This story is a sequel to Wolf In Pony's Clothing
Six months ago, Ardi was just a lone wolf from the Great Northern Forests scouting Equestria, keeping well away from those magic-using Ponies and their terrible Burning Queen.
Six weeks ago he was hiding out from a dragon in a town full of panicked Ponies intent on turning him into a wolfskin rug and stuck inside of an enchanted ponysuit with only one shy flier-pony, three excited pony-pups, and one underhanded baby dragon to cover for him.
Now he's returning to that same crazy town, no longer a wanderer but an ambassador and eager to make amends for his deception.
He's willing to bury the hatchet. As are the Ponies, but in what part of his anatomy?
A sequel to Wolf in Pony's Clothing.
The cover art was done for me by the talented Baron Engel.
Awesome. Hilarious, significant, and very touching at the end, when the Ponies who seemed to disapprove of him the most realized of what Ardi was afraid, and helped him. Of course, we know things Ardi doesn't about the personalities of many of these Ponies -- for instance, that Pinkie Pie never intentionally poisoned him. I'll probably have more detailed comments later.
I like it.
5662125 Awesome. Hilarious, significant, and very touching at the end, when the Ponies who seemed to disapprove of him the most realized of what Ardi was afraid, and helped him.
They may dislike him, but they're still ponies. And they were a little embarrassed when they realized that they'd unintentionally terrified him.
Of course, we know things Ardi doesn't about the personalities of many of these Ponies -- for instance, that Pinkie Pie never intentionally poisoned him.
Of course she didn't, but to Ardi the difference was rather academic.
I'll probably have more detailed comments later.
I certainly hope so! I'm wondering if anyone noticed that particular Old Story I included and figured out who and what it was referring to. Here's a hint: we've seen it in the show before.
5662401 Thanks, I'm glad you like it. I hope you enjoy my other works if and when you get a chance to read them.
5663021 you mean the one with Sombra?
Although he didn't look like a wolf in the show, he didn't look 100% pony either.
5664183 you mean the one with Sombra?
Although he didn't look like a wolf in the show, he didn't look 100% pony either.
Yeah, that's the one. I'll only say for now that the wolves' memory of Sombra is rather different from the ponies', and might be the source of trouble with the neighbors in the future.
Guess he didn't have much luck. Although it turned out all right in the end for him and his people.
Very appropriate for a Pegasus (who moves by flying over obstacles and of course like all Ponies has an equine head) in royal service.
We know that this takes place sometime between the Season Two closer (since it's after Wolf in Pony's Clothing when everyone knows about Changelings) and that Wolf in Pony's Clothing takes place before "Keep Calm and Flutter On" (S3E10). This story may take place before or after KCaFO, though Discord's non-appearance suggests "before." It's also pre-Twilicorn, so this takes place before the Season Three closer. By my chronology this would take place then in mid-YOH 1503 (around three years after Luna's Return), possibly before late October and definitely before mid-November.
I am amused that Angel Bunny frightens Ardi. But then, he should -- that rabbit's a demon. So much so that I sometimes wonder if Angel is some sort of (really cranky) incarnate guardian spirit assigned to protect Fluttershy. The one Pony that Angel definitely loves -- even though he also sometimes abuses her -- is Fluttershy.
In that case, "Angel" might be literally true, and by being terrifying Angel is actually closer to the Biblical conception of such a being. And Fluttershy is, after all, frequently at the nexus of the sort of events in which one would imagine higher supernatural forces being interested. Heck, later on she befriends and (partially) reforms a mad Chaos God.
Occurs to me that Fluttershy might express what she does with the Mane Six as:
"Um, yes ... sometimes things can get a bit, um ... scary."
and Ponies not conversant with any of the details would assume that she was exaggerating out of timidity, The truth, of course, is that some of the "scary" things Fluttershy's seen would drive many Ponies utterly insane.
Indeed, one theme of this story seems to be the difference between perceived and actual levels of potential danger. Ponies see Ardi as dangerous (and of course he is reasonably dangerous, being a large sapient canid), but Ardi quite realistically sees the Ponies as dangerous (he's outnumbered by them thousands to one in Ponyville) and in particular grasps that the Mane Six are very dangerous (pretty much any one of them outmatch him one on one, given their various powers).
It reminds me of one of my favorite bits of dialogue from Lord of the Rings, from Gandalf to Gimli about "dangerousness":
which is an excellent demonstration of the difference between capability and intent. Because the Mane Six are friendly and non-threatening their power levels aren't immediately obvious in the Slice of Life episodes, but to an alien with only limited trust toward them, they'd be quite intimidating.
(to be continued)
5665340 oh yeah, the wolves fought alongside Sombra
And while the wolves may have forgotten his name over the past thousand years, to the crystal ponies, it hasn't been maybe but a month since the battle. I'm guessing they haven't forgotten that. Which, if the wolves try to set up diplomatic relations with the Crystal Empire, may cause friction.
The story detailing this would be amusing
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>> Ardashir oh yeah, the wolves fought alongside Sombra
And while the wolves may have forgotten his name over the past thousand years, to the crystal ponies, it hasn't been maybe but a month since the battle. I'm guessing they haven't forgotten that. Which, if the wolves try to set up diplomatic relations with the Crystal Empire, may cause friction.
The story detailing this would be amusing
Yes to all of this. Modern Equestrian ponies and the wolves see all of this as past history, but to the Crystal Ponies it was last month. And rest assured that there will be a story covering this in a sequel/continuation of this one when Ardi and Rarity, among others, meet the Crystal Ponies at the royal reception.
And to give an idea of what the Crystal Ponies think of Sombra's Hellhounds, remember that badge he's wearing? It's based on these people. So yeah, very bad memories.
Ad oh yes -- that's when Vespid meets Shining Armor and Cadence. The ponies who threw the invading Changelings out of Canterlot. And all but decimated her hive.
5665372 Especially Rarity Belle, the Countess Lippizan. With luck I won't see her at all.
Guess he didn't have much luck. Although it turned out all right in the end for him and his people.
Yes, it was a very good thing that he met Rarity and was able t patch things up with her. Though that outfit she made for him is going to lead to even more trouble in the near future.
... Ardi remembered his name to be Knight's Move ...
Very appropriate for a Pegasus (who moves by flying over obstacles and of course like all Ponies has an equine head) in royal service.
Thanks.
The wolf remembered touching that statue trying to sneak out of the Palace that night, that buzzing humorless laugh inside his mind, and shuddered.
We know that this takes place sometime between the Season Two closer (since it's after Wolf in Pony's Clothing when everyone knows about Changelings) and that Wolf in Pony's Clothing takes place before "Keep Calm and Flutter On" (S3E10). This story may take place before or after KCaFO, though Discord's non-appearance suggests "before." It's also pre-Twilicorn, so this takes place before the Season Three closer. By my chronology this would take place then in mid-YOH 1503 (around three years after Luna's Return), possibly before late October and definitely before mid-November.
This is definitely set before Discord''s being released on probation. I think it's very shortly before 'Too Many Pinkie Pies', and the follow-up will probably be happening between TMPP and "Bad Seed'.
I am amused that Angel Bunny frightens Ardi. But then, he should -- that rabbit's a demon. So much so that I sometimes wonder if Angel is some sort of (really cranky) incarnate guardian spirit assigned to protect Fluttershy. The one Pony that Angel definitely loves -- even though he also sometimes abuses her -- is Fluttershy.
In that case, "Angel" might be literally true, and by being terrifying Angel is actually closer to the Biblical conception of such a being. And Fluttershy is, after all, frequently at the nexus of the sort of events in which one would imagine higher supernatural forces being interested. Heck, later on she befriends and (partially) reforms a mad Chaos God.
Ardi might disagree about Angel's origins, or at least that he's an unfallen angel, but my own take is just that Angel is a VERY smart and territorial little rabbit. Just as Opal does not like having some grungy wolf strolling around her home.
And there's just the humor value of a wolf being shoved around by a rabbit and a cat. Though it helps mightily that Ardi recognizes that he's in someone else's territory, and most wolves would be careful about 'taking liberties' under those circumstances. Unless they were trying to start a fight.
Occurs to me that Fluttershy might express what she does with the Mane Six as:
"Um, yes ... sometimes things can get a bit, um ... scary."
That sounds like Fluttershy to me!
and Ponies not conversant with any of the details would assume that she was exaggerating out of timidity, The truth, of course, is that some of the "scary" things Fluttershy's seen would drive many Ponies utterly insane.
This would be a problem among wolves too. On one hand, Fluttershy acts like a low-ranking pack member; most wolves would see her as someone to be bullied or at least treated scornfully. But she is very brave deep down. And she has The Stare, which would cause even the most vicious and aggressive wolf to back down. She'll be very, very confusing to Ardi's relatives.
For that matter he's confusing to both them AND ponies. Wolves won't get why someone who has no special status among them should get to make decisions affecting all the packs (despite his bravery in actually doing what he did in Wolf in Pony's Clothing); and he comes off as rather clownish and even cowardly to ponies. Other wolves, especially in their home territory, will NOT be reacting like him.
Indeed, one theme of this story seems to be the difference between perceived and actual levels of potential danger. Ponies see Ardi as dangerous (and of course he is reasonably dangerous, being a large sapient canid), but Ardi quite realistically sees the Ponies as dangerous (he's outnumbered by them thousands to one in Ponyville) and in particular grasps that the Mane Six are very dangerous (pretty much any one of them outmatch him one on one, given their various powers).
It reminds me of one of my favorite bits of dialogue from Lord of the Rings, from Gandalf to Gimli about "dangerousness":
Gimli said, "But you speak of him as if he were a friend. I thought Fangorn was dangerous."
"Dangerous!" cried Gandalf. "And so am I, very dangerous: more dangerous than anything you will ever meet, unless you are brought alive before the seat of the Dark Lord. And Aragorn is dangerous, and Legolas is dangerous. You are beset with dangers, Gimli son of Gloin; for you are dangerous yourself, in your own fashion. Certainly the forest of Fangorn is perilous - not least to those that are too ready with their axes; and Fangorn himself, he is perilous too; yet he is wise and kindly nonetheless."
which is an excellent demonstration of the difference between capability and intent. Because the Mane Six are friendly and non-threatening their power levels aren't immediately obvious in the Slice of Life episodes, but to an alien with only limited trust toward them, they'd be quite intimidating.
Yes, Ardi knows very well just how dangerous both the Mane Six and the Ponies as a whole are. Far more so than almost any wolf still living in the north, to whom ponies are more a faceless force of nature than individuals as such. Once some of them realize that not every pony is as powerful as Celestia and Luna, they'll go from attempting to appease these terrible creatures to wondering "Why are we, the Pups and Heirs of Fenris, taking orders from them?"
And then real trouble will start.
(to be continued)
I'm definitely looking forward to it!
Looks interesting, definitely seeing parallels with the native Americans in the 19th century; trains going over their land, worries of either cultural assimilation to a more powerful group or being driven off by that group. Your setting up an interesting world.
I also think it's a little funny how when anything goes wrong, they blame the wolf, regardless of much it actually is his fault.
Clothing rips? Blame the wolf.
Kids running? Blame the wolf.
Tree falls into a river? Blame the wolf.
Kinda like how farmers blamed wolves for loss of livestock and almost hunted them to extinction...
I'm such a downer today.
5666146 Well, Rarity has started to forgive Ardi, but she still has kind of a grudge against him for what he did in the previous story when he was (magically) disguised as her.
That was excellent! I literally laughed out loud just like when I read Wolf in Pony's Clothing.
Am I correct in thinking that this is the first installment in a multi-part storyline? It works as a standalone story, but it also feels like a prelude to something with its setup to the upcoming negotiations and the ball.
5668829 That was excellent! I literally laughed out loud just like when I read Wolf in Pony's Clothing.
Thank you! I'm always pleased when I hear someone tell me they enjoy something I wrote. I hope I continue to entertain you.
Am I correct in thinking that this is the first installment in a multi-part storyline? It works as a standalone story, but it also feels like a prelude to something with its setup to the upcoming negotiations and the ball.
This was intended as a stand-alone, with another story to follow that will expand on the ball, the initial relations between the wolves and the Crystal Empire, and how Cadence and Shining Armor handle meeting a 'good' Changeling in Queen Vespid. Depending on how the next part works when written, I may post it as more chapters here or as a separate story.
Thanks again.
Awesome continuation. Still love Ardi, still don't like how ponies treat him and other wolves.
I hope to see more of him in the future.
PS. I know it is written as a one chapter, but taking almost 20K words on one go could be a bit tiresome, and even discouraging for some. Dividing it even on two 10K chapters would be much better in mine opinion.
5670246
You're welcome.
You've also helped me make sense of something I come across a few months ago. It was a deviantart image showing a man kneeling next to a pond and being caressed by what appeared from the mid-torso up to be a beautiful woman; however, her lower submerged half was a bare skeleton, under which were a pile of skeletal remains (presumably of men she'd lured to a watery grave).
Having looked up the legends of the rusalka (thanks to your story), I now think I understand what the artist had in mind. Unfortunately, I can't remember the title of the piece or the account that uploaded it, so I haven't been able to find it again. . . but hey, it least now I know what it was depicting.
5670726 Awesome continuation. Still love Ardi, still don't like how ponies treat him and other wolves.
I hope to see more of him in the future.
It seems very likely that you will. And thanks for the kind words on Ardi -- and I'll add that here we've seen two more ponies (Rarity and Lotus) start to warm up to him.
PS. I know it is written as a one chapter, but taking almost 20K words on one go could be a bit tiresome, and even discouraging for some. Dividing it even on two 10K chapters would be much better in mine opinion.
Thanks, though having posted it, I'd rather keep it one chapter for now at least. I will try and remember your advice for future stories.
5670966 Glad I helped. However, while the image could have been a rusalka, there are a lot of murderous female (and male) water spirits in mythology. Even the normally-male kelpie could appear as a lovely woman to lure victims close.
Its finish? HERESY!!
5676816 Fear not, there will be a second story that is a continuation of this one, covering the reception and with Rarity and Ardi in attendance, as well as a lot of other folks.
Hello, Ardashir. (Yeah, it's me from LiveJournal. I finally got around to making a FimFiction account a few weeks ago.) Something I wondered about while I read this story is where it fits in the chronology. It is the incident that is briefly alluded to in Manehatten Madness, right?
5681205 Something I wondered about while I read this story is where it fits in the chronology. It is the incident that is briefly alluded to in Manehatten Madness, right?
Actually, though I may have done a poor job of explaining it, this story and the sequel covering the reception both take place prior to Manehattan Madness. I have some idea about what was happening with Dash, Pinkie, and Twilight during MM; basically they were trying some diplomacy/research with Ardi's relatives up north and dealing with Stalliongrad. Needless to say none of it goes easily.
And welcome to FIMfic, glad to see you here!
5683510
I thought that was the case; thanks for confirming it.
Edit: You know, I have a number of thoughts and ideas concerning MLP on another site that I'd like to show you and Jordan179, if you don't mind, looking at them and telling me what you think. Are either of you interested?
5683772 Edit: You know, I have a number of thoughts and ideas concerning MLP on another site that I'd like to show you and Jordan179, if you don't mind, looking at them and telling me what you think. Are either of you interested?
Go ahead, though you might do better to show them to Jordan179, as he is a much deeper thinker and far better able to discuss these matters than I am.
Another thought occurred to me: Ardi not understanding about the value (or thinking it's infinite) will cause friction when the accountant sees how many things Ardi is sending the bill from.
5770416 Yeah, money as the ponies use it doesn't mean very much to him as yet. I imagine he will get a lesson on that when he returns to Canterlot from the treasurer, and maybe with Celestia sitting in as well. Like she doesn't have enough to deal with day to day.
I actually didn't catch this on my first read-through. It seems that Ardi's developed a friendship, or at the very least a "friendly acquaintanceship," with Lyra and Bon Bon; do you have any plans to develop that dynamic further in future stories?
5791675 I actually didn't catch this on my first read-through. It seems that Ardi's developed a friendship, or at the very least a "friendly acquaintanceship," with Lyra and Bon Bon; do you have any plans to develop that dynamic further in future stories?
I've been thinking of doing something with that relationship, but just what, I'm not sure right now. I would like using some more of the 'background' ponies as I've done with Aloe and (especially) Lotus.
I wonder now that she truly knows Ardi, when its finally going to hit Lotus that her beloved uncle wasn't Hunting Monsters but Murdering Innocents? Her dealing with the cognitive dissonance might make a good short story.
Her crush Captain Longspear raises similar questions with his wolf tail necklace. Thinking you've been doing something Heroic only to find out you were actually Horrible is something that can break people. Assuming he's actually a decent pony who joined the guard to protect others that is.
6257276 Lotus may well have to deal with the reality of what her uncle did to the Wolves someday, though it has to be said here, they weren't always as innocent as Ardi thinks they were.
Her crush Captain Longspear raises similar questions with his wolf tail necklace. Assuming he's actually a decent pony who joined the guard to protect others that is.
Yeah, he is decent; and wolves in many places are 'just animals' and not sapient. The Northlands may be the last place left with Wolves-that-speak, though it's got rather a healthy population of them.
And thanks for the comment.
Between this story and the Nightmare Night prequel, I am now shipping Ardi and Lotus in my head.
6468912 That makes two of us then; hopefully it can make it into the story/series proper at some point.
An thanks very, very much for all the faves! I'm glad you like my stuff that much.
Nice story. I'd like to see what happens next; has the story taking place in Canterlot been published yet?
7524415 That one is still in development. And thanks for the comment and fave.
Add a comma after "aside".
7547856 I thought I'd gotten everything here too. It's done now, and thanks for taking the time to let me know about that.
Very nice story. Now that Ardi can show his face in Ponyville, there can be a more direct culture clash. And boy, is there ever a clash. High society colliding with subsistence hunting is going to be quite the event, to say nothing of this cat-catalyzed chaos in Ponyville.
Still, it aired some nasty feelings and brought everyone closer. In the end, this was very good for Ardi. And with Rarity at his side, that ball will be even better, for him and all the packs as well.
8089403 Thanks for the comment. Yes, this was something that needed to happen for both the ponies and the wolves. Though they still both have some severe misunderstandings about each other that have to be cleared up in the future. The wolves weren't always as helpless against ponies as they are now, and if someone from that time long ago were to show up everyone would get a shock.
Thanks for the favorite on the story.
Awesome story!!!
9189371
Thank you! I'm glad you like it.
9189942
So what happened at the ball? Did they ever resolve the issue with stalliongrad and the crystal empire? I'd love to read about it! Xd
9190592
I'm sorry to say it's going very slowly, Hopefully soon I will be able to focus on the Ardi stories again.
Thanks for asking about them.
Umm doesn't daring only write about real adventures that she has had if so then where did she find the wolf pack
He shouldn't really be embarrassed considering she was forcing his head under the water and considering how lotus still seemed to hold some strange hate towards him it seems to me he had the right to leave when he was being dunked under the water by someone who still shows resentment towards him
9606873
This story was written before we learned all that about Daring Do/AK Yearling. My idea is that Daring wrote the story as a favor to the Princesses, and they asked her to do it to help ponies get over their fear of wolves. In this setting they probably asked other writers to do something similar with stories about dragons, Thorax's changelings, and the like.
I hope there's a sequel to this
10043435
There may be. I hope.
And thanks for the faves and comments.