I DO NOT OWN MLP CHARACTERS
Far in the outskirts of Equestria, Chrysalis inspects the ranks of her massive changling army, she is almost done through the middle rank, "Report!" she yells and the changlings salutes, "My queen! Soldier 55873, primary duty –" Chrysalis covers his mouth when she spots a changling shaking down the line, she moves over to this changling and stares down at him
"Is there a problem little one?" She asks and the young changling stares up at her, "M-my queen, must we do this? Many of us will die, can we not just do what our counterpart changlings have done? Live with others without having to attack them?" he asks and calms down when she smiles down at him.
"This is why I inspect all my ranks personally now," she says as she walks away, "Kill him," she orders and all the changlings smile wickedly at the shaking changling, "Wait no no nooo!"
Chrysalis walks to the next rank as the changlings feed on the coward behind her, "I will not let what happened before happen again," she says as she walks up to the next changling, "Report!"
Twilight wakes up in the morning feeling refreshed, the sunlight hits her face and bothers her until she starts waking up, her eyes slowly open and she looks at her empty bedside, something normal to her, she rolls away from the sun into the other side of the bed where she tries to fall back to sleep. She feels so comfortable, this side of the bed is pretty warm and it smells like chocolate, just then the flash of Knight having spent the Knight in her bed passes her mind and she jolts up," Oh my gosh he must have woken up before me?! Oh no I hope he doesn't think I'm some kind of pervert or that I'm an indecent mare for what I did," she says blushing.
Rainbow Dash then burts into her room, "Hey Twilight you awake?!" she yells and Twilight panics, "WHAT! YES I SLEPT ALONE! I mean I always sleep alone why wouldn't I, what a weird question," she awkwardly laughs, "Sooooo Hi Rainbow Dash, what brings you along?" she asks as Rainbow looks at her questionably.
"Riiight, well Knight was here in the morning and he offered to make us breakfast and Pinkys helping, remember, Princess Celestia would like a weekly report but you told her we would visit instead," she says as she hears Rarity in the back calling that breakfasts ready, "Hurry up, or we wont leave you any food," she says zipping away.
"Breakfast, Princess Celestia! Of course, why didn't Spike wake me up earlier, no matter, I have to get ready," she says as she gets up and heads to the restroom.
Twilight walks into the kitchen just before Knight finishes cooking, she sat in one of the two empty chairs, her eyes however where on Knights back, did she dream it or was he really there? She blushes a little as she thinks of what a great night sleep she had.
"Twilight are you ok?" Fluttershy asks waving a hoof in front of her.
"What oh yes, I'm sorry Fluttershy," she says and Fluttershy smiles, "It's ok, I know what was on your mind," she says as she turns towards Knight, "What no I mean yes but its just because… well," Twilight just stays quiet and Fluttershy giggles.
Knight then turns serves the mares chocolate pancakes, milk and an assortment of fruits and salads, he even made deserts like jello and brownies some of which Pinky was already eating herself, "This is sooo good," she says stuffing her face, "Oh my Knight you have outdone yourself," Rarity says as she looks at the food and then looks up at him," Darling look at your fur its all messy," Rarity says as Knights fur is full of chocolate stains.
"Oh, I was trying to be careful, this apron isn't really suited to me," he says as the apron he found was spikes and looks more like a bib on him, the girls giggle at this.
"Just hold still, Ill clean you up," Rarity says as she goes next to him with a wet rag and starts cleaning his fur.
Twilight watched with great interest, but she also felt something inside, something inside telling her that she didn't like what she was seeing, "Lean down, you have some on your face as well," Rarity says as Knight leans down and Rarity wipes the rag on his face, their faces where so close, just a bit closer and- "Well wow that is quite a mess on you Knight!" Twilight teleports in between them, "Knight you better just go wash up, we wouldn't want that chocolate to stain," She says pushing him away and he just quietly obeys slightly confused.
The girls however stare at her grinning, Rarity is confused for a moment until she looks around and sees the other girls expressions and then what Twilight did, she then drops the rag, "Oh no Twilight darling I wasn't trying anything with him I just didn't want him to stay dirty!" she says raising her hoofs.
"Whaaat? Why would I care if you were going to try anything with him, he's a really good friend, I just thought a shower would be better than a rag that's all," she says waving her hoofs.
Apple Jack ate a pancake, "Now that right there is good eatin, Knight really knows how this little lady likes it," Applejack says happy that she can stuff herself, she then grins slyly, "Maybe I should go check in on him and see if he needs any help with the stains, I know plenty of ways to get messes of a fur since I do that with the animals in the farm," she says getting up, "Just hope he doesn't mind the help," she says and Twilight teleports in front of her, "NOOO!" She screams, "I mean…" then she sees Applejacks grins, "ooohh," Twilight buries her face in her hoofs blushing.
Knight then comes back with a towel on his neck, the room smelled like hot chocolate now and the girls stared at him, it was obvious that it wasn't his fur that made him look large, his mane stuck to his face and his muscles were clearly defined through his fur.
"Or Maybe.. I should have helped," Applejack says gulping another pancake with a blush.
Spike was the only one unaffected by the scene, "Oh please," he says rolling his eyes.
Knight was sent away until he was decent, which was something he didnt really understand but he assumed they meant dry so he returned after a bit, Spike however caught a lovely scent, "What is that glorious smell?" he asks as Knight remembers he was making him something he rushes back to the stove.
"I remember Twilight telling me about her friend being a dragon so," Knight then gives spike jewel pancakes with melted jewels for syrup, "Hope you enjoy," he says and Spikes mouth waters then he gives a thumbs up to Twilight who just groans.
Knight sits next to Twilight and he watches everyone start enjoying the food he and Pinky made, it was fine until Rainbow Dash noticed he wasn't eating, "Knight you don't like your own food or what?" she asks playfully and he looks down.
"Wait, do you really not like it?" She asks and now everyones eyes are on him, he only looks away. Twilight gets up, "Lets not waste this breakfast with UNECESSARY questions guys," she says looking at Rainbow Dash.
Spike stuffs his face, "What, its not like he eats meat or something," he says laughing, and the girls give a face of disgust, "Ew gross, now who would be barbaric enough to eat that," Rarity says, Twilight facehoofs, "Oh no," she says as the girls bring up a conversation about how disgusting it is. Knight just keeps his head down without adding a word.
"Yea, only a monster would eat meat," Rainbow says after a small conversation about it.
"Girls!" Twilight yells getting their attention, she motions towards Knight who seems ashamed.
"Oh dear," Fluttershy says as she covers her mouth.
"Please.. excuse me," Knight says as he runs out of the kitchen back into the maze that is Twilights castle.
"What was that about?" Pinky says munching on Spikes pancakes, somehow.
"Knight is a wolf remember, he does need meat to survive," Twilight says with a small glare.
"Oh buck," Rainbow Dash pushes her food away, "We just insulted him in so many ways.." she says and feels horrible about it.
"I called him barbaric," Rarity says covering her mouth with her hoofs, "and after he made us such a wonderful breakfast, this is the worst, the only barbaric creature here is meee! Knight darling please wait!" she yells as she takes off after him.
"I said some pretty harsh stuff too, I feel lower than a worm on a hot sunny day," she says as she gets up and follows Rarity.
The rest of the girls get up and follow as well, it takes some time before one of them spots Knight outside by a small farm that Spike likes to grow, they get together and make sure they apologize properly and do not somehow insult him more.
"What is he doing?" Spike says pointing at Knight.
Knight is digging in the ground and pulls out a carrot, he sniffs it and licks it a little, he doesn't seem to really favor its taste, then he bites into it and starts chewing, his face couldn't show how much he disliked it, he almost threw up but he forced himself to swallow it, he then goes for another bite.
Twilight appears before him and gently puts his paw that is holding the carrot down, "Knight, you don't have to do this," she says putting a hoof on his chest, "There is nothing wrong with what you eat," she says looking up at him.
"She's right darling, the only ones wrong were us, everything we said, please forgive us," Rarity says coming up to him.
"I'm mighty sorry Knight, what I said was unfair and untrue," Applejack says coming up to him.
Rainbow is about to apologize before Knight raises a paw, "Its ok," he says putting the carrot down, "I understand," he says smiling at them, "I know I'm different, please lets not a make a huge deal out of this, if you start treating me differently then I will feel as if I don't belong, but so far all of you have treated me kindly and I have no reason to think that you actually think of me as a monster, though your words were quite harsh… I forgive you all, though I do not think there is anything for me to forgive" he says to them and thought they still feel like they owe him an apology they accept.
"But let us move past this, today we are to report to the princesses, we shouldn't delay any longer," he says as he ruffels Rainbows mane.
"He's right," Twilight says smiling, "The princesses are waiting and while we meet them we can tell them about what we learned that all meat eaters are not all monsters," she says and the girls nod.
Having gone to their separate homes to pack they finally meet after an hour at the train station, Knight however pokes the train cart and Rarity giggles at him, "Knight what are you doing?" she asks trotting up to him.
"I don't trust this machine, can we not just fly?" he asks, "thank you!" Rainbow dash says in the background.
"Oh come now, there is nothing wrong with the train, Canterlot is far away and you don't want to present yourself to the rulers of Equestria all travel worn now would you?" she asks
"Well I suppose not," he says looking at himself, "I did look around for a suit to appear with but there was nothing my size," he says and Rarity smiles wide.
"Well I though such a thing might happen so I took it upon myself to make you something," she says proudly.
"You made me a suit?" he asks surprised, "I'm not exactly a pony, I hope I didn't cause you any trouble," he says and she waves her hoof.
"Oh it was no trouble darling, it was more of an inspiration, a new take on fashion, a suit for a wolf! It made me think, why do only ponies need fashion, what of other creatures and I went into a creative fever making beautiful gowns and robes for all kinds of creatures," she says with stars in her eyes.
"Rarity Knight you coming or what!" Rainbow calls from a window, the two outside rush inside, and to Knight obviously felt somewhat cramped.
Knight looked through the window as the train began to move, he sniffed the air outside and frowned.
"Is something wrong Knight?" Twilight asks as she sits across from him.
"I feel something dark coming," he says as he sniffs the air, "there is tension in the air."
Princess Celestia was giving orders to her guards who took off in a hurry, Princess Luna walks up to her side," Sister, the foe is many in number, I do not t think we will be able to hold them for long, without Shining Armor here to provide a shield I believe we must start evacuations" she says and Celestia paces as she thinks hard on what to do.
"Evacuate to where though, there is no place nearby that is well defended and it will take all we have to repel the enemy here, what if the ponies evacuating are attacked? The safest place would be in the caverns under the castle," she says and Luna thinks about it and nods.
"Very well, my night guards are amassing as we speak, we must act with haste," she says and a guard busts through the chamber doors, "Your highnesses, the changlings have crossed the borders, they are on their way here," he says
Celestias horn flares as gives the guards a letter containing her orders, "Sound the alarm! Relay these orders to all the messengers!" she says and the guard salutes then takes off. She then teleports a letter to Princesses Cadence, "I just hope she gets it in time," she says softly.
"They arrived far too quickly," Luna says as her horn flares and her magic brings her armor to her body, Celestias does the same.
"Yes, but we have no time to hesitate, we have a duty to carry out," she says and Luna nods then together they run out of the chamber doors just as an alarm is sounded through the city.
It was near dark when the canterlot was in view of the train, the girls were asleep but Knight was wide awake, he felt so much unease.
"Knight, are you sure you don't want to rest?" Twilight asks with sleepy eyes.
"I am sure Twilight, you go ahead and go back to sleep I will…." He quiets down as he hears the alarm in the distance.
His eyes then look up into the sky to see a massive swarm of changlings, and many of them are headed to the train, a glowing green ball rapidly heading to them.
"GET DOWN!" Knight yells as he grabs Twilight and jumps to the other girls covering them with his wings.
A huge explosion rocks the train cart and blows open a large hole on its side. Ponies wake up screaming in a panic, the girls were dazed from the explosion.
Twilight shakes her head as she looks up at Knight, he turns around and on his back was a huge burn wound, but it heals quickly.
"Oh buck," Rainbow says as she looks to the other ponies who weren't protected by Knight and some were burned to a crisp and others with sever burns.
"What is happening?" Fluttershy says as she runs to a filly that was crying, her mom was sucked out in the explosion, she grabs her in her hoofs, just then a changling flies through the hole directly at her, his mouth wide open with the intent to sink his fangs into her.
The girls watch in horror as they scramble to get to her, Fluttershy shields the filly and looks away expecting to feel pain, but she felt nothing, she looks up slowly and sees the changling inches from her face staring at her in pain, slowly it is pulled back until its face to face with a growling Knight, his claws piercing the changlings back and through its chest, Knight then throws the changling out through the hole it created, many more changlings landing on the train as he did so.
"Oh my what is happening!" Rarity yells as she looks at the dead ponies, she then sees Pinky next to the snack cart and she looks hurt, "PINKY!" she yells running to her and the girls look shocked to see her on the floor, she checks for a pulse, "She's alive!" she then looks her over, "Oh darling what have they done to you," she says she tries to heal the burns on separate areas of her body. On the other carts screams can be heard from ponies fighting back against the invaders.
Rainbow grits her teeth, "Those bastards!" she yells and flies to the hole only to be blocked by Knight who stares at the changling blood on his claws.
"Knight what are you doing!" she yells and Knight puts his claws to her face, she backs up in horror to see the blood.
"Changlings don't kill their prey, they need them alive to feed on their love, but these are only here to kill," he says growling, " can you kill Rainbow dash?" he says looking at her and she grits her teeth but calms down.
He looks at her and smiles, "You cannot, nor should you have to, take Pinky and anyone else who is alive to the front, defend them at all costs," he says as another changling darts in only to be killed off instantly by him.
"Knight you don't need to fight anymore," Twilight says as she can tell what he is thinking, "No I don't, but if it means protecting you all, I will," he says as another changling can be seen heading to the hole, "Save as many as you can," he says as he jumps out the hole and grabs the changling in his claws.
He flies unto the train and stands on it, he roars loudly into the sky getting the attention of the changlings above him and those attacking the train. They look at him as he brings the squirming changling to his jaws and he bites down on it ripping it apart, they glare at him and make him their new target.
Knight lets his claws grow larger and his jaws grow bigger, "Come and die you insects!" he yells as they swarm him and green blood soon starts raining running down the cart.
Twilight bust through a door, inside off duty guards had taken down the few changlings that stayed, though it was obvious that they were not able to protect everyone.
One of the guards held onto the hoof of a fallen pony, "You idiot, you shouldn't have pushed me aside," he says with tears.
The fallen pony smiles, "Heh, I guess I can't keep an eye on you any longer little bro," he grips his hoof tighter, "Don't you let these bastards do you in, You make our family proud Nitro, you make us proud," he says as his hoof falls to the ground.
Nitro sheds a few tears as he says his final goodbyes, his partner was checking the dead bodies of the changlings when one who was unconscious threw itself at Nitro, in his anger he grabbed the changling and flipped it over his shoulder while pulling out a knife and stabbing it into its chest when it hit the ground. Twilight walked up to him slowly as her friends checked on the other ponies.
Once Nitro saw her come near he stood up and recognized her, "Your highness," he says bowing and his partner comes next to him bowing.
"I am sorry for your loss," Twilight says looking at the fallen brother.
"My brother was a great soldier," Nitro says through his tears, "he was proud to serve," he says and Twilight smiles at him putting a hoof on his shoulder. She looks around, her friends carrying those who are hurt and guiding those who can walk, but there are many who didn't live.
"I wish I could give you time to mourn but we are in an emergency," she says to him and he stands, "I am ready and fit for duty your highness," Nitro says saluting.
"Good, please help us get to the front cart," she says and he nods.
"I'll take point your highness, my partner will cover the rear," he says as he looks at her and she nods before she takes off to the back.
There are explosions heard outside and the train shook with each one, the ponies moving between the carts were terrified, each cart holding only a few survivors and plenty of changlings to remove.
Twilight opened the final door to the front cart and in front of her a pony held a hoof towards her, "Help me.." he says before collapsing, on his neck a changling had his fangs deep into his neck, it looked up at Twilight and hissed before jumping at her. Twilight creates a shield quickly making the changling bounce off and tumble back, inside the cart all the ponies were dead and changlings fed on them, "Oh no," Twilight says as she starts backing up but a yell in the back made her turn, in the cart behind them changlings were clawing at the door.
Now the changlings in front notice her and his as they charge but she slams close the door but a changling gets its head through the door not letting her close it. It snaps at her and tries to bite her.
"Oh no were trapped," one of the ponies yell as they escape the cart behind them, the soldier in the rear was still fighting but she was getting overwhelmed and changlings began to get past her.
"Move aside she needs help!" Nitro yells as she tries to get to her, "Are you crazy she's a goner!" the last pony who ran out yelled as he closed the door.
"Get out of the way!" Nitro yelled as he finally got to the rear but the pony had closed the door and shook his head as he held it closedand only the sounds of struggles and banging on the door could be heard until finally it got quiet.
"No.." Nitro says looking at the door when suddenly a changlings head breaks through the door and hangs there dead, a deafening roar sounds out as the cart rocks, claw marks pierce through the cart and head to the front cart, then a loud crash is heard and the sounds of windows and metal breaking shake the cart.
The changling snapping at Twilight suddenly stops then is pulled away quickly and the door slams shut in front of Twilight and everything goes quiet, only the sounds of the train moving fills the air. The ponies look terrified, Twilight reaches for door when suddenly it opens and she yelps putting up her shield again, she looks up and there stands Knight covered in changling blood,
"Stay In that cart Twilight, this cart isn't something you should see," he says tiredly as he walks through and before he closes the door he steps aside and the soldier from the rear cart walks past him.
"T-thank you," she says holding her injured arm and with one eye closed from the blood covering it.
He nods at her and she walks in, Nitro rushed forward to face the unknown wolf but stopped when he saw his partner walk through and thank the wolf, the princess smiled up at him so he must not be a threat, he sighed out of relief.
"We are almost at canterlot," Knight says to Twilight who smiles but he still frowns, "What is it?" she asks and he sits in front of her to rest.
"The sky is dark with their army, and thousands more march through the forest," Knight says and the ponies gasps, "We have to get to canterlot now," he says closing his eyes to rest.
Twilight sits next to him and gently pets him as he tries to rest for the short time he has available. A few minutes later the train comes to a halt, "Ladies and gentlecolts we have arrived to canterlot, rest assured the royal guard is here to escort us to safety, please proceed with caution and may you all make it through this, Celestia be with you," the announcer says as the door opens and the royal guard stand guard.
As the ponies clear out Knight gets up slowly, his bones cracking, this got the attention of the royal guard who rush in with spears pointing at him, "The beast is here as well!" one of them yell and the other guards rush forward to point their spears at him, "Chain him and take him away!" the captain yells before a purple blast of magic pushes them off.
Twilight stood in between the guards and Knight," P-princess Twilight! Your highness he is dangerous," the captain says. Twilight glares at him coldly, "You know very well that Knight is in my charge and that he is my friend, and he just saved as many of us as he could when we were attacked! The only thing in any kind of danger here is you captain if you raise your spear to him one more time!" she yells very angry at the disrespect and the captain only looks down, "apologies your highness," he says.
Nitro and Autumn go with the soldiers to report in and get their next orders and didnt notice the whole ordeal.
Knight ignores the captain and takes Pinky off of Applejacks back and puts her on his own, "Pinky needs help Twilight," Knight says and Twilight takes deep breathes.
"Yes, we must get to the Princesses," she says as they take off to the castle.
It took them a few minutes to get to the castle since Knight offered to carry those who couldn't fly on his back, once at the castle the guards opened the doors for Twilight though they clearly glared at Knight.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight called as she saw the princess discussing something with a general who looked dirty and wounded, Celestia looked up then quickly used a healing spell on the general, "Please with all haste," she says and he salutes taking off.
"Twilight!" she calls out relieved as she hugs the purple pony. "I'm glad you all made it safely," she says looking her over.
"Not all of us made it unharmed your highness," Knight says as he lowers himself to show her pinky.
"Oh my, quickly to the infirmary," she says.
The sounds of battle echoes outside, the infirmary was full with wounded soldiers and more kept coming in, the girls did what they could to help the nurses while Celestia worked on Pinky.
Once she came out of the room she was treating Pinky in, they all gathered together.
"Princess Celestia, what do we do?" Twilight asks and Celestia takes a deep breath from her work.
"I have called for aid from the crystal empire, once Cadence and Shining arrive we can create a proper defensive and counter attack, for now most of our soldiers are evacuating the ponies and only a handful with Luna have created a stale mate a few miles from here to the east where the swarm is coming from, but I do not know how much longer they can hold out without reinforcements," she says worried.
"What about us Princess?" Rainbow says eagerly, "cant we just get the elements and blow them all away?" she asks and the princess shakes her head.
"I'm sorry but Pinky wont recover anytime soon, she would have died if she was not treated sooner, I did the my best for her but I am unable to remove the scare on her face.." she says softly.
Rainbow grits her teeth and Applejack smashes her hoofs together, "Those no good varmits… I know we aint no killers but I feel like stomping some bug behinds!"
"Princess is there nothing we can do to repel those ruffians?" Rarity asks and Fluttershy comes into the middle, "There has to be something we can do to destroy them!" she yelled fiercely surprising everyone.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight asks and Fluttershy turned to her with and angry look but with tears in her eyes.
"Throughout the whole train ride I could hear the creatures of the forest yelling, they too were being attacked and eaten, so many defenseless creatures have died and now they hurt Pinky, I WONT STAND FOR IT!" she yells, she was pissed and she was loosing control of herself.
She was about to yell even more before Knight pulled her into a hug, "I heard them as well," he says softly as he remembers he couldn't help them since he was defending the train, curse his weakness.
Fluttershy gasped and looked up at him, she buried her face in his chest and began to cry, Knight held her tightly and her friends gathered around her holding her as well.
Celestia could only feel rage fill her heart but she cannot lose composure, she has to keep saving as many as she can.
"I can take Pinkys place in the elements, I should still be able to link to them individually, we will use the power of the elements in our counter attack to eliminate the enemy," she says to them, "For now, I could really use your help in the evacuation," she says and the girls nod, Fluttershy composes herself and nods as well. Celestia describes the safe areas where all ponies should evacuate to, the girls memorize this and pair off into teams.
"Now remember, a few changlings have broken through and will no doubt set traps, be at guard always and-" she is cut off when a soldier teleports in front of her, he is bloody with many stab wounds.
"T-the front lines.." he says coughing blood, "h-has fallen," he says and then collapses.
"Oh no," Celestia says running to a nearby window, she slams it open and in the distance she can see the small from line ponies fighting but there is a gap and the swarm is breaking through, "oh no," she says unable to think on what to do, if she goes fight she wont be able to lead the evacuation which is taking long on its own and it will take longer, and those soldiers fighting right now are fighting so the evacuation can happen but if she joins them they will only have to fight even longer.
"Princess, I will go," Knight says to her and she looks to him surprised, "You? Will fight for us?" she asks, after this land tried to cage and kill him he will fight for it?
"My friends live here your highness, they are trying to give me a home, I am not about to let some insect vermin take that from me," he says as a shadow opens in front of him, he pokes his head in and pulls out a huge red and black sword with a golden grip.
"My friends mean everything to me, and one of them is currently on the frontline fighting so the other can help others get to safety," he says shocking her again. He considers Luna and her friends, she looks at Twilight, she had promised him that he never had to fight again and here he is asking for the order to be sent into battle.
Twilight looks at him in shock, she wants to protest but she knows she shouldn't, she looks at her mentor and grits her teeth and nods.
"Thank you..thank you both," she says to them, "Knight Wolf! Go to the front lines and keep Equestrias enemies at bay! You are allowed to kill for the sake of Equestria but you are not allowed to die!" she commands and he nods, he busts through the window making a hole in the way and spreads his wings.
With the sword in his mouth he flies over the thousands of ponies who are still evacuating, the battlefield getting closer and closer he grips his sword tighter until he reaches the front lines and expertly maneuvers his sword to his wing that acts as a hand and swings down his mighty blade unto the first enemy.
"FOR EQUESTRIA!"
