Lone Wolf of Equestria: Back to the Pack

by JNKing


Chapter 9: Welcome to Kluge Town

I reached the town by the end of the week. Place was out in the middle of a desert. And it had so many different forms of life. I saw diamond dogs, griffons, a dragon or two. I even saw creatures that I didn’t know existed; fish hybrids, pig men… All of them just doing their own thing: selling produce, walking around or just talking to each other.
I kept my jacket’s collar up, and lumbered like a few of the diamond dogs I could see, trying to blend in. I briefly thought about searching the market to see if they might have magic artifacts or guidance, but I quickly decided against it: most of the merchants had that ‘glint’ in their eyes.
You know what I mean? The glint that says ‘I’m gonna steal everything you got, and better yet, you’re going to give it to me willingly for junk?’ If I wasn’t capable of trusting you guys, there was no way I was trusting any of those hawkers with something as important as my quest. I settled for trying to wander and listening to what they were offering.
“Finest creatures from the outskirts of Equestria!” I heard one pig man yell, a flock of birds caged up beside him.
I made sure to stay away from him.
“Did you hear about Canterlot,” one guy was saying to another. “Apparently, one of Celestia’s newer princesses got attacked by Changelings.”
“So… did the Changelings win?”
“Nah; you already know what Celestia did to them.”
“Kicked them to the moon?”
“To the badlands.”
The way he was talking, it sounded like you were getting rusty, Celestia. Either way, I kept away from them as well.
But, not noticing others didn’t mean they didn’t notice me, and it wasn’t long before one of the merchants got his eye on me. Or better yet, on my jacket.
“Hey, Dog,” he called at me. I held back a flinch, quickly seeing several eyes darting on me. “How much for the jacket?”
I stopped, my ears flattening, as I noticed some sort of fish guy approaching me.
“You hear me, mutt?” he growled. “I want that jacket!”
Call me crazy; call me bloodthirsty. But at that moment, I wasn’t worried that these guys were gonna figure out who I was unless I made them back off. I was worried this guy was gonna steal my dad’s jacket. So, I seized the fish man by the throat, backed him into a wall and drew my blades on him.
“You take my jacket,” I answered with a growl. “I take your eyes!”
He raised his hands up. “Whoa, easy,” he whimpered. “I was just asking.”
“And I was just answering,” I snarled at him, shoving him back. “My jacket? Your eyes!”
He backed up quick after that. So, did the other hawkers and bidders. Smirking quietly to myself, I fluffed my jacket and continued on my way.
Now you might be wondering; ‘Logan, you came here to find artifacts, and those hawkers would know. Why threaten them?’ Well, they pissed me off for starters.
And, as it turned out, I didn’t need to talk to them.
Not long after I left Fish Face behind, I heard a voice from a cornerstone.
“Sure, showed that guy, didn’t ya, kid?”
I knew voices like that. The smooth talkers. The charmers; the Casanovas. Instantly, I didn’t trust this guy. I turned around, glaring at some sort of tomcat on his hind legs, dressed in a grimy red jacket. His eyes had that same glint.

#

Rarity gasped. “You met… a talking CAT?!” she squeed in glee.
Logan tilted his head at her. “You like cats?” he asked.
Now it was Rarity’s turn to look confused. “Didn’t you smell my cat Opal?” she asked. “I adore cats!”
Logan’s ears flared. “How did we get along again?” he asked.
Rarity put a hoof to her chin. “I believe you said it was ‘the agreement of trade.’” She noted.
Logan grinned. “You’d have liked this cat. He knew just how to talk to me.”

#

“You got a problem, cat?” I growled.
He raised his paws, but that infuriating grin didn’t leave, nor did the glint in his eye.
“Chill, dog,” he said. “I know we got our differences, but honestly; I ain’t interested in the Spike-and-Tom route.”
I wanted to tell the guy to buzz off before he found an actual spike in his tom cat hide, but he hadn’t tried to barter my jacket off yet, and I did need leads. So, I settled for a warning growl.
“What do you want?” I asked.
The cat’s grin widened. “That’s the nature of Kluge Town,” he said. “Everyone wants something, and everyone gets something. So, let’s get our cards all out on the table.” He tried to put an arm around my shoulders, before I bared my fangs at him again. We walked together into the alleyway, me keeping an eye out for ambushes, while the cat looked as casual as a beach goer.
“What is it… you want?” he asked.
Blunt question, blunt reply, I thought. “I’m looking for a way to another dimension,” I admitted.
I got a bit of satisfaction seeing the cat’s grin fade by a fraction. He covered it with a practiced laugh.
“Pretty large want there, friend,” he noted.
“I ain’t asking for a ride,” I snapped. “I’m asking for leads: people, places, events.” I fluffed my jacket. “Give me something to work with, and I’ll be on my way.”
He nodded at that. “Here’s the thing,” he said. “If you want something here, you gotta be prepared to give something. Even information.”
My ears flattened. All I had on me were my parent’s keepsakes. Nothing would convince me to part with those.

#

“You also had that exquisite fur,” Rarity noted, indicating his coat.
Logan glanced down at his body before shrugging.
“I don’t know, Rarity,” he said. “Something told me these guys would take a lot more than just my fur if I offered.”

#

The cat was still watching me, though, so I tried to hide my doubt.
“Favors,” I said firmly. “You tell me what I want to know, and I’ll do something that you want to do.”
The cat tilted his head. His eyes darted down my body. Briefly, I wondered if I should have worded that differently, before his grin widened.
“Now you’re speaking Kluge Town’s language,” he said, motioning for me to follow him. “C’mon.”
“Easy there, fur ball,” I said. “First, you gotta give me something to work with. What do you know about getting to another dimension?”
The cat leaned back with a grimace.
“I’m no magician, pup,” he said. “Ponies are who you want to see if you’re interested in that.”
“Not an option,” I said instantly. I started to turn away. “And if that’s the best you can offer…”
“Okay, now hang on!” he yowled. I grinned at him. Surprisingly, he grinned back.
“You got heart, kid,” he praised, before clearing his throat. “Alright; like I said, ponies are the ones with the most magic. But in terms of dimension hopping… you’ll want to ask the Sirens.”
“The Sirens?”
“Sea creatures,” the cat elaborated. “Beautiful voices… not so beautiful intentions. Near as I heard, some unicorn banished three of the worst ones to another dimension. Kept the remaining Sirens from acting out.”

#

“’Remaining?’” Twilight stammered.
Logan rolled his eyes. “You know about them?” he asked.
Twilight gave him a miffed glare. “Research is one of my hobbies, Logan,” she reminded him. “Star Swirl the Bearded banished the Sirens to another dimension to keep them from destroying Equestria.” She looked down, unconsciously reaching for books that weren’t there. “But I always thought there were no more than three.”
“I’m afraid so,” Celestia muttered. “But trust me, my faithful student,” she tried to ignore the scoff Logan shot her way, “No Siren has ever been as bad as the three banished by Star Swirl the Bearded.”
Logan laughed. “You have a very skewed understanding of ‘bad,’” he noted.
“But, what else did the cat know?” Rarity pressed.
Logan’s ears flattened. “Well, when I tried to ask…”

#

“Ah-ah,” he said, waving his claw at me. “Now, it’s your turn to help me.”
I grimaced, but I had made a promise.
“Alright,” I muttered, and we set out.
Careful to keep my eye on him, I followed him into the darker sections of Kluge Town. My suspicion grew as he started humming quietly to himself.
“So, what do you want?” I asked.
“You’ll see… eventually,” he replied.
“How about you show me now?” I growled, baring my teeth.
The cat chuckled. “And here I thought dogs were supposed to be trusting,” he noted. “Don’t you know you need a pack to survive, little pup? This town is not a nice place, for little pups, all alone.”
I growled, not even realizing we were breaking into a song. “I’m not a soft filly; I’m ready for the unknown!”
Then let me guide your way,” he sang, “And I’ll be sure to help you through.”
He let me into the shadows, were I only got by with the light from his emerald eyes.
You could really use a friend out here, and luckily for you…”

I’m the friend, that you need, when you’re lost and don’t know what to do.

I’m your pal, amigo, useful and resourceful too.

And my help, you’ll concede,

Is a plus; guaranteed.

You can call and I’ll come running; just follow my lead.

Cuz I’m the friend you need!”

#

Logan looked down with shame. Twilight and the others glanced around for a moment.
“What’s the matter, Logan?” Pinkie asked. “He sounds like he was really nice.”
“That’s the thing,” Logan said. “I let him trick me.”

#

I knew what he was. But… hearing that song… it not only reminded me of you guys, but it reminded me of home. How every long-distance conversation was a song of some kind. So, before I could stop myself… I found myself howling along in a duet.

“Could use an eye to spot the danger,” I admitted.

A pal to stop the creep,” the cat tempted.

“But I know you’re a stranger,” I tried to note.

“That assists,” He quickly noted back. “You need a bro who is cunning.”

“I can already take a leap,”I said, jumping over a gorge, only for him to follow me.

“Do you know what’s lying in the mist?” he asked, heading right into a smoke screen.

“I don’t fear these darkened alleys,” I claimed, even as the eyes of bats glistened before me.

I can take them on, I know…”

The cat jumped back in, using an umbrella to fend the bats off.

“But, why not have a friend to protect you wherever you go?

Such a tough old dog, covered in dirt and muck.

But now your fate is changing, now you are in luck!

He launched back into the chorus, leading me towards a massive wind mill.

“Cuz I’m the friend you need, when you’re lost and don’t know what to do.”

I got in, “Don’t be a pal, amigo; be useful, and resourceful to.” before he took over.

Oh, my help, you’ll concede.

Is a plus, guaranteed.

Just call; I’ll come running, we’ll say it’s agreed…”

I managed to stop him right before he pulled me towards a wind house.
“But for what price?” I argued.
“Come find out,” he offered, beckoning me inside. Curiosity drove me forward… right into a cage.

“Cuz you’re the dog I need!”The cat finished with a flourish.

I would’ve cussed him out in as many languages I knew – which wasn’t a lot – but I didn’t really get the chance. At that moment, several other cats strode forward.
“Correction, Capper,” the biggest cat said. “He’s the dog we need.”