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// Chapter 1: Logan 
// Story: Legacy of the Howlite Howler 
// by JNKing 
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Sunny Starscout was in awe. For most of her life, she had hoped that there was a sign that earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns could get along. It had motivated her to befriend the unicorn Izzy Moonbow. It had inspired her to venture to the pegasus city of Zephyr Heights. And finally, it had led her here. 
As the pegasus Zipp Storm led them into the old station, Sunny couldn’t help but smile at the site. Though dust did it’s best to cover the whole area, it couldn’t cover the picture of the Wonder Bolts. Or the signs of the other earth ponies and unicorns. The times of peace. 
“This is proof,” Sunny couldn’t help but whisper. “All of pony kind did used to be friends. My dad was right!” She looked to Zipp with gratitude. 
The pegasus returned her smile. “Not just all of pony kind,” she noted. 
Before Sunny or Izzy could ask what she meant, Zipp turned away from them and whistled. 
“Logan!” she called. “You out here, boy?”
Suddenly, the duo heard a snuffling, digging sound. 
“Z?” a voice asked. “Hang on… I’m coming! One moment…”
Sunny blinked as the scuffling, digging sound drew closer. “Um…” she turned to Zipp. “What’s… that?”
Zipp smiled. “I got a friend who knew of this place too. But… he’s not a pony.” 
Izzy gasped. “Is he a unicorn?”
Zipp chuckled. “Not exactly.”
Right on cue, the ground burst open. And Sunny gaped as a diamond dog appeared from the dust, a ruby clutched in his jaws. 
“Sorry, Z,” he grumbled, crunching the gem like candy in his jaws. “I smelled out that ruby, and…” 
He paused, shaking off the dirt and giving Sunny the chance to take him in. His bleach blonde fur – covered around the chest by what looked like a leather biker jacket – easily rid itself of the dust, shining like a pearl in the sunlight. His face was like that of a husky or a wolf. His pointed ears perked up in intrigue, and his steel-blue eyes narrowed at the sight of Sunny and Izzy.
Sunny found herself flashing back; to the stories her father had shared with her. Not just of the Guardians of Harmony, but of their allies as well. 
Him showing a picture of a wolf-like creature; so similar to the dog in front of her, with the only difference being the one in the picture was female, and her white fur was just a tad bit brighter. 
“This was Shiva,” her father explained. “The Howlite Howler. Who’s magical pack link helped the Guardians of Harmony spread friendship and love past pony kind and to the rest of the world.”
Before Sunny could speak…
“Oh, my gosh, he’s adorable!” Izzy cooed, racing up to the dog and cupping his face. “Hey there, little guy.” 
Zipp winced. “Oh, not a good idea!” 
            For a moment, the dog blinked up at her in shock. But as she tried to roll his head from side to side, he gripped her hooves and pulled them off his face.
“Touch me like that again,” he warned, “And I’ll bite yer freaking hooves off!”  
Izzy blinked, before wisely backing up. Zipp chuckled, trotting over to Logan’s side.
“Yeah, Logan’s not exactly like Cloudpuff,” Zipp noted, before offering a hoof to Logan. “But he’s got his own charm.” She glanced at the dog. “How’s it going, big guy?”
Instantly, his suspicious look faded, replaced by a grin as he bumped his knuckles against Zipp’s hoof. “S.S.D.D, Z,” he replied. “Chilling, digging…” he glanced at the two again. “Surprised that you showed others this place.” He glanced at Izzy’s horn. “Then again, I’m also surprised unicorns and earth ponies can stand each other’s stink.” 
Izzy laughed. “Believe it or not, she actually doesn’t smell like sardines, despite everything my friends said.” She tilted her head. “I thought you’d realize that; aren’t dogs good at smelling things?”
Logan’s fur bristled. “We’re the MASTERS of smelling things!” he said indignantly. “I was just testing you!”
“Oh!” Izzy nodded in understanding. “So, did I pass?” 
Logan chuckled, before his ears and tail perked, and a conspiratorial look entered his eyes. “Depends; you girls wouldn’t happen to be interested in unity and harmony, would you?”
Sunny gasped. “You’re interested in that too?” She pranced in place, pulling out her book. “Oh-my-gosh, I have so many questions… I’m not sure where to start.” 
“Let’s start with names,” Logan replied, gently putting a paw on the book. “Name’s Logan. You?”
“S-Sunny,” she said. “Sunny Starscout.” She indicated Izzy. “This is Izzy Moonbow. And…”
“I’m familiar with Z,” Logan replied, grinning at the mare. “Met her when she first showed up here. This place has… pretty much been my home for a while.”
Sunny’s grin faded as she looked behind him. “But… all on your own? D-Don’t diamond dogs live in packs?” 
Logan’s smile faded. He sat against one of the mechanisms. “We do,” he admitted.
“So, where’s the rest of your pack?” Izzy asked. 
Logan huffed. “They kicked me out.”
Sunny’s ears drooped. “Oh… why?”
Logan looked up with a grin. “Because I believe.” 
He stood up, bringing the ponies over to a small shrine. Across the wall, painted in what looked like glitter, was a rendition of Shiva. Smaller pictures depicted diamond dogs, connected by the pack link, all flocking around her. 
“The Howlite Howler united us with ponies,” Logan explained. “Her pack link spread cooperation and friendship through the land once.” 
Izzy gasped. “But… don’t tell me it’s gone too.” 
Logan nodded. “When the pack link failed, so did our connection to ponies. Hostility sprung up; fights broke out. And eventually, the dogs were forced to leave. All of them think it’s stupid to believe in ponies anymore.” He looked up with determination. “But I know they’re full of crap. And I’m gonna prove it. One day.” 
Sunny winced, looking to Zipp with pity. “It must be really weird, being the only pegasi that still have enough magic to fly.”
Zipp and Logan exchanged a nervous look, before Zipp sighed. “The truth is… we can’t fly either. We’ve been faking it.” 
Izzy gasped. 
“F-Faking it?” Sunny stammered. “But how?”
“Wires and good lighting,” Logan replied with a grin. “Trust me, I’ve seen some of their shows from up here, and even I can tell…” he shook his head. “They ain’t got magic.” 
Zipp nodded. “And I’m just so tired of living that ridiculous lie!” She sat next to Logan. “Logan makes me feel… like I’m coming up for air, so to speak. Like I can get away from the lie and just be myself.”
Logan grinned. “And do this,” he added, before springing to his paws.
Sunny and Izzy watched in awe as Zipp and Logan flung each other through the air. Using air currents from some of the leftover wind turbines, they soared across the air, as easily as if Zipp could actually fly. Then, as they rode off the air currents, Zipp followed after Logan as he dove into the earth like it was water, his powerful claws parting the earth and letting him and Zipp easily tunnel through before popping out next to Izzy and Sunny. As they landed, Logan looked at Sunny with intrigue. 
“But… you guys are interested in unity,” he noted. “Maybe…”
“Exactly,” Zipp noted. “I wanted them to see it.” 
Logan nodded. “Right this way.” Leading them back to the shrine of Shiva, he uncovered another picture. This one depicted an old stained-glass window of Twilight, holding some sort of crystal; with the wings of a pegasus and the horns of a unicorn.  
“Oh, my stars,” Sunny whispered in awe. 
“This was made a long time ago,” Zipp explained. “Back when we still had magic.” 
“It’s beautiful,” Izzy cooed. 
“Eh, it's alright," Logan noted. "Could've stood to have a few more gems."
"It did have gems," Zipp pointed out. "Until you ate them." 
Logan nodded with a grin. "Good times." 
“But…” Sunny looked back at the dog and pony. “What is it?” 
“Not fully sure,” Zipp admitted, before pointing to the wings. “But that’s definitely the pegasus crystal. It’s a part of my mom’s crown.” 
“Hm,” Sunny noted in thought, before Logan pointed to the unicorn horn.
“I’ve bet that this is the Unicorn crystal,” he added. “And there’s probably an earth pony crystal as well.” He paused. “Come to think of it, shouldn’t there be a diamond dog crystal too. Unless the rumors are true that Shiva got her powers from a unicorn…” 
“Oh-ho-kay,” Sunny said. “Let’s not get too far ahead.” She looked back at the crystals. “At the very least, we need to see if we can unite these two crystals. Maybe the reason the pegasi and unicorns lost their magic is because they were separated.”
“So, if we put them back together…” Izzy offered. 
“Magic will return…” Zipp continued.
“And all three pony kinds will get along again!” Sunny concluded. 
"And we'll prove all the bigots wrong!" Logan realized. 
The four cheered, before Zipp paused. 
“Uh… but what about the Unicorn Crystal?” 
Izzy laughed. “If you’re looking for crystals, we’ve got a gazillion of them back in Bridlewood.” 
"Mm, crystals..." Logan licked his lips. "You know, they taste like sugared ice. I know the unicorn one is off limits, but... if you got a gazillion..." 
“Then that’s where we’ll go next.” She turned to Zipp. “After we get the Pegasus crystal from your mom, of course.”
Zipp winced. “That’ll... be tricky. She, uh… never takes her crown off.” 
Logan cracked his knuckles. “Then… I’ll see what I can do to grab it.” 
Zipp winced. “Please don’t hurt my mom.” 
Logan laughed. “Z, come on. Just because I’m a dog doesn’t mean brute force is my only route.” He knelt and started drawing a map. “Look, your sister’s performing at that royal thing-a-ma-bobble, right?”
“Uh… right,” Zipp agreed. 
“Then all eyes will be on her,” Logan replied. “While she’s distracted, we make a fake crown, I dig us a path underneath to the back of her throne, and then we swap it with the real one.” 
Sunny gave Logan a curious look. “You’re sure you want to help us with this?” 
Logan laughed. “After being abandoned by my pack for believing in ponies like you.” He slapped her back playfully. “You better believe it, Starscout. I’m gonna unite all three of you pony breeds, and then I’m gonna find my pack, and rub it in their faces.” He cackled ominously before returning to his tunnel. “You hear that, you mutts!” he boomed down the hole. “LOGAN WOLFE IS GONNA UNITE THE PONIES! AND YOU'RE NOT STOPPING HIM!” 
Izzy chuckled at Logan’s defiant laugh, but Sunny walked up next to him.
“If that’s the case,” she noted. “You’re gonna need a disguise.” She indicated his paws and teeth. “Ponies don’t have these, and I’m pretty sure that if they can’t get along with each other, they’ll have a hard time getting along with you.”
"Exactly why I'm gonna stay out of sight," Logan promised. "I'll tunnel you guys underneath the castle, let you make the swap, and then we'll get out of there before anyone notices me."
“Then it sounds like we just need to craft a decoy!” Izzy noted. “Okay, I’ll need a box of macaroni, a tube of glue, fourteen gooey bunnies, and three jelly beans. Oh! And glitter!”
In the time it took for the others to stare at Izzy in shock, Logan had already drilled into the ground. A few seconds later, he came back up with a large sapphire. Baring his claws and teeth, he drilled into the gem, until it perfectly resembled the pegasus crystal. 
“Still need that glitter?” he asked with a grin.
Sunny glanced at Izzy nervously, but she just shrugged with a grin. Sunny sighed as she listened to Logan’s laugh. 
She had a feeling that this diamond dog was going to make things a lot more interesting.