The Smooze raises up a large hand before bringing it down on the boat in front of it. Starlight acts quickly to deflect the attack with a dome of turquoise light.

"Twilight, I hope you have some semblance of a plan?" Starlight asks as she slowly feels her magic draining.

"Would it be bad if I said I'm not entirely sure..? I believe we need to get the altered core inside the creature's mouth to ensure it reaches its centre." Twilight explains as she stands up.

Alexander stands up and sighs before stretching.

"So, uncle... You have a back up just in case the Smooze sinks the boat, right?" Alexander asks flexing his wrist.

"Not a single one, ha ha." Martin exclaims proudly.

"Holy shit there is no doubt you're my dad's brother is there..." Alexander sighs deeply as he facepalms hard before groaning.

"I don't suppose you brought your balls with you, Edward?" Starlight asks as she holds up the shield.

Edward blinks a few times trying to process the question correctly.

"The metal one's dude, don't get too excited..." Alexander deadpans at Edward more unamused than normal.

"Oh, right." Edward fishes through his pockets looking for his small box.

Suddenly the Smooze raises both its hands and brings them down hard onto the shield.

"Going to have to figure something out now!" Starlight states as the shield caves in and shatters into shards.

The group scatter as Twilight spreads her wings and flies up while Alexander and Martin use their wind magic to avoid the attack grabbing Starlight and Edward respectively. The resulting impact into the boat sees it break and splinter into several pieces spread across the immediate area.

"Darn, I quite liked that boat. Not as sturdy against a giant Smooze, duly noted," Martin frowns before looking down at the boy he carried by the back of his collar. "Are you unharmed lad?"

"Just my pride..." Edward sighs before finally finding his box inside his blazer pocket.

Throwing a ball down below him he tests making a curved circle bowl which seems to float nicely. Martin gently lowers Edward onto the makeshift bowl before letting him go once it seems safe enough to do so. Nearby Alexander pulls Starlight up to hold her in the more comfortable bridal position.

"That's much better." Alexander states in relief.

"While I'm grateful for the rescue, I doubt you can use your wind technique like this..." Starlight states before she suddenly puts her arms around his neck in surprise as he alters their position to lower his right arm into the normal technique position he uses.

"That's how, though with the added weight my mobility won't be as great." Alexander states bluntly before looking at a unamused Starlight.

"Are you implying I'm fat..?" Starlight stares into his eyes like searing flames.

"What? No..." Alexander looks around slightly. "If anything you're well proportioned while being perfectly plump in some areas..?"

"That was so weak I won't even let it save you..." Starlight sighs before levitating herself with her magic.

"When you two are done having a domestic dispute, perhaps we can get back to saving the academy?" Twilight states, slightly frustrated as she tries to assess the situation.

"It would appear we require a tactical solution..." Martin thinks about it for several seconds before everyone's attention is grabbed by a distant voice.

"Hey, you guys!" A very familiar voice states coming from the direction of the Wyvern House dorm.

"Oh god please no..." Alexander turns to face that direction, very afraid of what he'll find.

Heading towards them is a pure white bathtub being hastily rowed by Robert. Standing in the boat with one foot on the front edge like a golden age explorer is Adam. Both ponies stare at the scene with the utmost confusion that can be afforded with their impending doom right next to them.

"Ha, I told you it'd work!" Adam laughs triumphantly.

"Dude, we're still fucking leaking!" Robert yells as he tries to keep himself out of the ooze with Nāve's help holding up his ass.

Turning around Adam blinks a few times before looking back past them to see a floating plug.

"When the fuck did we lose that?!" Adam scrambles around his pockets.

"Well, we did!" Robert states with growing panic.

Pulling out a reel of black tape, Adam pulls off a strip before slapping it on the plug hole making sure to seal with a few strips.

"Ha, flex tape!" Adam states confidently.

Nāve frantically rushes around bailing out ooze with a spawned black bucket trying not to get any on herself.

"Seriously, what the fuck are you guys doing here and with a fucking bathtub..?" Alexander asks with his mouth slightly agape.

Calming down Robert stops rowing when they reach the group.

"We thought we might be able to help," Robert stops to stare at the big Smooze. "Holy shit!"

"Ooh is it grape?" Adam asks staring at the creature eagerly.

"What is it with this place and grape?!" Twilight asks in frustration before the Smooze roars very loudly.

The Smooze slams its hands into the ooze ocean to cause a wave to travel towards the bathtub boat.

"Evasive manoeuvres!" Adam states hastily holding onto the edges of the tub.

"Aye, aye!" Robert replies as he rows faster now with the help of Nāve.

Just barely able to row out of the way before the wave crashed down, the resulting ripple now sending them towards the Smooze.

"Oh, shit..." Adam states as they loom towards their doom.

From nowhere a loud voice is heard which sounds very close to Jerry.

"Catch white boy!" They shout as something can be seen spinning in the air, flying towards them from the mountain direction.

Looking up in surprise Nāve just barely manages to help Robert catch what appears to be an old shower head and pole design for much older baths.

"The fuck do we do with this?" Robert looks confused before the flex tape below them springs a leak.

"Gah! Gimme that!" Adam takes the shower head and sticks it in the leak in the flex tape.

Suddenly spewing forth ooze in the form of a makeshift speedboat engine, it begins propelling them a little faster towards the Smooze.

"Oh, for fuck sake, as if this situation wasn't complex enough already!" Alexander shouts as he grits his teeth in annoyance.

Twilight flies over to Alexander and Starlight quickly unwrapping the crystal core.

"Okay, I think we can use this. I don't have time to explain so, I'll just transmit the plan to everyone telepathically who is significantly involved and hope for the best." Twilight states looking at them both before lighting up her horn.

"I think your nuts Twilight." Starlight looks worried.

"Let's do it. I assume there will be risks, but we hardly have any choice right now." Alexander replies flying off to get into his position.

Alexander hovers opposite his uncle on either side of the Smooze. Twilight flies up above the Smooze taking deep breaths as Starlight teleports into the bathtub with Adam and Robert.

"Why are you here?" Adam asks before being passed a coin.

"Alexander said you'd be able to be creative with this." Starlight states before teleporting out again to be behind the Smooze.

"This should be fun..." Adam stands up and faces the Smooze before preparing to flip the coin towards the Smooze.

Roaring, the Smooze looks down before preparing to smash its hands down into the tub and its inhabitants. At that moment Martin and Alexander restrain the Smooze as best they can with their wind magic. Starlight reinforces those wind chains with her own magic chains and distractions to keep it focused on them. Down below a crackling blue can be seen seemingly charging up before Adam shoots the coin through the Smooze creating a large enough hole with the shockwave for them to speedboat through its mouth.

"Here goes nothing..." Twilight takes a deep breath before skydiving down at the Smooze, her wings folded back.

Diving down into the mouth of the weakened Smooze, everyone releases their magic before backing off slightly to give the slime a wide birth. After several seconds pass with no change which makes Starlight very nervous. Suddenly the Smooze makes weird facial expressions like it's ill or something and begins groaning as it begins to drain, shrinking its size slowly. As the Smooze shrinks, the group lower themselves safely till they reach the revealed clearing in the woods where they first encountered the slime. Adam and Robert lay in the bath chilling as they calm down from all the excitement.

"Next time... We stay home..." Robert sighs deeply.

"Not a chance mate." Adam laughs as he nudges Robert's shoulder.

Starlight rushes over to the main shrinking pool of ooze as it reveals Twilight with a glowing purple crystal core beside her and in her arms is held tightly a little purple slime, a smaller version than what they first saw.

"Twilight?" Starlight asks, nudging Twilight's arm.

"Ngh... Maybe get back to me tomorrow..." The mare in question groans as she slowly sits up with Starlight and Edward's help.

"You are crazy, though that seems to be normal around this place." Alexander comments, folding his arms.

"What is that?" Edward asks pointing to the slime held within Twilight's arms.

"From what I understand and have read, this is the Smooze's base form." Twilight explains as she gently holds it like a child.

"Oddly enough in that form, it's very cute..." Starlight states in observation.

"That was very impressive," The group turned to see the Chancellor accompanied by Ignis standing a little way from them.

"Ho ho ho, I'll be holding this victory over Hydra House for some time." Ignis chuckles as he strokes his beard.

"Oh, thank you, sir." Twilight states a little nervous.

The Chancellor moves a little closer causing the Smooze to bury itself against Twilight making her confused.

"Ah, well... We should ensure he can't hurt more people and contain him somewhere." The Chancellor states keeping his distance.

Twilight looks down at the adorable blob of purple slime in her arms and thinks for a moment.

"I think Stephan could stay with me for now." Twilight states to the Chancellor who blinks a little at her.

"I'm sorry, Stephan?" The Chancellor asks confused.

"Mhmm, that's what I decided to name him." Twilight strokes it gently.

"I am not even going to comment..." Alexander sighs and looks over at the bath, shaking his head.

"Hmm..." The Chancellor stares at the Smooze, sizing up the situation carefully.

"If you're worried about him running amok again, I'm fairly confident it'll be okay. As you can see they aren't draining my magic like before and he is extremely docile. I would wager that being locked up in whatever he was for so long starved him. I'm sure anyone would crave fulfilment but somewhere along the lines he was enraged and began gorging himself on magic energy... I am sure with a regulated diet and someone to understand how to care for him, he'd be a wonderful pet." Twilight explains happily while staring at Stephan.

The Chancellor puts his hands behind his back and seemingly surrenders to her flawless debate.

"Well, Edward... That's quite a strong-willed and smart familiar you've been lucky enough to have. I suppose I cannot find a reason to argue with such a detailed explanation, Miss Sparkle." The Chancellor smiles warmly while Ignis wears a bigger smile behind him.

"Oh, thank you, sir." Edward states in reply.

"Be sure to look after him carefully and I shall leave him in your capable hands." The Chancellor steps back a bit to stand beside Ignis once more.

"Never thought I'd see the day when you'd surrender to such a youngster." Ignis chuckles lowly.

Heaving a heavy sigh, the Chancellor looks up at the sky.

"She is very capable and one could hardly argue with her logic on the situation or the evidence in her arms..." The Chancellor replies calmly.

"Mhmm, you know this is just the beginning?" Ignis asks before looking at the man beside him.

"I do... Perhaps having the elements on standby wouldn't be so bad..." The Chancellor sighs before looking at the spot where Twilight's crystal should have been.

Author's Notes:

Well, that neatly wraps up the second arc and sets us up for plenty of suspension for whatever comes next. We hope you've fully enjoyed the build up, development and pacing within our chapters thus far and that we continue to provide such an experience if not improve upon it for the future. Coming up next is yet another mini but no less significant Arc which we are sure you'll all enjoy. As always we shall see you next time.