The World, 100 Years Later
One hundred years have passed since the Conjunction of the Spheres occurred, many of the monsters from countless world's poured through and wreaked havoc for a good half of it. Before the rupture of planes occured, there were just small packs localized in the Everfree and occasionally the frozen lands of the Crystal empire, but it was never too much for the only two Witchers that existed at the time.
...That was before Geralt disappeared. Twilight, Starlight Glimmer, and many other scholars and mages tried everything to bring him back, but it was in vain. His time in Equestria had come and gone, and many considered him happier at the unknown destination on the other side. Eventually, however, his name faded away. All that was left were rumors and stories passed down from generation to generation, each one recalling the tale of the White Wolf that purged the Sun of War, saving the realm from utter doom. Only a few still knew the truth.
One such pony was Princess Celestia, or what remained of her. The magic that warped her into the maleficent being known as Daybreaker corrupted her very core, resulting in a gangly pony with hair the color of flame and orange slitted eyes; the magic that drained her Alicorn power took her horn and everything regal about her, leaving Celestia as a meek little Pegasus no older than a teenager. Throughout the years, her body's age remained the same, though her memory was a different story. All the events before, during, and directly after were purged from her, including her memory of the past millenia. For all intents and purposes, she truly was a Pegasus filly.
The plan Princess Twilight took place, though unpopular with many denizens of the known world, eventually bore fruit after the Heralding of Myths. Several Witcher schools, learning and implementing the blueprints and recipes Geralt had left behind, built their own fortresses and began recruiting the youngest of their race to offer their bodies as a sacrifice to the Trials of the Grasses. Four had existed at one point, but only two had still survived, albeit barely:
The school of the Griffin, whose mutations eventually twisted the very beings that succumbed to the trials, resulting in gargantuan and savage versions of the once peaceful race.
The school of the Changeling, whose Witchers were branded as assassins. None were sure whether or not they had any left in their numbers, but the general consensus was the demand for monster cullings far outweighed the twisted desire for murder inherently absent in most creatures of Equestria.
The school of Crystal, focusing more on the latent magic that existed in the land. Expert trackers, there wasn't a single record of a Witcher from this school failing a contract. Though highly successful, the unique magic crystal ponies possessed had shortened their lifespan by magnitudes more than the other schools. By the first 30 years, most died of natural causes, a feat considered lucky by the other Witchers. In the present day, their numbers were estimated to be 30 strong.
The final Witcher school, the school of the Flower, named after the first pony Witcher, had ended poorly. Because the pony tribes of Earth, unicorn, and Pegasus were so diverse, the magic used on the first pony to undergo the trials all those years ago had ended with a near 100 percent failure rate. One of thirty survived the trials, but their pacifistic nature wasn't enough to power through the rigorous training needed to become a full fledged Witcher; the castle intended to train and arm them in the hundreds, Kaer Blathan, became an oversized tomb.
Despite their shortcomings, the Witchers were successful in culling the monster population in the more rural areas, but still were shunned by society. If you were to ask any creature on the street, many would say the same thing:
Witchers are gamblers. They weigh your own life over their penchant desire for more coin...
I, on the other hand? I believe they are mysterious warriors that should be praised, not shunned, for my name isnt-
"Gilded Lute!" The barkeep exclaimed, Goading out a yelp from said pony. A lithe cream colored stallion with a Cutie Mark of a Lute perched stop a pile of gold coins, he wasn't much to look at. The only thing that stood out, aside from his unique Cutie Mark, was his red bandana tied around his neck in a fancy knot, and the Lute sitting on his back. It was made of a light Cedar, it's neck inlaid with intricate carvings of gold.
Turning around from the currently bored crowd of two fillies actually paid to listen by him, Gilded Lute greeted the barkeep with his most strained smile."Heyyy, Big Gulp! To what do I owe the fine pleasure of-"
"Cut the Bullshit and get back to work. Nobody wants to hear your long-winded history lesson." The dark brown mare polished a glass before setting it on the counter. "I paid you to start singing and playing that thing on your back-" she pointed to his Lute. "So why don't you actually do what you were paid for... AND FUCKING PLAY MUSIC?!" She yelled, most of the small pub going silent.
Giving her the most intense stare possible, Lute unstrapped his namesake and tuned it's strings. Staring at the nearby cooked salmon whilst tuning, he suddenly got an idea. "As you wish." He bowed, strumming to test his strings before playing.
Clearing his throat, the stallion grabbed the pub's attention. "From the distant lands of Ponyville and other coastal communities, I dedicate this particular number to our lovely bar maiden-" he gestured to the barkeep, who's catcalls and whistles from the crowd caused her to blush slightly. "For your enjoyment." He bowed, before playing this tune.
It wasn't until the song ended when the barmaid herself tossed him out.
Catching his Lute before it shattered on the ground, the stallion wiped himself free of the mud he now was caked in. "The beer wasn't even that good!" He shouted, before walking off.
"Well, that makes bar number three. Good job, you did it again..." He muttered to himself, staring at the instrument in his wing. "Nopony respects history anymore it seems."
Suddenly a wave of commotion came from down the road:
"I saw 'er! She's real, I tell ya!" A senile old unicorn was hollering to the gathering creatures around him.
"She's as tall as the Princesses of Old, and twice as beautiful! Her brown locks the prettiest to grace me presence!"
"Come off it, yer just pulling our legs!" Somebody from the crowd shouted.
"Yeah! Everyone knows yer our resident Kook!" A cacophony of chuckles erupted from that particular stallion's remark.
"I tell ye, it's true!" He eyed all the creatures around him in turn, creeping most out by his strangeness alone. Suddenly, his eyes snapped to Gilded Lute. "Bard, you recall the tale of the Wolf of the Everfree, don't ye?"
All eyes snapped to him. "I, er, haven't heard of it no." He shrank into himself at the sudden sense of pressure mounting.
"No matter!" The stallion cackled, throwing a small hoofful of bits at him. "Strum a tune to go with me tale, and you'll earn yerself another song fer your travels!"
Taking the bits hesitantly, he began strumming a foreboding melody.
"This be the tale of the witch that haunts the woods of Equestria:"
As many of ye know, the Heralding of Myths came and gone one hundred years ago, but not many know what the first monster to come out that portal was... Save for them Witcher folk.
Legend has it, that before the portal was shut by the White Wolf, a beautiful mare that rivalled any of that in the land had descended from the Sun of War. She appeared as a Pegasus with a dirty blonde coat and a mane and tail of the deepest shade of brown. "What manner of creature are you?!" The Wolf exclaimed, knowing of monsters that could shift their form at will.
The mare just chuckled down at ol' Wolfie like it were a joke told in passing. With the voice of a thousand songbirds, she spoke.
"I am a Wolf, much like you." She seemed to smile friendly enough for the ever watchful White Wolf. "There is nothing to be afraid."
What he didn't see was the Sun of War arcing into the sky like some sort of angry God. Instantly, them red beams hit her and shed her down to her true form. What remained were the Wolf of the Everfree. "Be gone from this world, I will remain behind to protect it."
The White Wolf bowed, knowing she spoke the truth...
"...That's it?" Lute spoke unamusedly.
"What do ye mean 'that's it'?!" The old stallion barked. " 'Tis a true story, and you best be wary of it! Dark things lurk in that there forest-" he pointed off to the beginnings of the path through the Everfree. "And if she didn't exist, this town, nay, the entire world would be thrown into Chaos! Would ye want that, bard?"
Staring off at the path, the young wordsmith could just barely make out the glint of... Something, watching him from within. It scurried away almost immediately after. "Legend or not, you are absolutely right about the forest. There's many ballads about that place..."
"Aye," the old pony agreed. "Many indeed. I know she's in there though, I can bet my final years on it!"
Sniffing out a challenge, Lute smiled at him. "I'll take that bet!" He held out his hoof. "Bards seek out the best stories so you're on, oh wise sir!" Taking off his lute, the stallion hoofed it over to the elder without hesitation. "And I'll call that by putting my career, and possibly my life, on the line!"
Inspecting the instrument closer, he tossed and turned it every which way, flicking the strings and knocking on the wood. Satisfied, he set it gently down and shook Lute's hand. "Deal!" The stallion chuckled.
"Besides, when you die, I can pawn this for a new set of teeth!"
Author's Note
Welcome, readers, to the Wolf of Everfree! If you haven't yet, please read the story Destiny's Calling before this.
Aside from that, here's to a new adventure with a lighter mood thanks to our ~~pony Jaskier~~ witty Bard! Please leave a comment down below to give me an honest criticism. I do read them and change chapters accordingly, so please tell me what you think! Other than that enjoy this continuation!
P.S. still looking for artists to help me with a cover. If you're interested or know somebody, send me a PM
"Kaer Blathan, 30 miles ahead..." Gilded Lute read the sign at the foot of the forest, the brown path carved through it becoming less visible the deeper he peered in. There were many rumors of the Everfree, most proven true time and time again by weary travellers that lost their way more than once; Crazy cults, monster dens, and the ever popular Ursa Major all existed inside. There was one, however, that all the passersby he had passed on the way agreed on:
The Wolf of the Everfree doesn't exist. The young Bard wasn't sure what to believe, but he knew it was his sworn duty to uncover the truth like the wordsmiths of old did, in a much better time. Many forget the Bard was a warrior poet by trade, and not just a lute for hire, but Gilded Lute set out to change that, to bring back old tradition, albeit in his own unique way. Gulping down what he assumed was his heart, the stallion made the first steps into the forest, prepared for the worst. As he walked deeper and deeper in, those same eyes from earlier watched closely.
"Well, this isn't so bad!" He chuckled nervously, darting his head at the smallest of sounds. "Just a regular lovely walk in the most dangerous woods alive, no big deal!"
Suddenly, he heard a twig snap nearby. Panicking, he screamed and blindly ran off the paved dirt road deeper into the heart of the woods that all feared.
"PLEASE ANYONE HELP ME I'M GONNA DIIIIEEEEEE!" He screamed out. Frantically dashing throughout the ever thickening forest, Gilded Lute didn't see the sudden drop and tumbled dangerously down a small crevice and landed face first onto the ground with an unremarkable "ouch."
Recovering, he darted his head around for any sight of civilization. To his panic, there was none. Only dense foliage and ambient noises of a very active forest greeted him. Whimpering, he figured the best course of action was to find a nice shady spot to cry in and wait for Timberwolves to eat him. "Not even two feet in and you already gave up, Lute!" He exclaimed, sniffling. "Good job! Now your lute's gone, your miniscule reputation is in tatters, and what's worse is there's a mare looking at me like I lost a limb!" He bawled.
Wait...
Wiping his eyes, nothing but the brown color of mud greeted him where the mare once stood. "Oh great, and I'm even going delirious! Given my luck, it wouldn't surprise me if I accidentally inhaled some Poison Joke during my stumble." Shaking his head, Lute gave himself a quick slap. "What are you doing!? You're an official Bard now, it's time to start acting like it!" Getting up, the stallion wiped himself off as best he could and continued further in.
Despite his rather brief episode, Gilded Lute kept a brave face, his fear from earlier slightly suppressed by his need for adventure. As a young Colt, his parents would run rampant at the courageous pony that got into all sorts of trouble, only to come bawling out later. He didn't mind it however. It showed he still needed to grow as a pony, and becoming a Bard was the next step. They were warrior poets always on the move, going on perilous adventures, yet still gentle enough to craft a ballad that was tasteful to all audiences. It thrilled him to no end!
Despite his newfound courage, he still couldn't shake the eerie and frightening feeling of a pair of eyes on him. "Just the magic of the forest, that's all!" He reasoned. "Almost all the stories say it's got old magic buried deep in it's center." He passed a large tree, admiring it's gnarled limbs and twisted body. "The legends of this place talk about ancient artifacts and a crystal tree, once the source of power for the kingdom of Equestria." Just then a beam of light shone down through the canopies, reflecting off the wet wood of the old plant and making it look like the tree he just mentioned. "Harmony Gems and the Crystal Palace, I think that's what their names were." Placing his hoof on the wood, he sighed. "What I wouldn't give to see that right now..."
Suddenly, the tree began to groan and move, swallowing his hoof and slowly sucking him in further. The roots began to overtake his other hooves on the ground, anchoring him in place and putting an increasingly painful pressure on them. "Ah! H-help, anyone?!" He pleaded. "I'm becoming a tree!"
As if to answer, the body of the tree warped in front of him, revealing what looked like a cow skull wrapped in vines, it's head adorned with deer antlers. Slowly, the head moved forward, the limbs that trapped Lute before slowly lifting him up and connecting themselves to the head of the monster. A circle of crows broke through the canopy and began swarming around the area, adding to the terrifying appearance of the monster that now held him. Aside from the cow skull and antlers, the beast was deprived entirely of wood. The splintered and rotted appearance of its body was so similar to a Timberwolf, he wouldn't doubt it if the two were related somehow.
Slowly, vines began to wrap around the stallion, crushing every part of his body. "Agh! Please, anyone?!" The crows swarmed closer, pecking at the bits of his coat not wrapped by the vines and cutting him in the process with their sharp beaks. Suddenly, an outside force knocked the birds out of the sky and shook the monster holding him. In it's surprise, the creature groaned in an ungodly howl, tossing Lute like a ragdoll towards the very tree it came out of. Hitting it with a sickening crack, the stallion's vision went blurry and fell to the ground in a comatose lump. Fate had decided he would be only an observer to the scene before him, and what a scene it was!
To one side, the vague brownish green blob in his vision stumbled from another blast; It was the monster that grabbed him. On the other side was a very small lemon colored blur, one or two heads bigger than the average pony. He didn't know who, or what, it was but it had the speed of lightning. Where the wooden beast lumbered and swung, the other creature dodged gracefully and swiped at it multiple times. If he had a clear view of the battle, Lute was sure he would be impressed.
Suddenly, the sound of crows came back and this time, they were swarming near him! A gutteral roar came from the beast the blue was fighting, and within an instant the crows dove down and began to peck and cut him like vegetables to a knife. He screamed and the blood from his wounds leaked into his eyes, blinding him to the fight and unfortunately, to the beast's location. If he couldn't see he couldn't get away, though that would imply his spinal column was still in one piece, which the pain coming from his back told him the inevitable answer. Another rumbling beneath his possibly paralyzed body as well as the most horrific scream, and all went silent once more.
He could hear a rustling nearby, and in self defense, the stallion desperately kicked out towards the noise. His fumbling around was stopped by something soft and gentle yet also familiar.
...Hooves? he thought.
"Stay still, damn it!" A melodic voice from the heavens spoke. "I need to wrap some of your wounds."
"...Are you an Angel, sent to take me to heaven?" Lute spoke softly, melting at the soft touch of the mare bandaging his wounds.
"For a pony dumb enough to wander into the Everfree, you definitely sound like the exact opposite of what I'd expect." Flipping him over, the mare sucked in a pained breath. "That impact dislocated your spine, I'm going to have to set it."
"Yes, Goddess- wait, what?!" He exclaimed, squirming free from the pony's grasp. Wiping his eyes, he cleared some of the blood and attempted to see. What graced him was the face of a beautiful Pegasus mare, her Wolven eyes fierce yet gentle; her long brown mane framed it perfectly, only highlighting her features even more. He was speechless.
She, on the other hand, only rolled her eyes at his reaction. The mare further inspected his back further with her hoof, trying to feel if there were any other hidden breaks in the spine. Feeling only the dislocated column, she sighed with relief. "Only the one place, good."
Gently pushing down, She got ready to pop it back into place when a yelp of pain shot out of the stallion, him squirming away from her grip. "No no no! No re-aligning spines today! No thank you, I am perfectly fine walking-" He tried to stand up but the pain only got worse and he plummeted to the ground once more.
"Yes I'm sure, and the sky is green." She droned sarcastically. "Now let me set it, or you'll be a paraplegic for life, possibly even go blind."
"Well I think you're full of GYAHHHH!" His cries of pain could be heard all the way back to the village entrance.
"There!" She smiled, dusting herself off. "Now let's get you back to the forest entrance, and I'll collect some ingredients from this Leshen-" Looking down at the now fully unconscious stallion, she rolled her eyes and lifted him onto her back.
"It wouldn't hurt to let him recover first. I hope he likes meat..."
Author's Note
Another chapter in the same week?! I feel proud of myself :D
Now, if you read Destiny's Calling, you know I like to make decent sized chapters, not like these two small ones. That hasn't changed! I'm just peppering in some small chapters here and there while I think of the Contracts/big events for this story. More info below!
In this order, give or take a few, it'll consist of a recap(if necessary), a character reveal, then a foreshadowing of the next big chapter. Possibly, there will just be fun bits of interaction I'll throw in, as a sort of intermission!
I'm trying a new structure for this arc, hoping it sticks well! If not, I'm sure y'all will point it out XD
Anyways, if you like the story or have general comments/concerns, go ahead and let me know below. Other than that, give me a thumbs up or down. Either/or, I really don't care as long as you're honest.
Next chapter up soon, hopefully!
