Knight woke up the next day, all around him blood splattered the floor, again he walked to the river near his tent and he watched as the blood the clung onto his fur ran down river. He watched the blood flow as his memories began to spark flashbacks into his head.
Flashback
He watches the blood flow down the street with the rain pouring down, he held his rifle close to his chest as the explosions went off in all directions, "We need to fucking move!" He yells to his men who bunker down in the fox hole with him, "Sergeant Williams! Flank the right side with first and second squad! Corporal Smith, your squad and fourth squad with me!" He yells as the explosions stop momentarily, "Move now!" He yells as they all rush out of their fox holes and the bullets start flying by them, throughout the battlefield thousands of men rush each other from opposite ends in no mans land.
Lieutenant Thomson, as he is known in this life runs with all his might as bullets whiz by him, he can hear the cries of bullets hitting flesh and the cries of those who are to die that day, with the bayonet on his rifle he parries his enemies bayonet and stabs it into his neck and pinning him to the floor, he watches as death takes over another soul, but he cannot hesitate, he runs forward even faster, his blood pumping hard through his veins. The sounds of battle all around him and his goal is near, he can see it, the enemy trench so near, just a few feet away.
"Keep running! Fight harder!" he yells as he his body burns but he wont let himself fall to exhaustion, until he sees the enemy soldier pop out his head with his rifle aiming down at him, three shots fired and he feels his body get thrown back.
He was so close, just a few feet and they could have ended this madness, just a few more feet!
His body begins to jerk, a low growl starts escaping him, his teeth and nails become sharp and begin to grow, his face growing a snout of a wolf, fur beginning to take over his skin, the enemy watch in horror as a monstrosity rise against them, with a loud howl a giant black wolf overpowers the sounds of explosions, behind him his fallen soldiers jerk and twist as they too raise up to become monsters.
With a giant roar the wolves rush forward into the enemy trenches, the sounds of gunfire and flesh ripping can be heard as the normal allied soldiers hold back fearful of the monsters that are now fighting for them. Lieutenant Thomson looks down at his bloody claws as they drip with the rain into a little stream that flows in the middle of the trench, the stream red with blood.
Flashback end
Knight looked at his black claws as they now shine brightly with the sun, even in this current life, it seems he cannot stop bathing himself in blood.
"Please Twilight.. I hope you can help me," he says to himself as he gets out and heads back to his little tent. Unknown to him, a sun soldier watched him through a telescope, "Found it."
Twilight and her friends look tirelessly through the many books she has, searching, hoping to find anything to help the tormented wolf.
"Hey y'all I don't think there's anything in this library that will tell us anything bout our wolf," Applejack says as she puts down another book.
Twilight frowns but she feels the same," I don't think someone like him has ever been written about, there has to be some information somewhere.." she says as the girls try to think, "Why not ask Princess Celestia?" Spike says bringing in food for them all.
Twilight facehoofs herself, "Of course! Why didn't I think of that!" she yells as she begins focusing her magic and in a flash they appear in the throne room.
Celestia and Luna were in the middle of a discussion about the murders when Twilight and her friends popped in.
"Ah Twilight, just the pony I was going to send for," Celestia says as she steps down from her throne and walks to the ponies who bow to her.
"Princess Celestia you were going to call for me?" Twilight asks unsure of what she would need with her, especially when her own mind is clouded with questions for her but then she realizes that the princesses are both dressed in battle armor.
"Yes, unfortunately I have a mission for all of you, one most dire and dangerous…but something that cannot be held off," she says as Fluttershy hides behind Rainbow dash.
"What mission?" Twilight asks unsure of what could be so dangerous until she remembers why she is here, "Oh no," she says softly hoping its not what she thinks it is.
"We have found the culprit of the murders that have been happening of late," Luna says as she walks forward in her no nonsense attitude, "A creature that lives within the Everfree forest, if your report is true about its strength then we must confront it together," Celestia says as a spear floats next to her and attaches itself to her back, Lunas sword hangs at her side.
"A-are you sure? How can you know if he- It! If it is responsible?" Twilight says as the Princess nods to the extra guard that will come with them. "We have had scouts patrolling those woods for weeks now, and always after a murder this creature bathes its bloody self in a river near its home, It is time to act, for the good of our ponies," Luna says as Celestia's horn begins to flare. The girls looks horrified to think that they are giving a mission to hunt down the very creature they want to save.
"Wait! Princess, can we have a word alone first please?" Twilight asks, "Twilight, this creature has killed many, every second we waste is a moment another could fall victim to it," she says clearly not wanting to delay.
"Please?" Fluttershy asks too softly for anyone to hear
"A thousand pardons yer highness, but please, just a sec is all we're askin," Applejack joins in.
"I understand your reservations if you feel frightened and that's ok," Celestia begins, "but we must have courage with this new threat," she says as her magic flares even brighter.
"He is only lost, not a threat," Fluttershy attempts again.
"Princess pretty please just a tiny tiny bit of tiny time?" Pinky asks as well.
"Look we cannot delay any longer, whatever you have to ask can wait until the monster is killed!" Luna says.
"YOU CANT KILL HIM!" Fluttershy yells loudly getting the attention of everyone there, she is panting after her outburst, "Please princesses… don't kill him," she begs as the princesses then begin to eye them all.
"Guards leave us," Princess Celestia says loudly and seeming angry, the guards immediately disappear.
"You know the creature?" Luna says holding back her giant voice.
Twilight steps forwards," They don't know him…I do and I told them about him," she says as Celestia looks shocked.
"You knew who was making these murders and said nothing?!" she asks in disbelief causing Twilight to flinch
"No your highness, Twilight only recently discovered who it was!" Rarity came next to her.
"Honest truth! Please just listen to us!" Applejack says
"He isn't a bad guy he just needs help!" Rainbowdash says standing next to them, they all come next to Twilight to show their support.
"Three minutes," Celestia says as Twilight looks up with tears ,"Three minutes to explain yourself," She says as the girls smile at Twilight, "Go on hun, tell her who he really is." Applejack encourages.
Twilight takes a deep breath, she then explains everything to the Princesses, just as he explained to her friends. Luna herself felt a part of herself in the story Twilight spoke of but Celestia seemed unchanged.
"I am sorry Twilight, I understand what you are saying but.. as he is now, he is a threat who has killed and will kill again," Celestia says as Twilight pales, "But princess he was able to stop himself before, we just need to find out how to help him!" Twilight pleads, she then looks to Luna.
She only looks away, "Celestia is right, he cannot control himself now, he is a threat to everyone," she says.
"And you weren't!" Rainbow Dash yells, "She didn't kill anyone," Celestia says, "But she could have and she was a threat! But we saved her, why cant we save him!" Rainbow dash yells not willing to let someone who just needs help be killed for something he has no control over.
"This discussion is over, Luna and I will deal with him, you need to put the good of Equestria over your personal feelings, you may want to save him but as of now he is still killing, we cannot wait for more to die while you figure him out," she says to Twilight, "I am sorry," she says as she teleports away with Luna and the guards who were waiting outside.
Twilight sits there heartbroken, the two most powerful ponies are on their way to kill her friend.
Her friends sit their quietly, Fluttershy holds back her tears, "Its not fair," Rainbow dash says softly. Twilight can only think of him now, she thinks of his pranks, his laugh, the way he reads books with her and how his tail wags when she says hi to him.
"I can't let this happen… I wont!" she says standing up as she begins her own spell, "Twi dear what are you doing?" Rarity asks coming next to her, "I wont let them kill him! Its not his fault that he loses control to whatever it is that has been cast on him, he has been alone all his life and I wont let him be alone any longer!" She yells as her magic shines brightly, her friends smile and run next to her, "We're with ya sugar," Applejack grins. "He's just a poor scared wolf and he's in danger, I must help him!" Fluttershy says through shaking legs.
Knights sleep is interrupted as he hears the sound of magic teleporting someone near him, the smell of lavender and cake fills his nose, as well as steel, the sound of many hoofsteps echo through the forest, "I guess those two found me," he says saddened, he really did like this spot, it was quiet and peaceful.
Luna and Celestia marched through the forest, Luna then raises the moon after Celestia lowered the sun since it was that time, "This is strange, there are no predators attacking us so far," Luna says as she looks around, "It must mean this monsters territory is large," Celestia responds as she soon hears the sound of a river. They walk into a clearing, a beat up tent barely stands by it, and in the middle of the clearing, the large wolf sits watching them.
"You did not flee," Luna says outloud to see if it would respond but he stays quiet, he smiles at them though, "Do you not understand us?" She continues.
"You two grew up to be beautiful," Knight says softly causing the ponies to look alarmed, he can speak.
"You say that as if you know us," Celestia says standing tall, but even then she would only reach up to his chest.
"I have been around for quite some time," he responds simply.
"Tell me Knight, why do you kill?" she asks.
"I see Twilight has told you of me, did you believe her?" he asks instead.
"She told us everything, including that she does not know how to help you," Celestia says and Knight only smiles, but Luna looks at him carefully, behind that smile, in his eyes, she can see it, a sadness, a sadness so powerful it hurts.
"She wants to continue looking but I am sorry I cannot wait for her to research while you continue to shed blood throughout the land," Celestia says as she grabs her spear, her soldiers pull out their swords and ready their magic.
Luna seems hesitant to pull out her sword, "Sister can we not put him on a watch or something similar?" she tries but Celestia shakes her head, "Magic will not bind him according to Twilights report and I fear tartarus cannot hold him," she says back, "we have no choice sister, we must do this," she says as Luna looks down, "I'm sorry," Luna says very softly, but this apology was not for her sister, it was for the unfortunate wolf in front of them.
"I am thankful… no one had ever tried before and I had never had a friend in this world, Twilight allowed me to smile and that was enough for me," he says as the guards hesitate but they grab him, with magic they pull out a stump from the ground and place his head on it.
"She has hit a dead end in her research, I am sorry but between now and the time she finds the way to help… I cannot risk the lives of my ponies on that," Celestia says as she raises a sword, "Forgive me, I am sorry fate had chosen this road for you," she says as she swings down the sword to his neck.
Twilight teleports in to see Knights head being put down on a stomp with Celestia raising a sword, the girls gasps as they see him about to die.
"STOP!" Twilight yells as she shoots a beam of magic to the sword smacking it out of the princesses magic.
They all look at her surprised, none more so than Knight, "Twilight?" he says almost not believing she is here. The guards raise their swords to her.
"Twilight this has to be done!" Celestia says loudly and Twilight flinches, "I… I cant let you do it! He's my friend and I don't want him to die!" she yells back with tears in her eyes.
"He is a danger to everyone!" Celestia yells back, "He can change if we help him!" Twilight defends.
Knights eyes simply focus on the little purple pony, she is so small, but her heart is big, he cant help but smile as tears fill his eyes. Luna watches him, her heart breaks as she sees his tears, just moments ago he had given up his life as he saw no hope for him but now because of Twilight, there is a spark of life in his eyes, a tiny light that says he wants to live.
She begins to approach him as the two argue, "Twilight if you keep interfering your punishment will not be light!" Celestia warns which catches Knights attention. "I don't care what punishment you give me, I will not let him die!" Twilight says back, "We feel the same!" her friends says as they stand next to her, Knight watches in amazement, are those the friends Twilight told him about, they are also here for him? His heart nearly explodes from the happiness he feels to have almost made friends with them.
"Twilight..he has killed many, and who knows how many more will die, if you keep defending him I will have to treat you as his accomplice, I'd have to send you to tartarus!" Celestia yells to them and they look shocked but regardless hold their ground, "Even so.. We will not let him die," she says.
"Twilight!" Knight yells shocking them all, Luna stops a few feet away from him. Twilight looks at him, she hates how they have him pinned down, "Twilight," he says again as he smiles sadly at her, "Its ok.. he says.
Tears well up in her eyes, "No its not! You don't need to die! None of this is your fault Knight! I promised I would help you, then we can do all those things we read about, you can meet my friends, theyre here right now for you, I can give you more treats, Pinky will make them for you!" she yells as he smiles happily, she cares for him so much, its more than he has ever had.
"I was able to have a friend, that's all I needed, and my friend deserves better than tartarus" he says "I am a monster Twilight.. even now with the full moon high in the sky I can feel the monster in me raging to get out, we have to stop it, I don't want to kill anymore, I don't want to wake up with another lifes blood on my claws," he says pleading.
"I can help you-" she begins ," YOU CANT!" Knight yells as he shadow expands and traps Twilight and her friends in place, "You cant change what I am Twilight… you can only destroy it," he says softly.
"Knight let me go!" she says as she pulls against the shadow that holds her.
"Princess Celestia…please.. don't be hard on her," he pleads to her, Princess Celestia grits her teeth, why… why is fate so cruel, how could she have been so cruel, this poor soul cursed with a horrible fate and she too is powerless to change it, "Please," he begs her.
"You have my word.." she says as she grabs the sword in her magic again.
"Knight! Let me go! If you don't let me go I will never forgive you!" Twilight yells with tears in her eyes.
"Princess Celestia please don't do it!" Fluttershy yells, "We can help him!" Applejack yells.
The other ponies struggle against the shadows with all their might.
Luna looks away, her eyes stinging with tears, she herself was able to have a second chance, yet he isn't allowed one.
"Knight, look at me!" Twilight yells as her eyes lock with his, "You don't have to do this.. I can protect you, we can still read books together and laugh and figure this out, we can find a better way," she says smiling at him desperately.
He smiles at her, "Thank you… thank you for being this monsters friend," he says as Celestia swings down the sword.
"NOOOOO!" Twilight yells as her eyes become bright white and she struggles greatly against his shadows, the sound of sword cutting flesh is heard and a cry of pain. Knights eyes slowly open, his head isn't cut off? He can smell blood, he looks up and his eyes wide in surprise, Twilight looks down at him smiling, a sword stabbed into her back.
"I told you.." she coughs up blood that splatters on his face, "That I will protect you," she says as more blood runs over her shoulders and onto his face, she then falls over. Celestia looks horrified and Luna stunned, her friends could only watch in horror as their friends body lay on the floor with blood pooling around her.
Celestia runs to her side and starts her healing magic, Luna comes to assist her. Knights eyes are blank, his only friends blood is all over him, because of him she has a sword through her back. Inside his heart a wicked and evil grin widens.
Shadows shoot out of Knight blast everyone near him away, Celestia holds onto Twilight as tightly as she could to keep her from taking anymore wounds. All the guards and girls get knocked down, when they finally get up they look at Knight in fear, his eyes turned completely red, his jaws turned from white to blood red, and his body begins to grow larger and larger, he roars into the sky so loudly it shakes the ground. Gone is the friendly smile Knight had been showing Twilight, it takes a deep breath and smiles sinisterly
"I AM FREE"
