The Beast Withinby Zeta DragonChaptersChapter 1 The Hunt Begins Chapter 2 Blood Chapter 3 Apple Family SecretChapter 4 Waking NightmareChapter 1 The Hunt Begins Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins The brisk fall air embraced you as you trotted through the Everfree forest. The still of the night surrounded you with countless shadows of trees and fauna, the only light being cast was that of a full moon staring down at you, watching you. You look down at your hooves as you press on; One hoof in front of the other trotting to the rhythm of your heartbeat. You slightly cringe whenever a strong breeze is thrown at you. You grit your teeth as you try to wrap yourself even more tightly in your long brown coat that’s draped over you. The small hood connected to your trench coat is up shielding your mane from the frosty wind. You see the woods light up around you as lightning flashes overhead. A loud bang signals its arrival as thunder rolls across the land. You feel the small quick taps of raindrops hitting your hood and running down your body. All this is in vein; nothing can stop you from your mission. Ten years ago when you were just a colt living on the outskirts of the large forests of Vanhoover; you came to your small home where you lived with your parents. Your mother always worried about you and your father. Dad was a guard in the royal army that was often posted at the border of Equestria and the Frozen North. You were their only child so your mother held you in great joy and pride. At the end of the week your village would gather at the great hall to welcome the soldiers coming back from the north. You saw your dad gallop toward you and you mother eagerly waiting to have the family restored to whole. Your dad would fall to his knees and wrap his arms around you and your mom giving her a kiss, feeling so happy to be home. During the get together you would listen to the soldiers’ tales of the Frozen North. Most of them were just urban legends cooked up to pass the time. The Frozen North was a barren place. Your father always said that there was nothing there. Yet you were smarter than that; because if there was nothing there then why in the wide wide world of Equestria would Princess Celestia have nearly half the army stationed along the border. Some of the older soldiers who were long past retirement and simply spent their last days among nature with the rolling hills and giant forests of Vanhoover, spoke and told you stories of Lycans, Ponies bitten by monsters usually wolves. After they were bit every full moon their bodies would undergo a transformation, from pony to wolf. Everypony knew, or thought that Lycans didn’t really exist, but hearing the story always made you slide in a little closer to your parents. When you became of age your Dad taught you about survival. Both of you were Pegasi. You learned to fly at a young age and your dad developed your techniques over the years. “Real military flying” he called it not any of that fancy crap the Wonderbolts do at their shows. Your dad also taught you how to spar being that you wanted to join with the royal army. You learned how to utilize all of your limbs, your arms, legs, and head, even your tail to swipe dirt and rocks into the enemies face. When you were a Teenager on your 16th birthday, your father had just gotten back from a long tour in the Frozen North. He called you up to his room where he said he had something special to give you. “I think your old enough for this now son I hope you’ll never need to use it but should the circumstance arrive may it bring you honor and glory in the Royal army. He held out both his hooves bearing a large silver bracelet one that would cover probably a third of your foreleg. It was very thick and heavy as you grasped it sliding it over your right foreleg. Wearing it you felt uneven and not balanced. You yielded a confused look on your face as your father laughed. “Haha don’t worry you’ll build strength and get used to it.” You leaned in and carefully studied the device fixed to your foreleg, twisting your head to get a view of it from all angles. You finally got the words out “Look Dad I don’t mean to be rude….but what exactly is this thing?” you ask. Your Dad smiled “Quickly flick your hoof up and then down.” He said You comply raising your foreleg in the air, with a flick of your hoof up then slamming it downward the device activates and you hear a (shink) of metal scraping metal as a long silver blade about three feet in length, extends outward from a small slot in the device. “A hoofblade?” you ask smiling “A hoofblade, just like the ones we carry.” Your dad smiled as you thanked him for the awesome present. You reached in for a hug as your dad pushes you away. You notice the sword still extended just a few inches from his face, you father gives an unsure look. You blush and chuckle a little letting him know that you can in fact be trusted with a weapon. “heh heh sorry.” You say sheepishly. Your dad smiles “It’s alright son, same motion retracts it.” You smile giving your hoof another flick as the blade telescopes and collapses into itself before retracting back into the small slot in the ring. Finally you proceeded safely with your hug as your dad simply said “You earned it kiddo” The next year instead of sparing with your dad he taught you the art of sword fighting. The clings and clangs of blades coming into contact with one another was like a symphony, the silver streaks of blades whirling in the wind like an artist painting his masterpiece, the small gusts of wind that delicately trailed each strike felt magnificent. On your 17th birthday your father passed the torch. He was discharged from the army and you were to take his place. Your mother strained holding back tears but as great as her efforts were the small drops still flowed from her warm eyes. Your father comforted her “Don’t worry our son has been training his whole life for this.” Your dad says as your mother nods her head “I know but it’s just……I don’t want anything to happen to my baby boy.” She says. You step in and wrap your forelegs around her “Don’t worry Mom I know how to handle myself.” She cries into your shoulder as you wrap your wing around her back. “Just promise us you’ll write everyday” she said still sobbing. “I will don’t worry I love you Mom and Dad” you say feeling tears begin to work their way into your eyes. Your Mom and Dad give you a group hug and say goodbye as you pick up your saddle bags and venture out. You write to you Mom and Dad every Night telling them of your life in the army. Nothing much happened it was no wonder why the soldiers invented stories and other myths and legends. It was the only thing that was of any interest. Every day it was wake up before Celestia raised the sun, stand out in Subzero temperatures for hours without food watching snow fall across a valley. A lot of times you would spend hours playing around with your hoofblade flicking it your hoof and watching as the thing readied and stored itself for attack. There was literally nothing of interest anywhere. A year later you were on your way back home to your small village in Vanhoover. The train chugged along at a painfully slow pace as the snow was near white out condition outside your cabin window. You arrive at the train station late at night. Your eyes feel heavy as you work a little harder to breathe and keep yourself standing. You grab your Saddlebags and exit the train. You look around at your small village not seeing much changed in the year you’ve been gone. You don’t see your parents at the train station. “They’re probably cooking a big feast.” You think to yourself. You hike up your saddlebags and trot to the far outskirts where your house is. When you arrive you see that the lights are on. “I guess they’re home.” You say as you trot up to the front door. Suddenly you freeze in your tracks. Staring at the door to your home you notice that it is slightly ajar as if someone or something broke in. Instantly you drop your saddlebags and flick your hoof extending your sword. You grasp the door with your other hoof bracing yourself on your hind legs “Mom, Dad?” You gently call out but loud enough that they would hear you. Your ears cringe as a massive howl fills the house and surrounding area “Ahwoooooooooo!!!” Acting on instinct you break down the door, you were strong but the sight which awaited you; you were no match for. You saw a large black creature that lowered its head from the howl and slowly turned toward you. It stood at least twice your height, and you were big well over the size of any normal stallion. The creature was unlike any you had seen, At first glance it looked like a large pony but its coat was roughed up with black patchy fur as long thick claws protruded from its hooves. Its muzzle was like that of a canine, elongated with a wet black nose on the tip. The tips of two white fangs hung from either side of its mouth. Its ears were curved like that of a wolf’s. You then glanced down and saw the two lifeless bodies of your Mom and Dad in a pool of blood spreading across the floor. You looked at the creature as blood dripped from its claws and fangs. It stared back at you with yellow eyes…a demon’s eyes. The creature let out a massive roar that shook the windows in the house spit flew from its hideous mouth. Tears were welling up in your eyes as your whole body felt hot you noticed your breathing had gone from mildly exhausted to that of a feral anger. You couldn’t hold it in any longer “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” You shouted so loud that the whole village must have heard as you galloped full speed blade drawn toward the monster. Like a wild animal you pounce driving the blade directly toward the beast’s chest. While you’re in the air the massive creature reaches its arms out grabbing ahold of you and spinning around flinging you into the wall behind it. Your body hits with a thud sending a crack up the wall. Instantly on pure adrenaline you fly to your feet, again you pounce blade out. The creature effortlessly slaps you off your path with its colossal arm. You land again with a thud next to your mother’s body. You stare into her lifeless eyes, knowing that her last thoughts were of you. Tears began flowing down your cheeks, the floor shook, and the creature which you knew was a Lycan lumbered over towards you. Your chest was rising up and down falling as you coughed up a red liquid. Your whole body ached beyond belief, you couldn’t get up all you could do was lay there with your mothers lifeless body in view. You suddenly choked as you felt a large hand wrap tightly around your neck, squeezing your windpipe as it lifted you up to eye level with the creature. Your body was dangling in the air being held by your neck face to face with the demon that killed your family, which ripped your life away from you. You wanted to cry, but you forced back your tears, you would not give it the satisfaction of seeing you tormented, if it could even understand. It roared again hurting your ears and spraying a mist of its saliva on your face. Suddenly you burst into action using what little momentum you had from your body being suspended you gave a swift kick to the things chest causing its grip to loosen. You lurched your right foreleg forward in an upward arch slashing the beast across its left eye. The Lycan howled in pain as it regained itself slamming you into the wall. It then pressed its hand off of your neck bringing it to its eye covering it. You could see smoke as if acid was poured on it. You couldn’t move. The pain was too much, you watched as the beast leapt out the window and charged off into the forest. The neighbors found you the next morning. The community came together as unicorns used their magic to nurse you back to health. The Pegasi did aerial recon for the beast in the surrounding forests. Many thought you a crazed schizophrenic, said that you made the whole thing up and that your parents died from a criminal and not a werewolf. They said you spent too much time up north and let the stories get into your head. This made your blood boil. Silently from the moment you walked in the door to your house you vowed to yourself as Celestia as your witness you would kill the Lycan that ripped you family from you. So here you are. For months you have been tracking the beast following one lead to the next. You tracked it to Manehatten, then South to the Badlands, Back West to Appleousa and now slightly north to the Everfree Forest. Normally you would fly and search from the air. But the Everfree was covered by a thick layer of trees that hid anything inside. You had heard legends about the Everfree forest being one of the most dangerous places in Equestria, but having grown up in a forest all your life, you felt right at home. The storm had picked up again. Thunder boomed overhead as rain found its way through the thick trees and pelted your hood. Your ears stood straight up forming two triangular tents in your hood, as you listened for any sounds of movement. You continued trotting onward looking at your front hooves as they walked in a metronome, you wouldn’t stop, you couldn’t stop. You heard the snap of a twig from your left side and instantly froze as you tilted your head up from the ground. You rotated your ear a bit to try and fine tune the sound. You squinted your eyes in focus still unmoving and looking straight ahead of you. You began taking deep breaths before you burst open your wings and flew out of the way dodging a large animal just pouncing at you from your left side. You skid to a halt kicking up dirt in your landing. You whip your head around and see a wolf like creature, except this one was made from leaves and branches. “Timberwolf” You uttered to yourself. You had read about these creatures and learned that they were pretty common in the Everfree forest; you also knew that they traveled in packs. Right on cue you looked to your right and left as five pairs of yellow eyes showed themselves. You were now face to face with the Timber wolf that lunged at you earlier, you flick your hoof as your blade extends ready for battle. The Timberwolf growls at you as you take a combat stance on your hind legs. Without warning the Timberwolf charges at you and pounces again. You extend and lock your foreleg spearing the wolf through the neck then dragging him through the air over your head and slamming him on the ground next to you as he breaks apart into a cluster of branches. You slide your sword out of its neck and turn back around to see five more timberwolves uttering a low growl at the act you just committed. You act on instinct not hesitating by making the first move, you charge strait at the group sliding on the ground underneath them doing a fast 180 you whip your blade around and slice one apart as the other four lunge at you One pounces which you again spear like the first one almost instantly another leaps at you teeth flared. You slam the impaled timberwolf into its brother knocking both of them to the ground. The one you impaled flies off your sword bursting into a pile of branches. Three to go. One comes up from behind you and swipes at you with its claws you duck out of the way just in time flaring your sword up in the air in an arch severing both its forelegs. The body lands in front of you unable to stand it snaps at you with its jaws. Again like a dancer you whip around to see one of the creatures in midair its mouth wide open. You guard against its attack with your blade pushing back and sending it recoiling to the ground. You spin around and finish off the other timberwolf whose legs you severed by driving your sword right into its head with a grunt. You rip the blade out of its skull as it crumbles into branches. You turn to see the timber wolf you knocked to the ground is now getting back up. You spread your wings and quickly fly over and land on top of it. It tries to buck you off as it frantically whips its head from side to side snapping at you. Using all your strength you hang on and manage to get your blade under its neck. With a quick clean sweep you pull back on the sword severing the beast’s neck as it crumbles sending you to the ground on top of it. You instantly get back up and hear a snarl come from behind you it’s too late you turn around and feel the pain of your flesh being torn on the right side of your body. The timberwolfs’ claws tear through you cutting deep. You know you won’t turn because they aren’t Lycans but it still hurt like Tartarus. “AAAAHHH!!!” you scream in pain as you spin around and see the wolf lining up for another strike. This time you’re ready it leaps at you teeth barred ready to land the killing blow. You kneel down and sweep up with your sword as the timberwolf lands behind you. You don’t move as you wait for the sound you know is coming. Sure enough the timberwolf cracks as his head slides off of its neck, a clean cut. You smirk at the satisfaction of your victory. However your celebration is short as you feel the throbbing pain of your wound. “AAAHHH” you fall to both your knees as you examine the wound. Three slits run across the right side of your body about halfway between your head and tail. They are massive, the wolf got you good. You tenderly touch the area around it which makes you clench in pain as crimson liquid seeps out from the three slits. You take a few quick breaths as you press your wing as hard as you can against the wound. You know you have to keep pressure on it or you’ll bleed out. You slowly get back on your feet. “I need to find a doctor.” You quickly look around; you spot a faint light shining through the trees at the far end. “A town they must have a doctor.” You think to yourself as you slowly trot towards the only sign of civilization. Your gambit was right; you emerge from the dark plant-scape of the forest and gaze upon a small village. A sign reads “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!” you gaze at it “Ponyville huh, never heard of it I hope they have a doctor.” You slowly limp into the town. It’s got to be one in the morning and everypony’s in bed. “Hello” you call out “I could use some help” No good nopony can hear you. You look down at your wing as you see that your feathers are bright red from the blood and that you are leaking a trail of it on the ground. The crimson droplets drip off your feathers. You press on feeling yourself get dizzy and light headed. You try to take note of any landmarks. The town has a lot of unique buildings. There looks to be a giant carousel in the middle but what catches your eye most is the giant tree sitting just off to the side. You tentatively approach the tree when an unexplainable feeling embraces you. You fall flat on your stomach and manage to roll over onto your back. You look up at the starry sky and see the moon shining down on your coat. You start to close your eyes. “HEY!” A voice shouts out “Hey are you ok?” You open your eyes using whatever’s left of your fleeting strength and find a purple Alicorn gazing over you with a strong look of worry on her face. You try to speak but you only manage to spit up blood on yourself as the Alicorn examines your wound. “Spike! Get over Here! I need your help!” She yells out looking around before turning back to you. Her eyes lock with yours as she strokes your mane with her hoof. “Don’t worry you’re going to be OK we’re going to take care of you. SPIKE HURRY!” She yells again you hear footsteps approaching but cannot see who or what it is. You see the Purple Alicorn simply say “Come on We need to get him inside.” You could feel yourself being lifted up but were too weak. Your vision fades to black. Chapter 2 Blood Chapter 2 Blood Chapter 2 Blood Slowly your vision returns. Your eyes seep open slowly and gently to the sight of a purple alicorn looking over you smiling “ Well Good morning sleepyhead.” She says as you feel the puffiness of a soft quilt tossed around you. You look around and notice the place you in, it’s made mostly out of wood almost as if you were inside a tree. There were a few windows that let in some sunlight. You sit up in the bed as your body feels numb. You feel lighter as you scan yourself. You suddenly notice that your hoofblade is gone. Quickly you glance at your bare arm and look around. “Whoa, whoa relax your stuff is downstairs.” The purple pony said pressing a hoof to your chest. “Though I will say you didn’t have much…just an old coat and a metal thing that was around your foreleg.” You stare at her silently lying back down feeling your head press into the soft pillow. “How are you feeling?” She said feeling your forehead with her hoof. “I had to use some pretty strong anesthetic when I stitched you up. You do feel like you have a fever, it’s probably just the medicine.” Your head was pounding in a dull muffled pain. “So what’s your name?” the purple pony asked. You continue to stare at her uncomfortably; after all you weren’t accustomed to such hospitality. Her expression changed from that of a smile to that of a small look of concern. “Uh, I’m princess Twilight Sparkle.” She says putting a hoof to her chest. “and this here is Spike” she says pointing. You turn your head to your other side and gaze upon a small purple dragon who cautiously waves at you. You bite your lip sucking in air looking back at Twilight and uttering your name. “Well nice to meet you.” she says, “I’m sure you have loads of questions but…hee hee I probably have even more for you. For now I’ll let you rest don’t worry you can stay here as long as you like. When you’re feeling better I can show you around and introduce you to my friends.” “T-Thanks….for everything.” You utter. Twilight smiles at you “come on spike.” she calls as the small dragon follows her down the stairs. You feel sleep grasping you in its spell as you close your eyes. You awake sometime later. The sunlight that flowed in through the windows was now replaced with the steely moonlight draping itself through the shadows. You again sit up in the bed and scan your surroundings. Across the room from you, you see another bed occupied by Twilight with spike sleeping on the floor in a small bed that looked to be for a pet. Silently you get out of bed, you are careful not to wake Twilight or Spike. You had no intention of saying goodbye. You must remain focused on your mission. Your injuries already cost you a day or more and the lycan has probably moved on. You tip trot down the stairs looking around at all the books on the shelves. Either this was the town library or you were dealing with the biggest bookworm in Equestria. You walk over to the table and see your hoofblade you slide it on when you hear a voice behind you. “I couldn’t figure out what that is….I assume it’s something important to you or you wouldn’t have it around your arm.” Twilight said fully awake as you turned around. “If you don’t mind” She asks sheepishly, “I am curious about where you came from and just why you were half dead on my front lawn.” You tell her your story….about how you were raised in the forests of Vanhoover about how your family was killed by the beast, about how you will not stop hunting it until its head rests on a pike. Twilight hung her head low. “I’m sorry.” she says as it seems she can’t even find the words to express the amount of sorrow she feels. “Don’t be you were not the beast that killed my family.” You say. “How do you know?” She asks “It’s true I’m not a Lycan but…” “The beast I’m looking for has a scar on its left eye.” “A scar on its left eye eh.” Twilight says. “Yes have you seen anypony with this scar?” “Cant’ say that I have.” She says. “I never got a chance to really thank you for saving my life.” “Don’t mention it.” Twilight says. “I should probably head out the thing could be all the way to Las Pegasus by now.” You grab your coat and pull up your hood facing the wooden door. “Wait!” Twilight says. “What is it?” “I may know somepony who can help.” You arrive at the Blood Room a vampony bar. You stand motionless as the cold wind of the night hangs over you. Strange this place seemed to be the only sign of activity in the entire town. Twilight had told you to go to this “vampony bar”…and seek a mare by the name of Vinyl Scratch. You stare at the solid wooden door wondering what kind of atmosphere awaits you inside. Taking in the cool oxygen you place a hoof on the door and push in. The place reveals to you a dark dungeon like room but didn’t look so different than your standard bar. There were tables occupying the center of the room filled with ponies chatting up about their day’s exploit and in the back were a few dark booths where some pretty shady ponies sat. The place reeked of blood a strong metallic smell that seemed to clog your nostrils. Quickly as you were doing your survey of the area you notice something. All the ponies’ eyes in this place are glued right onto you. You mentally prepare to flick your hoofblade out should the situation arise, as you gently take your steps in. The solid door shuts behind you blocking out the light of the moon. You couldn’t believe it but the place got even darker as now the only light was from the small candles on the tables. You kept your hood up so as not to draw attention but it didn’t seem to be working that well. You spot the bar and the bartender, an average gray Unicorn stallion with a shot glass cutiemark and blood red eyes a common trait among those in this place. You figure you’d ask him where you can find this Vinyl Scratch. The entire place has fallen deathly silent as the sound of your hoofsteps are the only vibrations that echo through the air. You think you hear some of the ponies whispering things as you walk by like “Smells like an unconverted” or “Mmm I bet his blood tastes exquisite.” You turn your head towards the whispers and give a “Don’t mess with me?” glare that would make a Manticore tremble. Never the less you continue your stride finally arriving at the bar and hover yourself up onto one of the stools. This seems to calm the place down as you hear the majority of the ponies go back to their conversations. The bartender sees you and trots over to you wiping a glass with a rag wrapped in magic. “So what’ll it be friend? Lemme guess a Bloody Mare-y will that be type A or type O?” “Actually I want information.” “Ah well that I can help ya in too.” The bartender says with a small smile as he continues his work seeing that you’re no longer a potential customer. “I’m looking for somepony.” You say leaning in not wanting the other bar goers meddling in your affairs. “Do ya have a name?” The bartender asks leaning in close to a whisper distance. “I’m looking for a mare by the name of Vinyl Scratch” “That’s me!” A female voice booms out from across the room in the back in the darkness of the corner booth as the room again instantly goes silent. Vamponies must have super hearing being closely related to a bat which navigates by sound. You look over at the dark corner as you see a white hoof emerge from the shadows beckoning you over. You oblige getting up from your seat and walking across the dark bar of creatures you only heard of in legend. You stared down at a couple of tables, no whispers this time just all staring at you in silence. You can see that most of the ponies have the blood red eyes and all of them had two long fangs dangling down from their mouths. Some mares stared at you with almost a lust in their eyes while stallions simply give you a look of anger and hatred. You could feel all their eyes pierce into you as you approached the corner booth. You arrive at your destination and slide in with part of your long coat draping over the side. You stare into the darkness that bears the pony you were here to meet. After a good while she leans into the small light of the candle on the table. She is a pure white Unicorn with fire red eyes and an electric blue mane. Perched on top of her head are a pair of sunglasses with purple lenses that seem to mimic the eyes of a bug. Next to her on the table she has a small glass of a crimson liquid. She softly smirks at you as a pair of fangs exposes themselves from behind her lips. “You've seen my face now let me see yours.” she says gesturing her head to your hood. You sigh but comply as you slowly reach up letting your hooves rest at the crest of your hood before sliding it back revealing your face and lush mane. “Cute.” Vinyl says, “Hooves on the table.” Sensing where she is going with this you still comply placing your hooves and forelegs to rest flat across the table. As you suspected almost instantly Vinyl reaches one of her hooves over to undo the release latch on your blade but you wouldn’t accept that. You slam your left hoof on top of hers as she grunts in surprise you can hear other ponies leaping up from their seats eager to defend the mare from you. “It stays with me.” You say in a serious tone. Vinyl giggles a little “well at least you’re not as stupid as I thought.” She waves her other hoof at her defenders telling them to sit back down. “So……what’s a non-converted like you doing in a vampony bar.” Vinyl says taking a sip of her crimson drink. “I need your help.” You say. “A lot of ponies want my help why should I help you?” She says. You think for only a second “Because I’m going to put your enemies head on a pike.” You say. Vinyl’s eyes widen as she looks shocked but then smiles wide “Sooo your hunting a Lycan are you?” “ Indeed Ms. Scratch. One that took something very dear to me.” “ You want to kill the beast?” “I want it to suffer like I did.” “I will help you for I know of who you seek.” “How can you?” “you seek Venator the alpha of the pack… we had heard rumors that the dogs leader was wounded none the less by a mortal.” “I need to be sure.” “Large…Black…Doglike that’s a nice scar you gave him…..his left eye I believe.” “WHERE IS HE!!” You yell leaping up from your seat knowing that some of the other customers are staring at your outburst. Vinyl smiles as if teasing you. “He’s right here in Ponyville the wolf pack make their den here.” “Who is he?” You say trying to hide the feeling of excitement that your search is nearly over. “I….honestly don’t know the only way to find him would be to wait for a transformation.” “But if he knows I’m here.” “All Lycans undergo a forced transformation on the next full moon which happens to be 27 days from now the hunters moon, how ironic fate is.” Vinyl giggled. “27 Days what if he leaves?” “He won’t those damn dogs are in heat, mating season they all stick around the den.” “Still 27 days!” “it ain’t so bad is it I would suggest just getting to know ponies and blend in when the time comes, and it will come. You will have your battle and I hope the head of that monster.” You sigh, feeling mixed emotions you had completed your search but now the damn thing won’t let you exact your revenge for another 27 days. “Thanks Vinyl.” you say before pulling up your hood and standing up. “No problem, hey be careful heat season those things get way more aggressive and try to turn more ponies.” “I’m always careful and I have my hoofblade.” “Indeed now run along blend in find some friends and wait….” “I will Vinyl thanks again.” She lifts her crimson drink giving you a little toast to your quest as you turn around and head towards the door. You slide open the solid wood of the door letting the cool night embrace you. You look up at the small sliver of the moon among the stars and in the distance you hear a wolf’s howl. “Better head back to Twilight's.” Author's Note Hey guys thanks for reading!!! I don't know when I'll be able to get chapter 3 of this out it shouldn't be too long but....yeah. Wish you all the best and Rock on -Zeta Chapter 3 Apple Family SecretChapter 3 Apple Family Secret The rest of the night was uneventful. You made your way back to the library where Twilight resided and told her what you learned from Vinyl. Twilight said that you were welcome to stay with her as long as you want. She told you that her and her friends embody the Elements of Harmony and are committed to bringing peace to the land. You had heard stories about the power the elements wielded and figure it wouldn’t be bad to have them on your side. “I’ll introduce you to my friends in the morning.” Twilight said. You figure with nothing else to do you may as well turn in. The next morning the sun warms your body. You wake up and find Twilight who kindly changes your bandages. “This wound looks a lot better.” Twilight smiles. “Well you’re to thank for that” you say. Twilight finishes changing the dressings as you wiggle a bit to work in the stiff bandages. “So I’m to meet your friends.” “Yep I told them to meet us at Sugarcube corner for breakfast.” “Sugarcube corner?” you question not having heard of the place. “You’ll love it!” Twilight giggled “My friend Pinkie Pie runs the place along with Mr. and Mrs. Cake.” “What do they serve?” “Mostly sugary treats but they should be able to get us some breakfast muffins. Come on.” Twilight says opening the door and trotting out. “Spike look after the Library while I’m gone.” “OK Twilight!” you hear from upstairs. You follow Twilight out her door and into town. “So 27 days?” “26 days now.” You say letting her know you were counting. “Well just please……… be careful” “Don’t worry about me. Nothing is going to stop me from doing this.” “Normally I wouldn’t approve of ………killing a pony” Twilight says looking worried. “It’s not a pony anymore it’s a damn monster.” You say boldly. Twilight twists her head and looks at you with sad eyes. “You think differently?” you question. “I just………I don’t know, I mean maybe, what if they can’t help it what if they don’t mean to be bad. At the core they are ponies.” You open your mouth to say something but stop yourself. You were going to explode on this mare. How dare she say such things. She doesn’t know what you’ve seen. How you had to stare at your mothers stiff dead body devoid of all she was. “Well here we are.” Twilight said. In front of you was a quaint shop that looked like a gingerbread house. It was quite obvious this was the town bakery. A small wooden sign hung from the door welcoming all ‘Sugarcube Corner’ The sign read. Something about this place just radiated with energy and happiness. You place a hoof up to the door and begin to push it open. “Oh I should probably tell you to watch your wounded side” Twilight says. You open the door and look at her “Why what do y- OOF” You get tackled by a Pink blur that seemed to shoot out of nowhere. Your vision is blurred with a ringing in your ears. You see a pink figure over you and watch as its mouth moves at lightning speed. Your vision focuses back and sees a pink mare with bright blue eyes and a curly pink mane. The ringing in your ears stops and is faded into a mush of gibberish. “OHMYGOSHYOUMUSTBENEWAROUNDHERECAUSEINEVERSEENYOUBEFOREANDMY NAME IS PINKIEPIE WHAT’S YOURS?” You barely manage to catch the tail end of what she said but you know this is Pinkie Pie the mare who runs this place and she asked for your name. You tell her your name at which she bounces up and down on you bursting out more gibberish. “Uh Pinkie Pie um do you think you could get off me” The pain of her bouncing up and down on your injured body was starting to hurt. “Oops yeah heh heh sorry.” She says blushing; she quickly leaps off you but then slams a hoof down on your chest. “Oh my gosh your hurt what happened.” She says bending in close to examine your wound. “Oh I just had a run in with a Timberwolf.” You say casually. “Wow you’re lucky to be alive.” “Well I guess I owe that to Twilight here.” You say motioning a hoof to Twilight. “I’m just glad I could help.” Twilight says. Pinkie Pie lifts her hoof off you and Twilight helps you up. As if on cue three other mares enter, one Unicorn and two Pegasus. “Hey everypony, ready for breakfast?” Twilight looked at her friends at the door. “Oh I’m simply famished darling.” The white unicorn said. She had a beautifully styled mane as if she was going out to attend a formal event. “So is this the new guy?” the cyan Pegasus questioned hovering over to you. “Yeah! Girls this is Anon.” Twilight said introducing you. “Anon this is Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.” “h-hi.” Fluttershy barely squeaked out. Your vision is overtaken by a rainbow blur as two large magenta eyes sparkle right in your face. “So did you really fight a pack of Timberwolves?” Rainbow dash said almost at Pinkie’s speed. You roll your eyes. “Yes one of em gave me a nice scratch too before I chopped its head off.” “eep.” you see Fluttershy seem to hold a hoof to her mouth as her eyes almost quiver… ‘was she about to cry, or is she just really, really scared?’ you think to yourself. You feel a hoof caressing you bandages slowly unwrapping the tight mesh to reveal your wound. You trace this hoof to a cyan Pegasus moving her head in close with a look of awe on her face. “That …Is…SOOO AWESOME!!!” She practically squealed when she first saw the long red crooked ravines where the Timberwolf dug its claws into you. “Does it hurt?” You gave her a deadpan look “What do you think?” you say annoyed. “Hey girls where’s Applejack?” Twilight said. Rainbow rewrapped you bandage then looked to Twilight “She said she had some work to do at the farm they just harvested the trees.” “Breakfast Everypony!” Pinkie Pie yelled out hopping out on one hoof attempting to balance six plates. She laid them all out on the table between two booths. You along with the others slide in to your respective meals taking in the sweet aroma of the muffins. The next half hour is spent telling these ponies about your past. You were met with the same reaction twilight gave you. All of them expressed their sorrows for you. After eating some of the greatest food in your life Rarity said she had to get back to the boutique and Rainbow and Fluttershy said they needed to get back to helping with weather duty. You all say your goodbyes and Twilight suggests you head back to the library. “So Anon, What do you think you’ll do when all this is over?” Twilight asks. “What do you mean?” “I mean if you kill” “WHEN I kill.” you cut her off correcting her. “WHEN you kill V-Venator” She asks if she’s got the name right, you nod “When you kill Venator, then what will you do? Where will you go?” You shrug as the question kind of took you by surprise. “Honestly I’ve never thought about it.” You scan your brain for a potential answer “I guess I’ll just go where I’ll go.” “That’s no way to think, you should settle down?” “Are you coming on to me?” Twilight deadpans “No, I’m just saying you should think about moving to Ponyville.” “Ha what would I do, how would I make a living, a pony who has hunted a beast all his life.” “You’ll find a way look at the Apple family. When Applejack’s grandma came here she planted one apple tree and now it’s turned into one of the largest orchards in Equestria. Not to mention how big the Apple family is.” Twilight pointed out towards the orchard. It looks like something out of a painting a wide lush field lined with apple trees looking like soldiers in an army. Across from them a bright red barn with white stripes looms up on the hillside. Just barely you can make out a quaint farm house nuzzled next to it. The apples dotting the trees like…..wait. “Twilight something’s wrong.” You say. Twilight immediately gets a concerned look on her “What are you hurt?” “No Twilight look at the farm.” You say pointing. “What about it?” She asks you. “The trees have apples on them.” “It’s an apple orchard Anon.” “No but didn’t your friend say that Applejack just finished harvesting the apples. I don’t doubt her skills as a farmer from what you’ve told me, but I doubt that even she could grow a whole new bumper crop in half an hour.” “That is weird.” Twilight said with a quizzical look as she raised her hoof scratching her chin. “Would she lie to you?” you ask. “No way, she’s the element of Honesty; I don’t even think she can lie.” You start to trot towards the orchard when Twilight grabs you with her hoof. “Where are you going?” She asks. “To check it out, something may be up.” “Anon I’m sure it’s fine, Rainbow Dash probably heard wrong she has had trouble hearing ever since she started going to this stallion’s rock concerts.” “Well look at it this way, I’ll get to have met all your friends.” You say to twilight. Twilight sighs “Fine.” she grunts annoyed as she trots after you. You eventually arrive at the farm after a short walk you discard your bandage then lift off and begin hovering near Twilight allowing her to take the lead. Twilight trots ahead and begins leading you through the orchards as you hover just under the trees. The smell of fresh apples fills your nose with a pleasant aroma. Emerging from the rows of apple trees you come upon a bright red barn. Outside you see a small cart filled with apples and the pony in question Applejack sporting a brown Stetson. Her mane is tied back into long blond pigtails as she picks up a basket of apples and deposits them into the wooden cart. “Applejack!” Twilight yells waving to her friend. “Twi! What are ya’ll doin here!?” Applejack looks at her friend shocked “And who in tarnation is this?” she says pointing a hoof at you as you land in the dirt. “Applejack this is Anon, Anon meet Applejack.” “Hey!” you say extending your hoof with your blade wrapped around your foreleg. “Oh uh hi Anon it’s a nice to meet you.” Applejack says. “No hoofshake? I thought you farmers were all proper.” You chuckle. Applejack flinches, “Oh uh I actually hurt my hoof, uh mind shaking with the opposite.” “Ok” you say pulling back your foreleg and raising your other one. Applejack graciously grabs it shaking and formally introducing herself. You look at her other hoof and indeed notice that about halfway up her foreleg the area is wrapped tightly in a bandage, you see a small red stain probably where her blood soaked through. “So what happened to you?” you ask gesturing towards her injury. “huh, uh oh, mmm, farming accident, yep I hit the dang thing right on a steel wheel of a cart cut me right open it did.” She says smiling wide. She’s obviously lying why would she hide it, not to mention she couldn’t think you would actually buy that story, especially since all the carts you can see at least have wood wheels. “How bout you?” She asks looking at your wound. “Oh just had a run in with a Timberwolf.” You say. “Ouch.” Applejack flinches, “So uh Twi can I help you with somethin’ or ya just come by to visit?” “Just visiting AJ we missed you at breakfast this morning.” Twilight smiled. “Oh uh Yeah since I cut my hoof I just couldn’t make it all the way to town.” “Don’t worry AJ” Twilight says. “You want me to take a look at it looks like the bandage needs changi-“ “NO, uh I mean that’s really kind of ya but I’ll be just fine thank ya.” Applejack stutters “S-so uh Anon what brings ya’ll round these parts?” “I’m hunting a Lycan.” You say flat out. Applejack flinches “R-really a-a Lycan?” “Yes one that killed my family” “Well what are you going to hunt it with, I mean from what I hear Lycans are pretty strong.” “This” you say whipping out your hoofblade. Applejack squints at it “Woo wee that’s some mighty nice silver.” “Thanks my father gave it to me.” “My father gave me this hat right before he….” Applejack trails off. “Seems like we have more in common then we first thought huh.” You say trying to comfort her. “Y-yeah.” Applejack stutters out, you can see tears welling up in her eyes. Applejack holds up a hoof. “Hey uh you uh maybe wanna give me a little help here with the harvest? I can’t work at full capacity because of my.” She holds up her bandaged hoof. “I’d love to AJ but I need to do some shopping” Twilight says. “The new Daring Do book came out today and Rainbow will be expecting the library to have a copy.” “Oh ok” “I’ll help.” You say volunteering. Applejack’s mouth hangs open. “That sounds like a great idea.” Twilight smiles, “It will give you two great time to bond more.” Applejack hangs her head as if she disapproves of the idea, but you don’t care. The next eight hours are spent bucking apple trees and helping Applejack carry the bushels back to the barn. Needless to say you two didn’t bond very much, not at all actually since you didn’t talk to one another unless it was a question. The sun was now setting leaving behind an orange glow yielding to a purplish night. Twilight was now trotting back up the path approaching the barn. Applejack turns to you “Well thanks for the help partner, here you earned it.” She says throwing you a small sack of bits. “No I can’t accept that, you’re injured.” “Please I insist.” she pleads with you. “SIS!” a small squeaky voice shouts out. You turn around to see a small red haired filly walking next to a large red stallion. “Hey Applebloom, did ya have fun with Big Mac today!” AJ asks bending down nuzzling the little filly. “Yeah we played in the park all day!” Applebloom shouts. “Eeyup!” Big Mac reiterates. “Who is this guy?” Applebloom questions pointing at you. “This is Anon Applebloom, Anon this is ma sister Applebloom and ma brother Big Macintosh.” AJ says introducing you. You kneel down “Well it’s nice to meet you Applebloom hey that’s a really nice bow you got” you say with a smile. “Thanks mister!” Applebloom says before her belly rumbles. “Say sis I’m real hungry I’m gonna go see if ol granny’s got dinner on yet.” “Ok Applebloom, run along.” AJ says. She turns her attention back to you. “Now take the bits I insist.” Big Mac interrupts “uh AJ isn’t it about time for your, you know.” “I know Brother.” AJ stares daggers at you. “Fine I’ll take the bits but I will repay you someday.” You say reluctantly taking the small sack. “Well Anon we better head home.” Twilight says. “Yeah, It was nice meeting you AJ!” you call out as you trot away with Twilight. “Come on Sis.” Big Mac says putting a hoof around AJ who begins to sob. You and Twilight walk through the streets of Ponyville, Luna’s moon was now out and the cool night air once again enveloped you. “I hope the Lycans aren’t out.” Twilight says. “I doubt it, they only forcefully transform on full moons, except for newborns they do every night until the learn to control it.” You explain. “How do you know so much about them?” “The same way you do, through books.” You say. “Still it’s fascinating.” Twilight says, “the only thing I know is that they hate silver” You freeze in your tracks. Twilight trots forward before noticing you stopped. She rushes back to your side and asks what’s wrong. “She knew it was silver.” You whisper to Twilight. “What do you mean? Who?” Twilight asks. “Applejack she said nice silver when I showed her my hoofblade. It could be made out of steel or iron.” “So it was a lucky guess.” Twilight said. “No…. the wound on her foreleg was high up. She didn’t want to shake hooves with it. Her hoof would have been fine. She didn’t want to touch the silver.” “Anon you’re sounding ridiculous.” “We have to go back!” “What? Anon, Applejack will think we’re crazy!” “Then she thinks we’re crazy! I have to know!” You say as you whip around and rear up before taking off and flying full speed back to Sweet Apple Acres. Again you arrive at the Orchard. You rush up to the barn and see Big Mac waiting at the barn door. “Where is she!!!” you shout so loud probably half of Ponyville heard. Big mac hangs his head low and gestures to the barn. You see that the door is bolted shut with a big makeshift lock with a two by four. You scarcely believe what is happening. Slowly you approach the barn door and place a hoof to the hard wood feeling each crevice. Suddenly the whole barn door swings outward but gets stopped by the two by four. You shove yourself away as you hear a feral growl. Your breathing becomes choppy and short. You turn to Big Mac who is still hanging his head. “WHEN WAS SHE BIT!” you ask. “Last night, she was walking home from the South orchard.” Big Mac is now starting to tear up, his words becoming as choppy as your breaths. “Said it came out of nowhere, one of those bastards must’ve wanted to mate with her. Sunk its teeth into ma little sister!” Big Mac yelled. “You mean AJ’s a…” Twilight can’t even finish her sentence. You sit there panting, trying to wrap your head around what is going on. The ravenous growls and barks from in the barn fill your ears. You sigh to yourself thinking about what you are going to propose. “Let me in!” you say. “What?” Big Mac and Twilight both reply. “Let me into the barn.” “Are you NUTS!!! You’ll be killed……or turned!” “ She’s a newborn, Part of her is still…..her” you say desperate. “If I can get her to recognize me she may be able to fight the Lycan curse. You have to let me try!” “Ain’t anything left of ma sister in that monster.” Big Mac says with tears flooding his eyes and streaming down his red cheeks. “Twilight please. I promised her I would repay her, and while this isn’t the way I thought I would be doing it, I need to do this.” You say with one last desperate hope. Twilight looks at you; she stares into your mind, into your soul. “Open the door Big Mac.” “WHAT!” Big Mac flinches. “You heard me.” Twilight sighs. “Thank you!” you say standing back up and facing the door. The large red barn door, the only thing that stands between you and a girl trapped by a monster. You don’t care what happens to you as long as she’s safe. You swipe your hoof at the ground and take a deep breath. You look to Big Mac to give him the signal. Big Mac undoes the locks and the door swings open revealing a creature from your nightmares. A Lycan. Author's Note FINALLY CHAPTER 3!!!! Thank you all soo much for reading I'm sorry this took so long November was a crazy month for me and I couldn't do too much writing. I hope you all have happy holidays and spend time with your family I may have a special story that will release around Christmas. Again thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it. Wish you all the best! -Zeta Chapter 4 Waking NightmareChapter 4 Waking Nightmare Immediately you were pounced upon by Applejack. What lay on top of you was a snarling monster but you knew somewhere inside there was an innocent girl. You quickly pull out your hoof-blade, it pained you to cause harm to Applejack but there was no other way. You press the flat of the silver blade against her cheek, burning her fur and siring her flesh. Applejack howls in pain immediately pressing off you. Her claws dig into your chest making it weep out trickles of blood. The sharp pain fuels your adrenaline. You quickly shoot up into the air and fly inside the barn. "Twilight Close the door!" you shout. Twilight hesitates for a bit but eventually her and Big Mac close the wooden doors to the barn sealing you and Applejack in with a monster. Applejack in her lycan form continues to whimper pressing her paws against her cheek trying to sooth the burning of the silver. You had just met this mare a few hours ago but already you felt a friendly bond form between you two. It pained you to see her like this each of her cries was a stab in your heart. Applejack finally regains control of herself and fixes her eyes on you. Her fur with it's orange hue was still present and her emerald eyes now focusing in on their prey. "APPLEJACK! I KNOW YOUR IN THERE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT!" You call out at the top of your lungs. No good as Applejack snarls whipping her long arms out to the side in an imposing stance. "fight it Applejack I know you can do it." you say in a softer yet more desperate tone. Applejack pounces up towards you, you expected this and flew out of the way dodging her thick sharp claws. Applejack barks upon hitting the wood wall of the barn. Her claws embedded in the surface of the wall letting her hang. "PLEASE APPLEJACK! DON'T LET IT TAKE CONTROL OF YOU." Again Applejack lunges at you claws outstretched. You dodge again but manage to take another hit, this time to your wing. Applejack shredded a few of your feathers on your right wing and your chest was still dripping blood, blood that she no doubt smelled and fueled her hunger. You land on the dirt floor of the barn opposite from Applejack. "THINK OF YOUR FAMILY, OF LITTLE APPLEBLOOM OF BIG MAC, OF YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER!!!" The Lycan that is Applejack flinches upon hearing you say those words. You realize you broke through, at least a chip in the rock that was the wolf. "WOULD YOUR FAMILY WANT YOU ACTING LIKE THIS. YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT YOUR AN APPLE!!!" The Lycan flinches again quickly twisting it's head trying to put those words in place. Applejack bursts forward backhanding you with pure strength sending you flying into the wall. You hit the ground with a thud. Instantly you try to get up but your body won't listen. You are spent on energy, still not having fully recovered from your Timber-wolf battle. Dirt and dust seeped into your wounds making them sting and cry in pain. You feel the ground shake whenever Applejack takes a step. Her massive foot slamming down on the ground, claws digging into the soft dirt. She gets closer to inspect her kill. You still have the strength to speak and as a last resort your hoof-blade. though you dreaded using that on a friend. "Applejack....Please....don't do this....fight the blood lust........I know it's hard, but your stronger than it. Your an element of Harmony." you could feel her breath reaching down on your broken body. Her canines ready to rip meat, her tongue ready to taste blood, her pointed ears ready to hear your dying scream. All your ears hear are a low growl while a million thoughts run through your head. You had to kill Venator, the lycan that killed your family, nothing would stand in your way. You would do anything to see his demise....even if meant sacrificing a friend. With a 'shink' you flick out your silver hoof-blade. Applejacks head hovers above you. "AJ....I'm so, so, sorry.....I love you." Twilight and Big Mac stand outside the barn listening to the battle inside. Both were filled with worry, for Applejack, and you. Twilight still couldn't believe her friend was a lycan, she sat under a nearby Apple tree visibly shaking and crying into her forelegs. She curled herself into a ball just wanting to shut herself off from the world, wanting this nightmare to end. Big Mac stood vigilant at the front doors of the barn listening for any sign of the war raging inside the red barn. He put his ear up to the door. "AAAAAAAAAHH!!!!" Anon Screams from inside, with the sound of something metal being driven into something else. A soft thunk like a pitchfork being stabbed into the dirt. Instantly after Applejack howling. Big Mac instantly removed the board lock and nearly ripped off the barn doors. there was Applejack and you lying there in the dirt at the back of the barn. Applejacks enormous paw was gently resting on your back, and your hoof-blade was stabbed into the dirt inches from her head. You had done it. You finally reached her. "AJ" you say looking at the massive lycan before you. AJ in her wolf form just stares gently at you before giving you a small nod. You sigh out in total relief. "thank Celestia." you whisper under your breath. You then feel a large furry and wet snout nuzzle you at the base of your neck. Applejack thanking you for helping her beat the monster. Big Mac and Twilight step carefully into the barn. "Sis?" Big Mac asks in a soft voice. Applejack turns her head and stares into him. Though she is a wolf, he can see her behind her eyes. "I don't believe it" Twilight whispers, her eyes were big as saucers in wonder. You all sit around the Lycan that is Applejack, and your friend. "Mom...Dad...?" AWOOOOOO!!!! "NOOOO!!!!!" You awake gasping and sweating. You look around, the first thing you notice is that Applejack has returned to her regular pony form. You see the suns rays peaking in through the slats in the wood. You must have fallen asleep. It seems like Big Mac did too, he is snoring lightly just across from you and Applejack. Even while sleeping Applejack looks worn out. It's not a surprise, you had read that the transformation takes it's toll on the body. You run through the events of last night. It was not good. The dream of your parents murdered by Venator. One night closer to having your revenge. You then realize your missing someone. Twilight, I wonder where she went. Gently you ease yourself up. Applejack in her lycan form did a number on you. Pain falls over and numbs the core of your body. You walk out of the barn to be blinded by the sun cresting over the horizon. On the hill a lone silhouette of a pony casts her shadow over the valley. "Twilight?" you ask trotting up behind her. "Hey Anon" She simply replies back. "You okay?" Twilight sits there in silence "I'm fine." you go and sit down beside her. "...twenty five days then I'm out of here." "..." Twilight begins to sob. "What is it?" you ask putting a hoof on her. Twilight sobs some more before whipping her head around and yelling "YOU CAN'T KILL VENATOR....YOU JUST.....STOP....STOP ALL THIS HUNTING." Silence is all you could come up with, your face fills up with a look of shock. All sorts of feelings were building inside you. "You saw Applejack! She can't control it, nopony can! I-It's a....a nightmare. Nopony can fight it, w-when I saw my friend become that-that monster. She couldn't even help it she lost all control. But does anypony deserve to die for something they can't help?" "Twilight, Venator KILLED my family. The only one I had. I don't care if he couldn't help it, he gave into that blood lust and embraced the beast within him! He could have locked himself up and threw away the key." "Is that what you want Applejack to do?" Damn, You didn't want Applejack to be locked up forever, but she didn't kill anypony, but she could have. "Killing Venator won't bring them back." "FUCK...YOU!!" You scream at Twilight. You stomp your hoof so hard into the ground the dirt gives way to you, your hoof making a small crater in the earth. You take a couple deep breaths before turning around and trotting away. During your walk though something occurred to you a thought that crawled into your mind. You were about to kill an innocent girl in cold blood just to get a shot at killing Venator. Your mind was made up. Kill any and all Lycans that get in your way. So, why did you just spare one's life. A war began in your mind at that moment. Venator or You. Who was really the beast? Author's Note Sorry this is such a short chapter Thanks for reading I hope you continue to enjoy it. I probably will be announcing something New tomorrow so I hope you guys will keep an eye out. As always Thanks again and I wish you all the best -Zeta
Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins Chapter 1 The Hunt Begins The brisk fall air embraced you as you trotted through the Everfree forest. The still of the night surrounded you with countless shadows of trees and fauna, the only light being cast was that of a full moon staring down at you, watching you. You look down at your hooves as you press on; One hoof in front of the other trotting to the rhythm of your heartbeat. You slightly cringe whenever a strong breeze is thrown at you. You grit your teeth as you try to wrap yourself even more tightly in your long brown coat that’s draped over you. The small hood connected to your trench coat is up shielding your mane from the frosty wind. You see the woods light up around you as lightning flashes overhead. A loud bang signals its arrival as thunder rolls across the land. You feel the small quick taps of raindrops hitting your hood and running down your body. All this is in vein; nothing can stop you from your mission. Ten years ago when you were just a colt living on the outskirts of the large forests of Vanhoover; you came to your small home where you lived with your parents. Your mother always worried about you and your father. Dad was a guard in the royal army that was often posted at the border of Equestria and the Frozen North. You were their only child so your mother held you in great joy and pride. At the end of the week your village would gather at the great hall to welcome the soldiers coming back from the north. You saw your dad gallop toward you and you mother eagerly waiting to have the family restored to whole. Your dad would fall to his knees and wrap his arms around you and your mom giving her a kiss, feeling so happy to be home. During the get together you would listen to the soldiers’ tales of the Frozen North. Most of them were just urban legends cooked up to pass the time. The Frozen North was a barren place. Your father always said that there was nothing there. Yet you were smarter than that; because if there was nothing there then why in the wide wide world of Equestria would Princess Celestia have nearly half the army stationed along the border. Some of the older soldiers who were long past retirement and simply spent their last days among nature with the rolling hills and giant forests of Vanhoover, spoke and told you stories of Lycans, Ponies bitten by monsters usually wolves. After they were bit every full moon their bodies would undergo a transformation, from pony to wolf. Everypony knew, or thought that Lycans didn’t really exist, but hearing the story always made you slide in a little closer to your parents. When you became of age your Dad taught you about survival. Both of you were Pegasi. You learned to fly at a young age and your dad developed your techniques over the years. “Real military flying” he called it not any of that fancy crap the Wonderbolts do at their shows. Your dad also taught you how to spar being that you wanted to join with the royal army. You learned how to utilize all of your limbs, your arms, legs, and head, even your tail to swipe dirt and rocks into the enemies face. When you were a Teenager on your 16th birthday, your father had just gotten back from a long tour in the Frozen North. He called you up to his room where he said he had something special to give you. “I think your old enough for this now son I hope you’ll never need to use it but should the circumstance arrive may it bring you honor and glory in the Royal army. He held out both his hooves bearing a large silver bracelet one that would cover probably a third of your foreleg. It was very thick and heavy as you grasped it sliding it over your right foreleg. Wearing it you felt uneven and not balanced. You yielded a confused look on your face as your father laughed. “Haha don’t worry you’ll build strength and get used to it.” You leaned in and carefully studied the device fixed to your foreleg, twisting your head to get a view of it from all angles. You finally got the words out “Look Dad I don’t mean to be rude….but what exactly is this thing?” you ask. Your Dad smiled “Quickly flick your hoof up and then down.” He said You comply raising your foreleg in the air, with a flick of your hoof up then slamming it downward the device activates and you hear a (shink) of metal scraping metal as a long silver blade about three feet in length, extends outward from a small slot in the device. “A hoofblade?” you ask smiling “A hoofblade, just like the ones we carry.” Your dad smiled as you thanked him for the awesome present. You reached in for a hug as your dad pushes you away. You notice the sword still extended just a few inches from his face, you father gives an unsure look. You blush and chuckle a little letting him know that you can in fact be trusted with a weapon. “heh heh sorry.” You say sheepishly. Your dad smiles “It’s alright son, same motion retracts it.” You smile giving your hoof another flick as the blade telescopes and collapses into itself before retracting back into the small slot in the ring. Finally you proceeded safely with your hug as your dad simply said “You earned it kiddo” The next year instead of sparing with your dad he taught you the art of sword fighting. The clings and clangs of blades coming into contact with one another was like a symphony, the silver streaks of blades whirling in the wind like an artist painting his masterpiece, the small gusts of wind that delicately trailed each strike felt magnificent. On your 17th birthday your father passed the torch. He was discharged from the army and you were to take his place. Your mother strained holding back tears but as great as her efforts were the small drops still flowed from her warm eyes. Your father comforted her “Don’t worry our son has been training his whole life for this.” Your dad says as your mother nods her head “I know but it’s just……I don’t want anything to happen to my baby boy.” She says. You step in and wrap your forelegs around her “Don’t worry Mom I know how to handle myself.” She cries into your shoulder as you wrap your wing around her back. “Just promise us you’ll write everyday” she said still sobbing. “I will don’t worry I love you Mom and Dad” you say feeling tears begin to work their way into your eyes. Your Mom and Dad give you a group hug and say goodbye as you pick up your saddle bags and venture out. You write to you Mom and Dad every Night telling them of your life in the army. Nothing much happened it was no wonder why the soldiers invented stories and other myths and legends. It was the only thing that was of any interest. Every day it was wake up before Celestia raised the sun, stand out in Subzero temperatures for hours without food watching snow fall across a valley. A lot of times you would spend hours playing around with your hoofblade flicking it your hoof and watching as the thing readied and stored itself for attack. There was literally nothing of interest anywhere. A year later you were on your way back home to your small village in Vanhoover. The train chugged along at a painfully slow pace as the snow was near white out condition outside your cabin window. You arrive at the train station late at night. Your eyes feel heavy as you work a little harder to breathe and keep yourself standing. You grab your Saddlebags and exit the train. You look around at your small village not seeing much changed in the year you’ve been gone. You don’t see your parents at the train station. “They’re probably cooking a big feast.” You think to yourself. You hike up your saddlebags and trot to the far outskirts where your house is. When you arrive you see that the lights are on. “I guess they’re home.” You say as you trot up to the front door. Suddenly you freeze in your tracks. Staring at the door to your home you notice that it is slightly ajar as if someone or something broke in. Instantly you drop your saddlebags and flick your hoof extending your sword. You grasp the door with your other hoof bracing yourself on your hind legs “Mom, Dad?” You gently call out but loud enough that they would hear you. Your ears cringe as a massive howl fills the house and surrounding area “Ahwoooooooooo!!!” Acting on instinct you break down the door, you were strong but the sight which awaited you; you were no match for. You saw a large black creature that lowered its head from the howl and slowly turned toward you. It stood at least twice your height, and you were big well over the size of any normal stallion. The creature was unlike any you had seen, At first glance it looked like a large pony but its coat was roughed up with black patchy fur as long thick claws protruded from its hooves. Its muzzle was like that of a canine, elongated with a wet black nose on the tip. The tips of two white fangs hung from either side of its mouth. Its ears were curved like that of a wolf’s. You then glanced down and saw the two lifeless bodies of your Mom and Dad in a pool of blood spreading across the floor. You looked at the creature as blood dripped from its claws and fangs. It stared back at you with yellow eyes…a demon’s eyes. The creature let out a massive roar that shook the windows in the house spit flew from its hideous mouth. Tears were welling up in your eyes as your whole body felt hot you noticed your breathing had gone from mildly exhausted to that of a feral anger. You couldn’t hold it in any longer “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” You shouted so loud that the whole village must have heard as you galloped full speed blade drawn toward the monster. Like a wild animal you pounce driving the blade directly toward the beast’s chest. While you’re in the air the massive creature reaches its arms out grabbing ahold of you and spinning around flinging you into the wall behind it. Your body hits with a thud sending a crack up the wall. Instantly on pure adrenaline you fly to your feet, again you pounce blade out. The creature effortlessly slaps you off your path with its colossal arm. You land again with a thud next to your mother’s body. You stare into her lifeless eyes, knowing that her last thoughts were of you. Tears began flowing down your cheeks, the floor shook, and the creature which you knew was a Lycan lumbered over towards you. Your chest was rising up and down falling as you coughed up a red liquid. Your whole body ached beyond belief, you couldn’t get up all you could do was lay there with your mothers lifeless body in view. You suddenly choked as you felt a large hand wrap tightly around your neck, squeezing your windpipe as it lifted you up to eye level with the creature. Your body was dangling in the air being held by your neck face to face with the demon that killed your family, which ripped your life away from you. You wanted to cry, but you forced back your tears, you would not give it the satisfaction of seeing you tormented, if it could even understand. It roared again hurting your ears and spraying a mist of its saliva on your face. Suddenly you burst into action using what little momentum you had from your body being suspended you gave a swift kick to the things chest causing its grip to loosen. You lurched your right foreleg forward in an upward arch slashing the beast across its left eye. The Lycan howled in pain as it regained itself slamming you into the wall. It then pressed its hand off of your neck bringing it to its eye covering it. You could see smoke as if acid was poured on it. You couldn’t move. The pain was too much, you watched as the beast leapt out the window and charged off into the forest. The neighbors found you the next morning. The community came together as unicorns used their magic to nurse you back to health. The Pegasi did aerial recon for the beast in the surrounding forests. Many thought you a crazed schizophrenic, said that you made the whole thing up and that your parents died from a criminal and not a werewolf. They said you spent too much time up north and let the stories get into your head. This made your blood boil. Silently from the moment you walked in the door to your house you vowed to yourself as Celestia as your witness you would kill the Lycan that ripped you family from you. So here you are. For months you have been tracking the beast following one lead to the next. You tracked it to Manehatten, then South to the Badlands, Back West to Appleousa and now slightly north to the Everfree Forest. Normally you would fly and search from the air. But the Everfree was covered by a thick layer of trees that hid anything inside. You had heard legends about the Everfree forest being one of the most dangerous places in Equestria, but having grown up in a forest all your life, you felt right at home. The storm had picked up again. Thunder boomed overhead as rain found its way through the thick trees and pelted your hood. Your ears stood straight up forming two triangular tents in your hood, as you listened for any sounds of movement. You continued trotting onward looking at your front hooves as they walked in a metronome, you wouldn’t stop, you couldn’t stop. You heard the snap of a twig from your left side and instantly froze as you tilted your head up from the ground. You rotated your ear a bit to try and fine tune the sound. You squinted your eyes in focus still unmoving and looking straight ahead of you. You began taking deep breaths before you burst open your wings and flew out of the way dodging a large animal just pouncing at you from your left side. You skid to a halt kicking up dirt in your landing. You whip your head around and see a wolf like creature, except this one was made from leaves and branches. “Timberwolf” You uttered to yourself. You had read about these creatures and learned that they were pretty common in the Everfree forest; you also knew that they traveled in packs. Right on cue you looked to your right and left as five pairs of yellow eyes showed themselves. You were now face to face with the Timber wolf that lunged at you earlier, you flick your hoof as your blade extends ready for battle. The Timberwolf growls at you as you take a combat stance on your hind legs. Without warning the Timberwolf charges at you and pounces again. You extend and lock your foreleg spearing the wolf through the neck then dragging him through the air over your head and slamming him on the ground next to you as he breaks apart into a cluster of branches. You slide your sword out of its neck and turn back around to see five more timberwolves uttering a low growl at the act you just committed. You act on instinct not hesitating by making the first move, you charge strait at the group sliding on the ground underneath them doing a fast 180 you whip your blade around and slice one apart as the other four lunge at you One pounces which you again spear like the first one almost instantly another leaps at you teeth flared. You slam the impaled timberwolf into its brother knocking both of them to the ground. The one you impaled flies off your sword bursting into a pile of branches. Three to go. One comes up from behind you and swipes at you with its claws you duck out of the way just in time flaring your sword up in the air in an arch severing both its forelegs. The body lands in front of you unable to stand it snaps at you with its jaws. Again like a dancer you whip around to see one of the creatures in midair its mouth wide open. You guard against its attack with your blade pushing back and sending it recoiling to the ground. You spin around and finish off the other timberwolf whose legs you severed by driving your sword right into its head with a grunt. You rip the blade out of its skull as it crumbles into branches. You turn to see the timber wolf you knocked to the ground is now getting back up. You spread your wings and quickly fly over and land on top of it. It tries to buck you off as it frantically whips its head from side to side snapping at you. Using all your strength you hang on and manage to get your blade under its neck. With a quick clean sweep you pull back on the sword severing the beast’s neck as it crumbles sending you to the ground on top of it. You instantly get back up and hear a snarl come from behind you it’s too late you turn around and feel the pain of your flesh being torn on the right side of your body. The timberwolfs’ claws tear through you cutting deep. You know you won’t turn because they aren’t Lycans but it still hurt like Tartarus. “AAAAHHH!!!” you scream in pain as you spin around and see the wolf lining up for another strike. This time you’re ready it leaps at you teeth barred ready to land the killing blow. You kneel down and sweep up with your sword as the timberwolf lands behind you. You don’t move as you wait for the sound you know is coming. Sure enough the timberwolf cracks as his head slides off of its neck, a clean cut. You smirk at the satisfaction of your victory. However your celebration is short as you feel the throbbing pain of your wound. “AAAHHH” you fall to both your knees as you examine the wound. Three slits run across the right side of your body about halfway between your head and tail. They are massive, the wolf got you good. You tenderly touch the area around it which makes you clench in pain as crimson liquid seeps out from the three slits. You take a few quick breaths as you press your wing as hard as you can against the wound. You know you have to keep pressure on it or you’ll bleed out. You slowly get back on your feet. “I need to find a doctor.” You quickly look around; you spot a faint light shining through the trees at the far end. “A town they must have a doctor.” You think to yourself as you slowly trot towards the only sign of civilization. Your gambit was right; you emerge from the dark plant-scape of the forest and gaze upon a small village. A sign reads “WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!” you gaze at it “Ponyville huh, never heard of it I hope they have a doctor.” You slowly limp into the town. It’s got to be one in the morning and everypony’s in bed. “Hello” you call out “I could use some help” No good nopony can hear you. You look down at your wing as you see that your feathers are bright red from the blood and that you are leaking a trail of it on the ground. The crimson droplets drip off your feathers. You press on feeling yourself get dizzy and light headed. You try to take note of any landmarks. The town has a lot of unique buildings. There looks to be a giant carousel in the middle but what catches your eye most is the giant tree sitting just off to the side. You tentatively approach the tree when an unexplainable feeling embraces you. You fall flat on your stomach and manage to roll over onto your back. You look up at the starry sky and see the moon shining down on your coat. You start to close your eyes. “HEY!” A voice shouts out “Hey are you ok?” You open your eyes using whatever’s left of your fleeting strength and find a purple Alicorn gazing over you with a strong look of worry on her face. You try to speak but you only manage to spit up blood on yourself as the Alicorn examines your wound. “Spike! Get over Here! I need your help!” She yells out looking around before turning back to you. Her eyes lock with yours as she strokes your mane with her hoof. “Don’t worry you’re going to be OK we’re going to take care of you. SPIKE HURRY!” She yells again you hear footsteps approaching but cannot see who or what it is. You see the Purple Alicorn simply say “Come on We need to get him inside.” You could feel yourself being lifted up but were too weak. Your vision fades to black.
Chapter 2 Blood Chapter 2 Blood Chapter 2 Blood Slowly your vision returns. Your eyes seep open slowly and gently to the sight of a purple alicorn looking over you smiling “ Well Good morning sleepyhead.” She says as you feel the puffiness of a soft quilt tossed around you. You look around and notice the place you in, it’s made mostly out of wood almost as if you were inside a tree. There were a few windows that let in some sunlight. You sit up in the bed as your body feels numb. You feel lighter as you scan yourself. You suddenly notice that your hoofblade is gone. Quickly you glance at your bare arm and look around. “Whoa, whoa relax your stuff is downstairs.” The purple pony said pressing a hoof to your chest. “Though I will say you didn’t have much…just an old coat and a metal thing that was around your foreleg.” You stare at her silently lying back down feeling your head press into the soft pillow. “How are you feeling?” She said feeling your forehead with her hoof. “I had to use some pretty strong anesthetic when I stitched you up. You do feel like you have a fever, it’s probably just the medicine.” Your head was pounding in a dull muffled pain. “So what’s your name?” the purple pony asked. You continue to stare at her uncomfortably; after all you weren’t accustomed to such hospitality. Her expression changed from that of a smile to that of a small look of concern. “Uh, I’m princess Twilight Sparkle.” She says putting a hoof to her chest. “and this here is Spike” she says pointing. You turn your head to your other side and gaze upon a small purple dragon who cautiously waves at you. You bite your lip sucking in air looking back at Twilight and uttering your name. “Well nice to meet you.” she says, “I’m sure you have loads of questions but…hee hee I probably have even more for you. For now I’ll let you rest don’t worry you can stay here as long as you like. When you’re feeling better I can show you around and introduce you to my friends.” “T-Thanks….for everything.” You utter. Twilight smiles at you “come on spike.” she calls as the small dragon follows her down the stairs. You feel sleep grasping you in its spell as you close your eyes. You awake sometime later. The sunlight that flowed in through the windows was now replaced with the steely moonlight draping itself through the shadows. You again sit up in the bed and scan your surroundings. Across the room from you, you see another bed occupied by Twilight with spike sleeping on the floor in a small bed that looked to be for a pet. Silently you get out of bed, you are careful not to wake Twilight or Spike. You had no intention of saying goodbye. You must remain focused on your mission. Your injuries already cost you a day or more and the lycan has probably moved on. You tip trot down the stairs looking around at all the books on the shelves. Either this was the town library or you were dealing with the biggest bookworm in Equestria. You walk over to the table and see your hoofblade you slide it on when you hear a voice behind you. “I couldn’t figure out what that is….I assume it’s something important to you or you wouldn’t have it around your arm.” Twilight said fully awake as you turned around. “If you don’t mind” She asks sheepishly, “I am curious about where you came from and just why you were half dead on my front lawn.” You tell her your story….about how you were raised in the forests of Vanhoover about how your family was killed by the beast, about how you will not stop hunting it until its head rests on a pike. Twilight hung her head low. “I’m sorry.” she says as it seems she can’t even find the words to express the amount of sorrow she feels. “Don’t be you were not the beast that killed my family.” You say. “How do you know?” She asks “It’s true I’m not a Lycan but…” “The beast I’m looking for has a scar on its left eye.” “A scar on its left eye eh.” Twilight says. “Yes have you seen anypony with this scar?” “Cant’ say that I have.” She says. “I never got a chance to really thank you for saving my life.” “Don’t mention it.” Twilight says. “I should probably head out the thing could be all the way to Las Pegasus by now.” You grab your coat and pull up your hood facing the wooden door. “Wait!” Twilight says. “What is it?” “I may know somepony who can help.” You arrive at the Blood Room a vampony bar. You stand motionless as the cold wind of the night hangs over you. Strange this place seemed to be the only sign of activity in the entire town. Twilight had told you to go to this “vampony bar”…and seek a mare by the name of Vinyl Scratch. You stare at the solid wooden door wondering what kind of atmosphere awaits you inside. Taking in the cool oxygen you place a hoof on the door and push in. The place reveals to you a dark dungeon like room but didn’t look so different than your standard bar. There were tables occupying the center of the room filled with ponies chatting up about their day’s exploit and in the back were a few dark booths where some pretty shady ponies sat. The place reeked of blood a strong metallic smell that seemed to clog your nostrils. Quickly as you were doing your survey of the area you notice something. All the ponies’ eyes in this place are glued right onto you. You mentally prepare to flick your hoofblade out should the situation arise, as you gently take your steps in. The solid door shuts behind you blocking out the light of the moon. You couldn’t believe it but the place got even darker as now the only light was from the small candles on the tables. You kept your hood up so as not to draw attention but it didn’t seem to be working that well. You spot the bar and the bartender, an average gray Unicorn stallion with a shot glass cutiemark and blood red eyes a common trait among those in this place. You figure you’d ask him where you can find this Vinyl Scratch. The entire place has fallen deathly silent as the sound of your hoofsteps are the only vibrations that echo through the air. You think you hear some of the ponies whispering things as you walk by like “Smells like an unconverted” or “Mmm I bet his blood tastes exquisite.” You turn your head towards the whispers and give a “Don’t mess with me?” glare that would make a Manticore tremble. Never the less you continue your stride finally arriving at the bar and hover yourself up onto one of the stools. This seems to calm the place down as you hear the majority of the ponies go back to their conversations. The bartender sees you and trots over to you wiping a glass with a rag wrapped in magic. “So what’ll it be friend? Lemme guess a Bloody Mare-y will that be type A or type O?” “Actually I want information.” “Ah well that I can help ya in too.” The bartender says with a small smile as he continues his work seeing that you’re no longer a potential customer. “I’m looking for somepony.” You say leaning in not wanting the other bar goers meddling in your affairs. “Do ya have a name?” The bartender asks leaning in close to a whisper distance. “I’m looking for a mare by the name of Vinyl Scratch” “That’s me!” A female voice booms out from across the room in the back in the darkness of the corner booth as the room again instantly goes silent. Vamponies must have super hearing being closely related to a bat which navigates by sound. You look over at the dark corner as you see a white hoof emerge from the shadows beckoning you over. You oblige getting up from your seat and walking across the dark bar of creatures you only heard of in legend. You stared down at a couple of tables, no whispers this time just all staring at you in silence. You can see that most of the ponies have the blood red eyes and all of them had two long fangs dangling down from their mouths. Some mares stared at you with almost a lust in their eyes while stallions simply give you a look of anger and hatred. You could feel all their eyes pierce into you as you approached the corner booth. You arrive at your destination and slide in with part of your long coat draping over the side. You stare into the darkness that bears the pony you were here to meet. After a good while she leans into the small light of the candle on the table. She is a pure white Unicorn with fire red eyes and an electric blue mane. Perched on top of her head are a pair of sunglasses with purple lenses that seem to mimic the eyes of a bug. Next to her on the table she has a small glass of a crimson liquid. She softly smirks at you as a pair of fangs exposes themselves from behind her lips. “You've seen my face now let me see yours.” she says gesturing her head to your hood. You sigh but comply as you slowly reach up letting your hooves rest at the crest of your hood before sliding it back revealing your face and lush mane. “Cute.” Vinyl says, “Hooves on the table.” Sensing where she is going with this you still comply placing your hooves and forelegs to rest flat across the table. As you suspected almost instantly Vinyl reaches one of her hooves over to undo the release latch on your blade but you wouldn’t accept that. You slam your left hoof on top of hers as she grunts in surprise you can hear other ponies leaping up from their seats eager to defend the mare from you. “It stays with me.” You say in a serious tone. Vinyl giggles a little “well at least you’re not as stupid as I thought.” She waves her other hoof at her defenders telling them to sit back down. “So……what’s a non-converted like you doing in a vampony bar.” Vinyl says taking a sip of her crimson drink. “I need your help.” You say. “A lot of ponies want my help why should I help you?” She says. You think for only a second “Because I’m going to put your enemies head on a pike.” You say. Vinyl’s eyes widen as she looks shocked but then smiles wide “Sooo your hunting a Lycan are you?” “ Indeed Ms. Scratch. One that took something very dear to me.” “ You want to kill the beast?” “I want it to suffer like I did.” “I will help you for I know of who you seek.” “How can you?” “you seek Venator the alpha of the pack… we had heard rumors that the dogs leader was wounded none the less by a mortal.” “I need to be sure.” “Large…Black…Doglike that’s a nice scar you gave him…..his left eye I believe.” “WHERE IS HE!!” You yell leaping up from your seat knowing that some of the other customers are staring at your outburst. Vinyl smiles as if teasing you. “He’s right here in Ponyville the wolf pack make their den here.” “Who is he?” You say trying to hide the feeling of excitement that your search is nearly over. “I….honestly don’t know the only way to find him would be to wait for a transformation.” “But if he knows I’m here.” “All Lycans undergo a forced transformation on the next full moon which happens to be 27 days from now the hunters moon, how ironic fate is.” Vinyl giggled. “27 Days what if he leaves?” “He won’t those damn dogs are in heat, mating season they all stick around the den.” “Still 27 days!” “it ain’t so bad is it I would suggest just getting to know ponies and blend in when the time comes, and it will come. You will have your battle and I hope the head of that monster.” You sigh, feeling mixed emotions you had completed your search but now the damn thing won’t let you exact your revenge for another 27 days. “Thanks Vinyl.” you say before pulling up your hood and standing up. “No problem, hey be careful heat season those things get way more aggressive and try to turn more ponies.” “I’m always careful and I have my hoofblade.” “Indeed now run along blend in find some friends and wait….” “I will Vinyl thanks again.” She lifts her crimson drink giving you a little toast to your quest as you turn around and head towards the door. You slide open the solid wood of the door letting the cool night embrace you. You look up at the small sliver of the moon among the stars and in the distance you hear a wolf’s howl. “Better head back to Twilight's.” Author's Note Hey guys thanks for reading!!! I don't know when I'll be able to get chapter 3 of this out it shouldn't be too long but....yeah. Wish you all the best and Rock on -Zeta
Chapter 3 Apple Family SecretChapter 3 Apple Family Secret The rest of the night was uneventful. You made your way back to the library where Twilight resided and told her what you learned from Vinyl. Twilight said that you were welcome to stay with her as long as you want. She told you that her and her friends embody the Elements of Harmony and are committed to bringing peace to the land. You had heard stories about the power the elements wielded and figure it wouldn’t be bad to have them on your side. “I’ll introduce you to my friends in the morning.” Twilight said. You figure with nothing else to do you may as well turn in. The next morning the sun warms your body. You wake up and find Twilight who kindly changes your bandages. “This wound looks a lot better.” Twilight smiles. “Well you’re to thank for that” you say. Twilight finishes changing the dressings as you wiggle a bit to work in the stiff bandages. “So I’m to meet your friends.” “Yep I told them to meet us at Sugarcube corner for breakfast.” “Sugarcube corner?” you question not having heard of the place. “You’ll love it!” Twilight giggled “My friend Pinkie Pie runs the place along with Mr. and Mrs. Cake.” “What do they serve?” “Mostly sugary treats but they should be able to get us some breakfast muffins. Come on.” Twilight says opening the door and trotting out. “Spike look after the Library while I’m gone.” “OK Twilight!” you hear from upstairs. You follow Twilight out her door and into town. “So 27 days?” “26 days now.” You say letting her know you were counting. “Well just please……… be careful” “Don’t worry about me. Nothing is going to stop me from doing this.” “Normally I wouldn’t approve of ………killing a pony” Twilight says looking worried. “It’s not a pony anymore it’s a damn monster.” You say boldly. Twilight twists her head and looks at you with sad eyes. “You think differently?” you question. “I just………I don’t know, I mean maybe, what if they can’t help it what if they don’t mean to be bad. At the core they are ponies.” You open your mouth to say something but stop yourself. You were going to explode on this mare. How dare she say such things. She doesn’t know what you’ve seen. How you had to stare at your mothers stiff dead body devoid of all she was. “Well here we are.” Twilight said. In front of you was a quaint shop that looked like a gingerbread house. It was quite obvious this was the town bakery. A small wooden sign hung from the door welcoming all ‘Sugarcube Corner’ The sign read. Something about this place just radiated with energy and happiness. You place a hoof up to the door and begin to push it open. “Oh I should probably tell you to watch your wounded side” Twilight says. You open the door and look at her “Why what do y- OOF” You get tackled by a Pink blur that seemed to shoot out of nowhere. Your vision is blurred with a ringing in your ears. You see a pink figure over you and watch as its mouth moves at lightning speed. Your vision focuses back and sees a pink mare with bright blue eyes and a curly pink mane. The ringing in your ears stops and is faded into a mush of gibberish. “OHMYGOSHYOUMUSTBENEWAROUNDHERECAUSEINEVERSEENYOUBEFOREANDMY NAME IS PINKIEPIE WHAT’S YOURS?” You barely manage to catch the tail end of what she said but you know this is Pinkie Pie the mare who runs this place and she asked for your name. You tell her your name at which she bounces up and down on you bursting out more gibberish. “Uh Pinkie Pie um do you think you could get off me” The pain of her bouncing up and down on your injured body was starting to hurt. “Oops yeah heh heh sorry.” She says blushing; she quickly leaps off you but then slams a hoof down on your chest. “Oh my gosh your hurt what happened.” She says bending in close to examine your wound. “Oh I just had a run in with a Timberwolf.” You say casually. “Wow you’re lucky to be alive.” “Well I guess I owe that to Twilight here.” You say motioning a hoof to Twilight. “I’m just glad I could help.” Twilight says. Pinkie Pie lifts her hoof off you and Twilight helps you up. As if on cue three other mares enter, one Unicorn and two Pegasus. “Hey everypony, ready for breakfast?” Twilight looked at her friends at the door. “Oh I’m simply famished darling.” The white unicorn said. She had a beautifully styled mane as if she was going out to attend a formal event. “So is this the new guy?” the cyan Pegasus questioned hovering over to you. “Yeah! Girls this is Anon.” Twilight said introducing you. “Anon this is Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy.” “h-hi.” Fluttershy barely squeaked out. Your vision is overtaken by a rainbow blur as two large magenta eyes sparkle right in your face. “So did you really fight a pack of Timberwolves?” Rainbow dash said almost at Pinkie’s speed. You roll your eyes. “Yes one of em gave me a nice scratch too before I chopped its head off.” “eep.” you see Fluttershy seem to hold a hoof to her mouth as her eyes almost quiver… ‘was she about to cry, or is she just really, really scared?’ you think to yourself. You feel a hoof caressing you bandages slowly unwrapping the tight mesh to reveal your wound. You trace this hoof to a cyan Pegasus moving her head in close with a look of awe on her face. “That …Is…SOOO AWESOME!!!” She practically squealed when she first saw the long red crooked ravines where the Timberwolf dug its claws into you. “Does it hurt?” You gave her a deadpan look “What do you think?” you say annoyed. “Hey girls where’s Applejack?” Twilight said. Rainbow rewrapped you bandage then looked to Twilight “She said she had some work to do at the farm they just harvested the trees.” “Breakfast Everypony!” Pinkie Pie yelled out hopping out on one hoof attempting to balance six plates. She laid them all out on the table between two booths. You along with the others slide in to your respective meals taking in the sweet aroma of the muffins. The next half hour is spent telling these ponies about your past. You were met with the same reaction twilight gave you. All of them expressed their sorrows for you. After eating some of the greatest food in your life Rarity said she had to get back to the boutique and Rainbow and Fluttershy said they needed to get back to helping with weather duty. You all say your goodbyes and Twilight suggests you head back to the library. “So Anon, What do you think you’ll do when all this is over?” Twilight asks. “What do you mean?” “I mean if you kill” “WHEN I kill.” you cut her off correcting her. “WHEN you kill V-Venator” She asks if she’s got the name right, you nod “When you kill Venator, then what will you do? Where will you go?” You shrug as the question kind of took you by surprise. “Honestly I’ve never thought about it.” You scan your brain for a potential answer “I guess I’ll just go where I’ll go.” “That’s no way to think, you should settle down?” “Are you coming on to me?” Twilight deadpans “No, I’m just saying you should think about moving to Ponyville.” “Ha what would I do, how would I make a living, a pony who has hunted a beast all his life.” “You’ll find a way look at the Apple family. When Applejack’s grandma came here she planted one apple tree and now it’s turned into one of the largest orchards in Equestria. Not to mention how big the Apple family is.” Twilight pointed out towards the orchard. It looks like something out of a painting a wide lush field lined with apple trees looking like soldiers in an army. Across from them a bright red barn with white stripes looms up on the hillside. Just barely you can make out a quaint farm house nuzzled next to it. The apples dotting the trees like…..wait. “Twilight something’s wrong.” You say. Twilight immediately gets a concerned look on her “What are you hurt?” “No Twilight look at the farm.” You say pointing. “What about it?” She asks you. “The trees have apples on them.” “It’s an apple orchard Anon.” “No but didn’t your friend say that Applejack just finished harvesting the apples. I don’t doubt her skills as a farmer from what you’ve told me, but I doubt that even she could grow a whole new bumper crop in half an hour.” “That is weird.” Twilight said with a quizzical look as she raised her hoof scratching her chin. “Would she lie to you?” you ask. “No way, she’s the element of Honesty; I don’t even think she can lie.” You start to trot towards the orchard when Twilight grabs you with her hoof. “Where are you going?” She asks. “To check it out, something may be up.” “Anon I’m sure it’s fine, Rainbow Dash probably heard wrong she has had trouble hearing ever since she started going to this stallion’s rock concerts.” “Well look at it this way, I’ll get to have met all your friends.” You say to twilight. Twilight sighs “Fine.” she grunts annoyed as she trots after you. You eventually arrive at the farm after a short walk you discard your bandage then lift off and begin hovering near Twilight allowing her to take the lead. Twilight trots ahead and begins leading you through the orchards as you hover just under the trees. The smell of fresh apples fills your nose with a pleasant aroma. Emerging from the rows of apple trees you come upon a bright red barn. Outside you see a small cart filled with apples and the pony in question Applejack sporting a brown Stetson. Her mane is tied back into long blond pigtails as she picks up a basket of apples and deposits them into the wooden cart. “Applejack!” Twilight yells waving to her friend. “Twi! What are ya’ll doin here!?” Applejack looks at her friend shocked “And who in tarnation is this?” she says pointing a hoof at you as you land in the dirt. “Applejack this is Anon, Anon meet Applejack.” “Hey!” you say extending your hoof with your blade wrapped around your foreleg. “Oh uh hi Anon it’s a nice to meet you.” Applejack says. “No hoofshake? I thought you farmers were all proper.” You chuckle. Applejack flinches, “Oh uh I actually hurt my hoof, uh mind shaking with the opposite.” “Ok” you say pulling back your foreleg and raising your other one. Applejack graciously grabs it shaking and formally introducing herself. You look at her other hoof and indeed notice that about halfway up her foreleg the area is wrapped tightly in a bandage, you see a small red stain probably where her blood soaked through. “So what happened to you?” you ask gesturing towards her injury. “huh, uh oh, mmm, farming accident, yep I hit the dang thing right on a steel wheel of a cart cut me right open it did.” She says smiling wide. She’s obviously lying why would she hide it, not to mention she couldn’t think you would actually buy that story, especially since all the carts you can see at least have wood wheels. “How bout you?” She asks looking at your wound. “Oh just had a run in with a Timberwolf.” You say. “Ouch.” Applejack flinches, “So uh Twi can I help you with somethin’ or ya just come by to visit?” “Just visiting AJ we missed you at breakfast this morning.” Twilight smiled. “Oh uh Yeah since I cut my hoof I just couldn’t make it all the way to town.” “Don’t worry AJ” Twilight says. “You want me to take a look at it looks like the bandage needs changi-“ “NO, uh I mean that’s really kind of ya but I’ll be just fine thank ya.” Applejack stutters “S-so uh Anon what brings ya’ll round these parts?” “I’m hunting a Lycan.” You say flat out. Applejack flinches “R-really a-a Lycan?” “Yes one that killed my family” “Well what are you going to hunt it with, I mean from what I hear Lycans are pretty strong.” “This” you say whipping out your hoofblade. Applejack squints at it “Woo wee that’s some mighty nice silver.” “Thanks my father gave it to me.” “My father gave me this hat right before he….” Applejack trails off. “Seems like we have more in common then we first thought huh.” You say trying to comfort her. “Y-yeah.” Applejack stutters out, you can see tears welling up in her eyes. Applejack holds up a hoof. “Hey uh you uh maybe wanna give me a little help here with the harvest? I can’t work at full capacity because of my.” She holds up her bandaged hoof. “I’d love to AJ but I need to do some shopping” Twilight says. “The new Daring Do book came out today and Rainbow will be expecting the library to have a copy.” “Oh ok” “I’ll help.” You say volunteering. Applejack’s mouth hangs open. “That sounds like a great idea.” Twilight smiles, “It will give you two great time to bond more.” Applejack hangs her head as if she disapproves of the idea, but you don’t care. The next eight hours are spent bucking apple trees and helping Applejack carry the bushels back to the barn. Needless to say you two didn’t bond very much, not at all actually since you didn’t talk to one another unless it was a question. The sun was now setting leaving behind an orange glow yielding to a purplish night. Twilight was now trotting back up the path approaching the barn. Applejack turns to you “Well thanks for the help partner, here you earned it.” She says throwing you a small sack of bits. “No I can’t accept that, you’re injured.” “Please I insist.” she pleads with you. “SIS!” a small squeaky voice shouts out. You turn around to see a small red haired filly walking next to a large red stallion. “Hey Applebloom, did ya have fun with Big Mac today!” AJ asks bending down nuzzling the little filly. “Yeah we played in the park all day!” Applebloom shouts. “Eeyup!” Big Mac reiterates. “Who is this guy?” Applebloom questions pointing at you. “This is Anon Applebloom, Anon this is ma sister Applebloom and ma brother Big Macintosh.” AJ says introducing you. You kneel down “Well it’s nice to meet you Applebloom hey that’s a really nice bow you got” you say with a smile. “Thanks mister!” Applebloom says before her belly rumbles. “Say sis I’m real hungry I’m gonna go see if ol granny’s got dinner on yet.” “Ok Applebloom, run along.” AJ says. She turns her attention back to you. “Now take the bits I insist.” Big Mac interrupts “uh AJ isn’t it about time for your, you know.” “I know Brother.” AJ stares daggers at you. “Fine I’ll take the bits but I will repay you someday.” You say reluctantly taking the small sack. “Well Anon we better head home.” Twilight says. “Yeah, It was nice meeting you AJ!” you call out as you trot away with Twilight. “Come on Sis.” Big Mac says putting a hoof around AJ who begins to sob. You and Twilight walk through the streets of Ponyville, Luna’s moon was now out and the cool night air once again enveloped you. “I hope the Lycans aren’t out.” Twilight says. “I doubt it, they only forcefully transform on full moons, except for newborns they do every night until the learn to control it.” You explain. “How do you know so much about them?” “The same way you do, through books.” You say. “Still it’s fascinating.” Twilight says, “the only thing I know is that they hate silver” You freeze in your tracks. Twilight trots forward before noticing you stopped. She rushes back to your side and asks what’s wrong. “She knew it was silver.” You whisper to Twilight. “What do you mean? Who?” Twilight asks. “Applejack she said nice silver when I showed her my hoofblade. It could be made out of steel or iron.” “So it was a lucky guess.” Twilight said. “No…. the wound on her foreleg was high up. She didn’t want to shake hooves with it. Her hoof would have been fine. She didn’t want to touch the silver.” “Anon you’re sounding ridiculous.” “We have to go back!” “What? Anon, Applejack will think we’re crazy!” “Then she thinks we’re crazy! I have to know!” You say as you whip around and rear up before taking off and flying full speed back to Sweet Apple Acres. Again you arrive at the Orchard. You rush up to the barn and see Big Mac waiting at the barn door. “Where is she!!!” you shout so loud probably half of Ponyville heard. Big mac hangs his head low and gestures to the barn. You see that the door is bolted shut with a big makeshift lock with a two by four. You scarcely believe what is happening. Slowly you approach the barn door and place a hoof to the hard wood feeling each crevice. Suddenly the whole barn door swings outward but gets stopped by the two by four. You shove yourself away as you hear a feral growl. Your breathing becomes choppy and short. You turn to Big Mac who is still hanging his head. “WHEN WAS SHE BIT!” you ask. “Last night, she was walking home from the South orchard.” Big Mac is now starting to tear up, his words becoming as choppy as your breaths. “Said it came out of nowhere, one of those bastards must’ve wanted to mate with her. Sunk its teeth into ma little sister!” Big Mac yelled. “You mean AJ’s a…” Twilight can’t even finish her sentence. You sit there panting, trying to wrap your head around what is going on. The ravenous growls and barks from in the barn fill your ears. You sigh to yourself thinking about what you are going to propose. “Let me in!” you say. “What?” Big Mac and Twilight both reply. “Let me into the barn.” “Are you NUTS!!! You’ll be killed……or turned!” “ She’s a newborn, Part of her is still…..her” you say desperate. “If I can get her to recognize me she may be able to fight the Lycan curse. You have to let me try!” “Ain’t anything left of ma sister in that monster.” Big Mac says with tears flooding his eyes and streaming down his red cheeks. “Twilight please. I promised her I would repay her, and while this isn’t the way I thought I would be doing it, I need to do this.” You say with one last desperate hope. Twilight looks at you; she stares into your mind, into your soul. “Open the door Big Mac.” “WHAT!” Big Mac flinches. “You heard me.” Twilight sighs. “Thank you!” you say standing back up and facing the door. The large red barn door, the only thing that stands between you and a girl trapped by a monster. You don’t care what happens to you as long as she’s safe. You swipe your hoof at the ground and take a deep breath. You look to Big Mac to give him the signal. Big Mac undoes the locks and the door swings open revealing a creature from your nightmares. A Lycan. Author's Note FINALLY CHAPTER 3!!!! Thank you all soo much for reading I'm sorry this took so long November was a crazy month for me and I couldn't do too much writing. I hope you all have happy holidays and spend time with your family I may have a special story that will release around Christmas. Again thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed it. Wish you all the best! -Zeta
Chapter 4 Waking NightmareChapter 4 Waking Nightmare Immediately you were pounced upon by Applejack. What lay on top of you was a snarling monster but you knew somewhere inside there was an innocent girl. You quickly pull out your hoof-blade, it pained you to cause harm to Applejack but there was no other way. You press the flat of the silver blade against her cheek, burning her fur and siring her flesh. Applejack howls in pain immediately pressing off you. Her claws dig into your chest making it weep out trickles of blood. The sharp pain fuels your adrenaline. You quickly shoot up into the air and fly inside the barn. "Twilight Close the door!" you shout. Twilight hesitates for a bit but eventually her and Big Mac close the wooden doors to the barn sealing you and Applejack in with a monster. Applejack in her lycan form continues to whimper pressing her paws against her cheek trying to sooth the burning of the silver. You had just met this mare a few hours ago but already you felt a friendly bond form between you two. It pained you to see her like this each of her cries was a stab in your heart. Applejack finally regains control of herself and fixes her eyes on you. Her fur with it's orange hue was still present and her emerald eyes now focusing in on their prey. "APPLEJACK! I KNOW YOUR IN THERE! YOU HAVE TO FIGHT IT!" You call out at the top of your lungs. No good as Applejack snarls whipping her long arms out to the side in an imposing stance. "fight it Applejack I know you can do it." you say in a softer yet more desperate tone. Applejack pounces up towards you, you expected this and flew out of the way dodging her thick sharp claws. Applejack barks upon hitting the wood wall of the barn. Her claws embedded in the surface of the wall letting her hang. "PLEASE APPLEJACK! DON'T LET IT TAKE CONTROL OF YOU." Again Applejack lunges at you claws outstretched. You dodge again but manage to take another hit, this time to your wing. Applejack shredded a few of your feathers on your right wing and your chest was still dripping blood, blood that she no doubt smelled and fueled her hunger. You land on the dirt floor of the barn opposite from Applejack. "THINK OF YOUR FAMILY, OF LITTLE APPLEBLOOM OF BIG MAC, OF YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER!!!" The Lycan that is Applejack flinches upon hearing you say those words. You realize you broke through, at least a chip in the rock that was the wolf. "WOULD YOUR FAMILY WANT YOU ACTING LIKE THIS. YOU NEED TO FIGHT IT YOUR AN APPLE!!!" The Lycan flinches again quickly twisting it's head trying to put those words in place. Applejack bursts forward backhanding you with pure strength sending you flying into the wall. You hit the ground with a thud. Instantly you try to get up but your body won't listen. You are spent on energy, still not having fully recovered from your Timber-wolf battle. Dirt and dust seeped into your wounds making them sting and cry in pain. You feel the ground shake whenever Applejack takes a step. Her massive foot slamming down on the ground, claws digging into the soft dirt. She gets closer to inspect her kill. You still have the strength to speak and as a last resort your hoof-blade. though you dreaded using that on a friend. "Applejack....Please....don't do this....fight the blood lust........I know it's hard, but your stronger than it. Your an element of Harmony." you could feel her breath reaching down on your broken body. Her canines ready to rip meat, her tongue ready to taste blood, her pointed ears ready to hear your dying scream. All your ears hear are a low growl while a million thoughts run through your head. You had to kill Venator, the lycan that killed your family, nothing would stand in your way. You would do anything to see his demise....even if meant sacrificing a friend. With a 'shink' you flick out your silver hoof-blade. Applejacks head hovers above you. "AJ....I'm so, so, sorry.....I love you." Twilight and Big Mac stand outside the barn listening to the battle inside. Both were filled with worry, for Applejack, and you. Twilight still couldn't believe her friend was a lycan, she sat under a nearby Apple tree visibly shaking and crying into her forelegs. She curled herself into a ball just wanting to shut herself off from the world, wanting this nightmare to end. Big Mac stood vigilant at the front doors of the barn listening for any sign of the war raging inside the red barn. He put his ear up to the door. "AAAAAAAAAHH!!!!" Anon Screams from inside, with the sound of something metal being driven into something else. A soft thunk like a pitchfork being stabbed into the dirt. Instantly after Applejack howling. Big Mac instantly removed the board lock and nearly ripped off the barn doors. there was Applejack and you lying there in the dirt at the back of the barn. Applejacks enormous paw was gently resting on your back, and your hoof-blade was stabbed into the dirt inches from her head. You had done it. You finally reached her. "AJ" you say looking at the massive lycan before you. AJ in her wolf form just stares gently at you before giving you a small nod. You sigh out in total relief. "thank Celestia." you whisper under your breath. You then feel a large furry and wet snout nuzzle you at the base of your neck. Applejack thanking you for helping her beat the monster. Big Mac and Twilight step carefully into the barn. "Sis?" Big Mac asks in a soft voice. Applejack turns her head and stares into him. Though she is a wolf, he can see her behind her eyes. "I don't believe it" Twilight whispers, her eyes were big as saucers in wonder. You all sit around the Lycan that is Applejack, and your friend. "Mom...Dad...?" AWOOOOOO!!!! "NOOOO!!!!!" You awake gasping and sweating. You look around, the first thing you notice is that Applejack has returned to her regular pony form. You see the suns rays peaking in through the slats in the wood. You must have fallen asleep. It seems like Big Mac did too, he is snoring lightly just across from you and Applejack. Even while sleeping Applejack looks worn out. It's not a surprise, you had read that the transformation takes it's toll on the body. You run through the events of last night. It was not good. The dream of your parents murdered by Venator. One night closer to having your revenge. You then realize your missing someone. Twilight, I wonder where she went. Gently you ease yourself up. Applejack in her lycan form did a number on you. Pain falls over and numbs the core of your body. You walk out of the barn to be blinded by the sun cresting over the horizon. On the hill a lone silhouette of a pony casts her shadow over the valley. "Twilight?" you ask trotting up behind her. "Hey Anon" She simply replies back. "You okay?" Twilight sits there in silence "I'm fine." you go and sit down beside her. "...twenty five days then I'm out of here." "..." Twilight begins to sob. "What is it?" you ask putting a hoof on her. Twilight sobs some more before whipping her head around and yelling "YOU CAN'T KILL VENATOR....YOU JUST.....STOP....STOP ALL THIS HUNTING." Silence is all you could come up with, your face fills up with a look of shock. All sorts of feelings were building inside you. "You saw Applejack! She can't control it, nopony can! I-It's a....a nightmare. Nopony can fight it, w-when I saw my friend become that-that monster. She couldn't even help it she lost all control. But does anypony deserve to die for something they can't help?" "Twilight, Venator KILLED my family. The only one I had. I don't care if he couldn't help it, he gave into that blood lust and embraced the beast within him! He could have locked himself up and threw away the key." "Is that what you want Applejack to do?" Damn, You didn't want Applejack to be locked up forever, but she didn't kill anypony, but she could have. "Killing Venator won't bring them back." "FUCK...YOU!!" You scream at Twilight. You stomp your hoof so hard into the ground the dirt gives way to you, your hoof making a small crater in the earth. You take a couple deep breaths before turning around and trotting away. During your walk though something occurred to you a thought that crawled into your mind. You were about to kill an innocent girl in cold blood just to get a shot at killing Venator. Your mind was made up. Kill any and all Lycans that get in your way. So, why did you just spare one's life. A war began in your mind at that moment. Venator or You. Who was really the beast? Author's Note Sorry this is such a short chapter Thanks for reading I hope you continue to enjoy it. I probably will be announcing something New tomorrow so I hope you guys will keep an eye out. As always Thanks again and I wish you all the best -Zeta
