“Let me first explain that there are some bad things in Equestria... some very very dark things.” he took a moment to figure out his words. Then hastefully worked to contain the fire, speaking as he worked. “Monsters, not like manticores, or dragons I'm talking about real monsters, the things of nightmares and bad slasher films. That thing out there right now if proof of that.” he stated finishing containing the fire.

“What is that th-” Applejack began, but was immediately cut off.

“I'll get there, just hold on. These monsters, they live in the darkest underbelly of society, and have been around since before Equestria. These monsters don't see ponies as anything but food, and as long as monsters like the one outside exist, so will ponies like me... Seekers. Seekers are ponies who seek out these monsters, and eliminate them. Unfortunately Seekers don't have a habit of dying of natural causes, so many have children and teach them how to be Seekers very early on. My father raised me a Seeker, and I've been one all my life. So this, right now, this is what I do, this is where I shine. I can get us out of her alive but I need you two, mainly Fluttershy here, to listen to me.”

“So you go around, huntin' monsters?” Applejack asked in pure disbelief.

“If I didn't do it somepony else would have to, and this isn't a life I would like to give anypony so yes, I am a monster hunter. Seeker is the name we use to not sound insane.”

This time it was Fluttershy who came in.
“That sounds horrible why would you do that, how could your father do that to you?” She asked, she hadn't realized that question might come off as insulting or rude due to her exhausted state, but even then it didn't seem to phase Striker

“Somepony has to stop that thing outside, and I really don't know why my father raised me to be a Seeker, seems like real dick move on his part, but with the things I've seen, the things I've done, there is no way I wouldn't teach my kids everything I could about that thing outside. That brings me to my main point, That monster out there is whats called a Black Dog, very nasty fucker."

Only Applejack noticed how he corralled the conversation back to his point, she wasn't sure how she felt about that right now.

“It picks a victim, that would be you Fluttershy”- he pointed a hoof at the mare, and she flinched -“and it intends to feed off all of your sadness and fear, it gunna murder everypony close to you, and leave you feeling guilty and alone. It makes it's victims feel responsible for the death of eveypony they once held dear. Its going to do the same to you, unless YOU kill it! It has to be you, not Applejack, not me, it has to be you.” He ended his statement by tossing his loaded shotgun at a stunned Fluttershy. It clattered against the floor at her hooves.

“Wha-why me?” she asked almost about to cry.

“It cursed you, you're its target, you have to break the curse.” It was actually a bit more complicated then that, but Striker did not think there was enough time to explain why. So he gave her a short answer, but ultimately it would have to be Fluttershy who killed the creature.

This time Fluttershy did break into tears. When she did the front door started banging again Applejack and Striker looked to the burned out pile of ash that used to the bay leaves. Her ran to Fluttershy, took of his hat and placed it on Fluttershy's head. “This is my father's hat,-” He picked up and put the shotgun in her hooves “- I'm going to get the Black Dog's attention, you kill it when it's pinned, I want my hat back.” He gave the mare one good grin then stood up, when he did the banging got louder, and the windows began to rattle. "My life is in your hooves Missy"

“Applejack, she's your friend, she know you better, she would be sadder if you died, so get into a good spot and hide, worse comes to worse get Fluttershy and run for it, I can buy you two some time but not much.”

Applejack cringed at her uselessness. Then gave Striker an admiring glance. He was willing to sacrifice himself to save them to ponies he hardly knew at all, she thought that was very noble of him, even if it left her and her friend in a situation far worse then the one they were in right now. If they couldn't stop the monster with his help, how would they fair on their own? Striker reached into his trench coat again. Sliding out parts of a gun, then assembling them into a lever action rife. The banging and howling from outside grew worse.

The sun had left them. There was nothing between them, and the creature which hunted them that was just outside. Only darkness. The growls of the Black Dog were tearing into the air like daggers. Striker grunted, the tension was thick, and he wanted this to end as soon as possible, he then trotted over to a blocked door and began removing the barricade. “I'm gunna speed this up a bit, Applejack stay back, Fluttershy it wants you alive, so don't worry! Get ready!” he stated as he removed a chair, the last piece of the barricade. The terrible pounding finally stopped. For a moment, there was only silence.

The door burst open with a roar, the Black Dog tackled the door down and glared at Striker, who had taken position to cut it off from the mares. The beast was bigger then Fluttershy remembered. It was bigger then she was, but more so, nearly a whole filly taller now. It was jet black save for the red meaty jaw, and glazed white eyes.

BOOM. The crack of the lever action pulsed in the air, a blossom of blood squirted out of the the Black Dog's chest, then immediately squelched back in into place. The Black Dog roared with anger. It pounced, front claws out at Striker. Striker was immediately pinned onto his back, he held the rifle on it's side as a type of barrier between him and the Dog. The two struggled, Striker tried desperately to push back it's massive upper body, he barely manage to kept it's claws and fangs inches from his neck and face. The Dog roared angrily, bloodlust on it's breath. Its massive size barreled down on Striker. It's whole body thrashed wildly, the claws on it's back legs gashing Striker's lower body. It's upper claws were caught and interlocked by the rifle.

Applejack could only sit in horror, watching as the massive monster tried to ravage Striker. She wanted to help, but knew that would only put herself in danger. She couldn't stop her self from thinking about how twisted her day had turned. She was to terrified, but she still cheered when the Dog lifted its upper half's claw in an attempt to swipe at Striker, only to receive a bash to the meaty jaw with the now freed stock of the rifle. Flinching back, it gave a second of recoil, giving Striker room to breath, he shouted “SHOOT IT!” but before he could say anymore the giant monsters snapped at his neck with it maw. Quick hoofwork ensured that the rifle was chomped instead of his neck. The Black Dog's razor sharp teeth and powerful jaw crunched the gun with a loud crack. It swayed it head to the side tossing the destroyed gun away somewhere.

Fluttershy stood petrified. Tears streamed down her face as she watch the desperate struggle. She wanted to help, she wanted to save Striker, she wanted to give him his hat back. She could do nothing, she was frozen, stunned by a combination of guilt, fear, and a clouded mind. Her body ached, her migraine pounded. She shook so dramatically that it took both her forehooves and her mouth to steady the sawed-off, but even then the gun was shaking. She tasted the metal of the gun, and the leather of the trench coat Striker concealed the weapon in.

The Black Dog gave a slight pull of the head, and tried again to crush Striker's neck. Striker, however, sacrificed his right foreleg instead. The Black Dog brought its fangs down on the limb hard, Striker could hear his bone crunch, Its teeth sank deep into Striker's leg. He let a scream of pain as his limb was trapped in the monsters jaw, he could see how his leg was now bending the wrong way, he was sure he would see the bone pushing against his skin, he could feel it. He could feel each rip in his flesh made by the teeth of the Black Dog. The white hot intensity hit him as he held back his wail of agony, instead he let out a long grunt of pain. He struggled to shout out “FLUTTERSHY SHOOT THIS FUCKER” Then like when a wolf tries to break the neck of a rabbit, the Black Dog shook it head violently, it was trying to rip the leg off. A disgustingly loud pop filled the air as Striker groaned. KABOOM

The shotgun filled the air with thunder, as in a single instant, the Black Dog's entire upper body, save for it's head, was exploded into gore. Meaty chunks and blood splattered against the floor and even the nearby wall. The head of the creature stilled crunched down on Striker's leg. It's lower half spewed out bloody and torn organs from the hole where it's two halves met, most of which poured down on Striker's abdomen as the Black Dogs back legs went limp. The wet sound of gore, hitting the floor with a splat, was the only sound that filled the air.

Striker was fading in and out of consciousness from the unholy pain filling his entire body. Not only was the leg bending the wrong direction, it was now horrible dislocated at the shoulder joint, moved nearly a whole inch out of place. His torso was bruised and scratched, but his lower abdomen was worse, having taken the most direct assault save for his leg. He had terrible gashes and cuts down his back legs where the beast's back legs had flailed, and he was already forming large bruises. He laid there in a heap of meat chunks, organs, and blood, fighting sleep. He tried to stay awake, but failed and ultimately passed out from the sheer pain.

Fluttershy had not been expecting the recoil, and even with two legs and her mouth, she was thrown on to her back. Unfortunately when she got to her hooves she saw the gore that covered Striker she screamed. She thought she had missed, and the Black Dog had succeeded in ripping apart Striker, then left, leaving him for dead as a pile of pony chunks. She immediately vomited, then fainted from exhaustion for a moment.

Applejack looked at the mess and tensed. Striker need help, but her basic medical knowledge might not be enough. She would need help. She would have to deal with Striker as best she could. Then help Fluttershy. Then get help. She looked at Striker's mangled leg. She though to herself Striker may not want to go to the hospital, and even then how would I explain this to a doctor? Oh, what do I do? Even then I can't tell anypony about this Seeker business! Her panic organized into action, she crudely cared for Striker, doing her best to remove the Black Dog's head, stop the bleeding, then to splint the bone, and pop his leg back into place. After he was stable enough, she cleaned up Fluttershy a bit, then woke her up. Fluttershy cried in panic when she awoke, but once she saw that Striker was alright she gave a sigh of relief. Then immediately fainted as she realized that the gore was what she had done to the Black Dog. Applejack gave a smile to her friend. She carried Fluttershy to her room and bed.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was raining.
Raining again.
The rain never stops.
Striker sat on his haunches in the rain.
He was dreaming and he knew it.
The world around him was grim.
Nothing but gray all around.
A solid grey beneath.
A cloud of grey above.
Nothing but rain.
The soft sound of rain.
His only companion.
That is until hoofsteps pierced the rain. Drenched, he turned to look at the beautiful Princess of the night, Luna, not a single drop of the rain hit her. “You've done well Sun Striker, I thank you.”

Author's Notes:

That confrontation felt quick.
Yay Luna.