> Logan and Carol; The Wolves of Equestria
>  by JNKing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Meeting Discord Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even though the mares had told Logan and Carol that Ponyville was one of the safest places to be, it didn’t stop the town from being incredibly annoying from time to time. Example? Logan could easily start with the fact that a cloud had turned pink, and was now floating around the forest, having taken a vested interest in Carol.
“Why is this rain BROWN?!” Carol screeched, the cloud dumping thick, gloopy raindrops on her as it tried to make its way through the canopy of trees, cotton candy breaking off and sticking to the leaves.
“Hang on, I got it,” Logan replied, firing a bolt at the cloud. He had managed to knock away clouds with this before. But this time, the bolt bounced off the cloud and hit the ground, shattering into brightly colored balls that instantly slid under Logan’s paws and sent him to his back. Fighting the mountain of sweet smelling balls, he made his way over to Carol, and the two stood back to back under the cotton candy cloud. 
“Well, how do you suppose Celestia is trying to ruin our day now?” Logan pondered.
A cawing, hacking laugh suddenly sounded around them. Carol flinched, crouching down while Logan bared his teeth.
“You think that dear old Tia is behind this one?” the voice asked. It sighed. “Oh, you certainly are the most interesting of specimens. I think even someone like myself could learn quite a bit from you.”
Logan and Carol spun around, searching for the voice, yet it sounded like it was right between them or behind them.
“You see anything?” Logan asked.
“I don’t, I…” Carol stammered. She was quivering; her fur was on end. Logan glanced at her worried. 
“Carol?” he asked. “What is it?”
“I…” Carol shook her head. “No, it can’t be… not…” 
She was crouching down even further, her fur standing unevenly as the oddly sweet smelling brown rain continued to drench them both. Logan turned around with a glare, trying not to stumble over the uneven balls and make a fool of himself.
“Where are you?” he snapped. “Show yourself, coward!” 
The disembodied voice laughed uproariously. “So much spunk. So much spirit! I may just make you my personal court jester when I take over Equestria again.” 
Logan spun, clawing the air the voice had been at, only to nearly hit Carol instead.
“Damnit, when I get you…” Logan snarled.
“Oh, feisty!”
A flash of light appeared behind them, and the wolves whirled around as a tree turned into balloons and floated away from them. 
“Really, all that stress,” the voice said in mock concern. “Look at you; already white as a snowflake.”
Logan gasped as snowflakes actually drifted down from his fur. He snapped wildly, their cold getting into his fur.
“And how old are you really?” the voice asked. “Hmm? Far too young to look so old, don’t you think?” 
“Get out here!” Logan dared. “I haven’t had chicken in some time now. I’d like to remember the taste.”
“Oh-ho, chicken, you say?”
“Or maybe cow? For coward?” Logan snapped. “Take your pick and get out here so I can EAT you!”
“Logan…” Carol hissed, but the voice just continued to laugh.
“Eat me? Hmm,” the voice lectured. “Well, how do you like the taste of goat…” A goat head appeared in front of them. “And chicken.” A chicken leg appeared with a snap of its talons. “And donkey; and dragon; and a bit of snake; oh, and how about some pegasus…”
Bit by bit, he named various animals, and bit by bit he appeared; a limb here, a tail there, an arm up there, a horn here… until finally, their tormentor appeared, reclining on the lowered cotton candy cloud without a care in the world. 
Logan’s eyes widened, and an old conversation came back to him.
“Did you know Celestia chained the spirit of chaos?” 
The griffons had called him that, and yet…
“Discord,” Logan growled, a smirk replacing his snarl. “So, you’re the chaos spirit Celestia chained up?” Before he could even grin, Logan crossed his arms. “And you show chaos… how? With balloons and clouds?” He scoffed. “Lame.”
“Y-Yeah,” Carol said, standing alongside Logan. “O-Our Chaos spirit tries to wipe out humanity on a daily basis.” She glanced at Logan, who nodded approvingly. “Beat that!” 
Sadly, Carol’s attempt at a burn only got the chaos spirit’s attention. He eyed Carol with interest, and laughed again.
“Oh, dearie,” he said cheekily, snapping his fingers and causing Carol’s doe bumps to enlarge into antlers. “I know about dear sweet Myst. You know, I’ve talked to her before.”
Logan and Carol ceased trying to pull Carol’s antlers off to stare at him. “You… met her?”
“Spending an eternity in stone can get one a little antsy if you’d believe. I couldn’t do much in this dimension, oh no…” his grin widened evilly. “But it couldn’t stop me from exploring other dimensions. Or at least talking to other beings from other dimensions.” 
He conjured bars around him and adopted a dramatically tragic pose.
“Oh, how they made my stay in torment so much easier,” he declared.  
“How’d you get out?” Logan asked. “You should still be a statue.”
“Oh?” Discord asked. He indicated his cage, as a piñata of Celestia came forward with a key. “Why, Celestia freed me, of course.” He bounded out of his cage with a cackle while Logan’s jaw dropped.
“She did WHAT?!” he bellowed. 
“Oh, you’ll be able to ask Twilight and her little friends all about it,” Discord said dismissively, checking a pocket watch. “They should be along any minute now.” He then leered towards Carol again, who was backing up at a very quick pace. “But not before you and I have a little time to talk about old… ‘friends.’”
Discord chuckled darkly, and Logan sprang to action. Not even bothering with a threat, he lunged for Discord, snapping up his snake like body in his jaws. Rather… too snake like.
Logan let out a muffled yelp as an actual snake suddenly hissed at him, rather miffed at him for biting it. Logan threw the snake aside, but it was undeterred, lunging at him for a bite of its own. Logan dodged and caught its head, crushing it with a powerful bite.
Canned applause erupted around him, and Logan whirled around. Carol was now sitting next to Discord in some sort of stand for crowds, and Discord was clapping wildly, soda and popcorn next to him.
“Encore!” Discord cheered. “More! Bravo!” 
“How did I get up here!” Carol demanded, before a zipper appeared over her mouth, silencing her.
“Sh-sh-sh,” Discord chastised her. “The real fun’s about to begin.”
“The heck are you talking about?” Logan demanded, already looking around for what else he was going to sic on him.
But nothing appeared. The only sound was Discord’s laughter. Which was sounding… odd. There was a reverberating hum to his voice now. Heck, to all sounds around Logan.
“My dear boy,” Discord chastised. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you that there are certain animals you don’t want to lick? Or bite in this case?”
Logan whirled at him, and then at the snake. A dull chill settled over him as he noticed the snake’s unique color pattern; black with orange and white stripes.
“Wait,” Logan mumbled, the snake's colors changing before his eyes. “Was that snake… did it…?”
“Some are rather poisonous; not things you’d want to sink your teeth into,” Discord noted with a nod. “But, I’m in a generous mood right now, so I let you have one with more… entertaining results.”
“Enter…wah…” Logan slurred. He kept trying to glare at Discord’s self-satisfied face, but his left eye kept sliding out of focus. His mouth was starting to twitch. 
Discord’s grin widened. “Have fun,” he said with a cheeky wave. Then, with a poof, he and Carol vanished… quickly being replaced by the pounding of six hoof steps.
“I saw cotton candy over here!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed, before appearing in front of Logan. Logan took a tipsy step back, struggling to keep his balance. “Logan, did you…?” she paused. “Why are your eyes blue?” 
Logan shook his head and blinked, trying to put her into focus. Twilight was next into his vision. And her head was oddly shiny. Heck, all the mares were shiny; Logan wasn’t sure how much of it had to do with the necklaces they were wearing. Or in Twilight’s case, a crown. 
“Logan,” she said. “Discord! He got loose from us! Did you see him? Where’s Carol? Why are your eyes blue? Why is there a dead snake over there?” she gasped. “Is that a Tigrinus snake? Did it feed recently?” 
She was firing off questions with the speed of a machine gun, and Logan was barely able to keep up. 
“I’m seeing blue,” he mumbled. “Pie’s blue for some reason.” He looked up. “And Dash is white.” He squinted. “Did you go super mode, Dash?” 
“I will when I get my hooves on Discord; the jerk,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “What was Celestia thinking; making us let him loose?”
“Tell me about it,” Logan slurred, nearly tripping again. “He took my legs; left me with disagreeable ones.” He sat down and frowned at his paws. “Very demanding too. Shut up, legs; you will bear my weight and like it!”
“Oh, no,” Fluttershy squeaked. She swam into his vision, holding his head up. “What was in that snake, Logan?”
“Snake?” Logan asked. “You mean Discord.” He pointed at the snake proudly, which was oddly starting to resemble a beaten Discord. “I bit him! To save Carol.” 
The frazzled fuses of his mind connected, and he shot up.  
“CAROL!” he bellowed, making Fluttershy jump back. “Where’s Carol? Is she alright? I saw her with Discord. He had plans! Don’t you dare tell me he had no plans; I seen his eyes. One was bigger than the other! I don’t know why that’s a thing!”
The ponies were all staring at Logan now, but he didn’t care. He was being filled with a maniac energy, all of it focused on figuring out Carol, and not at all focused-on Twilight. Even as she scanned the dead snake – DISCORD! – with her magic and then looked at Logan in horror. 
“Logan?” Applejack asked. “Are you… feeling alright?”
“Me? I’m fine… no, I’m not fine! Where’s Carol! I’m not fine as long as she’s gone. We need to get help. We need to call the pack!” Logan turned and started to howl before his brain fused again. “Oh, wait… they’re all dead.” He paused. “I’m even worse than I was before!” he sobbed.
“Hey, take it easy,” Fluttershy tried to say, but Logan whirled around on her, feeling utterly possessed. 
“NO!” he roared, making her jump. “I can’t take it easy! Hell, no! I have the power of God!!” He flexed his claws, and lightning danced wild and free across them. “I could take on Discord, man! Or mare, I don’t care! We’re gonna save Carol!” He whirled around, spotting a tree that looked like a dancing Discord. With a roar, he bashed into the tree, leaving an ashen crater on it. He whooped in glee, even as Rainbow Dash tried to grab his tail. He made his tail dance around her hooves, playing keep away with itself.
“Logan, calm down!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Twilight, is this normal? What did he eat?”
“Discord made him bite a toxic snake,” Twilight said. “But this isn’t at all what the poison in it should be…”
“DON’T TOUCH ME!” Logan howled. “I HAVE THE POWER OF MOON AND TIA ON MY SIDE!” With a roar and a lightning enshrouded slash, he sliced the discord tree down, and bounded away for another target. “HERE I COME, CAROL! YOUR SWASH BUCKLE KNIGHT HERO THING IS ON HIS WAY!”
Logan didn’t hear Twilight or the others staring at each other. Nor did he care. Carol was in danger, and he was the only one that could save her.
Discord appeared again. Logan slashed his head off.
“Ha-HA!” he cried… only to discover it was another tree. “Ha-NAH!” he roared, before spinning again. He swore he could hear Discord’s maniac laughter from above. He slashed upward, a lightning bolt sending sparrows scattering from the trees.
“What are you doing?!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “You’re destroying the forest.”
“Hell, no!” Logan proclaimed. “I’m fighting Discord!” He slashed at a tree. “Give me back my pack mate, you hybrid result of an animal orgy!” 
“Logan, please calm down!” Twilight – or Fluttershy – begged. 
“I think it’s a little too late for that,” Pinkie said worriedly.
“Take THAT!” Logan yelled. He heaved himself at another tree, knocking it right down a hill. It came to rest in a lake, and Logan grinned maniacally as he saw a horde of angry ducks quack up at him.
“FOOLS!” Logan cried. “You mess with the PRINCE OF THE JUNGLE! I CAN SMELL THE COSMOS! It smells like…” He gave a giant sniff. “Flipping STRAWBERRIES!”  
“Logan, no, Logan-LOGAN!” Fluttershy screamed as Logan prepared to jump.
“TO THE MOON!” Logan proclaimed, jumping off the edge of the hill. 
He hit the ground head first.

#

“Ain’t ever seen nothing like it,” Applejack’s voice swam into Logan’s recovering consciousness. “Not even from Pinkie Pie.”
“Too bizarre for me.” Rainbow Dash’s voice added. 
“Is he gonna stay like this forever?” Pinkie asked. 
“Oh, don’t worry,” Discord said dismissively. “My magic isn’t permanent. Where’s the fun in a wolf that’s been permanently altered?”
“It’s a good thing, too,” Carol growled. “Or I’d put your face where your tail would be.”
“So, violent,” Discord dismissed. “Come now, show of hooves; who thought our dear wolf was more fun like this?” 
Logan opened his eyes with a groan. He was laying on a table in Fluttershy’s cottage, the Mane Six and Carol all around him. Discord floated daintily in the background, watching like it was an unusual TV show and he was a bored human. 
But Logan didn’t care about that. Carol was there. She was okay!
“Carol!” he croaked. She gasped and raced over as he reached out his claws. They embraced.
“Logan,” Carol cried, nuzzling into him. “Are you okay?”
Logan reached for the nearest thing - which sadly was Fluttershy’s lamp – and chucked it at Discord as hard as he could. Discord caught the lamp in mid-air, and changed it to a lamp figurine of himself.
“No,” Logan grumped.
Carol chuckled and helped him to a sitting position, even as Fluttershy fussed over them. 
“Easy,” she chastised. “You were really badly poisoned.”
“How long?” Logan grumped.
“Just a few hours,” Twilight said. “You shouldn’t have any more ill effects from Discord’s magic.” She shot a glare up at Discord that screamed, “Or else!”
“What do you remember?” Carol asked.
Logan’s ears flattened. “Everything up to me jumping after those ducks,” he admitted grouchily. His ears wiggled. “Did I…?” 
“Not too much after that,” Twilight said. “You were still trying to fight the ducks, so I put you under a sleeping spell; both to let Fluttershy treat your concussion… and to keep you from embarrassing yourself further.” 
Logan nodded. “Thanks,” he mumbled, holding his head in his claws.
“So…” Pinkie asked cautiously. “Did you think you were going to find Carol on the moon? Because you'd probably only find Princess Luna there.” She jumped back as Logan’s head whipped up. 
“That was not me!” he barked. “That was Discord and his magic toxic snake crap!”
“Oh, come now, you had fun,” Discord dismissed. “I saw that smile while you were waging war on White Tail Wood.”
The stare Logan shot him had everything but a smile on it. He looked at Twilight.
“Why is he here?” he demanded.
“Believe me, Logan; I did not agree with any of it,” Twilight assured him, giving her own glare up at Discord. “But Princess Celestia believes that Discord can be reformed, and his magic can be used to serve good instead of evil.”
Logan’s glare turned doubly bitter. He gazed up at Discord.
“So, not only did she free you,” he noted. “But she wants to put you on a leash instead of in a cage?” He glared at Twilight. “This is Connors all over again!”
“Connors?” Twilight asked. 
“Oh, I remember,” Discord cut in. “That irksome God of Order from your world; who wanted everyone to walk around, nodding and smiling at everything he said was okay to nod and smile about.” He nudged Twilight with a wink. “Big fan of your precious princess, he is,” he added, before beaming at Logan. “At least someone sees how awful that would be,” he noted. Lashes and chains began to appear around him as he lamented. “Chained; restrained; tamed into a creature of… not chaos!” He shot a grin at Logan. “Surely you can relate; you went through the same thing. As did dear little Princess Lulu after she tried to take more than her big sister…”
Logan’s ears flattened, and his fur bristled. “I’m not tame!” he snarled. He tried to avoid looking at Fluttershy. “These guys may have good reasons for me to avoid hurting them, but that doesn’t mean they control me.” 
Discord just smirked. He didn’t believe a word Logan said. Logan knew the best course of action would be to prove his words and storm out.
But that meant leaving Fluttershy and Twilight and all the others alone with this chaotic monster, he realized.
Before he could stop himself, he shot Fluttershy a nervous look, but she smiled softly at him.
“It’s okay, Logan,” she said. “You and Carol should get some space from here. We can deal with Discord.”
Discord guffawed even louder than before. “Oh, how precious,” he mocked. “Not tamed, eh?” He morphed his face into a version of Logan’s. “When do I get my treat, Master Fluttershy-san?” He made an awful dopey panting face that Logan would never have made in ten lifetimes, and threw sparkles over both Logan and Fluttershy. 
Logan nearly lunged at Discord again, only for Carol to hold him back.
“Let’s go,” she growled, pulling Logan out from the cottage. As Carol got Logan – trembling with rage – out, she turned back to Twilight.
“I don’t care what Celestia believes,” she said. “The best course of action with him would be to put him in stone again, and then smash the stone.” 
“We’ll definitely consider it,” Rainbow Dash replied, glaring at Discord, before noticing what she said. “I-I mean the stone thing… not the smashing part. Maybe.” Six pairs of eyes glared at her. “Guys, for Pete’s Sake, it’s Discord! He…”
While Rainbow Dash went off on a tirade about what exactly Discord had done, Carol shoved an irate Logan out of the cottage, and got him as far from the cottage as possible, even as Discord’s laughter rang out all the louder.
Logan was so consumed with rage, he didn’t even notice the worried look Carol shot someone from the forest, who ducked away into the shadows before Logan could hope to recover.
> Meeting Discord Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The wolves wandered away from the cottage and ended up towards the river. His rage fading, Logan sighed and dunked his head in the water, coming up with his fur sopping, but his eyes clearer.
“I… heard the ponies have a bar somewhere,” Carol noted, sitting next to him and lapping the water in a more dignified fashion. “Not sure where it is, but it has some stronger liquid…”
“Nah, forget it,” Logan said. “Bars have people – or in this case, ponies.” He shut his eyes, letting his fur dry in the sun. “I really need a moment away from them right now.” 
Carol nodded, looking away. Logan’s eyes opened, and he looked at her worriedly.
“Discord didn’t hurt you, did he?” Logan asked. 
“No,” Carol said quickly. “No, he just made me watch while you had your… episode.” 
Logan chuckled softly. “As long as that’s all he did,” he muttered. “I hate the thought of someone hurting you and getting away with it.” 
Carol’s silence said far more than Logan hoped it would. His ears flattened, and he looked back at her as her head bowed.
“I didn’t mean it like…” Logan stammered. “I mean…”
“I know what... they... did in the past was wrong,” Carol mumbled. “But… I’m never sure what to think about it. I mean, it made me stronger, right?” She looked up at him, revealing a faint three-clawed scar over her right eye. “It made me who I am?” 
Logan brushed against the scar Ocetorm gave him along his own shoulder. A nasty wound when he first got it, yet he felt it paled in comparison to how Carol had gotten her scar.
“Pack should strengthen us,” he said quietly. “But… I don’t know.” He lowered his head. “I act like where I came from was so tough, but… my parents were my best friends growing up.” He shivered. “I can’t imagine a parent acting the way yours did.” 
“It’s never gonna be about one wolf, Logan,” Carol said softly. “It’s about everyone; that’s one thing even the first hounds and wolves really understood. Humans can outwit, and dragons can outmatch. Wolves?” She nudged herself closer to Logan. “We’re all we have. So best we can do is band together.”
“Be able to trust each other,” Logan recited, drinking from the river again. “Stand united, or fall divided. All that jazz.” 
Carol hummed, before they heard a voice.
“So, when do they kiss?” 
Logan and Carol shot up, snapping and growling as they looked around. Yet no one seemed to be there. A bird tweeted innocently on a tree. Logan glared up at it, a bolt forming in his claws.
“Don’t,” Carol warned.
“Just in case,” Logan said, still aiming the bolt at the bird.
“Logan, that’s beyond cruel,” Carol insisted.
Logan glared at the still tweeting bird, but reluctantly holstered his bolt. The two glanced away, back to the river, and watched a duck paddle along. Logan chuckled as the duck shot him a miffed glare.
“So, how do you think the Elements are doing?” Carol asked.
Logan’s lips pursed, but he didn’t speak.
“Want to bet they failed,” Carol asked. “And Discord’s running wild again?”
Logan still didn’t respond.
Carol looked away. “I’m not sure which is worse: him running around wild, or him being tamed.”
“Like me,” Logan said quietly. 
Silence stretched between them. Even the birds stopped chirping, as if they seemed to realize just how dangerous the subject was.
“Logan?” Carol asked, before Logan let his head fall.
“I was tamed,” he said, his voice cracking. “I tried… so hard to keep to my dad’s ways. The ways of the wild. But… when I thought of leaving those mares with that guy, I…” He sighed. “I couldn’t hide it.” He almost sobbed. “Discord was right; I’m a tamed dog. Exactly what they want Discord to be; just like what everyone else probably becomes when they go through here.”
“What are you talking about?” Carol whispered.
“It's how Celestia really keeps order,” Logan said unhappily. “She doesn’t need brainwashing or threats like Connors did. She just has these… unbearably nice ponies. They get in my head… make me care and now…” He looked down at his paws. “Now, I’m nothing but their pet. They can deny it; I can act tough, or like I don’t care, but…” His claws dropped, as did his head. “But I’ll never be anything more than their pet now.”
Carol’s ears flattened at how devastated Logan sounded. She nuzzled up next to him, and shushed him softly. 
“Dad… Mom…” he whispered. “You may have wanted me to be safe… but I failed you.” 
“Logan, you didn’t fail them,” Carol assured him, her voice soothing and gentle. “Think about it: would you really do anything for them?”
Logan put his paws over his snout. Carol looked away thoughtfully.
“Okay… let me rectify,” she said. “Would you do anything… for Celestia?” 
“No,” Logan said instantly, standing up. He looked down at his scarf – the last memento he had of his mother. “I know she wants me to trust her... but I can’t forgive. I can understand… but nothing can allow me to forgive.” 
Carol smiled. “You see?” she asked. “If you were really their pet, you’d bury the hatchet with Celestia. Do whatever she wanted.”
“But I’ll have to do that anyway,” Logan noted sadly. “Sparkle’s devoted to her, and the others follow her lead. All Celestia needs to do is point them in the direction of danger…” Logan sighed resigned. “And I’ll come running after them. Being able to know how I’ll react…” He shook his head. “I don’t like it; I don’t like how predictable I’m becoming.” 
Carol nodded at that, looking out over the stream.
“You know Connors wouldn’t care,” she noted. “Connors would just force people to be happy, no matter what they thought. I… get the sense Celestia doesn’t do that. At least, not the Celestia in this world.” 
“Hurray for that,” Logan said, though his voice wasn’t exactly enthusiastic. He sighed as Carol glanced his way. “You and I both agreed to stay here because it was safe. Because our pack mates died trying to keep us safe…”
Carol flinched when he used ‘our,’ but didn’t say anymore. Logan watched her in concern before Carol motioned for him to continue. 
“Er, I guess…” Logan paused, thinking about what he wanted to say. “Well, you already know what I did. I traveled across the Outskirts! I defeated a Storm King… I freed a changeling hive… I fought in a minotaur fighting pit.”
“So… what does that all have to do with Celestia?” Carol asked.
“I came back for peace,” Logan said. “So, we wouldn’t have to deal with having to fight every day to survive.” He motioned to the town. “It gets my gut in a twist to think about, but… do you think those ponies worry about minotaurs or griffons or anything that’s really out there? Not Sparkle and her friends,” he rectified quickly. “But all of them; the citizens of Ponyville.”
Carol looked at the town. “As far as I can tell, no,” she admitted.
Logan nodded. “I’m not here to get involved in some big grand scheme. If some monster comes through here hoping to take this place for their own? We fight it.”
Carol flexed her claws. “I can look forward to that,” she admitted.
“But if we do,” Logan pointed out. “I want to know that we’re doing it of our own free will. No orders from Celestia; no manipulations from those who think they’re gods; we just do it because we want to.” 
Carol pondered that. “So,” she summed up. “In essence; Celestia won’t be your Alpha. We’ll live in her territory; follow her laws, and yet… she’s not going to be our Alpha?”  
Her tone wasn't sarcastic, and yet Logan didn’t speak at first. When he did, his voice was gentle, but firm. 
“I had only one Alpha,” Logan said. “He was my father; Kodo the Great Wolf.” 
Carol looked away, wincing, while Logan took a long drink from the river. Was he wrong to hold onto such sentiments? Maybe, Logan admitted, but he didn’t want to admit it. Celestia, thus far, had treated him and by extension Carol as guests. She had been kind to him, even though she had every reason and excuse not to be. And thus far, he had been satisfied with their impasse: they'd give each other their space; Logan didn't talk to Celestia, and Celestia left Logan alone.
But everything was still lining up; by all accounts, Logan should be part of the Mane Six’s pack, and should answer to Celestia. If push came to shove and she really felt like she needed to… would she play that card? Would she stop with the theatrics and simply tell him that he should answer to her now? Probably not; because he would fight her no matter what got in his way if she tried. 
But where would that put him with the Mane Six? 
Logan had to stop drinking before he drank half the river, and yet he still didn’t know what to say. 
“I don’t know,” he finally admitted. “Fluttershy… Sparkle… those guys are my allies. My…” he sighed. “Our friends. None of them match up to Dad or Mom… but they’re close enough.” He pawed at the mud that sprouted between the sand and the water. “Maybe, I want to settle down… have a family… maybe some adventures along the way.” He shrugged. “What I don’t want is to become just another pawn for people who think themselves gods.” He glanced at her. “And you don’t either… do you?” 
Carol shook her head. “Not at all,” she assured him. “I let people use me for half my life. Getting to meet you… it showed me that there is far more to life than just sitting back and letting others make my choices for me.”
Logan’s grin returned. “Then we’re agreed?” 
Carol smiled. “We’re agreed,” she said. “Even if we are tamed… we won’t give them the satisfaction of knowing for sure.” She giggled. “Sounds like fun, honestly.” 
The ground vibrated, and Discord’s laugh echoed, followed by Fluttershy’s hushed whisper. Logan and Carol glanced back around, but ultimately, they turned away. Fluttershy was right; the mares could handle things on their own.

#

The wolves seemed completely unaware of Discord and Fluttershy watching them; the former had shifted himself into the bird Logan had nearly blasted, while Fluttershy’s eyes peeked out from the tree trunk. 
“Oh, those two are just adorable,” Discord cooed. 
“That’s how true friends interact,” Fluttershy replied with a smile. “Logan started off a lot like you, Discord… only not as funny.”
“Ha,” Discord scoffed. “As if that ball of fluff could hope to match me in a comedy routine.”
“Comedy… isn’t really his hobby,” Fluttershy rectified. She looked back at Carol with gratitude in her eyes. “Having his wolf friend here… it’s changed him. He’s been far happier... or at least more alive." 
Discord tapped his feathery chin with a wing, humming.
“Far happier, eh…” he pondered. He looked over at Fluttershy, who was giving him a friendly smile. He watched Carol and Logan as the former twined her tail around the latter. 
But then his eyes strayed further away. To a figure that gave him a thumb up and a white, chipped tooth grin before ducking away into the shadows. Discord shrugged.
“Well, seems like something I could experience for myself,” Discord replied, hopping over to Fluttershy. “And you certainly seem like the friendliest pony of the bunch.” Discord grinned wickedly. “Yes… I believe you and I are going to become very close in the next few months.”
Discord glanced back down, watching as Logan and Carol dusted each other off and headed into the forest together.
“And those two are going to make things so much more fun,” Discord whispered giddily to himself.
> Wolves Vs. Canterlot Elite
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

In hindsight, Twilight should have known that Logan was going to react badly to her news. However, since Carol had joined him, Twilight had hopes that he would be able to go along with her plans with dignity and grace. 
“So, explain to me again,” Logan asked, glancing out the train window. “What are we doing?”
Twilight sighed. “The Royal Scientists caught wind of you teaching me and Celestia about the wolves’ culture. They sent a formal request that you and Carol be brought to them and tell them all about what you’ve told me…”
SMASH!
Twilight nearly flipped over her seat as the train window exploded. Glass pitched away into the wind, and when Twilight poked her head up fearfully, Logan was gone, wind whistling through the shattered train window. Carol, however, sat curled up, her eyes shut without a care in the world. A ticket collector stared at the shattered window, before giving a whinny of exasperation.
“Boss!” she yelled, racing away. “That’s two windows the wolf owes us now!” 
Twilight’s eyes darted between Carol, the empty seat beside her, and the broken window.
“Did he just…”
“Yep,” Carol muttered.
“Because…”
“Yep.” 
Twilight watched Carol cautiously. “And… you’re not going to…” Twilight asked.
Carol lifted her head up. “I’m not defiant enough to be dumb, Twilight,” Carol replied. “Though I still don’t know how I feel about going to the place where Logan got his spine broken.”  
Twilight sighed. 
“He didn’t tell you that was an accident, did he?” she asked. 
“Reaper died there, Twilight,” Carol said coldly. “All things being considered, he went easy on you guys.” 
Twilight paled, and lowered her head. She took a steady breath.
“What do you want?” she asked.
Carol tilted her head. “Pardon?”
“What… do I need to give you,” Twilight said slowly. “In exchange for you not trying to kill Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, or any of the Royal Scientists.” 
Carol looked up, her ears flapping. 
“I’m going to need you… to stay quiet,” Carol replied.
“Huh?”
“See, I’m not fully sure just how much Logan taught you,” Carol said. “But before I joined his pack, I came from a very different culture.”
Twilight’s ears flattened. “How different?” she prompted.
“Think Pegasi and Earth Pony different,” Carol replied. Before Twilight could remark or note on that, Carol raised a paw. “Some things I say are going to be different from Logan’s. Thus, I need you to just keep your mouth shut and not point out any contradictions.”
Twilight winced, already pondering how Carol would run with that, but Carol’s eyes sparked, keeping Twilight from talking over her.
“Do that, and you can consider your precious Alphas safe.” 
Twilight nodded. “Okay,” she said, before her ears flattened again. “But that goes both ways,” she reminded her, remembering how Fluttershy had tamed Logan. “If you don’t hold up your end of the bargain and be on your best behavior, I see no reason not to stay silent. These are some of the smartest ponies in Equestria, and you are a delegate for your entire species.” 
Carol leaned back and stared out the broken window. “Don’t worry about me, Twilight,” Carol said coyly. “Worry about Logan when he figures out I didn’t follow him.” 

#

A half hour later, the wolf and unicorn mare reached Canterlot. Carol gave the white and gold castle a less than amused huff, but followed Twilight without protest as they headed through the city and up to the castle. 
The two were joined by two soldiers, who kept a constant watch on Carol while they led them to what appeared to be a large conference room. Inside, about two dozen ponies all sat around, talking with each other. Carol’s ear tips flicked as she realized each of them had their noses firmly in the air and were dressed in fancy suits.
Carol froze in place, causing Twilight to glance at her. 
“It’s okay, Carol,” she said placating. “They’re well behaved.”
“They look like rich humans,” Carol noted. “The kind that watch canines like me fight to the death for their amusement.”
“Just… be a good sport,” Twilight asked. 
Carol’s ears flattened, but before she could reply, a familiar voice cried out.
“Twily!” 
“Shiny!” Twilight exclaimed. Carol’s ears perked as Twilight and a familiar royal guard scurried over to each other. Carol’s tail tucked at the affectionate way they nuzzled each other before remembering the guard was Twilight's brother; Shining Armor.
"What are you doing here, Shining?" Twilight asked.
"Just talking with Princess Celestia about upgrading the Crystal Empire's security," Shining replied with a airy wave. "But how about you? How you doing?"
“I’m doing great,” Twilight replied. “Carolina here agreed to share information about her culture with the Royal Scientists.”
Shining Armor turned to Carol when Twilight pointed. The smile faded from his face, slowly being replaced by a more neutral look. Carol herself just kept a small glare on him.
“Right,” he said blankly. “The, uh… second wolf to assault Princess Celestia.” 
“And Princess Luna,” Carol recited. “And Princess Cadence… pretty much, everyone who was involved with dragging me over.”
“Never mind that they were reuniting you with your last pack mate,” Shining Armor noted coldly. Twilight put a hoof on her brother’s shoulder.
“Be nice,” she asked. “She was having a rough day.”
“So was I,” Shining replied with a scowl. “Attacking all three princesses? One of them my wife?" 	Carol's ears just flicked at that news. Shining marched over to her.
"You know how much paperwork you two gave me?" he asked. 
“Paperwork?” Carol asked. “Are you serious?” Shining nodded.
“Incidents that big have to be documented and recorded. It’s standard protocol,” Shining Armor replied. “I had to fill out three blue forms for your incident alone.” He got in her face. “I. Hate. Filling out blue forms,” he whispered. 
“And what color form do you fill out for getting your tail beat?” Carol replied venomously, jutting her face into his. “Cuz you’re gonna have to fill out a couple of those if you don’t get out of my face.” 
“Both of you,” Twilight scolded. “Be. Nice.” Twilight spun on Carol. “Carol, we had a deal!”
“I promised not to do anything bad to the Alphas,” Carol replied, giving Shining another glare. “Not some jumped up Gamma who thinks he’s a Beta.” 
Confusion crossed Shining Armor’s face, and Carol took the opportunity to saunter away before Twilight could hope to explain that Shining was married to Cadence, and thus, technically an Alpha. However, Carol only got a few paces before the doors opened, and she found herself before Princess Celestia. 
The alicorn gave the red wolf a cautious look. Carol could feel the eyes of not just Twilight and Shining, but the entire delegation behind her. People were curious how the Red Wolf of Equestria would react as compared to the former Lone Wolf’s reaction. Would she attack? Would she growl? What would she do?
A half grin spread across Carol’s snout, and she tipped her head in a nod.
“Your Grace,” Carol said politely, before stepping out of her path. 
The tension leaked out of the room. A few condescending huffs trickled from some of the more snobbish ponies. A small relieved sigh whispered from Celestia’s snout, and she returned Carol’s nod, striding inside. 
“Welcome, my little ponies… and wolf,” Celestia added with a grin to Carol. Carol didn’t grin, nor scowl. Undeterred, Celestia continued. “It is time for our meeting to begin. So, if every pony could take their seats, we can get started.”
The ponies took a second to move into the conference room, settling themselves into their seats. Carol and Twilight went up to the front of the room, to a large chalkboard with fresh pieces of chalk under it.
“Thank you, Carol,” Twilight whispered to her. Carol nodded. The unicorn and wolf’s attention was quickly drawn to Celestia, as she stood up in front of the crowd.
“Now then,” Celestia began. “Good afternoon, esteemed members of the Royal Science Division. It is my great pleasure to introduce to you today a member of a whole different universe. Brought to our world through…” she faltered for a brief moment. “As of now unknown means.”
“Smooth,” Carol mumbled, grinning at Twilight. Twilight rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. Carol’s ears flicked, and her grin faded as she noticed some odd noises coming from the door.
“I have invited one of them here today, so that she may share her knowledge of her world with us. All to further expand learning and friendship among our races. Please give a warm welcome to…”
Celestia trailed off as the noise picked up.
“Sir, you are not allowed to be here!” Shining Armor’s muffled voice growled.
“Get the heck off me!” another voice growled back.
“Someone get me some cuffs!” another guard yelled.
“Here’s your cuffs!” the voice snapped again, followed by a THUD.
Carol leaned back with a grin. “Oh, this should be good,” she commented. 
Celestia and Twilight glanced at her nervously, before the door swung open with a bang. Carol’s tail wagged; Logan stormed inside, looking rather angry if Carol did say so.
Blood seeped from several glass shards still stuck in his head, but he didn’t seem to pay them any mind. His paws were dark from walking through mud, and he had a black eye in the shape of a hoof print. However, he strode confidently past the delegation and straight up to Celestia. The Princess found herself backing up before the wolf as he took her spot before the delegation. 
For a moment, he simply stared them all down. The unicorns shuffled and whispered among each other;
“Should… someone get him some medical aid for those cuts?”
“What is another one of them doing here?”
“Isn’t that the one that assaulted the Princess the first time…?”
“So,” Logan growled, cutting them off. “You wanna know about wolves, huh?”
The crowd was silent at first.
“That would be an understandable reason as to why we’re here,” one haughty unicorn replied. “Rather than getting more important things done.” A smattering of laughter rang through the hall. Logan smirked, but the smirk was far from amused; it was the same smirk he had right before biting Celestia the first time.
“Well,” Logan replied. “If there’s ‘more important things’ you got going on, why are you here?” He pointed to the door. “Go on and get to them. Go on!”
But no pony moved. Another mare raised her hoof.
“Um, pardon our dry friend,” she insisted. “He didn’t mean to insult…”
“Oh, he didn’t mean to insult?” Logan asked. “Then why, may I ask, do you all feel the need to go around acting like you’re better than everyone else just because you got more bits than them?”
“Wait… huh?” several of the crowd whimpered. 
"Well..." the haughty scientist said. "We are better than them."
“Seriously?” Logan insisted. He indicated Celestia. “Celestia’s one thing; she’s an Alpha; she has to look like a leader. But the rest of you? Fancy suits? Big mansions? All you are doing is making everyone else jealous and envious of you. You know what that leads to on my…” he paused, remembering Carol. “On our world?” His paw hit the table and the unicorns jumped. “Riots!” He hit it again and they jumped a second time. “Class Wars!” He hit it a third time, still making them jump. “Revolutions!” He leered at the now quivering scientists. “And people like you don’t end up too well at the end of those revolutions.” 
Celestia cleared her throat as several members started to stare at her. “Logan,” she said softly, but he wasn’t done.
“You want the truth about my race?” he asked. “Get yourselves out of this castle and prove that you deserve it. Head down to Ponyville; prove you understand the meaning of friendship by helping out some of the mares there. Moon knows they deserve some sort of karmic luck; they put up with me for two years.” 
Carol chuckled, and a smattering of nervous laughter permeated the air. 
“But until someone here proves that they have what it takes to earn a wolf’s loyalty,” Logan concluded. “I see nothing but a bunch of pampered snobs used to getting everything they want at the drop of a hoof…” He started to turn away. “And they are in need of a serious wake up call.” He turned his back on them, striding for Carol. “C’mon, Carol; let’s get out of here.”
Twilight started to stand, wanting to protest, but Carol put a claw out, forcing Twilight back down. Her eyes were locked with Logan’s.  
"And why would I want to do that?” she asked him.
Logan paused. His glare didn’t fade, but Twilight could tell he was shocked, judging by the tuck in his tail. 
“Did you ever think about what I might want?” Carol asked, standing up. “Or did you just assume that I’d agree with you?”
Logan didn’t reply, but his ears lowered.
“I have my own mind, Logan,” Carol growled at him. “I can make my own choices. And right now, I want to share what I know with these ponies.” Her own claws bared. “Are you going to let me be a big girl and make my own choices… or are you no better than Celestia?” 
He stepped back from his pack mate, and the two of them stared each other down for what felt like an eternity to Twilight. Finally, Logan relented; his head bowed, and he stepped aside, allowing Carol to take the stand.
A golf clap raced through the meeting hall.
“Thank you,” one of them said. “For putting that wolf in his place.”
Logan glowered at them, but everyone was focused on Carol at that point.
“Now,” the condescending scientist continued. “How about you… start at the beginning.” 
The others laughed as if this was the most hilarious joke. However, Carol’s tail wagged, and she glanced back at Logan with a wink. With a start, Twilight realized that Logan’s tail was wagging as well; both of these wolves were happy about something. But what… Twilight wasn’t sure.
“To start?” Carol asked. “Well, I was born when a hound caught a deer. Deciding that he found the deer incredibly attractive, instead of simply eating her, he…”
Several unicorns gasped before she could even say what her father did. Twilight gave a giant gag. 
“NO!” she squeaked. “He meant…” she paused. “By Celestia, did you mean…?”
“No,” the scientist wailed. “No, I had no idea that’s what she would take from that…”
“You did tell me to start at the beginning,” Carol noted. “Everyone begins by being born, and you can only be born if…”
Another uproar cut her off. Half of the scientists fainted from her scandalous lecture, while the other half were plugging their ears, not wanting to hear the specifics on how Carol or Logan had been born.
“Start…” another scientist managed to get out. “After that.”
“After that? Okay, let’s see…” Carol mumbled, sharing another gleeful look with Logan, who was trying his best not to crack up. “I learned that wolves have an alternate tribe. Then again, there are actually many tribes, when you think about it.” 
“Tribes?” one scientist asked. “Like… earth ponies and pegasi?”
“In a sense,” Carol replied. “When the Great and Terrible Myst gave sentience to my kind, there was a bleed effect. All animals, over time, gained the gift of intelligence. Yet the wolves were the first. Thus, with several factors in play, a common name for our kind became ‘demi-wolf;’ part wolf, and part…. Well, anything really.” 
“Can someone please tell her to stop talking about such scandalous subjects,” one of the scientists begged.
“All to aid in forming the Empire of Wolf,” Carol finished with a grin. 
A small squeak escaped Twilight, and she shared a furious look with Logan. Hadn’t Logan mentioned that the White Wolf had eschewed leadership for packs? What was all this talk about an Empire?!
But Carol shot Twilight another glare, and Twilight reluctantly hushed herself up. 
“For example,” Carol continued. “The Hound Tribe was composed of domesticated dogs. The Ursa tribe was composed of bears. The Bovine tribe was composed of bulls.”
“Like minotaurs?” another scientist asked.
“Correct,” Carol said. “And there was even an equine tribe consisting of beings not dissimilar to Earth Ponies.” Carol flicked her bangs out of her head. “That’s why my pack mate was willing to trust the Elements when he arrived; they had served as servants in his Empire.”
A scandalized gasp went through the crowd, while Twilight’s mane began to smoke. Celestia and Logan, on the other hand, shared a single look, and Celestia had to keep herself from laughing.

#

When Carol finally wrapped up her stories, Logan was cracking up behind her, while Twilight’s fur started to resemble some sort of fire dragon. Carol had told them the story of how the Wolf and Hound tribes, formerly close friends, went to war with each other over a lover’s quarrel between the White Wolf and the Great Hound, before an attempt at a coup by the Great and Terrible Myst caused the two to join forces. She told them how the Street Dogs were formed with the remnants of the Hound Tribe forming an alliance with humanity, and how they went on to find Broadway Theater and musicals. She even explained how it was thanks to their discoveries that empirical peace was discovered, and how several tribes now solve their differences through rap battles. Celestia had much more composure than Logan, but she still was snickering and giggling.
“And, if any of you have any questions… or contradictions,” Carol concluded, glancing at a furious Twilight. “You are more than welcome to visit my home at the Ever-Free Forest in Ponyville. It’s quite welcoming… in a dark, ominous and slightly painful kind of way.” Winking at Logan as he came up alongside her, Carol strode confidently from the room, Logan right behind her. 
Twilight scampered up after them, her eyes almost red from anger. The scientists didn’t even seem to realize that they might have been fooled, as they eagerly dispersed, comparing notes on Carol’s lecture. The second they were out of sight, however, Twilight lost her composure.
“Carolina!” Twilight growled.
“Why, hello, Twilight,” Carol replied, turning to her as if Twilight hadn’t been right behind her the whole time.
“Don’t you ‘why, hello, Twilight,’ me!” she hissed lividly. “What. Was. THAT?” 
“That, my faithful student,” Celestia said, smiling broadly as she joined them. “Was easily the best meeting of the Royal Science Division I’ve ever been to.” 
Twilight’s ears flattened, and the anger faded from her face, replaced with confusion.
“B-B-But…” Twilight stammered, looking from her to Carol to Logan. She finally locked on Logan. “Y-You told me about your world, Logan. There wasn’t anything about an empire, or tribes o-or deer and wolves…” She indicated at Carol before fizzling out.
“I did warn you,” Carol noted. “I told you, I came from a different culture.”
“B-But you said that it was as different as pegasi and earth ponies!” Twilight insisted. “That?! That was…!” 
“I am curious about that,” Celestia noted, turning to Logan. “How much of what Carolina said was… actually true, Logan?”
Logan just gave her a raised eyebrow, before grinning at Carol. She grinned right back, and the two wolves strode away from the alicorn and unicorn, both cracking up with glee.
Celestia’s wings drooped, while Twilight looked about ready to pass out.
“I… suppose I should have expected that,” Celestia noted. She smiled softly down at Twilight. “Well, it beats getting bitten, right?”
Twilight passed out.
> The Power of Pack Vs. The Alicorn Amulet
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn’t often that Logan got a visit from Twilight in the Ever-Free. Thus, when he saw her racing through the trees, a desperate look on her face, he was intrigued.
“Sparkle?” he asked, as she skidded to a stop before her. “What’s up?” His ears flattened as he saw the fear and worry in her eyes. “Is Ponyville in trouble?” Logan demanded.
“I… well…” Twilight looked back with a sigh. “I’m still trying to figure it out myself, actually.”
Logan glanced at the town. He had smelled something off about the little town today, but at the time, he had blown it off as Discord or something trivial. After all, the town seemed to have a knack for attracting interesting attention. Though, judging by Twilight’s face, he had been wrong to blow it off. He motioned for Twilight to sit, and sat before her. 
“What am I walking into?” he asked.
Twilight took a breath, and spoke:
“Way before you got here, we got visited by this… show pony. The ‘Great and Powerful’ Trixie.” Twilight rolled her eyes at the name. “She humiliated my friends and constantly tried to show me up in terms of magic.”
“Unicorn?” Logan asked.
“Yep,” Twilight replied.
Logan nodded. “Go on.”
Twilight proceeded to explain how Trixie eventually bit off more than she could chew by provoking an Ursa Minor (“Idiot,” Logan commented, “Even I don’t mess with those bears.”), but now she was back, and something was incredibly off about her. She went from just humiliating her friends to brutalizing them, like removing Pinkie’s muzzle so she couldn’t talk, (Logan’s eyes widened, and he didn’t make any comments after), and kicked Twilight out after beating her in a duel of magic.
“And now…” Twilight concluded with a shrug. “I don’t know what to do, Logan. I feel like I’ve abandoned my friends. But I can’t take her on horn-to-horn.” 
Logan stood and brushed off his fur. “You won’t have to,” he said quietly. He started off for Ponyville. 
“W-Hey, wait a minute!” Twilight yelled, getting in front of him. “Logan, I get that you’ve got your own magic, but Trixie is… scary, right now. She beat me and my friends, and she wasn’t even trying for combat magic. If you try to fight her…”
“She threatened and humiliated your pack and my allies,” Logan snapped, lightning flickering off his body. “I don’t care how powerful she is; someone messes with pack, they get bit!” 
Twilight rolled her eyes, before salvation came for her in the form of Carol, who came out of the woods with a dead cockatrice in her mouth. 
“Am I… missing out on something?” Carol asked, her mouth full of scales and feathers.
Twilight turned her head away. “Can you… uh…” she mumbled, really trying hard not to be sick at the sight of the dead bird. Even if one had turned her to stone, she still hated the sight of a poor animal in that state.
Carol glanced down at the bird, and giggled. “Sorry, ‘Twily,’” she teased before taking the bird into the brush. She glanced back at Logan. “Care to explain what’s going on?”
Logan glanced at Twilight, and then walked over to Carol. Carol thankfully got her kill hidden by the time Logan had told her what had happened, because...
“She WHAT?!” Carol exploded, red lightning flaring off her. Twilight covered her head with a moan. 
“Oh, no…” she mumbled, as Carol turned eyes rimmed in red on her. 
“Stuck up, pompous equine witch,” Carol snarled. “How dare she…!”
“Both of you, please!” Twilight begged. “Trixie’s always been high and mighty, but this is different. She’s mean, nasty, and she was performing aging spells and weather manipulation!”
Logan and Carol glanced at each other, before Logan chuckled darkly.
“Sparkle-Sparkle-Sparkle,” Logan said with a shake of his head. “I’d have thought you’d have known by now…”
“Known… what?” Twilight asked.
“You don’t remember how I handled the Changelings?” Logan asked, before lightning flickered around his form. He formed two tendrils that wrapped around Carol and Twilight. 
As the lightning connected, Twilight felt a surge of strength enter her body. She gasped, holding herself higher before noticing Logan and Carol were holding themselves higher as well. Twilight had to admit, the surge felt amazing. She felt capable of anything; she was tempted to walk right up to Trixie and de-age her into a foal.
“Anything is possible,” Logan said. “When you have a pack on your side.” 
His lightning faded – sadly taking the surge of confidence and strength with it – and he and Carol set out for the town, Twilight trailing behind them.
“I wonder if I should have gone to Zecora,” Twilight mumbled.

#

For a moment, Logan almost thought that Trixie was coming to them; a mare was racing towards them as fast as her hooves could carry her. But as she got closer, Logan’s heart leaped to discover that it wasn’t some new unicorn, but Fluttershy, her wings pumping and her entire body radiating fear and nervousness.
“Fluttershy?” Logan called, racing over to her. “Fluttershy!”
The wolf’s bound nearly knocked Fluttershy out of the sky, but he cradled her gently. The fear faded from her face as she took in his appearance.
“Oh, Logan,” Fluttershy whispered, hugging him.
“It’s okay,” Logan told her, nuzzling her softly. “You’re gonna be okay.” He pulled her head up to meet her eyes. “Are you okay? Trixie didn’t…?”
Fluttershy shook her head. “No, she didn’t do anything to me,” she assured him. “But…” Fluttershy spotted Twilight and hurried over to her. “Twilight, we did some research, and we found out…” she pointed back into town. 
Faintly, Logan could see a dark blue mare with a bright blue, almost white mane, cackling with laughter. An odd red and black amulet hung around her neck, glowing with a faint but eerie light. Logan even realized that the mare herself had an odd red glow to her, especially around her eyes.
“That’s Trixie?” Logan asked. 
Fluttershy nodded. “And worse… that amulet around her neck…” Fluttershy took a moment to breathe. “It’s the Alicorn Amulet!”
Twilight gasped, looking up at Trixie’s form as well.
“I can’t believe it,” she whispered. “That is… how did I not recognize it!” 
“Um…” Carol raised her paw. “The wolves are a little confused here…”
“No, they’re not!” Logan cut off defiantly.
“Regardless,” Carol growled, giving him a pointed look. “What’s the Alicorn Amulet?”
“If it turns her into an alicorn, it’s not doing a very good job,” Logan noted.
“It doesn’t turn her into an alicorn,” Twilight said snappishly.
“But it does bless her with untold power,” Fluttershy said quietly. 
“But at a cost,” Twilight added. “Even though it provides great power, it also corrupts the user.”
Logan and Carol glanced at each other with worried expressions.  
“And I don't suppose we can just yank it off her?” Carol asked.
Fluttershy shook her head. “It has a magic lock; Trixie’s the only pony who can take it off.”
Logan nodded. “So, I bite off one of her hooves and then use it to take off the amulet,” he concluded.
“LOGAN!” Twilight, Fluttershy and even Carol protested.
Logan cackled at their faces. “Kidding, I’m kidding,” he said, even though he was still shooting the town dark looks. Twilight herself looked down.
“But I don’t know if anyone can beat that amulet,” she admitted, shutting her eyes. “My magic wasn’t good enough; how can…” She paused, giving a nervous glance to the wolves. Both of them raised an eyebrow at her. “I…” Twilight stammered. “I, well, I mean no offense, but…”
Carol chuckled. “Twilight; I thought friendship was the real magic around here.” She glanced back at Trixie. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but Trixie doesn’t look like she has a lot of friends right now.”
“I can’t believe I’m agreeing with such a corny phrase,” Logan admitted. “But she’s got a point.” He flared his lightning, looking down on it. “Our magic is powered by pack; the more of us there are, the more powerful we are.”
Twilight looked at his lightning, and then up at Ponyville.
“The more of us there are, the more powerful we are,” she repeated to herself. She turned her eyes away from Trixie, and to her friends, who she could just barely see glaring at Trixie as she made wild and possibly crazy demands. Twilight's eyes brightened, and she turned back to the wolves. 
“Logan, Carol,” she said in relief. “You’re both geniuses.”
Logan laughed in triumph, while Carol sheepishly grinned.
“Well then,” Logan said. “Let’s prove it to Trixie.” He turned back to Fluttershy. “Okay, Fluttershy; how’re we getting Trixie out here?” 

#

Logan waited impatiently while Twilight sent Fluttershy back with a letter and got preparations underway. Logan personally wanted to march right in and obliterate Trixie’s smug mare face for daring to mess with his allies. But, of course, Trixie had put up some sort of barrier that kept Twilight from entering. 
Plus, not even getting enslaved and ordered around could convince the mares to let Trixie be conscripted to a fate like obliteration. It was simultaneously respectable and irritable. Re-spirit-able, Logan thought in his head. 
But, it wasn’t long before Trixie made her way over to Ponyville’s border. Logan’s eyebrow rose as he noticed her having two young colts drag her there… on a chariot without wheels.
“This better not be another false alarm,” she was griping to the two struggling colts. “Or the Great and Powerful Trixie will…” Her eyes, rimmed in red, lifted, and spotted Twilight, flanked by both Logan and Carol. 
“YOU!” Trixie bellowed, before a crazy grin formed on her snout. “What’s the matter, Twilight Sparkle? Not enjoying your exile?”
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, before Logan strode in front of her.
“You threw her into my territory,” Logan growled.
Trixie’s eyes widened.  
“The Lone Wolf of Equestria,” she whispered, before covering her shock with another smirk.
“You know of me?” Logan asked.
“Your tale may not be as great as moi,” Trixie proclaimed. “But I’d assume most ponies would hear of the wolf who bit Princess Celestia.” 
“Then you know that it’s not a good idea to provoke me,” Logan growled, cracking his knuckles. Trixie just laughed, but the laugh had an edge to it; nervousness or just insanity, Logan couldn’t tell which. 
“Please,” Trixie stated. “I beat Twilight Sparkle; the personal protégé of Princess Celestia. And, I wear the Alicorn Amulet.” She indicated her amulet with pride. “No pony’s more powerful than the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Logan just chuckled. “Bold claims,” he said. “But I ain’t a pony.” He lifted his claws, and let his lightning flare again. “I beat Queen Chrysalis and her entire Changeling army with my magic; the same Changelings who invaded Canterlot and defeated Princess Celestia.” 
“A wolf?” Trixie demanded. “Capable of magic?” she scoffed. “Ridiculous.”
“Care to find out what I’m capable of?” Logan dared. “Or should I call you the Weak and Fearful Trixie?” 
That hit a nerve. Trixie smashed down the barrier, and glowered an inch from Logan’s face.
“Oh, you. Are. ON!” Trixie snarled. “A second duel, it is!”
The two stepped back from each other. Dark clouds surged overhead as both Trixie and Logan called upon their magic.
Yet the lightning around them was different; while Trixie’s magic channeled lightning that crackled, and sparked with an evil red glimmer, Logan’s lightning was softer; more like beams of light from Celestia herself. They drifted smoothly through the air, floating gently over to the Mane Six. 
Trixie glared at the tendrils of light as they snaked away from the wolf. She failed to notice them wrap comfortingly around Twilight, Carol, Fluttershy, Pinkie, Rarity, the Apple sisters, and even Rainbow Dash, all of whom had retreated a safe distance back.
“Your meager light show pales in comparison to the Great and Powerful Trixie!” the blue mare boomed, red lightning striking her and shrouding her in a ruby light. “Now… let’s start with…”
She was cut off as a flare of white lightning smashed into her. Smoke and rubble billowed up from the ground, and a second later, Trixie hit the ground hard, her mane scuffed and pebbles in her hair.
“You cheating dog!” she bellowed over the gasps and cheers of the ponies. “I wasn’t ready!” Her eyes widened as he promptly fired another bolt at her. She shrieked like a little girl and danced out of the way as the ground she had been standing on got reduced to rubble by a second lightning bolt.
“A fighter in the Wild Outskirts won’t care if you’re ready,” Logan lectured as he aimed another bolt. “Either strike with finality, or you don’t get to strike at all!”
Trixie raced in and out of the bolts as Logan kept her on the run, sending her outside of Ponyville as she struggled to avoid getting hit.
“This wasn’t supposed to be a fight!” she protested through her rapidly growing pants.
“You challenged me to a duel,” Logan replied. “A challenge of magic; either overcome me, or admit that you can’t win.”
He threw another bolt that nicked Trixie’s hip. She hit the ground, spitting out a rock, and glowering at Logan.
“Have it your way, then,” she declared, rising up on a dark cloud tinged in red. She sunk into the cloud, before it split into several smaller fragments. A dozen variations of Trixie appeared around Logan, and blasted him simultaneously. Logan formed a shield of light around himself, before blasting up and out of their barrage. He fired a bolt at one of the Trixie clones, only for the clone to vanish in a burst of clouds.
Trixie’s laughter bellowed up from around Logan as he hit the ground again. 
“A lucky strike,” Trixie admitted. “But ultimately a pointless one. Tell me, Lone Wolf of Equestria; which one of us is the real Great and Powerful Trixie?”
Logan glared at them all for a second. Dash nearly flew in to help, but had to be held back by Applejack. 
“He’s got this, sugar,” she assured her. Sure enough, Logan still had a grin on his face.
“Hard to tell,” he admitted. “After all, you’re just so ordinary.”
Silence stretched for a beat.
“What?” Trixie demanded.
“Boring,” Logan replied, stretching his arms. “I honestly couldn’t tell you apart from any mare with a blue coat.” 
Trixie ground her teeth in fury, before her cloud clones vanished, and she held herself even higher, red lightning crackling around her.
“WHO’S BORING NOW?!” she declared… only to get another bolt to the face. “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!”
“What’s the matter, Weak and Fearful,” Logan asked with a grin. “You dish out taunts; yet you can’t take em?”
Trixie lifted herself up from the ground, and blasted him. This time, one of her bolts got him, and he tumbled back across the ground, his light tendrils flickering and dying. When he lifted himself back up, his teeth were gritted in pain, and his body had a smoother quality to it.
“The Great and Powerful Trixie learns, dog,” Trixie declared, striding towards him as he seemed to be in pain just standing. “She has turned your fur to rubber, negating your precious lightning magic!” She strode confidently forward as Logan bent over, grimacing in what appeared to be agony. “And now that I’ve cut you off from your precious lightning, it’s time to…”
Trixie got too close. And while she may have changed Logan’s fur to rubber, she hadn’t accounted for his teeth. Which buried themselves in her muzzle. 
Trixie screamed, her horn flaring with magic, yet the magic did nothing to get Logan off of her, His claws came up - still strong and sharp as well – and clasped her horn, shutting off her magic. Releasing her muzzle, Logan lifted Trixie by her horn, glaring into her violet eyes. 
“As long as the fight’s not won,” Logan growled at her. “Never assume that your foe is helpless.”
Trixie gritted her teeth at him, furious and humiliated. Logan readied his free claw, drawing it back like he was going to tear her throat out.
“Now,” he said. “Let’s see about getting this off you.” He nearly stuck, but was stopped by Trixie’s laughter. 
“What’s your intention?” she demanded. “No one can release it but I; the Great and Powerful Trixie! What do you think you can do? Rip out my throat with the amulet attached?” She chuckled, glancing behind him. “What would your 'masters' think of such an act?”
Logan glanced back. The other mares, who had been cheering his victory seconds ago, were now approaching cautiously. Dash looked ready to race in if he actually tried to hurt Trixie.
“Logan?” Applejack said cautiously. “Ya won. Please... don't hurt her anymore!”
Trixie chuckled. “Is this what you would have?” Trixie demanded. “A barbarian that knows nothing about magic except how to destroy with it?” She glared up at Logan. “You can beat me down like the abusive male you are, but ultimately, I’m better at magic than you’ll ever be! I can create wonders of the world… and all you can do is tear them down.” 
Logan growled, but there was an uncertainty to his eyes now. His claw trembled in the air, and his eyes gained a sheen to them, as if he was seeing someone else that had suffered under his claws. He blinked out of his flashback, and glanced over at Twilight. 
“Sparkle,” he said softly, indicating his rubberized fur. “Turn this back." He paused "Please?” he added.
“Oh! Right, um…” Twilight thought for a moment, and then her horn glowed. Logan’s fur softened, and he instantly released Trixie. The tendrils returned, still wrapped like a soothing mother around his allies.
“Alright, Weak and Fearful,” Logan growled, stepping away from her. “Let’s see these creations of yours.” He narrowed his eyes as her horn began to glow. “Don’t even think about attacking me,” he said. “I don’t mind beating your flank again.” 
Trixie huffed, holding her chin high.
“You can beat on girls all day long,” Trixie goaded. “But I bet you can’t do THIS!”
She fired her horn at the two colts that had been dragging her around on a chariot. In a flash, they were mere foals, one of them crying while the other one sucked his hooves.
“An oldie, but a goodie,” Trixie boasted. “Now, let’s see what your destructive spells can do.”
Logan smirked, before his lightning gained a purple hue to it. Turning away from Trixie and Twilight, the latter of whom had one of his tendrils, he aimed at Applejack. 
“Logan?” Applejack asked.
“Don’t worry,” he told her. “This’ll only sting for a second.”
Despite his assurance, Applejack yelped as his lightning flashed, strengthening the tendril already around her until she was covered by white and purple light. With the boom of thunder, the colors split apart to reveal… an orange filly. Her cowboy hat fell over her eyes, but it was the same orange fur and yellow mane and tail as Applejack.
Trixie’s look of disbelief made Pinkie laugh despite her lack of a muzzle. However, when Logan turned to her, the blue mare forced herself to look indifferent.
“Oh, ho-hum,” she scoffed. “So, you can do an age spell! Big deal!” 
“Really?” Logan asked. He hit the tiny filly again, and an elderly mare took her place. Same yellow mane, same orange fur. Logan snapped his claws and turned away, and Trixie was unable to keep her jaw from dropping as Applejack apparently changed at will; a filly for five seconds, then an adult mare for five seconds, and then an elderly mare for five more seconds. As she began to glow, apparently turning back into a child, Logan spun and hurled a second bolt. This one split apart the flash… and a stallion stood in Applejack’s place. Same blonde mane, same orange fur.
“T-That’s…” Trixie stammered.
“Impossible?” Logan asked. “Why? Because a wolf’s the one doing it?”
He zapped Rainbow Dash, and just like Trixie did, she split apart into ten different copies. All with blue fur and rainbow manes. 
“Stop! This… can’t be…!” Trixie sputtered, too angry and shocked for words. 
But Logan had one more. With a spinning lash, he sent a whip of lightning right at Pinkie, and when the flash faded, her muzzle was returned, and she was playing a one pony band, with ten instruments.
Logan dusted his claws off, his back to a livid Trixie.
“So,” he concluded. “Still think you stand a chance against…”
Her beam of magic hit him in the head. Logan fell into the dirt while Trixie leaped on him like a wild animal.
“Logan!” the mares cried out, but Carol did not scream or howl. Tucking into a cannonball with barely a growl, the red she-wolf smashed Trixie off Logan. A horrible TEAR split the air as Trixie fell away, Logan’s leather jacket clasped in her teeth. Logan’s tendrils completely faded, the spider web of light flicking off like a light switch, while he howled his despair at the sight of his torn jacket.
As Carol helped Logan up, Trixie hefted up the torn jacket like it was solid gold. 
“Now I understand,” Trixie insisted, draping the jacket around herself. “A simple wolf like you can’t do magic! It was only thanks to this! Some… artifact or something.” She laughed at the look of rage on Logan’s face as he took in the torn sleeves. Briefly, she tried to fit it onto herself, but with the wind picking up, the leather jacket blew right off her. With a growl of frustration, Trixie yanked the alicorn amulet off, and clumsily tied the jacket around in its place.
“Stand back,” Trixie declared, stamping her hoof at Logan when he tried to draw closer. “You gaze upon an ever greater and ‘powerful’-er Trixie!” 
Lightning split the air, but Logan didn’t stop coming. Trixie didn’t even notice Dash yank the amulet off the ground from where Trixie threw it, carrying it far out of her reach. 
“Let’s see how you handle this!” Trixie declared, firing a burst of magic right into Logan’s chest.
Logan skidded back an inch or so, but wasn’t knocked off his feet. He glanced down at the scorch mark left in his fur, and then gave Trixie a look of indifferent irritation.
“W…” Trixie stammered. “That was supposed to make you writhe in agony!”
Logan glanced down at the scorch mark, before shrugging. “I guess it tickled,” he admitted.
"Tickled?!" Trixie gaped at him before looking down at his jacket. “No…” she whimpered. “This… this jacket is defective!” She threw it aside and spun for her amulet, only to find it gone. “W-Where is my amulet!? Give it back!” 
“Sorry,” Dash called, too far for Trixie to stop her. “This is going back into hiding, where it belongs.” She placed the amulet in a lock box, and slammed it shut, the key locking the box with a satisfying click.
Trixie didn’t even get the chance to scream before Logan stood in front of her.
“By the way,” Logan noted. “That jacket being the source of my power?” He flexed his arms, and his lightning tendrils reappeared again.
Trixie actually started to cry, tears shimmering in her eyes.
“It… but… no… but… how?” she finally choked out. “How did you do those spells? No pony can do those spells.”
“I’m not a pony,” Logan replied, before glancing at Twilight. “But you’re half right in one regard.” 
Twilight stepped up with a grin, her hoof touching the tendril connecting her to Logan.
“Logan taught me about how his magic works,” Twilight explained. “His people’s magic takes the form of a ‘pack link;’ a telekinetic connection of sorts, that they can only make with pack mates – or very close allies.” She took a moment to grin in thanks at Logan. “The pack link allows wolves to share memories and abilities between each other. All I had to do was send my magic through my connection to Logan… and combine the magic of pack with the magic of friendship!”
She indicated the stallion Applejack again, who rubbed the paint off to reveal Big Mac, Applejack’s brother. The elderly and young versions of Applejack similarly revealed themselves as Granny Smith and Apple Bloom. As for Rainbow Dash, the ten clones of her revealed themselves to just be ten pegasi. Trixie gaped at them all in shock. 
“You see, ‘Weak and Fearful Trixie,’” Logan continued. “An ancient artifact of power can make you strong, but it won’t make you invincible. There are many ways to take down a foe. Some can out-match it. Others can outsmart it. Wolves and ponies?” He shot a grin at Twilight. “We’re better off finding friends; working together to overcome it.” 
Trixie just stared in dumbfounded shock.
“W-What about the pony with the ten instruments?” she mumbled weakly.
Logan laughed at that. “Obviously, you don’t know Pinkie Pie very well.”
Pinkie chuckled before continuing to play her one pony band.
“But you did get one thing right,” Logan admitted, striding up to Trixie. “My jacket does have one special power.”
Trixie’s eyes widened, and she looked down at the shredded leather. “W-What’s that?” she asked.
He leaned in close, a wide smile on his face. “When someone steals or damages it… IT PISSES ME OFF!” 
A flash of lightning, a boom of thunder, and the next thing anyone knew, Trixie was spiraling through the air, Logan’s claw still held in the pose of an uppercut. Trixie’s cry faded in the afternoon air, with Trixie herself vanishing in a small sparkle on the horizon. 
“Logan!” Pinkie scolded. “That was not very Paragon!”
Logan gathered up his jacket and spat at where Trixie had been. 
“Renegade for life,” he replied, before striding back for the forest.
“Hang on,” Twilight said. Logan rolled his eyes and turned back, ready for an argument.
However, Twilight only indicated the two baby foals, still blubbering and crying.
“I… may need your help to put them back to normal,” Twilight admitted. “You’re pack link provides me with the needed power.”
“And,” Rarity interjected. “That jacket is in need of some serious repairs, darling. Your father wouldn’t like to be worn in pieces, now would he?”
Logan stared at them for a second, but couldn’t stop his grin from returning. Or his lightning tendrils from brightening as he returned to them.
> Bury the Bad Seeds
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Heading into Ponyville?” Carol asked, following Logan. “What’s the occasion?” 
Logan kept his eyes ahead at first. 
“I…” he admitted, “May not have made the best last impression with some of the ponies here.”
Carol raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t think that mattered to you,” she noted. 
“It mattered to me with these three,” Logan replied, as Sweet Apple Acres came into view. “And I really feel like I need to clear the air with them.” 
But as they drew closer, a familiar sound drew Logan’s attention; a mocking laugh that caused his fur to flare up on end. A bloodthirsty growl bubbled up from his throat. Carol didn’t even question why; she could hear the laugh too.
“Is that what I think it is?” she growled.
Logan was already sprinting for the source of the laughter. 
“Come on, Applejack, you told me you got a handle on that!” Logan snarled, clearing the fence and racing for the barn, where the laughter seemed to be coming from. 
“What even is that thing, a giant orange?” the voice of Silver Spoon rang out, followed by more laughing. 
“It’s a pumpkin,” Apple Bloom’s voice protested.
“More like a lame-kin,” Diamond Tiara replied, followed by more cackling. 
Logan skidded to a stop in front of the barn. Sure enough, the three Crusaders were standing there, with what looked like a giant pumpkin carriage behind them. The two bullies Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were laughing derisively at it. Logan’s rage kept him from noticing the fourth filly standing between the two groups, her eyes darting over to the wolves in shock.
“Whoa,” the fourth filly exclaimed. “You guys didn’t tell me you had wolves here!”
Diamond Tiara snapped out of her laughing fit. 
“Wolves?” she squeaked.
Logan snorted hot air onto her mane, practically smelling her fear. Silver Spoon spun around, catching sight of Logan. Her shriek rattled the windows. 
“He’s back, Diamond,” she shrilled, hiding behind her friend. “He’s back!”
Diamond Tiara herself, was trembling before him. “What… but… you left!” Diamond Tiara whimpered. “You left town.”
Logan grinned. “I came back,” he growled.
“And he didn’t come alone,” Carol said, appearing behind him.
Silver Spoon shivered so badly, her glasses nearly fell off. “Sweet Celestia,” she whispered. “Now there’s two of them?!” 
Diamond Tiara glanced back at the Crusaders, and inched her way back to the barn door. Logan circled the opposite direction, giving her an out.
“Don’t let me catch you near these fillies again,” he warned her. “Not if you value your face.”
Diamond Tiara swelled with indignation, before glowering at Apple Bloom.
“You can’t hide behind your dog forever…” Diamond Tiara snapped. She probably would have said more, but lightning flashed from Logan and Carol.
“Her WHAT?!” they barked. 
Diamond Tiara’s courage failed her. With twin screams, the two bullies tucked tail and ran.
Scootaloo cracked into laughter, and even the fourth filly managed a nervous chuckle, though she was still watching the wolves with trepidation. Carol watched the filly curiously, while Logan glanced at Apple Bloom.
“Good to see you again, kid,” he said. Apple Bloom smiled and hugged him.
“Good to see you too, Logan,” she said.
“We almost thought you forgot about us,” Sweetie Belle added. 
Her remark wasn't sarcastic or mean, but Logan’s ears still flattened at it. 
“Yeah,” he mumbled, before Apple Bloom noticed the fourth filly, who’s tail was covering her flank.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” she said, racing over to the filly. She had brown fur and a steak-red mane, her green eyes watching Logan and Carol warily. 
“Logan, this is my cousin, Babs. She’s from Manehatten.” She turned to Babs. “Babs, this is Logan and Carol. They’re friends of ours.” 
Babs and Logan nodded at each other. Now that Logan had proven himself capable of speech and friendly to ponies, Babs’ fear of him seemed to be fading.
“Sup,” Logan greeted.
“Nothing much,” Babs replied. 
Silence stretched for a moment. Logan tilted his head.
“Accent’s nice,” he noted. “You said you were from Manehatten?”
“Born and raised,” Babs replied with pride.
“Heh,” Carol chuckled. “You might just be the toughest filly out of all of us then.” When Logan shot her a look, Carol shrugged. “The humans talked about a city they had that sounded similar. Any human from there was a tough nut if there ever was.” 
Babs grinned and flicked her mane. 
“Eh, I make do,” she replied.
“Don’t we all,” Logan said, before another glance at Sweetie Belle gave him pause. Carol noticed his look, and turned back to Babs.
“So, guys, you mind if I borrow Babs for a moment?” Carol asked. “I’d like to compare notes; see how Manehatten compares to Manhattan.” 
“Oh, uh…” Babs glanced back at Logan, before noticing the wolves shooting each other glances that dissuaded conversation. “Uh, sure. Yeah.” 
“Thanks, Carol,” Logan whispered.
She just gave a nod, before motioning for Babs to join her. The minute the filly and wolf were out of sight, Logan turned back to the Crusaders, who were giving him a more cautious look.
He sighed. 
“Go ahead,” he told them. “Say it.”
The Crusaders glanced between each other, before Scootaloo finally stepped up.
“Well,” she said. “It… really hurt us when you left. And then, when you acted like it wasn’t a big deal, well…” she breathed, clearly trying to control her anger. “That was meaner than anything Diamond Tiara or Silver Spoon had ever done to us.” 
Logan flinched, his tail tucking. Apple Bloom stepped up.
“But yer back now,” she noted. “And… you’re not gonna leave again.” Her ears flattened. “Are you?”
Logan looked back up at them, and gave a soft grin.
“Not unless someone tries to make me,” he replied. “And if they try… well…” He flexed his claws. “They’ll be in for a fight, I can promise you that.” 
The girls smiled at that.
“So, you’re really sticking around?” Sweetie Belle asked. “This place wasn’t exactly the same without you. Are you sure we don’t have to wake up worrying that you’re gone again.” 
Logan nodded. “I’m not sure what the future holds,” he admitted. “But you guys were there for me when I was in a very dark place.” His ears perked, and his tail swished. “I’d like to make it up to you guys.” 
“So, that’s why you chased off Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,” Scootaloo noted sarcastically. “I never would-a guessed.”
“Don’t let it get to your heads,” Logan noted quickly, though he couldn’t stop grinning. “You need to get a handle on this myth the other ponies believe that I’m somehow yours.” 
“Sure, Logan,” Apple Bloom replied with a mischievous grin. “We’ll be sure to make it clear that the wolf that protects us from bullies and gives us life advice is ‘totally’ not interested in us.” 
“Knock it off,” Logan demanded, even as the four of them burst into laughter.
Outside the barn, Babs and Carol watched as the four cracked up. Babs glanced at the lack of a mark on his flank.
“So…” Babs started to ask. “Wolves can’t get cutie marks, can they? He’s not… part of their club?”
“I’d say he’s… honorary,” Carol said. “But that’s not what’s important.” She glanced down at Babs. “What was going to happen… if we didn’t step in?” 
Babs eyes widened. “Huh?”
Carol indicated where the bullies had run off. “Those two. They were mocking them, and I saw you in the middle. Not on one side, or on the other.” Her eyes narrowed. “So, if we hadn’t jumped in… which side would you have chosen?”
Babs’ eyes narrowed. “Look,” she said. “I’ve already got ponies like that after me back home. Just because I don’t have my cutie mark yet, they act like I’m the scum of Equus, or something like that. I’m not about to let myself get bullied again when I’m here to get away from all that.” She scoffed, turning away from Carol. “I don’t expect you to understand; you can’t even get a cutie mark.”
Carol hadn’t moved. 
“No,” she admitted. “I don’t know what it’s like. To be hated for not having a brand.”
Babs didn’t turn to her. For a moment, silence stretched between them.
“But I didn’t have parents, or cousins I could retreat to when things got bad,” Carol said.
Babs ears pricked up, and she turned around.
“I never even got to know my parents,” Carol continued. “But I was raised by my uncle. And my uncle… hated my father.” She looked down. “Every day, he would look at me, and he wouldn’t see me. He would just see my father; someone to be hated and detested.” 
Babs’ ears flattened as Carol continued.
“Worst part was… my father and uncle were fighting,” Carol said. She nodded back at the barn. “I was in that exact same situation; family on one side, and a chance to avoid getting hurt on the other side.” She looked down. “And I made the wrong choice.”
Babs tail flicked, hiding her bare flanks again.
“Logan’s the one that got me out of that situation,” Carol continued. “But… even if the circumstances are different… siding against family isn’t going to keep the pain at bay. It’s just going to leave you feeling detested by everyone. Give it time, and even those bullies would find something to mock you over. Or failing that, they’d only keep you around as some tool. They wouldn’t care about you like Apple Bloom does.” 
Babs was looking down, her bangs hiding one of her eyes. Carol sighed.
“Honestly,” she said. “I don’t know if any of that made sense. I don’t know if I’m just coming across like another stupid adult; lecturing you on things I’ll never understand.”
A small smile blossomed on Babs’ face, before Carol walked back to the barn entrance.
“So, just in case that speech was totally worthless,” she said, before indicating Logan again. He was sniffing around inside the massive pumpkin carriage the crusaders had made.
“It’s the official Cutie Mark Crusaders float for the Summer Harvest Parade,” Apple Bloom was saying. 
“You guys never run out of things to celebrate, do you?” Logan asked. 
“Nope,” Sweetie Belle replied. 
As they chuckled again, Carol turned back to Babs.
“If you decide messing with those fillies is better than risking being bullied,” Carol said, indicating Logan. “Try and remember who’s got their backs.” 
Babs watched Logan. Despite his wagging tail and his happy expression, she could still see how easily his snarl could return if those fillies were threatened. She turned back to Carol and nodded.
“Thanks,” she said. “I’ll, uh… keep it in mind.”
Carol grinned, and followed her into the barn, with both Logan and the Crusaders waving them in happily, though Sweetie Belle watched Logan and Carol grin at each other with curiosity in her eyes. Her hoof rubbed her chin as she hummed thoughtfully.
> Date Night Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan didn’t want to regret offering to make up abandoning Apple Bloom, but even he was having second thoughts when she dragged him out to a gazebo outside Sweet Apple Acres.
“So, I’m not getting this,” Logan said. “You just want me to… check something out here?” 
“Yeah,” Apple Bloom insisted. “Yeah, for some reason…” she gasped, and pointed. Sitting innocently under the gazebo was a checkerboard blanket with a vase of flowers, an apple pie with heart shaped sprinkles on top, and a record player sitting nearby, playing soft music; perfect for a waltz.
“There it is,” Apple Bloom exclaimed. “The mysterious romantic picnic that keeps popping up out of nowhere!”
Logan only got a second to observe the blanket before Apple Bloom ducked away into a brush. Logan flicked his ears at her before walking over to the picnic blanket.
“Well, it can’t be that bad,” he said, sniffing around. “Looks like some pony just set this out to make making foals with their mate a lot more complicated. In fact…” His ears perked and his nostrils flared. “Smells like the ones who set this out were…”
His ears flattened. All three of the Crusaders’ scents were on this blanket. But why? Why would they set out something like this? It couldn’t be for them. But then…
“Logan?” 
Logan glanced up as Carol joined him.
“Carol,” he greeted. “What’s going on?”
“Scootaloo sent me,” Carol said. “She said that a mysterious romantic picnic sheet just kept appearing out of nowhere, and wanted me to investigate.”
Logan’s ears flattened as it clicked together in his mind. 
“Apple Bloom,” he called, turning back to the bush. “Come on, guys; come out!” 
The brush shifted, but the fillies stubbornly kept themselves hidden. Logan rolled his eyes while Carol looked around confused.
“Um… I’m not really understanding,” Carol noted.
Logan sighed. “They’re trying to get us together,” Logan said.
“Together?” Carol asked. “As in… OH!” Her red fur somehow got even redder, while Logan marched over to the brush and parted it. Three pairs of wide eyes stared innocently up at him.
“Oh,” Sweetie Belle said. “H-Hi, Logan.” 
“Hey girls,” Logan said, his tail wagging. “You up to anything?”
“No, not really,” Sweetie Belle replied.
"Apple Bloom," Logan pressed, looking at her. "I'm pretty sure Applejack wouldn't be happy with you lying."
Apple Bloom's ears folded, as did her courage. "W-We were just thinking..." she stammered. "You and Carol would be perfect together." 
The other fillies smiled hopefully up at him. Logan shut his eyes and huffed, amused.
“I appreciate the thought,” he told them. “But… Carol and I are a little different from ponies.” He glanced back at Carol, who looked away, rubbing one paw with the other. “This kind of thing? It’s nice… but it ain’t gonna work for us.” 
Sweetie Belle deflated, as did the other Crusaders. “Oh,” she mumbled.
"Hey,” he said, lifting her chin up. “It’s the thought that counts.” He gave them a nod and a smile, before trekking off. He paused. “Can we take the pie?” he asked.
Apple Bloom nodded. “We had it made special for you two,” she said. 
Logan walked over and snagged the pie with his teeth. “Much appreciated,” he replied, walking off with a grin. 
Yet Sweetie Belle couldn’t help but notice the longing look Carol shot him before following after. Her hoof rubbed her chin again thoughtfully.

#

The Crusaders met back up in their clubhouse the next day, pacing fitfully. 
“Maybe we just need to leave him be,” Apple Bloom suggested. “I mean, he wasn’t mean about it; maybe he and Carol just aren’t meant to be special some… wolves.” 
Sweetie Belle shook her head. “No,” she insisted. “Didn’t you see Carol’s face? I think she wants to be special some wolves with Logan, but she’s just too shy to bring it up.”
“Still, we should be a little careful,” Apple Bloom insisted. “Remember what happened with my brother and Ms. Cherilee?” 
“Well, we know for sure that love poisons need to be made with a pegasus feather,” Scootaloo noted, brushing her wings back. “And I’m not letting some pony take my feathers for that again.”
Sweetie Belle still brushed her chin. 
“You’re right,” she admitted. “We need to make sure that whatever happens, they have a full choice in the matter.” She turned away, before her eyes brightened in inspiration. 
“I got an idea,” she said.

#

The Crusaders found Carol outside Fluttershy’s cottage. The red wolf was passed out on the ground, soaking in the sun with a contented sigh. 
Apple Bloom cautiously approached her, before gently nudging her paw. The wolf twitched, before her eyes opened blearily.
“Oh,” she mumbled before yawning. “Hi, Apple Bloom.”
“Hey, Carol,” Apple Bloom said. She looked around. “Where’s Logan?”
“Oh,” Carol stretched, still half-asleep. “He’s helping Fluttershy catch fish.” Her gaze became dreamy. “Always so kind… who am I to deserve him…” Her eyes started to slide shut, but Apple Bloom caught the last part. 
“So, you do want to be his special somebody?” she asked.
Carol tilted her head. “His special… what?” she asked.
“You know,” Sweetie Belle insisted. “You… like him.” 
“What?!” Carol’s eyes shot open, and she rose up. “W-Well…” she mumbled. “I mean, of course I like him; he’s my pack mate. But I… well, um…” she started to turn away, only to nearly run into Scootaloo. “I mean, I’m not… I can’t possibly…”
“Hey, it’s okay,” Apple Bloom insisted.
“You two are perfect for each other,” Sweetie Belle added. 
Carol stared down at them. “You… think so?” she whispered. 
“Yeah,” Sweetie Belle insisted. “You’re the only two wolves on Equestria.”
“We almost never see you two apart,” Apple Bloom added. 
“And he constantly talked about you when you weren’t here!” Scootaloo said. 
“He’s gotta like you back,” Sweetie Belle insisted. “If you give him just the right nudge, he’d probably be more than happy to be your special somebody.” 
Carol looked down. “Well…” she mumbled. “I don’t know…”
“We can help you out,” Scootaloo promised. 
“As long as yer comfortable with it,” Apple Bloom added with a nervous look at the others. “We don’t wanna force ya into something you don’t wanna do.”
Carol looked up, and gave the girls a warm smile. 
“Girls,” she assured them. “Logan was easily the first friend I ever really had before you guys came along. If he wants to be with me, then I’d be all for it.” She shivered. “I just don’t want to mess things up with him. He trusted me… made me feel wanted… even when he probably shouldn’t have.” She looked out towards the forest. “And if I somehow screw up with him… it’ll be even worse here, because we’re the only wolves. I’d… I…”
Sweetie Belle took her paw in her hooves. “Then let us help you,” she asked.
Carol’s paw still trembled, but her eyes narrowed in determination.

#

The next evening, everything was set up again. The flowers, the picnic table, even the recorder. All of them were in place. Carol herself was sprawled out on the picnic blanket, the picture of an attractive wolf. 
“Now, yer sure this is how wolves show they want to be special somebodies?” Apple Bloom asked. 
“I’m very sure,” Carol replied. She adjusted herself slightly and motioned for Apple Bloom to hide. “Now go; I can smell him coming. 
Apple Bloom yelped and ducked out of sight, while Carol tried to make herself look appealing. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glanced at each other as the she-wolf started repeatedly baring and hiding her teeth, looking more and more frustrated with each attempt.
“Are you sure that she knows what she’s doing?” Apple Bloom asked. 
“She said this was how wolves show they love each other,” Sweetie Belle replied. “Logan never covered this side of wolves, remember?”
“Yeah.” Apple Bloom mumbled. “Really wish he could have given us pointers in his lecture,” she added, as the male wolf appeared again. "Though, that probably might've sounded wierd..."
"Sh, he's coming," Sweetie Belle hissed.
“Carol?” he asked, finding her laid out on the picnic blanket. His ears flattened. “What are the Crusaders doing now?” 
“No crusaders this time, Logan,” Carol replied. “Just… you and me.” She bared her teeth again, and this time, it was a little clearer she was trying to smile.
Logan settled himself next to her, and she nuzzled up to him, a soft whistling noise escaping her snout. Logan gave her a confused look, before she watched the sunset.
"Passions of youth, huh?" she asked. "Us being together. Who would've thought?"
"Who indeed," Logan replied with a chuckle.
Carol stared at him, but he didn't seem as confused or aggravated about the idea as she felt. 
"Like we need to be that close, right?" Carol asked.
Logan turned to her with a worried expression. "You know you don't have to conform to their views all the time, right?" he asked. "We're fine the way we are."
"Uh, sure... yeah, right," she said with a frantic nod. "Great just the way we are."
Logan's ears flattened, and he took a step back from Carol. Carol looked away, flashing a ‘Good Gods above help me!’ look at the Crusaders. They shook their heads in confusion, before ducking back down as Logan spoke.
“Carol," he said, sounding incredibly nervous. "You don't... really think that way about me, do you?"
"Wh-who, me?" Carol almost sounded hysterical. "No, of course not! Like I'd ever imagine having pups with you, who would... I mean, it's not that you're not..." Carol wilted as she gave up, hanging her head. Logan's ears flattened. 
"Oh, heck..." Logan sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Carol..."
"It's fine, Logan," she said, turning away. "W-We're fine the way we are."
Logan narrowed his eyes. "I'm not sure I believe that," he said.
Apple Bloom tilted her head as she noticed Carol pull an odd flask from behind the recorder.
"It was stupid of me to even think about," Carol insisted, nudging the flask closer to him. "Please... let me make it up to you."
Logan tilted his head as she nudged the flask closer.
“I found out about this… ‘punch’ stuff that ponies drink," she continued.
Logan scoffed. “Probably full of sugar,” he noted. 
“It really is, yeah,” she admitted. "But it's a good kind. It's almost like eating berries... if they were already chewed up." 
Scootaloo’s ears flattened as Carol nudged the flask closer.
“Is that…?” Sweetie Belle asked in horror.
"Humans do this thing where they toast to resolve conflicts," Carol plowed on. "Maybe... I know you hate humans... and I do too. But... well..."
Logan took a step back as she tried to uncork the flask.
“Carol?” he asked, backing up further. “You're honestly starting to freak me out. Is there something in that stuff?"
"NO!" Carol barked. "No, there's not!" she insisted.
“She's an even worse liar than Applejack!” Apple Bloom thought in horror.
“Please, it's fine; I'm fine!” Carol whimpered, though her ears were flat and her whole body was trembling. “I’m, uh… I’m…”
Her paw knocked the flask over and Apple Bloom saw something spill out.   Something bright pink with bubble shaped hearts. 
“CAROL!” Scootaloo screamed. “NO!!”
Carol shrieked, thunder cracking the air before lightning flashed from her. The flask exploded, drenching both of the wolves in bright pink liquid. Logan barely noticed, spinning around with a snarl before registering the three fillies running up to him.
“Girls?” he demanded. “What’s…?”
“I SPIKED IT!” Carol howled in despair. “I USED A LOVE POTION! I’M SORRY; I’M SO SORRY, I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF!”
Logan, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and even Scootaloo all stared in stunned silence as Carol fell into a fetal position and sobbed. Love potion dripped from her fur and onto the ground. No one noticed a bit of the potion dripple down Logan’s snout and into his gaping muzzle.
Yet Logan's expression of horror, anger and confusion didn't change. 
“Carol…” he whispered. “You… what?!”
“Yeah, seriously, what?” Apple Bloom asked. “What love potion did you even use?”
“You didn’t use the one from the Hearts and Hooves day book, did you?” Sweetie Belle asked.
"No," Carol admitted. "No, I tried to make one on my own." 
But Logan didn't have time for Carol's explanation. He whirled on the fillies, betrayal joining the war of emotions on his face.
“You guys were in on this, too?” he demanded. 
“No, Logan, please,” Carol whimpered, pulling herself up. “Don’t blame them.”
Logan looked between the four of them, before sighing. Wiping the love potion from his fur, he sat down and motioned for them to sit in front of him.
“Explain,” he growled. “Now.”

#

A few minutes later, the Crusaders had explained the whole thing; how they had noticed Carol’s look towards Logan, and had convinced her to try and give him a chance.
“But… I was so worried you were going to reject me,” Carol whimpered, not meeting Logan’s eyes. “It was one thing when we were back on Gaia; I’d… probably find the right wolf somewhere else. But here…” She looked up at him. “We’re the only two left.”
“So, you decide to use a love potion on me?” Logan demanded. “You didn’t trust that I could come to my own conclusion about you?”
“It was a stupid choice,” Carol whimpered. “I couldn’t think.” She noticed the flask and kicked it away. “I just…” she looked up tearfully at Logan. “You did so much for me… and I don’t know if I deserve you or not.” She sighed. “Not like it matters,” she added, indicating the bit of pink next to his lip. “I clearly messed up in making it.”
Logan’s face warred with pity and disappointment. He pulled himself up, and shook the last of the potion off himself. 
“Carol,” he said softly.
She didn’t look at him.
“Carol,” he said more firmly.
Reluctantly, she looked up at him.
“You deserve more than you give yourself credit for,” he said. “But I’m not interested in you that way.” 
Carol bowed her head with a nod. He then turned to the Crusaders. 
“I’m not interested in anyone that way,” he told them. “So, the next time you guys get some idea about me suddenly getting romantic feelings for someone… don't. Even. Try. It was bad enough when the Changelings tried it, and they tried to pair me with my own mother!” 
The girls bent their own heads and nodded. Logan shook his head. 
“You guys…” he mumbled, looking away. "I expect this sort of thing from Pinkie or Rarity... but you guys?" He shook his head, radiating disappointment.
“Logan, it wasn’t about that,” Apple Bloom insisted. “Carol just looked so sad. Like she wanted to tell you how she felt, but didn’t know how. She… Logan?”
Logan hadn’t responded to her. His eyes stared straight ahead; his tail and ears pointed up. Apple Bloom tilted her head at him, confused, before a voice called to her.
“Apple Bloom!” 
She followed Logan’s gaze. It was Big Mac, striding up the hill towards them. 
“It’s almost bed…” Big Mac paused, his green eyes locking on Logan as well.
That’s when Apple Bloom noticed pink rings, slowly extending from Logan’s pupils across the rest of his eyes. His face slowly split into a wide, lusty grin.
Apple Bloom gaped in horror. “No way…” she whimpered.
That’s when Logan lunged for Big Mac.
> Date Night Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For a brief, scary moment, Apple Bloom was convinced that Logan was eating her brother. But when the dust cleared, they discovered it was worse. Far, far worse!
Logan had Big Mac in an iron grip, his eyes glassy and pink from the love potion. And all four females gaped in utter shock as his tongue slathered across the big stallion’s neck. Big Mac gagged and struggled to get away, but Logan was clinging to him too tightly.
“Ah, mon Cherie,” Logan purred in a voice that wasn’t his own. “Tis love at first sight, is it not? No?”
“NOPE!” Big Mac yelped, squirming slowly from Logan’s grip, even as the wolf tried to tighten his hold.
“Logan, get off him!” Carol barked, while the mares attempted to pry him off the stallion.
“Do not come with me to the Casbah; we shall make beautiful music together right here!” Logan declared, the mares’ hooves doing nothing to separate him. 
However, when he tilted his head back to howl, Big Mac squirted free and shot away with a continuous “ENOPE-NOPE-NOPE-NOPE!” chant. 
Logan cackled in the mare’s grip.
“My crimson cupid,” he mumbled. “Now he is seeking for us a trysting place.” He glanced at Sweetie Belle, who was clinging to his neck. “Touching, is it not?” He shot out of their grip, chasing after Big Mac. “Come, my fiery frisk of fertility! I will help you! Wait for me; wait!” 
The mares raced on behind him, Carol whimpering in horror.
“Oh, moon above, what have I done?” she whimpered. 

#

Back in Ponyville, Applejack was searching for her sister, only to nearly crash into Big Mac. The stallion was panting and looking around frantically, his neck wet with slobber.
“Big Mac,” Applejack demanded, keeping her brother from racing past her. “What in tarnation’s possessed ya.”
“Wolf… crazy… nope…” Big Mac panted, pointing behind him.
“Wolf?” Applejack asked. “Ya mean Logan?” Her ears briefly flattened. “But… he… wait, what did he do?”
“Found you!” a voice cried out with glee. Big Mac jumped a foot in the air as Logan practically teleported behind Applejack. Before the mare could turn around, the wolf pounced once again on Big Mac, who staggered away with the wolf on his face.
“Now mon Cherie magnifique,” Logan declared. “Let us make a-life anew!”
“NO!” Big Mac bellowed, bucking Logan off him before taking to the hills. 
Just as Logan fell, the Crusaders and Carol fell upon him with rope and nets. They bound and strung him up as tight as they could.
“Girls!” Applejack stammered. “L-Logan, what’re…”
“There’s no time!” Apple Bloom insisted. “Sis, ya gotta help us out!”
“But… yer hog-tying… Girls, what in tarnation is going on here!” Applejack demanded.
“I was an idiot!” Carol sobbed. “I screwed up, and now Logan’s possessed by a love potion! We gotta stop him!”
Logan simply laughed again. He glanced at Applejack, who jumped back at the sight of his eyes, visible through the net. They were glimmering with different shades of pink, almost underlying the silver.
“Silly mares,” He said with a smile. "You cannot hope to chain true love!"
He was right, in a way. Applejack’s jaw dropped as Logan busted out of the net and pranced after Big Mac like Pinkie Pie. Carol and Apple Bloom jumped the wolf, but he easily bounced away from them, eyes only on Big Mac’s retreating form. 
“Missed him!” Carol growled. 
“Come on,” Scootaloo yelled, racing up with her scooter attached to a wagon. “We gotta catch him before something really bad happens!”
But just as the group raced after him, Applejack managed to snag Carol, dragging her back while the other three raced after Logan.
“Alright, hang on,” Applejack insisted. “You made him a love potion?”
“I-I think I did,” Carol said. “I borrowed some books from Twilight. She said I could; it was a library, and…” She covered her face. “Oh, I knew this wasn’t going to work.”
“What books?” Applejack demanded.
“I, uh…” Carol glanced back towards where Logan had run off too before turning back to Applejack. “I’ll show you.”
She raced back for the library. The sun had long since gone down, but Applejack knew that there was little time for politeness. Noticing the locked door, Applejack reared back and bucked the door open. Carol raced inside the library, even as an owl flared at her with a protective hiss, and Twilight leaped from her bed.
“What the…” Twilight stammered, before her eyes focused. “C-Carol? Applejack? What’s…”
“Sorry, Twi,” Applejack said. “We got us another problem!” 

#

Big Mac stampeded back to the barn. Whether the others were going to help him or not, he didn’t know or care. All he knew was that he had to get as far away from Logan as he could. Racing into the barn, he pushed the doors closed and barred them. The stallion backed up to a patch of hay, watching the barn door while gasping for breath. He may have been built for endurance, but this hunt had taxed even his limits.
And even then, it wasn’t enough. 
“Hello, mon Cherie papi,” the voice of the possessed sang. Big Mac spun as Logan slinked down from one of the barn’s windows; pink, dreamy eyes set on him. “I am the locksmith of love, no?” 
“NOPE!” Big Mac raced for the door, before remembering it was barred. With little other choice, he shot up into the rafters. Logan watched him dreamily from the barn floor before slowly making his way for the ladder. Big Mac tried to bring the ladder up with him, but his strength – taxed from the hunt – left him. Logan seized the ladder, pressing it against the rafters, and began to climb.
“Come, darling,” he said in that voice that wasn’t his. “We must be grown up about these things. Do not run away from your love…”
Big Mac stepped back, trembling as the wolf made it to the rafters. However, the wolf paused, tilting his head. Big Mac realized that he had walked right over to a window on the rafters. A two-story drop sat just behind him. At that moment, Big Mac wondered if the injuries he’d get from a fall like that were better than what this wolf had in mind for him.
Logan saw his thoughts on his face. 
“Oh, what’s this?” he pondered, before grinning. “This scarlet sweetheart wishes to commit suicide to prove his love for me?” His tail wagged. “What a sweet gesture.” His gaze hardened. “Nevertheless, I must prevent it!”
He shot forward, and Big Mac stumbled away from him, pitching right out the window.
“EEENNOOOOPPEEE!” Big Mac cried in dismay… only for magic to flare around him and cushion his fall. 
He spun around; Twilight, the Crusaders and his sister were all there. The purple mare had Spike on her back, and the dragon was holding a pail of what was hopefully water or something to snap Logan out of his madness.
“Don’t worry, Big Mac,” Applejack assured him. “I got Twilight to help us out.”
“VIVA L’AMORE!” Logan declared. “WE DIE TOGETHER!”
Six pairs of heads whipped up as Logan pitched out the side, eyes shut and his paw in a salute as he plummeted towards Big Mac. Big Mac shrieked and held his hooves out in front of him. 
“Now, Spike!” Twilight shrieked.
Spike hurled what was in the bucket. A glittery, sparkling liquid crashed into Logan just as he smashed into Big Mac. Dust billowed up everywhere, and Big Mac found himself cowering on the ground. 
But no teeth came. No lathering tongue or rubbing fur. Instead, as the smoke cleared, Big Mac saw Logan’s eyes cleared of pink circles. And the expression of utter horror was a good contrast to the sickly lovesick expression he had before.
Logan stepped off Big Mac, a small choked gag of horror slipping from his quivering snout. He took another step back. Then another. Then another.
“Um… Logan?” Twilight asked. “Are you…?"
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”
Logan spun and practically flew into the forest, his howl of horror and despair echoing off the trees long after he was gone. Twilight briefly raised a hoof after him, but lowered it when she realized he wasn’t coming back. 
Big Mac regained his hooves, still panting from the exertion.
“What…?” he stammered, pointing after Logan with a look of utter confusion.
Twilight gave Carol a glare, as the she-wolf sheepishly looked away.
“Turns out one of our wolf friends here,” Twilight said. “Decided to try and make a love potion for her friend.”
“It wasn’t… the love poison, was it?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“It had to be,” Apple Bloom insisted. “Isn’t that why he was chasing Big Mac? Since Big Mac took the poison that one time? Like, if Ms. Cherilee was there, wouldn’t he have…” 
Twilight sighed. “Well, no, that’s not how it worked,” she said. “And besides that… he didn’t drink the love poison.”
“Wolves don’t think of love in the same terms you do,” Carol said. “I was looking more for potions that…”
“Carol, I know what yer gonna say,” Applejack growled. “Not in front of my sister.”
“But wait; what did her love potion actually do?” Apple Bloom asked. “Why did Logan target Big Mac like that?” 
Twilight glanced at Applejack, who gave Twilight a stern shake of her head.
“What’s important,” Applejack said. “Is that Twilight knew how to reverse it.”
“It went down to basic brain chemistry,” Twilight replied with a shrug. “I’m great with magic, but I also studied biology. The potion Carol made increased his testosterone, dopamine and oxytocin levels, so all I needed to do was bring those down.” 
The wolf, farmers and fillies all stared at her. 
“I have no earthly idea what you just said,” Applejack said. “And honestly, I don’t even wanna know.” She turned back to her sister. “Now c’mon, the lot of you,” she said. “It’s far too late fer you to be out right now.”
“But what about Logan?” Apple Bloom asked, glancing at where he had run off to. “Shouldn’t we help him?”  
“I think,” Carol mumbled. “He needs to be alone right now.” She turned away from the others. “Probably for a long time.”
Twilight almost wanted to protest, but a yawn from Spike cut her off. She sighed.
“Let’s hope he’s okay, wherever he went,” Twilight said softly, heading back for the library.

#

However, two days went by, and Logan didn’t reappear. Carol stayed on the outskirts of the forest, looking absolutely miserable. At first, the Mane Six were willing to give Logan until the third morning, but the Crusaders had other plans.
“We gotta find him,” Apple Bloom had insisted, trying to get past Applejack to the Ever-Free.
“It’s our fault he’s like this,” Sweetie Belle admitted. “If we hadn’t pushed Carol…” 
Applejack couldn’t argue with them, but she also couldn’t let them go alone into the Ever-Free.
“Then I’m coming with you,” she declared. “Me and Fluttershy.” 
And so, after a small detour to find the yellow mare, the five ponies set out into the forest, searching for their lost friend.
At first, their search revealed nothing. But eventually, they noticed a spot of yellow fur among the shrubbery.
“Logan?” Scootaloo called.
The yellow fur shifted and vanished.
The mares glanced at each other before Fluttershy inched forward.
“Logan?” she called softly. “Logan, it’s Fluttershy. All your friends.”
The forest leaves shuffled, but he still didn’t come out. 
The Apple sisters gave each other a nervous glance before Applejack stepped forward.
“Big Mac forgave ya,” she called out. “We told him how it was just a potion that made ya act all crazy. He’d understand if…”
“GO AWAY!” Logan’s voice bellowed at them, shrouded with the boom of thunder. But it held none of the fiery anger or passion that he had when he was angry at them before. His voice was cracking; threatening to break into sobs of utter misery and self-hatred.
Fluttershy motioned for Applejack to stay back and protect the fillies. Then slowly – cautiously – she edged forward. 
A cave was set into a hillside on the mountain. Not far into the cave was Logan, his back to them and his head bent. Fluttershy’s ears flattened as she heard faint sobs forcing their way from his throat.
“Logan?” she said softly, reaching out for him. “What’s wrong?” 
Logan’s ears twitched, flat against his skull. He looked up, but not at her. 
“Me,” he whispered.
Fluttershy tilted her head in confusion.
“I hid it as best I could,” he whispered. “Acted like it wasn’t there.” He buried his head under his paws. “But I couldn’t stop it.”
“It was just a love potion,” Fluttershy told him. “We know you didn’t have any control.” 
“I thought Applejack was the Element of Honesty,” Logan growled. He glared back at the orange mare. “Don’t tell me you didn’t realize what that was.” He chuckled humorlessly. “Oh, everyone can say it was a love potion, but you know the truth; don’t you, Applejack?” 
Applejack bit her lip, her eyes darting away uncomfortably. Everyone’s eyes were on her. She shut them and sighed.
“Yeah,” she admitted. “I know why ya went after Big Mac after Carol itched you up on that love potion.” She looked straight at him. “But y’know what, Logan? I don’t know how that’s treated on your world, but here, it’s not a bad thing.” 
The Crusaders glanced at each other, utterly confused. Fluttershy, however, gasped, covering her mouth, before glancing at Logan. 
“How… is it treated on your world?” she asked.
Logan huffed. “Humans… well, they’d hate me even more than they already do, or they’d become AGGRAVATINGLY cautious around me. Constantly saying things like ‘I have friends like you;’ how ‘it’s a good thing,’ and that ‘they totally support me.’” He spat. “Bunch of secret keeping manipulators. At least the ones that would lynch me would be telling the truth about how they really felt.”
“But what about your kind?” Fluttershy insisted. “What do they think about… well… preferences such as that?” 
Logan shut his eyes, and a whine permeated his words. “They see it as a problem,” he admitted.
Fluttershy’s ears flattened. “Oh, no.”
“But why?” Applejack insisted. “Ya can’t help it; it’s part of who you are.”
“It means I can’t breed,” Logan growled back. “My father wouldn’t exist if my grandmother liked other she-wolves. I wouldn’t exist if my father liked other males!” He sighed. “Being able to have pups? A true pack? That was something that humans controlled for so long; they took our ability to reproduce and turned it into another tool for their benefit. Getting that back was something that we paid for with blood! And I don’t know if it’s different for you or on some other world, but where I come from, females can’t impregnate other females, just as males can’t impregnate other males.”
Applejack winced, glancing back at the fillies, but they looked more confused than disgusted.
“Wait, so…” Apple Bloom muttered. “He’s sad because he can’t… impregnate?” 
“What does that even mean?” Scootaloo asked.
Logan looked back, his depression briefly fading to be replaced by worry. He glanced at Applejack, who looked at a loss for words, before Logan sighed, and turned back to them.
“I’m sad,” he began. “Because I can’t give Carol what she deserves.” His head bowed and his eyes shut. “I can’t be her special somebody. And it’s not because I don’t like her… it’s because I can’t like her.”
“But…” Scootaloo protested. “You said the same thing back at the Crystal Empire. That you can’t care about us. And you found a way past that, right?”
Applejack took off her hat. “This is a lot more different from that, sugar cube,” Applejack replied solemnly. 
“Believe me, if I could, I would,” Logan said. He shook his head. “But even I can’t change a part of myself.”
“You don’t have to.”
The mares and wolf looked up as Carol limped into the clearing. Logan backed up from her, his hackles briefly baring, before her absolutely piteous look caused him to hide his teeth. 
Carol slunk forward like a kicked puppy awaiting a further beating. Her eyes were hidden behind her bangs, but when she looked up, her eyes were dull and lifeless.
“Carol?” Logan asked.
“Do you remember when we first met?” Carol asked.
Logan didn’t even hesitate. “That Summer near Central; you lost a deer for your pack, and so, I helped you rob a butcher’s store for the meat.”
“Robbed?” Applejack hissed, but a shush from Fluttershy kept her from pressing the matter.
Carol smiled. “I guess I was smitten from you from that first moment,” she said. “Someone kind and bold; coming to save the day? It was like what my uncle said my father should have been like. And then… you just kept on helping me.” Her head bowed. “I always wished that you’d look on me… the same way I looked on you. But I knew it was impossible.” 
Logan looked away, his ears unable to flatten any further. 
“I’m sorry, Carol,” he whispered. “I did mean it when I told you that you deserved a lot more than I could give. And…”
“No, it was never that,” Carol cut him off. She shivered where she stood, but she turned her flank to him. “It wasn’t impossible because of who you wanted. It was impossible because of what was done to me.”
She lifted her hind leg, and Scootaloo took a step back in disgust. However, whatever Logan saw made him gape in horror.
“What? What is...?” Fluttershy tried to ask, before she saw what Carol was indicating. She covered her mouth with a small gasp as well. Applejack, however, stared at Carol in confusion.
“What…?” Applejack tried to ask.
“She was spayed,” Fluttershy whispered.
Carol nodded, lowering her leg and turning back to Logan. 
“I can’t give you pups,” she said. “Even if you did like me that way.” She shut her eyes. “That’s why I used the love potion. I couldn’t enter heat, but I let the fillies convince me that you liked me the way I wanted. And… some deranged part of me decided that you just needed the right mix of hormones to see me in that light.” Her head bowed. “Not that it matters now.”
“Carol…” Logan whispered, but she didn’t turn to him. 
“We’re going to be the only wolves of Equestria,” she said sadly. “And I’m sorry you have to share that title with a manipulative, pathetic dog like myself.”
The way Logan flinched, Carol might as well have called herself something much more horrid than ‘dog.’ The she-wolf turned away, tail tucked, and started to wander off.
“You’re not a dog,” Logan said. 
Carol paused, looking back at him as he strode past the mares.
“You’re not pathetic,” he said firmly. “And you’re not manipulative.” 
Then, to Carol’s shock, he draped his head over her nape. From the way she blushed, it appeared Logan was doing the equivalent of kissing her full on the lips.
“You’re the wolf who traveled across dimensions with me,” he whispered. “The wolf who got me away from the humans.” His tail wagged as he and Carol locked eyes. “And more importantly; you’re someone I’m honored to be the last of my kind with.” 
Carol’s lip quivered. “Even after the potion?” she asked. “Even with…”
“Who my body wants doesn’t matter,” Logan said fiercely. “I never let that define me before, and I won’t let it define me now!” He gripped her paws. “Whether we had no pups or ten thousand pups… you are the only other wolf in my pack, Carol.” He pressed her claws to his nose. “And I won’t let this tear us apart.” He half-sobbed.
Carol gasped, and flung herself forward, draping her own neck across his. And the wolves stood there, locked in their embrace. 
The Crusaders all cooed, while Applejack and Fluttershy shared a soft smile. Applejack motioned for them to give the wolves some space, and the mares quietly left the clearing while Logan and Carol continued to embrace each other.
> Twilight's Promotion Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan and Carol could only stare in abject shock at the latest bout of craziness that had befallen them.
“Carol,” Logan said.
“Yeah,” she asked. 
“Where’s Fluttershy?” Logan demanded.
“Here’s a better question,” Carol said, before storming over to Rainbow Dash. “WHY ARE YOU IN FLUTTERSHY’S COTTAGE?!” 
The other animals had to agree with Carol; they were all chittering, roaring and generally causing a mayhem, looking around for their normal caretaker.
Dash fumed, and burst into song. 

None of you will listen to me; not one little bit.


You run out of control, and throw your hissy fits.

“Can you imagine why?” Logan demanded.

“But it’s up to me to stop you, cuz plainly you can see…”

She pointed to her flank. Normally, a rainbow-colored lightning bolt adorned it, but now… Logan had to blink twice as he registered three butterfly marks – just like Fluttershy’s.

It’s got to be my destiny,” Dash concluded. “Because it’s what my cutie mark is telling me!” 

Logan and Carol glanced at each other in horror. 
“Dash…” Logan started gently. “Where is Fluttershy now?”

#

Leaving Logan in charge of the animals, Carol sprinted for Sugarcube Corner. Fighting against the strong smell of sugar, Carol burst inside to find Fluttershy, a pair of odd glasses with a moustache on her face, standing before a group of irate ponies.
“Fluttershy?” Carol asked, just as the music started back up again.

“I try to keep them laughing,” Fluttershy bemoaned. “Put a smile on their face.


But no matter what I try, it seems a bit of a disgrace.”


She blew a party horn resignedly.


I have to entertain them, it’s there for all to see.

She pointed to her flank, which now had a picture of three balloons on it – Pinkie Pie’s mark!

“It’s got to be my destiny,” Fluttershy finished. “And it’s what my cutie mark is telling me!”

Carol sprinted back out, only to run into Twilight. 
“Who’s in…?” Twilight tried to ask.
“Fluttershy,” Carol answered instantly. “Did you…?”
“Long story,” Twilight replied. “So… if Fluttershy is in Pinkie’s place, then what’s…”
A CRASH sounded, faintly, from Applejack’s farm. Carol’s ears flattened, as did Twilight’s.
“Oh, no…” Twilight whimpered, as she and Carol raced for the source of the noise. The song continued as they saw Pinkie at the farm. Or rather… what was left of the farm. 

“I don’t care much for picking fruit and plowing fields ain’t such a hoot,” Pinkie was singing as she tried to work.


“No matter what I try; I cannot fix this busted water chute…”

It crashed again, Carol having to keep it from crushing Pinkie, while the mare wandered away from her.

“I’ve got so many chores to do, it’s no fun being me. 


But it has to be my destiny, because it’s what my cutie mark is telling me.”

Carol darted between the apples now on Pinkie's flank and the farm. She made the connection before they got Applejack’s location out of the mare.
“Oh, no…” Carol muttered as they raced to Canterlot Boutique, to find Applejack with what looked like a scarecrow that had been butchered. Rarity's mark was on Applejack.

Lookie here at what I made,” Applejack cried. “I think that it’s a dress


I know it doesn’t look like much; I’m under some distress.


Could ya’ll give me a hand here and help me fix this mess?


My destiny ain’t pretty, but it’s what my cutie mark is telling me.”

Carol backed out, only for a lightning bolt to nearly hit her. Rarity walked by, singing sadly as well. Her flank was adorned with Rainbow Dash's lightning bolt. 

“I’m in love with weather patterns, but the others have concern.


For I just gave them frostbite, on top of their sunburns. 


I have to keep on trying, for everyone can see.

All across Ponyville, Carol heard the five mares cry in unison.

“It’s got to be my destiny, and it’s what my cutie mark is telling me!”

Carol glowered at Twilight, who was looking more than ashamed. Snagging her by the horn, Carol dragged her back to the library, Spike struggling to keep up.
“Carol-ow-Carol-Ow-that-hurts-Carol!” Twilight screamed before Carol shoved her inside. Barely giving time to let Spike in, Carol slammed the door and turned around on Twilight.
“Explain,” she growled. “Now!”
Twilight stammered for a second before Spike jumped between them.
“I don’t know how wolves handle problems,” Spike growled at Carol. “But yelling at Twilight isn’t gonna help anything.”
“Well, I WANT ANSWERS!” Carol snarled. “Fluttershy’s off doing… whatever the heck was up with that moustache, and I just left Logan and Rainbow Dash in charge of a bunch of wild animals.”
“You left LOGAN IN CHARGE OF SOMETHING?!” Twilight screeched. 
“EXACTLY WHY I’M A LITTLE CONCERNED!” Carol screeched back before Spike once again separated them.
“And we’ll figure out what happened,” he said calmly. “I’m not sure how, but I’m pretty sure screaming like maniacs isn’t gonna help.” 
Carol fumed, but didn’t say anything else, while Spike turned to Twilight. “Now, Twilight; what happened?”
With Spike’s assuring voice, Twilight snapped out of her funk, and took a breath.
“Okay,” she said. “Last night, I got a special delivery from the princess.”
She indicated an unfolded piece of parchment next to an old looking book. Carol didn’t even roll her eyes; she just took the parchment and started to read:
“Dear Twilight Sparkle,” she read. “The spell contained on the last page of this book is Star Swirl the Bearded’s secret unfinished masterpiece. He was never able to get it right, and thus abandoned it. I believe you are the only one who can understand it and re-write it. Princess…” Carol growled out the last word. “Celestia.” 
Spike took up the book and turned it to the last page. Twilight stuck out a hoof.
“Careful, Spike!” she warned, glancing at the Elements worriedly. “Merely saying it cast the spell.” 
Shutting his mouth, Spike showed the spell to Carol:
From one to another; Another to one. A mark of one’s destiny singled out alone, fulfilled...
He huffed. “Doesn’t make sense,” he admitted.
“You’re telling me,” Carol grumped. “It doesn’t even rhyme.” 
Twilight just hung her head. “I cast the spell so I could find out what it was, but nothing seemed to happen...”
“Oh, nothing seemed to happen?” Carol demanded. She yanked open the curtain, revealing the checkerboard storm clouds outside. “Nothing seemed to happen?!” she demanded.
“I know something did happen!” Twilight snapped back. She walked over to a glass container containing the necklaces and tiara that Twilight and her friends had worn when they were dealing with Discord. But something was off about the five necklaces. They had different colors that didn’t match their shapes.
“The spell changed the Elements of Harmony,” Twilight bemoaned. “That’s why their cutie marks are all wrong.” 
“So… just cast a counter-spell; switch them back,” Carol replied. 
“But there is no counter-spell,” Twilight refuted.
“How about that memory spell you used to fix every pony when Discord came around,” Spike offered. Carol glanced at him in confusion, only for Twilight to shake her head.
“It’s not their memories, Spike; it’s their true selves that have been altered,” she replied. 
“Altered just by a brand mark?” Carol asked. Twilight glared at her.
“Cutie marks are not brands,” she said sharply, looking down at her own. “Cutie marks are a show of who we are. Our… souls, if you will…”
Spike brightened. “What about Zecora’s cure for the cutie pox?” he asked. “That had something to do with…”
But Twilight shook her sorry little head. “That won’t work either.”
Spike deflated, looking out of ideas. Carol stared at them both in horror. 
“Well, maybe it won’t be so bad,” Spike started to say. “Maybe…”
“Are you KIDDING ME?!” Carol bellowed, knocking them both out of their funk. She stormed over to Twilight. “Twilight, I may not have been around here as long as Logan has, but I know that you’re better than this.” 
“Huh?” Twilight asked. 
“Logan told me about when he first came here,” Carol insisted. “How you refused to just give up on him; how even leaving Equestria didn’t let you stop thinking he could be your friend. When Discord showed back up, you were right there by Fluttershy’s side, ready to help her!”
Twilight took a step back, but her eyes started to narrow in realization. 
“And…” Carol gritted her teeth, but forced it out. “Princess Celestia? I’ve never met a girl more loyal and devoted to that alicorn than you. No matter how much Logan tries to get you to hate her... you just can't. Can you?”
Twilight looked up at her, and despite everything, Carol smiled. 
“Dash may hold the Element of Loyalty,” Carol said. “But I have never seen you give up on your pack before, Twilight Sparkle.” She stood tall. “And I don’t accept that you’re going to leave your pack in the dust over this.” 
Twilight’s eyes darted back and forth, before realization dawned on her. She looked up with a smile.
“You’re right,” she said. “They mean more to me than anything…” She looked at a picture on the mantelpiece; the six mares all gathered together. “My friends…”
She smiled, and then the light of an idea shined in her eyes.
“I GOT IT!” she declared, bursting from her house. Carol and Spike raced after her.
“Whatever you’ve got,” Carol said. “Can we make sure Fluttershy gets fixed first. I am not comfortable with Logan being left in charge for any longer than he has to be.”
“W-hang on,” Spike yelled, trying to keep up with them. “What’re we doing?”
"I can’t remind them of who they are,” Twilight admitted. “But I can show them what they mean to each other! They’ll find the part of themselves that’s been lost so they can help the friend they care about!” 
“The bonds of pack,” Carol said, grinning in understanding. “Now, you’re thinking like a wolf.”
Twilight just grinned. “Maybe ponies and wolves have a lot more in common than we’d like to think.” 
The three sprinted for Sugarcube corner… only to find Fluttershy sadly walking out.
“Fluttershy!” Twilight called. “Wait!” 
“Oh, hello, Twilight,” Fluttershy said sadly. She shared a grin with Carol. “Carolina.”
“What are you doing?” Carol asked.
“I’m moving back to Clouds Dale,” Fluttershy admitted sadly. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I can’t seem to make any pony laugh.”
She tossed a whoopee cushion into the air, and tried to walk away, but Carol jumped in front of her. 
“I know something you can do,” Carol said. “You can help Rainbow Dash out. She and Logan really need your help right now.”
“They do?” Fluttershy asked. She shivered. “But… I don’t really know anything about animals.”
Before Carol could gape at her, Twilight jumped in.
“But you do know something about Rainbow Dash,” she prompted.
Fluttershy looked away doubtful. “I… know that she’s a true friend…” she brightened. “And I know I’ll do anything I can to help her.” 

#

As it turned out, she needed the help. The group arrived to find Fluttershy - or Dash's? - cottage in disarray. Dash was in the doorway, her limbs straining to hold her in as Logan pushed her out.
“You need…” Logan huffed, kicking away at several angry animals chattered behind him, waving forks and anything they could grab as weapons. “To get… OUT OF HERE!”
“NO!” Rainbow Dash yelled. “This is my destiny! I have to keep you guys in line!”
“YOU ARE FAILING!” Logan roared, shoulder bashing her out hard enough to break the door down. A swarm of animals raced after them, squeaking and howling for blood.
Carol fell upon the animals, knocking them back as Logan pulled himself up.
“Can I assume you made any progress with them,” she asked, snapping at a mouse before a bear stomped out and bellowed at them.
“Honestly?” Logan asked, readying his claws. “I think I just pissed them off.”
Rainbow Dash shot up next to him, her wings flared. “Well, might as well keep trying,” she said resignedly.
“WILL YOU GET OUT OF HERE!” Logan bellowed. 
As the pegasus and the wolf started arguing again, Fluttershy gasped and turned to Twilight.
“Can’t you do some sort of spell to help them?” she asked. Twilight stood back.
“No, Fluttershy,” she said. “You’re the only one that can help! Rainbow Dash? Logan? Carol? They all need you!”
Fluttershy nervously stepped up to the plate, standing behind the wolves and Dash. Instantly, every animal in the cottage turned to her. Logan especially whirled around, his ears perked and his tail wagging.
“Um… little woodland creatures?” Fluttershy whispered, looking very nervous at the sudden attention. “I know that you’re all very upset, and…” 
“There you are!” Logan exclaimed, racing over to her. “You have no idea how freaked out everyone got. We thought Dash was pulling some kind of prank.” 
The other animals chittered in agreement. Fluttershy raised a leg in shock, before she noticed an odd grumbling that wasn’t coming from the animal’s mouths.
“Well, no wonder,” she said, dashing inside. The animals followed her, only to find her setting down plates of leaves, acorns and other snacks.
“I could probably hear your grumbling from Ponyville,” she explained, setting more food down. “Here are some nice, juicy leaves for you to munch on!” She zipped by the wolves and Dash, feeding the animals. “And some crunchy acorns… wouldn’t you like to take a break and have a little snack?”
Dash’s jaw dropped as the animals instantly calmed, joining the buffet that Fluttershy had set out for them.
“Aw,” Fluttershy cooed, petting one rabbit’s head. “You were all just cranky because you were hungry.” 
“And because Dash has got nothing on your kindness,” Logan added, nuzzling her… and promptly getting joined in by the other animals. “Ah, crud!” he mumbled, getting buried under the other animals, but Fluttershy didn’t seem to mind the attention.
“Oh, you are very welcome, little friends,” Fluttershy said, nuzzling the different animals. As they slowly dispersed back to their snacks, Fluttershy put a hand over her head.
“Goodness,” she muttered. “It’s like I can understand them! I feel… strange. Like this is what I’m meant to do. Like this is who I am. My… destiny!” As she spoke, Twilight placed the necklace with a butterfly jewel on her neck. Fluttershy’s eyes flashed like a kaleidoscope, before…
“Guys!” Carol said. “Her mark!”
As Carol spoke, Fluttershy’s cutie mark shifted; changing from balloons to butterflies. Twilight’s smile would have lit up the dark side of the moon.
“It worked!” Twilight declared, hugging Fluttershy, “Oh, I’m so happy you’re back to normal.” 
“Eh, normal by your standards…” Logan started to protest, only for Carol to nudge him into silence.
“Now, we need your help,” Twilight declared, turning to Rainbow Dash. “Both of you.” 
The three marched off, bursting into song.

A true-true friend helps a friend in need; a friend will be there to help you see. 


A true-true friend helps a friend in need to see the light that shines from a true-true friend!”

Logan glanced at Carol, who gave him a grin.
“Well…” Logan finally said. “That was interesting.” He glanced back at the food. “Wanna stay? I mean, it looks like they got things handled.”
Carol started to turn inside, only for the mouse she had snapped at to bean her with an acorn.
“Maybe we should stick close to Fluttershy,” Carol noted. “Just in case.”
She turned away, dragging Logan off before he tried to eat the bold little mouse.

#

By the time Carol got Logan to stop trying to get revenge/possible lunch, the ponies seemed to have gotten everything straightened out, judging by the happier looks of the ponies and the lack of checkerboard storm clouds. The two wolves converged on the mares as they returned to Twilight’s library. The mares were all wearing their elements, but their marks were back in place.
“Can we assume everything’s back to normal?” Logan asked with a grin.
“As normal as it gets in Ponyville,” Twilight replied.
“What’d you even do?” Logan asked, his ears flattening.
“Long story,” Carol replied quickly. “Twilight cast a spell, and it made everyone switch marks and thus think they were different people.” 
Logan rolled his eyes. “This is what Apple Bloom and the others want?” he asked. “Brand marks that can make them want to do different things at the whims of unicorns?” 
“IT’S NOT A BRAND MARK!” Six voices barked at him. Logan just chuckled at their anger, before Twilight turned back to the book with a shake of her head. 
“Look, the point is,” Carol said placatingly. “You got it fixed.” She shot Twilight an approving look. “Because you guys are a pack. And a pack always sticks out for each other.” 
“So,” Pinkie noted happily. “I guess the chorus should have gone, ‘a true-true pack mate helps a pack mate in need!’” 
“Yep,” Logan said with a grin.  
“Pack…” Twilight pondered. “Friends…” Her eyes lit up again, and she turned back to the spell book. Logan took a cautious step back.
“Hey, Sparkles,” he warned. “What are you doing?”
“No need for fear, Logan,” Twilight replied teasingly. “Just figuring something out.”
“I wasn’t scared,” Logan snapped. “I was being cautious.”
Twilight didn’t reply, summoning up a quill and writing down the last of Star Swirl’s spell.
“From all of us together,” she said as she wrote. “Together we are…” she had to pause for a moment before continuing, “friends. With the marks of our destinies made one, there is magic without end.” 
She put the last period down… and instantly, the element of magic atop her head began to glow. Twilight looked up at it, while even Carol and Spike backed up.
“Um…” Carol whispered. “Is it supposed to do that?” 
None of the others answered. They were all looking down at their own Elements, which were all glowing as well. 
“What are you guys doing?” Logan demanded.
“I don’t know, I’m not doing anything,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“Me neither,” Applejack yelled.
But then, before anyone could stop it, five bright beams of pure energy shot out of the Elements. 
Right. Towards. Twilight.
The purple mare vanished as all the beams converged on her, trapping her in a dome of pure white energy. Then, the energy dissipated. All that was left was a scorch mark on the floor in the shape and pattern of her own mark. 
“WHAT DID YOU GUYS DO?!” Logan shrieked, bursting past the mares and sniffing at the ground.
“I DON’T KNOW; IT JUST HAPPENED!” Dash exclaimed.
“DID WE VAPORIZE HER?!” Pinkie cried. “OH, CELESTIA; WE VAPORIZED TWILIGHT?!”
“Somebody do something,” Applejack declared. “M-Maybe she’s just hiding.”
“I’m not getting a scent,” Logan yelped. 
“Maybe she vanished,” Fluttershy declared.
But even as they burst out from the library, they knew it was likely pointless. They had no idea what the Elements had done to Twilight. But they determined to figure out what happened to her. 
“Twilight?!” rang through the air on eight different voices. “TWILIGHT!”
> Twilight's Promotion Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

As night fell, the ponies, wolves and dragon started to lose hope that Twilight was coming back. But just as they all gathered back outside the library, they became aware of a variation of Twilight’s mark appear, surrounded by six small white stars. The mark floated to the ground, bursting in a shower of light. When the light faded… they found their friend, sprawled out on the grass.
“Twilight?” Applejack asked. “Is that…?”
She tried to approach, only for Carol to hold her back. Both wolves were sniffing the air, their tails tucked. Something wasn’t right.
Twilight shakily got to her hooves… and spread her new wings.
Eight pairs of jaws slammed into the ground. Two tails followed as the mares converged on Twilight, cheering in wonder and amazement. Logan and Carol gazed at each other, utterly baffled as the mares cheered and congratulated Twilight. 
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Applejack declared.
“Twilight’s got wings,” Dash laughed. “Awesome! I got a new flying buddy!”
“Why, you’ve become an alicorn,” Rarity stammered. “I didn’t even know that was possible!” 
“Alicorn party!” Pinkie cheered, blowing a party kazoo.
“You look just like…” Fluttershy started to say, before Logan cut her off.
“HEY!” he bellowed. “WHAT’S GOING ON HERE!?”
He jumped forward, sniffing Twilight’s wings. 
“You vanish on us; make us think you got vaporized,” Logan growled. “Now you come back with WINGS?” He looked around. “AND EVERYONE’S OKAY WITH THIS?! Did anyone miss the part where we spent SIX HOURS looking for her?!” He glared at Twilight. “We thought you died!”
The six mares glanced at each other in realization. 
“So, you do care about me?” Twilight noted cheekily.
Fluttershy saw the rage on his face, and yanked him back seconds before he could bite her.
"Okay, wrong thing to say,” Twilight stammered, backing behind Rainbow Dash and Applejack as Logan nearly took another lunge at her again. “Wrong thing to say, I’m sorry…!” 
“This is NOT funny to me, Sparkles,” he snapped as Pinkie and Fluttershy held him back, and Rarity held onto Carol to keep her from charging as well. “You DO NOT mess with my emotions like that!"
“Logan, she’s fine,” Fluttershy assured him. “She’s just fine; no one’s dead. Twilight’s fine… and…” She glanced back. “And she looks like a princess.” 
“That’s because she is,” a regal voice replied. The group turned to find Princess Celestia touching down behind them. 
Logan’s eye twitched. “You,” he grumbled.
“Yes, me,” Celestia said with a slight huff, though not even Logan could make her smile fade. “But, a lot of what Twilight accomplished has been leading to this point. Since Twilight has come to Ponyville, she’s displayed the charity, compassion, devotion, integrity, optimism and, of course, leadership of a true princess.”
“But…” Twilight started to say. “Does that mean I won’t be your student anymore?”
“WHAT?!” 
The mares jumped as sparks flew from Logan’s fur.
“THAT’S what you’re worried about, Sparkles?” he demanded.
“Yeah,” Carol exclaimed, racing over to her. “I thought the whole point of this adventure was not to take destiny when it’s being forced upon you! Why else did you work so hard to get everyone’s marks fixed?! What? When you force new destinies on someone, you need to fix it, but when Celestia does, oh, it’s fine?” 
Celestia pursed her lips, but didn’t speak.
“Oh, who are you kidding, Carol?” Logan growled. “Twilight’s always seen Celestia as perfect. Celestia could probably destroy the world, and Twilight would say it’s fine!”
Twilight stamped her hoof. “I would NOT do that,” she snapped, before glancing at Celestia worriedly. “I mean… I wouldn’t have to, right? You wouldn’t do something like that, would you?” 
Celestia flinched back, her smile wavering. “I would not…,” she tried to say, but Logan raised a paw and bared his teeth in her direction.
“You. Shut up,” he growled. To ever pony’s shock, Celestia actually backed up at Logan’s words, and went silent. He turned back to Twilight, who looked equal parts offended at Logan’s disrespect and surprised that Celestia actually obeyed him. Her surprise only increased at the softer look Logan gave her.
“I want you to be honest with me,” he said. He walked up to Twilight, and looked her square in the eyes. “Did you want this?” He indicated her wings. “Did you have a choice?” 
She looked at her wings, and then at Celestia, only for Logan to pull her face back to him.
“I’m not asking Celestia, I’m asking you!” he growled. 
Twilight thought over his words for a moment, then gave a nod.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I was hoping… well, I always knew that Princess Celestia had plans for me. And now…” she sighed as Logan just looked more and more suspicious. “Yes. I want this. I wanted this ever since I first saw Celestia raise the sun. I may be nervous about it… considering I can’t exactly… look to Princess Celestia for guidance as much, but…”
“You don’t need to worry, Twilight,” Celestia assured her. “I’ll still be here to help and guide you. But we are all your students now.”
Logan scoffed. “Not all of us,” he growled at her, before turning away.
“Logan,” Twilight tried to protest, but Celestia held her back, not daring to risk Logan’s temper with more poorly thought out words. 
Logan briefly paused, but turned back to Twilight instead of the white alicorn. Twilight tilted her head as she saw pity flash in his eyes.
“If you change your mind,” Logan said. “I’ll see what I can do to change you back; I don’t care how impossible that sounds.” He glared at Celestia. “Don’t let her lead you down a path you don’t really want.” 
With that, he left the group, heading back for the forest. Carol spared Celestia a grimace, before following after Logan. 

#

The Canterlot Castle balcony was once stocked with ponies celebrating the wedding of Cadence and Shining Armor. Now they were gathered to celebrate the coronation of Twilight Sparkle.
Logan watched from the outskirts of Canterlot as Twilight appeared on the balcony. Carol joined him just as Twilight locked eyes with them. Even from that distance, they could at least make out what she was saying.
“Each one of you taught me something about friendship, and for that, I will always be grateful. Today, I consider myself the luckiest pony in Equestria. Thank you, friends…” she looked on Logan and Carol in particular. “Thank you, everyone.” 
“You gotta admit,” Carol noted as the ponies erupted into cheers. “She cleans up nice.” 
Logan shrugged. “I know something had to come about; what with Celestia caring so much for her.” He sighed. “I just… don’t know if Twilight was honest with me; if this is what she really wants. She’s always been so eager about learning; I’ve never heard her gushing about how soon she’ll become a princess. What if…” Logan glanced over at her. “What if Celestia’s just manipulating her again?” 
Carol pondered that. “Maybe Celestia isn’t as immortal as we thought,” Carol offered. 
“She said she lived for thousands of years,” Logan replied.
“Sure, but… just because something’s long-lived doesn’t mean that they can’t die… or get tired.” Carol shrugged. “Maybe Celestia wants Twilight to take over one day; I mean, Twilight does care about others. She’s definitely the Alpha of the Mane Six. And she’s powerful in her own way.” Carol grinned as Twilight tested her new wings.
“Maybe Celestia wants her to be her Beta, and eventually Alpha if something happens to her.”
“What about Luna and Cadence?” Logan pointed out.
“Technically, Luna’s ruling with Celestia, and Cadence has the Crystal Empire.” Carol grinned. “I’d call Luna the Alpha Male to Celestia’s Alpha Female, but… she’s female.” Carol glanced away. “I think.” 
Logan’s ears flattened, but he didn’t growl or snap. Instead, he just smirked.
“You know I hate it when you imply that they’re right about something,” he noted.
“I’d be more surprised if there was something about their culture that you didn’t hate,” she noted.
Logan huffed. “I don’t hate Fluttershy,” he noted.
“Nobody can hate Fluttershy,” Carol refuted.
Logan laughed at that, but his pained expression didn’t fade. 
“Do you think…” Logan flinched, like he didn’t want to say it. But Carol glanced back up at Twilight, and connected the dots.
“I’m sure she’ll come back,” she said. “Even if Twilight is… aggravatingly curious, I don’t see Celestia making her abandon her pack. And I don’t see her pack abandoning Ponyville just yet.”
Logan’s tail wagged. “Well, someone’s gonna have to protect that stupid little town,” he admitted. “Now more than ever.” 
Carol’s gaze fractured, and she glanced down.
More than you know, she thought to herself.

#

Queen Chrysalis strode through her newly minted hive, her eyes narrowed at what awaited her.
“And what foolish creature has wandered into my hive this time?” Chrysalis demanded.
“A most peculiar creature,” her drone admitted. “Unlike anything we’ve seen before.” 
The drone led her to the cocoon containing the creature. Despite being trapped in the green goop, the creature lifted his head up and flashed a distorted but bright, chipped tooth grin.
“Well, if it isn’t the famous Queen Chrysalis; Queen of all changelings,” he noted.
His grin widened when she tilted her head up proudly. 
“You coming to breed me, sugar teeth?” 
The smug smile slid off her face at his words.
“Cuz you can make as many drones from my seed as you want.” 
“I don’t just breed with any insolent creature I capture,” Chrysalis said testily. “Tell me what worth you pose, creature, and why I should not have you fed to my young.”
“Aw, how cute,” he said. “You honestly can’t figure it out?” He chuckled, his laugh ringing through the hive in a way Chrysalis’ own laugh couldn’t.
She fidgeted. “What are you talking about?” she demanded.
“Oh, please,” he said. “No need to play dumb, Chrissy. My kind created your kind. Surely you could recognize a human when you see one?”
Chrysalis gasped, as did her drones. Granted, the being was somewhat humanoid, yet there were things about him that gave Chrysalis pause; such as the monkey tail that wagged cheekily from inside the cocoon. Or the opposable thumbs on his toes.
“How dare you speak such falsities,” Chrysalis growled, pointing her horn at his face. “I should take your tongue right now!”
“Silencing me won’t silence the truth,” he replied. “Granted, I may not be the one that sketched out your incredible designs, or gave you your sultry voice, but I am part of the species that made them. Ponies. Changelings. This entire country. And that means…” 
Chrysalis gasped as he broke free from his cocoon, and stood before her.
“That what you should be saying… is ‘thank you,’” he said.
“Thank you?” Chrysalis asked, her ears flicking as she sensed magic at hand.
“You’re welcome!” the man replied with a bow.
“Wh… I would not dare thank…” Chrysalis tried to say, only for the man to chuckle, a song starting up around him.

“I see what’s happening, yeah.


You’re face to face with a creator, and it’s strange. 


You don’t even know, how to feel.


You’re adorable!

He booped her on the nose for emphasis.

Well, it’s nice to see that characters never change.”

He pulled her close, beginning to tango.

“Open your eyes; let’s begin.


Yes, it’s really me; a human – breath it in.


I know it’s a lot: the fingers, the bod.


When you’re staring at – well – a kinda god. 

He spun Chrysalis into her drones and began to dance.

What can I say except ‘You’re Welcome!’


For your rocks, your power, your sky;


Hey, it’s okay to say, “You’re Welcome!”


But I ain’t just another pony guy!


“Hey!”

To the Changelings shock, the human sketched out with two thumbs… and the rocks fell away, revealing blue sky above.

“What has two thumbs, and painted the skies


When you were sketched to this high


“One of these guys!” he said, pointing at himself before clapping and painting again. Fire crackled before them as he sung;


“When the nights got cold,


Who drew you fire for down below


“You’re looking at one, yo,” he said with a laugh. He pointed just as the sun flew overhead.


“Oh! Also, we drew up the sun.


“You’re Welcome.”


“To help Celestia bring you fun.


Also, we sketched out the breeze.

He stripped off a Hawaiian patterned vest he was wearing and fanned it, the breeze knocking Chrysalis down.

You’re Welcome!


To cool your face and shake your trees!”

Chrysalis stared in dumbfounded shock as her drones started to dance along.
“What are you imbeciles doing!?” she demanded.
“I don’t know,” one drone replied. “It’s like love, but… musical!”
Chrysalis tried to stop it, but there were a horde of changelings between her and the human, all currently bouncing him along like a rock star while he continued to sing, squirting water from a thermos he yanked from his belt.

“So, what can I say except, Your Welcome?”


For the water, the lakes, the sea.


There’s no need to pray it’s okay; You’re Welcome!”


It’s just a human thing like me


“You’re Welcome!”


“You’re Welcome!”

He paused and hopped off the changelings, sliding next to Chrysalis.
“Well, come to think of it,” he noted.

“Guys, honestly I could on and on


I could explain every natural phenomenon


Your rocks? Your grass? Your ground?


That was humans! Just messing around!


Faust took a pen; then a pad of paper.


Drew out some lines, now we got pony caper!


What’s the lesson?


What is the takeaway?


Don’t mess with humans when we’re on the breakaway!”

The man broke out of the hive and displayed the land before them.

“The tapestry here of the world,


Is a map that the humans unfurled.


Look at this all, we made all of it happen.

He started dancing in place. 

Check out this move; I’m tipping and tapping!

He brief scat-sang, while eyeing the now smiling Changelings. Even Chrysalis was slowly getting into it, bopping her head to the beat.

Well anyway, let me say, You’re Welcome!

“You’re Welcome!” the changelings echoed.

“For the wonderful world, you know.


Hey, it’s okay – it’s okay, You’re Welcome!

“You’re Welcome,” Chrysalis echoed back.

“Oh, come to think of it, we gotta go,” the man noted, before continuing.


Hey, it’s the day, to say “You’re Welcome!”

“You’re Welcome!” the changelings echoed back.

“Cause I’m gonna need your help!


I’m taking a wolf away, You’re Welcome!

“You’re Welcome!”

“A nasty, annoying insolent whelp!”

“You’re Welcome!”

“You’re Welcome!

“You’re Welcome!” The changelings chanted, hypnotized.

“You’re Welcome…” The man started to drawl, before…

“Wait!” Chrysalis said, turning to the human. “You said, ‘wolf?’”
“Mm-hm,” he replied.
“Logan Wolfe?” she demanded. “The Lone Wolf of Equestria?”
“Taking him out to dinner, desert and torture,” the man replied with a bounce.
Chrysalis’ face broke into an even wider grin. “Consider the changelings at your service,” she said with a bow. 
The man grinned. 

“Well… thank you.”

> Logan goes to High School Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan had to hide his smirk; from the way Twilight looked, he could assume she was probably going to hit him up for some princess reversal soon. 
The others didn’t seem to pick up on Twilight’s anxiety though; they were as cheerful as ever as they returned to the Crystal Empire. Then again, he could tell why they’d be so happy. Time had done very little to dampen the glistening crystals buildings and quartz covered streets. Though the ponies that lived there at least looked a lot cheerier. They made a very wide berth around Carol, but some of them looked happy to see Logan. However, that resulted in him getting bunched together with Spike, as a crowd of fans converged on them.
“The saviors of the Crystal Empire,” they declared, shaking Logan’s paw and Spike’s hand. 
“Yep, Savior of the Crystal Empire, right here,” the dragon said grandly.
“Sure, yeah,” Logan grumbled. “Y’know, Spike did most of the work, so… yeah, congratulate him.” He squirmed his way out of the fans. “I’m just gonna… leave.” He zipped right over to Carol, who dissuaded any hopeful fans with a simple look. Just as Logan's fight with Sombra hadn’t been forgotten, neither had Carol’s explosive entrance.
“Not a fan of the fans, Logan?” Rainbow Dash asked teasingly.
“Fame and glory are your thing, Dash,” Logan growled up at her. “I thought I made it clear I wasn’t in this to be a hero.” 
Rainbow Dash just rolled her eyes with a grin. “Just kinda funny that the wolf who took on alicorns, changelings and minotaurs is scared of a few ponies that like him.”
“Go suck your…!”
“Hoo-wee,” Applejack declared to Twilight. “Your very first Princess Summit. You must be over the moon, Twilight!”
“No one can go over the moon,” Carol refuted with a grin, before shooting a nervous look at Twilight, who looked anything but excited. “You are really, excited, right?” she asked. “Not ‘so nervous you want the wolves to try and shred your wings?’”
“Of course, I’m excited,” Twilight replied. “And… nervous." She covered her wings. "But not so nervous for you to put your teeth on my wings. I'm serious, it really hurts when they get hit with anything." 
Carol backed off, while Pinkie's eyes brightened.
“Oh,” Pinkie declared. “You’re ‘nervicited!’”
“Nerve… what now?” Logan asked.
“It’s like she wants to jump up and down and yell ‘YAY ME!’” Pinkie explained, emulating her description with a series of hops before suddenly curling up. “But she also wants to curl up in a teeny-tiny ball and hide at the same time!” She pat Twilight’s head. “We’ve all been there!”
“I’m there almost every day,” Fluttershy whispered from the corner. At her words, Logan nuzzled up to her, and she wrapped her hoofs around his neck in a thankful hug.
“Still,” Applejack declared. “Ya got no reason to fret, Twi. Everything’s gonna be just…”
“TWILIGHT!” Rarity’s voice shrilled. 
Instantly, Logan and Carol were in defensive postures around the purple mare, sparks flying from their fur and snarls flying from their mouths. It took all six mares to calm them down before they caused a mass panic again.  
“I’m… so sorry, darlings,” Rarity said once the wolves had been sated. “I just realized… Twilight’s not wearing her crown.” She turned back to the purple mare. “You haven’t left it back in Ponyville have you?”
“She’s got it,” Spike said, lifting the golden tiara up and out of Twilight’s bag.
“I just feel a little self-conscious wearing it,” Twilight explained, before glaring at her wings. “I haven’t really gotten accustomed to these yet, either.” 
“That’s a good thing,” Logan replied. “It means you still have a semblance of who you are. You won’t let power go to your head.” 
Twilight nodded at that, though Rarity looked less agreeable.
“Are you mad, Logan? I’m telling you, if I had a crown like that, I would never take it off! Why, I’d sleep in the thing.”
Logan glowered at her, while Twilight just rolled her eyes with a grin.
“How did you two get along again?” Carol asked. She paused, glancing at Logan’s jacket. “It was the jacket, wasn’t it?”
“It was the jacket,” Logan and Rarity replied at the same time. Carol shook her head, though she couldn’t hide her grin.  
As the group entered the Castle of the Crystal Empire, they were greeted with a fanfare from a line of horn wielding guards. Logan’s ears flattened at the fanfare. The wolves spared a glance at each other, before promptly ducking out. Before they left, Logan glanced back at Twilight, who was nervously walking down the line towards the three princesses. Celestia caught Logan’s eye, but the wolf merely flicked his tail at her before pointedly turning away, the red and yellow wolves waiting outside while the princesses talked.
“So, how soon until we get to go back to Ponyville?” Logan asked.
Carol checked a non-existent watch on her wrist. “I’m thinking… probably two days.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “These guys are supposed to be horses, not humans,” he grumbled, just before the Mane Six came back out. 
“Well?” Carol asked them.
Twilight yawned. “Bed,” she replied.
Logan tilted his head at her reply, and followed after her and Spike while the others left to their respective bed chambers. Carol watched Logan go before following Fluttershy. 
“You sure this whole… ‘princess-Alpha’ thing is working for you, Sparkles?” he asked.
“Yeah, of course it is,” she said.
Her eyes met his, and her composure melted at the look he was giving her.
“Ugh… I don’t know, Logan. I’m just… worried, I guess. Princess Cadence was given the Crystal Empire to rule over. What if, now that I’m a princess, Celestia expects me to lead a kingdom of my own?” 
"That'd be kinda awesome," Spike mumbled.
"Um... no it wouldn't," Logan refuted. "And if she did do that, then she’s even worse than I thought. Some people aren’t meant to rule large packs. Others aren’t meant to lead at all.”
Twilight chuckled. “I guess you’d know about that.” A hint of her old curiosity came back. “Did your pack expect you to lead? Since your father was the Alpha?" 
Logan shook his head with a grin. “Packs don’t work that way. If a wolf wanted to be Alpha, they’d go off and form their own pack.” A brief spell of bitterness washed over him, before he brushed it off. “Packs and families are two sides of the same coin.” He gave the décor around them another irritated look.
“Something we could probably stand to learn, eh?” Twilight asked with a grin.
Logan wagged his tail at her, the gleam in his eyes friendly for once. He glanced away for a moment, their grins fading. Twilight sighed. 
“I knew Celestia wanted me to achieve big things,” Twilight admitted. “But… just because she gave me a crown and these wings?” She fluttered her wings for emphasis. “It doesn’t mean I’ll be a good leader.” 
“So, I was right?” Logan asked. 
"Dude, seriously?" Spike asked, while Twilight sighed, exasperated.
“I’m looking for emotional support,” Twilight pointed out. “Not guilt and anger to add on top of everything.”
Logan chuckled, but went silent as Twilight walked towards what had to be her sleeping quarters. Twilight nudged open the door, before Logan’s voice stopped her.
“Sparkle,” he said softly. “I don’t know about a whole kingdom… but, for what it’s worth…” she turned to look at him. “I think you do a good job as Alpha of your current pack.”
“My… pack?” Twilight asked.
“Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Spike,” Logan listed them all off. “You’re a good Alpha for them. Again, I don’t know about a whole kingdom, but… don’t forget what you’re capable of.” 
Twilight smiled softly.
“Thanks, Logan,” she said, before pausing. “Wasn’t your quarters…?”
Logan scoffed. “You think you’ll catch me sleeping in some royal bed?” he asked. He turned away. “I think I might track some mud over the carpets or something.”
“The closest mud is outside these borders,” Twilight said teasingly. 
“I’ll make do,” Logan replied, wagging his tail. 
Twilight rolled her eyes and walked back inside. Then, Logan spoke.
“Do you sleep with the wings under or over the covers?” 
Judging from the aggravated yell that came a few seconds later, Logan could assume she was going to have trouble sleeping tonight. 
Logan was more right than he realized.

#

At first; he had alternated between napping outside Fluttershy's room and wandering the halls of the castle. Despite himself, he couldn’t deny the place was rather beautiful. Especially at night. The crystal still found a way to shimmer like diamonds against the moonlight.
However, as the night wore on, and Logan started to return to Fluttershy's door, he noticed something. A new scent… like something was being heated.
His eyes narrowing, Logan followed the scent to an odd little storage room. Inside, right behind the door, was a strange mirror. Oval-shaped, with pink gems set in the sides and an image of a pony above it. His reflection… shimmered. And the fried scent was coming right from it.
Logan experimentally sniffed at the glass. His eyes widened; his breath created ripples on the glass. As if it was made of water.
Experimentally, Logan reached out his paw, and set it against the glass.
It sunk through! 
Logan yanked his paw back, his jaw dropping. There had been some kind of force pulling at his paw, like the mirror would have sucked the rest of him in if he had kept it there. But the instant his paw was out, the mirror snapped back to its normal state.
Logan’s eyes narrowed, but before he could investigate further, he heard Twilight’s voice.
“STOP! THIEF! SHE’S GOT MY CROWN!” 
Logan raced to open the doors, before his nose picked up on something: the fried scent led out and down the corridor. 
Logan had spent a long time with the mares, but he still knew a thing or two about thievery. And from the sound of it, the source was heading right back here. Wherever that mirror led, this mystery thief had probably used this mirror as an entrance. And judging from the mirror’s secluded spot, there was a good chance they were planning to use it as an exit as well.
Logan chuckled as he set himself up next to the mirror. Not if I can help it, he thought. 
“STOP!” Twilight screamed, followed by the sound of magic. But the hoof steps drew closer regardless. Whatever Twilight had tried, it hadn’t worked.
Logan’s ears flattened. It sounded like only the Mane Six were after this thief! Where were the guards? He readied himself for combat. His fangs bared; his claws unsheathed. He prayed that he hadn’t gotten too soft... or that this thief was going to run right by. 
Then the door slammed open. Twilight rolled into the room, tussling with a flash of gold and red. Something slipped from their grip; a flash of gold that ping-ponged around the room like a superball before going straight for Logan. 
At first, the wolf considered dodging, but his senses stayed his head. The gold projectile nailed him in the head, pitching him backward and nearly into the mirror. Gasps of horror flared around him.
“Logan!” Fluttershy screamed. 
However, Logan’s claws shot out, gripping the mirror rims tightly and keeping his head and the crown out from its surface. The pull from the other side was stronger, but Logan felt hooves wrap around him.
“Hang on, dude,” Rainbow Dash yelled. 
With a mighty tug, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy yanked Logan out. The mares and wolf grinned at each other… before Rainbow Dash started snickering. With a moan, Logan realized that the ‘projectile’ was actually Twilight’s crown, which had nestled itself firmly on his head.
“Shut up,” Logan snapped at Rainbow Dash.
“Why, whatever you command, ‘Princess Logan,’” Rainbow Dash declared with a cackle.
Logan yanked the crown off his head. “I will throw this at you,” he snarled.
“Do. Not. Throw that!” Twilight snapped at them, before turning back to their thief. Without them rolling on the ground, Logan realized their thief was a unicorn. Amber fur and a yellow and red striped mane. Bright cyan eyes glared at Logan, as if he had been a massive spanner in her works. 
“Now,” Twilight said, her horn glowing. “Why did you try to take my crown?” 
The amber unicorn’s gaze was defiant. “Sorry it had to be this way… Princess.”
She said the term with such utter loathing, that Logan knew she had to have something in store for them. 
Sure enough, she did.
With a flash of cyan light, she disappeared from Twilight’s grip… and right in front of Logan. 
Logan’s reaction was instinctual; he lunged forward and snapped; his teeth sinking into her mane. But the unicorn shoved herself forward, knocking Logan back towards the portal. And this time, with the crown in his paws and wrapped around the unicorn, Logan was unable to catch the rim. He didn’t even get to hear the mares scream his name. 
The same force that had tried to pull Logan inside intensified by a million. What felt like gale force winds yanked at him in every direction. Lights of every color blinked and danced before his eyes. The only sense of anything that was real was the crown clutched in his claws, and the feel of the thief around his torso. 
Somehow, the trip took forever, and yet no time at all. Before Logan knew what was up or down or right or wrong, the lights faded away with a final flash. His paws hit solid concrete, and he pitched to the side, across concrete and into grass. 
Before he could figure out what was going on, he felt the figure beneath him struggling. He still had a hold of her! He grasped her tighter, determined not to let this unicorn get away. Even if her horn should have been goring him at that point. And it felt like she had some sort of leather jacket on now, even though she hadn’t been wearing anything. And…
His thoughts were cut off as a fist slammed into his leg. Where had she gotten a fist? He growled and kicked his captive in the shin. She hit at his ribs and under his arms, making pain flare up along his body. 
Snarling – in a voice that didn’t sound right – he sunk his teeth into her back… and promptly drew them back.
“The heck…?” he stammered, poking at his teeth with his tongue. Something was wrong; his molars were flatter. His canines weren’t as sharp. 
He could barely figure out what was going on with his captive wriggling and struggling out from under him. A hand – wait, hand? – grabbed his leg and yanked his feet out from under him. Two more punches slammed into his gut, before he slashed at the thief’s hair and managed to push them away with his hind legs. He rolled back to his paws, ready to confront this thief, and…
Logan gaped in horror. She was a human!
An oddly colored human, he’d admit, with the same amber skin and the same red and yellow mane as that unicorn mare. But he couldn’t deny the bipedal stance, the lack of a horn, the fingers clenched into a fist; the round face that he hoped he’d never have to see again.
Her eyes sighted down on the crown still in his hands. 
“Give me that!” she spat, lunging at him. But Logan lunged to meet her with a snarl. And he gave her the crown, alright; sinking it and his fist right into her face. 
The thief backed up, shrieking in rage and pain while Logan drove her back, beating at her again and again, a snarl of rage bubbling from his mouth. She tucked, getting her legs underneath him and flipping him over her. He landed hard on his side, but jumped back up to meet her…
And gasp in horror.
He caught a glance at his body, but his body was completely wrong. Black combat boots covered his paws; and long jeans covered his oddly proportioned legs. His tail was nowhere to be seen. His leather jacket was still there, thankfully, but he now had a white undershirt underneath it, streaked with dirt and torn from his fight with the girl. His hands no longer had claws, only black fingerless gloves.
His grip on the crown tightened. He couldn’t have… he couldn’t be…
“What did you do to me?” he demanded, rounding on the human thief, who was nursing a black eye and a bloody nose.
She pulled herself up, grinning maliciously.
“You want to know?” she said, holding her hand out. “Give me the crown.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed. No way was he going to trust this human. Not when she had already gotten so far with the crown. 
His grip redoubled on Twilight's Element. Magic flickered faintly around the crown, and despite the beating he had given the thief with it, it somehow didn’t have a single dent. 
“I’m not saying another word until you hand it over,” the thief snarled.
Logan grinned. “Well, that’s too bad for you,” he replied, holding the crown away from the thief. “Because you’re not getting it from me.” 
“I’m serious,” she said. “You’ll never find out what happened to you.”
“I’ll take that chance,” Logan snapped.
The thief fumed, but there was tension in her eyes. Fear. She already had a black eye and a bloody nose, while Logan was barely scratched. Ponies were okay fighters, but this girl clearly wasn’t prepared for a brawl. Logan found himself thanking the dragons and their Master from his travels for teaching him about fighting in a bipedal stance. The thief’s eyes darted around angrily, looking for some sort of alternative. 
She got it when a quiet, familiar voice whispered. “S-Sunset?”
Logan resisted the urge to spin towards the voice, before it’s owner’s name came to him. Fluttershy! She and the others must have followed us! He adapted, jumping between where the voice had come from and the thief.
“Fluttershy, stay back,” he warned. 
The voice behind him gasped, while the thief… Logan’s posture relaxed as the thief took off down the courtyard. She turned a corner and ran out of sight.
Part of Logan wanted to go after her, but that would only put the crown in more jeopardy. Besides, he had Rainbow Dash to help him out now. If she’d… just fly past him. Wait, why hadn’t the others gone after the thief? He turned back. 
“What are you guys…?” he started to say…
Only for his words to die in his throat. The only one there was Fluttershy… and yet… it wasn’t her. 
She was human as well!
Same yellow body; same pink mane. Same azure colored eyes. But… it was in the form of a detestable human! No wings, and dressed in a white tank top and a green dress with matching green boots. It… surprisingly worked for her, all things considered.
“H-How did you know my name?” she stammered, flinching back from him as if he was about to eat her. “W-Why was… w-what w-was… w-w-who ARE you?!” 
Logan’s ears flattened… or… tried to. His free hand felt for his head. Instead of large pointed ears, he felt the tiny nubs of human ears as well.
His heart began to race in his chest. The crown clattered to the ground next to him as he felt at the rest of his face. His snout… his snout had shortened to that of a hooked nose and thin lips. His eyes had slightly enlarged. A scruffy bit of short-cropped hair sat atop his head.
A mirror stood behind Fluttershy, set into some sort of statue, but Logan almost didn’t want to see it. Yet something urged him to push past Fluttershy, and stare into its shimmering reflection. And in it…
It was him, but not him. Same silver eyes. Same bleach blonde fur – now hair atop his head. Same leather jacket. But…
He…
Was…
What little sanity Logan had at that point snapped, and he howled to the heavens.

“HUUUUMMMMMMAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!”

> Logan goes to High School Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in Equestria, Carol had the worse wake-up call ever. The red wolf didn’t consider herself a heavy sleeper. But one moment, she had been standing outside Fluttershy’s room, waiting for Logan to return. The sound of magic emanated, followed by an odd heavy feeling and a weird whisper of ‘sleep.' The next thing Carol knew, she was being roused by Twilight.
“Carol, you gotta get up,” she was insisting. "Please, don't be dead!" 
“Mm,” Carol mumbled. “Wassa matter? Sombra back?”
“Logan’s gone! We need your help!”
That sentence was better than coffee. In seconds, Carol had outrun Twilight, following Logan's scent into the storage room, finding the mares and even the Princesses converged on the giant mirror. 
“What happened?” Carol demanded. Her eyes darted around. “Where’s Logan?”
Luna instantly got between Carol and Celestia, her horn flaring in warning. However, Celestia put a hoof on her sister’s side.
“Sister, it’s alright…” Celestia said, only for the other mares to talk over her.
“Carol, this wasn’t our fault…” Twilight tried to say as she burst in after her. 
“There was this weird thief…” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“And Logan just caught the crown with his head like, phew, awesome…” Pinkie cheered.
“But then…”
“The mirror, like water…”
“And then…”
Carol slammed the ground, and lightning flared up around her, silencing the mares. Thankfully, when Carol spoke, her voice was even.
“What. Happened?” she asked. 
Celestia motioned for the others to stay silent, before turning back to the mirror.
“Sunset Shimmer,” she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. “A former student of mine. She began her studies with me not long before Twilight. But when she did not get what she wanted as quickly as she liked, she turned cruel and dishonest.”
“So...” Carol said, giving Fluttershy a confused look. "She's Logan if he was Twilight?" 
Twilight raised a hoof in protest, before lowering it in thought. "That... isn't the worst description I've heard," Twilight admitted. Celestia herself nodded.
“Like Logan, I tried to help her,” Celestia continued. “But she eventually decided to abandon her studies and pursue her own path, just like when Logan left to find you, Carolina. Yet where Logan's path led to him co-existing... somewhat, peacefully with us, Sunset Shimmer's path has led to her attempting to steal Twilight’s crown and Element of Harmony.”
“And…” Carol muttered, the pieces coming together. “Logan… tried to stop her?”
“Indeed,” Celestia replied. “And both of them fell into this.” She indicated the mirror.
Carol took another look at the mirror. “Into this?” she asked, striding towards it. “How would…”
However, Carol soon learned the truth, and jumped back with a yelp after her paw sunk through. 
“Oo, sparkly,” Pinkie commented.
“That mirror is no ordinary mirror,” Luna cautioned. “It is a gateway to another world. A gateway that opens once every thirty moons. It has always been kept in the throne room of Canterlot Castle…”
Carol glared at her. “This is Canterlot Castle?” she asked, indicating the storage room. “Forgive me, ‘Princess,’ but I remember Canterlot’s throne room being slightly bigger.”
Despite the situation, Pinkie couldn’t help cracking up at Carol’s jibe, and even Cadence managed a small smile.
“After I took over,” the pink alicorn explained. “My aunts sent it here for me to watch over.”
Celestia sighed. “I had always hoped that Sunset Shimmer would someday use it to return, to come back to Equestria seeking my guidance.”
Carol’s attitude faltered at the sad look in her eyes. “Instead, she comes back to steal from you,” Carol noted, a touch of bitterness in her own voice.
Celestia sighed again. “Yes,” she admitted.
Cadence stepped towards Twilight. “Twilight, you must use the mirror to go into this other world, and retrieve both your crown and Logan. Without the Element of Magic, the Elements of Harmony have no power, and Equestria is left without one of its most important means of defense.”
“Not only that, but Logan’s not going to be happy he got booted to yet another world,” Carol added. “It was bad enough when we got tossed here, who knows what he’ll do now that he’s got a powerful magic item with him, and a unicorn that probably shares his opinion on Celestia.”
Applejack shuddered. “I’m guessing he’ll do a lot more damage than just some biting.” 
“You are correct, Lady Applejack,” Luna declared. “In either Logan or Sunset’s possession, the Element of Magic will no doubt cause chaos and disharmony to the inhabitants of this other realm.”
“Then it sounds like we have no time to waste,” Twilight said, flaring her wings. “We leave at once.”
“Heck yeah,” Rainbow Dash declared. “Off on another adventure.”
“So nervicited!” Pinkie cheered.
“That’s not a real word,” Applejack deadpanned. 
But before the mares could converge on the portal, Celestia stopped them.
“I’m afraid I cannot let you all go.”
“What?!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Why not?”
“Sending all of you could upset the balance of this alternate world, creating havoc that would make it impossible for Twilight to get the crown and Logan back. This is something Princess Twilight must do…”
“Alone?” Carol growled before shaking her head. “Sorry, Princess; no dice. Logan’s my pack mate, and we’re already not from this dimension. I’m going with Twilight.”
Rainbow Dash crossed her forelegs with a huff, while Luna looked ready to argue. But Carol’s glare dissuaded conversation. She silently said, ‘You try to stop me, and I’ll rush that portal myself.’
Realizing there was little point in dissuading the red wolf, Celestia sighed. 
“Be warned,” Luna advised Twilight and Carol. “Time is of the essence. On the third day, when the moon reaches its peak in the night sky, the gateway will close. And once it does, it will be another thirty moons before you will be able to use it to return.”
Carol and Twilight looked at each other, nervousness etched on their faces. But then Carol glared at the portal, and she took a breath. She turned back to Spike, who was fidgeting behind the mares nervously.
“I’ll keep Twilight safe, Spike,” she assured him. “And we’ll get the crown back.”
Spike’s fidgeting dwindled by a fraction, and he gave a sad nod. “Good luck,” he whispered. 
But Carol didn’t hear his wish, as she and Twilight jumped through, hoping against hope that Logan would be nearby.

#
 
“Um… sir?”
Logan groaned, his eyes staring blankly at the human Fluttershy. She had managed to carry him to a nurse's station - he could tell by the stink of disinfectant - where a human nurse that looked disturbingly familiar to another mare Logan had seen around town checked on him. His forehead was beaded with moisture. His heart felt like it was trying to break his rib cage.
I’m back, his thoughts whimpered. I’m back among humans. He could already feel the images coming back. The humans beating him. Whipping him. Trying to run him over. 
He remembered the attack on his home. His father…
“Nurse Redheart,” Fluttershy whimpered. “What happened to him?”
“Aside from some nicks and scratches,” Redheart mumbled, her head shaking worriedly. “His heart rate is off the charts. It looks like he’s having a panic attack.” She motioned for Fluttershy to leave, but…
“NO!” Logan lunged forward and grabbed Fluttershy. The girl yelped and nearly pulled away, but Logan’s hands tightened around hers. “Don’t leave,” he whimpered. “Please… don’t leave.”
I don’t care if you’re human or not, his thoughts begged. You’re the only familiar one. Please, share some of your pony counterpart’s kindness.
To his immense relief, Redheart motioned for Fluttershy to stay.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Fluttershy,” she said, “But… maybe you should stay.”
Fluttershy gave a nervous nod, and sat down next to Logan, his grip on her hand still iron tight. Her eyes lit up with pity, and she awkwardly stroked his shoulder. 
“Um… don’t worry… Mr. Scary… Biker Man. I-It’s alright…”
“Logan,” Logan shivered.
“Huh?”
“My name’s Logan,” he whimpered.
"Oh, uh... okay... Logan," Fluttershy squeaked. She was tense as a board, and looked more than ready to bolt from him the minute he let go.
This was all wrong. Fluttershy was great with animals. She had been the one mare that Logan could count on. 
But I’m not an animal now, his thoughts bemoaned. I’m one of them! I’m a human! His panting increased to hyperventilating. This couldn’t be happening!
“Easy now, easy,” Redheart said, taking his other hand. “Now just breathe. Breathe.” Her voice soothing but firm. “It’ll help. Breathe in.” She breathed, and some part of Logan got him to copy her. “Breathe out.” She blew, and so did Logan. With each breath, his heart rate lowered. His grip on Fluttershy loosened. 
“Okay… good,” Redheart said. “Now… what happened?”
Focus, Applejack’s voice whispered in Logan’s mind. Find something that keeps ya going. And stick to it. That had been her advice when his mother died. Throw himself into something until the pain got easier to carry.
Back then, Logan had tried finding a way home. But this time… this time he had something he needed to bring back first.
“The crown…” he said, his voice steadying. “My friend… was robbed.”
“Robbed?” Fluttershy and Redheart looked at each other.
“Yeah,” Logan said, letting them go. “This… gold crown. Had a purple star in the center. Someone stole it… and I was chasing them.” 
Redheart sat back with a hum. “Well,” she said. “I can see how that would cause quite a bit of stress.”
“Oh… m-my,” Fluttershy whimpered, suddenly looking very nervous.
Logan tilted his head at her, before realization hit him. He looked down at his hands, then pat the pockets on his jacket.
The crown was gone!
“I-I just had it,” Logan whispered. “I had it and…” His fists clenched. And I let it go when I realized I was human. He growled. “Ugh… IDIOT!” 
He hit the bed, causing Redheart and Fluttershy to bounce up.
“Easy now,” Redheart said firmly. “Now what’s wrong?”
“I had it,” Logan bemoaned. “I managed to get it back, and then…” He held his head in his hands. “And then I let it go.”
After Fluttershy… FLUTTERSHY!
He looked up at Fluttershy. “Wait,” he said. “You were there. You saw…”
“I, uh…” Fluttershy backed up, fear flashing across her face. It took every instinct and memory Logan had of Fluttershy to force himself to sit back down and calm himself.
“Did you see what happened to the crown I was holding,” he said. “Same description; gold with a purple star.”
“Y-Yes,” Fluttershy said. “You dropped it after you started… screaming.”
Logan rubbed at his throat, which he realized felt sore. 
“I wasn’t sure what it was, or how you got it, but I didn’t want anything to happen to it. So… I gave it to Principal Celestia.”
Celestia? Despite the rage that name normally brought, Logan felt a sigh of relief escape him. Celestia has it. Not the thief. That’s good. 
Unless Celestia is connected to the thief.
Don’t be an idiot; Celestia’s manipulative, but why would she steal a crown she gave Twilight in the first place…?
Wait… “Principal?” he asked out loud.
Fluttershy nodded. “Yes, Principal Celestia,” she repeated. “She makes the rules here at Canterlot High. Her and Vice Principal Luna.” 
“Wouldn’t you know that?” Redheart asked, peering at Logan. “Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve seen you around before. Did you transfer to Canterlot High from another school?”
“I don’t go to school,” Logan replied. 
Redheart sighed, while Fluttershy looked awed.
“I knew it,” she mumbled. “That’s just what this town needs; another ignoramus…”
Logan glared at her, but Redheart was already turning back to a desk, and filling something out. She tore a piece of yellow paper and handed it to Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy, be a dear,” Redheart said. “Get this… Logan… to Principal Celestia, and see about him either getting enrolled or back to wherever his home is.” She then gave him another cautious look, as he tried to keep his heart rate from climbing up again.
“But… class starts…” Fluttershy tried to protest.
“And if he starts having another panic attack, bring him back here,” Redheart continued, helping Logan up, and pushing him onto Fluttershy.
“W-Well, I suppose he could use the help,” Fluttershy said meekly, before Redheart ushered them both out the door.
Logan glared back at the nurse as she returned to her desk, before giving Fluttershy a piteous look. 
“Sorry,” he muttered.
“Oh, it’s alright,” she said, chancing a fearful glance at Nurse Redheart. “I still have some time before class anyway. I-I can show you to Principal Celestia’s office.” 
Logan grinned. “Thanks.”
Maybe things could still be alright; he knew where Fluttershy had taken the crown. All he had to do was find this ‘Principal’ Celestia, get the crown back, and then… head home. 
Logan sighed. The crown part would be easy, but the getting home part... And here he thought one journey around the world would be enough. 
But, no, apparently, now he had to start from complete scratch! This Fluttershy didn’t know who he was! She didn’t even seem to trust him the way her original form had trusted his wolf form. Sure, she was helping him, but that had to just be because kindness transcends dimensions. Even now, she still looked miserable next to him, as if being around him was a chore. He wished his ears could flatten in sympathy for the poor girl.
“By the way,” he added. “Sorry for that… interesting introduction.”
“Oh?” Fluttershy asked. “Oh, um… it’s nothing…” she mumbled. She looked like she wanted to ask how he knew her, but her shyness was getting in the way.
Logan tilted his head again, wishing he could whimper; trigger that nurturing instinct she always had for… animals!
That’s it! He thought with glee.
“So… how about animals, eh?” he asked. “Wonderful little things, aren’t they?”
That was the trick. She stopped hiding in her hair, and a hopeful grin spread across her face. 
“You like animals?” She asked. “Oh, that’s wonderful! I almost never meet anybody around here who cares enough beyond finding them cute!” She blushed and kicked at the floor as they walked down the oddly metal-walled hallway. “Um… what’s your favorite animal?”
Logan held his head up with pride. “The wild wolf,” he said. “Master of the forest.” He tilted his head. “And ponies are pretty cool too.”
“Oh, how wonderful,” Fluttershy squealed in delight. “Wolves are so magnificent. P-Personally, I’m a fan of their domestic cousin the dog as well. And there is something just majestic about ponies, don’t you agree?”
“Completely,” Logan replied with a nod.
Fluttershy then got an oddly crafty look in her eye; the kind where Logan knew she was going to use her innocent look to get something. 
“You know,” she said, pulling a piece of paper from her backpack. “I was actually out by the statue this morning passing out fliers.”
“Fliers?” 
“For the animal shelter I volunteer at,” Fluttershy continued, showing him one.
“Animal… shelter?” Logan asked, getting very bad flashbacks of the last ‘animal shelter’ he had gone too. The flier looked nice; it had happy looking animals, and photos of wide open spaces. Yet photos could only show so much. 
“They need volunteers helping to save poor animals from unfortunate fates, like mean owners or being left on the streets.” She looked up with an innocent light. “Could I count on you to help me this Saturday?”
This Saturday? But what if it interferes in me getting the Element back?
Fluttershy saw Logan’s face fall, and hers fell in turn. 
“Oh, wait, that’s right,” she mumbled. “The Fall Formal is this Saturday. You’re probably going to that, aren’t you?”
“I… don’t even know what that is, honestly,” he admitted. Before Fluttershy could shoot him a quizzical look, he shrugged. “I don’t go to school, remember?”
“Oh,” Fluttershy mumbled. “Right, it’s just… it’s all anybody will talk about for the past month. Unless you just moved to town…” she blushed and hid in her hair again. “N-Not that I’m accusing you of anything, it’s just…”
“It’s okay,” Logan replied. “Like I mentioned, a pretty close…” He sighed and went for the plunge. “A friend of mine lost her crown, and I came through here hoping to get it back.”
“W-Well, I really hope that the crown I found you with has a double,” Fluttershy said. “Because I could have sworn…” 
“HEY!” 
Fluttershy winced at the noise, while Logan whirled towards the source with his teeth bared, even though he knew his teeth were useless now.  
His eyes widened. The thief he had tasseled with was stomping towards them. Her cyan eyes widened, and she briefly halted when she saw Logan, but her eyes focused on Fluttershy, and rage battled against worry. He could still see the black eye he gave her, hidden under some skin colored makeup.
“Get out of my way,” the thief snarled at Logan. “I got some things to discuss with the girl behind you.” 
Logan stretched his – thankfully buff – arms in preparation for another fight. 
“Not happening,” he growled.
Fluttershy herself backed up, watching the sight in awe. Logan wasn’t sure why Fluttershy was so shocked, but he couldn’t afford to think on that right now. The thief’s eyes were boring into him, so he bore right back as if both of them could melt each other with their stares alone.
“I said,” the thief snarled, her voice having enough ice to freeze over Somnambula, “Get out. Of my way.” 
“And I said,” Logan snarled, his voice holding enough venom for five hundred snakes. “Not. Happening.” 
Fire blazed in her cyan eyes.
“Do you have any idea who I am, you little punk?” 
His hands lashed out and shoved against her shoulders, knocking her back.
“Broken is what you’re gonna be if you don’t back off,” Logan snarled.
Fear briefly flashed through the thief’s eyes. No doubt she remembered their last tussle. But she tried to cover it with a snarl. 
“Logan,” Fluttershy hissed behind him. “Don’t; you’re gonna get in trouble.” 
The thief smirked, and Logan was tempted to just head butt her. His teeth may be useless in this world, but his head still felt sturdy enough. And who knew; maybe a good smack on the head would reveal that he wasn’t actually human after all.
“Listen to your friend, ‘Low-gam,’” the thief drawled, closing the distance he put between them, and poking a finger into his chest. “You may be new here, but get this through your thick head: I rule this school. And you are sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong.” She turned her sights on Fluttershy, who whimpered under her gaze. “Now, I’m going to talk to her, and you’re not gonna give me any more trouble. Right?”
“Wrong,” Logan snarled, shoving the thief back. The thief came right back, fire really blazing in her eyes now. But before she could rush Logan, Fluttershy raced up to him.
“Sunset, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy stammered from behind Logan, her words pouring out. “I’m sorry I took the crown to Principal Celestia-I didn’t think it was yours-I just…!”
“What?” Logan asked, turning to her. Big mistake, as this ‘Sunset’ thief barreled past Logan and rounded on Fluttershy.
“It wasn’t yours, you little moron!” Sunset shrieked at her. “I was there; he was stealing it from me, and you…!” 
“I’m sorry,” Fluttershy squeaked. “It looked like…”
“You’re the one who stole it!” Logan snapped, grabbing Sunset. 
WHAP! 
Everything happened in a matter of seconds: Sunset whirled back towards him, her hand an amber blur. Logan’s head jerked to the side, a stinging sensation along his cheek. He caught a glimpse of a flash of red, then Fluttershy screamed. Along with another voice Logan recognized. 
“Carol, wait! NO, CAROL!” 
Sparkles?
Logan whipped around. Sunset was on the ground, a hissing, snarling ball of bright green and blood red on top of her. It was almost impossible to recognize if Carol had turned human or had stayed wolf, since she attacked Sunset with such rage. Limbs and hair flew wildly; shrieks of anger, pain and fear echoed down the hall. Then a flash of purple raced in, and Logan recognized a human Twilight, struggling to pry a livid Carol off the struggling and kicking thief.
“Carol, stop!” Twilight exclaimed, before looking at a dumbfounded Logan. “L-Logan, help me!” 
Logan was tempted to help Carol with this thief, but then he noticed Carol beginning to whirl on Twilight. He jumped in, pulling Carol back as Sunset kicked at her legs and scrambled to safety. 
“Kill…” Carol was hissing, froth flying from her mouth. “Kill you… little b…”
“Carolina, for goodness sake!” Twilight screamed, pulling her towards Logan, who cupped her head in his hands.
“Carol, it’s me,” he yelled when she punched at him. “It’s Logan, we’re fine.”
“Fine?” Carol whispered, finally locking eyes with Logan. It was almost eerie how much of her wolf self he could see trapped in her human form. Her snout was now just a nose and mouth, of course, as were her ears. Her skin was a shade of red like her fur, and a brighter, messily cut mane of the stuff hung over her face. Her armor was changed to a cyan tank top and a pair of black jeans complete with boots. But those same ice green eyes shined out from her face, even including the same three-clawed scar. And she had the same look of relief as she caught sight of Logan, and embraced him.
“Logan…” she whispered. “It’s really you…”
“What on Earth possessed you two?” another voice boomed. “Fighting on school grounds? Explain yourselves!”
Twilight, Logan and Carol backed up, finding themselves being loomed over by what could only be Luna’s human equivalent. Same dark blue skin and same sparkling blue hair. She wore a black and white business suit that matched her normal regalia. Behind her, the thief pulled herself up, nursing several cuts along her cheek. 
“They jumped me,” the thief snapped. “I was trying to ask Fluttershy about the Fall Formal, and these delinquents jumped me.”
“You’re so full of crap,” Logan barked. “You were harassing…”
“Enough!” Luna boomed. She pointed at both Carol and Logan. “Both of you. Office. Now!”
Fluttershy squeaked from her place at the walls, as if they had been given the death sentence. Twilight glared at the thief, who was smirking in triumph.
“B-But what about her?” Twilight asked, pointing at Sunset. “She was fighting too.”
Luna glared at the thief, her eyes instantly tracking to the marks and cuts the wolves had left on her.
“Nurse’s office,” she declared in a softer voice. She beckoned to the thief. “Come.” She glared at the wolves. “And if you’re not in the Principal’s office by the time I get back, I’ll drag you there myself.” 
The thief followed behind, shooting Logan a triumphant smirk. Logan spat at her, while Carol was blocked from rushing her again by Twilight. Fluttershy trembled in the corner when Logan glanced her way.
“You shouldn’t have done that,” Fluttershy whispered. “No one stands up to Sunset Shimmer. Especially not... like that.”
“Sunset Shimmer?” Logan asked. “That’s that thief’s name?”
“She’s a former student of Celestia,” Twilight explained. Logan shot her a look of confusion, but she rolled her eyes. “Yeah, it’s me, Logan. Carolina and I followed you through.”
Logan’s face brightened before he could stop it, so he tried to focus it on Carol, who gave him a similar bright grin. 
“So, you guys are here to help?” Logan asked.
“Trying to,” Twilight glanced at Fluttershy. “First, let’s compare notes,” she said. “I want to know just what kind of mess we’ve walked into.”
> **Halloween Special** The Night of Howl's Eve
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Of course, Twilight thought, resigned. The one time where Logan is happy to celebrate something, and its Nightmare Night. 
Yet there was no denying the Lone Wolf’s wagging tail and wide grin as he hopped away from Fluttershy’s cottage in a way that would make Pinkie Pie proud. His white fur was dyed a pitch black, and Twilight noticed with a slight twinge of nervousness that he had made an odd hood in the shape of a dark wolf’s head, which was currently draped over his head. Behind him, Carol walked along, wearing a long red cloak that covered her face. She looked like she was trying not to draw attention, but Logan dashed right over to Twilight with a gleeful expression.
“Sparkle, what’s good!” he howled in glee, before noticing her costume. “Oh, nice Gandalf costume.”
Twilight sighed in defeat. “It’s supposed to be Star Swirl the Bearded,” she whined. “Seriously, two years go by, and no one knows that?”
“Ha, you can’t fool me, Sparkles,” Logan replied, the grin not leaving his face. “Humans, wolves and dragons alike all know who Gandalf is.”
“He made sure they wouldn’t pass,” Carol said quietly.
Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Who’s… they?” she asked. 
“Anyone,” Logan replied. “Everyone. No matter who it is, if Gandalf is around, they shall not pass.” He tilted his head. “Oh! Say the line; say, ‘You Shall Not Pass!” 
Twilight looked away. “You’re not the only one that can be defiant, Logan,” she replied. 
To his credit, Logan just laughed again.
“I’m too giddy to even care right now,” he replied, bounding away. Twilight then noticed the downtrodden expression on Carol’s face.
“I’m just happy he can be so happy,” he noted. “Despite… everything…”
“Everything?” Twilight asked. “Carol, are you okay?”
“I’m just… tired,” Carol admitted. There were bags under her eyes. “I spent so much time trying to pick out a costume that wouldn’t offend Logan.” She looked down. “So many people from this night… well, are gone now, and… he knew them so much better than I did.”
“This night?” Twilight asked, before her eyes widened. “Wait… you have your own version of Nightmare Night?”
Now, it was Carol’s turn to look confused. 
“Nightmare what?” she asked. “On our world, we call it Howl’s Eve.” There was an odd inflection when she said howl, as if she was actually howling when she said it. 
The two looked over as Logan bounded right past any houses, ignoring the candy, and seemingly looking for something else; something that he wasn’t finding. Twilight and Carol followed after him.
“So… what happened on Howl’s Eve?” Twilight asked.
“The end to a complicated and very morally gray war,” Carol began, only for her to be cut off by a flash of lightning.
Logan paused, glancing up as a flurry of dark clouds flanked a royal carriage, chauffeured by two Pegasus guards dressed in midnight black armor. 
Where before, such a sight might have sent ponies scurrying to safety, now they began to erupt into applause as a cloaked figure leaped from the chariot and landed with a thud in marketplace. The ponies ceased their applause, and bowed in respect as the figure flipped her hood back, revealing… Princess Luna.
Logan’s smile evaporated, as did Carol’s. Luna caught his eye and strode towards him, her cloak disappearing in a flurry of bats that flew off as she extended her wings. The wolf and the alicorn stopped a mere hoof’s length from each other. They glared daggers into each other’s eyes. 
“Princess Luna,” Twilight exclaimed, running to Logan’s side. “It’s good to see you again…”
“What is she doing here?” Logan asked, his tone cold as an ice cap.
“Have care how you speak, pup,” Luna replied, her tone just as frosty. “For this is my night…” She grinned at her subjects. “NIGHTMARE NIGHT!” she bellowed in the Royal Canterlot Voice.
Again, the ponies, including several foals, got up and cheered for her.
“Every year,” Luna explained to the wolf. “We grace thine tiny village with our presence, so that you may behold the true princess of the night! A creature of nightmare is no longer, but instead a pony who desires but love and affection. Together, we change this dreadful celebration into a bright and glorious feast!”
Logan’s ears flattened. “Dreadful celebration?” he demanded. He glanced at Twilight. “What is she talking about?”
“Oh,” Twilight exclaimed, jumping over to Luna excitedly. “Princess, he doesn’t know your story… just as we don’t know his. How his kind celebrate Howl’s Eve.” She squeed. “This is the perfect time for cross-species research.” 
Logan’s ears briefly flicked in shock that Twilight knew his holiday, only for him to glance at Carol, who waved nervously at him. Luna was a little less subtle about her own shock.
“Howl’s Eve?” Luna asked. “Thou calls their Nightmare Night Howl’s Eve?” She grinned. “We can surely see why.”
“Why, because I howl?” he asked. He scoffed. “Racist. Besides, in my language, that translates out to ‘Eve of the Great One’s Mercy.” 
“Mercy?” Pinkie blurted out. “On a night dedicated to fun, candy and terror?” 
Logan got a moment of dumbfounded shock as he noticed Pinkie was dressed like a chicken.
“You have the strangest customs,” Pinkie replied, before dipping her head into a bag of candy she was lugging around.
“Says the pony dressed like a chicken,” Carol muttered, causing Logan to crack up. “But, alright; let’s hear it. How did Nightmare Night start up?”
Luna’s smile… flickered. Logan wasn’t sure if she was eager to tell the story, or remembering a foul memory. Either way, she stepped aside, and a familiar zebra strode up behind her. 
“Follow me, and very soon,” Zecora recited. “You shall hear the tale, of Nightmare Moon.”
The wolves glanced at each other as the zebra led them out of town, Luna not far behind.
“This should be interesting,” Logan noted.
They were brought to a small shrine on the edge of the town, where the Ever-Free forest bunched up to Ponyville borders. There, they noticed something that had passed their gaze many times before: a statue in the shape of Luna. But this version of Luna was… darker somehow. She wore armor and regalia that was more pointed and threatening. Her teeth were pointed like fangs, and her eyes were slit pupiled like dragons. As they approached, Zecora pulled something green and sparkling from a pouch on her costume.
“Listen close, and it will be clear,” Zecora recited. “Exactly where we get our fear. Of Nightmare Night, so dark and scary; of Nightmare Moon, who makes you wary.”
She blew green smoke into the air. Logan and Carol watched in shock as the glittery green mist encompassed the statue. A very real rendition of the statue flew from the mist, flying over them like a bat. 
“Every year, we put on a disguise,” Zecora recited, as the mist swirled around the wolves. “To save ourselves, from her searching eyes.”
Eyes poked out from the mist, along with a set of sharp fangs. Logan whirled towards it, snarling, only for Zecora to appear from where the eyes at been. 
“For Nightmare Moon wants just one thing,” Zecora continued, conjuring more of the green smoke. “To gobble up ponies in one quick swing.” 
The Nightmare Moon vision returned, yet as it swung around, it seemed to pass over the wolves, as if it couldn’t see them. 
“Hungrily, she soars the sky,” Zecora continued. “If she sees no pony, she passes by. So, if she comes and all is clear; Equestria is safe another year.” 
With that, the Nightmare Moon visage went up to the moon, and dissipated into sparkles. Logan glanced back and noticed Luna giving the moon – and the green vision – a regretful look.
“But be warned, my furry friend,” Zecora added. “Nightmare Moon, you must not offend.” She threw one last bit of green smoke into the air, and the creature returned.
“Fill her belly with a treat or two,” Zecora finished, as the visage bore down on the wolves. “And she won’t return to come eat you!”
The Nightmare Moon vision opened its jaw… and was promptly fed a lightning bolt by Logan, blasting the vision to dust. His ears flattened when Rainbow Dash gave a yell of outrage; his bolt shearing right through the vision and through a thunder cloud she was totting in the hopes of scaring ponies. But he turned back to Luna with a look of confusion.
“So… let me see if I got this straight,” he said. “You… used to be this demon that ate children unless they disguised themselves and gave you candy?” 
Luna looked down, the shame now very evident on her face. “It is… much more complicated than that,” Luna noted. “But yes; I let jealousy and envy turn me into a monster. And that monster is rightfully hated and feared by my subjects.” She looked up hopefully. “Every year, I celebrate Nightmare Night along with them, in the hopes of reminding them that, for all the terrors I put them through while under this dark spell… I will never succumb to such urges again.”
Logan still looked confused. “But why, though?” he asked. “Why did you become Nightmare Moon?” 
Luna looked away. “It is… something that deeply shames me,” she admitted, turning away from him. “We let jealousy and envy control me… and turn me into something I was not.” 
She looked up, only for Logan to be giving her an utterly deadpan look. 
“Is that it?” he asked. “You got… jealous, and so you traumatized ponies?” 
Luna narrowed her eyes. “Well, then, whelp,” she dared. “What became of your pack on this ‘Howl’s Eve?’” She stomped a hoof. “Tell us of your demons, and of their reasons for what they have done.”
Logan growled. “With pleasure.” 
He clapped his paws, and lightning streamed around him, Carol, Luna and even Twilight, who had come to watch the event.
The lightning shifted, channeling around them. The ponies watched, Luna with slowly developing awe, as a white wolf rose from a cluster of storm clouds.
“In the beginning,” Logan said dramatically. “The White Wolf commanded the Kingdom of the North. While far from its ruler, she brought magic and freedom to the demi-wolves of Gaia. She gave homes to weary soldiers, tired of the war and strife that had followed them.”
Yet as the white wolf stood grandly, her form flickered. Her tail tucked, and she looked around as dark shadowy figures rose from the storm clouds.
“However, other things came to steal what she had brought,” Logan growled. “Evil, greedy humans, and their dragon and hound slaves.”
The clouds surged upon the white wolf, scattering her into sparkles. Luna and Twilight gasped.
“They struck down the White Wolf, and took all that she had offered,” Logan growled. “But when light is cast down, shadow grows in its place. And the White Wolf cast a very long shadow…”
From the sparkles that had been the white wolf, dark lightning grew, transforming into a rabid, snarling wolf the size of Luna. The alicorn gasped as the dark wolf paced around her before charging Luna head on.
“Luna!” Twilight yelped as the lightning creature actually knocked the alicorn to her back. “Logan, what’re you doing?!” Twilight demanded, but the younger wolf was gone; vanished into the storm clouds surrounding them.
“The White Wolf’s Son, the Great Wolf,” Logan continued grandly. “He fell upon the evil humans that had stolen his mother and home. And he made them pay for their greed.”
Twilight and Luna flinched as the wolf raced around them. Slowly, it dawned on them that the vision wouldn’t hurt them anymore than Zecora's vision; it was after the storm clouds that resembled humans. Yet even then, Luna found herself grateful that she wasn’t a target. For even in a vision, the Great Wolf was a terror to behold. He tore through the storm clouds that made up the humans. Lightning spurted like blood as the Great Wolf ripped the cloud humans apart. Had they been flesh and blood, Twilight likely would have gotten sick from the results.
“None were safe from his wrath,” Logan said. “None could stand in his path to vengeance… and the time soon came where he struck down the leader of the humans, and gave him the justice that he had attempted to escape.”
A final shot showed the Great Wolf standing above a pile of defeated storm clouds, giving a mighty howl to the sky. Yet, even as his howl faded, he looked down, almost in contemplation. Luna couldn’t see his eyes, but she knew from experience that his stance was one of regret.
“However,”Logan said. “Vengeance and destruction were not all the Great Wolf was. After he had his vengeance, he desired one thing; to settle down. To bask, and enjoy his victory.” 
The wolf began to walk, but everywhere he went, storm clouds followed him; fearful humans looking for revenge, or to protect the pile of 'dead' humans that the wolf was now skirting around.
“Yet his reputation hung over him like a shadow. No one could see him as anything less than a monster. Until one day…” 
A village of storm clouds rose from the pile of 'dead' bodies. Sparkles shimmered before the Great Wolf. 
“The genius of youth abounded. Children, of all three species, left out offerings of sugars and sweets in an attempt to placate the Great Wolf. And with their bold offers, the Great Wolf was finally able to show the one thing he had lacked his whole life.”
The Great Wolf looked up, and even if he was only a projection, Twilight and Luna could recognize the smile that dotted his shimmering face.
“Mercy.”
The lightning retracted back to Logan, who shut his eyes with a sigh. The glow was gone when he opened them again.
“The Great Wolf showed everyone on that day that he had a soul under his brutal appearance,” Logan said with a grin. “And ever since then, the three species of Gaia have celebrated Howl’s Eve; the time when a monster proved that underneath; he was a hurt, yet thinking, feeling animal. Just like the rest of us.” 
Luna put a hoof to her mouth. “Logan,” she whispered. “I didn’t…”
“Luna,” Logan said softly, looking up at her. “The Great Wolf was terrifying. But underneath, he had good in him. Just like you do.” He stepped closer, ignoring the look of hope that flared in Luna’s eyes. “His monster came out because he was wronged. Because humans took something from him.” His eyes narrowed. “What was taken from you? Why did you create Nightmare Moon?”
Luna looked up at where the projections had been, and bowed her head. “You would hate me if I told you,” she noted. “Me and my sister both.”
“I already don’t like you,” he said. She gave him a cautious look. “But something I learned out in the outskirts? Not everyone you hate needs to be an enemy.” 
Luna took a breath. Emboldened by his words, she shared her story:
“My sister and I have always shared power,” she said. “Celestia raised the sun… and I the moon. And we maintained balance for our kingdom and subjects. Yet…” Luna shut her eyes. “I became… resentful.” She sighed. “It seems so petty now, yet… the ponies relished and played in the day my sister brought forth, yet shunned and slept through my beautiful night.” Her sad expression turned envious. “Why was I so wrong to wish that they could see things like I do? That they should love me… like they did my sister?” She clutched her heart. “The bitterness; the anger; the jealousy… it took hold of me in a way that had never overtaken me before. And…” she pointed to the statue of her demonic visage. “The rest is history.”
Logan looked up at the statue. “A tale of sister rivalry,” he noted. “And Celestia turned you into a bogeyman?” His glower deepened. “You know, there are humans that see the Great Wolf like that. Just some... monster…” 
“What I did under the guise of Nightmare Moon was inexcusable,” Luna insisted. “I lacked the righteous motivation of your Great Wolf, and I bear the shame as I rightfully should. I do not tell you this tale to give you more reasons to despise my sister, Wolf; all I ask is that you understand what I have done… and why I seek to right the wrongs of the past, in any way I can.” 
Logan didn’t speak at first. He walked by Luna without a word. Twilight briefly tried to stop him, but he gave her a glare, and walked by her as well. Luna and Twilight shared a worried look, while Carol shuffled in the background.
Twilight gave her a cautious look. “Carol,” she asked. “When you said you were nervous, um…”
“The Great Wolf was his father,” Carol whispered.
Luna stared at her, thunderstruck. “He’s… the son of your Nightmare Moon?” she asked incredulously.
Carol nodded. “Everyone from his pack was involved in some way or another,” she noted. She tugged at her cloak. “This costume was of his mother Reaper; the Great Wolf’s greatest warrior.” Carol looked down with a humorless laugh. “She survived so much… and was beaten by your sister. And a portal.” 
Luna looked down, shame gripping her tighter than ever. “Perhaps… I share more in common with him than he knows,” she noted.
“Don’t tell him that,” Carol said. “Anyone who has to say something like that to a wolf…”
“Probably doesn’t mean it,” Twilight noted. 
Carol nodded. “Exactly.”
She paused, her ears flicking as Logan returned to them. But he had something with him; a bag. Luna tilted her head as he approached. The scent of sugar emanated from the bag.
“Lone Wolf,” she said. “I…” 
He paused, giving her a mixed look, before heading to the statue. He placed the bag at the statue’s pedestal, and turned back around to her. 
“Wolves can’t eat candy or sugar,” he explained quickly. “Really messes with our digestive systems.” He grinned, looking back at the statue. “So... figured it'd be better for you to have it.” 
Luna smiled softly. “If I may be so bold,” she said. “How… exactly… do you celebrate Howl’s Eve?” 
Logan’s tail wagged, and a grin tugged at his side. “I can show you,” he said. “It’s not too different from what you got going over there.” 
Twilight and Carol smiled at each other as, for probably the first time since they met, Logan and Luna walked side by side, ready to celebrate something they had in common with each other. 

#

Further away, a familiar dark unicorn was dumped into a dark cavern. Tempest Shadow leaped back to her hooves. 
“Cowards!” she bellowed, her broken horn sputtering with light. “Come down here and fight me!” 
But she got only the cackling hiss of Changelings. Slowly, she became aware of music; whimsical and jazzy, yet ominous at the same time. Her eyes darted around the small, enclosed space. At first, all she could see were shadows. But then… a light shined to the side of her, nearly enough to blind her. Thankfully, someone was silhouetted against the light; bipedal… a human! Yet… something wasn’t right about him. Why did he have a tail? And why were his teeth so bright? They shined against the light, almost as if there were holes in his face.
“Well-well-well,” he said. “What have we here? Tempest Shadow, huh? Oh, I’m real scared.” He chuckled, coming closer, and allowing Tempest to see the scar that distorted his mouth into a permanent smirk. “So, you’re the one that almost killed the Lone Wolf?"
“Came the closest,” Tempest snarled, her horn brightening and lightning up the man’s face. “And I’m happy to do the same for…”
She was cut off by his howl of laughter… before he burst into song.

“You’re joking – You’re joking!


By the sweet mothers of Pearl


You’re kidding me; you gotta be;


This can’t be the right girl!”

He seized Tempest by the broken horn, and Tempest yelped as her horn’s magic died. She tried to kick or punch at him, but he easily knocked her blows aside, shaking her like a maraca.

“She’s angsty – she’s broken.


I don’t know which is worse!


I’d split a seam right now,


If I don’t die laughing… first?”

Tempest managed to grab his swishing tail with her teeth, and she yanked him into the air. However, as she went to slam him, a sour taste filled her mouth, and she realized his tail had been replaced with sweaty old ribbons. He cackled again, the shadows concealing him. Tempest tried to light her horn up, but the unstable magic only provided so much light, while the man continued his ominous song. 

Well, Ms. Shadow had enough.


Want trouble close at hand?


You better pay attention, Ms. Shadow,


Cuz I’m your next Big Man.

He dropped down with a grin.

Don’t tell me you don’t want the wolf dead.


That’d be a lie; yes, all too wrong.


We both know the last thing you want.


Is to let that wolf live long!

Tempest’s eyes widened, and the man cackled again.
“You should see your face,” he said, copying her open mouth of awe. “Priceless!” He cackled again as changelings briefly appeared, shapeshifting into Tempest’s shocked face. 
Tempest ground her teeth, and blasted at one of them with her horn. Lightning flared, catching the man’s attention.
“Release me now,” she demanded. “Or you will face the dire consequences!” She spat. “Tartarus expects you; unless you come to your senses!” 
The man laughed again.

You’re joking! You’re joking!


I can’t believe my ears!


Some spice, some salt, some fire,


Oh, I’d be drowning in my tears!

He briefly pretended to beg, sobbing, before shaking his head.

“Nope,” he declared. “It’s too funny; I’m laughing. 


You really are a treat.


But now let’s get to the point.”

He shoved her back to a sitting position.

“So please, just take a seat.”

Tempest glared up at him. “What do you want with me?” she demanded.
The creature smiled that distorted grin again. “A second round,” he declared. “You… against the Lone Wolf of Equestria.”
“Why?” Tempest demanded.
"Why?!"
She rolled her eyes as the man let out a jazz like wail before…

“Because the sound of rolling dice


Is my music for the air


Cuz I’m a gambling monkey man;


But I’d like to play fair.


It’s much more fun, I will confess.


When lives are on the line. 

He paused and raised his hands.

Not yours, of course, but the wolf, don’t lie,


You’d think that’d be just fine… “Yes?”

Tempest stomped her hoof.
“Release me fast,” she said, “And he will have to answer for his heinous act.”
The man cheered.

“Oh, sister; you’re something! 


You put me in a spin!

He spun for emphasis, while Tempest took over.

“That wolf won’t even comprehend,” Tempest sang.


The position that he’s in!”

Before she knew what she was doing, Tempest followed after the man, an odd light in her eyes.

“It’s hopeless,” she sang. “He’s finished!”


That wolf won’t have a prayer!” 


I’ll see him dead, for my horn and king


Revenge, oh yes… I swear.”

Tempest looked away at that point, a malicious grin spreading across her face, and her eyes glazed over like a victim of hypnosis. The man, on the other hand, glanced up at his changelings, before they all cackled together, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.
> Logan Goes to High School Pt 3
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fluttershy, unfortunately, wasn’t able to accompany them. On top of the fact that Logan had now gotten into two fights in front of her - and he didn't have his wolf form to keep her from being terrified of him - she also has this ‘class’ that she needed to attend. Thus, with a rushed intro to Twilight and some equally rushed directions to Principal Celestia’s office, the yellow girl had all but fled the group, leaving Twilight, Carol and Logan to compare notes as they ascended to Celestia’s office.
“So,” Logan said in conclusion, as they stood outside the office. “That thief - Shimmer something - was pretty much Sparkles… if she saw Celestia for what she really was.”
“No,” Twilight snapped back. “She’s me if I was evil.” 
“And so,” Carol continued before Logan could retort. “She came here; integrated with humans, and now she brought Twilight’s crown here… for what?” 
Twilight rubbed the back of her mane – hair, Logan reminded himself – sheepishly. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I’m still figuring that part out.” She glanced at the office. “Hopefully this ‘Principal’ Celestia will have more answers.”
“More importantly, she better have the crown,” Logan said, striding for the door. “If this Shimmer girl got it because I couldn’t handle some cross-dimensional turbulence, I may just ask every Element of Harmony to kick me.” 
Twilight smirked. “That could certainly be arranged,” she mumbled, before knocking on the door. 
“Come in,” a voice said, eerily similar to the alicorn. Twilight opened the door...
And there she was. Logan could only shake his head. Same eyes, same hair, even her business suit matched her regalia. Twilight bowed on instinct. 
“How may I help you three?” the Principal asked, casting an uneasy look at the way Twilight was bowing. Carol yanked Twilight back up. 
“Um, uh…” Twilight stammered, still clearly trying to get over the fact that a human version of her lord and savior was sitting in front of her. Logan rolled his eyes and jumped in. 
“We heard that you were given something that belongs to me,” he said.
“Golden tiara,” Carol added. “Purple star in the center; probably made of an amethyst?” 
Celestia narrowed her eyes, staring at Logan as if she wasn’t trying to decide if he was real.
“And… Would you happen to be the one Ms. Fluttershy took to the nurse’s office?” Her eyes narrowed. “The one suffering a panic attack and screaming about how humans were a bane on Earth's existence?”
Logan grimaced, even winced when Carol and Twilight turned shocked looks to him. He steeled himself and puffed out his chest.
“That… would be me, yeah,” he said, crossing his arms.
“Well…” Celestia leaned down. The sound of a desk drawer opening emanated, and when she straightened up, she held their prize right in their hands. Twilight’s eyes glowed in yearning as Celestia set the Element down before them.
“Is this it?” she asked. 
“Oh yeah,” Logan said, fingers already itching towards the crown. However, before he could grab it, Celestia – who’s hands hadn’t left the crown – pulled it back.
“I see,” she said. She chuckled. “Forgive me, Mister…” she waved her hand.
“Logan,” he said.
“Logan?” she said. “But, I’m having a hard time believing that this crown really belongs to you.”
Carol’s eye twitched. “Say, what?” she asked. 
“B-B-But,” Twilight stammered. “Why?” she finally squeaked out.
“You see,” Celestia explained. “During our Fall Formal, we have a Princess elected, and she is given a crown to wear.” She indicated a row of photos behind her, each showing Sunset Shimmer, her face set in different smirks of triumph with a crown on her head. “Each year, our student council goes out and buys one for that very purpose.”
She picked up the Element.
“This year,” she concluded. “They chose this one.” 
“When?” Logan asked. Before Celestia could answer, he added. “Last night? Because all I know is that girl…” he pointed at Sunset’s photo. “Snuck into our home, and stole it from us. I was able to chase her down, and then she did…” he almost indicated his body, before deciding against it. “S-Something to me. Now you guys have that crown, and I’m left wondering if you condone thievery.” 
Twilight stepped on Logan's foot, but the former wolf didn't even feel it, and besides that, the damage had been done. Celestia’s glare was twice as icy as before.
“An interesting story, Mr. Logan,” Celestia said, leaning forward. “However, I know that isn’t the full story. The crown we purchased for the Fall Formal was, in actuality, stolen from us the night before Ms. Fluttershy turned this crown in to me, apparently having found it in your possession.”
Logan’s eyes widened, and he stepped forward. “You calling me a thief?” he growled, as Twilight grabbed him by the strap of his jacket.
“I’m giving you the facts,” Celestia replied. “What you would want with a five-dollar crown or why you’d run off with it, only to suffer a mental breakdown outside our property is beyond me, but the fact remains that this crown was purchased for the Fall Formal, it was stolen the night before, and Ms. Fluttershy found it in your possession.” She leaned back. “Given the circumstances, you should find it understandable why I question your interest in it.” 
“Five-dollar crown?” Logan demanded.
Carol pointed at the star in the center. “Tell me that’s not an amethyst in the center. That’s worth way more than five dollars.”
But this Celestia seemed to be far more stubborn than her equine counterpart. “And why should I trust the word of three students – ones that I’ve never seen before - that may or may not have tried to steal it?” 
“B-But Prince-I mean-Principal Celestia,” Twilight tried to protest. “You see… the truth is, I…” The two wolves watched Twilight, but she faltered under all three gazes.
“You should be questioning Sunset Shimmer,” Carol said, trying to cover for her. “She’s rude; she's a bully, and she's the one who stole the crown in the first place.”
“Sunset Shimmer is a model student, and the three-time winner of our pageants,” Celestia dismissed, once again indicating the photos as if that was all the evidence they needed.
Twilight had to stop Carol from snatching at the Element, while holding Logan back from attacking Celestia. Celestia herself seemed to notice the malice radiating from both of them, so she took the Element off the desk and put it back in her drawer, Carol’s eyes narrowing as she took note of the drawer Celestia put it in.
“Now, then,” Celestia concluded. “I believe this game has gone on long enough; if you are students, then I suggest you get to class. If you are not…” she shot a particularly beady look at Logan. “Then I suggest you vacate the premises. I have difficulty believing that three at the very least new students, especially ones that have not even been here a day, need this crown when I can account for where it was at all times. I was with my students when they bought from the thrift shop two doors down. And now that it’s safely back in my possession, I’m not letting it go again. Now, if that is all…” she motioned them towards the door.
Logan and Carol looked ready to charge the principal, but Twilight had a firm grip on both of them. With a nervous chuckle, she backed out, pulling them out and nudging the door closed with her foot. Logan nearly lost it right then and there, but then they heard Luna’s footsteps echoing towards the office. The three dashed to the nearest corner, and waited until Luna had walked in. That’s when Logan finally lost his patience.
“What was that about?!” Logan snarled. “Where was the backup?”
“Backup?” Twilight shrilled back. “What backup; you mean me holding her down while you beat her up?” 
“A simple ‘the crown is mine,’ would have sufficed,” Carol snapped at her. “She had more reason to believe you than us.” 
"Why would she believe me? Because I'm already a princess in Equestria? Imagine if one of them showed up in Equestria saying they came from a place filled with tall, fleshy, two-legged creatures with these?” Twilight indicated her hands and fingers. 
“That’s exactly what I did,” Logan snapped right back. “You said you had human visitors!”
“And I still thought you, and every single human visitor that came through, was crazy!” Twilight snapped back. 
She briefly went silent when the sound of an office door bashed open. Luna stormed out, looking ready for war. The three wisely waited until she had disappeared around a corridor, and even then, they kept their voices low. 
“And as if we needed more problems,” Twilight moaned, glaring at Carol. “You didn’t tell her about that mess you made with Sunset. Now they’ll be even more angry at us!”
Carol huffed and looked away. “Like I was going to let some disgrace to she-dogs like her smack my pack mate around,” Carol replied haughtily.
“Look, fact remains,” Logan said, eager not to mention that Sunset had slapped him and gotten away with it. “If Luna wasn’t pulling your leg, we’ve got two days to get that Element back! Are we going to get it back, or do you want to waste time?”
“I’m going to get it back,” Twilight said. “Without fighting everything that looks at me wrong.” She jabbed a finger at her hornless head. “No magic, remember!” she hissed.
Logan crossed his arms and rolled his eyes. “Like that stopped me,” he growled.
“Look, alright, let’s hear her out,” Carol offered, stepping between them. “Tell us, ‘Princess,’ how are you going to get your Element back in two days?”
Twilight looked back at the office, and then at the banners that the three hadn’t noticed beforehand. 
‘Canterlot High Fall Formal; Coming Soon’ the banners screamed in wide golden letters. 
A grin spread across her face. “Looks like if I want my crown back without hurting anyone, I’ll have to become Princess of the Canterlot High Fall Formal!” She pumped her arms in victory. “So that is what I’m gonna do!”
She glanced at Logan and Carol, both of whom looked completely unimpressed.
“Okay,” Carol said. “And how are you going to do that?”
Twilight paused. “I have no idea,” she admitted.
“Bye,” Logan declared, going for Celestia’s office. Carol just watched, amused as Twilight briefly grabbed for Logan’s non-existent tail, before jumping in his way, keeping him from bursting inside Celestia’s office again and just stealing the crown.
“Logan, no! Wait!” she insisted.
“You’re asking me to think you can win some sort of formal fall thing when none of us know how it even works?!” Logan demanded. “Screw that; we don’t even know when this thing is happening!” He pointed at his body. “I want out of this disgusting ape body pronto! Don’t force me to wait while you figure out how this thing works, because I don’t even want to know!”
Twilight paused, before a smirk creased her face. “You may not know,” she admitted. “But I think you know someone who does.” 
If Logan still had his wolf ears, they would have pricked up in interest.

#

It took them a while to find Fluttershy again. Not only due to them having to avoid Luna, who was prowling around in what looked like a towering temper, but because Logan had no experience with public schools. Thankfully, Carol had toured a public school during her time with humans, and Twilight had spent some time in public establishments before moving to Ponyville, and one thing that thankfully stayed consistent between dimensions was that, for whatever reasons, there was a ‘lunch time’ where students gathered at a place called the ‘cafeteria’ for food and snacks. Everyone at the school could be found during lunch time there. And sure enough, the three foreigners found Fluttershy there. Even if she had a less than enthusiastic grin when she saw Logan heading for her.
“Oh, hello Logan,” Fluttershy said, unknowingly tearing his heart with her hesitant look. “Was Principal Celestia… did she go easy on you?”
“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Logan replied, before indicating Twilight. “Listen, you remember Sparkles? The girl that kept Carol from…”
“Oh, yes,” Fluttershy said, eagerly turning to the purple girl. “Hello again.”
“Hi,” Twilight greeted. “I know we just met, but I was wondering if you might be able to help me with something.”
“Oh, of course,” Fluttershy replied, leading Twilight into the lunch line. Twilight shot a victorious look at Logan, who just grinned before motioning for her to continue.
“You see,” Twilight began. “I decided to run for Princess of the Fall Formal, and…”
SPLAT!
Logan backed into Carol, who backed into another student. Fluttershy had dropped a bowl of fruit, and the contents splattered against Twilight. Before Logan could even step forward, Fluttershy was rapidly trying to scrub the juice off with a napkin.
“Oh, gosh, I’m sorry,” Fluttershy whimpered. “It’s just… oh, running for Fall Formal Princess is a really bad idea.”
“Why?” Carol asked. 
“Sunset Shimmer wants to be Fall Formal Princess,” Fluttershy explained. “And when she wants something, she gets it! She makes life awful for anyone who stands in her way. Just ask the girl who ran against her for Princess of the Spring Fling.”
Carol glanced around at the crowd of students as Fluttershy led them to a table. “Uh… who would that be?”
“She’s not here,” Fluttershy went on. “She’s not even allowed in the lunch room anymore!”
Carol’s eyebrows knit. “Well, why tell us to ask someone if we can’t…?” 
“It doesn’t matter,” Twilight insisted. “I have to try!”
“It’s not gonna be pretty if she doesn’t,” Logan admitted.
“B-But I don’t think you understand,” Fluttershy insisted. “You’d have to convince everyone here to vote for you instead of her. And even if you weren’t associated with…” she gave a sad look at Logan, who tilted his head at her before hearing the murmurs directed towards them.
“Aren’t those the guys that attacked Sunset Shimmer?”
“Guy’s certainly buff enough to be a thug.”
“Keep your distance; I heard the girl’s a little on the psychotic side. Tried to rip Sunset Shimmer’s head off.”
“Vice Principal Luna said to let her know if we see them. Should we tell her?”
“No way! I’m not risking that guy coming after my head!” 
Logan just rolled his eyes at the chatter, and motioned for Fluttershy to continue.
“W-Well,” Fluttershy stammered. “The only thing all these students have in common is that they know Sunset Shimmer is gonna rule the school until we graduate.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed. “Then maybe it’s time for a change in rulers,” he declared.
“For once, you and I are in agreement,” Twilight replied, snapping up an apple she had grabbed from the lunch line… without hands. Fluttershy gave her a very odd look, and for a moment, Twilight almost spat the apple back out into her hand. Carol, however stopped her.
“Eccentricity, Twilight,” she encouraged. “People love uniqueness.” 
“Not… that unique,” Fluttershy mumbled.
Logan rolled his eyes, yanking the apple from Twilight’s mouth and firmly placing it in her hand. Twilight chuckled nervously. “So…” she said quickly. “Where would I find whoever’s planning this Fall Formal?” 
Fluttershy’s eyebrows knit in – Logan was shocked by this – a glare. If he still had his tail, he would have tucked it; something was very wrong with the glare Fluttershy gave.

#

The ‘gymnasium,’ according to Fluttershy, was a place where students got exercise and could go wild. Even if the place wasn’t enclosed by wood and concrete, Logan doubted anyone could exercise without risking injury, due to the streamers and balloons that were littered all over the place. 
“You said she’d be in here?” Logan asked, dragging a very reluctant Fluttershy in with him.
“Yes,” Fluttershy said, yearning for the door. “D-Did I have to come with?”
“With that glower, you had?” Logan asked. “Definitely.” 
Fluttershy moaned, hiding her face behind her hair.
“Still, where is…” Carol started to ask, before her question got answered for her.
“INCOMING!” a familiar voice shrieked, before confetti and streamers fell towards the three girls and guy. A human girl with pink skin and a darker pink poof ball of hair bounced towards them, blowing up balloons. Logan rose, a rare grin forming on his face.
“Pinkie Pie,” he said before he could think.
The girl gasped, the balloon she was blowing up deflating in her face. She charged over to Logan, knocking him onto his back. 
“Are you psychic?” she demanded. Logan, however, couldn’t keep himself from grinning.
“Maybe I am,” he said mysteriously. “You’d never know.”
“Um…” Twilight interjected. “Is that something you can do here?” 
Pinkie glanced up at her. “Not usually,” she admitted. “But, wait… if you are psychic…” she put her head closer to Logan’s. “What am I thinking?”
Logan tilted his head, and scratched his chin.  
“You’re thinking, ‘this is the new kid who stood up to Sunset Shimmer.’” He grinned as Pinkie’s eyes widened. “You assumed that I had to be the new one because you talk to everyone, and I do mean everyone around here, and everyone knows that Sunset Shimmer has probably not taken well to the fact that some thug and his girlfriend stood up to her, and everyone said it was a new kid with a leather jacket and a rabid girlfriend, along with another girl whom may or may not be the twin sister of a girl living further away, who owns a purple and green pet. And since you didn’t recognize me or my friends, you assumed I was the new kid, leading to you thinking to yourself, ‘this is the new kid who stood up to Sunset Shimmer.’” He crossed his arms with a smirk. “Was I warm or was I hot?” 
Pinkie shot up, her hands over her mouth.
“Oh, my gosh,” she whispered to Carol. “He is psychic!” 
“That, or he’s heard this routine more than a few times,” Carol grumbled.
It was true; ever since Carol's time with the Royal Science Divsion, a couple of upper class unicorns had come through Ponyville hoping to question Carol further on her lecture. Instead, they got accosted by Pinkie's enthusiastic greetings. Logan actually had to admit that the unicorns had some clout, even if it meant he had heard Pinkie's speech about new people enough times. But, this wasn't the same Pinkie, and Twilight jumped in between before Pinkie could process that. 
“Listen, we’re getting off track,” she insisted. “Fluttershy said…”
“Fluttershy?” 
Logan’s heart stopped. Normally, Pinkie was one of the happiest mares around. Even Logan would admit one of his bigger regrets was making her sad. Even if she had it coming. But when she and Fluttershy locked eyes… Logan flinched down as he saw a miniscule hint of what Pinkie Pie became when she was angry. It was even worse on a human’s face; Logan had seen the angry human face a dozen times before he got to Equestria, and seeing Pinkie’s insanity plastered across this angry human mug almost made him whimper.
Fluttershy was no different; the glare she shot Pinkie was two degrees short of a full-blown Stare. Logan had only been subjected to the Stare once in his life, and it was a side of the normally kind yellow mare that he’d rather not see again. 
“Fluttershy, huh?” Pinkie growled, before glancing at Twilight. “Don’t let the ‘shy’ thing fool you. She can be a real meanie.” 
“You could try saying that to my face,” Fluttershy said before glancing at Carol. “Don’t listen to anything she says! She doesn’t take anything seriously.” 
Pinkie scoffed. “Yeah, don’t play innocent with me, Flutter-cruel! You’re the one that’s awful to everyone!”
“I’m awful to animal-haters that can’t recognize ‘somber’ and ‘dignified’ if it came up and slapped them in their stupid pink faces!” Fluttershy snapped back, in a surprising bit of aggression.
Before Pinkie could retort, Logan shot up between them.
“Alright, hang on,” he barked. “None of this is right.” He looked between the two of them. “What. The Heck. Happened to you guys?” 
The two tried to speak at once, but Logan raised his paws, and a growl bubbled up from his throat, quickly cutting them off. He glanced at Fluttershy.
“I’ve known you longer, Fluttershy,” he said, sparing a glance at Pinkie as she fumed. “And I can hear what you’re thinking, Pinkie; I would never do that with a cake.” Pinkie backed up, clutching at her head in shock, while Logan turned back to Fluttershy. “Now, what happened between you two?”
Fluttershy looked down. “I was going to put on a silent auction for the animal shelter a few weeks ago.” She glared at Pinkie Pie. “And Pinkie Pie ruined it by bringing fireworks and noisemakers. It was supposed to be a serious event, and Pinkie…”
“Time!” Logan barked. Fluttershy flinched down, already knowing what he could do when mad. Logan turned back to Pinkie.
“Pinkie, if you can refrain from saying those things you were thinking about me and cupcakes,” he said, cracking another grin at Pinkie’s gasp. “Tell me – or rather, Carol and Sparkle - your side.”
“Well,” Pinkie said, glancing at Carol and Twilight. “Since you have an audience that’d like to know… I got a text saying that Fluttershy didn’t want a silent auction. She wanted a big party!” 
“What?” Fluttershy asked. “But I never sent you a text!”
"You didn’t?” 
Their glares had gone from angry to confused. Fluttershy shook her head no, and Pinkie’s anger deflated like one of her balloons.
“But then…” Pinkie stammered. “Who did?” 
Logan grinned. “Someone who wants to ruin your reputation for being the friendliest girl in school,” he replied. Noticing Carol’s confused glance, he shrugged. “Seriously, she managed to make friends with a rabid wolf who hated her!” 
“I did? Pinkie yelped, tapping her chin in awe of herself. “W-Well,” she said. “I do take pride in being friends with everyone.” She gave a small grin to Fluttershy, who smiled meekly back. “But… if I’m friends with so many people… who would want to soil my good name?!” 
Twilight narrowed her eyes. “I’ve got a good idea who,” she said. “And if we’re going to make her stop trying to break friends up, we need to beat her at her own game.” She stood up straighter and indicated herself. “Pinkie Pie, say hello to your new Princess of the Fall Formal!” 
Fluttershy rolled her eyes, while Carol threw some confetti with a whistle. Pinkie tapped her chin.
“So… Sunset Shimmer’s the one that tried to break us up…” Pinkie pieced together. “And you’re gonna make her pay… by taking her crown?”
“In essence,” Logan replied. His smile only widened as Pinkie shrugged. 
“I can buy that,” she replied, yanking a clipboard and pen from her hair. “Just fill this out, and you’ll be officially up for the coveted Princess of the Fall Formal Crown.”
On instinct, Twilight took the pen in her mouth. She briefly faltered, only for Carol to zip up next to her.
“It’s Pinkie,” Carol whispered. “She won’t mind.” 
Shrugging at that, Twilight got her name down on the clipboard. Pinkie didn’t even bat an eye. 
“Neat handwriting,” she noted, taking the pen back. “You really perfected that trick, didn’t ya?” 
Twilight laughed nervously. “Well, I am a m-girl of many talents,” she said meekly.
“Like being annoying?” Logan added with a grin.
“Shut up,” Twilight replied, before a door opened. And a familiar cowgirl walked in.
“Somebody order a dozen cases of fizzy apple cider?” 
Pinkie cheered, while the cowgirl was accompanied by a familiar looking farm boy carrying several crates of honey-colored liquid. Logan avoided looking at the human version of Big Mac, focusing on human equivalent of Applejack, as she turned familiar apple-green eyes on him.
“Hey, I know you three,” she noted.
“Yeah?” Logan replied.
“Sure. Yer the new kids that gave Sunset Shimmer the what-for today.” She bit open a bottle of cider and took a gulp before her eyes hardened. “Though I ain’t one to approve fer the flying fist technique.” She wagged a finger at Carol. “Fight fire with fire, and all yer gonna get is burned.”
“That’s probably why Twilight Sparkle here is gonna run against Sunset Shimmer for Princess of the Fall Formal,” Pinkie replied. 
Applejack coughed up a bit of cider, her eyes wide. “I’d think twice about that too,” she advised, grabbing a set of balloons and scribbling an admittedly good likeness of Sunset and Twilight on them. “Oh, sure, she’ll probably approach you all friendly like, ‘I sure am looking forward to some friendly competition…’”
Carol giggled at Applejack’s impression of Sunset, only for her to reveal a needle on the back of ‘Sunset’s’ balloon.
“But then, here comes the back-stabbing,” Applejack continued, popping the Twilight balloon with a POW. Before Twilight could explain that it was either this or the ‘flying fists’ as she so eloquently put it, Applejack glared to the side. “About the only girl in this school you can trust less than Sunset Shimmer is Rainbow Dash.”
“Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.
“Oh, no…” Carol moaned.
“What did she do this time?” Logan said, crossing his arms. “More importantly, where do we find her?”
“Oh, she’s the captain of, like, every team at Canterlot High,” Pinkie replied. “So, I’d suggest the sports field if you wanna find her.”
“She’s also the captain of saying she’s gonna do something for ya, and then turning around and not even bothering to show up,” Applejack added bitterly. 
Logan nodded before turning back to Twilight.
“Sparkles, we gotta fix this,” he whispered to her. “Human or no, I’d feel a lot better knowing we had your pack back…”
“No!” Carol clapped her hands over Logan’s mouth, but Pinkie had overheard.
“Pack back?” she giggled. “Backpack, pack back!” She danced away, singing the rhyme. Carol sighed, while Logan yanked her hands off his mouth. Twilight still nodded in understanding.
“I guess I can’t say no to having my friends back,” she admitted, straightening her blouse out. “Alright; Logan, see what you can do about whatever happened to Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”
“I’m on it,” Logan said, turning back to Applejack. “Well, Applejack, I think there’s something you need to see.” He headed for the door as Applejack coughed up another swig of cider.
“W-how’d you know my name?” she asked.
“You wanna find out?” He replied, opening the door and heading out. Applejack glared after him, before reluctantly following. Twilight nodded before turning to Carol.
"Carol, find Rarity,” Twilight ordered.
“You got it, boss,” Carol said, racing out after Applejack, while Twilight turned to Pinkie and Fluttershy.
“And you guys…” Twilight said, before seeing Pinkie Pie standing at military rest. Fluttershy was just hiding in the corner, looking like she’d rather be anywhere else.
“You’re handing out assignments like a drill sergeant,” Pinkie noted with a salute. “Well, General-Sergeant-Twilight-Ma’am? What do you need us to do?”
“Meet me in… does this place have a library?” Twilight asked.
“Canterlot Library?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s quite extensive.”
Twilight hid a moment of glee on her face. “Meet me there after classes today. We’re gonna need your help if we’re gonna beat Sunset Shimmer.”
Fluttershy gasped, while Pinkie looked more than up to the challenge. 
Yet as the group dispersed, they failed to notice Sunset glowering at them through the gym door windows.
> Logan Goes to High School Pt 4
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight knew there was going to be a problem the instant she saw Carol cowering in a darkened hallway. 
“Carol?” Twilight asked, only for the red-haired girl to cover Twilight’s mouth. Peeking around the corner, they saw Vice Principal Luna glaring about in a more brightly lit corridor.
“I think Rarity’s down there,” Carol whispered. “But I’m not about to walk out in front of Luna.” 
Twilight yanked her back, though she couldn’t stop herself from glaring at her.
“You know, we wouldn’t have to be hiding if you hadn’t jumped Sunset like a maniac,” Twilight hissed.
“She’s the bad guy here,” Carol struggled to keep her voice down. “Seriously, I can’t believe…?”
“…I didn’t recognize you earlier,” a voice drawled.
Carol and Twilight flinched. Further in the shadows, Sunset Shimmer stood, a smug grin on her face.
“Should have known Princess Celestia would send her ‘prized pupil’ here after my crown,” Sunset admitted, striding forward before shooting a glance at Carol. “Though I won’t deny; the dogs were a nice touch. The yellow mutt actually gave me a challenge.”
Carol snarled. “He’s not a dog,” she growled. “He’s a Wolf. And I’m a Hound.” 
“And it’s my crown,” Twilight added venomously.
“Whatever,” Sunset replied with a roll of her hand. “You’ve given me nothing but some scratches and a minor setback.” She pointed at Twilight. “You don’t know the first thing about this place, and I already rule it.” 
“Then why steal the crown?” Carol demanded. “If you’re so happy being the top-dog here, then why draw us here and risk it all falling apart?” 
Sunset glowered at Carol for a moment, touching the bandages that covered the cuts Carol had given her. But her smug grin didn’t fade.
“Pop quiz,” she declared. “What happens when you bring an Element of Harmony into an alternate world?”
Carol narrowed her eyes at her before glancing at Twilight. The purple girl, for her part, looked like the answer scared her.
“You don’t know?” Sunset mocked. Before Twilight could answer, she laughed. “Seriously? And you’re supposed to be Princess Celestia’s star student?”
“What’s the matter, Sunset?” Carol asked. “Salty that Celestia’s got a new favorite?”
That struck a nerve. The smug grin faded from Sunset’s face, and she glowered at the she-hound. 
“You’ve got a mouth on you,” the amber girl noted, forcing herself to look at Twilight. “I’d keep an eye on this one, Twilight. Hate for her to be… taken away from you.”
Carol lunged forward before Twilight could stop her; slamming Sunset against the lockers.
“Is that a challenge?” Carol snapped. 
“Carol, stop!” Twilight hissed, but Sunset was grinning like she had already won.
“You dogs,” Sunset mocked, while Carol’s glare deepened. “Quick tempers… slow minds.” 
Caro’s slap came just as Sunset raised her voice.
“VICE PRINCIPAL LUNA!”
Carol’s hand struck Sunset, sending her to her side just as Luna rounded the corner. Quick as her alicorn counterpart, Luna seized Carol’s wrist before she could launch onto Sunset again. 
“Getting into trouble again, are we?” Luna demanded. 
“Get off me!” Carol yelled, while Sunset had completely transitioned from smug to blubbering.
“She won’t leave me alone, Vice Principal,” Sunset sobbed. “She and that thug with the jacket are still around here!”
“Not for long,” Luna declared, tugging Carol away. Twilight raised a hand after her, but Carol shook her head at her.
“Don’t,” Carol hissed. “Get to Rarity! Get the…” then Luna dragged around the corner, and out of sight.
Twilight gaped at the loss of one of her allies, before hearing Sunset chuckle behind her. Her fists clenched, and she whirled back on Sunset, who’s blubbering act had faded like flicking a light switch. 
“I’d be more careful from now on if I was you,” Sunset mockingly advised. “Don’t want everyone to know you don’t belong here either, now would you?” She jutted her face into Twilight’s. “You wanna be a princess here? Please! You don’t know the first thing about fitting in.” 
With that, Sunset strode around the corner and out of sight, leaving Twilight friendless… and slightly hopeless.

#

“So… let me get this straight.”
Logan stood outside, in front of a field that looked much more suited for exercising students than the gym. The human Rainbow Dash stood between him and a slightly confused human Applejack.
“You’re saying that Sunset Shimmer lied when she told me that Applejack’s bake sale had been moved to an alternate day,” Rainbow Dash said. “And so, when I showed up with the softball team, I was actually showing up long after the bake sale ended?”
Logan nodded.
Applejack tipped her hat sheepishly. “And here I was thinking ya just didn’t show up just to make a liar outta me.”
“Applejack, I would never turn my back on a friend knowingly,” Rainbow Dash said passionately.
“Yeah, why didn’t you just ask her?” Logan added.
Applejack’s eyes darted away. “I… guess I kinda stopped talking to her at all after that.” She looked up at Rainbow Dash shamefully. “Gotta say, I’m mighty sorry.”
Dash gripped her arm. “Eh, to be fair, I probably should’ve asked you instead of just taking Sunset’s word.” She jabbed a thumb at Logan. “I mean, if scraggly Greaser boy over here can stand up to her, why can’t I?”
“Eat my boots,” Logan said, though his tone was teasing rather than malicious. Thankfully, Rainbow Dash took it the right way, chuckling as if he had shared a joke.
“You got heart, man,” she said, bumping his shoulder. “I like that.” 
“Yeah,” Applejack said, grinning at Logan. “Thanks for setting us straight. Should’ve known Sunset was behind something like this.” 
“Speaking of which, you should probably be careful,” Rainbow Dash advised. “Sunset’s probably planning something pretty bad.”
“No doubt on that,” Logan admitted. “Which was why I needed to ask…”
He paused, as a faded scream reached his ears. He spun around, briefly seeing Carol tapping on the glass of a window… before Luna yanked her along. His eyes widened, before a growl escaped his lips. 
“What?” Applejack asked. “What is it?”
“Who was that girl with Vice Principal Luna?” Rainbow Dash asked, following his gaze. “A friend of yours?” 
Logan turned back to them and then back at the window. His head bent, before his eyes brightened. 
“Library,” he said, already backing away. “There’s a girl named Twilight Sparkle that’ll be there. Find her and talk to her as soon as you can; I gotta take care of something.”
“Logan, wait!” Rainbow Dash yelled, but the secret wolf had already taken off back towards the school. 

#

“All the trouble you started,” Luna was growling, more to herself than Carol. “I should get hazard pay for this!”
Carol had planted her feet as best she could, but the rubber soles this world have given the she-hound were no match for the strength of a vice principal, and she easily dragged her closer and closer to Celestia’s office. 
Just before they reached the door, Carol spotted Logan’s head poking out from a corner at the end of the hallway. He winked at her just before Luna all but threw her into Celestia’s office, blocking Carol’s way out like some sort of guard dog.
The principal had somehow turned even frostier than before. Her fingers were laced, and the glare she shot Carol nearly gave the she-hound a flashback to… not-so-better days.
“So,” Celestia said, her voice cold as an ice-cap. “We meet again.” 
Carol tried to force herself not to tremble. She may not have Logan with her, but she was still a Hound; a canine. Something that should be respected by humans, if not feared.
“Hopefully, we won't make a habit of it,” she replied.
“Indeed,” Celestia said. “Tell me; when you first came to my office with your fellow delinquents… was there any particular reason you forgot to mention that you assaulted one of my model students?”
Carol crossed her arms. “You mean when that thief attacked my friend?” Carol growled back.
“You have a very skewed perception on who is the thief here,” Celestia replied coldly, standing up.
“The only one with the skewed perception is you, ‘Principal,’” Carol replied, an internal part of her flinching as she realized she overshot how passive aggressive she could be. But then a voice that sounded suspiciously like Logan stamped that part down.
Don’t be scared of this discount ape version of that sun wench, it growled. The worst she can do is ground you or something. Let her have it.
“If you can’t tell that Sunset is planning something,” Carol continued coolly. “Then you’re nothing but a fool who doesn’t deserve to run this school.” 
Celestia, for her part, was trying to look like she was about to blow her multicolored hair off her head. A vein bulged in her neck. Her normally pale skin was turning red.
“I don’t know who you or your accomplices are,” Celestia declared. “But you have proven yourselves to be rude, abrasive and disruptive little pests.” She uncapped a pen, and for a moment, Carol feared she was going to shank her with it before she just started writing something down, gripping the pen in a way that foretold its imminent shattering. “And I don’t want you anywhere near my school after…” 
BAM! 
Celestia nearly leaped a foot into the air as the door was kicked open, and Luna was catapulted into the opposite wall. While Luna was pancaked to the wall, Logan charged in and lunged for Celestia.
“BODIED!” He roared, bashing into Celestia like the wolf he secretly was.
Celestia got one chance to shriek like a little girl, before Logan’s head crashed into hers with the force of a wrecking ball. With an oddly goofy sounding THUNK, Celestia’s head struck the drawer behind her, and she slid to the ground, knocked out. A second later, Luna peeled off from the wall and crumpled to the floor as well.
Carol gaped in horror at Logan, but the boy was shameless, opening the drawers in Celestia’s desk and withdrawing the Element of Magic before noticing Carol’s look of shock. He followed her gaze to the two now unconscious humans.
“Well,” he said with a shrug. “Guess subtlety’s out of the question now.” 
Carol gaped at him for a moment, but she couldn’t stop her smile from forming. Nor could she stop a laugh bubbling up from her throat. 
“Let’s get Twilight,” Logan continued.  “We’re not gonna want to be here when they wake up.” He tilted his head as Celestia moaned. "Speaking of which..." He then slammed his boot into Celestia’s head.
“Logan, easy,” Carol protested. “If you kill them…” 
“I’m just making sure she’s unconscious,” Logan replied. He nudged her with a grin. “Come on,” he prompted, indicating their bodies. “It may not be the originals… but it feels just as good. I can assure you.”
Carol shivered where she stood, before her smile crept back up.
Luna’s eyes were just flickering open when Carol loomed over her.
“Did you just…” Luna started to say before Carol’s foot slammed into her face.

#

Sunset gaped in horror as the wolves walked out of Celestia’s office, looking like they had the world at their fingertips. They even saw her staring, and flashed her twin grins before sauntering off, the crown poking out of a backpack Carol must have stolen from the office. 
Sunset's face turned beet red in anger. Ever since she had arrived at this school, she had controlled things; she had ensured that the human version of Twilight got transferred. She had forced the Human Five apart. She got Principal Celestia and her lap dog Vice Principal Luna under her thumb. 
And yet, in the span of a single day, two creatures she didn’t even know existed in Equestria had rendered almost all of her plans completely moot. 
Yet, she knew there was still time. The Twilight currently in the library was definitely Equestrian.
And the horse that Celestia chose instead of me, Sunset’s thoughts added bitterly. 
And she was clearly of a more cautious mindset than these wolves. Sunset knew that in her current state, she stood no chance of fighting Carol or Logan. But if she could just find a way to make them give up the crown before they could get through the portal…
“Okay, you mutts,” Sunset snarled, racing for the outside. “You want to be a thorn in my side…?”
She stopped by a janitor’s closet, opening it and finding a sledgehammer.
“I’ll be the knife in your heart,” she growled. 

#

Inside the library, Twilight sat with the human version of Rarity, accompanied by Fluttershy and Pinkie. 
“You mean to say,” Rarity was saying. “That Sunset has been the one sending me e-mails turning me down from volunteering to help with the decorations, leaving poor Pinkie to handle it all on her own?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Twilight said.
“Yeah,” Pinkie agreed. “I never sent you any e-mails at all!” 
Rarity sat back, rubbing her temples. “I suppose I can’t deny Sunset would be nasty enough to do such a thing. But this is beyond cruel even for her.” 
“That’s because she’s planning something,” Twilight said firmly. “And it has something to do with the Fall Formal.” 
“But why now?” Rarity asked. “She’s already won the past three pageants we’ve put on. What makes the Fall Formal so special?”
Before Twilight could respond, the library door banged open, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash ran in.
“Twi?” Applejack hissed, careful to keep her voice down. “Twi!” she sighed in relief upon seeing her.
“That’s Twilight Sparkle?” Rainbow Dash asked, but Applejack didn’t have the time for a formal introduction.
“Twi, something happened with Logan,” she said, panting as she leaned next to the table. “He said to find you.” 
Twilight paled. “He must have found out about Carol…” she whispered.
“Carol?” Fluttershy whimpered. “Is… well, is she okay?”
“She’s better than okay,” Logan replied. 
The six girls looked up as Logan and Carol sauntered in, looking like they owned the place. 
“Logan,” Applejack scolded walking over to him. “What was that all about. Ya had me worried sick.”
“No need for illnesses,” he replied. “Just… really managed to turn things around for us.”
Twilight’s eyes widened, and she stormed up to him. “What did you do?” she demanded.
Logan and Carol glanced at each other, before Carol smoothly slid a backpack off her shoulder. She unzipped it, and Twilight saw a flicker of gold and purple inside.
Her jaw dropped. 
“YOU TOOK THE…” Twilight started to screech, before Logan muffled Twilight’s mouth. All they got was the human equivalent to Cherilee hissing at her. Carol grinned sheepishly at the librarian, but Twilight, her face bright red, bustled Logan out the door. She drew a breath in to scream at him again, but Logan cut her off.
“The next words out of your mouth better not be angry,” he warned.
“Well too bad!” Twilight snapped. “Principal Celestia accused you of being a thief. Doing stuff like this only proves her right!”
“Like I’ve ever given a rat's tail about what any version of Celestia thinks of me,” Logan snapped back at her. At that moment, the other girls followed them out, looking at the backpack containing the Element with nervousness.
“Er… pardon me,” Rarity said. “But… you didn’t 'steal' the crown for the Fall Formal, did you?”
“It’s not some five-dollar hat, Rarity,” Logan said darkly.
“Oh!” Pinkie bounced in. “It’s actually from an alternate world where Twilight is a pony princess and Logan and Carol are talking wolves and the crown has a magical element embedded in it that helps power up other magical elements and without it they don’t work anymore, and he needed them to help protect Twilight’s magical world. And now since the crown’s safe, Sunset’s probably going to try something else to fulfill her evil plans!” She finished all that with a grin.
Everyone stared at her in shock. Except for Logan, who pointed at her with a grin.
“She’s good,” he said.
“B-But that can’t be the truth,” Applejack insisted. She pointed at Twilight. “I-I mean… you? You’re a pony?”
Twilight covered her head.
“And… a princess?” Rarity asked. 
Twilight shrunk down lower.
“And Logan and Carol are wolves... and all of you are from another world?” Fluttershy asked, before giving Logan a more cautious look. “Then again… it would explain some things.” 
Twilight sighed. “Yes,” she admitted. “Yes, everything Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy just said was true.”
The girls paused.
“That’s awesome,” Rainbow Dash replied.
“And on top of it,” Logan said. “Sunset’s also a pony from the same world, and she wants that Element to do something dark. We had to get it back!”
“And I was going to do that,” Twilight growled at him. “By becoming the Fall Formal Princess, and winning it fair and square…”
“Will you quit trying to prove yourself?!” Logan snapped. 
Twilight went quiet, but a vein bulged in her temple, and the girls glanced at each other, realizing Logan had hit a bad nerve. Logan seemed to realize it himself, as his voice softened by a margin.
“Sparkle,” he insisted. “You told me that you had worked your entire life towards being a princess alongside Celestia. Celestia gave you that honor, when there were mares like Sunset working for it long before you got your shot. Doesn’t it say something that Celestia chose you over ponies like Sunset?”
Twilight looked down. “But I still don’t know if she picked right,” Twilight said, her voice cracking. “You know better than any pony else that she can make mistakes. What if she made a mistake giving me that title?”
“Look at everything you’ve done so far,” Logan replied. “Chrysalis? Nightmare? Discord?" He even indicated himself. "Me?! You telling me those were all walks in the park for you?”
Twilight tried to stammer out an answer, but Logan wasn’t done.
“More importantly,” he continued. “You think that you proving yourself through some symbolic coming of age journey is worth the risk you’re putting Equestria into?”
“Risk?!” Twilight demanded. 
“Yeah, risk!” Logan argued. “While we sit here arguing and giving Shimmer time to formulate some sort of counter-plan, Equestria is missing one of its most vital means of defense. What if it took all three days for us to get this?” He pointed at the backpack. “What if, in that time, Discord decided Fluttershy’s friendship wasn’t worth giving up Chaos? What if Chrysalis made another bid for the throne? What if Sombra or Nightmare somehow came back? Are you really willing to let everyone in Equestria suffer while you try to prove some sort of point to yourself?” 
Twilight tried to retort, but her comeback died in her throat. A hole of shame grew in her heart, and she looked down. Logan looked up at the human girls, who were watching the whole thing with an air of it being a major sports event. 
“Girls,” Logan said with a sigh. “I get that you have your own stuff going on. And you’ll get your Fall Formal crown back – the real one!”
“Not one with magic powers,” Carol translated, prompting a groan from Pinkie Pie.
“But I’m not willing to risk the place I call home and the ponies I’ve come to care about there to worry about fairness or politeness,” Logan said firmly. He lifted the pack and the Element inside. “Equestria needs this. And I’m gonna bring it back.” He turned away. “One way or another.”
As he marched off, Carol gave them a second look.
“We’d appreciate the help,” she noted. “Last time I saw Sunset, she looked pretty angry. We’d appreciate some backup: you guys will get your crown back, and you’ll be helping save a lot of lives.” She shrugged before following Logan. “Your choice.”
Twilight pulled herself back up, and followed after Logan. Noticing how depressed and shameful Twilight looked, the human five fell in line behind her.
“Does sound kinda cool,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “Getting to be a big hero.”
“Logan?” Twilight whispered. “I’m sorry.”
Logan didn’t look at her. 
“Prove it,” he replied.

#

As it turned out, Twilight would get her chance to prove it; Sunset had beaten them to the portal. She was standing right next to the statue in the courtyard, the portal shimmering below the statue. And a sledgehammer was in Sunset’s hands.
Logan growled and started to make his way towards her, but Sunset hefted the hammer at him. 
“It’s gonna take a lot more than a hammer to beat me, girl,” Logan growled.
“Oh, I’m not interested in beating you,” Sunset replied. “I know what’ll happen if I try.” Her own smirk widened. “But I know you don’t belong here.”  
Logan’s eyes narrowed as Sunset swung the hammer around, poising it to smash the mirror.
“I know you want to go back to being a flea-bitten, dog pound reject,” Sunset continued. “And you know what? That’s fine.” She extended her hand. “Give me the crown, and all of you can go back to Equestria right now. Or keep it… And never go home.” 
Carol and Twilight gasped. Logan just glowered and started towards her… only for Carol to grab him.
“Logan, wait!” she yelled. 
“What?” he demanded, before looking at the mirror. “She’s gotta be bluffing…”
“Maybe, but that’s our only way home,” Carol insisted, pointing at the mirror now under threat from Sunset. “She smashes that; we can’t go back.” 
Logan winced, but tried to keep his expression one of anger.
“Shimmer, you coward,” he growled, but Sunset just smirked at him.
“Tick-tock, dogs and girls,” Sunset warned. “The portal may be open for another day or two, but I don’t have that kind of patience. What’s your answer gonna be?”
Twilight glanced worriedly at Carol’s backpack, where the Element of Magic sat. She shut her eyes, and steeled herself.
“No,” she said. 
Sunset froze. “What?” 
Logan whirled back on her. “Y-Yeah, I gotta agree with that; what?!”
“Equestria!” Sunset tempted. “Your friends! Lost to you forever.” She slammed the ground with her hammer. “Don’t you see what I’m about to do to the portal?!”
“Yes,” Twilight agreed, chancing a glance back at the human five. “But I’ve also seen what you’ve done here without magic.”
The human girls all gave each other sorrowful looks, remembering how easily they had been torn apart by Sunset’s manipulations.
“Equestria will find a way to survive without my Element of Harmony,” Twilight continued, glaring pointedly at both Sunset and Logan. “But this place won’t; not if I allow it to fall into your hands, Sunset Shimmer. So, go ahead; destroy the portal.” She stepped in front of Carol. “You are not getting this crown!” 
The human five watched her with awe.
“You… are so awesome,” Rainbow Dash whispered.
“I can’t believe she’s doing that fer us,” Applejack mumbled.
“It’s no wonder she’s a real live princess,” Rarity sighed. 
Logan huffed. “Well spoken,” he admitted, before glaring a now livid Sunset down. “But I’m not gonna stay human for any longer than I have to.”
Before Sunset could shatter the mirror, he grabbed Carol, who slung the backpack to Twilight. With one spin, Logan threw the she-hound at Sunset before lunging himself. 
But Sunset had grown wise to their tricks; just as Logan flung himself at the pair, Sunset ducked, letting Carol sail over her. As Carol hit the ground behind her, Sunset brought her sledgehammer up in a wild swipe. Logan caught the hammer… with his head. As a dull CRACK echoed through the courtyard, Logan pitched to the side and fell right through the mirror.
“Logan!” Carol yelled, only for Sunset to drop the hammer and go for Twilight and the crown. Twilight yelped and hurled the crown over Sunset.
“Carol, my Element!” she screamed. 
Sunset skidded, trying to turn back, but Carol caught the crown and dove into the portal. Sunset was grabbed around the ankles by Twilight and Rainbow Dash, and could only give a shriek of rage and frustration as Carol disappeared into the mirror.

#

Time stretched and distorted around Logan. Rainbow colors flashed in his eyes. There was nothing real for Logan to cling to; no furry body or Element of Magic to ground him. The hit to the head made him feel like he was seeing double; if it was possible to see double in wherever he was. It seemed to take less time than usual – or no time at all – but all too soon, Logan found himself back on the cold, marble floor of the Crystal Palace.
For a moment, he lay there, trying to make the two ceilings above him back into one. He forced himself to roll to his side, sighing in relief as he saw his fur-covered paws and wolf body. His relief only increased as another flash of light deposited Carol next to him, the Element of Magic rolling between them.
“Hey, Carol,” he mumbled, blinking tiredly. “Were there always two of you?” 
Carol pulled herself up, and wrapped a pack link tendril around his wrist.
“Steady on, Logan,” she said comfortingly. “We made it back.”
Logan smiled, the throb in his head decreasing the longer he stayed linked to Carol. “Heck yeah, we did,” he said, shutting his eyes.
Several hoof steps drew the wolves’ attention, and they looked up as the Mane Five, Spike and Celestia walked towards them. With a flourish, Carol spun the Element of Magic and tossed it to Celestia, who caught it with a flare of her horn.
“It seems I was wrong to doubt you, Carolina,” Celestia admitted, before the other mares jumped forward.
“You got the crown back,” Rarity cried in glee. “And in record time, too.”
“We knew you could do it,” Pinkie cheered.
“Aw, we were so worried…” Applejack said.
But their cheers were cut off by Spike.
“Hang on a minute,” he yelled, looking around. “Where’s Twilight?”
Everyone - pony and wolf - froze. Logan popped his head up. They all looked back at the mirror. Its surface shimmered like ripples across water.
“Sparkle?” Logan yelled, pulling himself towards the portal.
The portal remained untouched; it’s surface undisturbed. Carol’s ears flattened, and her tail tucked.
“Uh, oh,” she whimpered. 
“Logan?” Celestia demanded, her tone tense. “Where is Twilight?” 
Logan simply picked himself up and raced at the mirror. 
“Logan, wait!” Carol cried, trying to shut off her link to him.
But she wasn’t fast enough, and as Logan vanished through the portal, his link followed after him, extending like a fishing line into the portal’s surface.
> Logan Goes to High School Finale
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan’s second trip to the human world somehow managed to be worse than his first visit in a manner of five seconds. In that time, he stumbled through the portal, only for his still healing head to collide with someone. He hit the ground seconds before a strange force overtook him, making him feel like he was being split in two, which didn’t go well with the concussion he seemed to be developing from getting hit in the head with a sledgehammer. 
Sunset fell back, having run right into him. Her glower turned to shock, and she scrambled back as lightning flared across his body. Logan shrieked and writhed on the ground, his form trying to shift between human and wolf. He realized that their fight had drawn a crowd: every student from the school. The Human Five, along with Twilight, were still in the front, Twilight being protected by the other five girls, and Rainbow Dash sporting a black eye. Further away, Celestia and Luna stumbled out of the building, their gazes rapidly switching from furious to confused and slightly fearful.
Unwilling to appear weak and helpless, Logan tried to force himself back up, making it to all fours before his form shifted between human and wolf again, sending another jolt of pain through his entire body. Forcing himself to stay conscious, he turned his head back to the portal. A white tendril of light was spiraling out of the portal, wrapping around him and likely causing the pain.
“Carol,” his thoughts hissed. "What's... happening?"

#

“I’m sorry, Logan,” Carol whimpered back from Canterlot. “I didn’t take the magic of the portal into account.”
The mares behind her were watching in shock as Carol collapsed in front of them, her lightning styled link disappearing into the portal’s surface, and causing it to glow bright white. 
“Carolina!” Celestia cried out. “Please; shut off your power! There’s no telling what the mixture of magic is doing to the portal!”
“NO!” Carol screamed, clutching at the line. “I can’t… leave him…”
But then, she felt a new jolt travel through. The link turned a bright shade of gold, while Carol’s trembling ceased. Her form still flickered – sometimes human, sometimes wolf – but her breathing steadied, as did her stance.
“W-What’s happening to her?” Fluttershy whimpered. 
“Sunset,” Carol whispered. “She’s linked in!”

#

While Logan struggled on the ground, Sunset watched the portal and the link spiraling out of it warily.
“What kind of magic is this?” she demanded. “Where is the Element?” 
Logan grinned up at her. “You want magic,” he managed to growl out, before indicating the sparks flaring across his body. “I’m the best you’re gonna get right now.”
He winced, another jolt of pain rocking his core, but Sunset got an inspired look in her eyes as she gazed upon the lightning traveling across his body. 
“I’ve jumped through too many hoops right now,” Sunset snarled, reaching for the link. “If this is the best I’m gonna get…” 
Her hand closed around the lightning-like rope, and she gasped, lightning surging up her body and lightning her up in bright ruby red and golden yellow.
She doubled over, her hand gripping the line tight enough to turn her knuckles white. But slowly, she rose. And as she rose, her appearance changed;
Her hair burst into flames; her skin turned cherry red. The whites of her eyes turned blacker than Luna’s darkest nights. Her leather jacket and dress burned away into a dress of crackling flames. And she lifted her arms to the sky with a roar of victory.
Yet, as she rose up, so did Logan. The lightning around him stabilized, and his eyes grew wide in awe. Sunset peered down at her free hand, before grinning at Logan. 
“It’s no crown,” she admitted. “But I suppose it will do!”
She let the lightning crackle through her fiery body, and fired additional bolts, the first two striking the human Luna and Celestia. They briefly struggled, before their eyes rolled up into their heads, and they went limp like puppets, only being held up by the strings of lightning trailing back to Sunset.
Logan huffed a chuckle, and turned to Twilight and the others. 
“Twilight,” he barked, throwing a tendril of light to her. “Remember… what you’re capable of!”
Twilight gasped, before her eyes glowed, both from determination and Logan’s magic. She caught his link and  turned back to the other five girls, who were watching Sunset spread her lightning; which crackled like flames, towards their fellow students.
“Girls!” Twilight said, as five tendrils of her own formed in her free hand. “You have to link with me. It’s the only way to stop Sunset now.”
“But what is going on?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “I got no idea what’s even going on.”
“Logan is kind of scary,” Fluttershy admitted. “And… is he a werewolf?” 
“If you can’t trust in him,” Twilight said, staring them straight in the eye. “Trust in me.” She gave them a grin. “Just like I trust in you.” 
Some of the girls didn’t hesitate; Pinkie and Rainbow Dash bounded right up and seized a tendril, while Fluttershy and Rarity were slow on the draw. However, as they gazed into Twilight’s determined face, determination began to course through their features as well. And one by one, the human five linked with Twilight, quickly being shrouded in light. 
Logan’s lightning was nothing like Sunset’s. It curled around them like friendly snakes, and made them glow in shimmering shades of color; purple for Twilight, blue for Rainbow Dash, white for Rarity, yellow for Fluttershy, pink for Pinkie and orange for Applejack.
“How in tarnation is that boy pulling this off?” Applejack mumbled in awe.
“Well, duh,” Pinkie said. “He’s a magic wolf.” 
Applejack rubbed her temples. “I was hoping for a more reasonable answer,” she mumbled.
“I-I think it’s a little reasonable,” Fluttershy admitted, pointing at Logan as his wolf form glowed over his human form. 
Logan rolled his eyes, before glaring up at Sunset, who in turn grinned down at him.
“You sure you wanna keep this up?” Logan growled at her. “My magic isn’t pony magic.”
Sunset grinned down at her new subjects, all of whom hung limply in her lightning. 
“It’s good enough,” she declared, staring down Logan. “I don’t want to rule this pathetic little high school, Wolf. I want Equestria! And with an army of humans behind me, I’m going to get it!”
“Really,” Logan said, clenching his fist as lightning crackled around him. “And why would you want it?”
Sunset started to open her mouth, before Logan silenced her with a raised hand/paw.
“No,” Logan said. “Don’t bother telling me.” He grinned. “I’ll figure it out.”
Sunset tilted her head in confusion… before the full power of Logan’s links hit her head on.
Memories flared up between them. Sunset saw herself, studying tenaciously under Celestia. But she was frustrated. Tired. And when she came to Celestia, believing herself successful and deserving of praise, the alicorn turned away from her. Denied her the greatest prize to be given any student of Celestia: the title of princess.
As Sunset watched her younger self fuming in anger, she heard Logan’s voice.
“Revenge on Celestia?”
Sunset saw him across from her, staring at the memory like it was a battle plan.
“That’s what this was all about?” he asked. 
“Not just Celestia,” Sunset snarled at him. “At that whole world.” 
The memories followed her words.
“I was special,” she insisted. “Better than them.” 
And yet, the unicorns around Sunset all looked on her with envy and anger. They mocked her to make themselves feel better. But Sunset kept her head high, even when Celestia gave her looks of disapproval, which did not help the envious glares from others.  
“But even Celestia didn’t want to reveal this. They all hated me because I was better than them!”  
The memory returned, of Celestia turning her back on Sunset.
“So, I’ll show them all!” Sunset growled. “I’ll show them what Celestia always denied… and what they mindlessly went along with. And I’ll make her regret turning me into her enemy.” She turned to Logan, only to find that the wolf was glaring at her. No longer in anger or hatred. But in disappointment. 
“You think you’re the only one who hates Celestia?” he asked.
Before Sunset could hope to argue, her memory vanished with a flare. She found herself in a desert. Logan raced with other wolves, desperately fleeing humans in a van. The van made to run Logan over, before a familiar golden aura of magic seized him.
The memory shifted, showing Logan clutching his dead mother. Howling his sorrow to the moon. The memory went on to show Logan surrounded by ponies, all of whom either looked down on him or were afraid of him. The only canines he could relate to were either Carol, Timber Wolves, or Diamond Dogs. His way of life was gone!
The memory shifted one last time, showing the clinic he had woken up in. Inside, Celestia stood over Logan, who had taken Sunset’s place. Celestia was now smiling, as if everything Logan had just shown Sunset didn’t really matter. Logan even shared Sunset’s fuming look. And, why shouldn’t he? Celestia had taken Logan from his home! She had gotten one of his pack killed!
And when Logan launched forward, trying to sink his teeth into that godly snout… he was promptly beaten down and overwhelmed by the six mares guarding her. 
The same six who’s human counterparts were standing not more than five feet away from them. 
Sunset’s eyes widened. “You…” she stammered. “Celestia betrayed you too? And yet…” She stared at the human six watching them. “You still fight for them?”
“Because they have something you never understood,” Logan replied. “Something I’ll bet you’ve lived your life without ever experiencing.”
Sunset gaped at him in confusion, before the memories changed before her.
Rainbow Dash racing to aid Applejack with a bake sale, even when she had her own business going on. Applejack greeting Rainbow Dash with a smile and a laugh. 
Pinkie, making a distraught Fluttershy smile with jokes and laughter.
Rarity, making dresses for all four of them.
Twilight showing Logan the book she had wrote on his travels. 
Logan and his pack, feasting together. Talking and laughing like the family they were. 
Celestia and Luna’s alicorn forms, pranking each other.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders, back on Equestria, working together in their search for their purpose in life. 
And at the center of it all: Logan, Carol and the equine Fluttershy, all asleep in front of a blazing fire. Fluttershy’s hoof gently stroked the sleeping Logan’s head, even as the yellow mare dozed off. Peaceful smiles adorned their faces. 
But Sunset didn’t just see each of these memories… she experienced them. She felt her heart swell with joy and happiness, the same way the friends in the memories felt when they were with each other. With each memory and surge of emotion, Sunset sunk lower and lower to the ground. Her hair returned to normal red and yellow. Her dress turned back to normal cloth. Her skin paled to amber. Her eyes turned white, slowly filling with tears.
“W-What’s happening?” Sunset whimpered, looking down at her hands as if seeing them for the first time. “W-Why couldn’t I have that? That… feeling; this… happiness?” She clutched at her heart. “I’ve seen so many sappy couples like that, but I’ve never…”
“Felt what they were feeling?” Logan asked. “That’s a pack bond, Shimmer. You ponies would know it as ‘friendship.’ That is where my power lies. It’s what makes us strong.” He shook his head. “How can you; a mare who has known only how to spread distrust and disharmony, hope to control a magic fueled by the bonds made with others?” 
As he asked that, the lightning faded from her grip. Her strings over the faculty and students faded, and they clutched their heads, their eyes returning to normal. Slowly, they looked at Sunset, as if seeing her for the first time. As for Logan, he stood in his wolf form, snow white and gleaming with power, while Twilight and the Human Five stood nearby, similarly shrouded in white. Twilight’s form hadn’t completely changed; she still had her human hands and legs, but purple wings unfurled from her back, and the magic of her link with Logan centered around a glowing spot on her head.
“The magic of friendship doesn’t just exist in Equestria,” Twilight said, standing alongside Logan as they peered down at the distraught Sunset. “It is everywhere. You can seek it out, or you can forever be alone. The choice is yours.”
Sunset looked at Logan and lowered her head in defeat. Logan then turned to Fluttershy. The two regarded each other, Logan with amusement, and Fluttershy with awe and slight excitement. Logan glanced back at the portal.
“Carol?” he called. Seconds later, a dull version of Twilight’s crown shot through - the original Fall Formal crown. Along with several white pearl-like crystals. Logan tossed the crown to Rarity, before gently pressing the crystals into Fluttershy’s hands.
“Whatever that can buy,” he said. “Make sure it helps your animals get good homes.”  
Fluttershy gripped the crystal and looked up at Logan with a smile. She jumped forward, and wrapped her arms around Logan’s neck.
“Of course,” she stammered out, unable to say much else. When she finally released him, she brushed a tear from her eye. “I’m… sorry I was afraid of you,” she mumbled.
Logan grinned. “I’m sorry I scared you,” he replied. “Hopefully our next meeting will have… better circumstances.”
Fluttershy giggled, but nodded regardless, while Logan turned to leave. 
“Wait!” Sunset pleaded, reaching for him. “You… you’re right. All I’ve done ever since I got here is drive others apart. I don’t know the first thing about friendship.”
Logan gave her a look of pity, while Twilight smiled.
“I think…” Twilight said, before turning to the Human Five. “They can teach you.” 
Sunset looked at the five girls, each of them giving her worried, yet also hopeful looks.
Logan turned to them. “Will you guide her?” he asked them. “Show her what she’s missed this entire time?” 
Rarity glanced at the others, before stepping forward.
“We will,” she declared, before shooting the hopeful Sunset a coy look. “Although I do expect some sort of apology for last spring’s debacle.” 
Sunset rubbed the back of her head nervously, only for Logan to put a paw on her shoulder. The light around him dimmed enough, to the point that he resembled an ordinary wolf. He glanced towards Principal Celestia, who had gone from scared to dumbfounded, staring at Logan as if she was trying to process how the thug that had beaten her, her student and her vice principal up was now a talking, magic wolf. 
“I know the hatred you feel for Celestia,” he told Sunset. “I let it consume me… just like you did.”
Sunset looked down. “I can still feel it,” she admitted.
“It won’t leave you,” he told her. “Just as it hasn’t left me. Just don’t let it blind you to the wonders life can still provide.” He nodded at the Human Five again. 
Sunset wiped the tears from her eyes, and rested her head against Logan’s. Then, the wolf turned to Twilight. Twilight lingered briefly on the edge, staring back at the five girls.
“I know we were only friends for a short time,” she said. “But I’m gonna miss all of you!”
The five girls waved goodbye, and as the light faded from their bodies, Twilight and Logan walked in together…

#

…and promptly got dog-piled by the mares waiting for them on the other side.
“Twilight!” “You’re back for real this time!” “Knew you could do it!” and “Don’t ever worry us like that again,” jumbled together. Celestia had no words, simply covering the cheering group with her feathers and nuzzling up to Twilight. Logan squirmed out of the pile and limped over to an exhausted Carol, and the two checked each other over, while Luna and Cadence examined the mirror for any damage. 
Luna sighed, grabbing Logan’s attention.
“Did we break it?” Carol asked.
Cadence glanced at them. “Unfortunately,” she said. “The portal closed ahead of schedule. We’ll have to wait thirty moons to see if it will reopen.”
Celestia’s ear pricked, and she pulled back from Twilight, giving another look at the mirror.
“Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia asked quietly, her eyes gazing from Logan to Twilight. “Was she… alright?”
Logan looked back at the mirror, his ears flat. “She…” he said. “Has some issues to work through.” He turned back to Celestia, and a shimmer of the grudge he still had briefly flashed in his eyes. “Don’t expect her to come back until she’s ready.”
“And until she is,” Twilight added. “She’s been left in good hands.”
There was a pause.
“What are hands?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Carol’s eyes widened. “Logan, how much have you told them about humans?!” Carol demanded, promptly a burst of laughter from the younger mares. Celestia, however, kept a wistful gaze on the mirror. Logan found himself joining her, and while the girls talked about Twilight and Carolina’s adventure, the wolf and the alicorn stared at their reflections, which shimmered softly with the mirror’s remaining magic.
“What was it like?” Celestia asked.
Logan huffed in confusion.
“Meeting some pony who lost faith in me?” Celestia prompted. “Some pony who… hates me…?”
“She doesn’t hate you,” he replied.
Celestia turned her eyes from the mirror to him. “No?” she asked, hope cracking her otherwise stoic tone.
“Not the way I…” Logan started to say, before pausing again. 
Celestia watched him struggle, wondering what he would decide on. The way I used to? The way I do? Anything was possible for the Lone Wolf.
Finally, he just sighed, as if giving up. “I don’t think she ever really made friends, or had a pack,” Logan admitted.
Celestia bowed her head. “Yes, she was always more wrapped up in her studies,” Celestia admitted. “More interested in learning the mechanics of something rather than experiencing it for herself.”
“She really was like Twilight, wasn’t she?” Logan noted.
“In some ways… yes,” Celestia said. “But in other ways… no.” Logan glanced up at her. “I guess you could say Twilight was my second chance. And Sunset was the reason I grew so close to her.” She shut her eyes. “After I failed to help Sunset, I was determined to never make the same mistakes with Twilight.” 
Celestia looked back at her student, who was currently arguing with Carol while Rainbow Dash watched excitedly.
“Sunset helped me be a better mentor for Twilight… or at least better than I was with her… and she’ll likely never know it,” Celestia said sadly. She looked back at the portal. “I’d give anything to see her again. To thank her for what she taught me. To let her know that I forgave her… even before she left. And that… even if Twilight’s taken her place… there’s still a spot in my heart for her.”
Logan watched Celestia carefully, but he had a feeling that he could force Applejack to stand next to him, and he wouldn’t have caught a single attempt at manipulation or lie coming from the white alicorn. He looked back at the mirror.
“You love making me feel like a jerk for hating you, don’t you?” Logan noted.
A small chuckle escaped Celestia’s snout. “You shouldn’t feel forced to forgive me for my sins,” Celestia replied. She gave him a coy look. “Although…” She glanced over at Twilight and Carol as their argument grew more pronounced. 
“Logan did WHAT to Principal Celestia?!” Twilight exclaimed. 
“She was going to kick us out!” Carol refuted. “And besides, we got the Element from her anyway!”
Celestia glanced at Logan again. “It sounds like Sunset isn’t the only one who needs to make amends for the mistakes they made on the other side of that portal.” She gave the portal another glance before looking at Logan with that coy look again. “Of course, it may be damaged, but I’m still here…”
“Keep on dreaming,” Logan said, already walking away. “It’s gonna be a cold day in Tartarus before I apologize to any version of you.” 
“Tartarus isn’t technically the lake of fire your kind may know it as,” Celestia noted teasingly.
“Doesn’t matter,” Logan replied. “I’m not apologizing.”
Celestia tried to catch him with her magic, only for him to jump away. Twilight saw Logan break out into a run.
“Logan?” she asked, before glancing at Celestia. “Princess?”
“Twilight, am I not owed an apology?” Celestia asked teasingly. “He did assault my human counterpart.”
Twilight and the other girls grinned at each other… only for Carol to jump away and join Logan. 
“Oh, no you don’t!” Carol declared. Their pack link flared to life, and before the girls knew it, the two wolves had raced from the throne room, their pack link increasing their speed so that even Rainbow Dash had trouble keeping up with them.
“You guys get back here and apologize!” Rainbow Dash demanded, racing after them.
“Eat my tail, Dash!” Logan shot back defiantly.
The other princesses watched on, laughing as the Mane Six chased their wolf counterparts. Celestia watched Luna and Cadence gallop after them, eager to see the results of the chase. However, Celestia paused, sparing another glance back at the mirror. 
“My dear Sunset,” she whispered. “I hope you find happiness… wherever Logan has left you.”

#

“Br, it’s colder than I expected,” the man grumped, staring around the purple mountains. “Seriously, this is Tartarus? Where’s the lakes of fire and ominous pipe organs?” 
“Take this seriously, King Luco, for once in your life,” Queen Chrysalis chastised, following him through the gate, along with Tempest and a tiny changeling drone. She was glancing around, nervousness fighting to expose itself on her otherwise stoic face. “This is where the most ancient, evil creatures are imprisoned.”
“And again,” Luco insisted. “Where’s the elements of torture? I was expecting devils running roosters out through barbed wire, or being roasted in cheese fondue! At least being forced to sit through endless opera recitals!”
Tempest slumped her head with a moan of regret. “You better bring me the Lone Wolf,” she grumbled. “Or I’m going to swear this was a giant waste of time.”
Luco grinned back at her. “Have faith, my beautiful unicorn friend,” he replied, striding closer into Tartarus. He noticed a giant black dog with three heads glowering at them. But instead of feeling fear, the man smiled and clicked his tongue at the dog.
“Thorax, be a dear,” Luco said. But before he could finish, the tiny changeling stepped forward… and transformed into a deer. 
Luco laughed with glee, clapping his hands. With a grin, Thorax levitated a bag of treats to Luco, who offered one to the giant dog. The dog paused, intrigued by the human’s lack of fear, before the smell of the treats got its three heads to drooling. 
Luco tossed treats to each of the heads, before tossing additional ones off to the side, causing the Cerberus hound to lumber off in the direction of food. He grinned back at his posse.
“Now then,” he said. “Let’s go shopping for minions.”
> Tirek Arc - Prologue Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan had been told repeatedly that the Ever-Free was dangerous. Yet, up until now, he was confident he and Carol had the means to survive there. After one particular morning, though, he was suddenly a little less confident about it.
Logan was startled awake by the feeling of movement and something sinewy yet spiky pressing against him on all sides. It felt like he was being dragged along the ground. But towards what, he had no idea. His left side was unpleasantly damp and slimy, with whatever was dragging him not accounting for the mud and grime of the forest. 
His eyes opened, and he couldn’t stop a muffled shriek from trying to escape his snout. ‘Tried’ being the operative word, as his snout was bound in thick black vines, which similarly wrapped around his body and arms. His legs and tail were lashed together and being dragged deep into the Ever-Free forest. He had no idea who was dragging him either; the vine holding his legs vanished into the shadows of the forest.
Either way, he wasn’t interested in finding out what had ahold of him. He concentrated, and let his magic flare to life around him. It took a bit of effort, but the lightning fried the vines and forced them to widen, giving him a space to slip out of before they could re-bind him again. Letting the lightning course through his claws, he slashed the vines away, and as the cut off section slithered away into the shadows, Logan cut his way through the vines that had bound him.
“Stupid, weird black vines!” Logan snarled. “Think you can just…”
“LOGAN!” Carol’s voice screamed.
Logan spun back around to see Carol being similarly dragged. Further off, he made out two cocoons of black vines, large enough to hold alicorns. But what mattered to him at that moment was Carol; the poor hound was similarly bound up like he had been. However, the vines had made sure to wrap around her eyes, blindfolding her and keeping her from using her magic.
“Logan, I can’t open my eyes,” Carol screamed. “What’s happening!?”
“Hang on!” Logan yelled, lunging forward… and falling flat on his face when another vine caught his ankle. He slashed the vine away with a growl, only for five more to take its place. Logan slashed back and forth, but each time he sliced one vine down, two more slithered up, entwining around his arms, legs, even his neck.
“Logan!” Carol sobbed, her voice growing faint.
With a snarl, Logan spun over another hopeful vine and lashed out with his lightning. The lightning curled like a whip, slicing through three more vines and severing the vine dragging Carol. The she-hound kicked her legs free and scrambled to free her limbs. Logan fought his way towards her, vines cropping up all around them, while Carol managed to free her eyes. Opening her eyes allowed her magic to form, and in seconds, the two stood back to back, a shield around them keeping the vines from entrapping them.
“So,” Carol noted, catching her breath. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but the Ever-Free seems a little more dangerous than it used to be.” 
Logan glowered at the vines as they tried to poke through their shield. 
“Might be tough if something else shows up,” Logan dismissed.
Carol sighed. “Save your jokes until after we deal with the hentai vines.”
“The heck is hentai?” Logan asked. 
Carol flinched. “Never mind,” she said. She chanced a look towards Ponyville. “Let’s find the others. Maybe they know what’s going on.”
“When they told us the Ever-Free was dangerous,” Logan growled. “Maybe they should have mentioned vines like this.”
Carol didn’t reply, heading back for town. Logan chanced another glance at the alicorn sized cocoons, but they were already fading into the shadows, and more vines guarded them. Impossible for even Logan to take on alone. Growling, he followed after his pack mate, as the vines slithered along after them.

#

If Carol had hoped for the vines to stop at Ponyville, she was sadly mistaken. The two wolves skidded to a stop as they reached Ponyville’s borders. Carol gasped in dismay as she found the town covered with the black vines. Ponies were running or being dragged towards the forest, screaming their lungs out.
Carol slashed away a vine that was dragging a grey earth pony with a black mane, and pulled the mare to her hooves.
“Twilight,” she said. “Where’s Twilight and the others?”
“Er, it’s ‘Princess’ Twilight now,” the mare noted, only for Logan to seize her by the bow she was wearing.
“Just tell us where she is,” he snapped.
The mare yelped and pointed towards the center of town. Logan’s snarl changed to a grin, and he smoothed out her bow. 
“Now was that so hard?” he asked, before he and Carol took off for the center of town. Turns out it wasn’t that hard to find the Mane Six. 
Towards the town square, they saw Twilight, writhing and jumping around with glowing eyes while the other five mares, Spike, and – Logan growled as he saw him – Discord were watching. Discord was cackling as Twilight gasped, shrieked and sobbed, apparently in her own world, but the others were watching her with more worried expressions. Carol also noticed that they were all wearing the same necklaces they had worn when Discord had started bothering them. Carol smiled when she recognized Twilight’s crown safely nestled on her head. Logan, on the other hand…
“Discord!” Logan snarled, racing towards him. “Alright, you life-ruining weirdo, what did you…"
Discord snapped his fingers, and Logan’s teeth suddenly changed to a zipper, forcing his mouth shut.
“Sh,” Discord hushed. “You’ll ruin the best part.”
Logan fumed and tried to fire his lightning at the chaos spirit, only to have the bolt turned into another black vine that Logan ripped apart with a muffled growl. The commotion drew the other mares’ attention, and Fluttershy’s eyes lit up in joy.
“Logan,” she cheered, enveloping him and Carol in a hug. “I was so worried for you two…” she whimpered.
“RRR!” Logan growled, indicating his zipped teeth.
“Oh, right,” Fluttershy said, before giving Discord a look. The chaos spirit sighed, and snapped his fingers, freeing Logan’s teeth from each other.
“Thanks,” Logan mumbled, rubbing his teeth with a grimace, while Carol noticed Twilight’s spasming start to cease. 
“So, um…” Carol asked. “What did we miss?” 
“Zecora gave Twi some sort of potion,” Applejack explained, indicating the zebra next to them. “Said that it only responds to alicorn magic, but it should tell her what’s with these weeds, and well…”
She pointed up. Logan and Carol followed her gaze, and their ears perked as they saw that both the sun and the moon hung in the air. Oddly, the moon’s side was shrouded with a purple night sky, while bright blue sky glowed around the sun. There was an odd bit in the middle where the blue and purple mixed. 
Logan and Carol were distracted from the odd sky when Twilight gave one final gasp and shook her head, her eyes returning to normal. She flinched as she saw the odd looks everyone (sans Discord) were shooting her.
“Why… are you all looking at me like that?” Twilight asked. 
“It’s just… you were mumbling to yourself,” Applejack noted.
“And acting like you were having a seizure,” Logan said. 
“Oh! And don’t forget the uncontrollable sobbing!” Pinkie added. 
“We were really worried about you,” Fluttershy said.
“I for one found it delightful,” Discord replied. “Sort of a one-pony theater piece, if you will. You should really consider taking it out on the road.”
Logan growled at him, but the chaos spirit was unaffected.
“Look,” Carol said. “Right now, the Ever-Free’s twice as dangerous than before, and..." She indicated the sun and moon. "That's happening. How did Celestia let this happen?”
The mares stared at the wolves in shock. Carol’s ears flattened. 
“Did… something else happen while we were gone?” she asked. 
The mares looked at each other, before Spike spoke up.
“The princesses are gone,” he said. “Vanished without a trace.” 
Logan gasped, looking back at the forest. Those cocoons of vines. 
“The alicorn-sized ones…” he mumbled.
“What?” Twilight asked, almost knocking Logan to his back with how fast she raced to him. “Logan. Did you see something in the forest that looked like the princesses?”
“Yeah,” Logan said. “Those black vines had me and Carol tangled up. And they were dragging us somewhere, along with these two giant cocoons of vines. Looked big enough to hold someone like Celestia.” 
Twilight gasped, and almost raced towards the Ever-Free on her own. It took Carol grabbing her by the tail to stop her.
“Whoa, slow down there, Princess,” Carol said. “You’re not going in there alone.”
“But Princess Celestia and Princess Luna could be in trouble,” Twilight insisted. “I have to save them.” 
“Heck yeah, you do,” Rainbow Dash said, flying up next to her. 
Carol grinned as the other mares, Spike and Logan formed ranks. “I didn’t say you couldn’t go at all,” she rectified. “I said you couldn’t go alone.”
Twilight gazed at her friends, and her expression of fear turned to happiness. Discord, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and yawned.
“So much for another LSD trip,” he mumbled, before casting Logan another look. “Oh, but I wonder how the wolves are going to make this more interesting.” He clapped with glee. “I’m going to need more popcorn.” He vanished with a pop. 

#

In a matter of minutes, the mares, wolves and dragon had found their way back to the entrance to the Ever-Free forest. Logan still remembered how those black vines had driven him and Carol from the forest, and he tried to take the lead, his eyes scanning around the corrupted forest defiantly.
“Seems like only yesterday we were heading into these woods to find the Elements of Harmony,” Rarity bemoaned.
Carol gave them an intrigued look. “You got those necklaces from here?” she asked.
“It was how we beat Nightmare Moon,” Twilight explained. “We endured the trials of the Ever-Free Forest, with each of my friends proving themselves in an Element of Friendship. All ending with a confrontation with Nightmare Moon that summoned the Elements to our side.” She sighed wistfully. “I was so foolish back then; thinking I could go after them on my own.” She looked back at her group. “I don’t know what we’re going to face in here. But whatever it is, I know we need to face it together.”
The mares nodded or made other signs of agreement. It took Logan clearing his throat to draw their attention.
“You guys gonna continue congratulating each other on being pack?” he asked. “Or are we going to fix this?” 
Twilight sighed, but she and the other mares fell in line. It wasn’t long before they reached a sickly green lake, with withered black vines growing out of it. Stepping stones poked out of the lake, a little too convenient for crossing.
“We can use these to cross,” Twilight noted, before Logan stopped her. “What?”
Logan sniffed at the bog. “Something ain’t right,” he replied. “Just… stand back for a moment.”
Twilight stepped away, and Logan hesitantly inched his paw out, and rested it on the stepping stone. It held. The group started to inch forward, but Carol held up her paw, silently insisting they back up. Logan’s gaze hadn’t shifted. He put more weight on the stone. It sunk down, but still held his weight.
At least, that’s what it seemed like to the mares. As Logan pressed down hard on the stone, it suddenly rose up. The stone wasn’t a stone at all; it was a scale on a tail. And as Logan hopped back, the rest of the stepping stones rose up as well, all scales on a large, angry…
“Cragadile!” Rarity shrieked. “Run for your lives!”
The mares scattered, save for Carol and Logan. The she-hound hurled a bolt of lightning into the water, and it lit the green pond up with lightning. However, the stony cragadile just grimaced and lugged itself out of the pond.
“That didn’t work,” Carol noted. 
“No, but this will,” Logan replied, slashing his claws up in an arc.
The cragadile’s head jutted up where Logan hit it, followed by a sharp jerk to the side when Logan slashed it again. But the cragadile just gave another bellow, and snapped at the wolves, forcing them back.
Rainbow Dash joined the fray, smashing into the cragadile’s head and keeping its jaws shut. However, the cragadile had more strength than they thought, and dislodged her with another roar… only to get a burst of Logan’s lightning shot down its throat.
The cragadile backed away, snapping irritably at Logan. However, the show of weakness got the other mares to join in. Twilight lunged forward, ready to join Rainbow Dash in the air… only for her wings to give out and for her to skid across the ground. The cragadile whirled on her, it’s jaws opening wide. Twilight let out a shriek...
Only for Logan and Rainbow Dash to force the beast’s mouth shut again.
“Sparkle!” Logan snarled. “Forget the wings! Use your magic!”
Twilight shivered, but enough of what Logan had said got through to her, and she fired a burst of magic right into the cragadile’s eye. The beast wailed in outrage, but the mares, wolves and dragons didn’t have time for its pain.
Applejack nearly got yanked by some of the black vines, but Carol severed them with a slash. Her eyes brightening, the cow mare tied the vines into a lasso. And as Dash, Twilight and Logan dodged another snap and tried to force the cragadile’s mouth shut, Applejack lunged out with her new lasso, hog-tying the beast’s mouth shut. 
Carol brightened at Applejack’s plan, and linked with Fluttershy and Spike. “Help me out,” Carol said. The pegasus, dragon and hound jumped onto the cragadile’s back, with Fluttershy tying the link’s tendril around the cragadile’s tail. 
“Applejack!” Carol yelled, holding out her paw. The cow mare tossed her the other end of her lasso, and Carol and Spike pulled hard. The cragadile gave a surprised grunt as it’s body was forced up into a circle, its head looping right back around to its tail like a wheel.
“Get another one, Applejack,” Carol said, straining to hold the cragadile together.
“Hurry!” Fluttershy pleaded.
“Hang on,” Logan said, linking with Twilight and Rainbow Dash before extending the link to Carol and Fluttershy. Their strength powered the hound, while Pink tossed another batch of vines to Applejack. Crafting them into another lasso, Applejack tossed the lasso to Rarity, who used her own magic to twine the lasso around Carol’s link and the cragadile’s tail. 
As the cragadile struggled, Carol quickly tied the two lassos together. Her link to Fluttershy faded, and Dash and Logan gave the monster one final combined kick. The cragadile rolled downhill like a wheel, it’s limbs waving feebly in the air as it rolled out of sight.
“We’re very sorry!” Fluttershy called out after it.
“Maybe next time, don’t con us with fake stepping stones,” Logan snarled after it.
The cragadile’s response was a muffled groan before it faded from sight. 
Twilight sighed, her haunches shaking before she slumped to the ground.
“That was close,” she whispered.
“Too close,” Applejack replied with a sigh. She walked over to Twilight. “You sure yer alright?”
“I’m fine,” Twilight responded, glaring at her wings. “I just can’t seem to get these new wings to do what I want them to do… when I want them to do it.”
“So, stop focusing on them,” Logan replied. “You’re still a mage, right? So, focus on magic.” 
“Well, she shouldn’t forget all her abilities,” Rainbow Dash argued. “Flying’s really awesome, once you figure it out.” 
“But I need to figure it out now!” Twilight insisted. “The princesses need me.”
Applejack rubbed her chin with a grimace. She looked around at the others as they converged on Twilight. 
“Well, if yer having too much trouble with those things… and with who knows what else could come after us…"
“Applejack,” Logan said warningly.
“I’m just stating the truth,” she argued. “Maybe it wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Twilight to go back to Ponyville. Let us look for the princesses without her.” 
“What?” Twilight stammered.
“Yeah, seriously?” Carol demanded. “I know you weren’t there for that incident with Sunset, but Cadence said that you guys need all six Elements together, or they don’t work.”
“That’s…” Applejack tried to protest, only for her eyes to widen in horror. “Actually true,” she admitted.
“But if something happens to Twilight…” Fluttershy whimpered. 
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna are still in trouble,” Rarity finished. “Equestria will need some pony to lead in their absence.”
“And Cadence can’t help you there?” Logan asked. 
“She’s in the Crystal Empire!” Applejack protested.
“That doesn’t mean she can’t help out here,” Logan insisted. He pointed into the forest. “Guys, that had to be Celestia and Luna I saw in there. I don’t know why the vines brought them here or why there are any vines at all, but you’re going to need the Elements if you’re hoping to beat them. And more importantly…” he turned back to Twilight. “A good Alpha exists for her pack. For she is nothing without them.”
Twilight looked at Logan with hope in her eyes. “Logan…” she said. “You really feel like I should be here?”
“I don’t feel,” Logan told her firmly. “I know you should be here.” He put a paw on her shoulder. “You’re an Alpha, Sparkle; whether you believe it or not. And these guys need you.” He looked back at them. “Even if they don’t want to believe it.”
Applejack narrowed her eyes. “I’m just trying to protect her,” she insisted.
“And it’s good that you care,” Carol said, jumping between her and Logan. “But you can either stand united… or fall divided.” 
Logan didn’t stray from in front of Twilight. “She’s coming,” he said. “Deal with it.” He turned to Twilight. “And you?” he said. “Stop thinking that you have to master every alicorn power. Focus on what you’re already good at. Figure out your wings when lives aren’t on the line.” 
Twilight nodded. 
“Now let’s go,” Logan said, leading them onward. His nostrils flared. “I think we’re getting close to where the vines wanted to take us.”
> Tirek Arc - Prologue Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“This is it,” Logan said. After almost an hour of walking, he stopped the group in a clearing. The vines were wilder, and the shadows darker. “This was where Carol and I got away.”
“What about the Princesses?” Twilight insisted.
Logan sniffed around for a second, before sneezing. 
“Poison gas,” he grumbled.
“Poison?” Pinkie asked, stepping back.
“Breath too much of it in, and you’ll pass out,” Logan theorized. “Probably so you’ll be easy food for something else.” 
“No way some poison gas would take down Princess Celestia,” Twilight replied passionately. “You gotta check again.”
“I’m doing what I can, Sparkles,” Logan growled. “And yeah, the Princesses’ scent is there, but it’s covered by that gas stench. I try to follow it, I’ll probably end up getting knocked out, and then you’ll have no guide.”
Twilight grumbled, before covering her nose and striding forward. Rainbow Dash flanked her, as did Applejack.
“You really think you guys are going to find anything just by going forward?” Logan demanded.
“I remember this pathway,” Twilight responded. “We’re getting close to the Castle of Two Sisters.”
“Castle of what now?” Carol asked.
“It’s where we first found the Elements of Harmony,” Rainbow Dash explained.
“And if Princess Celestia and Luna are there,” Twilight continued, failing to notice a dark plant with a spider-like bud rising behind her. “We’re going to find… LOGAN, WHOA!”
Logan had lunged forward, and before Rainbow Dash or Applejack could hope to stop him, he yanked Twilight back… just in time for him to get a face full of poison gas from the spidery plant. The wolf backed up, struggling to stand as he coughed up the gas.
Carol rushed forward, ripping the first of the plants to bits. However, her rush caught the attention of other plants, and they converged on her, blasting their steam into her. Carol wildly swiped at the mist, before beginning to crumple as well.
“Aw, no ya don’t, you rabid rhododendrons!” Applejack declared. With another vine lasso, she caught one of the plants and yanked it back. “You mess with one of us…” 
The mares closed ranks.
“You mess with all of us,” Rainbow Dash said with a grin, before the six mares charged.
Spike jumped out from behind Twilight and set fire to one of the plants. Rarity and Twilight blasted two more plants away, while Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rarity darted and dodged among the plants, sending them into a frenzy.
“Yoo-hoo,” Pinkie sang. “Come and get me!”
“Don’t forget about me!” Rarity added, dancing away from a biting plant.
“Up here, ya ugly flowers!” Dash taunted, twisting two of them into a knot. 
In seconds, the six mares managed to tangle the group of vines together, and Spike finished them off with a blast of fire.
“Ta-da!” Pinkie said happily… only for another plant to rear up behind her. Seconds before it could blast her, however, twin bolts of lightning sheared the plant into ashes.
Logan lowered his claw with a growl, struggling to stand up alongside Carol. When he looked up, however, there was a grateful light in his eyes that the mares hadn’t seen before.
“Thanks,” he said quietly.
The girls nodded at him. 
“Anytime,” Rainbow Dash replied.
“I’m sorry, Logan,” Twilight bemoaned. “I should’ve been watching where I was going.”
“Which was probably why she should-a stayed back,” Applejack grumbled.
“We already discussed this, Applejack,” Logan said, forcing himself up and coughing out the last of the poison. “She’s staying, and that’s final.”
Applejack rolled her eyes, but said nothing else.
“What I’m more curious about,” Carol noted. “Is this Castle of the Two Sisters.”
“Didn’t you guys explore it?” Rainbow Dash asked. “The Ever-Free’s pretty much been your territory.”
“Maybe, but we don’t venture too far into it,” Carol replied. 
“You know, you guys could use our help or something,” Logan rectified quickly.
Pinkie shared a grin with Fluttershy. “Sure, Logan,” she said, ignoring the glower he shot her way. 
“Either way,” Carol said quickly. “This area of the forest always had a certain… aura to it. Like it shouldn’t be disturbed.”
“Not surprising,” Twilight said, leading the way. “The Castle of the Two Sisters was originally Princess Celestia and Luna’s home. But when Luna turned into Nightmare Moon, their castle was destroyed before Celestia could defeat Nightmare Moon and banish her.”
Logan’s ears flicked. “That must be why you guys are so afraid of this place,” he muttered. “Nightmare’s magic must have done something to this forest.”
“That’s what we assumed,” Twilight admitted. “What doesn’t make sense is why these vines would kidnap Princess Luna if they were part of Nightmare's magic. Since she was originally Nightmare Moon, shouldn’t she have some sort of control over them?”
“Wolves were originally Myst’s tools of war,” Logan refuted. “Didn’t stop them from turning on her.”  
Before Twilight could ask for details, they cleared the forest, and found themselves at the ruins of a castle. Next to it was a small cave in a canyon. The black vines were spreading out from there, along with a strange cyan glow.
“That’s got to be where the Princesses are,” Carol said. “All the vines are converging on that cave.” 
“But how are we going to get to it?” Rarity asked.  
A shout of pain drew their attention. They spun… only to find Pinkie Pie coming to rest at the bottom of a flight of stairs. 
“Take the stairs, silly,” the pink mare suggested.
Carol’s ears flattened, but there wasn’t much the others could say against that. They followed Pinkie down into the canyon, soon entering the cave. Inside, the two alicorn sized cocoons sat next to a massive tree wrapped in the thorny vines. The tree looked like it had been beautiful once, but now with the thorns tightly squeezing it, it looked dead and old. Faintly, the group made out some sort of symbol on the tree’s bark, resembling Twilight’s mark. 
“What… is this?” Logan asked, moving closer, but stopping when some of the vines flared up in warning.
Fluttershy gasped. “Whatever it is…” she whimpered. “I think it’s dying.” 
“So, let’s save it already!” Applejack replied, charging the tree straight out… only to get whacked away by the vines. Rainbow Dash charged it as well, but even when Carol managed to slash away the vine that went for her, twice as many entwined the wolf and pegasus, and threw them away.
“Valiant effort on all your parts,” Rarity noted. “But the tree remains in jeopardy.”
Logan turned to Twilight, who was staring at the tree like she was trying to remember it's name. “Hey Sparkle,” he said. “Got any ideas?” 
Twilight pondered, it, before her eyes flashed and she gave a yelp. 
“Sparkle?” Logan asked, while the others converged on her. 
The purple mare rubbed her head for a moment, but when she rose up, she was smiling.
“I know how to save the tree,” she said. “We have to give it the Elements of Harmony.” 
Carol glanced at the vines and nodded. “So… you guys just blast this thing, then?” she tried to clarify. "Or... how do those elements work, anyway?" 
“Normally, we use some sort of... I guess you'd call it a 'Friendship Beam,'” Twilight said. “But this… is the Tree of Harmony. It’s where the Elements were sprung from. And if we give the gems themselves back…”
“Whoa-whoa-whoa,” Rainbow Dash protested. “Give them back? As in… give them up forever? But how are we supposed to protect Equestria?”
“Yeah, I gotta agree,” Logan said. “Are you telling me we went through that whole gig with Sunset for nothing?” 
“And on top of all that,” Applejack noted. “The Elements of Harmony… they’re what kept us connected no matter what.”
Twilight just smiled at the lot of them. “You’re right about one thing, Applejack,” she said. “The Elements of Harmony did bring us together. But it isn’t the Elements that will keep us together.” She looked at Logan. “It’s our bond as a pack. Our friendship. And it’s more important and powerful than any magic.” 
Logan crossed his arms. “I’m not going to pack link with every Nightmare, Discord and Sombra you guys come across,” he warned. 
“And you won’t have to,” Twilight assured him. “My new role in Equestria may mean I need to take on new responsibilities, and our friendship may be tested. But if your bond with Carol and your pack could stand the test of dimensions and time, our friendship is surely just as unbreakable.” 
Logan pondered that, before giving a nod. Twilight hoped that she saw a glitter of what might have been pride in his eyes. She turned back to the tree, as the vines started to creep up, sensing something wrong. “Every pony ready?”
A bolt of lightning disintegrated the nearest vines. “You do your sacrifice gig,” Carol said, as Logan fired another bolt at the vines. “We’ll keep them off you!”
And so, with the wolves keeping the vines at bay, Twilight removed the gems from the five necklaces around the mares, and blasted them into the tree. The instant the gems made contact with the tree, it flared into light. Light that disintegrated the vines into ash. And in seconds, a fully revitalized tree of crystal stood before them. The cocoons vanished as well, leaving two relieved looking alicorns in their place. Twilight sighed in relief and hugged her mentor, while Logan just rolled his eyes at the sight.
“We know how difficult it must have been for you to give up the Elements,” Celestia said to her former student. “It took great courage to relinquish them.” 
“Yeah, and now your best mode of defense is gone,” Logan noted dryly. “I don’t suppose you guys have an alternative for that?”
As if answering his question, a flower sprouted right up in front of Logan, blooming to reveal a silver box with six locks. Twilight rushed over to the box, pondering over it with wide eyes.
“What’s inside this?” she asked. “How am I supposed to open it?”
The princesses joined the wolf and the alicorn.
“Six locks,” Luna noted. “Six keys.”
“I do not know where they are,” Celestia admitted, before glancing over with a grin at Twilight’s pack. “But I do know it is a mystery you will not be solving alone.” 
"Until they do," Logan noted. "We shouldn't leave this here." He tapped the box. “A lock that could contain an alternate power source? You know there are things out there that would kill for something like that. Or, at the very least leave Equestria defenseless.” 
Celestia rubbed her chin. “A fair point, Logan Wolfe,” she replied, before turning to the box. Her horn flared, and the box glowed with a golden light. Yet the box did not shift.
Celestia hummed, before attempting again. Logan glanced at her before gripping the box as well.
One by one, the mares, princesses, wolves and even Spike attempted to lift the box from it's flower. None succeeded. 
“Darn thing ain’t moving,” Applejack said, brushing sweat off her brow.
"It seems that whatever the Tree of Harmony has left us," Celestia declared. "It must remain here." 
“Well, we can’t just leave it here,” Carol said. “If that’s another way to defend Equestria, we’re going to need it.” She looked back at the forest with a nervous grimace.
“Now more than ever,” whispered in her thoughts.

#

The depths of Tartarus were an abysmal sight; scattered across the purple and red wasteland were sharp crags and spires hiding the cages of Equestria’s most vile villains. Inside one of these cages, the centaur Tirek sat, fuming in rage hiding despair.
How long had he been in this cursed land? Time had lost its effect on him. Ever since his traitor brother Scorpan had betrayed him to the ponies they had intended to subjugate and steal the magic from, he had been locked up here. Whatever magic cursed this place gave him no need for food or water. Yet even if he could partake, he didn’t need them. He was possessed with a far greater hunger; a hunger for the magic of Equestria, and the sweet revenge to inflict upon the ponies for taking his destiny, his family and even his life.
Tirek was yanked from his brooding by an odd presence. He turned, noticing several shadowy forms approaching the crag that held his cage.
“I’m telling you, he insulted my Mohawk!” one of the figures insisted. “No way was I going to let him join us!”
“So, we’re going to continue wandering this abysmal prison because of a critique of your fashion sense?!”  
Tirek squinted his eyes. One of the forms seemed oddly proportioned from the others. Tirek could have sworn he had a bipedal body. Just like himself. 
Just like his traitor brother!
Tirek snarled, moving backward into the shadows as the forms drew closer. 
“What about this one,” a low female voice offered. “The dreaded Lord Tirek.”
“Pass,” what looked like a unicorn with a broken horn insisted. “That devil steals magic.”
“Steals magic, you say?” The bipedal figure asked. “And… uses it for himself, yes?”
“Given the chance,” the first female continued. “He would use the magic of every pony to tear Canterlot itself down, stone by stone!” 
The bipedal figure shuddered in glee, before turning towards Tirek’s cage. 
“An alicorn’s magic brought that wolf here. Maybe he can take that magic and use it to… bring someone else,” the figure replied, striding closer to the cage.
From the shadows, Tirek’s black and yellow eyes narrowed. The figure striding out of the mist was like him… and yet not like him. He strode towards the cage on two legs instead of four. Instead of an equine tail, what looked like a simian or feline tail swished behind him. But his torso and arms were like Tirek’s… and his face…
Tirek nearly reared back in disgust; the creature’s face was misshapen. A Mohawk that Tirek’s true form would put to shame? A dopey, simian face with a lopsided grin, a scar stretching his lips to one side? Shrunken, hazel eyes that looked like glimmering walnuts shoved into his skull? And a repulsive vest that seemed to ooze with bright ty-dyed colors. At least ponies only bothered him with one pastel color per pony. This one was throwing several different colors at him at once!
The thing was repulsive. But he had some kind of magic on him. Something new and unique. And to make things better, he was flanked by two Changelings and a unicorn. One of the changelings was taller than the others; a queen changeling, if Tirek remembered his lessons on Equestria. But the unicorn really drew his gaze; her horn may have been broken, but she had magic in her. Delicious, sinfully wasted magic.
The simian tapped on the door of his cage with a green stained wooden bat. 
“Yoo-hoo,” the simian sang. “Who wants revenge on all of pony kind?” he sang it like he was some sort of door-to-door salesman.
Oh, Tirek chuckled with pleasure as his eyes lit up with the remaining magic he had. I will show you revenge, you insignificant creature.
He lunged forward, drawing in a massive breath that should have sucked the magic from these intruders…
…Only to get a baseball bat shoved in his mouth.
“Naughty-naughty,” the simian scolded, wagging his finger at Tirek. “Pretty monkey must stay in his cage!”
You impertinent little beast! Tirek bit down on the bat, longing for his true strength, which would allow him to crush the bat between his jaws like an apple. The simian yanked the bat out, almost taking some of Tirek’s teeth with him, and paced around the cage.
“But you’re not a monkey, are you?” the simian noted, his eyes scanning over Tirek’s back half. Tirek turned, keeping his front to the simian, even though the changeling and unicorn stayed where they were, watching with glee and amusement in their eyes. 
“No,” the simian continued. “You’re a big old centaur, aren’t ya? Crazy~!” He drawled the last part, spinning his eyes creepily. But Tirek had no time for games or fear.
“You are the crazy one,” Tirek snarled. “Thinking you can insult and banter with me; Lord Tirek!”
“T. Rex?!” the simian exclaimed. He danced with a holler of glee. “That’s the best name I’ve ever heard.”
“No, you pathetic excuse for a monkey!” Tirek exclaimed. “TIREK! LORD TIREK!”
“Oh, of course, Lord T. Rex,” the simian replied, glancing around at the cage. “Should I bow?” he asked sarcastically.
Tirek fumed with rage. He may have been the one behind bars and without power, but something in this monkey’s voice infuriated him. Drove him beyond reason. He couldn’t use offensive magic, but he galloped at the cage door, fingers clutching for the smug simian’s face. Sadly, the simian was far out of his reach.
“A handshake?” the simian asked, seizing Tirek’s hands. “Why not?” He pumped them up and down, nearly yanking Tirek’s arms off. “So, happy you’re agreeable, cousin!”
“You are no family to me!” Tirek tried to protest, but the simian’s definition of ‘handshake’ involved slamming Tirek against his cage doors. Tirek yanked his arms back, and marched away from the simian, turning to the Changelings. “I have had no quarrel with changelings,” he said. “Why must you bring this fool to disturb me?”
The queen changeling tried to speak, before the simian danced in front of her.
“Seems to me you’re already a little disturbed,” he replied, glancing around at the canyons of Tartarus. “Seeing where you live and all.” He chuckled as Tirek turned away. “But let’s get to the point.” He spun back around. “Word has reached my ears…” He gave a not so subtle wink to the Changeling Queen. “That you have a bit of a grudge to settle with ponies.”
Tirek narrowed his eyes at him. The unicorn glowered at him and her broken horn glowed ominously. 
“No need to be coy, Lord Tirek,” the queen said. “All of us have been wronged by those pathetic little equines.” 
"Present company included," the unicorn noted.
Tirek huffed. At least one of them knew how to address her superior. 
“They have something that belongs to me,” he replied.
“Good,” the simian said. “Because good old King Luco…” he gave a strange singing howl before… Tirek’s eyes widened as he stood on his bat, balancing it against the floor while holding himself up with one hand. His free hand, tail and even his feet pointed to himself. “That’s me.” He said before jumping back down. “Can get it for you.” He strode up to the cage door.
“You?” the centaur asked. “A king?” 
“They come in many shapes and sizes, don’t they?” King Luco replied. “But… have we got a deal?” 
Tirek crossed his arms. “I don’t make ‘deals’ with fools,” he said, before narrowing his eyes at the simian. “How should I trust you’d be even capable of taking on the ponies?”
Luco’s grin only widened. He wagged his finger at Tirek again, glancing at the queen.
“He’s smart, this one,” he said. Tirek noticed his foot bouncing, a strange beat echoing around him. “Then let me lay my cards on the table…” 
He made that odd scat-like howl again, dancing back before… Tirek groaned as he burst into song:

“Now I’m the King of the humans, oh,


The Southern VIP


Now I’m somewhere new, 


Without Blazy Blue


And that’s what’s bothering me!”

“Blazy… what?!” Tirek demanded, only for the crazed king to grab his face.

“I want my Blazy, T. Rex,


To stroll right into town. 


And beat up ponies and wolves


Being alone gets me so down!

He released him and danced away, joined by a few smaller changelings. The queen and unicorn sat by with an exasperated expression.

“Oh, o-be-do!

“O-be-do!” the changelings echoed.

“I want my Blazy Blue-o-o!”

“Blazy-Blue!”

“I wanna walk with her.

“True!”

“Talk with her!”

True

“True-o-o!”


You see it’s true-o-o!


A guy like me-e-e!


Needs loving, just from me to her-er-er!”

He began dancing around the cage, followed by a few of the changelings, while the Queen strutted to the side, looking like a mother that had long given up on containing her rambunctious children. 
“What is this fool jabbering about?” Tirek demanded.
“A lost love,” the queen replied. He flared her horn, smiling at the bright green magic that coursed across it. “And a wonderful source for my powers.”
Tirek gave her an odd look. “Lost Love? Is he not infatuated with you?” He smirked at her irritated expression. “I can only assume that’s the reason he would refer to himself as King.”
“You think that I, Queen Chrysalis, would make a mere pawn my King?” she demanded. “He simply holds… great power for me…”
Despite her words, Tirek could see her hoof tapping to the beat, her hips swaying as King Luco danced with her subjects. Tirek rolled his eyes. Changelings, he thought bitterly. Always needing someone’s love to get by.
Then what she fully said processed.
“He wants me to retrieve his lost love?” Tirek demanded. “Even if I were to agree to such a subordinate task, how would such a thing be possible?”
“Actually, it’s pretty simple,” Luco replied. Tirek nearly cleared his cage ceiling when the simian appeared right beside him. He hopped onto Tirek’s back and leaned his ear close to Tirek’s face.
“Lay the secret on me,” he said. “Of unicorn magic.”
Tirek glowered at him. “I will need unicorn magic to show you,” he replied, casting a glance at the unicorn, who took a large step back from him. “And if you want that… you’ll get me out of here.”
Luco glanced at him, his sunken eyes scanning Tirek’s features. Then, he broke into another grin. He yanked Tirek right out of his cage and… Tirek moaned in agony as he started tangoing with him.

“Now don’t you kid me, T. Rex,” Luco sang.


“I’m making a deal with you.


What you desire? Is unicorn fire.


To make our dreams come true?”

“Yes,” Tirek replied. “And can you not…?”

“Then let’s get the secret, T. Rex,”  Luco declared, dragging him down the stairs.


“And clue me what to do.


Don’t be so dour!


You’ll get your power.


And I’ll get my Blazy Blue!”

Tirek was dragged down the staircase. Despite the irritation flaring in his chest at the simian king’s antics, Tirek could also feel a swell of, dare he say, hope! This thing was clearly out of his mind. But he seemed to believe that Tirek was going to help him get this ‘Blazy Blue’ or whatever he wanted. 
An evil grin spread alongside Tirek’s face. The others didn’t notice; Queen Chrysalis was right behind him, and the other changelings were too busy dancing to Luco’s beat. Even the unicorn couldn’t stop her hooves from tapping. He clearly had them under some type of spell. And besides, even if Luco seemed to be onto him, he wouldn’t be able to defend himself forever.
All Tirek needed to do was play along. And soon enough, Equestria itself would pay for what it had done to him.
> Tirek Arc; Castle Mane-ia
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Wolf, would you kindly stop distracting us?!” the royal guard griped. 
Logan said nothing, keeping a silent death glare on the two guards standing by the Tree of Harmony and the chest it had gifted the Mane Six. The Royal Guards certainly looked intimidating enough – at least for ponies. One was a pegasus, with sunset-yellow wings neatly folded at his side, while the other was an Earth Pony, his sea green eyes clashing greatly with his white coat. Yet Logan still stood before them without fear, his silver eyes silently judging them, while further away, Carol sat at the top of the stairs, yearning to leave the Castle of Two Sisters behind. 
“Seriously,” the earth pony guard growled. “If you don’t back off, we’re going to assume you’re a threat.”
“Logan, can you give them a break?” Carol asked. “Discord took away the last of the seeds that spread those vines, and we can’t move the box until we figure out what unlocks it. All things being considered, you should be happy Celestia listened to you and posted guards at all.”
“Except she posted guards that are completely incompetent,” Logan insisted, his gaze not straying from the guards. “I heard about what happened when Chrysalis attacked Canterlot."
“Hey!” the pegasus snapped. “We did our best against those changelings.”
“Oh, and that’s why, when it came down to it,” Logan mocked. “The day was saved, not by the Royal Guard – who should have stopped a Changeling imposter from getting in at all – but by their Captain and his wife! The ponies you should have been protecting.” 
“Oh yeah,” the pegasus growled. “Well, we weren’t so incompetent when we beat your tail, dog!”
Logan’s ears flared up, but the pegasus just grinned at him.
“Yeah, I was there when you snuck in with that mare,” the pegasus noted. “And I remember you being carted out unconscious by the end.”
“By a princess,” Logan refuted. “Again, who you should have been protecting.” Logan grinned. “You couldn’t keep me down…” his eyes narrowed. “And I still see my teeth marks on you.”
The pegasus’ grin melted, and he turned the right side of his neck away. “No, you don’t,” he insisted.
“Yeah, I do,” Logan retorted.
“No, you don’t!”
“Yeah, I do!"
“Do not!”
“Do!”
“Do not!”
“DO!”
“Hey, Logan,” Carol called. “I think I saw Twilight going into the castle! We should totally investigate, y’know? Make sure she’s safe and stop harassing guards!”
Logan rolled his eyes, and turned back to them. “Or, they could join us,” he noted. “And make sure their ‘newest princess’ is safe.”
The two guards were staring up at the castle, trembling in their armor, but tried to hide it when they realized Logan was glaring at them.
“Uh…” the pegasus stammered. “P-Princess Celestia ordered us to stay with the box!”
“Yeah!” the earth pony refuted. “So… would love to help… but can’t. Hooves tied and all that.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Cowards,” he mumbled.
“Shut up, you dumb mutt!” the earth pony snapped. It took Carol catching Logan with a pack link to keep him from smacking the helmet right off the earth pony’s face.
“Allies! Need help, Logan!” Carol called.
“Ugh, fine!” Logan griped, climbing up the stairs. “But you guards still suck!” he called back.
“Suck my giant wings, dog!” the pegasus shouted at him.
“Eat my tail, you bird-brained horse!”
Before the pegasus could continue, Carol sighed and played her final card.
“WILL YOU TWO STOP FLIRTING!?” she demanded.
Logan and the pegasus went stock still. Logan then quickly spun around and marched up the stairs, while the pegasus’ eyes darted to his companion, and he turned back towards the Tree of Harmony with a bright blush. When he got up the stairs, Carol got a full view of his very venomous glare. 
“If anyone other than you said that,” Logan warned her, pointing a claw at her face. “I would have smacked them across the Ever-Free.” He dropped his claw. “As it is, I’m tempted to smack you across half of this forest.”
Carol stood her ground. “Then don’t force me to resort to it,” she replied back.
Logan’s glower didn’t fade, however, until a scream ripped through the air. A scream that both wolves recognized.
“Fluttershy?” Logan whispered, his glare turning to horror.
“Dash!” Carol yelped. “Applejack!”
The two wolves sped across the bridge and into the courtyard just in time to see a blue and orange blur race away into the castle. Picking up their pace, the wolves gave chase. Rainbow Dash may have been the fastest pegasus alive, but she wasn’t using her wings. And the wolves slowly started to gain on the pegasus and earth mare as they shot through the corridors of the castle.
“Dash!” Logan howled. “Applejack!”
The mares looked back, skidding to a stop. 
“Logan?” Rainbow Dash panted. 
“Carol!” Applejack stammered. “What in tarnation are you two doing here?”
“Looking after that box the Tree of Harmony gave,” Carol replied, trotting to a stop. “Those guards seemed kinda lonely.” 
“A better question is what are you guys doing here?” Logan replied. “This castle ain’t exactly a tourist trap.”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack glanced at each other, and shared a grin.
“We’re trying to see who’s the Most Daring Pony,” Rainbow Dash replied. “I mean, I know it’s me, already, but Applejack needs convincing.”
Applejack chuckled. “Says the mare who screamed like a little filly,” she noted teasingly.
“Funny,” Carol noted with a grin. “Both of you seemed to be screaming when we came around.” 
Rainbow Dash and Applejack shared a shocked look, though when they saw Carol's grin, it quickly turned into a laugh at each other’s expense. Logan, however, gave the way they came a suspicious glare.
“What were you yelling about anyway?” Logan asked. He drew his claws with a growl. “Is something in here?”
“Might be,” Applejack replied. “I was telling Rainbow Dash this story I heard.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes, but joined in. “When Nightmare Moon was banished, a part of her magic remained, haunting this place.”
“Granny used to say,” Applejack continued. “That when night falls on this castle, that magic takes the form of…” she struck a pose. “The Pony of Shadows!”
Logan gave her a deadpan look of irritation. “Really,” he grumbled.
“That’s what I was thinking,” Rainbow Dash insisted. “But then this tapestry started flapping around, and we heard this weird scream, and… well…” she fluttered her wings nervously. “I-I was jumpy from Applejack’s story, okay? I would’ve…”
“Done what? Fight a ghost?” Carol noted. “I heard of one wolf who could use his magic to exist outside of his body. There’s no way you could have hurt something in that state.”
Rainbow Dash gasped. “You guys have ghosts?!” she exclaimed. 
“Well…” Logan sighed. “Yeah, I guess you could call them ghosts.” He quirked an ear. “Why? You guys believe in that sort of thing?”
“I didn’t,” Rainbow Dash insisted, before giving the way they came another nervous look. 
“Until something came outta the wall,” Applejack clarified. “Howling something horrible.” She caught herself. “N-No offense,” she added to the wolves.
Carol glanced around nervously. “Well, if something really is here, shouldn’t you guys head home?”
“No way!” Rainbow Dash protested. “I’m not scared of a few ghosts. And we still have to work out who’s the Most Daring Pony!” 
Logan sighed as Applejack stood resolutely in front of the cyan mare.
“Then it’s settled,” she declared. “Whoever can stay in the castle longer is the Most Daring Pony!”
“Deal!” Rainbow Dash replied. They sealed it with a hoof bump.
“Well, if you guys are gonna stick around,” Logan said. “You might as well help us clear this castle.” He spun in a random direction. “Make sure if there are ghosts, that they don’t have any plans involving the Tree of Harmony.”
“Oh-ho-ho,” Carol giggled. “Ghost-busting.” Her giggle faded at the confused looks Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Logan shot her. She wilted. “Sorry.” 

#

For the next half hour, the ponies and wolves wandered the castle. The silence was broken by Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s trash talk. 
“Sure, hope you’re not afraid of the dark, Applejack!” Rainbow Dash taunted as they descended down a spiral staircase.
“I can’t say that I am,” Applejack replied. “But even if I was, I’d be at least fifty percent less scared of it than you, Rainbow Dash!”
“Your math is blowing my mind,” Carol deadpanned.
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “Cuz I’m not scared at all!”
“Me neither!” Applejack refuted.
Logan glowered at them before picking up a stone. Noticing a hallway of pony armor, he hurled the stone into the hallway. It hit one of the armor sets, sending it crashing to the ground with a clattering CLANG! Instantly, both mares jumped, their coats paling by a fraction before they saw Logan smirking at them.
“Not scared, huh?” he asked, before setting off down another corridor.
“Yeah, not scared!” both of them refuted… only to see that the corridor Logan set off down was lined with torches in the shape of disembodied pony legs. Applejack nearly backed into Carol.
“W-What’s the matter, Applejack?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “It’s just a dark hallway full of...” she gulped. “Disembodied pony legs.”
Carol touched one of the legs with her paw. 
“It’s made of stone,” she replied. “The princesses must have just hired an architect with a weird sense of…” she paused. “Fashion? Humor?”
“Whatever it was, he really wanted to make sure this place looked creepy,” Logan replied. He glanced back with another grin. “But it’s not creepy at all, right girls?” he asked sarcastically.
“Y-Yeah!” Applejack said, biting her lip. “Nothing creepy about any of this!”
The four continued down the passageway. For a moment, nothing came to them save the sound of scuttling spiders and their own paws/hooves on the floor. 
Then, Rainbow Dash chuckled.
“Applejack, if you’re scared, you can just admit it,” she said, with a touch of a flirtatious tone. “You don’t need to put your hoof around me.”
“Uh…” Applejack said. “I’m over here.”
Logan spun back around to Rainbow Dash; a hoof was definitely around her. But it wasn’t Applejack’s. It was pale white, and worse still, it was coming out of the wall!
Without a word, Logan lunged for Dash just as she saw the white hoof entwining her. Logan sunk his teeth into the offender as Dash jumped away with a scream…
That was quickly followed by another high-pitched scream that came from the other side of the wall.
“What the…?” Applejack and Carol muttered, before Carol’s ears flared. “Logan, let go! LOGAN, THAT’S RARITY!”
Logan had already pulled back from the now bleeding hoof, which shot back inside a hole in the wall before being followed by a wailing that could only be from Rarity.
“IT BIT ME!” she howled better than a wolf. “SOMETHING ON THE OTHER SIDE BIT ME!”
“Oh, dear,” another familiar voice bemoaned. “Here, let me see your leg!”
“Wait a minute…” Logan tilted his head towards the hole. “Fluttershy?!”
“Logan?” Fluttershy gasped, her eye peeking out from behind the hole. “It is you!”
“Logan?” Rarity whined. “How could you do such a thing to me! I thought we were friends!”
“I thought you were attacking Dash!” Logan pointed out.
“And you should know that biting’s kind of his thing, Rarity,” Carol lectured. She looked around the wall. “Is there any way we can get to you so we can treat that?”
“I don’t know,” Fluttershy admitted. “We ended up in some sort of cell. There’s no way out!” 
Carol gave the disembodied pony leg statues another look around.
“Hang on…” she muttered, reaching up and grabbing one of the torches. With a twist, the wall in front of them spun, and deposited Fluttershy and Rarity before them. Rarity was clutching her left foreleg, which had a thin trickle of blood running down it, while the tip of Fluttershy’s left wing was oddly bent, but other than that, the two mares looked fine. At least, as fine as Rarity could be while dealing with a wolf bite.
“Heh,” Carol mumbled. “Secret passageways…” 
“Here, Rarity,” Logan said, trying to take her hoof… only for her to jerk it back.
“I say you’ve done quite enough damage, good sir!” Rarity exclaimed, wincing as she held her foreleg tenderly. “Tapestries or no, I believe I have had just about enough of secret passages, mysterious presences and wolves that can’t recognize a fabulous friend’s hoof when they see it!” 
“Rarity, will you calm down?” Carol asked, grabbing her hoof and bending her head down.
“What are you doing?!” Rarity demanded. “Don’t… OH!” Rarity shivered as Carol’s tongue started lathering over her bite wound. Applejack and Rainbow Dash gave each other weirded out looks, but as Carol licked at the wound, the bleeding slowly clotted, and the pain faded from Rarity’s face. Fluttershy watched on with an awed expression.
“I didn’t know you had healing powers,” Fluttershy whispered. 
“It’s not exactly healing,” Logan replied, yanking a strip of cloth off his jacket. “Consider it more keeping out infection.” When Carol finished, he wrapped up Rarity’s hoof in the cloth, tightening it with a few quick motions of his claws. 
"There,” he concluded, as Rarity surveyed her now bandaged hoof. “That should hold. At least until you get back to Ponyville.” 
Rarity studied the wound worriedly. “And you… don’t have diseases?” Rarity asked nervously.
Logan glared at her. “I bit Celestia, and she’s fine,” he replied.
“Princess Celestia is an immortal alicorn,” Rarity refuted. “I can still get sick!”
Logan rolled his eyes. “You’re not gonna get sick from me,” he said simply.
“Let’s prove it by getting you to a doctor,” Carol offered.
“But we can’t leave without Angel!” Fluttershy insisted.
“Angel? The rabbit?” Logan asked, remembering the bold little white rabbit. “Don’t tell me he followed you guys here.”
“He did,” Fluttershy whimpered. “And now he’s lost somewhere in this dangerous old castle! He could be trapped under a crumbling statue, or stuck high in a tower without food or water or any friends at all!” 
Fluttershy whimpered, but Logan put a comforting paw on her shoulder. 
“Then we’ll find him,” he declared. He looked at Rarity. “Rarity, do you need us to split up? One side can look for Angel, while another gets you back home.”
Rarity gingerly put weight on her leg. She winced, but held herself high.
“As much as I’ve had enough of this ungrateful castle,” she said. “I’d be loath to leave my friends here.” She cast another unsavory look at her wound, but shook her head. “We find Fluttershy’s rabbit first. Then I’ll worry about myself.”
Logan’s ears flicked, before he nodded with a grin. “Good mare,” he praised, before leading the group onward. 
They barely made it out of the hall, though, before another event tempted them to leave: the sound of an organ blared through the hallway. 
The four mares jumped behind Logan and Carol, who glared around.
“You hear that?” Applejack squeaked.
“Y-You mean the creepy sound of a haunted pipe organ?” Rainbow Dash replied.
“Well, someone’s playing that thing, whether it be ghost or pony,” Logan noted. His ears flicked, and he turned to Fluttershy. “Maybe Angel found it, and he’s hoping he’ll scare us.” 
Fluttershy brightened, despite the ominous intention of the white rabbit. “Oh, perhaps he is,” she exclaimed, before nearly zooming off with a squeal of delight. Logan held her back.
“Easy,” he said. “I don’t like the look of that wing. And besides…”
They all jumped as a CRASH sounded from the other side. They spun around to see a section of the wall spin, Carol barely yanking Applejack away in time.
“There’s always a chance someone less friendly is playing that organ,” Logan noted grimly.
"Less friendly than Angel Bunny?" Carol asked with a grin, before another thought made her pale. "I... honestly don't want to see who that could be." 

#

The mares and wolves cautiously tracked the sound of the organ, following it deeper into the castle. A few more traps activated, with spinning chairs and walls, but Carol and Logan were fast, and combined with the lightning fast reaction times of Rainbow Dash or Applejack, they managed to make it through without losing any pony.
Eventually, the group reached an open music hall, with what could only be the pipe organ sitting at the far end. Some pony shrouded in a cloak sat at the end, their hooves tapping the keys and causing the ominous sounds.
“The Pony of Shadows…” Applejack whispered. 
“We’ll see,” Logan growled. He crept forward, followed by Carol. With a shared look, they jumped up, and yanked the cloak off to reveal…
“Pinkie!?” the ponies and wolves cried out in shock.
“Hey, you guys!” Pinkie replied back cheerfully. “Did you know I can totally play the organ?” She glanced back and pressed the keys again. “Because I didn’t.”
“Wait, so… you’re the Pony of Shadows?” Applejack demanded.
Pinkie rubbed her chin. “Hmm…” she mumbled. “Nope!” she finally declared. “Last time I checked, I was a Pony, but I'm sure I wasn’t made of shadows.” 
Logan deflated by a margin, only to perk up as a new voice sounded.
“See, Spike?” Twilight’s voice asked. “What’d I tell ya?” 
The group spun around. Twilight and Spike stood at the far end of the room, a candle hovering above them in Twilight’s magic grip. 
“Sparkle!” Logan greeted. “Where’ve you been?” 
“Researching that chest from the Tree of Harmony,” Twilight replied, before her eyes lit up in wistful glee. “You won’t imagine the library this place has.” 
Logan chuckled. “Well, what’d you find?” he asked, following her. 
Twilight’s face fell briefly. “Sadly, not much on the chest,” she admitted. “But, I won’t exactly leave here empty-hooved either.” 
The group followed her back to a massive library with a secret room. Inside the room, Fluttershy shared a tearful reunion with Angel, while Twilight showed off a diary of Celestia’s that she had found. The others quickly started reading, finding out that the princesses had hooked an elaborate trap system up to the organ.
“So, when Pinkie was playing the organ,” Carol noted. “It caused all those spinning walls and chairs we saw.”
Logan shook his head. “Just like Celestia,” he mumbled. “Making traps and tricks into fun and games.” He sighed.
“Huh,” Applejack noted. “And here I thought it was Granny’s legend come to life.”
“Guess we let our imagination run away with us,” Rainbow Dash admitted sheepishly.
“Aw, don’t be sad,” Pinkie comforted. “I always let my imagination run away from me. Then it comes back! With cake!” 
Twilight looked at Logan in thanks. “Well, it’s good to know that Logan and Carol were there for you guys. Whenever your imagination gets away from you, a good friend can always help you rein it in.” 
Logan tilted his head. “Did… you just say I helped with one of your friendship lessons?” he demanded.
Twilight grinned cheekily at him. “I certainly am,” she replied, before gasping in delight. “I just thought of a great idea! Why don’t we all keep a journal, just like the royal pony sisters!”
“All of us?” Carol asked.
Logan laughed. “Keep on dreaming, Sparkle,” Logan replied, striding over to a window. 
“But, we could still learn a lot from each other,” Twilight added temptingly. “And maybe someday, other ponies will read it and learn something too!” 
“Well, I for one think it’s a splendid idea!” Rarity declared. 
“And I already know what my first entry will be,” Applejack said. “I’m glad Granny Smith’s legend wasn’t true.” 
“Me too,” Rainbow Dash declared with a sigh of relief.
“Me three,” Pinkie added. “Because that means you two are still tied for Most Daring Pony!”
As Rainbow Dash and Applejack reacted to that, Logan rolled his eyes and turned back to the window, gazing down at the cave where the Tree of Harmony hid. 
“Heh, Shadow Ponies,” Spike was chuckling. “How ridiculous is that?”
Yet, even as he said it, Logan’s eyes narrowed. Shadowy figures were watching the castle from the edge of the forest. And as one of them looked up, Logan gasped as he saw a flash of yellow eyes. Yet, when Carol and Rainbow Dash ran over, the shadows were gone.
“Maybe not as ridiculous as you think,” Logan mumbled. 

#

“You need to be more careful,” Queen Chrysalis chastised.
“Aw, but now they’re frightened,” Luco replied. “And more willing to see what we’re up to.”
“So,” Tirek drawled, glaring up at the wolf that had spotted them. “You say those wolves are stocked full of magic.”
“The right kind of magic,” Luco replied. “Juicy and sweet like mutton chops.”
“I don’t eat… mutton chops,” Tirek noted.
“Well, whatever you eat that’s sweet and tasty, that wolf’s magic is gonna be it,” Luco said. “And we’re going to need it to get everything we both want.”
> A Daring Detour Pt 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan sniffed at the ground warily. Carol, the Mane Six (sans Rarity and Pinkie) and the two guards stood behind him, all looking around worriedly. Celestia had risen the sun already, and bright beams of gold lit up the forest in beautiful shades of golden green, yet an ominous air still held over the group.
“Five tracks,” he reported, as Applejack and Carol walked up alongside him. “One unicorn, two changelings…” his back fur flared. “One human…”
“Human?” Applejack asked, as Carol flinched in fear. “How’d a human get here?” She gasped. “Ya don’t suppose one of em got through that portal Princess Celestia used, do ya?” 
“If they did, then we’re in serious trouble,” Logan growled. “If one human figured it out, it won’t be long before more figure it out too.” 
“Maybe it’s one from that place Sunset was at,” Carol offered, only for Logan to shake his head. 
“No good,” he replied. “You smelled them, remember, Carol? The scent’s off; whoever this human is, he’s from our world. Not that world.” He glowered as he sniffed the ground again. “What’s really throwing me is this fifth scent. I’ve never smelled any creature like this before.”
Applejack brushed at the ground, finding small hoof prints and boot prints squashed into the mud. 
“Whatever it is, it’s got hooves,” Applejack noted, counting the tracks. “Some kind of pony, maybe?”
“Scent’s too malicious,” Logan said, snorting as if the scent disgusted him. “There’s something else about it… something evil.” 
Applejack brushed at her neck warily, while Twilight stepped up next. “Alright then,” she declared. “I’ll write to Princess Celestia. I’ll request plenty of guards and that she re-check that any way into the human worlds are closed tight. We’ll send some scouting parties out; see if we can’t find them.” She raised a hoof before Logan could protest. “Not to fight them,” she assured him. “They’ll be ordered to do recon and report back with whatever they find.”
“I’m going too,” Logan replied. “I still don’t trust your guards to be able to handle these things. If humans or this unicorn or whatever the heck this fifth thing is are too much for them, I want to help them out.”
“I’ll come with you,” Carol volunteered. Logan flinched at her offer, sadly shaking his head.
“Sorry, Carol,” he said. “But I’d feel better knowing you were here watching over the mares. Without the Elements…”
“We don’t need the Elements to be able to handle ourselves, Logan,” Applejack assured him. She flexed her kicking legs. “Bucky McGillycuddy and Kicks McGee here did pretty darn well against Queen Chrysalis before.”
Logan’s tail wagged at the orange mare’s enthusiasm. “So… why did I hear Princess Cadence stopped Chrysalis and not this ‘Bucky and Kicks?” he asked.
His voice wasn’t angry or mocking, but it did diminish Applejack’s enthusiasm by a large fraction. Logan sighed, and continued.
“Carol knows how to Howl, which will let us stay in touch better than letters,” he insisted. “And if you guys get into a tight spot, Carol’s got the pack link. It’s no Element, but it did beat Sunset and Trixie, it’s the reason our species survived alongside humans, and it’s why I’m still here and not in Chrysalis’ hive.” 
Carol nodded, and stood by Twilight’s side. “Just promise me you’ll stay safe, Logan,” Carol told him. “I know you don’t like the guards, but don’t hesitate to use the pack link for them.”
“She’s right,” Twilight said. “They may be the only help you’ll have out there; if worse comes to worst…”
“Telling me to do something isn’t going to make me want to do it, Sparkle,” Logan reminded her, though his tone was soft and his tail wagging.
Twilight briefly covered her mouth, before giggling. “I suppose so,” she admitted. “In which case…” she adopted a mock royal pose. “Your ‘princess’ commands that you throw caution to the wind, Logan Wolfe, and go forth with no regard for your safety!”
“A princess ordering me?” he demanded in mock indignation. “Well, I’m just going to use caution all the time, and ensure my absolute safety instead!”
The group laughed together, before Fluttershy raced forward, embracing Logan like she’d never see him again.
“Come back soon,” she whispered to him. “I worry so much about you.”
Logan licked softly at her mane. “I’ll come back,” he assured her. “Equestria’s gonna need a lot more than some weird creatures to put me down.”
Fluttershy still held onto him for another minute before letting him go, time Carol used to get her own hug in. And while the mares and hound returned to the Castle, Logan glared back down at the tracks, and set off into the forest.
“Alright, human,” Logan growled. “I don’t know how you got here, but you’re either going back where you belong. Whether that’s back on our old world… or back to Tartarus.” 

#

“I really hope we don’t have to go back down to Tartarus,” Thorax noted, following after Luco as he cut through the forest… somehow with a baseball bat. “Sending Tirek off on his own could allow someone to get to him.”
“T. Rex is a big centaur boy,” Luco replied, slashing down some vines with his bat. “He can take care of himself.”
“And… if he goes after Tempest?” Thorax asked. “She is kind of on her own.”
“And he’s got Chrissy with him,” Luco replied. “She’s kept you and your brothers and sisters in line, right?” Luco paused and glanced back. “Do you guys have brothers or sisters… or… do you have all the same…?” He motioned downward. 
“Oh! Uh…” Thorax rubbed his hoof nervously, causing Luco to back off.
“I mean, if you don’t want to tell me,” Luco started to say, but Thorax waved him off.
“No-no, it’s fine, just…” Thorax sighed. “Non-changelings never take the time to ask that kind of stuff.”
Luco grinned. “Let me guess; they’re usually asking…” He covered his mouth and mimicked screams of terror. Thorax only wilted further.
“I mean…” Thorax whimpered. Luco spotted his hesitation, and cupped his head gently.
“Oh, Thorax,” Luco bemoaned. “My poor, depressed dear…”
Smiling slightly, Thorax shifted back into his deer form, and Luco cackled in glee.
“There we go,” Luco said, turning back to his path. “Now, don’t you worry, my dear! Things are going to work out just fine! But for now…” Luco’s eyes widened as he spotted something ahead. “I believe our determined little wolf is due for a bit of pride before his fall!”

#

Despite Logan’s promise to stick close to the guards, he found himself straying further and further away from them. Not long after leaving the Castle of Two Sisters, the tracks split, with the unfamiliar figure and a changeling going off in one direction, the unicorn going in another, and the human going off with a second changeling.
Logan didn’t talk much with the guards, but he could smell how nervous they were. Especially about the human. And personally, Logan felt responsible. He knew the most about his world; he knew what the humans were really capable of. And if one of the guards came across their targets, Logan had much more faith that they could handle something that at least came from Equestria as opposed to the complete foreigner this human would be. Granted, Logan already had very little faith that these guards were capable of much beyond standing around and looking stoic, but at least with this mysterious fifth intruder, there was a chance that they would know what it was and report back rather than do something dumb.
Thus, for the next week, Logan found himself tracking the human. Not just through the Ever-Free, but out into the more remote regions of Equestria. He made sure to send out Howls every night, to ensure Carol and the others that he was alright, but the tracks were too good not to follow. Not that the human made it easy for him; the tracks constantly wound and re-looped around, making Logan’s head spin. Yet they were oddly fresh and, if anything, effort seemed to have been made to keep them visible. With every step, Logan sensed a trap coming. As he followed after the human, he kept imagining what would be waiting for him at the end. A snare trap with a leash waiting to tighten around his neck? An ambush with changelings and humans lunging together to pin him under a dog pile of insects and apes? Maybe even the human himself, waiting in some sort of clearing to bore him to death with a villainous monologue?
What he didn’t expect was to run into Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle again. Yet, as the tracks brought him for another loop-the-loop, he ended up on a small pathway out of the forest. He glanced down the road curiously, and had to take a second look in shock as he saw Rainbow Dash and Twilight walking up the road towards him.
“Logan?” Twilight asked in shock. 
“You crazy canine!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “We were wondering when you’d…”
She stopped when Logan snarled, his back-fur flaring. Rainbow Dash jumped in front of Twilight on instinct, holding a foreleg up like a shield.
“Logan?” Twilight asked, her voice cracking. “Don’t you recognize us?”
Logan shut his eyes with a grimace. “How do I know you’re really Twilight Sparkle?” he asked. Before Twilight could protest, Logan indicated the tracks. “Two changelings were with this human,” he insisted. “Tell me something that proves you’re not them!”
Twilight’s worry and sadness faded, and she and Rainbow Dash exchanged a look. Then Rainbow Dash grinned. 
“Remember that time you were mad at Pinkie, and I got into a fight with you over it?” Rainbow Dash asked.
Logan’s ears perked, but he said nothing.
Rainbow Dash leaned forward. “When I hit you with my Atomic Rain Boom…” she whispered with a grimace. “Our snouts touched.”
Both of them jumped up, ready to shout, but Rainbow Dash beat Logan to the punch.
“It wasn’t a kiss, and it will never be a kiss,” she insisted. “But it happened.” She crossed her forelegs. “Deal with it.” 
He held his own pose for one second. Two seconds. Three.
Rainbow Dash glanced at Twilight… only for Logan to zip over to her.
“How about you,” he demanded. “How do I know the Changelings aren’t trying to pull another Twilight love thing on me?!” 
Twilight nearly retched at the memory, before holding herself up higher. 
“You had to drag me out from under the Crusader Clubhouse,” Twilight mentioned. “Back when you first agreed to tell me about wolves.”
Logan huffed, but his back fur smoothed out and his posture relaxed.
“Okay then,” he said, before confusion graced his features again. “So… why are you guys out here instead of back in Ponyville?” 
Despite his curiosity, Logan quickly found himself regretting asking due to how Rainbow Dash’s eyes lit up. 
“You know about Daring Do, right?” she asked.
“The girl I helped with the sphinxes,” Logan deadpanned, before Rainbow Dash talked over him.
“Okay, so… this author, A.K. Yearling, has been writing books about Daring Do’s adventures. Only her latest book got pushed back two months,” Rainbow Dash said. “And I’ve waited six months and twenty-six days too many for this new book!”
Logan gaped at Twilight, but she just shrugged. Rainbow Dash, on the other hand, was too involved with her story to see Logan’s dumbfounded look. 
“So, I figured that the book is obviously being delayed because she needs help dealing with whatever every day nonsense is distracting her from spending her every living breathing second writing! So, we’re going to find out what she needs help with, and… well, help her!” 
“Except she lives out in a remote part of Equestria,” Twilight noted. 
“So, remote that the human came through?” Logan noted. 
“Which is probably to keep folks from intruding on her privacy,” Twilight continued, oblivious to what Logan had said. “Something we should consider before…"
"WAIT, WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash demanded. She knocked Logan onto his back. “That human from your world came through A.K. Yearling’s home?!”
“Why do you think I’m here?” Logan demanded. 
Rainbow Dash shot up with a gasp. “That’s gotta be why the book’s being delayed, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash yelled, horrified. “The human captured her!” With a scream and a blast of rainbow light, Rainbow Dash shot ahead of the wolf and alicorn.
“Wait, the human did what?!” Twilight exclaimed. She and Logan shared a horrified look. “He wouldn’t… would a human…?”
“Anything’s possible, Sparkle,” Logan said, already following Rainbow Dash. 
Yet even as they caught sight of a tiny cottage nestled in the forest – giving Logan a feeling of nostalgia for Fluttershy’s cottage – Rainbow Dash’s scream of horror filled the air. Logan and Twilight picked up the pace, racing inside to find Rainbow Dash pacing frantically through an utterly trashed house. Papers were scattered over the floor, furniture had been upturned, and a typewriter lay morosely behind a table.
“Oh, no!” Twilight exclaimed. “Something terrible must have happened to her?”
“No more books!” Rainbow Dash bemoaned. “The horror!” She suddenly noticed both Logan and Twilight glaring at her. She sheepishly grinned. “But… of course I’m worried about her too, heh…” Rainbow Dash rubbed her mane sheepishly, while Logan started sniffing through the house.
“Well, you can relax by a fraction,” Logan replied. “The human didn’t come in here.”
“Really?” Twilight asked, while Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. “You’re sure?”
“His tracks led past the house, but he didn’t go in,” Logan said. “There’s still some other pony scents here… Southern Equestria born, maybe. I wonder…”
Whatever he was wondering, it was cut off by a new voice.
“What are you all doing here?!”
The two mares and the wolf jumped and spun around. Standing in the doorway was a mare with light gold fur wrapped up in a purple shawl. A dark mane was tucked up in a grey cloche, and rose red eyes peered out from heavy, red-framed spectacles. Yet, as Logan smelled the scent on her, he gasped, thankfully being drowned out by Rainbow Dash’s gasp of recognition.
“A… K-K… Yearling!” she gagged, before falling over with a squeal of delight.
However, ‘Yearling’ only had eyes for the wolf. Her ears flared under her hat, and she stepped forward hesitantly.
“You…” she stammered, before looking around. “What did you do to my house?!”
“We didn’t do this,” Twilight insisted, jumping in front of a still stunned Logan. “We swear, we just found it like this…”
However, as she spoke, Yearling dashed right by them, and began searching through the rubble. 
“Um…” Twilight said nervously, watching the light gold mare search. “We’re… glad to see you’re alright.”
“And clearly this isn’t the best time,” Rainbow Dash added. “But I’ve just gotta say how much we all really love your books.” 
But Yearling ignored them, until she located a book with gold bindings. Logan’s eyes narrowed as she glanced inside, revealing a large golden ring before bundling it into her coat.
“It’s safe,” she sighed in relief. 
“Great,” Rainbow Dash said, sliding the overturned typewriter her way. “Maybe now would be a good time to ask how we can help move the new book along a little faster. Chop-chop, you know?” 
She chuckled again, while Yearling and Logan glared up at her. Rainbow Dash’s laugh petered out again, and Twilight hooked Dash with her magic.
“Rainbow Dash, a minute please!” she said, dragging her out. Logan cautiously shut the door, before turning back to Yearling.
“Yearling? Really?” he asked. “I thought you were called…”
Yearling pounced on him, shutting his snout before glancing at where Twilight and Rainbow Dash had gone. “Not with them nearby,” she hissed, before noticing the state of her house again. “I’m serious; did you do this, wolf!?”
“No,” Logan replied firmly. 
“If you’re lying to me…” the author said, but Logan easily shoved her off him.
“I don’t lie,” he growled.
“Besides,” another new voice said. “We’re the ones that did this.”
The wolf and pegasus turned. Three burly earth ponies had entered the house, and stood in a circle around the two. Logan’s ears flicked. 
“Hey, I know you,” he said, pointing at the darkest of the earth ponies. He smirked. “You’re the one that ran away from the sphinxes like a little filly.” He laughed. “You had a really nice scream.” 
The dark earth pony glowered. “What do you care about my screaming?” the earth pony demanded, stomping his hoof.
Logan chuckled one final time, before smiling darkly. “Because it means I get to hear it again,” he said, baring his claws.
‘Yearling’ chuckled. “Don’t think you’re getting all the action, Lone Wolf,” she said, before yanking her shawl off and hurling it at the nearest minion. As the minion fell back, Logan lunged forward, his claws raking down the earth pony’s snout while one of his buddies got tangled up in ‘Yearling’s shroud. The third one tried to jump in, only for ‘Yearling’ to buck him away while yanking on a pith helmet. Underneath the shawl and glasses, Logan noticed she had been wearing a very familiar olive green jacket.
Logan caught Twilight and Rainbow Dash’s shocked expressions through the window, and couldn’t resist wagging his tail.
“Good to see you again,” he declared to the mare, “Daring Do.” 

#

Logan never liked being watched while he fought; if it weren’t for the people in the minotaur’s arena being more than willing to kill him, he would have smacked every one of them across the head, kids included. Thus, while he and Daring Do struggled against the three earth ponies, and Rainbow Dash and Twilight Sparkle sat fan-girling outside, Logan knew they were going to get a serious knocking around if they didn’t come in and help soon! 
“A.K Yearling and Daring Do are one in the same?!” Twilight was squealing. “My mind is officially blown!”
“Aw, come on! I knew it all along!” Rainbow Dash declared.
Logan glared at them, but in his moment of distraction, one of the earth ponies managed to knock the ring into the air. Logan lunged to catch it, only for the smaller of the minions to barrel into him. The ring bounced off his snout and into a hearth with a crackling fire. The minions stopped, fidgeting worriedly as the ring slowly turned red hot, but Logan dived right past them and seized the ring in his claws, pummeling the three with the burning ring. He managed to land hits on all three minions before the pain reached his nerves, causing him to fling the ring into the air with a cry of agony.
“Careful with that!” Daring Do demanded, using a whip to hook a pitcher of what looked like grape soda, and tossing its contents at the ring. Logan caught some of the drops with his burned paw, sighing in relief before catching the cooled ring.
“So amazing!” Rainbow Dash cooed.
Logan flashed her all of his fangs. One of the minions got too close, and Logan booted him hard enough to knock him out of the window.
“STOP FAN-GIRLING AND GET IN HERE!” Logan bellowed, before another earth pony jumped him. Daring Do lunged to help, only for the second minion to catch her as well.
“Daring Do!” Rainbow Dash yelped, leaping in to help… only for the third minion to grab her tail. Twilight tried to blast him with a pulse of magic, only for him to knock her back with a buck to the face. Twilight landed, clutching at her snout.
“My snout!” she cried.
“Are you kidding me?!” Logan demanded, knocking his foe off him. 
Dash’s foe released her, causing her to fly right into Daring Do, and as the pegasi collapsed in a heap, the three earth ponies bore down on Logan. Logan growled and waved the ring at them, slowly backing towards the front door. Then he heard it open.
He acted on instinct, driving his elbow back into whoever had entered and smacking them back outside. Yet even as he did, the three minions moved to catch him… only for Daring Do and Rainbow Dash to grab two of them by the tails. This gave Logan some leeway, and he spun to the last minion, who sadly didn’t realize his back up was gone until it was too late. 
Catching the minion’s throat, Logan forced him to his back, his claws digging into the stallion’s throat and making him gasp in both pain and fear. Watching the door, the fourth stallion had collapsed through, Logan dragged his captive to a corner, while Dash and Daring struggled with their foes. Logan just managed to get to the corner when…
“Don’t try it!” a brutish voice growled.
Logan looked up with a snarl, only to find Rainbow Dash collapsed in a heap of books, while the other two stallions held Daring Do down.
“Let our guy go,” one of them said. “And we’ll let her go!”
“Oh, and don’t forget the ring!” the other one said. “We want the ring too.”
“Oh. Right,” his companion said. “Uh, yeah, the ring for your mare friend!”
“Are you serious?!” the captive demanded.” The blue one’s right there! Just trade her and Daring Do for the ring and me!” 
Logan gasped, his eyes flicked to Rainbow Dash again. The poor mare had a black eye and looked completely out of it. Daring Do tried to struggle – keeping the stallions from grabbing the cyan mare – but then the fourth stallion entered, rubbing his chest where Logan had struck him, and sauntered over to where Dash lay. Logan recognized him as the ash-mouthed stallion from his adventure with the sphinxes. 
“It’s a fair offer, is it not?” he asked, striding into the room and resting his hoof on Dash’s head. “Be careful what you choose, dog; I’m willing to give quite a bit for that treasure.” 
Daring Do growled. “Don’t give him anything, Lone Wolf,” she growled. 
Logan nodded, but the stallion just laughed. Rainbow Dash looked up, her eyes spinning, only to widen in shock.
“C-Caballeron?” she stammered. She choked as his hoof pressed down on her neck.
“That’s Doctor Caballeron to you,” he warned.
Logan rolled his eyes. “You ponies and your titles,” he growled, before hearing Twilight come in after him.
“Doctor Caballeron?” she asked. “From Daring Do and the Razor of Dreams?” She gasped in glee. “I remember you; you tried to partner with Daring Do on her adventures, but she refused.” She chuckled. “Oh, I can’t believe it; the real…”
“Will you quit it!” Logan demanded, wishing he could throw something at her head.
“Indeed,” Caballeron growled, his hoof pressing harder down on Dash’s neck. “Now, I’m not going to repeat myself, mutt! The ring and my minion for your friends! Now!” 
Daring Do tried to protest, but Logan just let his magic glow.
“You want the ring?!” he demanded. 
“Yes, I would very much like the ring,” Caballeron replied. 
“Boss, this thing’s claws are really sharp!” the captive minion whimpered. “Please don’t make him mad!” 
"Too late!" Logan howled in rage… letting his pack link flare to life. Tendrils wrapped around Daring Do and Rainbow Dash, blasting out shields of lightning that forced the stallions back. As Caballeron reeled backward, Logan hurled the ring like a discus. It slammed into one minion before flipping into the air. Daring Do saw Logan’s plan through his link and kicked the ring, using it to knock out the second minion. And as the plan reached Dash, she jumped up and stylishly bucked the ring for Caballeron… only for the doctor stallion to catch the ring and tumble back out the door. 
The wolf and mare’s jaws dropped in horror
“NO! That’s not what I meant to do!” Rainbow Dash bemoaned, while Daring and Logan raced back to the door. Caballeron was already racing into the forest, the ring around his neck. Before Logan could take a step outside, he was gone from view.
“Curses!” Daring Do snarled, stamping the ground. “We have to get that ring back!”
Yet as Logan followed after her, he noticed the human tracks. He cursed. “What’s he planning to do with that ring?” he asked, hoping that it wasn’t something that would detract from his current objective.
Daring Do turned back around. “Have you read any of my books?” she asked.
“Do I look like a guy who reads to you?” he demanded right back.
Daring Do face-hoofed before sighing. “That fool is dooming this valley; one of my foes Ahuizotl…”
“Was foretold by prophecy that if he received the rings of Scorchero,” Twilight recited. “It will complete the dark tower and give him control of the Tenochtitlan Basin, dooming this valley to eight centuries of unrelenting heat,” Twilight got out in a single breath. Logan gaped at her and even Daring Do fixed her with a partially appraising look. 
“Big fan,” Twilight added with a sheepish grin.
Logan’s ears flattened. “So… kinda bad if he succeeds,” Logan growled.
“Very bad if he succeeds!” Daring Do said. She gave him a disappointed look, and a much more irritated look as Rainbow Dash staggered out of the house. “Look, I don’t have the patience to babysit two fans and a wolf who doesn’t know what’s going on. Just stay out of my way; I handle my business myself!” And without even a chance to check over the bruises she got during the fight, Daring Do pitched off into the forest, chasing after the mad doctor. 
Despite her words, Rainbow Dash shook off her dizziness and tried to follow.
“We gotta help her!” Rainbow Dash insisted.
“But you heard her,” Twilight refuted. “She said she works alone!”
“Besides,” Logan added, indicating the tracks. “I need to find this human.”
“How can either of you stand by and do nothing?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Twilight; you at least know what’s at stake here! Ahuizotl has sought control of the Tenochtitlan Basin since book three.”
Before Twilight could add in some other trivia from the books, Logan barked.
“Yes!” he snapped. “I get that it’s very important she wins. But let me ask you this…” he pointed at the doorway, noting with dismay that the three minions had already left. “How do you intend to help her when you can’t even hold your own against three goons?!”
Dash fumed. “I would’ve held my own if they hadn’t distracted me.”
“With what?” Logan demanded. “Your own raging fan-girl?” He mimicked her tone; “Oh, Daring Do! I can’t believe you’re real! Let me make your meals and wash your pith helmet!” He spat. 
Twilight sighed. “Logan’s right, Rainbow Dash,” she started to say, only for Logan to cut her off.
“Oh, you do not get to take the high road, Sparkles,” he growled. “You got taken out by a freaking bop on the snoot!” 
“First off, don’t call it that,” Twilight insisted, rubbing her nose.
“Yeah,” Dash agreed. “You have a rep to maintain, and ‘bop the snoot’ does not match it.”
“Whatever, I do what I want,” Logan snapped back.
“Second,” Twilight continued. “Me agreeing with you does not make you wrong; we are in something way-way-way-way over our heads. And if we’re going to help Daring Do out and find this human, we need a carefully thought out plan…”
But before she was even done, Dash rolled her eyes and zipped off into the forest.
“I’m coming, Daring Do!” echoed off the trees.
“That’s not a plan!” followed as Twilight raced after her. 
Logan gave the human tracks one more worried look, before groaning and racing after his allies.
“You idiots!” joined in the echoes off the trees, all while Logan hoped that whatever the human was up to… it wasn’t as bad as whatever these Daring Do villains had in mind.
> A Daring Detour Pt 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan caught up with the cyan mare just in time to hear her arguing with the explorer pegasus.
“Let me help you!” Rainbow Dash was insisting. “I promise I can be a huge-huge help if you just give me a chance.”
“I. Work. Alone!” Daring Do growled. 
Logan poked his head out to spot Rainbow Dash flying over a very irritated looking Daring Do. Unfortunately, he poked his head out just as Rainbow Dash was looking towards him.
“W-What about Logan?” Rainbow Dash asked. “You teamed up with him! Why can’t you team up with me?!” 
Daring Do gave Logan a glare. Logan just shrugged. 
“Maybe because this time, we don’t have sphinxes trying to claw our faces off,” Logan suggested. He pondered. “Also, because you didn’t exactly show stellar teamwork back there,” he added as an afterthought.
Rainbow Dash glowered at the wolf. “Smooth backup there, buddy,” she spat.
“You stood outside and fan-girled for the first five minutes, and then messed up my plan with the ring!” Logan shot back. 
Before the two could start arguing, they noticed Daring Do slinking away. Rainbow Dash raced after her. 
"No, c'mon, Daring Do!" Rainbow Dash insisted. "Even Logan knows that sometimes, ponies you can trust can be really useful when you're in a bind!" 
Daring Do sighed and turned away from them. “Look, my work always involves secrets,” she told Rainbow Dash. “And since you never know who you can trust, it’s best never to trust any pony!” 
“Just because you can’t trust some,” Rainbow Dash insisted. “Doesn’t mean no pony can be trusted.” 
Logan’s ears flicked, and he glanced towards Twilight, who was watching the whole thing in nervous silence.
“Look, I don’t have time to argue…” Daring Do tried to protest, but Rainbow Dash shot ahead of her.
“Neither do I!” she replied. “Now let’s go!” she flew off ahead of them. Daring Do rubbed her head with a groan.
“Can’t believe I’m even talking to her…” she muttered before Logan walked up next to her. “Is she always like this?”
“Sometimes, she tries dropping on your head at fifty miles an hour,” Logan deadpanned. “She’s subtle like that.” 
Daring Do rolled her eyes, but set off, Logan by her side and Twilight trailing behind.

#

Logan felt his nervousness increase as the sun went down on their travels. With every passing minute, the human got further away. Yet it also sounded like this Ahuizotl guy was bad news as well. Plus, the tracks had been clearly made visible. Maybe if Logan threw the human off by doing this, it would make his trap less of a threat.  
At least, that’s how Logan tried to justify it to himself. Still, he was particularly thankful when Twilight stopped him from bumping into Daring Do. Rainbow Dash had set herself down in a bush, and was watching Caballeron and his three minions as they ate from a bale of hay. 
“Looks like they decided to have an early dinner before making their way down to the marketplace,” Rainbow Dash reported.
Daring Do said nothing, simply digging into the dirt and rubbing mud on her face.
“Oh, I see,” Rainbow Dash whispered in glee. “You’re gonna ambush them like in book four at the Horavian Caves! O-Or maybe that neat trick you did in Book Three, where you swoop in and knock three guys down in one swing! Or maybe…”
Logan caught Daring Do’s grimace and shut Rainbow Dash’s snout with a click. She continued to mumble something with a nervous laugh, but it was muffled by Logan’s claw. Despite the support, Logan still found himself flicking an ear in disbelief as Daring Do fashioned a fake beard out of leaves and squashed down her pith helmet. 
“Real stellar disguise,” Logan deadpanned.
Daring Do just made a face at him before grabbing a jingling bag and striding out into the clearing. The four minions turned to her as she set the bag down, something gold glittering inside that made their jaws drop in awe. 
“I have been lead to believe you have something in your possession,” Daring Do said in a gravelly voice. “An item of significant importance that might be… for sale.”
Logan gaped, pointing at her and then at Dash and Twilight, making choked sounds. He wanted to scream to the heavens, “ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?” Yet Rainbow Dash and Twilight continued to watch with awe and wonder. Even worse, Caballeron didn’t even seem to get that his rival was standing there with only a fake beard to disguise her. It was only the fact that it seemed to be working that Logan kept his trap shut. 
“Well,” the doctor said. “I did have another buyer lined up, but he’s not here, so…” he gazed on the gold, before offering up the ring. “Sounds like we have a deal.” 
Logan flattened his ears, ready to just throw Dash aside and get back to tracking the human. But just then, a roar pierced the air… and a creature that rivaled Discord in strangeness lumbered out. 
He had a head that vaguely resembled a dog, except his eyes were where his nostrils should have been. He had dog hind legs and ape-like forearms, with a long, monkey tail with a hand at the end. Gold jewelry covered his shoulders, neck and wound around his tail. And his teeth, fully bared at the ponies, were razor sharp.
“Caballeron!” the beast roared.
Daring Do flinched. “Ahuizotl!” she growled. 
The beast extended his tail towards the ponies. “The ring,” he growled.
Caballeron looked between Daring Do and the monster… before throwing the ring into the air, seizing the gold and dashing away. Once again, he was gone in seconds.
Ahuizotl and Daring gaped at the pony’s vanishing act, before turning to each other. Daring flung her fake beard at the beast and scooped up the ring, glowering as the beast roared at her in recognition. 
Logan nearly jumped forward, but Twilight and Rainbow Dash held him back.
“Be cool – be cool!” Rainbow Dash insisted. “She’s got this!” 
“The ring, Daring Do!” Ahuizotl growled. “Give it to me!”
Daring Do flashed a smirk. “Now, Ahuizotl, you know I love you, but I can’t give you the ring until I’ve properly proposed.”
Logan’s ears flicked and he glanced at his snickering pony companions. “Were they mates?” he asked. 
Twilight and Rainbow Dash gaped at him in disgust.
“Ahuizotl and Daring Do?!” Twilight snapped at him. “That’s… I can’t even…”
She was cut off by Ahuizotl laughing. 
“Interesting,” he said. “Because my friends here have a proposal of their own."
He snapped his fingers, and five cats strode out of the clearing; a panther, a cheetah, a tiger, a lynx, and… oddly enough a little white kitten. Despite the kitten’s addition, Logan tensed, his back fur spiking even as Daring Do glanced around with a grin.
“Cats,” Logan snarled, as they bore down on the mare. Before Rainbow Dash and Twilight could stop him, Logan charged out of the clearing. 
“I HATE CATS ALMOST AS MUCH AS HUMANS!” Logan bellowed, smashing into the tiger and sinking his teeth into the beast’s neck.
Ahuizotl backed up in shock as Logan fell upon the felines, snapping and growling and biting. Daring Do rolled her eyes, but joined in the fray.
Despite Logan’s hatred, he quickly started to find himself overwhelmed. It was only himself and Daring Do against five of the furious felines. Logan’s pack link flared to life, giving them a small advantage, but the felines didn’t need a pack link to work together. They evened out their pounces, nearly catching Logan and Daring Do off guard several times. Logan’s light shields were the only reason they didn’t go down.
And to make matters worse, Rainbow Dash and Twilight were still watching from the sidelines.
“ARE YOU TWO ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC!” Logan bellowed, rolling the lynx into a kick from Daring Do. “STOP WATCHING AND GET IN THE FIGHT!”
Rainbow Dash, however, only inched forward with Daring Do’s hat, which had fallen off somehow in the scuffle. 
“Daring Do!” Rainbow Dash called. “I’ve got your hat! You want me to toss it?”
Daring Do gave her a frustrated glare before getting set upon by the felines, Logan’s shield blasting them away while Logan hurled a bolt at the tiger. Ahuizotl, however, sighted down on Rainbow Dash. Logan’s ears flared as he noticed the beast lunging for the mare.
“Dash, watch it!” Logan yelled, but when he went for Rainbow Dash’s aid, Ahuizotl saw him coming. The beast’s tail lashed around, catching Logan around the face. As his eyes were shut by the massive paw, the pack link faded. With an evil laugh, Ahuizotl threw Logan hard into a tree. His back exploded in pain, and he slid down the bark, struggling to stand.
His vision faded in and out, and a ringing sound filled his ears. Vaguely, Logan made out Rainbow Dash’s words. 
“Don’t worry, Daring Do! I’ll come help you!”
Faintly, Logan heard Daring Do’s reply.
“Don’t bother! I’d say you already helped plenty!” 
Logan felt his chin get lifted up, and found Twilight Sparkle staring at him.
“Logan?” she asked in concern. “Logan, are you alright?”
Logan pushed her away, and pulled himself to his paws. Everything ached, but he could still stand. 
“I… guess that’s an answer on its own,” Twilight admitted, before turning to Rainbow Dash. “What about you, Rainbow Dash? Does it hurt anywhere?”
“In here,” Rainbow Dash admitted, pointing at her heart. “Daring Do and the ring got captured… and it’s all my fault.” 
Logan leaned against the tree he had been flung into, glowering as Twilight held her friend close.
“Dash, it was an honest mistake…” she tried to say.
“You mean you both acted like idiots!” Logan snarled.
Twilight glared at him. "Logan..." she started to chastise, but Logan forced himself up. 
“No,” he barked. “You both just sat by and watched while Daring Do and I took on that guy alone!”
“She works alone!” Twilight tried to protest.
Logan started to protest, before realizing what he had to say to argue that. His arm slowly lowered, before he sighed. 
“So… are you guys just a bunch of hypocrites?” he asked with a grin.
Both of them looked up.
“When I was pushing you guys away, you kept trying to help,” he insisted. “No matter how hard I made it for you guys, you still tried to help.” He glared down at Rainbow Dash. “Now, you’ve got a chance to help your own kind – someone you look up to and admire – and you’re just going to give up?” 
Twilight was holding a hoof to her mouth in disbelief. Rainbow Dash, however, still looked dejected.
“Except trying to help got us into this mess in the first place,” Rainbow Dash mumbled. She looked up at Logan. “Just like how me trying to help just sent you on a wild goose chase across Equestria.”
Logan flicked his ears. “What’re you talking about?” he demanded.
“Me! Fighting you!” Dash insisted. “When I wouldn’t leave you alone, you fought me. It loosened Celestia’s collar… let you get to Canterlot. If I had just left you alone, maybe things would have gone differently with the portal. Maybe…” Dash sighed. “I dunno. All I know is that this is twice now that I’ve messed something up when I should have stayed out of it.” She looked back at Logan. “You didn’t want my help. Daring Do doesn’t want my help.” She turned away dejectedly. “Let’s just go home. My hero’s way better off without me.” 
Logan and Twilight looked at each other. 
“Dash,” Logan said softly. “I would have gotten to Canterlot one way or another. That wasn’t your fault.” 
Rainbow Dash still looked down, and Logan approached her.
“You know what you’re doing wrong here,” he asked. “You’re treating Daring Do like a God, when she’s anything but.”
“But…” Dash looked up. “I’ve been such a huge fan…”
“Have you ever considered that there might be ponies or even people out there who are fans of yours?” Logan asked. “How you might feel if one of them started following you around, insisting that they help you at something you’ve been used to handling on your own for so long?”
“But…” Rainbow Dash started to protest, but Logan spoke over her.
“But what?” he demanded. “You’re one of the Elements of Harmony. You beat Nightmare Moon! You beat Discord! Is that something Daring Do can claim?” 
Rainbow Dash looked up, as if her mind had been rocked. Twilight stood next to Rainbow Dash.
“It’s fine to look up to Daring Do,” she told Dash. “But you’ve put her on so high of a pedestal, you can’t even see your own worth anymore!”
“Neither of you can,” Logan added, glaring at the two. “An alicorn princess and the fastest pegasus in Ponyville? We can take on this Azure-whoever guy, I know we can! But only if we do it together!” He flared his pack link before looking to Rainbow Dash. “Stop acting like you need to stand back and let Daring Do handle everything. Stop thinking that she’s flawless, and that you don’t mean anything in comparison. This may be her adventure, but if this valley is really in danger, then everyone has to do their part.” He glared at where Daring Do had been taken. “Now, I’m going after that cat-loving maniac, and I’m gonna do what I can to keep this valley from getting destroyed.” He looked back. “But I wouldn’t mind having some ponies who know how these sorts of adventures work come with me.” 
Twilight nodded, and strode up to him. “I’m coming with you,” she said, before looking back at Rainbow Dash. “But I’d really appreciate having the Element of Loyalty with me.” 
Rainbow Dash’s eyes flicked back and forth, before a determined grin spread across her face.

#

The temple Daring Do’s scent led to looked like a giant triangle with odd markings all around it. Logan had very little experience with ancient architecture, but it looked like something a bunch of ancient humans would have built. 
While Rainbow Dash ran off to look for Daring Do, Twilight and Logan made their way to the center of the temple, where a rhythmic thumping could be heard. 
The alicorn and the wolf headed into a massive central chamber. The sky was open, revealing the sun above. Ahuizotl was raising his hands like he could touch the sun, standing on a golden tower stacked with rings. A staircase led up to the tower, flanked on two sides by several earth ponies in tribal garb and face paint. Some of them were just thumping their spears, but two of them were seconds away from placing the ring.
Acting fast, Logan charged inside and smashed one of the ring-bearers with his body. The ring went flying, and before Ahuizotl could cease laughing, Logan dug his teeth into the beast’s arm. Ahuizotl wailed in pain, toppling off his pedestal before staring in alarm at the wolf biting him.
“Hey there, fur-ball,” Logan growled through a mouthful of fur.
Ahuizotl growled, before his eyes spotted the ring.
“Get the ring!” he commanded the ponies. “Place it, quickly!”
However, Twilight caught the ring before the minions could, and vanished with a flash. Ahuizotl growled before hurling Logan away. While Logan soared through the air, the alicorn reappeared, tossing it to Logan. The wolf caught the ring with his teeth, spinning and knocking aside the minions that rushed him before throwing the ring back to Twilight. From there, the alicorn and wolf played a high stakes game of catch, with Ahuizotl and his minions stuck in the middle while Logan and Twilight blasted, zapped, bucked and clawed them. 
While the chaos erupted around them, Logan spotted Daring Do and Rainbow Dash sneaking inside, towards the tower. 
“Help me get all these rings off,” Daring Do told her. The two pegasi worked together, removing the rings one by one. But the work was slow; Logan wasn’t sure how heavy those rings were, but as Ahuizotl joined his minions in chasing Logan and Twilight around, the wolf began to doubt that they’d be able to keep the ring away from the beast long enough. 
Going for a double blow, Logan spun in the air, hurling the ring like a discus before blasting two bolts of lightning. One knocked Ahuizotl to his back, the other crackled and sparked against the tower. However, Logan cried out in dismay as he saw the tower hadn’t even been scratched by his attack. Daring Do waved him off with a grimace before lugging at the last ring.
“Wolf; don't bother. If we can remove the giant ring at the bottom,” Logan heard Daring Do say, “The whole fortress will collapse.” 
“Was this your plan all along?” Rainbow Dash asked, aiding her with the ring. 
“I had to find some way to get into the fortress,” Daring Do replied. “Though I didn’t count on how heavy this ring would be.” She shot Rainbow Dash a smile. “Guess having a little help can be handy sometimes.”
Logan grinned. “More than you know…” he commented… only to get blindsided by a hit from Ahuizotl just as Twilight hurled him the ring.
“Logan!” Twilight cried, busy dealing with two other minions. 
As Logan hit the ground rolling, Ahuizotl caught the ring with a laugh of victory. A laugh that was quickly cut short as Daring Do and Rainbow Dash got the last ring up and over the tower. An ominous rumbling coursed through the temple, while the tower melted into a pile of sand. 
“Guys, run!” Dash yelled. “This place is going down!”
Pulling himself back to his paws, Logan motioned for Twilight, and the alicorn and wolf tore from the temple. Ahuizotl let loose with one final roar of rage before the temple collapsed around him. Logan didn’t look back, however, linking with Twilight and using their combined speed to easily outrun the collapsing temple. Logan grinned as he spotted Rainbow Dash and Daring Do flying above, and chuckled as he heard Ahuizotl's voice one last time.
“Daring Do!” he bellowed. “I will have my revenge!”
“Geez,” Logan commented. “How cheesy can he get?”
Twilight stifled a laugh, while they raced for safety.

#

After disposing of the ring, Logan found his way back to the tracks left behind at Daring Do’s cottage. The mares followed him there, and even though the tracks were much more faded and worn, they were still just prominent enough to follow.
Before Logan could follow after them, he noticed Daring Do and Rainbow Dash hugging.
“Could never have done this without you, Rainbow Dash,” Daring Do said with a grin, before glancing down at Logan. She flapped down next to him. “I was actually curious,” Daring Do noted. “Did you ever find a way back?”
Logan shrugged. “It… didn’t work out the way I expected,” he admitted. “But, I can say that I’m happy where I ended up.”
Daring Do shot a grin up towards Rainbow Dash, who was excitedly talking with Twilight. “Well, you know how to pick your friends,” she replied. “And for what it’s worth…” she extended her hoof. “I’m glad we got to work together again.” 
Logan grinned and pressed his paw against her hoof.
“Same here,” Logan replied. 
Daring Do sighed. 
“Well…” she declared. “I’ve got a book to finish.” She flew back to her cottage, while Logan turned back to the tracks.
“And I’ve got a human to catch,” Logan replied, before Twilight’s voice stopped him.
“Logan,” she called, flapping down next to him. “I know finding the human’s important… but I thought you might like to know what my guards found.”
Logan was tempted to ask her to save it until he found out what the human wanted him to find. But then Rainbow Dash settled next to Twilight. With a glance, back at Daring Do’s cottage, Logan rolled his eyes with a grin.
“Let’s hear what you got,” he said, turning back to them.
> Tirek's Return
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Logan had returned with Twilight, he had been coming back high off the victory over Ahuizotl. That high quickly faded when he reunited with the other search parties. 
“The unicorn tracks faded off into nothing,” the guard said grimly. “She tried to cover her tracks, and ended up bringing a fourth of the forest down. We spent a full week trying to see if she was buried under there.”
“And because she wasn’t, you essentially let her get away, didn’t you?” Logan asked.
The unicorn bowed his head with a grimace. “You don’t have to make us sound stupid,” he mumbled.  
Logan sighed. 
Twilight turned to the guard in charge of the fifth creature. “What about the fifth creature,” she asked. “Did you find anything on that?”
The guards in charge of that search party glanced at each other nervously. With a start, Logan recognized them as the two he had given grief over back at the Castle of Two Sisters. 
“That’s the thing,” the pegasus of the two said. “The tracks weren’t concealed…”
“Almost like they wanted you to follow them, right?” Logan noted.
The pegasus nodded. “Exactly,” he said. 
“Worst of all,” the earth pony added. “They led to a village.”
Twilight’s eyes widened. “Which village?” she asked. 
“Hilltop, near Baltimare,” the pegasus replied. “But… the village was completely empty.”
“Not a sight nor sound of any ponies,” the earth pony added. “It was as if everyone just got up and left the town.”
The pegasus shivered, fluffing his feathers. “We weren’t sure about going in to investigate; something was very wrong with that town.” 
Logan and Twilight looked at each other. 
“What’s the status on the Tree's chest?” Logan asked.
Twilight rubbed her head. “Still working on it,” she replied, before glancing back. “There was… something involving my friends that I wanted to look into; it might help us in finding the keys.”
“Then start looking into it,” Logan replied. He turned to the two guards. “Take me to this village. Whatever’s going on down there…” he bared his claws. “Sounds like they could use some backup.”

#

The trip to the village took almost as long as Logan had spent tracking the human. But soon enough, the three found themselves standing outside a darkened and dead looking village. 
Like the guards had said, there was no sign of the villages’ old inhabitants. No foals, no stallions, no mares. Along with that… the color was off. As Logan walked in, he could see that the grass around the nearest house was wilted, almost dead. Usually, the colors were vibrant and alive, but now… they looked dead and faded.
The guards stuck close to Logan as he ventured further into the village, following the faded scent of the fifth creature. Which… oddly wasn’t as faded as he thought.
“Classic,” Logan muttered, trying to cover his nervousness. “The Elements disappear, and not long after, so do the ponies.” 
“Humans called it ‘The Rapture,’” a pegasus noted. He flinched as he saw Logan’s glare at him. “What?” he asked. “A human visited once, and left behind some sort of religious book. He called it a ‘bible.’”
“Do you really think I care what some stupid human…” Logan started to snarl. 
“Sh,” the earth pony hissed. “We need to concentrate.”
“Oh, sure, don’t want to distract you guys,” Logan noted with a sneer. “You actually have to move around rather than stand around looking tough.” 
“Hey, standing around and looking tough isn’t as easy as you make it out to be,” the pegasus snarled. “There’s a way you have to hold yourself and a…”
“Wait, no, seriously, shut up,” the earth pony said, turning back into the village. “Do you guys hear that?”
The ponies went quiet, and sure enough… they started to hear it.

“Da-da-da-da-da-da-da…”

A shadowy figure crossed past the entrance to the village, causing the earth pony to jump back into Logan. 

“Mrs. Luna… bring me a dream…” a voice sang, softly and maliciously.

Another figure darted between the shadows to their left. Logan turned to it with a growl. 

“Make it the cutest that I’ve ever seen.”

Something dropped from the top of one of the houses and rose, wreathed in shadows. The ponies and wolf stood back to back as similar shapes dropped down, surrounding them.

“Give him white fur, like snow covered clover…”

Logan’s eyes widened, but his teeth bared as the figures slowly came out of the shadows.

“And tell him his life… is…


“Over.”

In the light of the full moon, the figures became clear: 
King Luco stood before Logan, his scar distorting his grin into a frightening smirk.
Facing the pegasus was Chrysalis, flanked by Thorax and another changeling drone. 
Facing the earth pony was Tempest Shadow, her horn flickering, and a snarl on her face.
And in the final corner, the ponies watching him out of the corner of their eyes with fear, was a four-hooved creature covered in a ratty shroud. Part of the shroud was open like a hood, and the shadows couldn’t hide two malicious yellow eyes glowing from within. 
“Hello,” Luco greeted Logan. “Friend~” 
Logan growled. “How the heck did you get here?” he snarled. 
“And what are you doing?!” the earth pony added.
Luco chuckled, glancing behind Logan at Tirek.
“Let’s answer your question with another question,” he replied.
Logan’s eyes narrowed, before widening in shock. “Heck…” he said before spinning around. But Luco was faster.
“WANNA SEE A T. REX EAT THOSE TWO?!” he screamed just as Tirek lunged forward.
“NOPE!” Logan replied, lunging to side and firing two tendrils, wrapping them around the guards. Spinning them like whips, Logan hurled himself to the right, bashing Luco and Tempest with the pegasus and leaping clear while hitting Chrysalis and her changelings with the earth pony. 
However, his swing brought the earth pony right back to Tirek, and before Logan could reel him back in, Tirek unhinged his jaw and breathed in, some sort of magic catching the earth pony and trying to drag him towards the centaur.
Logan desperately yanked at his earth pony companion, but the guard seemed suspended between the two. Even worse… Logan’s jaw dropped in horror as a silvery substance leaked from the earth pony into Tirek’s open mouth. The pegasus gave a horrified whinny as the earth pony’s cutie mark, barely visible under his armor, started to fade away.
Logan tugged on his link, but he could feel something pulling back. Something pulling more than just his companion. He could feel his magic draining through the link, and into the centaur’s mouth. With a bark of alarm, Logan shut off his link… and was promptly floored by Tempest, who swept his legs out from under him and kicked him into the ground.
“If you had been smart,” Tempest growled at him, “You would have drowned in that river where you belonged.”
Logan snapped at her face and rolled back to his paws. But he was too late.
The earth pony guard lay motionless on the ground. His eyes were colorless, dull orbs, and even his coat had lost a bit of its luster. Chrysalis and her drones loomed over him, Chrysalis licking her lips hungrily, but before Logan could hope to charge at her, Tirek limped in front of her, his yellow eyes gleaming under his hood.
“Come, Lone Wolf of Equestria,” he tempted in a soft voice. “I tasted your magic there, for a second. Give me what should have been mine, long ago!”
Logan snarled and turned to Tempest, who had gotten behind him and looked ready to drive him back towards the group. But just as his lightning started to flare, the pegasus kicked her to the side. Tempest hit the wall and rolled, glaring at both of them as they started to bear down on her.
But Logan noticed the pegasus glance at Luco with a grin. Spinning, Logan slashed at him just as he burst into green flames. The changeling infiltrator was sent to the ground, but Logan’s attack only allowed Tempest to rush him, sending Logan into the wall. She loomed over Logan while Tirek and Luco sauntered forward.
“So,” Luco commented. “What brought you to my neighborhood, Wolf?” He chuckled, glancing back as the changelings began to wrap the helpless earth pony up in a cocoon. “Wondering what happened to the villagers?”
Logan’s ears flicked. “But… he took away their magic,” he stammered, indicating Tirek before glaring at Chrysalis. “How would they be of any use to you now?” 
The villains just laughed.
“They may not have magic, but they do have love,” Chrysalis noted, cupping the earth pony’s head in her hooves. “That’s all I need from them.” She licked the earth pony’s cheek with her tongue and laughed. The poor stallion couldn’t do anything but moan in protest.
“But don’t worry, Wolf,” Tirek noted. “We can use you for something too…” 
Tirek breathed in again, and Logan lunged forward, head butting him in the mouth. The feeble centaur fell back, clutching his mouth, only for Luco to whack at Logan with his bat. Logan ducked under the blow and clawed Luco’s bat out of his hands, his lightning blocking a blast from the changelings. Logan deflected shots from both the human and the changelings before noticing Tirek getting back up again. Rolling under another changeling spell, he went to slash at Tirek again, only for Tempest to bash into him. Her horn shrouded her in flickering magic, and she hurled Logan towards Chrysalis. 
Chrysalis caught Logan and threw him to the ground, pinning him under her weight.
“Here we are again, my defiant little pet,” Chrysalis mocked, but before she could say more, Logan sunk his teeth into her snout, and kicked himself free of her. 
As she fell back, he rolled to his paws, slashing away one of her drones and catching another by the jaws. He briefly struggled to push the changeling back, but saw Tempest and the other changeling rushing her. Logan put the changeling drone between himself and his pursuers, only for Tempest to jump over his hostage with an axe kick.
Logan blasted the changeling back and jumped backward as Tempest cracked the ground with her hoof. His jump turned into a stumble as he was forced to dodge two more spells of green magic hitting the ground before him. Logan stumbled into a house, smashing through the window and finding brief refuge inside. 
Before Logan could hope to recover, a changeling drone leaped in after him, fangs bared. Logan slammed his back paws into the drone, propelling it backward into Luco, who was trying to climb in through the window. Just as Logan rolled back to his paws, Tempest busted the door down, coming at him with her horn glowing. Logan drove her back with two more slashes, only for Luco to squirm his way inside and score a hit on Logan with his bat.
Logan tumbled into a fireplace, soot rising up around him. Before he could hope to cough, he heard the charging of a magic spell, and cracked open his eyes in time to see one of the drones aiming its lit horn at him. Yelping in alarm, Logan jumped up into the chimney, while the spell exploded underneath him, further sending him up. His jacket caught on the bricks, and he soon found himself stuck in the narrow passageway. With enemies below, Logan struggled to climb up towards the roof. 
But even that was foiled when one of the changeling drones appeared at the chimney’s exit, hissing down at him. Logan snarled and fired a bolt of lightning up the chimney, scaring the drone off. 
“Come on down, Lone Wolf,” Tirek’s voice purred. “There is no escape.”
“That’s what you think,” Logan snarled, clamoring further up the chimney. He heard a hiss like a snake below him, and let his magic flare again. Lightning flickered up all around him, followed by the hiss turning into another cry of pain as one of the drones was dropped back into the fireplace. The drone reappeared at the top, only for Logan to send him scurrying away with another bolt.
“Wait-wait!” Luco screamed.
Things quieted down, both up and below. Logan couldn’t see what they were doing below him, but he took the chance to breathe while he could. He strained his ears for any sound, but all that came to him was Luco snickering. 
Then the striking of flint, followed by the sounds of hooves.
“What madness has possessed you now, Luco,” Tirek said. “This village and those guards were nice, but I will need more magic still.”
Logan winced. Even though he didn’t know those guards, he had brought them here. Guilt pushed on his heart at the thought of the earth pony being a changeling prisoner now. 
“And I’ll see you get it,” Luco replied. “But if this big bad wolf doesn’t want to play, then we just need to find someone who will.”
Logan’s blood chilled, feeling like ice pumping through his veins. 
“You said I need his magic!” Tirek insisted. “Get him out; I am still too weak to get it from him if he is not in front of me.” 
“Oh, no-no-no,” Luco said. “This chimney business is too good to pass up. Like I said,” he added, making sure Logan could hear him. “There’s another one out there that should be just as tasty. And if he doesn’t want to work with us… we can use her instead.” 
“You stay away from Carol!” Logan snarled before he could stop himself. 
“Okay; just come on down then,” Luco invited.
“Yes, Lone Wolf,” Tirek drawled. “Come down and 'share' your magic with me.”
Logan growled, his teeth clenched as his claws sunk into the concrete. 
“No?” Luco asked. “Okie-dokie!” 
He heard another strike of flint, and felt a sudden warmth tickling his back paws as fire flared below him.
“Couldn’t blow down this house of bricks, could you, Big Bad Wolf?” Luco asked. “Now, you can either get to the part of the story where the three little pigs had wolf stew…” the sound of some kind of metal bowl clunked below Logan, followed by the rasping laughter of the three changelings. “Or you can finally take Chrissy-cue to the prom.” 
Chrysalis hissed in anger at him.
“And let me assure you,” Luco continued. “Taking her to the prom is definitely worth it. Plus, she’d be more than happy to drop you off with me and T. Rex. Lord knows you don’t need that extra magic. It’s doing things to your head!”
Logan could hear the wink in his tone. As if to drive the point home, the two changelings poked their heads down and leered at him, flicking their tongues and baring their fangs.
“Now off we go!” Luco declared. “I’ll be sure to let little Carol know you were too much of a coward to save her.” 
Logan snarled, but then the sound of the door shutting emanated, and he knew Luco was gone. Going after his pack mate. And more than likely after his pony friends! And here Logan was, stuck in a chimney with changelings waiting for him to get driven out by the smoke. If he could get away from the smoke at all… 
The heat was starting to hurt Logan’s paws. He forced himself up another inch, before one of the changelings snapped in warning at him. Logan snarled right back at them, but they just laughed.
Gotta get out, Logan thought. I gotta help Carol.
Logan gasped, his ears perking up. He knew what to do.
His paws felt like he was standing on a slowly heating metal floor. His arms were squashed to his side, and the stink of burning wood was invading his nostrils. But he forced his head up, and he howled as loud as he could.
"CAROL!” His howl sounded, reaching out over the changelings, and over the hills. “Hear me now…!” 
> Tirek Arc; An Unlikely Friend
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back in Ponyville, Carol was nestled by Fluttershy’s cottage when the yellow mare trotted up to her. 
“So,” Carol asked. “Got all the Breezies home?”
Fluttershy nodded. “It was sad to see them go,” she admitted. “But, at least they're back home where they belong.”
Carol pat Fluttershy’s shoulder. “You did the right thing,” she assured her. “Kindness may be your thing, but sometimes…”
Before she could continue, both of them became aware of a howl echoing over the forest. Fluttershy’s ears perked up, while Carol flicked her ears forward, catching the tune.
“Logan?” Fluttershy asked, craning her neck to listen. “Is he alright?”
She was answered as music slowly flowed through to them.

“Changeling, humans,


Centaurs, Danger.


You’re not safe there…


You need to get away!”

“Changeling?!” Fluttershy whimpered.
The howl continued on a loop, until it slowly faded with the wind. Carol turned back to Fluttershy, her expression grim. 
“Logan’s in trouble?” Fluttershy asked. “From the human?” She shivered in fear. “From changelings?”
“From the sound of it, we’re in more trouble than he is,” Carol growled. She shot for Ponyville. “We need to tell Twilight.” 
“But Logan…” Fluttershy tried to protest, but Carol was already heading for town.
“A bunch of changelings won’t get the better of Logan,” she assured the yellow mare. “We need to focus on keeping you guys safe.”

#

Carol wasn’t wrong. 
As the two changelings buzzed around the chimney, which was now overflowing with black smoke, they glanced at each other with worried wide eyes.
“You don’t think he’s dead, do you, Pharynx?” Thorax asked.
“No way,” his brother replied. “Smoke wouldn’t drop that wolf. But sooner or later, he’s gotta come out.”
Almost as soon as he said that, a sizzling sound ripped through the silence, followed by a cry of pain.
“Guys, I got him!” the third changeling cried. “Wait, I… NO, I DON’T GOT HIM!” he yelled before being hurled through the window.
Thorax and Pharynx shot down to the house, but as Thorax went for the door, Logan kicked the door open, Thorax disappearing between the wall and door. His back paws were scorched and covered in ash, but his silver eyes were bright with rage. 
“Not my brother, you dog!” Pharynx hissed at him and charged, only for Logan to catch the changeling easily, bashing him into the ground and silencing him with a swipe to the face. Even with his paws still smoking, Logan took off down the street, his nose desperately scanning for any scent of Luco or Tirek.
"Hang on, Carol,” Logan muttered as he searched, his ears pricking as he caught Luco’s scent. “I’m coming for you.”

#

Twilight and Carol raced into the throne room of Canterlot. An advantage to Twilight’s alicorn status was that the group no longer had to worry about the time for transport. The second Carol had arrived with Fluttershy and told Twilight of Logan’s ominous message, Twilight had flared her horn, and teleported herself and the red hound to Canterlot. 
Interestingly, all three of the other princesses were waiting for them when they arrived.
“Princesses,” Twilight panted, quickly bowing her head. “We received a message from Logan. There’s a centaur like creature out in the outskirts of Equestria… it took an entire village and two guards.”
“Logan told us it’s going after all ponies,” Carol added. “And if it managed to slip away from him…” she left the thought of what something like that could do unspoken.
Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. Carol’s ears flicked as she realized neither of them could maintain their stoic facades; there was actual nervousness etched across their snouts.
“It seems you were right, sister,” Celestia whispered. 
“Right?” Twilight asked. “Right about what?” 
Celestia sighed. “I received a vision last night,” she said, chancing a glance at Carol. But Carol was not like her wolf counterpart; she had no snark to deliver. “Of a centaur; likely the one Logan mentioned.” 
Carol’s ears flared. “What kind of centaur?” she asked.
With a flash of Celestia’s horn, a book appeared in a burst of gold magic and levitated over to the hound and young alicorn. 
“Tirek,” Celestia explained, as the book opened before Carol and Twilight. “He and his brother Scorpan came here from a distant land, intent on stealing Equestrian magic. But Scorpan came to appreciate the ways of Equestria, even befriending a young unicorn wizard.”
“Scorpan urged his brother to abandon their plans, but Tirek refused,” Luna continued. “And so, Scorpan alerted us to Tirek’s intentions.”
“Tirek was sent to Tartarus for his crimes,” Celestia continued. “And Scorpan returned to his own land. But it appears that Tirek has found a way to escape.” 
“But how?” Luna asked.
Carol growled. “Logan also mentioned a human,” she whispered. 
Celestia’s eyes widened. “A human… from your world?” she asked.
Carol nodded. The princess let out a breath of – dare Twilight say it – fear. 
“But how?” Twilight asked. “I thought the portal was sealed.”
“Never tell a human the odds,” Carol growled, turning away. “The only plus side is that they haven’t made a move on us yet, which means that, as far as I can tell, only one's gotten through... for now.”
“But why would one of your humans’ release Tirek?” Luna demanded. “Do they possess the brains of mere foals?”
Carol gave Luna a dark look. “Don’t underestimate what they can do,” Carol said. “And it isn’t obvious?” She turned around. “Logan mentioned changelings as well. It sounds like this human is gathering an army.”
Celestia straightened. “To conquer Equestria,” she whispered. 
Carol nodded again. Twilight had to resist face hoofing in resignation.
"Can't any of these people just talk to us instead of just trying to conquer us?" Twilight asked. "Carol, you know we can be welcoming, right?"
"Considering you guys didn't jail me after my entrance?" Carol asked.
"Exactly," Twilight said. 
Celestia smiled serenely at her former student's idealism.
“We can at least take some hope,” Celestia noted. “Tirek’s time in Tartarus would no doubt leave him incredibly weak.”
“But with each passing moment, he will grow stronger,” Luna advised. “Soon, even the human will be unable to control him.” 
“Luckily,” Cadence noted with a grin at Twilight. “I think we know just the princess who can stop him.”
Carol and Twilight held themselves higher.
“Yes,” Twilight said. “My friends and I will find him, and…”
“No, Twilight,” Celestia said. “I’m afraid I must call in another to stop Tirek… Discord.”
The princesses gasped, sparks flaring from Carol’s fur.
“D-Discord!?” she stammered. “No!” She shot forward. “You can’t use Discord, Celestia! Anyone but him!”
Luna held Carol back from Celestia. “Calm thyself, wolf,” Luna declared. “Why can Discord not be trusted?”
Carol tried to form an answer, but no sound came from her snout. “He…” she attempted again, before turning away with a grimace. “Why him?” she finally asked. “Where’s that Scorpan guy? He helped you before; why can’t he help now!”
“Scorpan has likely been dead for several millennia now,” Celestia replied. “Discord, however, is here, and can sense magical imbalance. The next time Tirek steals magic, Discord will be able to track him down.”
“The next time?” Carol demanded. “You mean the next time some pony gets captured.” She turned to Twilight. “Tirek isn’t working on his own here; he’s got a human and the changelings by his side. Any pony that he de-powers is going to be easy prey for Chrysalis; that’s if the human doesn’t try something.” 
Celestia’s gaze grew pained, but she stood resolute.
“It is a sacrifice that must be made,” Celestia declared with finality. “We will rescue any ponies captured after Tirek is dealt with, but first, we must ensure that we remain free to commit to such a rescue.”
Carol looked down, sparks still crackling from her fur. Twilight herself looked rocked by the news, but she took a breath and reached for Carol. 
“Carol?” Twilight asked, “I-I’m sure Logan will be fine…”
“Logan?” Carol asked, as if she had forgotten about her counterpart. Her tail tucked as her head shot up in horror. “LOGAN!”
With a flash of fiery lightning, Carol tore out of the throne room before anyone could protest. The princesses were left staring at a single scorch mark that led all the way to the throne room doors, where an imprint of Carol had been smashed out. Two guards nervously poked their heads through, one with his helmet knocked off and his mane spiky.
“What was that about?” Cadence asked. 
Twilight’s ears flattened as the answer came to her. “Logan and Carol didn’t have the best introduction to Discord,” she said, turning back to them. “I… don’t think they ever truly came to trust him.”
“To be honest,” Celestia noted. “I don’t think the wolves have ever truly come to trust any pony.”
Twilight flinched at that. “They trust me and my friends… I think,” Twilight admitted. 
Celestia realized her mistake, and strode down to Twilight, stroking her head.
“Apologies, Twilight,” Celestia said quickly. “You’ve made far more progress with the wolves than I ever could have hoped for.” She chuckled. “You always seem capable of solving problems better than me, it seems.”
Twilight blushed. “Princess,” she protested, stepping back, though she couldn’t keep the grin off her face.
“Speaking of which,” Luna noted. “How fares your search into the Tree of Harmony?”
Twilight brightened. “I have a lead on that,” she said excitedly. “It’s not concrete, but while Logan and my…” she caught herself. “Your guards have been searching, my friends kept having these odd little experiences. I’m wondering if they might factor into opening the chest.” 
“Then let us not keep you from your studies,” Celestia declared. “If the wolves and Discord combined cannot stop Tirek, I believe we will need you to find out what the Tree of Harmony has gifted you.”  
Twilight nodded and teleported away, allowing Celestia’s face to fall and for her to look at Luna with all the worry that was pent up in her gut.
“It could easily be our last hope,” Celestia noted grimly.

#

Logan slunk along the shadows of an urban street. Luco’s stench had led him from the countryside into what appeared to be a city. Not as grand as Canterlot, per say, but then again, Logan didn’t care for grand. 
He stumbled across a fallen bucket of oranges, the fruits looking wilted and gray instead of vibrant orange. Logan growled. Tirek must have come through here. And judging by the added stink of changelings around the oranges… Logan could only bow his head in sympathy for whatever poor pony had just been taken by Luco’s horrid system.
Drained of magic and then taken away to be harvested further by a bunch of shapeshifting vampires? Logan was glad he had found a way out of that nightmare. 
His thoughts were interrupted as a wolf how tore through the air.

Holding on, my wayward wolf


There’ll be peace when I arrive


Lay your weary head to rest.


You won’t be lone no more!

What?! Logan thought, horrified. I wanted you to stay away!
Logan breathed in to howl back, before the sound of a spell being cast gave Logan pause. He turned his head, seeing a brief orange glow against the corner of an alleyway. Logan slunk closer, as voices emanated. 
“I should have known you’d want to have Equestria all to yourself,” the low voice of Tirek snarled. 
“Oh, I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for my friends!” a cheerier voice replied
Discord!Logan thought with a growl. What’s he doing here?
“But just between the two of us, it’s mostly for Fluttershy,” Discord added in a whisper.
Logan’s posture relaxed by a fraction. Fluttershy could truly make anyone do anything, couldn’t she? He thought with a grin. 
Logan poked his head around the corner. There they stood; the centaur from the village, along with Discord himself. The chaos spirit was shivering in glee, as if the name of the kind yellow mare gave him some sort of joy, while the centaur just looked confused.
“Fluttershy?” he asked. “You’re not saying your friends with… ponies?”
Discord morphed into a cake, which he promptly burst out of.
“Surprise!” he declared.
Logan grimaced, noting with dismay that the centaur shared his expression. 
“I am surprised,” the centaur continued. “Surprised that someone with your intellect does not see this… ‘friendship,’ is but a new form of imprisonment. Clearly you’ve had to abandon your true nature to stay in their good graces.”
Logan’s ears flattened at the centaur’s words; the very same idea Logan himself had struggled with in the past.
Stop it! Logan snarled to himself. You may be tamed, but you haven’t abandoned who you are! This… thing is just trying to manipulate Discord. Just like the humans!
Logan spotted a trash can nearby, and yanked the lid off before running forward. Discord was playing some sort of harp, but Logan didn't let him distract him. 
“Don’t listen to him, Discord,” Logan called. 
Tirek and Discord whipped around, staring in shock at the wolf.
“You…” Tirek snarled… only for Logan to hurl the lid at his face. The centaur went down with a snarl, manacled hands clutching at his face while Logan raced up to Discord.
“Ah, Lone Wolf,” Discord noted, shifting a halo on his head into a serpent. “Here for another trip down…” 
“Look,” Logan admitted. “I’m the last person to talk about the ponies and their standards,” he admitted. “I personally think that Celestia’s up to something. But you know what? Fluttershy isn’t! Twilight isn’t! Those six mares have always been honest with both of us about how they felt.” He stabbed a claw at Tirek. “This guy just wants to manipulate you. And the second you let your guard down, he’ll stab you in the back!"
Discord pondered Logan’s speech with a grin, before his eyes flicked to behind him.
“You mean like he’s going to?” he asked. 
Logan’s ears perked and he spun around just in time to see Luco with his bat hefted on his shoulder.
Logan barked and smashed into the human, pinning him to the wall. He raised a claw to slash at him, but Luco didn’t resist. He just clutched at Logan’s claw and screamed, “Discord, help!” 
Help from Discord? Logan thought. But his claw was already moving, seeking to carve a new scar onto Luco’s face.
Squeak-y!
Logan stared in disbelief as his claw bounced off Luco’s face. He stared at his paw in horror; it had been changed to a squeaky toy. He looked up at Discord, who was wagging his finger at him.
“Naughty dog,” Discord chastised. “Attacking my friends like that!” 
“Friends?!” Logan demanded, before he got blindsided again. 
Tempest bum-rushed into him, the mare and wolf rolling right over Tirek as the centaur growled in irritation. Logan whacked at her with his squeaky toy hand, before grimacing and using his actual teeth. But as he struggled with the mare, he saw Tirek pull himself up and unhinge his jaw. Orange magic began to spread around both Logan and a horrified Tempest.
“No!” Tempest yelled, while Logan tried to rush Tirek. But just as he lunged, Luco hurled a smoke bomb into his face. Logan fell back into Tempest, and both unicorn and wolf vanished into smoke, while two twin curls of magic coursed up and into Tirek’s mouth.  

#

Had Logan been able to see through the smoke or through his magic being stolen, he would have seen Luco turn to Discord, and offer him a fist bump.
“Gracias, my lord and savior,” Luco said, inclining his head in a bow.
“Oh, what are friends for,” Discord replied cheekily, returning Luco’s fist bump. “Especially those that give me someone to talk to while I’m stuck in stone.”
Luco shook his head. “The nerve of those mares,” he grumbled, before glancing at the smoke Logan had vanished into. “Oh, if only Logan had survived, so I could evilly monologue about how I worshipped you, Discord." He shrugged. "Oh well; once we take over Equestria, I'll be able to monologue to the princesses or whoever's there. But until then…” he turned as Tirek swallowed, humming in satisfaction.
Discord paused, doubt creasing his features.
“I… believe I was supposed to stop that,” Discord noted.
“Oh, no, don’t you worry about it,” Luco assured him. “T. Rex’s just our latest player to ensure Equestria is run by the right people.” Luco took Discord’s hand. “Just imagine it, my friend; the chance to see this entire world turned upside down. To show off your true powers of chaos.”
Discord still glanced behind him, as a picture of him and Fluttershy materialized. Luco saw the picture, and his grip on Discord’s hand tightened. 
“She will be completely unharmed, I promise you,” Luco assured him. “Any friend of yours, is a friend of mine.”
Discord looked back at Luco, and gave him his usual grin. With a nod, Luco turned back to Tirek.
“So, T. Rex,” Luco said, striding over to the centaur. “What do you think of wolf’s magic?”
Tirek hummed, as the smoke slowly cleared, revealing Tempest Shadow laying limply across the floor. A bundle of white fur was underneath her, twitching slightly.
“He’s much different from the ponies,” Tirek admitted. “He has spice to him.”
Before Luco could reply, a flash of white shot out from behind Tempest and lunged. Luco yelped and ducked, but the white flash hit Tirek. Fangs sunk into Tirek’s face, making the centaur scream in agony. 
“Oh, my!” Discord yelped, producing a newspaper that he proceeded to whack the wolf with. “Bad dog, sit down! Down, boy!” 
Logan snarled ferally and lunged at Discord next, only for the next newspaper swipe to catch him and send him tumbling across the pavement. 
Luco drew his bat, before a howl gave him pause.

“Once I arrive, we will burn them with passion.


Give them a glimpse of wolves united in pack work.


Can we send them soaring higher?


They might fly too far…

Luco grimaced, and turned back to Discord.
“You know, maybe we should finish this somewhere else,” Luco declared.
Discord glanced back, and his own impish grin faded. “Agreed,” he said.
Tirek’s eyes darted between the two of them as he clutched where Logan had bit him. “What are you two…?” he started to ask.
“No time for talk,” Luco declared, hopping onto Tirek’s back. “High-ho, T. Rex; away!” He whacked Tirek’s flank with his bat.
“How dare you…!” Tirek started to say, before Discord spun around them like a ribbon, a brief tornado covering them before vanishing with a POP.
Seconds later, Carol skidded around the corner. The only ones there now were the magic-less Tempest, and Logan. Carol sighted down on Logan, and raced to his side.
“Logan,” she called, slowing down as he turned to her. “Thank the Moon… after the princesses said they were sending Discord, I was worried…”
Carol stopped. Something was very wrong with the way Logan was looking at her. His eyes had changed; the pupils had dilated until his normally silver colored eyes almost seemed black. Like the other animals that shared Fluttershy’s home with them.
On top of it, he stood firmly on all fours, and no expression of joy, misery or anger appeared on his snout. He gave a soft pant, sniffing at her curiously, before his tail gave a small wag.
“L-Logan?” Carol asked.
Logan barked… a normal sounding bark. Like that of a dog. 
Carol’s tail began to tuck, and she pressed her claws to Logan’s head. The wolf just licked his chops before panting again, his jaws open in a dopey version of a smile.
“Logan, what did he do to you?” Carol began to sob, before she activated the pack link.
But as her link wrapped around Logan’s head, he didn’t glow with power. Instead...
Carol was plunged into a vision. The version of Logan she knew spiraled down, caught in a sea of screaming faces as he howled his despair to a non-existent sky. 
Pony faces! With a lurch in her gut, Carol recognized the earth pony guard Logan had left with. And spiraling away from the guard was Tempest Shadow! 
It dawned on Carol; those were all the ponies that Tirek had stolen magic from. And if Logan was among them…
“No…” Carol whispered. 
The pack link faded, and Carol felt her head rest against the de-powered Logan’s head. He licked his chops again, and a soft whimper whistled through his snout.
Carol began to sob. She had failed Logan. He had needed her help…
And she had failed him.
> Tirek Arc; Down but not Out
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan wasn’t sure where he had ended up. One moment, he was struggling with Tempest, shrouded by smoke. The next, what felt like a magical grip had encompassed his entire body. 
But the last time he had been held like that, the magic was firm and concealing, like a bubble. This one was more like a river. Logan’s vision turned orange, and the world seemed to bend around him and Tempest as they were yanked along like a current in a river. Logan struggled to move; his entire body felt numb. Had someone snapped his back again. It didn’t feel like it; Luna wasn’t here! 
Logan made out a wide dark hole ahead of him, and before he could even think, “Well I’m not going in there,” he was sucked in. A dull drone hummed in his ears. The magic grip turned from a current to an ocean in a storm. Logan was tossed back and forth, different grips seizing him and flinging him like a tennis ball in a sadistic game of catch.
Logan struck out with claws he couldn’t even feel. Faces swept before him. Unicorns, pegasi, earth ponies. Stallions, mares and foals. All of them screaming in confusion and fear. But Logan couldn’t scream with them. He needed to find a way out! He needed to get back to Carol!
Logan wasn’t used to swimming, but this ‘ocean in a storm’ was no mere water and currents; it was magical auras, all swirling together in a vast emptiness. It took concentration, but Logan envisioned his claws, grappling with any auras that came his way. They were zipping around in confusion, looking for an exit they could not find.
Calm down! Logan snarled through his pack link, seizing the nearest aura and forcing it to remain still. What happened?! Where are we?
Don’t know! The aura whimpered. Scary centaur! Threw me here! Want to go home!
We will go home, Logan declared. But not if you panic.
The aura shivered, but started to slow, listening to Logan. However, that only set it up for another aura to crash into it. As Logan’s brief ally spiraled away back into panic, Logan saw a white hole open above them.
The auras of magic around him didn’t notice; they were too scared. But Logan was no pony. His magic curled up, and launched him towards the shimmering light. Yet, as he drew closer, he made out… a familiar hive.
“What madness is this?” a familiar voice raged. Queen Chrysalis came into view, along with her changelings.
“I’m sorry, Chrissy,” Luco’s voice bemoaned, though he didn't sound too sorry. “But, well…”
“With the spirit of Chaos at my side,” Tirek’s voice boomed. “I don’t need any of you!” 
“Traitor!” Chrysalis declared. “Seize him!”
The changelings rushed at him, hissing in anger. Then Logan saw the orange aura surround them. If he still had eyes, they would have widened in horror, because every changeling in that hive suddenly got another aura like the ones below sucked out of them. They began to crumble, while their magical auras zoomed towards Logan like water from a busted dam. 
Logan tried to ready himself to block, but he had no arms to shield him. He had no jacket to protect him. 
Just before the auras hurled him back into the depths of this magical prison, he caught sight of Discord and Luco, standing off to the side. Discord was chuckling, while Luco was staring on with worry and… even a bit of concern.
But Logan didn’t care about what the human was feeling. If Logan had teeth, he would have bared them in hatred. 
Whatever Tirek had done, Logan wasn’t going to let it keep him down. As he fell back into the bottomless void, he kept his sights set on the slowly disappearing white hole.
I’ll get out of here,  Logan vowed. And then? Discord, Luco… you both better pray!

#

Back at the Tree of Harmony, the mares had laid out five items before the chest; a spool of rainbow colored thread, a rubber chicken, a gold bit, a flower, and a Wonder bolts pin. 
“Okay, so… I’m not getting this,” Applejack said. “How’s a flower gonna be a key?”
“It’s not just any flower,” Twilight insisted, turning to Fluttershy. “Fluttershy, that’s the flower Sea breeze gave you after you realized the only way to show kindness to his people was by forcing them to leave your home.” 
Fluttershy nodded sadly. “The looks on their poor little faces,” she murmured. “But I knew that, difficult as it was, pushing them away was the kindest thing I could do.”
Twilight turned to Applejack. “And Applejack, the gold bit is the one Silver Shill gave you when you had to tell every pony that tonic the Flim Flam Brothers were selling didn’t work.”
Applejack grimaced. “How could I forget,” she said. “It was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. But in that moment, I knew I had to be honest. But what does that got to do with opening the chest?” 
“All of you had tough choices to make,” Twilight explained. “But when you made the right one and embraced your element, it helped some pony else make the right choice too.” She indicated the items. “These are what you received from the ponies whose lives you helped change. And I know it sounds crazy, but maybe there’s something special about these objects that can lead us to the location of the keys. The chest is connected to the Tree of Harmony, the Tree is connected to the Elements and the Elements are connected to all of us.”
“And again,” Rainbow Dash added. “How is a flower… a key?” She looked at the rubber chicken. “How is a rubber chicken a key?!”
Twilight started to speak, before pausing. “I have absolutely no idea,” she admitted. 
Pinkie Pie pounced on the chicken. “Come on, Boneless,” she snapped at the chicken. “Give us the key!” 
The chicken just squeaked. With a huff, Pinkie flung the chicken at the chest. But the second it touched the silver metal, the chicken transformed into a key with Pinkie’s element on it. The mares gasped, before cautiously pressing their own items to the chest. One by one, the items changed into keys with their respective marks, fitting easily into the locks. All too soon, however, they found themselves staring at the very last empty key hole. Twilight’s reflection gazed sadly back at her.
“There’s still one key missing,” Twilight moaned. “The key that represents the Element of Magic. My Element.” 
“But I’m sure that if we’ve gotten our keys, you have too, Twilight,” Fluttershy insisted.
“Think, Twilight,” Rarity encouraged. “When have you completed a difficult magical task, and in doing so, encouraged another to do the same?”
Twilight pondered it, but before she could speak, she was cut off by a howl. 
The mares stared out at where the howl was coming from. Fluttershy’s ears flattened. 
“Is that Logan?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“It’s Carol,” Fluttershy said, panic already spreading across her face. “But Logan used that tone before…” She raced out, followed closely by the others. 
The howl rang long and loud, allowing Rainbow Dash to take to the air and follow it. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the wolves.
Carol was limping back towards Ponyville, stopping every once and a while to bay her sorrow to the sky. And right behind her, Logan padded along, watching her with dull, feral eyes like she was a rather interesting cloud. 
Rainbow Dash’s ears flattened. “Uh, oh,” she mumbled.

#

Twilight pushed open the doors to the Canterlot throne room. Her head was hanging; the image of Carol sobbing into Applejack’s shoulder burned into her mind. Along with the sight of Fluttershy hugging the de-powered Logan, who simply accepted it like a normal dog would accept hugs. Nothing like how he would normally pretend to endure her hug while grinning in love. There had been no sign of Discord, meaning Fluttershy not only had to contend with one of her friends getting his mind taken, but also the possibility that Discord had suffered an even worse fate.
Twilight could barely lift her head to acknowledge the princesses as they gazed upon her.
“Twilight?” Celestia asked. “What happened?”
Twilight lowered her head again. “Discord and Logan failed,” she whispered. “Tirek did something to Logan. He’s barely more than a domestic dog now.”
Cadence and even Luna gasped in horror; neither had many positive interactions with the wolf, but Twilight’s description was not something they would have wished upon the canine. Celestia, however, hid her grief for the wolf with a sigh.
“I’m afraid that Discord more than failed,” Celestia said. 
Twilight looked up. “W-What do you mean?”
Celestia tried to speak, but her words died in her throat. Luna gave her a sad grimace before continuing.
“Discord has betrayed the ponies of Equestria,” she said. “And joined forces with Tirek and the human.” 
Twilight gasped, before her eyes narrowed in anger.
“You mean that Discord was involved in whatever Tirek did to Logan?!” she said, an angry snort escaping her.
“It is very likely,” Celestia admitted.
“And with the magic that Tirek has stolen, ponies will no longer be in control of the world,” Luna added. “That power will belong solely to Tirek.”
Twilight sat down. How could this all have gone so wrong! Not only was a power-crazed creature destroying her land, but now, Twilight didn’t even have Logan! She remembered the aid he had given her against Sunset; the support he had shown her against the plunder vines… even his help with Daring Do against Ahuizotl. 
How am I supposed to do this without him? Twilight thought hopelessly. She almost missed the rest of the princesses’ words.
“But there is one solution,” Celestia said.
Twilight perked up. A solution, she thought. Yes! The Princess has a way to fix all this! She listened to Celestia intently.
“We must rid ourselves of our magic before Tirek has the chance to steal it from us.”
Twilight’s hopeful grin turned into a slackened jaw of shock. 
“And some pony must keep it safe,” Luna continued. 
Cadence put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “That some pony is you, Twilight.”
Despair and terror gripped her heart. 
“Me?!” Twilight stammered. “But… why me?”
“We do not believe that Tirek is aware that a fourth Alicorn princess exists in Equestria,” Celestia replied. “If we transfer our magic to you, Tirek will not know where it has gone.”
Twilight wanted to just accept this plan; to put faith in her mentor, friend and surrogate mother. But she couldn’t.
Logan may not have been there, but a small part of herself heard his voice… and repeated his words out loud.
“But… Discord knows,” Twilight pointed out. “And he joined Tirek. What would stop him from just telling Tirek about me?” 
Celestia gaped at Twilight, her stoic façade crumbling entirely. Twilight’s ears flattened, and she shrunk down.
“I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I just thought it, and…”
“No, Twilight, you are right,” Celestia assured her. “Just…” her head bent. “It was the only plan we could think of. But you’re right; with Discord aligned with Tirek and the human…” 
A crashing sound emanated from the outside. With slowly dawning horror, the alicorns raced to the outside… and Twilight whimpered as she saw Tirek bashing down the gates to Canterlot. The centaur had grown larger and stronger; his sickly frame was beefed out with muscle, and a pair of sharp horns had appeared on his head. Strangely enough, every time he absorbed magic, Twilight swore she saw something silver around his mouth; almost like claws trying to force their way out.
Logan? Twilight thought, before a familiar cackle distracted her.
Discord flitted about Tirek like a fairy, cackling in glee as he added small bits of chaos magic, driving ponies out into Tirek’s waiting clutches. And on the ground, Luco fenced with a royal guard, holding his bat like a rapier, before just bashing the guard’s helmet and golf-swinging him right into Tirek’s grasp. 
“Princess Celestia!” Luco called. “It is my great honor to introduce you to the new…” he paused, balancing his bat on his arm before swinging it into the chin of an attacking pegasus. “Conquerors!” Luco declared. “Of Equestria!” He burst into song:

Lord T. Rex!


Yes, he just wrecked


All of your home lands!

Tirek snarled. “Lord, TIREK, you imbecile!” he growled.

“Read our lips,” Luco sang over him. 


And come to grips 


With reality!


Yes, meet a blast from the past. He scratched his head.


I think; for centuries, you did last


Until you met your precious LORD T. REX-HEY!” 

The last part was due to Tirek snatching the human up and pitching him across Canterlot. 
“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!” Luco squealed like a little girl as he soared towards the mountains. 
Discord gave Tirek a miffed look before snapping his fingers; the mountainside Luco was seconds away from crashing into turned into a large banana cream pie, which Luco hit hard enough to splatter frosting over Canterlot with. 
“Thank you!” Luco called, while Celestia turned away from the sight.
“We’re out of time,” she mumbled. She turned to her guards. “Hold him back as long as you can.” She turned to Twilight. “Twilight, you must escape with our magic! Use it to unlock the Tree of Harmony if you have to.”
“But I…” Twilight tried to interject, but Celestia gripped her chin with her hoof.
“Princess Twilight,” she said desperately. “You represent the Element of Magic. If there is any pony who can hold our magic and use it to find the gifts the Tree has left us, it is you!” 
Twilight still whimpered, as the sounds of combat drew closer. Celestia’s voice took on a pleading tone. 
“This is the role you are meant to play as Princess of Equestria,” Celestia insisted.
Twilight forced herself to calm down. She took a breath.
“Of course,” she said. “I will not fail to do my duty!”
Celestia turned to the others. “Then we must begin at once!” 

#

Logan battled against the stream of magic as best he could. Outside the white hole, he could faintly see Canterlot, but it was clogged with the constant auras that were being forced down Tirek’s throat, trying to wash Logan away with them.
But Logan did not give up; he learned how to grab the auras with claws made of his own aura, and used them as stepping stones, jumping up and keeping as close to the mouth as he could get. 
The hole kept opening and closing, but Logan hoped to be able to get close enough to jump out the next time it opened. As he fought past the latest aura to get swallowed, he looked through the hole… and noticed something was going on at Canterlot castle. Why were the windows glowing? And why did it keep getting closer?
Another aura smacked Logan, nearly throwing him into the now bloated stream of auras below him.
Don’t get distracted, Logan, he reminded himself, pulling himself up further. Get out of here first, bite everything with hooves later.

#

Back outside, Luco raced back over to Tirek. The guards were attacking in force now, but none of them could get close without getting their magic sucked out. 
As Luco returned to Discord’s side, the chaos spirit gave small shudder and glanced up at the glowing windows of the palace.
“That can’t be right?” he muttered. 
“What?” Luco asked, before Tirek glanced over as well.
“Yes, Discord,” Tirek growled. “What can’t be right?”
Discord pondered the glowing windows for a second, before shrugging. “Nothing,” he replied, before his sight got set on a familiar white unicorn leading the last charge of guards. “Why, Shining Armor!” Discord greeted. “Whatever are you doing here?”
“Back off, traitor!” Shining Armor growled, blasting a bolt of magic at the chaos spirit. Luco leaped in the way, batting the magic aside with his bat.
“Traitor?” Luco asked. He tsked and wagged his finger at the unicorn. “Now that’s just harsh! I’ve known Discord for far longer than you ever did.” He chuckled. “At least, I do just because you never gave him the chance,” he added in a darker tone.
“And I can see it was for good reason,” Shining Armor replied, as he and Luco circled each other. “He betrayed Equestria. He betrayed my sister!”
Meaty red hands suddenly closed around Shining Armor’s neck, lifting him into the air.
“The only one Discord betrayed was himself,” Tirek snarled, while Luco spun on the remaining guards. “Abandoning his true nature to make friends with weak minded equines who offer him nothing!”
With that, his jaw unhinged, and Shining Armor’s magic went down his gullet. Luco paused, cocking his head as he noticed a silver claw reach out from Tirek’s throat. However, Tirek’s jaw snapped down, and the claw faded into sparkles. 
“Discord,” Luco noted. “Did you…” He turned, only to see Discord looking down in doubt on the de-powered Shining Armor.
“How…” Shining Armor moaned weakly. “Could you do this?”
Discord looked away, that doubtful expression on his face, but Luco just knelt before Shining Armor.
“I think T. Rex made it pretty clear, boy,” Luco said softly. “It was a choice between equines that either pretend to like him or just straight out hate him, or the chance to be himself.” He lifted Shining’s head to whisper in his ear. “I don’t know about you, but the choice seems kind of obvious to me.” 
Tirek glowered up as the glow up at the castle faded. He turned to Discord, who hid his doubt with a grin. 
“Why don’t you go and have a little fun?” he offered. “I won’t stand in your way.”
Discord giggled in glee, and teleported away, while Tirek stormed the castle. The last of the guards quickly fell without their commander. Luco trailed behind, grinning darkly at Tirek’s flank. 
“Soon,” he promised himself. “Soon…”
With a roar, Tirek grabbed the doors of the royal palace and ripped them off their hinges. He tore into the throne room, where Celestia, Luna and Cadence all sat. Luco tilted his head as he noticed a battered and weakened look to them, along with the lack of a certain fourth princess. Tirek, however, saw nothing but his next prize, seizing Celestia and dragging her to his mouth. 
Yet, when he inhaled… only that silver claw came back out again, causing Tirek to gag in surprise. Luco and Celestia gasped as Logan’s head briefly reared in Tirek’s mouth, only for Tirek to snap his mouth shut again with a panicked look. He gave Celestia another glare.
“What have you done?!” Tirek demanded. 
Celestia simply smiled coldly at him. Tirek threw her aside, and seized Luna and Cadence. Again, no magic came from them. Instead, Logan’s aura forced it’s head out, howling in agony.
“Logan?” Luna declared. “Lone Wolf! Fight him!”
But Tirek breathed in and snapped his jaws shut, and the Lone Wolf once again faded from sight. Tirek ground his teeth in fury, and even Luco gasped in realization.
“No…” Luco breathed, while Tirek hurled the princesses down with a roar of fury.
“WHERE IS YOUR MAGIC!?!?” he bellowed. 
Luco’s eyes narrowed, and he left the throne room. 
“Discord,” he called. “I need your heavenly guidance!” 

#

Carol paced through Ponyville. She couldn’t bring herself to go back to Fluttershy’s cottage. Logan was there; sleeping on a pet bed when he normally would have scoffed at such things. Sure, Fluttershy was taking care of him, but Carol still couldn’t stand to see him this way. So… innocent and subservient. The way he walked after her or Fluttershy with that… childlike love in his eyes. It was all so wrong. 
Carol looked up with a growl. Tirek… whoever was involved in making Logan this way, she vowed. I will find you. And I will make you pay.
Carol was jarred from her venomous thoughts as a streak of purple suddenly zipped through the air. Twilight’s shriek slammed into Carol’s ear drums, seconds before a crash sounded further away.
Carol sprinted after the purple, noticing the other five mares converging on its landing sight. From a small trench carved into the groudn, Twilight staggered to her hooves, electricity sparking across her fur, and her wings extended.
“Oh, my goodness!” Fluttershy whispered. “Are you alright?”
“Jumping June bugs, Twilight!” Applejack exclaimed. “Where’d you learn to fly that fast?”
“T-Tirek,” Twilight mumbled, flinching with every crackle of electricity. “Attacked Canterlot… Took the princesses…!"
Fear began to show on the five mares faces; even Rainbow Dash started to look worried.
“Wait,” Carol said. “Tirek’s at Canterlot now?!”
“He got the Princesses?” Rarity asked in horror.
“Not their magic,” Twilight said, a hint of a smile showing before it vanished with another crackle of electricity. “Not their magic… safe…” she patted herself before flinching at another crackle.
“Twilight?” Carol asked. “Are you…?”
“We’re running out of time,” Twilight stammered, turning to her friends. “Tell every pony to stay indoors, hide themselves well and don’t come out for anything! Then meet me at the Castle of Two Sisters! Key or not, we need what’s in that chest!” 
The mares all looked flabbergasted, but the wild look in Twilight’s eyes dissuaded conversation. 
“You can count on us, Twi,” Applejack declared, and the five mares, dragon and wolf scattered, while Twilight disappeared in a flash of purple towards the Ever-Free.
Carol found herself running alongside Applejack.
“I can get the ponies near the farm,” Carol told Applejack. “You go warn your family.”
Applejack gave Carol a thankful look.
“Much obliged, Carolina,” Applejack replied, before racing for her home with a burst of speed.
Carol herself shot towards the house closest to Applejack’s farmland. A simple straw building, but oddly quiet. Shouldn’t ponies have noticed the dread in the air? Unless they were already hidden.
Part of Carol felt tempted to just let that house be. But then a scent hit her nostrils; a very bad scent for a pony to be having in their house.
“Hey!” Carol yelled, hitting the door with her shoulder and then her back legs. “Anyone in there! Hello?!”
A small shuffling sounded, but it was wrong. There was only one pair of footsteps, not two pairs like normal ponies. Carol’s ears flattened, and she hit the lock with a burst of lighting, bashing the door open...
And promptly getting floored by a hit from a baseball bat.
Carol’s back hit the ground, her claws clutching at the welt forming on her head. Before she could regain her senses, a blanket fell over her body.
“Go to sleep,” Luco’s voice crooned, before he promptly dragged her inside, shutting the door with a click. 
> Tirek Arc: Luco - the Villain with a Heart
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Carol came to, the blanket had been tied completely around her body and her head, tying down both her claws and her magic. She could still smell Luco’s stench as he sat before her, chewing on what smelled like cake.
“You know,” Luco said in between chews. “Your ponies have such marvelous hospitality.”
Carol’s ears flicked, picking up the moans of two gagged ponies in a corner near her.
“I can see why you’d gain such a soft spot for them,” Luco noted, popping the rest of his food into his mouth.
“I’m going to kill you, Luco,” Carol snarled. “I’m gonna rip your brain out, and show you how Logan felt.”
“Oh-ho,” Luco cackled. “You know how Logan feels? Tell me something, my pretty; did you get your magic and intelligence sucked out?”  
“My pack mate did!” Carol insisted. “His pain is my pain.”
“Really,” Luco shot back. “Your pack mate?” He giggled. “From what I’ve heard, you’d make a pretty poor mate for him.”
Carol paled under her fur, and her retorts died in her throat. Luco seemed to realize his comment went a step too far, because when he spoke again, his voice was quieter.
“Listen,” he said. “I don’t have much time to play Joker and Batman with you. T. Rex is coming.”
Carol looked up. “You brought a…” she started to growl, before realizing… “You mean Lord Tirek,” she deadpanned. 
Luco scoffed. “Whatever the centaur wants to call himself,” he dismissed. “Problem is, he’s becoming a bit of a handful. Call me crazy, but it might have been a teensy bit of a mistake to release him from Tartarus.”
“Oh, you think?” Carol snapped.
“Why, yes, I do think,” Luco replied. “I’ve had intelligence far longer than you have, girl, so pay attention.” He got closer, his breath flitting across her snout.
“I can get you everything back,” he tempted. “Your pony friends, your pack mate. But in exchange…”
“What?” Carol snarled. “You want me to kill Tirek?”
Luco cackled. “I don’t want you to kill people,” Luco said. “Where’s the fun in death?! No,” he cleared his throat and continued. “I want you to help your pack mate.”
Carol’s ears tilted. “I’m listening…”

#

See, as it turns out, a giant centaur throwing you into the side of a mountain can sort of diminish your feelings towards the guy. 
“Getting rid of your magic so that I cannot take it from you?” T. Rex snarled at the battered princesses. “Was that your plan?” 
Personally, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of both respect for your kind… and a flare of irritation. On the one hand, my treacherous T. Rex had another obstacle to overcome. On the other, I needed him to get alicorn magic if my own plans were to succeed. Or did I?
“You will not prevail, Tirek,” The white one said. Only the 1,345th time I’ve heard that before!
“Give my regards to Cerberus,” Tirek replied, before hitting them with a beam spell. I’m guessing he sent them off to Tartarus or something, but, eh, at least he’s polite about it, giving regards to Cerberus and everything.
With the princesses out of the way, I got the chance to politely and calmly ask him…
“WHAT WAS UP WITH THROWING ME INTO A MOUNTAIN!?!?” I shrieked at him. Again, very polite – very calm. 
T. Rex gave me a sour look. “You've done nothing but vex me, ape,” he snarled down at me. “Not only does your madness ceaselessly annoy me, but something is wrong with the magic you’ve offered me.” He rubbed at his throat, where I had seen the silver claws grasping for freedom. “The wolf’s magic is not like the others; it will not stay where it belongs!” 
“Oh,” I moaned sarcastically. “Did I forget to mention that his magic is ENTWINED with his sapience. By taking his magic, you took his mind as well.”
Tirek growled, grabbing me. “Tell me how to keep his magic where it belongs,” he commanded. “Or I will…”
“Oh, no!” I argued. “We had a deal, T. Rex.” I whacked at his thumb and made him release me. “I give you magic, you give me Blazy.” I started to sing, even.

Now give me the secret, T. Rex…

But, of course, he cut me off again, by seizing me by the neck. 
“Another note of music from your mouth, and I will take your tongue,” he snarled.
“Now you take tongues?” I asked sarcastically. “Magic not flashy enough for you?”
"I’ll make an exception,” Tirek growled, before Discord thankfully popped me away.
“Now-now,” he said, grinning at both of us. “There’s no need for violence between friends. We’re all on the same side.” He turned to me. “Luco, you know that I know about your love for Blazy-Blue.” He even shifted into an – admittedly disturbing image of her – before turning back. “But Lord Tirek can’t get her to you without every type of pony magic. Including alicorn.”
Tirek nodded. “He is right,” he noted.
“So, c’mon,” Discord asked. “Be a little more patient? For me?”
“And quieter?” Tirek added.
I rolled my eyes, but... what the heck; I liked Discord. I saluted him. “Of course,” I replied, before tossing a pink bottle at Tirek. “That’s Pony-bismol by the way,” I told him. “Should help with your little magic nausea.”
Tirek huffed, but smiled gratefully at Discord. 
“Thank you, Discord,” Tirek said. “I want you to have something.” He took an odd little amulet off his neck and handed it to Discord. “This was given to me by someone very close. I give it to you, as a sign of my gratitude and loyalty.”
“Oh, my!” Discord cheered, putting the amulet on. “I do love a good accessory. I suppose that’s Rarity’s influence.”
Tirek laughed. “Amusing. But we have no time for such things.” He began to march back to the door. “With the princesses out of the way, we now need to discover where they stored their… magic…” He paused, gazing at a stain-glass window featuring a purple alicorn. Not one of the three he had just express-packaged to Tartarus. 
It was almost funny seeing how long it took him to connect the dots.
“There’s a fourth alicorn?” Tirek growled, turning back to me and Discord. “And neither of you told me?”
“Didn’t you see the wings on her when we were spying on them?” I replied. “Or were you just so weak back then, that you were blind?”
Tirek probably would have zapped me to Tartarus if Discord hadn’t jumped in.
“I just needed some assurance that you truly consider this a team effort,” Discord replied. He tapped the amulet between his talons. “And now… I have it.”
“Then where can we find this fourth princess?” Tirek demanded, grabbing Discord by the neck. “Where is her castle?!”
“Castle?” Discord laughed. “No, Princess Twilight Sparkle lives above a library in Ponyville.” He fell out of the air, giggling as Tirek stormed by. “Castle?” he asked again.
“Yes-yes, very funny,” I replied, before I paused. “Listen, can you transport me there ahead of Tirek,” I added in a whisper. “There’s… someone I want to get for him.”

#

Luco raised his hands as Carol began to struggle harder against her bindings.
“Not to give you to him, of course not,” Luco said. “But… I suppose I went on for a tangent.”
Carol, however, hadn’t missed it. “So, Tirek can’t keep Logan down,” she said, hopefully. “He could get out.”
“Could, maybe,” Luco admitted. “That medicine I gave him was a total placebo, if you must know. Won't do anything. So, I’m thinking, with a little help from a fellow wolf, our dear Logan can get free. And then…” 
A familiar stomping sound caught their attention. Luco swore, and raced over to a window. Carol struggled briefly, before he hefted her up as well, dragging her over.
“Use your magic on me, and I’ll pluck out your eyes,” Luco warned, before yanking Carol’s blindfold off. 
Carol gasped in horror. Discord had the Mane Five! Spike, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were all trapped in a metal cage. Carol’s heart gave a lurch as she saw Logan there too. And towering before them was… 
“You’ve gathered up all of them?” Tirek asked. 
“And her little dragon too,” Discord said with a bow, his tail teasing Spike and Logan as the latter tried to chomp at him.
“Why are you doing this,” Fluttershy cried. “I thought we were friends.”
Discord looked at her, and for a moment, actual sadness flickered across his face. But, with another look at Tirek, the chaos spirit covered it with a grin.
“Oh, we were,” Discord told her with a pat on the head. “But Tirek offered me so much more than just tea parties. Surely you saw this coming."
“I didn’t,” Fluttershy whimpered, crying into Applejack’s shoulder. “I really didn’t.” 
But before she could say any more, Tirek unhinged his jaw and inhaled. 
“No!” Carol screamed, but Luco covered her mouth and held her in place. 
“Easy now,” he assured her, before pointing. “Look!” 
Carol saw it; as the Mane Five’s magic was sucked away, Logan’s silver head briefly appeared, clutching at the auras of magic before Fluttershy’s aura smacked into him. He grabbed at it, only to be pulled down with her. 
“Logan…” Carol whispered. 
“Yes,” Luco said. “You use that fancy pack link of yours right when Tirek drains another person,” Luco theorized, “And the two of us…”
“Us?” Tirek was saying. “Who said anything about us?”
Luco froze as Tirek began to loom over a now shocked looking Discord. Carol’s eyes darted between the human and the chaos spirit. 
“W-What is he doing?” Luco stammered.
“You tell me,” Carol snapped. “You allied with him!” 
“You’ve helped me grow strong,” Tirek told Discord smugly. “You’ve provided the means by which I can obtain Princess Twilight’s magic. And now… you are no longer of any use to me.” 
“NO!” Luco briefly screamed before covering his mouth, as Discord’s magic was torn from his body, and sucked down into Tirek’s gullet. Carol stared at Luco in shock; the human looked devastated. A tear traced down his face as the chaos spirit thudded to the ground, powerless and alone.
“But…” Discord whimpered, lifting the amulet like a shield. “You said this was a sign of your gratitude and loyalty. A gift from someone close to you.”
Tirek’s gaze was unsympathetic. “My brother who betrayed me,” he replied, turning his back on Discord. “It is as worthless as he is.” 
As Tirek stomped off, Luco snuck out of the house, giving the centaur worried glances as he rushed over. Luckily, the centaur was more focused on Twilight, and did not even see the human as he raced to Discord's side. 
“Surely, you saw this coming,” Applejack chastised the beaten chaos spirit.
“I didn’t,” Discord whimpered, as Luco raced up to him. “I truly didn’t.” 
“Discord,” Luco bemoaned, pulling the chaos spirit into a hug. Discord reciprocated, as the mares eyes widened in shock at the sight of the human. Logan's dog form growled angrily at Luco. 
“Y-You’re the human Logan warned us about,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
“What in tarnation are you doing here?” Applejack demanded. “Yer the one that let that varmint out, aren’t ya?” 
Luco glared up at them, and then over to Carol. He raced back, and pulled her out.
“Maybe,” he replied, pulling out his baseball bat. “It’s a mistake I’m about to correct.”  
He didn’t have to go far.
“YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT BELONGS TO ME!” Tirek's voice suddenly bellowed, echoing across Ponyville.  
A burst of magic sounded. Luco and Carol glanced at each other before Luco dragged Carol to the source. They spotted Tirek out in a field, before he hurled a bolt of magic… right at Ponyville.
“What is he doing? He’ll destroy the town!” Carol yelped. She tried to prepare a lightning shield before Luco forced her eyes shut.  
“No,” he said. “That magic is powered by almost every pony in Equestria. You can’t…”
He was cut off as the bolt streaked past them, smashing right into the library. Twilight jumped from the explosion, an owl clutched in her hooves. She gasped at the sight of her destroyed library, before a look of pure rage came over her. 
“Oh… Tirek just messed up,” Carol whispered. 
“What d’you mean?” Luco asked, backing up with her.
“He messed with Twilight’s books,” Carol said. “He shouldn’t a-did that!” 
Sure enough, the princess took to the air, and with the power of four alicorns behind her, she was soon carving Tirek into the ground, a look of demonic rage across her face. 
But Tirek held the power of every pony in Equestria, and struck back, slamming her into a mountain before charging right through. For a moment, Carol worried Twilight had been crushed. But then the purple alicorn appeared above Tirek, slamming him into the ground before diving into his body, burying him six feet under.
Yet the centaur rose up again, hurling her off him. The two briefly exchanged magic bolts before two final beams reduced the field outside of Ponyville to a barren wasteland.
Luco gasped. “Quick,” he declared, seizing Carol. “I’ve seen enough anime to know where this is going!” 
Carol reluctantly let Luco drag her along as Tirek and Twilight got back to their hooves, glaring each other down. 
“It appears we are at an impasse,” Tirek noted, before Twilight blasted him again.
“I will break you in two,” Twilight snarled. But it was far from her normal voice. Four voices seemed to speak in sync in her, and a demonic light had appeared over her eyes.
She marched forward, looking ready to rend Tirek limb from limb. But as Tirek’s eyes widened in disbelief, he quickly snapped his fingers and eight bubbles appeared around him; the Mane Five, Spike, Discord, and Logan. 
Instantly, Twilight stopped, the demonic light fading from her eyes as she stared up at her friends. Tirek smiled smugly.
“How about a deal, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Tirek offered. “Their release… for all the alicorn Magic in Equestria.”
Logan snarled at him.
“Don’t do it, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash screamed.
“We aren’t worth it,” Fluttershy protested.
“Oh, but you are, Fluttershy,” Discord bemoaned. “You’re the pony that taught me friendship is magic.” He lowered his head in shame. “I had magic and friendship, and now I have neither.”
“That’s not true, Discord,” Luco whispered, clutching his hand to his heart. “Someone still cares for you.”
“Enough!” Tirek snarled. “I want an answer, and I want it now!”
Twilight gazed at her friends for the longest time. And, as Carol watched her, she swore she saw a rainbow shimmer appear briefly over her eyes. Then, the alicorn spoke.
“I will give you my magic, in exchange for my friends.”
Carol and the others gasped. Even Logan barked in protest. But Luco drew Carol closer.
“Get ready,” he told her, undoing her restraints.
The mares, dragon and wolf were released. Logan attacked Tirek’s hooves, but his biting didn’t even draw Tirek’s gaze. Twilight fixed her glare on Discord’s prison.
“All of them,” she said firmly.
“After the way he has betrayed you?” Tirek asked. “You still call him ‘friend?’”
“Release him!” Twilight snapped. 
Tirek huffed. “If that’s what you wish.”
Discord fell to the ground as well.
“Thank you, Twilight,” he said somberly, sharing a sad look with Fluttershy. “I’m sorry.”
“And now…” Tirek declared. “It’s your turn.”
His jaw unhinged. Logan’s aura was waiting, his silver claws reaching out one last time. 
“Now!” Luco declared. Throwing Carol into the air, he batted her like a baseball. “Use the pack link, Carolina! Use it!”
Carol understood. Hurling her lightning tendrils, she seized Logan’s aura… and the aura of the four alicorns as they were yanked from Twilight’s horn. Flipping over Tirek’s magic, and winking at his shocked look, she pulled the auras away from him.
“NAA!” Tirek tried to roar with his mouth full, only for Luco to jump onto him, bashing him upside the head with his bat. 
“This!” Luco declared, smacking him in the jaw. “Is!” He punctuated each word with a blow from his bat. “For! Throwing! Me! In! To! A! MOUNTAIN!” 
As Tirek was beaten, unable to bat Luco away, Carol began to win the struggle. Logan’s aura and the alicorn’s aura began to slide towards her.
But as Logan’s aura fled Tirek, it came with more. A black, oddly pattered aura; the same one that Tirek had taken from Discord. A plethora of auras, in varying shades of every color under the rainbow, was dragged out behind Logan. Carol tugged again, the auras spinning around her, before she shot them right to Logan. The wolf ceased his biting of Tirek, as if understanding what they meant, and opened his mouth; the silver aura disappearing back into him. With a flash of light; the original Logan reared up on his hind legs, howling to the sky above.
Tirek screamed in fury as the wolves continued to suck the magic away from him. Aura by aura, bit by bit, everything he had stolen was taken from him. Tirek shrunk; his beefy frame fading to a sickly skeletal thin. His horns vanished back into his head; his red skin turned dead maroon. And as the last bit of magic was yanked from his body, the centaur fell, the same sickly creature Luco had released from Tartarus. 
“You… can’t…” Tirek snarled, Luco holding him down as the magic swirled around the wolves. Despite lightning them up in gold and ruby red, the ponies could see something was wrong. Both wolves sunk to their knees. Their fur burned. Their eyes glowed like two pairs of stars. And when Twilight tried to approach, the very air burned her hoof.
“Logan?” she called. “Carol! Are you guys…?!”
“AAAAAAAIEEEEOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!!!” both of them howled in agony.
Spike gasped. “They’re in trouble.”
“Of course, they are,” Tirek replied smugly. “Only I was capable of handling the magic of every pony in Equestria.” He tried to rise, before Luco forced him back down. Tirek snarled at his former ally before shooting a crafty grin to the ponies. “Give me back my magic… or your friends will be disintegrated by the overflow of power.” 
Luco hit him again and glared at the mares.
“That’s not true,” he told them, before turning to the wolves. “Carol!” he barked. “That pack link isn’t for show! Use it!”
Carol moved like even the tiniest twitch was a stab of agony, but Logan forced himself up, and fired a pack link to Twilight. She caught it, and the aura thinned by a fraction. However, Twilight similarly glowed with power, and cried out in agony as the influx overwhelmed her.
“Twilight!” Spike cried, grabbing onto her… and promptly drawing out a link. Power poured into the young dragon, and he shifted in size, growing from a tiny hatchling to a full grown dragon in seconds. He almost started to grow too tall for the group to stay close to, before Rainbow Dash seized ahold of a pack link as well. One by one, the Mane Six gained a pack link. Spike’s size dwindled down to that of a full-grown dragon, before Discord took a pack link as well. As Spike's size stabilized to that of a still large but not Godzilla sized dragon, Luco released Tirek and seized a tendril as well. Before the centaur could recover, he found himself staring at a line of eight beings supercharged with the magic of an entire species.
Tirek forced himself up, and tried to unhinge his jaw… only for Luco to shove his bat into his mouth again.
“Glk….” Tirek tried to spit, before Luco shoved the bat deeper. The human’s sunken hazel eyes glared into Tirek’s yellow, the latter slowly widening in horror.
“You made a very serious mistake, T. Rex,” Luco said, his voice echoing with the voice of the other seven. “Now… you reap what you sow.” 
Tirek raised a claw, growling through his mouth restraint, before Luco raised a hand. Black energy coursed through his fingers, before a fiery beam in the shape of a dragon shot out. 
The last thing Tirek saw of Equestria was a dragon’s face snarling down on him before sending him on a fiery train back down to Tartarus. 

#

As Tirek faded from sight, the eight figures were left still struggling with the magic of an entire species. 
“I don’t know about the rest of you,” Logan growled as he struggled. “But I’m not interested in keeping this much power forever.”
“Yer telling me!” Applejack moaned under the strain. “Twi!” she called out. “How’re we supposed to get rid of this?”
“I don’t know,” Twilight whimpered, with not even her alicorn status protecting her. “I’ve never seen magic transferred like this. We need to get the magic back to every pony in Equestria.”
Carol tried to take a step, before faltering. “How?” she asked. “I can’t move!”
Logan glanced at her, and shuddered as he started to notice the magic burning into her. Heck, it was burning into all of them. Spike and Discord weren't as badly burned, but even they looked like they were bearing the weight of several mountains. 
“We can’t stay here!” he roared. “We have to get rid of this magic now!” 
“H-Hang on,” Spike said, forcing himself to move. The magic had made him the size of a mountain, allowing him to easily pick up the other seven. “It’s hard to move, but I think I can manage.”
“But how are we going to make sure each magic aura goes back to our friends correctly?” Twilight bemoaned.
“Friends,” Discord noted wistfully, the power not overwhelming him as much as the others. “Tirek tricked me into believing he was my friend. Or… failing that, he could offer me something more valuable than friendship. But I can see now that there is nothing worth more.” He held up the amulet with a sigh. “He lied when he said this was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of our true friendship…” he draped the amulet over Twilight’s neck. “I am telling the truth.”
With a shock, Twilight noticed the same rainbow sheen that had gone over her eyes… now shine over the amulet.
“You don’t suppose…” Applejack noted. 
“One way to find out,” Twilight said, before looking up at Spike. “Spike; take us back to the chest.”

#

The minutes it took to reach the chest were unbearable; the auras struggled in between the pack links. Fur on mare, chaos spirit and wolf alike burned. But Spike powered on, his dragon armor protecting him as he stomped to the chest of Harmony.
Unable to fit his new bulk through the frame, Spike shakily set his friends down before the chest. Magic coursing through them, Twilight staggered her way over to the chest. The moment Discord’s amulet touched the chest, it sprang into a key form, and slid into the lock.
“T-Together,” Twilight said, turning to her friends as the magic whipped at her hair. “I-I think we need to do this together.”
Fluttershy whimpered, her pink mane charring from the magic, but Logan managed to get his claw to her.
“You can do it,” he told her. “I know you can.”
Fluttershy smiled sadly at him, and forced herself to her hooves. She and the Mane Five limped their way to their respective elements. As the overload of magic began to burn their skin, they clicked the keys to the side, unlocking the chest.
A bright white light flared up into the sky before extending past them all. 
The last thing Logan saw was the Mane Six rising into the air, vine-like tendrils seizing them away from his pack link.
> Tirek Arc Final: Sweet Victories
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan blinked the throbbing light out of his eyes. One moment, the Mane Six had been vanishing into a rainbow. The next… he had ended up in a white, sparkling room. The light slowly adjusted, revealing a more starry background outlined with cyan and purple. 
He looked around to find Carol, Spike and Discord next to him. Spike had returned to his baby form. And Discord looked far humbler than he had been before. Luco was missing, though Logan figured the slippery human wouldn’t have stuck around. 
It's almost a shame Discord didn't followed his friends’ lead, Logan thought as his teeth slowly started to bare at the chaos spirit.
“Can I assume…” Discord started to note, before Logan lunged forward. His teeth finally got to sink into Discord’s arm. The chaos spirit yelped and jumped away as Logan snapped at him again, lunging on top of him.
“You lying, backstabbing, double-crossing JERK!” Logan shrieked, slashing wildly at him before Carol and Spike yanked him off him “Get off me!” Logan snarled, continuing to yearn for Discord as he scrambled away. “I’m gonna eat him alive!” 
“Logan, calm down!” Carol begged.
“Yeah, Discord just helped us fix everything,” Spike protested. “You can’t…”
“He’s the reason I was trapped in that centaur’s gut!” Logan snapped. 
“Yes, and I’m very sorry for that…” Discord tried to stammer.
“Not as sorry as you’re GONNA be,” Logan snarled, only breaking out of Carol and Spike’s grip by jumping backward. The two formed a barrier between him and the chaos spirit before a voice broke them out of their fight. 
“You really are the interesting one, aren’t ya?”
The four turned. Standing before them was a familiar cyan mare. Red eyes, a rainbow-colored mane…
“Dash?” Logan asked, bewildered. 
The mare smirked. “Close,” she replied. 
Logan noticed that she was wearing her Element of Harmony. Even though it had been taken weeks ago. He then noticed that her cutie mark wasn’t the same; it was only a red lightning bolt. 
Just like the gem
“Y-You’re her element,” Carol stammered. “Loyalty.”
Dash’s grin widened and she nodded. “Bingo,” she replied. 
“Whoa, hold on,” Spike exclaimed. “You… the Elements can… talk?” 
Discord chuckled, a bit of his smug veneer returning. 
“Well, you certainly didn’t think that the Elements were just weapons, did you?” he noted. “That you just point them at me, and something like Twilight’s magic powered them?” Discord laughed. “Please, they’re character traits. Personalities.” He glanced back to the figure of Dash. “It would be rather difficult for something to embody a personality trait without having a ‘personality’ to go with it, right?”
The look Dash shot Discord was a lot colder, and the chaos spirit noticed, his coy tone fading as he took a step back from the Element.
“I still remember the disharmony you caused, Discord,” she noted. “Right now, our interest lies with someone else.” She waved her hoof, and Discord faded from sight.
Logan blinked at the sudden disappearance of the chaos spirit. 
“I’m… not understanding,” he admitted.
“You will soon enough,” a voice replied, before five more forms appeared from the light.
Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack. All of their cutie marks in the shape of their Elements, rather than their originals. And all wearing the Elements that Logan once knew. Twilight herself walked forward with the very same crown Logan had struggled to save from Sunset Shimmer.
“The other Elements,” Carol gasped. 
They nodded. Logan stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.
“What about the real mares?” he demanded, glaring at what had to be Fluttershy’s Element – Kindness, as if he could forget. “What did you do with them?”
“Your friends are safe,” Kindness assured him. “Even now, we’re sending them across Equestria, returning the magic that was stolen from them.”
“And freeing the one Chrysalis captured?” Logan demanded.
The Elements grins faded at that. 
“Tirek took the changelings’ magic,” Applejack’s Element – Honesty - replied. “It may be unwise, but in order to free the ones the changelings took, we have to return Chrysalis’ magic as well.”
“No!” Carol said. “That’s…”
“A necessary risk,” Twilight – Magic, Logan reminded himself - replied. “If we are to free the ponies there, we must give back what was stolen. An exchange, if you will.” She cocked an eyebrow at Logan coyly. “The ‘agreement of trade?’”
“It won’t work,” Logan insisted. “The Changelings are like humans; shapeshifters. Manipulators. They won’t care that you were kind; they’ll take the ponies again first chance they get.”
“Likely so,” Honesty agreed. 
“Which is what makes what we’re going to ask you all the more important,” Generosity added. 
Logan’s ears flicked, as the mares slowly surrounded him. Magic smiled down at Spike.
“My bearer’s faithful assistant,” she said softly, reaching out for Spike before her hoof started to turn to steam when it neared him. She sadly drew her hoof back.
“Twilight?” Spike asked. “What do you mean, ‘what you’re going to ask?’”
“Yeah,” Carol said, standing next to Logan. “What do you want from us?”
Loyalty shook her head. “They are but followers,” she said. “Loyal and driven, but only to Logan and Twilight.” 
The mares waved their hooves as one, and Carol and Spike vanished as well. Logan’s head whipped from side to side.
“What did you do to them?!” he demanded. 
“They are safe,” Magic assured him. “They will return to Ponyville, and you will join them shortly.”
“Perhaps with something new along the way,” Laughter added, though her grin faded again as she observed him. “Though… he’s not exactly one for making others laugh.” Her grin returned. “At least not willingly.”
Logan glared at her, before glancing at the other Elements. They were circling him; sizing him up. Almost the same way his previous foes sized him up before battling. Yet the light of combat did not shine in their eyes.
“But he is loyal,” Loyalty confirmed with a smile. “It seems canines can be just as true a friend as any pony.” 
“He is generous, too,” Generosity added, circling him. “Despite the cost, he has repeatedly set aside his own goals for the sake of his friends.” 
Logan’s ears began to flatten. “Oh, no…” he mumbled.
“Kindness… struggles within him,” Kindness continued. “Though it is buried, it shines like gold, especially for those he cares about.” 
“And he’s become quite truthful and honest,” Honesty said. Her smile became coy. “He may not have started off that way, but even at the cost of personal feelings, the only one he has ever truly lied to was himself. Almost another lifetime ago.” 
“Listen, guys,” Logan said, cutting them off. “If you’re going to try and make me into something else… keep on dreaming.” He moved out of their circle and began to walk away. “And include praying if your plans involve changing me into anything but a wolf.” 
He turned away… only for Magic to appear in front of him. 
“You… don’t want the ultimate reward?” Magic asked him. She looked genuinely confused. Dumbfounded, even. 
Laughter chuckled. "And here I was thinking he didn't like making others laugh," she said with another giggle. "Not wanting our reward..." she got out with another chuckle before she caught sight of Logan's glare. 
“You and I have very different ideas on what ‘reward’ means,” Logan replied. He turned his back on them, only for Magic to appear in front of him again. 
“Logan,” Magic said gently. “You have grown and developed far beyond the wild wolf that Celestia dropped here.”
“Through our bearers,” Loyalty said, walking to his side. “We’ve watched you grow.”
“Seen what you might do,” Honesty added.
“And what you’ve been through,” Kindness bemoaned. 
“Isn’t it time for a new change to come?” Magic asked. “I know you used to believe that being a loner is some kind of virtue…”
“Do not mistake me,” Logan said. “Twilight and her friends will always be able to count on me.” 
Loyalty grinned, only for her grin to snap away when Logan glared at her. 
“But I am not their pet,” Logan said. “I am not your toy to play with and alter as you see fit.” He broke out of their circle again. “I am a Wolf of the North. The Son of Kodo – the Great Wolf - and the Grandson of Shiva – the Breaker of Cages.” He held his head high and strode away from the mares. “That is who I am. And that is who I choose to remain.” 
“But…”
“No,” Logan cut them off. He didn’t care which Element had spoken, and he didn't care that the dimension he was in appeared limitless. He continued walking, ready to find a way out no matter what they said. And when the Elements tried to appear in front of him, he simply walked through them.
“You could…” one of them offered. 
“Nope," Logan refuted.
“We can…”
“Nope.” 	
“Won’t the…?”
“Nuh-uh.”
“You’re not…”
"Negative.”
“You…”
“Nein.”
“Come on…”
“No.”
“You know you’re not getting out of…”
“No.”
“Are you really going to…”
“NOOOOOOOO!”
Logan turned it into a howl as he walked.

All I’ll say is… No


I say just… No


My reply is… No


Just go and let it go


Go and let it go


Go and let it go!

“Fine!” Magic finally declared. Logan turned back to her with a grin. The six mares shook their heads, exasperation mixing with admiration.
“You truly are an interesting one, Logan Wolfe,” Magic said. “I can see why Celestia likes you.” 
“But be warned,” Honesty said. “Your stay in Equestria has already been hard. And it will not grow easier without the gifts we can give you. Queen Chrysalis will come for you… and it will be harder to fight her without what we can offer you.” 
“Perhaps,” Logan admitted, turning away. “But I’ve never been a fan of the easy way.” He looked up. “Whatever the challenges that come, I’ll accept them. And all the pain they may bring with.” 
The Elements sighed. 
“Very well, then,” they said as one, before their hooves waved. “We wish you luck, Logan Wolfe. Know that you will always have friends here.” 
Logan’s tail wagged, and he graced them with one last smile before the world faded to white around him.

#

The feeling of grass tickled the tips of his paws. The warmth of the sun hugged his fur. Logan’s eyes opened. He was standing with Carol, Spike and Discord behind the Mane Six, as they stared at where Twilight’s library once stood. Now, a large, crystalline castle stood in its place instead.
“Are…” Rarity stammered, her eyes on the castle. “Are you all seeing what I’m seeing?” 
“But…” Twilight stammered. “Whose, is it?”
“I believe it is yours, Princess Twilight,” a familiar voice replied. 
Logan rolled his eyes before turning to his right. Sure enough, Celestia was depositing herself next to him, accompanied by the other princesses. Further back, Logan could spy the other citizens of Ponyville, slowly coming out of hiding. The colors were bright, and the sky was a bright blue; Tirek’s rampage had truly been beaten.
At least… Logan hoped. He shivered as he remembered that bottomless pit where he had stored their magic. The screaming faces… the chaos…
Logan was thankfully snapped out of his memory when Celestia spoke, leading Twilight inside. Logan pricked his ears and followed. 
“You’ve been wondering what you are meant to do as a princess,” Celestia was saying. “Do you know now?” 
“As princess,” Twilight said. “I believe I have the power to spread the magic of friendship across Equestria.” She looked up with a bright grin. “That is the role I am meant to have in our world. The role I choose to have,” she added with a grin at Logan, who nodded back at her with his own grin. “But I didn’t defeat Tirek on my own – it took all of us to unlock the chest and stop Tirek.”
Celestia turned back to her friends with a grin. “Then it is unlikely you are meant to take on this task alone.” 
They reached a large circular room with a table. Several chairs stood around it, each with the marks of the Mane Six. There were even three additional chairs; one with a mark of a purple dragon breathing green flames, and two with marks featuring snarling wolf faces – one yellow and one red.
“Wow,” Pinkie noted. 
“You are Princess Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia declared to her former student. “The Princess of Friendship. But what is the princess of friendship without her friends?”
Logan narrowed his eyes, and started to speak… before Discord cut him off.
“Wait a minute!” Discord declared. 
Logan glanced at him, wondering if Discord was about to mention what he had noticed… only for Discord to look over the seats.
“Where’s my throne?!” he whined. Fluttershy pat his back.
“I don’t think you’re quite there yet,” she said softly.
Discord glanced at Carol and Logan glaring at him, and gave a nervous chuckle.
“Yes, well… I suppose.”
“Yeah, that’s very heartwarming and funny,” Logan noted, stepping forward before someone else could cut him off. “But you guys are missing something else.”
They looked at him while he indicated the room.
“Where’s Luco?” 

#

Tirek fumed, once again back in his cell and without his power. Once again, he had been denied what was rightfully his. Part of him wondered if he had gone too fast on betraying Discord. 
No, he decided. Discord was weak. A traitor; just like his ape 'friend.' Tirek spat, the mere word 'friend' making him nauseous. If that annoying ape dares come near me again, I’ll…” 
“Well-well-well...” a voice drawled. “Look at the big, scary T. Rex.”
Tirek spun, only for his hatred to turn to fear. Luco was back. But instead of being accompanied by changelings and unicorns… he was riding atop the scariest dragon Tirek had ever seen.
Pure flames wreathed its body, bathing it in a golden glow. Its eyes were gleaming red orbs, narrowed down at Tirek in hatred. Unlike the dragons of this world, it was built more like a kangaroo, with powerful back legs that shook the ground when it landed, flexing bat like wings and lashing a massive tail. Though it’s arms were still muscular and humanoid, and looked ready to pick Tirek up and snap him in half.
But the true horror came when Luco vaulted through the flames and landed. While he was unhurt from the dragon’s flames, Tirek couldn’t say the same for his clothes. 
“So,” Luco said, apparently oblivious to the fact that he now lacked a single stich of clothing. “You thought you were hot stuff, didn’t ya?” He leaned forward. “Well, how’d that turn out for you?” 
“You…” Tirek stammered, gazing up at the fire spirit in shock. “Where…?”
“Oh?” Luco asked, glancing up at his pet. “Intros? Fine?” He lifted his hand, and the fire dragon’s angry expression melted into joy. She lowered her head to his hand, his fingers tickling her chin as her leg thumped in happiness. The fires flicked around his arm, but oddly, not a single spark burned his skin.
“T. Rex, meet Blazy Blue,” he replied. He cupped Blazy Blue’s head in his hands and shook her like an affectionate owner with a dog. “My little Blazy Blue… my sweet simple little Blazy Blue…”
She purred and crooned like a happy cat, nuzzling and bathing Luco in flames. Yet none of them harmed him. She even rolled on her back, letting him rub at the flames along her belly, all while Tirek watched in dumbfounded shock. To make matters worse...

Wewere both young, when I first met you, Luco crooned.


  I close my eyes, and the flashback starts: I’m standing there…


On a meadow with the Autumn air.


I saw the lights; saw the fireworks, the eggshell.


Saw you make your way out of ash


I said ‘hello…’ 


Little did I know…

“Argh,” Tirek groaned, breaking the two out of their funk. Luco and Blazy glowered at Tirek.
“Oh, right,” Luco said. “Blazy, T. Rex.” He whispered into her ear, “Wanna say hello?”
Blazy roared in glee, scrambling away from Luco and ripping the cage off Tirek’s prison. Tirek backed up as she hopped into his cage, grinning down at him with teeth that sparkled like cinders.
“Wait-wait-WAIT!” Tirek screamed before Blazy lunged onto him. Unfortunately for Tirek, Blazy's flames had no compunctions about burning him. 
Luco watched on as Tirek’s screams echoed across Tartarus. He patted his bare hips with a grimace.
“Wish I had saved that popcorn,” he murmured.
“You’re going to be wishing something!” a voice snarled. 
Luco glanced up at Tempest and Chrysalis both stormed up the stairs towards him.
“You insolent little… NAKED?!” Chrysalis yelped, covering her eyes as even Tempest gagged at Luco’s lack of clothing.
“Oh, Chrissy Cue,” Luco said, striking a pose. “Don’t tell me you find a perfect human specimen such as I…” He posed again. “Distracting.”
“Oh, guh, uh…” Chrysalis looked around, before zapping a spell at some rocks. A perfect version of his old clothes appeared, which she promptly threw at him. Luco caught the clothes and slowly dressed himself, allowing Tempest to note what was currently burning Tirek alive in his cage. Her mouth dropped open in horror, while Chrysalis remained focused on Luco.
“Your little scheme has resulted in nothing but pain for my hive!” Chrysalis continued. “The ponies I captured did not have nearly enough love in them without their magic. And then Tirek betraying us...?!”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Luco said, slipping his shirt on. “Should I have made him give you credit for the idea? Besides, I’m punishing him right now.”
Chrysalis’ gaze finally got drawn to the fire dragon inside. Blazy turned her gaze to Chrysalis, Tirek’s head between her jaws. The sickly centaur moaned, reaching out for Chrysalis. His hair had been burned off, and ashy scorch marks were slowly creeping over his face.
“H-Help me…” he moaned, only for Blazy to spit him out and loom over Chrysalis.
“That…” Chrysalis stammered, backing up behind Tempest.
“Is that a Phoenix?” Tempest stammered. “A dragon? A result of a phoenix and a dragon…?”
“Burning the whoopee cushion?” Luco asked with a cackle, before composing himself. “No,” he said, before indicating Blazy grandly. “That, my friends, is Blazy-Blue; a grand-daughter of Rocket Ignis; the first Fire Dragon of my world.” He grinned down at them, Blazy’s glow making his smile look even more mad than before.
Tempest gasped. “The deal with Tirek,” she whispered. “Magic in exchange for him bringing…”
“Bingo! Have a biscuit!” Luco declared, before noticing his pockets had no biscuits. “Eh, later then,” he dismissed, before turning to Blazy with pride. “Yes, thanks to Tirek’s little scuffle, combined with the Elements being more focused on that defiant little wolf pup than me, I was able to bend some of Discord’s chaos magic along with Celestia’s alicorn magic, and bring my little baby-blazer back to me.”
He cooed, making Blazy jump in glee again. She knocked over Tirek’s cage, and barreled into Luco, nuzzling and cooing again as his clothes burst into flames. Luco didn’t even notice, cuddling and wrestling with her while a battered and ashy Tirek lay whimpering in the corner.
“Yes, I love you too, Blazy Blue,” Luco sang, pulling her into a hug and imitating her cooing noises. 
Chrysalis stared in shock for a moment, before her horn lit up and she sighed. Tempest took a step back from her. 
“What are…?” she asked. 
“His love…” Chrysalis whispered. “It’s…” She sighed in ecstasy, and fell to her side, her horn still glowing even as Luco turned back to the others.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” he said, once again naked as a popinjay. “Did you guys have a problem?” 
Tempest took one look at Blaze’s sparkling teeth and red eyes, and shook her head. Chrysalis gave an orgasmic twitch. 
“Good,” Luco declared, climbing onto Blazy’s back. She lifted herself up to her full height, spitting one more glob of flames onto Tirek for good measure. “Because now we can start making things a little more interesting.”
> Siren Arc Pt 1: Back to High School
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Any luck getting him back here?” Twilight asked. 
Carol sighed, watching as the mares lounged around the new Castle of Friendship.
“He hates this castle,” Carol admitted. “I don’t think he’s ever really liked Ponyville, even if you guys earned his trust.”
“Please, Carol,” Twilight begged. “I really need to talk to him.”
“Sorry, Twilight,” Carol replied. “But ever since Tirek…” she shook her head. “Something’s been off about Logan.”  
“He hasn’t found anything on Luco, has he?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Yeah,” Applejack agreed. “You’d figure a human would be pretty easy to spot out here. We don’t get em that much anymore.”
“No,” Carol replied. “He just… hunts in circles. I keep finding him tracing over the same territory. He seems more obsessed with making sure his magic is working. He’s barely slept; he hasn’t eaten…” she shuddered. “I’m really getting worried about him.”
“He needs his pack,” Fluttershy said, turning to Twilight. “He needs us.” 
Twilight nodded. “Okay,” she said. “We’ll all go out there together. Maybe…”
A knock on the door distracted her. She trotted over to find a mail stallion waiting with a delivery of books. 
“Excuse me, Princess,” the delivery pony said, indicating the books. “Where do you want all these books from Princess Celestia?”
Twilight smiled softly. “The library,” she said, indicating down a long hallway. “Third door on the left.”
The delivery pony then lifted a new book; one that had Celestia’s mark on it. Strangely, it was glowing and vibrating. 
“Even this one?” the delivery pony asked. “The one that’s glowing and vibrating?”
Twilight tilted her head, seizing the vibrating book with her magic. Setting it on the ground, she merely had to open the cover before the pages flipped themselves to a random page. Yet on the random page, words had appeared, written in purple ink.
“What is it, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked as Twilight read. Slowly, Twilight’s purple fur began to pale. 
“It looks like a message to Princess Celestia,” Twilight said. “From my friends at Canterlot High.”
“How is that possible?” Rarity asked, craning her neck to read the message.
“I don’t know,” Twilight admitted, looking up with a glare. “But it sounds like they need my help. And if they need my help… I’m going to need Logan’s help too.”

#

Logan was trapped. Suffocating. His body… he couldn’t feel his body. The cries of the imprisoned auras echoed around him. No light. No glimpse into the outside world. All he could do was fall… falling… tumbling into darkness…
“Wake up,” Logan tried to growl. “It’s just a dream!” He growled; why had he chosen to lie down? Why hadn’t he kept walking?
Now he wasn’t able to get out. Now he was back in this cursed pit of despair and fear…
“Stop it!” he screamed against the darkness. “Let me out!”
He twisted and turned, yet nothing would let him out. There was no way to grab the auras now! No way to escape. No way to even see the outside. His heart hammered. Blood roared in his ears. He…
Like an angel’s calling, the entire world lit up in white around him. The cursed pit of Tirek’s gut faded away, and in its place…
Logan felt the sun’s warmth on his body. The grass tickled his paws. The smell of Ponyville greeted his nostrils. And yet… something was off. His shoulder blades felt off. So did his paws.
“W-Who is that?” Rainbow Dash’s voice demanded. “I’ve never seen him before!”
“He just appeared out of nowhere,” Rarity’s voice stammered. “Do you think… No, that’s preposterous!”
Logan pulled himself up, his eyes locking on the six mares. He smiled, letting out a soft sigh. Despite that odd feeling in his body, his pack was here. His friends. And yet… why did they look so nervous? Why did they look so much smaller than him? Why were they looking at him… like they didn’t recognize him?
“Fluttershy?” Logan asked, flinching at her apprehension. He looked to Twilight, who almost looked scared. “Sparkle?” 
Twilight stepped forward. “Logan?” she asked. “Is that… you?” 
“W-Who else would it be?” he asked. He looked down… and promptly wished he hadn’t. 
The first things he noticed were the hooves. They were covered by his normal white fur, but his claws were gone, hooves in their places. Something jutted from his forehead; he lifted one of the hooves, feeling the horn atop his head. From there, he felt a shaggy mane, almost like the one he had as a human, but longer, with him clearly able to see the bleach blonde locks. And when he craned his neck to look behind himself, he realized why his shoulder blades felt so off: he had a new set of wings fluttering behind him.
He was a horse. No, worse: he was an alicorn!
“W-What happened to me?” he demanded, turning back to them. “What did you do to me?!”
They flinched back, and a stab of guilt shot through Logan; these were his friends. Not the Elements. Even if the Elements had used their faces.
A flash emanated behind them. Logan looked up, his eyes narrowing as Princess Celestia appeared, that usual serene smile on her face.
“Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked, racing to her side. “What’s going on?! I don’t understand!”
Celestia just smiled coyly. “I don’t expect that to last long,” Celestia replied.
“But he’s an alicorn now,” Twilight insisted.
“And he looks like a princess,” Rainbow Dash added.
“That’s because he is,” Celestia replied, before her expression turned doubtful. “Wait… are you…?”
Logan bared his teeth, even if those had been changed too.
“I swear by everything sacred…” he snarled before peering between his hind legs. A giant sigh of relief escaped his snout as he looked up, and shook his head.
Celestia’s grin returned, along with her own sight of relief.
“Then, I suppose a better statement would be that Logan looks like a prince because he is.” Celestia beamed at Twilight. “Your prince.”
Logan and Twilight’s jaws dropped. 
“Huh-WHAT?!” they both exclaimed.
Celestia smiled at Logan. “Surely you didn’t think that you could handle the magic of an entire species without consequences, did you, Logan?” she asked. 
“B-But I turned down the Elements,” Logan insisted. “I…” He shuddered to a stop; what had been the dream, and what had been reality?! He had let an entire species’ magic course through him. How had he kept his wolf form intact through that? This couldn’t be the real world, then? Could it? 
“Oh,” Celestia laughed. “As if you had a choice.”
Logan’s teeth bared all the way up to his gums, but Celestia didn’t even seem to notice.
“Now, when Twilight eventually goes on to rule all of Equestria,” Celestia said. “She will have a strong, faithful husband by her side.” She grinned coyly at a stunned Twilight. “One that will likely give her many powerful alicorn foals.”
Logan retched. “I don’t even…” he started to stammer, only for Celestia to wave his protests away.
“Nothing being with a proper mare can’t fix,” she said, turning to him and fixing him with those pink eyes. She strode towards him, wagging her hips in what he supposed was seductive for horses. “The magic did its work well,” she said. “You have become a very handsome stallion. And, since Twilight already adores me, she surely won’t mind if…”
“NOPE!” Logan’s horn flared, and his magic sent Celestia tumbling head over hooves. “No-no-no-no-NO!” Logan bellowed, punctuating each ‘nope’ with a blast of magic. He even formed a 'NO' of magic and pointed at it before throwing it at her. "NOOOO!!!!!" 
Nothing stopped him. Celestia scrambled to her hooves and shot away. Logan pursued her, his wings beating behind him as he blasted at her. Yet her coy tone didn’t fade.
“Is this how wolves get into the mood?” she asked. “How kinky!”
ZAP! 
“Ah, a hate-based romance is so much sexier. I can feel the weight in your strikes.”
ZAP!
“You should be cautious! Luna will want to join when she sees you. It has been so long since my dear sister has had a proper mate.” 
ZAP!
“Would it help if I had another stallion join us? Prince Blueblood, perhaps? He is a handsome one, I’m sure you’d agree.”
ZAP!
Yet even as rage drove Logan on, he slowly started to realize: none of the mares had attacked him. Heck, the mares - Ponyville - were nowhere in sight. Logan was now on a flat stretch of land, the sunset covering Celestia as she coyly pranced away from him. And yet… the sun was oddly silver. Almost like…
A new stab of fury gripped Logan, and he glowered up at the sun… which slowly shifted into the moon. An odd little imprint in the shape of a very familiar mare sat engraved on its surface.
“You’re not funny, Luna!” Logan howled.
The mare in the moon suddenly moved, laughing out loud… before Luna stepped out from the moon, landing before Logan as ‘Celestia’ faded away into stars.
“Oh, are you unsatisfied, Lone Wolf?” she asked with a coy smirk. “I personally think you look quite strapping.” She hummed, her eyes scanning his body like a wolf would scan meat. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind about turning down the Element’s gifts?”
“How do you even know about that?” Logan demanded.
“We bore the Elements same as your friends,” Luna replied, as if he was a child. “Surely, you’d assume we’d be aware of their plans.” She sighed again, stretching her hoof towards his face. “And what a plan it was; we princesses have been without true males for quite some time.”
He slapped her hoof away. 
“Get out of my head,” he snapped. “Get out of my dreams RIGHT NOW!”
Luna considered it, rubbing her chin.
“No,” she declared, flapping around him, drinking in his alicorn body. “The dreamscape is mine to command, Lone Wolf, not you. I can keep you here as long as I want. Maybe I could even go down to that lovely castle Twilight has, and show them your dreams.”
Logan fumed up at her, before pausing. He glanced down at his hooves, and stared down at them with a grimace. They shifted from hooves to claws.
Luna laughed again. “Those won’t work on me, Logan Wolfe,” she warned. “This is my territory.”
“They aren’t for you,” Logan replied ominously, grinning maliciously up at her. “But they will be soon enough.”
Luna tilted her head… before Logan seized his own throat in his claws.
“Wait…” Luna stammered, her smirk fading. “LOGAN, NO!”
But the Royal Canterlot Voice only sped up the process, and in seconds, Logan lay on his side, his throat torn cruelly open by his own claws. Yet no blood bubbled out of his throat. Instead, only shadowy magic drifted from his wound, covering him and slowly causing him to fade into starlight.

#

Back in the Castle of Friendship, Luna opened her eyes, her horn slowly losing a silver glow. 
“Did you find him?” Twilight asked, watching Luna warily. 
Luna breathed and nodded. “Yes. However,” she warned. “I believe I should probably vacate the castle. For fear that…”
BOOM went the doors to the Castle of Friendship. 
“Uh-oh,” Pinkie whispered. “Too late!”
Logan stood in the doorway, his silver eyes locked on Luna’s. He rubbed his thankfully still intact neck with a grimace, before storming over to her. Applejack and Rainbow Dash quickly blocked his way.
“Alright, Logan, look,” Twilight said, jumping in between them. “I get that Luna wasn’t supposed to go near your dreams, okay? But we really needed to…”
CRACKLE-BOOM!
Every pony ducked as a flash of lightning lit the room up in white. A crash emanated from the far right, and as the ponies looked up, they saw Princess Luna sprawled upside down against the wall, her fur ashen and her eyes spinning in her head. Logan was bearing down on her again, his ears still flat and his fur spiked like a porcupine.
“Whoa, Logan, hey!” Applejack roared, jumping in his way and scraping her hooves ominously while Rainbow Dash hovered above her, preparing to kick as well. “Now, you listen here, fella; I ain’t afraid to give you a whooping, you try that again!”
“Easy, now,” Carol said, trying to get between the group. Logan, on the other hand, said nothing, trying to push past Carol and Applejack, his eyes set venomously on Luna. 
“I mean it!” Applejack whinnied, spinning and readying a kick. “Get back! Or I’ll…”
“No, Applejack, wait!” Luna yelled, drawing their attention. She pulled herself up, and shook off the ash. “In all fairness, I… may have deserved that.”
“That’s not even half of what you deserve!” Logan snapped at her. Twilight jumped in between him and Applejack.
“Listen, Logan, please,” she begged. “It’s not Luna’s fault; it’s mine!”  
Logan locked on her, and Rainbow Dash quickly went to Twilight’s side, though the purple alicorn motioned for her friend to stay back. Rainbow Dash still shuddered at the look of utter rage on Logan’s face, even if it seemed to die down to a simmering boil rather than a raging fire.
Twilight sighed. “Look, we…” she paused. “I… saw what happened. With the Elements.”
Logan’s eyes narrowed, and he started to turn away. Twilight tried to go after him.
“Wait, please!” she said. “I’m not going to lecture you! I know you did what you thought was right.”
Logan paused at that, and glanced back at her, his ears pricking up.
Twilight took a breath, shivering as his silver eyes seemed to analyze her very soul.
“B-But the thing is,” Twilight continued. “I’ve really come to rely on you, Logan. When Tirek… well…” Twilight rubbed her mane, her eyes darting away. 
Logan turned around, his ears lifting in concern. 
“I didn’t know what to do without you at first,” Twilight admitted. “You’ve helped me through so many problems… I consider you just as much a friend as I do… well…” she indicated her other friends.
“All of us,” Fluttershy whispered.
“Right,” Twilight said. “Now, the Elements said that their gift would have allowed us to rule Ponyville together, which – honestly – I’m a little uncomfortable with. And I can assume you feel the same way.” 
“You think?” Logan asked, though a lot of the anger in his voice had faded. Behind him, Carol was shooting a very icy glare at Twilight, making her stammer before Logan dissuaded Carol with a growl. 
“But,” Twilight managed to continue. “It doesn’t change the fact that you are an invaluable… um…” she rubbed at her hooves nervously.
Logan rolled his eyes. “Just say it,” he prompted. 
“Pack,” Twilight finally admitted. “You’ve been an invaluable pack mate to me. A-And it’s why… and you can say no…” she took a deep breath, and got out in a rush. “If you don’t want to be a Prince of Ponyville, I’d like you to be the Captain of my Royal Guard instead.”
Silence stretched between them. Logan glanced over at Luna, who had long since teleported away. He sighed. 
“The first time I attacked one of your princesses, you tried to beat me up,” he noted with a grin. “Now, I attack another princess… and you try to give me a royal title.”
Carol grinned. “I’m sensing that you don’t like Luna as much as you like Celestia,” she teased.
“What?!” Twilight stammered. “No! That wasn’t…”
“We ain’t saying that it was right to attack Princess Luna like that,” Applejack said sternly.
“Or turning down the Elements that protect this place and were offering you a gift,” Rainbow Dash grumped. 
Before anyone else could continue, Logan snorted at the cyan mare and stormed out the door. Twilight moaned in horror, sharing a brief glare with Rainbow Dash before racing out after him.
“Logan, please!” she begged. “I really-really-really need your help! You see things that no pony else sees. You motivate us when we’re down! You’re an integral part of this pack, and you’d be perfect for the job! Can’t you help us?”
But Logan didn’t reply. Instead, his nostrils started twitching. He turned his head, heading into the third door on the left. Inside, surrounded by books, he gazed up at the Mirror to Canterlot High, now hooked up to several mechanical parts that led from the mirror to the book holding the message from the Humane Six. 
He turned his head to Twilight as she entered in after him.
“What exactly do you need help with?” he asked.
Twilight brought the book forward, showing Logan the message.
“According to Princess Celestia,” she explained. “This was a way for Sunset Shimmer to contact her if she ever needed the Princess. Sunset has a book just like it, and if she writes in it, we receive the message here.” 
Logan’s brow furrowed as he read the message. “New students at Canterlot High…” he murmured as he read. “Magical in origin… songs…” he gasped, his back spiking. “Sirens!” he snarled.
Pinkie gasped. “Oh, didn’t you have to go after Sirens while you were getting back to the pack?” she asked, before donning a white kimono. “Gotta get back, back to the pack…”
“PINKIE!” Logan and Twilight snapped at her, before Logan glared down at the floor.
“She is right, though,” Logan admitted. “These must be the same Sirens that got shot to another dimension.”
“They are,” Twilight confirmed. “But something’s allowed them to retain their powers from here, and they’re threatening the friends we made back there.” Twilight made Logan look at her. “Logan, you have more experience with sirens than any pony here. These three may be more dangerous than the ones you encountered…” she looked away with a grimace. “And your methods over there were rather unorthodox…” she added in a grumble.
“But, you need us to go back to the human world,” Carol deadpanned.
Twilight sighed. “Exactly,” she said.
“One problem,” Logan said, indicating the mirror. “This thing was supposed to be closed. Our magic jacked it up, or something like that.” 
Twilight smiled. “I believe I have a solution to that…”

#

As Twilight began to explain her process, none of the mares or wolves were aware of a familiar dragon peering in through the windows of the castle. 
“Sirens?” Luco pondered, poking his head over Blazy’s. “You heard her, right Blazy? She said Sirens?”
Blazy nodded eagerly. Luco clapped his hands together.
“The mythical beauties of the sea,” Luco purred. He grinned down at Blazy. “You know we have to see that for ourselves.” 
Blazy nodded before a thought made her perk up. She glanced further away. Luco waved his hand.
“Oh, Tempest and Chrissy will be fine for now,” he said. “Besides,” he grinned down at Logan, who’s eyes were slowly glazing over from Twilight’s lecture. “I don’t need them to make that wolf’s day miserable.” 

#

“…and the interval between the two points,” Twilight continued. “Is defined as the square root of the squares of the separation between the points along three spatial dimensions.” She beamed eagerly at Logan, only to find him passed out snoring.
“Logan!” Twilight chastised. 
He looked up, yawning. 
“Absolutely none of that made sense to me,” he said. “Just say that it works now, and let’s call it a day.”
“Seconded,” Spike added.  
“Third-ed,” Carol said with a nod.
Twilight grumped at the three of them, before turning back to the portal. 
“Just gotta make sure it does work,” Twilight said, placing the book into the device she had built on top of the mirror. With a sputtering, crackling noise like the world’s first electronic coming to life, the portal flared up with a purple energy… and stabilized. Twilight clapped her hooves in glee.
“It works!” she squeed in delight.
“It works?!” a voice proclaimed. 
Logan went stock still. “No…” he whimpered.
Up above them, glass shattered into ashes, Blazy Blue the fire dragon tumbling into the room. Her landing knocked the group back, Twilight shrieking and just barely stopping the mirror from falling over. Blazy, oblivious to her near destruction of the portal, struck a pose, fireworks blasting from her back. She caught Spike’s eye, and winked at him.
“W-What in land sakes!?” Applejack muttered, her eyes spinning from the impact.
“I-It’s a phoenix!” Fluttershy squeaked from the corner. 
“It’s a dragon!” Rainbow Dash growled, taking to the air. 
“Worse,” Logan growled, baring his claws. “It’s…”
Luco leaped off Blazy’s shoulders, landing before them. 

“The lascivious, ludicrous,” Luco sang, spinning in a circle.


“LO-CO-LO-CO-LO-CO-LO-CO…

“Loco Luco,” he said, striking a final pose.
The mares shrieked, or in Pinkie’s case, gave an intrigued ‘OOO’; once again, every single stich of clothing on Luco had been burned off by Blazy's fire. Not even a fig leaf had been spared.
“Oh, get over it!” Luco snapped. “You go without clothes all the time!”
“But our stallions don’t…” Rarity whimpered. “’Dangle’ like that?”
Logan grimaced. Luco was dangling, alright; his tail had wrapped around Blazy’s snout, and he dangled upside down with his legs crossed, peeling a banana.
“Oh, come now, good buddies,” Luco proclaimed, leaping off Blazy and racing to the portal. He ran a finger along it and Twilight’s horn. “There’s a brand-new adventure with limitless possibilities.”
Twilight tried to cast a spell at him, but Blazy promptly seized Luco’s banana and shoved it into Twilight’s face. 
“Have some food,” Luco offered.
Logan raced at them, just in time for Blazy to dump a bucket of water on him.
“Have some water,” Luco offered again.
Blazy scooped Spike up, eyeing him eagerly.
“Have a good luck kiss!” Luco said with a nod, instantly promptly Blazy to plant a French one right on Spike’s snout.
“Gah!” Rarity snapped in disgust, while Spike hit the ground with a gaping jaw and rapidly blinking eyes. 
But as Logan slipped in the soapy water Blazy had dunked him in, Carol, Rainbow Dash and Applejack tried to lunge forward. Luco hopped off all three of them like a video game character in a platform game, sending the females off course or crashing into walls while he jumped back onto Blazy’s back.
“YEAH, BUDDY!” Luco cheered, Blazy roaring along with him and sending a jet of flames into the air. The flames sent the mares running to cover, while Luco made Blazy dance around the room. Logan tried to bite at them, but slipped in the water he had been drenched in. 
“Let’s get out there and live life for what it’s worth!” Luco declared, before they pranced by Pinkie. Luco jumped down, landing in her mane and seizing a trumpet from her cotton candy colored head. Leaping back onto Blazy, he played a tune on the trumpet.
“CHARGE!” he declared, before he and Blazy ran right for the portal.
“No, WAIT!” Twilight screamed, but with a flash of both purple and yellow, the dragon and her crazed rider vanished. A slight ripple in the portal was the only sign of where they had gone. 
“Did you really expect him to wait?!” Logan growled, struggling out of the puddle of water. “Sirens were bad enough; Sunset’s got no way to handle him!” He charged right after the human, diving inside. Carol wasn’t far behind. 
Twilight almost raced after them, before turning back to the others. “Write to the other princesses,” she ordered the others. “Get them to send as many royal guards as they can here and be ready to arrest anyone who comes through this portal; we’ve got to be prepared in case Luco tries to get out this way!” 
“You got it, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash said.
Spike quickly got up and dusted himself off. “I need to go with you,” he said.
Rarity scoffed. “Surely, you’re not interested in that barbarian dragon,” she demanded.
“What? NO!” Spike said, turning back to Twilight. “Letting you go alone tore me up inside, Twilight. Please; even if you’ve got Logan… you never know when you might need your trusty assistant.”
Spike batted his eyes pleadingly at Twilight. Her scared expression faded, and she smiled at her dragon.
“Of course, Spike,” she said. 
Spike’s face brightened, and he jumped onto Twilight’s back as she turned back to the portal.
“We won’t be gone long,” Twilight promised. “And when we do… we’ll have the Sirens, Luco and his dragon in chains.” 
And, with her friends’ cheers backing her up better than any tune Luco could play, Twilight and Spike dove into the portal, chasing after Logan, Carol and the crazed human.
> Siren Arc Pt 2: Food Fight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight fell through the portal just in time to hear Carol nearly losing her lunch.
“Seriously, who created that portal?” Carol bemoaned. “I’m never going to get used to that.” 
“Shake it off, Carol,” Logan growled, his hand finding Twilight and pulling her to her feet. “We gotta find… Luco?”
Twilight blinked the stars out of her eyes and looked up. Just like last time, she and the others had come out as humans, with Logan still dressed in his leather jacket, yet also having a white undershirt, jeans and boots to go with it. Carol’s outfit hadn’t changed either, and neither had Twilight’s. Yet, when she looked for Spike…
“Twilight,” Logan said, his voice calm in a manner that suggested he was freaking out on the inside. “Why is Spike a wolf?” 
“I think the technical term is hound,” Carol admitted.
"Or dog," Twilight offered.
Sure enough, Spike had gone from a purple and green dragon to a purple and green canine. Still rather young, only coming up to Twilight’s kneecaps, and with a spiked dark blue collar with a red pendent tag. But there was no denying those bright green eyes. Twilight stared down at her dragon, blinking slowly.
“I…” Twilight stammered, shaking her head. 
“Seriously,” Logan demanded. “I come through and I have to be human, but Spike gets to go through and become a wolf?” 
“Hey, it’s not like I asked,” Spike growled at Logan. He indicated the mirror behind him. “You want to complain? There’s the mirror!”
Logan almost looked like he was ready to complain to the mirror. With his fists. But just as he glowered up at the innocent glass surface, he noticed six familiar forms reflected behind him.
“Um… hey there,” Sunset’s voice said sheepishly.  
The four newcomers spun around, finding all of the Humane Six waiting for them.
“Oh! Uh…” Twilight waved sheepishly at them. “Hey girls. We’re back.” 
“Also, did any of you see some crazy guy run through here?” Logan asked.
“You mean the Mohawk guy riding a dog?” Pinkie asked, grinning at Logan’s look of surprise. Rainbow Dash jutted a thumb towards the city.
“Guy high-tailed it down that way,” she said. “We were just about to go after him when we heard you guys pop out.”
Logan’s eyes widened. He briefly glared at the city before turning back to Rainbow Dash. 
“Then let’s go,” he declared. “We’ll meet and greet on the way.” 
“Got it,” Sunset said. “Let’s…”
“Let’s go everybody,” Twilight said over her. 
Sunset sighed, but didn’t press the issue, as the group moved into the city. Instead, she moved to Logan’s side.
“And Logan?” she asked.
“Mm?” he asked. 
“It’s… good to have you back,” she admitted.
Logan cracked a grin. “You missed me?” he asked incredulous.
Sunset grinned softly. “Well, you did show me what I’ve been missing the past, oh… all of my life.” 
"Friendship working out for you?" Logan asked with a grin.
Sunset gave the Humane Five a conflicted look, but her grin didn't fade.
"So far," she replied.
“Huh.” Logan pondered that as the group took off into the city. 

#

Logan cursed his normal human nose. Luco and Blazy had completely vanished into the city. And with Logan’s wolf form left back in Equestria, Spike was the only one capable of tracking the crazy human. Yet the poor dragon was completely untrained in the ways of a dog. He had no way of distinguishing the different scents, and when Logan tried to aid him with descriptions, Spike only ended up leading them to five different dumpsters and a sushi restaurant.
At the very least, Logan got the chance to inform them about the Sirens, as well as a brief rundown on what Luco was capable. He even convinced them to find a shop and buy a tub of wax, which he then spent the next few minutes molding into ear plugs. Yet, despite his warnings, they eventually convinced him to let them take a pit stop at a cake shop, where they started to do the last thing Logan needed: gossip.  
“I do hate that you had to return at a time of crisis,” Rarity bemoaned. “There’s so much catching up to do! Perhaps you would give us just the slightest bit of gossip from your world?” Rarity pleaded.
“She’s got an official title now,” Spike said from Fluttershy’s lap. “The ‘Princess of Friendship.’”
Carol chuckled. “Logan probably would have joined her as ‘Prince of Friendship,’” she added, before Logan could stop her. 
“If he hadn’t turned down the offer,” Spike added.
A collective gasp shot up. Logan covered his eyes. Carol flinched, covering her mouth at the sight of her pack mate in distress, but it was too late. 
“Carol, why?” he bemoaned as six pairs of eyes turned on him.
“You turned down a royal title?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “Are you crazy?”
Logan sighed, tilting back in his chair. “Just because your versions are happy with possibly millennia old spirits doing whatever they want with your bodies, doesn’t mean I’m comfortable with the idea too!” 
Applejack started to retort, before what he fully said processed.
“Millennia old spirits?” she asked. 
Carol’s eyes darted between the two, and she jumped on the chance to change the subject.
“Have you guys had any more encounters with magic?” she asked. “Something that could back up his claim about said spirits?”  
The girls glanced at each other.
“Well, now that you mention it,” Rainbow Dash said, before pulling out her phone. With a few taps, a picture showed up on her phone, displaying Rainbow Dash… with wings.
Logan’s eyes widened at the sight. 
“Pretty sweet, huh?” Rainbow Dash said with a grin, noting Logan’s amazement. “It happens to all of us when we play music.” She leaned back with a grin. “I don’t know about you, but if a millennia old spirit is the reason I can get wings when I’m rocking out, I’m more than happy to have em.”
“That's not quite true,” Twilight added in. “My crown may have been returned to Equestria, but some of its magic must have remained here at Canterlot High, mixed with fragments from Logan’s pack link. It’s not the Elements itself powering you guys, but a fragment of its magic.” Her eyes brightened. “Maybe now that we’re all back together, we can use that magic on the Sirens.”
“You’re forgetting,” Logan pointed out. “It was because Carol and I pack linked through the portal that magic got through at all. Without someone on the other side of the portal, I don’t know if the magic will transfer through as well.” 
“Of course, none of that matters if we don’t know where these ‘Dazzlings’ are,” Carol added before turning to the girls. “Any idea where we could catch them?”
Pinkie perked up. “There’s a big party tonight for bands,” she offered.
“Bands?” Logan asked.
“There’s a Battle of the Bands coming up,” Sunset replied. “It’s where they’re probably going to make their next move.” Her eyes narrowed. “Didn’t you read that on my message?”
“Yeah, but part of me was convinced the Sirens were going to make you guys fight with rubber bands,” Logan replied.
Pinkie chuckled at his perspective, making Logan grin at her.
“It’s a musical showcase, silly,” Pinkie elaborated. “All these different music groups come together and try to see who can play better.”
“But then the Sirens came in and sang this weird song about making it a competition,” Rainbow Dash added. “And… everyone just picked it up from there.”
“Yeah, about that,” Applejack noted, rubbing the back of her neck. “I didn’t want to say nothing cuz I wasn’t too sure if it was just me, but did any of ya’ll actually hear the music them Sirens were singing to? They were just singing without any music.”
“Yeah, I thought that was weird too,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “It wasn’t a Capella; it sounded like some sort of pop song without musical accompaniment.” 
“That would be their magic helping them,” Logan replied. “Speaking of which,” he added before placing the finished ear plugs before them. “You’ll want these, just in case the Sirens figure out you aren’t as affected and try something more forceful. If you can’t hear, they have no power over you.” 
Rarity looked at the tub of wax ear plugs with a grimace. “Surely, we don’t need these,” she noted worriedly. “We all heard the song and we’re fine; can’t we assume Twilight’s magic is keeping us safe.”
“Better safer than sorry,” Logan refuted. 
“I have to agree,” Twilight admitted. “If they catch wind that you aren’t under the spell, they might try something more… effective.” 
Rarity groaned, while Twilight turned back to Pinkie.
“So,” Twilight prompted her. “You said there was some sort of party?” 
“Yeah,” Pinkie agreed. “The party tonight is for all the bands who signed up to be in the showcase, which would include the Dazzlings.” 
Logan breathed. “Well, if we can at least find one of our foes at this place,” he said. “Then I guess it’s worth checking out.”
Twilight nodded. “Well, then, girls,” she declared. “Looks like we have a party to crash.”
Pinkie squealed in delight.

#

Of course, it didn't take long for things to go wrong. First of all, Logan found out with dismay that the party was taking place at the school gymnasium. On his insistence, the group hung out outside the gym, while Logan climbed up to the windows to peek inside. He saw a surprisingly modest looking setting for a party. No streamers or decorations; at most there was just a small snack bar.
Add to it, very few people seemed to be talking. They were mostly just glaring around at each other, sizing each other up. It was oddly like the calm before a battle, where the tense fighters were waiting for the first move.   
Next to the snack bar, Logan spotted what had to be the Dazzlings; three girls huddled up and whispering to each other. With his ear plugs in, he had no way of knowing what they were saying. But, he could assume it was something ominous, from the smirk on the yellow one's face.
Carol tapped his shoulder, sitting next to him. She briefly pointed at the Dazzlings, before indicating their hair with a grin.
Logan chuckled. The yellow Siren that seemed to be the most in control did have some rather impressive hair. Logan had heard of human styles like that; afros, he recalled; very popular back in 1980s America.
He was jarred from his thoughts by Rainbow Dash tapping his leg. He noted with satisfaction that all eight of his comrades had their ear plugs in, secured with bandanas. Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulder, mouthing, “How’re we doing this?”
Logan dropped down, followed by Carol.
He mimed walking inside before punching his fist: we go in and kick some tail. However, Twilight shook her head.
“No magic,” she mouthed, pointing at her head and Rainbow Dash’s back. 
Logan huffed. She was right; the Sirens may have figured out how to get their powers back, but Logan and the others were stuck in the bodies of normal humans. He scratched his chin and asked, “So, how’re we playing it,” hoping she could read his lips.
Thankfully, she could. 
“Mingle,” she mouthed, trying to sign it to the others. “Find the source of their power.”
Some of the others seemed to get it, though Fluttershy and Applejack gazed at them with confusion. Logan knelt, planning to draw out their plan, when movement caught his eye.
The wax had done too good of a job; as it managed to block out the stampeding noise of several fleeing students. 
Exchanging glances with the others, Logan, Twilight and Sunset took the lead, racing into the school. The students seemed to be running from the gym. And if they were running from the gym…
Logan was the first into the gym. His eyes widened at what he saw.
Luco was cackling and beating his chest like a gorilla from atop a giant stack of tables. Oddly enough, his tail was missing and his clothes were back, but otherwise, he still looked the same. Below him, Blazy and two humans that looked vaguely like two dim-witted colts that Logan had seen around Ponyville were standing with their arms crossed. Or, at least the humans were. Blazy was a canine like Spike now; while she was bigger than him, her head still only came up to Logan's gut. Her tail swished and her hackles bared in an attempt to look intimidating.
“I’m King of the Castle!” Luco was taunting, likely in a singsong voice. “I’m King of the Castle.” 
But then Logan saw who was facing him: the human versions of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom had a bottle of soda in her hand and her finger pointed at Luco dramatically.
“Justice will be swift,” read her lips. “Justice will be painful. Justice… will be… DELICIOUS!” 
“YEEEAAAAHHHH!!” the other two crusaders (and oddly enough, a bulked out white male that poked his head in from the windows) roared. 
“AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!” Luco roared back. 
As they roared, Logan began to hear music beginning to play. An oddly intense sounding bit comprising solely of vocals that thrummed against his ear plugs. He turned back as the rest of his group entered. Just behind them, sadly out of his friend's sight, he could make out those three girls, all with their mouths open and their arms spread. Logan was left wondering who to take on first: Luco, or the Sirens. 
“Oh, no…” Sunset whimpered, before Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in horror.
“Apple Bloom!” Applejack cried.
“Sweetie Belle!” Rarity lamented.
“Scootaloo!” Rainbow Dash screeched.
Logan turned back just in time to read Luco’s lips as he dove towards the snack bar before his fort: 
“OOOOOFFFFFF WITH THEIR HEADS!” 
The two boys shrugged, their eyes flashing green, and leaped over to the snack bar alongside their leader. Undeterred, the three crusaders charged full out.
Logan wanted to scream, but he knew that would do no good. So, instead, he charged after the kids as they prepared to undergo a barrage of food.
Applejack’s lasso soared past him, snagging her little sister. Rainbow Dash sprinted past Logan, diving to protect Scootaloo. With Rarity likely unable to keep up, Logan dove for Sweetie Belle, shielding her with his body as cupcakes, punch and other snacks fell towards him.
As Logan tumbled with Sweetie Belle in his arms, Carol lunged over him. She smashed through the punch and cupcakes, landing only for Logan to leap over her and continue to block the projectiles with his own body. As he landed as well, both of them gasped as Apple Bloom raced past, somehow having gotten ahold of Applejack’s lasso, her eyes glowing green. As Logan stared in dumbfounded disbelief, the young girl caught a cupcake with the lasso before hurling the snack back. 
Luco blocked the blow with the taller of the two boys, and as the boy was knocked out his hands, Blazy ran forward, hackles bared. 
Carol prepared to fight the golden retriever, only for Sweetie Belle to trample over her, racing towards Blazy with what Logan could only assume was a squeaky war cry. Logan tripped her up and Carol and Rarity tried to hold the girl down, but she struggled and punched at them, her eyes glowing a strange shade of green. Just as Blazy lunged for the four of them, Spike jumped forward, knocking heads with Blazy.  The bigger dog paused, winking at Spike with a grin, before seizing him in her jaws.
The younger and smaller dog was no match for the bigger dog, and she tossed him aside just as Logan lunged at her, only for Blazy to knock him away as well with a mule kick. Carol leaped over Blazy while her legs were outstretched, and seized her around the waist, rolling with her momentum and throwing Blazy clear over Luco’s fort. She hit the back wall with a yelp, and slid out of sight, which likely prompted a whimper from Fluttershy, who Logan noted with dismay was currently backed into a corner, watching the whole thing with all the horror of a child watching their parents fighting. 
Logan looked back, seeing Scootaloo struggling in Rainbow Dash’s grip. Applejack, Twilight and Pinkie were aiding her, but Applejack was looking up worriedly at her sister, who was currently fighting with the shorter of Luco’s minions. Luco raced at her with a baseball bat, but Logan left Sweetie Belle in the care of her sister and charged him, knocking him aside. A trumpet flew from Luco’s vest, but Logan didn’t get the chance to focus on it; as Luco tried to brain him with his bat.
Logan and Luco briefly struggled over the bat, only for Luco to grin crazily at Logan… before biting him right on the nose. Logan jumped back with a surprised bark, only to get whacked in the shoulder. 
Logan tumbled backward, only for Sweetie Belle to squirm out from Rarity’s grip, dodge Carol’s attempt to catch her, and charge for Luco with another war cry. Luco turned to her, his eyes flashing in amusement, before he readied his bat for a deadly swing. Rarity’s sister ducked at the last second, kicking at his shin and sending the pirate down. But Luco let himself fall, flattening the girl with his own body. 
Rarity screamed, racing forward and drop kicking Luco off her sister. Spike and Carol raced to her side as she checked over her sister, but failed to reign in Apple Bloom, who lunged past them to pursue Luco, her eyes shining with the spell of the Sirens.
Logan looked to Sunset, who had been waving frantically at him. She indicated their ears, pointing at Scootaloo, who had Rainbow Dash’s fingers in her ears, and was rapidly calming down. The Sirens were out of sight, but Logan could still feel their music in the air.
“We’ve got to override this music!” Sunset yelled. 
“Get on it!” Logan shouted back, before racing after Apple Bloom. The girl had somehow lassoed a broken table leg, and was swinging it around like a morning star. But she was still only a kid, and Luco was lazily dodging and batting it aside, grinning like this was nothing more than a game. 
Logan went to aid the girl, only for the shorter boy to grab his leg. Logan whipped his head around, snarling at the boy. The boy flinched, his eyes suddenly losing that odd green quality, and he scrambled to his feet and ran, yelping like a terrified dog. Logan watched him go in awe, before an apple to his head drew his attention. Applejack was racing past him, pointing frantically at Apple Bloom. Luco had wrenched the lasso from her hands, and as Apple Bloom drove forward, driven by the Siren’s song, he prepared to sandwich her head between his bat and her makeshift club.
Applejack wasn’t going to make it in time! Rarity was still checking over her sister! The others had just managed to calm Scootaloo down! There was no time!
As Logan saw Luco’s grin; his utter glee at what he was about to do to this girl – this girl who looked so much like one of the first real friends Logan had ever had in Equestria – Logan felt instinct take over. 
He caught sight of the trumpet Luco had dropped. Seizing it, he blasted into it. And he didn’t care what the music sounded like; all he cared was that it overrode the Sirens. That it saved Apple Bloom and stopped Luco. 
For a scary millisecond, nothing happened. Then a shockwave of lightning shaped like a wolf burst from the trumpet, smashing into Luco and Apple Bloom. As Logan's howl filled the air, the Siren's song sputtered out into silence.
Luco and Apple Bloom stumbled, the latter catching her head, which thankfully remained whole and unhurt. Luco was knocked off his feet, and scrambled briefly for balance before Applejack and Carol football tackled him, rolling across the ground. Logan spotted Applejack’s lasso lying forlornly on the ground, and scooped it up, jumping onto the dog pile with the two girls.
He fumbled the rope to Applejack, and while she made some quick loops, Logan resorted to punching everything that was under him. It took Carol yanking him backward to make him realize that Luco was beaten. The human lay with his limbs hog-tied together, his face a mess of purple and red. Yet he still somehow grinned that same crazy grin. Oddly enough, his eyes held no glow from siren magic, which only tempted Logan to punch him again.
Just before he could, a wad of fur slammed into him, and send the girls tumbling. Logan found himself on his back with Blazy sitting on top of him, smiling maliciously at him. But then… confusion etched her face. Logan tilted his head, pausing as she pawed at his chest. Her ears flattened, and she pawed harder.
“Blazy Blue!?” Luco protested. The dog flinched before both her and Logan glanced over at Luco. “Where’s your fire power?”
Blazy actually panicked. Logan stared at her as she let out a whining bark of protest, pawing at Logan again before racing over to the others. Applejack jumped in her way, but Blazy just pawed at her, barking in aggravation as nothing happened. No flames, no explosions, nothing fire-related happened when Blazy touched others. She spun around, her barking becoming more frantic, until Luco grabbed her attention.
“Blazy? Blazy Blue,” Luco said. “I’m not mad…” 
“NOOOO!” Blazy howled.
“Blazy,” Luco said firmly. “Blazy.”
She whimpered, but silenced herself enough to let him speak.
“I’m not mad; I’m disappointed.”
That was even worse! Logan chuckled as Blazy let out a heart broken howl. Fluttershy cooed in sympathy and walked over. Blazy feebly pawed at the yellow girl again before slumping into her arms, whimpering softly.
Logan shook his head before pulling himself up, sighing in relief. Luco and his crony were contained, and all three girls were safely with their family members.
Sweetie Belle was rubbing her head as Rarity crooned over her, and Scootaloo looked a little humiliated, surrounded by the others, but the glow was gone from their eyes, and their ears were safely plugged. 
He looked to Applejack, who was checking over her sister. When Applejack glanced at him, he mouthed. “She okay?”
Applejack gave the ‘okay’ sign, grinning slightly at Logan. And despite Logan knowing he never met this version of Apple Bloom, he sighed in relief.
A flicker of movement drew their attention, and Logan noticed the last of a veil of green mist skirting away from them. It slipped out under the door, but Logan raced towards it, only stopping to make sure Carol had Luco contained. 
Bashing the doors open, Logan skidded to a stop as he saw where the mist was going: into three glowing red pendants, each one situated around the necks of the Sirens. 
Logan grinned as he noted the serene, closed eyes of the Sirens. Looks like we found our power source, he thought.  
Then Vice Principal Luna rounded the corner. Her face, which looked like it had previously been set to ‘ready for war’ dropped into ‘traumatized by war and strife’ the second her eyes lay on Logan.
Logan smiled and waved cheekily at her. 
Luna was gone so fast, it almost looked like she teleported. But as she bolted, her scream was certainly loud enough to hear, even through ear plugs. Given how the Sirens yelped and raced away from the sound, Logan was halfway certain students would still be hearing it echo in the halls for the next week.
“SISTER!” Luna screeched. “THE FORBIDDEN ONE HAS RETURNED!!!!!!” 
Logan glanced towards Sunset, who winced as the sound made it through their ear plugs. He jabbed a thumb at them. “Under the spell?” he mouthed.
Sunset nodded.
Logan glanced back at where Luna had gone, ignoring the curious looks the Sirens were shooting him.
“Good,” Logan declared, before setting off after the vice principal.
> Siren Arc Pt 3: Logan vs. Principal Celestia; Round Two
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan knew he’d have to confront them eventually. His whole life had been a series of confrontations. But this one, for once, was one he was looking forward to. 
It was only going to be a matter of time before Principal Celestia and her vice principal found out he was back and around her school. And considering how he had parted ways with her, he was quite sure she’d be averse to his presence. Thus, with Luna likely seconds away from spilling the beans on him, Logan decided to handle them on his own terms. Additionally, if they were under the Sirens spell, he might even be able to break them out of the spell.
The idea of how he’d do that actually made him giddy. 
He had heard a while back that wolves could smell fear. And he supposed, in a way, it was true; people have a way of stiffening up and sweating when frightened, and he could smell the unique chemicals that came with said sweat. But if there was one thing to describe the scent that even his human nose could pick up as he approached Celestia’s office, he would gladly describe it as fear.
Not even bothering with a knock, Logan opened the door and walked right in. Luna was shivering, her hands gesturing frantically. Logan couldn’t hear, on account of his ear plugs, but he was pretty sure she was saying something along the lines of ‘demon wolf man! Here to destroy us all!’ He couldn’t resist chuckling; it was really kind of adorable how frightened this version of Luna was of him, considering how smug her equine version had been back when she invaded his dreams.
The memory made him angry, helping his mood as Celestia’s eyes darted from her frantic vice principal, and widened upon seeing him.
Logan gave her a cheeky salute… before his hand caught the snow globe she threw at his face. He glanced down at the snow globe, before looking up at her with an amused glint in his eyes.
She was pointing at him, storming towards him as spit flew from her mouth. He could tell she was, among other things, demanding he leave her school and life forever, but… not a single word got past his ear plugs. A fact he made clear to her by scrunching up his face and pointing at his ears.
“W-What’s that?” he asked. “You want me to hit you with this snow globe?”
Her eyes widened, and Celestia realized just how stupid it was to get within range of him. She tried to back up, waving her hands and continuing to scream as Logan threw the globe at her. Luna dove for the phone, but as Celestia’ ducked, Logan’s well-aimed pitch smacked the phone right off the desk. It clattered, it’s gear spinning away. Luna gagged in horror, while Celestia seized a ruler off her desk.
“Oh, you want me to hit you with that?” Logan asked, locking the door behind him. “Well, who am I to disobey a princess like you?” he added with a smirk.

#

Twilight already knew Logan was a loose cannon. As much as she cared for him, he never ceased to aggravate and annoy her with his apparent need to disrupt every plan she ever had. But never before had she been so aggravated with his irrational – yes, irrational, she thought, go away inner doubts – hatred of her teacher, second mother and best friend.
Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash had just made sure their little sisters (or whatever Scootaloo was to Rainbow Dash in this world) were safe, when Sunset had barreled in indicating the door before mouthing ‘Logan,’ and ‘Luna.’
Instantly understanding, Twilight sprinted for the principal’s office, her skin paling to the point that she looked like Rarity. Without sound, her imagination churned up horrible sounds of combat and strife coming from the office door. What if Logan had gone too far? These versions of Celestia and Luna weren’t alicorns! He could seriously hurt them! He could…!
Twilight smashed into the door and fell backward. Locked! Of course. Twilight got up and banged on the door. 
“Logan,” she snapped, despite knowing he couldn’t hear her. “Logan, open this door!”
The door clicked, and Logan opened the door, grinning like the morning after a night of passion.
“Why, hello, Twilight Sparkle,” he said, her face turning red as she could sense the teasing tone in his words. “Did you do your school work?”
Twilight shoved past him… and screamed. Celestia and Luna were tied back to back, their heads slumped like they were unconscious. An insane amount of scotch tape covered their mouths, looking like a spider had made its web right over their faces. Two massive welts cropped up on Luna's head, and Celestia's face was blue and white with bruises.
Logan’s hand clamped over her mouth, and he briefly removed her ear plug.
“Don’t draw the Sirens,” he hissed before trying to plug her ear back up. However, she smacked his hand away and squirmed out of his grip.
“I CANNOT believe you,” she exclaimed. “These versions of Princess Celestia and Luna haven’t done anything to you! Why are you so insistent on…?”
Logan scrunched up his face and indicated his ear plugs.
“What’s that?” he asked. “You’re saying you forgot about when they wouldn’t give us the crown back?” he grinned. “I thought you were smarter than that.”
Twilight growled like an actual wolf and lunged at him, trying to claw the ear plugs out. 
“Whoa, hey!” Logan growled, easily pushing her back. “Alright, I get it; I went too far!”
“You're darn right you did!” Rainbow Dash’s voice screeched, before she lunged through the door and onto Logan as well. Carol raced in, prying Rainbow Dash off by the hair, even as Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie showed up, all gaping in shock at the unconscious forms of their principal.
“What in tarnation is wrong with you?” Applejack tried to declare. “Beating up the principal? This is gonna…”
“They were brainwashed,” Logan snapped, shoving Twilight back and regaining his feet. “One of them threw a snow globe at me; I threw it back!”
“Did they also throw a ruler?” Pinkie asked, indicating the scattered supplies that lay scattered across the room. “Or the pencil? Or this pen? Or this picture of Sunset on last year’s fall formal? Or…” 
Pinkie’s voice didn’t have any anger to it as she listed the various weapons that had been used, but the glares the others shot Logan had more than enough to compensate.
“Oh, so angry,” Luco's voice mocked from outside. 
The group turned to see Sunset hauling a bound Luco to them. Fluttershy brought up the rear, Blazy on a leash and straining to stay close to Spike, smiling at him hopefully even as Spike tried to put as much distance between himself and the bigger dog as he could.
“So, malicious,” Luco taunted. “So bitter!” He laughed. “You should really get that anger out, like your little girls did. Slap him around, stomp on his feet… That Siren song is nice, but man does it make people cranky, huh?” He giggled at the glower Logan shot him. 
“Alright, enough!” Logan barked, and there was a boom in his voice that made both Twilight and Rainbow Dash back up, though both still glared at him mutinously. Logan pointed at the Humane Five. “You five, Carol,” he ordered. “Get him in here, then guard the outside; make sure the Sirens aren’t listening in. If you hear music, plug up your ears and get us to do the same.”
Applejack grimaced, but glanced back at the hallway. Rainbow Dash stormed out.
“If they are pulling a brainwashing spell,” she warned. “I’m going to let you get brainwashed, and then I’m gonna kick the spell out of you.”
“Just get to it,” Logan snapped at her, driving her out the door.
With a grunt, Carol and Sunset set Luco down next to Celestia. Fluttershy tied Blazy next to Luco. Luco gave her a grateful nod, nuzzling at Blazy with his head before double-taking Celestia’s tied up form.
“Oh,” Luco noted, observing Celestia and Luna’s unconscious bodies. “We got us a bondage party? I hope you brought plenty of lube.” He licked his lips, scanning Twilight’s chest and causing her to gasp and cover herself. “Chrissy Cue has made me a little more comfortable with girls on four legs, but I can appreciate my version of a classic.” 
Before Twilight could shout at him, Logan instantly stepped up and punched him hard enough for him to pitch backward, but Luco just laughed from his new position on the ground.
“Oh, my goodness, Logan,” he declared. “I didn’t realize you two were a thing!”
Logan nearly raised his boot to stomp him, but Sunset stopped him.
“Wait,” she said. “We’re here to free Celestia and Luna, not just beat him up.” 
Logan grimaced, and even Twilight fumed silently, but when both of them looked at each other, an understanding passed between them. 
“At least gag him,” Twilight asked. 
Luco gave Sunset a quick grin… which was rewarded with a stomp to the head.
“Looked up your skirt,” Luco mumbled, his eyes spinning as the group turned away. “Totally worth it,” he added before Logan seized the tape dispenser and taped his mouth shut. 
With the crazed pirate silent for now, Logan and the girls focused their attention on the principals. 
“Now, big question,” Sunset noted. “How do we cure them?” 
Twilight crossed her arms before brightening. “I got it!” She turned back outside. “Girls, get in here.” 
The five started to file in, but Logan stopped Carol. “Keep watch, okay?” he asked her.
She nodded, standing guard as the six girls assembled before the principals. Logan crossed his arms.
“Alright, Sparkle,” he said with a grin. “How would you handle this?” 
“Just watch,” Twilight replied, turning to her friends. “Alright ladies; let’s show this wolf how we do things.” Twilight declared, holding hands with Rainbow Dash and Applejack, while they held hands with the other girls. “Friendship… is MAGIC!”
Silence reigned. The principals sat unchanged. Luco tilted his head and turned to Logan with a shrug, though Logan ignored him, a smug grin forming on his face.
“And… nothing happened.” Logan noted.
“Oh, shut up!” Twilight grumped.
“Yeah, I don’t wanna agree with Logan, but…,” Rainbow Dash noted. “Weren’t there supposed to be… rainbows and lasers and stuff?”
Twilight let go of her friends’ hands, looking down. “I-I don’t understand. We’re all together again; why isn’t it working?” 
Blazy barked. When the group looked down at her, the larger dog slid the same trumpet Logan had used towards him. She wagged her tail and panted hopefully before glancing at Luco, her eyes big and begging for love. 
“Hang on,” Sunset noted, picking up the trumpet. “When you guys defeated me, Logan was drawing magic from the portal and his own pack link. The siren’s magic comes from music…” She rubbed her chin, before turning to Logan. “Maybe…?”
Twilight’s eyes brightened. “You might just be onto something, Sunset,” she exclaimed, seizing the trumpet.
“Really?” Sunset asked in elation, as Twilight pressed the horn into Logan’s hands.
“Logan, do you remember when you used this in the gymnasium?” she asked, speaking before he could reply. “Well, do it again.” Her eyes narrowed. “And don’t throw it at them.”
Logan glowered at her, but a glance at Rainbow Dash and Applejack got him to sigh in frustration. He stood before Celestia and Luna, and took a breath. His lips fitted over the trumpet, and he blasted it. Once again, lightning spurted from the trumpet, circling in a shock wave around the principals. 
Luco watched, intrigued, as the principals shot up, their eyes widening and their nostrils flaring as they tried to gasp through their gags. Their eyes flicked between the girls and Logan, particularly widening at the sight of Luco next to them, before they settled on glowering at Logan.
“So…” Applejack asked. “Did it work?”
Sunset leaned towards them. “Her eyes aren’t glowing green,” she noted.
“One way to find out,” Pinkie declared, before bounding forward and ripping the gag off Celestia’s mouth. The pink girl crouched down, hands over her fingers, while the others flinched away from Logan, expecting a round of profanity from the principal for his second assault on her. Celestia took a deep breath, and looked Logan straight in the eye.
“I hate you.” 
“I hate you more,” Logan refuted. “Are you still brainwashed?”
“No,” Celestia answered. “But I truly do not think that you understand the sheer devil fire that burns in me when I think about you now.”
“Eh, probably not,” Logan admitted, causing the girls to stare at him. “My hatred is more ice; like a glacier hiding a blizzard.” 
“Poetry aside,” Twilight snapped before crouching down to look at Celestia. “Please-please forgive us for this, Principal Celestia. Logan is… well, he’s a jerk, but I swear, he’s not here just to make your life miserable.”
Celestia blinked slowly at Twilight. “So, can I assume you’re here to help my students?” she asked.
“Depends,” Logan growled. “Are you still brainwashed?” 
“I’m not brainwashed,” Celestia snapped, pulling against her restraints. “I knew those Dazzlings were up to something, but after they sang to me and Luna, there was some odd… veil, over my mind, keeping me in the dark. It’s gone now… but I’d feel a lot better about it if I wasn’t tied to a chair,” she added frostily.
“Again, we’re really sorry,” Twilight insisted.
“Logan’s only here to help us,” Sunset promised. “Then he’ll leave with the Sirens.”
“Happily,” Logan added.
Celestia sighed. “Well, it’s not like I have many options,” she admitted, before fixing Logan with a glare again. “But mark my words, ‘Logan.’ A day of reckoning is coming for you. Something is going to happen soon; very soon, and it will make you re-think who you are and how you act around others!”
Logan strode forward, and for a scary moment, Twilight and Sunset feared that Logan was going to punch her again. Instead, he crouched down and stared her in the eye.
“Do you want to spend the rest of my time here tied to that chair?” he asked quietly.
Celestia was silent, though her glower had the force of the sun behind it. She shut her eyes with a sigh.
“No,” she admitted. “Would you please cut me loose?”
Logan stepped back, and with a nod, Twilight and Rarity cut the tape from Celestia. But, the second she was free, she lunged forward, her fist connecting with Logan’s jaw, snapping his head back. Rainbow Dash bit back a cackle of laughter, everyone shooting a nervous look at the silhouette of Carol, who spun around, staring at the door with a suspicious look. However, Logan caught himself, and rubbed his jaw with a grin. He fixed Celestia with a more appraising look. He chuckled.
“I was hoping you’d have some spice in you,” he noted, cricking his jaw.
“I did need to repay you for your last assault,” Celestia snarled through gritted teeth. “Be thankful I don’t do worse.”
“Be still, my beating heart,” Logan taunted, rubbing his jaw one more time before straightening up. “So, can we get back to saving the school from sirens?” 
“Yes,” Celestia replied frostily, cutting her sister loose. Luna almost lunged at Logan, her eyes flashing, but Carol banged the door open, fixing them with a glare. Luna fumed, but Celestia guided her behind her desk, settling herself down before them. The Humane Five joined Carol outside, and Logan locked the door behind them, leaving Logan, Twilight and Sunset with the principals; Spike, Luco and Blazy watching on.
“So, to recap…” Logan said.
“The Sirens likely have everyone in this school under their spell,” Sunset reported.
“The only exceptions would probably be us, Snips, Snails, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo,” Twilight added. “We either got them to stop listening to the music, or they heard Logan’s counter spell.” She turned to Logan. “Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash made sure their sisters had their ears plugged, and we did the same for the two boys. As long as we keep our ears plugged around here, we should be able to keep the Sirens out of our heads.”
“Of course, we can’t just walk around without sound from now on,” Celestia noted.
“Which is why we’re going to take them out,” Logan said. 
Celestia’s eyes narrowed. “Even if they are magical creatures, I would rather you not murder them in…” Celestia started to say.
“No one’s murdering anyone,” Logan countered. “They’ve got these weird necklaces with red gems on them. I saw them absorbing some kind of mist after we broke up the fight in the gym.”
“There was a fight in the gym?” Celestia asked, her mouth agape.
“Not important,” Logan refuted. “If we destroy the gems, they won’t be able to absorb energy, and I’m betting they wouldn’t be able to use their powers. They’d be even less of a threat than Twilight without her horn.”
“Hey, Logan?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah?” he replied… only to get smacked again. He didn't even flinch. “Point proven,” he replied defiantly.
Twilight gritted her teeth at him, before Sunset jumped in. “That may still prove difficult,” she noted.  “The whole school is under their spell. If we just walk up and try to break the source of their power, the entire school body will try to stop us.”
“Just like you tried to have us take over this 'Equestria' for you?” Luna noted drily.
Sunset flinched and fell back, while Twilight continued to ponder.
“It looks like their magic had an influence on music, though,” Twilight noted. “Rainbow Dash said that she and her band gain pony traits when they perform.” She rubbed her chin. “What if we played a musical counter-spell that broke their control and left them defenseless?” 
“If we’re going to free everyone,” Celestia noted. “We’ll need them all to hear it.” She glanced at her PA announcer. “Should I tell everyone to gather somewhere?” she offered.
“Not yet,” Logan said before Twilight could. “The Sirens saw us fighting. They might know what’s going on.”
As if fate was answering him, Carol poked her head in.
“They’re watching,” Carol whispered. “Haven’t approached and aren’t singing, but they see us.”
The group looked at each other, before unanimously donning ear plugs. Logan still had his tub of wax, and quickly fashioned plugs for Celestia and Luna. 
“Don’t let them near,” he warned Carol. “If they approach… tell them their friends never looked for them back home.” 
Carol tilted her head.
“They really didn’t, and I’m curious what they’ll do.”
Carol nodded and ducked back out, while Logan applied his own ear plugs, even adding some to Blazy, Spike and Luco.
Luco grumped as Celestia pulled out a pad of paper and offered pens. The pirate king struggled to see what they were writing.
“If they get too suspicious,” Twilight wrote out. “They might try something drastic.”
“Need to catch them off-guard,” Logan wrote out.
Celestia pondered it before writing. “Battle of the Bands? Your friends are signed up already, and the whole school will be gathered to watch. You use the counter spell to free my students, another one of you breaks their power in the confusion, and then all of you magical creatures go back where you came from and leave my school alone!” Celestia gritted her teeth as she wrote, and her pen punched a hole into the paper instead of a period. 
Logan and Twilight glanced at each other, before Twilight meekly wrote down. “Yes, ma’am.” She pondered for a moment, then added. “Problem: One of us needs to be officially in the Battle of the Bands.”
Rolling her eyes, Celestia held out her hand to Luna. Luna scrambled away and returned with a clipboard with various names written on it. Logan made out Rainbow Dash’s name before Celestia wrote his and Twilight’s names underneath Rainbow Dash’s. 
Logan cocked an eyebrow at them, but Celestia just glowered back at him. Twilight picked up her pen one more time.
“Make sure we’re in the bracket in front of the Sirens," she wrote. "We’ll hit them with the counter spell, and when the Sirens step up and try to reform their spell, Logan and Carol will break their pendants.” She caught Logan staring at her and shrugged, adding, “It’s what you do best; don’t get mad at me!”
Sunset, however, lifted both her thumbs up with a hopeful grin. The other four glanced at each other, before nodding. They had a plan. And it was time to execute. First order of business, telling the others. 
They stood and moved to walk out, before Celestia grabbed Logan’s arm. Silently, she mouthed. “This better work.”
Logan fumed and stormed back to her. Twilight tried to stop him, but he yanked his arm away, looming over Celestia.
“Let me make myself perfectly clear,” he warned her. “I don’t like you. I never have. The Sirens are the only reason that I’m here. And I’m going to get rid of them.” He leaned closer, ensuring she could read every word on his lips. “Get in my way, and you’re gonna have a much bigger problem than some stupid sirens.” 
Celestia instinctively backed up, and even Luna flinched under Logan’s glare. He rose up, and then walked out of the door, followed by Sunset. Twilight gave Celestia an apologetic look before shutting the door behind her.
As Logan turned back to her, she lifted up her own paper.
“After this,” it said. “We are going to discuss this. VERY thoroughly.”
> Siren Arc Pt 4: Never Stop
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sirens were gone when Logan came out from the office. Not a hair nor a note of their songs could be sensed. Carol and the Mane Five were giving odd looks at each other, Carol smiling, but Fluttershy stroking Blazy and Spike with a piteous expression.
Logan, Twilight and Sunset cautiously unplugged their ears. “We good?” Logan asked.
“Yeah, you won’t believe it,” Rainbow Dash replied. “They started to try their music spell crap, when Carol yelled at them about how their families never loved them.”
“The blue one – Sonata, I think,” Applejack continued, before Carol took over.
“Just burst into tears,” Carol said. “Apparently, she had a guy friend back home, and it kinda stung to know he didn’t even look for her.” 
“Wow, seriously?” Luco asked. “They… can mate with each other?” The others glared at him. “I always assumed they got their babies from the sailors they hypnotized.”
Logan taped his mouth shut again. 
“Either way,” Carol continued. “They had to take her away to calm her down.” 
“Which gives us some leeway,” Rainbow Dash said, striding closer to Logan. “Care to fill us in on the plan?” 
Twilight grinned. “Well, Rainbow Dash,” she said, indicating herself and Logan proudly. “Say hello to the newest members of…” her pride faltered. “Uh… what was your bands’ name?”
“The Rainbooms,” Rainbow Dash replied.
Logan deflated. “The what?” he asked, but Twilight spoke over him.
“Then meet the two newest members of the Rainbooms!” Twilight declared. 
The group stared at them both. Logan noticed Sunset trying not to look left out.
“We’re going to participate in this ‘Battle of the Bands,’” Logan said. “During the first round, we’ll unleash a magic counter spell through our music that should free everyone from the spell and warn them not to listen to the Sirens. Then, when the Sirens try to re-establish their control, Sunset, Carol and I will strike fast and take out the gems.” He grinned as Sunset perked up, glad to be included. “With the crowd freed from their spell, they won’t try to stop us, and once we get the gems away, they should pose no more of a threat than an average teenager does.”
“Cool!” Pinkie exclaimed.
The others made similar cheers of agreement. 
“So, what do you two wanna play?” Pinkie asked, yanking instruments out from nowhere. “Triangle? Sousaphone? Theremin?” She played the theremin with a coo. “So, magical…” 
Twilight grimaced. “I might take a little too long learning how to play something like those. I’ll just sing.”
Rainbow Dash faltered. “Like, lead singer?” she demanded. “Cuz that’s usually my gig!”
“Oh, for the love of…” Logan muttered, before picking up the trumpet Blazy had given him. “Can’t you stick with something like this thing, Sparkle? I don’t know what the heck I’m doing with it, but my magic still worked fine.” 
Twilight still rubbed her hands nervously, causing Applejack to step in.
“Well, to be fair,” she said. “Twi’s the only other one with the magic know-how to help us pull this thing off. She should be doing something she feels comfortable doing.”
“Plus, it’ll only be temporary,” Twilight assured Rainbow Dash. “We don’t have to win; we just have to perform during the first round of the competition.” 
Logan glanced at Rainbow Dash, expecting an argument, but Rainbow Dash glanced at him before sighing. 
“Okay, yeah,” she replied. “That’s cool.” She grinned at Pinkie. “I’ll just use this as a chance to hone my already insanely good lead guitar skills.” 
Logan scoffed, glancing at Carol. “Humble types, am I right?” he asked.
Carol giggled, while Applejack rolled her eyes.
“Ya got no idea, sugar cube,” she deadpanned.
“Well, if we got our plan…” Rainbow Dash said, before Carol cut in.
“Let’s get to this Battle of the Bands!” she declared. She paused. “Where… do we go?”
“Oh, the first round of the competition isn’t until tomorrow, darling,” Rarity replied.
“WHAT?!” Logan exclaimed. “You mean we have to spend an entire NIGHT in this world… in these bodies?!” he glanced down at his body before slumping in defeat. “Oh, White Wolf give me strength…” He paused as Sunset started giggling. When he looked at her, she laughed. “What?”
“I just…” Sunset wiped a tear from her eye. “You always act like you’re this big bad tough guy, but… I’ve spent YEARS as a human, Logan.” She cackled louder. “And you’re whining about spending only a single day?”
Logan glared up at her, before processing what she said. He then noticed Pinkie and Rainbow Dash starting to laugh at that irony. He crossed his arms and looked away.
“Well,” he finally said haughtily. “Maybe I just like being a wolf more.” 
That just got a full round of laughter from the girls. Carol noticed Logan’s eye twitching dangerously, and stepped in.  
“Actually, he has a point,” Carol pointed out. “Twilight, Logan and I… don’t exactly have a place to stay. Unless we go back through the portal, but I don’t like leaving you guys here with the Sirens still on the loose.” 
Pinkie gasped. “You know what THAT means!?” she declared. 
Logan and Carol grinned at each other before Pinkie enveloped them in a group hug.
“Slumber party at my house!” Pinkie cheered.
“WOO!” Luco cheered, with Blazy copying him. The others’ enthusiasm died by a fraction as they realized he was still there.
“Right,” Logan noted. “First things first; we can at least send this guy back to Equestria, right?” 
Twilight pondered it before smiling. “Well, my spell should allow us to go through the portal whenever we want, so… yeah. Let’s just hope Princess Celestia sent enough guards to contain him.”
“I’d feel better if just Luna was there,” Logan replied. “Even if we send Blaze last, your guards still suck.” 
“You know, you could actually do something about the guards if you thought about my offer to…”
“Oh, what’s that? I gotta get rid of pirates, Sparkles!” Logan seized Luco and zipped around the corner. Twilight followed him with a sigh.  

#

As it turned out, they didn’t need to worry too much about guards. As the group wheeled a bound and gagged Logan over to the portal, they saw a familiar blue Siren sitting right by the portal. She was looking at a book, but she didn’t seem to be reading any of it. Her gaze was more contemplative. Sad, even. 
The group back-pedaled into cover. The Siren didn’t seem to have spotted them, but then again, she looked more wrapped up in her own thoughts.
“What do we do?” Rainbow Dash hissed.
“Well, sending Luco’s out of the question,” Carol deadpanned. “If the others are watching… I mean, imagine if she knew just how close her home was…” 
Logan shut her jaw softly, weighing his options. 
“What do you think, Logan?” Twilight whispered.
“She’s on her own,” Logan mumbled. “Which means we could either get ourselves a hostage, or just end up springing some sort of trap.” 
“Two Sirens should be a lot easier to handle than just one, right?” Rainbow Dash noted. “Why not just get that pendant off her, bind her mouth shut and throw her through the portal?”
“Because if the other two are watching,” Twilight theorized. “Then we’re just showing them how to get into Equestria. And they probably won’t need those gems to unleash a whole new level of terror on our home.” She sighed, and turned back to Logan. “I’m sorry, Logan, but we need to bring Luco with us.” 
Logan glowered at the Siren. 
“What if she follows us?” Carol asked.
“We split off, two by two,” Twilight said. “Look casual, talk about going somewhere else. We’ll meet up by… uh…”
Rarity took out a key chain and clicked a device next to one of the keys. Further away, a pair of lights flashed. 
“My car’s over there.” She gave a nervous look to the others. “Though… it only seats five.” 
“Mm. Mm!” Luco hopped up. Logan held him down, but Luco indicated the parking lot with his foot before wiggling his hips. Carol gave him an odd look, but with another wiggle, he convinced her to reach into his pocket. A pair of car keys was in there as well.
“He has a car?!” Rainbow Dash hissed. 
“You mean he stole a car,” Logan growled. He turned to Pinkie. “I don’t suppose you have some kind of place where we can keep this jerk.”
Pinkie pondered it, before her hair flattened by a fraction. “I… may have a place,” she admitted, though she, for once, didn’t look happy about it.
“Alright,” Sunset said. “So, two by two. Fluttershy, you got Blaze?”
Fluttershy nodded, holding Spike and Blazy close… and unintentionally allowing Blazy the chance to lick at an aggravated Spike. 
“And Luco?” Logan asked, indicating his bound form. Luco grinned at them through his gag. 
Twilight fumed, before looking to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Keep him under control,” she told them. 
Logan grabbed Luco’s shirt. “You hurt either of them,” he snarled at the man. “And I’ll do the same to your dragon.”
Blazy yelped and even Fluttershy hugged her protectively, but a new light came into Luco’s eyes. He shook his head frantically and bowed his head. Logan grinned. 
“Well,” Twilight said. “It’s a better plan than nothing.” She stood and pressed herself next to Sunset. “Let’s go.” 

#

Twilight and Sunset made it first to Rarity’s car. As Rarity and Pinkie arrived, Pinkie used the car lock that Luco had stolen, revealing a jeep that could easily seat the rest of their group. Pinkie raced towards it while Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Luco arrived, and she got the jeep over just as Fluttershy, Blazy, and Carol arrived. They turned around just in time to see Logan racing over to them, the unconscious Siren slung over his shoulder.
Twilight gaped at him, while six collective hands slapped against six collective heads.
“Logan, are you insane?!” she hissed as he set the Siren down next to the cars.
“Probably,” Logan admitted, holding up the pendant around her neck. “But I gotta know…” He rested his hand on the pendent. 
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, everyone’s jaws dropped as Logan’s hand shifted, gaining yellow fur and clawed fingers. His eyes brightening, Logan lifted his other hand, gasping in joy as electricity coursed across his hands. However, Blazy's ears perked up, and she jumped forward, putting her paw on the pendent. Logan tried to knock her away, but just as he touched her, Blazy’s paw began to glow. Logan yelped and jumped back, losing his grip on the pendant.
“Fire!” he exclaimed, looking down at his claw as it changed back to a human hand.
Meanwhile, Blazy’s paw changed into a hand with a sharp set of claws, shrouded in flames. The siren woke, freezing in shock at the flaming hand in front of her. The girls watched in disbelief as fire began to blaze across Blazy’s paw. Their eyes widened in shock as her gem started to crack. Logan muffled a sound of protest, his eyes darting between Twilight and the Siren. Then, with Blazy tilting her head and the siren gasping in disbelief, the red gem shattered, a faint green mist spiraling up from it before fading away. Blazy’s paw returned to a normal dog’s paw.
The girls stared up at the mist before down at Blazy, who was gaping at her paw. But, when she rested it against the Siren’s cheek… nothing happened. 
“Well…” the siren noted. “Now I'm hungry for hot dogs.” 
Blazy howled in sorrow and ran crying back to Fluttershy and Luco, while Logan and Twilight looked at each other, Twilight grinning brightly while Logan still looked stunned.
“Spike," Twilight said. "Keep Blazy close. I think you two will come in really handy at the battle tomorrow."  

#

After a tense ten-minute drive, the girls reached Pinkie’s house, which Logan noted had a slight resemblance to Sugarcube Corner. Honestly, though, the sight of something familiar calmed his already frazzled nerves. 
It wasn’t exactly easy to hide two hog-tied prisoners, especially when one of the cars in question had been stolen from who-knew-where. But, thankfully, no police stopped them, and Logan made sure to drive the jeep far away from the homes of any of the Humane Six, eventually parking it in an abandoned lot before high-tailing it back to Pinkie’s house. The journey back took more time than Logan expected, and by the time he found the Sugarcube Corner house again, its windows were dark, soft snores echoing from the windows. Logan would have been locked outside had Twilight not been seated at the kitchen table, poring over a purple book. 
“Any problems?” Twilight asked as Logan walked in. 
“Not on my end,” he replied. “You guys?” 
Twilight indicated a basement. 
“Carol’s been watching over Luco and Sonata in the basement,” she replied. “Pinkie insisted she and Carol share shifts, but… Hopefully, they’re all just as asleep as everyone else is.” 
Logan nodded before heading towards the basement. Just before he opened the door, he paused, glancing back at Twilight. 
“And you?” Logan asked, glancing at the book curiously.
Twilight shook her head. “I’ve been looking over my own version of a counter-spell,” she said. “I mean, I know that your version of howling worked on the Crusaders and the Principal, but… I feel really weird not trying to help. We only get one shot at this; and it’s gotta be perfect.” 
“You said it,” Logan admitted, looking back. For a moment, they were both silent, yet Logan didn't go to join Carol. Twilight noticed that he kept staring down at his fingers, clenching and unclenching them, as if he was waiting for lightning to spiral across his fingertips again.
“What about you?” Twilight asked. "Are you okay?" 
Logan grimaced, shaking his head. “When… I got taken by Tirek,” he mumbled, looking up at her. “Was there… any part of me left in my body? Like… did… I dunno, did I roll my eyes when you got overdramatic, or at least bite at Tirek… I mean, I saw I was biting at him before, but…”
His fingers clenched into fists, and Twilight saw with a gasp that his fists were trembling. She stood up and walked over to him, holding his arm. 
“Logan,” she said softly. “You’re back. You’re you.” She grinned. “I’m pretty sure you proved that when you turned down the Elements.” 
Logan’s eyes were shut, but he managed a faint grin.
“It was dumb,” he admitted. “Wasn’t it?” 
“What was?” Twilight asked.
“Come on, Sparkle, you’re smarter than that,” Logan growled, lifting his head up. “I told your Element that I’d accept the challenges that would come without their gift… and all the pain that comes with them. But… I didn’t think about how you guys would handle that pain. That challenge.” He looked at her, and Twilight truly saw the light in his eyes.
He was scared.
"Logan," Twilight insisted. "We've always found a way through before." She rubbed the back of her head. "I'll admit, I don't know how sometimes, but we've usually found a way."
"And it was a good thing you did," Logan admitted. “If it wasn’t for you and Carol, I’d still be serving Tirek,” Logan said, clutching at Twilight’s hands. “I failed in a way I've never failed before. And…” He looked down, his hands trembling. “And I don’t want to know what might happen if I fail again.” 
Twilight choked back a gasp, and rested her head against Logan’s.
“Welcome to my world,” she replied softly. 
For a moment, they sat like that. It took a creak of the floor boards to break them apart. The two whirled to see Sunset standing in the doorway.
“Oh, Logan,” Sunset stammered awkwardly. “You’re back.”
“Yeah,” Logan said, letting go of Twilight and stretching his back out. When he spoke again, his voice was gruffer; more confident. “Jeep’s in a parking lot on the edge of town. Had to run my missing tail off, but hopefully we’ll be long gone before the owners figure out who stole it.” 
Sunset’s eyes briefly darted between him and Twilight, before she shrugged and walked past them to a fridge.
“We really are lucky you two are here,” Sunset noted.
Logan and Twilight glanced at each other, nervousness threatening to break out on even Logan’s face. 
“That’s what everyone keeps telling me,” Twilight noted, before Sunset gasped. Logan ran forward, worried there might be a threat, only to see her staring at the inside of the fridge. At least fifty cans of whipped cream sat innocently inside.
“Who could possibly need this much-whipped cream?” Sunset pondered.
“Pinkie Pie,” Logan replied, grinning softly. “Some things carry across dimensions well enough.”
Sunset hummed at that, grabbing a bottle of the stuff. Though when she looked back, Logan noticed an edge of bitterness to her eyes.
“Must be nice to have everyone always looking to you for answers to their problems,” Sunset noted. “Instead of waiting for you to cause a problem.” 
“Or expecting your solution to just cause more problems,” Logan noted, chancing another worried glance at the basement.
Twilight smiled softly at him before looking sadly down at her book.
“Just because everyone expects something from you,” she noted, looking up at Logan before Sunset. “Doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to happen.” 
“Well,” Sunset replied with a sigh. “That doesn’t stop them from expecting it.” 
“Which only makes things harder,” Twilight moaned. 
“Because even if you act like you got control,” Logan noted. “The last thing you want to do is…”
“Let everybody down,” all three of them said at the same time. They all looked up at each other, eyes wide. Cyan, purple and silver eyes glanced at each other. 
Logan chuckled. “Look at the three of us,” he noted. “We all pretend we know what we’re doing… when we really don’t.” 
Sunset frowned in concern. “W-What do you mean?”
Twilight frantically motioned for Logan to stop, but he shook his head.
“No, Sparkle,” he insisted. “Pack or friend, we shouldn’t hide how we feel from each other. Because if we can’t trust each other… we can’t trust anyone.” He turned back to Sunset, who was staring at him in partial awe and partial confusion.  
“If I’m being honest,” Logan continued. “I’m not sure if our plan’s gonna work. We’re still going to try, but…” He leaned against the wall. “I may not act it, but… I’ve never really felt in control of a situation. I just… go with my gut. And hope it leads me somewhere I’ll like. Even if everybody else thinks I’m out of my mind,” he added with a smirk at Twilight.
“And… you don’t know if we can do this?” Sunset asked.
Logan sighed. “I know you guys need high morale,” he admitted. “And I'm not saying we give up. But constantly saying ‘we’ve got this’ only works for a short time. Sooner or later, you gotta have someone that you can say, ‘I don’t know if we can do this’ to."
“Someone that shares that doubt… and can help you through it,” Twilight realized.
“Without letting the rest of the group fall to despair,” Logan added. “Try to share too much with them, and you risk letting them fall. But hide too much from them, and you’ll fall twice as hard.” 
Sunset pondered that, looking down. “I have a lot to learn about friendship,” she admitted.
Logan grinned. “Well, I think Sparkle might like this,” he said. “But, I’ve found that no matter how old you get… you never stop learning.”
Twilight chuckled, sharing a grin with Sunset… only to be interrupted by a slow clap.
The three spun around. Luco was leaning against the basement door, unbound and ungagged, slowly clapping his hands.
“That. Was. Beautiful,” Luco praised. “Marvelous! More! Bravo!” 
Logan growled, his human teeth baring. Luco gasped in mock horror.
“Oops,” he declared. “Did I ruin the moment?” 
Logan rushed him, slamming him against the wall. 
“Get the others up,” he growled at Twilight and Sunset. “Go!”
The two raced out of the kitchen, while Logan pressed his arm against Luco’s neck.
“Carol,” he hissed. 
Luco rolled his eyes. “Oh, come now, Logan,” he said. “You should know by now; I don’t kill people. There’s no fun in death.”
He spun Luco around and shoved him back towards the basement. 
“If you’ve done anything to her…” he snarled, before slamming the door open with Luco’s body.
“You know, you sound really cranky,” Luco noted as Logan tried to shove him down the stairs. “You really need to let that pent-up anger and frustration out.” 
Logan knocked him down the final few flights… only to gasp in horror at what he saw.
First thing was without a doubt the room itself; it looked almost like a torture room! A large rack like device sat in the corner of the room, scuffed with what looked like whip marks. Leather gimp outfits and a saddle hung next to it, along with what looked like whips, riding crops and paddles kicked unceremoniously underneath the rack. The wall had faded red markings that looked suspiciously like blood, and Logan could faintly make out phrases like ‘LETS PUT A SMILE ON THAT FACE!’ or ‘CUPCAKES LIES!!’
But the worst part had to be the sight of Carol, strapped to the rack device. And standing around her were the Sirens, their former captive Sonata standing with them. All three grinning sadistically at Logan.
“And I,” Luco continued smugly. “Have just the solution for you.”
> Siren Arc Pt 5: Old Wounds
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan’s hands dove into his pockets, bringing out his ear plugs, but Luco kicked him in the shin, knocking him down. With a quick pinching sensation, Logan’s ear plugs were yanked from his fingers, as Luco rolled away with another kick to his chin. Logan’s back hit the wall, while Luco landed on Blazy’s back, the dragon-turned-dog struggling to support the man’s weight, but grinning as if it was no trouble. The deranged human then showed off, not one pair of ear plugs, but ten pairs, all nestled between his fingers.
Logan’s blood ran cold. “The others…” he whispered.
“I wouldn’t put much faith in reinforcements,” Luco admitted with a shrug. 
The lead siren – the one with the afro – clapped at Luco’s performance, which he gave a quick bow to. 
“You know, I was curious about when we’d get to meet face to face,” Afro said. “Ever since that fight in the cafeteria, I was curious about the two of you.” 
“How’d you even find this place? Unless…” Logan glared at the blue one. “She WAS bait after all.”
Sonata shrugged. “Well, to be fair,” she noted, rubbing at her neck. “It wasn’t in the plan to lose my gem.” She gave a particular glare at the pink Siren, who turned away with a scoff. “Although, I don’t feel as hungry as I used to,” the girl added, before her stomach grumbled. “Scratch that; I’m hungry for something other than negativity and anger.”
“Aw, my poor little siren,” Luco cooed. “After we deal with these pests…” He fished a wallet out of his pocket. “Free tacos; on me.” 
The blue one gasped in glee, only for the other two to hold her back.
“One thing at a time, Sonata,” the leader insisted, her gaze focusing on Luco. “Right now, I’m more curious about you.” she noted, walking over to Luco and resting her arm on his shoulder. “You have to love humans, eh, 'Logan?'” Adagio noted with a cackle. “Selfish, short-sighted and oh-so-easy to manipulate.”
“Well, it also helps that you have something I need, Adagio,” Luco said. He laughed at the look of shock that crossed Adagio's features. “Oh, surprised? I’ve known about you three for a while.” He winked at Logan. “Nicked the band playlist on my way out.” He pointed at each of them. “Adagio Dazzle.” He pointed at the pink one. “Aria Blaze.” He pointed at the de-powered Siren. “Sonata Dusk.” 
“But you were tied up!” Logan protested. “How…?” Then he noticed Blazy whistling – howling? – softly to herself. “Ugh…” Logan growled.
"N-No matter," Adagio tried to say grandly. "He's at least not a threat." She turned her eyes to Logan, who had tried to draw closer to the tied-up Carol. “Not like you,” Adagio noted, sniffing the air with a smirk. “No, nothing like you.”
“Yeah,” Sonata noted. “Isn’t he that source of magic we sensed way back when? Y’know, the one that drew us to the high school, and could possibly bring us back to Equestria so we could make Equestria adore us…?”
Aria shoved her. “Shut up, Sonata!” she hissed.
“Hey, don’t be pushing around the cinnamon bun!” Luco snapped, jumping to Sonata’s side. Adagio and Aria stared at him before glancing at each other in worry, allowing Logan to creep another step closer to Carol. He could hear bustling from upstairs, but with the knowledge that they were completely unprotected, Logan only felt fear and nervousness clash against his focus on getting to Carol.
However, Adagio noticed the noise as well. Her grin widened, even as Logan crept closer to her.
“Either way," Adagio said. "You've been a rather sudden thorn in our sides, 'Logan.' An interesting one, I'll admit, but it's time to get you and your little friends out of the way.”
Logan stood his ground. “Not gonna happen.” He growled.
“Oh, careful, Low-gee-loo,” Luco noted, waving his ear plugs teasingly “Your voice may be the counter spell, but it’ll be a little hard for you to counter anything with a brain turned to soup and no trumpet.”
Logan pressed his fingers into his ears. 
“I don’t need hands or my powers to kick your non-existent tails,” Logan snarled, crouching into probably the weirdest battle stance he had ever taken, what with him trying to plug his ears while looking menacing. 
Though it probably wasn’t his ridiculous stance that the Sirens started to grin at.
Despite Logan trying to plug his ears, he heard Adagio say faintly, “Who said anything about kicking our tails?”
Logan tilted his head, before Aria and Sonata unchained Carol. However, before the girls could open their mouths, Carol threw herself forward, smacking her head on the floor.
“Carol!” Logan yelped, racing to her side. But her eyes were glassy, and fluttered shut.
“Don’t… wake me…” she mumbled. “Not gonna… fight you.” She smacked her head again, and went still.
Adagio tsked. “Aw, she doesn’t want to play,” she pouted.
“Well, if she won't...” Aria noted. "Someone else will.” 
At that moment, the door burst open. Logan turned as the Humane Six and Twilight raced in, completely unprotected.
“Guys!” he screamed. “Don’t…”
But he was cut off by Rarity’s scream.
Before Logan could explain, a bat slammed hard into his head. Luco jumped over his body with a cackle. Just as Rainbow Dash moved to stop him… 

Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh, you didn’t know that you fell.


Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh, now that you’re under our spell!”

Logan curled into a ball, pressing on his ears. The girls similarly tried to block out the sound, leaving Luco, Blazy and Sonata free to skip out. Blazy tried to take Spike with her, but the dog buried himself under Twilight, and Blazy was forced to follow Luco with a childish pout. Though Logan didn’t get much of a chance to watch.

We've got the music,
Makes you move it
Got the song that makes you lose it
We say "jump", you say "how high?"
Put your hands up to the sky

The song pressed against his blocked ears, leaking in through even the tiniest space. As Rainbow Dash looked up, Logan gasped as he saw her eyes flash green.
“Block your ears!” he pleaded. “Don’t listen to their…”
Suddenly, he remembered Carol. He spun around, but the hound was still out cold. Her eyes briefly fluttered open, then shut again. 

 “Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our spell”

Carol curled into a fetal position, pressing her claws against her ears. Logan dared to hope that she could resist. But then… a new voice cut into his ears. 
“Fantastic!” Twilight’s voice growled. Logan spun to see Twilight glaring at him, her eyes flashing green. “Because you can’t listen to a single thing I tell you to do, you brought the Sirens here!” 
Logan gaped at her in horror. He even saw her own eyes widen in horror underneath her expression of anger. The Sirens had gotten past her magic after all. Logan wanted to calm her down. But as he opened his mouth… 
“Hey, I destroyed the gem,” Logan snapped. “There’s only two of them thanks to me.”
“Oh, right,” Twilight snapped back, despite the fearful look in her eyes. “Because that’s your solution for everything; destroy, punch and bite! You know, it’s no wonder the Celestia of this world hates you!”
Logan laughed, unable to hold back the negativity that had festered in his chest for the sun alicorn. “Oh, that is cute; you think I care what any version of that tyrant thinks of me,” Logan snarled.
“Are you honestly still mad at her?” Twilight demanded. 
“Why wouldn’t I be?” Logan shot back. “She killed my mother!” 

Listen to the sound of my voice
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
Soon you'll find you don't have a choice
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
Captured in the web of my song
Oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh
Soon you'll all be singing along
Oh-whoa-oh

“Twi, Logan, enough,” Applejack said, trying to keep her ears plugged. “That-there Siren magic is making ya say these things. You guys are supposed to be friends!”
“Maybe,” Twilight snapped. “But I’ve had it with this insufferable grudge he’s got against my teacher.”
“And besides,” Rainbow Dash growled, her ears sadly unsecured. “You’re one to talk about being friends, Applejack, considering you argue with me every time I try to make our band look good.”
Applejack spun around, her eyes flashing as even she fell to the music. 
“You keep hogging the spotlight every time we try to play!” Applejack insisted.
“I’m just trying to make sure my band rocks as hard as it can,” Rainbow Dash refuted.
“OUR BAND!” Fluttershy growled.  
“Land sakes, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack growled. “It might have been your idea, but it ain’t just yer band!” 
“Guys…” Sunset pleaded as the three dissolved into fighting. Logan noticed with relief that her ears were still plugged. She held up the tub of ear wax left over.
“Rarity?” Sunset tried to turn to the white girl, but…
“I seriously can’t believe you’d have something this depraved!” she was screaming at Pinkie. 
“I was going through a phase!” Pinkie snarled back defensively. “Besides, you had one too.”
Rarity gasped in horror. “How dare you… I never…” Rarity sputtered in anger. 
Logan looked at her in silent regret. Twilight too. But the magic wasn’t just making them mad at each other for no reason. Logan could feel the resentment and anger that had lay festering in his gut for Twilight and her precious teacher; feelings he had thought were long buried since he got Carol back. But the music brought them to the surface with barely any effort; like a laxative for emotions and bottled up feelings. And sadly, it seemed just as effective on Twilight.
“I want to know why you can’t figure out that Celestia isn’t your enemy,” Twilight continued. “Yes, she made mistakes, but those mistakes happened over two years ago. You need to let go!”
“And why should I listen to a word you say,” Logan snapped back. “You don’t know the first thing about a mother’s role; you traded your mother for Celestia!”
“I DID NOT!” Twilight screeched.
“YES, YOU DID!” Logan barked back. “You’d understand why I can’t forgive Celestia otherwise. She killed my mother! No matter what she does, I can never forgive that! That’s not just a ‘mistake,’ Sparkle!” 

Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
You didn't know that you fell
Oh-whoa-oh, oh-whoa-oh
Now that you're under our spell

“Please stop!” Sunset pleaded. 
“I write songs too,” Fluttershy argued with Rainbow Dash. “You just never listen to me!”
“Rainbow Dash knew,” Pinkie was arguing with Rarity. “She even liked it!”
“That’s a lie, and even I can tell!” Rarity snapped back.
“It happened TWO YEARS AGO, Logan,” Twilight screamed. “You need to LET IT GO!”
“NEVER!” Logan snarled back. “I can’t believe I ever trusted a self-absorbed, greedy little human like you!”
That briefly stopped the arguing from the other Humane Five, but it also drew their ire.
“Hey, what’s wrong with being a human, mutt?” Rainbow Dash demanded. 
“Oh, nothing,” Logan fumed, sarcasm and fury mixing like a cocktail in his voice. “I love you guys so much; all of you have your heads so far up your own egos, that if you hand out some green paper to some con artist having a pity party on the side of the road, you’re suddenly a hometown hero!” He stuck a finger in their faces. “All you discount apes do is ruin the lives of everyone else, and you don’t care about anything but yourselves!” 
“We didn’t ruin your life, Logan Wolfe,” Rarity snapped. “Don’t blame us for problems we didn’t cause!” 
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash snapped. “Some of us don’t even know what happened! And with the way you act, I personally don’t even care!” 
“Then what are you even doing here?!” Logan growled at her, pointing at the door. “GET OUT! Get out of my home! Get out of my life! Just… stop being human; just leave me alone!” 
“It’s not your home!” Pinkie screamed. “It’s mine!”
“You wanna test that theory?!” Logan growled, raising his fists before Twilight jumped in. 
“Stop it!” Twilight screamed. “Now you listen to me, Wolfe,” she said, turning on him. “You are not kicking anyone out of their own house! If I wanted to leave you here for the rest of your life, I could do it! You are not in control here! The only reason we’re in this mess is because you can’t sit still and think through your actions for one moment because you're angry that Celestia is stronger than you!” 
Logan scoffed in disgust. “Oh, is that what you think this is?” he demanded.
“Yes!” Twilight snapped. "Two years may have passed, but you’re still just a scared little colt, lashing out at everything around him because he thinks acting like an angry jerk hides just how sad, terrified and pathetic he really is!” 
“Well, at least I actually try to do something instead of just sitting back and thinking myself crazy,” Logan shot back. “If it wasn’t for me taking the incentive, you’d just sit back, whimper and mope while people like the Dazzlings, Sunset and Tirek took over everything! If they win, it’s your fault!”
“I’M NOT THE ONE WHO…” Twilight tried to scream before…
WHAP! SLAP!
Logan and Twilight’s heads snapped sharply to the right. Logan spun, finding that, for the second time in this world, Sunset had slapped him. Yet her cyan eyes weren’t narrowed in fury. With nothing but a pointed finger, she explained exactly why she wanted the others to stop.  
Everyone froze. With a slow, creeping chill, they all noticed green mist swirling around them, wafting out of the basement. The singing had faded.
Logan swore before bolting to the door.
The door was locked, but Logan, Carol, Applejack and Rainbow Dash smashing it together broke the lock. The group surged up the stairs, only to see the front door swinging closed. 
Logan bashed it open just in time to see the Sirens backing out of the driveway in Rarity’s car. Luco was behind the wheel, and Sonata was cuddling with Blazy. Behind them… Logan shuddered as he saw wings coming out of Adagio and her crony’s backs. Adagio was leaning out the window, letting her wings flare, while the crony was scrunched unhappily inside, her wings taking up too much of the back seat.
“Delicious!” Adagio declared to them happily. Sonata huffed, rubbing at her neck unhappily.
“First stop?” she asked Luco.
“Tacos, Siren, on the double,” he declared. “And then, we can discuss my little ‘business proclamation.”
Logan leaped onto the hood of the car, but with a quick twist of the wheel, Logan spun the car like a top. Logan’s human form lacked his claws, and he easily slid off the hood and tumbled into the sidewalk on the other side. With Aria giving Logan’s group a rude gesture, they sped off, leaving the group standing on the driveway in a state of shock.
“My car!” Rarity wailed, briefly racing after them, only to stop with a hopeless wail as they zoomed around the corner and out of sight. 
“What… just happened?” Carol mumbled, stumbling out of the basement and rubbing a welt on her head. “Why…?” 
Logan gasped and raced to her side. "Carol, are you...?" he grimaced at the welt on her head. 
"I'm alright," Carol tried to assure him, even as he deflated. "Seriously, Logan, I'm fine."
"You would be if I had been there," Logan mumbled.
Carol tried in vain to comfort her pack mate, while Sunset looked at her friends sadly. 
“It’s like Logan said,” Sunset realized. “It’s not healthy to conceal your feelings from each other.” She turned to the others. “Ever since the Rainbooms started, there have been small things getting to all of you; Rainbow Dash’s ego. Rarity’s obsession with fashion.” Sunset looked at Logan and Twilight. “And when you two got here, I was just so happy I wouldn’t have to solve this on my own… that I didn’t wonder if you had problems back where you came from. If Logan's grudge against the Princess wouldn't cause problems with one of her greatest students." Sunset bowed her head. "I didn’t say anything because I didn’t feel like it was my place. Not when I was still new to the whole ‘friendship’ thing.” She looked down at Logan. “I still have so much to learn. But I do know now that if you don’t work out even the smallest problems right at the start, the magic of friendship can be turned into something else.”
Twilight slumped next to Logan. “And I never realized all that was happening under our noses,” she whimpered.
“Not just their noses,” Logan confessed, looking at Twilight.
Twilight looked up at him to see him shivering. 
“You were right,” he whispered.
Twilight looked up. “Huh?”
Logan rubbed his forehead. “Ever since what happened with Tirek… I feel… weaker.”
“Who?” Fluttershy asked, as the others grouped around him.
“A… monster,” Twilight explained for him. “He was stealing the magic from our land.”
“I thought I could stop him,” Logan admitted. “And I couldn’t. I lost…” he looked down at his arms, tension tightening his muscles as he tried to flare his lightning without success. “I lost my magic. And nothing felt worse. Not even when I took on a dragon, and he nearly killed me.” 
Fluttershy gasped in horror.
“And part of it was because of Luco,” Logan added, a growl entering his throat. “What I said… I know you guys weren’t at fault, but you’re easily the first humans I’ve ever befriended, and even then, that’s only because you look and act like the friends I made in Equestria.” He gave a sad scoff. “You guys looked on us like we had all the answers. That we were saviors coming to make everything right; and I wanted to be that. I wanted to prove Tirek and Luco didn't break me."
"And I didn't want to let any of you down," Twilight added.
"But…” He shook his head and hid behind his arms. “But we don't have all the answers,” he finally admitted. “Heck, for all my experience? I never beat Luco. I couldn’t even beat the Sirens without help. And now that they’re working together?” He shook his head. "You guys kept looking at us like we had all the answers... and we don't." 
Twilight covered her head with her hands. "But I wish we did," she added sadly. 
The girls stared at him in horror. Logan bowed his head, wishing he didn’t have to see the hurt and fear in their eyes. Their terror at his display of weakness. 
“But... come on, Logan,” Rainbow Dash sat closer to him. “You’ve done so much already.” She gripped his shoulder. “You’re the Lone Wolf of Equestria.”
He wasn’t moved.
“That’s the thing,” he admitted. “’The Lone Wolf dies, while the Pack survives.’ And, tell me this, Dash.” He looked at her. “Can you really say that you don’t have any doubts?”
Her silence was her answer. Logan nodded sadly and looked away. Carol, however, pulled herself up.
“’The Lone Wolf dies, while the Pack survives,” she said softly. She looked up. “But you’re not just a Lone Wolf,” she insisted. “You have a pack.” 
Logan looked up as the others rose up as well. 
"That's how you beat the Sirens before," Carol insisted. "And that's how you'll beat em again." 
Sunset offered him a hand.
“It may not be a classic pack,” Sunset admitted. “But it’s gotta be better than going it alone.” 
Logan smiled, and took her hand, letting her pull him up. He turned to Twilight, and knelt to her level.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “For what I said, and…”
“I’m sorry too,” Twilight said. “I guess I… never realized how much those feelings were affecting me until the Sirens brought them to light.” She looked him in the eye. “Celestia… means a lot to me. But, I can't force you to forgive her. Not for something like... that." 
"Should we even...?" Rainbow Dash tried to ask, but Applejack waved her off.
"That topic is best left alone, sugar cube," Applejack replied, before grimacing. "And... I'm sorry for what I said."
As the Humane Five exchanged apologies, Logan nodded in understanding to Twilight's apology. 
“And I understand your feelings for Celestia," Logan replied to Twilight. "Even if I can’t share them.” He offered his hand. “Can we still work together?” 
Twilight chuckled, but took his hand. “It’s how we’ve gotten this far, right?” she said.
Logan nodded, and shook her hand before pulling her up. When he turned back to the others, his voice was gruffer. More confident. More assured.
“Alright, guys,” he declared. “No more moping. I may not have beaten Luco before… but that’s gonna change tonight.”
“That’s what I’m talking about,” Rainbow Dash cheered, as the others cheered in glee as well.
“So, how’s it gonna work?” Applejack asked.
Logan took the ear wax tub and started kneading more plugs. "First things first," he said, "We're not walking into another battle unprepared." As he kneaded, he turned his eyes towards Twilight. “Sparkle?” he asked. “Got any ideas?”
Twilight gazed in the direction of the school. “Well,” she noted. “With us out of the way, they’ll probably want to get Principal Celestia back under their control as soon as possible. They have to know that we freed them. Though, now that they have Luco with them…” she pondered before turning to Carol. “Has Luco always played fast and loose with sides? I mean… what does he get out of this?” 

#


“The soundof battle, wolf on man.


Anger, violence, clan on clan.


The roar of a crowd, to a victor’s cry! 


That’s my lullaby!”

Luco ended his song with a bow to the Sirens. Adagio and Aria were watching, unimpressed, while Sonata looked up from a massive pile of soft tacos to give a thumb up.
Ignoring the miffed or confused looks of the other patrons, Luco rolled off the table, landing next to Sonata.
“So, what d’you think?” he offered. “I get you girls back to Equestria, and in exchange…” he picked a taco up off Sonata’s plate and tossed it. Sonata gave a brief mournful cry as Blazy caught it and ducked out of sight, before Luco handed her a replacement taco. 
“You lot get the combatants in my future tournaments raring to go. You already specialize in getting negative emotions out there. It’s the perfect way to get friends fighting friends.” 
“So, that was what that fight in the cafeteria was all about?” Adagio asked. “You just made them go from arguing to punching each other?”
“It’s not like those people don’t have a good reason to punch each other,” Aria noted. “Or get punched.” 
“Plus, their emotions were so much spicier,” Sonata added, before pulling out another taco stuffed with habaneros. “Though, not as spicy as these babies.” She tossed it into her mouth with a smile. “So much better than emotions,” she crooned in awe. “I’m almost going to hate going back.”
“Oh, my sweet little cinnamon bun,” Luco assured her. “I’ll make sure you get to enjoy both sides of dieting.” He turned back to Adagio. “What do you think? Lots more space; people who adore you, a job that pays well, and all the emotions and tacos you can eat.” 
Aria hummed. “It’s not a… bad offer,” Aria noted, but Adagio shoved Aria back.
“I’m the one that makes decisions around here,” Adagio insisted. “And I say that this world will adore us first! If we do go back to Equestria, it will be after the whole world is so dependent on us, that they come crawling after us, begging for us to come back.”
Luco raised his hands. “Okay,” he said. “I can tell that you’re trying to compensate for something.” He quirked an eyebrow. “I know for a fact it ain’t the hair,” he added with a laugh.
Adagio fumed at him, before rising up with a soft smirk. 
“You’re a bold man, I’ll give you that,” she admitted.
“Adagio…” Aria, whined, but the leader stomped her foot, keeping Aria in her seat. Sonata sighed and focused on her food. 
“But you’re a fool if you think I’ll barter and play second fiddle to a mere mortal,” Adagio growled.
Luco leaned back with a grin. “Mere mortal?” he asked, grabbing another taco and tossing it to Blazy, who stayed in sight this time, glowering at Adagio. “Now, I take offense to that.” 
“Not for long,” Adagio promised, her gem beginning to glow. “Because soon… you’ll be under our spell…”
> Siren Arc Pt 6: The Day the Music Died
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Logan was expecting something bad by the time he and his group reached the school. What he had not expected was the sight of the two boys that Luco had used, eyes brightening in hope as they spotted their group. 
“Snips? Snails?” Rainbow Dash demanded. “What are you two doing here?”
“Huh?” they both asked, pointing at – Logan’s heart soared in joy – the ear plugs stuffed into their ears.
Logan compensated by pointing at the ground before shrugging his shoulders. 
“Oh!” the shorter of the two yelled, despite the fact that Logan had the group similarly stuff their ears, and only understood due to Logan reading their lips. “The Dazzlings are doing something; it’s making all the bands super aggressive.”
“They tried to remove our ear plugs,” the taller boy noted, though he was partially leaned back like this happened every day. “I wouldn’t mind, but Snips insisted.”
Applejack gasped. “My sister?” she demanded, grabbing the short one – Snips? – by the shoulders. “Is she…?”
Snips motioned for them to follow. With a shared look, the group prepped their instruments, and followed the group inside. Logan briefly paused as Pinkie lugged a massive drum at the back of the group, but she waved him off with a grin and made it through. The group raced inside, finding the corridors oddly empty. As they led them further in, Logan became aware of a familiar thrum pulsating against his ear plugs; the song of the Sirens. Now that he had first-hand knowledge of what they sounded like, he could almost hear the lyrics.

Our time is now…


Your time is running out…

Merely thinking the words filled him with rage again, but Logan forced the rage back down. He had to stay frosty for what came next.
Snips and Snails stopped at the entrance to the gym. Through the windows, Logan saw that the inside was packed with every student and even a few townie-looking adults. They were all gathered around a stage, angry expressions on their faces. Some of them were gathered around the main stage, where the Sirens stood. Sonata looked completely out of place, her dancing off key and her mouths not moving in sync with her cohorts. But Adagio and Aria had their eyes closed and their mouths moving in sync, green mist swirling around them and making them glow with power. Logan even spotted a few sparks of electricity jumping from Adagio; his fists clenched as he realized that was likely the magic she had leeched off of him.
However, Rainbow Dash nudged him, pointing with despair up at the bleachers. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were trapped by a cluster of angry looking students, reaching up for them like a massive wolf pack chasing a trio of cats up a tree. Further away, Logan sighed in irritation as he noticed Celestia and Luna had already fallen. Celestia was sitting in front of the Dazzlings, her head still and her ear plugs gone. Logan caught sight of Luna being restrained by a bulky looking student, but all too soon, her struggles ceased, and she gazed serenely up at the sirens. Even Luco sat at the front as well, his eyes flashing green. Interestingly, though, Blazy was nowhere to be seen. 
Twilight and Logan exchanged another glance, and Logan saw fear in Twilight’s eyes. She had no idea if she could do this. To be fair, Logan knew that feeling too well. But he put a hand on Twilight’s shoulder, and smiled confidently.  
“Remember,” he told her. “Don’t focus on word or fancy spells; focus on the emotion.” He indicated the group. “You want to free these guys, right?”
Twilight nodded.
“Then focus on that,” Logan said. “Yearn with all your heart to have them free. The magic will do the rest.” He hefted his trumpet and turned to the others. “Ready?”
Rainbow Dash and Applejack hefted their guitars like rifles. Rarity tapped a few keys on her keytar with a nod. Pinkie shook her drum with a smile, and Fluttershy rattled her tambourine. Carol and Sunset didn’t hold any instruments, but they looked at Spike, who grinned up at them, and grinned back at Logan.
Logan turned to the gym. “Let’s kick some tail,” he declared. 
And with a kick, he bashed the door open. The CRASH jarred a few of the students. In their distraction, Sunset, Carol and Spike disappeared into the crowd, while Pinkie up-ended her drum, revealing a cannon inside that promptly shot confetti.
At the same time, Rarity hit the highest key on her keytar. Applejack and Rainbow Dash strummed, and Logan let out a shrill honk of his trumpet.
The music was odd. It was uneven. And it was shrill. But more importantly, it was loud and distracting. The Siren’s music slowly wavered off, as everyone turned, wondering who these oddballs were and what madness had possessed them.
Logan grinned as Adagio smirked down at them. She had no idea what they were doing, but at the moment, whatever they were playing was far from music. Under her notice. 
But as they continued, a beat began to rise from their random noise. Sunset, Carol and Spike knocked bleachers over, strummed random instruments, and more importantly, they started to gather others in on the beat.
“Ba-be-do, bar-bag-da-dim-dum-dum,” Twilight sang, before Logan played over her with his trumpet. He tossed the horn to her. 
“Bow-ba-dum-ba-ba-dum-dum-diddly-da-diddly-de-de,” he sang before Twilight blasted her own version of the horn, and tossed it.
“Shoe-be-do-ba-da-be-dum-bam-bang-bum,” Logan and Twilight sang together before Pinkie caught the trumpet, blasting out her own beat before spitting it towards Carol.
“Shoe… Bap, she-do!” all ten girls sang before Carol blasted another round from the trumpet. “Woo!” 
At their howl, a burst of electricity shot between all of them, before striking several of the students reaching for the Crusaders. The glow faded from their eyes, and they shook their heads, free of the spell. As they slowly processed what they had been doing, Carol jumped to them, shoving instruments or random objects into their hands before beckoning them into the band.
Logan saw Luco rounding on Sunset, his eyes green and his fists bared. But seconds before he could hit her, Spike jumped in with a drum, Luco’s fist ringing against the drum. His eyes snapped open, the green glow fading before Carol shoved an instrument into his hand.
The Siren’s confusion turned to awe and a bit of terror as, bit by bit, the noise drew the students in. The green glow faded from their eyes, and they joined in on the wild beat that was emanating from the Rain Boom’s most ridiculous performance. 
Adagio’s eyes darted between them before narrowing in anger.
“You want to turn this into a real battle of the bands?” she demanded. “Then let’s battle!”
She tilted her head back, and a burst of energy shot from her. The music briefly faltered as an actual siren formed in front of them. Logan recognized the half-horse, half-dragon appearance of what had to be her original form. A second, purple Siren formed up next to Adagio’s, and the two zoomed towards the students.
But Logan was ready. Spinning and grabbing the trumpet as Rainbow Dash tossed it to him, he blasted a note that turned into a spiral of white energy. It shot up in front of the sirens and spun into the form of a white wolf, who promptly lunged at the sirens. They dodged, but the wolf managed to snag Adagio’s tail, spinning and smashing her into her comrade.
From there, the gym erupted with sound. The Sirens desperately vocalized over the wild beating and random gibberish of the Rain Booms scat singing. But their anger inducing spell was useless; any anger that it drew up, the students and teachers got rid of in their wild playing. And while the astral Sirens above tried to blast vocal waves at the Rain Booms, Logan’s astral wolf constantly chased them away, hitting them with howls of lightning.
Logan grinned as he saw fear trace across Adagio’s face. And as Carol lunged up onto the stage, holding Spike and throwing him for Adagio's pendent. Logan began to think that the Sirens could be beat after all.
Then Adagio saw Spike coming... and dodged him. Logan’s heart sunk as Spike was blasted away with a sonic wave, the pendant remained whole and undamaged. 
Adagio’s human form rounded on Carol, pure white orbs replacing her eyes. Carol fell back with a scream, and Logan faltered in his playing. His astral wolf faltered as well, and the Sirens took advantage, Adagio’s smacking the astral wolf with her tail before Aria’s astral projection lunged onto the astral wolf and hurled it into the crowd. The students scattered in fear, and Applejack went flying as the astral projections exploded into sparkles. 
Adagio’s astral form, however, was still whole, and coursing towards Carol as she scrambled back. Aria spun as Sunset tried to climb onto the stage, blasting the girl backward with a sonic shriek. 
Logan abandoned his trumpet and raced for Carol, even though he knew it would be too late. As Adagio’s astral form and human formed prepared a dual sonic shriek, Carol shut her eyes and covered her ears. 
But they forgot about Blazy, and Adagio’s look of triumph faded to confusion as she noticed smoke wafting under her neck. 
Logan and Carol gasped as they saw Blazy jump from the back of the stage, her paws wrapped around the amulet again, and turning back into flaming dragon claws. Adagio screamed, and her astral form spun, teeth bared at the golden dog. Blazy, however, glared defiantly up at the astral form, and the fire raced up to her head. Logan caught sight of Blazy’s original dragon face, shrouded in flames, before she spat a glob of molten lava at the astral form. Adagio’s Siren form went up in flames and sparkles, before her pendant exploded just like Sonata’s. Adagio fell, while Blazy cried out in sadness as she reverted back to her dog form. 
Aria, however, was quicker on the draw, using another sonic shriek to hurl Blazy into Carol and off the stage. Logan raced at her, only for her to see him coming, and hit him with a sonic shriek. But Logan managed to grab the edge of the stage, and even as the shriek tore through his ear plugs and made his brain shiver and rattle in his skull, he held onto the stage and glared right into Aria’s face with a howl of determination. 
With him distracting the last Siren, Twilight was able to run back in with Spike. And before Aria could adapt, Twilight hurled Spike into her. This time, Spike's lunge was true, and his jaws fastened around the gem. His original dragon face briefly appeared, stuck on his dog body, before he coughed up a stream of green fire. The gem vaporized in a flash of ash, and the sonic shriek petered out. 
Logan pulled himself onto the stage, grinning down at a now very nervous looking Aria. Her eyes darted to Adagio, who was laying on her back, clutching her throat as if it had been torn, and at Sonata, who was slowly backing away from the stage, hands raised in surrender. Behind them, the beat petered out, but everyone looked back up at them, eyes clear and the spell lifted.
“Um…” Aria whimpered. “We give up?” 
Logan smirked, though when he glanced at Twilight, his smirk turned into a more genuine smile.
“Do you have any idea what she said?” Logan asked. He rubbed at his ears and glanced back at Aria. “Seriously; I think you ruptured my ear drums with that last attack.” 

#

It was amazing how quickly things could be coordinated with more people at your side. With the principals and students freed of the Sirens spells, it didn’t take long for them to bind up the Dazzlings and Luco, and have them standing in formation before the portal back to Equestria.
“Okay, Carol,” Logan said, keeping a firm hand on Luco’s shoulder. “If the guards are ready…”
“When they’re ready,” Twilight refuted, before giving the original tub of ear wax to Carol. “Throw this through, and we’ll send them forward.” 
Carol nodded, and with a deep breath, plunged through the statue. A collective gasp shot up from the Sirens as Carol disappeared into the mirror-like substance along the wall.
“Om,” Sonata mumbled through her gag. “M MAM mere me mortal maw.” 
Twilight gazed at the odd Siren with a confounded expression.
“Don’t even think of removing the gag,” Logan warned her. “She just said, “So that’s where the portal was.” 
Adagio had her head down in shame, while Aria was glaring at the portal like it had slapped her. Luco, on the other hand, looked about as cheerful as one could be while tied up and waiting to be brought back to another world for trial. Blazy Blue was still standing faithfully by his side, though Fluttershy couldn’t help petting the dragon-turned-dog’s head. 
“I’m not sure what to think of that dog,” Rainbow Dash admitted to Logan. “I mean, she’s Luco’s…”
“And yet, we probably owe her our lives,” Applejack noted. “If she hadn’t jumped in with Adagio… we might-a lost.” 
“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Twilight promised them. She glanced at Fluttershy with a smile. “I think I may even know someone that will be able to talk to her.” She glanced at Logan. “I-If that’s alright,” she added quickly.
Logan gave the dog a pained look. “You saw how she reacted to Luco being disappointed, right?” he asked. “Dragons from my world aren’t clever like humans, but they are loyal, and they are crazy strong. You let Blazy wander around scot-free, she’ll likely return to Luco and break him out.”
Twilight pondered the portal and sighed. “The smart thing to do would be to put all five of them in Tartarus," she admitted. "The magic there normally prevents not only magic, but the need for food and drink. And considering Tirek only broke out because Luco got in…”
“We should see about finding a better way to guard that place then,” Logan pointed out. He grimaced, but added, “I might be able help in that regard.” 
Twilight looked at him, hope in her eyes. “You do know that might require a sign of authority,” she noted. “Does this mean…?”
Logan raised a hand. “I don’t do big ceremonies,” he warned. “And I don’t do uniforms.” His hand lowered. “But those guards of yours need someone to whip them into shape. And…” he shrugged. “I can't deny I really like helping you."
Twilight smiled at him. As they gazed at each other, Pinkie drew closer.
"Kiss..." she prompted. "Kiiiiisssssss..."
Logan heard her, and immediately drew away from Twilight with a grin.
"Not happening, Pie," he said gruffly, though his grin prompted a laugh from Twilight and the others.
Sunset hummed sadly. “I sure wish you could stay longer,” she admitted.
“Me too,” Twilight admitted. “But I – or should I say ‘we,’” she glanced cheekily at Logan. “Have responsibilities in Equestria that we need to get back to.”
Logan chuckled. “You call them responsibilities,” he noted. “I call them ‘fun.’” 
Twilight rolled her eyes at him, before giving the portal another look. Pinkie was stepping away from it, her expression one of surprise.
“But,” Twilight noted. “We can go through the portal whenever we need to now. So, this isn’t really goodbye.” 
“It’s more of a ‘see you later,” Logan finished, glancing at Spike and Blazy. “Preferably in a form closer to home.” 
Just as he spoke, the tub of wax flew through the portal. Logan re-doubled his grip on Luco and Aria, while Twilight held onto Adagio and Sonata. 
“Ready?” Twilight asked. 
“Ready,” Logan replied.
And together, with Blazy and Spike following loyally behind them, they stepped through the portal.

#

Luco tapped his chains against the wall, trying to make a beat out of them. Things had gotten so boring ever since he got back to Equestria: not just guards, but the princesses themselves had been waiting for him and his new minions. They had redoubled the gags on the Sirens (probably not without reason; they were in horse-dragon form), ensured that Luco’s clothes had followed him through, convinced Logan to let Luco go so his arm could breathe, and then teleported him to this dusty old cell.
Clink-clang-clink… clink-clink-clink-clang-clink…
“I close my eyes, and the flashback starts, I’m standing there…” Luco sang softly to himself.
He hoped Blazy was alright. Part of him was sure she’d be fine: these ponies did seem big on second chances, if Logan’s being with them had anything to say. And Blazy had helped them defeat Adagio. But, at the same time, Luco couldn’t help but worry about his beloved pet dragon. 
Hoof steps broke him out of his thoughts. He turned as two royal guards stopped outside his cell door, glaring at him. 
Luco wiped away his doubt, spinning and sitting cross-legged on the ground while flashing them his best winning grin. His grin only widened as the two guards shifted, and Princess Celestia herself walked into the cell. Interestingly enough, her look wasn’t that of anger or hatred; she just looked disappointed or slightly irritated. Like Luco had felt when he discovered Blazy’s fire powers didn’t transfer across dimensions without cute little gemstones.
“Well-well,” Luco said. “A parlay between a King and a Queen?” He glanced around the cell. “Room could use a little bit more pizazz in my opinion.”
Celestia narrowed her eyes at him. 
“I am not like Queen Chrysalis, your ‘grace,’” she said, enunciating ‘grace’ like she didn’t believe he was royalty. “I am Princess Celestia: Sol Invictus. Diarch and Ruler of Equestria…”
Luco yawned loudly. “A princess?” he asked. “I’m not here to parlay with children.” He shooed at her. “Go away, little one; send your mother or father here so the grown-ups can really talk.”
Luco was never capable of keeping a straight face with people. Needless to say, he only needed a second of seeing Celestia’s bewildered wide eyes and dropped jaw of offense and shock before he burst into a fit of crazed laughter. He fell to the side, clutching his ribs while tears streamed from his eyes and his throat rattled with his cackles.
“Oh! Oh, mercy!” he gasped out. “Your face!” He pointed at her as she raised a hoof in surprise. “I swear… that…” he petered out into more laughter. 
Not even her horn flaring up, or her magic yanking him into the air could quell his laughter. She glared at him with a much angrier air, her face level with his. When he still continued to cackle, she leveled her horn, the point aiming right between his eyes. Luco tilted his head, his laughter finally quieting as he looked on her with intrigue. 
“Contain yourself, Pirate King,” she demanded. “We are going to get some answers from you. If you value your life and your freedom, you will answer all of them. Immediately, and truthfully. If you do not, you will regret it immensely.”
Luco giggled again. “Oh, Mama, please be gentle…” he crooned, rattling his chains for emphasis. 
Celestia pursed her lips, silently fuming, but contained herself.
“First off,” she declared. “Who are you?”
Luco frowned. “Logan said nothing about me?” he asked. He put a manacled hand to his chest. “I’m hurt. We used to be so close…”
“Who,” Celestia growled, the point of her horn sparking. “Are you?” 
Luco sighed, his frown deepening. “Luco,” he replied. “The Dread Pirate King of the South.” 
Celestia narrowed her eyes at him. “Dread Pirate King of the South?” she questioned.
Luco curtsied, at least as best as he could while manacled and being held in the magic grip of an alicorn.
“I see,” she finally said. “How did you get here? And why have you been persecuting my little ponies?”
Luco tsked and waved his finger at her. 
“Say please,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Celestia snorted. 
“Can’t say nothing, if you don’t say ‘please,’” Luco taunted in a singsong voice.
Celestia shut her eyes and took a deep breath.
“Please…” the word ground out of her mouth. “Tell me why…”
“NOTHING!” Luco shouted, before twirling into her magic aura with another laugh. His twirl tangled the chains up around him, yet he continued to laugh. “I said, ‘I can’t say nothing if you don’t say please.’ You said please, I said nothing.’” He nodded his head. “Agreement of trade, Princess; I’m sure Logan has described his delightful little culture to you. After all, you’ve had him long enough.” 
Celestia took another deep breath, before another thought made her smile. 
“Yes,” she admitted. “He’s made wonderful friends here in Equestria. I wonder if ‘Blazy Blue’ would be able to do the same.”
Luco’s grin melted off his face. His eyes glared into Celestia’s, no longer sparkling with crazed glee, but with all the steel of a papa wolf.
“Where is she?” Luco asked, his tone no longer coy or mocking.
“I believe it’s ‘can’t say nothing if you don’t say please?’” Celestia copied, grinning coyly down at the human.
The human glowered at her, before a smile tugged its way from the scar on his mouth. He giggled, slowly letting loose with an actually amused laugh. His laughter was contagious, and Celestia found herself chuckling softly with him.
Luco recovered faster this time, untangling himself from the chains and smoothly sliding back down to the floor.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun together,” Luco promised. “I just know it.”
“I’m sure you do,” Celestia replied. She settled herself on the cleanest part of the dungeon. “I have questions about your kind; and about you, in particular. I also have your dragon, your sirens… perhaps even some changelings devoted to you; somewhere in these dungeons.”
Luco glanced at the guards, smirking as one of them held himself a bit higher.
“Answer my questions,” Celestia offered. “And they might… appreciate it.” 
Luco tilted his head, his grin lopsided. He settled himself against the wall, and crossed his legs. 
“Alright then,” he said. “Shoot.”
> A Lone Wolf Christmas Special
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stage was set, and the crowd was gathering. Logan peered out from behind the curtain, looking for familiar faces among the growing audience. Twilight walked up next to him, giving the audience a nervicited look.
“I still can’t believe you chose help us put on the most important play of the season,” Twilight gushed, glancing at Logan. “Do you know what an honor this is?"
Logan grinned cheekily at Twilight. “After the last fifty times, you asked me?” he replied, letting the curtain fall while he walked backstage. “No, can’t say I really do,” he finished. 
Twilight rolled her eyes, while they returned to their fellow ponies, all of whom were preparing for the start of the play. 
“Okay, guys,” Logan said. “You all set for this?” 
The group nodded, though Fluttershy was shivering in the corner. 
“I don’t know if I can do this, Logan,” Fluttershy admitted as he approached. “I don’t like every pony… looking at me.”
“Easy now, Fluttershy,” Logan said, nuzzling her mane. “You’re just gonna be in the background. Just do what you do best, and the play will be over before you know it.”
“R-Really?” Fluttershy asked. 
“Yeah,” Spike told her, already in costume. “Besides, Logan’s the main star; everyone’s gonna be watching him.”
“Yeah,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “They are, aren’t they?” 
Logan grinned up at her. “You want the role, Dash?” he replied. “You’re certainly grumpy enough.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed. “Nice try, Logan, but I’m not passing up the chance to see how a wolf acts.” 
“If you think I’m gonna humiliate myself,” Logan replied. “You’ve got another thing coming.”
The two grinned at each other, only broken up when Rarity came onstage. 
“Curtain in two minutes,” she sang. 
“Thank you, curtain in two minutes,” the group replied.
As the pack moved to their places, Logan gave Carol a nervous look.
“And Carol?” he asked.
“Mm?” she replied.
“That book Celestia gave you,” he said. “You’re absolutely sure Luco didn’t tamper with it?”
Carol nodded. “It was checked and pre-screened by both of the Princesses, then by the Royal Guard, and by both of us,” she insisted. “If Luco did do something to it, we’d have found it long ago.” 
Logan nodded. “I still wish Celestia would just take the risk and send him back.”
Carol shrugged. “You heard the report same as mine: Luco only got through due to Discord. Opening the portal now could only invite something worse than Luco through.”
“Nothings worse than Luco,” Logan refuted.
“Then clearly, you haven’t met Kira,” Carol replied. "Or Myst." 
Logan’s ears flared at that, before Spike raced over to them.
“Guys!” he yelled. “Curtain’s in one minute!”
“T-Thank you, one minute,” Carol replied, before giving Logan a grin. “So, Logan,” she said. “Ready for the stage.”
Logan grinned, and flipped the hood of his costume over his head. 
“Born ready,” he replied with a grin, even as he flashed back to how he had gotten into this situation.

#

“So, you’re saying that the North Kingdom DIDN’T have a man named Santa Claus, who turned children into reindeer?” Celestia asked in confusion.
“NO!” Logan howled in frustration. “I’m telling you, Luco’s not going to give you a straight answer. All he’s going to do is lead you on.”
“Like Carolina did with the Royal Scientist Division?”
“Exactly.”
“Hm,” Celestia noted. “A shame. His description of a ‘Christmas’ seemed quite lovely.”
Logan paused. “Christmas?” he asked.
“It sounded quite similar to Hearth’s Warming Eve,” she noted, grinning at Logan’s confused expression. “Where all three pony tribes put aside their differences to fight against the Windigos.” She tilted her head. “Is Christmas similar at all to that?” 
Logan sighed. “It used to be,” he muttered. “But humans corrupted it, like they corrupt everything.”  
Celestia’s ears perked forward, intrigued. “Perhaps you could explain it to me,” she offered.
Logan turned away. “Sparkle can send you a report,” he dismissed. 
“Or,” Celestia offered coyly. “You could tell all of Canterlot. We put on plays as part of our Hearth’s Warming Eve celebration. I’m sure they’d enjoy a bit of variety.”
Logan laughed. “Those high-class pricks?” he asked. “Keep on dreaming.”
Celestia rolled her eyes as Logan walked away. “Very well,” she said. “I suppose I can give Luco a bit of parole time to explain this interesting holiday…”
Logan had darted back so fast, he plowed into Celestia. The guards converged on him, but Celestia waved them aside with a hoof, grinning up at Logan’s glower. 
“Don’t. Let. Him. Loose,” Logan growled softly.
Celestia just grinned. “Can I assume you’ll explain his holiday then?” she replied coyly.
Logan’s ears flattened, and he bared his teeth, barely glancing at her guards. “These guys won’t stop me from biting you again,” he vowed.
Celestia just tilted her head up and exposed her neck. “You may strike when ready,” she replied. “But one way or another, I’m finding out about this ‘Christmas.’ The real question is ‘who’s going to tell me about it?’ You, or Luco?” 

#

Logan nursed the slight bruise he had gotten from an overly ambitious guard, but grinned in satisfaction as he noticed a slight red mark on Celestia’s neck, barely concealed by her regalia. 
In the time, it took for him to ponder, the opening musical had passed. He had barely paid attention as the ponies danced through the makeshift town they had built for the stage, setting up streamers, decorations, and more importantly, laying out presents. Dozens of the tiny little boxes created makeshift houses for the stage. 
But Logan shook off his pondering, and flipped the hood for his costume up, as he heard Spike begin the narration:
“Everyone in Gaia's Kingdoms liked Christmas a lot,” Spike began. “But the Wolf…!”
That’s my cue, Logan though. His memory of Celestia bringing out his best glower, he lurked onto the stage, his hood thankfully giving him some shade from the spotlights that shined on him.
“…who lived North of North… did not!”
Logan bared his fangs, holding back a chuckle as the crowd gasped.
“I know, crazy right?” Spike muttered to the crowd.
Logan bit back another giggle. For once, his interests and the interests of the ponies were aligned. He could try to ruin the play, but the only way that could really happen was for him to be cheery and optimistic. And that was Pinkie’s thing, not Logan’s.
“The Wolf hated Christmas,” Spike continued to narrate. “The whole Christmas season. Now please don’t ask why, no one quite knows the reason…”
“Are you kidding me?!” Logan demanded, racing up to Spike. Again, Logan pondered darkly, all in the script. But, it does give me the chance to say this:
“Can’t you all see?!” Logan growled, turning to the audience. “That you’ve made this season crap! I should catch your eyes with an Ursa Minor trap!” 
Even though that would probably blind you, his thoughts noted. But he persisted, while Rarity and Fluttershy came out. 
“I mean, your greed is atrocious. Your attitude makes me weep! You scare retail workers; you generally act like a creep!” His voice softened as he gazed up at the stars above the stage. “The concept is classic; no fixing required. Whoever said it should be updated is a big fat liar! Gifts and entitlement don’t make the holiday work; it just makes you look like a big dumb, greedy jerk!” 
As he spoke, Rarity just generally acted like a creep to Fluttershy, yanking gifts away from her and kicking mud in her face. A strained look was on the white mare’s face as she acted, like she didn’t want to be doing this, but Fluttershy just looked absolutely miserable, and not just due to Rarity’s feigned abuse. Logan had to remind himself that this was the reason why he gave her the role, but it still tore his heart to see her like that. But, he stuck to his script, knowing that she would be able to retreat backstage soon enough. Still, despite his inner assurance, he sighed in relief as Fluttershy was ‘chased’ offstage by a belligerent Rarity, waving a purse like some sort of weaponized sling. Granted, he hadn’t actually had that much experience with humans during the Christmas season, but getting to scream out against one of the biggest flaws of not just humans, but also dragons, was rather cathartic. Thankfully, Spike just took his anger for passionate acting, and rolled on without missing a beat.
“And the more the Wolf thought that this holiday stunk, the more the Wolf thought…” Spike prompted. 
“I must stop this whole thing!” Logan declared. “Why, for 23 years, I put up with it now!” He crouched, forming a cunning stance. “I must find some way to keep Christmas from falling. But… how?”
He looked back at the presents across the stage, making sure that the audience could see his dawning epiphany.
“And then… the Wolf got an idea,” Spike narrated. “An awful idea.”
Logan turned back to the audience with the most malicious grin he could sport, noting with particular glee how some of the royals in front actually scooted back with nervous looks in their eyes.
“The Wolf got a wonderful, awful idea,” Spike said. Logan resisted a cackle at how evil Spike managed to sound.
“I know what to do!” Logan shouted.
“The Wolf said, standing tall!” Spike interjected.
“If I can’t enjoy it, I’ll ruin it for them all! A sabotage of this holiday is just what they need! I must act quickly; my claws must take heed!”
Logan raced into the present strewn ‘town,’ while Spike continued to narrate.
“And so off he went,” Spike narrated. “Flying off like a shot! He began stealing presents. He took quite a lot! He stole from the weak and he stole from the guard. He stole presents that were soft and presents that were hard!” 
Spike made it sound a bit too whimsical, though Logan couldn’t really fault him. It was funny enough getting to snatch presents away from Rarity after her earlier performance, but he found out quite fast that trying to carry a bunch of presents wasn’t as easy as Twilight made carrying books with magic look. Logan briefly tried to use his own magic, only for the presents to explode before him. Growling, he began throwing the presents off to the side of the stage, with Applejack and Fluttershy thankfully waiting to grab them and cart them away.
“But as the wolf took the presents and started to shove…” Spike narrated.
“Hey!” 
“Cried a voice, like the coo of a dove!”
“Or more like a wolf,” Logan commented. 
Because that was who had popped out from the first pile of stolen presents; Carol, with a snarl that just couldn’t reach her eyes.
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Wolf,” Carol cried. “You really are a heel! You’re like a bad banana with a greasy black peel!”
Logan chuckled, and kicked the last of ‘her’ presents off stage.
“Back off, little pup,” he declared. “Get out of my sight. You ruined Christmas, and must suffer justice’s might!” 
“Ruined Christmas?” Carol asked. “How can this be?”  
“Your greed and need for gifts; it’s obvious, to me?” 
Carol sighed. “I didn’t start that,” she claimed. “It’s been around since the dawn of time. A time where ponies and wolves talking would be an unspeakable crime.” 
“Oh?” went the crowd. 
“And going to her shelf, his attention on a hook,” Spike narrated. “She read him a passage from a very old book.” 
Logan watched the book Carol took from the side with suspicion. Luco had given it to Celestia when he found out she was making this play, and Logan was still convinced there was something he had done with it. But the only thing that seemed to be wrong with it was the blatantly different religion implied in its pages. Yet Carol had always been good at speaking, and despite the words not being meant for a deity like Celestia, she managed to make it sound vague enough that it could be talking about anyone. 
“There were shepherds residing in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night,” Carol read. “When an angel of the Creator stood before them, the glory of the Heavens shining around them. The shepherds were terrified, but the angel said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid, I have good news for you. Tonight, a Savior is born to you. You will find them wrapped in baby cloths, and lying in a bed of hay.’ Suddenly, many angels descended from the Heavens and joined in praising their Creator. They said ‘Glory to the Greatest Creator in the Highest, and on Earth, peace and goodwill towards life.” 
Logan chanced a glance at their audience. Many of them were shooting glances at Celestia, and more than a few still looked slightly offended. But Celestia herself was watching with full investment.
“Don’t you see?” Carol asked, for once not rhyming. “That night was the first Christmas. Where our Creators loved us so much, that they gave us their greatest gift. So, everyone could be with them one day. Christmas isn’t about getting. It’s about giving. And it’s especially about a just-born savior, who was the greatest gift of all.”
“Aw,” the ponies cooed. Logan allowed himself a small moment of pondering. Admittedly, the message was nice. But…
“A lovely concept,” Logan admitted. “I won’t deny. Yet people seem to have forgotten that. Care to tell me why?” 
Carol couldn’t reply. Granted, she probably could have, but they hadn’t thought of any lines for her that wouldn’t impact the story. Logan nodded, and swiped the book from her paws.
“I assumed so,” he said. “Bye!”
He shot across the stage again, Carol scooting backstage while Spike picked up his spiel again.
“And so, the heist continued; though stealth was for naught,” Spike narrated. “For now, others knew his intentions, and battles were fought.”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash shot out, and Logan dodged around them. For a moment, they circled each other. This was, without a doubt, Logan’s favorite part; Rainbow Dash and Applejack were actually fun to fight, and they made a great pair, with Applejack using brute force while Rainbow Dash zipped around the air.
“He fought off the law, and he fought off the guard,” Spike narrated, as Logan made it to the right side of the stage. “Until he evaded them by dunking them in lard.” 
It had admittedly been one of Logan’s least impressive rhymes, but in the end, the show had to go on, and as Applejack and Rainbow Dash tried to drive Logan off the stage, he seized the bucket that was lying behind the curtain and hurled it at them. They fell off the stage dramatically, heads covered in a yellow goopy substance, while Logan returned to the presents and scooped them up, his tail wagging while he paraded away. 
“But before he could complete his theft,” Spike reminded Logan. 
“Hey!”
“Cried a voice, off to his left.” 
Logan turned, to find Pinkie, who had popped out of one of the boxes.
“You’re a mean one, Mr. Wolf,” she declared. “You have termites in your smile! You have all the sweet tenderness of a seasick crocodile.” She took her pet alligator out of the box and hugged it. “And given the choice between the two of you; I’d take the crocodile.”
Logan rolled his eyes. “Hush, little pony, get out of my way,” he declared. “You’ve ruined Christmas and now you must pay!” 
“Ruined Christmas?” she demanded. “No, that cannot be so!”
“Christmas used to mean something,” Logan argued. “Before it became about presents with a bow.” 
Pinkie sighed and smiled.
“But Christmas is always filled with presents,” she insisted. “Large, medium and small. Sometimes the most important things, aren’t very big at all.” 
She indicated the back, as the Cutie Mark Crusaders appeared, giving each other gifts. 
“The joy of making friends,” Pinkie continued. “Little ponies spreading cheer. Give a toy, a hug, a sweater, make memories that last all year.”
“Yes, giving is fine,” Logan insisted. “I’m not denying that. But people these days just want, and forget to even tip their hat!”
He indicated Rarity and Fluttershy as they came onstage. Fluttershy tentatively offered out a laurel wreath, only for Rarity to tip her head up and walk off. Fluttershy looked down, her mane hiding her face from the audience.  
“This place has forgotten,” Logan concluded. “The true meaning of the holiday. So, I’m going to take it back, and make them see how they’ve lost their way.”
Logan turned his back on Pinkie, who scooted back behind the curtain while he continued his destruction of the stage.
“And so, turning his back on the mare,” Spike narrated. “The Wolf continued his spree; the town was soon laid bare.”
Logan shoved his horde to the very front of the stage, threatening to tip it into the audience.
“And ten thousand feet up,” Spike claimed. “Before the sun could be lit. He rode with his load to the nearest gorge… to dump it.”
Just before Logan could shove the Christmas themed presents off the stage… Twilight arrived.
“Halt!” she yelled.
“Cried a final, desperate voice,” Spike narrated. “To give the wolf one chance to change his foul choice.” 
Logan spun, glowering at Twilight.
“You’re a monster, Sir Wolf,” Twilight declared. “Your heart’s an empty hole! Your brain is full of spiders, you have garlic in your soul!”
“Silence your blubbering,” Logan snapped back. “And stay out of my way. You may have ruined Christmas, but the time has come to pay!” 
Twilight flared her wings. “We have not ruined Christmas,” she declared. “We won’t stop days’ fun and free. The future you aim to cause, will make a path not meant to be.”
Logan tilted his head, before Twilight’s horn glowed.
“The future should be filled with magic; dreams and wishes brought to life,” Twilight insisted. As she spoke, her horn glowed ice blue, and a horse-like spirit rose. “But you’re attempt to fix Christmas, will only bring tragic strife.” 
The ice horse shot towards Logan, barreling him onto his back. Of course, he knew it was just a special effect, simulating what the ponies called ‘Windigos,’ but it still made him jump a bit to see a supposed ice horse launching at him.
“Impossible,” he insisted. “I’m making them remember.”
“By joining in hate,” Twilight countered. “And killing hope’s ember.” 
The ice horse hit Logan again, but he maintained his footing.
“Good intentions, you may bear,” Twilight admitted. “And noble is your goal. But in order to achieve, you join others in malice’s hole. And when even the good-hearted, have only hate and anger to share, the future will truly become a cold nightmare.” She lifted her horn, and the ice horse cantered up into the sky, spinning before exploding into snow. 
Logan looked back at the gifts, making sure the audience saw his expression of conflict.
“The final pony spoke truth,” Spike narrated. “And paw deep in the snow. The Wolf puzzled and pondered.”
“How can it be so?” Logan wondered. “Christmas seems just about ribbons. It feels just about tags; it’s all about packages, boxes and bags!”
“You can puzzle and ponder until your puzzler is sore,” Twilight replied. “But think of something you haven’t before.” She stepped forward. “Christmas may feel, like it just comes from a store. But maybe, Christmas, perhaps, could still mean a little bit more.”
Logan sighed, and turned back to his horde. 
“And what happened then?” Spike asked. “Well, in Equestria, they say… the Wolf’s cold heart thawed just a bit that day.” 
Logan spat a raspberry at Spike, but he dragged the gifts back to the center of the stage, as the cast re-converged before him.
“And with more to ponder, and his fur less uptight,” Spike continued. “He returned with his horde, to the bright morning light.” 
However, Logan stood resolutely between his horde and the ponies, shooting them, and especially Rarity, a suspicious glare. 
“Before I bring back these toys,” Logan said. “To the good girls and boys. I ask that you remember, those that help bring these joys.” He nodded at Fluttershy. “Remember employees, that package and send. Remember their pain, let their silent suffering end. For Christmas and Hearth’s Warming can’t be without work. So, be kind to those workers, and try not to be a jerk.” 
The ponies gave a harsh look at Rarity, who had been representing the greedy and depraved. She bowed her head and backed up behind the curtain. Logan gave a slight nod, and nudged the gifts back to them.
“And so, on this night of Christmas,” Spike concluded. “A compromise was reached. The wolf’s message was received, his worries beseeched. Whether it be Christmas or Hearth’s Warming, don’t be unkind. Remember your hard-working fellows, and pay them great mind.”
“Welcome Christmas,” Logan said alongside him. “Bring its cheer. Cheer to all those, far and near.”
“The Spirit of giving is in our grasp,” Carol added. “So, long as we reach out to clasp.”
“Welcome Christmas, while together we stand,” Pinkie added as she bounced up next to them.”
“Heart to heart,” Twilight concluded, striding up beside them. “And hoof in hand.”
And as the final stretch of music played its last crescendo, the audience rose up, stamping their hooves and whistling in glee. The cast members gave their bows, before Logan noticed people throwing flowers onto the stage. As the curtain began to close, Logan spotted Celestia again, tossing a bouquet of roses towards him. Her smile was more joyful than Logan had ever seen. 
Logan’s smile grew mischievous, and his eyes flashed. A small flicker of light, easily mistakable for the glare of one of the spotlights, zipped through the air and batted her bouquet higher into the air.
nd just before the curtains closed, Logan watched with glee as the bouquet flipped through the air and landed – perfectly – right onto Celestia’s horn.
“Oh!” the alicorn yelped in shock. 
“LOGAN!” Twilight’s voice was muffled by the curtain, but it couldn’t drown out Logan’s laugh. Just because it was Hearth’s Warming didn’t mean that he couldn’t still have some fun with the Princesses.
> April Foals Day Special
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadows darkened the White Tail Woods. Still, Logan forged ahead without fear, Fluttershy and a company of her animals close behind him.
“I’m so sorry to involve you, Logan,” Fluttershy whispered. “I just lost track of time at our picnic. I didn’t mean for us to get caught out here after dark…”
Logan turned and gave Fluttershy a comforting grin. 
“It’s no trouble, Fluttershy,” he replied softly. “Besides, White Tail Woods is fine during the night. It’s the Ever-Free you really got to be worried about after dark.”
“Oh, of course,” Fluttershy agreed, though she still gave the shadows a nervous look. “White Tail Woods is at least the same at night. Only… darker.”
One of her animal companions, a bear, started chattering his teeth. Logan rolled his eyes.
“Let’s just get you back to the cottage,” he said. 
But as he turned back to the path… something shot across it. The wolf froze, his ears pricking forward; alert. 
“Logan?” Fluttershy whimpered. 
“Sh,” Logan said. His ears slowly started to flatten. 
The shadow darted to their left. 
Logan’s fangs started to bare.
“Stay behind me,” he growled, marching towards the shadows. 
Fluttershy and her animals stuck so close to Logan, they were practically attached to his tail. The bear hung over Fluttershy and the others like a canopy. 
Then… just behind the bear, an eerie wail sounded. 
The bear bellowed in fear, and his cry sent the others into chaos. Logan quickly found himself getting trampled as Fluttershy, the bear and Angel all fell over each other trying to escape. Their trampling did nothing but tangle them all into a sadly stationary mess of fur, and as Logan struggled to right himself, he saw a shadowy shape rise up before them.
“No!” he cried, yanking one of his claws out and aiming it at the demon. But just before his claw could sparkle with lightning… the demon began to laugh.
Logan’s claw lowered by a fraction. “What the…?” he stammered.
Then the ‘demon’ came out of the shadows, and shook off the sticks and clouds she had covered herself in. In seconds, a smirking Rainbow Dash floated before them, cackling like a mad mare.
“Gotcha!” she exclaimed, before laughing harder.
“What the… are you… w-what?” Logan stammered.
Fluttershy poked her head out of the mess of fur the animals had become. Despite her hyperventilation, she managed a glare at Rainbow Dash.
“That wasn’t funny!” she managed to gasp out. “You really scared me!” She clung to both the bear and Logan, as both began to growl at the cyan mare. “I hope you’re happy.”
“Nah,” Rainbow Dash replied. “You’re too easy. You’re scared of everything.” She gave a particular smirk at Logan. “But it was fun to see Logan with his tail between his legs.”
Logan responded with a lightning bolt, but Rainbow Dash easily zipped out of the way, and darted back to Ponyville, laughing the whole way. 
Logan pulled himself from the tangle of fur, and extricated Fluttershy as well. 
“I do not get scared of everything,” Fluttershy was mumbling darkly. She shook herself off. “S – I’m sorry, Logan,” she whimpered, but Logan pat her mane, his eyes not leaving where Dash had raced off to.
“Mark my words, Fluttershy,” Logan growled. “She’s gonna get what’s coming to her.” 

#

“Absolutely not!” Twilight said the next morning, as the two walked towards the meeting area of the Castle of Friendship. “Logan, you are the new Captain of the Guard, and I cannot have the Captain of the Guard getting into fights with one of the Element Bearers.”
“She scared Fluttershy half out of her mind,” Logan insisted. “Is this some kind of rank thing? Because I’m not letting you turn into another Celestia.”
“No, it…” Twilight sighed in irritation. “Rainbow Dash was just pulling a prank; a practical joke.” Twilight said as they reached the door. “Your usual M.O is to bite ponies; like seriously injure them.” 
“She deserves a bite or two for what she did,” Logan grumbled as they entered the meeting room. 
The other Elements were already gathered. Rainbow Dash had apparently already explained her actions, as Applejack and Rarity shared Fluttershy’s look of irritation. Pinkie Pie, however, was laughing right along with the cyan mare.
“I mean,” Rainbow Dash was concluding as they entered. “How could you not appreciate that?”
“Because I don’t think being scared is very fun,” Fluttershy muttered, Carol putting a supporting paw on her shoulder.
“I do!” Pinkie replied. “Your heart gets all racy, your hooves get all tingly, your mouth gets all dry…” She paused at that. “Actually, I don’t like that part,” she admitted. “But the rest is great!” 
“See?” Rainbow Dash asked, like Pinkie Pie’s opinion was the final word. “Every pony likes a good prank! They’re just jokes!”
As she spoke, she sat down in her chair… and promptly shot into the air with a yelp, a mousetrap having snapped shut around her flank.
Twilight gaped at the sight before whirling on a grinning Logan.
“Hm, she’s right,” Logan noted sarcastically. “That was funny.” He noticed Twilight glaring at him. “What?” he asked. “I didn’t bite her.” 
“Logan!” Twilight screamed, but Rainbow Dash shot right down to Logan’s face, her ears pricked and ready for a challenge. “Rainbow Dash, wait!”
“C’mon, sugarcube,” Applejack said. “This ain’t about you and Logan…”
But Rainbow Dash wasn’t even listening to them.
“You really wanna do this, Wolf?” she growled at him.
Logan jutted his head forward, till they were nose to nose. 
“The better question is, do you,” Logan snarled back.
She shoved her head forward, knocking into his forehead.
“If you want pranks,” she vowed. “Then I’ll give you pranks. I’ll prank you so good; you’ll be blinded by my prank-y radiance!” 
“Dash!” Twilight tried to break them up, only for Logan to shove his head forward, knocking Rainbow Dash’s head back.
“Bring. It. On,” he challenged. 
For a moment, the two simply stared each other down. Then, in a flash of rainbow light, the pegasus shot away. Logan grinned, and glanced towards Pinkie.
“So, Pie,” he said. “How do these ‘pranks’ work?” 
“Oh, no…” Twilight bemoaned, while Pinkie Pie leaped to the table in glee. 
“OOOOO, a PRANK WAR!” Pinkie shrieked in glee. “Oh, where’s my referee uniform!” she darted away, before running back and motioning to Logan. “Come-come-come,” she chanted. “Oh, I’ll tell you exactly how to put up a good fight in a prank war!” 

#

“Okay,” Rainbow Dash growled, at the edge of the Ever-Free. “This dog wants pranks. Oh, I’m gonna give him pranks.” 
Carefully, and with all the precision of a ninja, Rainbow Dash set a cake down at the edge of the Ever-Free where Logan still made his home. Once she was sure the cake was right where she needed it to be, she darted to the side and awaited his arrival.
Soon enough, the wolf made his appearance known… with a lightning bolt to the cake. Frosting and batter flew everywhere, and splattered the trees and parts of the lawn. Rainbow Dash heard Pinkie Pie’s cry of horror, but kept still. 
Soon enough, Logan came out, carefully sniffing around. However, as he searched for some trace of Rainbow Dash, he suddenly paused. Rearing his head up, he found his nose covered in pink powder. Sneezing powder.
As the first of what would be many sneezes began, Rainbow Dash couldn’t contain herself, and fell over laughing.
“And, despite the casualty of a perfectly good cake,” Pinkie noted from a hot-air balloon above. “A point for Rainbow Dash.”

#

That afternoon, Rainbow Dash moved several rain clouds to Applejack’s farm. She watched the grounds carefully in case Logan was hiding in the trees, waiting to hit her with apples or lightning. 
But she couldn’t spot the wolf. And before she could try to search further over the acres, she was distracted by a familiar gray pegasus.
“Hi, Rainbow Dash,” Ditzy Doo said, one of her eyes managing to focus on Rainbow Dash while her other lopsided eye gazed down at the farm. “Special delivery from the Wonder Bolts.”
Rainbow Dash gasped and yanked the letter from Ditzy. “The Wonder Bolts wrote to me?!” Rainbow Dash stammered in glee. She eagerly ripped open the paper, and began to read.

Dear Rainbow Dash,


On behalf of the Wonder Bolts, Captain Spit Fire presents her thanks to Rainbow Dash for her eagerness to be a part of our illustrious group, but regretfully states she must expel her for being such a show-boating egotist.

Rainbow Dash’s ears flattened. “W-Wait, what?” she mumbled. 

Wonder Bolt Operative Soaring agrees with Captain Spit Fire, and would like to add that while Rainbow Dash has a nice flank, she has a head full of clouds. 

“WHAT?!” Rainbow Dash’s face was turning beet red. 

Wonder Bolt Operative Fleet foot would also like to register her disbelief that such an overconfident blowhard was ever allowed to join this illustrious group.

Rainbow Dash nearly tore the letter in half from her fury, but not before she read the final part. 

Wonder Bolt Operative Misty Fly Bids Rainbow Dash good day, and advises her to actually start acting like the Element of Loyalty she claims to be, considering the self-centered arrogant façade she seems intent on displaying.

Rainbow Dash ripped the letter in half, her face like a tomato on fire. 
“LOGAN!” she bellowed, while Logan, hidden beneath the trees and unable to contain himself, burst into laughter. Pinkie Pie sat next to him, rubbing her hoof.
“Not bad,” Pinkie admitted. “A point for Logan.”

#

And for the next week, on it went. 
Rainbow Dash dunked Poison Joke on Logan?
Logan dyed Rainbow Dash’s mane temporarily pink.
Rainbow Dash rained an entire storm cloud on Logan?
Logan snuck after Rainbow Dash and zapped her with a lightning bolt every two minutes for a full three hours before she finally caught him and bucked him to Sweet Apple Acres.
Back and forth it went, with the rest of the mares only able to watch in utter dismay. After seven days of them pranking each other, Twilight had enough.
She gathered every pony but Rainbow Dash, and awaited Logan at the entrance to the Ever-Free. When he finally arrived, he gave them all a suspicious look.
“Okay,” Logan growled as Twilight approached. “What’s she planning now?” 
“This isn’t Rainbow Dash, Logan,” Twilight assured him. “But it needs to stop!” 
“We know what yer trying to do, sugarcube,” Applejack replied. “And it ain’t gonna work. Ya provoked her. And when Rainbow Dash smells a challenge, she ain’t gonna give up.”
“She’s a lot like you, in that regard,” Rarity noted.
Logan hummed, before glancing at Fluttershy. "So," he concluded. "Should I quit playing with my prey?"
“P-Prey?” Pinkie asked, as all eyes turned to Fluttershy. She gave Logan a nod.
"I appreciate you trying to be nice to Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said. "But she's not going to learn the way you're going about it." 
Logan smiled darkly. “Alright, then,” he promised, nuzzling up to Fluttershy. “I promise, Fluttershy; after today, Rainbow Dash is never going to want to prank you again." 

#

When Logan and Rainbow Dash saw each other again, Logan just… grinned. Darkly. Ominously.
Rainbow Dash still followed through on her prank. In seconds, the wolf was covered in apple pies. Yet, he shook them off and continued to grin. Rainbow Dash tried to go about her business, but Logan continued to quietly follow after her, grinning that malicious grin.
Screaming at him did nothing. Boasting did nothing. Trying to ignore him really didn’t do anything. And as the sun set and Rainbow Dash went back home, Logan stood outside her house, and continued to silently grin.
At first, the cyan mare glared back at him. But as the night wore on, the demand for rest took its toll, and as the sun started to rise, Rainbow Dash’s head finally tipped against her window, and she passed out, Logan’s widening grin being the last thing she saw. 
When she managed to wake, the first thing she realized was that Logan was right next to her. Before confusion could set in on how he made it up to her house, she also became aware that his claws were wrapped around her, pinning her hooves and even her wings down.
It all came together when he tipped backward into open air.
Rainbow Dash screamed in horror as both of them plummeted. She tried to flap her wings, but Logan valiantly held them down.
“Logan, stop!” Rainbow Dash screamed. “This isn’t funny! What are you doing?!”
Logan just grinned silently back at her. Desperate, she head-butt him in the face. But he just shook off the blow and continued to grin.
“Logan, this is not funny!” Rainbow Dash insisted, glancing up as the ground sped towards them. “This is not how a prank should go! Are you trying to get us both killed?”
Logan just grinned.
“STOP!” Rainbow Dash screamed.
As the ground sped closer and closer, the cyan pegasus began to tear up.
“I-I’M SORRY!” she screamed. “I’M SORRY I PRANKED FLUTTERSHY! PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!”
Logan tilted his head, before releasing her wings. Rainbow Dash’s wings flared open, and she sped away from the ground with a gasp of relief… that only turned to shock as Logan yanked her hooves down, and she promptly face-planted into a banana-cream pie.  
Rainbow Dash slowly rose, creamy frosting dripping down her steadily reddening face. The laughter of her friends reached her, and she spun, her entire body turning red as Logan watched her with a smug grin, Fluttershy, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity chuckling behind him.
“That… was not… FUNNY, Logan!” Rainbow Dash snarled. “I seriously could’ve been hurt!”
“You think Fluttershy felt the same way when you scared her?” Logan asked, his grin fading.
“I…” Rainbow Dash tried to protest, only for Fluttershy to glare at her from behind Logan. Her glare chased the fight from Rainbow Dash’s voice, and she slowly wilted as realization dawned on her face. 
“Oh,” she noted. “I see what you did there.” 
Logan stood.
“Don’t let me catch you pranking Fluttershy again,” he warned. “You’re supposed to be her friend. Not a bully.” 
Rainbow Dash flinched at his harsh words, while Logan turned back to Fluttershy. 
“So,” he said, offering his paw. “Can I walk you home?”
Fluttershy took his paw gratefully. “Sure,” she said quietly. 
And Rainbow Dash and the others were left to watch as Logan and Fluttershy walked off into the distance, paw in hoof. 
Pinkie marked a final point on his score board.
“And… looks like the win goes to Logan,” Pinkie declared. “Happy April Foals!”