Tartarus High

(A/N sorry if this seems rushed but I'm leaving tomorrow morning and won't be back until friday and I'm busy, but i vowed to get this out today. Enjoy! -Dark)

“So...why did you leave the Changeling hive?” Twilight asked after Dawn and Dusk had been introduced to almost literally everyone. Spike was with them this time.

“These demon attacks aren't only affecting humans Dear. You know this, the Timber wolves were in a bad place before you came along. The Griffins have the least of it, due to their lands being far away from the gate. As I can see, there were some dragons helping you as well. But the Changelings are rather close to the gate, we volunteered to go find help.” Dawn explained.

“Well now that our threats are done we can come and help them.” Twilight said.

“You would? We haven't even gotten to a reward yet.” Dusk said.

“Of course. They need help. That's good enough for us.” Twilight replied.

“But a reward would be nice.” Spike joked.

“Well the reward would be their debt. If you do help them, they'll help you. They are aware of the need to find the Gatekeeper.” Dusk said.

“That'd be perfect, but we technically know where she is. We're still not strong enough to attempt a rescue.” Twilight said.

“Wait...she's not...oh god she is...past the Gates of Tartarus I presume?” Dawn asked.

“Yes.” Twilight replied. Suddenly she and Spike put their hands to their earpieces.

“We got reports from the Den, somethings wrong and Kirin needs the rest of us back there.” Twilight said, already changing. Wings flared and the entire camp of Nightstalkers either took off into the air and charged towards the nearby forest.

“Kirin, parents. Parents, Kirin. What do you need?” Twilight asked after the quick introductions. The wolf nodded at Dawn and Dusk, and they nodded back, before he spoke.

“Wendigos...they've been sighted on the outskirts of the forest.” Kirin said.

“I thought they were only a Myth...told during Hearth's Warming Eve to get people to be nice top each other...” Spike said.

“They are, but we call these Demons Wendigos...they are as old as our own kind. They were banished from some darker land. They chill the air and their fur is frozen. Their touch is like Frostbite. They wanted this forest for themselves, but my ancestors fought them. Every few generations they return...” Kirin explained.

“How do you push them off?” Twilight asked.

“normally we would simply fight...but our numbers are too small for that, but with your help we can win.” Kirin said.

“Do you know their numbers?” Twilight asked.

“Yes. There are Ten, as always. But Ten of them can destroy all life in this forest within days.” Kirin said.

“Have you ever tried talking to them?” Dawn asked.

“Yes. My Great Grandfather did. He was able to get them to speak, but he did not understand the language.” Kirin replied.

“Well maybe I could try. I'm fluent in every Equestrian Language. Not to mention a few mythical ones.” Twilight offered.

“You can try, but if they even get close to touching you I'll burn them.” Spike said.

“That's why I'll have you and Emerald there with me.” Twilight smiled. “Where are they now?” she asked.

“Those things are scary.” Spike said as they watched the beasts. They were almost perfectly ghosts. They floated above the ground and they immediately felt the chill around them. They were a spectral blue and frost coated everything they touched. Their fur like ice, their teeth icicles. Their eyes though. They had a ghost-like glow. They all suddenly stopped and turned towards where the three were hiding. Obviously caught, they revealed themselves.

The Specters cocked their heads in curiosity. They had expected Timber wolves apparently.

“Can you understand me?” Twilight asked. The creatures gave her a confused look. One of them said something to another in an odd language. But wait, she understood it.

“Is she human?” the creature asked the Leader.

“Can you understand me now?” she asked, switching to the language Glyph names were derived from. She remembered it was called Archaic Speech or something like that.

“You know our Tongue?” the leader asked.

“Yes. We guard the Wood Wolves and this forest, for it is our home as much as theirs. Why are you here?” Twilight asked. After mentioning they were friends of the Timber wolves, one of them crouched low.

“Wood wolves bad...friends of wood wolves bad...” it growled.

“Hey hey, don't even think about it or I'll melt that face of yours right off.” Spike said, having been forced to learn the language by his older sister.

“Fire Mages...you could easily destroy us. Why do you not?” the leader asked.

“Because you're here for a reason and I want to know and solve this dispute peacefully.” Twilight said. The leader looked at her for a long time. He looked back at the others and nodded to them. They touched to the ground and the spectral chill dispersed. Now they were just large wolves, they hadn't been seen for centuries.

“The Wolves split into two...us, and them. They inherited the attributes of the Trees they lived in and their language. We inherited the attributes of the icy Mountains we stick to. The Wood Wolves began to grow soft, so our ancestors send groups of us to toughen them up. They think we are the evil ones, but they tried talking last time...now they are doing it again, with you though. Their numbers dwindle, but as do ours. They cannot read nor speak our language nor we theirs so a peaceful solution has not been possible. At first we attacked them...but they grew strong and now hunt us when we are sighted. We do not blame them.” the great wolf explained.

“Well the current pack leader would gladly find a peaceful solution.” Twilight said.

“There are only fifteen of us left...tell your pack leader our only condition is to allow us access to the forest and it's resources, the mountains no longer sustain even our small pack” he said.

“I will, come with me. I guarantee your safety.” Twilight said.

“Very well.” he said. With a soundless command he ordered the others to leave, but the smallest one stayed. She looked at him and he nodded. She joined him as he stepped towards them.

“This is my Daughter, Frostbite. My name is Jack Frost.” he said.

“Alright. Try to keep up.” Twilight said as she and the other two changed and dashed off. The Wendigos kept up rather well, even without reverting to their Spectral sort of form.

“We will allow haven here. Our condition is that you assist us when we attack the Gates of Tartarus.” Kirin said.

“These terms are acceptable.” Jack said. Kirin and Jack then pounded their chest and bowed their heads to each other, signifying the deal is complete. Twilight had drawn a temporary glyph on the Wendigos' head that would teach them any language they hear. It took a lot of mental power to not pass out and jumble it, but the Wendigos were as strong minded and you could get.

“Right. I will ask you allow my Daughter a permanent spot here, she wishes to learn about this Pack.” Jack said.

“We have lots and lots of space, we can do that.” Twilight said.

“But being a part of the pack includes fighting with us. If you stay with the Nightstalkers you will be as a Nightstalkers. Twilight will be your leader.” Kirin said.

“I know. I was speaking to one of them. We are skilled fighters, I am the best in our pack besides my Father and I would be insulted if you did not allow me to fight by your side.” Frostbite said, looking Twilight in the eyes. The giant wolf being on eye level made it intimidating, but Twilight just grinned. Frostbite had obviously intended to be a bit intimidating with it an was surprised by this.

“A note for you Darling, you can't intimidate Twilight. She could turn this whole forest into dust if she wanted.” Rarity said. “But off of that subject you simply MUST tell me how you get your fur so beautiful and soft!” she continued, earning a laugh all around.

“You freeze it and let it thaw naturally. Don't think that'd work for you though.” Frostbite said with a smirk.

“I imagine you'd like a cave-like room. I can do it, but give me a bit. I'm still exhausted from magic exertion from a big battle we just had. For now you can find a cave of your choosing, there's many empty ones connected to the tunnels below.” Twilight said to Frostbite.

“Alright, thank you. We saw the after effects of that battle. According to the woman, I imagine the one near Canterlot was your doing?” Frostbite asked.

“Yeah.” Twilight replied, yawning and leaning against the wall.

“So...what's your story? How'd you end up here?” Frostbite asked. Twilight thought for a moment and told the tale. It took a rather long time. It was dark when Twilight finally finished, they had moved to a Cave of Frostbite's choice.

“I am really going to enjoy living with you Twilight Sparkle.” Frostbite said with a smile.

“Thanks, I hope so.” Twilight giggled. “So I've been wondering...how come you can turn back into relatively normal wolves and the Timber Wolves can't?” Twilight asked.

“They've forgotten how to, and now that their generations have been made with their elemental form. My Father Lied earlier, he said the wolves split into two. We are in fact four. There used to be wolves of fire and wolves of the air...but they have gone extinct. Wars between those two went on for long. The fire wolves would have turned on us if they weren't gone.” Frostbite explained.

“I didn't know that...I think I'm going to enjoy hearing about the Wendigo history and stuff from you.” Twilight laughed. She was going to say something else, but a huge yawn escaped her.

“You said you were Exhausted, you should go sleep. I am perfectly fine here.” Frostbite said, stepping up and licking Twilight's cheek.

“Hey now, I've already got a girlfriend.” Twilight giggled.

“Oh she doesn't have to know.” Frostbite giggled back. “But joking aside that was a major sign of trust.” she continued.

“Well thanks. I won't make you regret trusting me if I can help it.” Twilight said. Frostbite nodded and Twilight went into the Tunnels to return to her own room.