//------------------------------// // Dead Days // Story: An American Werewolf in Equestria // by Ron Jeremy Pony //------------------------------// An American Werewolf in Equestria Chapter 16 – Dead Days (Crystal Empire Castle – Kitchen) Applejack looked over the expansive kitchen before her. Finding out that Twilight was going to marry David hadn’t been a surprise, but when she wanted to marry him was. It seemed that she was determined to be his wedded mare in three days’ time. She could help make everything, but for a reception for royalty it needed to be expansive, and that meant she was going to need all of the help she could get. The kitchen staff stood ready. “Okay y’all, I need everypony to get to work on the following things. We need the cake, it needs to be a large one, and I want hoof made minatures on top. We also need to make deserts. Apple fritters, apple pies, caramel apples, and chocolate,” she said. She heard the door open and Jack walked in. He watched as she continued to tell them what they needed to do when he told her that one of David’s favorite foods from before had been pizza. She quickly added it to the list, kissed his cheek, and then promptly told him to go help make sure everything was ready from the groom’s end. He looked at her confused like. “You’re the best stallion, that’s a big job Sugarcube. Ya’ve gotta arrange the bachelor party, make sure that he has the rings, and make sure that he is going to be presentable on the wedding day,” she said. He nodded, walked out of the kitchen and let her get back to work. He looked back over his shoulder and smiled. It was a short walk down the hall, toward the guest rooms and from behind them he could hear the sounds of someone giggling. He stopped and leaned his head to the door. “Twilight, this dress is going to be C’est très magnifique!” an excited Rarity exclaimed. Shaking his head Jack continued until he came to the room he was looking for. There in it was David, but to his surprise Gild was sitting across from him. The gruff instructor was drinking a cup of tea. He placed it down and looked at the werewolf across from him. “I’d be honored to act as a groomspony,” he said as he placed the cup of tea on a table, “I know what it means to a werewolf to choose a mate. It’s a lifelong ordeal, something I can relate too. Trust me boy, she will always be a part of you.” Jack stood there in awe as he listened to the normally gruff griffin sounding as if he was far more cultured, and caring, than he had ever seen him. He stood uncertain if he should even go into the room before the old griffin finally looked toward him. “If you want to come in here, then come in here,” Gild said. Jack nodded and trotted into the room. He wondered up to David and took a seat on his haunches. “How goes the wedding planning?” Jack asked. “Most of it being done by Twilight,” David replied. “From what I heard your bride to be has a checklist for everything,” Jack joked. David looked at him and couldn’t help but let a laugh escape. “She does, but that’s fine,” he replied as he picked up a cup of his own. As Jack talked to him about what they needed to do, including the bachelor party Twilight was watching as Rarity went through the design of the dress. She knew her friend wanted to create something amazing, but still fitted to her own style. She finally felt the measuring tapes, and fabric, drift off of her and move toward a table. “It will be glorious! Who would have ever guessed that I would get to make another wedding dress for royalty!” Rarity happily exclaimed. Twilight smiled and then stepped down. She looked at the design and took it in. The dress was going to fit like a second skin. It would be difficult to get into, but that didn’t matter. A relaxed sigh escaped from her lips. “Twilight, is Princess Celestia going to join us?” Rarity asked. Twilight smiled as she looked at the design once more and then nodded. “Both she and Princess Luna plan on coming. I believe they are going to be traveling by private train,” she said as she gave Rarity a quick hug, “And so are my parents. I’m actually so happy to know that they will both be here.” Rarity grinned and then looked back at her. “You know, you really should go ahead and talk to Rainbow Dash about the Sonic Rainboom. She would love to do that for your wedding as well,” Rarity suggested. “I know, and I’m going to, but I’m thinking about also talking to Fluttershy about the music,” she said. “Have you thought about asking her to work with some of the birds from here? I’ve heard them singing in the mornings, and they are quite beautiful,” Rarity suggested. Twilight nodded and walked toward the door. “Thanks Rarity. I mean it,” she said. “Think nothing of it darling. Just go and get things together. Oh, do remember that your stallion to be is not to see you the day before the wedding,” she said. Twilight smiled and walked out. She began to walk outside when she saw Shining Armor. Her brother had a mug of something in his hoof and was looking at it. “BBBFF!” Twilight shouted. “Hi Twily,” he replied. “What’s wrong Shining?” she asked as she neared him. “Nothing really. Well, besides the fact that you’re growing up. I had thought that you were going to be a silly filly for the rest of my life. A young girl that I watched over,” he said before he took a drink, “I guess that I’m not really ready to see this happen.” She walked toward him and placed a hoof on his shoulder. “Shining, I’m always going to be your little sister,” she said. “I know, but in a couple of days you’re going to be a wife, and I have a feeling that sooner than later you’re going to be a mother,” he replied. She hugged him and felt him return the hug. “Hey, no matter what happens I’m always going to be your sister. Nothing will ever change that,” she said. A small smile crossed his face. He kissed her forehead and nodded. She dropped to the floor and began to walk out. He waited until she was gone before he let out a sigh. What he told her was the truth. It was a small part of what was making him feel so melancholy, but it wasn’t the only thing. His decision to create the weres was already presenting itself as a bad idea. So far there had been only one fight, but there had been aggressive behavior presented more than normal. Those guards were determined to protect the Crystal Empire, but they were also being a little too aggressive toward some of the civilians. He had been told that one of the guards were being a bit too overprotective of their special somepony. It had only been a growl, but that was it. It wasn’t the normal growl one of the guards would use. It was guttural, and powerful. It sounded like a wolf growling instead of a guard. He didn’t know how it was that David seemed to have so much control over the wolf, but then again he realized that David had been doing this or a little longer than the guards that had been infected. “I just want to protect everypony. It’s what I’m supposed to do, and I know it’s the right thing to do, so why is it fighting me so much?” he wondered aloud. “Because, you wanted to make sure that you were evenly matched, and you didn’t think about what the cost would be,” Candace answered. He turned to see his wife walking out to him. She nuzzled his neck and grinned. “This wasn’t the wrong choice,” he said. “Sweetheart, drop it. We both know this wasn’t the best choice. It was made out of fear, and for that reason alone it’s not the best choice,” she replied. He looked at her. There was the desire to defend his decision, to explain this was the only way, and for a while it looked as if it truly was the only way they could protect everypony. Now, now options had become apparent, and he was having to deal with several of his guards battling the influence of the wolf, of a predator, inside of them. “Twilight did say that David had talked to Luna. It was in a dream, but he talked to her, and she helped him. Perhaps she can help us as well,” he said. Candace smiled at him and kissed his cheek. “There’s the stallion I married,” she said. “Even if we ask for her help we can’t depend solely on her. We need to help our guards learn to control this other half of themselves,” he replied. “Have David teach them. He has had time to learn how to deal with his other self, and he seems to be in control,” Candace said. “I think part of that comes from Twilight,” he replied. “Yes, love has helped give him control, but he also desired to protect her, to protect all of us. Shining, I want you to arrange a meeting with the guards’ special someponies. I wish to address them and help them realize how important they are,” she said. He looked at her and nodded. “I can do that. I’ll send out the summons tonight,” he replied. “Invitations. Summons sounds so harsh, but an invitation is far nicer,” she said. She started to turn and walk back into the castle when she felt a hoof on her flank. She turned toward him and he moved toward her. He caught her in a kiss, and she responded. They had both been so busy the last few days that they had barely shared the same bed. A gentle moan escaped from her, and without a second thought she closed the door to the balcony they were on. She turned toward the rail, leaned against it, and looked back at him. “Shining, please, tonight, for a few hours, let us not be the princess and the captain of the guard. Let us be husband and wife. Make me feel like a wanted mare,” she whispered. He moved up behind her, his head dipping down, and she moaned as he began doing all he could to show her how much he loved her. (Outside of the castle – the following morning) Gild walked toward the guard’s training room. Despite feeling honored to be asked to be a groomspony he still needed to make sure everypony was ready for whatever may happen. He stopped when he saw two figures approaching. They were surrounded by guards and at the sight of one of them specifically he bowed. The congration stopped and looked at the elder griffin. “Princess Luna, as a citizen of Marehoof, I humbly show respect to the Matriarch who inspired its ancestors to band together in order to defeat the Terror,” he said. “Rise Gild Ironclaw. We are most pleased that thou wishes to bestow thy manners upon us. Please, stand before us,” Luna said. He did as she asked and looked at her with his one good eye. “We have wished many times that we could have been there with our subjects facing the beast which dared to devour thy courage. Thy ancestors say that they found inspiration from a prophet which spoke of our return. Know this our loyal subject. Whilst thou people have stood alone before, thou shalt not stand alone again. We shall be ready to stand beside thou should another threat immerge,” Luna said. He nodded and bowed again. “My thanks unto you my princess,” he said. She watched as he gathered himself up and moved slowly toward the training room. “We had said that not all of our subjects despised us,” Luna stated. “Sister, nopony despised you. They feared Nightmare Moon, but they loved you. Marehoof turned to you, I even heard of some of them praying to you to ensure their safety,” Celestia said. “We heard them. Even trapped in our nightmare we heard them. It was our fondest wish to drive the foul creature which plagued them back into void from whence it came,” Luna replied. “It is trapped sister. The citizens ensured it was by collapsing a mountain around it. The Terror is buried, unable to return, and all of us should be glad for it,” Celestia said. The two of them continued on to the castle neither knowing the events happening around them. Events which would match the horrors the Terror had bestowed on Marehoof. A mere half a day’s journey from where they walked an army gathered. Queen Chrysalis looked over her changelings. She smiled as heard their reports. Various towns and cities had been infiltrated by them. They had begun to steal the life away from the beings living there. There had been a time when she would have wished to found another way to survive. At one time she actually wanted to live in peace with the ponies, but it could never happen. Learning what they had to do to survive was more than enough reason for anypony to hate them. She felt the semisolid form of Sombra’s arms around her waist. She started to turn toward him when she felt something else. A knowing smile crossed her lips. She could enjoy the dance they shared. There was no love from it. Sombra did not lie when he said he was empty. He had long ago removed his heart. It was not there to tease him with sentiment and love. It did not give him pause to doing unspeakable things to other beings. He was purely cold, logical, and determined to ensure the world would be in his image. He needed control from chaos. He wished to make a piece that would last thousands of years based upon fear, and she knew all of this. The only emotion within him was desire, and that was only the desire to rule. “Tell me,” she said breathily. She felt an almost phantom bite on her shoulder. A surge of desire filled her, and she threw her head back. “TELL ME!” she screamed. “You are my mare,” he whispered to her. “I am the first,” she said. “You are above all others I gather until me,” he replied. She felt his semisolid form lose what consistency it had as he floated back toward the makeshift throne. She turned toward him and could see his expression. There was the knowing smirk she had come to admire, but there was something else. She could feel it, sense it, and now she could see it on him. It was a sort of insanity very few have ever possessed. A tyrant, years ago, long before her, had been like that. He had rallied all of the Pegasi together with the thought that they were better than the Earth Ponies, better than the Unicorns, and they had waged war on the other two races. He was stopped, but his insanity had driven some of the weaker willed Pegasi into doing terrible things. Dozens of Earth Pony mares had been captured, used for breeding stock, and when they were released the Cloudsdale Pegasi were born. They were the after effect of this demented soul’s desire to breed a master race. She had heard of this, and for a while wondered if perhaps he was right. He was wrong about it being Ponies, but perhaps he was right about there being a species which simply had more of a right to exist. She looked at Sombra and grinned. “When do we attack?” she asked. “Tomorrow. Your changeling has announced that it is the wedding of the newest princess. We attack when they are deep within the borders of the Crystal Empire. When they try to come out and take us we will already have the upper hand,” he said. She grinned and sauntered up to him. “We shall take the Empire, and we shall watch them burn,” she said. (The Crystal Empire – Early the next morning) Twilight crawled out of the bed she shared with David. It was true that he wasn’t supposed to see her today. He truly wasn’t supposed to see her last night, but she couldn’t bare it. She had to be with him, make love to him, become one with him. It didn’t help that she was in heat. Still, he had been more than supportive and somehow she felt all was right now. She couldn’t explain how it was, but only that everything was as it should be. She quietly left the room and headed toward the hall when she saw Spike. She had expected him to say something about her actions, but instead she watched as he finished scribbling a letter, lifted it, and set it ablaze. She studied his face as he looked at a picture. It had been hard for him accept that Rarity, whom he had chased so hard, was simply not interested in him that way. She had been there when he cried over the rejection. She hated it because of how much she cared for him. He was her little brother, and to see him so crushed hurt her in so many ways. Still, she respected Rarity for explaining to him that she while she cared for him she didn’t care for him in a romantic sense. But a secret letter, a picture, which he was still holding, and a dopey smile meant he had moved on. She neared him and looked at the picture of Scootaloo. She also noticed that the orange Pegasus had taken this picture alone, without her fellow cutie mark Crusaders, and was blowing a kiss. A gentle smile crossed her lips. She was glad to see him involved with somepony who at least seemed interested in him as well. She snuck past him and headed toward the room Candace had set aside for Rarity to make the dresses. “Rarity?” she asked. The door opened and Twilight looked at the dresses on display. Her dress looked amazing. White, with a long v cut down the front. A split up the left side which showed her hind leg quite well, and the shoes were the crowning achievement. She marveled at the sapphire slippers. She walked toward it and Rarity beamed brightly. “I couldn’t make a dress for you if it didn’t ‘Sparkle’ darling, so I made sure that it did,” she said. Twilight watched as Rarity’s magic lit up the room and the dress, along with the shoes, gave off a gentle twinkling glow like a star. “Rarity, thank you so much!” Twilight exclaimed in a near excited squee. “We must get everyone else ready!” Rarity exclaimed. Spike wondered toward the direction they were in and was handed several suits of clothes. “I stayed up all night making those for the groom and groomsponies. Please be a dear and take them to them,” Rarity said. “Sure,” he said. Hours passed, and the music of the crystal birds filled the hall as the ceremony began. The melody was sweet, simple, and delighted the crowd. David stood at the front and looked at Jack who had a bright smile. Beside him Shining Armor, Gild, and Spike stood. They looked over at Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. The singing stopped and the doors to the hall opened to reveal two ponies coming toward them. Shining Armor recognized his father, Night Light, walking beside his sister who wore her wedding veil. The two of them made it to the front, and Candace smiled at them. She looked to Celestia who stood and smiled at the entire room. “Who gives this mare to the groom?” she asks. “I her father, Night Light, give her to be married,” he said. She nodded. Night Light released her, looked toward David and gave him a gentle nod. David returned it and watched as Twilight came to stand before him. “We live in a world based on the ideals that love, truth, and honesty can do more than lead, that they can save everypony. I have watched as these ideals have been put to the test again, and again. Today we gather to watch as a couple who have embraced these ideals join together,” she said before she looked at David, “David Kessler, do you promise to love this mare, to trust her, to be with her through good times and bad? Do your swear to uphold the vows of your marriage and love her no matter what may come?” “I do,” he said. “Twilight Sparkle, do you swear to love this man? To hold to him, trust in him, love him, give of yourself unto him, and to be with him through good times and bad? Do you swear to uphold the vows of your marriage and love him no matter what may come?” she asked. “I do,” she answered. “Then by the power vested in me, by me, I pronounce you stallion and mare. You may kiss the bride,” she said. David lifted her veil, and Twilight stood on her hind legs. She brought her muzzle to him and the two of them kissed deeply. As they kissed an explosion shook the castle. Everypony froze in place for a moment. At that moment Shining Armor heard the warning bells. “No! No! Everypony battle stations! David, I am sorry brother, but we must cut this short!” Shining shouted. Twilight followed them as they ran out of the castle. Once they were in the front there, inside of the now ruined gate was a multitude of creatures. Were-Timberwolves, changelings, and even Minotaurs stood battle ready. Toward the back of them two figures stood defiantly. “I have come to reclaim my kingdom!” Sombra shouted.