//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 - The Guardian // Story: Timbercub // by PinkiePieFox //------------------------------// “The Wolves have come!” “RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” The voices of frantic ponies echoed throughout the town of ponyville. The Timberwolves were attacking everypony in sight, most of them escaping into their homes. Others stood and fought back but were soon hurt or injured. There were just too many of them. And Twilight ran, well it was either that or be eaten. The timberwolves had trained themselves on Twilight after she had stepped up to save Scootaloo, who was hiding in a small crack between two buildings that only a foal could possibly fit down. Twilight had all her magic focused on her hind leg, numbing it and keeping it braced as she ran as hard as she possibly could through the streets of ponyville. Timberwolves were bounding across the rooftops and running through the streets. A few mares screamed out before bolting away in terror. Twilight was heaving for breath not stopping for a moment. As she ran she felt her lungs, they felt like they were on fire. Howls and growls filled her ears and the snapping of wooden jaws was at her hooves. She booked it down back alleys and around sharp corners causing a few of the wolves to slide or tumble to the ground before getting back up and giving chance. What do I do. What do I do. What do I do? Twilight screamed in her head as she forced on. Sweat was pouring from her body which seemed to only urge the wolves to try harder for their prey. She sprinted through a nearby barber shop. The wolves just smashed through the door and windows not stopping for a second as glass and splinters of wood were thrown everywhere. Twilight came out the back, blasting through the door and turning only to stop in a large alleyway. “Grrrr…..” The Timberwolves had blocked off the alleyway entrance. Five of them stood there looking at her with glowing green eyes, growling and pawing at the ground. Twilight backed up bumping into a trash can and tipping it over as more Timberwolves stepped out from the back door of the barber shop. There was no escape. Twilights back leg twinged painfully causing her to fall back into the trash. The wolves crept closer. There was a howl. A deep and loud howl filled the air and the sky causing the buildings to shake around them. The timberwolves perked up, twitching their ears, one of the wolves let out a whine and sunk back. The Alpha Timberwolf snapped its jaws at the coward and growled, turning back to Twilight. The Alpha was easily double the size of the other timberwolves and had a mane made of thick branches and leaves making it almost like a lion. Its eyes glowed bright as it approached, snarling at Twilight. Large drops of sap dripping from its fangs. It lowered its head and then leapt at her, its claws outstretched, its fangs bared to rip and tear at the unicorns flesh. Twilight pulled back letting out a loud scream in fear. BOOOOOOOM! Twilight continued to scream as the world around her shook. Anything that was standing in the alley was now toppled to the ground. Trash cans were thrown through the air from the force of the blast and the shattering of wood sounded throughout the area. Twilight was buried beneath the trash and the cans unsure of what had happened. And then came the Howl. It was so loud and the only thing Twilight could do was cover her ears with her own hooves while she let out another scream of terror. There was barking and thrashing and more snapping of wood. Twilight managed to pull herself from the trash looking to where the Alpha was standing only to see a massive tree right in the- “Thats not a tree…” Twilight’s blood ran cold as her gaze slowly shifted skywards seeing nothing but a massive wolf's head snapping its jaws at the smaller wolves, throwing them away though the village. It moved over the alleyway letting out another howl that sounded more like a monstrous roar. The other wolves yelped and whimpered as the massive Timberwolf looked down into the alleyway. Its eyes glowed with a brilliant light as two Timberwolves launched themselves from the roofs and snapping ahold of the Titan Wolf’s face causing it to let out a pained whale and flicking its head, sending one of the wolves flying, as it moved forwards into the village taking the focus of the pack of Timberwolves with it. Twilight stood, shaking in the alleyway. She looked at the crater that had been the alpha wolf. Nothing was left, just splinters of wood remained. There was a sound and streaks of cloud across the sky as the wonderbolts arrived. Twilight stumbled but caught herself before making her way to the end of the ally and looking out. The Wonderbolts had been flying around the massive Wolf who paid them no mind and continued its attack on the pack of smaller wolves. Twilight was still in shock, breathing heavily. Her mind had gone completely blank for the fear. “TWIIIILLIIIIIGHHTT!!!” came a voice she knew, but she remained staring at the massive battle before her. “T-TWILIGHT!” Came the voice again as spike came up leaping into the air, wrapping his arms around her neck and causing her to shriek out of terror. She looked at him, breathing heavy, staring at him with large eyes. She was clearly frightened. “Twilight calm down, its me spike. We have to get out of here before that, thing comes back.” Twilight turned, looking back at the beast as it roared causing her to flinch and look away, a tear coming to her eye. What is this? Did she feel sadness or the pain of this massive beast? Why? Spike tapped her foreleg gently. “Twilight we have to go.” Twilight blinked at spike, swallowing and nodding at him before slowly limping away from the alley, and away from the battle raging on the other side of town. Within the alley a sound could be heard, and the scattering the wood. After a short while, from within the darkness a slender Timberwolf; a female, creeped out from the shadows; within its jaws a green glow could be seen, before it sprinted off through the roads of Ponyville, causing its citizens to flee in terror as it headed towards the Everfree forest. It had been hours now, and the howling and trembling of the earth had stopped. Spike and Twilight make it back to the Library and hid within the basement. Rainbow Dash had managed to get Fluttershy and she was there helping Twilight with her injuries, which was minor considering. Rainbow Dash was stationed back with the reserves soon after the fight broke out and she claimed to have seen the entire thing after the Titan Wolf had drawn attention away from the villagers. “That thing was SOOO HUGE!” she flung her forelegs though the air for emphasis. “It attacked and ran just outside of town to the flower fields whilst fighting them other wolves. And the wonderbolts showed up and bash, smash!” she motioned with her hooves. “Of course the wonderbolts weren’t very effective with their blows but I mean, that thing was HUGE! Kinda like spike was on his birthday!” Twilight was still pale from her encounter but at least she was coherent when she spoke. “Yes, Rainbow Dash, we all saw him. We know how big he was.” She pauses slightly as the analytical part of her mind kicks in before saying. “He was not as big as spike! I’ve seen him up close and-” Rainbow hovered down and sat next to Twilight giving her a strange look, “Twi, why do you keep calling it a he and him? Are you alright Twi?” Twilight blinks looking at Rainbow Dash opening her mouth but is cut off by Fluttershy. Twilight nods as Fluttershy speaks up. “She most certainly is not! She’s still in a state of extreme shock, and her leg is highly swollen.” “I’m fine Fluttershy, I just need some rest.” Twilight gave Fluttershy a small smile. “Dont worry.” Fluttershy looked at her with a frown but nods in agreement. “Yes you do.” She speaks in a soft tone, “I’m sorry if I was rude to you Rainbow.” she said as she turned her head away. “Its nothing Shy.” Rainbow said, waving a hoof at her friend nonchalantly before continuing. “What’s weird was right in the middle of the fighting all the smaller wolves all howled out in pain and then dashed back into the Everfree forests; with the Titan chasing after them” Rainbow stated. “It’s like they just came here to fight and then fled.” Twilight sat there for a long moment before looking up. “Wh-what? The, Oh- Oh yeah. I put a potion in the fountain at the center of town. It was made to repel Timberwolves. You know, considering we were having trouble with them and all.” Twilight smiled as the other two looked at her. “And when did you do this?” Rainbow asked. “Um. Well, About thirty seconds before the Timberwolves decided on a full out assault…” She grinned. “Look, I had no idea that the Timberwolves would attack when the potion was used okay? I was just...“ Twilight groaned placing a hoof to her forehead. “Shh, its okay Twilight.” Came the soothing voice of Fluttershy. “Its okay, you were just trying to protect us.” She smiled at Twilight. “Now drink this and get some rest.” Twilight drank from a small cup as she layed back on the makeshift bed in the basement. “Thank you Fluttershy.” She looked at Rainbow Dash who had her normal face on and not a scowl, she smiled slightly as Twilight's eyes drifted closed.