The Wolf and the Rainbow

Chapter Eight

-Ponyville Park, couple of hours later-

Moon Howl had five self-made targets, standing at their center. Switching the hold on his sword, the Charger leapt at them! He rammed the first one, stabbing his blade deep into it, slicing the target clean in half right after. Without hesitation, he threw the blade into the second target, before stomping down on to the third one beside it. This left two left, and Scootaloo controlled their reaction.

The targets began to throw rocks towards Moon Howl, who dodged by using his wings and agility, to avoid their projectiles. Once the blade was back in his possession, the Charger soared straight for them.

Scootaloo couldn’t believe how quickly Moon Howl was reacting. It was almost like everything was moving in slow motion, or he was able to predict where the rocks were going. Within seconds, after the charge, he was behind the targets…. They slowly started to split, revealing they had been cut clean in half. The filly started to clop her hooves together, cheering as Moon Howl sheathed his blade. “That. Was. Awesome!” Scootaloo yelled, making Moon Howl grin at her cheering.

“Glad to have impressed you, Scootaloo.” He said, walking up to her. “The technique doesn’t have a name, but it was designed to counter an enemy, when they have you surrounded.” Moon Howl reached up, and ruffled her hair. “A technique I’ll teach you, when the time comes.”

Scootaloo giggled, smiling up at the stallion in front of her. The whole time, Rainbow Dash watched, wide eyed, and could not believe the moves she just saw. “He’s good… I mean, really good!” She thought, smiling at how kindly he was treating to Scootaloo. “A skilled warrior, yet gentle with Scootaloo.” Her thoughts were interrupted, when a roar-like howl erupted from Ponyville! “H-Huh!? That sounded like a Timberwolf, but it came from in Ponyville!”

She looked around, before looking down to see Scootaloo hiding under Moon Howl. The stallion seemed surprised, he was also looking for the source of that howl. Rainbow Dash quickly flew down to him, instantly gaining Moon Howl’s attention. “Dashie! What in the All-Father’s name was that? It sounded like some kind of wolf.” He asked, as she rushed up to him.

Rainbow Dash actually blushed, hearing him actually call her that. Shaking it off, the mare concentrated on how serious the situation is. “It was a Timberwolf, and sounds like it is actually in Ponyville!”

Scootaloo gasped, while Moon Howl narrowed his eyes. “Get Scootaloo to safety, I will handle the Timberwolf.” He stepped over the filly, and started to rush towards town but was stopped by Rainbow Dash.

“Are you crazy!? One Timberwolf is extremely dangerous to ponykind!” Rainbow Dash argued, staying in front of Moon Howl, glaring up at him. “Not to mention, Timberwolves travel in packs, and you just got out of the hospital!”

Moon Howl looked at her, and smiled. “I will remember that, but I am the only one who has a chance at fighting them, Dashie.” He stepped around the mare, glancing at her. “Stay with Scootaloo, until I get back.”

“But Twilight is in town, she can fight them off! You’re still recovering!” Rainbow Dash tried to stop him, but his reply halted her.

“I am a Vlka Fenryka, my duty is to protect those under my charge. A few injuries will not stop me from doing that.” He flashed Rainbow Dash a smile, who just stood there gawking at him. “I have a new pack, and I will not lose this one… So, this will not be a battle of Pony against Timberwolf.” Moon Howl looked back forward, his narrowed eyes hidden by the helmet. “But Wolf against Wolf.”

-Ponyville Town Center-

Twilight flew back, shooting a bolt of magic before landing roughly. She was breathing heavily, her body was worn out, but she couldn’t give up just yet. There are five Timberwolves, and everypony was in danger. “How you all got here, unnoticed, will be something I’ll look into later… For now, I am going to run you out!”

The princess shot another bolt of magic, at the closest one to her. The Timberwolf dodged the attack, before it and another went straight for her. Twilight quickly flew up, and shot a bolt at the second one. She smirked, as it tumbled into some cart, but she was surprised by the third jumping from one of the building walls. She was starting to get sluggish, the Timberwolves were wearing her down.

Just as she backed up, the forth Timberwolf attempted to snap its jaws on to her, getting out with only a splinter filled scrape. Twilight landed on to a roof, out of breath, and unable to place her injured hoof down. “This is becoming harder, I’m barely able to dodge-… Wait.” She noticed something strange, and only counted four Timberwolves. “Where is the fifth?” Her eyes widen, the moment a large shadow loomed over her.

Twilight slowly turned around, seeing the drooling maw of the fifth Timberwolf. When it lunged forward, teeth ready to sink into its prey, Twilight just screamed before a voice howled. “Not so fast!” And Moon Howl rammed into the Timberwolf’s side, causing it to slide off the building’s roof. Twilight was slack jawed at the sheer strength he had displayed, since it takes all Applejack has just to shove one. “Are you alright, Princess?” He asked, slightly looking back at her but kept most of his attention on the five Timberwolves below.

“Y-Yes, just worn out and a slight scrape, but I will be alright.” Twilight quickly joined the Charger, noticing the Timberwolves were staring at them, growling… Not like they do normally, this was different. “Why are they growling like that? I’ve never heard them do that before.”

“Because they are challenging me, not threatening me.” Moon Howl answered, Twilight watching as he removed his helmet. The moment all five Timberwolves saw his yellow, slightly glowing, eyes, they began to growl even more. “Seems their Alpha didn’t like how I denied their prey.”

“H-How did you know that was the Alpha?” She asked, not noticing any differences between the five.

“Common Pack Tactic, Omegas and Betas distract and wear down their prey, then the Alpha goes in for the kill.” He chuckled a bit, smirking. “Plus, he’s slightly bigger than the others.” It took Twilight a bit longer, but she then noticed that he was right. The fifth Timberwolf was slightly bigger than the others.

“Why would they challenge you? You’re a pony, not a Timberwolf.” Twilight asked, looking up at Moon Howl. To her surprise, he looked more feral than before.

He stepped forward, making the Timberwolves step back some. “Because they can sense my wolf spirit and nature.” Moon Howl returned their growl, the four Timberwolves spreading out but kept the fifth at their center. It actually looked like they formed some kind of arena, the four being boundary markers. “A physical form does not matter; it is what one holds within their heart that does.”

Before Twilight could reply, Moon Howl jumped off the edge and leapt into the arena area. The Timberwolf Alpha growled, and roared, before it crouched down. Moon Howl returned the growl with a more vicious, and ferocious, one. His body crouched low enough, for his armor, and allowed his wings to spread out. Before long, the two combatants started to circle one another, neither of them taking their eyes off the other.

The other Timberwolves stopped their growling, and sat down on their hind-legs. While Twilight observed, she couldn’t help but feel like she was watching some Tribal Duel of some kind. Her attention only being pulled away, when Rainbow Dash called out her name. “Twilight! Are you ok?” The daredevil asked, landing next to her friend and allowed Scootaloo off her back. “Where is Moon Howl and those Timberwolves?”

Twilight pointed below them, allowing the two newcomers to see the arena. “Down there.” She looked back, seeing the four lowered their heads. “It seems Moon Howl challenged the Alpha Timberwolf.”

“But… How can he hope to beat that thing!? Even with his abilities to fly, that Timberwolf is a lot stronger.” Rainbow Dash noted.

“He’s a Vlka Fenryka, Rainbow Dash, he’ll beat that Timberwolf to splinters!” Scootaloo said, watching the stallion’s movements. She couldn’t help but wonder why Moon Howl hadn’t drawn his sword yet.

Rainbow Dash was about to say something, but decided to remain silent and sit next to the filly. “I hope she’s right… Timberwolves are nothing like manticores.” The mare thought, her eyes locked on to the stallion.

Out of nowhere, the two charged each other! The Timberwolf Alpha attempted to pounce on Moon Howl, but the Charger quickly dodged the attack. He tried to give the Timberwolf a buck to its jaw, but the wooden creature leaned back up before he could land said blow. This opened up Moon Howl for it to strike, and his opponent took the chance without hesitation

The Twimberwolf swiped at him, splintering its claws against Moon Howl’s armor. However, it was more than enough to send the stallion square into one of the positioned Timberwolves. The mares, and filly, gasped at the thought of that Timberwolf attacking him, but it remained still while he recovered.

“Why didn’t the Timberwolf attack? I mean, it could have ended everything right then.” Rainbow Dash asked, looking at her friend.

Twilight continued to examine the duel, and compared it to what Moon Howl said about his ‘Wolf Spirit’. Then, the answer hit her. “Because he’s battling the Timberwolf for dominance…” She looked at Rainbow Dash, who seemed confused. “Think of it like this: Moon Howl is an Alpha Male, say he’s the strongest in Ponyville. This means, Ponyville is his territory. That means the Timberwolf Alpha intruded on it, and challenged his dominance over Ponyville.

Rainbow Dash blinked, actually understanding what she was saying. “So, Moon Howl is protecting his territory from the other Alpha.” She summarized, the princess nodding at her own explanation. “Then let’s cheer our Alpha on!” The daredevil flew up, holding her right forehoof up. “Come on, Moon Howl! Show that Timberwolf whose boss!” Twilight and Scootaloo smiled at Rainbow Dash, before joining in her cheers.

The stallion had just battle rammed the Timberwolf Alpha, and knocked it into one of the Timberwolves acting as the boundary line. When the three started to cheer, he released a ferocious growl towards his opponent, slamming one hoof forward. The Timberwolf Alpha returned his growl and charged torwards the stallion. The girls were all yelling at him, to move, but Moon Howl just crouched down, and smirked. What happened next, surprised all those watching their duel, even the four Timberwolves.

Just as the Alpha closed in, Moon Howl swiped left at the last second. Using his armored hooves, the stallion nailed his opponent right at the front right foreleg, causing a loud SNAP! The Timberwolf let out an agonizing yelp, toppling over. But Moon Howl did not end it there, and quickly flew up then followed by crashing into the Alpha’s back. It yelped again, dropping its head on to the ground.

Placing a hoof on to its wooden neck, Moon Howl gave a threatening growl. The Timberwolf Alpha answered with a whimper, and rolling over to expose its underside more to him. With a grin, the stallion raised up and released a howl. The four other Timberwolves howling with him.

Moon Howl, had one the challenge and his dominance!