The Hunter and the Hunted
Chapter 4:
Sunset awoke early to her phone receiving a text. She looked at the clock and saw that it was six in the morning, forcing her eyes open she reached for her phone and unlocked the screen. Opening her messenger, she read that school was cancelled due to a campus emergency. Seeing this woke her fully and she climbed out of bed. After going to the bathroom, her phone chimed again, this time with a text from Twilight that instructed her to check the channel 7 news. Hurrying out into the living room, Sunset turned on the television and sat on the couch. Flipping over to channel 7, she tuned in during the middle of the report.
“…damaged doors, walls and lockers. As in previous occurrences, no items were removed from the premises. However, this particular incident had an eyewitness. A Mr. Allenby, who works as janitorial staff, was present during the incident although his account is leaving authorities baffled. Mr. Allenby is on record as saying that a giant, orange eyed beast was stalking the halls. Law enforcement who inspected the scene found no clear evidence of this ‘monster’ and are dismissing the claim as overactive imagination at the sight of the real perpetrator.”
The reported segued into another story and Sunset immediately called Twilight. “Twilight? I just saw the report.”
“Seems we have some confirmation now.” Twilight said. “The police may not believe, but given what we know so far, I certainly do.”
“Yeah. Listen, I’m going to group text the others and ask them to meet up at the diner at noon. Can you make that?”
“No problem, I have some information you’re going to find interesting anyhow.” Twilight informed. “I’ll see you later.”
“Right, bye.” Sunset hung up and immediately sent out her message.
As the sun reached its peak in the sky, the girls assembled in a corner booth at the diner. After ordering some drinks to validate their use of the booth, Twilight pulled out her notebook and opened it up.
“Okay, just to make sure we’re all caught up and on the same page.” Twilight spun the computer around and displayed the photo Sunset took in the magic shop. “This was found in Grand Illusions and after some debate, we’ve determined it to be the claw mark of an unknown species. With this recent break-in at the school and the report from Mr. Allenby, we can reasonably conclude that we’re dealing with some form of magical creature. I looked into the prior two incidents that were reported.” She called up articles she had saved on the matter. “The break-ins were at the amphitheater grounds and the movie studio we were invited to by Canter Zoom.”
“Well, except for the magic shop, all the places that were hit are places where Equestrian magic was being used.” Sunset concluded.
“Correct.” Twilight nodded. “I tried looking into the magic shop but I couldn’t find anything remarkable about it, so it doesn’t really fit into the pattern.”
“It is a magic store.” Rainbow Dash said between sucks on her straw. “Maybe it thought there was actual magic in there.”
“As silly as that is, we can’t rule it out.” Twilight looked to Sunset. “Do you know of any creatures from Equestria that fit this pattern or description?”
“No.” Sunset shook her head. “Doesn’t sound familiar.”
“Maybe it’s from this world.” Fluttershy suggested.
“Maybe it’s from outer space!” Pinkie said, slapping her palms on the table dramatically. “Like the mind sucker from planet Viamax.”
“That sounds… less likely.” Applejack stirred the ice in her glass as she thought. “But whatever world this thing is from, what the heck are we supposed to do about it? It’s tearing up places like a wild bull… how do you even fight something like that?”
“Indeed.” Rarity nodded. “I’m certainly not fond of the idea of getting into a fist fight with a giant monster.”
“There’s something else.” Sunset interrupted. “I don’t know how or why, but I know that Hunter has something to do with that thing.”
“Hunter?” Rainbow Dash repeated.
“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time that a new student showing up coincided with some kind of threat.” Fluttershy admitted.
“He’s definitely got a mean streak.” Applejack nodded as she recalled the fight in the cafeteria.
“I don’t know.” Rarity shook her head.
“How can you not know?” Rainbow Dash eyed her skeptically. “He practically wears a sign on his back that says ‘jackass’.”
“Well.” Rarity folded her hands neatly on the table. “It’s just that when he left the school yesterday he said something quite rude to Derpy; but she insisted that he was nice to her. She said he overpays her every morning for muffins she sells.”
“That’s funny.” Pinkie Pie rested her elbows on the table and her head in her overlapped hands. “Lyra said something like that too.”
“She did?” Fluttershy asked.
“Yeah, I was talking to Octavia in class about him being suspended; Lyra overheard me and said she was kind of surprised. She said that just the other day she got stuck downtown and ran into him, he called a Lyft for her and paid for her ride home.”
“That’s hard to believe.” Applejack said. “I mean, y’all should have heard him yesterday; he slings insults and craziness like some kind of demented auctioneer.”
“He’s certainly appearing to be an enigma.” Twilight confessed. “But we can’t ignore the fact that the school was attacked the same night he was suspended.” She turned her computer back around and began opening another file. "There's also these." She spun the computer around again. "I went through all the photographs that were taken at both of the prior incidents. See anything familiar?"
The girls all leaned in and checked the screen. "It's him." Sunset pointed to the screen. "Hunter's in both of these."
"Both were taken by local paper photographers within twelve hours of the news broadcasts on television." Twilight folded her computer closed.
“Looks like Sunset is right.” Rainbow Dash leaned back. "So what's the plan?"
“I’m going to get into the school tonight and see if I can find any more clues.” Sunset said surely.
“You can’t break into school grounds.” Twilight whispered as she looked around to see if anyone heard the bold statement.
“Technically, I’ll just be going in through the already broken into door.” Sunset rationalized her plan.
“You shouldn’t go alone.” Rarity noted. “I’ll… go with you.”
“You don’t have to risk yourself too.” Sunset refuted. “I’ll take responsibility for this one.”
“And what if that thing shows up again?” Applejack asked. “If you two are going, then so am I.”
“Well I'm not going to miss out this.” Rainbow Dash smiled.
“Me either.” Pinkie nodded.
The girls looked to Fluttershy and Twilight. “Um… I don’t… okay.” Fluttershy sighed as she caved.
“Fine.” Twilight huffed. “But if we get arrested I’m blaming everything on you; and I'm getting my own lawyer." She said as she pointed at Sunset.
“Deal.” Sunset agreed to the terms. “Meet up there at ten.” With a round of agreement the girls separated for the time being.
Sunset arrived at the school around 9:45 to make sure the area was clear before her friends showed up. As expected, the doors were taped off but there were no signs of any kind of patrol. The others soon arrived in staggered succession and once everyone was present, they headed into the main building. The dull glow of the night time lights did little to help them see, they used their phones as flashlights to get a better look at the damage. Some of the classroom doors were kicked in and many of the lockers along the wall has been torn open. Parts of the walls were damaged and even some of the halogen lighting elements in the ceiling.
“This destruction is so… random.” Twilight whispered. “What’s its goal?”
“Can’t really say.” Sunset ran her hand over one of the damaged lockers. “Almost seems like it’s looking for something.”
A sharp noise echoed through the silent building causing all of them to jump. Fluttershy went behind Pinkie and held onto her shoulders. “What was that?”
“Sounded like a locker closing.” Rainbow Dash glanced over at Sunset.
“Let’s go.” Sunset said bravely as they moved down the main hall. They headed around towards the second block of classrooms and proceeded towards the rear of the building until their lights shined on a lone figure. “Hunter.” Sunset said as he turned to face them.
Hunter looked them over with a hint of shock but just smiled and clicked his tongue. “Well, a group of young ladies wandering around a spooky building in the middle of the night. All you need is a van and a dog and you’d be in business.”
“What are you doing here, Hunter?” Sunset ignored his barbs.
“I came to get some things I left in my locker.” He looked about the damaged hall. “Haven’t you heard, this place isn’t very safe.”
“You really expect us to buy that?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah.” Applejack took over. “You get suspended, this place gets ransacked and now you just happen to be here in the middle of the night. You’re going to have to do better than that.”
“Okay, here’s the truth.” He raised his hands peacefully. “I’m secretly in love in Principal Celestia and I came to leave a letter professing my feelings on her desk.”
“Really?” Pinkie asked in amazement.
“He’s lying, dear.” Rarity shook her head.
“Quit playing around!” Sunset shouted. “We know some kind of creature was behind this and we know you have something to do with it.”
Hearing her say that made his face change dramatically. “Look.” His voice shifted to a far more serious tone. “I don’t know what you and the babysitter’s club here think is going on, but you need to drop it, now.”
“Or what?” Sunset challenged.
“Remember what I told you about mine fields?” He asked. “I know you girls aren’t exactly normal, but don’t think a little magic automatically gives you the upper hand here.”
“He knows about our magic?” Fluttershy looked to Sunset sharply.
“That’s it.” Rainbow Dash balled her fist. “Let’s get him already.”
“Not so fast, speedy.” Hunter pulled a road flare out of his jacket pocket and lit it, the flash of burning nitrate filled the hallway and blinded them. As they recovered they could hear his footsteps running down the hall.
“After him!” Sunset ordered and they began to give chase.
Rainbow Dash used her speed to run ahead and caught up with him near the science lab. “Too slow, tough guy.” She cut him off.
“You know, I'm not really a fan of fast women.” He smiled as he dug in his pocket.
“Then you’re going to hate me.” She activated her speed again but Hunter threw down a series of pellets that burst into smoke. Rainbow Dash became lost in the fog and ran into the lockers, knocking herself silly.
“Little something I swiped from Trixie’s locker.” He waved and ran onward as she slumped to the floor in a daze. Hunter sprinted towards the bathrooms and doubled back towards the front. “Geez, seven girls chasing after me in the middle of the night and I’m running away from them. What a life I lead.” He stopped short as he came across Applejack. “Oh, hey Ellie May.”
“You’re as slippery as a greased pig.” She rolled up her sleeves. “Fortunately, I’m a blue ribbon champion when it comes to catching greased pigs.”
“She’s single guys, can you believe it?” He gestured to an invisible audience. Applejack rushed in and he locked hands with her, a bit taken by her strength. Applejack activated her magic and immediately overpowered him. He let his body go limp and she lost her balance as her momentum sent them into the lockers and pressing her up against him. “Oh my, I do declare.” He said in a gimmicky southern accent as he kissed her nose.
“Hey!” She jumped back and began wiping her face. “What the heck do y’all think you’re doing!?”
Hunter extracted a small canister from his back pocket. He ran up to her and pressed down on the nozzle at its top, releasing a quick shot of aerosol into her face. She quickly went cross eyed and fell into his arms. “Nighty night, cowgirl.” He laid her on the ground and continued on. Further down the hall he happened upon Fluttershy who stood alone in his path. He readied himself but she just stood there.
“Can you… please surrender?” She asked timidly. “I’d really appreciate it.”
Hunter shook his head and slowly walked up to her, he gently put his hand on her shoulder and patted it as he walked by. He worked his way back towards the main hall and was stopped by Pinkie and Twilight.
“Hold it right there mister!” Pinkie held out her hand.
“Man you girls are persistent.” He sighed.
“Persistent is my middle name.” Pinkie said, giving him the stink eye.
“I thought it was Diane?” Hunter eyed her.
Pinkie flustered and stamped her foot. “Who told you?” She pulled a handful of confetti out of her pocket and charged it. “Take this!” She hurled it at his feet and it exploded in a colorful blast.
He jumped back and looked at her in surprise. “Damn, who thought it was good idea to give you the high explosives?
“I’ve got this.” Twilight focused her telekinetic magic and took hold of him. He lifted into the air, struggling to balance himself.
“Not bad, book worm.” Hunter commended. “But I’m guessing that little trick of yours requires a lot of concentration.” He reached down and pressed something on his belt, an ear piercing pitch filled the hall and Twilight and Pinkie reflexively covered their ears. Hunter dropped from the air and landed hard on his back; rolling over, he left the device on the floor as he got up and sped past the girls. Hunter neared the front doors but found Sunset and Rarity blocking his exit.
“I’ll trap him.” Rarity said as she formed four diamond constructs and surrounded him with them. She pulled them in and pinned him between them.
“Diamonds really are a girl’s best friend.” Hunter said through a hard breath as he struggled against his confines.
“Give up.” Sunset approached him. “Whatever you’re up to, it needs to stop.”
“Tempting offer, bacon weave.” Hunter smiled through his efforts. “But I’m afraid that isn’t an option.” He pushed hard and opened enough room to fall to the floor, the constructs clanged together and he rolled out from under them. Quickly jumping to his feet, he started to run but Sunset grabbed his arm; as she did her eyes went white and she saw a flash of his memory. He broke free of her grasp and rushed past Rarity, fleeing the school and disappearing into the night.
“Blast it all.” Rarity groaned. “He’s good.”
“I know where he’s going.” Sunset headed for the door.
“What?” Rarity asked in confusion.
“I’m going after him, take care of the others and get out of here!” Sunset called back and she ran out into the darkness.