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The sun shone hot and heavy...the air humid, thick with tension. Three titans standing across from each other in sweltering, blistering heat. One held aloft a mixture of spear and staff, a mighty weapon that bristled with bright blue energy that hissed in the air like a cobra rising to full height. The other two stood side by side, heads held high, panting slightly at the horned figure before them.

"I've never, ever had more worthy challenges." It told them. There was not an ounce of mockery in his words. He was sincere. Truthful. Almost...kindly. He sounded sad that the challenge had to end as he aimed the end of the staff at the two sisters, his piercing blue eyes gazing into theirs. "You've both been very, very worthy. True credits to your race."

"We will not fall here to you." The first intoned, her voice motherly, yet firm, and biting, the second nodding in agreement.

"Thou shalt be defeated, here and now." She proclaimed, her voice booming, deep and intimidating like the roar of thunder in the middle of a story night.

Silence as the sun continued to beam down upon them, almost pushing them into the soft grass of the plains they stood upon. Enormous chunks of ground had been ripped apart by magic most powerful, or the immense energy blasts the hunter before the two sisters had sent their way. There would be a winner...one way or another.

Unless...

"...no...more." He finally proclaimed, placing the end of the spear on the ground, shaking his head back and forth. "No more. You are too tired. I am too tired. This has never, ever happened. Not to my father. Not to grandfather. Certainly not to me." He admitted. "A tie is almost unheard of for my race. But...it's a tie all the same, and we have rules."

He slammed his fist against his chest, giving them a bow of his head. "You earned my respect, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna. I will remember you. And I will return within a hundred years to see if you've progressed. I desire...closure...to this fight."

"We will be ready and waiting. The Hunting Party will not succeed here." Celestia informed him, shaking her head back and forth as she saw him...flinch? As if...offended, almost. "What?"

"There's no "party", Celestia. I'm not going back to my family."

"Why not?" Luna wished to know as he wryly smiled.

"I'm all that is left."

"...OH." The two sisters said at once, glancing at each other as he turned around, sighing slightly, head bowed.

"Other races would have just attacked me on sight. I appreciate you let me establish the ground rules, even knowing what my species did. I assure you, I will remember your honorable behavior."

"There are pains worse than that of the flesh. The pain of disregarding that which is closest to your soul is the worst of all." Celestia insisted.

"We have our integrity to think about. Even knowing what your kind did to others, we couldn't in good conscience just attack you unprovoked." Luna added as she and Celestia walked towards him as he headed along the plains, a gentle wind beginning to blow at last, giving them some small reprieve as the black-bodied being inhaled deeply, enjoying the scent carried on the breeze. "Where willst thou go?"

"I may not have family to go back to...but it's been far too long...and I want to go home."

...

...

...

... "It'll be good to finally be home." Fluttershy insisted cheerily to Rainbow Dash and the others, looking over a small photograph of Angel and the other animals at her little home in Ponyville, sighing wistfully as she shook her head back and forth, her pink mane flopping about. "I know Spike promised to take good care of them, but I so dearly miss the dears."

"I appreciate you all coming with me to see Princess Celestia." Princess Twilight Sparkle admitted, bowing her head at her friends as she sat in a booth, wings folded at her sides as her unicorn horn sparked, a book of notes flying over to her indigo form as she turned the journal to what she needed, holding it up for the others to see. The sky-colored Rainbow Dash tilted her head slightly in confusion, her long rainbow-colored hair falling a little bit over her eyes.

"Is that a...minotaur?" She asked, pointing at the figure drawn in Twilight's journal, Fluttershy shaking her head.

"Oh no, I'd recognize a minotaur. That's definitely not a minotaur." She murmured.

"Yeah, don't minotaurs...y'know...got them hooves?" Applejack asked, the green-eyed pony scratching her head, pushing the large brown Stanton hat atop her head slightly up, chewing a little on her lip. "Kinda looks like he oughta be from TARTARUS. Real demon."

"I must say, I ADORE the jewelry he has around his neck, though." Rarity spoke up, her pale skin positively glowing in the light of the train compartment thanks to an excellent new shampoo she had, resting her head on one hoof as she sat in her plushy chair. "Such a lovely necklace. Bright blue is a lovely contrast to his dark, brooding body. And it brings out the color of his eyes."

"Good thing that Celestia and Luna remembered so much about this guy." The cheery, upbeat Pinkie Pie added with a wave of her hoof. "They said he's a member of "The Hunting Party"?" She asked. "Doesn't sound like MY kind of Party, though." She muttered with a pout. "My parties don't involve shooting people with anything but t-shirt cannons!"

"They're supposedly...well...aliens." Twilight admitted, the others all looking around at each other, confused at first, almost...frightened. But then again, they HAD fought hydras, Ursa Minors, a demonic centaur, the personification of Disharmony itself, a corruption spirit that had once driven Luna insane with jealousy, tackled beings that could change their appearance to imitate others, been to another dimension entirely. So... aliens?...not so farfetched. "The technical term is "Cosmo Sapien". They live for the hunt. The challenge. And it's been about one hundred years since he last came."

"They're certain he'll be a-comin' back soon? Like, this year?" Applejack asked, peeking out the nearby window of the train, the harsh, howling winds outside a stark contrast to the soft yellows and reds within as she shuddered just from LOOKING at the thick piles of snow being pelted down onto the plains. "Daaang. We gotta get ready, then. Get the Elements."

"Just what I was thinking." Twilight insisted with a firm nod. "One on one, I don't think we could take him. However, if we worked together, well...we can move mountains!"

Or at least, that's what she'd been ABOUT to say when a loud, horrific, crashing noise filled the air, everyone sent flying, Fluttershy tearing out the window. Jagged, icy pain digging into her skin, cackling, hissing, buzzing cries filling the air, screaming piercing through her ears as she struck the ground, bumped her head on a rock...

And remembered...

Nothing more.

...

...

...

...so cold...

It was so, so cold. Fluttershy shuddered, wrapping her arms around herself, whimpering slightly, making her way past obvious train wreckage, panting as her breath condensed before her. The wind was stabbing into her like knives all across her frail form as her pink mane fluttered back and forth and she cringed, trying to find any sign of her friends. What had...happened? The train must have suddenly hit something, or...

No. Wait. She could see...insectoid wings. Several all littered around along with dark black carapaces like-

Changelings. Changelings must have attacked the train. She shuddered in fear, cupping her hooves around her mouth. "TWILIGHT? DASH? APPLEJACK? RARITY? PINKIE?"

Nothing. Fluttershy grit her teeth, continuing to try and move along where the train tracks were. She had to keep moving, try and follow the tracks to Ponyville, with any luck, perhaps she'd get there before...

Before...

Soooo...cold...

She flopped to her knees, shuddering again, wracked with agonizing pain as she tried to get up, but...she could barely move. She felt like she'd been dipped in a big block of ice, helpless to escape. Why? Why here, now? When her friends could have been in real dang-

"Are you cold?" A deep, dark, ethereal voice inquired, Fluttershy managing to raise her head to behold a titanic horned being that now stared down at her, muscular arms folded across a well-built chest, bright blue eyes blazing in the blizzard that raged around her. He knelt down slightly by her, Fluttershy slightly shivering at the sight of his rather large, sharp claws and...very, VERY sharp teeth. His body was as dark as the night sky, with what could only be described as faint, glimmering stars littered about within it, blinking slightly across his chest, his stomach, everywhere. He somehow sniffed her, despite lacking a nose, tilting his head to the side a little.

"...I...um..." Fluttershy squeaked out as the Cosmo Sapien chuckled a bit.

"Obvious question. I can smell how quickly you're turning into a pony-sicle. The less obvious questions being..."How desperate am I to escape this cold" and "Is this person trustworthy"?" He inquired. "I know you're trying to get to where this railroad ends. I have enhanced senses...I can see the town off in the distance that you seek to reach. It's still five miles away. You'd never reach their in time unless I carry you."

"I think I-I'd...f-freeze if...if I let you puh-puh-pick me up..." Fluttershy gulped.

The Cosmo Sapien shook his head. "No, no. I meant I could carry you in my stomach, then regurgitate you. It's quite warm inside."

Fluttershy's eyes went wider than saucers as she gaped at the suggestion, the hunter continuing. "Your fear is understandable. Look at it this way, though. If I am honest, you'll make it home. If I'm NOT, at least you will die warm and with company, rather than cold and alone. What do you really have to lose?" He inquired, holding out a clawed hand, Fluttershy cringing as she gulped nervously.

"I...g-guess nothing..." She managed to admit. "Al...alright I'll...I'll...I...I suppose I don't...don't have any choice..." She whimpered, closing her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to watch what was happening to her.

"Just relax...and don't forget to take deep, deep breaths." He tenderly intoned, carefully lifting her up, as she felt his warm breath on her face, the hunter gently inserting her head into his pulsing mouth. With a tug of her torso, he shoved it into his throat and pressed his lips on her neck, his stomach gave a gurgle as if in anticipation as he forced the pony's shoulders inside. With Fluttershy securely in his grasp, his tongue began to travel over the pony's chest, Fluttershy still not opening her eyes.

She was surprised, though. How EASILY he was working his jaws over her shoulders....each new gulp sending more and more of her body into his maw, a grip from his teeth aiding him in devouring her torso. Soon he had a mouthful of Fluttershy's hips and his claws let go of her body to let gravity do the work for him as he rubbed his slightly expanding belly, another gulp sending Fluttershy's thighs into his mouth, his deep, low moans indicating he was clearly enjoying this.

Fluttershy felt the warm massage of his throat over her body, her head beginning to enter what was clearly his stomach, soft muscles squeezing, kneading him like bread, so squishy and pleasant. Her front legs already stuffed into the hunter's throat, all that remained were her legs and her rear, which the hunter was now resting his claws upon. He felt her shiver in fear, and he gently rubbed her bottom, stroking it, trying to calm her before giving another deep swallow that sent her legs down, slurping up her hooves. His tongue explored the taste of her hooves, tickling them slightly as saliva washed over her soles and Fluttershy sank deeper into a deep, dark abyss that began to engulf her. She was curled up now in a fetal position, feeling like she was in a mixture of water and jelly, and took in large, deep breaths, still terrified of opening her eyes...

But open them she did, finding herself in a strangely pillow-like place, everything cushioning her as she was massaged by the muscles of the belly. It was so odd...and why was the liquid she was breathing in helping her? How could she breathe? How...

Hands? Something was...caressing her? Comforting her? She could faintly feel what felt like dozens of hands all tenderly resting on her body, trying to stroke her, tend to her, a nice, tingling warmth rising in her as she felt something even bigger rubbing her. The hunter was rubbing his stomach and she could...hear him speaking as if he was right by her side.

"Just relax...calm down. Deep breaths." He insisted. "It's slightly jarring to some, but you don't need to be frightened. You're feeling the many others I've absorbed over the years into my body. That's how my kind eats. But I can hold people indefinitely inside my stomach, in the dark matter that is the space between spaces. I AM a living galaxy after all." He informed her. "So take deep breaths."

Fluttershy gulped a bit...but took in a few careful, cautious, deep breaths, now beginning to feel more comfortable than nervous as she leaned back against the soft walls around her. It was much like resting against a bean bag chair, or a plushy couch with a blanket upon it as she heard cheery voices speaking to her in her mind.

"We're here for you."

"It's okay, the Huntsman won't hurt you."

"He's gonna get you home."

"It'll be alright, Miss Pony."

"Y-you promise you won't...um...digest me?" Fluttershy nervously asked of "The Huntsman" as she felt him chuckle.

"I ALWAYS keep my word." He insisted, Fluttershy feeling him rub his belly again. "I'll let you out at your village when we arrive. Should only take half an hour."

"Did you, um...that is...see my friends? Other ponies? I'm worried they were hurt by the train attack." Fluttershy wanted to know, tapping her hooves together as the Huntsman "hmmmed" for a moment before speaking.

"I examined the crash before I approached you. There's no bodies, if you're frightened of their deaths. Most likely, they were taken by a rescue team that couldn't find you since this place was swaming with insectoid creatures that probably scared them away."

"Changelings. They're not exactly...nice to us ponies."

"I wasn't very nice to them either when they attacked me. Again. I had ended up coming to Equestria late. I had meant to come here a hundred years after my challenge against the two matriarchs of your land, but I was...seeking family. Family long gone. I ended up coming here long after your lunar princess had been banished, and encountered Changelings instead." The Huntsman admitted. "They won't be coming back, I assure you. I reminded them why they lost against me a hundred heard ago. They're not eager for a repeat of my banquet. Now relax...enjoy your stay for the moment." He cooed to her, rubbing his bulging belly. "Get some rest. You've earned it, my little pony."

...

...

...

... "We've got to go find her!" Twilight insisted to the rescue team, pacing back and forth, the others murmuring and whispering to each other at the train station, Twilight's horn alit with magical energy as she curved a hoof into a fist, Mister First Aid shaking his redheaded head back and forth.

"That stretch of track where the Changelings first attacked the train is swarming with Changelings. You're all still injured and need rest, and we need backup before we go back out in the middle of a worsening blizzard." He insisted. "It's a miracle the train even kept GOING for a few more miles before it finally crashed."

"Well, we tried to keep it steady as best we could WHILE they were trying to knock it off the track." Applejack admitted, shaking her head back and forth, looking down at her broken leg, cringing visibly.

"They were REAL mean." Pinkie growled out. "Some people need to learn how to PLAY NICE!"

"Uh...g-g-guys?" The little draconic assistant of Twilight squeaked out, eyes bugging in horror as he pointed across the train station at a figure making his way through a thick cloud of snow and biting winter wind. "I DON'T think that's a pony..."

"Don't think that's a Changeling either..." Twilight whispered as the figure stepped out of the cloud and onto the train station terminal, patting his chest, letting out a slight burp as his belly bulged out. "...oh no. Y-you...you didn't!"

"I'll let her out in a moment, Twilight Sparkle of Equestria." The Huntsman admitted, holding a clawed hand up. "After all, it's swimsuit season and I want to slim down. But you and I have matters to discuss. Shall we speak in your home?"

"My home blew up." Twilight muttered.

"Oh! We have something in common. I feel like we're friends already! I'm already so close to Fluttershy-" The Huntsman cringed. "Too soon, sorry."

"Uh...sh-should...should I write to the princesses?" Spike eeped out, Twilight nodding her head as Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly stepped forward, eyes narrowing as they tried to ignore the pain that shot up from their broken legs, Rarity looking over at Twilight...Pinkie Pie poking the Huntsman's stomach.

"Pinkie!" Twilight groaned.

"Ooh, jiggly!" Pinkie giggled.

"Wakey, wakey." The Huntsman remarked, concentrating as Fluttershy began to phase out of the stomach as if emerging from water, Pinkie Pie catching her as she fell down, the Huntsman folding his arms over his chest. "You're back home, as I promised."

"It's the puppy eyes, isn't it?" Pinkie wanted to know with a cheery smile. "They always charm everyone over. That's why you didn't make her into a continental breakfast!"

"Well...somewhat." The Huntsman admitted. "But as I said...we've much to discuss. And we shouldn't do it here."

Indeed, it wasn't long before all of them were sitting in Ms. Cake's shop, the Huntsman hungrily devouring entire cakes in big, enormous gulps, wolfing down one after another as Pinkie sighed wistfully, resting her head on a hoof and beaming at the sight. "He's a man after my own heart." She whispered, Rarity feeling the Huntsman's sides as he blushed slightly at her touch, putting the double-chocolate frosted cake he'd been about to swallow down to the side.

"Ohhhh myyyyy. The texture of the skin is FASCINATING. It's like warm satin." She murmured, the unicorn's eyes going wide in amazement. "It feels so...pleasurable."

"You should feel the manes of the rulers of your land. It's even more divine to the touch. And Celestia's smells like CHERRIES!" The Huntsman complimented with a nod at Twilight, who quickly got out her notebook, scribbling down in it with her quill dipped in fresh ink, starting an entry "Interview with Cosmo Sapien: First Contact for Equestria". "I'm certain your rulers spoke of why I came here last time?"

"Yes. For "worthy prey"?" Twilight wanted to know, the Huntsman nodding.

"They fought me to a standstill. Now a century has passed. I seek to define a simple question: whether you are worthy as a race to learn what I have to teach...or whether you are simply food." He informed them, swallowing up the double chocolate cake with a mighty gulp, licking his lips free of frosting as he rested his hands in his lap, blue eyes slightly twinkling. "It's what my species does, after all. The worthy get taught on any subject they'd like. A living galaxy has much to offer a world, no matter what the world may be."

"What if we just want you to leave, bucko?" Rainbow Dash growled a bit, folding her arms across her chest, eyes narrowing as the Huntsman smiled darkly.

"You really...don't want to try and make me. I've had people do that. They learned the hard way that I don't suffer fools. The Changeling queen tried a hundred years ago. I ate half her army before I decided the taste didn't suit me and I decided to try again in another century. If you're good enough to injure me...make me BLEED. Genuinely hurt me in any way...I'll speak to your scholars of ways to cross the universe. Teach your mages of spells that make reality rend itself asunder. Inform your chefs of exotic and fascinating dishes they never knew could be made. I will build for you or kill for you. Anything you wish me to do...will be done. However, if you fail..."

He rested a clawed hand on his gut. "You will nourish me. I will eat and eat until I am full. Then I will leave and return in another hundred years to see if you're, at last, worthy."

Everyone else who'd been in the store and had so much as a CUPCAKE before them immediately pushed their food away. Suddenly they weren't so hungry anymore.

"We can beat you. Together." Rainbow Dash insisted firmly, nodding at the others as they all nodded at once, Dash slamming her hooves together with a big grin...

And then HOWLED. She'd forgotten she wasn't supposed to put any kind of sudden pressure on that hoof or arm.

"...maybe just not right now?" Fluttershy added nervously with a gulp as the Huntsman nonchalantly began to peel a candy apple with a single claw, whistling slightly as Rainbow Dash hopped around the Cake's Store, wincing and going "Oohnch, oohnch, oohnch" again and again, Applejack helping her friend hobble towards the door.

Yes...Spike definitely needed to write to Celestia, and fast. Something told Twilight there was no way that the Huntsman would be able to hold off the fight for the week it would take for all of them to recuperate. They needed to stall.

...Somehow.