All of Canterlot was in chaos. Fire and smoke filled the air, causing the sky turn a bright orange. Ponies all over were in a state of panic and fear as Warfang's pack pursued them...and those who were unfortunate enough to be caught were soon ripped apart and devoured.
It was a massacre...and it was only going to get worse if nothing was done soon to stop it.
Inside the cafe where Twilight had met with Cadence, the Crystal Princess was trying to keep her daughter calm while the wolves prowled around outside, growling and snarling. Flurry whimpered in fright as her mother held her in her hooves, gently shushing her in order to avoid the wolves' detection, and for a time, it seemed to work...until she heard the sound of the wolves, slamming against the door. That was more than enough to get Flurry screaming in fear, to Cadence's horror. Before she could even utter a gasp, the door suddenly burst right off its hinges, and soon, the wolves began to make their way inside.
"Oh, no...!" Cadence whispered while Flurry kept wailing, but just when the beasts lunged for the mother and daughter...
"NOT SO FAST!!!"
BAM!!! A white and blue blur suddenly slammed into the wolves, causing them to crash into the wall. Cadence opened her eyes and gasped happily upon seeing that it was her beloved husband, Shining Armor, who glared at the beasts as they stood up and growled.
"Shining Armor!" Cadence exclaimed.
"Dada!" Flurry cooed.
"Everything's gonna be okay!" Shining Armor said as the wolves prepared to lunge for them. Shining Armor's horn glowed white before he soon erected a barrier around himself and his family, and the wolves ended up bouncing off of it. However, they did not relent, for they kept lunging at them, trying to break through the barrier.
"Shining Armor," Cadence said, "how long do you think this barrier will last?"
"Not sure," Shining Armor answered as the wolves lunged for the barrier again. "Hopefully long enough for us to get out of this mess!"
Flurry whimpered while Cadence held her to try and console her.
XXX
Meanwhile, at Canterlot Castle, Moonlight panted as she ran through the corridor and up the stairs. However, she looked back and gasped upon seeing Warfang, who growled as he continued his relentless pursuit. The Wolf King's good eye was wide and almost crazed-looking as it fell upon the Stone of Wishes, causing it to flash red like the gemstone.
"That stone belongs to me...!" hissed Warfang as he ran after the filly, who turned and ran up the stairs as fast as her legs could carry her. Unfortunately, it wasn't quite fast enough, for Warfang soon caught up with her the moment she reached the top of the stairs. He growled as he lunged for Moonlight, who let out a shriek of fright as she saw his huge fangs preparing to bite her in two...but then, out of nowhere, there was a beam of pinkish-purple light, and Warfang suddenly froze in place, encased in a crystal shell. Moonlight gasped before she looked behind Warfang, only for her surprise to turn into joy when she saw that it was none other than Twilight.
"Twilight!!" Moonlight exclaimed as she ran up and nuzzled her. "You came for me!"
"I told you I'd always be here for you, didn't I?" asked Twilight.
Krik-kraak!! The two ponies gasped as they heard that cracking noise, causing them both to look back and see that Warfang's crystal prison was starting to break.
"That won't hold him long!" Twilight cried. "Run!!"
And that's just what they did, just when Warfang finally broke free. He growled as he glared after the Princess of Friendship and her charge before he continued to chase after them.
"Twilight, what are we gonna do?!" asked Moonlight.
"Hope my friends get here, soon!" answered Twilight. "Until then, keep running!!"
XXX
"LOOK OUT!!" cried Starlight as she and Fluttershy ducked under a few lunging wolves. As for Rainbow Dash, she and Applejack were try trying to fight them, bucking, kicking, and punching the beasts away with just their bare hooves alone.
"I hate to say it," Rainbow Dash began, speaking between pants, "but even I don't know how long we can fight these guys off!"
"Take THIS!!" Applejack shouted as she kicked another wolf right in the jaw, but needless to say, she too looked quite exhausted, while the wolves didn't relent. "There's no end to 'em!"
FWOOOOSH!! Spike took in a deep breath before he let out a jet of green flames, causing the wolves to yelp in fright as they turned and ran away for fear of getting burned. However, the little dragon soon stopped and panted breathlessly while Rarity stood behind him with great concern.
"Spike, are you all right?!" she asked.
"I...I can't keep this up forever," said Spike. "There's just too many!"
The only pony the wolves didn't try to go after was Pinkie Pie. In face, just looking at her sent them running away in terror!
"Aww, come on you guys!" Pinkie called as she playfully hopped after some of the wolves. "Don't you wanna play with me?! I got more confetti bombs~!"
"NO!! NO!!! NEVER AGAIN!!!" one of the wolves shrieked.
"KEEP HER AWAY!!!" screamed another. "HELP!!!!"
Fluttershy looked up from the carnage around her, trying to find a certain rust-furred wolf in the midst of all the chaos. However, she gasped when she heard a loud, pained yelp.
Not too far away, Stormhowl panted as he stood in front of Swiftclaw, who was panting just as heavily as he was. Their bodies were covered in various cuts and bites...but neither one of the brothers would back down. However, Swiftclaw grunted as he held his right front paw above the ground...with blood dripping out of a horrible wound. He did not whimper or whine, however, but instead growled at his brother, who growled right back at him. The two wolves then lunged for each other, fangs bared and bloodstained, before their bodies clashed, the sound of the armor clanging together filling the air like a raging thunderstorm.
"Swiftclaw!!" Fluttershy called out to the younger Wolf Prince, who yowled as Stormhowl viciously bit on his left, but Swiftclaw countered by biting his brother's snout, causing him to yelp in pain before the two jumped back from each other. Swiftclaw growled as he circled his brother, the rush of adrenaline keeping him from feeling any pain in his leg, or all over his body for that matter.
"Just give up, already," Stormhowl said. "The sooner you admit defeat, the sooner this can end!"
"Never," Swiftclaw hissed. "As long as I have someone to protect, I will never back down!"
Fluttershy's face softened as she heard those words.
"Oh, Swiftclaw," she whispered, but Stormhowl only growled before he lunged at Swiftclaw again. The younger wolf brother wasn't prepared, this time, and ended up getting knocked to the ground as Stormhowl clamped his jaws around his neck. Swiftclaw gagged as he tried to push his older brother off of him, but alas, he just wasn't strong enough, anymore. The pain of his wounds were beginning to take hold and he found his strength getting sapped, and the tighter Stormhowl squeezed, the darker the world became around Swiftclaw as his eyes began to roll into the back of his skull, and he could only make this small utterance.
"F...Flutter...shy...!!"
That did it. At that very moment, Fluttershy felt something snap inside her, and without even a second thought, she let out a yell as she charged at Stormhowl and tackled him as much force as her body could muster, and despite him being at least twice her size, the elder Wolf Prince suddenly found himself knocked to the ground, and the sight caused all the wolves to stop and stare in disbelief, as did Applejack and the others.
"Swiftclaw," Fluttershy said as she went up and gently nudged him, causing him to slowly get to his feet. "Are you okay?"
"I've been through worse," Swiftclaw smiled. "Thank you, Fluttershy...it wasn't your fight, though. I wasn't trying to have you save me."
"Nonsense," Fluttershy replied. "I'll always help a friend, no matter what."
"Heh," Swiftclaw chuckled, while the rest of the ponies and Spike smiled. However, the wolves only looked even more confused, while Stormhowl growled in frustration.
"I don't get it!!" he shouted, causing everyone to look at him. "Why...? Why would you want to be friends with a wolf?! It makes no sense!! You're a pony, and wolves eat ponies!! Why in the hell would you be friends with someone who is so different from you?!! WHY?!!"
Everyone blinked at Stormhowl in confusion, while Swiftclaw just stared blankly at his brother.
"Why?" Fluttershy asked. "Why not?"
"We may be different on the outside," Swiftclaw said, "and sure, we have different tastes in food...but we shouldn't let those differences divide us." He then looked down at Fluttershy, who smiled up at him, causing him to smile at her in turn. "Fluttershy understands me, and she showed no fear towards me because she knew that I was different from other wolves...she's the first friend that I ever had..." He then looked up at Stormhowl. "Something I thought that you were, once until you decided to turn your back on me!"
"You were the one who turned your back on us!" Stormhowl barked.
"Stormhowl, enough of this, already!" Swiftclaw shouted. "Don't you understand, by now?! Killing innocent ponies, taking over their homes...it can't be for the benefit of the pack, like Father said!"
"YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT, ALREADY?!" Stormhowl questioned, taking everyone around him by surprise. "Dammit, Swiftclaw, I knew since that night when we slaughtered the Zodiac Nomads that this was wrong, but it was too late to say anything!! Don't you get it?! I didn't wanna end up getting punished, like you!"
"...Dude...!" Rainbow Dash whispered in awe.
Swiftclaw gaped in disbelief before he approached his brother.
"You...were afraid?" he asked.
"Of course, I was," said Stormhowl. "Do you know how hard it is to keep up appearances? Everyone expects me to be the leader when Father's gone, and that means I have to follow in his paw prints...even if I have to shed blood, here and there." He then hung his head in guilt. "...It doesn't matter what your reasons are...bloodshed is bloodshed, no matter which way you look at it."
"At least you admitted your guilt," said Starlight as Spike and the other ponies approached. "In that regard, you're much different from your father."
"I can't believe that you had your own insecurities and doubts, just like me," said Swiftclaw. "All this time, I thought you were just this stoic wolf who didn't care about the feelings of others...even his own brother."
"...Swiftclaw," Stormhowl said, sadly.
"All my life, I thought that I was inferior to you, just because Father favored you more," said Swiftclaw, "but now I see that you and I really are the same."
A pause...but then Stormhowl went up and pulled his brother into an embrace.
"I'm sorry...brother," he whispered with tears forming in his eyes. "Please, please forgive me...! If not now, then someday..."
"You moron," Swiftclaw answered. "I forgave you a long time ago...you are my brother, after all."
Hearing that caused Stormhowl to chuckle, and Fluttershy smiled warmly, as did her friends. Even the wolves seemed to smile warmly at the sight. However, the moment was soon interrupted when Spike cleared his throat.
"Uh...I hate to ruin a moment and all," he started, "but I think we might be forgetting something: Twilight ran off to Canterlot Castle, and that's where Moonlight is!"
"That's right!" Stormhowl recalled. "Father's there, too!"
"That means Twilight and Moonlight are in great danger!" Rarity realized.
"Well, what are we gonna do?!" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Good thing I brought these~!" Pinkie said in a sing-song tone as she put down her suitcase and opened it up...revealing the Elements of Harmony, inside!
"The Elements of Harmony!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"Pinkie, you're a genius!" Applejack praised.
"Wait...how come they look different from the ones in the flashback?" asked Swiftclaw.
"Long story," said Fluttershy as she and the others put on their respective Elements.
"We need to get the crown to Twilight!" Spike said as he held up the crown containing the Element of Magic.
"But how are we gonna get there in time?!" asked Rainbow Dash. "I mean, sure, I'm fast, but I can't fly fast enough to get to Canterlot Castle! What if we're too late to help Twilight?!"
"I have an idea," Starlight said. "Everypony, gather around me!"
"Is it okay if we go, too?" asked Stormhowl.
"Stormhowl?" asked Swiftclaw in confusion. "What are you doing?"
"...I need to try and talk some sense into Father," Stormhowl answered. "Somehow, maybe I can get through to him!"
"I doubt it," said Swiftclaw, "but...it's worth a shot!"
"Come on, you guys!" Starlight called as her horn began to glow. "Hurry!"
With that, everypony, Spike, and the Wolf Princes approached the light pink unicorn, her closed her eyes tight with deep concentration...and soon, the group disappeared in a flash of light!
XXX
Back at Canterlot Castle, Twilight and Moonlight panted as they made it to the roof, having lost Warfang for the moment. However, they both knew that he would catch up, sooner or later, and therefore, they had to find a way out, and fast. The purple alicorn looked down towards the city while Moonlight stood at her side, worriedly glancing back to the direction they came from...and she could hear Warfang's menacing growls getting closer and closer.
"Twilight, he's coming!" Moonlight cried.
"It's okay!" Twilight assured. "My friends are probably on their way, right now! We'll figure a way out of this!"
But then, BLAM!! The roof suddenly burst in a powerful explosion, and soon after, Warfang's shadowy silhouette leapt out from the large opening. He landed before the two ponies, growling viciously as he advanced towards them, while Twilight and Moonlight backed away. However, there wasn't much room for them to escape to, for Moonlight gasped as her hoof nearly slipped off the edge.
"Just give up, already," Warfang hissed. "You and the brat have nowhere to go...now...give me the stone."
"We're not afraid of you," Twilight said in defiance, her horn flaring up brightly, but Warfang only chuckled darkly.
"You know something?" he asked. "At first, I planned on just having to kill Celestia and be done with it...but...that's much too easy." He then gave a toothy grin...as the spikes on his helmet began glow red. "No...instead of killing Celestia...I'll just show your severed head...TWILIGHT SPARKLE~!!!"
On that, he fired a bolt of magic at Twilight and Moonlight, the latter making a gasp of horror as the image of her late sister appeared before her eyes.
'No...not again!!' she thought. 'I won't lose another sister!!'
On that, the filly suddenly jumped out from behind Twilight...just as the bolt was getting closer.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO~!!!!" Moonlight screamed...before the bolt struck her tiny body, to Twilight's horror.
"MOONLIGHT!!!!" Twilight cried as the filly fell on the roof...her body pale and motionless.
Plink! The Stone of Wishes, having been knocked lose by the bolt of magic, soon fell on the roof as well. Not long after, a flash of light appeared, and Starlight and the others soon materialized beside Twilight.
"Twilight!" Starlight called as she ran to the alicorn's side. "Twilight, we're here and we brought the Elements of..." She soon trailed off, however...when she saw Moonlight on the ground. "M...Moonlight...?!"
"...Oh, no...!" Rainbow Dash whispered.
"I...is she...?" Fluttershy asked.
"She can't be!" Applejack cried.
Spike gulped before he approached Moonlight's motionless form. Then, he gently put his claw to her neck...only for his eyes to go wide and shuddering gasp to escape his lungs. Then, slowly, he turned to the others with a look of horror in his face.
"...She's dead."