Charming Thunder arrived at the enclave to meet up with the princesses and the Mane 5 at the arena seats to see the melee. He sat next to Cadence and looked around down at the arena to find Phantom Lord, but he is nowhere to be seen. "Where is Phantom Lord?" he asked.
"Charming, we were informed by Tarro that he is dead," Celestia said.
"That's not possible!! He must be lying." Charming Thunder then felt sad and Cadence comforted her brother. Gasps were then heard and he looked up to see Phantom Lord enter. He then stood up and had a surprised expression. He cried happy tears as he saw him. He then sat back down as the Huntmaster began to speak.
"Today, many hunters earn glory in death and defeat," the Huntmaster said. "One hunter earns eternal glory in victory. Good hunting to all!" Chatter was going on as Charming Thunder kept a close eye on Phantom Lord.
"Enough!" the Huntmaster's assistant shouted. "You hunters are the best that the world’s goons and thug lords could send us." He began to walk out of the arena. "Now show us which one of you will join the Great Hunt. Fight!" The hunters pulled out their pistols and the melee has started. Phantom and a hunter to his left face each other with their blasters out. He activated his bubble shield and the hunter fired only to hit his shield. He then aimed his blaster to her forehead. He pulled the trigger and the shot was fired to the head. He then aimed at the minotaur across from him and fired a missile then shot at it. The Argonian fired at the Griffin across from him and killed him. The pony to the right of Phantom fired at the Argonian and killed him. Phantom rocket punched the pony and shot his face. He was now the last one standing. "The melee is over! One hunter remains!" Cheering was heard all around him. Most of it came from the Great Hunt hunters including Charming Thunder along with Rainbow Dash.
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Charming Thunder was with the Huntmaster and his assistant as Phantom Lord, Mako, and HK-47 entered the room. "Quite a show you put on," the assistant said. "Blasted fun to watch. How do you feel, hunter?"
"I just stomped my competition into the dirt, I feel great," Phantom replied.
"Enjoy it. Things only get harder from here."
"Let the hunter stand before me," the Huntmaster declared. "He is honored beyond all common hunters. Let it be known that-" He was interuppted when a Ponylorian's voice was heard.
"This is simply ridiculous," the stallion said. "I mean, really-this needs to stop right now." It was Tarro Blood who entered the room uninvited. Charming Thunder's medallion glowed and he looked at Phantom Lord.
"Are we starting the hunt already?" Phantom asked as he drew his blasters out and aimed it at Tarro's head.
"No, no!" the assistant shouted. "No unsanctioned kills in the Great Hunt!"
"You see? That’s a perfect example. I object to this farce. This ignorant thug does not deserve to enter the Great Hunt! His credentials are a lie fabricated by his little gutter rat of a sidekick! He deserves no honors!"
"You lying, cheating, murdering scum!" Mako shouted with rage. She was about to leap towards Tarro, but Charming Thunder gestured Rainbow and Applejack to stop her. They held her back and she calmed down.
"We know this hunter’s history, Blood. The Huntmaster has ruled!"
"You fools!" Tarro shouted. "This is a place of honor, a competition of elites. Ponylore will hear of this!" Charming Thunder stepped up to him and looked at him in the eye with anger.
"Go ahead and flee to them," Charming Thunder threatened. "The Equestrian Empire has seen this Bounty Hunter as honorable as they can be. Ponylore will not deny the opportunity to allow a honorable hunter like him compete. You’re just a coward who wishes to have the Great Hunt for yourself!"
"I’m ready to settle this right now," Phantom said. "How about you?"
"Enough! Before this Great Hunt is over, I will have your skull in my hooves!" Tarro then turned and left the room.
"Well, I think The Great Hunt just got way more interesting," the assistant declared. "Sorry for interrupt, Huntmaster. Please continue."
"The Great Hunt proves talent, resolve," the Huntmaster continued. "Ponylore calls it to bring him the most skilled hunter in the world. Each hunter will hunt the other’s prey. Then each hunter hunts the other. At the end, there is no prey and only one hunter."
"You got all that, hunter? You’ll be hunting targets spread across the world. There will be at least one other hunter going after them, too. You not only have to take down your target, you have to eliminate the other hunters."
"That seems simple enough," Phantom said.
"Today, you are truly the hunter, and all else is your prey. Welcome to the Great Hunt."
"Your handler, Starlight, will fill you in on the rest of the details. She’s waiting for you." Phantom Lord nodded and left to his handler. Charming Thunder and the others left as well as they have something else in mind.
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After leaving the enclave, Charming Thunder was walking with the princesses and the Mane 5 as he spoke to them. "Now is the time to catch him," he said.
"What do you have in mind?" Rainbow asked.
"Rainbow, you and your friends get Brutalight and the others and make sure you bring Nyx with you." Rainbow Dash saluted then left with the rest of her friends. "Princesses, you gather some forces and meet me at the docking bay where Phantom Lord's ship is docked."
"Right away," Luna said as she flew away to gather some troops.
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Phantom Lord, Mako, and HK-47 were almost to their ship until they heard footsteps approaching. They turned to see Charming Thunder along with the Mane 5, Demented 6, Nyx, and a squad of troops approaching. "Hold it right there Phantom Lord!" Charming Thunder ordered. "We’ve been looking for you for three weeks now, we are going to capture you!"
"So you know?" Phantom asked as he slowly removed his helmet revealing himself as Danny himself. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you figured out it was me, King Charming Thunder."
"Wait, you’re-" Mako said in confusion.
"Silence Mako, we have enemies we need to take care of. Get to the ship, you too HK-47." Mako didn't object and left to the ship. HK-47 left as well and it was only Phantom Lord.
"Alright, it’s just you and us now."
"We can restore your memory, Phantom Lord!" Rainbow shouted with glee. "Just come with us!"
"What makes you think I will come willingly, beautiful?" Rainbow blushed at the comment. "I enjoy this life now. And I’m not going to let you ruin it."
Charming Thunder began to show hostilities and shouted, "You’re outnumbered!"
"Oh really? Mecha 6, come to my side!" Robot versions of the Mane 6 left the ship from the landing ramp and came to Phantom Lord's side. "Let me introduce you to the Mecha 6, designed by Soundwave to serve me and him. Now you will have to excuse me, I have targets to eliminate." He began to walk away. Charming attempted to attack but the M-Twilight used her magic to push him back. Rainbow tried to dash past them but M-Rainbow intercepted her and tackled her to the ground. Applejack tried to charge but M-Applejack kicked her away. Before the others could do anything, the Mecha 6’s eyes began to glow red and they withdraw back into the ship. They prepared to charge until a turret appeared from the ship and began to fire at them, making them take cover. The ship began to take off and left the hanger. The commander approached and stood next to Charming Thunder.
"Your highness, I will mobilize fighters to pursue," the commander reported.
"That will be unnecessary, commander," Charming Thunder replied. "I will deal with him myself. Have my ship prepared and have star destroyers ready." He then walked away and left the hangar.
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Phantom Lord piloted the ship away as Mako saw something on the monitor. "Fighter coming in mark three," she reported. The TIE Advanced piloted by Charming Thunder pursued the ship and started to fire at it. Phantom Lord piloted the ship away from the shots but got hit by some of them. "Who is this guy?" The fighter fired again and barely damaged the hull. "Uh-oh. I'm detecting star destroyers approaching in front of us." The admiral on the bridge of the star destroyer observed as the two ships approached. He then used the bridge's comunications to speak to Charming Thunder.
"Your highness, we are in position and we await further orders," the admiral reported.
"Move your destroyers to block their escape, but hold your fire," Charming Thunder ordered. "I want Danny alive." He then pulled the trigger to fire at the fleeing ship. The pursuit came close to the destroyers as as Phantom Lord had an idea.
"I got an idea," Phantom said. "Hang on!!" He then piloted the shiop straight towards the destroyers as Mako had a bad feeling going on. As they were about to fly between the destroyers, Charming Thunder fired again barely hitting its hull. The ship then made a jump which made Charming Thunder's fighter get caught in the tractor beam.
"Report on Phantom Lord's ship?" the admiral demanded.
"Um, sir," the engineer said. "We locked on to a ship, but it's not the target. Its....Charming Thunder's." The admiral gasped and silence filled the room.
"Well don't just sit there!! Release him immediately." The engineer deactivated the tractor beam and released Charming Thunder's fighter. "It's not your fault, officer. But the king won't know that." The officer gulped as the admiral left the bridge.