Lovers among Lycans

Lovers among Lycans

Chapter 1—The beginning of a very hairy situation.

It was early winter in Equestria. The wind was delivering an afternoon breeze to the hardly frigid environment, as snow gently followed the guidance of the breeze. There wasn’t much snow on the ground, but in the months to come the ponies of Equestria would see much more. Now was about the time most ponies would be settled in their homes, fast asleep.

Most ponies…

The dire wolf ran into the forest, her breath coming out in billows as she frantically looked about her. How many were there, she thought as she continued through the Everfree Forest. There can’t have been more than just the one, but how? She continued dodging trees and ducking through vines until she came to a small hollow in a large birch. Crouching in the birch, she whimpered quietly as she could as she attempted to pull the arrow from her leg. Silver! Damn it, she thought as the smell of burnt flesh and hair arose from her hollow. If I stay here much longer, no doubt she’ll find me…

The dire wolf began to limp out of the hollow, checking all around her for her pursuer. Not seeing them, she hobbled as quickly as she could towards the shade of a gorge. If I can just make it there, I’ll be safe… She thought hopefully as she slowly approached it.

Schick! The arrow stuck directly into the dire wolf’s side and she howled in pain. Smoke began to arise from the wound where the silver arrow met the skin, and tears began to well up in her eyes. This is it, she thought, She’s got me this time…

Turning around in the direction of the shot, she saw a bipedal hooded pony. The pony bore a silver sun on her cloak and had been responsible for the disabling shot from the arrow. The hooded pony would also be responsible for the killing shot. As the dire wolf sat beside the chasm, accepting her fate, the hooded pony’s voice rang out in the darkness, only a refined Canterlot accent disguising her disgust.

“Lycans… You truly are a pathetic race—I thought you would have lasted longer than this. But, no matter, I’ve had my fun. You are still a hideous scourge marring our beautiful world, and you are to be purged if I am to do my duty.”

And with that, she raised her hoof and brought down her silver-bladed weapon, a bow with which a cello would be played with.

*************************

“…And thus, with the increasing Lycan threat in Equestria, I have decided to induct new members into our society…”

Princess Celestia declared this from upon her royal throne, her form swathed in the moonlight which poured from the windows. Under normal circumstances, Luna’s court would be in session during the night, but Luna understood that Celestia’s meetings with her secret organization—the Monks of the Silver Sun—were to be held in privacy, and she was more than glad to share. Before Princess Celestia stood four kneeling figures—two pegasi, an earth pony, and a unicorn—and to either side of her stood the few members of the Monks of the Silver Sun, including Octavia.

The grey pony looked at the short row on ponies standing before Celestia. Are they all we have to work with? She had to admit, they weren’t exactly very impressive. Hmm, well, after a few weeks of training, maybe... Although, that one in particular can’t keep still—no doubt she’ll be a handful. She was referring to the unicorn—one with a white coat and a two-tone blue mane. I wonder which apprentice I’ll be assigned… While Octavia thought this, she couldn’t help but to hope she didn’t get the unicorn. She didn’t have anything against unicorns; it was just that this one in particular seemed to be a little too hyper.

“…That is, if Agent Philharmonica would please step forward…”

Octavia looked up to the Princess and was met with a stern look. She hadn’t been paying attention and didn’t hear her name called to step forward and take her apprentice. She stepped forward, looking over to the others, but when she did so she saw that they weren’t standing in their places, but leaving the room with their apprentices.

She quickly looked back to where the row of apprentices once stood. There, kneeling before Celestia was left only the white unicorn, awaiting her mentor. Oh, buck! Octavia thought. Great, I zone out for two minutes and look what it got me! She looked disdainfully at the unicorn as Celestia recited the ceremonial words of appointment. Even though Celestia’s voice was the only thing producing noise, Octavia didn’t hear a single thing except for her own thoughts racing in her head. Maybe I could swap apprentices with somepony? But it was too late.

“Hello, my name is Octavia Philharmonica von Clef.” she said as she stepped forward to meet her new apprentice. “But you can call--“

“Ha, that’s a mouthful!” she was interrupted by the unicorn, which made her incredulity of the name apparent. “I’m Vinyl Scratch, but most everypony just calls me Scratch.”

“Okay, Scratch…” Octavia was still recovering from her apprentice’s outburst. “Here, why don’t we head into the training facility in the back here and get started.”

“Sounds good to me, Octy.” Octavia cringed at the hideous nickname.

“Umm, please—call me Octavia.”

Octavia led her to the secret room hidden in the back of the throne room. Inside, the other Monks were going over the basics of the organization with their apprentices. She saw Blast Radius over by the explosives with her apprentice. Hmm, not exactly the best pony to talk to about such matters, she thought, but maybe…

“Hey, Vinyl,” she said to her apprentice, “why don’t you go see what Blast Radius is doing over there?” She pointed to the general area where Blast was standing.

“Blast Radius?” Said Vinyl, intrigued. “What does she do?”

“She’s the explosives expert. Although, I should warn you—“

Octavia didn’t get to finish that sentence since Vinyl heard the word “explosives” and decided to visit Blast post-haste. Finally, Octavia thought, maybe I can get a word with Sling. He’ll know how to handle her. She made her way over to Sling Lock, who was in the middle of explaining to his apprentice what qualities all good leaders possess. Upon noticing Octavia’s presence, he dismissed his apprentice.

“Hey, Octavia,” he greeted her. “How’s the apprentice thus far?”

“Oh, that’s just it, Sling…” she replied. “I don’t know how I’m going to stand her.”

She was not met with a reply from Sling, but rather a warning from Blast. She saw Blast, her apprentice, and Scratch all running away from a hazardous-looking sparking device.

“EVERYPONY GET DOWN!” Blast and Scratch shouted in unison.

“Oh, no, not alrea—“

KA-BOOM