Timber-Jack

by The Blackcuno

Rating: everyone
Tags: Random, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Apple Bloom, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Other
Length: 6003

A what if - Basically running on theme of the relationship between the Timber Wolves and the apple Family.

After a Few weeks of trying to figure out why her sister disappears each Saturday evening, Apple Bloom is adamant to figure this out on her own.

But when she finds out about the true relationship between her family and the Timber Wolves, her life wont ever be the same ever again.

Published 2013-05-20 19:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2013-05-20 19:40:03 UTC

Finding her place in the pack

It wasn’t the first time in over a month that the young filly, Apple Bloom, was bed ridden with some kind of sickness for about a day or so. This had been happening nearly every week on a Sunday for the last six months; the day after her sister would vanish off the farm for the evening. She claimed that it was due to her going to check on Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie, or get something from town. She was lying from behind her teeth, but she didn’t have the proof she needed to approach her sister about it.

Tonight was that night of the week, Saturday, where she would go away to the outskirts where her farm would cross over into the everfree forest. Apple Bloom knew better than to follow her though, but the fact that she lied every time she approached her about it made her suspicious. She would always try from time to time to follow her only to lose her on the way or be stopped by either Big Mac or Granny Smith before she could get out of the house.

Tonight though she knew Big Mac was busy at some gig in town; apparently he had put his hoof forward to help out with the lighting rig of some unicorns rave party. As for Granny Smith, she was sleeping in the upper bedroom, far away from Apple Blooms room meaning that she could sneak out and find out what her sister was up to.

Tonight she would follow her sister to where ever she would go. She thought about asking the others, Sweetie belle and Scootaloo, to come along but dismissed the idea that too many of them would be discovered by her sister on the way and thus getting a yelling at about breaking curfew.

She was broken from her thinking at the sound of the door slamming in the wind, now was the time to follow. Tying her bow up into her hair to keep it out of her eyes, she built up the courage and silently trotted down the stairs and to the back door. Stooping mid way down as the middle stair creaked every time some pony put pressure on it. Softly she placed weight onto that step and it creaked much louder than she had hoped it would, hoping that it wouldn’t alert her sister Apple Jack to her following her.

She watched as Applejack seemed to not to notice and be nervous or anything. The Farmer simply walked towards the back side of the barn. The route she took every week as it was the fastest way into the orchards and then a direct path into the everfree forest.

Apple Bloom looked out the door and bolted behind the shed, her eyes quickly adapting to the darkness. She had once asked why she had good night vision when she was on camp once with Miss Cheerilee. She explained that some ponies are better at seeing into the night than others. Cheerilee said that it was due to her ‘rural’ upbringing and lack of use of modern lighting that affected the night vision in most town ponies.

Apple Bloom simply took that on, but she never noticed that tonight her whites of the eyes changed to a soft yellow colour instead of white. They glowed lightly to help her see in the dark. She wouldn’t know or even notice unless she looked into a barrel of water or a mirror but as she was chasing her sister, that wasn’t really on her priorities list. She always had good night vision and theorized it down to being an earth pony.

Narrowly dodging Apple Jacks line of sight by hiding behind a tree, she watched as she simply jumped the fence line and ducked into the cover of the everfree forest. Apple bloom wasn’t scared of the forest like most thanks to Zecora and her frequent visits to the Zebra alchemist. Rolling under the wooden fence she followed Apple Jack into the forest.

Darting between vines, trees and bushes she found that her vision actually improved the deeper she went into the forest. As she came round a corner, she found her sisters Stetson lying there, vine holding it. Taking it in her mouth she flicked it onto her head and continued following her sisters pace with startling ease.

~0~0~

She found herself hiding in a bush near what appeared to be a clearing of some kind, very near where Zecora lived but still a fair distance from the hut. Standing in the middle was her sister, seemingly transfixed by the moon that was shinning overhead. She was about to approach her and ask her what this was about when another voice echoed through the clearing, forcing the young filly’s mouth shut in terror.

“Ah dearest daughter Timber jack” it said. Male in tone and slightly robotic, Stepping out into the clearing was what made Apple Bloom bite down hard against the Stetson in fear. “It has been nearly a month since your last visit to the pack you know. Your mother was getting worried”

A Pony sized Timber wolf walked up, to Apple Jack and muzzled her with affection, much like it would its own young. this cause Apple Bloom to hold her breath in anticipation or fear that her sister was in trouble.

“Ah dad, yah know I can’t always come regularly, besides Apple Bloom has been quite sick the last few weeks though” she replied. She looked at the timber wolf without fear. The Wolf seemed to acknowledge this by nodding before stretching out it’s limbs with audible cracks and creaks, much akin to a tree moving in a stiff breeze. “How is mah speaking of her?”

“She is doing okay to say the least, you can be expecting another joining the farm shortly though” the Wolf stated walking around her. Apple Bloom continued to watch in almost fear and curiosity. “And the farm it’s self?”

“Doing well actually, Big Mac is still working hard as ever and Apple Bloom is still in school.” She said stretching. As she did Apple bloom went wide eyed at the sight before her, bits of wood seemed to cascade from the plants and trees and seemed to wrap around her sister.

Her hooves were quickly replaced with wicked looking claws of wood that seemed to give her a little bigger in size. Her coat was swiftly replaced with wooden armour as she seemed to enjoy it. She let her head fall a little as her muzzle was quickly replaced with wooden canines. As she looked up the last of the transformation was completed and she was now by all accounts a Timber wolf.

“Timber Jack, you know you have to do this often” the Male wolf said. Applejack, now a Timber wolf of almost unmatched colouration seemed to nod.

“Ah know dad. It’s hard enough as it is now. Mah friends are getting a bit more cautious after the wild ones attacked Spike last fortnight. Ah had to put them in their place though, so unless you want to step in” she stated. Her coat unlike most which was a mismatched bunch of branches and wood, her new wooden coat seemed to be universal light orange with her apple Cutie mark appearing as a set of knotholes on her flank. ‘But yah know-“

Apple Bloom was trying to listen to the conversation when she felt something brush against her nose. the result was a sneeze echoed across the open field alerting both wolves, ears seemed to pick up on the disturbance. Both looked confused at each other as their ears tried to find the source of the disturbance.

“You made sure you weren’t followed didn't you?” the male stated. Apple Jack nodded, but the male seemed to move towards where the disturbance was coming from.

Apple Bloom froze; she hadn’t been able to stop the sneeze and now she was going to be Timber Wolf food. She felt herself be yanked up by an unforseen mouth and was now dangling in front of a pair of seriously pissed off looking Timberwolves. She tried to kick it away but found oddly enough it wasn’t painful but she was hoisted up by the scruff of the neck. She now looked like a young pup being picked up by its parents dangling in front of the now still confused Apple Jack and Father.

“Well you didn’t do a good job then did yah” the new comer said with her mouth full. Tossing Apple Bloom in front of the male she continued by walking up to Apple Jack. “You’re getting sloppy Jacky”

“Dohn’t ya dare call me tha’ again” Apple Jack snarled, her fangs glaring in annoyance.

“Quit it you two right now. I brought the pair of you up not dragged you up” the male snarled. Apple Jack snarled again before backing off. The other wolf seemed not to care too much but seemed to cower before the male. Apple Bloom however was cowering in fear as to what was going to happen to her, the thought of timber wolf chow sprang to mind.

Applejack walked up to now scared stiff Apple Bloom and sighed. “What ya doing here Bloom? Ya should be in bed or looking out fer granny smith. Not traipsing through the everfree at this time of night, what if a wild one got ya? Then what, ah sure wouldn't be there to save ya”

The Male seemed to be quite interested in the fact that this foal wasn’t saying anything at all. “Timber Jack, back off for a moment and take a closer look at Apple Bloom. Noticed the whites of the eyes and the fact that she isn’t screaming in panic?”

Apple jack nodded and noticed the light glowing around her eyes. “Ah suppose yah should know this now considering what ya just saw”

Apple Bloom’s eye twitched as the male looked down at her. “Well do you know who I am?”

Apple Bloom shook her head in response, her mind not fully comprehending what was happening. All she wanted now was to cower, hide and whimper in her bed where it was safe. Why did she want to follow her sister out here to begin with, what she was hearing was complete insanity.

“Well, perhaps this will jolt your memory?” he said. It seemed as though all the bark, wood and detritus peeled away revealing a stallion of Big Mac in size, though greying around the tips of his mane, his coat seemed to be a light yellow colour. “thanks for keeping my hat safe” he took it off her head and placed it on his own head, it settled neatly and finished the look.

“What- Who are you?”

“What don’t you recognise your dear old dad?” he asked

Her eye twitched as Apple Jack returned to normal, the bark and wood seemingly vanishing as it hit the floor. Apple Bloom’s mind simply refused to comprehend what it was seeing before her, Timber wolf ponies, her dad? It and did the best thing for the filly and simply knocked her out with a classic faint.

“Huh? Was it something I said?” the colt asked.

“She’s just too young for this dad, yah know it”

“Oh gag, hey next time I’ll just eat her and be done with it” the other wolf stated, getting a snarl from the pair. “Fine, I won’t”
“Ah better get her back to the house before some pony looks for us” Apple Jack asked, Kissing her dad. “It’s been different this time dad. I’ll catch you next week okay”

“Sure thing, I’ll let your mother know your okay and that Apple Bloom may be maturing a bit faster than expected” he stated, grabbing the hat on his head and resting it on Apple Jacks. “Let mah know we are all okay out here”

“Ah will” Apple Jack stated as the colt was engulfed in timber again and licked his now canine muzzle. He tossed her the hat which she caught in her mouth and placed it on her head with a swift flick of the jaw. Apple Jack began to walk back down the path back to the house with Apple Bloom neatly asleep on her back.

~0~0~

Apple Bloom bolted upright gasping for air, throwing covers off her as she stiffened. She was still shivering from the night sweat as she looked around. First off she wasn’t tired, stiff or even hot today. Painfully she looked around and noticed that she was back in her room in the house. She heard hooves clopping on the wood floor as she continued to breathe heavily. The door creaked open and the sight of her sister brought her little ease.

“Hey are you okay there Bloom?” Apple Jack asked, on her back was a tray of food. As she placed it on the bedside cabinet, she was hugged quite hard by Apple Bloom that was still shaking. “What has gotten into ya?”

She refused to speak, but still shook.

“Ya just had a nightmare then huh? Ya can tell me” she said, running her hoof through her sister’s mane.

“It was about you and dad” Apple Bloom stated. Apple Jack raised an eyebrow at the comment. “Ya could turn into those Timberwolves and you did before my eyes. I was so scared”

“Ah chucks girl that it? Yah know it’s impossible for tha’ to happen. A pony can’t become a timber wolf” she said back, comforting her younger sister. “Besides, why would I want to become one of them anyway?”

Apple Bloom couldn’t respond as she just sat there. “I don’t know, but it was like you enjoyed it” she muttered.

“Well ur lucky it’s Sunday, Listen if yah still feeling under the weather then get some rest. Ah’m sure that Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo will understand if you aint feeling up to crusading today” she said. Apple Bloom nodded before yawning from being tired suddenly, involuntary mind you.

“Thanks sis” She said, covering her head with the blankets. Apple Jack smiled and kissed her on the head before leaving and closing the door as silently as she could. Standing out in the corridor was Granny Smith and Big Macintosh.

“She okay?” Big Mac asked. Apple Jack glared daggers at him.

“No she isn’t okay Big Mac. She followed me last night to the clearing. Buck she watched me Transform and met dad face to face”

“She will need to learn about the family sooner or later” Granny smith Commented. Her normal senile like demeanour gone with the wind, replaced with a firm authority of a matriarch. “She can’t be kept in the dark for too much longer, she is maturing faster than you did, no doubt she will transform soon”

“Ah know gran, but she’s just a foal. She isn’t ready for this”

“She is a Timber Pup. Like you and Mac before her. She is maturing to the point of her first metamorphosis” Granny Smith stated. “She will learn either by herself about this or you will teach her to control it. Either way, she is not allowed to leave the orchards until further notice. I would recommend for the safety of the others should she go feral like a certain pup I know-“

“-ah get it Gran. I’ll pass this on to Rainbow and Rarity about this and let Cheerilee know she won’t be into school for a while” Apple Jack interrupted in defeat.

Little did any of the ponies outside realise, Apple Bloom was wide awake, listening in on the conversation. What she had last night was that really a dream of reality of her sister and now her? She needed to wait for them to leave before she could enact her plan to find out more about this, without her so called sister interrupting her.

~0~0~

Apple Bloom’s opportunity came sooner than she had anticipated; she was quiet in her room, trying to think of an excuse to bail out of the house, as she heard that Big Mac and Apple Jack were working the outer paddock, far away from the obvious route to town. Meaning that she had a clear getaway to get into Ponyville to find out as much as she could about this matter but she wondered who would help her out. Her mind ground to a halt when she thought that who better to ask than the librarian Twilight Sparkle, she knew almost everything about anything. If that failed then either Fluttershy or Zecora might be able to answer the question.

She ducked out of her sheets, stretching as she got up to the sound of popping joints. This never happened to her before, so she was a little disturbed at the sounds but tossed it to the wind to the idea of staying still for a long period. Tossing out the classic sheets tied together out her window she bailed out, climbed down and landed with a soft whump on the grass outside her bedroom window and made a bee line for the front gate.

As she ran towards town, she darted around some of the locals that walked the route from her farm to the town site. Most seemed unfazed at the sight of the filly darting between them and carts; passing it off as ‘early morning shenanigans’.

Apple bloom was out of breath as she rapped on the libraries door. The sound of something on the other side opened it up. Spike seemed unfazed at the sight before him.

“Apple Bloom?” he asked sounding confused “I thought that AJ said you were ill and bed ridden for the next few days?” Apple Bloom shook her head.

“Nah, I got over it. Is Twi in?” she asked. “It’s kind of important”

“Sure, I’ll go get her” Spike said letting the filly in. “You sure you okay? Your eyes seem a bit-“

“What’s wrong with mah eyes?” Apple Bloom demanded of the lizard. Spike seemed to back off as she seemingly snarled at the end.

“Nothing, Twilight can you come down here please” he shouted, sounding a little bit scared at the fillies sudden growling. It was almost feral in sound, like a wolf or dog cornered during a fight.

“Coming Spike” the unicorn replied. As Twilight came down the stairs she was immediately hugged by a crying Apple Bloom. “Apple Bloom, what a surprise what’s wrong?”

“Ah just don’t know” she replied, almost in tears. “Something weird is happening to me ah can feel it”

“Are you sure not just sick?”

The filly shook her head as Twilight got a good look at her for the first time that day. Her eyes were glowing softly around the whites while her ears seemed to be a little bit more pointed than normal. “Perhaps you need to sit down and explain to me what is going on”

The filly nodded in agreement and sat down next to the librarian and began to explain the nightmare from the night before and what she heard from earlier that morning. Spike had been listening in during that time whilst he made a pot of tea for the pair.

“So ah came here to ask if it was possible?” she said, sniffing slightly as she did though. Twilight was already up and looking through the books that lined the library.

“It may just be a dream Apple Bloom, but from what I can see in your eyes that might not be the case” she stated. Apple bloom caught herself from scratching the back of her ear with her hind leg, “But why Timber wolves? I mean I have heard of were griffins. But why Timber wolves then”

“Well we do have a connection to them with the whole Zap Apple thing” Apple Bloom said. Twilight nodded and found the book she was looking for.

“Well, the last time I read about this was a series of Druids-“

“What’s a Druid?” Apple Bloom interjected

“Earth ponies that worshiped the very earth with a passion” Twilight stated, “it was said that they communed with the forests and was given their blessing and protection, but that was years before even the original Discord fiasco” she pulled out another book, “It might be possible that your heritage as earth ponies may have a natural tendency towards nature like this, so it may be possible that this blessing is the timber wolf form”

“If you don’t know I could ask Zecora or Fluttershy” Apple Bloom commented. Twilight nodded in agreement and took the hoof of the filly in her own.

“well if we go to Fluttershy’s first we might be able to ask Discord”

“Wait what?”You sure about that?” she asked softly as the librarian nodded. In a flash of pink light the pair vanished into thin air.

~-~-~

“Well this is certainly a surprise to say the least” the Draconequus, Discord, stated using his chaos magic to help Twilight up from her miss aligned teleport. “Literally dropping in on us, that is quite rude you know miss Sparkle”

“Are- you okay Twilight? You’re not hurt are you?” Fluttershy asked. The lavender mare shook her head.

“I'm fine before you ask” Apple Bloom said popping her head out of a large teapot. “What happened exactly?”

“Oh that was a little something I wiped up so that in case we get visitors I know who they were” Discord stated. Snapping his lion paw both ponies were instantly returned to the rightful place before the pair, “And to stop ponies like you from just dropping in”

“I real don’t mind so much Discord”

“Oh Fluttershy, this means that those who wish you harm aren’t allowed in. So what can we do for you this fine un-chaotic
day?”

“Well, we were wondering what you know about timber Wolves and Druids” Apple bloom asked.

Discord snapped his figures and a series of chairs appeared, including tea. “Tea?”

Both shook their heads in response, discord shrugged and took the pot in his clawed hand and drank the porcelain instead of the tea. “Well-“he began, “-All I know is that a series of earth ponies communed with the trees once well before I took control. All I know is that it was possible for them to shape shift into something feral to save their kind from my magic. What that is I am unsure of thought is what creature it was but if you say timber wolves then maybe?” he admitted.

“Ah back to square one” Twilight said bitterly. Apple Bloom looked at discord but sighed as he seemed as confused as the Pegasus he was bunking with. “Well than you for your time Discord, it has been oddly quaint” she said.

The Chimera seemed taken aback by the pleasantness of the pony’s reaction. “Well, I'm-“

“-it’s ‘Sorry’ Discord-“Fluttershy interrupted.

“-Right, sorry-“he stuck his lions paw finger in his mouth in protest, “- that I don’t know more”

Apple Bloom giggled in response but left with Twilight as they disappeared in a showed of pink confetti instead of light.

~-~-~

The pair appeared in a shower of confetti to a surprised Zecora outside her house deep in the everfree forest. “Dang it Discord” Twilight scowled as she used her magic to remove the confetti from her mane and tail.

“Librarian of purple and young flowering bloom, to what do I owe this-“Zecora began, taking a hoof full of confetti that had appeared with the pair, “-random party blooms?”

“Discord, I will have to have a word with him about this matter later. But perhaps we should go inside and explain the situation” Twilight said. The zebra alchemist seemed to take this in and ushered the pair inside her abode. As they sat down and Apple bloom explained the last day and a half to Zecora, the zebra seemed to be quite confused.

“I can tell you now, that what you say cannot be true-“The Zebra stated handing a tea mug to the pair before her, “-but then, the forest is not always so clear like water”

“But the idea of ponies becoming Timber Wolves” Twilight asked. “Are you sure that you know nothing at all?”

“My violet friend I have said all I have known on this matter. But her eyes do not lie to us, timber wolves or not, this is quite the disturbance for the balance of things” she stated. “But I have heard not of the druids before today”

“But what I saw was true. She was one of them”

“Even if Apple Jack was one of them, why would she hide the fact that she was one of them from us all?” Twilight asked. “It’s not like her”

“Perhaps, but perhaps not, If this has been going on for longer than you have been here then she may not me lying at all”
“um Zecora Twilight, I really don’t feel great” Apple Bloom complained. Her eyes began to glow quite rapidly now before becoming pure pits of yellow light.

Both Twilight and Zecora took a step back as Apple bloom seemed to spasm about on the floor as bits of wood seemed to condense around her limbs to restrain her.

“We have to help her!” Twilight exclaimed, shocked that this was actually happening.

“I fear that will do more harm than good, give it time”

They watched as the filly was encased in planks of wood and sticks from the window that had blown open. Her mane swiftly replaced with a bushel of leaves, Tail hidden under a wolf like wooden tail. Coat replaced with wood and coloured the same. More planks condensed around her fear filled face as they changed it into a wolf with the same expression of fear. The eyes seemed to glow softly before the wolf pup before the Zebra and unicorn began to move on its own accord.

“What, just happened” Came Apple Blooms voice from behind the mask of wood. The mouth moved in synch with it. it seemed uneasy on its legs and staggered around for a few paces before collapsing in a heap on the floor.

“You-“Twilight began taking the now timber coated filly to a trough of water, “-were right. There was something going on”
The face of the wolf seemed to drop before it reeled back, paw slamming into the water to disturb it.

“No, no, no ,no” she muttered over and over again. “This has to be a terrible nightmare. Apple Jack, where are you? Sis please help me. some pony wake me up please”

Zecora looked away as the pup began to break down into tears. Twilight looked up at her, “Is there nothing we can do to reverse this?”

“This is the first time I have seen this. Only her sister would know the reversal part of the transformation if what she says is true”

“So I'm stuck like this?” the pup asked, Apple blooms voice behind it with panic. “But I'm a good pony why me?”

“I don’t know but I will find out” Twilight said. “Zecora, can you look out for her? I'm going to get Apple Jack”

“Of course my literate friend”

With a flash of pink, Twilight vanished, leaving Zecora with a weeping Timber wolf pup crying in Apple Bloom’s voice.

~0~0~

As the last of the orchards apples fell to the ground with a swift kick from the pony farmer, she wiped away the sweat and cooed. “Well that worked out well” she stated attempting to grab a basket. It was lifted from her reach by a pink light. She looked up to see a rather pissed off purple unicorn looking back at her.

“What does the term honesty mean Apple Jack?” she asked. Her voice was full of rage and anger with her eyes reflecting
that.

“Uh Twi, what are you talking about-“she began, she was cut off by pink magic slamming her into a nearby tree with an audible crack. “-have you gone off your medications or what Twi, what has gotten into ya girl”

“Answer the question, I know you haven’t been honest to me, our friends or your sister” she stated. “You’ve been keeping a rather big secret haven’t you? Timber wolf”

“What in tar-nation are you bellowing on at me about? Do ah look like a timber wolf to you?”

“I wouldn’t know. Considering I just witness Apple Bloom becoming one of them” she said. “Now she is currently scared to death and you’re simply lying to my face about this”

Apple Jack raised an eyebrow at the last comment, “Wait, she’s back at the house. You’re pulling mah chain Twi. Really funny” Twilight’s expression didn’t change as Apple Jack tired to deflect the answer by laughing. “You aint kidding are ya?” she asked. The response was a nod, “Okay fine. I’ll come clean, but where is she?”

“Zecora’s hut” she stated firmly. “So is it true then? You’re a timber wolf?”

“Ah suppose I can tell yah now that it’s out of the bag. Mah family, ever since Granny Smith found the first harvest of Zap Apples, the wolves seemingly cursed her son, mah dad, with the ability to become a Wolf on will” Apple Jack explained as she walked up to Twilight; Chunks of wood gathering around her hooves, compressing and changing them into paws. “He passed that onto mah mother. She gave birth to Big Mac, then me and finally Apple Bloom”

As she came face to face with her friend a wooden mask of a wolf stared back, Twilight was genuinely scared at this point.
“But we are pony’s first, Timber wolves second” she said through the mask. It’s mouth moving in time with her slightly robotic voice. “Pah and Mah know that they can’t return thanks to the circumstances of their disappearance, but they watch us from the trees”

“So you can willingly change between Timber wolves and Pony forms?” Twilight asked, swallowing.

“To an extent yeah; the longer I leave it though the longer I have to stay like this. I make a habit to change at least once a week” she pawed the ground and looked kind of soppy for it. “Ah know I haven’t been honest with her, but can you-“

“-Apple Jack, She needs you now more than ever” Twilight interrupted the saddened Wolf before her by placing her hoof against the wood that was her friends form and teleported back to Zecora’s hut.

~-~-~

The sight of Apple Jack emerging from the wooden form of a Timber wolf surprised Zecora, but it was the fact that she recognised Apple Bloom almost immediately made it a little bit more concerning.

“I am sorry sis” she said softly to the crying pup. It looked up at apple Jack, “Twi came and got me. You shouldn’t have run off ya know. We were going to explain it to you when we were done with the orchard”

The pup seemed not to care too much, though it was whimpering in her sisters forehooves.

“Will she be okay AJ?” Twilight asked. Apple Jack nodded as soft snoring came from the pup.

“Yeah she will be fine, it will take her some time to get used to the idea of having to become a Timber wolf from time to time and I’ll have to warn her about not getting angry at being bullied” she explained. “Thanks by the way for keeping her out of trouble, ah know I wasn’t the best one when I transformed the first time”

“What’s it like to transform by the way?” Twilight asked, genuinely interested. “I mean, it can’t hurt all the time”

“It’s like, getting into a warm bed on a cold winters night” Apple Jack stated, “Besides, ah kind of enjoy it. Gives me a chance to let loose after a long hard day bucking”

“well, I think I know that this is no concern of mine now” Zecora said, “it is nice to see it all work out in the end. Have no fear; your secret will remain with me”

“Thanks Zecora; Twi you’re going to keep this down low to aren’t ya?” Apple Jack stated.

“On one condition” Twilight said. Apple Jack raised an eyebrow, “I get to study the transformation process next time or whenever you’re free”

“Deal, common then, let’s get Little Bloom here back home”

As the pair left with the sleeping Apple Bloom on Applejacks back, a Large Timber wolf stepped into the clearing near Zecora. “You didn’t tell her?” he asked. Zecora allowed herself to change into a timber wolf, the one from last night that had found Apple Bloom.

“I don’t think she needs to know do you?” Zecora stated, her rhyming lost to the cocky tone from before. “Besides, more fun this way isn't it?”

“And the unicorn, Twilight sparkle. She seems to know a lot about what we are”

“I’ll leave them be and make sure that the wild ones steer clear of the town” she said sighing and returning to normal as she did.

“Good”

~-~-~

The following weekend, Twilight had noticed that Apple Bloom had returned to normal and was returning to school. Escorted by Apple Jack mind you; from what her friend had said Apple Bloom had a minor habit of relapsing into her Wolf form when she got really emotional.

Greeting them as they passed the library, Apple jack offered up the ‘study’ part of their deal that night. Much to twilights pleasure she agreed and opted for her basement that evening for use. As Twilight gathered up the required materials she would need for the study tonight, she sighed and looked over at her machinery.

Her mind raced to know everything and anything about this particular aspect of her friend’s transformation. She found herself wondering for most of the week what it would be like to be encased like that, transformed into a being unlike her natural form.

“Twi Apple Jack and Apple Bloom are here, did you want them to come down to the basement then?”

“Yes, yes show them in please” Twilight said. As she rushed around, making sure that there was enough wood around to help the pair out, Apple Bloom grabbed her and hugged her. this startled the librarian a little bit more that usual.

“She’s a little bit more emotional, but she’s okay” Apple jack stated.

“Ah just wanted to say thanks Twilight. You helped me out even though you didn’t know how to fix it” the filly said jumping off her sister back.

“No problem Apple Bloom, what are friends for? Now then Apple Jack, you ready for this?”

“Ready as I’m going to be I suppose” she said stepping up to where Twilight had indicated, ”and all ah got to do is transform into mah wolf form and that’s it?”

Twilight nodded and arced up her monitoring equipment and simply gave her a quick flick giving her the green light.

Tonight was going to be a good night. Apple Bloom watched in awe at how quick and seamless the transformation was between her sister’s forms. Her transformation between forms was quite blocky and laboured. Her sister had explained that it was due to years of practice and she would enjoy it as much as her.

She sat back as Spike, who had been told under pain of death not to reveal the secret of their family, brought in after Tea drinks for the pair. He handed her one of them, a large mug of piping hot chocolate. The pair sat back as Twilight rushed around trying to figure out as much as she could from the magical influx from her sisters shape shift.

It was also the first Saturday where she knew exactly where her sister was and she wasn’t the only one lying this time around.

FIN

Author's Note

Written months ago, only now published.