Morning time arrived. Sunset still laid on her bed and, as a bonus, she was still in one piece. Fit as a fiddle. Clean as a whistle. The morning sunlight flooded her room, reaching far enough to cover her face with the light. Sunset groaned as the sunlight hit her and woke her up. She realised that she wasn't hurt in anyway shape or form. She sighed with relief but then realised something. If she was fine, then that must mean...

Sunset gasped and scrambled to find her phone. She quickly texted all of her friends, asking them all the same thing.

r u there?
09:35

She then waited for everyone to reply, which took a while probably because it was still early.

Everything was looking good, but then Twilight sent her back a pretty strange text.

Sunset wasn't excited to find out why, but she hesitantly obliged. As she got out of her bed, she realised something. Her pyjamas were torn! The sleeves and the bottom half of her shirt was gone, as well as the legs of her trousers. It now looked like she was wearing very short shorts. Sunset couldn't think of what had happened to them, but she continued to walk downstairs into her living room and switched her TV onto the news channel. The picture showed someone being interviewed in front of a building with a broken down door. Sunset didn't recognise the building but from the looks of it, it appears to be a apartment block.

She listened closely to the interview. The person being interviewed was a boy with brown hair, light skin and blue eyes that looked about Sunset's age.

The boy began explaining. "Well, I was just walking home from a friend's place and I decided to take a shortcut through the park, and while I'm about half way through I could hear something in the bushes. I went over to investigate it and then I heard loud growling. I backed away and walked home faster. I noticed that it was following me through the bushes so I began to run. I ran and ran until I reached the park's other entrance. And then it tried to pounce on me so I ran my ass back home faster than I've ever ran.
Luckily for me, my flat isn't far from the park.

"So, I make it to my block, ran right upstairs into my home and made sure I locked it. I could just hear it trying to tear down the door, which it did if you didn't notice." He pointed behind him to the broken down door. "Then I could hear its claws scraping against the floor as it made its way upstairs. Then I guess it couldn't find me 'cause I didn't hear it come near my door."

"Fascinating!" the reporter said. "And can you describe what this creature looked like? Fur? Size? Anything?"

"Well, umm... it had golden fur and was just a bit taller than me. It looked like a very big dog or wolf or something."

Sunset was confused, that description didn't exactly fit the wolf she saw. The one she saw had dark grey fur, not golden. And it was much taller than he made it out to be.

She then shivered. There was a breeze entering her house. She looked around for the source of the breeze and traced it back to... her now broken front door. Now Sunset was very confused. Did someone break into her house last night? No, nothing was stolen. Did that same wolf break in? No, she probably would already be dead if that were the case, still, it might explain the torn PJs.

Suddenly, she began having a terrible idea of what exactly happened... The new wolf, the broken door, the ripped pyjamas, the whole thing about something happening last night. It all started to make sense to her now! The wolf the boy saw couldn't have just been any wolf... Could it be possible that it was actually Sunset? Could that creature have turned her into a werewolf?!

Her hands began shaking and she started hyperventilating. She couldn't believe it. That wolf was a werewolf the whole time, and now it was possible that it turned Sunset into one too!

i dont c how this is amazing twilight!
09:47

There's obviously another one out there, and this one doesn't seem as bad as the one you described, which will make it easier for me to find it, capture it and study it.
09:49

are u listening to urself right now? do u not realise how stupid of an idea that is? u heard the guy, he barely made it back to his apartment!
09:50

I know it's a stupid idea, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime, Sunset! I can't let this pass!
09:51

u have to though. i was lucky enough to walk away with only a bitten hand. if u were to face it head on, then you might not make it back! please dont do anything stupid twilight!
09:53

Sunset hoped that she would be able to reassure her. She tightened her grip on her phone as she waited for Twilight to reply.

I know you're worried about me, Sunset. I'm even scared of doing this, but I desperately want to study this creature. I can't and I won't let this go.
And I think I can hold it off with my telekinesis. It won't even touch me.
09:55

ur making this sound as if itll be easy. but do u really think ur powers will b enough 2 hold it off?
09:56

but the other wolf is still out there! what if you were to somehow run into both of them?!
09:57

That's ridiculous, Sunset. What are the odds that I'll run into both of them? I think you're beginning to worry about bit much.
09:58

technically i have every right 2 b worried twi. that thing is dangerous and i seriously think u will get urself in2 trouble if u faced it!
10:00

And I don't blame you, I really don't. But I think you underestimate our abilities and powers, especially mine. If you want to, you can come over later and I can show you my plan. Anyway, I've got to go now. Talk to you soon.
10:01

i guess i can do that. c ya twi and please think about what ur doing. i dont know what id do if u got badly hurt.
10:02

Sunset turned off her phone and placed it next to her on the couch. Now there are bigger problems at hand. First she finds out that the wolf had (probably) turned her into one too, but now one of her best friends now wants to try and hunt her.

Suddenly, her phone received a new notification. She hurried to pick up her phone again and read the new message.

Sunset rolled her eyes and placed her phone back down again. She had just come back from her visit from Equestria and already something bad is happening. It's like she can't go a single week without Equestrian magic running amok in Canterlot City. That is, if it is Equestrian magic.

She sighed through her nose and laid down on her couch. 'You'll be fine, Sunset Shimmer. You just gotta... chill out a bit. Yeah, that's it, you'll be fine,' she thought to herself. 'You just have to make sure nobody finds out, and try again to convince Twilight not to go hunting. Yeah... it's all good.' She continued sighing deeply until she was sure she was calm. No surprise to her at all, she couldn't wrap her head around all of this. How could she? So much is happening right now, and all of it currently points towards being Sunset's problem. Sunset then felt a breeze again, which caused her to look back up at her now broken door. "But first thing to do: get that door fixed."

"Well, umm... it had golden fur and was just a bit taller than me. It looked like a very big dog or wolf or something."

"Are you implying that you may have seen a real werewolf?" the reporter asked.

The boy being interviewed shrugged. "I mean, probably. A lot of strange stuff has been happening over the last few years," he explained. "I'm willing to believe anything now."

The reporter held the mic back to his own mouth and looked directly at the camera. "And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. What the strange creature the people of this city were complaining about; could this thing really be a real life werewolf? More on the story as it develops."

"You hear that, Dear?" a rather feminine posh voice said sarcastically. "A real werewolf. Might want to add that to your list, hmm?"

Now a more masculine voice laughed. "So it would seem. I've seen a lot of animals in my time, but none of them match what that boy there described." This man then walked into an office room with walls that were fully covered with decapitated heads of all different animals. "I've been faced with some mighty creatures, but I think that this one shall be my crowning achievement."

The man was pretty skinny and tall, with ginger hair and a mustache and very big triangular nose. His name was Woodland Musket and he was a hunter, the very best in Canterlot City (As he was always told). In his hunting career, he has collected the heads of many many animals: from canine to feline to farm animals to jungle animals and even forest animals.

Then there was his wife, who wasn't the fondest of his career but always supported him anyway. "Honestly, Dear, this is a fictional creature we are speaking of," Musket's wife sneered. "Such a beast couldn't possibly exist."

Musket, who now sat on the chair behind his desk, nodded on agreement. "And you are probably right. But I personally think it is worth a look."

His wife scoffed. "Oh please, this is probably just some ludicrous tale that the kids are all spreading. If I were you, I wouldn't even bother."

"Just a quick search and if I don't find anything, even clues, then I will drop the whole thing immediately. Deal?" He held out his hand for his wife to take.

His wife had to think about it for a moment. She crossed her arms and looked away from him. She really didn't want him wasting his time but she also worried that what this is may actually be real. Then she remembered that Musket was an expert on all things hunting related. She then hummed annoyingly and turned back to her husband. "Fine, but if you do not come back with even a spec of evidence then that is it." She shook Musket's hand.

Musket chuckled. "Believe me, Dear, I'll come back with something, you can count on it!"

Musket sighed and walked over to a drawer. He opened it and pulled out a large, dusty, wooden plaque. He blew the dust off and revealed a small gold plate at the bottom. On the plate, there was writing. It read, 'WEREWOLF' in a black and bold font. "I've finally found you, you vile beast! I will make sure I catch you, if it's the last thing I do." He placed the plaque on his desk and took down a large musket gun that was hung on the wall. "You can count on it!"

Sunset arrived at Twilight's house. Whatever this plan of her's was, Sunset hoped it was at least a good idea. She knows that Twilight will probably go with this plan no matter what, but it was still worth trying to change her mind.

She knocked on the door and waited for Twilight (Or anyone at least) to answer. She could hear someone on the other side unlock the door and they then opened it.

Sunset smiled. "Hi Mrs. Velvet! Is Twilight here? She said she wanted to show me something," she asked.

"Yes, she's just in her bedroom. Come in, please." Twilight Velvet opened the door all the way and gestured for Sunset to come inside. "Would you like some tea?"

"No thank you, I'm fine for now." Sunset began walking up the stairs to her friend's bedroom.

"Thank you, Mrs. Velvet." Sunset always loved how sweet Twilight's parents were, especially her mother.

Twilight was in her bedroom standing in front of a chalkboard. She was looking over her plan while making here and there changes to it. "Maybe if I could just change this here..." she said while dragging a stick of chalk across the board. "And perhaps over here... aaand I think I'm done!" She stepped back to admire her work. She smirked at her own handy work.

Twilight was caught by surprise from someone trying to open her door. "Who is it?" she called.

"Oh, yeah... sorry!" Twilight began taking off the locks on her bedroom door. She then let Sunset in her room. "I'm so glad I get to show you this!"

Sunset looked at the plan and was surprised at how seriously Twilight was taking this. Almost the entire chalkboard was covered with chalk of all different colours. The majority of the board was taken up by a large map that looked like the forest just beyond the park. "You sure thought of everything..." she complimented.

"Why, thank you," Twilight said confidently. "I had to make sure I covered every little detail, and possibly a little more."

"No kidding. I mean, look at this!" Sunset stepped closer towards the board. She noticed little pictures within the map. "What's all this?" She pointed towards one of them.

Twilight looked at where Sunset was pointing. "Those are traps. I'm going to make all kinds of them: I've got nets, ropes and even bear traps!"

Sunset imagined how that might feel, being caught in a bear trapped. She hissed in pain at the thought. "Bet he's going to be feeling that in the morning..."

Twilight herself even hissed at the thought. "Yeah, it's really going to hurt if it gets caught in one of them..."

A thought went by Sunset's mind as she looked over the map more. "So, Twilight, if you somehow catch this thing..." She felt nervous to ask. "...what do you plan on doing to it?"

"Well, nothing bad really. I just want to find and prove to myself, and obviously others, that such a beast actually exists in our world. There are werewolves in Equestria, right?" Twilight asked.

"There are these things called timberwolves," Sunset answered. "Werewolves, though? I don't think they exist. Or even normal wolves for that matter. Anything else?"

"Oh, right! Where was I?" Twilight tapped her chin. "I may also want to conduct a few little experiments. Nothing terrible. I just want to see if I can analyse whatever magic courses through it, if it is Equestrian magic."

"So, how do you plan on holding it down? Do you just have a canister of anesthesia laying around or something?"

Twilight didn't respond. Instead, she just opened her closet and pulled out a metal canister. It had a label that read 'ANESTHESIA'.

Sunset was surprised but also quite shocked at the same time. "Where in the world did you get that?"

Twilight smiled confidently and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "I have many methods of which I do not share with others."

Twilight huffed. "Okay! My dad helped me. He managed to persuade his boss to allow him to take a canister out of the hospital."

"I dunno. He probably said something like 'if there was an emergency at the house,' or some crap."

"Moving on!" Twilight interrupted. "I've also looked at possible places where it might hang out while waiting. I've noticed that it usually likes to hide in the darkest places as an act of camouflage, so it'd be best if most traps are set up in the bushes." She pointed to circled pictures of what was supposed to be bushes. Instead, they looked like a green brain.

Sunset then noticed little faces at the bottom of the map. "Twilight," she pointed to them. "who are they?"

Twilight looked to where she was pointing. She was hesitant on telling her. "Oh, them? Uuh... well, that one there is me and that one... is Rainbow Dash..."

Sunset was suddenly shocked. This must have been what the voice was trying to tell her, it had to be. That thing that hurt her friends was because of this. But still, who did it? Was it the other one, or was it her? Either way, she can now see how in danger they are. She grabbed Twilight's shoulders. "Twilight, you can't do this!"

Twilight tried taking Sunset's hands off of her. "But I must! I have to figure this monster out!"

Twilight sighed. "I told you, I know that this is dangerous, but I know what I have to do! With this plan, it'll be like we're invincible!"

Sunset didn't notice she began raising her voice. "You still don't understand! Your plan will fail!"

"How do you know?! You haven't spent all night scribbling down a plan, have you?!"

"I know because I-" She quickly stopped herself from finishing. She then looked at Twilight guiltily.

Sunset couldn't bring herself to tell her. "I-I... I gotta go!" She quickly rushed out of Twilight's house.

Twilight was left stunned by Sunset's sudden take off. Sunset was acting very strange, and it worried Twilight. Something was clearly on her mind and she won't tell her.

Then she heard a yawn from her pet dog Spike. "What's up with her?" he asked, stretching.

Twilight sighed and petted Spike's back. "I don't know, Spike. She's just... a little upset with my plan."

"I guess not, but I really want this to happen, Spike. I want to find out more about this creature."

Spike jumped onto Twilight's lap. "Do you think your plan will really work? Figured out all the holes?"

"Geez, Spike!" Twilight laughed. "You've just woken up and you've already asked so many questions."

Twilight smiled at her dog. "Tonight should be our first night. I've made sure to check up on Rainbow's plans and she's free tonight, so why not start now?"

"Well, she wasn't the first one to say that this was a bad idea, but she definitely took it worse than everyone else, which was pretty surprising."

"Well, she does care an awful lot of your safety. Even though you do have your cool psychic magic."

As the Moon Rises

by MorbidTheBrony

Chapter 4. Breaking News