Taking a breath before going into a stance that he knew he had learnt from his time in the army. Though thinking about the full memories he had gotten back since he had been here told him that he only had the basics. Because shortly after he got out of basic training was when the towers were attacked and he was called to war.

He now knew that was why his extended family didn't want anything to do with him because he didn't even get the chance to say goodbye to his mom and brother. But he shook his head knowing he had to stay focused on the situation. Taking a look around he saw two more doors other than the one they had come through.

Knowing that these doors would both lead to guards he knew that they might be a way out. His eyes drifted towards Lemon who had been tossed in the corner like a bag of trash but at least the stallion seemed to be breathing. He then set a hard gaze on the boss of this group.

"You know after what I've seen it's obvious that you do have the training, if somewhat basic and rusty. But after working with some of those Minotaur mercs I know not to underestimate one who even has the most basic of training. Especially one trapped in a corner," Land said leveling his spear which after looking at the head he knew it wasn't a standard spear.

"So is that why you lead me here? To corner me and see how far I'm willing to go?" He asked.

"Yes, and what was it you said to that mare before she died? 'Let me show you how much of a monster I can be' or something along those lines." Land said mockingly. "But first I want this to be as fair as possible, I'll undo the harness on your wings."

He gave the stallion a hard look then looked at his wings and gritted his teeth as he nodded letting the stallion come close. The reason why he hadn't done anything about the harness was that he couldn't reach buckles, not to mention he didn't want to risk using the spear to cut through them. But it also helped him when he was in the halls because his wings didn't get in the way.

Now they were in an open room and while he knew if he did manage to escape with Lemon in tow having his wings out would cause some problems. It was a risk he had to take, just like it was a risk to let the stallion that started all this get this close. But he felt the restraints on his wings lift allowing him to stretch them out.

"And what about my injuries?" He couldn't help but ask as Land went back across the room.

"I will only do so much for a creature I despise, but I'm at least trying to be civil here. Now quit your stalling and better be prepared because you will have a long way ahead of you." Land replied and before he had time to get back into his stance the stallion sprang forward.

For a pony his size he moved a lot faster than what most thought but he was at least prepared for it. That was one thing he remembered about some of his training, just because they're big doesn't always mean they're slow. But he also knew there was a trade-off at a point with speed and strength.

Lucky for him he didn't have to deal with it as he managed to roll out of the stallions path feeling the gust of wind from the stallion going past. Land quickly turned around and brought his spear around and he barely managed to lift his own spear to block. To his surprise, the stallions spear went through the shaft of his spear splitting it in half, but that was enough to spare him.

That was until he grunted and gasped as a hoof connected with his stomach making him dart away before another landed. Dropping to his knees trying to get his breath back he could see the stallion shake his head in disappointment. But the stallion was caught by surprise when the top half of his spear flew by grazing the large stallion's side before receiving a hard kick to the face.

Land Shark reared back in slight daze and pain though he could tell it was more out of the wound his thrown spear had caused. Once again before the stallion had time to react he impaled the other end of the broken shaft into one of the stallion's leg. This time Land reacted by wildly swinging his spear, lucky for him he had just moved out of the reach of the spear.

At least he thought he had escaped the reach in time until he felt something stinging his left leg. As he looked he knew it was just barely a scratch but the pain felt deeper. But he had no time to examine the wound as Land started to move towards him again.

He had no weapons to defend himself at this point, the half of the spear with the head was across the room past the pissed off stallion. The other end still impaled into the stallion's leg which at least slowed down the stallion. Standing up he winced feeling like the pain in his leg was spreading but he ignored it for the moment.

"You know we could just end this and you could just let me go!" He called out making Land give an almost crazy laugh.

"Boy, after I'm done with you there will be nothing left! But I will give you credit, while your skills as I thought are basic you've done more than most to me at your level. Which means I'll enjoy what time we have left." Land replied stepping forward, though the stallion stopped when a commotion started from the spectators.

"Sir, we have multiple intruders! We don't have an exact number but it looks like some of the Royal Guard!" A guard burst into the room.

"You idiot! I'm in the middle of..." Before either Land or the guard could react he manage to kick Lan's legs out from under him and pushed the half of the shaft still in his leg deeper making the large stallion roar in pain.

Turning around quickly to see the shocked guard he punched the guard hard in the nose and he could hear a sicking cracking sound. The guard's head snapped backward and after looking he knew he had broken the stallions entire snout. Quickly going over to Lemon he picked up the unconscious pony but his leg made him drop for a moment.

"You aren't getting away that easy!" He heard Land scream and turned around just in time to take the stallions spear into his shoulder.

The force of the impact made him not only drop Lemon hard onto the ground but sent him into a wall. He grabbed the spear by the shaft and put as much strength into it as he could manage to break it closer to the head. The pain was intense and just didn't feel like natural as the pain spread, and Land had a smirk on his face as if he had won.

"It was a nice try using this guard's bursting in here to make a move but you should have killed me or at least disable me to where I couldn't recover as quickly. Such a same that I had to waste my Hyrda Tooth spear on you," Land said slowly moving forward not using the leg that now had the spear shaft sticking out either side of it.

"Sorry to interrupt sir, but it's not just the Royal Guard! It's some of his marefriends including Princess Luna!" Another guard said coming into the room which gave Land a momentary pause.

"Have you all already started evacuation procedures?" The guard nodded but looked concern.

"They have men guarding every entrance and exit sir, we don't know how but they're even in our secret routes except for one," The guard answered.

"That'll be enough to get as many of us out, now go I have some business to deal with before I take my leave." Land said turning his gaze back at him before giving a cruel smile. "Well, it seems I've underestimated their ability to find us. But it makes no difference to me, we can just go to our next Headquarters. Take solace that those who love you will at least see you whole."

"Go to hell and rot...Aaagghh!" He shrieked out in pain as the stallion put a hoof onto the spearhead still in his shoulder.

"Don't know what hell is, but it sounds like a good place for your kind." Land said giving the spearhead a light tap making him give another scream. "Did you know that Hydra's teeth hold certain toxins that not only makes the pain spread it'll keep the victims wound from clotting? At least if you extract the teeth right anyhow, I am glad I made the trade with the Minotaurs just for this moment."

Black spots started to spread across his vision as the stallion pushed the spearhead deeper into his shoulder. This time he managed to hold back his scream and just stare at the stallion. He took satisfaction in the fact he was denying Land his own sick satisfaction.

Suddenly though Land took the pressure off the spearhead and a look of shock and disbelief rolled across the stallions face. Taking a step back Land turned his head to see Lemon standing there with shaking hooves as the smaller stallion took a hoof off of something now embedded into Land's side and stepping back. Things were silent for a moment before Land spoke you.

"You little..." Before Land could say or do anything he jumped on the chance and grabbed the thing that was sticking out of the stallion side out.

This made the big stallion give a grunt before turning his attention back onto him but it was too late for the stallion to do anything. He thrust the half of the spear with the head deep into the stallion's chest making the stallion's eyes go wide. Stepping back in shock before the stallion collapsed onto the ground.

As he sat back down he looked over to where Lemon was and remembered that when he had dropped the pony it was near where the other half of the spear landed. Taking deep breaths as once again black spots started to dance across his vision. He had used his last bit of strength and energy in that last attack as his vision faded into the blackness he spoke up.

"G-get out of here..." Was all he could say before he fully fell to the floor.

----Luna----

Their search managed to lead them to the casino but the three mares didn't know where to begin searching it or how they would even go about it. That was until they had received a message from Twilight which included blueprints of the groups base. The message described that Shining's men had rounded up some of the members.

As it turns out one of the members had blueprints hidden in spots throughout their house, now that house was nothing more than a frame. When she got the blueprints she decided not to wait for the others but to call on the Las Pegasus guard. Which after a few hours of making sure none of them were members and making a plan they set out.

They had completely locked down the casino and hotel which was the easy part, and after all the employees were rounded up and interviewed they found and stationed guard where they knew exits were placed. Taking in a team which included her and Applejack but also over a hundred well-trained guards they started their mission. It took some convincing for Lyra to stay back but after assuring the unicorn many times and making several promises Lyra finally agreed.

She knew she was already risking Brandon's life and didn't want to risk Lyra's as well after all Brandon would be more angry with them at that than anything. As for Applejack, she knew the mare was tough and could handle herself. Not to mention when she tried to convince Applejack to stay behind the orange mare showed just how stubborn she could be.

"Are you sure you do not want to reconsider?" She asked making Applejack roll her eyes.

"I may not be a trained guard but like I already said I can handle myself. I mean just look at what me and my friends have already been through," Applejack answered.

"And as I said fair enough, but I would appreciate it if somepony could stay with Lyra to make sure she stays safe." She said looking at the unicorn.

"Don't worry Princess, I will personally guard her with my life!" The Chief of the guards said. "We were wanting to stop this casino for years now because we suspected that something else was going on but we never had the proof. So this is my way of trying to make it up to you by making sure one of your fellow marefriends is safe!"

"T-thank you," She looked at the sturdy stallion before her, he was loyal to a fault sometimes from what she heard but he did not fail in his duties. "Then let's begin!"

Though when they started to make their way into the lower levels they had heard what sounded like alarms going off which made them worry that they had already been discovered. But the alarm was quickly cut off making them wonder if it wasn't them then what had made that alarm go off? They didn't give much thought before they speed up their pace and it wasn't too long before they ran into their first bit of resistance.

They quickly dispatched the small group of a mixture of guards and worker ponies and started to spread out in teams. It wasn't long before the alarms started to go off again letting them know that the group knew they were here. Group after group of guards and workers were taken down and magically restrained they finally knew where they had to go thanks to a chatty worker.

Her group quickly started to make their way to the room the pony had described which they had passed a hall with two dead guards in it, one shot magically through the head and one who suffered from a spear to the side. Though as one of her men examined the stallion they told her what she already figured. It wasn't just any spearhead that killed the stallion, it was one made of a Hydra's tooth.

"We need to hurry, from the sounds of it Brandon may not have the time!" She yelled quickly leading her group in the direction of the room where Brandon was fighting for his life.

After dealing with a few more guards, one seemed surprised that some of them had made it that far tried to fight back. She quickly raised a shield which deflected the attack easily before she teleported behind the guard. Slamming the guard to the ground before speaking.

"Is he still alive?" She asked charging up her horn.

"I-I don't know..." The stallion yelped as she released a small bit of her magic which made a good sized hole in the ground.

"I will only ask this once more, is he still alive?" She asked and she could see the terror in the stallion's eyes.

"As far as I know! Land Shark likes to make his victims suffer before he kills them!" At that, she cast a sleeping spell on the stallion before getting up.

"Then we need to hurry up, from the sounds of it the fight might already be over and Brandon is in trouble!" She ordered.

She ran as fast as what she could with her group of guards following behind as she zapped a few guards and workers in restraints or made them go into a deep sleep. It wasn't too long before they reached a door which she wasted no time in blasting through. But as she stepped through the door her heart seemed to stop at the scene.

Brandon was laying on the floor with Lemon Grabs next to him trying to wake the human. Not too far away was the body of a large stallion who has a broken half of a spear in his heart and the other half in his leg. But she ignored the dead stallion and the guard who was still unconscious and ran to Brandon with tears in her eyes.

"Please be breathing!" She said as she pushed the injured Lemon out of her way and put an ear to his chest and she let out a sigh as not only was he still breathing his heartbeat seemed stable. "Thank the stars he's alive!"

Though as she looked she saw the spearhead in his shoulder and the cut on his leg which was slowly bleeding. She knew that it wasn't the end of his pain as there was only one treatment that would fight the toxins in his wounds. But she wasn't sure if it would affect him in the same way.

"Princess, we need to get both of them to the hospital." A guard said coming up behind her.

"I-I know, j-just be careful he has a Hydra tooth in his shoulder." She said making the guard nod as they brought in two stretchers.

As they carried away both Brandon and Lemon she stood there in the room before she let out her frustration on the dead stallion by giving a hard kick to the body. Though they had made it in time before Brandon bleed out she knew he wasn't out of the woods. For she didn't know if the normal treatment for a Hydra's toxin would do the trick.

Though she knew he had some kind of self-healing magic which they had known about since his ankle had healed without too much help. Not to mention how fast the wounds from his wings healed up, but she also knew Hydra's toxin could prevent magic from healing a wound as well. But she had to hope that the treatment would work which would stop the bleeding at least, that was the biggest concern.

"L-luna I-I just... B-brandon..." Lyra stammered on the verge of tears as she came out of the lower levels.

"I-I know, let's head to the hospital okay?" She said and Lyra nodded seeing that the alicorn was on the verge of tears herself.

"I'll take you," The Chief said pointing to a buggy.

"T-thank you Cheif, w-we really would appreciate it." She said making the Chief nod.

"And don't worry, already have a soundproof spell on it." The Chief said as they climbed in to find Applejack already there.

Once they got going she wrapped Lyra in her arms as both of them let their tears flow out of both relief that he was at least alive and concern that he might not make it after all. Though Applejack tried her best to stay strong and comfort the two crying mares her own heart was in pain for the same reasons. After a while, the orange pony finally had to let out her own grief as well, which to her surprise Luna wrapped a hoof around her and the three of them stayed like that the whole ride.

Author's Notes:

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and hope you have a good mother's day! Remember to smile, smile, smile!