Chapters Starlight Glimmer, who was a unicorn mare with a light purple coat and a dark purple mane wearing a nice travel dress which consisted of long leggings and a white inner shirt while the outer shirt was a dark brown and her cutie mark was that of a purple and white star. As she approaches her old family castle. Many happy memories of her and her family time her came back to her as she similes and walks up to the door and knocks on it. No pony came out so she knocks on it again this time she hears what sounded like the door being unlocked and as the the door opens a unicorn stallion with a whit coat and blue mane, wearing glasses. He was also wearing a tuxedo with a black suit and a white shirt all connected to a black tie and his cutie mark was that of two small crowns with purple gems in the center of them. The stallion stand there for a moment before he smiles and wraps the young mare in a hug and the young mare then hugged him back and said
"Oh father I've miss you."
"I have miss you to my dear." Fancypants said "Come lets gets you inside and all settled for the trip in to town."
"Okay." Starlight said as she smiled and then used her magic to lift her bags and brought them into the castle.
"Hasn't changed much, has it?" she asked
"Not in 300 years, except for a few modern conveniences." her father said
"Father I.." but before she could finish her father interrupted her and said
"I'm sorry about Sassy Saddles. Your sister's death was a blow to all of us."
"Sit down, won't you?" she motion towards the couch
As she and her father was seated at the couch her father continued
"You know, Starlight, there's developed what amounts to a tradition about the Glimmers sisters. The elder, next in line of succession and so forth, is considered in everything. The younger frequently resents the position in which she's found and leaves home, just as you did." he said
"Yes, but, Father, I'm here now." She said as she placed her hoof in her father's hoof
"Fortunately. But isn't it a sad commentary on our relationship that it took a hunting accident and your sister's death to bring you home?" he stated
"It really isn't as bad as it sounds." she said to him
"I've watched every bit of news about you. I was mighty proud when you won the Belden Prize for research."
"Really?" she asked surprised at this
"Yes, and I must say I am extremely impressed." he said
"But, I still feel guilty about leaving the family business to pursued my own interests." she told him
"The whole business is probably my fault. See, the tradition also insists that the Glimmers be the stiff-necked, undemonstrative type. Frequently, this has been carried to very unhappy extremes." he said to her
"Don't I know that." She said in an annoyed voice
"Starlight..." he started then got cut off by his daughter
"Let's decide, you and I, that between us there shall be no more such reserve. I'll do everything that I can, sir." Starlight told her father
"Well, that should be considerable. You know, the 18 years you've been away should have qualified you to be of immeasurable benefit to the estate, since, in a great many ways, we are a backward ponies, but don't quote me." he told her cracking a little smile
Then she looked at a near by table and saw a wired machine piece. Looking at it she got off of the couch and picked up the piece and took a look at it
"What have we got there?" she said observing the part
"It's from the Crystal Empire. I think it's the new part for that old telescope I have."
"Oh of course, the old family telescope I almost forgot about it." She said smiling remembering sleepless night just stargazing though the night
"Come along, dear. Come on. Up to the attic." he said leading her up a set of stairs to the attic
As the got to the top of the stairs Starlight was amazed at all of the scientific equpments taking up space in the attic."
"Impressive isn't it. I have decided to full up all of the empty space up here, it's an observatory now." he told her
Starlight then saw an old telescope and was able to match the part she was holding with an empty slot in the telescope and inserted it into the slot so the telescope works properly now.
"That was excellent! Where'd you learn such precision work?" he asked her amazed at the small detail she was able to point out
"Optical company in Canterlot." she said "We did quite a job on that Mount Wilson Observatory."
"Are you interested in astronomy?" He asked her
"Not especially." she told him "I'm all right with tools. In fact, I've done quite a little work with astronomical instruments, but when it comes to theory, I'm pretty much of an amateur."
"All astronomers are amateurs." he said reassuring his daughter
"When it comes to the heavens, there's only one professional." she told her father with a smile on her face
"Fine." is all he said to her
"Well, I've got some things to do before lunch." she told him "I've got to pick up a few things at the market, I'll see yopu later father."
"I'll leave you to it." he said smiling at his daughter
She then kissed her father on the check and headed downstairs and out the doors
Starlight was walking around the town until she spotted an antique shop and decided to go check it out. As she entered the shop she spotted a unicorn stallion who had a light brown coat with an orange mane and beard and his bottom half of his legs were a shade of white and he was also wearing glasses and what looked like a cloak of some kind that had star patterned on it. She won't be lying if she didn't think he looked a bit handsome. Ignoring the thought she decided to get his attention and spoke up
"Hello."
"Oh good afternoon, ma'am. The name is Sunburst and you are" the stallion said
"Starlight Glimmer." she said approaching the counter of the shop
"May I help you with anything." he asked
"Why, yes. I'm looking for a gift. Something in earrings." she told him
"Certainly. We have some very nice ones. There's these diamond ones. They're very smart. Or how about these pearl ones?" he asked her
As Starlight look over them and eventually said to him "No. I don't think any of those will do. What I'm really looking for is something half-moon shaped with spangles on it. Golden." she said as she described the earrings
"I'm sorry. We haven't any like that just now." he told her
"Oh, yes, you have. Don't you remember? On your dressing table, up in your sister's room." she said
"In my sister's room?" he asked confused
"Yes. Would you mind getting them for me?" she asked
"Well, they're not for sale." he told her
"Well, I can't say that I blame you. They look so well on your sister." she told him almost like she was teasing him
"Well, perhaps my father can help you. I'll call him." he offered
"No, no, that won't be necessary. As long as I can't have the earrings, perhaps I... I'll buy a cane." she told him
"Tell me, how did you know about the earrings in my sister's room?" he asked her
"I'm psychic. Every time I see a handsome stallion, I know all about him. Just like that. " she said as she snapped her hooves
"What kind of cane would you like? We have daywear or eveningwear." he asked her
"It doesn't matter." she told him
There's this one, it's very smart. Solid-gold top." he said presenting the cane to her
No, I don't think that'll do." she said looking at the cane
"Well, how about the little dog? That would suit you." he said her
"No, thanks, I'm not that big fan of dogs." she said to him
Well, here's one. Would make a good putter." he said jokingly to her
Yes, it would." she said joining in with him,
"That's funny." he said smiling at her
"Another dog?" she asked looking at the piece
"No, that's a wolf." he said
"A wolf?" she asked him as she looked at the cane again and sure enough the head of the cane was that of the body of a wolf, but confused her the most was the wired star like symbol on the body of the wolf. he thoughts were interrupted by the voice of the shopkeeper
"Mmm-hmm. A wolf and a star." he told her
"What does that mean?" she asked him
I thought you said you were psychic?" he asked her confusingly
"I am, but this is only wood and silver, and it hasn't blue eyes." she said flirtatiously
"Well then, that stick is priced at three pounds." he said
Three pounds? 15 bits for an old stick?" she asked shocked at the price of and old cane like this
"Well, that's a very rare piece." he said observing the cane
"It shows the wolf and the pentagram, the sign of the werewolf." he said to her
"Werewolf? What's that?" she asked
"That's a pony who, at certain times of the year, changes into a wolf."he explained to her
"You mean, runs around on all fours and bites and snaps and bays at the moon?" she asked jokingly
"Even worse than that, sometimes. Little Red Riding Hood was a werewolf story. Of course, there have been many others. There's an old poem, "Even a pony who is pure in heart and says their prayers by night may become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms and the autumn moon is bright." he said as he finished
"Yes, but what's this pentagram business?" she asked him still intrigued by this
"Every werewolf is marked with that, and sees it on the bottom of their next victim's hoof." he told her
"Look, if you're trying to scare me out of here, you're not getting very far. I'll take the cane." she said as she handed him to money
"Please tell me, have you ever seen me before?" he asked her suspiciously
"Of course. How do you suppose I knew about the earrings?" she said teasing him again
"I can't remember ever..." he started but then was interrupted by her
"Tell you what we'll do. We'll take a little walk tonight and we'll talk it over."
"No." he said
"Come on please." she said as she begged
"No! I can't I'm going to see the gypsies tonight." he said to her
"Gypsies?" she asked
"Yes, they're fortune-tellers. They pass through here every autumn." he said
"You know, I haven't had my fortune told in years." she said leading him on
"Fine I'll go just As long as you tell me how you knew about my earrings. Deal." he said holding his hoof out to her
"Deal." she said as she shook his hoof and walked out the door, with the cane in her right hoof, to get ready for tonight
As Starlight returns to the castle to get ready for tonight she explained to her father all about the cane and what a pentagram is. But what surprised her the most is that he knew what it was in the first place.
"A pentagram? Yes, that's the sign of the werewolf." Fancypants told his daughter
"That's just a legend, though, isn't it?" Starlight asked
"Yes, but like most legends, it must have some basis in fact. It's probably an ancient explanation of the dual personality in each of us. How does it go? "Even a pony who is pure in heart and says their prayers by night "May become a wolf when the wolfsbane blooms "and the autumn moon is bright" he said
"That's funny. That's the same thing the stallion in the antique shop said." she told him
"Oh, you met Sunburst, have you?" he asked her
"Yes father, I was just looking the town over." she said to him
"Naturally. Continue to look it over." he said
"But I want you to know not only the handsome stallions, but the old men and women and the young men." she said
"Get to know all about them, Larry. They're nice people. They're your people. After all, you're going to run the estate." he said to her
"Of course, I want to know all of them."
You seem to have made a pretty good start. Run along. Get on with the good work." he said smiling
"All right, thanks." she said giving her father one last hug as she left to get prepare for tonight
An hour later she heard a knock on the castle door and opened it and saw standing there was Sunburst and a mare who had a pink coat with a purple mane and was wearing an ascot around her neck and her cutie mark was that of three buttons
"Oh! It's you." Starlight said
"Why, of course. Who did you expect?" Sunburst asked with a smile
"Why, nobody." she said
"Well, that was just because I..." he started then got interrupted by the mare next to him
"Oh, come on. I don't want to go alone. I'm really afraid of the dark."
"And who is this?" she asked gesturing towards the mare standing next to him
"This is Suri Polomare. She wants to have her fortune told, too." Sunburst said
"I'm very pleased to meet you, Miss..." Suri began to speak only to have Starlight cut her off to say
"Just call me Starlight."
"OK Starlight." Suri said with a smile "So lets go."
"OK and, as you can see, I brought my cane, too." Starlight said to them
As the three continued to walk towards the swamp where the gypsys are all at. Suri stopped cause she saw a purple plant in the light of the moon she said
"Oh, look! Wolfsbane. "Even a pony who is pure in heart and says their prayers by night "May become a wolf when the wolfsbane bloom and the autumn moon is bright" she said
So you know that one, too, eh?" Starlight asked
"Of course. Everyone knows about werewolves. But let's not worry about that we've come to have our fortunes told after all." Suri told them
Then they finally reach there destination as they saw a few carriages scattered around the swamp with gyspys of all ages stand out side waiting for ponies to ask about their future
Then Suri walk up to one of the gypsy stallions, who had a sky blue coat and a grey mane and was wearing some sort of outfit that she couldn't describe and his cutie mark was that of goggles, and said to him "Hello my name's Suri Polomare what's yours."
"Wind Rider at your service." he said giving a little bow to her
"Can you really read the future?" she asked
"I will not disappoint you, my lady. Will you step inside, please?" he said gesturing at the carriage.
Do you mind if I go in first?" Suri asked them
"No, no. Go right ahead.Go on, silly." Starlight said to her
"Thanks." Suri said as she headed inside the carriage
We didn't come down to listen in on her, did we?" Starlight asked Sunburst
"No." he said to her
"Well, maybe if you took a little walk with me, I could tell your fortune." she said to him
As they walked together Sunburst then said
"So you're a fortune-teller."
"Uh-huh." she said
"Is that how you knew about the earrings?" he asked her
"Well, not exactly. You see, a telescope has a mighty sharp eye. It brings the stars so close that you feel you can almost touch them." Starlight told him
"A telescope?" he asked
"Sure. And it does the same thing to people in their rooms. That is, if you point it in the right direction." she said
"Oh, you wouldn't." he said
"Well, now, I was only testing it out. I didn't know about you, and, all of a sudden, there you were. Well, from now on, I'll be sure to draw the curtains." she said to him
"Don't do that! I mean, not on account of me. I mean... Well, you know what I mean." he said blushing
"Yes, I'm afraid I do." she said facing him
"But it's only fair to tell you I'm engaged. I'm going to be married very soon. In fact, I really shouldn't be here." he said as he leaned tworads her
"But you are here." she said as she kissed him
They were in bliss as they continued to kiss
Meanwhile,
"Can you tell me when I'm going to be married? What did you see?" Suri asked him
"Your hooves, please. Your left hoof shows your past, your right hoof shows your future." Wind Rider said
As she held out her right hoof he looked at it closely only for a pentagram to appear and fear is all that was left in his eye
"What's the matter?" she asked
"I can't tell you anything tonight." he said "Come back tomorrow."
"What did you see? Something evil?" Suri asked him
"No, no! Now go away. Go quickly." he said panicking "Go!"
"Yes. Yes, I'm going!" Suri said as she exited the carriage and ran off into the swamps
As Starlight and Sunburst continued to kiss the moment was suddenly interrupted when they heard a bloodthirsty howl. They then separated as they were caught off guard by it.
"What was that?" Sunburst asked
"I don't know." Starlight said
"Never heard anything like it before." he said
Then suddenly they heard a scream which sounded like it came from a pony
"Was that Suri?" Sunburst asked now worried
"Sunburst call the police I'm going to see if I can find her." Starlight said as she grabbed her cane and headed into the swamp where the scream and the mysterious howl came from
"Hello there let me introduce myself to you." A voice from the darkness suddenly said
Then out of the darkness and in the light stood a light brown coated stallion said with a dark mane and an hourglass cutie mark. "I am Doctor Whooves or as my, how do you say, "friend" sometimes refers me as Discord Whooves."
"Now where to began." Doctor Whooves thought "I know how about from the beginning."
Then he pulled out a book and started to flip though it as he says
"Legends. Stories scattered through time. Ponies have grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, byproducts, of a forgotten past."
Then he turned a page where it shows a picture of a hill top with the full moon above it shinning though the broken tress that surrounds it as he continues to narrate
"We all know stories of mystical creatures roaming the country side at night looking for their next victim."
Then he closed the book and looks up almost as he is staring right at you and says
"But what if I told you that these stories are not just stories, but actual events that have taken place."
"Welcome to a new world of Gods and Monsters." he said smiling as he finished his speech.
"But where to begin I wonder." he said out loud as he strokes his chin "I could start from the beginning, no no no, that'll be to easy. Maybe I could start at the end? No I shouldn't then that would ruin the surprise. Hmm What to do, what to do I wonder" Then he snaps his hooves and said "I know, how about I tell you the story of the most tragic monster of all."
"Yes, yes that would work perfectly. Now I am going to tell you that this story isn't for the weak of heart nor for those of the weak minded as well. If you are one of those then I must insist that you find another story that is in your interest."
"Now than let's begin."
"This is the tragic story of Starlight Glimmer, a young mare who crossed pass with a creature that changed her life forever. Where she is now is a story for another time, but for now let me take you back to the year 2010 starting in Wales, Trottingham, now I will tell you a tale of love, sadness, and fear." he said as he finished with this last sentence
"This is the tale of The Wolf Mare."