//------------------------------// // Recruitment // Story: Hunters In Equestria // by DarthRevan //------------------------------// A.K Yearling awoke with a start. Somepony was banging on her front door. "Coming! Coming! Sweet Celestia calm down!" She called out. She quickly got dressed in her typical outer wear. A purple cloak, a gray hat, and red glasses. Her cottage was located in the middle of a large forest. Not many could get through the forest, let alone pester her. She opened the door, fully expecting another `suprise` visit from Rainbow Dash. What she saw shocked her. Princess Luna was standing at the door. A look of determination plastered onto her face. "P-Princess Luna!" Yearling quickly bowed. "Please, arise. I am here not as your princess but as your friend." Luna said. "However, I do come here with a request." Yearling ditched her clothes, letting her shades of gray mane flow freely. "What did you need, Lulu?" Yearling asked. Lunas face betrayed sheepish emotion. "I know you are retired but I would very much enjoy your company when I investigate strange meteorites in Zebrania." Luna explained. Yearling smirked. "Of course. The retired life is peaceful and all but it does get pretty lonely out here." Yearling grimaced. "And boring too." Luna smiled with enthusiasm. "Excellent! Once we convince Twilight we shall be on our way!" She said. "Wait, Twilights coming too?" Yearling asked. "Correct. She understands magic even I don't. Will that be a problem?" Luna asked back. "Nah, I was just surprised you're bringing HER of all ponies to ZEBRANIA of all places." Yearling answered. Lunas face fell. "Zebrania is a dangerous land. Can I trust you to protect my sisters student?" She asked, softly. "Most definitely." "Then let us retrieve her." ------------------------- Yearling and Luna were traversing through the forest. "Why can't I just teleport us to Ponyville?" Luna asked. "Ever since that damn temple was destroyed magic hasn't worked here." Yearling explained. Luna nodded with understanding. "Have you located Ahuizotl?" Luna asked. Yearling sighed. "Not yet. The slippery snake has been in hiding ever since the Fortress." "`Tis a shame. Making him pay for his thefts would've been rewarding." Before Yearling could reply a twig snapped. Both women stopped in their tracks. Luna sniffed the air, smelling tree sap. "Timberwolves." At the sound of their name a dozen timberwolves leapt out from the foliage. Luna and Yearling smirked. "This should be fun." Yearling pointed out as she retrieved a whip from her bag. This whip was covered in spikes from the handle up. Luna created a sword from her magic and held it with her telekinesis. "Indeed." Two wolves leapt at once. Luna drove her sword through one head while Yearling wrapped her whip around the others neck and tugged. The headless creatures collapsed on the ground. The other ten rushed the duo. Lunas sword danced in the sunlight, all the while slashing and stabbing various timberwolves. Yearlings whip snapped and cracked at the beasts. More and more timberwolves fell until only one remained. Realizing its hopelessness the timberwolf let loose a high pitched howl. As the duo closed their ears a heavy roar replied. Recognizing the roar, the timberwolf took off into the forest. "Aw hell. Manticore." Yearling groaned. The large beast charged from the trees and bowled over the duo. Luna was the first to her hooves and took off into the sky. Yearling followed suit. "Tangle up its legs while I go for the tail!" Luna ordered. Yearling nodded and flew underneath the creatures legs, wrapping her whip along its rear legs. As it stabbed at Yearling with its tail, Luna dove and sliced through the tail. The Manticore roared in pain and collapsed on the ground. It began desperately clawing at the enchanted whip tangling its legs. Luna trotted up to it and stabbed it in the heart. "You ok, Luna?" Yearling asked, panting. "Yes. Let us continue our journey." ------------------------ Twilight Sparkle was reading a relatively new book named `Metroid`. It was set far in the future and detailed pegasus bounty hunter Samus as she fought against space pirates and a parasitic alien race. It was all pretty farfetched but she enjoyed her fair share of extreme fiction. A knock on the door interrupted her reading. "Spike! Can you get that?" She called. "Of course, Twilight." Her reptilian assistant called back. After a few more moments of reading Spike spoke up. "Uhh, Twilight. There are some ponies here that you should see." He said. Rolling her eyes, Twilight headed downstairs. "Who could be up at this forsaken hour?" She asked. She could hear Spike chuckle from the next room. "Besides us, you mean?" He asked. Twilight giggled a lite and entered the next room. "Yes, besides u-" The next words were stopped in her throat as she saw her two guests. Princess Luna and A.K. Yearling. She quickly bowed. "P-Princess!" She said. Luna smiled. "Arise, Twilight Sparkle." Luna said. Twilight quickly rose. "Yearling and I would like you to accompany us to the jungles of Zebrania. Two meteorites, entirely composed of metal, crash landed there late last night. I would like to investigate them." Luna explained. Twilights eyes widened. An expedition? With Princess Luna and Daring Do?! "Of course, Princess Luna!" She said with enthusiasm. Yearling walked up to her. "I must warn you. Zebrania is a dangerous place. Especially the jungles! If you want to come you need to listen to the two of us and use that horn of yours. Got it?" Yearling asked. Twilight gulped. "Got it!" She quickly said. Yearling smiled. "Good!" ------------------------ The trio were taking the train to Canterlot. "We get to Canterlot. We take the Moon-Dancer to Zebrania. We find the impact zone. We dig around and return to Canterlot to research whatever interesting thing we find. That sound good?" Yearling asked. Twilight and Luna nodded. "Any idea what they are?" Twilight asked. Luna shook her head. "My powers allow me to discover what any space-faring object is made off. Unfortunately, it cannot tell me what I don't know. The metal is alien and that's all I know. However, one of them was changing course rapidly in an attempt to follow the first." Luna explained. Twilights mouth gaped. "A-Aliens?!" She nearly whispered. Yearling scoffed. "Aliens? That'd make for a stupid Daring Do novel." "Do not be so quick to scoff, Yearling. Celestia and I have known for a long time that we are not alone in this universe." Luna explained. This time it was Yearlings turn to gape. "What?! When the hell did that happen?" She asked. "A few dozen years before my...banishment, strange eggs were located in a metal pod deep within the earth. From these eggs hatched spider-like creatures. They were hairless and looked akin to a deformed hand. We call them The Parasites. They attached themselves to the faces of whatever lifeform they can find and impregnate them with a thick snake like embryo. These snakes would feed off the hosts nutrients like a foal. Then, when adequately grown, they tear from the chest of the host. Killing the host." Luna began. Twilight gasped and Yearling sighed at this news. "That's terrible!" Twilight called out. Lunas face fell. "It gets worse. The snake then grows based on its host. Minotaur Parasites became large, muscular reptiles. Pony Parasites become four legged, hooved alligators. These Reptiles would then proceed to kill and destroy with reckless abandon. They are the true reason the minotaurs are such a rare species. Eventually, my sister and I had enough. Using the armies of our worlds nations we drove the parasites back. The final blow was done by Celestia and her group. The Parasites were driven extinct." Luna finished. Twilight was horrified but Yearling seemed thoughtful."If they were from space, how do you know they're all extinct?" She asked. "We don't. The Equus branch of the species is extinct. Trust me on this. I suggest we think of how we deal with the diplomacy involved with visiting Zecoras home." Luna said with a hint of finality. While the trio began to speak, an unseen fourth member of the train car smirked. The griffon was under the car, holding on to the bottom. "Doctor Caballeron is going to love this."