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// Chapter Twelve: "The Guardians of the Corrupting Forest" 
// Story: MLP: Believing in the Impossible 
// by Spirit of Destiny 
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Chapter Twelve: "The Guardians of the Corrupting Forest"

"When the sun is shining its brightest, when the moon is at its fullest, when the Elements of Harmony have been revived and Star Swirl the Bearded is amongst us once more… There shall be a most remarkable sparkle of twilight. And from that twilight, a child of the forgotten people, a child of destiny, shall be brought back home." – Spirit of Destiny, Prophecy of the Natural Order


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When the Element of Magic awoke from her prophetic dreams caused by the Spirit of Destiny, when Discord and Flannen witnessed an alien star fall from the heavens at her call, when history was about to be made but seemed to warp out of order until blasting towards Everfree Forest instead, nopony could guess that everything that had just occurred at dawn on Twilight's princess anniversary had occurred with a purpose.

Indeed, as whatever blindingly transpired in the library of Ponyville, as whatever that seemed to be a black rubber wheel shattered the tree-house's window, as whatever rocketed off into the distance to smash down into the eerie forest where only the worst of things resided, everything was going according to Destiny's plan. No, as Discord had been worried about when seeing the mysterious star of Yonderland crash land in Everfree Forest, the summoning ritual in bringing a Yonderlander to Equestria hadn't failed nor gone askew. In fact, the calling ritual that Twilight had made had ended as the master of three eyed ravens had always predicted.

Now, where the Timberwolves along with more terrors roamed, history was actually fated to be made. There in that darkest of forests, for the first time in a very long while… a citizen of Yonderland was about to appear in ponydom to stand amongst ponies, griffins, dragons, plus more! And from the marshes, the jungle, the craziness that was Everfree Forest, that very special Yonderlander was going to show itself.

After a thousand years of waiting for her to do so and despite the many obstacles that had stood in her way, the Element of Magic had begun fulfilling her – the universe's – legendary prophecy. The prophecy that would not only save her homeland, her friends, her loved ones, everything good in existence from certain doom but also make two separate worlds one again!

Yes. Finally, for those trying to guide the mortals towards victory for so many centuries, yes. Plans were being put into action. Allies were about to be tested, to be gained. Enemies were about to be pushed back, to be defeated. A war, the final war, was brewing… and, of all the places, the flames would begin to flare in Everfree Forest.


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"Is this the right way then? Are you sure we're heading in the right direction to the place where you say you saw the black bird with the many eyes just last night, Fen?"

"Yes, Rir, trust me. We're on the correct path. Everything is going smoothly."

"Truly? Then how much longer until we get to where we're going? By the orders of the elders, I realize we're seeking salvation but we've been hunting for the last hour. You, we, have to be close to finding the answer to our problems, to finding our glory, right? The raven with many eyes hasn't thrown you off its trail, correct?"

"Patience, my friend, patience. Soon enough, like I did last night, I will find the holy bird's resting place. Its smell, its appearance, mind, was quite distinct. And with the way its holy roost was a tree that looked like a hand reaching upwards, there will be no mistaking it… Ah, yes, this way. Yes, Rir, everyone, this way to where I saw the bird, the omen, which the elder described to be a sign from the heavens! Come! Keep up with me, all of you!"

It was several moments before Twilight called to the stars for Yonderland's help, several moments before an alien star would descend into the kingdom of Equestria as well as blast into Everfree Forest at dawn, that the dark forest itself beside sleepy Ponyville wasn't at all sleepy. No, deep within the murkiness that was near the heart of the Everfree woodland in fact, with much panting through their jagged maws, there was an energetic pack of intimidating if not fully energized timberwolves bounding through the shrubs, the muck, and the foliage that was their home!

As large as the stallions that made up the solar and lunar guard in size along with composed entirely of random bits of coarse timber, numbering at least a dozen altogether in their current group, the eerie eyed half canine-half wooden beasts smashed their way through any bushes, any mud, any woodland critters that dared to get in their path! As for where these things, these various wolves of kindling, were going in such a hurry, that was something only they could understand, that they could hardly imagine in splendor, that they could not be late for!

For Everfree Forest, for Equestria even, the currently bounding pack of timberwolves needed to get somewhere with utmost haste! They, not their enemies, had to be the first to greet that which would soon descend from the skies and would become known as the Star Journeyer, their savior, their champion! In order to accomplish their most holy mission though, they needed to closely follow the orders of the wisest elder in their tribe who stated a raven of many eyes needed to be found!

And once that task was done, when the bird of many eyes had been found, then the fight against the shadows that had been ailing all of Everfree Forest for too long could be turned against the enemy at long last!

Leading the current group of twelve wooden wolves racing through the murkiness towards the unknown – the wolves made up of oak, elm, maple, so on – seemed to be two timberwolves in particular. The dog leading the way in an unrivaled dash on the left, the one known as crimson eyed "Fen" to his fellows, was a most distinguished hunter with pieces of red cherry wood jutting up along his flexing neck, back, as well as tail. The other wolf following Fen to the right was his frigidly white eyed companion since pup-hood, "Rir", who sported thick bunches of pine needles from his own spine, snout, pounding limbs, tail, and so on.

Naturally, since the settlement of Ponyville had been founded upon the very borders of the dark forest, it was a shock for anypony/anybody to see a fierce wolf like Fen, Rir, or the other big wolves that made up the presently racing pack. Nevertheless, how shocking would it have been for everypony if only they all knew – like a certain few in Equestria – that these particular bounding wooden canines were not as senseless, as bloodthirsty, as barbaric as thought for the longest time but had intelligence, morals, even voices?

No. It was a closely kept secret but for intimate reasons only their kind could understand, not all timberwolves of Everfree were and never had been monsters. Unknown, since the time Luna had given into her hateful self as Nightmare Moon as well as had been banished to the moon by Celestia ten centuries ago, those number of timberwolves that had taken to madly chasing ponies in the past, to making enemies, were the corrupted abominations of something else – of some evil – that was and had been gradually suffocating the murky dark forest.

And nowadays, during these most difficult times, it wasn't only Everfree Forest that was the target of this certain suffocating evil. The darkness that had made many timberwolves berserk for so many centuries had also – in the last year – taken away the griffin isles of Zeklathine, was making the dragons fight each other, and was encouraging the changelings to invade the southern regions of Equestria! Curse it all!

So, seeing as how difficult a shape their overall world was in nowadays, could the wolves of Everfree seek help from others just like that? Would a pony truly believe it if a timberwolf like Fen or Rir just walked out of the woods today and stated that they had feelings? That they had souls? That they really needed somepony's aid in keeping their dark forest home from going out of control? Nah.

After all of their misunderstandings during the past, after the elder timberwolves themselves had had their own conflicts with the alicorn princesses of the sun as well as moon a long time back, a pony believing in such things as a discreet timberwolf needing help was probably not likely. Not immediately or during their first meeting, anyway. No, more than likely, the very timberwolf in question trying to make peace with ponydom would have to run back home or risk being burned by the mob of ponies gathering against it.

A wolf of timber needing help against the darkness? Hmf, yeah right. That wolf was better off saying, "Pony, could you help me with my next meal? Yeah, I just need you and your filly to hop in this bubbling pot I just so happen to have on paw at this time. If you've got nothing else to live for, I mean. It'd help me and my pack a lot."

Over the course of the last few centuries, since the day that the Everfree Forest had come into existence by unknown powers, ponies and timberwolves… had grown apart, lost contact, just plain forgotten wanting to have ever coexisted. Nevertheless, as of now, willing or unwilling, since the arrival of the certain evil that was affecting all good things and no matter their differences with outsiders, the secretive timberwolves of Everfree were about to become more involved with the ways of the outside world.

No, the dogs of timber couldn't keep to themselves anymore. Not when griffins were flying over their dark forest, not when their kin were gradually losing their sanity to the corruption, not when a raven of many eyes had shown itself at long last and the Star Journeyer would be on its way from the heavens soon enough!

Amongst the hurting timberwolves, since the banishment of she who was known as Nightmare Moon, the reclusive timberwolf elders had always described that the keys to finding victory over the evil currently corrupting the forest – the way to keeping their warriors from becoming all senseless animals under a most ill influence – would be by finding the holy bird with many eyes soon. And when that bird was found, a champion from the stars – not the resolute alicorn keepers of the sun nor moon nor crystal empire – would appear to spare Everfree Forest from certain brainwashing.

And according to the wolf who was Fen, who was in the lead of the group of canine hunters, the holiest bird with the many eyes was not so much of a mystery to Everfree anymore. Yes, near the heart of the dark forest, after too many centuries of waiting, it seemed the feathered holy omen had shown itself to Fen upon a dead tree ominously shaped as a crooked claw reaching towards the brightening morning sky. In turn, at the behest of the elders, the red cherry timberwolf with crimson eyes had been quick to gather his fellow warriors for a hunt to find their champion and even fight against evil afterwards.

Soon, the shadows that were the reason for why the dark forest was so dark today to Ponyville, why the timberwolves were becoming wild, why Equestria had so many ailing plights, would be faced by a hero. The hero who, at the many eyed raven's behest, would arrive from the very morning sky that was presently brightening.

Soon enough, with that heavenly hero's coming, all matter of evil would regret having ever reared its ugly face!

For now though, the sole efforts of Fen's running timberwolf pack was in finding the holy bird's resting place; a dry claw like tree that sought or seemed to want to very much touch the skies. Once that place was found, the timber dogs would eagerly as well as patiently await the return of their holy omen which would – if correctly described – lead them to the heroic individual that would spare them from the corrupting darkness, that would be born during the most remarkable twilight.

Soon enough, with much panting, huffing, along with growling, Fen and Rir's group of twelve well-built warrior hunters exited the thick foliage that was close to Everfree Forest's very center. There, near the heart of the murky woodlands as well as where the evil corruption was almost mightiest, the wolves found themselves before the very tree that – by Fen's description – looked to be an uplifted claw indeed.

Being wary while out in the open where many a timberwolf had lost him or herself to a most wicked madness, the wooden canines followed behind Fen when he began to seriously sniff around where he'd seen the many eyed bird earlier in the nighttime; near the base of the dried tree.

Of all of the rotten luck, none of the hopeful wolves present but the cherry wood timberwolf had been there the previous night to see the many eyed raven land upon the eerie dead tree, to see it clean its wings, to see it squawk aloud in clear equestrian while blinking a third eye, "Caw! Here! The second chosen one will appear here! Caw! Be ready! Destiny thanks thee!"

And then, with a shocking burst of excitement going through his snout at finding it at last, Fen hesitated in investigating the roots of the dead tree when he found an inky feather; a feather that had most certainly belonged to the many eyed raven from before! There as well as then, the timberwolf leader with red cherry wood sticking out of his firm body turned his attention onto his excited fellows. In turn, his pack, Rir included, froze completely in place when he next held up the feather he had found by the base of the tree.

"My brothers," Fen growled, his crimson tinted eyes narrowing upon the raven feather held in his sharp claws meanwhile, "the time has come for our liberation. The time has come for us to make our stand alongside the outsiders. The time has come-"

"The time has come for the most remarkable sparkle of twilight to show itself!" Rir barked out, his white eyes the size of dinner plates and his pine needle tail wagging rapidly with excitement, "And from that sparkle of twilight will come the champion, the hero, the Star Journeyer!"

In turn, at hearing the mention of their champion or Star Journeyer was on his way to them, the pack of hunters began to yip, to bark, to howl! At the same time, Fen snarled in the most harsh if not scornful way he could for every dog to be silent! Immediately after, with their woody ears as well as tails lowered in embarrassment, the group of canine warriors quieted their celebration down under the fierce red gaze of their cherry wood leader.

Of course, at the obvious signs that the wolves of timber had found where their holiest omen had or would be roosting in the future, the pack had very good reason to be more cheerful than they'd been in a long while; like a thousand years while.

Nevertheless, Everfree Forest had never been a place for such foolishness as jumping about while howling at the top of one's lungs! That kind of dumb behavior had made many timberwolves, chimeras, hydras, ponies, anything and everything trespassing, vanish into the shadows of the dark forest without a trace! It made mortals fall prey to the minions of the keeper of the darkness, of the horrors, of the corruption… Nightmare Moon.

It was true, the supposedly graceful princess of the night might have regained a hold of herself when she was saved by the Elements of Harmony several years ago. Nevertheless, there was and had always definitely been more to the complex entity known as Nightmare Moon and the simple use of the "magics of friendship" against her wasn't as fantastic as described. After having been imprisoned in the moon, the mare who wished to see eternal night cover the world, to see wickedness rule supreme, wasn't just beaten… not while she held a grudge, anyhow, which would be for forever more.

Throughout the forest, even if she was absent or sealed away or whatnot today, the queen of nightmare's influence could still be felt in the air, in the ground, in the soul. And if a mortal didn't want to meet a most twisted as well as mysterious end, they couldn't act like foolish puppies for even a second! Not then, not here, not ever!

Yes, the timberwolves had found the resting place of the holy raven. Great! Fantastic! Yet, if they continued to behave like idiots as well as attracted the shadows of Nightmare Moon now then, boy, the prophecy could be easily ruined! The many eyed bird along with Star Journeyer could be lost to freaking eternal night for eternity! Regardless, fortunately, nothing of the sort happened.

As every wolf of timber of Fen's hunting pack remained nervously alert for anything that could spell danger for them and the holy ground they stood upon, they all let out a sigh of relief that their excited barking had gone unnoticed by the enemy. Moving on, taking quick control of the situation before them, Fen began stating what needed to be done to be prepared for the glorious event that was about to occur.

"Rir," The cherry wood timberwolf simply sniffed to his pine tree styled fellow next, commanding full attention from every dog in the meantime, "come with me."

Then, while Rir approached him, Fen scolded the remainder of his waiting companions, "As for the rest of you, we are not pups on vacation here! No, we are the last of the guardians of this dying forest and if we don't want to die with it… then keep your voices down, keep your senses sharp, and keep your courage close. As the elders have told us since we were little, when our champion arrives from the stars, the Star Journeyer will need us at our best to guide him to the most remarkable sparkle of twilight immediately."

Next, as Rir joined him in standing by the dead tree shaped like a claw, Fen snarled at his pack, "Am I understood, brothers of the forest?"

"We understand you, brother." The other timberwolves instantly as well as honorably answered back in unison, perking their ears up with newfound inspiration.

"What will our champion, the Star Journeyer, need from us, my brothers?" Fen inquired from his companions.

"Our champion will need us to be at our best, brother." The pack replied together at once.

"Then be at your best. Do not disappoint him or our elders." Fen concluded, nodding for his brother warriors to take cover in the shadowy surroundings meanwhile, "Now, all of you, quit your howling like pups and get into cover. Keep a lookout for the enemy. We don't want any unwanted guests to interrupt our meeting with the holy bird as well as hero it will be bringing to us, do we?"

"No, brother." The many wolves growled back angrily at Fen's words, truly wanting this moment where they met their champion to be misery free, "We will keep watch. We will be strong. As we have protected the forest, we will protect the forest's champion."

After the other wolves of timber had dissipated into the shadows at their leader's command to keep watch for hostiles, to protect what was holy ground now, there was a silence shared between red eyed Fen and snowy eyed Rir. Then, after having stared at the claw like dead tree for as long as they dared while out in the open, the two leaders of the mighty pack retreated into the cover of the forests to avoid the eye or grasp or evil of what was supposedly Nightmare Moon. All that mattered was that it was wicked and when it got a hold of you, of anyone… it never let you go. It became your everything. It became you.

Once hidden, once in the shelter of the closely bunched muck along with brush that was only found near the heart of Everfree Forest, eager Rir took the chance to hiss to his serious puphood friend Fen, "So, Fen… As the elders have been predicting since the making of this forest we call home, since the princess of the sun gave up on it so long ago, you really think the time has truly come for us to have our champion? Despite what others have ever thought, the time has come for the true Star Journeyer to show us timberwolves who or what we truly are?"

"Indeed." Fen growled back, his hackles rising while his teeth were ground together meanwhile, "Trust me on this, Rir. Trust in our beliefs. Last night, I saw the holy bird here on that claw of a tree. I heard it say unto me to await the champion of the forest here in this plain, that destiny was at work."

Next, at the thought of a portion of his kin having become beasts of the shadows to this very moment, the red cherry wood timberwolf with red eyes snapped his jaws angrily, "And when our hero of the stars comes when he comes, the false one that haunts these woods as well as all of Equestria will be finished. Evil will fall. Then, our identities as the Star Journeyer's protectors will be clarified and our places amongst the ponies, griffins, dragons, will finally be set with his coming."

Again, there was a silence between the two leaders of the timberwolf pack where they thought of how glorious their futures were going to become as defenders of the hero coming to them.

Then, Rir questioned once more, "What was it like, Fen?" At Fen's confused expression, Rir quickly added, "I mean, what was it like meeting the many eyed raven last night? To see the first signs of the changes that are approaching for all of Equestria?"

"Don't you know how it feels to be aware that the mighty Zap Apple thunderstorm is on its way, Rir? To know that there is a fearsome yet forgiving time coming?" Fen replied, not taking his ruby glowing eyes off of the dead tree for a second for anything.

"Yes." Rir answered, keeping his own eyes looking around at all times for anything suspicious like the rest of the pack was doing, "Yes, all of us timberwolves know that zap season feeling. Since the time of our ancient ancestors, we, the guardians of the forest, have taken great delight in the approach of the appearance of the zap apples. That is why we howl, why we bound about, why we alert the ponies during that time. It is our way of showing our might, our territory, our friendships even, to all of Equestria that has perhaps forgotten about us."

"Yes, that's right, Rir." Fen stated, smiling a bit to himself at remembering the nice sensations that he had grown accustomed to whenever Zap Apple Season was near, "The coming of the zap apples. That was what it was like for me when I saw the raven with many eyes. Accept, multiply it be a hundred. No, a thousand."

"Wow. So… you felt great when you saw the bird? You felt like you could run for forever? Like you could go talk with the outsiders without trouble? Like you alone could face the shadows that have haunted these woods since the times of our forefathers?"

"Indeed. Mind, I also felt great fear, my friend. Or maybe it was sheer anticipation that made my gut hurt last night?" Fen said back, perking his ears up when he thought he had heard something in the woods, "Yet, out of everything I felt during last night, I also experienced and still experience great hope. Hope that our kin's, our forest's, suffering is finally in sight."

Once more, silence commenced between the two timberwolf leaders of the hunting pack.

Nevertheless, with some growing apprehension at not being able to stay quiet no matter his attempts, Rir couldn't help but voice another question to his puphood friend, "How do you think the Star Journeyer will come?"

"During the most remarkable twilight." Fen replied at once, glancing up through the forest canopies above him towards the bright morning sky in the meantime, "The elders have always said that our champion of the forest will arrive due to the many eyed bird showing itself during a most remarkable twilight. As for how the hero will appear… None of us can guess, can we?"

"Well, no, none of us can guess. Not even the old ones." Rir sighed, rolling his eyes, "But one cannot help thinking about it. I mean, will our hero from the stars came like the zap apples do? Will he appear as a star? Will he fly down with wings? Sheesh… this waiting is killing me! When is the journeyer from the heavens going to show up? Hopefully sooner than later, right?"

"Well, of course. Considering how long we've waited for the last few centuries, it would be nice for our salvation to come sooner than later, wouldn't it?" Fen chuckled, patting his anxious companion on the shoulder in understanding, "Nevertheless, patience, my dear friend. When the queen of nightmares was banished, our ancestors had already been waiting for this champion of champions to show himself. Now, with the signs here before us, the hero is finally due to appear soon."

Laying back down upon his stomach to refocus upon the dead tree like he'd been doing before getting distracted, Fen gestured for Rir to follow his example as he reassured, "So, just relax, Rir. For once, since the making of this forest, the elders feel that fortune is on our side rather than the enemy's. I agree. So, don't allow your impatience to ruin that advantage for us, for our brothers. Understand?"

"Of course, of course. Forgive me. For the journeyer of the stars, I will do what needs – Wait… Fen, is that it? Isn't that a bird landing upon the tree?!"

Throughout the clearing where the dead claw of a tree reached upwards, in the surrounding brush where the timberwolves watched from afar in shock, silence instantly commenced when a sole black bird glided down from the brightening dawn sky!

With their breaths being firmly held next, as it fluttered to adjusted itself in midair for a comfy landing, the hidden wolf pack observed together as the newly come raven rested itself upon a thin limb amid the many that made up the dried tree. Then, with a flap of its wings, the bird released several long squawks. Meanwhile, as it squawked, Fen couldn't get over the feeling that the feathered newcomer was purposefully looking out over the area… that it had, like the previous night, come to meet with him, to look upon him, to speak to him of fortune, glory, victory.

"This is it, Rir." Fen breathed to his stiff fellow as he got to his slightly shaking paws, keeping himself alert for anything that could go wrong to ruin his meeting with the many eyed raven, "That's the bird I saw last night. Let's go. Come on. Heh, our destinies await."

"M-my friend, if it is our destinies we are about to face then, well… forgive me but I-I don't think I can go." Rir sniffed from where he was suddenly trembling on the ground, his ears along with tail stiller than the air all around, "If that raven spoke unto you last night, Fen, then you must go see it alone. Only you have that honor. I-I-I cannot possibly be worthy to approach such a holy sign-"

"Nonsense, Rir! Get up! Come along!" Fen growled at his humbled companion, grabbing onto Rir next and pulling the shaky pine needle dog to his feet, "I may have found the raven last night but, at the thanks of destiny, it requested I bring others."

"I-it did? Truly?"

"Duh. Alone, Rir, I am unworthy to escort the champion of the forest. Alone, a wolf cannot say that that is living. Together, however, as a unified pack, we all are ready to see our hero appear as well as our forest be saved! Now, up and at 'em, my friend! By the orders of the elders, come with me!"

"Alright, alright, alright!" Rir nervously gasped when he was being pulled along by his bold friend out into the open towards the dead tree, "Enough! Just give me a second to catch my breath and get ready to see destiny in the works! Slow down! Slow down, you fool!"

When Fen as well as Rir had shown themselves from the brush, the other wolves that made up the hunting pack took this as a sign to appear too. In turn, the wolves of timber hesitantly followed after their leaders. Soon enough, having quite forgotten their duties in keeping guard of the perimeter since they were being caught in the thrill of the moment, every wooden canine had taken a seat around the dead claw of a tree.

There, before the gaze of the large raven Fen had been eager to show them since last night – the raven that did not have two eyes but three instead – the hunting party stared up to the supposedly holy bird roosting on its limb.

"The raven…" A hunter amid the wolves managed to whisper to the others, "It has… it has three eyes. It has many eyes. Just like the elders said it would."

"Fen, the bird is here." Another hunter said with curiosity to the cherry wood leader of the pack, finding it a little odd that the three eyed raven acted rather simply and not all mystically, "But what does that mean? Where is the Star Journeyer?"

"Caw! Is it not obvious? Your champion is on his way!" The three eyed raven abruptly chirped, making every timberwolf present apart for Fen yipe in complete alarm, "Caw! A bit jumpy are we? Caw, caw! Do not be afraid, do not be wary, do not be worried, guardians of the forest. No, do not look up to me but look to the heavens instead."

Entranced by the words of the black bird, absolutely fascinated with what was transpiring before their very eyes, the dogs of Everfree Forest obeyed in looking towards the skies. There, they saw a clear, brisk, blue morning heaven that lacked in any kind of wisp, hint, or puff of cloud. There, through the forest canopies around them, they could distinctly notice both the moon along with sun taking up both the east and west horizon.

How grand a sight. How fabulous a memory. How regal an entrance the Star Journeyer would make during a clear morning like this.

"Caw! Your hero, Equestria's hero, from the stars is nearing, my doggish friends!" The raven called out into the quiet plain around it, gaining back the awe of the wolves, "Caw! Look at that sun. Look at that moon. Caw! One is shining its brightest! The other is at its fullest! And between them, there is a most clear, most remarkable twilight, isn't there? Caw!"

"Yes!" Fen exclaimed, perking his ears up as well as wagging his tail at the mention of the "most remarkable twilight" being present, "Yes, bird of many eyes! The signs are there! The twilight has come! Now, please, tell all of us here with you where we can find our champion of the forest! Tell us where he will show himself, where we can protect him!"

In turn to their leader's excitement, every other wolf of the pack began to speak amongst themselves as well as get ready to see their hero! Yet, they all had to be quieted down again as the raven chuckled in its own mysterious way, "Caw! Well, there is no reason for me to say anything more. Nor is there reason for you to leave this place in looking for your hero. You see, as of now, your hunt for him will be a rather short and easy one."

"Wait…" Rir huffed, "Wait, what? It will not be hard to find the champion? What does that mean? For so many centuries, the elders have spoken of your coming, many eyed one. Explain to us your riddles. Be more open with us, your subjects!"

"You do not understand the ways of destiny, pine one. None ever shall." The three eyed raven replied, casually cleaning its wings in the meantime, "From the most remarkable sparkle of twilight, your champion in question is a child of both history as well destiny. Thus, where he will come from, where he will go, what he will do, will only truly be known by he alone who has created, who has encouraged, who has lived with destiny all of his days; my master."

"What is this madness?" Fen snarled, feeling like the meeting with the black bird was becoming more a headache than a blessing, "Our elders haven't ever been wrong! For centuries, you've known myself and my fellows here were coming to you on this morning, holy one! During those same centuries, while others have turned their backs on it, we guardians have been holding this forest!"

At this, as his pack barked in unison while getting carried away, Fen snapped, "We've fought, we've lost, we've been suffering! We've held our end of the prophecy's bargain! Now hold your end, holy one! Don't not be cruel to us, your subjects, and bring us our hero! The hero that will save the forest and relinquish us of our suffering! Who will give us a place in the outside world!"

"Caw! Do not fret, my doggish friends. Please, for your sakes, keep your voices lowered." The raven pleaded, looking about ready to take off at the same time, "Indeed, this forest is suffering. It has seen hard times. Where there were many of you guardians in the past… abominations now prowl. Yet, take heart. Your Star Journeyer will correct that problem when he decides to show himself at my master's command."

"Which is when?!" Fen barked, his companions snarling in worry as the black bird took back off into the morning sky, "Tell us! This is not the way the elders described this moment would go! Do not leave us wanting any longer!"

"Caw! Your prophecy has not gone the way your elders have described it because you all are being impatient. Caw! You have not waited for rest of your prophecy to happen!" The raven called back, cackling at the worry the wolves were showing at maybe not learning of where their hero could be find, "Caw! You all have found me, your holy bird, have you not? Now, if you are patient, you are naturally due to find your champion. Caw! Right… NOW."

Even though the elders had described this instant to them since they'd been born way back, what was about to happen next to Fen and Rir's pack, what was about to rocket from Ponyville's library into their very midst, couldn't have ever been seen coming. As he had shown while speaking with Twilight in her dreams earlier, the ways of fate, the ways of the master of three eyed, couldn't ever be guessed nor understood because the rise of his selected champions were never ever the same.

So, talking about the unpredictable rise of champions, nothing, nopony, could warn the hunting pack of timberwolves in time when – at the final words of the departing three eyed raven – their hero came to them in the form of the alien star which came crashing down upon them with destructive force! Before Fen or Rir or any of the timberwolves could yelp, evade, or even begin to imagine to fight back, the star of alien origin sent from Ponyville crash landed against the dead claw of a tree and exploded with much flashing lights, furious fire, flying metal, as well as sounds upon contact!

Like the elders had been predicting since the making of Everfree Forest, the three eyed raven had indeed shown itself to the timberwolves. In the shape of a star, the Yonderlander from Yonderland or who would become known as the Star Journeyer had come immediately after.

Clearly, the Spirit of Destiny's second chosen one had appeared in Equestria, in Everfree Forest, and as the terrible wreckage from the star having hit the dead tree subsided, Fen along with Rir's shaken hunting party took shelter in the cover of the brush nearby. In the meantime, as the wolves made sure they were okay from the recent devastation, one shrill noise sounded out from the smoky impact site for a moment before silencing altogether.

"HOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNKKKKK! HOOOOOONNNKKK! BEEP-BOOP!"


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From where they could all see it while in their thick cover, Fen and Rir's astonished hunting party gazed upon the wrecked dead tree that had formerly signified holy ground. Now though, with its many limbs scattered about in the muck, the claw of a tree was fiercely shattered in half with the alien star or comet or whatever resting against its base. Simply put, when the three eyed raven had taken its leave and the star of Yonderland had streaked from Ponyville into Everfree Forest, the gnarled dead tree in the shape of a hand reaching towards the heavens… had literally caught the star like a baseball.

One last time, even in death, the tree had served a purpose; a most holy purpose, hopefully.

Yet, all of this fire, this chaos, this ruin… this didn't seem right in the slightest. For so many centuries, a crash landing or explosion or whatever wasn't how the elders of the timberwolves had described the coming of the champion of the forest. They had always said the arrival of such an individual would be a grand, prosperous, happy occasion with plenty of glory, faith, and victory on the side!

All of this happening, all of this eerie mystery along with strife, didn't exactly match the prophecy of the guardians of the forest thus far. Yet, the many eyed raven had shown itself, had it not? And after that most holy many eyed bird, a star had actually fallen from the heavens, hadn't it? Thus, with these things having obviously transpired, some work of destiny was in progress before the eyes of the timberwolf hunting party… and, for the good of all things, they would just have to go along with the moment while hoping their prophecy had begun for the better.

As for the alien star in question – that crashed light which the wolves were sure was the unique ride, the chariot, the method in which the Star Journeyer got around – it, like the tree, hadn't taken the impact of landing very well. No, not very well at all.

All over the holy ground and through the thick fog of smoke that had settled after the crash were searing pieces of metal, sparking bits of items, just destruction in general. And most eerie of all about the scene, through the increasingly foggy air from what seemed to be a huge beast of steel resting against the dead tree's base, were two bright lights – possibly massive eyes – which were flickering, flashing, blinking, as well as dying in the murkiness.

Swallowing his fear, bracing himself to face the very unknown, Fen was the first to leave his hiding place to approach where the Star Journeyer had brutally landed. Mind, the leader of the timberwolves was just as mortal as his brethren or any other Equestrian. If he wasn't careful in controlling himself at the moment, he was very sure even he would cave into fear as well as retreat back to where he thought he was safe from the powers of someone as mighty as the champion of the forest.

Nevertheless, through all that had transpired, the elders were correct about something. Today, a being or something of the heavens had come to Everfree Forest, to Equestria. Whether or not it would seek salvation or destruction in the future, that couldn't be determined until it had been contacted, communicated with, as well as understood on this most holy ground at this very moment.

And, bah, to do those things wasn't by cowering in the foliage out of sight like some whipped puppy! It was by being courageous in the face of what wasn't known, by being faithful in one's beliefs, by coming forward to speak to the beast of steel that had taken to lying against the former claw of a dead tree.

"F-Fen! Wait!" Rir snarled in warning to his determined red cherry wood companion, the other wolves watching from afar in both awe as well as uncertainty of their leader's courage, "Fen! B-be careful out there! W-watch your step! I don't think even the elders would have any idea of what we're dealing with here!"

"Of course they wouldn't." Fen snapped back, his red eyes narrowing in slight amusement at the thought of how the coming of the Star Journeyer hadn't exactly been the expected prophetic way, "For centuries the elders have ignorantly spoken of a hero falling from the stars in a most glorious light. Could we have not been more realistic about the matter and realized that this would happen?"

At this, at stating that they should have seen that the Star Journeyer wouldn't just appear in a blink of light like in a fairy tale but would literally come smashing down from the skies in reality, the hunting pack of wolves only became a bit more nervous about what they were facing. Nevertheless, Fen's fragile bravery wasn't shaken by the truth of the matter.

Instead of fleeing the two eyes blinking at him through the fog, the cherry wood timberwolf slowly as well as carefully approached them. At the same time, he suddenly found his shaky puphood friend, Rir, had joined his side.

"Side by s-side, Fen. W-we've faced plenty of things in the past." The pine needle timberwolf admitted shakily to the cherry wood wolf, stepping cautiously along towards whatever awaited, "So, it would only make sense that I face the workings of destiny with you today, right?"

"Indeed. That does make complete sense." Fen agreed, thinking back on the plenty of hardships, good times, along with more that he had gone through with his companion, "Have you got a hold of yourself since earlier? Good, you do. Anyhow, shall we see what the heavens have sent us? Together, shall we welcome the Star Journeyer into our realm?"

"Yes. I'm right beside you, my friend." Rir stated, trying to be as brave as Fen in the face of the unknown, in the blinking eyes of the steel beast just ahead.

"Then let us go. Let us see whom will become the champion of our ailing forest."

It turned out that the fog of smoke that had settled upon the holy ground had hidden away a lot more of the destruction from the star's crash landing than formerly predicted. The closer the pair of timberwolf puphood friends got to the steel beast laying against the shattered claw of a dead tree, the more they noticed how badly torn up the ground was, how the area was heavily covered in pieces of wood as well as metal, and there was even bits of fire flickering defiantly in the muck nearby.

"By the forest," Rir gulped, taking in the severity of the crash as well as trying not to gag when breathing in the noxious fumes in the air, "this is… crazy. Look at all of this. Do you think that the Star Journeyer is still in one piece?"

"What kind of question is that?" Fen replied, scolding the ways of his always uncertain friend, "The champion of the forest came from the very stars, Rir! This is practically a god we're approaching! His landing may have gone bad but have some faith in him… As an immortal, hopefully, he's probably just been shaken a bit by this experience. That's all. He'll be okay."

Yet, when the pair of two wolves reached where the eyes or lights or whatever were randomly flickering from the steel beast through the murky smoke, they couldn't help but feel a bit uncertain about the condition of their Star Journeyer.

The steel beast in question – what could have been the champion of the forest with its formerly sturdy form in tatters, in a mess – was indeed on its side against the broken dead tree. Yet, it most certainly wasn't resting against the dry plant. No, due to the force behind the impact from earlier, the steel thing overall was bent awkwardly… like its spine had been broken when immediately touching the ground.

Yet, this thing was immortal, right? This thing, this "Ford Neon 2010", couldn't die… could it? It had to be the champion of the forest, of Equestria, correct?

"Uh, hello, almighty god of the heavens?" Rir whispered to the Ford Neon or whatnot bent painfully against the tree, "Are you awake? Are you okay? What would you have us, your subjects, do for you, sire?"

At Rir's wonderings, for obvious yet not obvious reasons, the Ford Neon or Star Journeyer or whatnot didn't respond. Instead, its eyes/headlights finally blinked out to leave the timberwolf companions in murkiness. Then, with a most ominous groan, the hulking steel beast began to fall back onto its wheels towards those who were studying it with increasing interest!

"Rir!" Fen snarled, grabbing a hold of his petrified friend while the Neon looked to crush them under its tremendous weight, "Get back, fool! Jump back!"

Just in time, the duo of timberwolves got out of the way as the steel beast smashed back down onto all fours on the mucky ground where it released several long honks, beeps, plus calls. In turn, as Rir began to say in a panic that the Ford Neon god was suffering from its landing, Fen noticed that the supposed steel beast was in fact hollow… and on the inside, there looked to be something – a shape – far more interesting than foreseen beforehand.

"Rir. Shut your maw and help me here." Fen resolutely snarled to his friend, gnawing at the steel side of the Ford Neon next which sent Rir into a bigger fit of panic!

"What are you doing, your moron?! Have you completely lost it?!" Rir yipped, watching his cherry wood fellow bite at the steel beast, "You're hurting it! You're dining on the champion of the forest!"

"On the contrary, no, I'm not dining on anything!" Fen replied, successfully ripping bits of metal away from the Neon in the meantime, "I'm, in fact, helping the Star Journeyer."

"How?! By dismembering it here and now?!"

"Don't you see, Rir? Think for a minute." Fen snapped back, feeling impatient, "This steel thing isn't the god we've been waiting for, you dolt! No, the god is inside this steel beast, this protective shell of metal, of lights, of sturdiness. This Neon thing is the chariot. So, come on. Now we have to get our hero out of his chariot."

"Wait, what? What are you talking-" Rir wondered in a babble, his jaw practically falling into the muck to show his bemusement.

"Rir! Stop questioning everything and just do as I say!" Fen stated to his bewildered companion, turning back to getting whatever was inside the Neon out into the open, "Help me here! Destiny will thank you! Our champion of the forest will be most grateful!"

Together, one a bit nervous while the other viciously tore away, the pair of timberwolf warriors ripped away bits of steel from the smashed Ford Neon object until a large section – a door – fell off of the main body. From there, Fen managed to get inside the steel beast and, in the next instant, had most carefully dragged a most curious being from a seat positioned before a wheel and some petals.

There, laying it out on the ground, the wolf friends looked over a supposedly holy yet most alien looking creature; the creature that would most likely be Everfree Forest's much needed salvation. And, even though having awaited him for so very long, the Star Journeyer wasn't like anything Fen nor Rir had ever seen nor imagined they would see during their lifetimes.

The thing that would be the hero of the forest – that had been pulled from within the Ford Neon – wasn't a timberwolf, pony, griffin, not even a dragon. It was very foreign, very strange, very hairless and, well, very monkey looking? Yet, with it wearing what looked to be garments, shoes, a heavy coat, and also with it having a full head of brown hair, this thing from the stars wasn't a monkey at all. No, not a monkey at all.

So, um, what would the proper term be for this stranger who had fallen from the heavens? What would the timberwolf elders come to call him or her or it or whatnot? Well, hm, maybe "humanoid" was the best term to settle with right now?

"This thing – whoops, sorry – god," Rir shakily said to Fen, feeling most peculiar around this laid out alien on the ground, "it's not… It's not a timberwolf."

"No. No, it is not." Fen agreed, not really knowing how to proceed in the mission now since the champion of the forest appeared to be knocked out or momentarily unaware from the recent crash landing, "Yeah, it would make sense for us to believe that our champion would be a wolf like us, wouldn't it? Yet, seeing as it's here, we just have to take the blessing of our hero having shown up in whatever form where we can, don't we?"

The many eyed bird had shown itself to the world. At its appearance, from the skies, a star had literally fallen into Everfree Forest like prophesized. Now, this Star Journeyer – that was hopefully what it was, anyway – had to be brought back to the elders where they would take over. Plus, while being so close to the heart of the dark forest, there was no more time for the timberwolf hunting pack to waste here. They had to get their champion back to their tribe before the enemy could sense them, find them, destroy them along with their newest hope.

"Here, Rir. Help me get this Star Journeyer onto my back for the trip back home." Fen purposefully growled, looking to get the humanoid figure onto his red cherry wood back.

"Then this is the Star Journeyer, you think?" Rir curiously sniffed back, nervously looking for a good place to grip the alien with his teeth, "I suppose this thing fell from the stars so… Yeah, I guess we're just going to have to hope that it's-"

"Look, don't ask any more questions, my friend. There is no more reason for chatter." Fen stated, being polite and not rude with his words, "We've seen the signs of prophecy here at this tree and we're just going to have to accept the fact that our Star Journeyer is this thing that came from the steel beast. Just trust me on this, Rir. Once we get back to the elders, for all that is good in this world, all of this mystery will be solved – Hold on. Halt, Rir."

"Hm? What is the matter – Wait… No, it can't be. No, no, no!"

Even as they looked to bring the stranger from the stars back to their elders, Fen as well as Rir heard a disturbance from where their companions were hiding in the brush. Rapidly next, it sounded like there was a struggle, much yipping, snarling, as well as… fighting! Despite their attempts to be discreet for the elders, the enemy had tracked Fen and Rir to where they'd just gained their champion of the forest!

Blast it! Obviously, earlier, the crash landing of the alien star had sounded off like a bomb. Thus, it would have indeed attracted every soul – good or bad – from miles around! Now, the corruption of the forest was seeking to corrupt the very humanoid individual that would be its salvation; the Star Journeyer! Yet, that wouldn't happen! Not if Fen had anything to say about it though, which he did.

The cherry wood timberwolf wasn't about to let his forefathers, his kin, his forest home, down when so close to gaining the upper hand! The champion of the forest, of Equestria, wouldn't be harmed! It wouldn't be touched! It wouldn't be corrupted to serve the shadows!

"Rir," Fen coolly stated, now looking to drape the humanoid figure over his reluctant pine needle companion, "they're coming. The enemy has come to take away this champion of ours."

"Then we must be quick in making our way back home, Fen!" Rir snarled, his eyes no longer filled with uncertainty but determination in the face of an oncoming battle, "I'm more than ready to carve my way through those that would see us fail in our mission here! We'll make it back to the elders with this hero of ours and they'll speak of our heroics far into the-"

"My friend…" Fen snarled, trying to ignore the growing sounds of the terrible battle in the murk while he was trying to order his friend to do one last thing in the name of their forest, "We both know that there are far too many of the enemy here near the heart of the forest. There's no way for the both of us to fight our way back home and keep the Star Journeyer in our grasp at the same time."

Next, the cherry wood timberwolf growled to his bemused pine needle companion, "No, we have to go our separate ways here. We need a distraction."

"We have to go our separate ways? We need a distraction?" Rir questioned, immediately not liking where this conversation seemed to be going, "You… Fen, no. You can't just give me with the Star Journeyer and tell me to leave you here to be taken by the enemy while I escape! You found the raven last night! You need to take the champion and get back home!"

"Rir. Stop. We both know this has been a long time coming and I am proud to have-"

"Let me face the enemy, Fen, not you! You are worthy of living, of fighting on, not me-"

"Rir, enough!" Fen snapped, cuffing his upset puphood friend upside the head next, "Enough of this! Without sacrifice, there cannot be victory! Without my sacrifice here and now, there can be no hope for the forest to survive the coming darkness! And, out of the two of us, we both know I'm the better fighter! I'll last the longest against this twisted bunch! Against these abominations!"

From the murkiness, with the hunting party having been silenced in the brush, grimly twisted shapes were beginning to come, limp, slither forward. The many beasts, monsters, abominations of the corruption of the forest were coming. They were coming in unimaginable numbers… There were too many! There were far too many for Fen to face alone!

Since he'd been born by the powers of nature, Rir was more than ready to go down fighting beside his best friend since puphood! No, Fen wasn't just a friend to Rir… He was a brother! Yet, as Fen pushed him away, the pine needle timberwolf realized that he wasn't wanted on the battlefield. He wasn't going to be able to protect his cherry wood fellow to the very end that was coming.

With the humanoid figure on his spine, regrettably yet honorably, Rir needed to flee from this particular fight and leave it to his brave companion. In the meantime, hopefully, he would be given the needed time to get the Star Journeyer back to the tribe where everything would be okay.

So, hating himself yet knowing his actions to be true, Rir had no choice but begin bounding away from where Fen courageously stood to meet his doom. As the pine needle timberwolf made his way out of the smoky area, as he leaped into the brush heading westward, he vowed to not forget this moment, this morning, this sacrifice his puphood friend was making. In the future, even if he had to do so alone, Rir would be sure to always speak of the reason for why Everfree Forest – Equestria itself – was saved; due to the lives of so many good timberwolf warriors like Fen.

"Don't worry about me, Rir!" Fen barked out from the distant foggy murkiness as the roars of twisted creatures rang in the air, most of the enemy coming for him while some went after Rir, "Worry about the future of the timberwolves, about the future of the forest! You getting the champion back to the tribe is all that matters now!"

A twisted shape in the fog rapidly approached Fen's own next. Then more began to come forward to swarm the cheery wood timberwolf!

Yet, through all of the crying out, the fighting, the shrill roars, Fen managed to yelled after his bounding friend, "Make the timberwolves proud, Rir! Make the darkness tremble before their courage, their power, their loyalty to the Star Journeyer!"

And after that, there was a grim quiet settling over the heart of the dark forest once more. A quiet only disturbed by the soft crunching of branches, the smacking of foliage, as well as haunting squeals of monsters rushing after desperately sprinting Rir!

There was no way, even if he ran his hardest now, that Rir would outrun the creatures or abominations or whatever that were closely following him. Unless he thought of something quick, he wouldn't be able to get the Star Journeyer back to the tribe as well as make Fen's sacrifice worthwhile!

No, the running pine needle timberwolf needed to reach somewhere closer than the safety of the tribe where the monsters of the corruption of the forest wouldn't follow him or the champion from the stars. Then, like a brick to the head, the solution hit the fleeing pine needle timberwolf!

Rir needed to find her! He needed to find the striped witch! He needed to get the help of the zebra! For if he did that, for very good reason, the monsters of the forest's corruption wouldn't go anywhere near her; she who was a loyal if not magical servant of the alicorn princesses of the sun as well as moon!

The corruption of the forest would not dare invoke the wrath of the sun and moon by chasing the Star Journeyer into such territory! Not yet, anyway. It was not powerful enough.

Gaining newfound courage, renewing his speed, with whatever abominations closing in on him from behind, Rir ran through the jungle landscape towards where he hoped would be safe ground! Little did he know that a certain three eyed raven was closely following, encouraging, as well as doing its best in protecting him the entire time.

Even if his second chosen one was in the wild, untamed regions of Everfree Forest, the Spirit of Destiny did indeed have a say in the matter. As of now, the master of three eyed ravens wished to see the Star Journeyer – the Yonderlander – survive, to fulfill his purpose, to help all of Equestria. And it turned out the Yonderlander would start fulfilling his said purpose by arriving at the witch's, Zecora's, tribal hut.


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End of "The Guardians of the Corrupting Forest"…