Riku tossed and turned in his sleep having the same nightmare repeatedly.
-Riku’s Nightmare-
Riku saw a beast that looked like it was, made up of multiple animals. The huge beast let out a roar and caused the ground to shake under Riku’s feet. That is when he saw all his friends standing a few feet away from the beast.
“NO Get away from them!” Riku shouted, but it was no use the beast smashed its hand to the ground, and upon impact, Riku woke up shouting.
“Why were you shouting?” Applejack asked as she walked into the room.
“Just a nightmare, sorry if I woke you all up.” Riku said as he got out of bed.
“It is no big deal we were getting up anyway since it is morning.” Applejack said. “Also you can talk to your friends about your nightmares only if you want.” Applejack added as she left the room.
“I know, but I want to try and deal with it myself, now I’m going for a walk.” Riku said walking out of the guest room and towards the front door.
“What about breakfast?” Applejack asked.
“I’m not all that hungry right now so I’ll see you all after I clear my head.” Riku said closing the front door behind him. “I can’t burden anyone with my nightmares it will frighten them.” Riku whispered to himself.
-Path to Ponyville-
Riku was walking thinking about what his nightmare meant.
“What does it mean? Why did it seem like it is meant to happen?” Riku asked himself. Riku closed his eyes and began to think about the nightmare with a different perspective. “Maybe I can change what will happen.” Riku said.
“Change what?” A quiet shy voice asked.
“Nothing.” Riku said. “Wait I just realized I’m not walking towards Ponyville am I.” Riku said.
“This is the path that leads to my cottage.” Fluttershy said flying towards her house. “Would you mind helping me feed the animals?” She asked shyly.
“I’d be happy to help you.” Riku said following her.
-Fluttershy’s Cottage-
“So you do this every day without anypony’s help?” Riku asked.
“Yes, but I’m use to it since I live a distance from town.” Fluttershy said as she finished feeding the chickens.
“If you want I could help you with this every day.” Riku offered.
“You don’t have to.” Fluttershy said shyly.
“I want to help because no one or in this case no pony needs to do work alone all the time.” Riku said with a smile.
“Ok I appreciate the help.” Fluttershy said. “Also what were you talking about earlier?” She asked.
“It was just a nightmare I had last night it’s no trouble at all.” Riku said sitting down. The ears on Riku’s head began to twich. “Fluttershy I think one of your animals went into the forest.” Riku said standing up quickly.
“Oh no it’s too dangerous in the Everfree Forest for a cute little animal to be in.” Fluttershy said as she flew towards the forest. Riku followed close behind listening for any little sound.
“What is that noise?” Riku asked. Then he heard a scream come from ahead of him. “Fluttershy!” Riku shouted running towards where he heard the scream. Upon reaching the scene, Riku saw four timber wolves getting closer to Fluttershy. He ran and jumped over the wolves and sttod in front of Fluttershy.
“What are you doing Riku?” Fluttershy asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
“I’m going to protect you from these wolves.” Riku said as he glared at the wolves with an angry glare. His eye color shifted to gold and the timber wolves began to back away from Riku. Next thing he knew the wolves ran deep into the forest. “Let’s leave before they come back.” Riku said picking Fluttershy and the little bunny up into his arms and began to walk back towards Fluttershy’s cottage.
“You didn’t have to carry me.” Fluttershy said.
“I know I just don’t know what came over me.” Riku said as he set Fluttershy down. “Are you hurt?” Riku asked quickly.
“No I’m not.” Fluttershy said. “Can I ask you about your nightmare when we get back to my home?” She asked.
“I’ll tell you about my nightmare when we get to your home.” Riku said.
-Inside Fluttershy’s Cottage-
After thirty minutes, of explaining, Riku finally finished telling Fluttershy about his nightmare from the previous night.
“That’s horrible.” Fluttershy said. “And you think it might actually happen.” She added.
“Most times my dreams give me a small glimpse of the future I just hope it’s just a dream this time.” Riku said looking at the floor.
“I understand that.” Fluttershy said. “And I know this question is of topic. May I touch your ears?” Fluttershy said hiding behind her mane a bit.
“I don’t see why not.” Riku said lowering his head a bit.
Fluttershy slowly reached a hoof up and poked the wolf like ears on Riku’s head and it twitched from the contact. She then began to scratch at the base of the ear with her hoof forcing Riku to smile.
“I see why dogs like this.” Riku said leaning into Fluttershy’s hoof.
While he was distracted, he heard the front door open and saw Rainbow, twi, Rarity, Pinkie, and Applejack standing in the door.
Rainbow fell onto her back laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes. “You looked like a dog with Fluttershy scratching your ear.” Rainbow said trying to stop laughing.
“It’s not funny!” Riku shouted recomposing himself.
“It is funny because when pinkie touched your ear you shouted at her to stop it.” Rainbow said finally beginning to calm her laughter down.
“I was only letting her touch them because she asked.” Riku said his wolf ears folded down a bit from embarrassment.
“Ok that’s enough with embarrassing Riku, because we have a surprise we need to show him remember.” Twilight said looking at Rainbow Dash. “Riku will you follow us for a moment?” Twilight asked.
“Sure cause I’m curious about what you’re going to show me.” Riku said standing up.
-Just outside Ponyville-
“The princess sent me a letter telling me she got you your own house in Ponyville.” Twilight said pointing a hoof towards a house with a small garden in front. “This is yours, and we hope you like it.” She added.
“The princess actually got this for me?” Riku asked a bit confused.
“Yes she did now let’s see the inside.” Twilight said.
Riku and the mane six walked towards the door, and Riku opned it the moment he got to it. His jaw dropped in awe at what the inside looked like.
“This is amazing and way better than the containment chamber the scientists locked me in.” Riku said walking inside the house.
“Riku would you like to join us for a picnic?” Rarity asked.
“Sure I’d love to.” Riku said walking to the door. “We can look at my new home thoroughly when we return.” He added.
-Ponyville Park-
“It’s strange how my body is accepting these foods.” Riku said eating a sandwich.
“Your body most likely adapted to this world.” Twilight said with a small chuckle.
“Yeah I guess.” Riku agreed.
“Hey Riku, want to race?” Rainbow asked.
“Um…I guess.” Riku said cautiously.
“First one to that tree and back?” Rainbow asked.
“Sure.” Riku said as he got into a runner’s crouch.
“Three, Two, One!” Rainbow shouted as she and Riku took off towards the tree. To her surprise, Riku was able to keep up so she decided to go a little faster.
“You can’t go faster than me.” Riku said with a chuckle.
“Why not?” Rainbow asked confused.
“My muscles change to match that wolf that I have within me making my athletic ability skyrocket.” Riku said getting ahead of Rainbow Dash. In the end, Riku lost anyways because Rainbow could go faster than he thought and passed him half way back to the picnic blanket.
“Good race Rainbow I thought I had you near the end, but you won.” Riku said in defeat.
“Of course I won I’m the fastest flier in all of Equestria.” Rainbow boasted.
After a few hours, Riku said bye to his friends and walked Fluttershy back to her house.
“Thanks for walking me home Riku, I’ll see you in the morning.” Fluttershy said.
“It was no problem at all and I’ll be here same time as I was yesterday to help.” Riku said as Fluttershy flew into her house. “Still as beautiful as the day I first saw you.” Riku accidently said outloud causing Fluttershy to freeze with a huge blush on her face. “Did I say that out loud?” Riku asked.
“Yes, and you think I’m beautiful.” Fluttershy said hiding behind her mane.
“Of course I do and that’s actually the reason I let you touch my wolf ears earlier.” Riku said looking at the ground.
“I appreciate the complement, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” Fluttershy said quickly kissing Riku’s cheek and closing the door quickly.
Riku walked back to his home in a daze and confusion. He walked through his home to the bedroom and got into bed and went to sleep thinking about the day’s events.
-Riku’s Dream-
“Not this again.” Riku said with a groan.
“Are you ok?” a regal voice asked.
“Who are you and how are you in my dreams?” Riku asked quickly.
“I’m Princess Luna and I have the ability to enter the dreams of everypony.” Luna explained.
“Ok, now why are you here?” Riku asked.
“I’m here to see why you keep having nightmares.” Luna said. Before she could utter another word, she and Riku heard a loud roar. “Was that the wolf from before?” Luna asked.
“Nope that was something else.” Riku said running towards the roar. “We need to find a safer place to talk so until we get to that location just follow me.” He said.
“Ok, but where are we going?” Luna asked.
“A secluded part of my mind we are in my head and I know this place like the back of my hand.” Riku said with a grin. “Also whatever you see here stays between us okay.” Riku said with a now pleading face.
“Your secrets are safe between us.” Luna said following Riku.
After what seemed like an hour, Riku finally stopped and opened a door revealing a replica of the containment chamber he was kept in for so many years.
“We are safe to speak here.” Riku said. “What do you want to know?” He asked.
“What was that wolf I heard last time I was here?” Luna asked ready to get answers.
“He is the being that resides within me when he takes over I go into a rage and will kill anything that gets between me and my goals.” Riku began saying. “I’ve lived with this curse my whole life, it is also the reason I haven’t died yet.” He added. “I was kidnapped when I was fourteen and was tested on for research to make super soldiers with my DNA.” He said as a tear fell from his face remembering all the experiments. “Other than Marcus I was alone in that facility no one to depend on but myself for survival.” Riku said looking Luna in the eye.
“Have you ever tried to control the beast within you?” Luna asked.
“I have but all attempts ended in failure.” Riku said wiping the tears from his eyes.
“We will have to wrap this up the sun will be rising soon and your friends need you now.” Luna said fading from the dream.
A bright flash hit Riku’s eyes and he woke up to the sun shining bright in his eyes through the window.
-Riku’s house-
“What do these nightmares mean?” Riku asked himself looking at the ceiling. He slowly got out of bed and suddenly heard the entire town of Ponyville scream in fear.