A Wolf Among Ponies

Despite it being daytime, the denizens of Ponyville had learned long ago that the Everfree Forest was an eerie and dangerous place to behold.

Regardless of that fact, one individual still ventured through it that fateful Thursday.

“This isn't the worst place I've ever seen, but it's certainly on the top ten list of places never to take a vacation at,” he grumbled as he walked through the forest.

He had been walking through the Everfree Forest for hours and, luckily, only ran into a couple Timberwolves, of which he had quickly disposed of with no major injuries. Any scratches he had received were healed quickly, thanks to his Self-Healing ability

He saw a clearing in the forest and was glad he would finally be out of the forest. As he stepped out, he saw what looked to him like a rural town in the distance.

He scanned the area and saw a group of ponies clad in guard’s armor going down a dirt path towards the town. He knew that under the circumstances, there was a possibility that they would attack on site, but he really hoped to avoid fighting.

“Excuse me, guards,” he yelled after them. When they turned and saw what he was, they drew their weapons and ran up to him.

“Put your hands up!” yelled the lieutenant of the squad as they surrounded the wolf, pointing their weapons at him.

The lieutenant was a  caramel-colored mare with sky blue eyes, wearing silver armor while the other guards wore bronze.

“Whoa!” the wolf put his hands up, “I come in peace!”

The lieutenant snorted, “And what makes me think I'm gonna believe that?”

“I have come to speak with Her Majesty, Princess Celestia,” said the wolf.

“Well, we’ll just have to see what Princess Twilight says about that,” said the lieutenant, giving the wolf a look of hatred.

Twilight was watching intently from her throne as the Captain of Ponyville’s Guard, Flash Sentry, marched back and forth in front of Ponyville's Royal Guard, clad in his purple Captain’s armor that reminded Twilight of when her big brother used to be Captain of the Guard, back when there was only one guard in Equestria.

Twilight’s friends were off informing Ponyville’s civilians of the forthcoming danger.

“Listen up! There's an army of wolves marching on our Ponyville and will be here at about eighteen hundred hours,” said the Captain, “I don't think I have to remind you that your job is to protect your Princess with your lives. Those wolves main priority will no doubt be to capture or kill the Princess. Do not let this happen! Failure is not an option! Is that clear!”

“Sir yes sir!” shouted the Royal Guard in unison.

Flash’s rant was interrupted by the throne room doors being flung open as the Southern Border Patrol of Ponyville came marched in, escorting someone.

They walked up to Flash and stopped in front of him, standing up straight in military fashion and saluted to him. “Captain Sentry, sir,” said the brown lieutenant, “we found this wolf trying to sneak into Ponyville from the Everfree Forest.”

“Is that so?” he asked, turning his gaze to the wolf in question and gave him a death glare.

“For the record, Captain Sentry, was it, I wasn't trying to sneak in anywhere. I approached your guards and simply asked to speak with Her Highness, Princess Celestia.” said the wolf in a calm, collected voice.

“What makes you think I’m gonna believe that? Take him to the dungeon!” commanded Flash, disgusted the that the wolf thought he could fool a Captain of the Guard so easily.

“Wait!” pleaded the wolf as he was being dragged away by two burly guards, struggling a bit. He turned to Twilight, “Your Majesty, please, just hear me out.”

“Wait!” Twilight beckoned to one of her Royal Guards. The guard broke the line formation that they had stayed it the whole time, and approached her.

“You, go get Applejack and bring her here,” Twilight told the guard.

The guard left the room and Twilight turned to the to the wolf, “What is your name?”

He knelt down before Twilight, the guards pulling out their weapons from the sudden movement, but sheathing them after they saw what he was doing.

“My name is Justin T-Bone Bellator,” said the wolf.

He had black fur, with a patch of red around his left eye, as well as red streaks throughout his fur. His eyes were chocolate brown. His ears were twice as long as Twilight’s and had white fur on the inside. He wore a dark grey t-shirt under a black, unzipped hoodie that had red trimming, black and red high-tops,a pair of black, fingerless gloves and black jean-shorts.

He was big, with a tone figure. He was also quite handsome, especially for a wolf.

Twilight relaxed a little as Justin showed no signs that he meant her any harm, but she still kept her guard up. Twilight had more questions for Justin, but wanted her friends bullshit detector first.

Five minutes later, the guard reentered the room with Applejack. She gasped when she saw Justin and hurried past him in fear up to Twilight.

“Whaddya need, Twi?” asked Applejack, wary of Justin’s presence. Twilight turned to Justin.

“Applejack here is, arguably, the best lie detector in Equestria. You may plead your case, but if you lie, Applejack with tell me and you will be put in the dungeon, is that understood?” Twilight asked the wolf.

“Yes, Your Highness. As I was saying before, I have come here with the intention of speaking with Princess Celestia,” said Justin, still kneeling.

“Do you have any intention of bringing cap or death to Princess Celestia or any other citizen of Equestria?” Twilight asked.

“I have no intention of doing such things,” responded Justin.

Twilight looked at Applejack who gave her a confirming nod.

“Are you with the wolves that have been attacking Equestria and started a war with us?” asked Twilight.

“No, I have no allegiance to them whatsoever.” As Justin answered the question, he noticed out of the corner of his eye that up on the rafters of the crystal castle, was a hooded wolf notching an arrow in his/her bow.

Twilight and the guards were too busy with their attention on Justin, that they were oblivious to the impending danger. Justin knew if he did act fast, the Princess would be killed, and he would be blamed.

“Where are you fro-” Twilight was interrupted by Justin breaking his cuffs and ran towards her before the guards could grab him.

Not Twilight, Applejack, nor the guards had enough time to react as the assassin above let loose an arrow, and Justin, in one swift move, jumped, grabbed the arrow, and threw it back to the one who shot it.

Justin then turned back to Twilight, kneeled and bowed his head to her as a wolf assassin fell from the rafters with an arrow in his heart.

Flash turned to his guards, “We've been infiltrated! Search the castle for any more assassins! You,” he said pointing at Justin. After a moment of hesitation, he continued, “If you're really on our side, then take the Princess to her chambers and guard her with your life… please.”

Justin stood up and saluted with a smile, “Yes sir!”

“Applejack, go help with battle preparations,” said Twilight.

Applejack opened her mouth to protest, but was stopped by Twilight’s raised hand, “I'll be fine, just go,” she said with a reassuring smile.

“Ok, Twi,” Applejack turned to Justin, “if you hurt her, I swear I'll-”

“I swear on my parents graves, no harm will come to her while I'm still breath,” said Justin.

With that, Applejack left, and Justin followed Twilight as she rushed to her chambers. As they entered, to guards looked the door behind them.

Now that they were alone, Twilight dropped her calm, regal persona, and breathed a couple deep breaths, then turned to Justin.

“So, how do you know Celestia?” asked Twilight.

“I met her when I went to Canterlot on business with my parents, though I doubt she'll recognize me  By the way, why are you acting differently now, Your Highness?” asked Justin.

“To be honest with you, I'm terrified, I haven't ever had a real attack from an army. And, just call me Twilight,” she said.

“If that's alright with you, then, ok,” he responded.

Twilight sat on her bed, trying to calm herself, while Justin stayed standing, alert and using all his senses to look for danger.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Twilight spoke, “Thanks. For, you know, saving my life.”

Justin looked at her with a smile, “No problem. I- Someone's coming!”

The doors burst open as a tall, regal looking, white Alicorn, clad in golden battle armor with her silver sword drawn, burst through the door, followed by a blue Alicorn, and a white unicorn stallion with blue hair.

When she saw the wolf near Twilight, she pounced on him, putting her sword to his throat as Luna and Shining Armor got between them and Twilight.

“Wait! I wasn't attacking her I was protecting her!” pleased Justin

“It's the truth, Celestia! Don't you remember him?” asked Twilight.

Celestia looked at her, “I haven't the slightest clue who he is.” She turned to Justin, keeping her sword at his throat, but softening her tone, “Who are you?”

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you don't remember me. It has been a while. My dad’s name... was Richard Bellator and my mom was Lily Cheyenne Bellator.”

Celestia gasped, then got off of Justin and lowered her sword. She stared at him wide-eyed, mouth agape before saying, “Justin?”

“So you do remember me? Remember the first time we met?” Justin asked with a smile.

As Celestia stared at him, she remembered when she met the black and red wolf at the peace conference. He was such a entertaining pup and left an everlasting impression on Celestia.

She dropped her sword and rushed forward, and embraced Justin, to which he returned.

“It's been so long. Where have you been? I haven't seen you or your parents since the attacks started,” said Celestia as she finished her hug.

It was then that Flash Sentry rushed in, fearing the yelling earlier was another assassin. After seeing Celestia, he bowed, “Your Majesty, I had no idea you were here,” he said.

“As soon as I had stepped into the castle, I saw guards on high alert, so I asked what happened. They told me an assassin had attempted to take Twilight’s life, so we rushed to her chambers as quickly as we could to see if she was alright,” Celestia explained.

“Well I'm glad to report, we've secured every square inch of this castle, so Your Highnesses should be able to relax now.”

Not long after Flash said that, sirens started blaring outside.

“What's that sound?” asked Justin.

Twilight spoke with fear in her voice, “Those are the warning sirens. The wolves are here!”