My mood had bounced back to optimistic as we entered Heatwave. It was a small little place, tucked away in the dunes, and as it was for me: invisible to everyone who wasn't looking for it. It was mainly composed of a number of one-story wooden shacks, with a few stone buildings scattered here or there. However, no matter how crude it was: it was still civilization, even if there seemed to be nopony around to call it home.
"I wonder where everyone is," my changeling friend mused. "You'd think there'd be someone up this late."
I shrugged slightly. "They probably make sure to get their rest in the dark. It's pretty cool out right now."
"Good point," he nodded.
However, my point seemed to be dis-proven a second later as we entered the middle of town. One of the stone buildings' lights were still on, and a commotion could be heard coming from inside. A sign swung next to the door labelled: The Sandy Tavern.
Save for the bar, of course...
"Huh... check this out," my changeling companion called, pointing towards a piece of paper hanging on the door. On it was a crude mugshot of a wicked looking, tan unicorn. Below it read: Name: Dirty Sand. Wanted for Murder - Bit Reward: 20,000.
The changeling raised an eyebrow, smirking, before turning towards me. "You don't happen to invent weapons, do you?"
I blushed fiercely. "W-Weapons?! Of course not! I don't seem violent to you, do I-"
The changeling gave me a blank look.
I winced. "I'm doing it again, aren't I?"
The changeling nodded, smiling sympathetically. "Yeah, but you're getting better. Don't worry about it too much, though - nobody is going to judge you for it.."
He's just saying that to be nice. I feel like a total whackjob when I'm around people...
"Still though," the changeling mused, bringing a hole-filled hoof to his chin. "A murderer in Equestria? I didn't think ponies were even capable of it outside wars and stuff."
I shook my head in disbelief.
How could there be any murderers here? Equestria is supposed to be a utopia. Most only kill because they're too stressed to think and are giving into emotion...
...
My eyes widened.
Unless... he's different, too: but not in a good way... something's broken inside.
I shivered slightly. "Well - I just hope he's far away from-"
"STOP RIGHT THERE, CRIMINAL SCUM!" a voice suddenly rang from inside.
The changeling smirked at me. "If my memory isn't on the fritz again: it seems like you have a bad habit of tempting fate."
You really do...
I took a deep breath. "Well - we don't know it's him. Let's just stay out of the-"
Suddenly, the double-doors of the salloon swung open, and to my 'EEEEEEP', out flew-
"Dirty Sand!" I screeched, instinctively backing away... right into the side of a carriage.
With a THUMP, the supposed murderer landed only two feet away from my boots. He was just how he looked in the picture: a unicorn with a brownish mane and and a sombrero.
"Deeja, do something!" I called.
"Wah?!" the changeling coughed.
"I gotta call you something: and calling you drone just sounds demeaning so I hope you don't mind me-"
"Not that!" he groaned. "What do you want me to do?!"
Suddenly, there were a few heavy footfalls, as Dirty Sand twisted about, glaring towards the entrance of the bar. The two doors creaked open slowly... menacingly, and there stood a fearsome sight: the shadow of a nearly seven foot tall creature, three feet taller than myself, with horns protruding from his head.
I scrunched against the carriage, more horrified by the sight of him than the murderer, until he stepped out of the shadows.
"Alright, scumbag! You've run far enough! You've put up a good chase, but nobody escapes the keen eyes and ears of HUNTER WILL!"
To my surprise, he turned out to be a minotaur. One wearing quite the extravagant outfit: a red cape and a sombrero himself. He held a cocky, cheesy grin on his face, and a crossbow in his hands, and around his neck swung a strange, glowing necklace...
"Stay away from me, you freak!" Dirty Sand screeched.
He merely grunted, slowly approaching him. "From the Frozen North, to the Desert's Blight, no quarry shall evade my might! For generations out the Will have done what's right! And I AM HUNTER WILL, NOW GIVE ME A FIGHT!"
Deeja nodded slowly, blinking in disbelief. "Wow..."
"Take off that necklace of yours and I'll give you a quick one," the criminal hissed.
Hunter Will shot him an incredulous look. "Do you take Hunter Will for a fool?!"
The criminal seemed to think to himself for a second, before nodding. "Well - sort of..."
"HAH! THEN YOU HAVE CLEARLY UNDERESTIMATED MY SKILL!"
"And you never seemed to learn the lesson called: 'know your enemy.'" he said, narrowing his eyes. Suddenly, his horn began to sparkle and crackle as he glanced at me with hideous, green eyes.
"Magic won't work against me!" the minotaur gasped. "What do you think you're trying to do?!"
"It isn't for you, dumbass," he hissed, and suddenly, I found myself being levitated into the air, a green aura of magic wrapping around my neck. I wanted to scream, but all that came out were small gasps as the aura grasped tighter and tighter. Dirty Sand then narrowed his eyes. "Now, put that crossbow down or I snap the pretty goblin's neck."
"What are you doing?!" Deeja cried. "We're not part of this! Put her down!"
"You try anything and I'll have you dig her grave," Dirty Sand growled. "I don't want to kill her, but I will!"
"And HUNTER WILL won't let you!" the minotaur growled.
Dirty Sand shook his head, chuckling. "You have only one way out of this and you know it. You could try to rush me, which would result in her death. You could get help, which would result in her death...." He then grinned wickedly. "Or you could shoot me, which might just result in mine."
To my surprise, the minotaur actually gulped. "I-I could aim for your legs..."
"And crossbows are inaccurate," he smiled. "It might just hit somewhere that hurts. I know about you, Hunter Will, you've been chasing me for months, and I gotta say: for a bounty hunter named 'Hunter', you really never seem to like shooting anyone, do you?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Hunter Will isn't afraid of anything! Sometimes doing what's right means getting rid of those who do wrong!"
"Keep telling yourself that," he smirked, before actually beginning to walk away, keeping me in tow. "Now, do me a favor and don't follow me. I'll drop her off on the edge of town and be on my way, savvy?"
The hunter merely stared at him blankly: a shameful look upon him.
"Glad we've come to an agreement," the bandit grinned.
I found myself floating behind him, his grip slowly loosening around my neck. However, before he walked too far, he turned towards the minotaur, narrowing his eyes. "Oh, and 'Hunter'. Don't think this is the last time we'll meet. You've been a pain in my flank for nearly seventy moons now. You got lucky you decided to wear that necklace of yours tonight, or you'd be dead. However, I'm done being the hunted. Now, it's my turn. You've bucked with the wrong person, minotaur, so I'd suggest that from now on, wherever you sleep: keep one eye open." He then grinned at him. "Oh, and when I decide to give payback, it's always double-fold. What's your brother's name again? Iron?"
Hunter Will gasped in horror. "Don't you dare-"
"Hehehe... we're going to see just how well he lives up to his name, understand? I'll be seein' ya, both of ya..."
Hunter Will gave a snarl, before throwing down his crossbow and charging forward. "I DON'T NEED A CROSSBOW!.!.! HUNTER WILL WILL BREAK YOU WITH HIS BARE HANNNNNDS!.!.!"
I tried to shake my head, but couldn't. Oh no! NONONO! He's going to-
However, it never came. The snapping of my neck - the fade to black. Instead, I was merely twirled around by Dirty Sand, who tilted his hat. "Sorry bout the scare, miss - just had to keep that idiot occupied while I moved to a safer place. Now that I am: no need for a twisted neck."
Suddenly, his grip loosened, and I plopped down on my butt.
"Besides, killin' a pretty little thing like you would be a waste." he winked, looking me over, and I felt a significant urge to take shower. "But god damn, don't sell yourself short by dating that changeling. Now keep out of trouble, alright?"
Then, with a blink of green light, and he disappeared. Hunter Will charged right into where he had dissipated, swinging fists at nothing, before finally realizing what had happened. He took a few deep breaths, before finally slumping down on his knees, throwing two fists into the ground.
"Damnit..."