//------------------------------//
// Wolf Tales 
// Story: Power Ponies 2: The Eternal Bond 
// by Epicdiscord214 
//------------------------------//

"Bye," Filli-Second called as the blimp hovered from the Under Dogs. "Take care of C.R.U.S.A.D.E.! Bye!"
"It's all right, Filli," Mistress Marevelous said. "I think they get the message."
"Well, this is interesting," the Masked Matterhorn said looking through the book Anar D gave her. "I think I found a connection."
"A connection to what, exactly," Rodan said.
"Our items," the Masked Matterhorn said, "The ones that glow even after we found the Harmony Gems. I don't know what they're for, but I know how they're connected."
"You lost me there," Zapp said.
"It seems that during Anar D's 3 month search, he stumbled upon some everyday object foretelling. Each object represents the elements of friendship as the Harmony Gems do. There's the Amulet of Magic, the Coin of Honesty, the Thread of Generosity, the Pin of Loyalty, the Toy of Laughter, and the Flower of Kindness."
"So how do we find them," Hum Drum said. "Is there a map or something, because going after New Heroes and avoiding evil sirens at once it tiresome already."
"Actually, we can't find them. According to the scriptures Anar D found, the Heroes of Harmony aren't allowed to find these things."
"Well, that's a rip-off," Masque said. "Then who can find them?"
"My guess is, the ones who give them to us. Think about it, Anar D didn't give us Scynder's amulet until he learned what being a friend is all about. C.R.U.S.A.D.E. had to learn to do honest work with their powers before they give that coin to Mistress Marevelous. And the Under King needed to learn about how to generously give his life for others, and then, he gave his thread to Radiance."
"So who are the other three guys who are going to give us more mysterious objects," Filli-Second asked.
"I don't know. But something tells me we're going to find out really soon."





Later that night, the blimp was still hovering in the sky. The Power Ponies and Mighty Machines are getting ready to sleep.
"There's still one thing I don't get, Machines," Hum Drum said, "We know about Ricky's past. What about the rest of you?"
"Oh, really," Rodan said. "Well, those are strange stories. I was born a couple of centuries ago, back when the ponies first discovered DNA. I was severely injured by a manticore. The doctors decided the only way to save me was to replace my broken parts. Unfortunately, they could only reach phoenix DNA. The next thing you know, I had phoenix-like powers in my bloodstream. Discordant Convergence came and blasted me to the Netherealm."
"But how are you a wirewolf," Hum Drum asked.
"The same thing with the others," Rodan said. "The Netherealm couldn't accept ponies in its atmosphere, so I was changed into a freak of nature."
"As far as a dog like me goes," Dusk said, "I just like the dark."
"Come on, Aaron," Rodan said. "Tell the kids the truth."
Dusk growled and sighed. "I came from a generous family, but I was always the black sheep. Seriously, while the rest of my family were kind enough to get involved, I didn't see any point to even lend a hoof. Anyway, when Discordant Convergence came to my town, something inside me got a kid out of the way of a blast. Suddenly, I was blasted to the Netherealm. Even when I turned into a wirewolf, I was injured. The Mighty Machines found me and cared for me. To save my life, Masque and Rodan gave me a bit of their powers, but I got the dark versions of it."
Filli-Second laughed. "You're real name is Aaron?!"
"Seriously," Dusk said. "That's the only thing you got from that. Hey, the Shadow Blot's Ricky, Timberwolf's Terry, Rodan's Marty, Masque's Joe, and Devastator's..."
"DEVASTATE," Devastator shouted.
"Sorry, big guy," Dusk said. "Look, if you want Saddle Rager to know, it's time she knew now."
"You want me to know what," Saddle Rager asked.
Devastator sighed. "Devastate."
"What did he say," Mistress Marevelous asked.
"Saddle Rager," the Shadow Blot said, "Do you remember when you were very young, and you had a little dog with a big chin?"
"Yeah," Saddle Rager said. "That dog was the very first animal I ever took care of. He inspired me to help out all the creatures, great and small. One day, after a storm, he disappeared. I wish he was here right now."
The Mighty Machines then looked at Saddle Rager sternly and pointed at Devastator. As soon as Saddle Rager understood what they were trying to say, her face fell in shock. She cheered and hugged Devastator.
"IT'S YOU," Saddle Rager said. "ALL THESE YEARS, AND YOU CAME BACK!"
"Devastate," Devastator said hugging his old friend.
"That's your dog," Zapp asked in shock. "Wow."
Masque started to get water-eyed.
"Are you going to cry," Radiance asked.
"No," Masque said. "I can't cry. I'm a robot."
"What's Masque's story," Hum Drum asked.
"Trust me on this," Rodan said. "You don't want to know. Ricky, don't tell him. You shouldn't have told me, but you did. And now, I'm telling you ponies, you don't want to know."
"And... Timberwolf," Shining Armor asked.
"What's to tell," Masque said. "He was always clumsy. Discordant Convergence came. It brought him to the Netherealm."
"Sounds like these guys got it easy, Blot," Zapp said. "After all, you were a classmate with Princess Celestia. That must have ben awesome."
The Shadow Blot gave no answer. He got up from the floor and left the room silently.
"Was it something I said," Zapp asked.
"I'll check up on him," Hum Drum said.
He followed the Shadow Blot down the hallway and found him looking out of the hangar window.
"Is something wrong, Blot," Hum Drum asked.
"I... I guess I'm a little haunted by the past," the Shadow Blot explained.
"If there's something about what Zapp said that you find offensive," Hum Drum said, "I'm sure she didn't mean to..."
"It's not that." He sighed. "I need to tell some pony this. ...I... have a crush on Celestia."
Hum Drum gasped. "No way! Are you pulling my leg?"
"No. Ever since our first day in class together, I had a thing for her. The only problem was, I used up all the free time I had catering to her every need, but she didn't even notice my feelings. Do you know what that's like?"
"Are you kidding me? You're practically me with metal parts. Four months ago, I developed a crush on Radiance. After the Battle for Maretropolis, I did a lot for her affection, but she seems to take me for granted."
"Perhaps you can just tell her how you feel," the Shadow Blot suggested.
"If it's so easy, smart guy, why don't you do it to the princess?"
"Because it's too late for me," the Shadow Blot said. He looked at his metal claw and sighed. "I should have said something back then, but before I grew the nerve to do anything, I got trapped in the Netherealm. I changed into this... beast. No mare would want to go out with a 6-foot tall, robotic, talking wolf. But you, Hum Drum, you can change into Radiance's favorite minerals. You have your greatest chance. Don't let fear run your life as it did mine."
Hum Drum changed his claw into diamond-form and sighed.
"I guess you're right. But tell me, Ricky, if life was different for you, what do you think it would be like?"
The Shadow Blot opened his eyes when he heard a question he's never considered before. He sighed and expressed his answer.

"I guess I'd be a hero
With tales and stories awaiting
A legend, I'm creating
In the palm of my claw
Or else, I'd be an explorer
And set sails to the high seas
Feeling the ocean breeze
Like never before
I'd find new lands. I'd make a map
I'd see unseen creatures
I'd never have to put up with all this strife
These iiiiimpoooooossible featuuuuuures
In another life
In another life
Or I could be a writer
With many tales within me
And they could always see
Past the cover of the book
And to the ponies, I'd tell 'em
And as I'd interpret
They would never forget
To take a second look
I'd write sagas and romances
Everything I've ever dreamed of
I'd express myself with all that I would be
A heeeeaaaaart fuuuuuuull of true love
But in reality
But in realityyyyy
A monster stays away
As told in any story
A wolf always gets chased or skinned
WITHOUT ANY GLOOOOOOOOORYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY
So yes, I'd be a hero
And if that day would come
I'd search for the one
My heart is set upon
Of course, I'd be a hero
And I would always start
By following my heart
To the one that I want
Don't care for the obstacles
I would eventually face
I'd save the day. I'd get the girl
And I'd say with grace
...'MY LOVE, I'VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF THIS
FOR YOU TO BE MY WIFE'
THEN, WE WOULD KISS
I'D GET A WHOLE NEW LIFE
AND HAAAAAAAVE A HEEEEEEEERO'S ENDIIIIIIIING
A PEEEEEEERFECT HAAAAAAAPY ENDIIIIIIIIIING
THAT'S HOW IT WOULD BEEEEEEEE
ONCE AGAIN, THE DAY IS SAAAAAAAAAAAAVED
But not by meeeeeeeeeeeeeee"

Far off, in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was going through some old stuff. She pulled out a yearbook and opened it. She saw a pony's picture labeled "Ricky". She closed the book and sighed miserably. She did not now that she was singing the same tune as the Shadow Blot.

"A monster stays away
As told in any story
A wolf always gets chased or skinned"
"YOU'VE GOT NO GLORYYYYYYYY" Hum Drum sang.
"GLOOOOOOOOORYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY," everyone sang.
"SO YES, I'D BE A HERO," the Shadow Blot sang.
"AND IF THAT DAY WOULD COME
I'D SEARCH FOR THE ONE
MY HEART IS SET UPON
OF COURSE, I'D BE A HERO
AND I WOULD ALWAYS START
BY FOLLOWING MY HEART
TO THE ONE THAT I WAAAAAAAAAAAAANT"
"ONCE AGAIN, THE DAY IS SAAAAAAAAAAVED," everyone sang
"THAT'S THEEEEEE PEEEEEEEEEERFECT...
LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFE"





Meanwhile, at the outskirts of Manehattan, Timberwolf's disembodied head was using his teeth to reach up to his neck. He strained as he pulled himself up.
"Got to get there," he muffled. "Got to get to town and warn the others."
"Warn the others about what exactly?"
Timberwolf saw the Order of Change behind him and gasped. His teeth let go of his knee and he fell back to the ground.
"If you're going to finish me off, just do it."
"Finish you," Anar D said. He picked up Timberwolf's head. "Oh, no. Actually, we're going to put you back on your body."
"You are," Timberwolf asked. "Why?"
"We need you walking," Darkmatter said. "We have an important message for you to deliver to the little monkey, Twilight Sparkle aka the Masked Matterhorn."
"What sort of message," Timberwolf asked preparing for the worst.