The Wolf and the Rainbow

Chapter Two

“T-Thanks, Moon Howl… We don’t really know our way back.” Sweetie Bell said, lowering her ears.

"And thanks for giving us a ride…” Applebloom added, the three of them riding on the Charger’s back. “Our hooves are darn tired from all that runnin’ we did.” Moon Howl let out a content snort.

Scootaloo climbed up to Moon Howl's head, looking down his helmet. “Just wait until Rainbow Dash sees you! You’re probably almost cool as her!” She said, the visor preventing his raised brow rom being seen.

“Rainbow Dash, huh? If I’m that rare, and not ‘cool’, like her… She must be something.” Moon Howl said, keeping his gaze forward.

“Yeah! She’s the fastest pony in Equestria! And she’s even teaching me how to fly!” Scootaloo said, a bright smile on her face.

Moon Howl tried not to look up at her, when she mentioned learning how to fly. “Wait, aren’t you old enough to already be able to fly?” He asked.

The other two fillies gave each other worried looks, while Scootaloo lowered her ears and lost that bright smile. “My wings aren’t growing right… So, it’s difficult for me to actually fly.” She said, making Moon Howl regret asking his question, he could hear the despair in her voice.

“Don’t despair, little pup. If I allowed minor problems to get me down, then I wouldn’t be the warrior I am.” Moon Howl said, keeping his eyes forward. “And you could have it a lot worse, those wings will grow stronger with training.”

This peaked Scootaloo’s curiosity. “If you don’t mind me asking… What could be worse than a pegasus that can’t fly?” She asked

“A warrior who had his pack, his family, wiped out in front of him… Reducing him to a Lone Wolf.” Moon Howl said, the three going wide eyed at the answer. “So, trust me, when I say this… Things could be a lot worse.”

A question suddenly hit Applebloom, which snapped her out of her little trance. “Say, Moon Howl, why ya’ll talkin’ like ya one of them Timberwolves or Diamond Dogs?” She asked.

“I was raised, and trained, that way. I’m a Vlka Fenryka… A Wolf of Fenris.” He answered, knowing it may confuse them. “A harsh, frozen, Kingdom that creates the most ferocious ‘Chargers’, who train to fight like what we call ‘Fenrisian Wolves’.” He glanced back at the enthralled fillies, looking back forward. “My cloak, the thing you’re sitting on, is one’s pelt.”

The three fillies eyed his pelt, noticing how it almost draped over his whole body. Another thing they noticed, was the pelt’s fur had a dark shade of black! “H-How did you get this pelt?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Only way to get one… I had to slay it, and take the pelt. Our way of proving ourselves worthy… And, so long as we carry the pelt, the wolf will run beside us.” He answered, Scootaloo becoming like she was actually with Rainbow Dash now.

“I stand corrected, Moon Howl… Your awesomeness is the same as Rainbow Dash!” Scootaloo shouted, surprising her friends with the outburst. "I mean, it’s got to be extremely hard to bring one of these wolves down!”

Moon Howl chuckled a little, hearing the excitement in Scootaloo’s voice. “It was… With the right dedication, you may do a greater feat, some day.” He said, making the filly beam with even more excitement

“Really? Do you think so?” She asked, smiling.

“Yes… Allow me to tell you three the tale, of a pony named ‘Wolf King’… The only Vlka Fenryka to be allowed to carry such a name.” Moon Howl said, the fillies listening closely, as the stallion regaled Leman Russ’ story… The Pony Version, of course.

-Just outside of Ponyville, edge of the Everfree Forest-

“Here we are, pups.” Moon Howl said, slowly walking up to the forest’s edge. “Got the three of you home, just in time… Seems like there is a group looking for you.” His ears moved side to side, hearing frantic calls.

“That’s probably our sisters… We didn’t tell any pony where we were going.” Sweetie Belle said, as the Charger slowly lowered himself down.

“Well then, I believe this is a lesson you three have learned quite well.” He said, the three fillies hopping off of him. “And one I hope you won’t forget.”

Once she was off, Applebloom turned back around, and looked up at the stallion, while he stood back up. “Ya’ll like ta come with us? Ah’m sure our sisters would like ta thank ya fer savin’ us.” She said, the other two Crusaders giving smiling nods.

“Plus, I’m sure Rainbow Dash would want to meet an awesome pony, like you!” Scootaloo said, practically cheering.

Moon Howl shook his head, smiling at the three fillies. “I’ll be fine where I am. Plus, this wolf is a bit tired… Not every day you charge in and save three fillies from a ferocious bear.” He lied, nodding to them. “I’ll just watch from here.”

The three nodded, understanding that he probably did have a long day, and rushed into the small town. Just as a while unicorn mare yelled out, frantically. “Sweetie Belle! Darling, where are you!”

“Applebloom! Where in tarnation are ya, girl!” An orange mare yelled, moving everything out of her way.

Moon Howl smiled, taking his leave to find somewhere to bunk down for a while… Not seeing, nor hearing, the pegasus mare. “Scootaloo! Where are you, squirt! This isn’t cool!” A cyan pegasus, with a certain rainbow mane, yelled while she flew over the town.

“Here we are!” The CMC yelled, together, rushing out of the forest. “We’re ok!”

“Girls!” The three mares yelled, together, before rushing over and hugging their respective sisters… Even Rainbow Dash, who was actually worried sick over her ‘biggest fan’.
“Where did you three go!? You had us worried sick, turning Ponyville upside down looking for you three.” Rarity said, holding Sweetie Belle tightly.

“Sorry, Rarity… We were going to visit Zecora, when this bear attacked us and….” Sweetie Belle was cut off.

“A bear!? How in tarnation did the three of ya’ll get away??” Applejack asked, looking down at them.

“W-We tried ta run away from it, but it cornered us at a rock… We thought we were goners, but that was when-?” This was when Applebloom was cut off, by the last Crusader.

“Moon Howl jumped in! He rammed into that bear, sending it flying into a tree, and just stared it down! When it roared at him, he drew his sword and said something that actually scared it off!” Scootaloo shouted, like she was some fan girl. “It was so cool! You should have seen it Rainbow Dash!”

“Pft, while that does sound a little awesome, I doubt he could impress me that good.” Rainbow Dash said, proudly, before looking at the other two mares. “Though… I wouldn’t mind thanking him, for saving your life and all.” Rarity and Applejack nodded in agreement.

“Oh! Then it’s a good thing he’s right over-?” When Sweetie Bell turned around, to face where they just came from, she noticed the stallion was gone. “There?”

“Huh? B-But, he was just there! Carried us ta town and everythin’!” Applebloom said, looking at her two friends.

Scootaloo soon frowned, knowing that her newest hero was gone. “Now no pony is going to believe we actually met a real life Charger.” Her voice was filled with sorrow, her gaze looked down to the dirt.

“A what!?” The three mares yelled, jaws dropping at what they heard.

“Yeah, Moon Howl is one of them Chargers… We didn’t know ‘til we got a good look at’em.” Applebloom said, the three fillies nodding together.

“D-Darlings… How do you know that this… Mister Howl is a Charger?” Rarity asked, trying to get out of her shock.

“Because, despite the wolf pelt and strange armor, he matched the description in your romance novels.” Sweetie Belle said, smiling up at her sister. “He’s tall!”

“More muscular than Big Mac!” Applebloom said, surprising Applejack.

“And has no fear of anything!” Scootaloo said, knowing the sword and armor was mentioned, which earned a raised brow from Rainbow Dash.

The three mares looked at one another before giving a sigh. “How about we all just go home? It has been a long day fer us all.” Applejack suggested, the group nodding before they started to disperse.

After Rarity and Applejack left, with their sisters, Rainbow Dash looked down at Scootaloo. “Want me to give you a ride home, squirt?” She asked, smiling at the filly.

Scootaloo went wide eyed, nervousness suddenly plaguing the filly. “N-No, I’ll be fine, R-Rainbow Dash!” She said, putting on a fake smile.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? I know you must be tired.” The cyan pegasus asked.

“I can make it, no worries! The ride Moon Howl gave us allowed me to get plenty of rest.” Scootaloo said, keeping the smile on her face.

“Well… Alright, if you say so.” Rainbow Dash said, flying up and giving a wave goodbye, before flying off. “Whoever this Moon Howl pony is… I really need to thank him.” She thought, soaring through the night sky.

“It worked…” Scootaloo muttered, with a sigh of relief. The filly didn’t like lying to her idol, but there was no way he could ell Rainbow Dash that she lived in the orphanage… Without dwelling on the fact any further, the filly rushed off.

-Sometime Later, near a cave at the Everfree Forest’s edge-

Moon Howl glanced around, eyeing the peaceful forest with a smirk. “While I prefer the Fang, and Fenris’ climate… Something about sleeping in a cave really gets to me.” He thought, noticing the cave is surrounded by enough bushes to conceal his large frame. “That spot will do.” The stallion muttered, making his way over to said cave’s mouth.

He made his way inside, and got himself comfortable within the cave. The spot was far enough in the forest, that he could exercise without being disturbed. Astartes could go two weeks without seep, however Moon Howl had been fighting for nearly that long, and was exhausted through the events of today. Right now, a bed of jagged rocks would look comfortable to him.

“I’ll scout out that town tomorrow, after my exercises… Right now, I need sleep.” He thought, before slipping into unconsciousness.