Wolfsing

    The five of them—Seablue not included since she didn’t stay in school—graduated with many honors despite all the trouble that Alaru had gotten himself into. Before this they were doing minor jobs as Celestia’s knights, but now they were considered official knights—other than Alaru, who refused to be considered a mere knight, especially in the name of Celestia.

    All of them, by now, had learned how to change into wolves, except Alaru.

    “It’s probably because I got bit by that wolfpony back in Alaris,” he explained with a small smirk, and none of them could tell whether he was kidding or not as he continued to explain, “It’s also probably because I’m a Shadow Walker. Between that and the wolfpony curse it cancels out, I guess.”

    Trouble had been brewing and Celestia had called all of them into her throne room. Alaru was there along with the rest of the knights since it would have been a hassle to tell him otherwise, and Celestia was secretly glad to have him working for her, knowing that he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to act on what she gathered them there to do. Selena and Solomen were there as well, and the Decans hardly noticed, accepting that the head sorceress—for that is what she achieved in all that time—was a part of their order as well.

    “You’re probably wondering why I’ve brought all of you here today,” Celestia addressed them, “Well, to put it frankly, there have been murders taking place amongst the high-ranking in the city, and I know that I can rely on you the most to get to the bottom of it. I also wanted to warn you to watch your own as well, knowing that you all are just as likely to be targeted, but keep it on the low. I don’t want the common ponies to become distressed by this, though it will no doubt get out quickly as these things usually do.”

    “We’ll do the best we can,” Wolfsing told Celestia, stepping to the front. “These crimes against Canterlot will not stand.”

    “Noble words,” Selena murmured to Solomen as they walked out at the end of the meeting. “It’s a shame they couldn’t sniff out the real culprit when it was standing right beside them.”

    Solomen simply grunted. It was no secret to the two of them that he was the one responsible. He had been going out in his wolf form and killing, but the catch was that he allowed Scythe ponies to see him. He didn’t mind the dirty work, caring little for ponies now, and needing an excuse to get away from Selena. Even now, as they walked together, she leaned on him. She could feel her bobbing with mirth as they passed Sara, the leader of the Scythe ponies and Cakern’s father.

    The younger Decans had cleared out by then, but Wolfsing and Raisong were still there when he burst in. He glared at the couple, they being his greatest enemy in the military as far as he was concerned, though he himself had tried to avoid the pettiness of the younger members that mostly followed his son’s lead.

    “Wolves. A group of black wolves have been terrorizing our good city,” Sara rasped, addressing Celestia. “Something must be done immediately to catch these devils!”

    “Wolves?” Celestia retorted skeptically.

    “There are no wolves in Canterlot,” Wolfsing mentioned firmly. She didn’t feel entirely honest saying it, but she knew for a fact that none of her own could have possibly have done such a thing, and if there were any that were in town they would have caught them. They didn’t have the slightest clue about Solomen, Selena taking the time to ward him against Wolfsing and her family knowing their secret.

    “I know it for a fact because I’ve seen one myself. There’s also no denying the way that these nobles are dying. They’ve been torn open by something with sharp teeth, and you can’t convince me that it’s anything other than a wolf,” Sara hissed. Wolfsing didn’t miss the way he was looking at her cutie mark, the head of a howling wolf with a wing behind it.

    “Impossible. I know how you scythe ponies feel about the wolves and the Everfree,” Wolfsing retorted, glaring at him and turning a bit so it couldn’t see as much of her flank. “How do we know you’re not setting us—I mean the wolves—up?”

    Raisong didn’t say anything at all, but a growl was building in his chest. Celestia could see the potential fight that was building between the two so she said quickly, “I will keep what you said in account. For now you’re both dismissed. The sooner you figure this out, the better.”

    “What kept you?” Alaru asked impatiently, though Wolfsing and Raisong didn’t seem bothered by his blunt attitude. She told them what had happened and what Sara had said about a black wolf.

    Alaru shrugged, just looking annoyed as he answered, “Is that it? I’m heading out then. I’ve been getting annoying headaches lately.”

    He flew off quickly, and the others just shrugged. Alaru had a habit of just disappearing. Rust felt a bit bothered, however, as he heard what Wolfsing was saying and followed him. He looked surprised to see Rust following him as he landed on a cloud.

    “I need to talk to you about something,” Rust told him solemnly.

    “What? Can’t you tell I’m busy? I guess it’s important since you never want to talk about anything, huh?” Alaru almost looked regretful about his harsh tone.

    “Listen, I need to know. If you were a wolf you would be black, but you say that you can’t change. You get what I’m saying, don’t you? It sounds really suspicious to me,” Rust told him bluntly.

    Alaru stared at him for a moment before growling, “Look, I’m really not lying about the wolf thing. That’s kind of what I thought too, so I’m going to look into this and figure out what’s going on before the rest of them think of that as well. You know the Shadow Walker thing, I really can’t explain it, but I feel like someone is trying to cast a spell on us.”

    “A spell?” Rust asked. “That would make sense, but where would it be coming from?”

    “I’m getting a strong vibe from that Swallow Death, as well as her lackey. I feel like he might be a wolf but…what was I just saying?” Alaru shook his head. “Well, whatever. I’m going out tonight to figure things out.” He then flew away again in a flash. Rust could have followed him, but he felt like he had a point, and was satisfied with what he had told him so he didn’t say anything to the rest of the Decans.

    That night Alaru flew swiftly, darting between the tall buildings with confidence. Everything seemed to be in order, and he felt powerful in the cover of the night. Something gave him pause. He noticed a tall, black, unicorn stallion walking the streets. He glanced at Alaru, and started to trot faster. He found it strange that the unicorn had sensed him at all, and he considered it his prerogative to follow him and find out what he was doing, or rather he would have, but something else slammed into him.

    He twisted in the air, kicking out with powerful hooves to shake his attacker off him. “Who do you think you are, attacking me like that?”

    “I knew it would be you,” the pegasus scoffed. “You were always a troublemaker. It makes no difference to me that you’re a demon as well.”

    “What? Oh, you think I’m that wolf. It’s kind of funny how you would get me mixed up with the likes of him, but I swear I just saw him,” Alaru replied dismissively, “So get out of my face, old man, so I can catch up to him.”

    “I won’t fall for your lies,” Cakern answered, his feathers ruffled by Alaru’s words. He streaked toward him in outrage. Alaru was a bit surprised by his speed, but he was a bit faster, darting above where Cakern would have been before slamming his hooves down on his back.

    Cakern suddenly became disoriented and fell away. Alaru snorted, wondering how someone like him could be considered one of the elite Scythe Ponies. Still, he was worried about being mistaken for the black wolf, so he returned home.

    He didn’t realize that this failing on Cakern’s part was caused by Selena, and he was unconscious by the time she lowered him to the ground. “There,” She said. “I think I’ve left your memories blocked long enough. I think it’s time you recall what you’ve found out about your dear Wolfsing and her Raisong.”

    The next day all was abuzz as Cakern rallied his fellow Scythe Ponies, and as their rowdy display rose, guards began to join them as well.

    “I saw it with my own eyes,” Cakern cried to them. “Raisong is a wolf taking the form of a pony, and now so is Wolfsing. I bet her children are as well. It’s the most obvious thing there is to see, and it’s gone right under our hooves.”

    William was the first to get wind of it, and so he warned Rust and Alaru, both of which were living in town. Despite Alaru being the only one to not be able to change, he was the one who was the fastest to get to the family.

    “They’ve lost their minds,” he explained. “Apparently they know that the two of you are wolves and they’re coming for you.”

    “We have to fight them,” Zanril cried. “We’re no different than them, other than the fact that we live in the woods.”

    “We should,” Alaru agreed with a sneer.

    “I think it’s a bad idea,” Silve decided at length. “It’s best that we don’t make the capitol our enemy.”

    “If you haven’t noticed,” Rust mentioned as he approached alongside William, “We already managed that simply by being discovered.”

    “I can’t imagine how,” William added. “We were careful about all of this.”

    “They’re simply rioting,” Raisong said, his voice monotone. “That doesn’t mean that Celestia is standing beside them. We can go and plead with her, and she’ll fix things for us.”

    “What makes you think Celestia would do that?” Alaru snorted. “She’s not interested in protecting us.”

    “I have to believe it. It was told to me by my father; a promise Celestia made to the wolves,” Raisong replied, “though I’m not sure if wolf shifters were included in the agreement.”

    “I personally think it’s worth a shot,” Wolfsing said to put her thoughts in.

    Raisong nodded. “I will go alone, as one is less likely to get caught than a pack. You all should flee from here. Change to your wolf forms and run as far as your paws will take you with the pack. It’s not safe here and it won’t be for quite some time.”

    “But this is our home,” Seablue cried, to the surprise of the rest of them, “This is where we belong, where we were born! We can’t just leave it like this.”

    “Don’t worry,” Raisong comforted her. “There’s another territory far from here, one where we’ll all be safe. That was what was passed down to us, and that’s what we will find, but first we have to settle this war against my people.”

    Seablue nodded, teary-eyed but determined.

    “I’m going with you,” Wolfsing told him. “I can’t let you go alone. I’m terrified that something horrible will happen to you if you go on your own.”

    Raisong nodded, knowing it better not to argue, already in silent agreement about that, and addressed the rest of them instead. “Get going! Don’t look back, and don't follow us. We’ll meet up with you far to the south of this point.”

    The three sisters exchanged glances before starting to turn away, but Alaru stepped forward and growled, “I’m not running away if you two are going in. I can fight just as well as any of you, maybe better.”

    “We’re not looking for a fight,” Wolfsing shot back. “We’re looking for a compromise, and you’ll certainly not help matters.”

    Alaru glared at her, but nodded slowly, walking away with the rest of them. It wasn’t long before they were running as they were told, however, and Raisong with Wolfsing turned towards Canterlot and made haste. They dared not go in their wolf forms, for fear that they would be met by other ponies and possibly killed on the spot.

    Wolfsing winced as her hooves went from fine earth to stony walkways. It no longer felt right to her, despite how she had served as a representative for so long, and she hated the sound their hooves made on the stone. It seemed to echo all around them.

    She ran right behind Raisong, but something caught her attention, and she stopped without realizing it. Raisong didn’t realize it either and kept going.

    “Do you hear that?” Wolfsing asked, not aware that she was alone. Nopony was on the streets today, and it was a wonder she didn’t hear Raisong still going. She didn’t realize that he had changed to pick up speed, knowing that no one of consequence would catch him.

    She then realized he was gone. “Raisong?” She asked, shivering as she realized what had happened. The sounds could still be heard, and Wolfsing realized that it was the Scythe Ponies rallying. She decided then and there that she would set them straight so she headed toward the sound.

    She followed their chanting, the sound growing louder and more obnoxious the closer she drew. She stood on the edge of the gathering, and ahead she could see an old, grizzled general type, rallying the crowd into murderous intent. Cakern was nowhere to be seen, despite apparently being the cause of this uprising.

(This part is a musical number of sorts, based off of the song Bats from the actual show)

“These Everfree wolves will give you a fright, attacking ponies both day and night. They rest for a minute, maybe three, and then they’re after every pony in the family,” he growled, stomping forward, and leaning into the crowd.

    “They don’t care about nada, not zilch, no, nothing, except bringing about a kingdom’s destruction,” he roared, and the ponies around him roared in agreement.

    Wolfsing was sickened as she heard what he was saying and stepped forward, her voice ringing out around her as she moved toward the center of the crowd. “Now wait just a minute, there’s another side to this, and if I did not defend them, then I would be remiss. These wolves are mothers and fathers too! They care for their young just like we ponies do.” Her voice shook with emotion, pleading with them to understand.

    The crowd only jeered at her, mocking her and calling her names.

    “You’re hardly a pony like we are!”

    “What do you know, Wolfsing? Come to cry your praises to these killers?”

    The General glared down at her and spat back, “Oh, give me a break, you’re being too kind. These creatures have a one-track mind. These villages aren’t theirs to haunt, but do they ever think what others may want? NO! They don’t, and that’s just one, simple fact. These wolves, they just simply don’t know how to act!”

    Wolfsing heard the cries around her heighten in agreement, and she felt disheartened though she still forged on. “That’s where I have to disagree; they’re loyal to their family, roaming these lands both far and wide.”

    “You see one coming, you’d better run and hide!” The General growled, jumping from his pedestal to get in her face. He stomped his hooves and pushed her back with each word. “They’re big, and ugly, and mean as sin! Will you look at the state my troops are in?”

    She glanced about, seeing his point. Things were becoming dangerous all about her, the ponies around jeering and hissing threats, thirsty for the blood of wolves.

    “Th-They’ll help your troops,” she stuttered, “Th-they’ll grow st-stronger faster.”

    “They’ve turned my life into a total disaster,” he screamed back.

    A young noble mare stepped forward, her fur bright and clean, and put in, “Well, I for one don’t have a doubt. These vermin must be stamped right out.”

    One of the castle guards in attendance called out in agreement, “I second that, they’ve got to go. These wolves; they’ve got to hit the road!”

    The General sneered down at her as cheers of agreement rang all around them and he barked, “it comes down to just one simple fact. They've crossed the line, it's time to fight them back!”

    “No!” Wolfsing cried desperately, but it was too late. The ponies all around her converged on her, seizing her wings and binding her tightly.

    They tied her to a post and raised it high, her wolf and wing cutie mark still visible as they roared and chanted, “Stop the wolves, stop the wolves! Make them go and not come back!”

    She struggled and cried out as the general ordered wood and kindling to be gathered and the General hissed, “There can be no mercy for these wolf walkers that speak to the wolves and live in their forests.” His voice rose above the chanting and frenzied cries of his rallied followers, “Yes, it comes down to just one simple fact. They’ve crossed the line. It’s time that we attack!”

    ***

    Raisong found the silence of Celestia’s castle foreboding as he made his way up the stairs silently. He had just now realized that Wolfsing was no longer behind him, but there was something about this that promised that if he dared take the time to find her then it would be too late.

    He forced the big double doors open just in time to be witness to what was happening within. Celestia struggled to stand, Sara, Cakern’s father and the leader of the scythe ponies standing over her, his horn bright and sparking.

    “I’m tired of watching you overlook my units in favor of that upstart wannabe princess and her rouge lover, Celestia, and her filthy family. You’ve gone feeble with overworking yourself to maintain a kingdom that’s too big for you alone, and you’ve gone soft as well,” Sara told her.

    “There are going to be dire consequences for your insubordination that have long been coming,” Celestia promised him. “Because of you, your family will be reduced to the lowly.”

    “Those words mean nothing coming from an old, dead mare,” Sara replied as his horn grew brighter, but he was cut off as Raisong crashed into him. He stumbled to the side and glared at him, expecting some serf earth pony, but was surprised to see that it was Raisong himself.

    “Your magic isn’t strong enough to bother to be used?” He sneered.

    “It’s not needed,” he corrected.

    “We’ll see about that,” Sara growled, shooting off a beam at Raisong, but his magic countered with a sharp bolt of lightning that broke the beam and refracted against the walls. Sara was stunned and awed, so he hardly noticed Raisong’s charge that followed within the brilliant light that blinded him until the moment when Raisong locked horns with him. He swallowed nauseously at the impact to his horn, so solid and quick.

    He growled and tried to press back on him, however, despite how Raisong had sheer strength behind him. He didn’t get his position merely by inheritance. Raisong snarled as Sara shoved him back and they were once more struggling in a battle of magic and horns.

***

    Solomen walked down the streets with his horn hardly hidden and aglow. He hardly hid his intentions, and blasted at stores and windows every so often, intending to draw attention to himself. Selena had promised to reward him once he returned, but he felt sickened as he was sure it wasn’t the reward he was doing all of this for. Her advances were beginning to become unbearable to him, and he was surely going to be glad when he finished this task for his sister’s freedom and could leave. If he was never a pony ever again, he would certainly be glad.

    He thought, for just a moment, that after what Selena had done and set up that there wouldn’t be a home for him and his sister to return to even if she kept his word. He would be hunted and cursed to the ends of the earth, or at least to the edge of Equestria, and he didn’t want to think about what might be beyond that.

    He shook his head, trying to clear it of thoughts so far ahead. He was doing this to save his sister. It didn’t matter if there was nothing left afterward if he couldn’t save her to begin with. He growled as an arrow tore along his side and flank, having grown distracted, and looked up to see a line of ponies standing ready to attack him from behind shields.

    “Stay back,” A voice called to his comrades. “I’ll take care of this.” A pegasus sprung up into the air and Solomen growled and tried to shoot him down, but he missed as he hurtled toward him. It was Cakern. The next moment the air was filled with magic and chaos as those in the line tried to blast Solomen to nothing, their fear growing at his approach.