//------------------------------//
// Chapter ten. The final chapter. 
// Story: Student of the Night 
// by Thestoryteller 
//------------------------------//

The clear moon shown through the dark night like a flashlight in the dark. Giving sight to Nightwing, Flash, Lightning strike, and Comet tail who were moving in the Everfree Forest. In front of them was a single Timberwolf running away from its four chasers.

"Are you sure they were fake Timberwolves?" Comet tail asked.

"Positive." Nightwing said. "They didn't have bad breath, and they didn't reform when Flash blew up the other two. Also this one high tailed once we destroyed its friends."

"Somepony want to tell me what's going on?" Lightning strike asked.

"We're tracking down fake Timberwolves because we believe Somepony is creating them and is terrorizing Ponyville." Flash answered.

"And we're gonna see who's behind this." Nightwing said.

The Timberwolf kept running until it ran out into an open area in the forest that had no trees. The lone Timberwolf came to a stop when it reached the center of the area. It turned around towards the four that were racing towards them. Then they too came to a stop.

"Why did the Timberwolf stop here?" Comet tail asked.

"Because I told it too." A voice came from behind the Timberwolf. 

The Timberwolf moved out of the way to reveal an earth pony with a light blue coat, silver mane and tail, and red eyes.

"I'm sorry but, did you just say the Timberwolf stopped because you told it too?" Comet tail asked. "And who are you?" 

"You don't recognize me Comet tail, I'm hurt. Perhaps this will jog your memory." The earth pony said as he showed the four his cutie mark. A red heart with a silver cross over it, with a circle in the middle. Comet tails eyes widen when he saw it.

"Clutterstep?!" Comet tail said in shock.

"You know this pony Comet tail?" Flash asked.

"I did when I was a colt, Clutterstep what happened to your mane and eyes?" Comet tail asked.

"A side affect from some...experiments." Clutterstep said.

"Experiments like what?" Nightwing asked.

"Experiments. Now I bet your wondering why I lead you all out here?' 

"let me guess it's because we have walked into a trap isn't it?" 

"You know no pony likes a buzzkill Nightwing." Clutterstep said as he reared his head up and howled at the moon.

"Why did you just do that?" Night wing asked.

"Uh...guys!" Flash said.

The group looked around to see that they were indeed trapped.  Surrounding them in a circle was about two-hundred Timberwolves. 

"Eat up boys!" Clutterstep yelled as he stopped the ground with his right. Upon hearing the signal the Timberwolves charged their prey.

"Oh...fudge." Nightwing said as the others got ready to fight. 

Once the Timberwolves had closed the distance between them and their prey they lunged at the group. Flash was the first to act, creating several small lightning balls and firing them at the Timberwolves. Lightning strike copied Flash's actions and fired lightning balls of his own at the Timberwolves. Comet tail played his part by firing blasts of magic at the Timberwolves. Nightwing attacked the Timberwolves by firing magical blasts from his crystal. 

Soon the Timberwolves were all destroyed and all that remained was the group and Clutterstep.

Nightwing, Flash, Lightning strike, and Comet tail were all panting. Each had several cuts and bruises on their body's. Timberwolf remains were scattered all over the place.

"Well done you four, you managed to fight off my minions." Clutterstep said as he clapped his hooves against the ground.

"That's right. What now fool?" Nightwing asked while panting.

"Well I was hoping that you would all get eaten by the Timberwolves but I see now that's not gonna happen, so I'll just transform and kill you myself." 

"What?" Flash asked in shock.

Clutterstep barred his teeth as his fur began to rise. His body began to grow along with his muzzle and face. His teeth became bigger and sharper, and his ears became pointer. Finally Clutterstep transformed into a tall wolf-like creature that stood on two legs. Also known as a Werewolf.

"Clutterstep...what happened to you?" Comet tail asked in horror.

"What happened to me?" Clutterstep asked, his voice became lower. "This is the affect of the experiments I went under. Now my old friend, it pains me to do this but I must kill you, goodbye." 

The last thing Nightwing did before Clutterstep attacked was send a distress message to Luna.



"Nightwing." A soft voice echoed through Nightwings head.

"Wha?" Nightwing murmured as he tried to open his eyes.

"Nightwing." The voice said again. "It's time to wake up Nightwing."

"Wake...up?" Nightwing asked.

Nightwing then saw a white light. He then moved towards it without any hesitation.



"Nightwing!" Luna shouted.

"Huh, what?" Nightwing murmured.

"Thank goodness your alive."

"What...what happened?" Nightwing asked as he tried to sit up. "Where am I?" 

"Your in Ponyville hospital." 

"My friends, Where are they?!" Nightwing shouted as his eyes widened.

"Your friend Comet tail is alive but severally injured. But..." 

"But what? Teach what happened to Flash and Lightning strike?!"

"Their injuries were more severe than Comet tail and yours, we can only forestall what will happen to them."

"No." Nightwing couldn't believe it, Flash. His best friend. Was going to die. And it was all his fault, just like what happened to Flash's dad. He died and it was all his fault.

Nightwing began to hyperventilate, his heartbeat began to rise beating faster and faster. He jumped from the bed he was in and ran down the hall. Pushing past any doctor and nurse that was in his path. He burst through the hospital doors and kept running.

He kept running and running, ignoring the pain he felt with each step he took. As soon as his house came into view, he sprinted towards the door. Burst through and collapsed in the living room. Tears were beginning to fall from his face as it all overwhelmed him.

"Nightwing." The same voice he heard before called out.

"W-who's there?" Nightwing asked as he wiped some tears from his face.

"Nightwing."

"Go away. Leave me alone." 

"Awww, don't worry Nightwing. I'm here to help." The voice came from behind him.

Nightwing turned around to see a Pegasus mare with a grey fur coat, yellow crossed eyes, and a blond mane.

"D-Derpy?" Nightwing asked.

"Derpy? No, no, I am my masters Messenger." Messenger said.

"W-who's your master?" Nightwing sniffled.

"Sorry can't say, but like I said before I'm here to help."

"H-how can you help me?" 

"Well I was gonna tell you a way to make sure your friends Flash and Lightning live, but if you don't want my help. Suit yourself." Messenger said as she began to walk away.

"Wait!" Nightwing said causing Messenger to stop. "I'm listening."

"Well you see, my master can't let your two friends die. So he sent me to tell you how to save them."

"And how do I do that?" 

"Easy, first I need you to open up your vault." 

"How do you know-"

"Time is ticking Nightwing."

Right, right." Nightwing said as he went to the vaults door and opened it up.

"Next we will need the two Elements of Chaos you've collected."

Nightwing then went and got the two Elements and put them in a pouch bag.

"Okay what's next?" Nightwing asked Messenger.

"Next, you place the shadow gem on Flash's heart and the flame gem on lightning's." Messenger answered.

"Does it matter which one I put on their hearts?"

"Yes, got it?" Messenger asked, Nightwing nodded. "Great, next thing. Blink."

Nightwing blinked once and he was no longer in his house. He was back in the hospital. He looked to his right to see two beds. One had Flash in it. The other Lightning. Nightwing looked all around but Messenger was no where to be found.

"Time is ticking, Nightwing." Messengers voice echoed.

"Right." Nightwing said as he approached Flash. His body was badly damaged, cuts and bruises all over. Nightwing levitated up a scalpel and cut open the skin to his heart and then placed the black gem on it. He then did the same with Lightning strike and placed the red gem on his heart.

"This better work." Nightwing said. "Because if not, I've gone insane." 

The door behind Nightwing opened. Nightwing turned towards it to see that it was Luna and a doctor who had entered the room.

"I figured you be here." Luna said as she walked next to Nightwing. "I wish I could do something, but theirs nothing I can do."

"My word!" The doctor said.

"What is it doctor?" Nightwing asked anxiously.

"It's Flash sentry and Lightning strike. Their wounds have...have fully healed!" 

"What?!" Luna said in shock.

"I don't know how, but their wounds are gone. Any damage to them has disappeared."

Luna looked at Nightwing and then back to the doctor. "Thank you doctor, can you leave us alone please?" Luna asked.

"As you wish, Princess." The doctor said as he left the room. Once the doctor was gone Luna turned to Nightwing.

"What did you do?" Luna asked her student.

"I saved my friends, Teach can you make sure that no pony remembers this except you and me?" Nightwing asked.

"Very well, but only if you will tell me what you did to save Flash and Lightning strikes life.

"Deal."



Meanwhile Messenger had teleported to the great library.

"I've done what you've asked Master." Messenger said.

"Good work my Messenger." Storyteller said.

"What happens now master?" 

"Now I'm afraid that the book has ended."

"But the story hasn't ended, has it master?" 

"No my dear Messenger. The story has just begun."



To Be Continued