DJ sat with his head between his hands, waiting for his ass chewing. He had yet to shower, due to royal guards taking him into custody almost immediately. The ponies had taken away another of his stress relievers. Hunting was one of his favorite passtimes. His favorite was deer, the woods were always calm right before he would pull the trigger. He let out a lonh sigh. I'm losing it. Fuckin' ponies, I wasn't just doing it for sport! I was going to eat it, that was the whole point. He smiled a little. Well, there went any chance at getting the gun back, that's for sure. He looked around the cell, it was the same one as when he first woke. He looked at the carving, the plays engraved on the walls. Each one held a specific memory.

     Celestia entered the room, holding his shotgun, the deceased duck, and a brown bag. "Would you care to explain yourself?"

     DJ let out a long sigh. "Listen, you see these?" He pointed to his canines. "These mean I eat meat, and dammit, I haven't had any for almost a month! I was hungry!"

     Celestia just nodded a little. "Be that as it may, you still commited a very violent act." She placed the duck on the floor. "While no, they are not, per say, intelligent, they still interact with everything around them. This duck, still had a family."

     DJ let out a grunt. "You wouldn't understand."

     She raised an eyebrow. "Understand what?"

     DJ looked straight into her eyes. "I've always felt alone my whole life, for as long as I can remember. I don't know if I like it... or I'm just used to it, but I do know this: Being lonely does things to you, and feeling shitty and bitter and angry all the time just... eats away at you."

     Celestia just blinked. "You're lonely?"

     He laughed a little. "Only one person has ever understood me, knew how I ticked, knew how the cogs in my head would turn, knew my deepest darkest secrets." He smiled. "And you already know who it is, without even having to ask."

     "The female, from the picture?"

     His smile remained. "You got it."

     She shook her head. "Be that as it may, I am still required to give you a form of punishment."

     DJ cringed. "Make it quick." He said.

     Celestia shook her head, her horn slowly starting to glow. "I'm sorry, but it won't be quick." A smile spread across her face, DJ didn't see it though. It was a smile of victory, as if she had won. She set the bag on the floor, pulling out its contents.

     Bit by bit, the material was torn, and thrown on the ground. DJ kept his eyes shut, not wanting to see his punishment, the sounds and feeling were enough. It wasn't going to cause him any physical pain, but the mere action was torturing him in every way. The way the feathers ruffled against his leg, he was about to vomit. He had never been in this position before, sure, he had thought about it, heard the enjoyment people gained, but it wasn't him. He didn't do this. He had never wanted to do this.

     He could almost smell the satisfaction coming from the godess. Could almost touch the awkwardness in the air. Almost see all the tension. He had tried to resist, to push away, but magic is much stronger than physical strength. He was quickly convinced.

     Did Celestia think this was a joke? This was her form of torture? Turning the hunter into the prey? Putting one who was on top of the world into the lowest position possible. It was simply impossible for him to comprehend what was happening. The sounds, the feelings, the smells, everything was alien to him. Humiliating. The words to describe it, there were none. His friends wouldn't believe it. His family would wonder what happened to the real DJ. And every hunter would spit at him.

     DJ threw another piece of bread onto the ground, quaks filling his ears, the wind causing the smaller ducks to roll around, colliding with his legs. The smell of pond water without a pole was sickening to him. Hey, better than being a sex slave.

____________

     Celestia gave a reasuring smile to Fluttershy. "It's alright, I'm sure that 'Jordan' is in a better place now." She gave a pat on her head.

     Fluttershy sniffed a little. "Why would he do that?"

     Celestia closed her eyes. "He is an omnivor, Fluttershy. It isn't healthy for him to leave meat behind him. Like the bears you care for."

     She nodded. "I guess I understand."

     Rainbow Dash and Applejack gave each other a quick nod, and stormed out of the, hilariously small, funeral. They were out for blood. "No one messes with Fluttershy like that!" Rainbow said, steam about to shoot out of her ears and nose.

     Applejack nodded. "Mmmm hmmm!" Was all she replied. Her mind was elsewhere. While she wanted so bad to kick that monster's flank to the moon, she had seen the damage it could do. Rainbow Dash could clear the skies in ten seconds flat, the monster could put them six feet under in two.

     "How fast do you think they were moving?" Rainbow Dash spoke up finally.

     Applejack snapped back to the living. "Who?"

     "Princess Celestia had said that it's weapon shot little metal balls, and that's what hit the duck." She shook her head. "And it was way faster than any magic I've ever seen!"

     Applejack thought about it, she never even saw the little balls until Celestia had shown them how the, 'shells' she called them, worked. It just looked like an explosion from the 'gun.' "I haven't got a clue." She finally said.

     The two furious ponies arrived at the pond, where they knew the monster human was. Rainbow Dash saw him first. "Hey, you!" She screamed, but didn't get a reply. He sat on a bench, almost too small for him, staring into the distance, mindlessly tearing off a piece of bread and throwing it either on the ground for the ducks, or water for fish.

     Rainbow Dash popped her neck and wings, getting in a sprinter's position. In the blink of an eye, her wings were propelling her across the gap, straight for the monster. His lifeless gaze met the assaulting pony. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a yellow gem. He cracked it like a glowstick, and tossed it on the ground. A yellow bubblw formed around DJ. Rainbow Dash tried to stop, but was going way too fast. She ran face first into the shield.

     "I'm not stupid..." He said, throwing in more bread.

     Rainbow Dash rubbed her head. "Why don't you come out of your littlw magic and fight me!" She snarled.

     DJ shrugged. "Because I'll lose." He said flatly. "You are being driven by hate. I can't top that. Not anymore." He sighed. "I'm burnt out."

     Applejack started bucking the shield, leaving miniscule cracks. "Burnt out 'ah what?"

     DJ shrugged again. "Hate. Anger. Pissed off-ness." He leaned back in the bench as the two ponies continued to attack the shield. "I'd advize you to stop..."

     "Oh yeah!" *gasp* "Or what?" Rainbow Dash said. As her hoof made contact with the shield once again, electricity pulsated through the bubble, sending the two back several feet, before the predetermined magical properties teleported them to the throne room. DJ continued throwing bread, until the shield gave way.

_________________

     He almost didn't notice the small family near the pond, they just appeared. Three children, and a mother. They all stayed on the other side of the pond, the mother pointing at the monster, getting a different reaction from each child. DJ snorted. Guess I deserve that... He looked down at his hands. Jesus Christ, how much bread did she give me? Three whole loaves remained to be thrown.

     A squeeky voice caught his attention. "Hey..."

     DJ turned a little, a bright pink pegasus with a green mane, no more then a few years old, blank flank, was staring at him. "Hmm?"

     She fluttered her wings at a million miles an hour, flying up to the bench. "My mommy said you were a monster."

     He grunted. "She's probably right." He sighed. "I don't know what I am any more."

     She laughed. "You don't sound like a monster." He didn't reply. She scooted closer to him. "You alright, mister?"

     "Not really, no." He said, throwing more bread into the pond. "I don't know what to do anymore. I made a mistake, and lost everything."

     The child placed a hoof on his shoulder. "My mommy always tells me, that when you're down, or don't know what to do, we need to wake up, because just because we open our eyes in the morning, doesn't mean we really wake up."

     DJ turned to the pony. Wake up... "Your mommy sounds very smart." He said with a smile. "What's your name?"

     "Oh, I don't have a name yet." She said with a smile. DJ was about to say something, when she spoke. "Our mommy wants us to be the best we can, and take no short ways through. And a lot of ponies' names deal with their cutie marks, sooooo....."

     "So for a challenge, no name until mark." DJ said, who got a nod for a reply. "That's pretty awesome, sounds like your mommy knows what's going on."

     A new voice entered the conversation. "Yes, she does!" The mother said. "What did I just tell you?" She asked the nameless child.

     "But, Mommy! He's really nice!" She pleaded.

     "Yes, sure, come on kiddos, let's go home to your father." The family left DJ, the daughter waving before she was out of sight. DJ smiled a little, before a new thought entered his head. Wake up....

_______________

     Ponyville Library

     "Done, and, done!" Spike had placed the inks, papers, books, and everything else in their proper place, preparing for Twilight's return. He knew that Twilight would have him do it when she got back anyway, plus a gazillion chores, he should do it now and even get a nap in.

     As he made his way to hid bed, a sound caught his attention. A very subtle *beep*. Spike swallowed. "Hello?" He called out. No reply. He started towards the source of the noise, growing increasingly louder and quicker. He eventually reached the door to Twilight's machines. He slowly opened the door.

     "Who's there?" He called again. He walked into the room, a single machine roaring to life. A large paper falling from it. Spike grabbed it, reading it aloud. "Warning! Canterlot magic usage has spiked to dangerous levels. One source. Castle." He tried to comprehend what all the words meant. He shrugged, Twilight would be back tomorrow, and she could know what it means. Next Chapter: A burning sensation Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 45 Minutes