The Bond of Three

Red Quill quickly looked over her shoulder before the Everfree, worried that her new friends would be following her. She didn’t want to endanger them with the reality of everything she knew. The consequences would be far too great. She then turned her head back to her path. She inhaled, and her horn flared with her red aura. She opened her eyes as her red aura transformed light blue, and her dark blue eyes swirled with a beautiful light blue. Suddenly, wisps of light blue magic alighted in the forest, setting up a path of some sort. She looked back again, before trotting off, following the path of the wisps. She trotted on for a couple of minutes, at least until she heard a sound that was halfway between a whinny and a wolf howl. Wolfponies. And they sounded hostile. Red Quill quickened her pace to a canter. Shadows moved among the trees, and eyes peered out, however one pair of eyes gleamed an intense red. She quickened her pace to a gallop. The wolf-like pants of the wolfponies quickly followed Red Quill’s hoof steps, and she broke out into a dead run. The bloodcurdling howls of the wolfponies filled her ears.

“Almost there, almost there!” Red Quill reassured herself in terror. The terrifying voices of the wolfponies started to bang at her sanity.

“A pony!”

“An opportunity for revenge!”

“Get it! It will earn us our food!”

Red Quill almost cried out in relief as what she was looking for came into view. It was a dead tree, with scars all over it. Red Quill stopped at the tree, heedless of the growls, snarls, and howls of the wolfponies, and her horn flared with a magical red aura, and the tree glowed white. Red Quill prepared to jump, yet a wolfpony rose above her, and tore its claws into her back. She shrieked and leapt in the tree, disappearing in a puff of smoke. The wolfpony jumped after her, only to crash face-first into the tree.

~~~~~

Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Princess Luna, and twelve Royal Canterlot Guards crept into the Everfree Forest, looking desperately for Zecora. Twilight had received a letter from Zecora, stating that she was in trouble and needed help immediately. Rainbow Dash had stated that it could be a trap, so they had asked Princess Luna to come with a few of the Royal Guards. They couldn’t get Celestia to come because she was extremely busy.

“Twilight Sparkle, I feel in my Royal Canterlot bones that this is a trap.” Luna commented as an owl called in the dark of the trees.

“Me too, but I just know that Zecora is in trouble.” Twilight replied softly. The guards looked anxiously around. Suddenly, a shadow loomed in the tree cover.

“Zecora!” Applejack exclaimed, and indeed she was correct. However, Zecora was lying unconscious on the ground.

“Zecora! Can you hear us?” Twilight asked the zebra, although it was a useless feat, since the zebra was deep in slumber.

“Take them all!” A voice calls from the darkness. Wolfponies suddenly charge out of the nearby vegetation, all intent on attack.

“Attack!!!” Princess Luna screamed, with the added Royal Canterlot voice, would have shattered glass for a span of a mile. The Royal Guards jumped to defend the ponies, and the Mane Six leapt into action. Pinkie Pie used the Party Cannon on three wolfpony fledglings, Twilight shot a beam of magic at two, Applejack and Rainbow Dash bucked four into nearby bushes, Rarity Falcon Kicked five into a tree, Fluttershy pulled one’s tail, yet said sorry, and Princess Luna shot lightning at eight fledglings, all at the same time. But then, a Royal Guard forgot to block after he brought down a blow onto a wolfpony, and suddenly a black wolfpony leapt in the open space, jaws wide open, and bit the Royal Guard on the hoof with his fearsome jaws. The guard cried out in pain, but it sharply ended and morphed to a growl, as thick brown fur began to replace his grey coat, and his muzzle jutted out and grew huge canine-like fangs, knocking out his pony teeth, and causing blood to drip from his jaws. His armour shattered as he began to grow to a fledgling wolfpony’s size, and his horn shriveled and fell off, to be replaced by a simple gem on the forehead. He turned, and the ponies stopped their fighting, and looked in horror at the bitten guard. The guard now resembled the fledgling wolfponies, but his eyes had stayed the same through the transformation, yet they had a bloodthirsty gleam to it. And his eyes locked onto the ponies themselves. Suddenly, all the wolfponies lunged for the Royal Guards, and screams of agony cut through the trees of the forest.

~~~~~

“Focus, Red Quill. Put all your concentration into it.” Hissed an old female voice from the dark corner of the cave, which Red Quill stood as the centerpiece of. Her eyes were squinted shut in focus, her forehead dripped with sweat, her horn swirled with magical aura, as it flickered fiercely between light blue and red.

“Now…release it!” The voice called out. Suddenly, a beam of light blue shot from her horn, which opened up midway, somewhat like a flower blooming, and exploded into a dazzling, spectacular sight of blue, light blue, light green, and aqua as something leapt out. Red Quill opened her eyes, and came face to face with a red fox. Only, it wasn’t red. Instead, it flowed a ghostly swirl of light blue and extremely light green, its skin was slightly transparent, and its eyes were that of Red Quill’s. It tilted its head in curiosity at her, and Red Quill returned the gesture. Then, the fox disappeared in a wisp of blue, and Red Quill’s head dropped, and she began to pant in exhaustion.

“Good job, you held it for longer than last time.” The voice congratulated the tired Red Quill. “You may not be able to hold it as long as your mother can, but the talent runs within the family I guess.” Red Quill looked up and smiled.

“At least it isn’t as hard as it was bringing back your eyesight.” She sighed.

“It only comes back during the night though, because your magic isn’t as strong as it would be needed to make it come back forever.” The voice pointed out. Red Quill stopped panting, and straightened up.

“I’ll come back next week, ok?” She commented as she made her way out of the cave.

“Be warned my dear Red Quill, something bad has happened.” The voice crackled as Red Quill left. She paused, shrugged, and trotted out, only to be met with a sunset orange female dragon.

“I’m ready Flamedance. Fire when ready.” Red Quill told the dragon. It nodded, and flame crept out of its mouth and gently engulfed the unicorn.

~~~~~

Red Quill opened her eyes, only to find herself back at the scarred tree. She glared at the woods cautiously, remembering that the wolfponies had ambushed her there. She would have to tell Princess Celestia that they were now at war with the ponies. She walked down back her original path; joy in her eyes, for she had almost mastered the most ancient spell in all of pony history. Suddenly, the wind shifted, and the scent of blood came to her nose.

“Blood!” She shrieked, and followed the scent. She came into a small clearing, and was greeted by the overwhelming scent of gore. A huge spatter of blood, composed of the blood of twelve ponies, took up most of the clearing, as well as hoof prints. Red Quill pricked her ears as a faint sound came to her ear. The sound of deep ragged breaths. Red Quill stalked over, and under the tree, laid two living creatures. One was a grey pegasus, with a slightly messy golden mane, golden googly eyes, and a Cutie Mark featuring seven bubbles. The pegasus was somewhat injured, scratch marks going down her back, however, the pegasus held gently what Red Quill believed to be a zebra.

“W-who’s there?” The pegasus stammered, fear heightening her voice. Most other ponies would have thought the pegasus to be stupid-looking and sounding, but Red Quill thought she was interesting.

“It’s ok, I’m a friend.” Red Quill reassured, and stepped into the light. The pegasus’s eyes softened.

“Oh, I thought you were one of them, coming to finish us off.” The pegasus murmured. Red Quill frowned.

“Them?” She asked, confusion taking her tone.

“Yes, them. Those weird tall creatures. I was flying overhead, delivering the mail, when suddenly, I heard screaming. I looked down, and I saw them attacking six mares, Princess Luna, and twelve Royal Guards. One of the guards turned into one of those tall creatures, and it tried to attack all the other guards. I dove down and tried to defend them, but I got injured in the fight, as you could guess, and I ended up losing the battle, and ended up next to Zecora, here. By that time, all the Royal Guards had transformed into those things, and everypony surrendered. They left me behind, saying something about: ‘Needing the message of the ponies capture to be spread’. So, here I am.” The pegasus explained. Red Quill lifted a hoof, and drew close to Zecora.

“It looks like they completely took over her mind. I can tear off their Oshoku, their corruption.” She explained. “It could be risky.”

“Do it.” The pegasus encouraged Red Quill, who sighed, and her horn started to glow. It glowed, intensity increasing with every second. Suddenly, it switched to light blue, and the red fox that Red Quill had summoned before, escaped from Red Quill’s horn, and merged into the unconscious zebra. The pegasus just watched in awe, as Red Quill grunted and twisted, as her horn flared light blue. Suddenly, Zecora awoke with a sharp inhalation, and her eyes snapped open.

“Wait, what happened, how did I get here? Last I remember those wolfponies were coming near!” She remarked as Red Quill’s aura on her horn flashed away, and she stood there panting.

“Wolfponies? Is that what those creatures are called?” The pegasus asked, and Zecora turned her head towards her.

“Ditzy! You have grave wounds, my dear friend! Should I head back to my hut to help those injuries mend?” Zecora tried to offer the pegasus, apparently named Ditzy. Red Quill shook her head disapprovingly.

“No, you can’t, it’s already dangerous out there as we know it, plus, we’ll send you an escort as soon as we get to Ponyville. Try not to talk; it could further corrupt your mind.” Red Quill reassured the obviously flustered zebra, who nodded, still a little confused.

“My dear friends, it appears we have a crisis on our hooves.” She whispered, and the three began to stalk cautiously out of the dark woods, their path watched by three pairs of glowing green eyes. The eyes belonged to a pack of Timberwolves, accomplishment coursing through their wooden bodies, and triumph flaring in their eyes. Suddenly, the larger Timberwolf of the pack, turned towards his pack-mates.

“They’ve been found, let us tell the wolfponies. For now, war wages, canines against equines.” It spoke in a growling tone and snarling pattern that only a canine would understand. The Timberwolves turned, and trekked off.

~~~~~

“Ow! Learn to not dig into my flesh when you groom me, you pathetic, lowly, omega!” Śikārī snaps at me as I try to groom his back, which, I appear to not be doing well. I can’t help it. I can’t help I was born with sharper, thicker, and longer teeth then the rest of the clan. I also can’t help that I have wings and a horn either. Only Varg and her daughters and son have wings, and a horn, but, my wings are different from theirs. Theirs are made of feathers; mine are made of a bright energy of some sort, flowing along my back. In the past, fledglings have tried to tear off my wings, and make me normal. It never works, for it just goes through their jaws. My horn is different too. It is transparent, yet magically thick. I can’t help I have paws instead of dragon claws for the front legs and hooves for the hind legs. I can’t help I’m different. Why can’t everywolf else just accept that? Why can only Varg accept me?

Suddenly, there is a sound at the entrance of the catacombs. Then, the group that had left an hour ago stride in, including twelve new fledglings, surrounding strange creatures that I have never seen before. Then again, I have never seen any living thing, other than the prey the clan hunts, and my own clan-mates. The creatures resemble my kind in a way. But where is their Pawājemu, the gem on their forehead that gives them their power? Don’t all creatures, except the prey we hunt, have one? Why are they so much smaller than the wolfponies? Why do some of them have wings, and others only had a horn or even nothing at all? Then, I spot a beautiful sight. It is similar to the creatures, only, with a seemingly never-ending separate fur from its coat color, yet, it has wings and a horn. Like Varg, the sisters, and Dākuurufu. Like me. Is this creature like me? Is it lonely, misunderstood, and different? I just have to know. I’m apparently out to be the first to notice the strange creatures, yet as soon as the other clan-mates notice, they send up a chorus of howls of victory, saying they were now not to go hungry. But I don’t join in. I refuse to mock those wonderful creatures, and the different creature among them.

“Howl, Sutāurufu, join our chant! We are victorious! Do you not appreciate their efforts?” The much more dominant male, Urlo, growls at me.

“It’s just, that I don’t understand.” I answer, fear for a Dominance Fight to break out. His lighter golden gaze than Śikārī's eyes softens.

“You’ll understand when you are older.” He replies, and returns to howling. Suddenly, like fishing from a river during the annual salmon run, I pick up a wisp of memory in my mind. Ponies! Those wondrous creatures are called ponies! But how would I know that? I never knew their names before now. But my thoughts are ended, as the ponies are led into the Pool of Prison.