WIND TUNNEL

MIROKU BLOCKED THE SATYR'S LANCE WITH HIS STAFF. THEY PUSHED AGAINST each other. The satyr pushed Miroku back. He dug his feet into the ground, but the rain – which had gone from water to this strange brown substance – had made the ground slippery, making it difficult for him to get a good grip.

He chanced a look over his shoulder. Rarity and Fluttershy were huddled by a table. Fluttershy was under the table, her pink mane covering her face. Rarity was standing defiantly in front of her, shielding the yellow Pegasus. Her horn was glowing a deep blue.

"Miroku, do you need any help? I'll be more than happy to lend a hoof."

"I can handle it," Miroku grunted. He pushed the satyr back and reached into his kimono, pulling out a few of his paper sutras. "Take this!" He threw the sutras at the satyr.

The satyr looked at the sutras as they harmlessly hit its body and fell to the ground.

Rarity looked at Miroku and raised an eyebrow. "Miroku, darling, whatever in the world was that?"

"I guess my sutras won't work on these creatures," Miroku replied with a nervous laugh. "I forgot that they only work on demons, and these aren't demons."

Rarity pushed her way past him. "Stand aside. Allow me." She took aim at the satyr and fired her magic, just as the satyr charged. The magic blast hit the satyr in the stomach area, blowing a hole through it. It let out one last hiss before collapsing. "I'm not as powerful a magic user as Twilight is, but I get the job done. Now, if we can continue our journey to the tower without interruption, that would be most delightful." She walked back over to the table where Fluttershy was hiding. "Fluttershy, we're going."

"I can't go," Fluttershy squeaked. Her body was shaking. "I – I'm too scared."

"I understand, darling, but – " Rarity began.

"We're all scared, Fluttershy," Miroku said, interrupting Rarity. "You, me, Rarity, all of our friends, even Inuyasha is scared. He just won't admit it."

"Why not?" Rarity asked.

"Inuyasha's got too much pride to let his fear show," Miroku replied. "But do you know what he does? He takes his fear and turns it into courage. Fluttershy, can you tell me what the most courageous thing you've ever done was?"

Fluttershy looked up at him. "I – I don't really know. There was that dragon. And then, after Princess Celestia brought him back to life, I was tasked with reforming Discord. I'm still trying to get over my stage fright. I've been to other worlds, but I was always so scared."

"But you still did it. And do you know why?"

"Because I had my friends there to help me."

"Not only that, but because you took your fear and turned it into courage. You can't have courage and bravery without even a little bit of fear. That's what drives you forward. I'm not saying that fear is a good thing. I'm afraid of these monsters. I'm afraid of most demons my friends and I face, believe it or not – any one of them could easily tear us apart. But it's because of my fear that I face them. We're all a little scared. But we have to be brave as well. Do you understand, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy nodded her head. "Yes, I think I do."

"Good. Then let's be on our way, shall we?"

Fluttershy crawled out from under the table. Rarity pulled her in for a light hug.

"I understand how you feel, Fluttershy," she said. "Remember when I was living in fear for almost a year, after what that brute Megatron did to me? I will never forget. Nor will I ever forget the encouraging words my sister and her friends said to me – you've got the touch. You've got the power."

Fluttershy smiled. Ever since they had returned from visiting the Autobots – they had gone to help Rarity get over her nightmares of the day Megatron nearly killed her – Rarity had been living by that philosophy. It had seemed to give her a new outlook on life. She had started going out more, doing more things around Ponyville – she had even put in to open up a boutique here in Canterlot.

But she still had the memories. She still had the fear.

"Hey, I have a question," Miroku said. "Do any of you know what the deal is with this weird rain?"

Rarity stuck out her tongue. "Tastes like chocolate milk. Wait a minute. Did he really – NOW IS NOT THE TIME, DISCORD!"

Miroku leaned down to whisper to Fluttershy. "What is she talking about?"

"Discord is the living embodiment of chaos and disharmony," Fluttershy explained. "Or, he was. I guess in some ways he still is, even after his reformation. He has strange powers that enables him to do basically whatever he wants."

"I see. So he's the one who made it rain like this."

"Yes."

Rarity screamed. "We spent too much time talking! The Changelings are here!"

Miroku looked around; there were Changelings everywhere – some were in their normal forms, some had transformed into satyrs and cyclopes. They were all snarling and growling.

They were closing in.

And they were all hungry.

"We should have left when we had the chance," Miroku grumbled as he tightened his grip on his staff.

Rarity stood next to him, her horn glowing. "Nothing we can do now but fight."

"Considering how much trouble I was having with that last goat creature – "

"Satyr," Fluttershy corrected him.

"Considering how much trouble I was having with that last satyr, I don't think fighting's a good option," Miroku said.

"Then what do you have in mind?" Rarity asked.

Miroku smiled; not a happy smile, but the kind that told Rarity that he had a plan. He dropped his staff and grabbed the beaded rosary he held in his right hand.

"You and Fluttershy might want to stay behind me," he said. "I would hate for you to get pulled in."

"Pulled in by what?" Fluttershy asked.

"I'll explain later," Miroku said. "Just get behind me. NOW!"

"Okay, okay!"

Rarity and Fluttershy stepped behind Miroku, cowering behind his legs. They peeked out, saw the creatures getting closer and closer.

"Miroku, whatever you have planned, you'd better do it NOW!" Rarity screamed.

Miroku held his right arm out, his left hand still gripping the rosary. "This is the end for you, beasts! May you pay for your sins in hell!" He unclenched his right fist and pulled the rosary off with his left hand. "WIND TUNNEL!"

The direction of the wind changed. Instead of steadily blowing to the east, it was now being pulled towards Miroku – towards the hole in his right hand. The chocolate milk rain was pulled into the hole. The Changelings, satyrs, and cyclopes dug their feet into the ground, trying to hold on.

Their grips began to fail. One satyr stuck the point of its lance into the ground, but the pull of the wind was too much, and it was sucked into the hole. A cyclops followed. Some Changelings tried to fly away, but their efforts were in vain; they were pulled to the hole – one Changeling hit a satyr, causing it to lose its grip on its lance.

Rarity and Fluttershy watched with wide-eyed amazement as the monsters were pulled into the hole in Miroku's hand. Their screams filled the air.

There was one final WHOOSH of air as Miroku closed his hand, wrapping the rosary around it. He took several deep breaths; every time he used the Wind Tunnel, it always left him a little tired.

"Is it safe to come out now?" Fluttershy asked.

"Yes," Miroku replied. "The monsters have been dealt with."

The ponies walked around to his front to talk to him. "Miroku, what exactly was that?"

"That was the Wind Tunnel," Miroku explained. "A curse that has been passed down to me from my father, and passed down to him from his father. My grandfather, the monk Miyatsu, was the first to receive it, courtesy of Naraku. The Wind Tunnel go so large that it consumed him. The same fate befell my father. One day soon, I too will suffer that fate. But until then, I've decided to make it useful. I may have this curse, but I can make sure that this curse does not have me."

"Aren't you scared that this curse could kill you one day?" Rarity asked.

"Of course I am," Miroku answered. "I'll have that fear until the day we destroy Naraku. Once he's been killed, the curse will be lifted. But until then, I'll have the Wind Tunnel until it pulls me in, or I can sire a child to continue my mission should I fail." He took a deep breath, then smiled. "Well, let's continue, shall we?" He walked off, heading in the direction of the palace tower.

Rarity and Fluttershy just looked at each other, confused. "How can Miroku suddenly be so cheerful?" Rarity asked.

"I think he said he was some kind of a priest, so I guess it makes sense," Fluttershy said.

"Maybe," Rarity said with a sigh. "Hey Miroku! Wait for us!" She and Fluttershy started galloping after Miroku.

They caught up to him as he rounded the corner of Bit Street and Mane Street. This road was surprisingly clear of any Changelings, transformed or not. He lowered his staff.

"Look like we're all clear for the moment," he said. "A chance to finally catch our breath."

"So, how do you think Twilight's doing up there?" Rarity asked as she looked up at the tower.

"I'm sure she's just fine," Miroku said. "She seems like she can take care of herself. In fact, I'm sure she's got that prince fellow quaking in his metaphorical boots by now."

#############################

Carapace used his magic to slam Twilight against the floor, roof, and walls of the room. Every time she hit, she screamed and cried out in agony. Carapace enjoyed hearing her pained cries. He could do this all day long.

Still, all good things had to come to an end, and sooner or later, he would have to finish this little game of his.

###############################

A Changeling – a tall male – leaped down from the roof of a nearby malt shop. He bared his fangs and hissed.

Miroku readied his staff. "Are you sure you want to try this, monster?"

The Changeling spoke.

"Am I sure? Oh, I am very sure, you foolish human. I have my ordersss – nopony mussst disssturb the princcce while he isss in hisss meeting with Princccesss Twilight."

"So you're not the prince, then. That's fine." He put his staff on the ground. "Either way, it will be one less Changeling to worry about."

The Changeling laughed. "What are you going to do, pull me into the void like you did thossse other foolsss? I am General Thorax; I am not ssso easssily disssposssed of." He charged at Miroku, slamming his head into Miroku's stomach, knocking the wind out of him and throwing him to the ground.

"Miroku!" Fluttershy hurried to his side. "Oh my. Are you okay, Miroku?"

Miroku was holding his stomach, gasping for breath. The only sound coming out of his mouth was a small squeak.

Fluttershy turned her gaze towards Thorax. She glared at him. "How dare you. HOW DARE YOU!" She trotted over to Thorax and pressed her muzzle against his. "Listen here, mister – just because you're a Changeling doesn't mean you get to be a bully! You may have sharp teeth and the power to turn into whatever creature you want, but you do not – I repeat, you DO NOT HURT MY FRIENDS! You got that?" Thorax snapped at her, causing her to back away. "Yikes!"

"Who are you to lecture me, Pegasssusss?" he hissed. "To me, you are nothing but a three courssse meal. I will not hesssitate to rip you apart. Do YOU got that?"

Miroku managed to climb to his feet. "Fluttershy, back away," he said. "Now."

Fluttershy took a few steps back from Thorax. Thorax chuckled. "What'sss the matter? Are you ssscared of me?"

Miroku stepped forward, undoing the rosary around his right hand as he did. "There's a lot I'm afraid of. I'm afraid of being pulled into the Wind Tunnel in my hand one day. I'm afraid of what Naraku will do once he gets the completed Shikon Jewel. I'm afraid for my friends. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of the creatures that your troops have turned into. But you, right now? If anything, you're the one who should be scared." He held his right arm out. "Fluttershy, move." Fluttershy flew back to hide behind him. "Are you ready, General Thorax?"

"You threaten me?" Thorax asked. "In that cassse, you die firssst, human." He got ready to charge again.

He stopped as his body began to glow a deep blue.

The same blue glow that was also surrounding Rarity's horn.

"I'll hold him," she said. "You suck him up."

"Will do," Miroku said. "Farewell, General." He ripped the rosary off his hand. "WIND TUNNEL!"

"No! No!" Thorax yelled. "Thisss wasssn't sssupposssed to happen!"

Rarity released her magical hold on Thorax, and he was pulled into the void.

Miroku closed the Wind Tunnel, wrapping his rosary around his hand, and after catching his breath, picked his staff up off the ground.

"He never stood a chance," Rarity said. "I still can't believe that that thing's a curse."

"It is. Now, if there are no more distractions, I think Twilight needs our help."