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// Can We Keep Him? 
// Story: A Filly and Her Wolf 
// by Teotle 
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The next morning, Twilight had gotten up and gone down stairs to tell spike the whole story. He was skeptical at first, but eventually, he began to understand the situation.

"So, should we write to the Princess?"  Asked Spike.

"Yes, we can't afford to keep this a secret." Said Twilight. "Nyx being an alicorn was easy to hide, but it would be more challenging to hide a wolf."

With that said, Spike picked up a pen and paper and began to write as Twilight began tell the story of last nights events, leaving out no details. when she was finished, Spike sent the letter.

Nyx came down stairs and said, "Good morning."

"Good morning, Nyx." Said Twilight and Spike, together.

Twilight and Spike told Nyx what was going to happen over the next few days involving the wolf cub they found. The plan was to keep an eye on the cub until the princesses replied to there letter with instructions of what to do with him.

Nyx protested about the the plan and said, "But what if they try to take him away?"

"Trust me Nyx, said Twilight. "If they take him, it will only be to look after him. Besides He's in no condition to go anywhere right now.

Just then, a knock came from the door. When Twilight answered it, Nurse Redheart was outside with a set of papers. "Hello Twilight, I hope I'm not interrupting anything." She said.

"Not at all." said Twilight. "What is it, hows the cub?"

Nurse Redheart frowned and said, "That's the thing. He's, well, maybe you should come with me."

Twilight, Nyx and Spike followed Nurse Redheart to the hospital. As they entered the room the wolf was staying in, their eyes widened at what they saw.

The wolf was standing on its back legs like a human, looking to be perfectly healthy. When he saw them, he began to wag his tail. Happy to see them, he walked over to them and smiled with excitement.

"Twilight, with her mouth open, tried to speak. But no words came out.

Nurse Redheart began and said, "He's made a surprising full recovery and is very enthusiastic. He's been helping around the Hospital by tending to the patients and playing games with the kids.

"When did this happen?" asked Twilight. "last we saw him, he was knocked out."

"He first woke up at sunrise." said Nurse Redheart. "He hasn't spoken yet, but he understands us pretty well. There is another thing you should see."

Nurse Redheart told the wolf to turn to his side. When he did, there was a cutiemark on his flank. It was a red paw print with a red ring around it.

Twilight, Nyx and Spike were speechless. No one has ever seen a wolf with a cuties mark. How was this possible?

"That's not even the disturbing part."  Said Nurse Redheart, handing Twilight the papers.

The papers were X-Rays of the wolf's skeleton. Every bone in his body had magical symbols carved onto them. Twilight didn't even recognize them. They seemed to be a dead language.

Nurse Redheart continued and said, "His bones have also been thickened with a rare form of dark magic. Our doctor's have never seen anything like it. There's one more thing you should see."

Twilight followed Nurse Redheart to the table by the window sill. A half made synthetic leg lay on top of the table next to a flower pot of dirt.

"What is this?" Asked Twilight.

"It's his." Said Nurse Redheart. "There was a young baby tree planted in that pot. He used a transfiguration spell to forge the parts for this leg. It took our top doctor's years to study transfiguration spells, Twilight. Is there something your not telling me?"

Hesitant to reply, Twilight told Nurse Redheart Rainbowdash's scary story of Shadowflame. The Nurse listened intently as Twilight gave every detail of what she heard and what happened.

Nurse Redheart thought of what Twilight said, Looked back at the wolf and asked, "Is what she's saying accurate?"  

The wolf nodded and repeated the word, "Accurate."

Just then, Spike burped a letter from Celestia. He opened it and read, "To my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. I need to talk to you and Your friends of this matter. I need to see the wolf cub personally. My sister and I will be there by Tomorrow. Please be careful, and don't gather any unnecessary attention."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What do you thinks the matter?" She asked.

"I'm not sure." Said Spike. "But I don't like it."

"Does this mean we might not keep him?" Asked Nyx

Twilight looked at her and said, "Nyx, we can't keep a wolf in the library. Besides, his parents might be out there, worried about him."

Nyx frowned and said, "But He's so cute and fluffy.  Besides, if he had parents, why would they leave him there instead of helping him?'

"We don't know that  for sure." Argued Twilight. "He could have just wondered too far from home."

Applejack, Rainbowdash and Rarity walked into the doorway with Scootaloo, Sweetiebelle, Applebloom, and Twist. They had just gotten back from the forest after the events of last night to check on the wolf cub. When they saw him, they had reacted just as Twilight did.

"He seems better." Said Applejack.

"How." Asked Rainbowdash. "He bit off his own leg when we found him."

Nurse Redheart Interjected and said, "Twilight told me about that. I have concluded that he did it because he wanted to defend Twilight and Applejack when Nyx was rustling in the bushes."

"Really." Asked Rarity.

"Yes." Nurse Redheart answered. "He realized he wasn't able to protect them as long as he was in the trap, so he tried to free himself by removing his caught foot."

"Well it looks like he's benefiting from that, because he's full of pep." commented Applejack, pointing at the wolf as he continued to wag his tail.

Twilight explained to her friends about what Celestia's letter said and what they might need to expect. The wolf at this point can't be fully trusted, so they shouldn't let him out of their sight. He seemed nice now, but he could try to hurt somepony if they get too close.

Nurse Redheart then gave Twilight the rest of the X-Rays and said, "Keep these to show to the princesses. maybe they can decipher the inscriptions."

Twilight thanked Nurse Redheart, took the X-Rays, and signed the release form for the wolf. She and her friends left the Hospital and went back to their homes. They were all tired from the long walk back to town. Twilight, Nyx, Spike and now the wolf cub, with his now finished synthetic leg, went back to the library to eat a late breakfast.