“So the beast returns.” SuckerPunch remarked as Alpha reappeared in the throne room. “Your master no longer need you?”
The only response that Sucker received was a mixture of garbles and grunts from the floating skull.
“You do realize I can’t understand what you’re saying. Right?”
At this Alpha froze for a second before his right eye ignited gave off a cyan glow. When the glow died down he turned away from SuckerPunch to face Princess Celestia as she gave a visiting noble her goodbyes.
“Hmm.” Celestia hummed at the approach of Alpha as he floated to her side. After a few seconds of Celestia having what Sucker could only guess to be a staring match with Alpha she broke the silence that had filled the room. “Captain.”
“Yes Princess.” Sucker replied at him suddenly being addressed.
“Remove your helmet for a second.” Celestia asked getting Sucker to give a salute before removing his helmet. Before he could ask why he had been asked to remove his helmet he found himself interrupted by Celestia. “You can put it back on now Captain. Thank you.”
“No problem Princess.” Sucker said giving a quick bow before returning to his position next to one of the columns that jutted out from the walls of the throne room. “What do you want now beast?” Sucker asked slightly annoyed that Alpha had floated so he was taking up most of Sucker’s vision.
“Nothing much I just wanted to talk.” A voice Sucker had never heard before said causing the Captain to charge his horn his right gauntlet giving off a light red glow. “Calm down there buddy. I’m not gonna bite you.” The voice said. It was then Sucker realized that Alpha had his jaw bent in a way that seemed like a smile.
“Alpha?” Sucker questioned the red glow from his horn dying down.
“Yes?”
“That’s your voice I’m hearing?” Sucker asked giving Alpha a quizzical look.
“Yes it is. Had to get you to take that damn enchanted helmet off so I could project my voice into your mind.” Alpha replied before listing slightly to the left so that he was hovering to Sucker’s left. “How does it feel?”
“How does what feel?” Sucker asked.
“Having another’s voice projected into your mind? I’ve never asked anyone before.”
“Odd for lack of a better term.” Sucker answered. “But I guess it’s good as I can finally understand what in Tartarus you’re saying. But I find it weird that a beast such as yourself can speak Equestrian.”
“Well when you’ve been around for as long as I have you learn a few things.” Alpha said.
“And how long would that be?”
“A thousand years.” Celestia said causing Sucker to jump slightly at the Princesses answer.
“Yeah so watch your tongue or did your mother never teach you to respect your elders.” Alpha said his tone shifting to one of an old man. This shift of tone caused Celestia to give a small chuckle.
“Weird I didn’t know how much like Anon you sounded Alpha.” Celestia said getting a small laugh from the floating skull.
“What not even a smile?” Alpha asked Sucker.
“Of course not. I didn’t find the joke funny.” Sucker replied.
“Really?” Alpha asked rotating himself slightly to mimic someone turning their head in confusion.
“Really.” Sucker said poison lacing his voice.
“Okay. Also you said you were surprised by me being able to speak Equestrian but just be glad I wasn’t talking in my native tongue.”
“And what would that be? Would it be the incomprehensible gibberish I heard before?” Sucker said sarcastically.
“No it would be the language of Timberwolves.”
“Ha. Timberwolves have no language. Besides even if they did it wouldn’t even qualify as a language as it is nothing more than a mixture of growls and yelps.” Sucker replied getting a hate filled glare from Alpha. “Oh don’t go giving me that look. Their nothing more than bests so who cares what I say.”
As soon as those words left Sucker’s mouth he found his vision filled with a blinding cyan light. As soon as the light dissipated from his vision he found himself on his back held down by what Sucker could see as a skeletal paw. It was then Sucker’s gaze followed the leg the paw was attached too. Once his eyes had finished traveling up the leg he saw that he was being held to the ground by what seemed to be the skeleton of a large wolf. It was then he saw something about the wolf skeleton that stood out above all else. The head.
“Alpha?” Was all Sucker could ask as he looked at the familiar skull of Alpha.
Instead of Alpha’s voice filling Sucker’s mind like Sucker was expecting he instead found Alpha opening his maw. What Sucker saw in Alpha’s mouth had his blood turn cold. The bright blue color of what Anon had only said to be magical plasma whenever Sucker had enquired as to what Alpha shot out of his maw whenever the captain had been present to see Anon and Alpha fight.
It was as the light grew brighter that Sucker tried to raise a shield to protect himself only to find that Alpha’s left paw was holding his horn against the ground keeping his magic at bay. It was at that moment that Sucker’s life began to flash before his eyes. However, the flashes of his life were cut short by the voice of Celestia ringing out through the room.
“Alpha, I think he’s had enough.” Celestia said causing Alpha to close his mouth and remove his paws from Sucker’s horn and barrel. As Sucker found himself no longer pinned he found his vision once again filled with a bright cyan light as Alpha transformed back into his original form.
“Alright then.” Was all Alpha said before floating a few feet away from Sucker.
“What was that?!” Sucker exclaimed jumping back onto his hooves.
“What was what?” Alpha asked not meeting Sucker’s gaze.
“Whatever you just turned into!” Sucker said moving in front of Alpha taking up his vision. “Answers. NOW!” Sucker yelled the last word causing Alpha to hover a few inches away from Sucker’s face.
“You want me to tell you what just happened?” Alpha asked getting a nod from Sucker. “Simple. You pissed me off enough where if it wasn’t or Celestia I probably would’ve killed you.”
“You wouldn’t do that.” Sucker said rolling his eyes.
“He’s not lying captain.” Celestia said getting Sucker to look to the princess at her sudden revelation. “You insulted his species and so he responded to that by transforming into his wolf form.” Celestia explained before turning her head back to look at the now paralyzed noble that stood in shock from what he saw. “Now back to the fundraiser you’re planning on throwing next week Lord Richmond.”
“Um…” Was all Richmond could say his gaze flashing between Celestia and Sucker.
“How about you come with me Lord Richmond and we can go over the details.” A voice said from Celestia’s right. After the statement was delivered Raven stepped out from her place on the other side of Celestia’s throne.
“Alright then Miss Raven.” Richmond said eager to get out of the room.
As soon as Richmond and Raven left the throne room Celestia motioned for the remaining guards to leave the room before removing herself from her throne to join Sucker and Alpha. “Now then are you two going to calm down or do I have to intervene?” Celestia asked her gaze shifting between the duo.
“Of course not Princess.” Sucker said giving her a bow. “Although I would like to know when Alpha could turn into a skeletal wolf.”
“And why would that be?” Alpha asked.
“For security purposes.” Sucker said getting a slow nod from Alpha.
“Alright. Well it all started a couple of hundred years ago when Anon had decided to use the same magic and materials he used to make my skull form to give me a wolf body. And before you ask the reason why you’ve never seen this form before is because whilst you have known Anon and I we’ve had no reason to use it around you.” Alpha explained.
“So you can just turn into that form whenever you want to?” Sucker asked.
“No I can’t. I have to use a portion of Anon’s magical reserve to actually summon the body. We’re still working on a way to make it so I don’t have to tap into his reserves in order to do this.”
“Ah I see.” Sucker said before turning back to Celestia. “Princess I am very sorry for brining a disturbance to your court by acting the way I did.”
“You’re forgiven Captain Punch. But in the future I wish for you to show a bit more respect for Alpha as he is more than just a mere beast.” Celestia said getting a nod from Sucker. “Now then thanks to your little transformation Alpha I have managed to get a half day.” Celestia said with a warm smile. “Now then if you wouldn’t mind escorting me to where my sister is as I would like to see how her lesson is going.”
“Of course not Celestia.” Alpha replied floating off towards the throne room doors Celestia close behind him with Sucker trailing behind.
“Oh Captain I won’t require your services as Alpha is able to escort me to my destination.” Celestia said stopping to look at the guard. “Seeing as how I have found myself with the rest of the day off. I am giving you the rest of the day off as well Captain.” Celestia said getting a nod from Sucker.
“Thank you Princess you’re too kind.” Sucker said as Celestia left with Alpha. ‘Sometimes I wonder if you’re too kind to see the beasts you ally yourself with.’ Sucker thought to himself as he made his own way towards the throne room doors.