A Timber for a Wolf (Comment-driven)

by Solarkness of Displaced

Rating: teen
Tags: Other, Adventure, Random, Alternate Universe, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 16248

In the horde, there is a timberwolf. He is a leader, to be exact. But how did he get that far? This is his story and quest. (Comment-driven)

This is a The Life of a Wanted Changeling-sidestory.

Like the original this is comment-driven.

Tags may change as the finer details of the story take form.

In the Nightmare-verse of the sequel to it, there is a Timberwolf, he is said to be a leader of the horde, a Cult of the Nightmare.

That is him there. But what about him in the real universe? Here, the Nightmare never ran rampage. Surely he must have stayed in the Everfree without the Nightmare to showcase the Nightmare's potential?

That is wrong.

A chance encounter leads to him leaving his home behind, and searching new ways to be violent...

And a new pack.

This is his story and quest.

Editors/Proofreaders:
Neon Star

Note: This may or may not be canon to TLoaWC / TLoaWC:DtaD, that is not for me to decide.

Oh, and... Am I blind or is there the Timberwolf-charactersymbol missing?

...speciesist.

Coverart:
Standard. I searched a Timberwolf-picture, found one and added text.

If I get notice that I violated copyright, I will put it down.
source

Published 2015-07-19 03:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2016-03-13 17:35:19 UTC

Prologue

Where am I?

There is something around me... what is that? It looks...

Gray, red. Those are the words... why do I know those words?

Remember

I have to... I have to remember what happened. Where I am...

What it is that's around me...

It is... hot. Green... green is breaking through... re... rejuve... helping me. Making me feel better...

I feel... stronger, better, newer.

Remember

I have to remember... everything...

What is there for me to remember? I can see something through the red... no, not just red, also orange...

...and hot...

Fire? I think that is what it was called...

How is the green called?

Remember us...

Remember? Who...

Familiar. Memories, streaming. Hurting, stop!

Stop hurting.... go away memories...

I am sorry...

...ground is away. Ground is away? No, touch is away... body is away?

Replace? Compatible, nearby. Wood, leaf, fire bad. Fire made body go away...

Fire. Bad. Wood, leaves, good. Dark, big sillhouette seen through the fire it's breathing, bad.

Live...

Drive. To run, get new body, eat...

What is eating? Needed? Remember in time...

Please, live, my...

Memories... hurt... shut out...

...get away from voice.

Calm.

Calm like undisturbed water, like a mirror hidden behind a large piece of fabric...

One pawstep after another...

You are getting closer to the chicken, and closer...

What a foolish creature, coming so deep into the Everfree...

You pounce at it, but suddenly it turns around and looks at you!

That's not a chicken, that's a cockatri... *mental sigh* I really should remember that there are Cockatrice around here.

The cockatrice comes out of the bush it was hiding in, and curls around your shell of stone. It starts applying pressure, until your stony prison begins to crack. It breaks and your parts fall to the ground, shattered.

Your energy, your spirit floats around, before you get yourself together.

I still faintly feel the connection to my body's parts... I hate this part, it always hurts.

As you sever your soul from the once-wooden claws, head, and other things that make up your body, you feel excruciating pain coursing through your souls veins, like fire eating up your logs, turning you to ashes, like toxic, corrosive substances being sprain upon your skin... fur, scales, whatever.

After freeing your essence, you 'look' around in search of fallen branches.

It took you a while, but you finally found enough to re-form yourself.

After recreating your body, you slowly start walking back towards your pack's cave.

As you near it, you hear your packmates talking about what they caught today.

*gro(I got a few birds.)wl*

*gro(What? How did you get that?)wl*

*gro(Remember that cottage near our forest? I took a few when noone was looking)wl*

You ignore them as you smell blood, it is faint, but it is there.

You follow it, until you reach a clearing of the forest. You remember it, having been here hundreds of times before.

Unlike the other times, there is a group of manticores lying on the ground, beaten to a bloody pulp and in some cases a smear on the ground. Three out of twelve are still standing. In the middle stands a pony-like sillhouette covered in flames.

Manticores are usually hunting alone, not in groups... This is interesting, will I see once again the violence slumbering in ponies?

You crawl into a bush and watch the fight from there:

The sillhouette shoots forward towards one of the manticores and headbutts it, causing it to fly against the next tree, and seemingly dislocate most if not all of its bones including the neck.

After that the fiery pony(?) turns around and takes out two swords. The flames from its body go over to the flames, and encase them also. You can now see that it has two wings unfolded from his back to carry the swords.

As you get a better look at his stature, you realise it is probably a stallion, considering the rough sillhouette of his wings...

A thestral-stallion.

This doesn't match... A thestral couldn't cause all of those flames. There has to be more to it than this... A fourth alicorn? No, unlikely...

While you think about what the mysterious, flaming stallion is, he already sliced up the next manticore. He looks at the last manticore, and waits. After about ten seconds, the manticore storms at him, only for him to sidestep and bite into its leg.

You could hear the bone breaking, and see the manticore being engulfed in flames. Unlike the stallion the flames are able to harm and burn the manticore.

After brutally killing all of his foes, the stallion looks around, until his eyes lock with yours.

As you stare at him, hoping that he only randomly looks towards you and does not stare back, you lose your self-control and run away in panic.

You do not realise he doesn't follow you, and do not realise where you are headed.

You stumble over stones, rocks, through branches of bushes...

Over sand, ignore your packmate's cave in your hurry...

Finally, you feel water, causing you to stop. As you look around, you realise you have reached a river in the Everfree. There is a short shore free of bushes, the rest being completely overgrown by plants.

Wait... I already heard about a place like this. There was something here... something big...

As you ponder on this, you hear a voice coming from further down the river: "Oh, nonono, this moustache-style just won't go! I look absolutely ridiculous!"

You stare into the direction it is coming from, before walking towards it. You stomped through bushes, and as you reach another clear part of the shore, you can see a purple sea-monster with a lightblue belly, orange hair including the moustache he was talking about, and only four teeth, but those are fangs.

You cannot understand why the moustache would be looking ridiculous, but you are a complete novice at fashion.

The sea-monster did something to his moustache and... it looked the same as before.

"This looks much better", it said.

You face-claw, drawing its attention.

"Uh... hi?", you say in the pony-tongue*(**) for once.

What do you do?

A River's monstache

Down With Chrysalis's Comment

You get this strange feeling from this serpent. You feel like this serpent has a sense of...fabulousness surrounding it.

You don't know how to feel about this, so you decide to just stare at him. But as you stare at him, you start to get intrampted in his moustache. The way it's just sitting there on it's face all moustachy. You start to gain a strange feeling to start chewing on his mustache. The more you stare at it the more you want to chew it.

Eventually minutes pass by and you start to drool slightly at the thought of eating his moustache. However you're snapped out of it when you notice the serpent giving you a strange look. You quickly smack yourself to keep it together before you open your mouth to say:

Hard Cider

"Well, nice weather, right?", you laugh nervously as you back off.

"No, I have to say it is a horrid and completely unpleasant weather. You see the clouds there? They could ruin all the work I've done...", the river monster replied, also nervous.

There is a pregnant pause as seconds, minutes pass. The sea serpent's mind is currently working in overdrive trying, but failing, to find a way to approach this oh so delicate with his bountiful splendor while you chastise yourself for being a terrible starting conversation.

You cough into a forepaw and begin the conversation anew. "*cough*, Well, excu-"

BrownDog77 & THE ONE AND ONLY undeadponylord

You stop as you realise something: How does the serpent have any hair? Creatures with scales have no need of hair. So why does this one have a mustache?

You look at the elegance, and suddenly you feel a pang of jealousy. As you keep staring at it, the feeling increases, until you can't keep ignoring it anymore. The sea serpent looks at you expectant, seeing how you still haven't finished your sentence.

You wonder, if a creature with no need of hair can have a mustache, why not you?

A mustache might confuse your prey long enough for you to strike at it, and it would set you apart.

"How did you grow your mustache?", you ask the serpent. You really should stop calling him sea-serpent, he probably has a name... like Theodore or Alexander! 'Theodore' just looks confused at you, before telling you:

"I didn't shave?"

You shake your head: "No, how did you, a water serpent, grow one?"

"I really don't understand the question, I just did", he replies confused.

Hm... it probably is magical in origin then. Why do I feel the need to mutter it to myself? I... I think thinking it should be enough for me. But I really should get a magical mustache in the future, somehow, somewhen. I would be stylin' and profilin'! ...why do I use words I don't understand?

Seeing how he's nice, you start walking towards him to get a better look at his face.

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment & Small Part still Hard Cider's

Suddenly you are interrupted by 'Theodore' screaming in a most digified manner. Fearing that your 'dirty exterior' may contanimate his most illustrious facial physique, he made some waves for you to deter you from your current path. However, what appeared to be small waves for him, in truth are huge waves for you.

"STAY BACK YOU FILTHY MONGREL!", 'Theodore' shouts, "I JUST FINISHED STYLING MY MUSTACHE! I DONT NEED A MUCKY TIMBERWOLF DIRTYING IT AGAIN!"

"BUT YOU LIVE IN WATER!", you scream back while trying to dodge the waves ,"HOW DOES THAT MAKE ANY SENSE!"

Theodore stops splashing and seems to put on a 'thinking' face "You know, you do have a point."

"YA THINK!?" you shout back while trying to regain your breath.

"Terribly sorry about that", 'Theodore' responds "My name is ser Steven Magnet, but you may call me Magnet or preferably Steven for short. May I inquire about yours?"

You give him an incredulous look before giving a sweatdrop and a sigh, "I'll have to get back to you on the name bit."

"Ah, its alright, I will just call you Mordekaiser for now", Steven says before giving you a curious look "Say, you are the first timberwolf I have ever seen that can talk Equish, let alone be friendly in any way."

"I guess you can say im special", you shrug.

Gray Rebl's Comment

As you come back to him, he sniffs into the air.

"Um...what are you doing?", you ask him puzzled.

"Sorry about that, my dear", he responds while taking a whiff of you. He rears back all of a sudden in cringe, and asks:

"Woo! When is the last time since you had a bath?"

You chuckle about that, before replying: "Uh, never? I mean, Timberwolves don't really need baths."

The serpent gasps. "You poor thing! Here, let me lend you assistance", he says as he swishes under the river.

You open your eyes in shock, and cry: "Wait, wait --- NOOOOOOOO!", but it is too late.

A precise splash of water pours out and it lands on you, soaking you to the stick and leaves in your body. You are left dripping wet and cold, since you have no innate heating system, but, most of all, odorless!

Oh, and there is the risk of your wood rotting away, but that is not important.

"How am I supposed to mark my territory now!?", you yell at him enraged, not caring that he is much stronger than you, "Now even Manticores won't recognise and avoid me! I'm going to be in a heap of trouble and annoyance of other random everfreeling stumble upon me."

SnapDrakeGames's Comment

You turn around angrily, and think to yourself:

Tch, it's not like Steven was even interesting! The burning guy is much more interesting, it is not like Steven was the only pleasant conversation-partner I have had in the last years...

You storm off, ignoring the plea of Steven: "Wait, I didn't mean to..."

As you arrive back at your pack's cave, you see signs of battle everywhere. While coming here you had thought you could find the 'Flamer', by retracing your pawsteps to the manticore-field, but you decide to check on your packmates first.

As you look around in the room, you see wood splinters and ash everywhere, you follow it to the secret exit, and even there were ashes of burnt packmates!

You couldn't see any Timberwolves anywhere, which is strange because there always were atleast three of them in here.

What happened here?, you wonder.

As you look around, you feel the depression of lone wolves* creeping into your mind, your soul.

You realise you have to find a new pack, somewhere else, where they cannot die. This has to take priority, even over 'Flamer'. You will have to get the 'Depression of Lone Wolves' (DLW) under control, or you will be seriously handicapped.

You decide you will have to find people willing to accept Timberwolves without packs, and realise something:

You once were for a while in Zebrafrica, having switched places with a desert fox. You heard he didn't like it in the Everfree, and you didn't like it in the savanna. Loss - loss.

But while you were there, you heard about something called a 'Newspaper'. It is rumored to have all important information, probably including what you are searching for.

Somehow, you have to get a newspaper to get a new pack. Preferably without getting attacked by ponies, but how do you keep someone from realising what you are?

What do you do?

Disguises. All of them, all at once.

Down With Chrysalis's Comment

As you start to ponder on how to find this 'Newspaper', you begin to realize something. Your packmates bodies (or what's left of them at least) are still smoking. Which means that these were all fresh kills, and whoever or whatever did this to them could still be in the area. Watching and waiting for you to drop your guard and turn you into a smoldering pile of ash as well.

Deciding that you'd like to continue living and not end up like your ex-packmates, you make a beeline for the entrance of your old cave. You figured if whatever did this knew about the secret exit, then it could be waiting there to kill off any survivors who try to take it. So logic states that exiting through the way you came would give you a higher chance of survival.

As you exit the entrance you stop to take a breather. However as you do your ears pick up noises. Not just any noises, pony noises. You can just hear the sounds of hoof steps in the distance, as well as a conversation. Deciding that finding those ponies and following them would be a good idea, you take off after the noises. If whatever killed your packmates follows you, you could use the ponies as a distraction for you to escape.

You can hear you're getting closer and closer.

Hard Cider's Comment

Using your new found scent (or lack of one), you make your way even closer to what you assume to be ponies without alerting them  since your 'natural' timberwolf scent would have cause them to flee or vomit. Sometimes it's both. 'I should probably feel grateful for that bath Steven gave me, but i'm still kind of miffed since he didn't ask first before throwing a freakin tsunami at me.'

Making your way closer, you see a modest sized encampment with ponies and a few griffins milling about. Sure, it's uncommon for ponies to traverse through the Everfree, usually believing they are taking a shortcut if they lack the foreknowledge of the notorious forest. It's rarer for ponies and griffins to travel together. However, this is not what piqued your interest.

A majority of the caravan appears to be wearing western style apparel with the few exceptions wearing padded armor. Although you usually stay away from civilization('ponies need to build some backbone'), you can recall the map from a not so lucky adventurer.

They probably came here from Dodge Junction or Appleloosa. By Gaea, these ponies and their puns.

As you continue with your covert observation of the caravan, you notice an argument break out between a griffiness caravaneer and an earth pony stallion.

"Weren't you supposed to be the navigator? You said you could lead us through here!", the griffiness asks the earthpony.

Said earthpony gulps, before replying: "I said that I should in theory be able to, but that it would be much safer to venture around the Everfree."

"Oh? Really? Well, just so you know, we don't have the TIME for that! We need to get there as soon as possible..."

I should probably intervene here, who knows? If I lead them through the Everfree I might even get a 'Newspaper' as payment, you explain to yourself and walk out of the bush, forgetting momentarily that Timberwolves are rather feared.

"TIMBERWOLF!", the earth-pony screams and points at you.

"You're not gonna escape me!", the griffiness shouts and charges at you, taking a battleaxe out of a nearby barrel.

You yowl as you realised you messed up, and run away.

Some time later

Did I..., you think while panting, finally lose them?

As you look around, you can confirm your thoughts.

BrownDog77's Comment & undeadponylord's Comment

The encounter has reminded you of something, namely that ponies (and griffins) are definitely going to freak out at seeing your appearance. You remember that you and your pack once went towards the apple-scented, it did not end well.

How could I disguise myself... I know! There is this one shaman that lives in here, she travels in a cloak and *shudder* has taught Timberwolf, Manticore and other creatures to leave her alone. And her aura... Should I risk it to take one o fher spare cloaks?

After dwelling about the question for a while, you decide that you have to risk it.

As you are nearing the shaman's residence, you can smell the magic in the air and it's some pretty bad juju. There are masks on the outside of the house, and an aura of unease hits you. Luckily, you see that there is no light on in the window, so maybe she isn't home.

You sneak around it, and in the back you see a laundry line with cloaks hanging out to dry. You snag one, not even checking the pockets, and take off. You don't know what a shaman would do to a thief, but you aren't going to stick around to find out.

SnapDrakeGame's Comment Part 1

So... the campment knows about me already, there I probably cannot get a 'Newspaper'. Then I have only one choice... the apple-scented ones live near a town, known among the Ponyfolk as Ponyville. I guess I have to go there...

You wear the cloak of the shaman, but it does not really fit you. You finally choose to change your appearance by reassembling yourself into a more ponylike shape. It's a partial success, but you've still got glowing green eyes and you're a little stilted looking. Oh well.

The Rutherford's Comment

As you wander along the path leading to 'Ponyville', you come across a strange crack in the side of a stone ledge. Naturally you get a strange urge to kick it, and it opens into a cavern entrance.

You head inside, where you find an old monkey with a long beard (Why is it that you cannot grow such majestic facial hair?) and a long cloak.

He opens his eyes, and looks at you before proclaiming: "It's dangerous to go alone. Take this!"

The monkey takes out a red cloak from his own cloak's pockets, and tosses it to you.

You mumble: "Um...thanks? But I already have one..."

"I know, but still use this well! It will help keep pony-magic from sensing you and will help mask your natural odor from those without a keen sense of smell. Keep that in mind."

You stare at the red cloak in shock, before looking up and thanking: "Cool! That should help a lot, I never got your...", at this you look around and find out you are alone in the cave, "...name."

You walk out puzzled, and wear the red cloak over the shaman's. You resume your walk to the town, and as you reach it...

SnapDrakeGames's Comment Part 2

"Hello, my name is Pinkie Pie! You must be new here, because I have never seen you before, thenagainIamstillnotseeingyoubecauseyouwearthatcloakoveryourcloakandhey,theoneyouwearundertheredonelooksalot-likeZecora's!", you are greeted by a hyperactive, completely pink (but the eyes) pony in your face.

You chuckle nervously, before telling her: "I have very sensitive skin, even a single ray of sunlight would burn it."

"Hm...", Pinkie mumbles, before resuming her former volume, "Oh, really? Wait, you are not a pony, are you? I mean, I haven't really learned much about it but wouldn't your fur give you atleast partial protection?"

You mentally chide yourself for forgetting that, and make a note to yourself to learn about that later, before replying: "Unfortunately, I was in a fire while I was young and burnt my fur off... It has never regrown. My name is...", you quickly think of a name a pony would believe, "Trojan."

She looks at you strangely, before shrugging and telling you: "Welcome to Ponyville...", at this she looks at the sun and exclaims: "Is it that late already? I promised Twilight I'd help her today!", and zooms off.

You sigh, glad that the danger is over. You enter the town, and walk towards the marketplace, yet another thing you heard about while in Zebrafrica. You never really understood what the difference between a 'bazaar' and a 'marketplace' was, but you had heard both phrases.

You look around, and see one of the apple-scented!

Why is one of them he... wait, she's selling apples.

The apple-scented in question has orange fur, blonde hair, a stetson hat and three apples on her butt.

You quickly hurry to the other side of the market, where a yellow pony with orange hair, green eyes and three carrots on her flank is.

"So....", you start a conversation with her, "My name's Trojan. Do you know where I can find a... 'Newspaper'?"

She looks at you in a strange way, before telling you: "I'm Carrot Top. You can buy one...", but whatever she wanted to tell you was interrupted by a white colt with brown spots on his fur and darkbrown-lightbrown mane and tail bumping into you, causing you to stumble and your head to look out of the cloaks.

Now, you see, while it was vaguely pony-shaped a head made out of wood was nothing one could simply ignore, and there was only one creature known that has it, so it was pretty obvious.

As you stand back up, you see a mob with torches and forks forming. "Can't we talk about this?", you ask them only for them to start running towards you.

You turn around and RUN at the highest speed you can.

Some time later

You hear the hoofsteps getting quieter and quieter, until you finally stop hearing them.

You climb out of the trashcan, thinking annoyed to yourself: Great. How am I supposed to find the 'Newspaper' no...

Right in front of you, in the very same trashcan you were in, you finally see the 'Newspaper'!

You snatch it out of there, still wearing your cloaks and 'transformation':

'Hooded Offender Destroys Fillydelphia in Crimson Holiday Uprising! Crimson Knights At Large!', certainly an... interesting headline.

You read the article about it, and realise something: They are not as afraid of violence as the ordinary pony, there is nothing about them being against other species mentioned... Could it be I have found my new pack?

It could be that all of this is just false hope...

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment

You continue reading the newspaper, but there don't seem to be any more interesting articles, only confusing things like:

BREAKING NEWS:

HOMELESS PONY KILLED WHILE BEING DRAGGED AROUND TOWN BY STRAY BROWN DOG

HOMELESS PONY'S EYES DONATED TO BLIND STALLION AFTER SAVING BAR KEEP FOR FIRE!

or

MORE BREAKING NEWS:

FIVE GUARDS PONIES, TWO CRIMINALS AND ONE SAXOPHONE PLAYING STALLION DROP DEAD FROM EXHAUSTION, DEHYDRATION, AND STARVATION AFTER RUNNING AROUND IN COMEDIC FASHION FOR 4 MONTHS STRAIGHT. SAXOPHONE PLAYERS NAME MOUNTED IN THE MUSIC HALL OF FAME WITH A RECORDING OF SONG PLAYED BEFORE DEATH. NAMED 'YACKETY SAX'

"I don't get it", you say aloud.

You look around, and see a train station nearby. As you come closer, you see that one of the trains leads to Fillydelphia, your best bet to find the Crimson Knights.

One of the trains starts to move, and you barely make the jump onto the platform behind it's last wagon. You go in, and sit down on one of the seats.

What do you do?

Jump on the train-wagon

SnapDrakeGames' Comment

As you walk through the wagons into one actually meant for passengers, you're suddenly jerked back. Through the window, you can see that the train is moving, and can't help but wonder:

By Gaea's Almighty, Forsaken and Earthy Underpants... What is this Witchcraft?

BrownDog77's Comment

As you look around at all the other passengers in your wagon, you realise that a hood isn't enough for a disguise. You need facial hair.

Addiction gained: Facial-hair-addiction / Beard-addiction:

How the hell do you even get addicted to that? No, you know what? This is stupid!

-you envy creatures with beards more beautiful than yours (no beard is the most ugly one)

-when with facial hair you perform twenty percent better

-while you have no facial hair you have an allergy against fake-beards made out of something different than hair

-fake-beards made out of someone else's hair count

Sitting across from you is a portly looking unicorn with a long, magnificent beard. You want that beard!

Now how the buck do I get it?

You can't just pull it off his face, it might wake him up.

Looking through your pockets, you find an honest to goodness razor in one of the pockets, and some scissors in the other.

Well that's convenient, but I still need some sort of shaving cream...

You look around the nearly empty room, but you do spot a desert trolley, and a bowl of whipped cream is on it.

Good enough. It's not someone important to me anyways...

You take the cream, then look around the room, to make sure you aren't being watched. After that you smear the cream all over his beard as gently as you can.

He stirs in his sleep, but keeps on snoring.

You finallgitake out your razor and scissors and begin cutting the beard gingerly.

Luckily for you, no one sees your impromptu barber technique, and you cleanly shave him.

Wasn't he like,  a few decades older a shave ago?

"Alright, now I've got my beard...", you exclaim loudly as you pick up pawfulls of loose hair that in no way look like a beard.

Huh... how... wait, with no adhesive to keep it all together... That plan was stupid. Why did I think it would work? But still... I did not just do that expert, albeit my first, shave just to not have a beard after all! I've got to find a way to make it stick...

Looking around the room, you open up pony luggage and find some Beeswax candles and a lighter.

You swear to Gaia, that beard will stick!

You go to the bathroom with your clumps of hair and melt some candles, smearing the wax and hair onto your face.

If you wanted to look like a scraggly drifter, congratulations!

As you return to your place, you think:

Dodo of Chaos's Comment

Wait, what if they still find out what I am? Hm... if I jump at that mare back there, that colt over here could take out an axe... if I jump at the colt the mare could take out the axe... If I throw the colt at the mare, the stallion right next to m... HOLY DIRT!

"Your ticket, please", 'Mysterious Stallion right next to you' asks you in a calm, but determined tone.

You chuckle nervously, and reply: "What, so you can steal mine? No thanks, I won't have any of that nonsense."

What the hell is a 'ticket'?

'Mysterious Stallion right next to you' shakes his head, and tells you: "Please, it is my job to make sure all passengers have a ticket."

You open your mouth to give him an answer, only for you to think about what he said.

Wait, it is his job... I KNEW IT! The ponies give all ponies a 'ticket' so that guy can bring all non-ponies into jail! I knew even the leadership was corrupted!

You ram into the stallion, screaming "I WON'T LET YOU TAKE ME ALIVE!" and jump over at the colt to throw him at the mare. You had not seen the colt's mother before, so instead you are being bucked towards the door.

undeadponylord Comment, but I am not very good at that sort of thing

The door opens, and a, now as pony-slave confirmed, griffon with glasses sticks her / his head into your wagon and tells everyone (completely oblivious of you thanks to your stealth-technique of lying in front of her): "Could you please quiet down? I am trying to read..."

You don't wait for her / him to finish her speech of loyalty she / he has to give because of the hypnosis, but instead run through the door and run into the next wagon. You interrupt lunch, nap-time and *cough* other things the other passengers were doing, only for you to realise something:

Ha! He already has given up because I was too fast for him!

As you think that, the ticket-taker enters your wagon and tells you: "Get out."

You don't react, trying to mimic a statue, until you understand he won't mistake you, but then it is too late for you to run and he throw you out of the driving train.

I hate trains.

You don't remember how exactly it came to be that you stand on the train, but you do.

As you feel the wind flowing through you, almost taking you with it, you decide you have to get back on the train... undercover.

PentakillApocalypse's Comment

You walk slowly back towards the last wagon, humming... okay, singing a catchy tune on the way.

You finally reach it, just while the song ends, and enter, making sure noone sees you.

Hard Cider's Comment

Observing the car you will now reside in until your reach Fillydelphia, you notice that it's full of luggage's, trunks, and various other containers of personal effects.

Hmmmmm, I believe this is what they call the, bag cart? No no, baggage car, yes that sounds right.

Thanks to your thorough evaluation you notice that there are piles of baggage's that you could hide in in the case someone decides to enter this car. Finished with scrutinizing the entire car, you can afford yourself to reflect on your current situation.

You are currently in the very last car or the train with a low chance of anyone discovering you, a stow away. Ponies fear you for obvious reasons.

*sigh* Getting tired of being chased away from people. Welp, I certainly have plenty of time to myself. Might as well try and find a way to improve my equine disguise. Perhaps there's something in those bags that could help.

Sifting through the mountains that are luggage's, you find some choice pieces of cloths and suit of armor to create a disguise. As you finish shifting into an even more equine shape (Transformation Skill + 1), you begin to don your new set of full-plate armor. Placing the last piece of armor on your head- the helmet -you will your spirit to inhabit both your wooden body and your armor as well.

Cryptozoologist have found that 'alpha' timberwolves, or those of strong spirits are able to form bodies out of materials other than wood. Though they prefer to to inhabit wooden bodies, they will use other material out of necessity.

Overcome with sense of vertigo, your body sways side-to-side before finally falling over in the most dramatic fashion possible,  at the end of your fall, you pull a large curtain as you fall to the floor.

You look up to see what has been uncovered.

Hmmm, a mirror.

Through the darkness you can you see yourself in your sick new duds.

*Perk gained: Always to have for a good costume

Remember those teleporting, firework summoning Iron-Mare-cosplayers? They have the whole skilltree of this

-gained after getting three or more disguises / costumes in rapid succession

-increases Stealth, Swag and Handsome-ity by 10

-you are able to get extremely excited over good costumes and may at times want them really bad

-you are able to bond with one of your costumes, allowing you to instantly wear them at anytime anywhere (Pinkie-level-ability)

'Hmmm, . . . yes. This looks well on me. But the glowing eyes and wooden face aren't doing me any favors.'

Once your head is thoroughly hidden in a layer of blue cloth you begin ogling the now knightly stallion in the mirror. As you look into the vanity, you can hear something scuttling about at the other end of the car.

Drawing your massive sword, you cautiously approach your fellow stowaway. A small shadowy form jumps from cover and begins wildly punching your armor. Slowly you lower your sword and look over your withers . . . . . . to see a small ragged filly trying to bite off one of your plates.

"Hey, let my plates be! I worked hard to get them just right!", you tell her, but she doesn't listen to you, "What, are you deaf or something?"

You hear the train slowing down, and ignore the filly for the time being as you get out of the train. You look around, and all you can think is:

Since when is Fillydelphia in the desert?

You hear a *thud* as the filly falls down from you.

What do you do?

Foalish Chase

Hard Cider's Comment

. . . promptly throws the apple in the direction of your head and galloped away as fast as their little legs could take them. Shaking your head from the apple bits you proceed to chase down your chagrin. Awhile into the chase, you lose sight of them, leaving you very irate for losing them in the city. “Curses, I am dangerous predator of the Everfree, how could I have lost them so easily-wait a minute, what’s this?”

Checking your disguise, you notice that a section of the blue cloth wrapped around you body was torn off. However, you can still feel the section of missing cloth, but it feels as if it’s moving through the city . . .

Oh, one of those foals must have taken a piece of my cloak. This will make finding them exponentially easier. Now I just need to track them, thank Gaea.

Making your way through a series of alleyways, you find yourself in an inside of a worn factory with various vendors selling their wares of questionable origins and purpose. Left and right, you hear merchants yelling their wares to attract the attention to possible customers. One particular vendor piques your interest.

"ARMS AND ARMOR! ALL IN PRISTINE CONDITION! ROYAL GUARDS ARMOR WITH FUNCTIONAL DISGUISE ENCHANTMENTS! NEED A FIX GOT SOME- OH HELLO THERE-*cough cough* hrmph, I mean hello there my good stallion. Care to browse my wares?”

“Hmmmm, you said something about disguise enchantments, right? Are you sure they still function? And if they do, what kind of disguise?”

“Oh, interested in some of the royal guards armor ey? Well, I just so happen to, ‘procure,’ some to display in my inventory. Guaranteed one of a kind. How's about this one for . . . one thousand bits, yea guy?”

His smile falters slightly, having a hard time reading your reaction due to your covered face.

“Hey, I'm joking, so one thousand bits might be askin for too much right? Let me whittle that down to, ah, lets see, eight hundred bits. I’ll even throw in a weapon for ya.”

He winces as he glances to the wicked looking greatswords on your back.

“'course, you probably don’t need another. So, how's 'bout we settle for, 750 bits, eh guy?”

You stroke your chin, mulling over your choices. Your eyes catches a light shining from several crate behind his stall. Pointing your hoof at them, you ask: “What are those?”

The vendor pony appears to be sweating bullets as tries to cover the crate of familiar armor. “Oh, these, these are just, umm, broken-no faulty, yea faulty. These aren’t for sale sooo-”

One of the crates 'miraculously' (you totally didn't move a few loose sticks of your body over to them to do that, using your control that is better than telekinesis) spills over showing several suits of similar armor. “Ehehe, yea sooooo . . . “

“One of a kind you said?”

“Hey hey hey, these are just, umm-”, you lean over the counter, grabbing the vendors head and pulling him toward you.

You switch to a way of talking you once heard, and found more intimidating: “Listen here thou cur, if thou expects us to purchase illicit merchandise of thou, thou best not try thou trickery upon us less thou might-”, at this your shoulder is shifting to display your greatsword, “- meet an untimely demise. So, let us continue as this never happen, shall we? . . .*Ahem*,  We would like to purchase that suit of armor for . . . 250 bits. Is that not a fair price?”

“Uhhhh, yes-no, I mean, just take the stupid armor and leave me alone!!! Please?” Please?”

Thanks to your exceptional bartering skills you now own a suit of outdated royal guards armor. For free. You make your way out of the black market, but before you do that, you turn around to address the quivering vendor.

“Excuse me, did you happen to see a small group of foals traveling through here?”

“NOT THE FACE- o-oh? U-uumm, I think I sa-saw some foals saying that they w-we-ere heading somewhere that way. W-w-would that b-be all, um, sir?”

"Yes, that would be all."

"Finally!- I mean, have a nice! *sigh*, goddesses above do I need a drink . . . "

After leaving the market, you go down an abandoned section of the factory to don your new set of armor. Less than a second after attaching the last piece of armor, your 'pony' form is shrouded in the armors illusion enchantment, leaving behind a simple white coated blue mane earth pony stallion. "Good. So he didn't lie about the enchantment. This should make finding those foals a simpler task.

New item acquired: O.G.A. (Outdated guards armor)

-Enchantment

Only high ranking officers of the royal guard wear these heavy suits of armor. Disguise more likely to works on civilians and lower ranking officers.

A foal's perspective

After I nailed that cloaked pony-thing with the apple, we hightailed it out of there. We practically ran halfway across the damned city.

"*gasp* Oheh, *pant* I think *pant* we lost him."

With one final step, I decided that that was 'nuff for today. I'm glad the others were able to keep up, those slow pokes.

"I'm surprised we have made it this far, we've not eaten any thing since yesterday. *ggrrrrooOoowwllll*, shut up you! Can't hear myself thinking with your whining." *rooOoaarr*, Uuggghhhh, wish I still had that apple. I really wished we could rest here, but I knew we weren't safe resting here.

"Ok, we should keep moving. Who knows when that overclothed pony's gonna find us. So com'on fillies."

" *sigh*, can't we just wait a little bit longer. I feel like my legs are gonna fall off."

"Oi, not yet, not until it's safe. So move 'em noodle legs so we can- omph!! Aahhh! I'm blind halp getitoffgetitoffgetitoff- *smack!* ack! EY COSY, NOT COOL-, oh hey, I can see. Thanks."

" Don't mention it. Hmm? Hey Twist! Look at this flyer." "Oh hey a convention. Welcome to the 21st annual Manehattan convention found on something . . . . . Maybe we should check it out? What do you think?"

"I think it would be a fun idea."

"Hmmm, you're right, sounds like fun. Maybe we could steal some merchandise and pick some pockets, yea. I'm in!"

So, after our voting we decided it's in our best interest to head for that convention and maybe snag a few 'souvenirs'.

"Alrighty then, I guess our next destination's the convention. Gosh, I hope they have some power ponies there. Nothing's gonna ruin our day now!"

<2 hours later>

“Can you believe that stallion? Kicking some foals to the curbs like some garbage. Bet he’s compensating for something.”

“Well, we did try to sneak in without tickets? Anypony have any ideas?”

“Hmmmm, perhaps I could carry one of you two onto the roof at a time?”

“Nah, bet the doors up there is locked. Even if we make our way up, someone's gonna spot us. Perhaps we need a more subtle approach?” Pointing a hoof at a random 20 hoof long costume in an alley, my two friends look at each other before turning to me with recognition in their faces. Using the costume we sneaked through the entrance . . .

Right turn... Straight... Straight... Left... Right...

As you turn around another corner, you see the pony running towards you too late, and crash into it. Luckily, you are able to avoid the pony just enough not to fall apart, and not to reveal yourself.

You see two shadows jumping above you from your position on the ground, but they are gone when you stand up.

You look at the pony you crashed into, it just now standing up and holding its head in pain.

"Look where you're going, idiot", you tell it, upon looking closer you can determine its a he, "If you would run with open eyes, you wouldn't have crashed into me."

Now, for the next part you need to know something. The pony was very hard to see because it wore a very specific robe with a very specific symbol stitched into it. It was very clear the symbol was stitched by an amateur.

"Sorry... OFFICER?", the pony suddenly tried to run away, but you pounced at him and caught him again.

"Sooo... trying to run away, eh?", you mumble into his ear, causing him to shiver in fright.

"I swear, they roped me into it! I didn't want to do it, they have my family…" he whines.

You snicker at that, and tell him: "Why do you think I care? You idiot, prayers go to your god, 'cause I won't answer them."

You hear the sound of two ponies galloping behind you, and turn your head to look at them.

They are two guards. "S-sir! We have been chasing these criminals... where are the others? I mean, Sir, we have been chasing this criminal and two others because they belong to the Crimson Horde!" one of them tells you.

Your eyes lit up, and just while you are turning your head back to the -Member of the possible Pack-, he kicks you off him. He stares at you, before turning around and running away.

"Get him!", one of the guards shouts before trying to chase him, only to trip onto his face.

Noone takes my -Future packmate- from me

"C-captain? What is it?", he asks you confused.

You growl at him, then jump.

What do you do?

Hoof & Claw & Spear & Banana

APonyReadingFanfics' Comment

Your jump leads you to headbutting the guard (who you just now realize is a pegasus, with the other one being an earth-pony) with enough force to knock him down. Thinking you had knocked him out, you turned towards the second guard. Unfortunately the second guard is much faster than his comrade and has already assumed a defensive stance.

You scowl at that, and order him: "Release your battlestance!"

He doesn't move a single inch.

"This is an order!", you tell him, however he simply stares at you, before asking: "Who are you really?"

Tch, seems like he already figured me out... Well, what can I expect from a suit of armor with disguise-enchantments one can easily haggle down to being free.

Hard Cider's Comment

You get into your own personal fighting stance (well, its the stance you used  when hunting, so it is pretty much a stance for charging).

And because of that, you do that. You charge, you slam. The latter you do with enough force to tip the guard over and into a roll. You try to choke him out, but your armored plating makes it difficult to get your hooves around him. Noticing your inability to fully pin him, the guard rolls you to the side. You're locked in a grapple, trying to gain leverage on the other.

The other guard, having not been knocked out contrary to your belief, stands back up, before seeing you and his partner grappling in a mud pit. Spectators occasionally throw money into said pit, and you use a few loose branches to put it into your pockets. The guard's wings become fully erect from the sight, and his nose begins to bleed a little.

'Oh Celestia', he thinks, 'This is HOT! I know we need to get those Horde guys buuuut... Com'on! Mud wrestling! I am getting really excited about this... Just, just look at them! Wait... is this my... blood? Aww, damn...'

Unfortunately, this guard has hemophilia, and his little bloody nose transformed into a raging torrent. A spectator sees the guard bleeding, and beckons for everyone to help in anyway possible. Some of the spectators drop some bits while rushing to help and / or observe the guard with the extreme case of hemophilia (you took those bits with your branches too... it is amazing how easily ponies overlook moving branches when there is a mud-pit battle).

After collecting every bit, and realizing no-one throws any anymore, you decide to end the mud-pit battle. You throw back your head, before slamming it into the head of the guard... It was then you remembered he was an earth-pony, and you are wood, meaning he can take that much better than you do.

Neon Star's Comment

While you are still fighting to stay conscious, your opponent stands up and exclaims: "Surrender, and accept your punishment. Else we will have to take drastic measures."

You stand up with a blurred vision, and ask: "You and who?"

"The rest of the Royal Guard and me of course!"

You laugh, before telling  him: "I see no-one but a small fool whose in over his head..."

Your vision slowly gets clearer, and you see him right in front of you.

Wha-what?

He slams into you with enough force to throw you into a conveniently placed banana-stand.

"He", you cough, "There is something you need to know, small guard."

At that, he stops his repeated charge, and asks you glaring: "What?"

"Drastic situations require drastic measures!", you shout out as you start taking bananas with your paw (that is still looking like a hoof) and throwing them at him. You expected that to be his end, but there is one thing you quickly realized: Bananas are not the best throwing weapons.

You chuckle: "He he... mercy?"

The guard's face lightens up at that, and asks: "So you are coming with us on your..."

At that the branch flying above him carrying your great-sword slams down on him, with the hilt first.

Great, now I lost the -Future Pack Member-

With your foggy mind and vision, you decide to re-create the situation when you found him, or in other words you try to resume your search for the foals, completely forgetting about the other guard (who fainted and had to be brought to a hospital).

Just as you were about to start, you are stopped by a spectator: "Hey, can I have your signature? What you just did was great! Oh, is it for something like a movie?"

"A... movie?", you mutter before losing consciousness yourself.

You see a pixel picture, but you think you can see yourself in some sort of metal-room.

You hear a voice that sounds like yours, but at the same time it doesn't (it is in Timbergrowlish):

*gro(Hel--? Can --- hear me?)wl*, you hear a strange sound interrupting it (later on, you found out it was called static, you never heard about stuff like that in Zebrafrica).

*gro(HELLO? YOU ARE BEING INTERRUPTED BY A STRANGE NOISE!)wl*, you shout to notify him of that.

*gro(---- let me -- some ----- calibra-----... There, now it should be clearer.)wl*

*gro(It is)wl*, you reply dumbfounded.

*gro(Good. Now, I have some important things to tell you: You need to get out of your forest, there is a huge organisation called 'Crimson Knights', which will play an important part in your future life. Additionally...)wl*

*gro(Are you going to tell me something new? I mean, I already am out of my forest, I already search for the Crimson Knights to join them, and as my future pack they will play an important role. So, anything else?)wl*

You see pixel-you blinking, before resuming: *gro(Well, I can see you have been busy... So, you should know, once you become part of the Horde, you should transfer to the Applewood-branch. There, you ---- -- ---- --------- ------ -- - ------)wl*

*gro(What should I do? What do you want to tell me?)wl*, you cry out while panicking.

*gro(-- ---- not ---- time, - ---- you -------- --out ---- ------ed -- -- --men----!)wl*

You cannot make heads or tails out of what he said, and just cock your head in confusion.

The other timberwolf stares at the screen: "Do you think he understood the last part I told him?"

"OF COURSE NOT! YOUR EXPLANATION HAS BEEN INSUFFICIENT LIKE EVERYTHING OF YOURS!," screeched Dalekarian* (If you need to be reminded who he is, go to the part of Someone Still Alive).

"...well, I guess we will have to wait quite some time until we have gathered enough of the hatred still lingering around for another communication attempt.", the timberwolf mused, "Still, kind of funny that we were testing ways for this since a few hundred millennia, and that was the answer. Welp, we still have a lot of work to do."

"...prank! Stop it right this instance, it's not funny!", a voice screams into your ear.

"What is it...", you mutter sleepily, while opening your eyes.

The bystander who asked for your signature is looking down on you, you seemingly having collapsed earlier.

You stand up, muttering: "I am fine, there is nothing to worry about..."

With that said, you ignore him even though he repeatedly asked you again, before telling him to shut up, and that he is not going to get it.

So, now what was I about to do... Ah, right, those foals. I don't even want to know what trouble they have gotten themselves in while I stopped chasing them.

After following your lead to a comic-convention, and ringing down the stallion checking whether or not you are old enough for it, you finally arrive at your destination...

However, there is one problem: This place is overcrowded with booths and ponies wearing funny disguises. Luckily, since you had to swap your disguise from the Royal Guard Armour to the Hero's Cloak (The guards were notified about the fake-captain), you fit right in.

There is only one question:

What do you do?

Great minds cosplay alike

Joeyjumper94's Comment

Wow, they really have some nice costumes on sale here...

You think to yourself while wandering through the convention, looking at the different costumes on sale.

Suddenly, you see it:  A Wile E Coyote-costume!

Or, well, at least you think it is a costume to disguise yourself as Wile E Coyote, the descriptions of the stallions you raced while bringing the carriage to Manehattan weren't that good. Yeah, you talked about that show they know called Roadrunner. It is pretty old according to them.

You walk over to the booth with that specific costume, and ask the owner: "Hey, I couldn't help but see that you have some... marvelous costumes on sale."

The owner turns around to you, and you can see she is a mare with blue fur, a red twin tail-hair and yellow eyes.

"So, you like the primary colours, don't cha?", you add as an afterthought.

She looks creeped out, before replying: "Oh god, please tell me you're not hitting on me."

You stare at her dumbfounded, before asking: "Why would I be hitting on you? You're not making any sense."

You look at the Wile E Coyote-costume again, before wondering how much it would cost.

"How much does this costume cost?," you ask pointing at it,  but for some reason the shopkeeper pointedly ignores you.

"Um, hello? Hello? HELLO?!!," you shout, and she looks at you with a forced smile before saying:

"What would you want here?," she demands to know, before whispering: "Go away, creep."

Okay, what exactly did I do to deserve that treatment? Obviously this shop is run by a lunatic. Hehe, LUNA-tic!

Insulted, you leave that booth, you have some Gaia-damn manners after all.

"Hey, you!," you hear someone call out to you.

It is the owner of another booth, "Yes, I mean you. Come closer, I don't bite, and I don't want to disrupt other people's conversations."

Now that is someone with manners! I wonder what he wants...

As you walk over to him, you take notice of his wares.

There are some strange bones with runes carved into them, there was this one weird clock, and there was this bug-like looking armour, which gave you the creeps.

"Greetings, stranger," he greets you while you examine him. He wears some... strange clothes. He notices your ogling, and tells you: "Oh, wondering about my cosplay, aren't you? He-he-he...," he laughs crazily, "it's from this game called Resident Evil, a merchant in there."

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight...," you mutter to yourself, before replying: "Greetings to you too, what is it you wanted?"

"Cutting to the chase already, aren't you? He-he-he... I thought you might take a liking to my Ravana costume, it's this one...," he says while pointing towards the insect-armour, "It's actually not that expensive, only... 500 bits."

"Hmm...," you contemplate over the offer, "On one paw, I feel enhancement-magic in it, it looks awesome and... well, whatever else there is.

On the other paw, this guy's giving me the creeps and I would need to transform to wear it... buying it would also therefore attract attention... But it could be pretty useful later and the attention would be temporary..."

As you rock back and forth on your thoughts, you suddenly have an ominous feeling that if you buy it you would get flung through dimensions onto a planet with furless ape-thingies with an organization called SCP-Foundation where you would be imprisoned and used for tests.

"WellIAmNotBuyingItSeeYouLaterBYE!", you scream as you run away, pushing other ponies out of the way and attracting more attention than Celestia during Summer Sun Celebration.

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment

After running around in a comedic fashion for quite some time, (and attracting a huge crowd of spectators,) you stop before a shop with a sword you remember.

No, it is not the sword you already have with your Abyss Knight. It is the sword of the DESTRUCTORISATOR!

Or, at least that's how you started calling the heaven-sent demon who destroyed your home, leading you on this confusing and possibly pointless journey.

You drool as you see it, and inspect its prize...

You resume your sprint with double the tempo.

THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL NUTS!* Oh, wait, is that O&O-merchandise?

You stop instantly again, and realize: Yes, it is in fact Oubliettes & Ogres-merchandise. You used to play it with the other Timberwolves back when they were still alive, and kind of forgot to bring it with you.

Sweet! This is really useful, I bet even the leader of the grumpy-boring guards, who probably is the grumpiest and most boring guard of all, would love this!

Shining armor sneezes while finishing his paper work in his office, knocking all the carefully-sorted papers everywhere. A look of horror dons his face as he stares at the paper, which is scattered everywhere.

"NOOOOOOOOOO, I WAS JUST ABOUT TO FINISH FOR THE DAY! NOW I HAVE TO SORT, RE-FILE, THEN STACK THEM AGAIN!", he shouts angrily, scaring some guards standing in front of his office.

You buy a set of dices, before remembering why you came here in the first place...

So, now where are those foals... Wait, those... could it be... are they staring at me?

"What by Gaia's rotten roots are you staring at?," you ask the huge crowd around you.

The crowd slowly disperses, while you feign as if you don't care about them by looking at the wares of the shop.

Oh, a book. Let's see if it's any good...

The book is about a farmer living in the north, and he defiles a crypt for some reason. Then a ghost appears and curses him, and the curse slowly turns him into a wendigo.

Skipping to the end, you look if it's any good. It doesn't seem so, and you are about to close the book and put it away, when a passage peaks your interest:

And even still, to this day, he remains trapped there, waiting for a spirit of nature to free him from his imprisonment.

Colour me intrigued..., you think to yourself as you go back to where you started skipping.

New quest: Frozen In Place, Tearing out roots from the ground

Objective: Find out if the story is true

No! This... this was not supposed to happen!

You resume your search for the foals. You trace them, and find them in a costume straight out of your nightmares!

You do NOT know how they found out that you are a Timberwolf, nor do you know how they know of your natural predators, but you will not let that stop you from your quest! Now, you just need to take it slow, and careful...

Much time later

Snap Drake Games' & The Rutherford's Comments

Defeated, you say goodbye to the foals.

"Why, thank you for bringing them to us. I am sure Master McHoof will be very pleased," Butler told you.

You still cannot believe someone really has simply the name 'Butler', but you have no way of proving otherwise.

After you found the foals, you were notified that they were trying to get to their uncle here in Manehattan (then why were they in Appleloosa / the train that started in Ponyville?), and Butler gave you the reward their uncle Scrooge McHoof posted around all of Equestria for their safe return.

You decide to go to a bar, seeing how it's become night already, and you feel depressed.

*mental sigh* And I had really hoped I could take care of them and raise them as my own... But no, that McHoof has the luck. He probably has a beard way cooler than I could ever have one... And more costumes, I mean, I could have bought some earlier, but then I got distracted and all...

Some time later

You once again changed clothes, this time to the Abyss Knight, seeing how it makes you look just that much more badass.

Cautiously, you enter the bar. As you look around, and see dozens of ripped, drunk ponies, gryphons, minotaurs and even a yak.

You gulp, and wonder:

What do you do?

Drunk Escapade (Unedited)

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment

Every single being inside the bar is now staring at you, causing you to chuckle halfhearted and shout: "I NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM! NOTHING STRANGE GOING ON HERE!"

After you arrived at the toilet, you immediately take off your helmet to wash your face. After all, you have to look good if you want to get information, you think. After that, you take to the sky washing your paws.

Huh, I wonder what they wanted from me? Staring is not contaminous, after all! I guess I could just ask them, I mean, everyone I met so far has been kind of nice... besides that bitch at the convention...

You remember that you learned in Zebrafrica to wash your paws with soap, even though it makes no sense to you. You shrug the senselessness of it off, and press the soap dispenser. Instead of the viscous fluid flowing into your paws, bubbles start flowing out of the top.

You gasp as you pounce at it, remembering your pup-hood:

Flashback

*gro(Bubbles?)wl*, you asked Elder, *gro(What are bubbles?)wl*

Elder chuckled, before explaining: *gro(Bubbles are mythical, magical artifacts of FUN!)wl*

You cock your head in confusion, before wondering: *gro(But if they are artifacts, then they are too rare, so that I would never get one, right?)wl*

Elder simply chuckled again, before showing something he hid behind himself.

Later on, you would find out it was called a soap dispenser, and this one was defective so it only created bubbles.

*gro(Normally, yes, but this is an even rarer, more magical artifact! It is capable of creating the Bubble-artifact! And since bubbles don't last long, it actually is the only way of showing young pups like you how bubbles look like)wl*

Having said that, Elder pressed the soap dispenser, causing bubbles to fly out of it. You stare at them in awe, before trying to pounce at them and hold one in your paws. Once all bubbles were popped, Elder would create new ones.

You spent a whole day like that.

Back to the Future Present

You dance around the bubbles while giggling, somehow evading the notice of those in the bar. However, one stray bubble floats out to the bar.

"HEY! WHO. BLEW. THIS. BUBBLE!"

Startled, you put your helmet back on, and rush back into the bar. Everyone is lined up, with the Minotaur walking in front of them. You line up before anyone notices you having not lined up yet.

"WE ARE STARTING THE BABY HUNT NOW BOYS! HIT IT FITZGERALD!", the Minotaur yells to an old, but awesome looking yak. Said yak escaped your notice when you entered, and now spins a record onto the player. A song starts to play, and not just any song, but the song that is programmed into your genes, the song that shakes up your whole being, the song of your pack. It is also known as... the Goofy Goober song.

Flashback

*gro(We made a great catch today!)wl*, Elder proclaimed.

Everyone stomped the ground with their paws.

*gro(Such a great catch, that I have great news to share with you!)wl*

Everyone seemed excited, but you didn't know why. This was the first 'Great Catch' you ever had.

*gro(We are going to sing the song of our pack, the song that lead us to our current strength, the song that resonates within our whole being... the Goofy Goober song! Brought to us by our ancestors, we shall honor their memories and praise the great catch today!)wl*

After that, the flashback becomes blurred. You think you remember alcohol playing a part of it...

Present

Everyone around you shivers, and quietly chants: "I am not a baby...", making you wonder just how cold it actually is in the bar, and how important it is not to be a baby for the social standing.

Then again, your whole body is shaking from the resonance, and it takes all your willpower to keep your teeth clenched together, you even cracked your jaw slightly from it. Finally you cannot take it anymore, and take a deep breath to do what your ancestors tell you to: Sing the song.

But a moment before you would have started to sing, a pair of drunk ponies starts to sing it.

Ah, ponies. They always act like cute, little, innocent pups. And they have poisoned themselves with alcohol too, so it's expected. Well, bad for them, good for me.

The Minotaur marches in a military-style to the singer, before proclaiming: "Look what we have here, it's the babies!"

After that, he throws them into the next gryphon.

You watch as everyone but you, the innkeeper and a pony in a crimson robe starts beating the drunk ponies up.

As you stare, you feel... sorry for them.

Stupid ponies and their feelings, you think to yourself while taking out your sword. You crouch down before leaping high into the air towards the brawl. Somehow, you feel the need to shout out: "Steadfast Leap!"

The Abyss Knight

  -*Hidden Perk revealed*

     -Enables the wearer of The Abyss Knight to use the attacks of Knight Artorias

Knight Artorias came to stop this, but such a hero has nary a murmur of Dark.

After doing that, everyone gets thrown away, before jumping back in. You watch as the singers run out of the bar unnoticed. You smile, before realising that you are now in the middle of the brawl.

Oh, for Gaia's sake!

"CHARGING SLASH!", you cry out while quickly moving towards the door, and swinging your sword 360 degrees, most of which was during the second half of your 'charge'.

You open the door, and get outside. Just as you are about to wander around the town again, the non-dj-yak crashes in front of you, wearing a mask looking like a horse-y skull, most likely meant to disguise someone as a reaper.

That looks... awesome!

You look around if anyone sees you, before taking the mask. Unnoticed by you, the eye sockets glow briefly.

You hear the door creak open behind you, and as you turn around you catch a glimpse of crimson before your head split.

Thankfully, you wake up again, meaning your head fixed itself.

What, did you think your head was only feeling like it split? That's not how it works for Timberwolves.

Anyway, you are chained up, and all your stuff besides your armour was taken away. The room you are in only has one exit, which is positioned to your left. Across from you is a painting of spaghetti. The walls, ceiling and ground are made out of mossy stonebricks.

Skipping time until something happens

The door opens, and the pony in a crimson robe enters. You remember it from the bar, but now you see a blood-red crimson symbol of an arrow going through the sun on the robe. Now that you think about it, you remember reading that most of them had brown capes instead, considering they dressed like the Hooded Offender and the Crimson Knights simply added the symbol.

You watch, as it sits down in front of you, and puts all your other belongings next to itself.

Then, it turns to you, and says: "I am going to be honest: We need your help with something. I saw you fight at the bar, and..."

You laugh out loud, before asking: "Are you serious? If you truly need my help, then why did you chain me up? And kidnap me instead of asking?"

The pony opens its mouth, before turning to the still open door and probably asking someone you cannot see: "Why did we do that again?"

Someone replied: "I don't bucking know! It was your plan after all!"

...I'd say they are morons, but they are just plain old stupid. Jeez, do they really belong to the Crimson Knights?

"What do you need help with?", you are trying to get atleast a bit of useful information.

The Crimson-Robe turned back to you, before answering: "Right right, we need your help with a kind of cult that has been festering in Manehattan... Really bad people, brainwashing and sacrificing others. While I know we Crimson Knights do not have the best reputation..."

"Riiiight... So, about unchaining me, is that still something you are planning to do?"

"Uuups, sorry! My bad...", Crimson-Robe mutters while blushing.

What do you do?

Crimson Talk

"Thanks for helping us out with this", Gory Flight (You nicknamed her Crimson-Robe) thanks you again.

You currently are in a room for strategy-meetings. In the middle of this circle-shaped room there is a round-table with twelve chairs around it. The room is bleak, showing nothing besides this.

On the table lies a map of manehattan. Appletree's restaurant, Cardamom's bakery, Grain Seed's pharmacy and Garnet hotel have a red figure placed onto them. Additionally, Brass Tack's pawn shop, the nightclub Noble Nest (to which the bar you come from also belongs) and Rainy Mansion have blue figures instead. Bread Hook Public Library has the only green figure on it.

"The red figures stand for verified bases, houses or allies of the cultists, the blue figures are rally-points for our allies, and the green figure... well, we're beneath the library right now. It's our base of operations. Normally, there would be yellow figures too, they would mark suspected bases, houses or allies of the enemy, the cultists this time.", Flight explains, "But as you can see, there are very few red and no yellow figures, showing how good they are at staying undetected. We suspect most...", at this she stops, realising you are holding your head between your paws, "Are you even listening?"

Ugh, stop talking! I'm developing a headache here...

You look up, and ask: "So I just have to destroy the houses with the red-figures?"

"No! I told you on the way here that you are supposed to infiltrate them to get more information! Argh, did you listen to anything I just said?"

"...maybe?", you reply sheeply, "I mean, I just kill a cultist on the street, then act as if I am that cultist to gain entry to their bases, right?"

"...riiight, why are we hiring you again?", Flight wonders, "No, don't answer that, I know why."

If you don't want me to answer you, why do you ask at all?

"Sooo... when can I start?", you inquire.

"You can start in four days. Lemme just put a figure here...", at that, she places a blue figure at Garnet Hotel, "And then...", at that she starts placing and moving figures around.

What is she doing?

"Um, what are you..."

"Huh? Oh, you can go already. Sense is going to show you where you can sleep while you work for us.", Flight mutters quietly, obviously distracted.

"Um... who is Sense? And where is he?", you ask, but she does not answer you. Before leaving, you look around the room one more time. It seems you missed a stray Crimson Knight-coat lying on the ground. You pick it up and store it in your pockets, before leaving the room.

In front of the room, you see two Crimson Knights guarding the entrance.

One of them stops doing that, and greets you: "Greetings... I was unfortunately unable to witness your arrival before, so I hope you find it in yourself to forgive me. My name is Honorable Sense, might I inquire about yours?"

Huh, this guy speaks rather strangely. Welp, Gaia won't punish me for socialising with weirdos as far as I know.

"Well, it's nice to meet you. So, you were supposed to show me where I can sleep?", you reply evasive.

"Yes, I was asked to show you where you can sleep. However, I couldn't help but notice that you were trying to circumvent telling your name. I will not force you to tell me, but I was hoping our relationship would be based on trust.", Sense tells you, before motioning for you to follow him.

Hm... he's atleast not standing around talking for what feels like an eternity before showing you around... that's good, I guess.

Sense tries to strike up a conversation, saying: "You emit a... unique odor..."

Finally someone who appreciates my natural scent! Honestly, most people seem to think I stink, but it smells wonderful for us Timberwolves.

"Oh, yes, I do! Why, are you about to ask about my favorite choice of bodywash? Well, sorry to disappoint you, I prefer no bodywash at all", you tell him proudly.

"Oh, one is able to... perceive your favorite choice of bodywash. No other bodywash can produce this kind of aroma", Sense replies.

I like him... this guy is great! It's like, he is the bestest pony ever! Celestia, Luna and whoever else might be a pretty pony princess prancing proudly (P5), Honorable Sense is best P5!

"So, do you have, like... someone who is very dear to you?", you inqire curiously.

"Why, yes! For one, my sister, Gory Flight, who you have already had the pleasure of meeting, is very dear to me. Additionally, my mother, Celestia bless her soul, was very dear to me back then, just as my father still is. However, he moved to Vanhoover recently. Did any of your family-members ever move away? If so, I am terribly sorry for you, I used to visit him every week. That reminds me, I do not know anything about your family. Would you care to correct this horrible flaw in our relationship?"

Uhhh, how do I evade this topic... I know! I am just going to pretend my pack is my actual family...

"Well, there was Elder for once. He was like... he was my grandfather, always sharing his wisdom with me. You know, he even taught me about bubbles!"

Sense looks at you strangely, before inquiring: "He taught you on the topic of... bubbles?"

You nod your head, and reply: "Yep! About the topic of the mythical, magical artifacts called bubbles! And that they come from these weird, specially enchanted soap dispenser. They even had one in the bar in front of which you guys knocked me unconcious!"

Sense smiles sheeply: "Oh, I wanted to talk to you about that..."

From a PM between me and PentakillApocalypse (He wrote the scene you are hearing play out)

"If you will not join willingly, then we will have to use unsavory methods! Do not make this hard for us!"

What is that sound... I know, it's the sound of eavesdropping-time!

"Shhh, be quiet for a moment... this could be interesting!", you stop walking and press your ear on a nearby door, which has a blue light shining through.

"You want me to join a cause that I have no reason to join in, and lets not forget the fact that every single one of you are idiots, your supposed 'generals' all screw around doing jack all day and when it comes down to fighting, they just hide behind their soldiers to do the dirty work for them. Oh, and lets not forget that every single one of you, blubbering, PANSY, WEAKLING PONIES ARE THE MOST SINGLE MINDED IDIOT THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN! GIVE ME A REASON NOT TO RIP OFF YOUR HEADS AND DELIVER THEM TO YOUR FAMILY'S  DOORSTEP!?"

Ow, my ear! Did he have to scream that loud?

"I- I.... SEIZE HIM!"

You hear some weird sounds following that, even a "Dear Luna!"- and "F*** this s*** I'm out!"-scream, before someone in there quietly mutters: "Boo!", followed by a thud. A short while nothing could be heard besides someone scuffing his feet, and then: "Wa-WAIT! I'LL PAY YOU! ANY AMOUNT YOU WANT! JUST..."

"You've got a deal", at this the voice quiets down to a deadly whisper, and you could swear the door froze on his words, "But give me ANY reason for me to believe that you are going to betray me, I will make sure that every. single. one of you. will regret it, savvy?"

After that you hear galloping, and a muttered: "Troublesome"

The blue light stops shining, and is replaced by something that's obviously candlelight.

"And that is how it came to this situation", a voice says.

Another one replies: "Hm... he is right, that is troublesome. But not for him, for us. We cannot back out now, and he is fairly important to the plan... but the sum he wants is ridiculous. Not impossible, but incredible high."

Sense tips at your shoulder, and motions for you to follow him. You gaze a last time at the door, before turning away with a heavy heart.

After making sure you are out of earshot-range, Sense resumes talking with you: "I assume you want to know what that was, is this wrong?"

"Yeah, you are right...", you mutter, "What was the deal with that?"

"Long story short? A mercenary wanted a really high sum for his service, and our recruiter agreed. Now our finance-master has to figure out how to get that money, or that mercenary comes back for vengeance..."

That doesn't sound like Sense did before... he must be really pissed about that, huh. Best P5 is pissed about something.

"Oh, so that happened just now in that room and you already know that? Your information-network must be hyper-efficient.", you reply lost in thought.

Sense snickers, before tellign you: "Said event did not occur in the specific room we are conversing about. Instead, they have looked over a recording of said event stored in an observation-crystal. Most likely, they were trying to figure out a way to get out of it, however, as I said we had already agreed to his terms before.

We arrived at your chamber."

You are now the Nightmare-Universe-Timberwolf

The hatred-chambers are almost full enough to try another communication-attempt, however, at the moment you are stuck in an Equestria completely devastated by Nightmare-Bugze.

All you need to know, everyone besides you is dead, and all signs of civilisation are destroyed. Ruined cities can be found, but no single house still completely intact. The only other people you could meet are those who were returned from their respective afterlives, or the ones most badass. Honestly, only like three people on the whole planet.

While you do have the TARDIS from this Universe's Doctor, it recently stopped working and you haven't figured out how to repair it. With your trusty sidekick Dalekarian, who is a Dalek with every weapon dismounted, you figured out that water is running low again. The only water you could use, and only after purifying it at the TARDIS, is the one from the Mirror pool on the other side of the forest.

However, the Everfree-Forest you are in has recovered from almost complete destruction already, and more dangerous versions of creatures like Manticores, Timberwolves and Cockatrice evolved in the last five years since you were here.

You have a deck of cards, a complete ruleguide to Oogres and Oubliettes, a complete set of dices, an umbrella, a few canisters for water and your trusty lunchbox on you. You forgot what else you might have left in the TARDIS.

You have all of Eternity, theoretically.

What do you do?

Arc of Other Part One

You realise you forgot one important item for the quest: A bucket.

While the canisters are good for transporting the water, the bucket is made out of metal. And noone knows when you might have to hide a piece of yourself under a bucket, after all. Who ever looks beneath buckets?

You go back inside the TARDIS into your hallway, leading to seven different rooms. You did not understand the architectural choices of the former owner, so you renovated most of it.

The walls are painted leafgreen, the ground stonegray. The doors themselves are brown, with the knobs being pure black.

It might cause a headache to look at it for some, but you are not some. You go through the second door on the right, entering your 'Important Storage'-room. You keep everything that will probably be needed in here, those things include but are not limited to: Buckets, spare dices, katanas, knives, AK49's and the DVD containing the whole series of Doctor Whooves.

You take one of your buckets from your storage, before leaving it. The mess inside it should better be left unexplained.

You leave the TARDIS, but not before looking into the 'Dalekarian Playroom', a room where Dalekarian gets locked up in your free-time. In the last month he has not done anything wrong, so he is not in here. He probably is in the control-room again.

After that, you finally embark on your journey through the Everfree. Of course, you stored everything in a red cape you recently found lying on the ground. It had some weird note attached to it, saying: 'To past me, from future me', but that is impossible. You would never give such an important item away, you mean, it has hyperspace built into it.

You constantly watch your surroundings for overgrown critters and plants. The Everfree is kind of mesmerising, now that it is regrown.

The leaves shimmer silvery, the bushes kind of seem to flow together, the trees stand tall, but far away enough from eachother that light shines down for the smaller plants. Flowers of all kinds grow, even the first specimen of a flower you call 'Black Rose' was found by you a few days ago.

It really is an interesting flower. You see, if you take it out of the ground, its roots will start growing downwards like crazy, and if you put your paw beneath it, its roots will grow into it and suck the minerals out of it. Now, you haven't been able to test if it is universally applyable, or if it works only against Timberwolves, but even so, it is a huge step in evolution for plants inside the Everfree. Seventy-eight percent of plants are carelessly thrown out of the ground by Timberwolves that are chasing their prey, and this 'Black Rose' has developed a counter-mechanism. So far, the longest time a Black Rose could sustain its growth without any 'rooting' happening was ten point five six seconds. It actually doesn't look like a rose, even if it is called that. It looks like a potato that grew overground. You only called it that because you found it in a really dark cave, and when it dug into you it felt as if you fell on spikes. Later on, you were able to bring it out of the cave, and look at it in the twilight. While it had died by the time you got it out of the cave, it still was somehow able to spread its seeds outside. Now you can find it everywhere in the Everfree, usually.

Unfortunately, you are unable to spot it today, even if it has been a particularly interesting day. All other interesting days since its discovery you have been able to find it, even if there were none until today.

You are so mesmerised by the beauty of the Everfree, that you forget that you should be moving.

But seriously, you should get moving.

You pry your eyes away from the leaves, and towards your goal... which is behind even more leaves. Good job, you did great.

After resuming your journey, you keep watch for anything that could try to keep you away from the target again...

Dream Seeker's Comment

You see a Cockatrice a few trees away (Trees are your favorite method of distinguishing distances, but since leaving the Everfree you had much fewer trees to count, so you swapped to metres temporary. Now you are back to counting trees), reminding you that you should try to keep yourself from getting stoned.

Looking up at the sky, you get no useful information at all. The world is still locked in eternal twilight, with no night or day.

You are getting tired though, so you climb the next tree, and put on your bucket. After all, a sappy romance-novel once said it works against Cockatrice, so why shouldn't it work even after they evolved?

Evolved Cockatrice; Also called: New Cockatrice / Cockatrice

Appearance: They have three snaketails, two dragonwings and two huge chickenlegs. Everything besides their face is covered in scales, and their wings have developed claws at their end.  While their legs are chickenlegs, they somehow are ripped and just pulsate from all the muscle. Their head is a chickenhead, and laughably undersized when compared to their body. Their body is roughly four times as big as their head would suggest, going off normal Cockatrices. Besides that, their head is very much like from normal cockatrices.

Powers: If you look into their eyes, you are petrified, just like with normal Cockatrices. If you stare at them too much, you get sleepy. It is not yet confirmed whether that is because you are just always tired, or because they have gained another power.

...you feel strange.

You try to open your eyes, but it doesn't work.

You try to move your paws, but it doesn't work.

You try to remember your dream, and it does work. But it does not help your situation.

Suddenly, you feel something applying pressure on you, it is then that you remember something:

Cockatrices turn their victims into stone, before destroying said stone. Only few cockatrices did not do it that way, and there is no reason to assume all evolved ones are of that kind.

Of course, you don't think that is bad. In fact, if you were caught by a cockatrice of that kind, you probably wouldn't be able to get free before a few old days passed.

It is much easier to sever your connection with small parts than with your body as a whole, not that the former is any less painful.

Your stony prison cracks, before breaking apart.

You begin severing your connection to your parts.

Compatibility:

As Compatibility we Timberwolves understand the ability of a material to connect with our spiritual essence, and to serve as a body for our spiritual energy. The Compatibility differs from material to material, however it should be known that the Compatibility usually is high for Timberwolves, when the following criteria are met:

-The material has to be solid

-The material has to be connected to the Earth

For some reason Wood has a higher Compatibility than Dirt and Stone, but so far no scientists have tried to figure out why.

Other spirits of nature can have Compatibility too, the Iron Eye for example has a high compatibility with metals.

After infusing your energy with a couple of loose branches and leaves, and re-building yourself, you look much more fabulous than before. You don't know why you haven't done this before.

You regather your cloak, that miraculously did not get turned into stone, but for some reason the bucket was.

You resume your walk towards the mirror-cave.

After a few hours walk (If you know how to navigate the Everfree, you friggin' know how to get through it) you arrive at the mirror-cave.

After opening the entrance and entering, you fill up the watercanisters with mirror-water.

You are about to leave the mirror-cave, when you see a hole in the opposite wall of the cave. It seems that a worm or something dug through it.

What do you do?

Arc Of Other Part Two

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Arc of Other Part Three

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

An Apple for a Loosa

Hard Cider's Comment

" . . . . . . Oh my. She must have been knocked unconscious. Who would do suc-" A familiar weight on you back makes itself known as you find the Great-sword wedged between a plate and a pauldron. You must have clocked her while looking around with your sword moving as you took in your surrounding.

Looking away from the culprit on your shoulder, you turn your head to look back to the unconscious filly laying there on the floor. Though the filly did attempt to 'eat you' (with you being 'one' with your armor), you can't help but feel guilty for knocking her senseless with your massive sword. The festering feeling inside you intensifies as you observe her still form.

She looks slightly malnourished with her skin stretching slightly pass a few ribs. Her coat is also grimy right under her tattered cloak... *sigh*, this is worse than that time I accidentally 'killed' a baby Phoenix, but with the possibility of mare-slaughter. This filly is owed an apology for my transgression. Perhaps I could-

You hear a set of hooves trying, and failing, to sneak towards you. You wait for them to draw closer as you faux interest in the unconscious filly, so you can disable them, maybe kill them if needed.

Feeling a weight press against your neck guard, the surprisingly high pitched voice of your muggers speaks: "Hooves in the air where i can-"

You cut off your would be muggers by deftly knocking a levitated knife out of the mugger's grip to the side with one paw, and swing your sword mere inches away from his face.

Hidden perk revealed: One with the weapon, one with the armor

I know I said you had to use the weapon like an extension of yourself, but this is going too far!

-You are able to swing your weapons much faster, and do normally impossible sword-feats for even unicorns trained in levitation easily

-You gain a level in badassery when fighting with melee-weapons and are able to accomplish very hard tasks

To your shock, you nearly decapitated a pair of foals. To their surprise, you had disarmed them of their only means of defense along with your sword being uncomfortably too close. Seconds that feel like years pass. Finally, out of shock, the foals bleat like goats and tip over with their hooves twitching in the air, knocked unconscious from surprise and fear. You sigh as you sheath your sword, wondering what your should do with the trio of filthy, malnourished foals.

I can't just let them lie here... argh, by Gaea, why do I have to be so good-hearted? Is it too much to ask for being a complete jackass at times? They'll have to come with me on the journey... poor folks don't look like they have anyone who can care for them.

Giving into your guilt, you look for a way to take them with you, and after some searching of your pockets you find out that the pockets of the red cloak are much larger in the inside than they are on the outside. For now you stuff them inside, seeing how you don't want to look like a foalnapper, but still want to keep them with you.

Feeling like doing a heroically heroic hero's act of heroism, you will one of your cloaks to perpetually billow heroically in the non-existing wind in a heroic way. Minutes into you trek you can feel the loneliness in your chest slowly diminish in size.

With or without their consent, you feel as if your all one big happy pack/herd.

This sure has been an eventful day, and it's not even past noon! From realising I love beards to becoming packless, then searching for the mysterious newspaper, at this you pat the pocket you keep the newspaper in, and finding out trains are the worst demonic tartarus-spawn of balefire there is, to being a hopefully-soon-to-be-Gaeasent for three foals.

You can feel a smile make its way across your face. "As the saying goes, 'The journey beats the destination'."

Perk gained: Billowing Magnificence

It may seem basically useless to most of you, but it makes for a nice conversation-piece. And you don't want to miss it when you really need it.

-Bodily hair, leafs, clothing. You can will them to move to a non-existing wind so you may appear more charismatic (+25 Charisma while active). That and boost your swager-asity (+10 Swag and +10 Handsomity while active)

-It can also provide some shade for days when its hot as balls.

After hours of of walking, you finally made your way to a trading hub.

You were just about to enter the market, when...

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment

Wait, is that a weapons-store? Can I get the newest inventions of mass-destruction TODAY?

Happily, you barge in before reading what the store actually sells, and once inside...

"Um, sorry, but you are the shopkeeper, right?", you ask the stallion behind the counter, prompting him to ask you how you knew that.

You chuckle at that, and tell him: "Because you set up the wrong sign. You won't sell your pies to people looking for weapons, and people looking for pies go into a bakery. There is no way you could ever afford a shop-assistant, so you have to sell it... OUCH!"

Unfortunately for you, the shopkeeper (weaponsmith? Piesmith!) is a lame unfunny two-horseshoes and kicks you out. He is about to go back in, when he sees another stallion, who upon closer inspection was more a teenager, and tells him: "Ah, I've been waiting for you. Please, go get the home improvement guy. I've been waiting for a delivery that is late..."

You ignore them as you enter the marketplace, all the people looking at you in awe of your magnificent armor.

SnapDrakeGames' Comment

As you look around, just now realising you have no money, a persistent shopkeeper tries to sell you apples.

"My family grows the best apples in all of Equestria! Not convinced? Here, try a bite!", at this he gives you a freebie, which you happily accept before making sure to vanish into the crowd from him.

"Eh, stupid seller, I friggin' hate apples!", you mutter to yourself. Suddenly, you feel like a thousand glares pierce your soul, and as you look around you see a few glares of ponies with apple-based cutiemarks glaring at you, and others looking surprised at you.

You don't feel very comfortable drawing all those stares, so you quickly bolt out of there.

Once secure in a side-street, you store the apple separate from the two fillies and the colt for them to eat later.

BrownDog77's Comment

On the main-street right next to you you see a sultry looking redmaned mare with a cherry for a cutiemark.She is loading up a wagon with baskets of cherries.

"I can't believe we're one stallion short. Are you sure you boys can handle the load with one less hoof?" she asks the stallions hooked up to the saddle.

"Well it will be tough ma'am, but not unreasonable. It may take a few more hours to get there."

"Oh, but these orders are already late as it is. Is there no other big strong stallions in this...hey you sir!" she shouts at you, just as you were about to sneak away.

You look around, hoping she had tried to get someone else to work than you, before gulping and asking: "Me?"

"Yes you! Please, we could use your help.", she tells you.

I don't want to help them, that would be work! And a distraction from my search... I know! If I act as if I don't understand her I could get out of this.

"With what?"

"You think you could help these fine gentlemen pull my wagon to Manehattan?"

Uh... DANGER ABORT DANGER ABORT. *mental sigh* How could I get out of this? I know, I just tell her I can't do that.

"Umm...I don't think..."

"I'll pay you 750 bits,"

"Which way is Manehattan?!" you say as you hook yourself up.

By Gaea, with that much money I wouldn't have to worry about feeding the foals for a while!

Hidden perk revealed: Endless stamina

Yeah, right. He's the spirit of chaos, of course he won't get exhausted! All spirits are unable to become exhausted, yes, that includes timberwolves, but back to the topic...

-Your stamina does not get lower

-After a long while awake, your Aether begins to weaken until you fall unconcious or sleep

-Endurance +50

Wow, that race really took a toll on them. Tch, they thought they could show off, but not under my watch!

"Thank you very much. We just made it in time!", the mare, who you know now to be Cherry Jubilee, told you before giving you your money.

You run off into the city, trying to find a market so you can feed your foals, not even saying goodbye.

I have to wash my clothes soon, they are getting sweaty and begin to stink... Wait, what am I thinking? Of course I want my natural timberwolf-scent back if possible, and that the  shows they belong to me!

You feel something moving in your pockets, so you take the foals out, partially hoping they would know where to go. But after taking them out of the pockets, and giving them the apple, they...

What do they do?