• Chapter Eight: Wolves Of Wood •
…
The sound of the paws, barrelling against the earth, loud as any stampede. The earth rattled, as the forms approached the remaining home. The home of bricks. Apple Bloom stared as a pack of about ten timberwolves approached the house, their wooden temples scouring the earth, making savage sounds out of their jowls, licking their chops exaltedly as they approached the home of four juicy foals who would make a brilliant snack. Apple Bloom's nightmares were coming true. The wolves stopped in front of the home, glaring out at the ponies, letting out ear splitting howls.
"What are we going to do?" Scootaloo peered around nervously.
"I don't know." Sweetie Belle gulped and turned to Apple Bloom. "Any ideas?"
"No," Apple Bloom sobbed, and stared down at the ground. "Babs Seed- what about you?" All three foals turned to the last Crusader, who was sitting at the back, not saying much.
She rubbed her back with her hoof anxiously. "I think we need to slay them."
"What?" Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stared at the brownish-orange foal in shock.
"But Babs Seed! There is ten of them and only four of us! Haven't you noticed the unfair advantage?" Scootaloo cried.
"Them tyrants will tear us to shreds," Sweetie Belle agreed.
Babs Seed stared at the ground sadly, and Apple Bloom trotted up, patting her back.
"How'd ya think it's possible we kill 'em?" Apple Bloom questioned.
"Well..." Babs Seed faltered, "you see, although Timberwolves may look destructive and unstoppable, they still have their weaknesses. Timberwolves may look burly, but they are actually quite fragile creatures. They have an incredible disadvantage when it comes to fire, and just one pebble lodged in their throats can kill them." She scuffed the ground anxiously.
The other three stared at her in amazement.
"Where did you learn so much about timberwolves?" Sweetie Belle questioned.
Babs Seed shrugged, "being a wolf for a bit, it just came to me by nature I guess."
"Wait- ya said that they disadvantage in fire?" Apple Bloom questioned. Babs Seed nodded.
"That's genius! Timberwolves, bein' made of wood would burn like crazy! That's what we should do! We should burn em' to crisps!" Apple Bloom explained. Everypony else agreed. There was suddenly scraping at the door, and a vicious snarl.
Scootaloo gulped. "We should really find a way to kill them, and fast, considering they're already making progress to getting inside!" The others, nodding in agreement, began to plan out what to do. Using pencils, they scetched down their ideas onto some paper, and they all nodded in agreement at the ending plot.
"Ok, so who should be the bait?" Apple Bloom questioned.
"Who's the most like a chicken?" Babs Seed questioned.
"Scootaloo!" Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom called at the same time.
"What- no!" Scootaloo cried in horror. "What's so chicken-y about me? I'm nothing like a chicken!"
"Neither are any of us," Sweetie Belle pointed out. "Plus, you're the only one who has wings!"
"Screw these," Scootaloo muttered, flexing her feathers.
"Who should round up the wolves?" Babs Seed questioned.
"Meh!" Apple Bloom cried. "Ah have seen mah siblings round up animals like sheep and cows many times, and ah sometimes help Applejack round up em'! Can't be too hard, if we try something just a step higher like timberwolves!"
"I can help too!" Sweetie Belle stepped forward.
Apple Bloom seemed slightly doubtful. "Will you know what to do?"
"You just give me instructions," Sweetie Belle nodded.
"Ok then! And who knows? We might even get our Cutie Marks for this!" Babs Seed squealed.
"Cutie Mark Crusaders Wolf Slayers! Yay!"
…
The pack members scraped the doors, breathing in the scent of the foals. Some were attempting to climb up the brick walls, whilst others were trying to break through the door. Scootaloo gulped, as she exited through the back way of the brick house. She tiptoed across the garden, until she was in view of the distracted timberwolves. Well now or never! This is something Rainbow Dash would do anyway!
"Hey! Timberwolves! Are you hungry? Do you want to eat me? You'll have to catch me first!" Scootaloo shrilled, catching the wolves' attention and sticking her tongue out at the savage canines. The timberwolves snarled, and gave chase. Scootaloo instantly fled, as she scampered over the moorland towards the Everfree Forest. The wolves were hot in her trail, she could hear their wooden paws rumbling against the earth, and she could feel their hot, sticky breathe enclosing around her. Scootaloo crinkled her nose at the scent and ran harder, her tiny legs barely touching the ground with each leap.
"Ye ha!" That was the sign. Scootaloo gave a relieved huff while running, as she heard Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle begin to canter behind the wolves and bring them together. Some of the wolves tried to lunge for them, but the two foals would just hop out the way, plus, most of the wolves main incentive was to get Scootaloo at the moment. Scootaloo turned around for a second, to see Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle on either side of the pack, holding either side of a long rope. They were slowly out taking the timberwolves, whilst wrapping the rope around their paws. Scootaloo excitedly flapped her wings to make her run faster, propelling herself forward with the air her feathers were catching. Her hooves barely touched the ground, as she burst forward with vigorous bounds. The wolves were catching up however, as they hovered forward, snapping at her tail. The three foals and the wolves were now at the edge of Everfree Forest, and Scootaloo almost instantly hopped up into a tree, climbing up until she was safely in the branches. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom had the wolves massed together, tied up by a rope. The canines gave nervous yaps, and tried to grab ahold of Apple Bloom or Sweetie Belle, but the two foals were quick to hop away from the gaping jaws. The foals knew that the wolves wouldn't stay in the rope forever, and they began to cautiously step back. Babs Seed trotted up from behind them, with a huge stick of fire, and she lit the grass and trees surrounding the wolves aflame. The wolves pressed together, and all three foals except Scootaloo, stood outside of the fire ring. Scootaloo was still clinging to her tree, which was in the centre of the fire.
"Scootaloo! Get down from there! Fly here, now!" Babs Seed instructed, but Scootaloo clung tighter to the branches.
Sweetie Belle tilted her head, "Scootaloo... please fly out of the fire ring!"
Scootaloo stiffened. She hadn't told any of the foals that she couldn't fly yet, though she suspected that Apple Bloom was slightly suspicious. Scootaloo saw the fire, which was lapping closer and closer to the wolves, who were now whimpering, trying to escape from the scorching heat.
"Ah don't think she can," Apple Bloom turned to Babs Seed and Sweetie Belle, who gave her a dumbfounded expression.
"What do you mean? What's wrong with Scootaloo?" Sweetie Belle nervously asked.
"I can't fly!" Scootaloo cried, and with trembling legs, scampered higher up the tree.
"You have to at least try fly down!" Babs Seed called. "Bounce as far off the tree as possible, and use your wings to make you go a bit further and soften the fall!"
Scootaloo gulped and nodded. The little, orange foal climbed higher up, clinging to the branches, until she reached the top of the tree. She was terribly high up, and for any pony without wings, the fall would be fatal. Scootaloo knew that she could probably soften the fall by catching wind under her wings. It was now or never. Scootaloo built her back legs up, then pushed backwards on them, kicking the tree away from her, as she soared over the sky. She was about to plummet down, she could already feel the falling sensation in her belly, and she spread out her wings, catching a sligh breeze under them, slowing her fall. She kicked her way as far away from the tree as possible, using the tips over her feathers to push her forwards as she glided down. The fire ring was there, and she was awfully close to the ravenous flames. Scootaloo cried slightly, as she scored over it, and burnt the tip of her back hoof, but she landed safely on the other side, with Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom and Baba Seed. The three little foals instantly pulled Scootaloo away from the flames, so she could be once again, safe. The timberwolves were now being burnt by the fires, as their stick exteriors began to be ripped apart by the cruel flames. The dogs tumbled around, as they shrivelled up, letting out painful gasps, before dying into oblivion.
"Mission success! Did we get out Cutie Marks for killing timberwolves?" Sweetie Belle questioned, and all four of them looked at their flanks, which were all unfortunately blank.
"Aww! Oh well... let's go back to our home now," Apple Bloom sighed.
Babs Seed nodded, "we need to tend to Scootaloo's burnt hoof anyway."
The walk back to the home was uneventful. Scootaloo's hoof began to sting, making it harder for her to trot along, so Babs Seed and Apple Bloom picked Scootaloo up so she wouldn't have to walk. When they got back to the brick house, they poured a bowl with icy cold water, and let Scootaloo dip her hoof into it, which she was very grateful for. Sweetie Belle made each of them hot chocolates with her magic, and after the four were content, they each went to bed. Each of them were dreaming of their sisters, except Babs Seed, who was deep in thought for reason why she had dressed up as a wolf.
…
The stallion trotted down the path he usually went by, to get the minerals of gold which lay on the edge of Everfree Forest. The air was cold, yet it was smokey, and it felt like there was something still lingering around. Hollow trees edged around, the wind whistling through them. The brown stallion with the black mane gulped- it wasn't usually this scary. At the corner of his eye, he saw a luminescent light flicker, he gaped as before him, he saw ashes and ashes littered across the ground. The flicker he had seen, was a dying down spark. He cautiously trotted up, and saw the tiny flickering light, begging for life, as it slowly but surely died down. He bent down, his nose inches from it. The little spark... so innocent. If it was given the power it needed, it would greedily eat it up and turn into a flame. Then the power seeking tyrant would ask for more and more, and become a full raging fire. The stallion stepped on the spark, grinding it into ash with his hoof and killing it so it wouldn't cause any more harm than the rest of it already had. He had seen the rest of the ashes- the spark hadn't always been that small. A putrid reek lingered in the air. It smelt like alive plants being burnt... something alive being turned to ashes before it was dead. The scent wasn't pleasant, with the smoke- by the end of the night, he'd be covered in soot! The charred sticks which had been burnt began to rattle, and the stallion peered in shock as they assembled into the form of a timberwolf. The stallion tried to run away, but the fierce creature pounded down and pinned the stallion to the ground. The wooden creature began to melt, the sticks falling apart and forming a misty figure, with the same yellow eyes the wolf would have with the stick exterior. The spirit gave a devilish grin, curving around the stallion, before dissolving into him. The stallion let out one last cry, before he was knocked out. Almost instantly, he got up again with glowing yellow eyes, and cackled a laugh.
"I may have lost my pack, but I am still here to attack!" He let out a furious howl, before shooting into the Everfree Forest.
…
"Well my Pinkie Senses have behaved! And they feel a party needs to be saved! For those who don't know I am Pinkie Pie and I'm here to stay! Yippee! So if you listen close, I'll tell you my plan today! If a party's what you need, then Pinkie Pie is the one who is here! Because I will help make your day a lot more bright- it is clear! So gather round ponies, who's birthday I might ask? Oh it's you! The pony over there with the mask!" The pink filly stopped, when she stared at the pony. "Might I ask, but who are you?" She couldn't distinguish what the pony looked like, because of the strange item over its head.
"Oh, Pinkie, little filly, I can throw a party myself. I can be a party-pony if I want, but right now I feel like stealth. You see Pinkie, I know you're great and I know you can impress. I think you already know my name, go on take a guess!" The pony stepped forward, the glinting of its green eyes shimmering brightly.
Pinkie Pie gaped in surprise, before smiling. "Are you my sister? My brother? Wait I have no brother, could you be my mother? My cousin? My friend? Oh this is so hard to guess, please make it end!"
The pony laughed. "Come on Pinkie, you have seen me before! Just keep guessing, just on more."
Pinkie Pie's agape mouth opened even wider. "We've met? Do you mean just now or do you mean before?"
"Before."
"Then how can't I recognise you- oh wait because of the hat!"
"Come on Pinkie, think, I know you can!"
"Well you have green eyes, could you be that pony from the farm let me guess? Oh what was her name, wait you are not a filly. Oh who are you... unless..." Pinkie Pie's eyes widened. "I have only met one pony who ever wore a hat like that... but it couldn't be... could it?" She stared at the pony, before stepping forward, and lifting her hoof up, grasping onto the hat, and lifting it up from the colt, putting it on her own head. Her eyes glimmered in excitement, and she hopped up and down, with the big floppy hat still perched on her head. "You are Cheese Sandwich!"
"Great guess-ish!" The orange pony before her, with the crazy brown mane grinned.
"But... but how are you here? Last time I saw you, was when I was in Ponyville, throwing that party for that filly... What was her name? How could have I forgotten? It was Rainbow something I think! How are you now here in Fillydelphia?" Pinkie Pie stepped forward, exchanging a quick hug with the colt.
"Well my Cheesy Senses told me to come here... they usually pinpoint areas for me to throw a party... but this time it was different. I don't understand what it was this time, but I have a feeling it has something to do with you!"
Pinkie Pie grinned. She had used to live in Ponyville, until Chrysalis came into power. Chrysalis had forced Pinkie Pie out of her home, and Pinkie Pie, who was now homeless had had to go onto the road, and travel to different places in Equestria to be a one pony circus. It was hard... she missed Ponyville a lot, and she didn't understand why Chrysalis would kick her out of Sugarcube Corner, and not the Cakes. Maybe it was because Pinkie didn't earn enough, but her Pinkie Senses told her different. It wasn't like that, she could tell. Chrysalis was jealous of Pinkie Pie- all the changelings were jealous of her, because everypony else gave her unconditional love- love was a changeling's main food source, and sometimes they struggled to hunt for it. They were jealous because Pinkie Pie managed to receive more love than any changeling ever had in a minute! If Pinkie Pie were a changeling, she would be powerful enough to raise the sun and moon more efficiently than Celestia and Luna ever did. She would be powerful enough to not only take over Equestria, but everything else beyond there. Thank goodness Pinkie used her powers for good other than evil.
Right now Pinkie Pie was in Fillydelphia- and Cheese Sandwich was there! But it didn't make any sense! Her Pinkie Senses had told her to come here, and his Cheesy Senses had told him to come here, however, who's party were they meant to hold.
"Any birthday parties needed?" Pinkie Pie shrilled, but no pony replied. The town was barren. A tumbleweed swished across the path where Cheese and Pinkie stood, and the two ponies peered at the ground awkwardly.
"So... how's life?" Cheese Sandwich questioned, "I must ask why are you in Fillydelphia?"
"I no longer actually live anywhere... I got kicked out of my home in Ponyville, so I now travel around Equestria to throw parties," Pinkie Pie explained, and Cheese Sandwich's eyes widened.
"That's great!" He suddenly cried, hopping up incredibly high, before he hit the ground and dropped his head embarrassedly. "I mean- I'm sorry for you."
Pinkie raised an eyebrow. "And why might it be so great mister?"
"Well..." Cheese blushed slightly, scraping the ground with his hoof and peering at the ground, avoiding Pinkie's piercing blue eyes. "I travel too- maybe we should join together and throw parties?" He gave her pleading eyes. "It sometimes gets lonely, travelling around with the only company of Boneless 2. Speaking of Boneless, do you still have him?"
"You bet!" Pinkie cried, and rummaged through her hair before bringing out the rubber chicken, and dropped it to the ground at their hooves. It let out a slight squeak sound.
"So you want me to join you, eh?" Pinkie raised an eyebrow, and gave him a questioning look. "Do you have cookies?"
"Yes!" Cheese found a plate of cookies out of nowhere and tossed the tray to Pinkie Pie, who gobbled them up ravenously.
"Yup! I'm so joining you!" She cried, her voice muffled through the sound of crunching the cookies.
Cheese Sandwich's green eyes glimmered brighter than ever before, reaching out his hoof, and snatching the hat he had formerly had back off Pinkie, and perching it back on his head, a sly grin on his face, and she gave him a playful shove, as the two ponies wondered off down the path.
"So, what do you think would be the next best place to throw a party, Pinkie?" Cheese questioned.
Pinkie Pie hesitated, before she felt a shiver running up her spine, and she was sent into the air with a rocking jitter. Once it was over, she gave a horrifying look, before turning to Cheese Sandwich. "Uh... do you have any ideas?"
The colt peered at her in confusion, "what place did your Pinkie Senses tell you to go, Pinkie?"
She cringed slightly and gulped. "Canterlot, where Chrysalis and her Changeling followers are."