//------------------------------//
// Reunion Chapter 1 
// Story: My Little Wolf 
// by Autobot Lancewing 
//------------------------------//


Reunion
Chapter 1

Lancer laid on a bed curled up. Rarity offered to let Lancer lay in her bed, even though she should be resting herself. Lancer did all he could to resist, but he soon found himself in that position. Truth was that his mind isn’t in the kennel, it was with the pack, specifically a wolf who doesn’t even know he’s still alive. He knew that Luna could contact him, but is it possible that he could do the same with Bright Eyes. Granted, she can’t call him due to her not possessing any magical properties, but maybe she could work around it. She was Zecora’s apprentice after all.
“WHAT?!?!”
Lancer’s ears perked up. It was Twilight’s voice that he heard, but what was the cause of the outburst? He walked out of Rarity’s room and into Twilight’s. Twilight was panting frantically while Celestia looked like her heart went into her throat. Wind Whistler was staring at the ground. Shining was baring his teeth. Lancer walked over to Fluttershy, "What happened?"
Fluttershy jolted. “Oh, Lancer. I didn’t see you there."
"Oh, sorry. So what's with Twilight?"
“She just learned that her younger sister went missing.”
Lancer nearly collapsed. "Minty?"
Fluttershy nodded.
Lancer swallowed, "Not sure I wanna hang around here much longer."
“Why,” Fluttershy asked.
“Because everyone I care about will disappear if we don’t get back.”
Fluttershy gave Lancer a queer look.
Lancer sighed before adding, “Look, I don’t care what happens to me, as long as everyone I care about is safe, I have no regrets.”
“And if you die?”
“Like I said, if everyone’s safe, I have no regrets.”
"...What do you need to do?"
“I need to fight alongside the pack, but first, I need to try to contact someone."
"Who?"
“A friend. I want to try mental communication and ask what's happening."
“Oh, okay.”
“But here’s the twist, she’s an earth-type, meaning she has no magical properties at all.”
“Oh…”
“BUT she is an apprentice to a sage who can use potions at will. Maybe she can conjure something up that will allow her to communicate with me easily.”
"Maybe, but how would she know to?"
“I don’t know. So right now, I think I’ll just have to wing it.”
"Oh..."
“Yeah. Let me see if a theory of mine can work first.” His horn glows before he thinks, ‘Can you hear me now?’
Nothing.
“Fluttershy?”
Still nothing.
“Doggonit!”
All the wolves in the room turned to Lancer. He looked at them.
“Sorry, a little experiment that failed.”
"What experiment?" Celestia asked.
“Well… I’m trying to contact Bright Eyes to see if everything is okay over at the pack, and to let her know that I’m still alive.”
"But wouldn't it be easier to tell your father to tell her? Especially since he's an Alicorn."
Lancer’s eyes widened like dinner plates before he facepawed. “No…”
"I see..."
Lancer’s horn glowed again.
******
Eclipse was helping Bright Eyes prepare the army before…
‘Dad, can you hear me?’
Eclipse had to really pause and listen. For a moment, he thought he heard his son’s voice.
‘Dad?’
It was. ‘Lancer,’ Eclipse thought, ‘I thought you and Celestia died.’
‘Bright Eyes saw a teleportation spell. Firefly and Wind Whistler explained it to me.’
'Well, I'm glad you and Celestia are safe.'
‘Me too, but I have to ask. How’s the pack?’
'Well...they've been a bit concerned about you, but Bright Eyes is leading us well.'
‘Wait, she’s taking Mom’s place? Did I miss something?’
'Well, we were having some...discord...and she helped us resolve the issue.'
Lancer scratched his head. ‘And I take it she did really well?’
‘She would do your mother proud.’
‘Believe me, she’s already doing me proud.’
'Should I tell anyone you're alive?'
‘Tell only Bright Eyes. No one else should know. Not even Wisteria or Cadence.’
'What about Solaris?'
‘Not until I show up.’
'Very well...'
‘And be sure to let her know how proud I am of her. It would mean a lot to me.’
'I will. And Lancer...I love you.'
‘I love you too.’
Bright Eyes looked at Eclipse. She asked, “Eclipse? Are you okay?”
‘I have to go. Talk to you later.’
‘Okay. Bye.’
‘Bye.’
"Eclipse?"
“I’m okay Bright Eyes. I actually have some good news.”
"What?"
“Lancer and Celestia are alive.”
"WHAT?!?!"
Eclipse quickly covered her mouth. “Sorry, but Lancer requested that we be the only ones who know.”
Bright Eyes nodded. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?”
"Nothing. I'm just happy."
Eclipse nuzzled Bright Eyes, “Me too.”
******
Minty gnawed at her chains. She knew it probably wouldn’t work, but she tried anyway. It felt like all she could do was to gnaw on chains.
Zecora's teeth were getting sore just from watching her. “Minty, I wish you would cease and desist, you will ruin your teeth if you persist.”
“Weh sowwy, ifh all I c’n do!”
Zecora shook her head and held a paw to her jaw.
Nightmare Moon watched from the opening of the den. Does she really need to torture them? Minty seems to be doing that herself. 
Yes. It was necessary, she needed Luna to feel helpless. Besides, Luna's jaw was already sore just watching. She could feel Luna do exactly what Zecora's doing. That’s what she got for helping her enemies flee.
"Having fun," Nightmare asked Luna.
"No, that was just being cruel. What was the point behind that?"
“Consequences. I know how much it would hurt you more to see members of your pack to endure pain than to just inflict it upon you.”
"You wouldn't dare..."
“Wouldn’t I?” Nightmare walked over to the two prisoners.
Zecora watched Nightmare Moon carefully, but Minty ignored her, continuing to chew. 
“What are you doing,” Nightmare asked Zecora.
"I am witnessing Minty chew on the chain while I hold my jaw in pain."
“I see… Would you like to be put out of such misery?”
Luna's voice could practically be heard when she whimpered, "Don't..."
“For a minor annoyance? It is barely a nuisance".
“Pity...I might have enjoyed it…”
“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I’m sure you already knew.”
“Perhaps…” Nightmare Moon looked over to Minty, “Or I could kill her…”
Minty finally stopped chewing the chain and looked at Nightmare. Here eyes widened.
"NO," Luna barked.
"But first... A little fun." Nightmare slashed at Minty.
Minty managed to dodge, but she let out a painful yelp as a second attempt almost slashed her eye out.
"Leave her be! If you wish to hurt, choose me."
Nightmare turned to Zecora, "It isn't as fun when the tortured is willing to be."
"Then do me! I'm willing." Minty volunteered.
Zecora shook her head
"Well...if you insist..." Nightmare sent a pulse that tossed Minty to the wall.
Minty let out a loud yelp.
"Minty!" Luna wanted to escape, but there was nothing she could do.
"Are you still willing?"
Minty shook her head.
"That's what I thought." With that, Nightmare Moon left the two she-wolves.
Luna was virtually torn apart at this point, especially since the wolf Nightmare tortured was so young.
“Aw… Do you feel bad? Well the ride only goes downhill. I just learned where your son and sister are.”
Luna swallowed hard.
“And I believe it’s time we made our grand entrance.”