Chapter Ten

-Sugar Cube Corner-

The group cheered, as they watched the multi-colored jersey pony jump into the end zone. Moon Howl smirking at how far said pony ran. "A great feat of endurance!" He cheered, holding up his mug of cider. "Made Ponyville proud!"

"Here, here!" Mr. Cake, Big Mac, and Spike; cheered. Shining Armor just laughed, with a nod. "Seems like Canterlot's Hoofball Team is going to need more practice."

Moon Howl nodded, while the game went to their ending scenes of fans cheering, and the team celebrating their victory. "One cannot truly be defeated, unless they allow it to do so. They can either win, or learn." He said, taking a swig of his cider.

"I will drink to that, partner!" Big Mac announced, downing the rest of his own.

"Whoa, now, big guy! Don't want to drink too much." Mr. Cake said, as Big Mac lowered his mug. "I rather not have Applejack giving another ear full. I also prefer not mentioning what Ms. Cheerliee had to say… Felt like a colt, being scolded by my teacher, again."

Shining Armor nodded at the comment. "And I think holding back some, myself, will keep Cadence from giving me a lecture on responsibilities."

"Doesn't like you drinking too much, huh?" Spike asked, the Prince nodding. "Ouch, bro, I feel for you." The baby dragon's attention went to Moon Howl, who was already on his sixth mug, and didn't even look buzzed one bit. "What about you, Moon? Does Rainbow Dash not mind you drinking too much?"

Moon Howl finished his mug, and looked at Spike with a raised brow. "Oh, she told me not to get so drunk, that will cause her to come and get me." He answered, the others looking at him with surprised expressions. "What?"

"Bro, you just drank six mugs of hard cider, and look like you're ready for a seventh." Shining Armor noted, pointing to Big Mac. "Big Mac can only handle four, before Applejack has to come get him… And he's the best drinker out of the four of us."

"Man, you're going to get it…" Spike said, seeming quite nervous. "And Rainbow Dash is going to kill us, when she gets here."

"Actually, I will be alright. Where I am from, we have much stronger drinks." Moon Howl said, the others giving him a dumbfounded look. "And why would it be such a problem, for you all? If anything, it'll just be my fault." He laughed a bit.

"Moon Howl, you don't know how lucky you are!" Big Mac said, shocked, as the group sat back down. "You're living with Rainbow Dash, the one mare every single stallion in Ponyville wants."

Moon Howl's wolf-like instincts suddenly kicked in, but he quickly repressed them. It would look strange that he was protecting her, like a mate, but they weren't together. "Really now? Well, I can see why that is, but doubt she wants a stallion like me." He managed to say.

"Moon Howl, she lets you call her Dashie!" Spike blurted out, throwing his arms out. "No pony is allowed to call her that, not even Fluttershy… And they've known one another since their filly days." That bit of information actually threw the Charger for a loop.

Moon Howl knew Rainbow Dash gave him a flirting look, when she told him to call her that… But he didn't think she actually liked him that way, despite how he felt about the situation he was in. "I… Did not know that, to be honest." Moon Howl said, leaning into his seat. "Guess I didn't think anything of it."

Spike nudged him a couple of times. "So, what is it like, living with Ponyville's Number One, Moon Howl? Though, I seriously think the title should go to Rarity."

"You and that designer, Spike." Big Mac rolled his eyes, the baby dragon shrugging his shoulders. "But, he has a good point, what is it like, partner?" The four suddenly grinned, like wanting to know.

"Bet he's walked in on her, after she got a shower, quite a few times." Mr. Cake nudged him, causing the Charger to let out a bit of a growl… This caused the baker to back up some, obviously slightly angering the larger stallion.

"For your information. I have not, she is more careful than you think." Moon Howl said, giving Mr. Cake a slight glare. "And even if I have, I would not tell you. One thing we Vlka Fenryka don't do, is betray the trust of those close to us."

"Close, huuuuh?" Shining Armor asked, grinning at him. The Prince had caught what Moon Howl accidently said, and was planning on making him for said slip up.

-Back at Rainbow Dash's House-

The mare was walking through the room Moon Howl was using. Ironically, for someone who seemed so feral, he kept it rather clean and orderly. Heck, even his armor was nicely stacked, with the blade sheathed next to it.

Rainbow Dash, no longer wearing her bed robe and slippers, walked up to the glaring suit of armor. The eyes were so red, it seemed difficult to see out of it… Yet, clearly Moon Howl had absolutely no trouble at all. The color of his armor was a mix between frozen blue and storm gray, while the shoulders held different colors. The right was a dark red, with black triangles, three of them, going across it. The left was yellow with a black wolf head, snarling, on it. The design gave a feral warrior feel, but also a noble guardian one.

His sword, on the other hand, was a completely different story, all together. The moment she pulled only a portion of it, to see the jagged base of his blade, it felt like the sword was going to overwhelm her! The red jewel, at the hilt's center, felt like its eye, glaring at Rainbow Dash for even thinking about drawing the blade. It took every ounce of strength she had, just to put that portion back into the sheath.

"W-What… Was that?" Rainbow Dash said, eyeing the sword, carefully. "Does Moon Howl feel that, or more, every time he draws that weapon?" Her body felt weakened by the ordeal, to the point her hooves were shaking. The mare's eyes slowly got heavier, and she could feel the weakness slowly turn into fatigue. When her eyes landed on to the empty bed, she already found her hooves moving towards it. "I'm sure he won't mind… Probably won't be back tonight, anyways."

With that, Rainbow Dash made her way over to the vacant bed, and climbed into it. She pulled the covers back, and made herself comfortable. It didn't take very long, before the daredevil was fast asleep… Not noticing the covers were actually Moon Howl's cloak, placed on to the bed to act as his home's décor for now. Though, she was able to get under the sheets, adding to the bed's warmth.

-At Sugar Cube Corner-

Moon Howl couldn't help, but to laugh at the antics of his newest friends. They weren't much of drinkers, and completely forgotten about their reasons for not drinking too much hard cider. However, it was getting rather late, and the Charger didn't want Rainbow Dash to start worrying about him.

"Well, I think it is about time I had back." Moon Howl said, setting his empty mug down and getting up from his seat. "Rather not show up and find out Rainbow Dash had been waiting for me all night."

A tipsy Shining Armor walked over, and nudged him. "Come on, M-Man! hiccup W-What's another round of d-drinks, huh?" The prince was obviously wasted; his eyes were even slouched a bit.

Moon Howl shook his head. "I've drank more than you four, and I've stayed out late enough." He made his way over to the door. "Not to mention, I rather not be here, when the others realize what happened." Moon Howl looked back at the scene, Spike passed out with a lamp shade over his head. Both Big Mac and Mr. Cake had one too many mugs around them, both passed out from drinking too much. The only reason why Shining Armor was still awake, was because he wanted to talk with Moon Howl about joining the Royal Guard, which he respectively declined. "You best get some sleep, Armor. You're going to have one heck of a time in the morning."

The unicorn seemed confused, for a few moments, before giving a nod. "Alright, have fun, Howl!" With that, Shining Armor suddenly passed out… Luckily, he was still in a chair when he did.

Moon Howl smirked, he enjoyed tonight's events, was not something he had done a whole lot in his life. The closest things, were the feasts every moot has within the Fang. But, he had to return to Rainbow Dash's home, before it gets any later. So, he quickly walked out of the bakery and took off.

The moon was even brighter now, and the night sky was clear enough for every star to be visible. Moon Howl actually contemplated whether or not taking a night flight sometime soon, maybe finding an isolated spot t satisfy his wolf-like urge. But, it would not be tonight, he was out late enough.

The stallion approached Rainbow Dash's cloud home, and carefully landed on to her porch. He retrieved the hidden key, from a nearby cloud, and unlocked the door so he could enter, but did so quickly. To his relief, the room was still dark, which meant Rainbow Dash may have gone to bed already.

His eyes, glowing within the darkness, quickly adjusted and allowed him to see. Carefully, Moon Howl made his way to the room that he stayed in, not wanting to wake up his host. Once there, he closed the door and walked over to the bed. The new body was enhanced, due to the Astartes origins, but he was still worn out form all the things that had happened recently.

Moon Howl pulled back the fur, and sheets, then got in. While he had a much higher tolerance, than most ponies, the hard cider's effects made Moon Howl miss the fact he wasn't alone in the bed. He didn't notice Rainbow Dash being there, until the sheets were over him and she suddenly nuzzled into him.

His eyes shot open, and he looked down at her. The mare was sound asleep, pressing against his much larger frame. "Why is she in my bed?" Moon Howl thought, still looking down at her. She looked so peaceful, like nothing was wrong and everything was at peace. The stallion got an even bigger surprise, when the moonlight shined even more through the window, revealing Rainbow Dash's features even more.

Her mane glistened, like she had just washed it, and her coat was given a lighter shade of cyan by the light. The mare's face, somehow, seemed like it was glowing, giving off a peaceful, and elegant, maiden look to the stallion. Even when he turned over to his side, to get a better look, her features increased by her pressing herself into his body. The mare's face resting against his chest, as if he was her pillow.

Moon Howl gave a light sigh, and smiled. "What the Helheim, why not?" He thought, before wrapping a hoof around her, followed by one of his large wings. "She's still beautiful, even though her form had changed from my visions." The stallion smiled even more, before Rainbow Dash nuzzled even more into him. He gave a slight nod, before resting his head just above her own. "Blood of Russ, if this is a dream… I'll kill whoever wakes me up."

Rainbow Dash's words, said within her sleeping state, shocked Moon Howl beyond belief. "Mmm… Moon Howl, hold me tighter, I don't' want this to end anytime soon." Her words were followed by the mare fully pressing against his larger frame, and placing her muzzle against his broad neck.

The stallion's eyes were wide, but he just smirked. "Well then, now I know what kind of sleeper she is." He slightly nodded, complying with her dream's request, and held her tighter. A smile crept on to Rainbow Dash's face, as she let out a pleased moan. "Anything for my Dashie." He thought, before falling asleep himself.