//------------------------------// // Werewolves On The Hunt // Story: My Little Mages: The Nightmare's Return // by BrassHeart //------------------------------// A/N: Sorry it's late. I slept in. MY LITTLE MAGES: THE NIGHTMARE'S RETURN WEREWOLVES ON THE HUNT ~~~~~~ “Are you sure we’re going the right way?” “For the hundredth time, Rarity, yes, I’m sure.” “Sorry, but… we’ve seen your sense of direction at work before, and…” “Don’t worry! Twilight’s sense of direction is a lot better now that it wouldn’t be funny if she got lost!” Pinkie said, hopping along next to Rarity on a pogo stick. “Pinkie, what are you talking about?” Twilight asked, looking over her shoulder at the Trickster. Applejack shook her head. “Don’t worry ‘bout it,” She said. “It’s jus’ Pinkie bein’ Pinkie.” “Duh! Who else would I be if I wasn’t Pinkie? Would I be Not-Pinkie? Hmm, what’s the opposite of pink? I wanna say ochre, but that’s just cuz I like saying ochre. Ochre, ochre, och – mmph!” “Shh!” Applejack hissed, her hand covering Pinkie’s mouth. The procession came to a halt. “Does anyone else hear that?” “Hear what?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I’m not sure. But I don’t think we’re alone out here,” Applejack said, grasping her sword and taking her hand off Pinkie’s mouth. “Be on guard.” They continued at a slower pace, jumping at the smallest sounds. Soon enough, they began to hear movement in the trees around them, but they were never fast enough to catch a glimpse of it. “I think we’re surrounded,” Twilight whispered, scanning over the area around them. “They’re probably wolves,” Fluttershy said. “They’re just waiting for the right time to attack.” “We’re not going to give them one,” Twilight whispered. “On three, we make a break for it. Ready?” The others nodded their consent. “One… two…” “Three,” A growling voice said. “…Twilight, that wasn’t you, was it?” Rainbow Dash asked. The group of six wisely circled up, preventing anything from sneaking up on them. “I thought you said they were wolves, Fluttershy!” Rarity said, levitating a few loose rocks to use for defense. “We are wolves!” The growling voice shouted from the darkness of the surrounding trees. A huge wolf, easily the size of a man, stepped out of the shadows. It was wearing armor made of rough leather, and its front paws, easily the size of shovels, were tipped with sharp claws. The six mages all turned to face it, their weapons at the ready. The wolf stood up on its hind legs, adopting a posture like a human being. “We are the Diamond Dogs, rulers of the Everfree! Who are you to travel through our territory?” Twilight stepped forwards. “We are very sorry; we didn’t know that this was werewolf territory,” She said, bowing her head. “We mean you no harm, and only seek to pass through without incident.” “Hrmmm…” The werewolf grumbled, sniffing at Twilight. “Are you the sun witch’s apprentice?” “…Yes?” Twilight said nervously. The werewolf’s eyes narrowed. “I see,” He said, baring his sharp fangs at Twilight. “I offer my apologies, then.” “I do not like the sound of that,” Rainbow Dash said, glancing over her shoulder at the other werewolves stepping out of hiding. “Don’t worry!” Pinkie Pie said, hopping forward to scratch the werewolf behind the ears. “Whatever you did, we forgive you!” “Oh, yes, a bit lower, just like that…” The werewolf groaned, leaning into Pinkie Pie’s hand. His eyes widened as he realized what he was doing. He grabbed Pinkie’s hand and brushed her away. “Enough! Do not mock me, furless-one!” “I wasn’t mocking you, I was petting you!” Pinkie said. The werewolf bristled at her comment. “I… am not a lapdog! I am a werewolf! And the Moon has commanded that you all must die!” He swung a large paw at Pinkie, who ducked under it and dove between his legs. She hopped onto his back and hit him on the head with a frying pan she pulled out of her pocket. “RUN NOW!” Pinkie screamed. The others didn’t need to be told twice. The six mages ran past the stunned werewolf as fast as they could. The werewolf recovered quickly, and howled at his brethren. “Don’t just stand there, you idiots! After them!” He barked. The other werewolves howled in response, and dashed after the retreating mages. ~~~~~~ “What was I thinking, wearing heels!” Rarity cursed at herself, trying her hardest to keep up with the group despite her handicap. “Just take ‘em off!” Applejack yelled back at her. “I don’t exactly have time!” Rarity yelled in response. “I would rather not be eaten by werewolves!” “I, uh, I don’t think that the werewolves would eat us, actually!” Fluttershy said between gasps. “They’ll probably still kill us, but most werewolves think that human meat isn’t worth eating!” “Thank you for that wonderful bit of trivia, Fluttershy!” Twilight shouted, ducking under a low branch. “Isn’t there anything you can do to stop them? You’re a Druid!” “No! Werewolves are too intelligent!” Fluttershy answered. A werewolf burst into sight ahead of them, snarling at them. “Left!” Twilight shouted. The six mages veered to the left, avoiding the werewolf. Curiously enough, the werewolf did not give chase, instead vanishing back into the trees. “Um, I-I think they might be herding us!” Fluttershy yelled out. Another werewolf appeared behind them, snapping at their heels. A second werewolf jumped at them from the right, causing the group to turn even farther left to avoid it. “Tryin’ t’ get us someplace they can kill us easier, huh?” Applejack said. “We should stop runnin’, then! Fight ‘em here an’ now!” “No! If we do that, then they’ll just surround us and attack all at once!” Fluttershy said. A pair of werewolves appeared behind them, forcing them to run even faster. “So we keep running?” Rarity panted. “Let these brutes run us ragged, then just lie back as they kill us all?” “We don’t really have much choice!” Rainbow Dash said, flying alongside the others and loosing arrows into the darkness every now and then. “I think they’re trying to get us into that cave!” Twilight said, pointing at the gaping hole in the cliff face the werewolves were seemingly herding them towards. “They’ll have us cornered!” “Then let’s get in there and set a trap or something! Move!” Rainbow Dash said, picking up speed. The inside of the cave was cool and dark. The mages only stopped running when there was nowhere else to run, panting for breath. Applejack and Rainbow Dash readied their weapons and turned around to face their attackers. “Come an’ get some, ya big, ugly…” Applejack blinked. “…What the hell?” The werewolves hadn’t followed them into the cave. They were just standing in the entrance. At once, they all began to howl. The sound echoed through the cave, making the mages cover their ears to block it out. The ceiling of the cave began to crack, and bits of dirt and stone began to fall as the crack spread. “They’re causing a cave-in!” Twilight realized. With a mighty crash of earth, huge rocks began to fall from the ceiling, throwing up a cloud of dust and dirt. When the rocks stopped falling, Twilight opened her eyes. “Is everyone okay?” She asked, illuminating the nearly perfect darkness with her staff. “Fine an’ dandy.” “I’m okie-dokie-lokie!” “A bit startled, but… fine.” “When all this is over, I am going to spend a week in the spa.” “It’ll take more than a few stupid rocks to do me in!” “Great,” Twilight said, looking at the wall of rocks sealing the cave shut. “But it looks like we’re going to be stuck in here for a while.” “I think there might be another way out,” Rainbow Dash said. “Listen. There’s wind getting in here from somewhere.” Her companions all stopped to listen to the sound of the wind rushing through the large cave almost rhythmically. “Um, I don’t think that’s wind,” Fluttershy said, pointing at the back wall of the cave. “…Please don’t say what I think you’re about to say. Please,” Rarity begged, following Fluttershy’s gaze to look at the back wall. It was covered in fur, and it rose and fell in time with the ‘wind’. “Goddess damn it, that’s not a wall, is it?” “I guess that’s why the werewolves trapped us in here,” Twilight whispered. “Let’s just be very quiet. I think it’s still asleep.” “Even after all that? Dang, it must be a heavier sleeper than me!” Pinkie Pie laughed, not even trying to lower her voice. “Shh!” “What? It slept through a cave-in! I don’t think it’s going to wake up just from my voice! Watch!” Pinkie pulled a megaphone from her pocket and brought it to her mouth. “Pinkie, no!” “YODEL-AY-HEEEE-HOOOOOO!” Pinkie screamed at the top of her lungs. The sleeping monster did not move. Pinkie grinned, turning away from the monster and tossing the megaphone over her shoulder. “See? I told you! Sleeping like a…” The megaphone hit the monster’s furry back, and the sound of its breathing stopped for a moment. There was a low grumbling as the wall began to shift and lift itself off the ground. The beast opened its enormous mouth as it yawned, showing gleaming white teeth the size of swords. Its massive head turned to look at the six frightened mages, dark eyes glimmering. It looked past them at the new wall of stones where the entrance was supposed to be, then back to the mages. “…Oops.” “Nobody… move,” Twilight whispered. “If we leave it be, maybe it’ll go back to…” The giant monster opened its mouth and roared, globs of spittle flying through the air. The cave was lit up as the monster’s body began to glow with a bright blue light, showing the monster for what it was. A bear, almost two stories tall, and positively thrumming with magical energy. “…Or maybe it won’t,” Twilight said. “Get ready for a fight, girls!” Twilight raised her staff, Rarity levitated a few choice stones, casting Enchantments on them, Pinkie Pie armed herself with a sledgehammer, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash readied their weapons. “Um, I think we should…” Fluttershy tried to speak up, but she was cut off by Twilight barking orders. “Applejack, Rainbow, Pinkie! Hit that thing with everything you’ve got!” “Roger!” “On it!” “Okie-dokie, artichokie! Ew, artichokes.” “Rarity, support them with some offensive Enchantments!” “Already on it, dear,” Rarity said, working her magic. She quickly pressed a hand to Applejack’s sword and Pinkie’s hammer, and both weapons lit on fire. Pinkie began to giggle as a maniacal grin grew on her face. “Fluttershy, see if you can make that thing hold still long enough for the others to deal some damage! And be ready to do some healing!” “But I don’t think…” “GO!” Twilight ordered, summoning a massive amount of magical power. Rainbow Dash took off, letting loose a dozen arrows of lightning, ice, and fire. They only served to irritate the giant bear, but they were effective in drawing its attention long enough for Applejack and Pinkie to get in close. “May the Goddess smite my foes!” Applejack called out as she cut a shallow line across one of the bear’s paws. The bear screamed in pain, and swiped at her. Applejack ducked, and cupped her hands together. “Pinkie! Need a lift?” “Upsy-daisy!” Pinkie settled a foot into Applejack’s hands, and the Paladin tossed her with a grunt. Pinkie somersaulted through the air, letting out a meaningless battle cry as she flew at the bear’s head. The bear slapped her out of the air with ease. Pinkie, for some reason, squealed with delight as she crashed into Rainbow Dash, sending them both to the ground. “Again! Again!” She cried, clapping her hands together. Fluttershy tried to address Twilight again. “Twilight, I really don’t think that this is a very…” “Not now, Fluttershy!” Twilight said, waving her staff through the air as her spell began to take form. “Hey, Rar! How ‘bout a lil’ help?” Applejack called out, dodging another swing of the bear’s claw. “Just a moment, darling! Patience is a virtue!” Rarity responded, picking a choice rock out of the ones orbiting around her. The gems on her tiara began to glow as she set an Enchantment on the simple rock. When the Enchantment was completed, the rock floated out of Rarity’s hands in her magical grip, and began to spin around the Enchantress, gaining speed. “Catch,” Rarity said. She clicked her fingers, and the rock was sent flying at the bear at speeds that would have made Rainbow Dash jealous. The rock, enchanted to be as hard as diamond, struck the bear in the glowing white starburst on its forehead. The bear bellowed in pain, taking a step back and grabbing at its head. “My goodness, what is that thing’s skin made of?” Rarity wondered. “Imagine what kind of armor I could make out of its leather…” “Everybody, stand back!” Twilight ordered. Her staff was glowing like the sun, and Twilight’s arm was shaking as she held it above her head. Rarity and Applejack wisely moved out of the way, giving Twilight a clear shot at the stunned bear. “Here we go,” She said, drawing a circle in the air with her staff. “Azarath… Metrion… Zin-” “WAAAIIT!” Fluttershy screamed, grabbing Twilight’s arm and forcing it downwards. “-thos!” A blinding beam of light erupted from Twilight’s staff, boring through the floor of the cave as Fluttershy held Twilight’s arm down. When the beam died, it left behind a hole in the ground the size of a watermelon, going down an indeterminable distance. “Fluttershy, what were you thinking?! I could’ve killed that…” “Exactly! You don’t have to kill it, Twilight!” Fluttershy said, releasing Twilight’s arm. “Just look at the poor thing. It’s in such pain.” The bear moaned, still clutching at its injured forehead. “Just give me a chance, okay? There doesn’t have to be any more violence here,” Fluttershy said, her eyes filled with remorse. Twilight sighed, and lowered her staff. “Okay, fine,” She said. Fluttershy smiled, and walked past Twilight to the giant bear. “I hope you know what you’re doing.” “Don’t worry, I can handle it,” Fluttershy said. The bear, noticing her approach, growled angrily, threatening to lunge at the Druid. Fluttershy didn’t show any fear as she lay her staff on the ground. “It’s okay, little guy. I’m not going to hurt you.” “Little?” Rainbow Dash repeated in disbelief. The bear put its teeth on display, but Fluttershy kept on walking forwards. “Shhh, shhh. It’s alright. I’m not going to hurt you,” Fluttershy said calmly. “I’m sorry that my friends were being so mean, but they were a bit frightened. You are quite scary, what with your big teeth and your sharp claws, you know.” The bear seemed to swell with pride at Fluttershy’s compliments, grinning as only a bear could. A second later, he moaned again, bringing a claw to his forehead. “Oh, does that still hurt? May I please take a look at it?” Fluttershy asked. The bear looked down at her, then growled something in Rarity’s direction. Fluttershy listened intently, then turned to Rarity. “He wants you to apologize, Rarity.” “Apologize? To such a beast? Why, I…” Rarity paused when she saw Fluttershy’s disapproving glare. “…I apologize.” She said, bowing her head. The bear, seemingly satisfied, lowered its head to the ground. Fluttershy, without a trace of fear, stepped up onto the bear’s snout so she could reach the red, stinging lump. “Don’t you worry one little bit. I’m going to make you feel all better,” Fluttershy said, carefully touching the lump. The bear abruptly lifted its head and roared, causing Fluttershy to grab onto the bear’s fur to avoid falling off. “Fluttershy!” The others called out in fear. “I know that hurt a little, but I need you to stay calm so I can heal it!” Fluttershy told the bear, still clinging onto its fur. The bear roared in response. “I’m not going to hurt you on purpose! I just want to help!” This seemed to calm the bear down a bit, and it lowered its head back to the ground, going cross-eyed as it tried to keep Fluttershy in its vision. The Druid gingerly set her hands on the lump, and the bear visibly winced, but didn’t try to throw Fluttershy off. “Thank you very much,” Fluttershy said sweetly. “Now, just give me a moment, and I’ll have you all fixed up.” Fluttershy’s hands began to glow with beautiful pink energy, and the bear sighed in contentment. In moments, the swelling was gone, and Fluttershy’s hands stopped glowing. Fluttershy smiled. “All done,” She said. “See? I told you that you could trust me.” The bear shook its head, tossing Fluttershy off. The bear towered over the collapsed Druid, its expression unreadable. Then, it lowered its head and licked her with its huge pink tongue. “It’s tasting her! ATTACK!” Pinkie screamed, running forwards with her sledgehammer held over her head. “PIINNNKIIIIIIIEEE! PIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEE!” “N-no, Pinkie! St-stop!” Fluttershy squealed in between bouts of laughter. “He’s just saying… heeheehee… thanks!” “Incredible,” Twilight said, shaking her head in disbelief. “A two-story tall bear, and it is licking her like a puppy.” “O-okay, you can let me up now, please,” Fluttershy said, still giggling as she pushed the bear’s tongue away. The bear complied, moving back so Fluttershy could stand up. The Druid spent a moment trying to fix her hair, which had been slicked back by the bear’s saliva. “I’m very sorry we accidentally woke you up from your nap,” Fluttershy said, patting the bear on the nose. “We’ll let you get back to sleep.” “Wait, what? No, no, wait!” Twilight said, waving her hands. “Fluttershy, the wall!” “Wall? What – oh, that wall,” Fluttershy said, remembering the reason they were stuck in the cave. “What about it?” ~~~~~~ Outside the cave, the Diamond Dogs waited patiently. “Think they’re dead yet?” Spaht asked Roh-Ver. “Shut up,” The Alpha werewolf said. “So, yes or no?” Roh-Ver growled at him. “Shutting up.” “Imbeciles,” Roh-Ver grumbled, looking at the pile of boulders sealing their prey in with the Ursa. He didn’t expect it to suddenly explode. “What in the name of the Moon?!” Roh-Ver screamed, jumping to the side to dodge a falling rock. There was a deep, angry roar as a massive blue bear stepped out of the cave. Clinging to its back were six tiny human shapes. The Ursa seemed to stare straight at Roh-Ver at that moment, and the proud werewolf decided that it would be a good idea to high-tail it out of there. “RUN!” He screamed, not caring about how shrill his voice sounded. “THEY MADE FRIENDS WITH THE URSA!” Rainbow Dash laughed as she watched the werewolves run away with their tails literally between their legs. “YEAH, THAT’S RIGHT! RUN, YOU BIG CHICKENS!” “Don’t taunt them, Rainbow,” Twilight said as she slid off the bear’s back. “You might make them think about coming back.” “Whatever,” Rainbow Dash said, floating in the air lazily. “Thank you very much for your help, little guy,” Fluttershy said, giving the bear a small kiss on the cheek. “You’d better get back to sleep, so you’ll be a great, big, strong Ursa one day.” The bear gave Fluttershy an affectionate nuzzle, then retreated back into its cave, shaking the earth with each step it took. Fluttershy was almost skipping when she rejoined the group. “Wow, Fluttershy. I didn’t actually think that would work,” Twilight said to the Druid. “Oh, it was nothing special, really,” Fluttershy said. “All creatures deserve to be shown a little kindness.” “Kindness, huh?” Twilight said. “Also, if you’d kept on fighting that Ursa Minor, you might have woken up his mother,” Fluttershy said casually. Twilight blinked. “His… mother?” Twilight repeated. Fluttershy nodded. “The Ursa Major. Didn’t you see her? The Ursa Minor was snuggled up against her before he woke up,” Fluttershy said. Twilight’s mouth gaped. “But… that thing was just sleeping against the…” Twilight paused as realization hit her. “…wall.” "Oh, yes, Ursa Majors are very, very large. And powerful. It's said that even Celestia was a little bit scared of them." "...And you didn't tell us earlier?" "It... slipped my mind." ~~~~~~ When the Diamond Dogs clambered out of their new tunnel in front of the old castle, panting for breath, the Grand Master was already there, waiting for them. “Is the apprentice dead?” He asked immediately. Roh-Ver shook his head in shame. "It was... a bear... they made friends... and we ran..." He said between breaths. The Grand Master sighed. "So, no," He said. "Your entire pack couldn't kill her." "...We could not," Roh-Ver said, hanging his head. "I see," The Grand Master said. “Clearly, I need to send somebody with more than two brain cells to rub together.” “A-hem.” The Grand Master turned his head to see a man’s armored six-pack. He looked up to see Iron Will, smiling expectantly. “Close enough, I suppose.” “Do not worry, Master. IRON WILL!" Pose. "Shall not betray your expectations,” Iron Will said. “My expectations are for you to fail miserably,” The Grand Master said, feeling the beginnings of an aneurysm. “So don’t do that.”