//------------------------------// // Chapter Two - Poisoned Memories (Edited) // Story: Tale of a monster hunter // by HiddenUnderACouch //------------------------------// Mayor Mare was sitting at her table, smoking her tobacco pipe and revised the latest reports. So many complaints from the residents – it was baffling. The idiots wanted sufficient housing, health care, and a new school. Darkness take them, it was impossible! She recently gave out three times the budget for this winter to fix up the maternity hospital, and these fools wanted more! Every time the elections came, these idiots got more and more demanding. New school, new buildings, new hospital! What else would they want her to build – a bridge to the freaking moon?! Mayor Mare swept the papers away. Like hell they'd get that budget! Winter was soon, and she'd much rather give the gold to the Sweet Apple Acres, so they would have something to eat! "The requests, eh, mayor?" a voice called out to her from the smoke of her own tube. "Yes, the damn morons want their lives to be like fucking Canterlot! FUCK!" she screamed and jumped from her seat. "Woah, watch your language, m'lady. We had an agreement – your financial problems will be resolved after our....'agreement' is fulfilled," the voice suavely reminded. "Yeah, I know. Right now, everything is going according to your plan," she said and looked out of the window at all the crowd down there. Filthy maggots, crawling in the dirt, that's what they were! Leeches on her damn croup! Morons, idiots, alcoholics, bandits and just plain maniacs! This town was nothing but trouble since the first time she was re-elected. The figure in the smoke took out a bottle of wine and put it on the Mayor's desk. "Here, have a drink, mayor, relax. Everything is going to be fine, I am sure of it. The plan cannot fail, it's perfect," the voice said. "I hope you're right. Still, I want to be sure," she replied. "As you wish. Just don't fuck this up," the voice said, and the figure disappeared. Mayor Mare sighed with relief. This stupid idiot always loved to appear out of nowhere. At least he paid well. She opened the bottle of wine and drank; the only thing pleasing her soul in this rundown hole of a town. *** Fluttershy was standing in front of the mirror. It was old, dusty, and cracked in a few places. She looked at herself – bloodshot eyes and a terrible headache. The hat was squinted. It seemed she didn't even take it off when she went to sleep. The cape was misplaced a bit, but that was no problem. Fluttershy sighed and took a comb from under her cape. She sometimes thought about how much this cape means to her – her protector, her helper, her trophy room. She took off her hat, and the cascade of her pink mane fell down. She looked in the window and started slowly combing her hair. One time, a bandit caught her without her hat. He froze in place and just stared at her. Her beauty made him unable to move as he gawked at her gorgeous mane. Her pink curls flew on the wind and they rounded around her pretty face like a frame, capturing this moment of beauty. It seemed that bandit just fell in love at first sight. Too bad for him, for he continued to stare, as Fluttershy plunged the blade into his chest, killing him quickly. Fluttershy smiled, straightening out the tangled curls. The pain it caused was nothing, almost unnoticeable for her. Some mares would brag if they had a mane like this, using it at every opportunity to get in the purse of a rich royal stallion. Fluttershy understood that a long mane could cause troubles in battle, but still, she didn't want to cut it off – she deemed it pretty adorable and being the monster hunter didn't mean she had to look ugly. After finishing combing her mane, she quickly hid it under the hat once again. But because she wanted to stay pretty didn't mean she would be any less professional. Finally dressed and ready to go, she left a coin on her bed for the cleaning services and left. The morning wind was even colder than yesterday. The sky was yet again covered by grey muddy clouds, but the streets were empty. Most of the ponies were still slumbering, or started to get up, preparing to go on their daily routine. Fluttershy went to the special board which was hanging right on the town hall. The Mayor carefully pinned every request to this board, likely to free some space from her desk. Fluttershy quickly looked through all of them. They were all from different parts of the town. Feeling a bit hungry, Fluttershy decided to take the assignment from the farm. Maybe they'd let her have a bite of some apple pies after she was done. Ponyville produced some good quality bakery, and, once a year, a festival was held here. During it, the town was much cleaner and welcoming. After several minutes of walking through the streets, she arrived to the Sweet Apple Acres. And what a sight it was! Hundreds and hundreds of apple trees; so much yellow and red! It was such a different sight from the dark-green forests or the grey town. This mix of colors pleased Fluttershy's sight and soul. Her concentration was interrupted by a loud argument. "I told you before, and I will tell you again – I can't give you any more food supply! We barely scraped enough to survive the winter, let alone for trade!" a loud voice with interesting accent spoke. "I'm sorry, but I have my orders. I was told to requisition food for the Royal Guard. So please, step aside, and let us take it," a indifferent monotone replied. "And what do you suppose we should eat?! I've got a family, for sun's sake! Have a heart, would ya?!" "Listen, I don't have time to deal with this shit! If you don't let me through, I'll have to arrest you!" Fluttershy hurried up to take a look at this interesting discussion. When she arrived, she saw a guard and an earth pony, supposedly the owner of the Acre. She was of orange color and had a blonde mane. The hat she was wearing reminded Fluttershy of her own. "Well, then go ahead, you iron head!" she growled at the guard. He seemed unimpressed. He just nodded to his comrades who stood beside him, and they formed a circle around the earth pony. "You said it yourself," he replied. Fluttershy thought that it would be wiser to stay hidden, but she couldn't miss a chance to show these rascals and Rainbow Dash where they belong. "Hey, officer, what's the matter?" she said while approaching them. The guard turned to her. "None of your concern, hunter. Be on your way!" he replied angrily. Fluttershy just giggled. "Hungry, eh? How about you stop wasting your money and buy some food instead of stealing it from the farmers?" she said, and looked right at this guard. "I recommend you get away from here as fast as you can. You know what I can do." The guard grinded his teeth, but accepted, and told his comrades to follow him. "And tell your commander that I'm sorry for that mess near the hospital," she mocked the guard one more time. They didn't react and just walked away. "Thanks, hunter. I thought they were really going to arrest me," the earth pony said. "I'll never miss a chance to piss off these idiots," Fluttershy said, smiling. "I can't believe commander Dash just ordered them to take our food. I've supplied her for three months in advance, what else does she want?" "Her soldiers eat a bit more than they should. Anyway, I heard you had some snake trouble," Fluttershy said, turning to her. "Ah, yes, the hydra. The damn thing appeared in the pond and already ate several of my workers! We are cut from one of our gardens! All the squads Rainbow Dash sent there got eaten!" the earth pony told. "My name's Applejack, by the way. What's your name?" "Fluttershy," she replied coldly. "Seems very familiar. Rainbow Dash once mentioned something about you," Applejack said thoughtful. "Did it have 'stupid', 'evil', and 'selfish' in the same sentence?" Fluttershy asked cynically. "Well......yes," Applejack replied. "I thought so. I'm a bit hungry – mind if I have breakfast here and get to work then?" Fluttershy asked. "Sure. Granny Smith is making breakfast right now. You're welcome to join, we always value good company," Applejack said and went to the house. Fluttershy sneered. Equestria still actually had some ponies that didn't drown themselves in self-pity, greed, lust or hunger for power. She remembered one time when the client tried to kill her, after the job was well done, in order to not pay. Poor chap was probably still eating through a straw. Still, first impressions could be false. She went to the house. It looked very comfortable – not very big, but not too small. In some parts, the paint started to fade, but otherwise, it looked pretty new. The inside of the house was even prettier – it was bright, warm, and dry. The rug in front of the entrance was made of simple wool; you could buy these in any market. Fluttershy made her way to the kitchen. A big round table stood in the center with five chairs nearby. A big earth pony and a small filly were sitting at the table, expecting their breakfast. Soon, they were joined by an old earth pony; Fluttershy figured it was Granny Smith. "Attention everypony, we have a guest today! Please, meet Fluttershy, the monster hunter," Applejack declared and Fluttershy stepped out of the shadows. "Fluttershy, this is my little sister, Applebloom," she nodded towards the little one, "this is Granny Smith, and my brother Big Macintosh," she nodded towards the big pony. "Really? A monster hunter?" Granny Smith said as she adjusted her glasses. "Wow! That is so cool! The hat, the cape – it all fits!" the little Applebloom said, jumped from her chair, and approached Fluttershy. "Rainbow Dash told me about monster hunters. But she said they are all selfish bounty hunters who care only about profit. You don't look, like, selfish at all." "Applebloom, it's not nice to talk to strangers without introducing yourself first. Go back to your seat," Applejack said discontentedly. "Okay...sorry," Applebloom said resentfully and went back to her seat. "Well then, Fluttershy, take a seat; the cake is ready!" Applejack said, smiling, and went away to take the cake from the stove. Fluttershy silently sat down near the Big Macintosh. He didn't pay attention; he seemed too occupied with his own thoughts. Applejack brought the cake and put it in the center of the table, preliminarily dividing it into several pieces. The room was filled with the sweet smell of freshly baked bread. Applebloom was almost jumping on her chair, craving for that cake. Fluttershy wondered when the last time she was actually eating at a legitimate table in a warm house was, and not in some rundown inn watching out for her purse. This warm atmosphere of an actual family was so relaxing and, even if Fluttershy was a complete stranger to them, she still felt comfortable. She closed her eyes, letting herself drown in this welcoming atmosphere of an actual home, a place where you would want to be... *** "Hey, pink-mane, pass me the salt," the unicorn with pitch black mane rudely ordered. "Hey, Fluttershy, are you deaf? I'm talking to you!" "O..okay..." she replied unsurely, and slowly passed him the salt. Then she looked at her breakfast – a mish-mash of hay, vegetables, and ketchup; completely uneatable unless you had salt – which she had just passed. Fluttershy sighed – might as well just leave. She left the table, and went out of the canteen. She hated her group – they never left her alone, never let her sit down in the corner and sob a bit. She walked through the grey corridor which lead from the canteen to the living rooms. They were large, sometimes several groups slept together in one room. Eventually, there weren't enough beds to put all the kids to sleep, and somepony had to sleep on the floor. Usually, it was Fluttershy. The dull grey walls were worsening her headache – she never had a good sleep, the floor was usually too cold to sleep. The only thing she got was a thin bed sheet; which didn't warm her at all. The headache was getting worse and worse, and Fluttershy decided to look out of the window. There was a yard with old rusty metallic swings, a merry-go-round which didn't work, and a field for volleyball, overgrown with grass. Thick white mist was slowly crawling down on the ground, which usually meant that the caretakers won't let them go outside – it wasn't unusual for children to run away from here at night or when it was misty. Fluttershy thought about this a lot, but she never had the strength to do it. She looked outside hopelessly – was she really destined to live here forever? Would this orphanage be her prison for the rest of her life? "Hey, pink-mane!" a voice rudely interrupted her thoughts. Fluttershy turned around to face a big Pegasus with silver mane and green coat. Blazing Wind, the queen as others called her. Despite being a girl, she loved fighting and despised anypony lesser than her. She was always surrounded by a group of kids who obeyed her every whim. They changed from time to time as she grew tired of them. "What are you doing here? You know that only big girls are allowed not to go to breakfast," she said, coming close to Fluttershy. She was cornered near that window. "I– I– I didn't mean to—," Fluttershy said, with a voice that trembled with fear. "You didn't mean what; to insult me? Sorry, you already did!" Blazing Wind replied, and struck her across the face which caused Fluttershy to fall down on the cold floor. "Oops, is it too much for you, Fluttie?" Wind grinned evilly, and stepped right on Fluttershy's wing. She shrieked loudly in pain and agony. "Oh, my, why so loud! You don't fly anyway. You're too weak for it! You hear that?" Blazing Wind whispered right in her ear. "You're weak and insignificant! I can do whatever I want to you, and nopony would even care! I bet your own parents left you because you were weak!" Fluttershy held back tears, and only moaned from the pain. It was almost impossible to withstand such suffering, as the pain in the wings was only multiplying, but Fluttershy didn't cry. If she did, everypony else would laugh at her. "Leave her alone!" a brave voice reached her ears. Enraged, Blazing Wind turned to the source of it. "WHO WAS IT?! Who do you think you are giving me orders?" she said, and suddenly went silent. "Leave her alone, or I will make you regret that!" this angry voice said. Blazing Wind stepped away from Fluttershy. "You're not worth it, pink-mane. Ha!" proclaimed she proudly and walked away from her. Fluttershy was lying on the floor with her eyes closed, afraid to move a muscle. Suddenly, that same voice talked to her, only this time it was kind. "Are you all right?" it said. Fluttershy opened her eyes to see a pair of two kind purple eyes looking right at her. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," she said, and helped Fluttershy to get up. She slowly turned her head and looked at this pretty blue colored Pegasus with multicolored mane. "My name is Rainbow Dash. What's your name?" *** "Fluttershy, are you all right?" Applejack interrupted her descent into memories. "Oh? Ah, yes. I just…didn't sleep very well today..." Fluttershy answered and shook her head as if she just awoke from a dream. The plate with a piece of cake was lying right before her. She quickly ate it, enjoying the taste. So sweet compared to the leftovers the innkeepers called 'soup'. The time passed by, as they continued to sit around. "Fluttershy, can I ask you something?" Applejack said whereupon Fluttershy silently nodded while chewing on another muffin. "Do you have a family?" Fluttershy froze in place, and slowly swallowed the muffin. That came out of nowhere. She struggled to find an answer, thinking of everything she could remember as an excuse. "I travel a lot. I don't really have time for it," she replied. "Well, what about your parents?" Applebloom intervened in the conversation. Applejack looked at Fluttershy, supporting this question. "I don't have a family. That's all," she replied coldly. "That's not right, dear. Everypony should have a family," Granny Smith said. "Eyup," the big pony whose name was Big Macintosh agreed. "It seems I will be the only one. Thank you for the warm welcome. I'll get to work now," Fluttershy replied before she got up and went outside quickly. She always hated when ponies started asking about her family. It was not their fucking business! Applejack followed her immediately. She approached Fluttershy with a guilty smile on her face. "Hey, listen, I didn't want to insult or anything. I'm sorry, all right? Didn't know you had them...parent problems," Applejack said, but realized, a little too late, that she just made the situation worse. "Oh, I have problems. I have a LOT of problems. But family is not one of them!" Fluttershy snapped with mild annoyance in her tone. "I've lived long enough to realize its unimportance." "Don't say that! Everypony has a family, regardless," she defended, trying to fix the situation. Fluttershy slowly turned to her, piercing her with an angry gaze. "Listen, you don't know me. You don't know my life. So don't stick your nose into my soul, okay?! Good. I'll kill this hydra and be on my way," she rebuked, sounding very pissed off. "Okay...sorry," Applejack said, regretting the decision of asking that question. "Do you have any quiet place where I can revise my equipment without being disturbed?" Fluttershy asked bluntly. "The barn should be empty right now," she suggested, and Fluttershy went there. Applejack tilted her head, watching her go. Something was odd about this hunter – very odd. She should definitely talk with Rainbow Dash; ask her to tell the whole story. Fluttershy entered the barn and found a table where the farmers usually sorted the apples. She always found hydras a more interesting prey than any other monster – it was not a question of gadgets or tools, it was all about your strength and agility. However, preparations were always necessary. Fluttershy reached under her cape and took out a bottle of strange blue liquid and a syringe. There were two types of hydras – common and poisonous ones. Hydras developed venom when they ate specific plants which didn’t grow in Equestria, but far to the south, in the warm lands, they did. So the venomous hydras did not inhabit Equestria – unless somepony imported the plants from the south and fed it to a hydra. During the War of Clans, this tactic was used. Nowadays, it never happened – unless you were powerful enough (and foolish enough) to have a domestic hydra and wanted it to be poisonous. Still, there were no guarantees in the hunt – you couldn’t be too prepared. Fluttershy filled the syringe with the liquid from the bottle and injected it. She felt a bit nauseous and her visions blurred, but it was just temporarily. The antidote that ran through her veins and her heart would ensure that, if she were to be poisoned, the hydra's poison wouldn't kill her. Now, all that was left was to choose a proper blade. Fluttershy decided to pick a common metallic blade, just extra-long. She replaced Angel with the blade, and gently hid it in her cape. Now, time to move out. *** "What do you mean she didn't let you take it? Applejack may be a bit stubborn sometimes, but eventually she will agree!" Rainbow Dash shouted at the guard whom she had sent to requisition the food. "Well, everything was going....relatively well, until....the monster hunter showed up," he stuttered. "What?! Agh, son of a...! First she beats up my soldiers, and then she turns us into some cleaners for her mess, now this!" Rainbow Dash raged whereupon the guard slowly backed away from her, for he knew that the commander had quite a temper. Finally Rainbow Dash cooled off a bit. She went to the window and looked outside. The market was crowded with insects and rodents, and the streets filled with the poor and the beggars — and there was nothing she could do. She couldn't just go to Mayor's office and make her care. The law she promised to uphold and enforce bound her. Maybe Fluttershy was right, and she couldn’t do anything to help Equestria? Rainbow Dash closed her eyes and remembered the words her mentor, commander Pure Heart, said to her: "Remember, Rainbow, no pony is above the law." Rainbow Dash turned to the guard. No pony was above the law – and Fluttershy thought that being a monster hunter gave her the right to do everything. Every monster hunter thought this way. That is why she joined the guards – to fight for truth and justice, and not for coins. "I'll talk with Applejack myself. You are dismissed," she dismissed the guard and he quickly left. Rainbow Dash swiftly looked at the picture of her mentor on the desk; it was strapped with a black ribbon. Whatever happens, she would stay loyal to her principles. She sighed, got up, and went to Sweet Apple Acres, expecting a hard talk with Applejack. *** The wind blew through Fluttershy's hair as she approached the grove where the hydra was. At this time, the hydra is probably hunting here, so Fluttershy didn't need to worry – it would find her. She slowly walked through the grove, watching for every movement, every sound. Her blade was ready to cut, and her soul was prepared for another fight. Her mind already made up some sweet ways to execute the overgrown reptile. Finally, she heard a hissing which seemed to come from behind three apple trees. Fluttershy smiled, for this hissing meant an intention to attack. She moved her wrist and the blade snapped out of its resting place, ready to cut, while the ground began to shake, and trees started to drop like leaves. The sound of cracking wood pierced the wind, as the hydra rushed towards Fluttershy with a speed that shouldn’t be possible considering its size. But Fluttershy was quicker, as she dashed to the left, evading the attack. The hydra quickly turned around and hissed with all its three heads which were all as big as Fluttershy, and it could swallow her in the blink of an eye. The middle head dashed towards her, intending to do just that. Fluttershy quickly ducked to let the head fly over her head, then moved her hoof with the blade upwards and slashed. The two other heads roared in pain as the middle head tried to shake her off; Fluttershy quickly cut the hole wider and wider. Then, she, through disgusted by the idea, rammed her blade right inside the neck, causing its edge to come out the other side. The hydra reared its head, and Fluttershy quickly clung to the hydra who took her up. She didn't pay attention to that as she sliced the muscles that connected the head to the main body, severing the middle head which fell down and spilt sticky blood all over the place. Fluttershy jumped off and landed near it. The remaining two heads unleashed a terrifying roar, as the left one puked some green liquid right at her. Fluttershy suddenly felt very sick, her vision started to darken, and her headache became unbearable; Poison. Fluttershy could barely hold her balance as the right head used itself as a hammer that smashed right into her and sent her flailing against a tree. She stood up while she felt her breakfast coming up her throat. She held it back, as the left head rushed in for the kill. Fluttershy barely managed to dodge this attack, and the head which she just dodged rushed past her, biting a tree instead. Its fangs got stuck inside it and it angrily tried to free itself while Fluttershy gathered all her strength and slashed the neck right where the head was connected. The pain forced the snake to dash back, snapping off all its teeth that were still stuck in the tree trunk. The right head roared as the left head, barely connected to its neck, dangled in the wind. Fluttershy smiled, but her strength was leaving her. Her knees gave in and she fell down on her wings. The world started to spin, the disgusting mass was slowly coming to her mouth, and colors started to change. The green became blue, the sky became purple, and the hydra looked like a demon. The hallucinations were really distracting, as she tried to concentrate on the last remaining head. Fluttershy realized that she couldn’t kill this last remaining head in a fair combat, so she just stood there and waited. The last head wasted no time, quickly dashing towards her and gobbling her up. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad inside the hydra, if you could ignore all the pulsating veins as well as the terrible smell; this horrendous smell that reached Fluttershy's lungs and awakened her briefly from this acid trip. She impaled the neck from inside and twisted the blade, thus widening the bleeding gash, cleaving the head from the hydra's body. After losing the last head, the body helplessly fell down and Fluttershy crawled out of the hydra, covered in poison and blood. The world was still swirling around, and threw different colors at her. She tried to walk forward, but slipped on a puddle of the hydra's blood and fell down. She looked up to the sky, and it suddenly changed its color to green. Losing strength, Fluttershy slowly fell asleep. *** Rainbow Dash approached Sweet Apple Acres. Ah, nothing changed here at all. Just like the first day she was assigned here in Ponyville. Just like every autumn, the groves of the apple trees dressed up into all shades of red and yellow. She always thought that the nature was much more beautiful in autumn than in any type of the year. Not far away, she saw Applejack, who seemed to be taking a walk, and quickly approached her. "Applejack, I need to talk to you!" she began seriously. "How ironic. I want the same thing. Why are you requesting even more food from us? I've already supplied you for winter, what else do you want?!" Applejack snapped at her, sounding really angry. "The amount you gave was twice lower than expected! You forgot to mention that detail! Rainbow Dash exclaimed. "The harvest this year was twice lower than expected too. That is the reason." "Oh, listen, Applejack, we're friends, right?" "Right..." "So, how about you supply me and my soldiers with food, and I will assign my men to guard your supplies?" "Hmm, the attacks from the raiders are quite often this time of year. I think I'll agree. I hope we'll have enough food to manage winter," Applejack said thoughtfully. "Don't worry. I'll try to convince the Mayor to buy food from other towns. I hope she'll listen,” Rainbow Dash tried to assure her. "I doubt it, but still, never lose hope," Applejack replied which brought a smile onto Rainbow Dash’s face. She and Applejack became quite close friends since she arrived here. Some thief once tried to steal Applejack's purse, but Rainbow Dash quickly seized him – that was how their friendship began. They always helped each other when need be, and, when there wasn't much work, they hung out together in parts of the town that weren't full of filth. "Did the eponymous monster hunter arrive here yet?" Rainbow Dash inquired. "Yes, though she's already departed to fight the hydra," Applejack drawled casually, and Dash's jaw dropped. "FIGHT THE HYDRA?! ALONE?! This is suicidal, even for her!" Rainbow Dash shouted. "What's so wrong about it?" Applejack tilted her head as Rainbow Dash fixed her with her glare. "Have you ever seen an actual hydra?" "No..." "The smallest one can crush your whole house in an instant! It's suicide to try to fight it one on one! She's not only selfish, she's suicidal!" Rainbow Dash explained and hurried up to the pond where the hydra was last seen. After about ten minutes of running through the groves of apple trees, she finally found the battlefield and was utterly shocked. Fluttershy was lying in the pool of hydra's blood, with the beast's headless body lying right behind her. Rainbow Dash quickly approached the seemingly unconscious Fluttershy. Just as she took the last step towards her snapped she her eyes open. "Oh....Rainbow.... didn't think I would see your ugly face here...." – she drawled drunkenly at the newcomers. "Shit...you're poisoned! That's the effects of the hydra venom! I need to get you to doctor right now!" Rainbow Dash said. "Get away from me, Dash...I need no help from you!" Fluttershy growled, and, to Rainbow Dash's surprise, actually got up. "Sometimes I wonder if you really are a pony. Now I see: you are a demon. You just won't die," she said gloomily. "Fuck off..." Fluttershy snarled, and started slowly walking away, tripping and falling with every step. Rainbow Dash looked towards her. So many years have passed since their last rather unfriendly meeting. She was angry at Fluttershy for her selfishness and indifference for the pain of others, for causing her pain...but somewhere deep down within her soul she hid a dream... that everything would change. Fluttershy slowly walked away from the battlefield, once again victorious. The antidote, while not saving her from the effects of the poison, neutralized it, and protected her from a painful and agonizing death. Two or three hours – and she would be all right. Fluttershy wondered; why did Rainbow Dash even come here? Why would she try to help her? It made no sense. Maybe she wanted her to feel guilty; maybe she was trying to be a hero. That didn't matter – the hydra was dead, and the job was done. Before getting the next assignment, Fluttershy decided that it would be wise to take a break and rest for a day. Going to the market, buying something, and make some new weapons and gear – a very good relaxation for her. She tripped on the stone, and leaned on the tree, trying to hold her balance. It was strange to see a venomous hydra here. Maybe it was just a coincidence, and some filthy rich bastard was now wondering where his hydra went. Maybe it was a leftover from the War of Clans. Who knows, but Fluttershy didn't think too much about it. She didn’t get paid extra for investigations.