//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Even the roughest diamond can shine // Story: The Pony and the Wolf // by LoneW01fDusko //------------------------------// Time had past, during his time alone as he thought about what he said to Rarity that he didn't want to save her which was an obvious lie seeing how he cared about others more than the timberwolves, not to mention family, and while Dusko thought about family he glanced at Rarity and Sweetie Belle hugging until Sweetie Belle walked towards the door and out the boutique, Rarity then closed the door and noticed Dusko looking and all she gave was a awkward smile at him as he quickly turned away still feeling guilty. And all he kept thinking was, if he really was that heartless he would of ignored the scream for help and just let Rarity and Spike die. But there was something inside of him that was telling him he doing the right thing by letting this pony help him, Dusko could only imagine that he would be branded a domestic sap for which is nothing more than a traitor to all wolf kind, but being the type of wolf that Dusko is that doesn't seem to bother him he's been a lone wolf since he was able to walk, all his family disappeared and all he could see were earth pony tribe settlements which made him think they killed his kind, so he went roaming from place to place stumbling onto Ponyville before it became a fully functioning town as it is now with nothing but a few earth ponies tending the land. He recalls that moment on that day he was lonely, starving, scared and tired and was chased out by two very strong-looking stallions who were throwing pitch-forks and waving torches at him until they drove him back into the Everfree forest. That was when the timberwolves found him and took him in and taught him how to fend for himself like teaching him how to hunt and also teaching the ways of the timber wolf which was nothing but bloody torture, and still to that day Dusko would not want to look back upon it, which is the timberwolves little torture game, when the timberwolves hunt for their prey more so if it's a pony mare or filly or stallion or colt, they would drag them into the darkness and torture the living hell out of their prey sounds disgusting right, why do you think Dusko left the timberwolves to proceed his own path and since he never wanted to talk about his past, for a 20 year old wolf still younger than any of the other species of wolves due to his lack of growth into his everfreeian families environment, and him mostly fearing over the loyal protectors of they're homeland and forbidding themselves to becoming into contact with any other creature other than they're own species. But what Dusko did know about his species that they were xenophobic and didn't want to reveal themselves among others, not to mention dangerous and far more frightening than Dusko, in a way you could say Dusko was even freighted of them as well considering he's one of them but there was one thing he didn't have which all other Everfreeians had which was, wings. Now Dusko heard that most Everfreeians had wings especially when he was a pup knowing and wishing that someday he would earn his wings, but as time went by that never became true, so he kinda forgot about it and treated that legend to be a old time story that would not probably be real or wouldn't even happen to him, though that's always been Dusko's dream to feel the wind in his fur and fly along with the birds, maybe if he ever did earn his wings maybe the other everfreeians would come for him and he'd probably find out who he is supposed to be. But right now all he can do is wait for his leg to heal up so he'd be fit and ready to go back to the Everfree his one and truly place to call home back to his cave up the top of everfree peak, but while he was in Ponyville stuck inside of a boutique being cared for by a pony he saved plus her little sister and also her friends. But things weren't going particularly well ever since Dusko was spotted by Knight Rider, Mayor mare had got in contact with princess Celestia to see if any of the royal guard could come out to Ponyville and keep watch for Dusko if he was sighted again, and to make it worse prince Blueblood was summoned to Ponyville not just to keep the guards stationary but he had his suspicions about this everfreeian wolf. Dusko watched from the windows of Carousel Boutique and could see these stallions in golden armour stationary around entrances and what looks to be they would go around talking to random ponies, Dusko was the distracted when Rarity came in looking nervous as she walked over to Dusko. "This is just dreadful absolutely dreadful" said Rarity who was glancing from Dusko and then to the window to where the royal guards are. "What's going on out there, what's with all those ponies in golden armour" he responded while tilting his head. "Since you were spotted last night the royal guards are keeping an eye for you and I dread to think what they would do to you" she spoke dreadfully imagining what would happen if her saviour was captured. After Rarity spoke there was a knocking on her door, and as soon as Dusko heard the loud commotion he quickly ducked down underneath the kitchen table while Rarity took a table cover and placed it over the table enough to make Dusko unseeable, as she turned to open the door and to her surprise two members of the royal guard were at the door. "Excuse me miss is your name Rarity" said one of the guards. "Why yes. yes it is "she replied with a smile with also a hint of nervousness as she quickly glimpsed at the table while the guards were whispering at each other. The other royal guard walked forward "we have reason to believe you were the only one who never attended the urgent gather up, and don't worry your not in trouble we just need to know why?", the guard then ordered his partner to search the area. Dusko who was under the kitchen table started to cringe when the guard who was searching came into the kitchen and a little bit of Dusko's tail peeked out and with the guards wearing golden plated horseshoes the pressure on Dusko's tail was so intense he clenched his claws into the floor and to stop him from screaming at the top of his lungs he began to bite his tongue and put his good paw to his mouth as the pain on his tail was so intense. Rarity saw Dusko's tail peeking out a bit and cringed a bit when the guard who was searching the place had stepped on the wolf's tail, she then noticed the other guard looking at her waiting for her to respond, she quickly turned her attention to the guard and took a deep sigh to settle her nerves. "I was here all night sleeping, due to the fact I was exhausted after collecting gems for my fashion business" she exclaimed. The guard who was questioning Rarity gently smiled and nodded and gestured for his partner to come along. "That's all ma'am but if you see anything suspicious then let us know" the guard said as his partner walked out the door. "I'll be sure to" Rarity said pretending to encourage them, and closed door as they walked back out into the town. "Oh my howling moons of great balls of fire I'd thought they'd never leave" Dusko exclaimed looking at is tail after it was stepped on, Rarity walked towards Dusko to check to see if his tail was all right. "Don't worry miss Rarity I'm fine it's just little sore" he spoke while smiling gently, Rarity gently smiled back and then noticed that the time was getting on and quickly trotted to her work room. "there are some things I must attend to" she said trotting up hurrying up the stairs. Dusko couldn't help but just stare at Rarity with curiosity and confusion, and with his curiosity getting the best of him as he carefully followed Rarity up the stairs to her fashion workshop room, and as he reached the door way the mannequins in the room made him feel uncomfortable as he remembered one time seeing a hunter pony's shack hoarded with stuffed animals from the Everfree which made him sick that day, and only just the thought of it made him feel sick again. Rarity turned to see Dusko's face as he looked like he was about to pass out while he was staring shockingly at the mannequins. "Uh?... Dusko?... are you... um?... alright" she spoke looking worried at her saviour, as she began to walk towards him slowly and extended her hoof and gently poked him in the shoulder and with that slight bit of contact made him jump. "AH!!... What are those things" he screamed out as he looked at Rarity terrified, Rarity put her hoof around Dusko to calm him down glanced from Rarity and then back to the mannequins. "Easy there Dusko they're mannequins" Rarity calmly explained, Dusko looked at her with a raised eyebrow "what's a mannequin?. and why do they look like ponies that have been" he begins to cringe slightly "stuffed" he then gulped at the last word. The words he was saying about the mannequins made her shiver at such a thought, as she was about to speak she couldn't help but let out a little giggle as he cautiously looked at the mannequin like a puppy exploring it's new surroundings. Dusko frowned at Rarity since he didn't like being made a fool out of, he then walked up to Rarity still frowning, Rarity looked deep into his eyes but again she never feared his gaze. "I'm sorry, I do apologise Dusko I never meant to offend you" she spoke apologetically Dusko just looked at her and then pointed back to the mannequins demanding for an explanation. So Rarity composed herself and sat and explained what the mannequins are and that they're not ponies at have been stuffed and in fact they were made out of polystyrene a material that fascinated Dusko he then reached out his paw to feel the mannequin, after that he then looked apologetically at Rarity. "I'm sorry but thanks for that little lesson" Dusko began smile as he felt the interest to learn more everything about this subject and even the history peaked his interest. "um Rarity..." Rarity had her attention on Dusko as he smiled with a hint of nervousness "I'd like to learn more if you don't mind" he spoke as he slightly grinned, Rarity was at a lost for words no-pony except for her sister, but no-pony as ever asked her to teach them, it almost made her nearly tear up. she greatly smiled and gesture for Dusko to follow. Dusko had never seen anything like it, I mean he's known ponies wear clothes but they were tribal garbs but what Rarity was doing was just like another language being translated, Rarity couldn't believe her eyes how this wolf wanted to learn from her, as he took in everything she had said and he even spoke out a few ideas with to her surprise was inspiration, and of course there were things that Dusko didn't like, for example the way Rarity stresses passed him as she rushes to find something when it's literally in the same place it was before. But there was one thing that caught Dusko's attention, the gems that were attached to a outfit he then curiously walked to towards it and started to sniff the gems that we're on it. "uh... Rarity?" Dusko spoke gently, as Rarity turned to face him as he began to point out at the gems she had put on her fashion line. "Are you sure some of your choices of gems are real" he explained as he examined each gem on every outfit, Rarity was taken a back by this she never thought that some of the gems were fake, "I assume that they are" she spoke a bit worrisome as she thought to herself were her choices a good thing, would sapphire shores still appreciate them if some of the gems were fake. Dusko noticed her worrisome look and walked over to her and put his paw around her "it's ok no need to panic you ponies wouldn't know the difference but let me show me you what I mean" he reassured her as he gently smiled, he then walked over to the cart of gems and sniffed them to find both a real one and a fake one, as soon as he found the two he was looking for, he went back to Rarity and set aside the two gems. "Ok Rarity since you seem to have a good eye for fashion, which gem seems to sparkle more" he explained, Rarity with her fore hoof to her chin and a think as she looked at the two gems in front of her. After several minutes of examining the gems in front her she finally had made her decision on which was the real one. "That one of course" she spoke rather confidently as she pointed out with fore hoof to the gem on the right, Dusko admired her confidence for a moment until he lent down and sniffed the gem one more time to see if she was right. He began to smile and looked up to Rarity and nodded, Rarity couldn't believe it she knew she had a good eye for fashion and which gem she chose looked the most glamorous but actually guessing which gem was the real really amazed her. Dusko than began to tap the two gems with his claw and the fake made a horrible clanking noise and the real one made a sweet jingle noise, but what Rarity found truly incredible was when Dusko took all the gems that were real and put them altogether in a pile and gently blew on them with his breath and all of a sudden the gems began to glow and float in mid air, Rarity couldn't believe her eyes; the rubies were dazzling, the sapphires were dazzling, all the gems were so amazingly dazzling. While Rarity was distracted by the magical floating gems and whether Dusko was warming up to this pony made him a little uncomfortable, and he kept thinking would his loyalty be tested with his friendship which kinda scared him a bit. "She is quite beautiful if I do say so, but I can't say anything like that to Rarity, she might find it weird I mean it's even strange that she treats me like a friend and I've never had many friends at first I never knew what friendship meant, until now Rarity had taught me everything and when her friend Twilight Sparkle came over I learned so much more the knowledge that she had was so inspirational, I could listen to it over and over again she was quite the teacher." "The others like Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie always knew how to cheer me up, Fluttershy would come to check on my leg and put new bandages on it, plus she always rewarded me with fish which I couldn't argue there. And Pinkie Pie promised me to throw a party for me and that night I lost count how many sugar rushes I had, but luckily Fluttershy knew how to calm me down when a had to much, plus Rarity was teaching me some manners and let's not mention the other to two ponies Applejack and Rainbow dash who were suspicious about me started to see me as friendly but there was still a hint of suspicion." While the girls were having a good time, that little dragon was sitting out the way as he watched the girls dance to that strange musical sound I began to have a talk with the little guy. "hey... Spike? is it" Dusko said trying to remember his name, plus the name not really a dragon name I've gotta be honest with you Dusko thought as he tilted head with confusion. "uh... yeah I am" he spoke a bit nervously but let out a smile at the wolf, "shouldn't you go join at the party" he gestured as he pointed towards the girls. Dusko looked at the 6 mares and then back at Spike as he raised his eyebrow at him "I'm not used to parties like this... plus the weird movements they're doing all seems really bizarre to me?..." Dusko spoke confused as he focused his attention at the mares and then back to Spike. "Weird movements?... You mean they're dance moves" Spike exclaimed as Dusko wanted to know more about what this dance thing is. "Excuse me but what is dance" Dusko sat and looked at the baby dragon who seemed shocked that somepony or someone wanted a question answered by him So Spike made himself comfortable and explained what dancing was to Dusko and the different kinds of dancing there was, and no sooner or later Spike called the girls over to teach Dusko how to dance. After several falls, Dusko slowly grasped the easiest movments but what seemed the easiest was the slow dance with the girls, mainly it was Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy, Applejack nearly volunteered to help but she still didn't trust him, so all she and Rainbow did was just give their support by cheering him on. "wow I've gotta say this now dancing with miss Twilight Sparkle was an absolute disaster I mean come on the girl can't even dance let alone lead a slow dance and yes we mostly slow danced it was the only dance that was the easiest and I didn't keep falling over and my paws are in agony after being stepped on by their hooves, but we all had a good time and it was a good way for them to get to know me a little. And after the dancing Pinkie brought a ginormous cake and on it were sticks with little fire flames I questioned what they were for and they told to make a wish and blow out the candles and maybe someday would my wish would come true." Dusko thought what to wish for and took a deep breath and blew powerfully at the candles that the cake had started to blow over as well and went over Pinkie, AJ and Rainbow dash, I opened my eyes and I grinned Apolagetically "I'm sorry about that I just got excited" he grinned awkwardly until Rarity came out with some towel cloth things and Rainbow lifted herself with her wings as she got the cake off her. "Yeah next time watch how you blow" she said as she dropped the towel in a basket and said her goodnight to everypony and flew out the door, the rest went to leave as well as the said their good nights walked out the boutique. Dusko began to help clean up the mess as he felt like such an idiot as he had a guilty look on his face, Rarity sooner noticed and gave him a forgiving embrace, Dusko started to blush a bit and gulped "whats that for?" he asked. Rarity looked him the eye "you have nothing to be guilty of Dusko we all make mistakes" she spoke gently to him, no matter what he still felt guilty and dropped what he was doing lay on Rarity's couch. Rarity finished off the last bit of cleaning and placed the blanket over Dusko and gently gave him a peck on his cheek and walked to her bedroom, Dusko's eyes widened as he saw Rarity walk up stairs and put his paw to his cheek and began to blush at what he knew she did, as he lay his head down and smiled as he glimpsed up the stairs.