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