Safe House, Fortune City. 48 Hours Until the Military Arrives

One day behind them, and now two more remain. For Frank and Chuck, it was a looming deadline to prove the motorcyclist's innocence and find the truth behind the Fortune City attack. For Rainbow Dash, it was a countdown timer, ticking down until Mad King Thorn arrived, and would cause havoc amongst the mortal realm. However, all three of them were more focus on whatever news Stacey had for them.

"Alright, Stace," Frank said, with an upbeat tone. "What's so important that you called us from a dinner date and sent the kid to get us?"

"This." Stacey stated, pointing at the monitor. Frank, Chuck, and Dash all loomed in on the screen, gazing at the live camera footage. The camera tag read Underground, Palisades Maintenance Tunnel, with images of a parked train, dim lights, and pillars backing it up. However, the important sight was that there were men in orange and black suits, wearing yellow hard hats and gas masks, armed with Assault Rifles, patrolling the area.

"It looks like something's going down in the Maintenance Tunnel." Stacey said. "Can't tell for sure, but it looks like someone is moving equipment or something. Looks pretty organized."

"Yeah, some of those guys are loading up on the train," Dash pointed out. "Boxes, barrels, and weapons too."

"Might be survivors?" Frank suggested.

"Might be TK." Chuck added, still furious about not being able to get any real into out of Brandon before he berserked. "I say we check it out."

"Then I say we find out," Frank grunted. "Right now. I say you stay here, Dash." Chuck and Frank withdrew from the monitor, while Dash remained glued, observing everything with keen detail. While looking at the pillars, she saw something peer out from behind. The feed was bad, but she could see that it was black, it had red eyes, a wide smile, and was not all natural. One thought immediately came to her mind.

Briar.... Dash thought. That pumpkin headed freak and his boss might be in cahoots with this TK guy. Dash quickly stood in front of the door, getting the Zombie killer's attentions.

"I'm going with you again." Dash bluntly stated. "There's more than armed people down there." Chuck and Frank both traded glances.

"Look, kid," Chuck said. "It was great of you to go and get us from Cuccina Donnaci, but they've got guns and we don't know if they're good or not."

"We can't afford to lose you again." Frank said. "After that pumpkin head guy kidnapped you in South Plaza...."

"That's it!" Dash shouted. "There's more than you think going on here! Keeper Briar might be involved with whatever's going on down there, and I know he's up to no good." Chuck and Frank glanced down at the rainbow-haired girl with unsure eyes. Dash countered with a pleading gaze Rarity had used to get what she wanted from others, making the two men fall victim.

"Alright, come along." Chuck groaned. Dash smiled and cheered with glee. "But try not to get into trouble this time." Dash nodded, and the trio headed out. Stacey looked back onto the monitor, noticing something odd near the train tracks. She could have sworn she saw something that looked like a giant robot climbing onto the caboose. The CURE leader merely shrugged and dismissed it as a piece of moved equipment, then went back to her duties.

Underground Tunnels, Palisades Entrance. 47 Hours Until Military Arrives

After a brief bit of traversing the crowded mall of zombies, Chuck, Frank, and Dash had made it to the Underground where they saw those armed men loading up. Luckily, the Underground had been clean of zombies, otherwise the enemy might've heard them coming. Frank and Chuck took up positions behind a giant crate, while Dash hid behind an overturned plastic table, all three peering at the goons at work. Near the train were five armed workers, three of them carrying large luggage while the other two took watch.

"Come on, slackers!" One of the Mercenaries said. "The Boss is going to be pissed if things don't go as planned."

"It's not the Boss I'd be worried about, #1." The other mercenary said. "You've seen that big guy in the metal armor, and that creepy guy with the pumpkin head, right?" Frank and Chuck's curious faces became confused, wondering more about this conversation than whatever they were loading up.

"Yeah, I've seen those guys, #2." The first merc said. "I heard #4 said something to piss off the metal guy, and then he tore him to shreds with his fingers!"

"Jeez, those guys are real freaks," Mercenary #2 shivered. "I wonder how and why they are working for TK." The two mercenaries were so wrapped up in their conversation, they hadn't noticed the shadowy creature lurk up behind them. A wide, fanged grin spread across the dark face, and the shadowy monster, known as a Child of Darkness, shrieked an ear-bleeding sound. The two men panicked, nearly dropping their rifles in shock. Frank and Chuck both stood staring at the living darkness before them, but Dash knew he was one of Keeper Briar's minions.

"What in the name of all that is holy is that?" Chuck whispered. The two guards glared through their gas-masks at the lithe monster before them.

"Damn it, you little freak!" #1 said. "Don't scare us like that!"

"Everyone's on edge here!" #2 said. "This is very sensitive equipment and we can't let anything happen to it." The Child of Darkness giggled in a ghostly, yet childlike voice.

"Frightful little humans, so easy to scare." The dark being said. "You'd best not wish ill upon us, or well you will not fare." The Child continued to laugh, but it was disrupted when a bright light flashed from the back. The mercenaries turned to the source, while the Child was doubled over in pain, looking right at Frank and Chuck, the former holding his camera.

"Crap, I did I turn the flash on?" Frank muttered. No sooner than that did the mercenaries gather several others, each with guns trained on them. "Yep, I turned the flash on." Both Chuck and Dash palmed their faces in annoyance. Several quick clicks of assault rifles and angry hisses of the shadowy creatures signaled that the trio had been surrounded. Before they could be riddled with bullets or torn to ribbons by the curved blades of the Children, a slow and soft clapping echoed throughout the Underground. Chuck, Frank, and Dash's eyes drifted towards the center of the area, where slowly walking was a man in briar-like armor with a grinning jack-o'-lantern for a head.

"Very amusing, Mr. Greene, Mr. West, and Ms. Rainbow Dash." Keeper Briar chuckled. "That was a mistake worthy of a few laughs."

"Up yours, pumpkin-head!" Frank shouted. Chuck pulled the photographer down before he could do something rash. "I've covered wars, you know."

"Yes, we know." Briar said. He turned his carved eyes to Chuck, smiling coldly at him. "I forgot, we haven't met. I am Keeper Tangelous Briar, high member of my King's Mad Court, and your worst nightmare." His eyes moved to Dash, who returned with magenta eyes that burned with anger. "I can see the anger in your eyes, not befitting for an Element of Harmony, but I can feel it." A vine, acting like a tongue, sprouted from Briar's carved mouth and licked his teeth. "The feeling of raw hate is... delicious. Oh, if only the Bloody Prince were with us, he'd have himself a ball."

"Shut up, you stupid ghost." Dash growled. Briar floated to the rainbow-haired girl and pinched her cheek.

"Aw, is this about that widdle nightmare from back in the Uranus Zone?" Briar chided in a mock-worrying tone. Dash slapped the branch-like hand away, still glaring at the ghost. "Well, that answers my question." Out of the back of the caboose on the cargo train, TK shoved a pair of his mercenaries out of the way, glancing at Briar staring down the three interlopers.

"Briar, you pumpkin-headed sumbitch," TK shouted. "We gotta get this train moving! Steel-fingers said you could have your fun later!" The Keeper's carved mouth formed to a small frown. Grunting, he turned back to Rainbow Dash and smiled.

"Listen to me, young flier. There's something you should know," Briar whispered. Dash looked surprised. Here was Keeper Briar, evil pumpkin-head nightmare ghost, who planted nightmares into her head and kidnapped her, offering her information. He loomed closer until his mouth was parallel to Dash's left ear. "I am not as loyal as I seem."

"What?" Dash only had an instant to ask before the ghost drifted upward.

"Mortal mercenaries and Children of Darkness, I leave these three to you." He cackled. The mercenaries readied their rifles, and the Children poised their blades. "And, Chuckie-boy?" Chuck glanced at Briar, staring daggers at the ghost. Briar opened one of his clenched fists, revealing small pile of glowing dust. "Here's a gift." Briar blew the dust in his hand, forming a small cloud. In almost inhumane speeds, the dust cloud flew across the room and struck Chuck's face! He breathed in the dust, and in an instant, the former TiR competitor collapsed. Briar waved his hand good-bye, and vanished into shadows.

Gunshots rang across the entire room, accompanied by the manic laughs of the Children. Dash dragged Chuck's limp body to cover, while Frank took off to the now moving train.

"I gotta catch TK!" He shouted, quickly jumping onto the train cart, vanishing from the fray of battle as the vehicle pulled out of sight. The mercenaries and shadowy creatures closed in, nearing Dash's location with every step. She tried her hardest to wake Chuck up, but whatever dust he inhaled, it knocked him out. It seemed like all would be over soon.

Wait a moment! Dash thought, her eyes lighting up. She reached into her backpack and pulled out a small crystal. A gift from Watcher to be used in emergencies. Well, now was qualified as an emergency. Dash clutched the crystal in her right hand, bent her arm back, and with all her might, threw the stone against the ground. It exploded into tiny fragments, but inside was a small metal object. A blue metallic eye opened on the top, glowing brightly. Out from the center shot a blue light, forming into a gaping portal, no, a Rift. The mercenaries and Children stopped their attacking, pondering at the sight before them. After a moment of silence, everyone could hear a faint sound coming from within the portal.

"Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-HAW!"

Bursting out of the Rift, fast as lightening, was a peculiar humanoid figure, driving a boot into the face of an unfortunate mercenary who was too close to the Rift. He was wearing ragged blue overalls, an equally ragged red plaid shirt, a dirty Stetson, and (odd enough) a cracked Guy Fawkes Mask with a cigarette taped to the mouth. Although his face was covered, those around could notice that his hands and bits of flesh around his head looked like they were rotted. Slung to his sides were two futuristic looking pistols, each with glowing canisters attached to them. The masked person turned to Dash, and looked at her with unusually yellow eyes.

"Howdy," The person said in a Southern accent, his voice incredibly raspy. "Ah reckon y'all are the gal that Watcher gave the Rift-Crystal to?" Dash merely nodded, dumbstruck at the bizarre sight before her (and frankly, so were the enemies). Two more figures stepped out of the Rift, one dressed in a dirty business suit and a top hat (which displayed three bullet holes punched through), clutching a long dress cane, and another wearing a large Mexican poncho that draped down to his knees, an equally large sombrero, and a large sleeved shirt underneath. Both of these newcomers, like the Sounthern one, wore Guy Fawkes Masks (but the well-dressed one's had a crack running across the right eye, and the Mexican outfitted one's displayed a thick mustache instead of the pencil-thin one) and their skin appeared to be rotted.

The well-dressed man looked at his Southern companion and shook his head. "Damn it, Roger." He said in a more refined tone, but still raspy. "I told you ten bloody times, wait for us before the Rift opens."

"Si, mi amigo." The sombrero wearer said, also sharing the raspy voice. "Is poor team behavior." The first man turned and stomped up to the well-dress member.

"Like y'all do it any better, Gerard!" He shouted. "'Proper et-ee-ket' this and 'behave nicely' that! It's gettin' frustraitin' when Ah can't shoot things randomly like back when Ah lived in Texas before the bombs!" The well-dressed one, Gerard, looked to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Roger, we can talk about this later." Gerard said, patting his friend on the back. "I'll take you to New Vegas after this, your favorite casino!" Roger looked down for a moment, then looked up and (probably) smiled.

"Alright, pardner. Y'all got yourself a deal." The two shook hands and Gerard turned to the dumbstruck mercenaries and confused Children of Darkness.

"Hello there," Gerard greeted. "I am Gentleman Gerard, the Hispanic ghoul beside me is Luchador el Matadore, and the Southerner you just met is Off-Rocker Roger. We are the Guised Ghouls, a heroic ghoul team from the Mojave Desert in an alternate Earth in the year 2381, and we've been summoned here by superior individuals to kill you all." The whole room fell silent, nobody moving an inch. It was until after about five minutes did one of the mercenaries step forward and dare to talk.

"What?" He asked. It was all he said before he was shot by Off-Rocker Roger, and a green blast from his pistol reduced him to a pile of glowing goop.

"Wrong answer, pardner." Roger growled. Gerard lifted up his cane, pressing a button on the head, revealing the custom cane-gun inside. Luchadore pulled his sleeves back, showing several dynamite sticks being clutched in each hand. Roger lifted his guns to eye level and took aim. Once the ghouls got in position, the mercenaries and shadowy monsters readied themselves as well.

"Let the blood-letting begin!" Gerard shouted. And all hell broke loose.