Have You Seen This Wolf?
By MlpHero
An unreformed changeling nymph walked through the hive hallways, smiling. The changeling, Hero, was ecstatic as today was his birthday. His heart was racing. It was his first year back to the hive, and he loved it. Besides the downgrade of the changelings (the Colorbugs, as he called them) were soft. Heck, it was to the point you could poke them and they’d fall over.
But he didn’t care about that. Today was his special day. His birthday. Hero walked towards his room, practically jumping out of his chitin. His wings buzzed so fast, he was surprised they didn’t fly away. He happily galloped to his room. At his door was a bag of dog food.
Oh right, Wolf’s food is here. he remembered, looking at the bag. Before he picked it up, he noticed another box. This one read For Hero, From Mama Tempest. Sorry I couldn’t be here.
He smiled and picked it up, running into his room, leaving the bag of dog food alone.
~~~
Hero stared at the wrapped up box, smiling widely. He gently removed the letter, then viciously tore through the wrapping paper, then squeed excitedly.
“Eeeeee! A new butterfly knife!” he squeed, examining the knife. This one was a dull training knife, so he could do tricks and not cut his hoof. He began twirling the knife around. He then noticed another letter. He blinked and picked it up, opening it.
Hey Hero, bet ya can’t you twirl it a hundred times.
He smirked and began twirling it, then accidently dropped it. “Darn it…”
As he reached for it, a large figure, a wolf named…
Well, Wolf. Creative name, really, stepped out and stalked over to a food bowl. He grabbed a handkerchief and some silverware, before sliding the handkerchief on and looking at his food bowl, expecting his kibble to be there. Instead, he found…
Well, nothing.
He blinked, looking at a nearby clock. It was definitely lunchtime. So where the heck was his food?
He walked over to the nymph, barking softly. Hero flinched, looking around. “Wha’?”
Wolf barked louder.
Hero looked down. “Oh, Wolf, it was you who was making that distracting noise.”
Wolf barked again.
Hero smiled. “Sorry Wolf, I can’t play right now.” He showed off his new knife. “Tempest challenged me to one hundred knife twirls. And you know I’m not one to back down from a challenge.” He began twirling it again.
Wolf blinked, then barked again, which messed Hero up again. “Wolf! Please! I’m trying to beat Tempest’s bet!” He held the training knife up, only for Wolf to grab it in his mouth. Hero groaned and used his magic to lift the Wolf, bowling him back to the other side of the room.
Wolf’s head landed in the bowl, which was empty, save for one piece of—
No wait, that’s a spider egg.
Wolf sighed and grabbed a nearby bag, walking off. He pushed open the door, expecting Hero to say something. But the nymph didn’t and just kept twirling the knife.
Wolf looked away, barking slightly and left, heading for the exit of the hive.
He walked down the road, heading towards Ponyville.
~~~
A few hours later, Hero got a knock on his door. Hero was too caught up in his knife twirling to answer. Another knock. No answer.
Outside, another unreformed nymph, Zenex, was still knocking. “Hero? You there?”
Still no answer.
Zenex sighed and grabbed a crowbar. With very little effort, he pried the door open, looking in. There he saw Hero twirling his knife. Before he entered however, he noticed a bag of dog food on the ground.
That’s weird. Didn’t Hero know Wolf’s food had come in?
“Uh… Hero! Wolf’s food is— Hero!”
Hero was mindlessly twirling his knife. Zenex stared for a bit, then facehoofed. Dangit Hero… he scolded in his mind. Zenex trotted over, grabbing a newspaper and raising it up.
Bonk!
Hero jumped. “Ahh! Whatever I did I didn’t do!”
Zenex blinked. “Dude…. I’m just coming to find you for the party.”
“Party?”
“Dude, it’s your birthday! Did you forget the entire day?!”
Hero blushed. “O-Oh! Sorry, I… I was just caught up in my knife twirling.”
Zenex stared. “Knife twirling? Dude, Wolf’s food has been sitting outside for five hours!”
“Five hours?!” Hero looked around, then at Wolf’s food bowl. Empty. “Oh no! Wolfy!” He whimpered and turned to Zenex. “I-I forgot to feed Wolf!”
Zenex facehoofed. “Well duh, his food’s been out there for five hours.”
Hero looked at him and whimpered.
~~~
Hero and Zenex had been looking all around the hive, but couldn’t find the large grey wolf. Hero whimpered. “Wolfy! Wolfy, I’m sorry! Please come back!”
Zenex rubbed his back. “It’s okay. Come on, let’s go to the party. Maybe that’ll cheer you up?”
Hero sighed. “Okay…”
Zenex smiled. “Come on Hero. Let’s get some cake.” The nymph giggled and led Hero off.
~~~
Wolf trotted through Ponyville, looking around for anypony who’d take care of him. He sighed, watching several ponies chew on their food. It only made the poor wolf more hungry.
Thankfully, he came from a more civilized pack and didn’t have a taste for ponies. So instead, he looked at the more non-pony residents (specifically meat eaters like griffons) who he hoped would spare something.
Unfortunately, no one really stepped up.
He sighed, continuing his walk. Then, he felt a hoof wrap around him. His fur stiffened slightly, but from the texture of the hoof, he could tell this was an older pony. Like, someone’s grandma old.
He blinked, surprised she even had enough strength to lift him up as is. He looked up to see an old earth pony lifting him up. Well that would explain the strength boost.
“There you are, Sparky! Grandma’s been looking all over for you!”
Sparky? That had a nice ring to it. Wolf smiled and barked softly.
“Come on Sparky, Grandma’s got some homemade cookies on the stove.”
Wolf’s eyes widened with sparkles. Homemade cookies? By a grandma? He might as well be in Elysium!
Maybe this wasn’t so bad after all.
~~~
Hero stared at the birthday cake with the candles saying 14!. The others, Thorax, Ember, Pharynx, his Cousin Apex, Zenex and his family, his close friends, and his girlfriend.
But no Wolf.
Hero bit back a sob, trying to hold his composure together. But the others could tell something bothered him. But they couldn’t tell if it was because his adoptive mother, Tempest, wasn’t here, or if it was his brother, Wolf, being absent.
After a long while, they sang happy birthday. Which in of itself was awkward.
Hero didn’t understand what was flattering about this. Who wants to be bluntly reminded they’re getting older? And the atmosphere was just weird when they sang.
The worst part, though, was when they got to the ‘How old are you?’ part.
Hero, both very self conscious and sad, managed to squeak out, “fourtee’...”, then, “fourt…”, and finally, “four…”
The others by this point stopped singing, realizing this was bothering him.
“Uh… Hero?” Pharynx nudged him. “You uh… okay?”
Hero sighed and blew out the candles. “Thanks guys… I appreciate it, really… but it’s not the same without Wolf…” he teared up, walking out of the cafeteria.
~~~
Wolf was living the high life, however. Curled up in a blanket, eating freshly made cookies, heck, even some nice music.
The old mare walked in. “Oh my, you’re still up? You must have a lot of energy.”
Wolf made a content woof. The old pony smiled, setting another plate of cookies down. Wolf smiled as best he could, chowing down.
The old pony smiled, then looked at a clock. “Oh my, look at the time. Come on Sparky, bedtime.”
Wolf smiled and walked beside her towards the room. He was surprised by the room itself. The walls were a lavender color, there were several toys, and he had an actual bed. That was the most surprising.
She lifted him up and plopped him down into the bed, wrapping the blankets around him. He smiled, before letting out a yawn.
The old pony smiled and kissed his forehead gently. “Good night Sparky.”
With that, she turned off the lights.
~~~
The next morning saw Hero and Zenex walking towards Ponyville. “Come on Zenex. There’s still a chance.”
Hero was carrying a stack of paper. “I-I… I don’t know Hero. What if Wolf’s already gone?”
Hero glared at him. “Come on Zenny! We have to find him!”
“Okay, okay. I’m right behind you!”
Hero stuck a poster on the door of a crafts shop. “Dear Wolfie, I am sorry. Please come home.” Hero looked at Zenex. “Okay, gimme the tape.”
“Here.” Zen passed it over. He watched as Hero taped it to the building. “Uh… Hero?”
“Just pass the fliers out, Zen!” Hero scolded, storming towards the next building. Just as they left however, the old pony and Wolf walked out.
“Come on Sparky. There’s plenty more fun to be had.”
Instrumental
Wolfie, I’m sorry; I was wrong...
I screwed up, and now you’re gone…
Instrumental
Zenex and Hero walked past the spa, calling out for Wolf, whilst inside the spa, the old mare and Wolf were getting treated.
Wolfie, I’m sorry I neglected you
Oh, I should’ve respected you
And all your needs, but now I’m so lonely…
Your barking right now would sound like music to me...
Please come back, cause I miss you Wolfie
(Wolfie come back)
Wolf and the mare sat at a cafe, eating. Wolf let out a burp. The old mare giggled and helped him up, before they began walking.
Wolfie, I’m sorry I was blind
I’d do what it to change your mind
“Wolfie!!” Hero cried out.
Instrumental
You aren’t my pet, you’re my brother
My closest friend; please come back to me; I’m sorry I made you feel so sad and so alone
Hero tripped and dropped the fliers.
Now my heart is beating on its own
The wind blew the fliers away, and out of the nymph’s reach.
And so I hope that I, can find you again
Zenex walked up to the nymph, who immediately hugged him tightly, crying.
Wolfie come back…
~~~
Wolf and the old mare smiled at each other. Wolf felt very happy with his new life.
But a strange ember in him missed Hero. It was a small ember, and it was awaiting a spark.
Wolf looked around, before a piece of paper smacked him in the face. He blinked pushing it aside. Then he noticed what it was. A piece of paper with a drawing of him and Hero with the words ‘Wolfie Come Home’ scribbled on top.
Wolf stared at it, whimpering. Hero did miss him…
Wolf looked around, beginning to howl. He quickly ran off, looking around for his changeling companion.
~~~
Hero looked at Zenex, who nuzzled him. “There there Hero, it’s okay.”
Hero sighed. “I miss him…”
“I know buddy. We can find him, I know.”
Hero looked over. “How? He’s gone… and there’s nothing I can—”
“Arooooowwwwwww!”
The two looked up.
Hero’s ears perked. “W-Wolfie…?”
The grey wolf stood in front of them. Hero’s eyes teared and a smile formed. “Wolfie!” Hero ran over to the wolf, hugging him tightly.
Zenex smiled. “Aww!”
“Shut up Zen, we’re having a moment.”