It was almost sunset in Ponyville. The citizens were fixing the damage that had been done during the attack, while those had been injured were sent to the hospital. At the Castle of Friendship, Twilight and the others were sitting around the Cutie Map, among them being Shining Armor, who had a patch over his eye where Stormhowl scratched him, and bandages on his flank, and the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who sat with their respective sisters/sisterly figures.

"So, what should we do with our prisoner?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"He won't tell us why these wolves are here," said Starlight.

"Or what they want," Applejack added.

"And most of all," Twilight began, "I'm worried about Moonlight. She won't come out of the bedroom, no matter what I do. She's gone back to being traumatized all over again."

XXX

Inside Twilight's bed chamber, Moonlight was hiding under the blankets, sniffling and whimpering as she hid her face in her forelegs. She had been like this ever since the gang had brought Swiftclaw into the castle. As she looked down at her necklace, the gemstone glowed softly again, causing her to hug it close to her heart.

"I won't let anypony take this from me," Moonlight said. "I promised you...right, Starburst?"

In her mind, a brief image of the unicorn that Warfang was eating last night appeared, only she was whole and was smiling at Moonlight, broadly. However, the image only brought Moonlight to tears, once again, as she kept hugging the necklace.

XXX

"She ain't the only one who's spooked," said Applejack as she gently stroked Apple Bloom's mane. "Ever since those varmints showed up, she's been plumb terrified!"

"And poor little Sweetie Belle," Rarity said as she held her little sister close to her. "She refuses to be left alone."

"And let's not forget Scoots, here," Rainbow Dash added as she glanced down at Scootaloo.

"We have to find out what those wolves are doing here," Shining Armor spoke up.

"All we know is that they're after some rock," said Rainbow Dash, "and NO, Pinkie, they're not after your sister's pet rock."

"You don't know that!" Pinkie countered.

"I talked to Princess Celestia," Shining Armor said. "She's going to send more royal guards here to Ponyville in the morning."

"I feel a little safer, knowing that," said Twilight. "Thank you, Shining Armor...but...what about your eye?"

"I'll live," Shining Armor assured with a slightly smug grin on his face. "Besides...Cadence might find it a little more appealing."

"Oh, ha-ha," Twilight said sarcastically, although she smiled, too, but then she noticed Fluttershy, who was stroking her mane with apprehension. "Fluttershy?"

"Huh?" Fluttershy asked in slight surprise.

"You haven't said a word since we got back," said Spike. "Everything okay?"

"Oh...yes," answered Fluttershy. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" asked Starlight.

"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded.

"Well, I dunno about y'all," Applejack began as she looked down at Apple Bloom, "but I gotta get this sugarcube back Sweet Apple Acres for her bedtime."

"I gotta get back home, too," Rainbow Dash said as she got up to leave. "Come on, Scootaloo."

"I-I'm coming," Scootaloo said, nervously, as she followed after her.

"Let's go, Sweetie Belle," Rarity beckoned as Sweetie Belle walked alongside her.

"Maybe Shining Armor should escort you guys," suggested Twilight.

"Uh...hello~?" Rainbow Dash asked. "This is ME we're talkin' about? I'm not afraid of any wolves. Besides, I can fly[, and I live in a cloudiminium. Those fleabags aren't gonna reach me, up there."

"And Big McIntosh is outside," said Applejack. "He'll take us home."

"I don't mind being escorted, though," Rarity said. "That is...if it's all right with you, Shining Armor."

"Only to make sure you and your sister get home, safely," Shining Armor answered.

"I could've walked her home..." Spike grumbled under his breath.

"I gotta get home, too," Pinkie said. "I need to reload my party cannon and make more confetti bombs!"

"I think I'll just stick around here," Fluttershy began, "just a little longer."

"If that's what you want to do," Twilight said. "In the meantime, I'm going to check on Moonlight to see how she's doing."

"I'll go with you," Starlight said as the group dispersed from the table. As they did, Fluttershy glanced back at one of the castle corridors with a bit of worry on her face.

XXX

In one of the empty rooms, Swiftclaw was lying on the floor with an expression of worry and...perhaps confusion. He sighed as he glanced up at the ceiling. It was dark in the room, so he couldn't really see much of anything. However, he heard the sound of hooves clopping against the floor before he heard the creaking of the door. He gave a loud bark at the intruder...only to see that it was Fluttershy, who had a bowl of water in her hoof, which she put down in front of the wolf.

"Here," she said. "You must be thirsty."

"...Thanks, but no thanks," Swiftclaw answered as he turned away, but Fluttershy just stood there, causing him to glance back at her before he growled a bit in annoyance. "Aren't you gonna leave? What, are you gonna try and make me talk, like your friends did? Well, forget it! I don't know anything!"

"I just thought you could use a drink of water," Fluttershy said.

"...You're not here to make me talk?" asked Swiftclaw. "You're not gonna...torture me?"

"Why would we do that?" Fluttershy asked.

"Because you're the enemy!" Swiftclaw answered. "Father says you'd rather run away from us than look at us!"

"To be fair," Fluttershy began, "you did attack our home."

"I didn't attack anyone!" Swiftclaw argued. "That was my brother! He..." He trailed off as his eyes softened sadly, then turned away from the yellow Pegasus. "Forget it."

Fluttershy blinked in concern before she went over to the wolf's side.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"...Honestly...no," Swiftclaw answered. "I'm...I'm so...conflicted."

"...Maybe talking about it will help you feel better," Fluttershy suggested, causing the younger Wolf Prince to look at her. She smiled up at him, warmly as she gently placed her hoof on his paw. He flinched for a second...but then accepted it before he sighed.

"...My brother, Stormhowl, and I were...very close," Swiftclaw said, "but then, as we got older, things changed. Our Father started to favor him more than he did me. Even the rest of our pack held my brother in high regard."

"Oh, dear," Fluttershy said, worriedly.

"At first, I thought it was okay," Swiftclaw continued, "but...as time went on, I felt more...out of place. Almost like I didn't belong. Sometimes, my brother and I would end up fighting...more physically than verbally. In fact, today, we had another one...and I lost...as usual."

"Did you try and talk to your brother?" Fluttershy asked.

"I did," Swiftclaw answered, "but he continues to pretend nothing's wrong. Sometimes, it makes me so angry that Stormhowl can always win over my Father without even trying, but when I try my hardest, all I get is 'Shut up, Swiftclaw' or 'Don't be a fool, Swiftclaw', and even 'Why can't you be more like your brother?'! It's just so...so...!"

"Frustrating?" Fluttershy asked.

"...Yes," Swiftclaw answered. "Just once, I wish I could make my Father proud of me...or at least get my brother to see me as his equal."

"Maybe he does," Fluttershy replied.

"What do you mean?" Swiftclaw asked.

"I'm sure your brother knows you feel bad," Fluttershy said. "Maybe you told him from the bottom of your heart how you really felt...it might bring you two closer, again."

"...I don't know," Swiftclaw answered. "What if it turns he does think he's better than me?"

"You won't know that until you actually try to talk to him," said Fluttershy.

"...This...this is amazing," Swiftclaw said as he looked to the yellow Pegasus. "No one's ever spoken to me so kindly before...except for..."

"Except for...?" Fluttershy repeated.

"...Our Mother...Mooneyes," Swiftclaw answered before he sighed wistfully. "She was...beautiful...a white wolf with these beautiful blue eyes that glowed like the moon. She loved us both, very much...in fact...you remind me of her, almost."

"Do I?" asked Fluttershy.

"Yes," Swiftclaw said. "She was very sweet, and everyone...even my Father loved her very much." He then sighed sadly.

"...Is your mother gone?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yeah," answered Swiftclaw. "She got very ill and...she just passed on. We were still pretty young, back then...so it really broke our hearts. Even our Father mourned her."

"I'm so sorry," said Fluttershy.

"It's not your fault," Swiftclaw assured. "These things happen...of course, after our Mother passed...that's when Father started to get so strict with us. He put us on a harsh training regimen...although, I got most of it. Ever since, Stormhowl was put on a pedestal and I was...nobody."

"Well, did you ever think that maybe your brother feels pressure, too?" Fluttershy asked. "Since your father holds him in such high regard, maybe he feels that he needs you to support him."

"...I...I never really thought of that," said Swiftclaw. "Maybe he does need me." He then sighed. "But...how do I know this won't end up in failure?"

"Like I said," Fluttershy started, "you won't know until you try."

"...You're right," Swiftclaw answered. "I should try. No more apprehension!"

"That's the spirit," Fluttershy smiled before she turned and walked out of the door. "Now come on. Let's get you out of here."

"You...you're letting me go?" asked Swiftclaw.

"Of course," Fluttershy answered. "You're not a prisoner, you're my friend."

Swiftclaw felt that everything had just stopped when he heard those words.

"Your...friend?" he repeated.

"Mm-hmm," Fluttershy nodded.

"...Wow..." Swiftclaw whispered. "I...I never had a friend before."

"We can talk later," Fluttershy said. "Let's hurry and go before Twilight suspects something."

A pause...but then Swiftclaw nodded his head and followed after her.

"Twilight!" Fluttershy called to the top of the stairs. "I'm going home now!"

"Okay!" Twilight called. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No, I can make it home on my own!" Fluttershy answered. "Thank you, though!"

As soon as the Pegasus and wolf made it outside, they quickly made their way to the back of the castle.

"Hurry," Fluttershy said. "Head to the forest, and don't let anypony catch you!"

"...I won't forget your kindness," said Swiftclaw. "Thank you...um..."

"It's Fluttershy," Fluttershy smiled.

"...Thank you, Fluttershy," Swiftclaw answered.

"You never really gave me your name, either," Fluttershy pointed out.

"Oh, right," Swiftclaw realized. "My name is Prince Swiftclaw...but...just Swiftclaw is fine."

"It was very nice meeting you, Swiftclaw," Fluttershy said.

"You, too," Swiftclaw nodded. "I hope we meet again, someday."

"So do I," Fluttershy concurred before the younger Wolf Prince turned and dashed off, towards the Everfree Forest. Once she made sure that he was out of sight, the Pegasus soon began to head back to her cottage to retire for the night. As she left, though, she didn't realize that a certain light pink unicorn happened to be watching from one of the castle windows...and it was soon revealed to be Starlight, who smiled as she watched the two unlikely friends part ways.

"The magic of friendship works in such mysterious ways," said Starlight, just as the sun had set and the moon had begun to rise. "Maybe...ponies and wolves can be friends, after all."

XXX

At Canterlot Castle, Luna had just raised the moon while Celestia was preparing to retire for the night.

"Another night comes," the Princess of the Moon said.

"Are you prepared to head into the Dream Realm, Luna?" asked Celestia.

"Yes, sister," Luna answered.

"Good," Celestia nodded. "Do the best you can tonight...but also, if at all possible...find out the location of the Stone of Wishes."

"I'll do what I can," Luna replied. "In the meantime, get some rest, Celestia."

Celestia smiled before she turned and headed to her bedchamber while Luna closed her eyes. Soon after, darkness fell all around her before she opened her eyes again...and found herself, staring at many bubbles through which she could see the dreams of many ponies. She saw Applejack, winning the grand prize for the biggest apple at the county fair, Pinkie Pie getting shot out of a cannon with fireworks and confetti flying out with her, Rarity and Sweetie Belle having a tea party, Scootaloo flying alongside Rainbow Dash, and many others. However, there was one particular dream she saw that seemed to surprise her: a little, grayish-blue unicorn filly, running through the darkness...with several menacing eyes glaring after her.

"Looks like I've run into my first nightmare for the night," Luna said...before she flew into the dream.

Author's Note

Yeah, this was probably a little rushed, but tell me what you think!