//------------------------------// // Ashes & Wolf // Story: Equestria & Wolf // by Dumakey93 //------------------------------// After about a few minutes of walking, Twilight, Holo, and Rainbow Dash reached the hospital. It stood tall, with its baby blue colored walls, as it seemed to invite patients. Of course, the paint itself was made to make people more calm during their time at the hospital. A large red cross was lit above the entrance, as the group calmly walked in. As soon as they arrived, they received strange looks from the staff and patients. At first, it seemed that they were being eyed up because they were carrying a body. In any normal circumstance, it would be EMTs or medical staff who would bring in a patient. Even though Rainbow Dash looked weary, she could still move, since she gave one doctor a deep glare. She grew impatient, as she tried to walk on her own, but Twilight and Holo kept her still, not wanting to add another injury to her list. Rainbow Dash sighed, as she waited to be treated by some doctors who looked overly concerned about her. It was normal for doctors to automatically look at anyone with any injury, but not with this much care. Normally it would be dismissed as caring staff, but there seemed to be something off about one of the doctors who looked at Rainbow Dash. As Twilight kept an eye on Rainbow Dash, Holo decided to roam around and find Norah. She located the stairs and went up to the third floor. Holo could locate Norah with her nose, because she still retained her sensitive nose from her wolf form. Going down a long hallway, Holo noticed that the lights flickered randomly, yet the first floor was perfectly lit. Something was off, and Holo was set on seeing what it was. She heard mumbling off in the other end of the floor, as she ran towards it, she spotted a shadowy figure. Holo couldn’t help but pause and look at the shadow, as it reared its head and growled. She noticed the scurrying of its feet coming closer, as she ran towards Norah’s scent. Holo could hear rapid breathing coming from behind her, as the creature got closer to her. Without a second thought, Holo tore an open door off of its hinges, and threw it behind her. The door scraped across the floor, as sparks flew off of the door. Hearing a heavy thud, Holo slowed down to a walk, as Norah’s scent became stronger. Opening a door to her left, she found Norah, or rather, her clothing on the floor. The beds were bent in impossible ways, as Holo noticed that the window was broken open. She looked over the edge of the window, seeing nothing but the shrubbery surrounding the hospital. Holo smelled a very different scent, one mixed with blood, turning around to face a creature with black eyes. The creature looked much like a wolf, only it was more of a mist than an actual figure. It took one step towards Holo, as it began to drool on the floor. Only now did she notice that the floor she was on had red stains, as she began to fear the worst. The creature dove at Holo, slightly cutting her right arm. She grabbed the creature’s snout and applied pressure to its nose. Her fingers slipped through the creature, as it smiled at her. It spoke, “Do you even understand who you are?” Holo stepped back, as she was shocked at what it said. Why would a creature just ask me a question out of the blue? It just didn’t make any sense... The creature then took the shape of a human, with its eyes still glowing red. It grabbed Holo by the throat, and threw her out the window. Holo could hear it laugh maniacally, as she crashed to the ground. She heard several screams come from the hospital, as a section of the hospital simply disintegrated, leaving ponies falling to the ground. Holo turned into her wolf form, as she ran to catch the falling ponies. Dashing quickly, she managed to catch all of them on her back, and one with her teeth. By this time, she was exhausted, and reverted to her human form. The ponies that she saved were awestruck as she began to walk away. The creature still had its eyes on her, watching everything she did. It smiled, as it appeared in front of Holo. “Well, how did it feel? To finally reveal your form to everypony?” Holo’s eyes grew wide, as she realized what she had done. She had revealed her wolf form, when she couldn’t before. Holo looked at the creature, “What did you do to me?” Why did you help me return to my other form?” The creature frowned at her, as it shook its head. “Only time will tell if what I bestowed upon you is a blessing,” It suddenly showed a large grin, “or a curse...” Before she could react, the creature vanished, as did the ponies she saved. It appeared, to her, that the ponies she saved were just an illusion by the creature she fought. I guess that’s good, she thought, since no one really accepted me for who I really was in the first place. Holo still needed to find Norah, to make sure that she would be safe. For Holo knew that Norah was just a regular human, and unlike Holo, she couldn’t defend against the supernatural. Holo could still smell Norah’s scent, but it was faint at best. She had a clue where Norah went, but she still needed help. Holo ran back into the hospital, as Twilight and Rainbow Dash were about to leave. Twilight was the first one to speak, “What happened up there? I swore that I heard something fall-” Holo quickly cut her off, “Nothing happened! It was merely some broken glass...” Holo sighed, “I can’t find Norah.” Twilight’s eyes widened, “What?! I made sure that she was admitted into a room!” Holo shook her head, “Well someone took her, and I need to find her soon...” Twilight nodded her head in agreement, “Sounds like an idea.” she looked back at Rainbow Dash, “Are you up to flying?” Rainbow Dash objected, “I thought that the nurse said-” Holo gave her a mean look, “It’s for a friend of mine! She’s gone, and I only trust you and your friend.” It soon became clear, however, that Rainbow Dash wasn’t going to fly anytime soon, as she struggled to even flap her wings without pain. Holo, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash decided that it was best to go on foot. Holo followed Norah’s scent, as the two ponies behind her simply followed her. Hours past, as the scent was being tampered by something that smelt of candy. Holo simply ignored the smell, and tried to focus all her energy on Norah’s scent. She heard a bubbly voice beside her, “If you are looking for someone, I’d be the best pony to ask! Cause I know everyone in Ponyville!” Holo cared not to look at the pink pony who smelt of cotton candy, but the pony persisted. “Hey! I just met you, but I don’t know you?! Why is that? Oh! I need to throw you a party! Ye-” “PINKIE! Now’s not the time to throw a party, we are looking for somepony who’s gone missing.” “What do they look like?” Holo turned towards Pinkie Pie, “She’s much like me, she has blonde hair, a cloa-” “Say no more! I already have this mystery solved!” Pinkie happily announced. Twilight rolled her eyes, “I sure hope it’s not like the M-” “Silly Twilight, I have improved my sleuthing skills from the cake incident! In fact, your friend is right here!” Pinkie put her hooves in her mane, as she rummaged through it. Pulling out various types of objects ranging from a pencil, to an actual sink, she paused and smiled at the group. She pulled Norah out from her mane, as Holo, Twilight, and Rainbow Dash stood in shock. “I knew you were strange, Pinkie, but this...” Rainbow Dash said, as she tried to withhold her surprise. Holo looked at Norah, it seemed that she was unharmed, as she had a lollipop in her mouth. Norah looked surprising calm, having been injured, thrown in the air, and put in some pink pony’s mane. It took her a second to recognize Holo, as soon as she did, she hugged her tightly. “I was scared! I didn’t know-” “It’s alright Norah, nothing could have prepared you for this...” Holo calmly uttered. She turned to Pinkie, “Thank you for helping out Norah.” Pinkie smiled, “Anything for a friend of mine, or Twilight’s, for that matter!” Twilight felt a sudden cold rush through her, as she sensed some sort of evil in the air. “Girls! We need to go!” “Why?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Trust me, I can sense something is off, and we need to get to someplace safe.” Holo began sensing the same thing, as she quickly grabbed Norah and Pinkie, and began running down towards Ponyville. Twilight called Holo back, “We don’t need to run there, because I have a spell for this type of scenario.” They all gathered in a group, as Twilight’s horn glowed. The ground beneath them began to shake, as a purple dome covered their bodies. Within an instant they were transported to Twilight’s home, as she quickly grabbed a book from the shelf. “I need to contact the rest of the group, Holo, can you stand guard outside? I know that you’ve been through alot, of course I am judging based on how physically tired you are. On second thought, Pinkie, can you-” A purple dragon ran down the steps, “Twilight! What’s the...who are these people?” Twilight barked at Spike, “There’s no time for questions! Stand guard outside will you?” “Fine, but you don’t have to be so mean about it...” “Sorry Spike, I’m just a bit on edge...” After a short silence, Spike went outside and guarded the entrance while Twilight cast another spell with her horn, making Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy appear in the library. Holo looked at Twilight, as she began to pant slightly. Twilight sure had some magic in her, but she had reached her limit. The three ponies that suddenly appeared noticed Twilight’s condition, as they set her down on a nearby couch. Twilight had pushed herself too far, and had fainted as a result. Now it was up to Holo to explain why all of them were here at once.