The small dog like figures were something I knew too well.  Wolves were harrying the three fillies, circling and mock charging the whole while.  The pounding of my paws against the packed ground didn't even register in my mind as I tried to come up with something, anything to save the children.  I was the only thing for the better part of a mile that had any hope of saving them and I had no idea how to do it.  Still, I had to try.  As the distance closed, more and more detail became apparent for the scene.  Smartly the fillies were back to back against the oncoming wolves.  There was a white unicorn with pink and purple hair clutching a stick tightly in here teeth while swinging it wildly at anything that came close.  On her left, a yellow earth pony bucked at anything in reach, yet standing protectively over a crimson bow discarded on the ground.  The most interesting of the three was a small orange pegasus that was swinging a scooter wildly while yelling in rage.  If the situation wasn't so severe, it would have been kind of adorable really.

Strangely, the wolves were not something I was expecting.  They behaved like the animals from home, yet these seemed to be made from little more than animated sticks and moss with a darkly pulsing glow from within.  Regardless, they were a threat to the small ponies.  No matter how life treated me, I'd be damned if I let children get hurt.  Just a few more yards and I could at least do...something.  The moment I opened my mouth to yell at the girls, agony shot through me.  Muscled locked up and there was nothing I could do but pitch forward face first into the dust as pain and blackness overtook me.  As everything faded, yelling echoed in my mind.  None of it made sense except the very end, the sound of a child screaming in agony.

Deep in the back of my mind, past the darkness overtaking everything, and through everything I was, something cracked a little.  Through that, everything began to tint crimson.  Red of bottomless depth and endless rage...

Applebloom reared forward on her front hooves and bucked with all her might into the side of the timberwolf that bit down on Scootaloo's wing.  It didn't make any noises of pain, yet the relentless jaws released for just a moment before the flickering magic within the timberwolf reasserted itself.  As one, the group of wolves turned toward the bow wearing filly as if they decided the games were over.  The girls knew they were in deep trouble as the wolves charged.

Crackling wood scattered a few feet as Scootaloo smashed the first in the head with her scooter, a wordless scream on her lips.  Momentum carried the injured wolf forward into the waiting hooves of Sweetie Bell and Applebloom, who's hooves thrashed against it again and again.  Dozens of small impacts broke the small frame of the timberwolf into little more than kindling.  In the moment, they had forgotten about the rest of the pack behind them.  Squeals of panic echoed through the forest as the wolves lunged toward the crusaders.  None of them heard the dull rumbling from the creature laying on the hill.

The girls struck and doged as best they could, but blood began to flow freely as the wolves bit and scratched.  Applebloom and Sweetie both cried freely as they fought, while Scootaloo bit, kicked, and hit anything within reach with her scooter of doom.  It wasn't enough as Sweetie was knocked to the ground with the wolves piling around her, trying to get a killing bite in.  Thats when the unexpected happened.

A burst of golden magic hurled all of the wolves off of the girls as a hulking figure stood over them.  It took a moment for the girls to realize that it was Hex standing over them.  Blood caked the fur on his chest and neck while still flowing freely from his ears.  More terrifyingly was the look in his eyes.  Blood dripped freely from them, but from the corners trickled wisps of pure energy.  He looked down at them and spoke a simple sentence beset with the ceaseless weight of ages.

"Hold on."

The fillies only had a moment to process what he rumbled out before Hex scooped them up in his arms and set off toward Ponyville before the wolves could reassemble.  Massive strides devoured the ground of the path as Hex wordlessly carried the fillies toward town, toward safety.  Every heartbeat brought them closer to the ponies running the race and closer to town.  Just a few more corners and they would be in sight of the finish, in sight of the hot air balloon and help.  As their hope rose, Hex stumbled and fell with a yell of pain, slamming to the ground on his elbows to protect the fillies pressed against his massive chest.  A small whisper crossing his lips.

"When I roll over, run to Ponyville.  I'll do my best to keep them off you."

It was all they could do not to cower as Hex started growling and pushing off the ground.  The girls just nodded, bolting out from under him as quickly as they could.  Applebloom looked back for a moment to see a hand wrapped in energy rip the timberwolf off of Hex's leg.  As the beasts head was crushed in his grip, Applebloom could only face forward and run.  Run they did, as timberwolves spilled from the forest toward the fallen hero.  

"HELP!  SOMEPONY HELP!"

The sound of screaming fillies spun the finish line into chaos as both runners and the crowd streamed toward the blood coated fillies.  A million questions tore through the air as everyone asked what was wrong, what was happening, if they were okay.  In the end, it just turned into a jumbled mess of screaming until one voice broke through it all.

"SILENCE!"

With little more than the fluttering of feathers, both Princesses landed in front of the fillies, Celestia as always taking the lead.

"What is wrong?  Are you okay?"

It took a moment for the crowd and royalty to understand the wheezes and squeaks of the terrified, wounded, and exhausted girls.  Only a second longer for the trio to disappear in a burst of energy as they were teleported to the local hospital before Celestia turned to the crowd.

"Everyone please return to Ponyville until we get this situation contained.  Our personal guards will remain here to protect the town."

With that, the royals disappeared in a flash of light and the sound of rushing air.  Only to appear standing in a pool of blood...

Blood was spattered everywhere and the trail was literally covered in sticks and twigs that formerly were the bodies of dozens of timberwolves.  The Princesses could only stand there, stunned at the amount of gore that coated the formerly white wolf as he kneeled over the massive prostrate body of a timberwolf alpha.  One of Hex's bloody paws rested on caved in chest of the creature while he grasped it's neck in both hands.  His low growl turned into a snarl of pain and hate as he tugged and pulled until the mass the wolf was comprised of gave way to his rage.  A wet squeal and snapping wood echoed across the clearing as the alpha's head tore off in Hex's glowing hands.  They did not expect what came next.

"I was wondering when you would show up, Celestia.  Did the fillies get to town safely?"

She stood there in stunned silence as Hex tossed the severed head to land at her feet with a dull thump.  Luna was was the first to snap out it and speak.

"Yes, they are currently being cared for at the local clinic.  We came to help you as soon as the situation was known."

"Good..." It was barely a whisper before a dark grin spread across his face, showing far too much of his predatory nature and making both Princesses suddenly very uncomfortable.

"Now then, we need to speak a little bit on this little binding you put on me.  Did you ever think that it could have hurt your subjects? DID YOU?  You knew I wasn't a threat, and yet decided to bind me anyhow"

Both Princesses were backing away slowly as the giant wolf stepped closer.  The golden energy that rippled around it's claws and wafted from his eyes were beginning to take on a crimson sheen.  

"YOU DECIDED TO TIE UP SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T UNDERSTAND!  YOU HURT THOSE CHILDREN BY YOUR MISJUDGEMENT!  YOU, CELESTIA MADE ME LIKE THIS!"

Step by step, the wolf inched toward Celestia with murder in his eyes as she tried to find words to defend herself.  Words that never came.  Out of desperation, Luna shoved herself in front of her sister, trying to curb some of the bohemoth's rage.

"Is this what I taught you on all those nights?  Is this what you call protecting the innocent back where you are from?  Is it?"

That stalled the beasts advance for a moment while it's mind mulled the thoughts it was presented.  

"Luna... I..."

The crimson energy flickered and died in a flash.  Before Hex could say another word, he tumbled face forward into the dirt and the blackness took him as yet more blood pooled around his fallen body.

It felt like someone had taken a handful of sand and rubbed it in my eyes.  Everything hurt as bright light assaulted my vision.  All I could do was croak and writhe in agony as even the pressure of the fabric pressing against my chest and legs drove my sanity away.  Thankfully the darkness claimed me again.

"Hex...Hex.  Wake up."

Shaking.  Why is someone shaking me?  A waving arm should dissuade them a bit.

"Go away.  Sleeping," I groaned.  Naturally, the voice wouldn't go away.

"It looks like he's not going to get up.  Go wake him up girls."