Cry of the Midnight Wolf

"So...remind me where we're going?" Jagged asked as he continued with the Mane 6. Despite his new form, he was still uncomfortable walking bipedal, so he continued walking on his four paws, even if he was a bit taller than he was before.

"We're going to Ponyville, silly!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed while bouncing around the group, nearly leaping over Jagged while they waited for the train. As she hopped from one end of the station to another, Jagged could only shake his head in confusion. Where that energy came from, he would never know...

"And why, do tell, are we going to your hometown?" Jagged asked pointedly, trying not to show his agitation. "Why can I not be left alone?"

"Because, darling, you were found unconscious for a month and need to be taken care of properly," Rarity pointed out. "It's not everyday somepony goes missing for a month and then turns up again as a new creature. One, may I remind you, that - "

"That was never before seen in Equestria, yes, I know. But, why couldn't I have stayed at the Peaks of Peril? The Kirins were doing just fine to take care of me..."

"Ya barely knew they were takin' care of ya, sugarcube," Applejack stated flatly. "Besides, it would give us all at Ponyville a new friend ta hang out with."

"As well as somepony to run experiments on..." Twilight mumbled, but Jagged was able to hear her statement.

"WHAT!?! No, no no no, NO! There is NO way in Celestia's name that I am becoming a lab rat for anypony - an Alicorn, no less!"

"Look, bud, we're only trying to help!" Rainbow stated, starting to lose her temper.

"So, you say 'helping' is forcing somepony to come with you, and then becoming a test subject for the princess of said town?! Hay, no!"

"Jagged - "

"Look, just leave me alone, alright!? Let me take care of myself, just STOP-"

He paused when he felt a soft tap on his shoulder. Turning to glare at whatever tapped him, he felt guilt as he saw Fluttershy flinch under his eyes. "Mr. Breeze, please understand, we were only trying to help you. I'm sorry if it doesn't feel that way, but please don't yell at us."

Jagged let his gaze linger on her before sighing. "I...I guess you're right. I just felt like I was being...forced to travel with you all. I just felt like I should've had a say. I'm...I'm sorry."

Fluttershy sighed with relief as the others' gazes fell to the floor.

"I guess it would only be fair if we apologized as well, darling," Rarity admitted. "We did force you to come with us, after all."

"Ah suppose you should've gotten a say on if ya wanted ta come with us," Applejack stated as well. "Sorry, pardner."

"Just...next time, don't yell at all of us." Rainbow stated coldly, but flinched as the creature's gaze hardened when he looked at her. "Please?"

"Fine," Jagged snapped.

"B-But...tests..." Twilight muttered.

"Twi, the only way yer gonna get a test on him is if he complies," Applejack pointed out. "If he ain't gonna comply, you ain't gonna get a test. Hooves down."

"...fine..."

"Hey, what's that over there?" Jagged pointed towards a giant blue fireball that was flying towards them.

While most ponies would look at it in confusion, Twilight gazed at the fireball in horror. "EVERYPONY GET OUT!!!!"

She had enough time to shout this before she noticed Jagged's eyes glowing brighter as he punched the ground with a long howl escaping from the creature. Almost immediately, blue-colored rocks began to escape from the ground, starting from where Jagged punched the ground and continuing until they met the fireball.

Upon contact, there was a massive explosion that shook the very bones of the ponies inside the train station. There eyesight was momentarily blocked as well by a mass wall of smoke that rose from the impact spot. When the smoke cleared, they saw Jagged facing another pony, both in a battle stance as they glared at each other. The pony in question was an ash-grey color, with a blue-and-purple mane, strongly resembling fire that covered part of the right side of his face. His horn was curved, similar to Mistmane's, which was giving off a purple glow that flickered through the remaining smoke, and his right eye was a sky-blue color, while his left eye was covered with a black eye patch. His height, surprisingly, was almost the same as Luna's, if not taller. The rest of his appearance, however, was unexpected. His front hooves were similar to dragon's claws, and he had a dragon tail that was nearly the length of his body, having three silver spikes along the back and ending with a tuft of fur similar to his mane. What caught Twilight's eyes, however, was his wings. Very similar to one of a bat's, the only difference was that they had a claw at the 'elbow' of each, and his entire wingspan was the length of his body, from his snout to the tip of his tail. His Cutie Mark was a purple flame that had two eyes piercing through, one blue, the other red.

"What..." Twilight started to ask, but was interrupted by the pony yelling, "What are you ponies doing here? Leave this location before this creature begins to attack!"

Jagged, however, was staring at the pony in shock and recognition. "...Scorching? Is that really you?"

The pony identified as 'Scorching' looked at Jagged in confusion. "How do you know my name?! Who are...wait..." It was then that he noticed the necklace around the creature's neck - a pendant with the symbol of a wolf howling at the moon, the Cutie Mark of one of his old friends. "...Jagged?"

"Scorch, it is you!"

"Jagged!" Scorch yelled, and charged the creature, pulling him into a bear-hug before pulling back. "Where in the name of Nightmare Moon have you been? I've been searching all over Equestria for you!"

"Yeah, about that..."

"Jagged, what's going on?"

The creature turned to look at the Mane 6 staring at the duo in confusion, with the exception of Fluttershy, who was hiding behind Rarity while shaking violently. "Who's that?"

"Guess we should start over," Jagged sighed. "Scorch, these mares are, respectively, Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Princess Twilight Sparkle - "

"Just Twilight is fine," the alicorn muttered.

"And...wait, where's Pinkie?"

"Cool wings you have!"

Scorching yelped as his wing was extended as Pinkie began to look it over. "WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING!?!" he roared in her face - literally - causing Pinkie to pedal backwards in shock and trip over herself.

"Hey, I don't know who you think you are, but you better stop, or else I'll - " Rainbow started.

"You'll what? Beat me to a pulp? In case you didn't know, I am more than capable to crush you under my claw before you can even make a hit on me." Blazing began to growl, but Jagged got in between the two.

"That's enough," he sighed. "Anyways, this is Scorching Wraith, Head Captain of the former Moon Guard and right-head stallion of - "

"Wait, the Moon Guard?" Twilight asked as they could she her visibly pale as she began to shake. Th-That was the name of the Guard of - "

"Yes, Princess," Scorching sighed. "I was the right-head stallion of Nightmare Moon."

"So...w-when you mentioned Nightmare Moon earlier - "

"I meant it out of respect, yes."

"But...She was a monster! She was going to kill Celestia and - "

"Was she, though? Did you get the time to know what her plan was? What she wanted to do?" Scorch waited as he glared at Twilight, expecting her to answer.

"Well...s-she wanted eternal night! She was going to banish Celestia and let the world die off - "

She was stopped as Scorch released an unearthly growl. "False. All False. The only thing Princess Luna, bless her name, wanted was to be recognized, have some respect pointed towards her. That's what caused her to become Nightmare Moon. Still, while she was going for creating eternal night, she wasn't going to let the face of Equestria die off. She was still going to let it continue as it is now." Looking over the shocked faces of the mares, he glanced at Jagged and smirked. "So, what caused all of that to happen? Last I recall, you were just a unicorn."

"Long story, but I think that can wait," the creature said as he turned towards the station again, the train pulling in. "I'm tired."

"Fair enough, I suppose."

While the two creatures walked towards the train, the mares looked at Twilight, her face still pale, but her jaw dropped in surprise.

"Uh, Twi?" Applejack asked, waving her hoof in front of her friend's face. "Are ya..."

"WHATONEARTHISTHATTHINGI'VENEVERSEENSOMETHINGLIKEHIMIHAVETOTESTTHIS!!!" Twilight screamed as her eyes dilated and strands of her mane began to pop out of place. "I HAVE TO!!!"

She began to run after the duo, but was stopped when Rainbow stepped on her tail. "Twilight, you need to calm down!"

"Agreed, darling," Rarity said slowly. "He doesn't seem all that friendly..."

"At least give 'em some time ta catch up with each other, Twi," Applejack continued. "It's clearly been a while since they saw each other."

"But, Applejack - "

"Twilight," The earth pony insisted.

The alicorn looked at her friend, searching the mare's face for any form of giving in, but eventually sighed. "Fine...I'll give them some space..."

"Thanks, Twi. Now come on, y'all, we'll miss the train if we stay here."

"No kidding!" Pinkie Pie called from inside the train as it began to pull off. "Hurry up, come on!"

The mares ran towards the train, able to get on before it left the station.

"Pinkie, sweetheart, how did you get on the train?" Rarity asked in confusion. "We didn't even see you get aboard."

Pinkie grinned. "Because reasons," she said with a shrug, which caused the mares to groan.

"Let's just get comfortable and get some sleep, alright? I'm tired," Twilight said as a yawn escaped from her lips. "Guess the hiking's finally caught up with me..." Before she could say anything else, she slumped to the floor of their cabin and began to snore, causing the other mares to laugh.

"Guess we should follow suit," Applejack chuckled. "Get some rest, y'all. Ah gotta feelin' tomorrow's gonna be a long day..."