The Mane Six watch in disbelief. They can't believe, the Elements of Harmony has been tainted by Lorcan's essence...and now, the ponies went and release the Dragon Army that was told to them in fairy tales.

"Ha ha ha; look at them, simply marvelous, aren't they?" Lorcan asks in an amusing taunt before looking to the ponies. "And I got you all to thank, my little ponies. I couldn't have done it without you!"

"Hey, don't give us credit!" Applejack snaps to Lorcan in annoyance. "Yew manipulated us."

"You're right, the credit goes to me anyway, and of course the Brotherhood."

"Ah ha! Amazing, the world rid of you losers!" Gilda taunts her enemies in amusement. "I was a bit worried but now, you are nothing!"

"Yes, thanks to me and Lorcan, the world is a better place...for us!" Trixie exclaims happily and eagerly.

"Ugh, you don't get it! Lorcan plans to kill ALL ponies!" Twilight points out to Trixie in frustration. "He wants to kill you too!"

"Lies, all lies!"

"Run on home, ponies." Discord said, waving a claw of dismissal to the Mane Six. "You can't win now. You can't even use those Elements since Lorcan's essence are still in them!"

"We don't need the essence to beat Lorcan!" Rarity snaps in determination. The girls decide to figure out a way to remove Lorcan's essence from the Elements of Harmony later. Right now, they will take the villain down.

"What's this?" Lorcan asks in amusement as if being told a crazy joke. "After all that's happened, you still want to fight me?"

"You know the old saying: take the leader out, the army falls!" Twilight snaps, not looking at the dragons hovering overhead, ready to follow Lorcan's orders at any given time. "Well, we decided to take you out, one way or another!"

"Oh funny, funny. You realize of course that I am not like Nightmare Moon, Discord, the Changeling Queen or Boris. I am the ultimate terror, the son of Tadaka, the scarred murderer!"

"It doesn't matter! We'll stop you!" Rainbow snaps as she waves her hooves in the arm, ready to fight.

Lorcan chuckles, "Very well..." His claws glow a dark green. "As they say on Earth from where the Mag'ne herself came from, bring it. Move aside, everyone; I can handle these ladies by myself."

The Brotherhood of Tadaka members move aside as Lorcan prepares to fight off the Mane Six. The song 'Sinister Shadows' begins to play here.

"Prepare to be Dasheresque! Ariel Nun-Chuck Gun Barrage" Rainbow Dash brings out her nun-chunks and zooms up into the air. "Bang-Bang-Bang-Bang/Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom....." Then the dare-devil pony dives down, double magical guns a blazing and Lorcan didn't move but took on the attack. "Oh yeah, I rock!" Rainbow Dash flew up in a state of victory, that stunt has gotta hurt Lorcan.

"Brzizizvhmmm...Prufurvhmm...." But then on a sudden surprise, a flaming emerald color volt was shot that came in contact with Rainbow!

"Gaaguh...Guuuaugh...." The dare-devil pony was hit and fell down on the ground, lied there with feeling some aching pain.

"Rainbow," The other Mane Six cried out in seeing their friend hurt, but how?

"Nice aerial movement, but as you can see....that was not lethal enough." Lorcan spoke from when the smokescreen cleared, he was still fine and hadn't moved from his spot even after that attack.

"I got him, locking on target!" Pinkie Pie then showed up, her angry glare seen while setting her Party Cannon to 'ROAST JERK MODE' on it, "FIRE!" The pink pony cried out before pulling the trigger rope on her cannon. "Powwwfruvhmm..." Then it fired off a strong blazing blast that was five times larger than three stallions standing on top of the other.

But then Lorcan made a weird stance, allowed the attack to stroll along his arms like a flashing sphere of explosive light, and he was handling it with….such a gentle touch. None were expecting the enemy to catch one of Pinkie Pie's cannon attacks.

"My, such explosive force, I think I'll return it." Lorcan spoke off with a smirk on his face, seeing how this attack was nice, he'll return it to its owner…the pink pony. "Fruvhmm...." Then soon in an un-imaginable moment, Lorcan redirected Pinkie Pie's attack right back at her, it was almost like he was the pitcher of a baseball game.

"Eek," Pinkie Pie yelped in shock, she was surprised to see this happen, but this is one surprise she doesn't like.

"Eternal Style – Absorbion," Suddenly, Rarity stepped in before Pinkie Pie with her gems surrounding her into a giant gem structure, and had the attack impact it. "Now, RE-Direct!" Soon on Rarity's announcement, from inside, the magical attack was being redirected inside before starting to appear in the center and was about to be unleashed right back at Lorcan.

"Ah, fighting with gems to block blows and redirect strong magic, nice but I know around it." Lorcan smiled in recognizing this fighting style, truly a work of art, but like all works, there was a flaw to this tactical maneuver. "Click…/Vrusvhmm…" Suddenly from snapping his claws, Lorcan created some magical eerie green mist around the two ponies, and just as Rarity's attack of redirecting was fired from her gems… "Boomfruvhmm…" From an unforeseen matter, the mist was explosive and even if Rarity would have directed the first attack away, the second surprise that came to them was not of something either could handle.

"Waaaahhh/Uuuaaghh...." Then Pinkie Pie and Rarity were shot back from the force, and soon landed right beside Rainbow Dash in the defeated pile.

"Okay Varminet! Ah'll lasso yew up!" Applejack whipped up her diamond enforced lasso in the air before throwing it. "Whipvhmgripvhm..." Then from a surprise twist, she lassoed up Lorcan in the ropes that won't break so easily. "Ha! Got yew! An' just fer 'de record, 'dis rope is doubled against yew strength," The pony declared as she knows this dragon was strong to break the Demon Pony Cage, this was something that she believed that the villain can't break from.

"Oh how wrong you are." Lorcan shook his head from his eyes closed, his smile never fading as he looked up at the Earth Pony. "But in hearing this new toy, I have an idea…This should be fun." What the villain did next was suddenly spin himself around, bringing more of the rope to tangle him.

"What 'de hay?" Applejack yelped from holding on until she was face-to-face with the evil dragon. But what happened next was that Lorcan spins around this pony and not only did he tie up Applejack in her own work but got himself free.

"One gift wrapped pony yo-yo, coming up!" Lorcan exclaimed with a sly smile, Applejack sweat-drop in knowing, this won't be fun. "Whipfruvhmm…." Then from a mighty pull on the end of the rope's nob, he thrown her into the air…and was spinning.

"Waahahahaha, Gaaaugh...." Applejack was unraveling at a blurry rate until she cease and landed with the other three defeated Mane Six.

"Anyone else," Lorcan looked back with a wide grin in seeing only two ponies left; Twilight and Fluttershy.

"Fluttershy, you have to use your Stare on him, I'll try to hit him with a strong spell." Twilight Sparkle quickly issued to her friend that Fluttershy has to get their enemy to be frozen so he can't move.

"Got it," Fluttershy salutes in hearing her friend and flew up in the air before…opening her eyes wide. "ARRUUAAAAGHH...." Then she let off a scream with her eyes giving off her signature work at full power.

"Uagh..." Suddenly Lorcan was frozen by the stare move; this might actually be the first time the villain has been hit by such a move.

"Now then, try this move!" Twilight Sparkle announced from her horn glowing with a lot of aqua color sparkles that were floating into the air, "Twilight Star Shower!" She announced off the name of a spell that the purple unicorn was casting as above her head looked like twilight stars sparkling in the air before…

"Frusvhm-frusvhm-frusvhm..../Boom-Boom-Boom-Boom....." The very sparkle magical spheres were firing off like fireworks and all impacting across the field where Lorcan was. The barrage attack of raining stars seem almost endless until there were no more sparkle star spheres over the unicorns' head, meaning that the spell had cease afterwards.

"What was that spell, Twilight?" Fluttershy asked from landing beside her friend, puzzled by what Twilight just used that seem to finally stop Lorcan.

"Huagh...huagh....that move...gaaaugh, allowed me to create my own magical stars from the sky to fall and impact a number of enemies or just focusing on one alone." Twilight Sparkle took a moment to catch her breath as she was almost tired off from the workout she's had this entire time up to this point.

"Oh my, it seems to fit your name and character so well too." Fluttershy spoke amazement, and smiled in how her friend came across a spell fitting Twilight's appearance, it must be a coincidence.

"Right, I know." Twilight Sparkle nods with a tiny crack of a smile as she took another exhaust of breath. "Huuagh, it's no Unicorn Burst Spell, but I could say that's my second strongest new spell I have as an arsenal. If nothing else, the quickest I can play forth!" The smart pony exclaimed how other than her Unicorn Burst which is a strong piercing magic spell, this new one, Twilight Star Shower, is very fast and evasive to land multiple hits to cause enough damage to some or one major force.

"Don't you know by now, second best is never enough," Spoke an eerie voice that was very haunting that was coming from the smoke cloud where Twilight's attack hit.

"Huuaaghh...." Twilight & Fluttershy yelped in hearing that voice, Lorcan was not defeated, even after that planning that kept him at bay. "Whipsvhmm…" Then from the smoke cloud came Lorcan's magical flaming whip as it was lashed out against the two ponies. "Gaaaaughh...." Soon even Twilight and Fluttershy were whipped by Lorcan's magic flaming whip over to the other bested Mane Six.

"I will admit, that new spell is a doozy." Lorcan spoke from walking out of the smoke cloud, dusting himself while quoting the new spell Twilight used on him. "But unless you have killer in your eyes, then it'll never be enough to beat your enemies." The dragon villain decree that what the Mane Six lack is the urge to kill, without it, they cannot hope to beat their opponents, which is their weakness and downfall.

Son the rest of the Brotherhood of Tadaka gathered around the Mane Six that lied on the ground, weaken, tired, and outmatched in these circumstances. But things got much worst when Trixie used her magic to make the Elements of Harmony levitate off the gang's person and float around herself while making her smug appearance.

"You won't be holding onto these anymore, now will you," Trixie exclaimed from now holding the very Elements that made the Mane Six big time heroes. And without them, they are nothing but normal batch of ponies before this group of Lorcan's Brotherhood.

What happened next caught the bad guys by surprise. Twilight stood back up while saying weakly, "No...we...can't...lose..."

"What's this? You still wish to fight?" Lorcan asks the ponies in surprise as the rest of the Mane Six is getting back up. They are almost out of energy, so the Mane Six want to fight despite that?

Rarity scoffs furiously, "You scoundrel played unfairly! We were just recovering from the battle against your brutes AND what you did to the Elements!"

"Hmmm, that is true..." Lorcan said thoughtfully then smiles, "Alright then. Brotherhood! Step aside again and do not interfere!" The Brotherhood, whilst exchanging raised eyebrows at their leader's decision, obey; He snaps his fingers and the Mane Six find their injuries healing.

Twilight surprised ask, "Why?"

"I prefer to fight my enemies when they are at their strongest."

"Well, you made a big mistake pal! Now we're gonna beat you this time!" Rainbow snaps in determination to Lorcan.

Lorcan chuckles, "Again very well." He grabs his shoulder and rips off his cloak, revealing the rest of his body to have dark green scales and a dark purple body. "I will humor you again."

"Okay, time for a change of music!" Pinkie exclaimed eagerly. Soon, the music now changed to the 'Bowser Theme' from 'Mario 64'. "All right, now that's more like it!"

"Where does that music keep coming from?" Rarity asks confused. So far, the ponies and everyone else keep hearing music from out of nowhere.

"Does it matter? Not to me, it ain't!" Lorcan taunts with a mad smirk. "I should tell you this: if my small form bothers you so much, then allow me to fight in my true age's form!"

Lorcan growled and glowed. The Mane Six looked surprised as he transformed again. The villain now looks like Spike, but he now changed into something more grown up that Twilight hasn't seen since Spike's greedy action display from his last birthday.

"Holy cupcakes," Pinkie yelps a bit.

"I didn't think to see that again." Rarity whimpers a bit, recalling that incident.

"So which one of you lovely ladies like to fight me first again?" Lorcan taunts the Mane Six sinisterly.

"Allow me, girls! This guy ain't so tough! He's probably half my size!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Let's see how he does against a Sonic Rainboom!"

Rainbow then flies into the air, going very fast, preparing to use her Sonic Rainboom to hit Lorcan right in the gut. The pony then flies at her opponent, ready to perform the biggest move ever.

But Lorcan simply grabs her by the throat, much to her shock. Rainbow gasps, "No way! How could someone half my size stop me like that?"

Lorcan reminds her, "Like I said before, Miss Dash, appearances can be deceiving." Then he punch her into the jaw, sending her right into a wall, chains appear and grabs her. "And don't bother trying to escape! Any struggle or magic, even by horns, and those chains will give you a big 'shock', if you know what I mean!"

Rainbow struggled to break free, and then, suddenly, she got electrocuted as she screamed.

"I wasn't kidding, was I?" Lorcan taunts Rainbow before turning to the remaining ladies. "Now which one of you lovely ladies want to suffer next?"

Fluttershy growls a bit, getting mad. She snaps, "HOW DARE YOU!" The pony flies right at Lorcan, getting into his face. "Listen here, mister, just because you're big now, you're Spike's brother and you got a Dragon Army, doesn't mean you can do that to us! Now let Rainbow go and give up or I will make you sorry!"

The other ponies smile, remembering what happened the last time Fluttershy did her stare on Lorcan. But then, something unexpected happened: Lorcan, undazed, stares blankly at her and grabs the mare by the throat.

"Sorry, that may have worked when I am small but my teenager form evolved past the scare stage." Lorcan taunts Fluttershy as he fire a fireball from his left claw, sending the poor mare right into the same wall, being chained right near Rainbow.

"Fluttershy," Twilight cried before glaring back at Lorcan as she gritted her teeth.

"Those ponies are dropping like fleas!" Boxco laughs stupidly.

"Flies, Boxco, flies," Boris reminds Boxco with an annoyed sigh.

"Dang nab it, Ah got it up 'ta here wit' yew!" Applejack snaps as she rush behind Lorcan and got her rope out. The pony prepares to lasso the dragon from behind. If she could take down the Film-Film brothers' tank, then Lorcan wouldn't be a big deal.

But without turning around, as Applejack throws her rope, Lorcan grabs it with his free claw then uses his lightning spell on her. Applejack screams in pain.

"Sorry, partner, but 'dis rodeo is yer last." Lorcan remarks with a mocking Southern accent as he turns around, proceeding to punch and kick her every bit as she can, showing his superior strength.

Applejack groans as the villain now toss her to the same wall, where the same chains magically held the pony in place.

"Three down, who's next?" Lorcan taunts his enemies sinisterly, daring another mare to go against him now.

"Okay, let's go you big meanie!" Pinkie snaps as she bounces around Lorcan in circles, throwing punches and kicks. "I can do this all day if I have to. No one is more random than me! I am Pinkielicious!"

Lorcan suddenly grabs Pinkie's hoof and bends it, with a sickening crack. While the pink pony held her hoof in pain, the villain delivers a mighty flick to her, sending Pinkie right into the wall where she's chained up as well.

"Someone should've chained you up a long time ago, Little Miss Annoying." Lorcan taunts Pinkie sinisterly.

"Why, you awful, horrible villain; Now it's my turn!" Rarity snaps as she prepares to fight Lorcan next. The unicorn gallops forward, ready to attack. Just then, she notices that Sweetie appears in her place. "What's this? You think some trick would fool me?!"

"Rarity," 'Sweetie' asked, scared. "Are you going to hurt me?"

As if to respond, Rarity angrily punches 'Sweetie' hard, sending her to the ground. As the filly appears to be groaning, the mare snaps, "Nice try, Lorcan! But your shape-shifty powers won't fool me! Pretending to be my sister, how dare you!"

Suddenly Rarity hears a cough, turning to see..Lorcan who grins and waves to her while standing near the chained CMC....minus Sweetie! The villain remarks, "Oh, sorry; I thought I would trade partners for this scene; Heh heh."

Realization hits Rarity, to her horror. She has hit the real Sweetie! The filly groans in pain, much to the sister's further horror. Lorcan has traded places with Sweetie...and Rarity has hit her, thinking that the villain was trying to fool her!

"Sweetie, no! What have I done?!" Rarity ask in horror and guilt.

With Rarity distracted, Lorcan grabs her by the horn, saying, "What I wanted you to do...prove Sweetie wrong...and now, her role in this fight is over...and so are you!"

With that, Lorcan punches Rarity in the guy and sent her right into the same wall, chaining her up. He then throws Sweetie right back to her, the filly got chained up as well.

"Here, I thought you two sisters can have a talk about your 'fight'." Lorcan taunts evilly to Rarity, leaving the white unicorn horrified by what she has done: hitting Sweetie Belle.

"Oh my, my, my; tricking a sister into hitting her own," Discord remarked as he drank some soda while eating popcorn. "How despicable...HA HA HA! I LOVE IT!"

"YOU SICK MONSTER!" Twilight shouted as she charged towards Lorcan.

Lorcan teleported out of the way, making Twilight miss her. The villain reappears, saying, "And now, it's time for the big finale, Miss Sparkle. I got to say, I am a bit disappointed. I thought your friends would give me a better show than this."

"You and your bucking evil army will be stopped, I bucking swear it!" Twilight yelled angrily.

"Ooooh, someone's using the foul language." Trixie remarks in amusement.

Lorcan took his cane out as he said, "I have been looking forward to this, Twilight."

"Forget it, even if you kill me, I won't let you harm Spike!" Twilight snaps in determination.

"W-W-WHAT," Lorcan exclaimed, stuttering a bit. "You think that...how could you suggest that I'd think such a thing?! I am happy that my brother's alive! You have no idea how long I have missed him, thinking that Celestia has killed him in his crib...then I found out years later that his egg was at your academy...and when I went there, I heard that he 'blew up' during your entrance exam and thought that you have killed him! You think that I only pretended to love Spike; have you gone through what I have, with your own brother thinking that you don't love him?!"

Twilight looks shocked and speechless. She used to think that Lorcan was only pretending to love Spike, just like how Spike himself think that she did the same thing to him. But the purple unicorn can feel it: the villain really does care for his missing brother.

"And now, for your accusation, I got to hit you hard and hit you emotionally as well!" Lorcan remarked sinisterly as he prepared his cane for battle.

Twilight dodges fire blasts from Lorcan's cane, she is the only pony left to deal with Lorcan now. The villain then swings at her with his cane, the unicorn didn't bother to try to fight back.

"Gettng scared, Miss Sparkle? Never thought you to be a coward all of the sudden." Lorcan taunts Twilight in amusement, glancing at her horn growing a bit. "And are we practicing for a spell?"

"Lorcan, you fool! She is going for that Unicorn Burst one!" Boris exclaims to Lorcan in alarm, recognizing the attack from the Demon Pony incident. "Stop her!"

"No, no, I want to see how this goes before I can finish the job. And never call me a fool again if you value your flank!"

Twilight has to teleport around when the villain fires lasers at her, then Lorcan yelps as his opponent kicks him a few times. The unicorn must keep this up to use her big attack on him.

"Okay, almost there and...now!" Twilight exclaims with a smirk as she charges right at Lorcan. "All right, take this, Lorcan!"

Twilight fires her Unicorn Burst, Lorcan just stood there, not bothering to try to attack back. Why? The unicorn realizes too late that the villain grabs it in one claw. Not good! Lorcan then uses his cane like a baseball bat to knock the attack right back at Twilight who dodges it.

Twilight is left shaken which leaves Lorcan to jump in. He then proceeds to pound and hits her with his cane like mad, making it difficult for the mare to fight back. It's like being pounded by a huge emperor from another world! Twilight feels worse than when she was possessed by Nightmare Moon's essence during Nyx's temporary rule of Equestria!

The folks all over Equestria watch in horror as the villain beat Twilight as if he doesn't care if anyone outside the castle is watching him do so. The Mane Six (minus Twilight) and the CMC looks scared whilst chained to the wall. Mysteriously enough, Lorcan's organ nearby plays 'Wounded' from Final Fantasy as the dragon kicks Twilight while ranting, "You have no chance! You and your friends never did, Miss Sparkle! You failed everyone big time and now your world belongs to me!"

"Why?" Twilight choked through pain filled tears whilst glancing at what was Lorcan. "Why are you doing this?"

He kicked Twilight hard again.

"Because," Lorcan snarled. "Ponies ruined me. You have no idea of how I suffered with the knowledge that they were now dead, that I was the only one left." The dragon's voice becomes louder with a hint of happiness. "But then I heard of him. And I was so happy. Happy that I wasn't alone," He took the bitter and cold tone again. "But he knew nothing! And it was All…because of YOU!"

"I did it to protect him!" Twilight spoke, only to be grabbed by the mane and forced to gaze into the eyes of her attacker whose nose emitting sparks and smoke in his rage.

"Protect him? More like condemn him a life of slavery! Oh yes, I read your mind. I know how you treated him ever since we caught a glimpse of each other in town. You treated him ike a slave. You never reward him, express gratitude. Heck, you didn't even invite him to your birthday party!" He smirked at Twilight's face of shock for they both knew the same thing: Lorcan was right. "But you know what? I pity you. I pity you because of the fact that everyone blames you for what happened that night; the night I killed that colt."

Twilight looked shocked, memories feeling into her head of what happened that night. That dragon..the one who murdered the filly...was the monster holding her! She does remember of course!

Lorcan took no notice of this and continued, gesturing to the rest of the Mane Six who are still chained to the wall, gagged by Discord.

"All of your friends and family, they see you for what you are: a failure of sister. They knew you would fail with Spike." Lorcan rants some more.

"Shut up." Twilight whispered.

"Even Celestia herself had doubts in her 'faithful student'." Lorcan said.

"Shut up," Twilight said louder.

"And even Spike! Oh, the hatred and anger he seems towards you! How does it feel, pony?" Lorcan practically shouted in Twilight's face, the insane glint in his eyes shining more than ever before. "How does it feel to know that you are twice a failure as sister?" the dragon ended his rant with a mad cackle.

"Shut up! You have no right to rant like a mad loon!"

Lorcan proceeds to hit Twilight in the gut, causing her to fall to the floor. The villain smirks as he hit the pony with the cane, everyone else, even those not in the battle was forced to or willingly watch as the hero of Equestria is getting beaten almost into submission.

"Do you feel that, Twiight? That is the feeling of defeat. You have failed your mission, your life is done. At waste; how sad," Lorcan giggles insanely, "So much for the most powerful unicorn in Equestria!"

Twilight groans, the poor filly barely has any strength to get up. It doesn't matter for her, she has failed everyone, her friends, her family, Ben Mare, Nyx, even Spike who has now disowned her and hated her. Perhaps it would've been best if Twilight just stayed down and let Lorcan finish her off...like he should've years ago as a filly; Then maybe...

As Lorcan prepares to kill Twilight, suddenly the villain's form changes back to his small one. The villain frowns as he groans to his frustration, "Rats, I forgot that this form is only temporarily! Too bad, I would've used it for a fair fight with Spike...should I ever see him. Oh well..."

Lorcan smiles as he saw two of his father's loyalest dragon minions landing nearby, both of them growls as one of them say, "Lorcan, it's good to see you again. We await your orders to take Equestria."

"Yes, yes, Equestria will be taken down, but first's thing first." Lorcan remarks as he motions to the beaten Twilight as well as the chained up ponies. "Take them to the dungeons."

"Why don't you just...kill us?" Twilight groans to Lorcan in pain and worry.

"You're punishment must be more severe. When Equestira is ashes...you will have my permission to die."

The dragons salute Lorcan as they take Twilight along with her friends (the chained magically come along with the ponies) and take them to the dungeon, they know where there are, of course.

"What gives here?" Gilda scowls at Lorcan in disbelief. "You have them where you want them!"

"Right, at least get rid of them before they become major threat." Discord remarks to Lorcan in concern. "Come on, I underestimated them before and it was a big mistake."

"Trust me, they can't do a thing to me now, since Twilight and her friends knows that they will never win, even the princesses would know better than to try to challenge me now." Lorcan said to his Brotherhood darkly. "Now go to your quarters, I will summon you again shortly or whenever I feel like it..."

"Uhh, Lorcan; you were kidding about the whole killing Twilight thing, right?" Boris asks Lorcan in concern. The villain promised him Twilight once all of Equestria belongs to the Brotherhood...

"No!"

"But you-"

"Lied! I never intended her to live, even so some freak who can't take a hint that she is never going to be hers! Now then, I want you and your bumbling stooges to go forth to set a finale task to any resistance to my plans."" Lorcan hisses evilly to Boris, much to his shock. The dragon then checks his green sword...then to his shock he saw the black core color flicker. "Nooo..."

Loran quickly took his leave as did the Brotherhood. Boris stood there, looking concerned. The villain of course never intended for Twilight to be his at all. And come to think of it, Lorcan has his Dragon Army now. What's to say that he would still has any use for the Brotherhood of Tadaka?

Boris gallops off after the other members, even his own minions. Trixie, noticing, ask, "What is it, Boris?"

"Listen, we all talk, it doesn't involve Equestria here...it involves what could be our lives!" Boris exclaims to the other members in concern and a bit of fear in his tone of voice.

----------------

At this time, the scene shows us that somewhere hidden within the Everfree Forest, was a secret camp specially coated with camouflage magic to disguise and blend in. This place was so secret, even mentioning that it's a secret camp for all the current citizens of Canterlot, Cloudsdale, & Ponyville were all….A SECRET! But in any case the place was set up after the moment the Dragon Army came into the picture as well as the ponies watching Twilight get beaten senseless by Lorcan, many of Celestia & Luna's Royal Guards had to get their unicorn troops to teleport & Pegasus soldiers to bring many citizens to this secret hideaway. As of right now, it's a real mystery wonder how they are keeping all the dangerous beast within the Everfree Forest away, thanks to Zecora's help in providing scent aromas that the creatures can't stand. And the second mystery was seeing how almost all of Equestria's pony folks were able to fit in the forest of the camp without being too expose, well magic is as magic does, we can guess. And right now, many pony citizens that had some talents were helping out their fellow pony folks.

The Mane Six Lookalikes were busy trying to run the camp's dining spot to provide foods as both the cooks and servers. And with this many customers, busy was really blooming around here.

"We need more by table 3 here!" Firecracker called out to her friends while busy around tables 1 & 2 at this moment.

"I got my hooves over by table 5!" Roseluck called out from rushing from her spot to the table with the next order.

"Wait! Then who's helping out in table 4 then?" Plumsweet asked off oddly in searching around the area in who has the duty of table 4, since it was skipped in the middle.

"I am and they're not the only ones I'm handling!" Cherry Pie called out while using her magic to make a lot of order plates and meals float around like madness.

"Easy now, let's not be trying to shove anypony around!" Flitterheart spoke to gently calm the customers that were awaiting their service and this pony tried to keep the gang under control.

"Ugh, I knew we have our busy moments, but this is crazy! Practically everypony in Equestria is here!" Feathermay flew over to Firecracker in seeing that their situation is growing more than they can handle, it's becoming out of control.

"I know, but we have to help out with whatever we can!" Firecracker tried to assure her friend that the lookalikes can do this by working together, they just got to.

"Don't threat youngin's, I got Tough Apple helping out!" The voice of Granny Apple spoke from behind a cooking pot in making lots of apples. "Hurry up Tough, keep on turning that wheel to crush them apples! Big Mac can do that real easy!" The elderly mare called out to the Apple's cousin who was running on a runner to speed up squashing apples to help provide the apple cider works.

"Shoot, Ah know Granny! Ah'm trying!" Tough Apple shouted off in working as fast as he can here but this is really hard stuff. "Hugh, feels like Ah've been running fer hours!" The stallion was starting to sweat up a storm; he was getting close to falling off that runner from exhaustion.

"You can do it Tough Apple!" Plumsweet spoke from trying to cheer up her friend to keep going.

"Right, just keep it up!" Roseluck spoke off in encouraging the Tough Apple guy to keep on running.

"How's about this, would you care for a reward," Cherry Pie spoke off with a sly quote in speaking this to Tough Apple's hearing distance, "How's about playing Joe to cheer up the happy customer when you've made 100 barrels of Apple Cider!" The mare offered this special deal to the rough-neck stallion if he can do the task, the pony will play his banjo to help the crowd out even more them filling their stomachs.

"Really; SWUUUWEEE," Apple Tough responded with excitement in his eyes and was now rushing on the runner double times as fast from hearing what he get as a reward.

"That was nicely thought, Cherry Pie." Flitterheart kindly spoke to her friend in liking how she managed to offer a nice little something to make Tough Apple happy.

"It was either that or a kiss from Feathermay!" Cherry Pie exclaimed off to say that what was needed was motivation, so it was either the banjo or a kiss from Feathermay to get Tough going again.

"Aww, don't try bribing him with that!" Feathermay blushed a bit to look away, seeing that her friends were just messing with her. Of course, even now, a little joke to help the mood was always something anypony was looking to distract their minds…including now.

In another spot, the Cakes were busy trying to get plenty of their delicious sweets served out. Mr. Carrot Cake was working around the orders and bringing the bags of any sweet treats that they got and Mrs. Cup Cake was helping in preparing any of the sweet meals to be presentable. But of course, unlike usual business hours, they were having a lot of hungry customers and were taking their display works as soon as the meals are made. Even making a few works, cutting them up to serve was all the Cakes can do to keep many of the ponies occupy.

"Okay, here's order 27 then order 28, here's order 74…dugh…which one was order 52?" Mr. Cake was passing out a few bags of prepared sweets to his customers but was yelping in not remembering who's other order was next. There was just too many for one pony to handle this stuff alone.

"Honey, settle down, you're overworking yourself tired!" Mrs. Cake spoke out from busy making another bakery batch of cakes, pies, cupcakes and cookies, etc. in their oven batches.

"I can't help it dear. We have more customers today than in a lifetime!" Mr. Cake exclaimed to look back to his wife while busy trying to look through more order sheets. "Here's Order 66 & 69 to go!" He held up them orders in their bags before they were taken but there were still many more customers.

"Waaaaughhh…" Suddenly, the crying sounds of baby foals are heard that got the two Cakes. Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake were crying from a lack of attention while sitting up on a table. The Cakes sighed in seeing this, with everything going on, tight business orders to settle the crowds, they forgot to tender to their kids.

"Oh no, the twins," Mr. Cake yelped in seeing his kids were being upset about something, not good, not good at all, "Order 33, catch!" He spoke in holding a bag and thrown it to the customer who caught his sweets order.

"Oh, the little darlings, it's okay, we'll…" Mrs. Cake approached her little foal children as she was going to calm them down when…

"Excuse me! Wooohhh," Suddenly, the sound of Derpy came out of nowhere and crashed through a set up table. "Gulpvhmm…" She was upside-down and her eyes were swirling a bit off, even if they were cross-eyed.

"Kehahahahaha…" Suddenly, the Cake Twins giggled in laugher and joy as they flew or levitated down in finding Derpy's little accident act funny to them.

"Oh Derpy, are you alright?" Mrs. Cake sop with worry while helping the poor dear up while the Pegasus straight herself up…though the eyes were still crossed of course.

"Um, sure, why wouldn't I be?" Derpy responded off with a goofy smile to what Mrs. Cake said about her. "I heard crying and came to see who needed help!" The gray pegasus exclaimed off that she heard the Cake Twins crying and thought that there was something she could do.

"Yes, those were the twins. Order 22 here," Mr. Cake nods in sorrow to state what the problem was but then held up another bag for the ordered customer to snatch away in a flash.

"We appreciate the concerns, but…I think it's settled." Mrs. Cake smiled to nod in being thankful that Derpy was so concerning, but in a way, the matter was settled…by her little accident display, kinda.

"Gehehehehe…" Pound and Pumpkin Cake giggled from being held by their parents each with the colt in the daddy's hug and the filly in the mommy's.

"You managed to help them laugh and that's just what we need." Mrs. Cake spoke with a gentle smile in how Derpy helped their kids stop crying, even so to smile, "A little laughter to help us in our sad times." To her, the sound of happy little foals is just something to turn anyone's frowns upside-down.

"Ahhh, it was nothing, really!" Derpy rubbed the back of her head in saying it wasn't nothing at all.

"Well, that helps a little, but we still are packed with orders." Mr. Cake stated out from trying to hold his son and more order sheets that need filling out. But with only him and his wife, they're short on help in preparing anything at this time.

"Maybe I can help!" They turned around to see a donut cart being pulled in which many of the customers turned to and happily were taking some good donuts. "Maybe some of my donuts could help!" The one that came to offer help was Donut Joe as he was the one that spoke earlier and was helping the Cakes in their short coming.

"Donut Joe, hi; you're here too!" Derpy happily waved towards the pony with the perfect timing to give some donuts to the hungry crowds.

"Oh course, just about any baker or restaurant owners are working to help supply food stocks for the hungry ponies; I thought I lean a hoof for the Cakes here!" Donut Joe exclaimed out in stating how many of those that sell bakery goods are trying to help like the Mane Six Lookalikes and he wants to help the Cake Family here. "After all, that Mhmmmmm, that you made that Pinkie Pie worked hard for was something as delicious as that. And friends of Twilight are also friends of my own." The donut pony salesman stated out with an honest face in gladly wanting to help any pals of Twilight.

"Oh thank you, you're a life savor Mr. Joe!" Mr. Cake sighs in relief; the Cakes have someone else here to help them in their busy cause.

"Please, Donut Joe is fine to me." Donut Joe spoke in saying that the Cakes can call him by his usual name or whatnot, cause he wants to help. "Have some donuts!" The stallion presented some delicious sweet chocolate covered with sprinkle donuts for the Cakes to have.

"Oh, you're too kind, both in spirit and bakery goods." Mrs. Cake spoke from where she and her husband ate some delicious donuts by Donut Joe, his bakery skills are very tasty, and it's been a hard day for the couple.

"Geheheh-ahaahh," Soon the donuts given were taken and being eaten by the Cake Twins, loving it up.

At this moment, other ponies were helping a few wounded soldiers that returned from trying to divert the attention of the dragons away from their civilians. Many were taken to medical clerk huts set up by any ponies with a doctor or nurse degree. Nurse Redheart, Nurse Coldheart, Nurse Sweetheart, Nurse Tenderheart, even Nursey Rhyme the filly was there, along with Doctor Stable who all were busy tendering to injuries at the busy hours of the day. Cheerilee was having any foals in her class to help by making get well cards to lighten their spirit which helped. Snips and Snails work was kinda…goofy looking, but it's the thought that counts. Mr. Rich was getting many of his own employees to help build or do whatever deeds or task given to them to help keep everyone safe and out of harm's way. Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were feeling nervous about all this, mostly cause they were afraid to say anything about the forest fire that they caused by accident after coming here. But right now, the two bullies don't wanna get into any more trouble than they already have.

"Welcome, relax yourself!" Lotus Blossom stood up before a group of ponies that were in need of some relaxing treatment.

"Relax your aches and pain!" Aloe stated out from leading some to some nice spa baths, which the warm water helped to smooth the aches and pains away like they melted off of them.

"We're helping to make things better for you and everyone!" The Spa Pony twins declared out in union in wanting to help any pony, soldier or not, feel the tension leave them behind. Lotus Blossom & Aloe were working around the clock and they had to call in more of their staff from Roxie, Quake, and Vera to help the cause of whatever the need, whether it's a Spa treatment or to help relax ponies feeling the overwhelming stress.

Why, even on different jobs, the flower shop pony trio of Daisy, Lily & Rose were hard at work, trying to splice up the camp that they are housing so many ponies with their flowers to make the atmosphere…'more perkery' to bring a positive outcome. And there was much need of those that could cheer just about anyone up now.

"Come now girls, we must try to help Shining and everyone here." Cadance was seen trying to help get some more of that 'girl power' or 'mare power' on in helping their cause in the situation here.

"Right," Some willing mares responded in hearing the request by Princess Cadance as they were setting off to help perform the task given to them.

"I'll try to help out on my side Shining; I just hope you can do what you can on your side." Cadance spoke with much concern and thought in her voice as she looked to another direction…where he love is stationed at.

In another part of this camp was what was guarded mostly by the Royal Guards of Celestia and Luna's troop battalion. In the center of the tent were some form of a meeting was going on and there was sure to be someone running the show and operation of the camp. Passing the scene of the heavily arm guards, we look inside to find that Shining Armor was there and he was looking over a map and charts while using toy figures of pony guards and dragons as some battle type straggly as if this was a game but for real life of their situation. There with him was Zecora and even the Mayor of Ponyville as they were trying to figure out some way to get through their state of situation.

"How on Equestria are we going to get through this, captain?" Mayor asked Shining Armor if there was a way to get by, what with the Dragon Army out there, and if they find any ponies, to terminate them on the spot.

"I'm trying to go over this as best as I can." Shining Armor stated in trying to be focus, he sees that the enemy has a big advantage; the captain just needs to know how to find an opening.

"The game is set, the match has started, now you must solve the question…what move to make?" Zecora spoke her riddles of rhymes again but it was clearly being asked what Shining Armor is going to do next from the enemy's movement.

"I know, but it's really hard." Shining Armor nods while holding his head in feeling a bad headache coming along from all the stress. "Lorcan unleashed his father's army, Twilight, her friends and the missing foals are not back yet, I got a bad feeling of what happened to my sister from that image we saw. I feel that everything is falling apart!" The captain of the Royal Guards felt like so much was falling out of control, how can they turn the tides, especially when his sister and group have not returned after the Dragon Army showed up and may been captured from what he saw of his own sister getting beaten by Lorcan. Seeing that is too much for Shining to take!

"There, there captain, I'm sure they must be fine." Mayor tried to pat and comfort the stressing captain who feels a lot of weight on his shoulders. "Lorcan didn't kill Twilight so there's hope for escape for her and her friends yet, right?"

"Seeing the outcome, it could be possible…that the Mane Six have been captured and are held prisoners of war." Zecora spoke with news that really got a lot of concern and worried faces focusing on her. "The Elements were the prime targets and Lorcan used them to perform this task." What the zebra said sounded like they made sense; Lorcan used the Mane Six & the Elements of Harmony to bring forth the Dragon Army. "The enemy is likely to toy with them; Lorcan won't finish them off…not until he has settle other matters." What Zecora spoke was deep seriousness, Lorcan will keep their friends alive until his matters are settled…kill the Royal Princesses to avenge his father's death.

"Oh man, I really wish Celestia and Luna were here. Even Golden Heart, we lost contact with them during the Dragon Army's rising, they could be anywhere." Shining Armor lied down on the table and held his head again, with no word on the princesses or Golden Heart, what else can they do but keep the citizens safe?

"Don't beat yourself up over this Captain; you're doing so much by protecting everypony that's here in this camp. It's what the princesses would want you to do." The Mayor tried to look at the positive picture in what Shining was doing was something even Celestia would want him to be doing as his top priority.

"I know, I just wish I could do more." Shining Armor nods in understanding that but still felt that there was something else that he could still do to help out…but what?

"Captain Shining Armor," Soon who should come in other than Private Kenny, wanting to speak with his captain, "Somepony that was sent by Celestia has returned!" Private Kenny saluted in issuing out the recent news of what has happened as someone has come back and has entered their camp grounds hiding from the enemy.

"Really," Shining Armor stood up surprised to hear this; it must be Ben Mare, Nyx, & Phobos that returned after their mission to drop Spike off by the Dragon Clan's borders.

"Eeyup!" Big Macintosh came up into the tent, stating that what was said was true as he was also a fair witness to it.

"Finally, some good news; Bring them in!" Shining Armor issued out after sighing with some relief, he can use some good news during their tough times of war.

Soon Private Kenny and Big Mac stepped away to allow one being to come into the tent. And when everyone saw who it was, they all were smiling in relief and joy that it was none other than…Ben Mare.

"Ben Mare; am I glad you return!" Shining Armor spoke with a smile in being so glad to see the same colt that his sister likes so much was here now in the flesh.

"It's good to see you, Shining," Ben Mare nods with a little smile in being glad to see Twilight's older brother and taking charge it seems.

"But wait! Where are the others?" Shining Armor asked from noticing that beside Spike being left behind, Nyx and Phobos aren't here. Why are they not with the stallion when the two went off on their trip.

"Um…you see..." Ben Mare sounded hesitant to say what happened but knew he had to give in the report of what happened. "Huugh, I better start from the beginning, it goes like this…" So after he took a deep breath and told the story from their arrival to the Dragons borders, to meeting King Spykoran the Old and Mei Long, up to the point where Spike made the decision of not staying, but to return home.

After the news of Spike saying he'll return home, that the baby dragon was already set along with Ben Mare, Nyx and Phobos, the latter three were glad that Spike was gonna come home and make up for all the mistakes that were made.

"Okay, let's head home you guys!" Spike stated a follow me hand sign as he was starting to take point to lead.

"Wait young Spike, will you hear me out on a request?" King Spykoran spoke in holding his left claw in stopping Spike from leaving as he had something to say firstly. "I wish to have you stay here for some training." The dragon leader declared out his reason of being of why he wants Spike to stay.

"What! You want Spike to still stay here?" Nyx responded off completely surprised that the old king of the dragons wanted her friend to stay.

"Say what? But he just said he wanted to return home!" Phobos responded off in protest, why does Spike still have to stay when he wants to go home?

Ben was puzzled by hearing this sudden news, but decided to firstly hear out what the two dragons had to say about this.

"True, but while Spike speaks in his heart to return, is he truly ready for what may come on his return?" Mei Long spoke wisely in stating that the baby dragon before them truly wants to go as he is now, especially the battles that are taking place.

"What are you getting at with this?" Spike asked in not really getting why he can't just go as who he is.

"Tell me young one. Did you ever display strange traits that seemed…odd?" King Spykoran spoke in wanting Spike to tell him something that may have seemed a bit strange to the baby dragon.

Now Spike tried to figure out what this old dragon was talking about so he remembered some old recent events. "Well, there was that time I saved Nyx from Boxco & Dum Dum by breathing a very powerful fireball. The same happened with Twilight when Lorcan threatened to kill her." Spike held his chin in stating how he could breathe out a powerful burst of flames unlike his usual ones. "Then when I got mad at everyone, some invisible barrier or something blew them away when I lashed out at them." The baby dragon stated that next action that happenedbut remembering that was disappointing, but what does all this mean about him?

"Really; I thought that was just powerful gas." Phobos spoke off in thinking what Spike did was something else.

"Phobos," Nyx scolded her friend for even mentioning something like that.

"Those are powerful magical abilities of a dragon, young Spike." King Spykoran explained off the standard performances Spike has done, were signs of his hidden abilities. "You seem to be able to harness it, but you lack the talent to control them." The old dragon king exclaimed that even if Spike has had some shots to bring forth such a power, he doesn't know how to fully control it.

"I…do?" Spike responded a bit puzzled to hearing this even he never realized this before.

"The King believes that if you should ever fight against your brother, Lorcan. You need to be on near equal terms with him." Mei Long explained off for King Spykoran in what they are getting to, Spike needs to be strong enough to be on near pairing with Lorcan.

"But how long will that take?" Spike asked off in feeling a bit worried in the time it'll take him to do such a thing. "Knowing Lorcan's been around for so long, he's probably got more knowledge about fighting than I do." The baby dragon made a clear point case, how can he, who's never done much fighting, stand up to Lorcan that's been around much longer even tried by his father since long ago.

"Fear not, I shall teach you how to do so." King Spykoran held up his left claw in stating reassurance that he'll be able to help Spike with any difficulties in mastering what he can do.

"But I can't just spend time here when everyone is awaiting for me, I have to…" Spike was about to protest again that he can't stay to train when so many of his pony friends need him now more than ever. He was about to end his argument here and there until...

"Spike, you should do what he says." Ben Mare finally spoke after hearing the entire discussion and spoke like the adult member of Spike's group.

"Wha," Spike, Nyx and Phobos responded out at the same time, what was Ben Mare saying, that the baby dragon should stay here, they all thought that discussion was over with.

"Spike, you have a great power inside you, but unless you can control it, how else are you going to stop Lorcan?" Ben Mare stood near his little baby dragon friend as he tries to explain something to Spike. "It's the same with me, I've been given the three Triforce Elements and their power makes me near invincible. But remember, they are Wisdom, Courage, and Power. Three signs to being something great." The stallion exclaimed out in pointing out the facts that what he has is something like what Spike's got going on. "You have the latter two of the three but not the most important step first; Wisdom." What Ben spoke was true, Spike had the Power, he had Courage to face great odds but not the Wisdom part. "If King Spykoran the Old says that he can guild you to more control of what you can do, then you'll help us all out, it doesn't matter if it's sooner or later as long as you've gain wisdom to controlling the power inside." Ben Mare tapped his left hoof from his chest and pointed at Spike to understand…that with that great power lying inside him, he needs to first understand more about it.

"You…think I can be better help…by staying here…and getting stronger?" Spike slowly asked in looking away from Ben, trying to take all this in himself as some form of reasoning.

"I know it's a tough choice but you have to remember this…have Courage." Ben Mare spoke with a smile while nuzzling the baby dragon on his head to cheer Spike up. "And with that, it'll show you the way just as it did for me." What Ben Mare said really did make Spike crack a little smile, but he still wondered, was that all he needed…time. Timing was everything, and even if he managed to gain control of his inner power, what will happen to Equestria by then?

"Spike…" Nyx spoke out to the dragon that she was glad to think of like a brother to her, as she spoke this out. "I just want you to know, that we'll wait for your return home." The black filly exclaimed before giving Spike a hug that caught him a bit surprised.

"Nyx, you mean you…" Spike was about to respond when the black filly let goes of the hug to say something else.

"It's not goodbye, just promise me that you'll come home to help us when you're done, kay!" Nyx smiled to exclaim in what she just wants Spike to do after he's done here, that the baby dragon will come back home.

"Yeah, I promise." Spike smiled to nod in seeing where Nyx was going with this, it felt right with the believing of one's return.

"How 'bout a Pinkie Promise!" Phobos popped up between the two having a conversation to make a different statement fact. "That way, if you break it, you'll have to deal with Pinkie Pie by then." The Moon Dragon made a wild smirk in elbowing Spike about the terms of breaking that kinda promise and who would serve as judge…Pinkie Pie herself.

"Hahaha, somehow hearing that makes me more afraid of Pinkie Pie's rage than of facing Lorcan." Spike laughed off in hearing Phobos bring up a raging Pinkie Pie over the fury of Lorcan, it was to laugh about. "Thanks Phobos." He held up his right claw in wanting to shake Phobos's claw while giving his thanks for such a thing.

"My pleasure," Phobos responded with a cheeky smile while he took Spike's claw and both dragons shook hands.

"Anyway, I Pinkie Promise! That when I'm ready, I'll return home to help my friends out," Spike spoke in performing the annual Pinkie Pie promise thing that when he's ready, the dragon will come home.

"Thank you Spike," Nyx nods with her smile never fading, glad that Spike will come back as soon as he's ready.

"Please train him well, King Spykoran." Ben Mare looked up to the wise old king in kindly requesting that he help Spike out as much as he can at this time.

"You have nothing to fear; I know of the stakes and will help him speed up the process as quickly as can be." King Spykoran nods with an honest and noble gesture that he'll help train Spike enough that he'll be ready for the battle…against both the Dragon Army of Tadaka and Lorcan.

Soon, the groups were going their separate ways from there. Ben Mare was taking Nyx and Phobos with him, to return to Equestria's borders again and back home to Ponyville. As for Spike, he was being lead by Spykoran the Old and Mei Long, knowing that with their aid, he'll be training to gain better control of whatever power that he himself has inside. This was a tough thing for everybody, but in the end, it had to be something for the greater good for all living beings.

"And that's what happened." Ben Mare finally finished telling his story to many that were listening. "We saw what was happening to Equestria and I knew that situation must have worsen than I imagine!" The stallion exclaimed off in from when he noticed the skies turning a crimson coloring, it was a sign of the Dragon Army's release. "After that, I asked Phobos to take care of Nyx and protect her from someplace while I came to see what was going on." Ben stated off in where he likes to know what was happening here after his sudden return.

"Believe me, it's pretty bad." Shining Armor sighed to take a seat for a moment to get the right words into his thought. "Lorcan somehow summoned the Dragon Army with the Elements of Harmony. Zecora was saying that they were processed, I think." The Captain of the Royal Guards looked to the mystical zebra who nods in saying that it was true.

"The Elements only work with their wielders they choose, but a stronger will can tamed them and work even against the Mane Six themselves." Zecora spoke in her rhyming riddles again but stated clearly that Lorcan gain control of the elements to use them and the Mane Six all at once.

"Then Twilight and the others really are in trouble." Ben Mare spoke out in just hearing about this; there was troubling growing for the one that he loves and the others with her.

"It's worst, before we went into hiding, we all saw Lorcan beat Twilight hard and ranting, accusing her of using Spike as a slave as well as my sister being a failure and such." Shining explains to Ben Mare.

"That monster, using dirty mind tricks and lying to himself..."

"Not only them, they kidnapped the Cutie Mark Crusaders to lure them to Nightmare Moon's castle." Mayor exclaimed out in mentioning what happened just before any of that other stuff took place.

"What! They kidnapped foals?" Ben Mare asked disbelief in what he heard, Lorcan's now stooped to kidnapping foals, first with killing one, now this.

"Eeyup, it's true." Big Macintosh walked next to Ben with a sorrow nod in saying it's true. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Twist, Dinky Doo, Pipsqueak, and…we think Nyx too after that fire situation we had." The big muscle bound farmer pony stated in listing down the kidnapped fillies and colt that were listed missing during that time.

"What, Nyx too, are you pulling my hoof here?" Ben Mare responded a bit disbelief even more, how could Nyx have been taken at that time?

"Nooope; Many witnessed that she was taken too!" Big Macintosh shook his head while stating what he heard, Nyx was among the taken foals by the Brotherhood of Tadaka.

"Wait a moment, this all happened when I left! But Nyx was with me, how could she be in two places at once?" Ben Mare spoke in rethinking things through for a moment and saw no possible way Nyx could have been with him and taken at the same time, it doesn't add up.

"Unless the key ingredient is a spell, to duplicate one's self by cloning another," Zecora spoke from a pondering though, that the black filly in question made herself a double.

"Then…it was a clone of Nyx they took instead!" Mayor exclaimed off in shocking surprise, she never knew that Twilight's adoptive daughter had such talent in spells of that complex handling.

"Wow, that's almost what I did, except I used mine as a stand in, but…" Private Kenny was about to say more in how he went through a similar event…but got cut off.

"Ugh, that filly is going to be in a lot of trouble, not with me but with Twilight too." Ben Mare slapped his forehead in annoyance, knowing what will happen when this blows over. "Listen, we're getting off track here. How do we rescue them?" Ben Mare went forth to ask the group here on how on they are going to rescue everyone that was taken by Lorcan and his gang in Nightmare Moon's castle. "Have you heard from my mom or my aunt at all?" The stallion asked if possibly Celestia or Luna might have a way that they can save those captured by the villain dragon.

"We're not sure on either account." Shining Armor rubbed his forehead in feeling that at this time, the group doesn't really have much answers to go with on the Royal Princesses' whereabouts. "All we can do is plan how to stop Lorcan and save the others along the way." Shining Armor exclaimed with a serious motion, the only way to win this war is to beat Lorcan, and once done, then rescuing the Mane Six won't be so hard with the biggest threat gone.

"Then you better fit me in with that plan!" Ben Mare stood up to approach Shining in wanting to be a part of whatever plan that they got if it means taking Lorcan down.

"Eeyup; My family's in trouble and I won't reckon stand around for it!" Big Macintosh stood up to stand with Ben Mare with a serious determined expression as the other stallion.

"Okay, if you're both wanting to help that much, here's a good plan that we can use to catch Lorcan." Shining Armor nods in seeing that he got more extra help to assist with him and the resisting group to Lorcan's Dragon Army. "He thinks we're beaten because he has his army and the Elements but that's where defeat of ours can turn into victory!" Shining Armor stated to those with him that the enemy thinks they're done for, but if they play their cards right, the good guys can change the outcome of this situation to victory.

Soon, the ponies were silently chatting a storm on what to do about taking down Lorcan. But while most of the adults were debating on that fact none would have noticed that just behind their tent were a pair of eyes belong to two individuals. From outside in the back of the tent, there was Phobos and Nyx that were peeking in on what was being discuss about and they heard just about everything. The tale of when the group had to split up to the part in what's happened to Twilight & the gang. Nyx said that somehow she kept the feeling that her clone was warning her about what was happening and her feelings were right; everyone she cares for is in terrible danger.

"Oh Phobos, this is just terrible!" Nyx pouted in overhearing what was going on, not liking it one bit.

"I know, this spot to peek on them grownups is terrible for seeing anything juicy go on." Phobos responded off in stating a random statement of a problem that the good guys are having.

"I meant that mommy, my aunts and our friends in being held captured and being imprisoned by Lorcan." Nyx sternly explained to her Moon Dragon friend in what she actually meant by her words.

"Oh right. There's that one too." Phobos sheepishly responded in correctly stating what Nyx meant by that now.

"We have to do something." Nyx stated out from when she and Phobos were trying to figure out some way to solve the mystery to help out even if the black filly is half as strong with her clone missing.

"Maybe you two could help them…" Spoke a voice that made the two spies turn to yelp, but soon saw from the shadows whose it was, "By helping me, of course." It was none other than a smiling Golden Heart that came from above the trees to flap himself gently down while stating a suggestion.

"Golden Heart," Nyx and Phobos responded out silently that the others didn't hear, what was the Royal Princesses' friend doing here?

"Why are you sneaking around?" Nyx asked off in not understanding why this guy was sneaking around a camp for all ponies.

"You playing the peeking game on some mare you like; Like…" Phobos was starting to poke his noise in deeper manners that are best left unsaid here of his misbehavior.

"One Phobos, that's not why I'm sneaking; Two, if I did such a thing, someone, I'm not saying, would kill them because of that." Golden Heart was pointing to the Moon Dragon in telling him of that he's not sneaking around, and that if he ever did such an action, someone watching over him would be tempted to kill the one that the alicorn spied on.

"Who would kill who for what now?" Nyx responded off in not completely following what Golden Heart even just said.

"Another time Nyx, that part will be another tale to tell later on if we get by this." Golden Heart held up his hooves to state the manner of whom he meant can be discussed later. "And thirdly, I'm here with a plan to take action." The alicorn stallion declared off which made the little ones smile for joy. "Celestia and Luna are already planning something, but if they are seen here, Lorcan will surely try to make another uproar." Golden Heart whispered this out to Nyx and Phobos that the princesses can't be seen here or Lorcan will know of the civilian ponies and spare no one from a surprise attack.

"Wow, that's pretty complex there!" Phobos responded out in hearing this all right, it's some tricky stuff.

"So what's this plan of action?" Nyx asked the alicorn if there was a plan he had that could help them out.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask for your help in rescuing those Lorcan has captured at Nightmare Moon's Castle." Golden Heart exclaimed with a deep sign of regret, that he's wanting to request that the alicorn brings in a little Moon Dragon and black filly on a dangerous mission.

"Us," Nyx & Phobos responded off in pointing to themselves in hearing this. "Him?/Her?" Nyx & Phobos pointed at each other in addressing that Golden Heart wants not just them, but the other too, why?

"Lorcan believes that most of the ponies here will be struggling and worried of where the princesses are that he won't expect a sudden rescue lead by myself," Golden Heart proclaimed in knowing what he'll do, pull off a rescue mission under the enemy's eye when they least expect any resistance struggles during their darkest hour. "I had thought of getting Ben Mare, but with such dangers to everyone, he's best needed here." The alicorn exclaimed that it would have been nice to include Celestia's son but with the short and wounded ponies in this camp still recovering, Ben Mare is best needed here for the time being.

"Then why you need us? Me, I can understand being tough, but Nyx is…" Phobos was asking off, while mostly bragging, about why Golden Heart needs him and Nyx.

"I'm fully aware that the Nyx that was taken is a clone and unless the two are joined together or the clone dies, this black filly's magic is still halfway to being complete." Goldne Heart held up one hoof in stating that he knows about Nyx and her ploy of leaving a clone behind to watch out for things on this side along with the only results to having the clone's magical energies return to the original.

"Gee, that does make sense. And I think mommy would be really sad if she saw my clone die." Nyx spoke off in looking down in understanding that statement, even about stuff she hadn't thought that very much far ahead for.

"Or when you show up, she go flaming unicorn mad and nearly fry your tail." Phobos shrug off that instead of Twilight being deepest one moment, she'll be so mad at her daughter that she'll really lose it and go off burning mad though seeing the angry glares from Nyx said otherwise for him. "Oops, not a comfy thing to picture, hugh!" Phobos yelped up to state off his mistake in what he just gone and did just now.

"So are you both in? I'll understand if you say otherwise." Golden Heart asked in looking to see if Nyx & Phobos are going to join in with him, but it they say 'no', he'll understand.

"Well shoot, I never pass off a chance to beat some nasty dragons senselessly!" Phobos smirked in liking what he'll do to some of the dragons that once picked on him, so of course he'll go, and for Nyx, well...

"I'll go too and rejoin my clone and regain my full magic, but there is one thing I wanna know. Are we the only ones going?" Nyx responded her own answer while she asked Golden Heart the biggest question from her mind, are she and Phobos the only ones going to rescue everyone being kept by Lorcan's forces at Nightmare Moon's Castle.

"It's an Army of Tadaka's Dragon Army there." Phobos responded off in stating to Nyx that if it's just the three, they face up to an army. "There is me as a Moon Dragon, you Golden Heart, an alicorn that can rival the Royal Princesses, a reincarnated Nightmare Moon filly with not much assess to her powers, and me." The little Moon Dragon pointed and explained each one of them of their abilities but yelped in realizing something. "Wait! Don't count me in there, I added me in there twice!" Phobos waved off his claws in stating the mistake in adding himself in the math, TWICE even, now that's just silly.

"Don't worry, it's not just us." Golden Heart nods with an assured smile in stating, it won't just be the three of them doing this.

"Then who else," Nyx and Phobos asked off in union, who else would risk the great threats and dangers to come and help them save their friends and family from Lorcan and his evil Dragon Army.

At this time, Golden Heart looked around the gathering of the civilian ponies and tried to put together knowledge of each one of them that could be helpful. While in hiding, Golden Heart saw Shining Armor, Mayor, Big Macintosh, Ben Mare and Zecora leaving the tent with the captain telling his guards of some things. The alicorn knows that Shining is needed here, and from what he heard, Big Macintosh is gonna help, so is Ben Mare too. The Mayor was a nice person to help gather and be in-charge of her citizens, so it was hard if if was right to choose her. Zecora, now she was a zebra shaman of more mystery and magical potion spells to befuddle us all, it might not be bad inviting her to join the rescue mission. Then Golden Heart saw Miss. Cheerlee with some foals helping around, the alicorn couldn't possibly bring her to join the missions, other than her safety and possible lack of fighting skills, Big Mac would surely be upset since he has a thing for the mare teacher. Golden Heart did see a few returning Wonderbolts to report status of their mission without the Dragon Army getting to them or finding where they are hiding, the alicorn has heard much good tales of the Elite Pegasus Fliers, even Rainbow Dash says she wants to be them and hang with them like Spitfire and Soarin', so maybe a few of these ponies could be helpful, perhaps. Now Golden Heart knows that bringing in Hospital ponies or even Spa ponies might be pushing his luck, yet he also saw Caramel helping with Daisy, Lily and Rose with more cheering up ponies with any work they can do, these four lathers were nice but not quite cutting the deal here. Now by the Cakes & Donut Joe's side of things, Golden Heart saw the bakers working hard, the alicorn didn't feel right having Mr. & Mrs. Cake be brought along, they have baby twin foals and if something happened to the parents…well, he rather not go that far. Then there's Donut Joe, he's good at sailing donuts and he's even heard about how he once saved the CMC from being caged & helped during something on the Demon Pony event, some found him to almost be a hero inside, we'll see if he can make the cutting deal. Nearby was of course, Derpy, who wasn't careful where she bumped into a pony group and toppled them down, now Golden Heart would find that being klutzy was not something on serious missions, but this Pegasus did some good share of work with the Mane Six and despite the crossed-eyes, the Mane Six respect her as a good friend. Not to mention, Dinky Doo, her daughter was also one of the held captives, she must feel really bad that her daughter was in a state like that and couldn't help, so perhaps it's time she join in on the rescue job too. Now Golden Heart almost thought that Cadance could come, being Celestia's niece, but Shining Armor would be worried, and if something happened, he have the upset husband and the princess of the sun glaring down at him, so that idea might be scrapped. Others like Time Turner, the pony that works for the mayor, might be hard to come along, Thunderlane, who was spoken of having nice wing power of speed could be a choice, but he has his little brother Rumble, though Golden Heart almost thought the muscular white Pegasus named Snowflake that roared 'YEAH' in an excited tone looked like one for action, but…that's in the drawing board for now. Now when it came around towards Granny Smith, Golden Heart knew that while her heart be in the right place, her senile old years would cause her more harm in the face of danger. However, Tough Apple was another story, he was told how he managed to wrestle a giant Sandworm and lasted very long against it, the stallion was strong, built tough, and had a rifle gun, not the most pleasant thing to see a pony wield, but a pony like him that could handle any tough problem, he be perfect for the rescue. And then there was the Mane Six Lookalikes, six mares with six treats that they could almost be like the real Mane Six and perform some skills that would serve in the rescue. Plus, it be a good way to confuse the enemy of the Mane Six were there, but in reality, it was the lookalikes, they be a perfect addition to Golden Heart's rescue operation. Soon after much time in looking over all of the citizens in the camp, Golden Heart smiles in finally having a perfect idea in who he sees were the best choices to built a rescue team.

"I think I found out troops for the rescue mission." Golden Heart response in answering Nyx and Phobos's question they wanted to know. As he nods from finishing his mind's process of possible candidates to join him on the rescue mission to save Twilight, the Mane Six & the CMC from their evil villain's clutches.

Nyx and Phobos were not sure what Golden Heart meant, but from the sounds of it, the alicorn himself knows of the only capable ponies to join in on the rescue mission. Then no sooner did the two formers notice that the alicorn was leaving them behind. During the time, Nyx & Phobos watched on in seeing to which ever pony he managed to deem worthy to join in a secret rescue mission. Some choices were interesting, others of mystery, and some…'ehh'…kinda odd, but anything goes in turning the tides of war. Soon it won't be long before Golden Heart begins the big mission to help save Equestria's saviors from Lorcan's imprisonment, and they'll be known as…'The Resistance!'