“Why do we even have to fight?” Blue Jay called out as she and Paige were defending themselves against Shadow, and it wasn’t going too well for them.

Shadow bucked Paige as she was charging a spell causing it to hit a building instead of the intended target while Blue Jay was pinned to the cobblestone. “It’s nothing personal. We just want to see a new ruler on the throne.” Shadow replied before rolling them over so Blue Jay took the magic blast.

“Sorry!” Paige called out worriedly after Blue Jay had cried out in pain and decided she wasn’t going to use magic unless she was sure she could get a clean shot.

Shadow looked skyward over Blue Jay’s shoulder. “You two had a hard time with one Shadowbolt, there’s no way you’re winning against them.” She pointed to the sky causing Blue Jay and Paige to look up and while those two were distracted, Shadow used the moment to slip into the shadows with Blue Jay. When the two emerged, Blue Jay shivered and now supported multiple cuts that were bleeding.

Paige quickly teleported Blue Jay onto her back after seeing the mare was about to collapse. “What happened to you?”

“I don’t know.” Blue Jay replied quietly as her blood ran down Paige’s coat while her blood also dripped off Shadow’s blades.

“I’m surprise.” Shadow told them as she flicked the blades clean. “I thought you would have been screaming in pain by now.”

“Guess you don’t know my past.” Blue Jay said as she climbed off Paige’s back, her eyes going dull as her mind recalled her past. “Compare to that, this is nothing.” With a horrible sounding cry, she flew at Shadow while taking out any of the Shadowbolts that got between them. Reaching Shadow, Blue Jay didn’t hold back as her mind replaced Shadow with Feral Lupus that she was fighting. Meanwhile, Paige was using her magic to prevent any of the other Shadowbolts from interfering when she could while focusing on keeping herself alive.

It came clear to Shadow that whatever she did to the pegasus, it would seal her fate if she kept fighting and after landing a solid blow, she waved to them before slipping into the shadows just as Blue Jay recovered but was to slow to prevent Shadow from escaping.

There had been a several times Paige was forced to take her eyes off Blue Jay but with the latest glance over, there was several Shadowbolts lying around and saw Blue Jay straddling a Shadowbolt. “Blue Jay, stop!” She called out teleporting over and stopping Blue Jay from bringing her hoof down with magic, which almost led to Paige getting a back hoof to the face.

“Paige?” Blue Jay asked as she blinked, her eyes becoming a little brighter. “What was I doing?” She asked and lowered her hoof from in front of Paige’s face and felt something shift under her, causing her to look down at the Shadowbolt. Looking at her bloodied hoof, she started to panic and looking around didn’t help things. “Paige… did I do this? …I just… snapped….”

Paige just pulled Blue Jay off the Shadowbolt and used her magic to create a shield dome over them. “It’s okay, everything will be fine.” She told Blue Jay while rubbing her back.

I killed them. There’s no way Paige will want to be with me after this. Blue Jay thought sadly as she pushed Paige away before turning and running down the cobblestone path.

“Blue Jay!” Paige called out as she chased after her friend, completely confused as to why she was pushed away. They ended up running for some time until both girls found themselves trapped in an alleyway dead end. Turning around, they found that a good squad of Shadowbolts had chased them and with the two mares trapped, the Shadowbolts took their time advancing since the chase was over.

“I can’t fly us out.” Blue Jay said as she felt exhaustion beginning to take over, plus her emotional state was a roller coaster.

“We’d have to get through several Shadowbolts if we did that.” Paige said looking up to see the Shadowbolts hovering so she casted a shield around them to buy them some time.

“What about teleporting?” Blue Jay asked hopefully, not realizing she was now leaning against Paige.

“I’ve already used a lot of magic.” Paige replied as an idea began forming in her mind, one that she hoped would pay off. “I probably could do it, but afterwards I doubt I’ll be much use to us.” Without warning, a piece of parchment and a blue quill appeared and Paige began writing.
“Where did that come from?” Blue Jay asked as she watched the quill scratch the surface before ink began bleeding up from the parchment. ““You don’t need to check our ages.” Paige said calmly and waved a hoof from left to right. Orange shoulder pad looked at his co-worker. “We don’t need to scan their ages.” “We’re old enough to enter, but not to drink.” “They’re old enough to enter. Both fore-hooves please.”” Blue Jay read before tilting her head to the side. “Didn’t we have that conversation outside the Dark Mango?”

“We did. My special ability is whatever I write on this parchment, I can make happen.” Paige admitting, not caring at this point because they would most likely die if the gamble didn’t pay off. “However, once I use up all the room, that’s it.”

“This doesn’t have me asking for that orange shoulder pad.” Blue Jay pointed out as she looked at other stuff that had been written, including the time Paige had saved her and Harmonious Flash from Feral Lupus the first time.

“Which is why I was surprised when you asked. Hang on a second.” Paige said as she looked up. “Dad! I need your help!”

“Why did you call for your dad when you just wrote that down?” Blue Jay asked.

“Because otherwise I wouldn’t have called for him and I can’t see any other way out.” Paige explained as the quill and parchment disappeared before forming her cutie mark again. For a moment, nothing happened and Paige resigned that her gamble failed. “Blue Jay, there’s something I need to tell you before we die.” As Paige spoke, the Shadowbolts began moving closer as the shield began shimmering in and out of existence.

“What is it, Paige?” Blue Jay asked, looking away from the Shadowbolts, wanting to tell Paige how she really felt. We’re about to die, and I still can’t tell her? Faust I’m pathetic.

Paige looked at Blue Jay with soft eyes. “Blue Jay, I love you.” She then kissed her, causing Blue Jay’s wings to spread straight out with a soft ‘poof’. The shield faded completely and the Shadowbolts leaped/dived down for them as a whooshing noise could be heard.

Neon Echo panted as she and Harmonious Flash stood on different clouds trying to catch their breaths. “Why can’t you let me kill you already?”

“Sorry, I got too much to live for.” Harmonious Flash replied. “Although you could always let me defeat you instead.”

“No can do.” Neon Echo shook her head at Harmonious Flash’s suggestion. “If you defeat me, I’ll be taken to the dungeons and quite honestly, I’d rather not go there.”

“Suppose I can’t argue with that.”

“Anyhow, you seem like a nice mare, I’d hate to kill you.”

“You seem like a decent mare, I’d hate to die.” Harmonious Flash then had another idea. “What if we pretend to knock each other out and go our separate ways?”

“Tempting.” Neon Echo back flipped off the cloud and spread her wings before shadow hopping to close the distance. Without any pony to watch, Harmonious Flash spun around to stop Neon Echo from killing her. Had anypony looked up, all they would have seen were the two being in a spot for one second, then in a completely different spot the next second. “If this works out, what do you say the two of us go to a rave later?”

“I just might take you up on your offer.” Harmonious Flash grinned. “Call me Harmony.”

“Neon Echo.” The two took a break from fighting to shake hooves, then they went right back to matching blow for blow.

“Gentlecolts, our mission is to protect those that cannot defend themselves. Stallions, roll out!” A red earth stallion with a blue mane, matching tail and blue armor on his rear hooves while pulling a grey cart behind him. The stallion’s cutie mark was a mask if all the lines of a face were straight. There was a yellow small earth colt with a matching black mane tail and a bee cutie mark followed after the cart. After the colt there was a white earth stallion with a sky blue mane and tail with a red-cross cutie mark kept his eyes open for any injured ponies as he pulled a small medical wagon behind him. Slightly above those earth ponies there was a pegasus stallion with a silver coat and a red belly, a yellow-orange mane, the wings were silver with a line of bright red feathers. The pegasus’ rear hooves and tail matched being black in color.
High above them, three pegasi and one alicorn were locked in battle. Fainthoof kept trying to fight Feral Lupus, but either Spitfire would intercept him or Serenity Dreams would push him away. He growled as Spitfire did her latest punch. “Why can’t you see I don’t want to fight you?”

“Because I want answers.” Spitfire narrowed her eyes as she stayed between him and Feral Lupus. “It seems like every time Equestria or somepony close to me is having a crisis, I’m left in the dark. But not this time. If I have to beat it out of you, so help me because I will.”

Kitsune arced over Serenity Dreams as she narrowly dodged the multiple wing blades belong to Serenity Dreams. “That’s about the only way to get anything from him.” Feral Lupus said before she and Kitsune grunted in pain as she got cut by a hoof blade. Using the moonlight, she created wing and hoof blades before charging towards Serenity Dreams, making the battle more even and thus much more deadly.

Fainthoof pressed the attack against Spitfire but did so sloppily she could evade without problem but it just more kept her from getting close to him. Seeing that she was going to attack from one direction, he swung his tail only to realize Spitfire had been faking the direction and had changed to put herself straight in the path of his tail. Instead of hearing the blade slicing into flesh, he heard a dull thunk.

“What is the meaning of this, Fainthoof?” Celestia asked calmly as she and Luna flew into view making sure Spitfire was out of harm’s way before Celestia dropped the barrier. Both of them were dressed in their respective armor which had a few new dents in it as both had been aiding in the evacuation and fighting before making their way around the city.”

“Well… How can I help you?” Fainthoof asked, his tone coming out more arrogantly than he intended.

“Fainthoof, what has happen to you?” Luna asked as she saw, not only seeing the goggles, but something much worst.

“Nothing, I feel better than I have in a long time. It helps being with the Shadowbolts again.”

“Captain Spitfire, we must hurry if we’re to save Fainthoof.” Luna told, her voice carrying to every pony within ear shot.

“What do you mean, Princess Luna?” Spitfire asked.

Luna motioned to Celestia, who despite looking calm and regal, seemed to be holding back something fierce. “Besides my sister, Fainthoof has a dark magic spell weaving through his body. If it’s allowed to finish, we will have fail him.” She ignored Fainthoof’s laughter and cast a spell to resonate with Fainthoof’s original pendant. “Observe.”

Spitfire gasped as the spell activated allowing her to see a thread of blackish purple shadow stitching its way around and piercing Fainthoof’s body starting from the pendant while a small needle sewed the shadow to him. “It’ll be over if it reaches the pendant, right?” She heard Luna confirm it when Spitfire noticed the thread was over three-quarters of the way through.

Shadow stepped out of the shadows behind Celestia, fully intending to slit her throat when a dragon roared forced her to shadow hop to safety before being eaten.

“Princess Celestia, I have a letter for you. It’s from Princess Twilight.” Minako said as she brought Ryuseioh around and hoofed the letter over right as the dragon tattoo completely filled itself in on her foreleg while Ryuseioh disappeared. Gulping, Minako looked down before she plummeted towards her death. Luna saw Celestia was engross in the letter that when Celestia failed to notice Minako falling, Luna teleported the mare to the ground.

“They need help in the Crystal Empire, Luna.” Celestia said before burning the letter. “I will be personally going to help.”

“Sister, wait!” Luna called out as Celestia teleported to the Crystal Empire.

Fainthoof had been uneasy when both rulers of Equestria had shown up and honestly didn’t think he was going to survive the night. When Celestia had suddenly decided to leave, he blinked not believing his luck. “Well… that was surprisingly easy.” He muttered as Royal Guards appeared keeping Shadow busy.

“Luna.” Kitsune called out. “I’ll keep this bitch off your backs while you save Fainthoof.” She said referring to Serenity Dreams, before her voice took on Feral Lupus’s tone. “In exchange, I don’t go back to that dungeon when this is over.”

“We’ll talk later.” Luna told Kitsune. “Right now, our attention is needed elsewhere.” Together, she and Spitfire flew towards Fainthoof.

“Oh thank you.” Serenity Dreams said while stretching and cracking her neck. “I thought we were going to hover and talk for a half hour at least.”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie…” Trixie began before looking down at her hooves. “…apparently landed on a Shadowbolt.”

“Trixie?” Twilight Sparkle asked as Trixie casually walked towards them, weaving through the Shadowbolts. “Why are you here?”

“Trixie would like to repay her debt to you, Twilight.” Trixie explained while the Shadowbolts watched her, unsure if she was friend or foe.

“Good, you can take my place.” Rainbow Dash shot into the sky after seeing Lightning Dust taunting her. When it became clear Trixie wasn’t with them, the Shadowbolts swarmed them.

“Princess Cadence, Trixie has learned some disturbing news.”

“What is it, Trixie?” Cadence asked while blasting the Shadowbolts down as she stood over Shining Armor’s body.

“Trixie learned the crystal heart in the mountain is fake.”

“What? That’s impossible. I oversaw the transfer myself.”

Trixie summoned an Ursa minor and the Shadowbolts laughed knowing an illusion couldn’t hurt them… until three of them were slammed into a wall hard enough to crash through.

“If that’s the case, then that means-” Cadence broke off as she looked back at the real crystal heart. Stomping her hoof down in frustration, she heard a groan which caused her to look down. “Shining?” She asked and helped him to his feet.

“Why are we outside? Did we fail?” Shining Armor asked as he saw Trixie summon a griffon, manticore, a phoenix, a Timberwolf and a lone parasprite.

“Twilight sent the letter, but we’re not sure it reached Celestia.” Cadence told him with a nuzzle. “We’re outside because we needed more room. And I just learned that we have the real crystal heart behind us.”

Shining Armor looked at Cadence worriedly, but knew his wife wouldn’t lie to him. “Then I better make up lost ground.” Using his magic, he summoned multiple swords letting them float around him before he launched into the battle.

“How many of these things can there be?” Applejack as she used her Stetson to stop a punch, and punched the Shadowbolt while it was distracted.

“It feels like we’ve been fighting for hours.” Rarity complained as her magic held several sewing needles that she had packed.

“We haven’t been fighting for that long, Rarity.” Pinkie Pie said as she and Fluttershy aimed a couple of party cannons at the oncoming Shadowbolts. “Just longer.”

“I don’t think that helps us, Pinkie.” Fluttershy said feeling tired as the others.

“Lock and loaded!” Pinkie Pie fired the cannons and whooped when they hit their marks.

“Dragon fire!” Spike shouted before sending out a small burst of fire, except it became more smoke than fire quickly. “I’m at my limit.” He panted.

“You did well, Spike.” Twilight Sparkle told him as she patted him on the shoulders. “Girls, we may not have the elements, but remember, we have the magic of friendship on our side.” With that, they broke off after gaining their second wind.

High above the crystal streets, Rainbow Dash weaved through the Shadowbolts as she shot after Lightning Dust. “Come back coward!” She called out and was slowly gaining until Lightning Dust suddenly spun around to face her.

Lightning Dust braced herself as Rainbow Dash crashed into her and she held on. “I always knew you secretly wanted me.” She laughed as Rainbow Dash growled.

“Shut up!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she punched Lightning Dust again and again. One of her attacks got blocked, crying out in pain as Lightning Dust head butted her which made her lose her grip.

“Let me show you how a Shadowbolt really fights.” Lightning Dust smirked as she slipped into the shadows coming out behind Rainbow Dash long enough to attack, then retreating before attacking the opposite side.

Rainbow Dash grunted with each blow and tried to concentrate through the pain. Dodging one attack by pure luck, Rainbow Dash took the chance to fly higher into the sky and now that she wasn’t getting sucker punched, she was able to turn her body to avoid being struck.

“Who’s the coward now?” Lightning Dust taunted.

“I’ll beat you in ten second flat.” Rainbow Dash boasted.

“I’d like to see you try.” Lightning Dust emerged from the shadows only to be tackled by Rainbow Dash as she dived back to the ground with her.

Rainbow Dash kept her grip on Lightning Dust as she screamed towards the ground seeing the mach cone beginning to form. Sensing that she wasn’t going to break the barrier with Lightning Dust, Rainbow Dash spun them around before throwing Lightning Dust the rest of the way and grinned as Lightning Dust took out another Shadowbolt. “Told ya, ten seconds flat.”

Trixie commanded the illusions with expert precision even as the lone parasprite multiplied so they became a force to be reckon with. She felt great with the magic flowing through her and the more she used, the better she felt and could concentrate which allowed the illusion to become stronger.

With the illusions, the Shadowbolts were beginning to retreat as they came to the conclusion that they were done for with exceptions of the veterans or the really foolish, as made evident when Trixie combined her illusions into one. The Timberwolf became the left arm, the dragon stood upright becoming the legs, the manticore became the right arm while the Ursa minor became the body with the phoenix became the head and wings.

“You got to be kidding me.” One Shadowbolt said after she picked her jaw up from the ground.

“I’m out.” A male Shadowbolt agreed throwing his forelegs into the air. Seeing a parasprite getting close, he flicked it away before it could eat his uniform.

“If any of you weaklings try to leave.” Starry Skies –a violet mare with fuchsia and bubblegum pink hair– called out as she flew by. “You’ll wish you’d stay when Nightshade gets through with you.”

“How do we fight that thing?” A Shadowbolt asked.

Starry Skies face hoofed. “We have numbers on our side, and you can always attack the source.” She groaned while pointing at Trixie.

Several Shadowbolts looked at each other as Starry Skies’ words made sense, which they then promptly thought it would be a good idea to follow.

Trixie was enjoying herself as she felt she was finally making a difference. “Tonight, Trixie’s debt shall be paid.” Seeing a Shadowbolt, she channeled the magic through her horn and fired it at her target… only to see the Shadowbolt disappear into a crater as Lightning Dust slammed into her comrade, which left an open path straight to Cadence. Trixie made an attempt to divert the beam, but it was then she got attacked by the Shadowbolts and pinned. “Noooo…” She stretched her hoof as if she could stop the magic manually.

Twilight Sparkle flew through the air blasting at Shadowbolts to protect her friends when she happened to see Trixie fire her magic. She was about to warn Cadence but saw the crystal heart was a few pony lengths away and noticed she wasn’t even aware of anything heading her way. With a determine huff, she teleported herself between Cadence and the magic while she hastily constructing a magic barrier making sure that each layer wove together. The magic shattered the barrier and slammed into Twilight Sparkle, sending her into one of the castle walls where she stayed in the pony made crater until gravity took over, causing her to fall to the ground. Then, Celestia appeared.

Celestia reached the Crystal Empire except she had no time to admire the beauty as the body of her marefriend fell from the wall and laid on the ground. Rushing over, she touched Twilight Sparkle’s side in hopes of feeling a heartbeat but feeling nothing. Kneeling down, she nuzzled Twilight Sparkle praying the movement would make her stir.

Rainbow Dash looked on in horror from the sky as the fact she was partly responsible for Twilight Sparkle death. “No.” She whispered as both fore-hooves were over her mouth. Not seeing the Shadowbolt coming up from behind her, she found herself teleported to her friends’ sides with the guards joining them a second later before a dark barrier was thrown up.

Celestia stood up as she faced the Shadowbolts while Trixie crouched low shaking worse than a filly on extra strong coffee. The tip of Celestia’s horn glowed bright as the sun gathering energy while her magic rolled off her body like flames as her armor melted into a grotesque form. With a loud, anguish cry, she fired the solar magic into the street making every crystal reflect the sunlight. The Shadowbolts that were closer to them were instantly fried while many more went blind as they escaped by flying away as there were no more shadows.

Trixie had shut her eyes and covered them with both fore-legs but she could see how bright it had gotten through her eyelids. Only when the light died down, she dared to open her eyes as the armor she wore laid broken at her feet and feeling a shadow over her, she looked up and gulped as Celestia glared down at her. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for that to happen. I really did try to stop it.”

Celestia growled but didn’t say anything, not trusting herself to speak just yet. Turning, she walked away. “Guards, arrest Ms. Lulamoon.” They hastened to obey and when Celestia rejoined Twilight Sparkle’s side, the others gave her room to kneel down and it was then, that Celestia allowed herself to cry.

It was a few seconds before one of the crystal guards approached. “Princess Celestia, I hate to interrupt.”

“What?” Celestia snapped with enough venom that the guard took a couple steps back.

“The prisoner has something to say.”

“I don’t bucking care right now.” Celestia ignored the collective gasp from everypony. “If she was smart, she would be running from this place.”
There was a grunt before Trixie ran over. “Please, Princess Celestia, I might be able to save her.” Trixie pleaded hurriedly knowing the guards would be back on her. “It’s faint, but I know she’s still alive.”

“Why do you think I would want you anywhere near Twilight?” Celestia’s tone was dangerous. “You were the one that inadvertently put her here.”

“Because… I’m the only one that can save her.” Trixie finished just as the guards grabbed her. “The crystal armor I was wearing may have been from a fake version of the crystal heart, but it was still formed from the real version. I can see her love for you is the only thing keeping her but even that is starting to fade.”

Celestia motioned to the guards to pause while everypony but Cadence and Rainbow Dash looked at Celestia, shocked at what they just learned. “If you fail, you will be banished to the sun.” She told Trixie simply.

Trixie swallowed but nodded. “Everypony, please stand back.” She waited until everypony gave her a wide space before she began drawing ancient ruins that she had seen in her travels with magic. With a sigh, she began creating lines to connect the ruins before branching them to connect to her and Twilight Sparkle.

Trixie blinked as she was surrounded by a white void. “Where am I?” She asked before sensing she wasn’t alone. Turning, she saw a white, hairless pony missing every facial feature except for the mouth along with a large doorway behind it.

“You’re nowhere right now. Or perhaps you like it to be called the void? Or maybe the end of the universe.” The pony said with a smile. “I guarantee my place is becoming poplar all the sudden. First a lavender mare, now you.”

“Lavender mare? You mean Twilight? What have you done with her?” Trixie demanded and summoned her magic only to watch as it dispelled itself.

“I have done nothing to her, except to give her a choice.” As the pony spoke, Twilight Sparkle shimmered into view as she was walking towards a tower of books.

“Twilight! Wait!” Trixie called out and started running towards her.

“She can’t hear you.” The pony chuckled. “Unless you catch her, she’ll be gone forever.”

Trixie growled as she let her hat and cape fly off her as she ran fast as she could. Seeing the tower of books, a doorway appeared and black hooves emerged reaching for Twilight Sparkle. Taking a chance, she leaped at Twilight Sparkle and managing to touch her cutie mark before the shadow hooves reached her.

Twilight Sparkle gasped and turned around. “Trixie?”

Trixie nodded and gave her a small smile. “It’s me. I’m here to take you back.”

The pony laughed loudly and stomped a hoof on the nothingness that was the ground. “That’s rich. You think you can just waltz in here and take her back without asking her?”

“Yes, because I know she really doesn’t want to die.”

“Actually, Trixie, Truth is right.”

Trixie looked at Twilight Sparkle startled. “You can’t mean it.”

“Trixie, I’ve been here since your attack hit.” Twilight Sparkle said. “I’ve thought it over and I think it’s time.”

Trixie slapped Twilight Sparkle. “I don’t believe you. You’ve been listening to that thing over there.” She pointed to the pony, known as Truth. “Do you realize what Princess Celestia just did after she saw you laying on the ground? She took out every single Shadowbolt. And now you’re going to just let her fall into despair?”

“What about my friends?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Everypony trusted me to bring you back.”

“Even if she decides to go with you.” Truth said as the grin got wider. “How do you expect to leave?”

“The great and powerful Trixie will give up her magic, forever.” Trixie said calmly.

“Oh? Are you sure you can live without it?” Truth chuckled. “After all, you are a show mare right?”

“Trixie will learn in time.” Trixie said, bouncing between first and third pony depending on where she felt it was appropriate. “I’ve learned I would only seek out power but by having no access to magic, I will not be tempted.” Trixie nearly jumped when Twilight Sparkle levitated her magician hat and cape back onto her.

“Very well.” Truth told them as the doors behind it opened. “You may go. But it’s funny, Trixie, you were right. Because your debt has been paid in full, just not the way you expected it.” Truth stepped aside as the two mares walked into the light before the doors closed behind them.

Everypony watched with abated breath as the light grew brighter as it went from pale blue to lavender and for a few minutes, nothing happened. Just as Celestia was about to speak, Twilight Sparkle groaned softly and opened her eyes. “Celestia?”

Celestia immediately pulled Twilight Sparkle into a hug before looking at Trixie, her face neutral but her eyes held many emotions. “Ms. Lulamoon, you shall not be banished to the sun. Thank you for saving Twilight.”

“It was the least I could do.” Trixie said sadly as she felt hollow as she attempted to cast a simple spell only to find she couldn’t do it. Maybe it’s better this way. She thought as she started to walk away but stumbled and the guards caught her. Like her magic disappearing, she found there wasn’t much point in speaking in third person without being to announce her with the full title.

“What should we do with the prisoner?” A crystal guard asked.

“Let her recover here.” Celestia said as she set to healing twilight Sparkle. “Unless I’m wrong, Ms. Lulamoon has received a worse punishment than I could do.”

Twilight Sparkle laid basking in Celestia’s healing warmth and nodded. “Trixie.” She called out stopping the show mare. “Thank you, for saving me.”

“Trixie- you’re welcome.” Trixie nodded before passing out, but this time it was Rainbow Dash that caught her.

“Can we find someplace comfortable to rest? I’m ready to collapse as well.” Rainbow Dash moved Trixie onto her back and started walking towards anyplace that hadn’t been damaged, glad her friends couldn’t see her face. “I owe you one, Trixie.” She muttered quietly enough that Trixie would have been the only one to hear it. Everypony else followed, all liking the ideas of relaxing.

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Hasbro does.
However, I'm pleased to say I do own Blue Jay, Paige, Harmonious Flash, Kitsune/Feral Lupus, Lyla Firecracker, Minako, and Shadow.

Also, the Shadowbolts named here are mine as well. With the exception of Starry Skies.
Fainthoof is used with permission from Damien, a good friend of mine.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome. It'll help me to improve my writing and seeing what people liked.