A large crystalline bubble covers all of Verre by morning. Lucky's, Rain's, and Peaches' home had become the center of intelligence for the letters back and forth from Canterlot. What little info had been gathered from the assault was sent to the ponies at Verre for the upcoming attack.

No pony took the attack on Canterlot well; some of the town's ponies locked themselves in their own homes. While some of the others went into some sort of emergency mode and started hoarding survival tools into their homes. It's a good thing that Lucky, Rain, and Peaches had thought to hoard stuff beforehand the day before.

The latest letter from Canterlot had explained Blade's condition in more detail; the gash pretty well covered his whole body. But the bleeding was under control and his life was no longer threatened as long as he was under medical supervision.

The three friends walk into their home, close the door, and then sit down on their sofa to relax after the stress of last night. Peaches is clearly struck by the injury of her teacher but the anxiety and shock of a direct attack on Equestria's capital is hitting every pony.

"I think it's time that we end this, I will contact Celestia in a little bit asking her when the guard unit will be ready for the attack." Lucky sets her saddlebag down next to the sofa.

"What if the bomb unit was taken out though?" Rain tries to calm every pony like usual.

"If we wait any longer another city may be attacked or even wiped out completely! What point will there be in this if there is nothing else to defend?"

"Oh, sorry-"

"No, I'm sorry, Rain. I didn't mean to snap out like that. It's just that this has been very stressful. Maybe its best that we sit and relax for a while before writing to the princesses, I don't think a stress filled letter would help things at the moment."

Rain's special tub of ice cream helps settle things down, along with the presence of friends.

Lucky levitates a letter and a quill out of her saddle bag, and then begins writing her letter to the princesses.

Dear Celestia and Luna,

Everything in Verre is turning to chaos; every pony is panicking in their own way. Some hiding in their homes, some hoarding things they deem as necessary. But a majority is trying to help us come up with plans if we get attacked. However; like with past problems Equestria has faced I am sure you can imagine the terror they are imagining.

I am sure the same thing is happening in other areas and towns that are aware of what happened in Canterlot.

If this attack was not meant to completely overthrow you two, then perhaps it was meant as a sort of tactic to make us attack them. Either way, we can be sure that another attack will come if we do nothing but defend ourselves. Even if we do just defend ourselves, how long can these barriers hold out? The attackers could wait us out or the casters could be overtaken by fatigue.

So back to our question, when can we have the guard unit and bomb unit ready for attack? We are as ready as we will ever be.

You're faithful Students,

Lucky, Rain, and Peaches

The letter catches flame and is sent to Canterlot.

"Hopefully we will get a reply in a little bit..."

The three sit for what seems like hours, doing nothing but chatting and eating their ice cream. Never before now has Peaches' "friends forever" sticker seemed so important.

"Hey, uh, Lucky, could you do something for me really quick?"

"Sure, what is it Peaches?"

"I was wondering if you could put Blades sticker onto my sword... I know it sounds weird but, um-"

"Don't worry about it, were do you want it sealed on? I am assuming you want it fused onto it with magic?"

"Ya, I was thinking on the bandages that are used in place of a sheath if you can?"

Peaches hands the sword and its bandage like sheath to Lucky, who seals the sticker onto the cloth. Permanently placing a piece of Blade onto the sword.

A royal letter appears in the air in front of the three, Rain grabs it out of the air as the other two are occupied. She gives it to Lucky who opens it and reads it aloud.

Dear Lucky, Rain, and Peaches,

I see your points, and we feel that the assault on Canterlot was a scare tactic of sorts. If Wretched wanted to take over last night then he would have brought his generals and guards, it would have made it all much easier. Or he would have just wiped the whole castle out in an instant, but instead it seemed as if he was toying around with us.

Luckily, none of our guards or guard units was completely wiped out during the assault. So we can continue the attack as planned, except with a few changes. Blade will no longer be able to lead the assault on the castle, he is too injured to continue and it will take a long time for him to recover.

We need to decide on a date of attack, would in two days work for you three?

The three look at each other, the back at the note. They all agree that they would attack the cult in two days. They continue to send a note back to Canterlot confirming the date.

After getting back the next letter going over the attack information again, they agree to go inform the town's ponies. They walk outside and go to Honey Darling's House.

Once they get there they see that most of the town is already gathered around there, with Honey Darling in the middle trying to calm them.

"Honey, we just got everything settled out with Celestia and Luna on the details of what we are going to do."

All attention goes to the three ponies walking towards Verre's leader, awe struck faces filled with shock gasp at what they had just heard coming from them.

"We would be happy to share some of the info if it would help to calm the town's ponies."

"Yes, uh, please do."

Lucky, Rain, and Peaches go up to the small stage. Dozens of glaring eyes staring them down, understandable with what all is going on.

"As you all know Canterlot was attacked by the leader of that cult we have been having troubles with. He managed to destroy part of the castle. Almost kill Blade, Peaches trainer, the newly hired trainer of the royal guards, and the newly hired guard of the princesses themselves

Luna just barely cast a large scale barrier spell on Canterlot that managed to shove the cult leader, Wretched Darkness, out of the town. We now have a similar spell cast on our town that should keep any malicious creatures or ponies out of the town for a short amount of time.

It has thus been agreed that we will attack the cult directly-"

"WHAT!" Honey Darling interrupts Lucky's speech, "do you even know what you are proposing? You're going to get killed!"

"We know it's risky, but how many towns will the cult take out? How many lives will this cult have to take before some pony does something? Besides; we have the royal guard behind us. If this was as bad of an idea as it sounds, then why would we have support?

We have a vague plan so far; as us three take on the main forces of the cult the rest of the cult will be taken on by the royal guard. There will also be a special bomb squad of the royal guards that will directly attack the Obsidian Castle and blow it up, weakening the cult leader.

The cult leader is directly attached to the castle, so this is very important.

But please, no pony go outside the barrier. The cult could be waiting right outside it."

Out of the crowd a voice rings out, "if the three of the strongest ponies at Canterlot couldn't handle them, what makes you think you three can?"

"We were given a few special experiments by Celestia and Luna, a sealing box and a potion of some sort. From what we understand it will make the leader physically weakened. If these items would have been at Canterlot during the attack then perhaps the leader could have been dealt with then."

After a long and tiring speech with the town the three ponies go home and collapse in their beds. They had spent their entire day trying to settle every pony down and explain what was going on.

Before settling in for bed another royal letter appears in the air.

Dear Lucky, Rain, and Peaches,

Blade has awoken from his wound and the surgery resulting from it. He seems alright now, still in no condition to do any fighting, but he is conscious and recovering very quickly.

He has given us some more information on Wretched Darkness, some info that if easier explained and observed when you directly assault him. One of the main points is how he shape shifts, he can pretty well do anything; changing from liquid to metal in a matter of moments. Thus his defense is incredibly high either way, when in metallic form he can simply block. While in liquid form he moves out of the way or your movements and attacks faze right through him. Magic attacks have the same effect as physical attacks with these stages.

His legs can extend in incredible amounts, using them like weapons. Along with that he even seems to be able to shape shift his legs into weapons, the gash Blade got was from when Wretched Darkness made a large sword from his leg then thrust it into Blade.

There was also a certain point where he melted onto the floor then covered all the walls and ceilings, making the entire room pitch black. Eyes opened all over, we think that he sees with them or that the technique is created with these eyes. They may just be some sort of scare tactic but it's better to be safe than sorry. With this technique he attacked with strange spikes that moved in all directions.

Perhaps the main point of this letter is just to let you three know that Blade will be fine, we have our best doctors at his side. Getting a good night's sleep will be important.