What the Sun Can’t See
-
Chapter 3: In Sheep's Clothing
-
“AAAAAAAAAHH!” The amethyst ray burned like a piece of the sun in the dark room as it tore through the air to smash into the furred side of the beast that had just rolled out of the bed, eyes blazing with a eldritch light that served only to highlight its vicious fanged jaws. The explosion of magic carried the beast, blowing a hole clean through the other side of the room, sunlight flooding the chamber, filtered though it was by the small dust cloud that was once a bed and wall.
Gasping for breath as she struggled to stop the shivers that were wracking her body, Twilight spun at the touch on her shoulder, her horn flaring once more with power.
“Twilly!” Shining Armor shouted, surprise written clear across his features as he waited for her to calm down, his own heart slowing a beat as he saw the glow on her horn die.
“W-what?!” She said, tremors still working up and down her limbs.
“You just blasted Howls out the third story!”
“H-Howls?” Twilight's bewilderment betrayed her addled mind and made clear her obvious onset of dementia. “Wait, you mean that wasn’t a bad dream?!” Her eyes widened as the memories returned, a flush rising like the tide across her cheeks. “Oh Celestia, I just blasted him through a wall! I didn't mean too, I just saw him in the dark and-!” Tears gathered at the corners of her eyes as she stared up at her brother.
Armor pulled his little sister into a hug. “It's okay, I'm sure he's fine. But on a more important issue, you were like this earlier too... Did something happen? Did he... do something to you?”
Twilight opened her lips to reply, only to stop, her eyes narrowing as she went over the last two days. After a few moments she looked up once more to reply “No. We spoke for all of a minute, then I didn't see him again till I took notes on... the... train... Hang on a minute.” With a flash of purple light she vanished, Shining Armor standing in the middle of the room tapping a hoof as he mentally counted off the seconds, glancing at the door every so often before it burst open, a dozen guards brandishing various weapons as they surged in.
“Nearly a whole minute.” Shining Armor said as he advanced on the guards, pushing one of the floating spears out of his way as he walked down the line. “Not too bad, but you need to be faster. If this had been a real emergency, who knows what could have happened. Return to your posts, my sister just had a minor incident.”
Questioning gazes met that explanation, but considering it was Shining Armor who was standing before them, none decided to question it. A few, of course, had been around long enough to know what a Twilight accident looked like and nodded immediately. With a clanking of armor they left, leaving the Guard Captain alone as he sighed, glancing at the hole. Well, at least now I know that if I ever need to to make a new door I can have Twilly blast through three feet of solid stone. Also, note to self: beam-tag with Twilly is off the BBBFF activity list. Forever.
The door opened once more, this time to admit a disgruntled looking Howls, coated as he was in dust, damp blood around his mouth and nose, and oddly enough several large cabbage leaves. Shining Armor, the dashing prince that he was, spoke the eloquent appraisal, “Wow. You look like you just hoof-wrestled a grizzly and lost.”
Howls stared at Armor for a moment. “Ha ha. Your sister hits like a dump truck. Where did you find her? The foothills of mount Olympus or nestled in the roots of Yggdrasil?” Howls stopped briefly and considered. “No wait! In a crater after a meteor shower! Or maybe she mysteriously appeared on the front steps of the nearby church!”
“Uhuh...” Shining Armor sometimes, in the brief moments of clarity between insanity, wondered very similar things. However he refused to believe such outlandishly strange things like finding his sister nestled in a falling star. “Hope you enjoyed that salad for breakfast... because if you keep going like that you'll be having another.”
Glancing at his side, Howls sat down as he began to peel off the leaves. “Well, as much as I may deserved it, big maybe there, it wouldn't be fair to that farmer. I landed in some poor schmucks cart after my inglorious flight on the Sparkle Express, and the thing was full of cabbage-” Howls paused briefly as he recalled the look of utter despair on the pony's face.
“My cabbages!”
“...and broke my fall. Most of it anyway. Still had to heal up a broken rib or three... or six...” Howls silently thanked Gaia that he was born Homid, because not being able to regenerate in Lupus at the moment would have been fatal or inconvenient.
Shining Armor shuffled in place for a moment, his face tinted red. “Yeah, I'm sorry about that. Twilight can be a bit... jumpy?” Shining Armor tested.
“You mean crazy. I've seen jumpy, jumpy is bad, but trust me, I know crazy, and if blowing someone out a wall is on the low end, I would be worried.”
With a shake of his head, Shining Armor replied “No no, shes not that bad. Just a few ti-” He was cut off by the flash of purple light as Twilight reappeared, a grin across her lips as she held up a thick tome.
“Got it! Now I just need to find Howls and see what happens!”
A polite cough from behind sent Twilight spinning around, heart in her throat as she came nose to nose with Howls. “Glad to see me being blasted out a wall came first in your priorities there Twilight.” He said, a grin on his lips exposing his fangs once more, a small part of him delighting in both her slight twitch. Revenge was sweet.
Twilight's eyes narrowed as she stared at Howls, her gaze flowing over every inch of his body with a determined air. Heart rate normal, no excessive sweating, no tremors. It could be that he is not nearly as massive as he was in the train. Best to test it. “Howls, could you please change into your other form? The one I saw you in on the train?”
“Other form on the train? Oh! Hispo! Yeah, sure, but why? It's a form made for combat, not walking around in the streets.” He replied as he peeled off the last of the leaves.
“Please? I need to test a hypothesis about it. Something happened on the train... I need to make sure it is what I think it is.” She said, her horn faintly glowing with gathered magic for a moment before it spread out across her body, a faint shimmer surrounding her for a second before fading away. “Okay, ready.”
“Alright, here goes.” In the space of a heartbeat he grew once more, towering over both of the ponies as his fanged maw opened to speak. “How's this?” The words were slightly mangled, his voice a deeper baritone that rumbled like thunder, but he was still understandable... if barely recognizable. “This what you saw on the train?”
Twilight nodded, once again focusing on the now giant wolf. Look at the fangs and the claws, stare at them, picture them in my mind until they are all that I think about... A grin split her lips as she looked up to meet Howls gaze. “I did it! I'm not freaking out just by looking at you!”
Howls jaw dropped, his eyes snapping over to Shining Armor for a moment before settling on Twilight once more. “Wait, you saw me in Hispo, and had a panic attack? But that would mean...Oh shit. No no no, that's not right! You guys never went through the Imperium! You were never-” He shut up in an instant, a thread of common sense stopping him from continuing. Maybe telling them my ancestors committed genocide on a scale that would embarrass Hitler is a bad idea. Alright, new plan. This is useful to know, but then again, these two might be above average. Best to make sure.
“What is the Imperium?” Shining Armor asked, an eyebrow arched in question. “Sounds pretty nasty.”
Shit. I can't lie to them, as what's her face, Applejack? Yeah, she can tell when someone’s lying. Okay, okay, be vague and make it sound terrible without going into detail. “It's a nasty part of my worlds history, and I would rather not go into it, but the cliff-notes version is that way back in the day, something like ten thousand years of my worlds time, my people were at war. Well, another front of the same war, but anyway, my ancestors did some pretty nasty stuff in order to win, and it left a sort of...” He waved a paw in the air as he struggled to find the right words. “Scar, I guess would be the right word, on both the soul and the mind of the things we killed. Now anytime they see one of my forms, they react like you did on the train. Just worse.”
Shining Armor curled an arm around his sister. “How much worse?”
“Depends on the person, but it can range from running screaming in terror and not remembering the event, that's the most common, to trying to kill us on sight. Twilight only having a minor panic attack means she's got some major willpower, and now she is acting normal when viewing me in the same form, so she did something that protects her against the Delirium.”
Shining Armor nodded. “She cast a mind shield spell.”
“And you didn't feel this was an important piece of yourself to share?!” Twilight snapped, eyes blazing as she strode up and slammed her hoof into his chest, pain flickering across her face as her strike failed to hurt the solid wall of muscle, her joints jarred by the abrupt stop. Still she continued, her hoof pressing on his chest as she met his emerald gaze. “You really didn't think that you having an Alpha Presence in that form would be something to make sure we knew about?”
Howls ears lay back as his head dipped, a paw rising to scratch at a cheek. “Sorry, I honestly did not think that any of you would be affected. For one, you're not even the same species as the ones we fought, two, this is a realm so far removed from my world that the chances of there being overlap between them is astronomical. Finally, Shining Armor here doesn’t have any mental shields, and hes not freaking out...”
Twilight glanced at Armor over her shoulder, studying him as well. “You're right. He's not showing any adverse reactions to your form... Hm...”
Shining Armor simply grinned as he tapped his chest, the hoof ringing slightly on the metal. “Hey, my powers are barrier based, remember? I got all kinds of mind shields! Though I might have an idea for a real test, give me a sec.” He trotted out the door and down the hall, leaving the two alone once more.
“For what it's worth, I am sorry. I did not mean to hide anything from you, it just never crossed my mind that it would have any effect in this world.” Howls said as he gripped the covers of the bed in his jaws and pulled them back into place... mostly. They could probably magic the bed back together. Probably.
A sigh slipped by Twilight's lips as her horn glowed, the various chunks of rubble floating into the air, encased by the amethyst aura to be stacked neatly into a corner. “I am sorry as well. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. Maybe you're right, and your Alpha Presence doesn’t work on us, and I hope that is the case... maybe I'm just being...”
“Why do you call it an Alpha Presence anyway?” He asked as he straightened out the overturned table, eying the empty cupcake plate, thoughts of vengeance upon Luna flitting across his mind.
An excited gleam rose in Twilight's eyes as she turned to face Howls, eager to share her knowledge. “Because that's what it is! Your Delirium is not a unique thing, Howls-With-Laughter! In ancient times, long before Celestia and Luna took power, our people lived as separate races, often divided by simple physical differences and magical powers. We had none of the vast technological or social advances we have today, and were often fighting over the silliest things. But that's a Hearths Warming Eve story, and if you're here long enough you'll learn it. Suffice to say that my ancestors had to compete with the various worg's and wolfen that roamed the lands of the era, and were often the prey in that cycle. We saw that a lot of the alphas in their packs did not have to fight to maintain their leadership, even when around larger and stronger members, and could make the other pack-mates submit with just a growled warning... and ponies who gazed upon these extraordinary worgs were filled with a fear beyond reason.”
Howls just stared at her. “And you think my... ability to make things go insane with fear is similar?”
“The same.” Twilight declared confidently.
Shining Armor returned, holding up a hoof to his side as he spoke to someone out of their view. “Stay here until I call for you, this will just be a moment.” Looking to Howls, he nodded once, then glanced to his side once more. “Alright, look in there and tell me what you see.”
A guardspony peeked around the corner, his eyes instantly latching onto Howls, his pupils shrinking, chest heaving as shivers began to quake all across his body, and then a high-pitched shriek tore from his throat as the guardspony turned and ran from the monster inside.
Twilight broke the sudden silence after the guards scream had faded. “And that is exactly what I expected to happen.”
Shining Armor rubbed his temple with a hoof. “Great, and this other worg that you're after is exactly like you, but worse? Is there any way to counter this effect?”
Howls tapped his chin in thought, then shook his head. “Not to my knowledge, as you have to be...well, to put it bluntly? You have to be abnormal to avoid it.”
“Define normal?” Armor replied, a small smirk on his lips.
“Honestly? You're already a unicorn. I'm at a loss.” Howls said, drooping slightly.
Shining stopped for a second as he contemplated that response, then nodded. “Yeah, no idea how that helps... but me specifically? I'm not exactly normal compared to most ponies.”
Twilight could not have rolled her eyes harder. “And I am? I may not have freaked out and run screaming, but I did have a reaction that's stronger than yours, and I'm weirder than you by a long shot.”
Shining Armor shrugged, his armor grating slightly as he did so. “Can't argue there... Don't know what to tell ya sis, you’re the element of magic, you should know better than me why you reacted that way.”
Twilight opened her mouth, irritation furrowing lines across her brow as she held up a hoof. He didn't have to agree with me. Then she paused. Her jaw snapped shut with a click as she vanished once more in a flash of purple light.
Shining Armor sighed as he glanced at Howls. “Well, that bought us some time to deal with all this mess. Come on, lets go get some breakfast.”
Howls almost got out a reply before his stomach answered for him, a deep grumble rolling through the air as his empty insides made their displeasure known. “Heh. Yeah, about that food...” He began walking forward, shrinking back to Lupus form as he did so.
“Ha! So I've already found your weakness, eh?” Shining said as he waved a hoof for Howls to follow.
“You try being a giant slavering death beast on an empty stomach.” Howls-With-Laughter grumbled.
The pair ambled down several flights of stairs as they worked their way to the kitchen, the guards on duty snapping to attention at Shining Armors approach, though their eyes stayed locked on Howls as he passed.
As they entered the kitchen, Howls stopped for a moment, his eyes roaming the area, brow furrowed in confusion.
“What's wrong?” Shining Armor asked as he looked over his shoulder. “Smell something bad?”
“No..” Howls replied, his voice trailing off as he continued to look around. “Just...well, it reminds me of home.” His head ducked slightly as he scratched his jaw sheepishly at Shining Armors quizzical look. “It smells like a forest, the outdoors. I never spent much time inside aside from a place to sleep and study, and even then it was a short lived affair. Most of my life was spent either walking the streets or out in the forest, and its one of my earliest memories, the taste of air filtered through the leaves and the grasses, the scent of pine and oak.”
“Heh, you do have a little bit of a poet in you.” Shining Armor said, a grin on his lips. “Come on then, lets go get some grub and you can tell me some more about your home.”
Howls grinned as he took a seat. “Well, for starters, my world has no talking magical ponies.”
-
Princess Mi Amore Cadenza stood awkwardly in the doorway to her aunt’s study. She awaited invitation, though she knew she need not, and she was nervous even though she knew she should not be. Princess Celestia was simply too grand for the meager Cadance to possibly imagine entering her personal study uninvited, and Cadance felt such respect for the mare that she feared not her wrath, but simply feared failing Princess Celestia’s grandiose expectations.
It had been two thousand, eight hundred, and forty nine years since the last alicorn was born.
Princess Celestia had made no small ordeal out of Cadance’s birth alone, and because of that it nearly felt as if the weight of the world was on the youngest alicorn’s shoulders.
Simply by distant relation to Princess Celestia’s royal line she was given the title of Princess. Simply by the wings on her back she was called alicorn. Simply by the magic that flowed through every fiber of her being, the purest talent of love, she was whispered to be a goddess.
For a mare as young as her, it was almost too much to bear. At least Princess Celestia had time on her side, time to grow into her power, to build her kingdom, to be herself before being heralded a ruler and founding a reign so devoted it paralleled religious worship.
Princess Celestia turned her gaze to the opening doorway as a soft golden glow rolled her parchment and enveloped it in a small puff of magic and smoke. “Princess Cadance, please come in and have a seat. We have much to discuss.”
“Um… thank you, your highness…” Cadance offered with a bow.
“Please, there is no need to be so formal. Call me Celestia, you are family after all.” The matriarchal deity of Equestria offered with a smile.
Cadance shuffled her hooves awkwardly before trotting next to Celestia and taking a seat on a pillow. “You… wanted to speak with me?”
“Yes.” Celestia smiled and her magic lifted a teapot from a kettle, her horn glowing for a moment as she heated the liquid within. “Tea?”
Cadance nodded slowly and Celestia began pouring them both a cup. “You have done a magnificent thing you know. The power you unleashed to repel the changelings was a wonder to behold. I am very glad I was able to witness it firsthand.”
“Thank you… but I’m afraid I don’t understand it myself…” Cadance replied, her gaze flicking around the room. For the ruler of a nation, it was surprisingly simple, white washed walls with a curtain of pink and gold silk across the paired windows to the east and west, natural rosewood making up the few furniture pieces that lay within. The single desk directly opposite her bed was situated between the four massive bookcases, candle stubs and scrap paper carefully put away for later use. On the nightstand was a single photo, one that held the smiling faces of Twilight, Luna and Celestia herself dressed up in all their finery for the prior year’
“Understandable. I admit that grasping my full power took me quite a while, but you have a few advantages that I did not.” Celestia said, her eyes warm as she settled the teacup before Cadance.
“You and Luna?” Cadance said as a corner of her lips lifted, the teacup suspended halfway to her mouth.
“Exactly. While we may not be able to tell you how your powers will evolve or what new ones may awaken, we will be here to help whenever you need us.” The only sounds of the room for the next few minutes was the quiet sipping of tea. It was broken by the flap of wings and the ring of metal on stone as Luna landed on the balcony, a small smile slipping across her features as she noticed Cadance. “Ah! Niece! I was unaware you had returned from your honeymoon! Tell me, did everything go alright?”
A faint heat rose in Cadances chest, threatening to flush out her cheeks as her gaze dropped to her teacup. “No offense meant Princess Luna, but that is really none of your concern.” Though her voice was level, her own smile took the bite from her words.
Luna titled her head slightly to the side, an eyebrow raised in question. “What do you mean? I meant no offense, simply that I wished to know if the vacation went well.”
“Ah, yes, yes it went very well.” Cadance replied, her cheeks almost flushing worse in embarrassment for her misunderstanding as she sipped her tea.
“It is good to see you sister.” Celestia said, a warm smile on her lips as Luna grinned back. But you should not tease the girl so. “Please, let us take a seat. There is much we must discuss.” Celestia spoke up as the doors were encased in golden light, shutting quietly with a faint click.
“But of course.” Luna replied. I can't help it if it is as easy as corralling a hungry Linnorm.
The three princesses took a seat around the table as Luna poured herself a cup, blowing the steam away as she waited for Celestia to begin, looking as placid as the moon she controlled.
Cadance on the other hand.... Alright, do not panic. That's the key, just stay calm, pay attention and use your best judgment. The two of them are not going to throw you out of the room just for putting forth an idea or two, so just breathe.
Celestia spoke up once Luna had taken a few sips. “We are here to discuss the new state of affairs in Equestria, the wolfen and his portents of doom, as well as the possibility of necromancy and even worse magics being loosed upon the lands. As such, I hope we can all work together and pool our resources to deal with this threat. I will begin.”
Even as she laid out the uncomfortable situation, Celestia never truly lost the tenderness in her tone. “Erebus has fled our lands and likely headed to the frozen north, though I admit that his motives for doing so is unclear. However...” She glanced at the open window, closing it with a flick of her magic. “I also must admit that I have gaps in my memory regarding the north. Something happened in its frozen wastes eons ago, and all of my mental prowess cannot bring it to the fore of my mind.”
Luna nodded, eyes dour. “You are not alone in the memory gap sister. I too remember something occurring in its wintery embrace, but not the details of said event.” A small smile slipped across her lips. “Though admittedly that is not uncommon for me. I do not have your perfect memory. Also the cider did not help.”
“Ah, another party for something or someone?”
“Likely. I cannot remember for the life of me which it was, but I do remember it was fun.”
Celestia nodded once as she said “Indeed, but off topic. Now, we know from Howls-With-Laughter that-”
“Who?” Cadance asked as she looked to Celestia. “Sorry, I do not mean to interrupt, but I do not recall this pony.”
Luna hurriedly spoke over her sister. “Howls-With-Laughter is a worg, one who apparently came here from another land in pursuit of foul creatures. He and the ones he fought emerged into Tartarus, and he opened the doors to escape their wrath, which inadvertently allowed Erebus to escape from his imprisonment. Eventually the two of them met in battle once more, in Ponyville. We drove Erebus off, but not before we discovered the Edicts had been broken, and Erebus took Howls shadow as payment.”
Cadance just stared. “So...he's good?”
Cadance felt she could shave Shining's week old stubble with Celestia's tone. “That remains to be seen.”
The room went silent, tension filling it as Cadance sat in shock at Celestia's... chillingly hostile approach, until Luna at last broke it. “Sister, why do you still have issue with the wolf-kin? You have heard the testimony he gave be verified by Honesty herself, and the fact that he managed to open the doors from within speaks volumes as well.”
“Speaking the truth about how and why he is here does not negate his innate predatory nature, which will be a threat to our people before long, as you well know it has been in the past. You could sense it as well as I, the aura of lethality and rage that boiled just beneath his skin. He is a danger to the ponies, and I am sure that before this incident is over, pony blood will stain his fangs red. Why do you trust him?” Celestia replied, the faintest flicker of heat in her voice.
Luna stared at the swirling tea, brow furrowed in thought. “I walked his dreams, that night in the hospital, as I had to be sure of his intentions, good or ill. It was a violation of his privacy, and as such I will not relate the details of his less than lucid delusion... At least not everything I saw within. However, I can tell you this.” Her eyes rose to meet her sisters gaze. “I did not see a mindless killer within his soul. I saw a warrior, scarred and broken in many, many places, but beneath the blood and death? I saw a kind soul, one that would sacrifice all to save those he cares for. Also, an interesting fact that you should consider before leveling your distaste at him.”
“What is it?”
“He is younger than Twilight Sparkle by three years.”
Celestia stared and Cadance felt a burst of subtle magical power, somehow knowing Celestia had just used her divine power to avoid spit-taking at that. The Sun Princess stared a little more until she was snapped out of it by the small laugh that escaped Cadance as she listened, though a blush rose once more as she realized both of her aunts were staring at her. “Sorry, it just reminded me a little of Shining, and that brought up this mental picture of him that made me laugh. Speaking of, where is my husband? I haven’t seen him all day.”
“Ah, he is with the wolfen. They seemed to get along well, and I felt that having a master of barrier spells nearby was a wise idea.” Celestia refilled her cup, steam wafting up from the brew as Cadance nodded.
“But once again, we are off track. The wolfen aside, we must deal with Erebus and the two creatures that Howls-With-Laughter followed to our world. For the time being we know they are locked in Tartarus, but in the event that they manage to somehow escape, we must have plans in place. We currently know one is a vampire, and as such cannot survive in the sunlight. I was thinking that perhaps I could leave the sun up for a few weeks, give at least one of the two no time to move about to conduct whatever vile deeds it desires.”
Without meeting her sisters gaze, Luna sipped at her tea before speaking up. “I seem to recall something similar happening, but on my end. Perhaps repeating such an event, but on a far more devastating scale, would be amiss?”
Celestia smiled. “You have grown wise in the last thousand years it seems.”
“Well, I have had a lot of time to think on that one.”
“Perhaps a more subtle approach?” Cadance said, idly whirling a dissolving sugar stick in the tea. “What if we put guardsponies in each of the major cities, undercover? Say that they are,” Her hooves rose to eye level, then bobbed up and down once. “'On sabbatical', such as it were?”
Luna nodded. “Agreed. The best way to capture prey is to make it think it is unseen and unheard. Give the vampire and Black Spiral Dancer no clues that we hunt them, and they shall be less cautious about their activities. A fine idea niece.”
“Indeed. We'll leave a dozen or so guards for appearance’s sake, but the majority of them shall be dispersed among as many towns as possible.” Said Celestia. “For the time being, we shall also keep this matter quiet. I do not want a panic as ponies begin seeing danger in every shadow. The guardsponies are also not to go alone anywhere, for any reason. I do not want them picked off one by one and leave our subjects without a defense.”
Luna tossed back the dregs of her tea, then stood and walked to the window, wings snapping open. “I will retire for the day then, wake me when it comes time to raise the moon.” With one powerful flap she was gone, the curtains fluttering in her wake.
Cadance rose as well, nodding to Celestia as she did so. “I am going to reunite with Shining, and get a feel for the wolf myself. If I learn anything interesting I will be sure to share.” A moment later she too departed, leaving Celestia alone in her study once more. A sigh slipped from her lips as she lay her head down upon the table, staring out the window where Luna had left. He is only sixteen. What kind of world turns children into killers? Do I even want to know? In a voice so soft even she could barely hear it, Celestia whispered “I really am lucky...” A single tear struck the table. “I'm so lucky I'm not alone anymore.”
-
Rarity huffed, in a dignified manner of course, to herself as she erased an errant line in her sketch for a worg fitted suit. Dozens of crumpled papers littered the area around her as she waited by Fluttershy's bed, her quiet breathing and the scratch of pencil across paper competing with the beep of Fluttershy's heart monitor for the loudest noise in the room. Occasionally a nurse would show up to check on Fluttershy, but her vitals had stayed steady the entire time, the monitor having become a comfort in the hours of waiting.
Oooh! I swear if this was not going to be the most fascinating thing to hit the fashion world in decades I would just let it go right this instant! The worg physique, their sheer size and musculature, not to mention their much thicker fur? I've never worked with anything like it before... aside from the sweaters I've made for Winona... no no, I'm not making him a sweater, that would be too... droll. I need to get Howls into my shop and get him sized before I can get any real work done.
Her musings were cut short by the soft sigh and blinking eyes of Fluttershy as she awoke. “Where am I? R-Rarity?” She glanced around the room as she sat up, Rarity instantly at her side as a grin nearly took in her ears.
“Oh darling! The girls and I were so worried! How are you feeling? Oh! I'm sorry I did not answer your question! You’re in Canterlot my dear, in the medical wing of the royal castle.”
“Why?” Fluttershy asked, her forehead creased as she tried to recall what had happened. The last thing I remember was going outside to make sure all my friends were nice and safe in their homes when the storm was going on. Then I saw Mr. Bear in the forest and called out. Then... A shiver ran down her spine as she struggled to remember the next moments. “Cold...”
Horror gripped her heart as she felt inky tendrils worm across her body and into her soul. The creature in the forest moved, and...
She stopped, eyes wide as she threw off the covers and dashed into the sunlight and stared down for several long seconds before a small smile spread across her lips.
“Fluttershy, what are yo-” Fluttershy shot over to a mirror and began waving her forelegs back and forth, her wings flapping as her excitement obviously grew, the mirror holding no reflection of her in its smooth planes. She turned to Rarity, the smile still in place, and simply said:
“It's gone.”
I do not understand! She's... happy that her shadow is gone? Why? I know someponies joke about her being afraid of everything including her shadow... but is that an actual thing? She is scared of her own shadow... How is she even capable of speaking most of the time?! “But maybe you should get back into bed, I'll bring up something to eat, okay?”
“No, I want to walk, move about.” She replied as she almost skipped to the doorway, obviously not paying much attention to Rarity as she pushed open the door and headed down the hallway, wings fluttering as she went, Rarity quickly following after.
“Are you sure you are alright? You have been unconscious for a full two days since the attack.” Rarity said, forced into a light trot to keep up with the excited pegasus.
“Rarity, I'm fine.” Fluttershy replied, her voice carrying a greater happiness in it then Rarity had heard in a long time. “In fact, I feel better then fine, like a weight has been lifted! Why, I just want to start singing!”
A sigh escaped Rarity’s lips as she shook her head. “Perhaps later my dear, but since you are up anyway, let us get some decent food in you, shall we?”
“Yes!” The reply would be considered a normal volume. For Fluttershy, it was tantamount to shouting. Still, the pair made their way down to the kitchen, eyes wide as the doors opened to reveal the massive hallway and its sweeping architecture. “Ooooh... it's so pretty!” Fluttershy said as she took in the stained glass windows.
“Oh, very much so! It is the royal palace after all, I would be more surprised if it was not opulent. Still, I wonder where-Ah! There they are! Yoo-whoo! Sir Shining Armor! Howls! How lovely to see you both up and about.” She would have continued, but when her backside began to vibrate from Fluttershy shivering and staring wide-eyed at Howls, she turned to put a hoof over her shoulder. “Shh... it's alright Fluttershy, this is Howls, a friend of ours who helped save Ponyville the day before yesterday.” She glanced up and locked eyes with Howls. “I am sure that he will be a perfect gentle-colt and not scare you at all, won’t he now?”
Howls nodded quickly. “Yes ma'am, no scaring here, none at all.” Holy SHIT. Her stare reminds me way to much of Sia when she gets pissed... Hell hath no fury I guess. He turned to Fluttershy and gave her the biggest smile he could, holding out a paw to her, even though she was across the room. “Hello there Fluttershy, my name is Howls-Wi-” He stopped when he noticed that she had shrunk even further down behind Rarity, only half an eye staring at him from behind the pink veil of her hair.
Shining raised a hoof to his own muzzle, pointing at his teeth as he did so. Howls lips snapped shut as he curled the corners up to try and smile, which resulted in Shining Armor facehoofing.
Fluttershy took a step forward, Rarity at her side the whole time as they approached the table where the two males sat, and Fluttershy, head tilted to the side, her face hidden behind her hair, whispered out “It's nice to meet you too... I'm Fluttershy..”
Shining Armor spoke up after he leaned back into position. “Fluttershy, you must be hungry after nearly two days without food, and Howls and myself were just about to order something. It would be an honor if you ladies would join us for brunch.”
Rarity neatly took a seat beside Howls, giving Fluttershy the space next to Shining Armor as the waiter, a unicorn mare of pale blue fur and silver spoon on her flank, finally arrived, eyes locked on Howls the entire time. “C-can I get you all something? Our special today is a salad-soup with caramel dipped watermelon seeds.”
There was a heavy thud as Howls face-planted to the tabletop, his voice muffled as he spoke. “Oh Gaia. I forgot, your all herbivores.”
Shining Armor quirked an eyebrow at Howls. “How did you forget that? It's pretty obvious, you know? Hooves, flat teeth, a fondness for veggies are a certainty?”
Howls rolled his head to the side to glare at Shining with one glowing eye. “Yeah, I know. I just didn't consciously put it together until I realized there is no meat here.”
Rarity and Fluttershy paled slightly at the mention of meat, Rarity speaking up after a moment. “Well, have you tried to eat fruits and vegetables? We survive off of them just fine after all.”
Howls snorted as he reared up from the table, peeling back one side of his maw, revealing the razor edged fangs. “You have seen these, right?” He asked as he let go. “My body is ill suited to going from a fairly balanced diet of meat and veggies to straight plants. Plus my digestive system has issue with most plant matter outside a very select number...” Tapping his paw on his chin, he said. “I don't suppose you have berries, apples or melons, do you? I can subsist on those for a little while at least.”
The waiter nodded, a smile breaking out across her face. “Of course! I can get you all three of various types if you would like to see what works best.”
Fluttershy's head poked up over the tables edge as she listened. “So..you’re not going to be eating meat?”
Howls nodded, glancing sideways at Rarity as she watched him like a mother hen guarding her chicks. “Yup, no meat.” For this meal at least. Buuut they don't need to know that. That forest I passed through on the way to Ponyville had some tasty scent trails in it. Just have to get out of view, or I could try eating in private and going Homid to let that digestive system deal with the fruits. Though that is just a delaying tactic, I will eventually have to get meat into my system.
Rarity smiled at Howls after giving the waiter her order. “Thank you for that. I realize it is never fun to eat things distasteful, but making the effort is appreciated nonetheless.”
Fluttershy simply nodded, her tense muscles relaxing a fraction as the waiter walked away. “So, Mister Howls, can I ask you a que-” A sudden bang erupted from behind them as a purple flash of light seared the retinas of everyone in the room that happened to be facing her way.
“Hmm, I might have put a bit much into that Teleport...” Twilight said as she saw everyone rubbing their eyes, Fluttershy curled up under the table with a renewed set of tremors running down her frame. “Oh! Sorry! Sorry!” Twilight said as she rubbed the back of her head. “I was just so excited I put too much magic into the teleport spell! I forgot it vents that stuff as... light.”
“Twilight, why can't you just walk like a normal pony?” Shining Armor groused, rubbing the last of the afterimage from his eyes. “It's not like walking ever hurt a pony.”
“I said I was sorry.” Twilight replied as she too took a seat next to the (again) reemerging Fluttershy. The waiter returned at that moment, a smile spreading as she noticed Twilight. “Ah! Twilight! It's been awhile since you were last here, how have you been?”
“Spoony! Oh wow, I didn't know you still worked here, its been ages!” Twilight replied as she smiled up at the older mare.
Spoony grinned as she lightly ruffled Twilight's mane. “Twi, it's only been a year since you left for Ponyville. Things don't change around here that quick, even with a new princess to fuss over. And can I get you anything new, or just your usual?”
Twilight nodded quickly. “Yes please, just my usual salad.”
Howls glanced at Spoony, eyes narrowed as he studied the mare. “How come you didn't get blinded by her entrance?”
Spoony grinned as she replied. “Twilight lived in the castle for several years, and learned to teleport inside the first year. The entire kitchen staff knows the signs of an incoming Sparkle-Portation. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll go put these orders in.”
Twilight sheepishly rubbed the back of her head, an embarrassed grin on her face as Spoony walked back to the kitchen. “Yeah... I got a little... carried away whenever I learned a new spell.”
Shining Armor nodded as his eyes narrowed at Twilight. “This actually explains how you got so good at hide and seek when we were little.”
Twilight simply closed her eyes, put a hoof over her chest and said “I have no idea of what you mean. I would never cheat at the sacred game of hide and seek.”
Howls arched an eyebrow at that. “This is starting to be a problem. Is hide and seek really a sacred game or are you being sarcastic? I'm not making any assumptions anymore.”
“A good idea.” Twilight said as she leaned forward onto the table. “As to that point, are there any major questions you have about our society? I imagine as a worg you don't see much of ponies, especially if your lands are so far away that you have never heard of our nation.”
Fluttershy looked up at that, her eyes locked on Howls. “He's not a worg.”
The table turned to her, questioning gazes meeting hers as she kept her stare leveled at Howls. “You are not a worg.” She repeated.
Twilight glanced between the two as she said “Uh, Fluttershy? How do you know?”
“His eyes. They glow green, not red. Worgs eyes always glow red, all the time.” She replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. “He is not a dire wolf either, as he is not nearly large enough, plus dire wolves are not intelligent.”
Howls stared at Fluttershy, her words rebounding in his skull. Wait...a race of wolves that have constantly glowing red eyes? Assuming they work like me that would mean... Oh... Oh shit. He was brought out of his musings when he noticed Twilight.
Twilight leveled her own stare at Howls. “And you’re obviously not an elemental wolf, as you're not on fire, not made of frost, nor earth, and you have no wood-” She stopped as Shining Armor and Howls broke out into a fit of snickers. “What? What’s so funny Shining? He's lied to us about what he is!”
Shining just waved a hoof as he choked back his laugh. “Sorry Twilly, it's nothing.” Taking a breath, he calmed down enough to at least give Howls level look. “But seriously, I think we should get a straight answer.”
Howls shifted side to side. “Well..the thing is, I told you guys the truth. Just... flavored slightly. You are right, I am not a worg, I am of a race called Garou. We are... shapechangers, though we are limited to five forms, counting the one I am in. As for where I am from? Well, I also did not lie on that point, as my land is still so far away that I had never even heard of this realm. By that, of course, I mean the entire facet of reality you call home.”
Twilight leaned in further, almost climbing onto the table. “And your lands have never heard of the Princesses?”
“Well, no. It's worse that that actually. In my lands your... pegasi and unicorns in general are considered flights of fancy, myths, and fables. We even joke that they're as rare as virgins.”
Shining Armor snickered again.
Twilight blushed.
“Seriously, you're supposed to be right up there with dra... gons...” His head slumped onto the table. “Right. You have dragons here.”
Twilight looked around, eyebrows rising as she said “Speaking of dragons, where is Spike anyway?”
Everypony shrugged as they looked to each other, though Howls put up a paw. “Just to be clear, Spike is the little purple lizard, right?”
Twilight nodded in return. “Right, though he is a dragon, even if only a baby one. I hatched him on the day of my magic exam and my entrance into Celestia's tutorship.” A smile flashed across her lips as she recalled that day. “It was pretty crazy, what with him growing to be bigger then the room we were in for a little while, but it worked out in the end, and we've been inseparable since.”
“How old are you two anyway? Fourteen? Fifteen?” Howls asked as he straightened up from the table.
Twilight grinned as she put a hoof to her chest. “I am nineteen actually, the only student Celestia has ever personally taken under her wing, and Spike is twelve.”
“Though the little darling often acts like a gentle-colt of his early twenties.” Rarity said as she rose up slightly to glare in the general direction of the kitchen. “My goodness, they take their time with the serving here, do they not?”
Shining Armor just shrugged. “We are kind of mooching off them. It's not like this is a restaurant, girls.”
Speak of the devil and he shall appear is the saying, and it held true when Spoony reappeared, levitating the dishes into place. “Bon appetit” She said with a smile, though it vanished as Howls jaw dropped as he looked to her. “What’s wrong?”
Howls looked around at the ponies staring at him, then his head once more slowly sunk to the tabletop, one paw pushing the plate of berries and melons to the side as he covered his eyes with his paws. “I... No, I'm not even going to bother asking. Magical talking ponies, just remember it's a land ruled by magical talking ponies.” He began mumbling. Then paused for a moment before continuing. “I cannot believe I am uttering that sentence aloud while sober.”
One eye drifted over to the plate, his stomach growling as he caught the scent of the fresh food. Ignoring the slight glances the ponies gave him, Howls jaw opened as he sank his fangs into the melons grind, his teeth dicing it before he gulped it down with a contented sigh. “Oh yeah, something in my stomach at last.”
Twilight seemed just a slight shade greener as Howls devoured his meal. Wow...Okay, stop looking at the teeth there Twilight. She looked down at her salad and its colorful bounty of carrots and apple slices. Don't think about those teeth and how easy it would be for them to rip- With a quick shake she shoved those thoughts into the back of her mind, digging into her salad with gusto.
Rarity on the other hand, stared at Howls with unabashed horror. “Pardon me,” She said as she spoke over the crunch of rind and slight splatter of melon juice near her foreleg. “But do your... people I believe the word was, teach table manners?”
Howls glanced up at her, one glowing eye studying her for a moment before he held up a paw. “No hands, and-” He stopped at the sight of Fluttershy lifting a teacup to her lips, her hooves somehow able to hold it with the grace of a refined noblewoman, not a single drop spilled as though lifting a delicate teacup without hands was the most natural motion in the world. “...That's just not fair.”
Fluttershy's eyes shot to him as she shrank back behind her mane. “Oh, I'm sorry, I did not mean to make you feel inadequate.”
Howls just shook his head as he resumed mauling his plate, though he did take a bit more care to not let the splatter go as far, the others digging into their meals as well.
It was to this scene that Cadance arrived, her wings ruffling slightly at the sight of Shining Armor, lit up as he was by the warm glow of sunlight filtered through the massive window directly before him, the play of shadow and light across his body highlighting the movement of the iron muscles beneath his coat, a shiver racing down her spine as memories surfaced. A faint blush rose in her cheeks, though she quickly banished it as she spoke up to catch their attention, a warm smile on her lips. “Hello everypony.”
Everyone at the table turned to her, smiles breaking out across all their features, save the wolf, who stared at her with an unblinking stare of emerald eyes, his eyebrows drawn together. Twilight dashed over to stand before her, eyes alight with joy as the two of them did the 'Sunshine' dance... which looked suspiciously like patty-cake.
Howls' eye twitched briefly. The wolf stared at Cadance, eyes wide as his gaze wandered across her body. "Who’s that?" He whispered to Shining Armor, one paw pointing at her.
Shining just grinned as he whispered in return "My wife, Mi Amore Cadenza, the Princess of Love. Or Cadance for short.”
Howls turned to lock eyes with Shining, a new found awe in his gaze. “Your married to the princess of love?” His memory of their culture transmuted Princess into Goddess.
“Yup.”
“Love? In all its forms?”
Shining Armor's grin only grew wider as he nodded.
Howls held up a paw, toes curled inward to form a rough fist, Shining raising his own hoof as the two bumped them together.
A blue aura surrounded a chair as Cadance took a seat next to Shining, both of them meeting each others gaze for a moment, a warmth that could rival the sun in their eyes. Cadance turned to Howls at last, her smile never faltering as she held out a hoof to him. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Howls-with-Laughter.”
Howls dipped his head to her, his gaze flashing around the table to make sure his bow was low enough as he tried to smile in a non-threatening manner and lifted a paw, awkwardly flexing his toes until he began wondering if she wanted him to shake her hoof or kiss it, and then realizing the guards across the room would see either action as hostility... he settled for the bowing. “Princess Cadance, the pleasure is mine, I assure you. What brings your grace to the hall?”
Laughter lit up Cadance's eyes as her smile grew from the formal to the sincere. “My aunts said you were different, but they did not mention your way with words.”
Howls scratched his cheek as he stared at his plate, heat rising in his face as he replied. “It's nothing really. My mom always made sure that I knew how to act in all social situations and with proper decorum. Some just stuck better then others, and one I remember is that you always have to be nice to w- to fe-... mares.”
Shining Armor nodded as he crossed his forelegs. “Always a good idea to be nice to the mares. Trust me.”
Rarity giggled as she brushed a hoof through her mane. “Quite so. Sadly gentle-colts are in short supply these days, and her majesty here seems to have snapped up the last one for herself.” A wink to Cadance took any venom from the comment, though Cadance nodded in agreement none the less.
“I certainly did, or maybe it was he that swept me away?” She lightly nuzzled Shining. “I do not think it matters one way or the other.” Her eyes once more focused on Howls, narrowing slightly as she seemed to contemplate something.
Howls could almost feel her heavy stare in his skin, his fur rising as the feeling raked across his body, not in the unpleasant exposed way but in the sort of personal way, assuredly strange but not... caught with your pants down dangerous. Their eyes met, and Howls felt himself slip, a gentle tug at his soul as he gazed into her eyes, her eyes growing in his vision as tiny sparkles began to form, like fields of starlight... no... diamonds shining inside the vastness of infinity. He saw them, almost invisible lines connecting those sparks together into a weave of light so complex, so massive that he could never hope to find the end, like the facets of a diamond the size of the universe... beauty unimaginable... love, pure and untouched, wash over him.
In the next instant the starlight vanished, leaving him once more sitting at the table with the ponies as they watched the pair staring at one another, his stunned look contrasting with her smile. Is this love at first sight? Howls-With-Laughter felt a slight pain in his chest. Is this... heartbreak in the same breath? Was that... magic? Her magic? That's sadistic! Who does that! I loved her for a grand total of five seconds and she just... drops me like a toy!
RAGE.
Howls-With-Laughter barely avoided biting the table and tried to hold back a snarl, the muscles in his neck tight as corded steel as he struggled to keep himself from latching his maw around her neck. Stop giving a fuck. Stop giving a fuck. You didn't want to love her anyway.
She closed her eyes, a soft hum slipping from her lips for a moment before she said “You're quite lucky, even if you do not think so.”
Howls simply stared, jaw agape as he struggled to process the... audacity of that statement after what she had shown him. Why?! As he struggled to digest her doubtlessly hidden meaning, Howls watched Cadance as she turned back to the others, easily slipping into the conversation that had sprung up, something about farmland that he barely registered. He just stared at Cadance, the pain flowing from his heart spread out into his limbs... numbing slightly, his muscles relaxing as he let the strange feeling go more easily than he had ever let anything go in his life. She's a goddess of love... I just... don't understand is all. Someday I will... that's what the elders would say.
Cadance pushed her empty plate away and gave a small cough to catch the others attentions. “I have a few announcements! First, Shining has just been approved for a vacation.” She leaned in nuzzle him in his confusion and when their horns touched briefly, a spark flashed between them for a second.
Twilight caught this out of the corner of her eye as she watched the two. Huh. Somethings going on here, likely a telepathic communication, but what does she need to hide? Wait... with everything that happened... why is Shining Armor getting a sabbatical? He's Captain of the Royal Guard... As she turned back to her plate, she locked eyes with Howls, or would have if he hadn't been glancing her with a rather disheartening stare. A shiver ran down her spine as she tapped her temple with a hoof. “Howls? My eyes are up here.”
His eyes snapped up to meet hers, focus returning to his gaze. “What? Sorry, kinda spaced out there for a minute. What's going on?”
Oh Celestia, his mind wandered while his eyes focused on my throat. Good to know! Shaking off that train of thought, Twilight replied. “Nothing important, but I was wondering where your staying?”
“Staying? Uh, far as I figured I would find a nice cave in the forest and make myself at home. Pretty sure I can't stay with any of you in town.”
“What? Why not? I'm sure the other ponies would love to have you over as thanks for helping save the town! Ponyville is very accepting, and we always treat others...” Rarity trailed off, the memories of Zecora's treatment coming to the fore, though she brightened after a moment. “Admittedly we do have our moments, but we mend our ways once we see they are wrong.”
Howls was already shaking his head in denial. “Not what I meant. I mean that simply my presence will cause trouble. I told Twilight about it, but there's this thing called Delirium...”
“Deliri-what?” Rarity asked rather flatly, she and Fluttershy exchanging a glance. “You make ponies go mad?”
“No,” Twilight quickly interjected. “It's more of an overbearing presence that instills fear. Whenever he assumes his larger Hispo form, that war-like form he used to fight Erebus, Delirium becomes unbearable.”
“S-so...why not just never assume that form? Why would you ever need to take on a form made for fighting?” Fluttershy asked, eyes wide as she stared at Howls.
Howls shrugged. “It doesn’t matter... look, let me tell you a story. There once was a wolf that lived as a lamb, but all the other sheep could see his teeth. Mother was kind and showed him the way to live as a lamb, but there was only so much she could teach. Wolves aren't lambs, the truth was told as they left the flock forever. Sheep can see when a wolf wants meat, they really are very clever. The wolf can only hide for so long in the sheep's clothing.”
At the somewhat bewildered look on their faces Howls sighed. “Just try to imagine being afraid of a pony, okay? You don't know why you are scared, but you are. Something about this pony you know just tickles your instincts, sets off all the warning bells in your mind that there is something wrong with that pony. Now your a nice enough guy, you don't like to fight or get hurt, and the pony doing this has never done you wrong, but they are... not safe. You feel perhaps they are...not a pony at all.”
His voice dropped in tone, his eyes glazing over. “And the next thing you know you're driving them out of town with fire and bullets.”
“Or magical barriers made of pure love.” Twilight added. Everyone turned to stare at her. “What?! You were all thinking it!”
Fluttershy seemed almost... afraid at that thought. “Do you think some of the Changelings were really nice too? Maybe... maybe we were a little too... harsh on them...”
He paused for a moment as he let that sink in. Changelings... “You drove out a bunch of faeries? That does sound a little harsh. They're tricky scamps but nothing dangerous... usually.”
“Not faeries... not anymore.” Twilight cringed. “At least... it's more complicated than that. Changelings are monsters that can change their forms and feed on love. Their Queen infiltrated Canterlot and I managed to figure her out... because she felt wrong to me... and... well... Cadance and Shining Armor defeated her.”
Suddenly Howls realized the interjection made a little more sense.
“Yeah... that sort of feeling is one of the curses of my people. One of many we inadvertently cast on ourselves. Our very presence causes fear, and to borrow a quote 'fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate'...” Hate leads to suffering. Man... I would make a horrible Jedi. “So no, I do not think staying in your civilized parts would be a good idea. I can easily live in the forests, and if I stick near the edges it shouldn’t be hard to find me.”
Fluttershy looked to Howls, her eyes widening. “Y-you’re going to live in the forest? Near m-me?”
Howls could smell the near panic that was sending the poor mares heart racing. “Uh, maybe? I could stay deeper in if you like? Or maybe on the other side of the town?” He glanced at Twilight “Um, there is another forest around, right?”
A shiver ran down Rarity's spine at the thought of Ponyville's other forest as she cut off Twilight's reply. “Yes. The Everfree. It is a strange place. The animals, the weather, the plants? They all do things on their own, making weather, tending themselves, eating... whatever they eat... like young fillies and colts that get lost in the wild at night. We have no control over them at all. Things just... happen there.”
“Sounds like home.” Howls said somberly.
“Really?” Shining Armor said, one eyebrow quirked. “Your world is like the Everfree?”
Howls nodded as he replied. “Damn right. My world has no controlling power, and the animals and plants grow on their own, fighting and finding their own places in the world, so this Everfree sounds like a perfect place to live to me... which begs the question concerning how the rest of your world works...” Then it clicked, like his arch nemesis, math, things suddenly made a fancy little equation that made sense.
*Click*
Everfree Forest = Evil Forest of Evil
Earth, the World of Gaia = A World of Everfree
A World of Everfree = An Evil World of Evil
Howls-With-Laughter = From an Evil World of Evil
*Click*
Howls put his paws on his head and whimpered. I'm a demon to these ponies... I'm literally a demon. “I think I'm beginning to realize why Princess Celestia doesn't like me.”
A grin spread across Twilight's face as she nodded in agreement. “You and I are going to sit down and you’re going to tell me all about your world.”
Howls returned the grin. “Right back at ya. I have to admit, the ecology that isn't automated at all boggles my mind, especially considering how similar to my world it all really is on the surface.” Glancing down at his empty plate, Howls rose up onto his haunches and looked to the kitchen. “Uh..” He sat back down, meeting Shining Armor's gaze. “Where is the dish return? I'm done and all.”
“Ah, just take it back to the kitchens.” Shining Armor replied, pointing as Howls slid off the seat, his tail waving slowly side to side as he stretched his back legs.
With a twist of his neck and a small pop that reverberated in his skull, Howls said “Anyone else done? I'll take your plates back if you want.”
A round of polite thanks and suddenly he had a pile of dishes before him. Howls paused as he realized the issue. Right....no thumbs. Ah well. His maw opened, the fangs gleaming as he bit down gently onto the plates and hauled them over to the tray return, catching the stink eye of the washer as the stallion glared at the scratch marks.
Shining Armor watched this, a soft “Hm...” slipping his lips as his narrowed eyes examined Howls.
The group stood from their seats, stretching their legs after so long, Cadance and Shining walking side by side as the group headed for the doors, Howls angling to catch up with them, a smile on his lips.
-
Howls had his head stuck out the window as his fur flowed in the breeze, eyes closed as he took in the scents that billowed in the wind, marred slightly by the... Whatever the hell it is that powers this thing. Seriously, what the hell is this? Mentally noting to ask Twilight what it was later, Howls resumed enjoying the breeze, though it brought to an end when a tug came up his tail. Ducking back inside to catch sight of Applejack, he grinned. “Sup Applejack?”
“Twi wanted ta talk with ya. Somethin' about the Everfree forest? I heard you were gunna be livin' there 'stead of in town cuz you'd make the other ponies scared?” Disbelief rang in her voice as one eyebrow rose.
Howls nodded as he hopped off the seat, waving a paw for Applejack to go before him. “Pretty much. I can't stop it or control it. Magic stuff, ya know?”
Applejack nodded a bit absently as they made their way to the others, AJ taking her seat as she rubbed her chin in thought, her eyes flicking to Howls for a moment before returning to the windows view. “I can understand that a bit... Earth Pony magic never stops. It's a darn good thing it don't got any side effects.”
Putting her aside, Howls reached out and tapped the book reading Twilight on the shoulder.
A scream, a flash of purple light, and Twilight was gone. After a few precious moments there was a muffled thud from the roof as the train entered a tunnel and a muted shout of “Feather flipping wolves!” Another flash of light and a pop of air as Twilight Sparkle reappeared, her mane ruffled as she glared at Howls, who was living up to his name.
Laughing so hard he could barely breathe, Howls managed to gasp out “Oh! Oh Gaia! Is that how you ponies curse?! It's-! It's like I'm in a G-rated cartoon!”
Pinkie popped up, her face semi-serious as she placed a hoof on her chest. “Hey! I resemble that remark!”
Howls nearly choked as his laughter turned to a cough, his eyes latching onto Pinkie as he replied. “Did you... quote Foghorn... but your... huh. That was a perfectly time reference. Props.”
“Reference to what?”
“Just... yeah no, nevermind.” he said, waving off the explanation. Glancing at Twilight, who was in the process of having her mane brushed back into shape by Rarity, both of whom were shooting him heated glares, Howls at least had the shame to duck his head in apology.
A silence hung between them until Rarity finished, lightly bopping Howls on the head as she passed, though it was a gentle strike at least.
Twilight spoke up as she began to rearrange her upset book stack. “Well, as fun as that was,” She said, still sending heat Howls way, though it had lessened slightly. “I think we should go talk to Zecora when we get back.”
“Who?” Howls asked as he took the seat in front of Twilight, draping himself over the top of the chair as he did so.
“She's the only pony who lives in the Everfree full time, and she has magics that are outside my own... kinda. She might have an answer for us, or at the very least an idea that we might not have thought of, so you, me, and Fluttershy are going to visit her the day after tomorrow. We'll get you settled in first at least.”
“Aaaah, coolio.” He replied, both eyes locked on her book stack. “Hey...Twilight, can I borrow one of those books?”
She eyed him, obviously taking note of his clawed paws before levitating a book up to him and opening it to the middle. “Can you read this?” She asked, an eyebrow quirked.
A dead silence met her question as Howls struggled to gleam anything from its text. For a good thirty seconds he strove, but in vain. A sigh slipped from his lips as he said “No. No I cannot read any of that. I'll have to see about learning your alphabet while I'm here.”
A gleam grew in Twilight's eyes as she smiled. “Really? You want to learn our language? Because if so, I have a dozen books on the subject, and our local teacher Miss. Cherilee is always happy to have new students.”
“Cool.” He said as he once more studied the text. Some of this looks vaguely familiar, like someones half-remembered attempts at remaking Celtic... it's like a sloppy English Celtic hybrid with smatterings of Norse. It's... cartoonishly bad. Ah hell, I'm not a linguist, I need Blue-Ray for that kind of stuff. One corner of his lips turned up in a smirk. Man, Pinkie and Blue in the same room, talk about total opposites. Still, I hope the group all made it out of that ritual chamber in one piece. Shaking his head, Howls pushed the book back to the pile and took a seat, curling up as he waited for the train to reach the station.
-
First Watch snarled under his breath. Why do I have to check the Tartarus gate? Shining Armor checked it not twelve hours ago, and if Princess Celestia wanted her precious demon jail watched so badly then she should just out with it and post a guard down here. Feathers, I don't mind doing it myself, the decor isn't outside my tastes and frankly? The caves just open enough and labyrinthine that I could turn the patrol route into flight path and not even have to do any ninety-degree turns... of course, where is the fun in that?
Still, he preferred it to walking up and down those stairs over and over again.
His hoofbeats came to a stop when he reached the gate and his mouth opened slightly.
The gate was open.
Cerberus was missing.
And worst of all?
There was not a trace of what had done it.
“Ah, pony feathers.”