//------------------------------// // The Princesses Have Connected // Story: Tonight, We Hunt // by ShadowFall //------------------------------// Rengar slicked his Hunting Knife clean of the thick blood that had drenched it before. He looked down over the massive beast that he and the Elements had killed after so much effort and pain and breathed a grunt. "Now I know I've made the right choice to come here..." Picking himself up from his knees, he surveyed the damage around the town. Houses and trees lay flattened or in ashes. Footprints cratered the entire area, seeming to be craters from meteors. The air was now tainted with the smell of thick and oily blood and pieces of the monster lay strewn in different locations. Sniffling around, he turned back towards a familiar figure that approached him. "It's...over..." Rengar leaped down from the slain hydra and pawed over towards Fluttershy, also drenched in blood. "Yes, and you did very well, pony.", Rengar nodded his head in respect, "At first, I didn't expect you to even look at the damned monster. But perhaps, ponies are a different story than what meets the eye." Though Rengar's pride was nearly unmatched, he had learned the very valuable lesson to not judge a book by its cover. Doing so nearly got him killed outside the League of Legends when he had his first encounter with that ancient yordle hunter, and many times he had nearly met his end while fighting within the League. The yordles are crafty devils, and Rengar had learned that the hard way. "Oh, well, thank you Rengar.", Fluttershy tried to beam without remembering what she had experienced prior. "Let's get cleaned up and survey the dama-" "Oh come on! What did I miss this time?!" The two turned around to see a tiny creature waddle towards the pair. A purple lizard-like runt with green frills protruding from his head, back, and tail along with a pair of tiny fangs ran towards them. The lizard looked over all of the damage of the town, then at the gigantic behemoth of a monster that lay dead before him. "Spike? Ohhhh...good thing that you were away.", Fluttershy trotted over towards the confused creature, apparently named "Spike". Rengar wondered if this little creature was of any importance like the Elements of Harmony. Quite possibly not. "W-What happened here?!", the juvenile sounding voice blurted from Spike's mouth. Fluttershy was quick to respond. "Well, it's a long story, but we..." Fluttershy's voice trailed off as Rengar approached the two. He bent down towards the lizard, then asked Fluttershy. "Friend of yours?" The pony nodded then replied, "He's Twilight's assistant, and one of our best friends. He's also the personal courier of all letters sent to Princess Celestia and Luna by Twilight." The tiny dragon's eyes drew wide as the massive and hulking lion turned his attention towards him. "F-Fluttershy? Who's this...?" After glancing back at Rengar, she decided that they should regroup, get cleaned up, and talk afterwards. Applejack and Rarity, who had been carrying the nearly passed-out Twilight had also been walking through the town, attempting to find out where the rest of their friends had gone off to. It didn't take them too long to spot Pinkie Pie carrying her own injured pony, Rainbow Dash. Rengar, who was accompanied by Fluttershy had found them soon afterwards. Deciding that a good place to clean up was the communal showers by Twilight, if it was still standing the group headed off for it. Being located near the outskirts of town, the hydra hadn't rampaged through it, but the busted water pipes from the stomping meant that only one shower head still sprayed water. And cold water at that. Taking their turns, the ponies washed themselves off, some getting another shade of green as the water that trailed into the drain was far more red than clear. Stepping out, the seven came face to face with a rather impatient dragon. "So...is anypony gonna tell me what happened?" Twilight looked up at Rengar, then down at Spike. "Spike, this is our new...?", she looked at Rengar, who gave the face that told her he couldn't care nonetheless, "Our new friend, Rengar. Rengar, this is Spike, my faithful assistant and a very clever little dragon when you get to know him." At this point, Twilight bumped Rengar's back so that he would step forward and personally greet him. Annoyed, he let a low growl. The dragon instead walked up to him and nervously held out his clawed hand. "Nice to meet you, Rengar. Any friend of Twilight's is a friend of mine. Even if they're...what are you exactly?" "Spike!" "What? I'm really curious!" Rengar looked at the tiny shrimp, then bent down. "I'm a hunter. The best there is, little Spike.", the lion found a little amusement at getting the tiny dragon to shrink down even more, but decided that this was the wrong thing to do. "I am Rengar, the greatest hunter that you will ever lay eyes on, little dragon. The same hunter that had slain the giant hydra that rampaged into your town." "HEY!" The other six ponies shouted in unison, most certainly annoyed by Rengar's behavior. Rengar exhaled. "We put an end to the hydra." Spike, still very confused from the entire atmosphere still grasped onto the bare straws of the explanation that was given to him. Before he was able to speak, armored ponies began to rush past them all, most likely to sort out and clean up the giant beast, as well as assess the obvious high collateral destruction that had fallen on the town. As the guards ran to and fro, Rengar suddenly remembered a task that he had to do, and quickly ran off. Seeing Rengar disappear, Pinkie suddenly broke the ice. "Ohhh, I'm so glad that all of you are okay!", she quickly scooped up her friends in a Pinkie-strength hug, which quickly earned a yelp from Rainbow Dash, as he wing was still injured. Releasing her grip, Rainbow Dash still chuckled at her friends. "I still can't believe we pulled that one off. Did you see all of that?! We're like warriors!" Rarity piped up. "Please, Rainbow Dash. We're nothing of that sort. We had to defend Ponyville and stop others from being harmed. And though I'm not a fan of the methods we had to...employ, we did what we must. We're not anything like warriors or anything remotely barbaric as that." "I agree with Rarity", Twilight managed to regain her senses a short time ago, "We did what we had to do, and thank Celestia we succeeded." "But, without Rengar, then we wouldn't have been able to do a thing...doesn't think kinda scare ya'll?", Applejack looked left and right. "I for one don't think we should dwell on that. We stopped a disaster, whether how slim the chances were or were not. I honestly think I could use a little break from all of this chaos. Maybe a Pinkie party is something that the doctor might prescribe?" Before the mare in subject broke out her signature artillery of party favors, the ponies suddenly felt a bit more warm in their midst. A very familiar kind of warm. The ponies and the dragon turned around, and came to behold the majestic white pony with her ethereal flowing mane that lightly floated down from the sky. "Princess Celestia!", the ponies and dragon cried in unison, the each took their place bowing to their great leader, earning a tiny giggle from her. Apparently, they still though it appropriate to bow down, despite her saying that it didn't matter to her either way. "Hello, my little ponies, "Celestia's voice seemed to cure any tension left in the Elements just from the soothing aura it seemed to emit, "I was summoned by Twilight Sparkle." Looking down at her former student, she continued. "Spike hadn't sent the letter, and the details inside were quite alarming.", Celestia gazed over the town, "And what has transpired here certainly calls for those details to be the truth." "Princess Celestia, thank goodness you came. Quite a bit has happened already, as you can see, but we managed to resolve the situation. In perhaps...less favorable ways.", Twilight pawed the ground a little nervously. "Well, it does certainly appear that whatever happened was certainly worth me coming from North Cowrea to investigate." "Oh no! Did I cut off your diplomatic trip?!" "Oh not at all, Twilight. Cow-Jong-Un is actually a very fair, just, and kind leader of his people. This is a big lesson that I cannot trust the rumors of griffons to assume that North Cowrea was developing spells of mass destruction. The relationships went very well without incident and we even played a little bit of chess." Celestia whispered in Twilight's ear. "First time somepony checkmated me in over 250 years." Then, another being descended from the sky. Having the opposite colored coat of her taller and older sister, the other alicorn bore an extremely dark blue coat with a mane that seemed to hold the entire galaxy inside of it. "Ah, greetings Elements of Harmony. I've done a quick survey of the damage of Ponyville. We will have to pull a lot of our building materials in Canterlot's reserves if we will want to rebuild from the ashes and splinters Ponyville had become.", Princess Luna breathed a sigh of frustration, as apparently, Ponyville still remained a hotspot for trouble. "Sister, what did you find?" "A giant monster. It looked like a completely over-sized hydra from the looks of it. And when I went near the body, or one of the pieces of it, my horn felt...cold. As if the magic wanted to run back inside of me. So odd..." "Welp, with a lot of help from our new friend, we managed to stop that giant monster before it got to Canterlot!", Twilight beamed at her mentor. "Ah, a new friend? Wonderful, Twilight Sparkle. But how did another pony, even as the Elements of Harmony stop something so-" At that point, Rengar had come around a corner, a gigantic sword in his hand. No...it wasn't a sword. It was one of the hydra's many teeth, ripped from its gums as a very suitable trophy for the likes of Rengar. "Would you look at the size of this thing! I don't think that the real Baron Nashor has teeth this...-", Rengar's voice trailed off as he looked at the two taller ponies that stood with the Elements. They were certainly far more unique than the other ponies that he met, especially with their height, mane, and the fact that they bore both long, elegant horns and giant, powerful wings. Rengar looked back at Twilight. "Friends of yours?" Before the youngest princess could scold the lion for acting so rude in front of the goddesses that ruled Equestria, she found that the look on those very leaders were not of annoyance, but of something completely different. The princesses bore the expression of being dumbfounded, as if they couldn't believe their own eyes. And when they lived for over 1000 years, you can bet that they had seen it all. But here, they stared at Rengar as if he was some sort of all-powerful galaxy spawned god of time. Twilight could even detect the slight hint of insignificance from them. Insignificance? How? Then, Celestia spoke. "I...I've seen you somewhere before. But I cannot place my hoof on it...", she tried to look over the lion again. "I have too. I know you from somewhere else." Rengar looked at the Elements of Harmony. They looked back at him, unsure of what to say. Rengar spoke to break the silence. "That depends. From where I come from, every single soul knows me. Here, it's the opposite story.", the lion spoke. "But we know you. I know I know you.", Celestia seemed to drop any ounce of formality to identify this lion. Luna's eyes suddenly grew wide, then she whispered into her sister's ear, having her's grow in size as well. Immediately, the two princesses stepped back. Then, Celestia spoke. "I have no knowledge of how you are here, but we honor you", much to the surprise of their subjects, the two princesses actually bowed at Rengar. "We welcome you, Champion of the League of Legends.", Celestia spoke after she rose. "We welcome thee, Pridestalker." The Elements of Harmony had absolutely no clue what was unfolding in front of them. Neither did Rengar. The trip to the majestic kingdom of Canterlot was made fairly easy due to a few carriages that Princess Celestia summoned from the guards. Twilight Sparkle and Rengar were told to climb aboard as the rest of the Elements and Spike were to help assess the damage and get the citizens to arrive back at their demolished town. Twilight could only imagine how grief-stricken most of the townsponies would be once they found that their homes were destroyed. Rengar imagined hunting monsters, as usual. However, once they got closer to the castle, Rengar's eyes gazed over the intertwining architecture of Canterlot Castle, seemingly appearing to be part of the mountain that it was build upon with such naturality. The white marble glowed from the sunlight and down below, he could see the city, sprawling with ponies that wore clothes that held an elegant aura, unlike Ponyville, which no ponies seemingly wore clothes. "This castle puts the entire kingdom of Demacia to shame...", Rengar told himself in his head as the carriages began to travel towards the castle. A landing pad was the destination of the carriages and Rengar was let out, as his was separate from the Princesses. Walking out, the guards payed no attention to him, seemingly gazing ahead. But deep down, Rengar knew that the guards wanted to watch him with their undying attention, despite their training. After all, he was the most unique being to ever arrive in Canterlot. Then, several guards trotted up to Rengar, two levitating a chest. "From Canterlot's law, all guests are to surrender their weapons for safekeeping during their visit.", one guard approached Rengar and opened up the chest. Rengar already had a very bad opinion of these guards, especially from the incident in Ponyville where the military of Canterlot nearly ruined Rengar's plan due to their incompetence. Or possible it was due to their captain, Golden Might...or something like that. Nonetheless, Rengar was used to handing his weapons over, especially since he had to do so regularly at the Institute of War within the League of Legends. He grunted as he took his Hunting Knife, as large as the guard's own sword, and placed it in the chest. Rengar then began to take off various tools of killing. Smaller daggers, the machete, several bolas, vials of poisons, and his wrist-mounted blades. "Dear Celestia...", Rengar could hear one of the guards mutter to himself. Once Rengar had removed the majority of the weapons, he felt a lot...lighter. Huh. Perhaps he always carried too much blades around. No. One could never have too many blades. "Thank you for your cooperation. The Princesses are awaiting your presence.", the guard spoke as the chest levitated away with them. However, Rengar still held onto the hourglass, and the weapon nopony could take from him, his claws. He ventured deeper into the castle, and came across multiple guards that walked on patrol, and the occasional servant. "Hmph...comfort. It breeds weakness..." Rengar scowled as he walked on. He earned glances from the guards, and especially the servants as he continued his way. One servant even went in the opposite direction so that she wouldn't have to pass him. Rengar plodded deeper into the giant castle, and eventually met Twilight, who stepped out of a door. "Oh! There you are!", she smiled and trotted up to him. "Where are the rest of the alicorns?", Rengar asked bluntly. "Luna is currently attending to a report that had recently come back. It shouldn't take more than a few minutes. Celestia on the other hand...I think she's chewing out some guard. I think it was the one- the captain that came into Ponyville.", Twilight explained. "I would do more than just 'chew him out' for what the idiot did.", Rengar scowled again, his second time in Canterlot. "Well...I mean...yeah! I honestly would to.", Twilight nodded her head. The more she talked to this lion, the more fascinating this hunter was to her. However, she managed to catch on to Rengar's attitude once they arrived in Canterlot, "I can take it that Canterlot isn't your kind of place. Honestly...it's not really mine either." Rengar looked down at the princess. "Really. And why is that? I believed you ponies are obsessed with luxary." "Well...no. Not really. Even though I'm a princess, I kinda find that Canterlot is a bit to..." "Posh?" "I would have used the word, 'proper' for myself. But yeah, it kind of is posh.", she smiled up at Rengar, "And...thank you so much for helping out in Ponyville. Without you, I don't think we would have known what to do. Not even more for that fact. I guess it really was in the luck of a blue moon you were lurking around..." "Did you not forget our deal?" "Of course I haven't. I'm very sure I can give you a royal pardon to the hunting that you have been doing...but then there's the threatening of an Element of Harmony. That's something I cannot forgive you for, and punishment will have to be dealt accordingly for that." Rengar narrowed his eye at the floor. He had expected as much. As they rounded a corner, Rengar could hear voices through the gigantic wooden door that lay in front of them. He held up his arm to stop Twilight. "What's up?" "She's still scolding the guard." "Really? I can't hear a thing. Tell me what they're saying!", Twilight suddenly beamed like a little girl as Rengar's sensitive ears picked up the sounds. "A Champion from the League of Legends?! How was I supposed to know that this...cat had more authority than me?! I don't even know what the League of Legends is!" "That is not what matters. What does matter is the fact that an Element of Harmony was accompanying this lion. The Elements of Harmony, when present, are to be given a briefing on the situation, or they should be briefing you. Not ordered to be pushed off by a captain who clearly doesn't know the situation." "But-" "And not to mention your artillery. The glaive launcher? Tell me if I'm wrong, but that weapon piece is a prototype. Forbid you if we had lost that weapon to the hydra." "Your Highness, I-" "Then, there's the hydra. A hydra. Hy-dra. I do recall that all guards are given training to combating various monsters, as it is one of the most common emergencies that arise in Ponyville. And would you like to know what has the second longest section?" Golden Might held his tounge. "The hydra. Very clearly, in bold letters, with red printing states:" THE SEVERMENT OF A HYDRA'S HEAD WILL RESULT IN THE HYDRA GROWING TWO FUNCTIONAL HEADS BACK. Golden Might continued to keep his mouth shut, but still looked up at the alicorn, as the alicorn looked down to the pony. "Your misconduct and incompetence will come at a price. A very steep one. Ponies could have died due to this hydra, and so could an Element of Harmony." Celestia spoke her punishment. "You are hereby demoted to Lieutenant, Golden Might." "What?! This is outrageous-" "Are you defying me, soldier?", Celestia kept her unforgiving eyes piercing into Golden Might. "I- Your Highness, you can't do this-" "Vice Sergeant." ... ... ... "I understand, Your Highness." "I could have decommissioned you, soldier. But you are a talented pony. Perhaps you will right your wrongs, and make your way back up. But I should have known giving you that promotion to Captain was a mistake. You are not capable of such leadership for a very long time. Prove to me that you can improve, and you shall see yourself climbing back up again. Understood?" "Yes, Your Highness." "Dismissed." The voices stopped, and Rengar had managed to relay every word to Twilight, who was beaming from the gossip. "Oooooh! That guard got destroyed!", Twilight laughed along Rengar's side. Even Rengar had to take immense pleasure from Golden Might's demotions. Being knocked down from a Captain to a Vice Sergeant is a gigantic fall from the mountain of authority, a mountain which only gets harder and harder to climb. Then, the doors opened, and Golden Might walked out. He eyed Rengar, keeping a blank face, but even the most incompetent of ponies could know Golden Might's thoughts. "You did this." True or not, Rengar only chuckled, souring the demoted soldier's mood even further. "Twilight? Rengar? Please come inside.", Celestia's tone suddenly spelled out a warm and loving voice, one completely opposite as the one utilized before. When Twilight and Rengar entered, a bright flash of blue covered the throne room in light, and Princess Luna appeared beside her older sister. "I apologize, I just had to finish up that report from our mining." "No concern, though maybe we should be a bit more concerned with a League of Legends Champion in our midst, Lulu.", Celestia giggled a bit. "But...I still don't know what all of this talk about this 'League of Legends' is about..." Celestia and Luna levitated up two more cushions. "Sit, please. I'll give you a little backstory of our friend here..." "Okay! Okay! I don't mean to interrupt, but Rengar's a part of a massive league that holds the greatest fighters in his world, who fight on organised battlegrounds for reasons raging from homeland political superiority, hometown representation, harboring and containing dangerous criminals, and for those who just want to plain kill things?", Twilight began to run down what her former mentor was explaining to her. "Yes, you have that part correct, Twilight." "And...Rengar, literally stalks around in brush and bushes, and leaps out to ambush not just common gladiators or soldiers, but literally beings of pure arcane magic, the literal incarnation of war, and a roughly six-year old girl that has magical properties so immense that she could overtake my own powers when she grows up?!" "Not to mention, literal gods", Rengar pointed out. Twilight placed her hoof on her head, trying to absorb the fact that Rengar could be very likely to be the most battle hardened and honed warrior on their entire world. Well, save for the princesses with their one thousand years of experience. But even still. If she could see Rengar go toe to toe with Celestia...she would feel slightly inclined to place her bits on Rengar instead. Slightly. "Wow...so...Rengar. You actually..." "Yes, I've killed gods by hiding in a bush and jumping out. They've killed me too, as well. But I learn. I learn quick. And I kill them quicker." "I...how can you die but come back to life? No spell that i know of brings anypony back to life. Not to mention, in perfect physical form." Celestia spoke up. "You see, when a Champion heads into the Fields of Justice to fight with the others, a summoner represents them. Their job is to communicate to the other summoners to tell them what is happening on the battlefield, teleport them to their initial starting point, and revive them once they are slain.", Celestia explained. "Wow...it must be a very big privilege to be summoner...", Twilight gazed at Rengar. "Hmph. Most really don't deserve their status. I cannot tell you how many battles were lost because summoners on one team bickered and argued while the other team managed to take advantage and have their champions seek out the other opponents, knowing it will infuriate the other summoners even more.", Rengar displayed his clear distaste for most of the mages that were the summoners. "I really do agree. It really is harsh what these individuals say to one another...", Luna sighed. "Really? What do they say?". Twilight asked the princesses. At this point, the two alicorns looked at each other with a bit of concern in their eyes. Apparently, what these "summoners" said could really be too harsh for her? Then, Rengar spoke what they say. "Good game, trash team." "Stop feeding you fucking faggot, surrender at twenty minutes." "Can you fucking hit an ultimate you tard?" "Laugh out loud, I'm going to feed now" "This Lee Sin." "Fuck you, you never ganked for me." "Mid or feed." "Top or away from keyboard." "I only play Teemo." "You fucking feeding piece of shit, I hope you get gunned down in the street like the degenerate trash that you are, and when you are on life support, I'll unplug it to charge my cell phone." "I deserve Challenger." Once Rengar had finished up his phrases, Twilight's mouth hung open at the vulgarity and harshness of what these summoners said to each other. She had never, ever heard of such language in her life, nor could she ever think that a single pony could spit out so much swearing in one sentence. "They...really say this?" Celestia nodded and smiled. "It's a little amusing, actually." Twilight shook her head. "But...how do you know about this whole League of Legends?" Celestia began by clearing her throat. "Well, the summoners were able to travel to different plains of existence to find certain potential champions. That is how they managed to contact The Void, and then have champions that that dimension fight in their own. One time...I managed to send a request to partake in the League of Legends as a potential candidate to supply them with champions, so we could have a voice through another dimension in political affairs. But..." "But what?", Twilight asked. "...they said we didn't have anything worthy enough to be considered a champion.", Celestia replied sheepishly, "And me and my sister couldn't, since we had to kingdom to run, and travel between dimensions isn't an easy thing to do. Save for The Void. So...we were instead given permission to spectate the battles that go on." "It's been our favorite past time for a few years.", Luna added, "You really should watch it sometime with us, Twilight Sparkle. There are so many unique beings that fight...if only their written lore was that fleshed out." "Wow...maybe I'll give it a watch. For research purposes.", Twilight added to the end of her sentence, "But Rengar, shouldn't you be fighting in the League?" The other princesses turned around. "Yes, I'm curious about that too.", Celestia eyes Rengar, awaiting for an answer. "As do I.", Luna nodded as well. Rengar huffed and breathed in. "I retired." The princesses' eyes widened at this comment. "Retired?! From the League?! Why and how?!" Annoyed at this outburst, Rengar narrowed his eyes. "Well...as a great hunter within the League, I hunted the same monsters for years. Bramblebacks, Kurgs, Sentinals, The Gromp, and occasionally a dragon or the reconstructed form of the Baron Nashor. However, as time passed, even the champions I hunted were beginning to get a bit stale. Lee Sin dashes away? Get into a bush and leap at him. Garen runs away? A bola solves that problem. Basically, everything was the same...it grew so...tedious. Plus, the summoners began to wear down on me." "Go on.", Celestia encouraged. "Normally, a champion wouldn't retire so easily...nor would they usually want to. But because I didn't fight under a banner, and my frustration was beginning to show in matches, especially after they tried to send me off on breaks to cool myself off, the heads of the Council granted my retirement from the League. But aside from hunting the monsters on Summoner's Rift, I've hunted everything. Quite possible everything on the world of Valoran. So, I had to find a new place to hunt. But I did not know of such a place. However, I overheard about summoners making contact with a new dimension, one that could possibly filled with champions. I then came to realize now that this land was called-" "Equestria." "Correct, Twilight. I wanted to go there to see what I could hunt. But I could not ask the summoners, as I was no longer affiliated with the League, though I remain a champion. The Void was not an option for...obvious reasons." The princesses seemed to know about Rengar's reasoning, as they seemed to get a bit more pale at the mention of it. "So, I turned to an odd choice. One who knows interdimensional travel, and is a champion within the League as well. One that doesn't speak in the way we can hear him." "Wait, do you mean...", Luna asked. "Yes, Bard, The Wandering Caretaker. I ventured to seek him on top of The Mountain of Temperance. When I got up there, I couldn't understand him, but I could tell that he was expecting me. Bard then put his hand out, palming to the ground. For the first time in my life, I meditated, and I could see this world inside of my mind. Forests, civilization, ...beasts... However, Bard kept speaking to me in a tongue I could not decipher. Then, before I could know what he said, he tapped his drum once, put his hand on a boulder, and a golden portal appeared. I bid my farewell, and I ventured through his magical journey." "And then...", Celestia wanted to hear more. "And I arrived near Griffonstone. Lived there for a few years, then departed in search of a greater hunt. And that's where I came to the Everfree Forest, where I met Zecora. Zecora was the only inhabitant I could trust to keep my secret, as she felt vulnerable from the enlarged population of the animals. Then...I am here. Discussing my story with three pony princesses.", Rengar chuckled and leaned back. Twilight, Celestia, and Luna sure had a lot to take in. "Fascinating! I really wish i could get that written down! Could you start from the beginning again?", Twilight levitated a scroll with a feather in ink to write. "Perhaps Rengar is already worn from his journeys and the recent hydra attack. Perhaps you should give him a rest.", Celestia smiled at her once-student. "At least Celestia could take a hint.", Rengar thought. "Oh! Sorry!" "It is no problem. But Twilight, I do have a task for you, even though I no longer give them to you, you should find this one rather necessary." "I can tell. Survey the damage of the Everfree and make a report. I was just going to get to that.", Twilight nodded. "She still takes the words right out of your mouth, sister.", Luna giggled, earning one from Celestia as well. "Rengar, thank you for this wonderful exchange of stories and your experiences within the League. We shall see you soon!", Celestia waved at Rengar after he and Twilight had stood to leave." "Farewell, alicorns.", Rengar replied back. Twilight had gone out of the throne room before Rengar, but before he could exit, Celestia and Luna stopped him. "Before you go...could you say...you know...", Celestia started. "That line?", Luna asked with a great smile. Internally, Rengar rolled his eyes. However, he could find himself wanting to chuckle with his new "fans". Turning around and placing his foot on a chest for a pose of nobility, he shouted: "Tonight, we hunt!" The princesses squealed with joy. His new demotion, to the contrary, was not the largest thing affecting his rotten mood currently. To Golden Might, it was that damned lion. That. Lion. How dare that a beast like though could possible have any more authority than him. What a disgrace that this kingdom could brandish to actually allow him into their castle. If he were to have his way, he would carve him into a trophy and mount him on his own quarter's fireplace. But now he didn't have a Captain's Quarters. He now slept in the Officer's Barracks. Oh how he wanted to slay that beast, begging for merciful death, only to be deprived of it and be subject to the torment of his own suffering. It would be glorious. However, he had other businesses to attend to. Looking both ways, he opened a door. Steeping inside of the Military Project Development Room, he found that the room had no staff in it. Just one pony. Exactly how he arranged. "Gadget, I have arrived." The head weapons technician, Clockwork Gadget turned around. "Ah, Sergeant Golden Might, I've been expecting you." Then, Golden Might pushed back Gadget, slamming him on a table. "If I tell you to refer to me as General, you will do so." Gadget nodded frantically, and was released. Once he recovered, he began to speak. "Come for the prototypes, I see?" Golden nodded. "Exactly. I need to outfit my troops with the best things you have right now. A new threat has emerged, and I don't want it interfering with my operations." Gadget looked sideways. "But your troops have state of the art gear. What could I-" "My other troops." Then, Gadget nodded again, understanding. "Of course, of course. I apologize. Please, follow me." The scientist lead the once-Captain through the laboratories, exotic weapons adorning the walls and tables to one day be included within Canterlot's growing military strength. Then, the two came to a rack filled with odd looking rifles of some sort. "What are these?" "HT-MK3 Rifles. A new technological breakthrough thanks to yours truly. This rifle fires out a magic-infused projectile that could blast apart a mantacore to smithereens with just one shot...or perhaps... a griffon... or lion.", Gadget smiled. "Incredible." "It's a new technology. Highly advanced tech that is fueled by magic. I've dubbed it "Hextech". What do you think?" "I think I need all of them.", Golden smiled maliciously. "Of course. Over here, we have the Optical Enhancement Totem. Running on Hextech like the rifles, it projects a field of vision that can reveal anything within a 30-yard radius. Including anything that could be classified as 'invisible'." Golden Might really liked the sound of that. Perhaps that lion would be of no concern after all with this kind of gear. "What's that over there?", Golden Might pointed at a rather large weapon sitting on a table. "Ah, I thought you might be interested in that.", Gadget trotted over towards the weapon of interest. "This right here is the HT-134 Rapid Fire Rotary Gun. Utilizing an even more powerful cartridge than the muskets, a single shot could blast a tree to fragments. But that isn't the real beauty of this gun. That would be multiple barrels that you see here. Self-loading and spin when firing, pumping out a legendary fire rate of over fifty shots every second." Golden Might's eyes widened at this marvelous weapon. "Unbelievable. Fifty shots every second." "Yes. And if the wielder is a unicorn, it can utilize the magic of the wielder to keep on firing without a reload. And seeing that you are a unicorn...that would be no problem for you." Golden Might was liking this. He was liking this a lot. Too bad that the guards will be stuck with crossbows for a while. He was going to clear Gadget of his inventory. "I'm very impressed." "So...about the price of these prototypes...I was think the payment should be about..." Gadget's voice trailed off as he looked up to see himself looking down the barrel of his very own Hextech Musket. Looking around, he could see that Gadget had put up a sound-nullifying spell around the two, ensuring his murder would not be heard. Inside of the sphere of silence, Gadget could only hear one last thing. "Here's your payment." KA-KRACK! The walls of the laboratory were now decorated very fondly in a new shade of red as Gadget's head existed no more, but only a mangled stump of his neck was left. At once, ponies that were disguised as guards entered the labs and began to clean the walls, move the body, and pack up the weapons into carts, making sure to cover them with tarps. Then, after managing to destroy any evidence by using a fire-starting spell from Golden Might, they exited the labs with the carts full of prototype arms. Once anypony managed to catch on that there was a massive blaze inside the Military Project Development Room, Golden Might and his ponies headed off for the Everfree Forest. "Alright, stallions, let's see what we can catch today."