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Applejack insisted her family would be able to help. The Entire Apple Clan, all working as one would be Ponyville's salvation. It was indeed an act of providence they all would have been together that week anyhow for another family reunion. Now they had a new purpose, a greater purpose than a simple get together. Now they had the salvation of Equestria on their minds.

Well, mostly.

"How many toes does a fish have? And how many wings on a cow?" The brownish/red-haired youg Saucy admitted, scratching her head as she sat with Apple Bloom, her mother Sparkling pulling a hoof around her shoulder, sighing a bit as she looked apologetically at the rest of the Apple Clan as they all sat about in Twilight's castle.

"The hall's getting purdy darn crowded, I reckon." Appleack admitted as she tilted her hat up and gave a firm nod before pacing back and forth in front of her enormous extended family. "So I'll make this real brief. We got a big ol' alien problem here. He's real dangerous, real big, and real tough."

"He's a big softy deep down." Fluttershy admitted with a nervous nod, bowing her head slightly. "I saw it. He's a good person. He just does bad things because he's hungry."n

"Well I'm real sorry for THAT, but I don't want my family baked into a pie." Applejack muttered, waving a hoof in the air, shaking her head back and forth. "And I think he might do that. After all, we know what he did to Blueblood!"

"Almost all of us are all Earth ponies, though." Braeburn admitted as he took off his enormous brown Stanton hat, placing his hat upon his chest, slightly biting into his lip. "Not real sure how we're going to handle this guy. I mean, you don't keep all your eggs in one basket."

"If we work together, we can think something up." Applejack reasoned. "We've got an entire farm here we can use, buckeroos! We put our heads together, we can do this."

"Applejack, look, um...er..." Twilight began to nervously mutter, slightly blushing. "I...um...that is...I know how STRONG you are, but...that is to say..."

"Twi, y'all better not be sayin' what I reckon you're saying. Y'all better not be implyin' y'all think I'm a mite STUPID, now are you?" Applejack quietly inquired, a hint of annoyance and anger beginning to swell up.

For you see, Applejack...did not like being called stupid. At all.

"It's just...I mean...you and Rainbow Dash are more "Shoot first, ask questions later" kind of people, and I'm sure your family is VERY wise and intelligent, but..." Twilight began to mutter, slightly backing off from Applejack as she glowered in Twilight's direction. "Maybe you'd better let someone else-"

"I oughta punch you in the GIZZARD for suggestin' that!" Applejack yelled out, waving a hoof in the air. "I mean, c'mon! Y'all think I'm dumber than dirt, don't you?!" She asked, glancing around the room at the rest of the Mane Six.

"Now, now, please, calm down!" Pinkie insisted gently, lowering Applejack's hoof, shaking her head back and forth and giving Applejack a kindly smell. "She doesn't mean that, right, Twilight? Let's not go yelling things at our friends. Remember the sacred oath of Friendship!"

"The Sacred Oath of Friendship?" Young Saucy Apple inquired, looking over at Apple Bloom as Apple Bloom put a hoof over her chest, the rest of Ponyville following after in agreement as they all recited as one,

"Oh, let the fist of Friendship

Be kept for Friendship's foes!

Ne'er let the hoof in anger land

On Friendship's holy nose!"

"You're right, you're right." Applejack sighed, Apple Bloom smiling as she made her way to the back of the hall to open up a window and clear out the stuffy air, Applejack lowering her hoof and shaking her head back and forth. "Look, I know I ain't ALWAYS levelheaded and I ain't the brightest bulb sometimes, but you gotta believe me. I've got me a good plan. I just want your trust."

"I'll put my trust in you, Applejack. Just remember, if things ever get bad..." Twilight began to gently remark.

"Uh, um...big sis?! We've got a problem!" Apple Bloom yelled out from the back of the hall as every single Apple family member instantly whipped their heads in her direction, all zooming to the window as they saw enormous, hulking forms landing down in the center of town, the Huntsman having come out to see what the fuss was about himself. "DRAGONS!"

"D-Dragons?" Fluttershy gulped nervously, trying to overcome her still-considerable fear as she nervously clung to Applejack, who opened up one of the windows and peeked out.

"What in tarnation are y'all dragons doin' here?" She asked, Spike blinking as he saw High Elder Spyro bowing his head before the Huntsman, getting on his knees.

"We're in the presence of noble blood! Are you not a descendent of Ohr'ion the Hunter? He who destroyed the great Behemoth of the North that freed our race from slavery?" The High Elder inquired of the Huntsman, looking up into the alien's pale blue eyes, the Huntsman blinking a bit, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"Ohr'ion was my father." The Huntsman admitted. "Yes."

"Wait. SERIOUSLY?! The Huntsman's FATHER?" Twilight gasped out, poking her head out of another window, gaping as the dragons all bowed their heads at once, raising them back up, then lowering them anew.

"Hail Huntsman! Hail Huntsman!"

"May we round up this town and offer them in tribute?" Crackle asked eagerly, High Elder Spyro giving him a glare before turning to the Huntsman. "We can begin cooking them immediately!"

"No, no. My father gave the Behemoth a fighting chance, and I'm going to give them one as well." The Huntsman insisted as he held up a clawed hand. "Besides, I just ate-" He remarked, burping a bit. "Sorry. My dinner was a bit too rich."

Rarity couldn't resist, a snort of laugh popped out from her mouth before she clapped her hooves over it. YIKES. That had been shocking.

"Though I would appreciate, perhaps, a LITTLE dragon meat. If any are so willing?" The Huntsman inquired.

"I think you'd better eat me." Crackle admitted as he held up an arm, cheerily smiling as his friends snorted.

"What, with your super-fatty legs?" His "bro" Scorcher muttered.

"Hey, I've still got plenty of good meat. I mean, look at this arm!" Crackle said, flexing his "boys".

"It's not just the arm." High Elder Spyro sighed, shaking his head back and forth, the purple dragon sheepishly glancing over in the direction of a female dragon who nervously smiled at them all. "It's just...well...I'd rather eat Ember."

"So would I." A black dragoness admitted, nodding over at Ember as she held up a bottle of ketchup she inexplicably had.

"Ah, well, then it's settled! Everyone's going to eat me!" Ember remarked cheerily. "It's a true honor, especially if you're enjoying me, oh great Huntsman." The pink dragoness said with a deep, dramatic bow, the Huntsman scratching his head.

"Do Dragons really...cannibalize each other?" Twilight nervously inquired of Spike as he cringed.

"Well, kinda, yeah, they do that sometimes. It's sort of a "treat" for them and usually the meals are willing, they offer themselves up to whomever can best them in comb-WAAAIT...you don't think?" He murmured, looking over at the Huntsman as he shook his head, waving his arms in the air.

"Oh, no, please, I can't. I mean...you're not kosher."

"Kind of depends how we kill her, isn't it?" High Elder Spyro admitted, putting on a bib.

"Can you all PLEASE not start eating each other?" Twilight pleaded desperately, shaking her head back and forth. An idea was beginning to form in her head as she looked over at Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom would very much love to hear the true story of how your father Ohr'ion defeated the Behemoth of the North that caused the great Cataclysm!"

Apple Bloom, realizing what Twilight was driving at, eagerly hopped to the window, nodding her head enthusiastically. "Oh, yes, ma'am! I'd LOVE to hear about it! Please tell me, Mister Huntsman!"

"The true tale of our greatest enemy's demise? This was the event that defined our race. It was seminal to our culture's creation!" The High Elder Spyro proclaimed, eyes wide with curiosity as the dragons all crowded around, Twilight magically hovering Apple Bloom down to the ground as the Huntsman chuckled a bit.

"Yes, considering HOW my father disposed of the Behemoth, the event was VERY seme-SEMINAL."

As the Huntsman began to tell the tale, Twilight quickly ushered everyone back inside, closing all the windows. "I've bought all of you a little bit more time. Applejack, does your family have a plan?"

"A straight-on attack ain't gonna work. But the Apple family knows some real strong recipes that'll knock him straight off his feet." She insisted, slamming her hoof into her "palm", brow furrowing. "Enough to make him WISH he was dead."

"You mean you wanna...POISON him?" Pinkie asked, looking surprised. "That's such a...sneaky way to do it."

"Oh, we'll make it clear we want him poisoned. I know his type. Reckon he'll just chuckle, say "he can handle it", and he'll start downing whatever we put in front of him anyhow!" Applejack said as she waved a dismissive hoof in the air. "Zecora, Twilight? Could you chip in?"

"It's possible we could even make him so full he CAN'T eat anymore. He claims his hunger is so great and he can hold so much, but as any good scientist knows...you should never take all claims on face-value." Twilight admitted. "But if it doesn't work, what will you do?"

"If we decide not to do THAT, then that's where the WELL's comin' in." Applejack admitted with a dark undertone slowly making its way into her normally charming rustic voice. "There's a well on the farm, Twilight. A well we sealed away long time 'go after..." She trailed off.

"...oh. Your parents." Fluttershy gasped, holding her hooves over her mouth, gently going to Applejack's side, putting a hoof on her friend's side. "We'd heard about that..."

"The InkWell is supposed to be bottomless...a neverending tar pit that's a freak of nature. Mom and Dad slipped into it getting me outta it..." Applejack whispered quietly. "They...roped me and were pulling me up when..." She couldn't finish, covering the top of her head with her hat, cringing.

"We reckon it'll definitely hold THAT big lug." Big Mac spoke up. "Yuuup. Nobody done nobody gets outta tar when you're in good n' deep."

...

...

...

...the Behemoth. Horned, scaled and foul, an odor like a thousand garbage cans. It draped itself over the trove of treasure it had acquired, nonchalantly picking its teeth with a large skeletal spine from one of its victims. It's purple teeth nonchalantly licked at one enormous incisor, deep black eyes glancing over at the dragons cleaning his feet, scrubbing away at his taloned feet, his tail reaching around. The spiked tail carefully lifted an enormous emerald up, showing it off in front of the dragons as he licked it leisurely, tossing the spine-toothpick away, a small horde of dragons running away to avoid being squashed.

The Behemoth's open castle had no roof...he didn't need it. But he enjoyed the crystalline walls that surrounded him, the finely-carved statues made of pearl dedicated to him, all hand-carved by dragons he'd enslaved, collars wrapped around their necks as the Behemoth glanced down at a few with a particular red collar on them who were glaring up at him, washing off his left feet. "What's with the attitude?" He inquired, his voice like squashing bugs.

"You squished my parents yesterday." One of them balefully hissed out. "And made ME clean them up..."

"Well, you know, all children have to bury their parents eventually. Squishing, old age, what's the difference?" The Behemoth grunted out with a nonchalant smirk. "Now then..." He leaned back, stretching on his enormous throne, yawning a bit as he gestured down at his private parts. "Prepare my special lotion. It's the cleaning day." He remarked, getting off the throne and getting on his side, smirking broadly.

The dragons had seriously regretted living up in the mountains of the North. They'd lived there because it was easy to oversee the valleys to the south and the forests to the east, to acquire prey and keep an eye out for dangerous foes. But the Behemoth was simply so strong, so powerful, and so HUGE compared to them...they might as well have been just launching burning matchsticks at the thing's ironclad skin for all the good their burning breath did. His mottled scales themselves were so strong that their claws had shattered upon impact, and it had become clear dragonkin stood no chance...

But now something was approaching that did. It stood tall and proud, its form muscular and powerful as it held aloft an enormous bow, aiming squarely at the Behemoth, drawing the string back. It's thick, ornate horns slightly quivered as its dark red eyes glared deeply at the Behemoth from a hill some distance away.

"I send an arrow through the air."

SCHWING!

"YEEEEEEOOOOOOWWWW!!!"

"It falls to Earth in his derriere."

The Behemoth screeched and howled, holding onto his rear, struggling to get up as Ohr'ion the Huntsman notched another arrow, this one going right through the Behemoth's knee as it screeched.

"Finally, beast, we can get married like we always wanted." The hunter mused aloud, the Behemoth whipping about, glaring balefully at the starry-bodied being, the dragons in the keep all quickly moving as far away from the Behemoth as possible, heading to the BACK of the enormous keep as the starry-bodied being leapt through the air, landing in the yard and putting the bow he had with him up to his chest, the bow seeping back into his body as if sinking swiftly into quicksand. The dragons gaped in amazement at this strange, ethereal being as it cracked its knuckles, looking the winged reptilians behind the enormous, hulking monstrosity before it over.

"Who in the blazes are YOU?!" The Behemoth snarled.

"You've enslaved them. I don't much like seeing people forced to wear collars and dance for a master's amusement." He murmured. "Ohr'ion of the Hunting Party does not take kindly to slavers."

"You may jest, but the kindest fate I will offer you is to tear those horns from off your head and GUT YOU with them!" The Behemoth snarled, shooting towards the alien hunter, claws held high. But, frankly, the hunter was just as large as the Behemoth...and clearly faster, a single, powerful punch striking it clear in the snowzer.

"Oo' 'oke mah node!" The Behemoth moaned, reeling back, covering his face with his paws as Ohr'ion snorted.

"I don't repent a snout that's bent, and if again I tap it, oh with a clout I'll BREAK that force enough to SNAP it!"

Apple Bloom nodded at this, looking rather intrigued, several dragons now eerily...childlike in how they were listening, lying on their bellies, head held up by one hand, another resting on their side as they looked up in awe at the alien storyteller. "Your daddy had quite some skill in rhyming."

"Me, I'm awful, lousy timing." The Huntsman mused.

...

...

...

...the Apple family crowded around Zecora's cauldron as she began sorting out the ingredients on a nearby table, nodding at Applejack as Granny Smith held up a small notepad, scratching off line after line. "We've got what we need. Reckon we'd best get started!" The old mare admitted, Big Mac holding aloft an enormous barrel with the label "Gunpowder" on it as he grinned darkly.

"Yyyyuuup." He chuckled out.

With pot and pan and curse and ban,

The most terrible recipes in the land,

Foul designs for the Huntsman,

Enough to start you quaking!

It's time to get to cooking, friend,

Before the day is at an end!

Begin our cooking and our baking,

Let us get to pudding making!

"Wow. Big Mac has a bit of a DARK SIDE to him, doesn't he?" Applejack whispered to Zecora as she shrugged, pouring the gunpowder into the enormous cauldron of dark brown liquid, a terrifying black smoke rising up through the air as she began to chant, ingredient after ingredient popping in.

With honey buns and boiling oil,

A carrot and some nails-o!

A lobster's claws, some knobs from doors,

An onion and some snails-o!

A pound of fat, a big dead rat,

A pint of kerosene!

A box of tacks and cobbler's wax,

Some gum and glycerine!

Gunpowder brew's a lovely stew,

We stir into this pottage...

And with a hint of witch's brew's

A high explosive SAUSAGE!

InDEED! It slowly slithered out of the cauldron, thick, dark and meaty RED, faintly pulsating as Zecora held it in her hooves, laughing maniacally as Big Mac cackled in agreement, the Apple Family all joining in before Applejack finally stopped.

"Wow, we've ALL got a bit of a dark side, don't we?" She admitted with a shudder. "First thing's first when this is over, we're all a-goin' to the pound to adopt some puppies."

"Agreed." Braeburn remarked.

"I hurt small animals because I'm SICK!" Young Saucy cried out.

THE GREAT TASTE TEST

"Welly-welly-well. This IS surprising." The Huntsman admitted, rubbing his clawed hands together as Apple Bloom led him down the long dirt road to the Apple Family farm, specifically, right into the barn. His draconic "groupies" stood behind him, looking at each other in confusion at this sudden display of generosity. There were huge tables lined up with various kinds of dark meats, cakes, pies, tubs of cider, cheeses and fruits, all with carefully-laid-out napkins beneath all of them in the shape of...of course...apples.

Applejack took off her hat, bowing deeply before the Huntsman as she gestured at the tables. "We'd like to offer THIS up to you. A challenge of a certain kind I reckon y'all ain't done much of."

"Are you trying to placate me?" The Huntsman inquired. "The Behemoth attempted it of my father in a pathetic attempt to save himself from becoming seed. Ohr'ion didn't take kindly to such an offer. I'm more...considerate than my father was, but as tempting as those meat dishes are, living, sentient-"

"This is only the first half. And a great deal of this here food is POISONED. We reckon at least some of these dishes can really hurt you." Appleack admitted with a firm nod, putting her hat back on. "If they don't...well...you get all of us. The whole Applejack clan." She said with a calm look right into the Huntsman's pale blue eyes, green into blue as he slowly blinked.

"You're risking everything on the hope that one of these dishes might actually hurt me? Perhaps even KILL me?" The Huntsman asked of Applejack as she nodded. "...that IS intriguing. Very intriguing." He admitted as he looked the assembled food over, going from table to table, leaning down, deeply inhaling one large flank steak dish, licking his lips. "Very well. I'll begin." He admitted. "Could you, however...possibly serve some NON-poisoned dishes to these fine dragons here?"

"Oh, we got plenty of good eats for them." Applejack admitted, clapping her hooves as Big Mac ushered the dragons towards the orchard, Applejack sitting in a small chair across from the Huntsman as he held up the flank steak, licking it slightly. "Doing this meant a loooot of good cows had to willingly give their lives. Many bovines DIED...to bring us this." She murmured dramatically.

"I thank you for it." The Huntsman intoned, opening his jaws wide, tossing the flank steak straight into his gullet. Needless to say, for him this was proving to be a very enjoyable feast. The flavor was exploding in his mouth...marinated steak, whole watermelons, freshly-baked honey buns...and all for him. It was most likely almost all poisoned but, after all, he had a strong constitution. You HAD to if you were a Cosmo Sapien. How embarrassing would it be to be poisoned to death by one of your own meals? It almost never happened. It would be like a dolphin drowning. You simply never heard about it.

Not that many prey didn't try to cheat by making him choke. They'd almost succeeded until he got serious and just...y'know...knocked them out by whacking them in the head or wrapping his tongue around their throat to choke them until they passed-

Our alien friend was near his end,

Into a trap twas sinking.

When he took hold of the nearest dish

He began to eat like winking.

He ate a lot, this guzzling sot,

Such appetite amazes!

Until that high explosive wrought

Within his tum a loud report-

THRAKKA-SCHOOOOOOM!

...and blew him all to blazes.

Applejack blinked stupidly, having been blown clear through the air, gaping at what HAD been the barn, the Huntsman now in three separate pieces on the floor, looking at his body in shock as Apple Bloom and Big Mac and Granny Smith raced over to her, the grass now charred and burnt by the explosion. They carefully helped her up as she moaned, holding her head, her hat now on FIRE, making her cringe as she batted it against the grass, trying to put it out. The Huntsman was all to pieces, letting out a gasping sigh before his eyes closed, Big Mac looking at the scene before him, the...tiny chunks of innards that would need to be scraped off the wall, the blood splattered across the tables and the floor like a modern art painting...

"...yuuuup." He sagely remarked.

For thems that try to hurt my kin,

This moral is a good 'un.

Don't eat a high explosive bomb

That you mistake for puddin'.

THE GREAT FEAST

Applejack couldn't believe it.

Not a one. Not a SINGLE dish had made him sick. She gaped in surprise, the Huntsman wiping his mouth on an apple-shaped napkin, burping a bit as he covered his mouth with one clawed hand, nodding over in her direction as a bit of smoke wafted out from behind him. "Pardon." He admitted sheepishly. "That kerosene-soaked sausage gave me gas."

"You...wow. I didn't think...gee." She murmured. "...guess I better go with you to tell the others." She said, head bowed as the Huntsman made his way over to her, gently lifting her head up.

"I won't hurt your youngest." He offered. "Tell the children of the Apple family to head back to town. Have them say their goodbyes. Then ready yourself." He insisted. "I will meet you in your kitchen in your lovely home, Applejack." The Cosmo Sapien informed her with a nod. "But you've much to tell Apple Bloom, and I won't get in your way."

With that, he left her, Applejack making her way out of the barn, heading for the nearby sheepyard, Winona the Dog rolling around in the grass with Apple Bloom, Granny Smith and Big Mac standing together as they watched the sight, Granny's eyes wise with the wisdom of the ages as she turned her head to look into Applejack's face.

"I know what he's askin'."

"He said he wouldn't hurt Apple Bloom and the other little 'uns." Applejack admitted quietly. "So that's something."

Apple Bloom's head shot up, looking with horror at Applejack, tears coming to her eyes as she raced forward, Applejack kneeling down, embracing her sister deeply. "NO! NOO! Please, I...I can't lose you, I already lost mom and dad, I can't lose any of you..." She begged tearfully. "Please, just...tell him to go. Beg him!"

"He won't, Apple Bloom. And I can't. I gotta keep my word the same way he's kept his. Because..." Applejack hesitated for a moment, biting into her lip, struggling to find the right words before her tone became soft, yet authoritative. "It doesn't matter if you die for it. Your word, your bond, what you stand for...that means more than your own life. You can't break your word to anyone. Not even the people you hate."

"But..." Apple Bloom whimpered, tears brimming in her eyes as Big Mac kissed her atop the forehead, giving her a gentle smile.

"We're always gonna be with you. Even if we aren't there." He admitted softly. "Cuz we're always here." He said, pointing a hoof at Apple Bloom's chest, Granny Smith smiling broadly. "Aint' that right, Granny?"

"Yuuuup." She chuckled, nuzzling little Apple Bloom's cheek as the family slowly broke the embrace, Applejack handing Apple Bloom her hat, putting it atop her head and bowing deeply.

"You take care of this farm, and you take care of your friends. Don'tcha ever leave 'em behind. And don'tcha ever break your word. You stay honest...and you stay an Apple. Got it?" Applejack asked, Apple Bloom whimpering a bit...but nodding in agreement, Applejack and her family making their way towards the orchard. They had a lot to tell their extended family.

...

...

...

...it would take great, great concentration and care to ensure she didn't feel any pain, the Huntsman knew this. Taking the long metal pole from the side of the table in the kitchen, the Huntsman lined it up with Applejack's rump, carefully resting one clawed hand upon the other cheek. "Are you ready?" He gently asked.

She was to be the first...though certainly not the last. He'd offered her what he'd offered Blueblood...a way to ensure the process wasn't painful in the slightest. But it meant, as he'd implied, having him enter her. She hadn't wanted THAT. As such, it would...be rather difficult to ensure this WASN'T painful. He'd used the herbs and spices she had in the kitchen to make a kind of smoke he'd have her inhale to knock her out for the process so she wouldn't suffer, but there was still the matter of PREPARATION.

"Go ahead." Applejack said softly. She wasn't going to run away. She always kept her word, and she'd promised to give in completely to this. She wouldn't fight back. The Earth pony nodded back at him and the Huntsman nodded back at her, carefully touching the steely pole to her pucker, gently easing in the rounded tip at first before sliding it in further. Normally, her insides would be well-lubed to ensure the long cold shaft went in easily, but instead he did it slowly...carefully...he didn't want her suffering.

A strange-yet-not-painful sensation worked its way up from her hips, through her belly, and up her chest. Applejack wasn't afraid, though. She closed her eyes, the Huntsman gently going to the side of her body, moving his other hand off her rump and onto her head, caressing her soft yellow mane gently, touched by the young mare's willing sacrifice. He didn't dawdle anymore, resuming the pushing on the pole, moving it further through. Now the pole came up the mare's windpipe and up through her mouth, crossing her eyes as it emerged and extending past her nose. All in all, a painless procedure, and now with her ability to speak gone, Applejack could just simply wait and see what happens next to her.

With the girl now properly spitted, the Huntsman carefully tied her hooves behind her back and her ankles to the pole, her knees bent at 90 degree angles. Lifting up the pole, the hungry starry-bodied alien brought her to the backyard, setting her on top of the firepit he'd built, quickly staring a fire without trouble. The heat began to climb higher, meeting his new meal's underside, the Huntsman tossing the small collection of herbs into the flames as soft, willowing white smoke drifted up into Applejack's nostrils. He then took hold of the other end of the skewer, rotating it slowly to evenly cook Applejack like a real roast. Applejack hung limp from the pole going through her lengthways, feeling the heat slowly building beneath her before the sensation that HAD been becoming hot became...fuzzier...almost warm and comforting, a deep sleep beginning to fill her mind. She only wanted to just rest...to go to sleep. She was so tired...

Taking a nearby bowl of cooking juices, the Huntsman ladles some over the Earth pony's cooking body from time to time, making sure she didn't dry out. The plumpness of her flesh kept her meat nice and juicy, and her skin tone was darkening ever so slightly as she cooks. Now she was VERY nicely browned, deliciously roasted. Her softly glistening form was beautiful to behold, like a bronzed goddess, and the Huntsman saw her open her eyes one last time, looking into his face.

"Thank you." He said sincerely, kissing her atop her forehead, her eyes slowly closing, a final sigh coming out of her nostrils, the Huntsman's grateful kiss the final sensation she ever felt.

The Huntsman was soon rewarded for his patience. Within a few minutes he was slicing through Applejack's hindquarters, cutting several slices and placing them into his mouth, putting some slices from her rump and thigh onto a plate, chewing eagerly.

"MMMM..." He murred, licking his lips. The youth and plumpness of the Earth pony made every bite simply exquisite, and he crooned in delight. "Ooh, little one, thank you." He whispered, chewing contentedly, then picking up a drumstick and ripping the tender golden-brown flesh off of it easily. "This is a truly wonderful, wonderful meal."

He then turned his head to the side, looking back at the Kitchen. Big Mac and Granny Smith were still inside and, of course...he had plenty of room for them and the extended Apple Family. He had been thinking...a pie. A delicious, enormous pie. It would take QUITE some effort, of course, but...well...he had an enormous horde of eager dragons with him whom he wouldn't mind sharing the pie with.

"I see you did as I asked." He said, heading over to the orchard, carrying the unconscious Big Mac and Granny Smith under his arms, all of the extended Apple Family...save for the children, of course, who'd been let go to head to Ponyville...currently fattened and with apples stuck in all their mouths, tied up and unable to get free. "Zap Apples, of course?"

"All to add that extra zing." High Elder Spyro said with a nod of agreement. "You're quite the cook. This is sure to be a lovely meal." He admitted, putting a clawed hand on his chest, the dragons all bringing out the enormous top of the barn. They'd carefully taken the roof off, bending metal about it to make it into an enormous pan, all of them laying the tied-up Apple Family into the pan as the Huntsman placed Granny Smith and Big Mac together, the two still unconscious as Crackle the dragon held up an enormous vat of pie dough.

"Who SAYS men don't know how to cook?" He inquired. The bottom of the improvised pie pan had been carefully lined with a thick crust. And now the dragons carefully filled the inside with butter and juice, placing a "blanket" of pie dough atop the enormous collection of ponies. It was, mercifully, a very pleasant feeling, soft and squishy against their flesh, a lovely selection of apple slices added to the pie as they were all tucked in.

"Let's begin." The Huntsman said, carefully lifting the pie pan up into the air, the dragons moving into position, getting in a square, others flying atop the pie pain as he placed it down across a grill they'd set up above a pit, several dragons down beneath the pit. What for? This was their "oven". The horde of dragons began to blow flames at the pie pan that now held all of the Apple family from all sides, carefully cooking it as the Huntsman tossed more of the herbs from before into the fire, the white smoke swiftly moving into the nostrils of the tied-up Apple Family.

Big Mac momentarily struggled to awaken, but as the smoke filled his lungs, a deep and hazy feeling rose within him. He was so tired, he just...he'd get up in a second, just had to catch his breath, just...relax...sleep...

So tired. So...tired...

The pie pan was quickly bubbling and cooking, all of them Were baking up nicely, and would soon be ready to eat, the Huntsman mused, rubbing his hands together. After a few minutes of continuous and steady firebreathing, the dragons ceased as he held a hand up, the Huntsman taking off a piece of the pie that held, of course, Big Mac and Granny Smith. Both still peacefully lying together, never to awaken, smelling positively lovely.

Time for a taste test. He opened his jaws wide, licking his chops as with one big CHOMP, in the two went up to their chest, then another CHOMP sent them down, only a small bit of pie crust staying outside his maw. He chewed slowly, carefully, savoring the taste before with an enormous gulp, down his meal went. He moaned in delight, rubbing his stomach. "Ohhh..." He murmured. "WONDERFUL. Absolutely WONDERFUL. And most surprisingly lovely of all...they DO taste just like apples." He remarked. "Ah well. Fruits are so good for you."

"This is a wonderful meal. We thank you for this opportunity." The High Elder said, bowing his head as the other dragons present did so in agreement.

"I will be your new ruler, dragons." The Huntsman admitted. "You're to keep any preying upon ponies to a minimum. And no children. I catch you hunting them...you're DEAD." He muttered darkly. "Above all...honor their sacrifice and recognize the importance of their lives. Don't delight in their deaths." He added. "If you enjoy the taste, understandable, but...don't mock them with it. They deserve better." He murmured. "And above all..."

...

...

...

...it had been about fifty years...but you didn't forget.

Apple Bloom sauntered over to the edge of the farm, adusting the cap atop her head, resting against the gate as she frowned at the Huntsman, looking him over. The soft wind blew through her fur as she slightly tilted her head, pursing her lips ever-so-slightly. "Whatcha want?"

"It has been fifty years to the day I devoured your family. I was finally recently defeated by Pinkie's son. He has his father's eyes...and both their oddball senses of humor." He admitted with a small chuckle. "I'm to take my leave within three days. The royal court has much they want to ask of me before I take off, but I thought it only right to come back. To see you."

"You know I can't ever forgive you for whatcha did." Apple Bloom whispered, shaking her head back and forth, the Huntsman nodding.

"I don't want you to. Expecting that would be cruel. I'm...just sorry that it came to this." He admitted. "Your sister was truly noble. She faced death without fear. I've come to see that even now, staring at the one who took her from you, you show that same bravery. You've not got an ounce of fear in your eyes..."

The Huntsman smiled warmly. "Nor true hatred."

"I hate whatcha DID. But I don't hate YOU. I know y'all can't help it. But I can't help hating what you did." Apple Bloom mumbled. "...don't ever come back here." She added softly, turning around, heading back for the house.

"Don't ever forget her." The Huntsman asked, Apple Bloom stiffening for a moment. "And how much she loved you."

"...a sister never forgets." Apple Bloom admitted quietly, the wind at her back as she slowly trotted along the soft dirt path. "Family's forever."

"...you've no idea how right you are..." The Huntsman admitted with a small smile, turning to the form that was watching from afar, giving her a nod.

Nee-Buh-Loh the Cosmo Sapien would look out for Apple Bloom. The pony would be in good hands. And of course Nee didn't mind. What kind of sister wouldn't do a favor for her big brother?

WHAT IN TAR-NATION!?

"You're...sure about this?"

It was probably not the smartest of ideas...but it was definitely UNCONVENTIONAL. A long, fairly thin board stretching across an enormous well, a deep, foul darkness beneath their feet. The ponies of the town and the dragon horde of groupies on different sides as the Huntsman and Applejack did a few stretches, Twilight standing by her friend's side.

"Absolutely." Applejack said with a firm nod. "I ain't gonna be afraid of him, Twi. Gonna show him what I've got." She muttered, getting atop the board, the Huntsman climbing atop it as well. Applejack took in a few deep, slightly nervous breaths...her body feeling cold, dark...

But she focused it. All her fear, the terror she'd once felt so long ago had taken years to swell down. It might be bubbling just under the surface, but she didn't care. The Huntsman took priority over whatever fears she now felt. The enormous stone well wasn't going to claim her as easily as it had claimed her parents.

The Huntsman stood upon the plank, readying his spear-staff. "I'll go EASY on you for pity's sake." He remarked softly, launching forward at her, Applejack leaping over him, grabbing hold of his horned head and leapfrogging over, landing on the opposite end, kicking him back, almost threatening to launch him off the plank.

He twisted his body, quicky shifting his center of mass, a leg shooting out, whacking HER in the face and knocking her slightly across the plank as he spun his staff, striking it out at Applejack. She ducked and dived, avoiding his jabs before he swept it across the plank, intending to "Sweep the leg", only for her to leap over it again and again.

"See her name is Applejack, this challenge is really whack!" Pinkie Pie sang out, clapping her hooves together. "You gotta be careful or Granny gets a heart attack!" She added, Granny Smith clutching slightly at her chest, taking in deep, nervous breaths, Big Mac and Apple Bloom gently holding onto her as best they could.

"APPLE-JACK! APPLE-JACK!" The ponies cried out, Rainbow Dash waving a small banner flag with Applejack's face on it in the air, whooping and hollering as the dragons blasted flames into the air that spelled out "Huntsman" on it, the Huntsman bouncing back and forth on the balls of his feet, smirking a bit at Applejack.

"This IS impressive." He admitted, shooting the staff at her, Applejack leaping over it, kicking him in the face. The Huntsman was now at the edge of the plank, about to fall off, Applejack leaping at him again...

He ducked, promptly slamming his spear-staff down at her as she caught it in her hooves, smiling proudly before kicking it up, making him take a step back, Applejack popping back on her feet as she panted and heaved, wiping her brow.

"I say, I saw, that is some FINE and FAST fighting you do." She admitted. "But y'all ain't gonna beat me." She muttered, rushing forward at the Huntsman, he in turn readying his spear/staff, charging forth at her...

And it was then that disaster struck. The plank broke, their combined weight proving too much from all the bouncing and bopping about, both PLUMMETTING down into darkness, the Huntsman and Applejack falling, falling, falling, her friends screaming in horror. Twilight's horn sparked, trying to grab hold of Applejack-

Too late. With a horrific THRA-SPLOOSH, the two forms SANK into the tar, the Huntsman and Applejack vanishing into the dark abyss below, Twilight's lip quivering, her friends looking about at each other.

"...no." Pinkie whispered.

Applejack was trying hard not to scream, but everything was trying to drag her down. Crushing, pounding, buried alive in deepest, darkest black...was this how her parents had died? Crushed on all sides by the tar, struggling not to give in to utter despair even in the face of death? Was this how-

Then...warmth. She felt herself surrounded on all sides by gentle softness, and she realized the Huntsman was embracing her...her form sinking deeper and deeper into his body.

"I don't want you to suffer." She heard his voice through the muffled inky tar before she fully sank inside. Within his chest it was warm and squishy, like resting against a soft and slightly wet pile of pillows, Applejack nuzzling up against the "walls" as she could feel what felt like thousands of people beginning to enter the enormous, spacious area she was in. She could feel the Huntsman resting his hands against his chest, where she'd sank in, hear his voice within her head.

"We're in the tar deep, Applejack." The Huntsman admitted quietly. "It would take me several months to get out and...and I don't know if I'd be able to climb out before my body would begin cannibalizing itself. And I know YOU wouldn't last more than a few minutes out in the tar. I can theorietically hold people within me indefinitely but...after a few weeks I begin to get so hungry and..."

"...neither of us is gonna get outta this, is that what you're saying?" Applejack wanted to know, resting her head against the "wall", seeing faint, spectral forms sitting by her as one of them took her hoof in its hand.

"We're sorry." It said, its tone feminine and gentle. "Honestly, we are. But we'll be here for you like we were for him on the lonely nights."

It was so dark in here, and yet...she could see them clear as day. Their faces were calm and kindly, a peace upon them, and she could see the Huntsman towering above her, his mental form staring mournfully down at her.

"Perhaps it should be this way. Now I'll never have to hurt anyone else just to keep living." He mumbled.

"And it's good you've got company, just...just like mom and...mom and dad had each other..." Applejack whispered, the tears beginning to come to her eyes as the Huntsman knelt by her, pulling her into a deep embrace, the many forms within him joining this comforting hug. "Its-it's an awful thing to die alone."

"Nobody deserves to be alone." The Huntsman said sweetly, kissing her atop the head. "We'll be here for you. Just as your parents were for each other."

The darkness bound the two together, deepest black enveloping their forms. Over the days, peaceful and eternal sleep bathed over them, the two sharing another comforting embrace. The Huntsman draped his arms around her back, Applejack burying her face in his chest as he nuzzled the top of her head. It wasn't so bad, she thought, allowing the darkness to permeate her, to fully envelop her, never-ending sleep slowly engulfing her. She'd be with her parents soon...

Indeed. The horned form of the Huntsman finally settled down to the very bottom of the tar pit, next to the form of two Earth ponies. Curled up in a fetal position, he landed slightly atop the two corpses, all three family members now "together" in an eternal embrace as he let out a final sigh. With this, their separation had ended. Applejack had been reunited with her family in more ways than one.

Family, after all...

Was forever.