//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Pack Leader // Story: Legacy Of A Hero // by CrypticMetaphor //------------------------------// The Timberwolves leapt at Sweetie Belle since she was the closest target, only to be met with a face full of magic that blasted it to pieces. Dinky and Sweetie began to take up defensive positions as they began a bombardment in an effort to push the Timberwolves back. But with each defeat, more Timberwolves emerged to fill in the gaps that their fallen comrades had left. Mary grabbed a large rock and smashed one of the wolves into twigs and then proceeded to chuck her weapon like a shot-put straight into another wolfs head. One of the wolves leapt at Scootaloo who zipped into the air and did a flying kick to the small of its back. The creature howled in anger and swiped in futility at the flying filly that merely laughed and literally knocked the creatures block off. Mary grabbed a large branch and clubbed a nearby grouping, “There’s too many!” Dominic looked down the road past the attacking hoard and noticed an out cropping of rock, “To the cliffs!” The COH sprang into action as Dinky, Sweetie, and Dom cleared a path toward the cliff face. Dom leapt up onto the cliff face along with Scoots and Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and the remaining COH climbed up with assistance as Mary forced her way through the onslaught with difficulty in the form of the broken Timberwolves reassembling and attacking her from behind. Dominic blasted a massive portion of the frontline away as Mary clambered up and spoke a quick, “thanks!” The Timberwolves tried to force their way up but only succeeded in either falling back down or getting blasted in the face. The COH waited atop the cliff as the day dragged on. The position was held indefinitely as the hours ticked by leaving the COH to stare at the now pacing pack of wolves. The sun was currently in the center of the sky as all of the COH stared the wolves down who merely licked their chops in response. Mary kicked a rock down toward the ground which caused the pack to shift slightly. Applebloom was playing a game of tic tac toe with Sweetie who easily bested her for the fourteenth time, “Aw dang it!” Dom stood beside Mary as he regarded the Timber wolves, “They’re waiting for us to make the next move.” Mary tilted her head slightly, “Or sizing us up to see if we are worth the effort.” Dominic looked at a bite on Mary’s left arm, “You alright?” Mary shifted her affected arm, “I’ll live.” Dominic made a note of the green sap that surrounded the wound. He then noticed the pack howl in unison as it parted down the middle to reveal a wolf much larger and darker than the rest of them. Mary cringed slightly, “The Alpha Male.” Dinky shook her head as she stood beside them, “Nope, Timberwolves only have an Alpha Females.” Dominic stared at the Alpha which growled in response. Dominic and the rest of the group shifted nervously as they all backed up. The Alpha then leapt onto the cliff outcropping with ease and began to circle them. Dominic’s hands crackled with electricity as the Alpha seemed to dare him to make the first move. The second Dom stepped forward, the Alpha leapt in the air toward his throat. Dominic was then thrown aside as Mary stepped in front of the Alpha’s leap and collided with it. The Alpha leered at the now pinned Mary and proceeded to bite into her shoulder causing the girl to cry in agony as blood mixed with green sap pooled around her side. Dominic blasted the Alpha’s back which caught its attention, “Yo she bitch!” The Alpha snarled at the human who readied himself, “Let’s go!” The fight never began due to an explosion of multicolored light which rained down upon the wolves and set them alight with multicolored flames of varying size and brightness. The Timberwolves yowled in pain and scattered. The Alpha’s attention went to its fleeing pack as it then threw Mary hard against the wall of the canyon and ran after its fleeing subjects. The COH ran to their friend’s side only to back up as a small burst of magic revealed a pony standing beside her. Dominic stepped forward to see that the pony was examining Mary, “Is she alright?” The pony who was garbed in a dark azure cloak shook its head, “She’s received a large dose of Timber sap. I have the remedies in my carriage but we have to hurry.” The COH were engulfed in a magic bubble as they all appeared in the interior of an accommodating carriage which was neatly organized and had paper clippings pinned to a small wall. One of them read, “The Magnificent Magician Astounds Stallongard.” Sweetie Belle examined the wall once more, “It’s lucky you came along when you did.” The pony waved off the comment, “I was in the neighborhood. I was going to visit Ponyville and say hi to some old friends when I heard your predicament.” Dominic tilted his head slightly as the pony administered a salve to Mary’s wound and bandaged her head, “Who are you anyway?” The pony chuckled as the carriage seemed to move on its own, “No pony’s asked me THAT in a while.” The pony removed her hood to reveal a silver cascading mane and a bluish coat, the azure coat then seemed to conjure moving stars and moons, “I am Trixie Lulamoon, traveling magician and entertainer.” All the ponies were surprised at this as Applebloom stepped forward, “You look different, and hey you’re not speaking in the third person anymore.” Trixie nodded, “I grew out of that habit after a couple of years. After some practice and study I FINALLY began to succeed as a magician, I even acquired this night cloak from Chillytrack.” Sweetie belle smiled, “I’m glad your career is taking off and…where are we going?” Trixie looked out the window, “Toward Ponyville of course.” “No!” Everypony turned to see Mary sitting up, “We’re going to the wastes to rescue the Knights of Equestria.” Trixie raised a surprised eyebrow, “Twilight and her friends are in danger?” Dominic reluctantly nodded, “Yeah, The Black King has them most likely.” Trixie’s carriage halted, “But why are you all going by yourselves? Don’t you all know that the wastes are dangerous?” The COH then said in unison, “We don’t care!”