A Timber for a Wolf (Comment-driven)

by Solarkness

An Apple for a Loosa

Hard Cider's Comment

" . . . . . . Oh my. She must have been knocked unconscious. Who would do suc-" A familiar weight on you back makes itself known as you find the Great-sword wedged between a plate and a pauldron. You must have clocked her while looking around with your sword moving as you took in your surrounding.

Looking away from the culprit on your shoulder, you turn your head to look back to the unconscious filly laying there on the floor. Though the filly did attempt to 'eat you' (with you being 'one' with your armor), you can't help but feel guilty for knocking her senseless with your massive sword. The festering feeling inside you intensifies as you observe her still form.

She looks slightly malnourished with her skin stretching slightly pass a few ribs. Her coat is also grimy right under her tattered cloak... *sigh*, this is worse than that time I accidentally 'killed' a baby Phoenix, but with the possibility of mare-slaughter. This filly is owed an apology for my transgression. Perhaps I could-

You hear a set of hooves trying, and failing, to sneak towards you. You wait for them to draw closer as you faux interest in the unconscious filly, so you can disable them, maybe kill them if needed.

Feeling a weight press against your neck guard, the surprisingly high pitched voice of your muggers speaks: "Hooves in the air where i can-"

You cut off your would be muggers by deftly knocking a levitated knife out of the mugger's grip to the side with one paw, and swing your sword mere inches away from his face.

---

Hidden perk revealed: One with the weapon, one with the armor
I know I said you had to use the weapon like an extension of yourself, but this is going too far!
-You are able to swing your weapons much faster, and do normally impossible sword-feats for even unicorns trained in levitation easily
-You gain a level in badassery when fighting with melee-weapons and are able to accomplish very hard tasks

---

To your shock, you nearly decapitated a pair of foals. To their surprise, you had disarmed them of their only means of defense along with your sword being uncomfortably too close. Seconds that feel like years pass. Finally, out of shock, the foals bleat like goats and tip over with their hooves twitching in the air, knocked unconscious from surprise and fear. You sigh as you sheath your sword, wondering what your should do with the trio of filthy, malnourished foals.

I can't just let them lie here... argh, by Gaea, why do I have to be so good-hearted? Is it too much to ask for being a complete jackass at times? They'll have to come with me on the journey... poor folks don't look like they have anyone who can care for them.

Giving into your guilt, you look for a way to take them with you, and after some searching of your pockets you find out that the pockets of the red cloak are much larger in the inside than they are on the outside. For now you stuff them inside, seeing how you don't want to look like a foalnapper, but still want to keep them with you.

Feeling like doing a heroically heroic hero's act of heroism, you will one of your cloaks to perpetually billow heroically in the non-existing wind in a heroic way. Minutes into you trek you can feel the loneliness in your chest slowly diminish in size.

With or without their consent, you feel as if your all one big happy pack/herd.

This sure has been an eventful day, and it's not even past noon! From realising I love beards to becoming packless, then searching for the mysterious newspaper, at this you pat the pocket you keep the newspaper in, and finding out trains are the worst demonic tartarus-spawn of balefire there is, to being a hopefully-soon-to-be-Gaeasent for three foals.

You can feel a smile make its way across your face. "As the saying goes, 'The journey beats the destination'."

---

Perk gained: Billowing Magnificence
It may seem basically useless to most of you, but it makes for a nice conversation-piece. And you don't want to miss it when you really need it.
-Bodily hair, leafs, clothing. You can will them to move to a non-existing wind so you may appear more charismatic (+25 Charisma while active). That and boost your swager-asity (+10 Swag and +10 Handsomity while active)
-It can also provide some shade for days when its hot as balls.

---

After hours of of walking, you finally made your way to a trading hub.

You were just about to enter the market, when...

Pentakill Apocalypse's Comment

Wait, is that a weapons-store? Can I get the newest inventions of mass-destruction TODAY?

Happily, you barge in before reading what the store actually sells, and once inside...

"Um, sorry, but you are the shopkeeper, right?", you ask the stallion behind the counter, prompting him to ask you how you knew that.

You chuckle at that, and tell him: "Because you set up the wrong sign. You won't sell your pies to people looking for weapons, and people looking for pies go into a bakery. There is no way you could ever afford a shop-assistant, so you have to sell it... OUCH!"

Unfortunately for you, the shopkeeper (weaponsmith? Piesmith!) is a lame unfunny two-horseshoes and kicks you out. He is about to go back in, when he sees another stallion, who upon closer inspection was more a teenager, and tells him: "Ah, I've been waiting for you. Please, go get the home improvement guy. I've been waiting for a delivery that is late..."

You ignore them as you enter the marketplace, all the people looking at you in awe of your magnificent armor.

SnapDrakeGames' Comment

As you look around, just now realising you have no money, a persistent shopkeeper tries to sell you apples.

"My family grows the best apples in all of Equestria! Not convinced? Here, try a bite!", at this he gives you a freebie, which you happily accept before making sure to vanish into the crowd from him.

"Eh, stupid seller, I friggin' hate apples!", you mutter to yourself. Suddenly, you feel like a thousand glares pierce your soul, and as you look around you see a few glares of ponies with apple-based cutiemarks glaring at you, and others looking surprised at you.

You don't feel very comfortable drawing all those stares, so you quickly bolt out of there.

Once secure in a side-street, you store the apple separate from the two fillies and the colt for them to eat later.

BrownDog77's Comment

On the main-street right next to you you see a sultry looking redmaned mare with a cherry for a cutiemark.She is loading up a wagon with baskets of cherries.

"I can't believe we're one stallion short. Are you sure you boys can handle the load with one less hoof?" she asks the stallions hooked up to the saddle.

"Well it will be tough ma'am, but not unreasonable. It may take a few more hours to get there."

"Oh, but these orders are already late as it is. Is there no other big strong stallions in this...hey you sir!" she shouts at you, just as you were about to sneak away.

You look around, hoping she had tried to get someone else to work than you, before gulping and asking: "Me?"

"Yes you! Please, we could use your help.", she tells you.

I don't want to help them, that would be work! And a distraction from my search... I know! If I act as if I don't understand her I could get out of this.

"With what?"

"You think you could help these fine gentlemen pull my wagon to Manehattan?"

Uh... DANGER ABORT DANGER ABORT. *mental sigh* How could I get out of this? I know, I just tell her I can't do that.

"Umm...I don't think..."

"I'll pay you 750 bits,"

"Which way is Manehattan?!" you say as you hook yourself up.

By Gaea, with that much money I wouldn't have to worry about feeding the foals for a while!

---

Hidden perk revealed: Endless stamina
Yeah, right. He's the spirit of chaos, of course he won't get exhausted! All spirits are unable to become exhausted, yes, that includes timberwolves, but back to the topic...
-Your stamina does not get lower
-After a long while awake, your Aether begins to weaken until you fall unconcious or sleep
-Endurance +50

---

Wow, that race really took a toll on them. Tch, they thought they could show off, but not under my watch!

"Thank you very much. We just made it in time!", the mare, who you know now to be Cherry Jubilee, told you before giving you your money.

You run off into the city, trying to find a market so you can feed your foals, not even saying goodbye.

I have to wash my clothes soon, they are getting sweaty and begin to stink... Wait, what am I thinking? Of course I want my natural timberwolf-scent back if possible, and that the shows they belong to me!

You feel something moving in your pockets, so you take the foals out, partially hoping they would know where to go. But after taking them out of the pockets, and giving them the apple, they...

What do they do?

Author's Note:

Hard Cider, I hereby proclaim you 'I love you too in a non-gay-way'!

I've got to ask you some questions, please reply in the comment-section:

1. Should we name each disguise? And if yes:
1a. What is the name of the Shaman's cloak?
1b. What is the name of the Red Monkey Cloak?
I know that will sound like I am an asshole, but... I already decided to name the Abyss Knight the Abyss Knight, I hope you are not too mad The picture is called that after all I decided before one of you gets the idea to turn yourself ( the Timberwolf ) into a travelling charity for abandoned foals, actually that would be pretty cool, you should atleast let the first three foals have some spotlight. The next chapter should have a great focus on them and you.
2. Does the Abyss Knight have runes engraved / the powers of Artorias?
That second question is more for you, haven't played Dark Souls as of now. It would be pretty cool, but at the same time... I'm not sure. I might decide to go against the decision of you later on, but it should help me decide...
3. Is it okay for me to call you the Lifeforce?
Meaning you are the energy that keeps him animated, or the Force of Life deciding what happens...

Comments

[BrownDog77]

Alright, these three kids were all knocked out, either by accident or fright, by you. You promptly stuffed them in your pockets and smuggled them hundreds of miles away to another city.
The kids do the only rational thing.
They scream at the top of their lungs for the police since you kidnapped them!
Ponies all around the city see you, a big figure in armor and a coat and three crying children, and that does not paint a pretty picture.
BAIL!

==========================================================================================================
I think the Zecora's stolen cloak should be called the Shaman cloak, simple as that

[Hard Cider]

1. Should we name each disguise?
>Sure, sound like a good idea to me. Unless 'timberwolf' decides to use a single disguise, it would be easier to name the disguise he chooses to don.

1a. What is the name of the Shaman's cloak?
>Shaman's/zebrican/Zecora's cloak?

1b. What is the name of the Red Monkey Cloak?
>The "Red Monkey" in the cave was a legend of zelda refrence, yea guy? Maybe the Heroic/Hero's cloak? (With a closer examination of the cloak given to you by the strange monkey like creature, you can tell it is not a simple cloak to increase your swagger. You can feel the cloak invigorate you, as if you could weather the worst the world could throw at you. Increase vigor, immunity to fear effects, swagger bonus stays the same.(?))

Abyss Knight sound intimitating.
"If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid."
-Paulo Coelho

Ah yes, the use of intimidation is useful. It's exponential fun to use in pathfinder. Need to unlock a door? Intimidate. Need to boil water? Intimidate. Need to roll a better check? Intimidate. Ok, that last one might not work. Just some fun times with Dungeons and Dragons.

2. Does the Abyss Knight have runes engraved / the powers of Artorias?
>From what I've read about the armor, some of its most note worthy features are its resistances (not immunity) against fires and curses. As for Artorias's powers? He's already swinging his sword like no other. Why stop there?

3. Is it okay for me to call you the Lifeforce?
Meaning you are the energy that keeps him animated, or the Force of Life deciding what happens...
>You mean something akin to the fates and the like? That's pretty nito since the commentators that drive the story play such a roll already to a certain extent.

[Baraka Obama]

they somehow wrap you up in a rainbow plastic wrap and start dancing on you whilst wearing (those that dont have horns) paper unicorn horns while a disembodies voice is singing

-cut to a pink fluffy pony dancing on rainbow dash, then sneezes, causing her to fly away like a rocket-

-back to you-

I dont. I cant-. what is happening?

[Tik-Tok-deerpony]

The foals should panic due to them not knowing where they are

[The Rutherford]

Question 1: I like the idea of naming each disguise.
1A: For Zecora's "borrowed" cloak, I like SnapDrakeGames's suggestion of the Classic Cloak.
1B: For the Red Cloak, I feel like it could be called the Hero's Cloak. Due to the obvious reference.
2: I have no idea. I've never played the game.
3: I love the name Lifeforce.

to play on 6272329 Coment, The Kids (Huey, Duey, and Louie) get you to help get them to their uncle ( who you find out is named Scrooge McHoof). He thanks you by giving a sizable reward that was posted around Equestria for their safe return after you explain that you found them on a train. You then ask for directions for Fillydelphia, which he gets a train ticket for you.

[Hard Cider]

. . . promptly throws the apple in the direction of your head and galloped away as fast as their little legs could take them. Shaking your head from the apple bits you proceed to chase down your chargin. Awhile into the chase, you lose sight of them, leaving you very irrate for losing them in the city. “Curses, I am dangerous predator of the Everfree, how could I have lost them so easily-wait a minute, what’s this?” Checking your disguise, you notice that a section of the blue cloth wrapped around you body was torn off. However, you can still feel the section of missing cloth, but it feels as if it’s moving through the city . . . . ‘oh, one of those foals must have took a piece of my cloak. This will make finding them exponentially easier.’ You did imbed your ‘spirit’ into your disguises, should make sense that you can keep track of your own ‘essence.’ “Right, now I just need to find them.”

Making your way through a series of alleyways, your find yourself in an inside of a worn factory with various vendors selling their wares of questionable origins and purpose. Left and right, you hear merchants yelling their wares to attract the attention to possible customers. One particular vendor pique your interest. “ARMS AND ARMOR! ALL IN PRISTINE CONDITION! ROYAL GUARDS ARMOR WITH FUNCTIONAL DISGUISE ENCHANTMENTS! NEED A FIX GOT SOME- OH HELLO THERE-*cough cough* hrmp, I mean hello there my good stallion. Care to browse my wares?” “Hmmmm, you said something about disguise enchantments, right? Are you sure they still function? And if they do, what kind of disguise?” “Oh, interested in some of the royal guards armor ey? Well, I just so happen to, ‘procure,’ some to display in my inventory. Guaranteed one of a kind. Hows about this one for . . . 1000 bits, yea guy?”

His smile falters slightly, having a hard time reading your reaction due to your covered face. “Hey, ahm jokin, so 1000 bits might be askin for too much right? Let me whittle that down to ah, lets see, 800 bits. I’ll even throw in ah weapon for ya.” He winces as he glanced to the wicked looking greatswords on your back. “Course, you probably don’t need ah notha. So, hows bout we settle for, 750 bits, eh guy?” You stroke your chin, mulling over your choices. Your eyes catches a light shining from several crate behind his stall. Pointing your hoof, “What are those?” The vendor pony appears to be sweating bullets as tries to cover the crate of familiar armor. “Oh, these, these are just, umm broken-no faulty yea faulty. These aren’t for sale sooo-” one of the crates miraculously spills over showing several suits of similar armor. “Eh hehe, yea sooooo . . . . . “ “One of a kind you said?” “Hey hey hey, these are just, umm-” You lean over the counter, grabbing the vendors head and pulling him toward you. “Listen here you cur, if thou expects us to purchase illicit merchandise of yours, you best not try your trickery upon us less you-” Shifting your shoulder to display your greatsword, “-an untimely demise. So, let us continue as this never happen shall we? . . .*Ahem*, We would like to purchase that suit of armor for . . . 250 bits. Is that not a fair price?” “Uhhhh, yes-no, I mean, just take the stupid armor and leave me alone!!! Please?” Thanks to you exceptional bartering skills you now own a suit of outdated royal guards armor. You make your way out of the black market, but before you do that, you turn around to address the quivering vendor. “Excuse me, did you happen to see a small group of foals traveling through here?” “NOT THE FACE- o-oh? U-uumm, I think ah o-ov-ver heard em sayin that they w-we-ere headin somewhere that way. W-w-would that b-be all, um, sir?” "Yes, that would be all." "Finally!- I mean, have a nice! *sigh*, goddesses above do I need a drink . . . " after leaving the market, you go down an abandoned section of the factory to don your new set of armor. Less than a second after attaching the last piece of armor, you 'pony' form is shrouded in the armors illusion enchantment, leaving behind a simple white coated blue mane earth pony stallion. "Good. So he didn't lie about the enchantment. This should make finding those foals a simpler task.

New item acquired: outdated guards armor
Only high ranking officers of the royal guard wear these heavy suits of armor. Disguise more likely to works on civilians and lower ranking officers.

Dodger's perspective [for the sake of naming them, they shall be dubbed Oliver (unicorn colt), Dodger (earth pony filly), and Cosette (thestral filly) debate about the names later anyone?:

Afta ah nailed dat cloahked pohny thing wif da ahpple, we high tailed id out-ah thera. Weh prhactically ran hafway’z cross da dang city. "*gasp* oheh yoz *pant* foals, I fhink *pant* weh los em." With one final step, I decided that that was nuff fore today. I'm glad ma friends was able to keep up, them slow pokes. I'm surprised we heven made it this far, wif not have'n eatin any thing since yesterday. *ggrrrrooOoowwllll*, shad up you! Can’n hear Mah self finkin with ya whinin. *rooOoaarr*, uuggghhhh, wish ah still had thad apple. Ah really wished weh could ress ear, but ah knew we wasn't safe restin here. So I got up ta troops.

"Ok, we should keep movin. Who knows when that hood pony's gonna find us. So come 'mon fillies." " *sigh*,can't we just wait a little bit longer. I feel like my legs are gonna fall off." "Oigh, not yet twist, not until it's safe. So move em noodle legs so's we can- omph!! Aahhh! Ahm blind halp getitoffgetitoffgetitoff- *smack!* ack! EY COSY, NOT COOL- ,oh ey, ah can see. Thanks." " Don't mention it. Hmm? Hey Twist! Look at this flyer." "Oh hey a convention. Welcome to the 21st annual Manehattan convention found on something . . . . . Maybe we should check it out? What do you Cosette?" "I think it would be a fun idea. Dodger, what do you think?" Hmmm, sound like fun. Maybe we'z could steal some merch an pick some pockets, yea. I'm in!" So, afta ah vote we'z decided itd's be our best interest ta head for tha convention and maybe snag a few 'souvenirs'. "Alrightly then, I guess our next destinations the convention. Gosh, I hope they have some power ponies there. Nothing gonna ruin our day now!"

<2 hours later>

“Cain ya believe dat stallion? Kickin some foals to da curbs lik some garbage. Bet he’s compensatin for somethin.” “Well, we did try to sneak in without tickets? Anypony have any ideas?” “Hmmmm, perhaps I could carry one of you two onto the roof at a time?” “Nah, bet tha doors up there ah locked. Heven iff we mak ah way up, sum-mon’s gonna spot us. Per haps we need ah more suddle aproach?” Pointin a hoof at the 20 hoof long costum, ma two friends look at each otha before turnin to me wif recognition in their faces. Afta sneakin in though the entrance . . .

(my god am i tired. I'm very bad person for trying Brooklyn accent. I'z so hard ta type. Ehhh, fawget aboutit Much shape to mlp community, so doge.)