//------------------------------//
// Chapter 49 - Hunted 
// Story: Fear Within 
// by VirtualCipher 
//------------------------------//

Freckling only a few glimmering stars, the night sky remained a blanket of darkness with only a few clouds beginning to drift, slowly sailing by while the pale-white moon hovered like a glowing orb, hanging motionless as if it watched everyone down to Equestria. This would have been a beautiful sight to take in if it weren't for the ruined, swarmed and collapsing city that lied below. Now, this night was anything but beautiful. The darkness that lingered in the sky became eerie, sinister and daunting due to the unexpected attack of the changelings. This invasion left a stain on the capital of Equestria.

Destruction. Disruption. Devastation. 

Tonight, it all happened in Canterlot.

Devoid of its former beauty, the city was a mess; a playground for chaos. Houses, buildings and shops had been defaced, ruined and destroyed. Doors were broken, windows were shattered into fragments and some buildings were wrecked, reduced to rubble. While some structures remained standing, they were still torn and cracked. Even the streets were littered with remains of what was once an exquisite city. Sadly, the madness failed to end here. 

Like a swarm of wasps, countless changelings congregated in the skies, flickering above the wrecked city, hovering around in a frenzy while searching for stragglers that got left behind during the evacuation. They were successful in finding a few. Ponies that were lost or left behind were easily pursued and captured, put unconscious as they were encased in cocoons. These lime green goo cocoons were spread throughout the city, clustered together in empty alleyways, abandoned buildings and deserted spires. Those unfortunate enough to get caught were floating inside, trapped and senseless to the world around them.

With the sky controlled by the changelings, the streets were no better. Hordes of the shape-shifters patrolled the roads, armoured and prepared. Relentless, they searched every street, every building and alleyway. The ponies that were unsuccessful in escaping remained hidden in their houses, hearing the multiple marching and stomping of the vicious insect-like creatures. The sound of their hole-riddled hooves pounding against the pavement got closer and closer until they realised it was too late. 

Following the orders of their queen, any stragglers left in Canterlot were pursued, captured and contained in cocoons. 

In an isolated street, devoid of any souls, just vandalized buildings, ruined structures and smashed windows, a burst of light suddenly flared in the middle of the road for a mere second. Materializing from the brief flash, appearing out of the blue, Twilight felt her hooves contact the new area she had teleported to. Just a few seconds ago, she was at the docks, staring at all of her friends, pleading them to escape on the airship and then teleporting away. There was no denying it, she felt guilty leaving them so abruptly. Quickly, her wide eyes gripped her new surroundings, whirling her head from left to right in a panicked state, hoping nothing had seen her. The sight of the invasion happening didn't do the alicorn any good in composing herself. 

The princess looked up to the enormous mountain behind her, putting some distance between her and the docks. Although she travelled quite far, it wasn't enough to reach her destination. Whipping her head in the opposite direction of the mountain, Twilight's worried eyes met with the royal castle and sadly, the changelings' airship that floated above it like a rain cloud. With the changelings swarming the skies and patrolling the streets, teleporting any further could lead her into getting caught. She needed to take cover and hurry to the castle.

"You can do this, Twilight." She whispered to herself, steadying her breathing. "You can do this." Immediately, her ears surged upwards in fright as alarm filled her eyes, picking up the sound of a strident voice, hissing loudly.

"What was that?!" 

Without a second thought, leaping into cover with the help of her wings and getting herself off the streets, the alicorn stuck to the shadows. Focused, doing well to hide her fears, Twilight hastily, yet quietly pressed her hooves against the ground, running to the nearest alleyway she could find. Despite keeping a hold of her composure, her heart failed to cooperate. She could hear it thumping against her chest, battling her attention. 

Polluted in darkness, mucky and cold, the young princess slid on her hooves, crouching and hiding behind a couple of metal rubbish bins. Cautiously, she lifted her head slowly, peering over the bins and watching what occurred down the alley. Shaking, her eyes detected three changelings moving in on the street she teleported to.

Glancing around with their eerie, blue eyes, devoid of any pupils, they hissed and growled, searching the street. 

"Search the buildings!" One of the changelings commanded. "We can't afford to displease our queen by letting any more of these ponies escape."

Much to Twilight's luck and relief, they began to move away from the alley. The numbing horror she felt began to fade, feeling the warm and life coming back into her body, pushing out her chest and calming herself with a satisfied sigh. Slowly and steady, the alicorn raised herself back up, quietly motioning her hooves one after the other, moving away from the bins she used as cover.

However, upon moving, the young princess was quick to stop when her left hoof came into contact with a blob of something wet and sticky on the cold ground, sending a shiver through her leg. Disgusted by its texture, Twilight brought up her hoof and closely examined the thick lump that stuck to her. She recognised it as the gel the changelings used. Instantly, her eyes revolted and her teeth clenched together, cringing at the gel while flicking it off her hoof. 

"Gross..." She muttered in disgust. 

Continuing to advance through the darkened alleyway, feeling as if the walls were closing in on her, the alicorn began to notice more and more of the gel, splattered against the walls and ground. Avoiding the gel's contact, Twilight turned a corner and stumbled into a spacious area of the alley, the darkness refusing to fade. It was a mistake to come this way. What lied before her sickened and frightened the alicorn to the bone.

Paralysed by dread, feeling horror chipping away at her stomach, Twilight turned wide-eyed in fear, her breath stammering in disbelief as she paled. In this sector of the dark backstreet, sticking to the walls and grouped together were a multitude of green cocoons containing many ponies. Stallions, mares and foals, all that failed to escape the changelings. The citizens Twilight failed to evacuate.

The young princess had stumbled upon a nest of cocoons.

Struck with sorrow, Twilight warily lifted a hoof and wandered into the area, her stomach sinking. Left and right, her head twisted, noticing the cocoons daunting glow that battled the darkness of the alley. It was hard, but the young princess' eyes studied every one of the ponies trapped inside to the point where she was spinning around and whipping her gaze up and down. 

Despite being very alive, they looked lifeless, floating in their confinement. Some looked like they were sleeping while others stared right back the princess with motionless eyes, mouths agape as they appeared disoriented yet unconscious. Earth Ponies, Pegasuses and Unicorns, the changelings had captured so many and nearly filled half an alley. Absorbing the images of those unconscious and trapped, it caused the alicorn to feel nauseous, dizzy and sick.

Growing frantic as she turned to each cocoon that surrounded her, Twilight kept whirling from side to side until a certain one caught her eye, causing the whole of her body to hold in place. There was nothing different about it that haunted her. It was who it contained that struck her nerves. The pony inside captured her attention, freezing the alicorn in apprehension. Shattering into tiny pieces like a fractured mirror, her heart broke when recognising the foal trapped inside.

With watery eyes and ears flopping down, Twilight's lips began to quiver as her voice broke. 

"Dinky..." 

Unconscious, floating lifelessly in her cocoon and trapped, Twilight's assistant had been caught by the changelings, imprisoned and stored into a lonely, dark alley along with many more. Although her eyes were open, they weren't moving, completely barren of any life. Expressionless, Dinky remained alive but motionless, not a single thought managed to cross her cold, dormant mind, unaware of the hurt alicorn in front of her. For the young unicorn, the lights were out.

In pain, leaving only a terrified gaze as a response to this awful sight, Twilight was devastated. Fixated on the cocoon that encased her assistant in suspension, the alicorn quickly shook off the horror that crawled over her and snapped back to reality. Breaking free from her frozen state, the princess swiftly pushed herself towards the cocoon which only damaged her heart further upon closing in on the captured, unaware foal.

Doing her best to ignore the emotional pain that cramped in her, Twilight pressed her hooves against the gooey cocoon, throwing away her caution and becoming apathetic towards its texture, speaking in a shaken voice, "Dinky! Dinky! Just... Just hold on, I'll get you out of there!"

The more and more she took in the image of her thoughtless assistant just floating in her sticky prison, the more it burned her eyes in sorrow. Maintaining focus, Twilight's horn began to glow, emitting a small beam that tried to cut open the cocoon. Pushing all of her strength into her mind, the alicorn wore a look of shock when realising her magic did nothing. Dinky's confinement was kept unscathed almost as if the alicorn's magic did nothing.

As if the image of the captured foal began to taunt her, striking at her sorrows and mocking the loss of another assistant... another friend, Twilight's puddled eyes narrowed in annoyance, feeling her nerves rattled. Again, she fired another small beam against cocoon, but sadly, failing to make a mark. Gripping her eyes shut, holding displeasure against the changelings for doing this, the alicorn began to desperately hammer her hooves against Dinky's prison over and over, relentlessly trying to break her free while her breathing turned erratic.

It wasn't long before the tears streaming down her face began to loosen her eyelids' grip, slowly opening them and gazing at the trapped foal. With the hammering of her hooves beginning to fade, the anger in her eyes and face weakened to sadness and misery, sniffling and crying at the sight of her unconscious assistant.

"No, no, no!" Twilight cried, wiping away her tears. "I wasn't supposed to lose you too!" 

Despite all that was happening, the alicorn wanted to break free everyone around her, but she was powerless to do so. She was willing to give her magic another try until she heard a group of distant, raspy voices that threw her ears upwards in fright, whipping her head to the alley she came from. 

"It came from down here!" A changeling hissed.

"Then find the pony!" Another changeling responded, sounding irked.

Tearing away from Dinky's cocoon, fear consumed Twilight as she swiftly took one last look at her assistant despite feeling so much pain, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry. I'll come back for you, I promise. I'll come back for all of you." She murmured, glancing around at all of the trapped ponies.

Hearing the steps of the advancing changelings getting louder and louder, pounding their hooves against the cold, damp ground, the alicorn pressed on. Building up her strength, the Princess of Friendship managed to break her gaze from the nest of cocoons and hurry down the alley, descending deeper into the ongoing invasion. Still unnerved by what she had witnessed, Twilight didn't stop, not for a second. Her legs raced with desperation, clapping against the ground while her mane and tail waved against the wind. Ridding her tears, her face grew stern as she witnessed the exit of the alley, preparing herself to continue onwards into the open while hiding from the changelings. 

Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Fluttershy. The thought of her friends along with everyone else who managed to escape Canterlot built up some relief for the princess, although she couldn't deny the lingering fear inside her. Those who were captured like Dinky kept her heart aching. However, determined to put a stop to this whole nightmare once and for all, Twilight charged through the streets, refusing to falter a single step while keeping out of the changelings' sight. She needed to reach Shining Armour and the Royal Sisters. 





In the vast and pearly halls of Canterlot Castle, havoc lingered just as it did outside. Cocoons that contained members of the royal guard clung to the walls and ceiling, trapping those who tried to put up a fight. Windows were reduced to shards of glass and walls were crawling with cracks. As Chrysalis began to celebrate and cheer, basking in her victory in the throne room, The Hunter found himself in the hall before three changelings.

Enraged by what he had heard, The Hunter's voice began to spark with frustration, growling at the changelings in front of him, "No, no, no, don't tell me they escaped! They're still out there and they're planning something! Twilight and her clingy friends wouldn't leave their leaders behind nor would they go down without a fight!"

Steadily, the Hunter began to walk past the changelings in front of him, curling his claws into fists and proceeded down the corridor, "Widen the search! I'm going to want a few words with the Princess of Friendship before Fright arrives." 





What felt like an eternity of running and hiding, Twilight began to feel the agitating pain shoot up from her hooves to her legs. For a while, the night's cold air stuck to her throat, deepening her breathing as it grew faster. From alley to alley, street to street and building to building, the alicorn progressed through the invasion of Canterlot, evading the changelings' watchful eyes. There was no escape from the horror surrounding her. More destruction, more cocoons, more ponies trapped, it did well to gnaw away her confidence, but she prevailed and cautiously, yet swiftly kept running towards the castle. She was almost there, however, due to the heavy fortifications the changelings' possessed over the castle and its perimeter, the young princess found herself taking a detour from the streets and into the royal sculpture garden. 

Despite the atrocity happening all over Canterlot, this part of the gardens was kept neat, lush and undisturbed, but that didn't remove the eerie feeling in the air. Scattered around the garden were a couple of luscious trees and a few trimmed bushes that were beyond the many elegant and proud statues dedicated to Equestria's heroes. Moving alongside the hedge maze, following the clear path and passing by the stone sculptures, Twilight swung her head from left to right as she carefully progressed down the path, keeping a lookout for any danger. 

It was odd. In the garden, it felt quiet. Not completely silent, but quiet enough to properly think, to let the alicorn's brain breathe. As the Princess of Friendship meandered down the path, her face lit up with alleviation when she saw another entrance to the castle and as she hoped, it was left unguarded. Focused, steadying and steeling herself, Twilight locked away her fears and sparked a fire of valiance in her heart. The princesses needed saving, Shining Armour needed saving and this whole chaos could end tonight. Picking up her speed, she charged to the doors, carrying only a glare that flamed her pupils in determination.

She was so close. 

Paying no attention to her surroundings and only aiming her focus to the unsecured entrance of the castle, Twilight blindly dropped her guard. Abruptly, feeling a sudden force of pain collide into her side as if a cannonball had been fired at her, she was pushed off the path leading to the palace. Out of nowhere, The Hunter launched himself at the alicorn, claws raised and at the ready, sweeping her off her hooves and tackling her to the ground. 

With her head spinning and crashing down on her back against the smooth grass of the garden, Twilight moaned in pain and widened her gaze the moment the world around her stopped spiralling. The determination in her eyes quickly vanishing and making room for fear, she looked up to the pale-white mask of The Hunter, staring down at her. Firmly, one foot clamped down against the princess' hind leg while the other foot swiftly slammed down against her face.

Pushed on to the side of her face, feeling The Hunter's talon-like foot stomp down against her cheek, she unlocked another cry of pain, squirming and struggling to break free. Barely, Twilight managed to stare back at the darkling, showing a mix response of anger and despair.

"Well, well," The Hunter began. "Look who came running back. But what's this? The Princess of Friendship with no friends in sight, not a single one." Despite his blood boiling just by staring at her, he kept calm and lowered his head. "Where are they?"

"They left!" Twilight managed to bark back. "They're gone, away from you!" 

"We both know that's a lie," The Hunter responded, throwing down his claw at the alicorn's neck and gripping it, pulling her from the ground and holding her into the air. "Knowing them, they'd never leave you. So I'll ask again. Tell me where your friends are hiding!" 

"I already told you, they're gone!" She shouted. 

Harshly, the darkling twisted himself around and heaved the alicorn, throwing her to a nearby statue with all his power. As she soared through the air, failing to control her wings on time, Twilight hurtle to the ground, stomping her hooves into the ground and quickly dragging herself away from the advancing terror, unable to tear her aghast stare from him.

"Lying won't save them!" He growled, the spikes around his mask waving and rattling in annoyance. "Fright's shown me what he has planned for you... and it's horrifying. But after, you'll die screaming!" The Hunter raised his arm, aura-like mist emitting and swirling from his claw, aiming at the princess. "And then your friends are next!" 

Accompanied by a droning hum, a hazy, glowing ball of energy formed and then disengaged from the palm of his hand. Mercilessly, The Hunter fired upon the princess.

With a gasp shaking her breath and shock filling her eyes, knowing she wouldn't be able to move or leap from the incoming attack, Twilight teleported herself in a heartbeat, the whole of her body engulfed in a blinding flash of light. Quickly evading from the blast, the statue behind her took the hit, bursting and crumbling into pieces. All that was left of the sculptured pony was rubble, scattered across the grass.

Taking notice of the missing alicorn, The Hunter instantly rotated himself and elevated his leg, quickly gripping Twilight's face with his clawed foot the second she appeared behind him. 

Feeling the hefty claw stomp and wrap around her head, the Princess of Friendship's heart skipped a beat, unable to comprehend what lunged at her. Blinded, her breath cluttered and stunned to the point where she couldn't feel her legs, The Hunter reared her into the air, carelessly throwing her back down to the ground without an inch of remorse. 

Dropped to the dirt, free from his grasp, Twilight let out a groan as she tried to get back up on her hooves, struggling and shaking in the legs, doing whatever she could to try and hide the pain. Before she could barely stand, The Hunter sent a forceful kick to her stomach. Polluted in agony, locking her eyes shut as she cried out in anguish, winded and hurt, the weakened alicorn was pushed back to the ruined statue, failing to get up as her legs and wings crumpled in exhaustion.

Trying to battle the pain, the alicorn remained on the ground, telling herself to rise. As if the world pushed down on her back, Twilight couldn't bring herself to move, struggling as she tried to drag herself.

"Tell me, does it hurt?" The Hunter asked, walking to the damaged princess. "The constant failure after failure. You couldn't stop the breakout, Starlight put herself in danger because of you and now, everyone is running scared from their homes because they thought they were safe. They all trusted you and look at where that trust got them." 

His voice harshened with a growl, "Look at where that trust got me." 

Surprisingly gentle, the darkling lifted his foot and placed it on the alicorn's back, holding her down. Too hurt to fight back, too overcome with exhaustion to teleport, Twilight tried to pull herself away, digging her hooves into the ground and clenching her eyes and teeth shut in desperation. 

"You can't save anyone!" The Hunter lashed out with a shout, his words dripping with venom. "Not your friends, not Starlight..." Crouching down, bringing his head closer to the princess' ear, his voice carrying bitterness, "Not your assistant." 

Striking a nerve, behind the wall of fear that drenched over Twilight, bringing up the young unicorn, the thoughts of Dinky trapped and cocooned, her unconscious body floating in the changelings' captivity punctured the alicorn's heart. However, rage sparked in her eyes the moment she snapped them wide open, dripping with spite while her lips pulled back to reveal her teeth, clenching together in anger. 

Twinkling in a wavering blanket of light, Twilight's horn danced in an aura that glowed magenta. Quickly, she gripped a piece of the broken statue with her magic, slowly levitating the stone foreleg of the defaced sculptured pony inches off the ground. With a sudden blare escaping from her mouth, frustration and exasperation riding her scream, the princess whirled her head, gazing intently at The Hunter's emotionless, fake eyes for a few seconds. As the alicorn whirled her head, she hurled the hefty chunk of stone directly at the darkling's mask.

Unaware of Twilight's trick, The Hunter failed to notice the hunk of stone that the alicorn launched at him. With a loud thud, the piece of the sculpture bouncing off his mask, the darkling dropped to the ground, crashing on his back as he fell like a tree being cut down. 

Ignoring every bit of pain the alicorn felt throughout her body, she miraculously raised herself back onto her hooves swiftly and leapt onto The Hunter while he was down. With all of her might, Twilight pounded her hooves onto his shoulders, pinning him down as her horn began to flare. Firing a long and continuous blast of magic, the alicorn glared intently at the pale mask. 

Feeling the full force of the princess' power, the burning blast of her magic kept The Hunter from rising. He tried clawing at Twilight's face but found himself immobilized by the never-ending beam that kept him forced to the ground. Growling, feeling the pain beginning to heat through his mask, he brought his crooked leg up and lunged his foot into the alicorn's stomach, thrusting her into the air. 

The world rushed around the princess in a blur as she was sent soaring upwards, crashing back down onto the garden's pathway. Despite tumbling onto her side, Twilight quickly lifted herself back onto her hooves in a matter of seconds, staring at The Hunter with a scorching glare, breathing intensely through her bared teeth as her posture became nearly identical to that of a timberwolf. From afar, she could identify the damage she inflicted upon his false face. 

Slowly rising back up, staggering a little, something felt wrong. Although it remained intact, still concealing his identity, The Hunter brought his claw up to the right side of his mask, his sharp fingers brushing along the surface only to feel a thin, jagged crack that swarmed over his colourless eye. Alarmed by the damage, his claw wincing away from his false face, curling into a fist and quivering, the spikes around the darkling's face began to waver. 

Shaking, adding more fuel to the animosity burning inside him, The Hunter whipped his head up to the alicorn, staring at her with vexation holding his eyes as he growled, "Fright's right! The world should see you for the pathetic coward you really are! But I already know, and I'm not waiting any longer." With his anger exploding, he shouted, "Tonight ends with me watching you die!" 

Rearing her head up, Twilight's voice faded to a whisper, "Who are you?"

Quietly, The Hunter took a few seconds to respond, only to lower his voice, "When you choke on that final breath, you'll know the truth."

Throwing his arm to the young princess, presenting his dagger-like fingers, ready to fire and cut off her use of magic, Twilight watched powerless as strands and wisps of inky smoke began to appear, orbiting and whirling around his claw. She knew she didn't have enough energy to teleport, so she steeled herself, waiting for The Hunter to make his move. 

In his sights, just when he was ready to unleash a blast, Twilight witnessed a bright blue blur swooped down, charging at The Hunter and launching him out of her gaze as if he had been sucked into a hurricane. Baffled and confused, the alicorn looked towards the other end of the garden and beyond the statues, widening her eyes in disbelief. Sent sailing, The Hunter crashed against a tree, however, he was quick to rise, rearing his head up in frustration while anger and wrath began to drive him. 

Heart racing, the young princess turned her head and glued her eyes onto Rainbow Dash, fluttering down beside her.

Anger painted over her face, the pegasus threw a hoof to her enemy and shouted, "You mess with her, you mess with us!"

Twilight picked up the sound of steps, hooves stamping against the garden's path. Breaking her worried gaze from the pegasus, she whirled her head in the opposite direction, looking in astonishment as Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie rallied to her side. 

"You said it, Rainbow!" Pinkie Pie backed up. 

Shaking, worried stammering tangled her words, "No, no!" Twilight exclaimed in dread. "You're not supposed to be here! You were meant to get on the airship and leave!" 

"Are you serious, Twilight?" Pinkie Pie asked, arching a brow. "We couldn't have left you, not in a million years!" 

"We'll talk about this later," Applejack ordered with a stern expression, keeping her heated glare on The Hunter. "Right now, we need to put a stop to this monster."

Speechless and horrified, worrying for her friends more than ever, the alicorn's eyes followed the cowgirl's gaze, staring at the darkling at the other end of the garden.

Steadily extending her hoof and helping up the alicorn, Fluttershy looked on as well, "We can't let you take on The Hunter alone."

"Fluttershy's right," Rarity nodded. "We can help."

"No!" Twilight denied erratically, fear taking hold of her face. "Nopony can go near him! He's dangerous! Find a way out of Canterlot and-"

"We are not leaving you, Twilight!" Fluttershy protested, stomping her hoof. "Like it or not, we're here to help."

Pressured and gripped with fright, the alicorn struggled to think clearly from the fear polluting her mind. Shaking her head, looking on at the other end of the garden as The Hunter began to walk with ease, his keen tail hanging motionless behind him, his tightened claws engulfed in a wavering haze that lingered with a droning, lifeless hum. 

"Predictable, but I'd expect nothing less from the Princess of Friendship's friends." He breathed, throwing his arm up and pointing at his former friends. "You can't help anyone and I'm proof of that!" 

"Everypony, stand together!" Applejack ordered, fixing her hat. "And get ready!"

Worried, Twilight watched as her friends all stood together, chaining a link in front of her. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash planted their hooves into the ground, waiting for the darkling to make his move.

With a few gentle steps, The Hunter picked up his speed, tensing his claws as his body began to shift and distort, withering into a wisp of inky smoke that hovered, swaying and slithering like a snake, charging at his enemies.

Snapping out of her state of apprehension, Twilight threw her gaze down to the ground, gripping her eyes shut as she tried to focus, pumping all of her energy into her mind. Glowing, her horn enveloped in light, the alicorn clenched her teeth as the look of desperation and fear washed over. Her head began to hurt, throbbing as she felt the magic surging through her brain. Like a drum being hit, the alicorn's heart began to beat faster and faster. It didn't take long for her friends to notice her struggled growls and hurt whimpers. 

Pivoting her head, Pinkie Pie managed to break her gaze away from the lingering threat and look at the alicorn with concern and confusion dancing in her eyes, "Twilight..." She said with a troubled whisper. 

She heard well of her friend, but the young princess didn't respond. With all her power, she focused on the five ponies around her while her horn continued to spark. Slowly, her agitated growl grew into a scream of pain as Twilight threw her head up, managing to execute her spell. 

"Somewhere far... Somewhere far... Somewhere far!" Is all she mumbled to herself.

Soaring above them with a leap, inches away with his claws ready to crash down against the alicorn and her friends, The Hunter could almost taste his triumph.

In a flash, consumed in a ball of light that grew from Twilight's horn, her friends along with herself burst into nothing, vanishing into thin air.

Briefly blinded by the sudden burst of light, The Hunter landed with his claws sinking into the ground. When his sight was quick to come back, he returned onto his feet, standing while his head winced from left to right, turning around to find that they were nowhere. Realising that she had teleported along with her friends, The Hunter's frustration reached a new level. Behind that mask, his pupils quivered in aggravation. He was losing it. Bringing his claws up to his cracked mask, feeling the agitation rattle his brain, aching his head, the darkling threw down his arms and tightened his fists.

"No..." His growl transformed into an enraged shout that dripped with spite, "No!"  

Suddenly, he whipped his head to the city of Canterlot, his blood boiling with rage as the thoughts of the alicorn escaping only maddened him. All of the damage, the pain and suffering and still, Twilight escaped with her friends. As his tainted, shattered mind began to pump with displeasure, The Hunter's loathing became unstable, his hate bursting his composure. 

"You can't outrun me! Tonight is your last night!" He said, bringing his voice to a low whisper. "I don't need Fright to make you scream."

In the lone garden, desecrated and ruined much like the rest of Canterlot, The Hunter looked on at the changeling-swarmed city. Houses abandoned, buildings reduced to rubble, spires defaced. That night, the capital of Equestria had fallen, commandeered by Queen Chrysalis and her army. The Royal Sisters along with the Prince of the Crystal Empire had been wounded and apprehended. 

Canterlot belonged to the changelings and as for Twilight and friends, The Hunter knew they wouldn't get far. He knew where they would hide. 

Nowhere is safe.