//------------------------------// // Ch. 4- Two Brothers // Story: My Little Pony: The Rise of Warfang // by XFangHeartX //------------------------------// The Castle of the Two Sisters was surrounded by Warfang's wolves. Some were lazing around on the ground, others were out on guard duty, and several were busy sparing with each other. However, while some were using their natural born weapons, such as their fangs and claws, other were wearing these helmets that had a looked a bit like Warfang's helmet, except with one horn. They screw their eyes shut as they concentrated, and as they did, this silvery-white aura appeared on the horns of their helmets. "Fire!" Warfang shouted, causing the wolves to shoot the aura out of their helmets and shatter some nearby boulders. "Excellent. Those ponies won't know what hit them." The wolves bowed their heads before their king, who dismissed them with a wave of his paw. At that moment, he saw Stormhowl, Swiftclaw, and their small tracking party appear, causing him to smile as he approached his sons, who bowed their heads before him. "So you have returned, my sons," Warfang said. "Anything to report?" "We found a castle in Ponyville," said Stormhowl. "It seems that this town also has a princess occupying it." "A fourth princess?" Warfang asked in slight surprise. "Hmm...how strange. And just what is this princess's name?" "According to the townsponies that live in this village," said Stormhowl, "her name is Princess Twilight Sparkle. She was actually a unicorn and former student of Princess Celestia before she gained her current status." "A student of Celestia, eh?" Warfang queried. "How curious. And what of the stone?" "I couldn't get a good look at-" Swiftclaw started. "Swiftclaw," Warfang sneered. "I don't believe I was talking to you." Hearing that made Swiftclaw lower his ears and whine sadly, causing Warfang to sneer at him. "And stop that whining," the alpha said. "You're not a pup, anymore." He then looked to Stormhowl. "We couldn't get a good visual," said Stormhowl, "but we're almost certain the stone is in Ponyville." "I see," said Warfang. "Anything else to report?" "It seems that some of Celestia's royal guards have set up a perimeter around the town's borders," said Stormhowl. "We actually had to leave to avoid getting spotted." "How many were there?" asked Warfang. "Five, from what I saw," Stormhowl answered. "There might be more, though." "I see," Warfang said as he turned around, contemplating the situation. "...Hmm...actually, if they call for reinforcements, that might work in our favor." Upon hearing that, the wolves glanced at each other in confusion. "Uhh...Father?" asked Swiftclaw, causing Warfang to glare at him. "Umm...forgive me for speaking out of turn, but...why would we want them to bring more reinforcements here?" "Are you that stupid?" asked Warfang. "Think about it. With most of Celestia's army here in Ponyville, who's going to defend Canterlot when we invade it?" "I see now," Stormhowl said. "Diminish their defenses. Even Celestia, as powerful as she is, can't hold back a whole army." "Precisely," Warfang answered. "See that, Swiftclaw? Once again, your brother proves who is better." Swiftclaw only growled in his throat while his father turned and walked away. "I'll call you once I've made a complete strategy," said Warfang. Once the King of Wolves had vanished within the castle's shadows, Swiftclaw glared up at Stormhowl, who glanced back at him. "What's wrong with you?" asked Stormhowl. "Why should I tell you?" asked Swiftclaw as he turned and walked away, but the elder Wolf Prince only glared after his brother before he began to follow him. "Swiftclaw," said Stormhowl. "What's going on with you? You've been acting so strange." "I'm acting strange?!" questioned Swiftclaw. "You're the one who keeps one-upping me!" "What are you talking about?" asked Stormhowl. "I'm not one-upping you!" "Oh, don't play dumb!" Swiftclaw barked. "You think I don't know what you really think about me?!" As the princes argued, the other wolves began to gather around them, some chuckling in amusement, others watching in concern. "Oh, no, here we go, again," whispered a dark gray wolf in dark blue armor. "5 bones say Prince Stormhowl wins, again," said a sandy-colored wolf in silver armor. "Ha! You're on!" exclaimed a dark brown wolf in pine green armor. "I am so sick and tired of you, ALWAYS kissing up to our Father," hissed Swiftclaw. "You know he thinks I'm inferior to you, and that's why you're always doing your damnedest to outshine me!" "Swiftclaw, we're brothers!" Stormhowl rebuked. "I don't think I'm superior to you! It's just that you keep holding yourself back! That's why you never make any good impressions on Father!" "Oh, yeah?" Swiftclaw asked. "How about I make an impression...ON YOUR FACE?!!" With that, he lunged at Stormhowl, who growled before jumped right back at his younger brother. XXX Inside the castle's sanctum, a purplish-gray wolf wearing dark gray armor ran inside to find Warfang. "My king!" he called. "The princes are fighting, again!" "Let them be," said Warfang. "They're only venting their frustrations." "But sir-" the wolf said. "I said let them be!" Warfang ordered. "Besides...I know who will end up winning." XXX "Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!" the wolves chanted as the princes grappled and clawed at each other. Swiftclaw snapped his jaws at his brother's neck, only for Stormhowl to push him away before he jumped at him and tackled him to the ground. The two brother wolves tussled for a moment before Swiftclaw kicked Stormhowl off, and then the two began to circle each other, snarling and gnashing their teeth. Then Swiftclaw lunged for Stormhowl, who jumped out of the way before he tackled his brother, again, biting his neck, which caused him to yowl in pain as he tried to push the elder prince off. Then Stormhowl threw the younger prince at a rock, causing him to drop to the ground. "Ooh!" one of the wolves winced. "He's gonna feel that, tomorrow!" "I think he's feeling it, NOW," said another wolf. "Well?" asked Stormhowl as he approached his brother. "Are you done, now?" "...No," Swiftclaw hissed before he jumped at Stormhowl once more, tackling him forcefully, but the elder prince held his ground and instead forced Swiftclaw up onto his hind legs before they began to grapple and bite at each other again. Then, Stormhowl pushed his brother into the castle wall, causing him to drop down to the ground in pain, again. Swiftclaw seethed and panted, but he didn't get back up. Stormhowl glowered down at him...before he offered his paw to him, but then younger prince slapped it away before he stood up, himself. "Aren't you tired of fighting with me, all the time?" asked Stormhowl. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?" "Why don't you leave me alone?" Swiftclaw asked before he began to walk away. "Swiftclaw!" called Stormhowl. "You need understand something! I don't think you're inferior to me! You're my brother! I'll always value you!" "...You know, there was a time I did think that," said Swiftclaw, "but now...I don't think so, anymore." With that, he continued to walk away. "Where are you going?" asked Stormhowl. "Anywhere!" Swiftclaw replied. "As long as I'm away from you!" "W-wait, Swiftclaw!" Stormhowl called. "Don't do this!" "Let him go." Stormhowl gasped as he turned to see Warfang come out of the shadows. "If he so chooses, he can come back on his own," said Warfang. "Now then...everyone, gather inside. We will begin discussing the plan." On that, the wolves began to enter the castle, but Stormhowl remained behind, watching where his brother had walked off to before he heaved a sigh and turned to follow his fellow wolves. As for Swiftclaw, he continued walking through the Everfree Forest, growling in his throat in anger. XXX The wolves had gathered into the inner sanctum of the castle, where Warfang stood in the middle with Stormhowl at his side. "Now then," he said, "the plan is to have the guards increase security around Ponyville. Even with our Mage Slayer armor, they will still try to put up a fight...but then again, if they didn't, that would be rather boring, wouldn't it?" Some of the wolves snickered at this. "So, here's the plan," Warfang said. "If we launch an assault on Ponyville, now, it would give those foolish foals a reason to increase their dense around this measly town...and if the filly who has the Stone of Wishes in her possession is there...well...you know what to do." "Yes, King Warfang," the wolves said. "And don't take any chances with this Twilight Sparkle," said Warfang. "If you see her...slay her on the spot." "...Slay her?" Stormhowl whispered. "Of course," said Warfang. "If she is a princess AND a former student of Celestia, she is a potential threat. The sooner she's taken care of, the better." "...I suppose that makes sense, Father," said Stormhowl. "That being said," Warfang said, "Stormhowl, you will lead the assault on Ponyville." "...Yes, Father," answered Stormhowl. "And if you're worried about your brother," Warfang began, "don't be. He'll be fine." "...I suppose so, Father," said the elder Wolf Prince, although he still had a hint of concern in his voice. XXX Meanwhile, back at Canterlot, Luna was lying in her bed to catch up on her sleep for the day. She tried to insist that she was not tired and she wanted to help Celestia with the wolf threat, but her older sister would not hear of it. She told the Princess of the Moon to get her rest, for she would need it for when she entered the dream realm, later tonight. As Luna slept, Celestia quietly walked in and, using her magic, gently pulled the blankets over Luna, who sighed contentedly in her sleep. "Rest well, my dear sister," Celestia whispered before she turned to leave her sister's bedchamber, but stopped when she heard Luna muttering. "Silvy..." Luna whispered. "Don't go...Silvy...!" Celestia furrowed her brow in sadness before she looked out the window. "Many centuries have passed," she whispered, "and yet, Luna still thinks of you...and so do I." A brief image of Celestia, back when she had just a pink, flowing mane, and Luna, back when her coat and mane were a lighter shade, flashed before the elder princess' mind...and in between the two sisters was a gray wolf, smiling and laughing with the two of them. "...How...?" Celestia whispered as she looked down in sadness. "How did it come to this...Silverwind?"