending Grimm. The ponies and buffalo look like they are going to be sick once I get to the Nuckelavee, likely because of the equine half. I look to all of them then Penny who nods at me.
“Little Strongheart, I want you to gear up with whatever weapons you can use. You, me, Penny and Shining are going on a recon mission so we can see what we are dealing with.” I tell her and she looks to her chief. He nod to her, his eyes full of faith and confidence in her. She nods and she and Braeburn go out to get geared up.
“Applejack, I want you to stay here and set up a perimeter around the town and get whoever can fight ready to do so. We may end up shaking the Lancers nest.” I tell her and she nods with the two leaders before I roll up the map and hand it back and leave to wait by the edge of town.
Me and my squad are almost ready to head out. Shining is giving some last minute orders to his soldiers and AJ is helping move some stuff like boxes and barrels around to make a blockade.
Little Strongheart soon walks up with a large spear and bow on her back and quiver at her side. Braeburn walks up to her and talks for a second before bringing her into a hug, getting a kiss on the cheek in response. She walks up to us as AJ goes over to her cousin with a smirk and the stallion blushes at a comment of hers.
“Everyone ready?” I ask and they all nod, Penny putting her Grimm mask on. I look to the buffalo girl and motion for her to lead the way. She nods and we walk behind her. We go on in silence for about half an hour before arriving at the cliffs that look over the quarry.
“From here there are several small caves and spots we can use to spy on the Grimm.” She says to us. I go to answer, only to be interrupted by a loud caw. Looking around, a black crow with red eyes perches itself on a dead tree near to us. Shining goes and lights his horn before I place a hand in front of him.
“Wait. That isn’t a Grimm. It’s just a crow.” I look to it and something clicks in my mind. “The same crow I saw over two weeks ago on my way back from the gem range.” The others look to me in confusion as I look back to the bird. We both stare at each other for a minute before it caws again and flies up, before stopping mid air and looking to us.
“I think he wants us to follow him.” Little Strongheart says and I nod. Our group begins to follow the bird, keeping an eye on the quarry for any sign of Grimm. We go for a few minutes before finding a cave that goes back a couple dozen feet into the cliffside. Looking in, I see the remnants of a campfire, the wood still smoking.
“A campsite? Who would be camping this close to a Grimm infested quarry?” Shining asks aloud. We all look around the area and Strongheart notices something.
“I got tracks!” We all go to her as she is crouching near the mouth of the cave. “But these don’t look like the tracks of any creatures I have seen before, not even Grimm.” Going to her, I look at the tracks and my eyes widen.
“That is because these aren’t foot prints. These are boot prints. See the repeating lines and that they are exactly the same on each foot? That is because these are from the bottoms of a boot like my shoes.” I tell her, pointing from the prints to my shoes.
“But, who would be wearing boots aside from you two? Most creatures in Equestria have natural padding on their feet like our hooves or a dragons scales.” Shining says. Penny and I look around the cave some more and Penny finds something behind a rock.
“What the?” Picking it up, she sees it is some kind of scarf with a repeating pattern. “Hey, what do you guys make of this?” She asks, bring the scarf over. I take it in hand and see a small tag and my eyes widen at what it says.
“Impossible..” I whisper in shock. Before the others can question me, we hear voices coming towards the cave. I react quickly, grabbing Penny and Strongheart and casting an invisibility spell on us, Shining casting his own on himself.
“I swear, I had it before we left the cave this morning.” A young boys voice says from beyond the cave. There is what sounds almost like a shimmering for a second.
“I agree. I know we had it last night before we went to sleep at least.” A slightly more experienced and almost British sounding version of the same voice said. The others look to me in confusion as I am staying quiet, and beneath my mask, my eyes are as wide as dinner plates and pupils pinpricks again.
“Come on Oscar! What is so important about that scarf? We have to deal with these Grimm before they attack a settlement!” A young female voice says, and I feel Penny tense up against me. We both know that voice. Not a moment later, two figures walk up to the cave. One Penny knows all too well, and the other I know just as much.
“Ruby, my scarf has the same sentimental value as your cape does to you. It just feels wierd to be without it.” Oscar Pine says, as he entered the cave. He looks to be around fourteen or fifteen with black hair, tan skin with freckles and green eyes. He is wearing a pair of brown work boots, tanish pants with orange strapes over the shoulder, a dirty white shirt and orange gloves with black straps and a backpack. Basically, standard farmer clothes for Remnant.
“Fine, I guess. But still, how is it you lost your scarf in the first place? Isn’t normally attached to your pocket?” Ruby Rose said. She was in the same outfit as from season 4-5, her cape still having parts of it near the ends being ripped, her silver eyes almost shining in the low light and her hair still short and around her shoulders. I can barely catch a glimpse of her weapon, Cresent Rose, behind her.
Oscar goes to respond before his eyes light up and I can tell, Ozpin is in control. “Somethings wrong.” He says and looks to the ground and sees mine and Penny’s shoe prints and Shining and Strongheart’s hoof prints. He motions for Ruby to be quiet and follow the tracks, headed straight for Shining.
The prince looks to me for help and I silently sigh. I point to my head, indicating his horn and then to the girls, telling him to cast his spell on them. He nods and does it, and I let them go and sneak to the entrace of the cave, right behind the two younger warriors.
‘Well, leap of faith time.’ After I think that, I disable my spell and become visible behind them. They don’t seem to notice till Ruby sees my shadow. She turns on a dime, hand on her weapon and freezes, seeing me. Ozpin follows suit and we all stand there frozen at this scene of reveal. I try to break the ice.
“Umm, hi?”
And then all I see are rose petals.