The chilly wind echoed about in Violet Fire’s ears as she and the rest of her team flew through the Everfree Forest, her wings giving no sound as she flapped them. Her inky black mane and tail flowed gracefully behind her; the violet tinge nestled in the middle giving off a beautiful glow in the light of the full Moon. Her yellow goggles and the roseray hanging from her neck glinted in the light while her flight suit melted in the darkness of the giant trees that she and her team were flying through. Her sensitive ears took in the sounds of the animals roaming within the forest, her nose and magic taking in and taking in the different scents and wild untamed magic that the forest had within it. Her four teammates flew silently behind her, staying close to their Captain as they ducked and swerved their way through the tree branches.

“How are you all holding up back there everypony?” Violet asked, swiveling her ears back as to be able to hear her team. “Are all of you doing alright?”

“We’re doing just fine captain.” The pony on the left side of Violet replied, her voice calm and serious, yet gentle. She was a Pegasus mare with a deep stormy grey coat, a shade darker than Sheton’s older coat, with a long jet-black mane and tail with silvery grey streaks in them. Her eyes were a piercing sky blue in color, and her whole body was adorned with a Shadowbolt suit with a pair of goggles of her own. “We haven’t detected any strange activity around the forest yet, nor have we sensed the magic of the ponies that we’re supposed to be protecting.”

“Awww, that sucks! I was so wanting to fight some of these bad boys here in this forest!” The pony on her right side, this one being a stallion, said dejectedly, his voice slightly raspy, yet smooth. He had a light brown chocolate coat, with an even darker mane and tail skirt, with crimson streaks in them, and violet slitted eyes. He had a large set of bat wings with gleaming red membranes, and a glistening set of fangs poked out of his upper lips. Tail fins protruded from out where the base of his tail is, and he too was adorned in a Shadowbolt suit. “I wanted to be able to get some nice ass kicking in for when we pull that Nightmare out of Queen Luna!”

“Fast Tracks, we know how anxious you are to see our Lunar Queen again, but do you really think that’s a good idea?” A third Pegasus mare asked perplexedly. Like the second mare, she had a gray coat, only it was slightly lighter, and her mane and tail were entirely black with no highlights in them whatsoever, and her eyes were two gleaming orbs of ruby red. “All of the animals here aren’t like the ones anywhere else here in Equestria. They’re on an entirely new level of capacity, and if we run into any of them, it may but us on a major delay.”

“Lightning Shadow is right Fast Tracks.” Another mare said sweetly, this one sounding younger than all the others. She was a Pegasus mare with a light gray goat that looked to be whiter than gray, with a deep orange and jet-black mane and tail. Her eyes were a deep azure blue, and her Cutie Mark was a pair of clef symbols in the shape of a heart. “W-we’ve already wasted enough time with me going to Wonderbolt HQ and sending a message to Spitfire about what was going on in P-Ponyville. I-if we end having to help you from getting eaten by any of the animals here, the ponies we’re searching for might have something terrible happen to them, a-and that’d be really bad.”

“Blue Skies has a point, Fast.” The second mare nodded. “It’d be a major hindrance on us and our travelers if we wasted time trying to satisfy your unquenchable thirst for battle. It’d be an even bigger waste of time if you even think of trying to get under out tails at a time like this.”

“Hey! I do not try to get under your tails, and you know it Storm Shadow!” The Thestral stallion, Fast Tracks protested, frowning at the stormy grey mare. “Why the buck do you keep going on about that?!”

“Because each and every time you do win a fight, you get very sexually stimulated and driven.” Violet replied teasingly. “Not that any of us mind but, it’d be a really bad time for all of us if that were to happen Fast.”

“Oh, come oooon girls!” Fast Track whined, pouting hard. “You all know what I can’t help myself when I become like that! That’s just how I am; why do you all hate me for that?! I’m a bucking Thestral, and we’re all sexually active and driven practically all the time, especially after a good fight, okay?!”

“Oh, you misunderstand us Fast Tracks; it’s not that we hate you for being so sexually driven like any other typical Thestral. As a matter a fact, we think it’s kind of cute that you’re giving so much attention to the other mares back at HQ.” Blue Skies said, smiling at the chocolate brown Thestral. “It’s just, where we are now, and with what’s going on, I’m sure the last thing that we, or our new saviors need is to see you trying to rut all of us into the ground, hmhmhm!”

“I-I…I…no I’m not!” Fast Tracks said, stuttering a bit as his face heated up. “I’m not trying to screw you guys into the ground! We’re literally flying through a giant ass forest right now!”

“What Bright means, is it wouldn’t do us a whole lot of good if you gave into your inner sexual urges and try to take one of us right here and now.” Violet explained patiently. “Not that I’m saying that you’d let that happen but…you can get what I’m saying, right?”

Fast Track sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “Yeah, I get what you’re telling me V. Still, it feels like you guys are patronizing me for being so sexually attracted to you guys.”

“We’re sorry Fast Tracks, we didn’t mean anything cruel by what we were saying.” Bright said gently, flying over and rubbing Fast Track’s back. “All we’re saying that it may not be the best idea for you to break from the team and find any animals to fight.”

“True.” Storm nodded. “And if that happens, depending on the animal you’ll fight against, it will leave you so pent up and sexually frustrated that just a single look towards us will lead to us being plowed until none of us can even fly.”

“Oh, for the love of bucking Faust, you guys are just…” Fast Tracks said, looking like he was going to snap at them. A second later, he deflated and just let out a sigh. “You are all real assholes, you know that?”

“Maybe we are, maybe we’re not.” Lightning Shadow said sweetly. “But, that’s why you love us, the same way we love you for being so fearless and energetic…and thirsty for us mares.”

Fast Tracks stared at Lightning for a moment or two, before he chucked, a fanged grin forming onto his face. “Alright, you got me there Lightning.”

Violet giggled at the antics of her teammates, unable to help but find it amusing how they were bickering with one another. The Shadowbolt Captain was so caught up in the humorous scene, that she almost didn’t notice she was heading towards a tree branch. With a rather graceful amount of swiftness, she flew over the branch, before adjusting herself in the air.

“Whoa, are you alright there, Captain Violet Fire?” Blue Skies asked, a bit taken aback by her Captain’s lack of focus. “You looked a bit zoned out there.”

“On, its nothing sweetie…just enjoying how much you’re all bickering behind me.” The ebony black mare replied, smiling at the blush that appeared on Bright’s face. “It always makes me feel as if I’m at home back at HQ under Queen Celestia’s castle, and makes what we’re going to do a little easier for me to do.”

“O-oh, it does? Well, I’m glad that we were able to lighten the stress of the situation off your shoulder’s Captain.” Blue Skies said with a slight stutter. “It really makes me happy that you’re able to relax a bit in situations like this.”

“Hmhm, I’m glad to hear that honey. I never like it whenever any of you are under the weather for any reason.” Violet said gently. “It really does make me happy that you guys are able to keep yourselves from getting overly worried or stressed about any scenario like this.” Her smile then fell, replaced with an expression of worry and motherly concern. “Be that as it may…are you okay?”

Blue Skies jumped, an expression of surprise coming to her face as she stared at the older Pegasus. “Um…what do you mean Captain Violet?”

“I think you know just as well as I do Blue.” Violet replied matter of factly. “You’re worried about your twin sister Crimson Skies, aren’t you?”

The flinch that the light gray mare gave was all that the ebony black mare needed for her suspicions to be confirmed about the former’s behavior. The rest of the latter’s teammates, all having her what their Captain had said, turned to look at Blue Skies, the chatter cutting short as they focused on her. The young Shadowbolt mare looked from her Captain, to Fast Tracks, Storm and Lightning Shadow, and back to Violet, who was looking silently back up at her. For a second, she considered just playing off her concerns as nothing, but the look in her Captain’s eyes told her that wouldn’t work, especially on her of all ponies. Blue struggled internally for a few moments, before finally letting out a dejected and defeated sigh.

“Yes Captain, I am.” She finally admitted. “I’m really worried about Crimson Skies and what you had her do before we left our underground HQ for the Everfree Forest.”

“You mean the task of her notifying what’s going on to Captain Spitfire and the rest of her team back at Wonderbolt Headquarters?” Violet Fire asked knowingly.

“Oh really?” Lightning asked, her tone softening. “Is that what’s worrying you Blue?”

“Erh…I…yes.” Blue replied, struggling for a minute before admitting the truth. “I’m afraid that the little mission that you had my sister go on isn’t going to go as smoothly as you believe it is Captain Violet.”

“What makes you say that?” Fast Tracks asked. “We may be on entirely different squads, but little Crimson is still a bolt like the rest of us. She’ll be able to handle any storms that’ll come her way if she finds herself running into them.”

“I don’t think that’s quite what Blue meant Fast.” Lightning said skeptically. “What I believe tht Blue is trying to specify that she’s worried about how the meeting between her sister and the Wonderbolts are going to go.”

Less than a second after those words were said, recognition came to Fast Tracks face, before it grimaced into a grim expression. “Ooooh, right…that.” He said, inhaling through clenched teeth as he glanced back over at Blue Skies. “I’m sorry Blue.”

“No, it’s okay Fast Tracks, you didn’t mean anything bad by it.” Blue replied softly, holding out a hoof. A sigh left her mouth as she locked eyes with Violet Fire, a frown adorning her lips. “Listen Captain Violet, I’m not trying to criticize you or anything but, was a really a good idea having my sister of all ponies send a notification to Wonderbolt Headquarters and Captain Spitfire?”

“I’m afraid that I’ll have to agree with Blue on this one Captain.” Storm replied, keep her tone from sounding judgmental. “I’m not really criticizing you for making your decision, but, I don’t know if it was the best idea to send Crimson Skies to see Spitfire about something as out of the blue as Nightmare Moon returning from the Moon.”

Violet Fire’s ears flattened against her head, a sheepish smile coming to her face as she laughed nervously. “Okay, maybe that wasn’t the best idea for me to do that, but with everything that was going on, Crimson was the first one that was available. The rest of the team were either looking after headquarters or getting ready to go to Ponyville, and I, um…sort of picked her in the spur of the moment.” She sighed as she turned to look back at the trees in front of her. “I know that she and you are still somewhat rookies, but…I didn’t really see anypony in the team available for going to see Spitfire. Plus, I saw this as a way to help your sister with building her assertiveness and confidence, so…”

“I know I know; those are accurate reasons for you to have sent Crimson Skies to see Spitfire and let her know about what’s going on.” Blue nodded, closing her eyes temporarily as she let out another sigh. “Still though, I can’t help but feel about how Spitfire is going to take seeing my sister in her Headquarters, and part of a group of flyers that are her biggest rivals.”

“Odds are, Spitfire’s probably going to roast the poor girl alive.” Fast Tracks suggested. “Or at the very least, make her feel like she’s going to be melted.”

“Fast Tracks!” Lightning Shadow scolded, glaring daggers at the light brown Thestral.

“What? It’s not like Spitfire’s a saint or anything.” Fast Tracks asked, giving the light grey mare a confused frown. “You, me and all the other Shadowbolts both know how Spitfire is about us even thinking of stepping food on their grounds. It’s bad enough that her cadets have to deal with her over the top anger problems, but for somepony has cool and none-confrontational as Crimson Skies to go meet her in pony. The poor girl will be extremely lucky if she leaves from Wonderbolt HQ with a burnt Shadowbolt suit.”

“I hate to say it, but Fast Tracks is right.” Storm nodded, a small frowning coming to her calm and collected face. “While Crimson Skies may not be related to me, I can’t help but be just as worried as Blue about what Spitfire will do to Crimson if their meeting goes south.”

“Of course that would be the case Storm, given how protective you are about my sister.” Blue said dryly. “Because if Spitfire, or any of the other Wonderbolts even harmed a single hair on her head, I’d drain them dry of their blood and magic, while you’d reign lightning upon all of their headquarters until nothing is left.”

“Exactly.” Storm Shadow nodded, keeping her eyes forward. “Which is why I think I should’ve been the one to go to Wonderbolt Headquarters instead of Crimson Skies.”

“Yes, that would’ve been a better choice now that I think about it. You’d be more than capable of asserting yourself around somepony like Spitfire.” Violet Fire nodded. “At the same time though, like you said, if things did go south, something is bound to happen. Something like you sending down a shower of lightning and thunder upon all of Spitfire’s headquarters.”

“Um, I pretty much just said that already Captain.” Blue said, sweat dropping. “Didn’t you just hear it?”

“Yeah I did, I was just giving Stormy here a little example of what I think will happen if I sent Storm Shadow over to Wonderbolt Headquarters.” Violet replied as she winked at the whitish light grey mare, who just sweat dropped even harder. “Regardless, I can totally understand your worries about your sister Blue. To be honest, even I’m a bit concerned about how Crimson will be able to handle this, and if she’ll be up to it or not.”

“Seriously?” Fast Tracks asked, raising an eyebrow. “Then why aren’t you as worried as us and Blue are?”

“Because, I know that there are two Wonderbolts that’ll keep Spitfire in line and protect our sweet little Crimson Skies.” Violet replied slyly with a wink. “Those two coming in the forms of Soarin Tenshi and Fleetfoot Hyorinmaru.”

All four of the other Shadowbolt’s eyes widened at these words, indicating that all of them knowing those two names very well. They looked over at one another for a second or two, before looking back at their Captain.

“Soarin and Fleetfoot?” Blue asked, still in a state of surprise. “You mean the Soarin Tenshi and Fleetfoot Hyorinmaru? The two best Wonderbolts to ever come out of the academy aside from Spitfire Fenikkusu?! Those?!”

“The very same ones.” Violet nodded, smiling cheekily. “The teammates of Spitfire herself, thus making them the best thus making them the best team out of the entire Wonderbolt squad. At least, when it comes to skills and managing to keep a level head in situations like this.”

“What do you mean by that?” Blue asked, tilting her head.

“I believe what Captain Violet Fire is trying to emphasize is that since Fleetfoot and Soarin are one of the most levelheaded ponies on Spitfire’s team, they’ll be able to keep Spitfire from losing her composure.” Lightning replied, voicing Blue’s perplexation. “Spitfire is known to become particularly hotheaded at times, to the point where she loses control. Even with all of the training received to control her anger…”

“Understatement of the century.” Fast Tracks grumbled, crossing his hooves.

“…So, our Captain believes that Fleetfoot and Soarin will be there with Spitfire should she decide to go off on Crimson Skies or do anything to her.” Lightning continued. “Most of us happen to know Soarin and Fleetfoot quite well, and they’re actually quite nice ponies if you give them the chance, even if Fleetfoot can act a bit, well…motherly.”

“Precisely.” Storm Shadow nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly with her own twin sister. “And that’s exactly why they’re one of the few Wonderbolts that I trust to be around Crimson Skies, let along the rest of us. Unlike a majority of the Wonderbolts, their one of the few who hold no hostility towards us, which is why I have no problem working with them should the moment call for it.”

“Mhm, and that’s exactly why I’m not as worried about Crimson meeting with Spitfire, because I know that Soarin and Fleetfoot will be there to keep her safe.” Violet Fire concluded, looking back at Blue with a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry too much Blue, you’ll sister will be safe as long as Spitfire’s teammates are there with them both. She even thinks of trying to hurt your sister, Soarin will bring divine judgment upon her while Fleetfoot will freeze her in her tracks!”

“Um…alright then Captain; I’ll take your word for it.” Blue murmured, giving off another sweat dropping. “You seem to know what you’re doing, like you always do so…I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.”

Violet Fire giggled again, and was about to say something else when her razor sharp sensitive ears picked up noise from in front of her. She snapped her head forward shooting her ears forward as the noise grew progressively louder, sounding like the flapping of wings that were certainly not her own or her teammates. Now on high alert, the ebony black mare stopped dead in her tracks, flaring her wings in a way that made the rest of her team stop as well.

“Whoa, is something wrong Captain V?” Fast Tracks asked, noticing the change in his Captain’s body language. “Why’d you stop all of a sudden?”

“I hear something the flapping of wings coming this way, along with a powerful surge of magic.” Violet replied, her soft voice carrying an undertone of seriousness that made her team stand to attention. “Be on your guard everypony, whatever’s coming is certainly not friendly.”

Right as the Shadowbolt Captain said this, a screech that nearly made all of the Shadowbolts eardrums explode tore through the foliage of the trees. It echoed about the spot the five flyers were in going on for what seemed like forever before it finally receded to where the ponies could properly hear, only for a roar of thunder shook the trees. After making sure that none of them had gone permanently deaf, the Shadowbolts to looked to where the screech had come from, only to pause when they saw white and grey light tearing through the trees.

“What the…?” Storm Shadow murmured. “What in the world is that?”

Lightning Shadow, who had also seen the flashing light, whispered. “Shinomōkin…”

“What?!” Blue cried, snapping her head over to Lightning. “What did you just say?!”

“I-It’s a Shinomōkin! A giant Shinomōkin is headed this way!” Lightning repeated, flying back from the incoming raptor. “That’s what that flashing light is, is the infamous Death Raptor of the Everfree Forest!”

“Oh shit, seriously?!” Fast Tracks asked, his own violet eyes growing wide. “You mean there’s a giant buffalo eating bird about to come and electrocute us?!”

“It would seem so, and it looks like we’ll have to fight him whether we want to or not.” Violet replied, a golden aura surrounding her body as the indigo tinges in her mane and tail began to glow. “Shadowbolts, battle formation!”

No sooner did Violet Fire say those words, a bolt of lightning tore out of the trees heading straight towards the Shadowbolt Captain at break neck speed. Luckily for her, she saw the attack coming before it got even halfway towards her, and with just a single tilt of her head, it soared past her. Just a few seconds later, the trees and branches exploded as an even powerful burst of lightning struck them, and the Shinomōkin came bursting out of the smoke. Its eyes blazed its scary color of golden as it glared down at the five ponies, its curved upper beak and talons glinting menacingly.

“Oh dear…” Storm Shadow murmured, unable to say anything else to describe the direness of the situation they were in. Right after that was said, the Shinomōkin screeched again and flew at the five ponies, who flew back towards it as their midair battle began.

Applejack whinnied loudly as she shot down a giant swirling ball of fire, generated from her boots, down at the Doragontora, who promptly countered it with its own stream of fire. The two attacks exploded in midair, creating a huge smoke cloud in midair that concealed the rest of the mares’ presence, and hiding them from view. The Doragontora snarled and looked all around the smoke, trying to sniff out the girls, the smoke making its eyes sting and water, thus leaving it unable to see. The flapping of wings coming from behind it alerted the draconic feline for the incoming attack, and it spun around just in time to see a lightning cloaked Goku flying towards it.

“Lightning Thestral: Thundering Hoof Stab!” She shouted, shooting her hoof out towards the Doragontora’s face. The Doragontora flared one of its wings out just in time to block the attack, but this did not prevent it from being electrocuted by Goku’s lightning and it roared loudly in pain. Smirking, Goku leapt and did a front flip, sticking her right leg out as it too was coating in gleaming yellow lightning.

“Lightning Thestral: Electric Battle Axe!” She shouted, swinging her right hind hoof down right towards the top of the Doragontora’s head. The attack hit home and slammed the giant hybrid cat’s head into the ground, making a crater twice the size of its head. Spreading her giant wings, Goku took to the air and grabbed the cat’s tail, making sure not to grab onto its spiked club as she prepared to throw the cat in the air.

Just as she began to throw the beast, she felt herself being pulled back and slammed into the ground with the Doragontora. The groan that Goku let out from the impact immediately turned into a scream of agony as the Doragontora slammed its tail club on the tan Thestral with the full force of its tail. It sunk its sharp spikes into her chest and barrel, while at the same time driving her deep into the ground beneath them. Goku coughed up a considerable mouthful of blood as the draconic cat pulled its tail club around the same time it pulled its head out of the ground. It snapped its head around to glare at Goku, who was trying to sit up, only to stop cold when she locked eyes with the Doragontora. Snarling, it raised its head to crush her again, only to be halted when another voice made itself known.

“Solid Form Magic: Slicing Wave!” Twilight shouted, shooting off a blast of wind at the draconic cat, who used its wings to block the attack. It did however, end up getting slammed into a tree to the point where it almost fell right on top of it. it shook the debree of before taking to the air, glaring down at Twilight with hungered anger in its eyes. It flew at her and was about to try to fry her where she stood, when it heard an angry raspy voice from above it.

“Sky Pegasus: Tornado Drill!” Rainbow Dash shouted; her eyes gleaming as she descended towards the giant rhino sized cat. The Doragontora’s eyes widened at the incoming attack, and it leaped out of the way just as Rainbow Dash’s attack hit where it was standing. Large chunks of earth tore from the ground flew about the air, Goku included who screamed out as she landed hard and tumbled across the ground. She hissed out in pain as she pulled herself into her side, only to scream out again as a large earth landed onto her left bat wing.

“Goku!” Rarity cried; her ignited horn gleaming even brighter as she ran over to the tan Thestral. As she got closer to her, she could see the Doragontora flying towards her, having obviously heard her shout, and was now switching targets, going after her instead.

“Oh, you want some of me, do you? Well then, come and get me!” The fashionista shouted, her sword horn gleaming brightly. “Belle Machine Gun: Gatling Gun!”

Before the Doragontora knew it, it was being pelted all over by a flock of mini cyan magical bolts that soared towards it like bullets being fire from a machine gun. They didn’t pierce through, but they certainly made the draconic cat feel as if they were, if the shriek of agony it let out was any indication. As it was flown back, it suddenly felt something hit it from behind, this being Rainbow Dash, who had delivered an axe kick right into the Doragontora’s back.

Seein that Rainbow Dash was now in the fray again, Rarity focused her attention back on Goku, who still had her wing under the large blunder. With as much internal strength as she could muster, she pulled the large earth chunk off of Goku’s wing before asking, “Are you alright darling?”

Goku looked up at with one eye poking through her mane. “Alright? I nearly got crushed by that cat’s tail club, I have puncture wounds in my stomach and chest, and Rainbow catapulted me across the clearing. Does it look like I’m alright Rarity?”

“R-right I’m sorry dear; that was a rather poor question.” Rarity stammered weakly, faltering under the tan Thestral’s sharp glare. She soon formed a glare of her own as she snapped her head to where Rainbow Dash was. “Rainbow Dash, what is the matter with you?! You nearly crushed Goku under all of these boulders you shot out from the ground! Do you have that little control over your attacks!”

“Sorry Rarity, I didn’t see Goku there!” The cyan mare said as she kneed the Doragontora into it stomach, before ducking under a tail swipe. “That giant cat is so big that I couldn’t see anything behind it! Plus, the dust was obscuring my sight, so I didn’t know that she’d be there!”

“Well then, you seriously need to get your eyes checked if you couldn’t see through something as feeble as dust!” Rarity shouted heatedly. “Aren’t you supposed to be the one here with the sharpest sense of sight?!”

“Hey, I don’t have super sensitive sight hearing or smell like Goku does!” Rainbow shouted indignantly, upper cutting the Doragontora in the chin. She watched as Twilight shot off a bolt of electric magic, striking the giant feline right in its side and sending it flying into the other side of the clearing. “You can’t expect me to be able to be able to see everything at! Even I have my limits when it comes to certain things Rares!”

“Not from where I’m standing!” Rarity shouted as she helped Goku to her haunches. “If you were able to unleash an attack like that, then you should’ve been able to see Goku right behind this ruffian while you were coming in to attack him!”

“Look, I was in the spur of the moment, alright?! I didn’t have time to look anywhere else but at this bastard!” Rainbow Dash shouted, baring her fangs down at Rarity in irritation. She ducked in midair as a large beam of cerulean magic shot through the air, courtesy of Pinkie Pie. “If I had known that Goku was there I would’ve stopped and pulled of some other move on this giant fur-ball!”

“Well I hate to break it to you darling, but I don’t believe you!” Rarity hissed. “I’d like to think that you know that poor Goku was there, but just ignored it and wanted to take the spotlight regardless of whether it was taken form you or not! Like you always do!”

Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed “Always do?! What is that supposed to-?!”

“Girls, that’s enough!” Applejack shouted landing in between the two bickering mares. “This ain’t the time t’ be squabblin’ with each other like a bunch o’ chicks in a coop! Can ya not see that we’ve got a giant fire breathin’ cat tryin’ to fry us into fritters right now?!”

“Applejack’s right! This is no time for us to be arguing!” Twilight said, a violet aura surrounding her as she stood off against the Doragontora. “We need to get this cat away from us so we can get to the abandoned castle, and keep him from getting to Zephyr! If we waste our time like this, we’ll be making ourselves sitting ducks!”

“Sitting ducks!” Pinkie Pie asked, looking over at Twilight. “Uuuuh, Twilight, do you realize that we’re not actually ducks, right? And I don’t think ducks don’t really sit all of much.”

“It’s a metaphorical way of explaining our situation right now Pinkie Pie.” Fluttershy explained, turning from Zephyr to look over at the pink pony. “Twilight’s just using sitting ducks as an example of how much danger that we’re in right now.”

“Oh, well why didn’t she just say that instead?” Pinkie Pie asked, tilting her head. “That would’ve been so much easier to get if she said something like metaphorically speaking.”

“Pinkie Pie, baby…” Goku sighed, shaking her head. “…just keep helping AJ, Twilight and Rainbow Dash fight the Doragontora. Me and Rarity will be with you in a minute when I my wounds finish healing.”

“Okie Dokie Lokie!” Pinkie Pie winked, before turning back to the fight in front of her. The Earth Pony’s expression then turned to one as serious as a police chief as she glared at the giant cat that was currently battling Rainbow, Applejack and Twilight. With a smile and a tone that was completely out of place with the expression on her face, she said, “Hey there, you big dragon kitty! I’ve got a surprise for you!”

With her eyes glowing Pinkie Pie slammed her forehooves into the ground, both of them glowing bright with blue energy before she pulled them up. With her hooves came a huge chunk of the earth which quickly formed into a cannon, slightly bigger than Pinkie Pie’s own Party Cannon. Pinkie Pie the jammed her forehooves into both sides of it, making the entire earth object glow alight with blue energy.

“She…she just made a cannon out of nothing but the earth!” Zephyr exclaimed in disbelief from inside Fluttershy’s healing oval seal. “Just how in Shenron’s name did she do that?!”

“Well, I’m not entirely sure myself.” Fluttershy replied softly, not breaking away from her healing of Zephyr’s wounds. “Then again, Pinkie Pie’s always had a knack for doing things like this form out of the blue, so it’s best if you don’t question and just accept it as it is. Trust me, you’ll save yourself a massive headache if you do.”

“Ya like it? This is a new special party cannon designed for any situation like this!” Pinkie asked, moving her cannon from side to side. “It’s not as good looking as my actual cannon, but it’ll have to do for now. Get ready, because I’m gonna blow you away!” She snorted as she prepared to fire. “Earth Make: Party Cannon Confetti Flock!”

The attack came almost immediately after it was said; a loud explosion rang throughout the clearing as Pinkie Pie’s earth cannon shot out giant streams of blue confetti up at the giant Doragontora. The cat used its wings to shield itself form the blasts, even as the large flocks of confetti slices into the and membranes of its wings. With a growl, it shot out a powerful gust of wind that actually sliced into to the confetti, but there were some it didn’t manage to get. It let out a roar of pain as they stabbed it in the chest and stomach and sent it crashing right into a tree, blood coating its wings and its coat.

“Nice on Pinkie Pie!” Applejack grinned. “Ya really gave him what for with that move!”

“Well, I did say that I was gonna blow him away, and I did!” Pinkie Pie giggled. “Even though I just blasted him into a tree, so I guess it doesn’t totally count.”

“Well, it’s so going to count once we sent this bastard flying into the other end of the Everfree!” Rainbow Dash smirked, before looking over at Applejack. “Yo Twilight, are you gonna get a hit in or what?!”

“Already on it Dash!” Twilight shouted as she ran towards the Doragontora, her horn glowing with electricity. “Solid Form Magic: Thunderbolt!”

With her eyes glowing, the lavender Unicorn shot powerful bolt of lightning at the giant cat, who used one of its wings to block the attack. Unfortunately for the feline, this only served to make it as a target, and it roared out in pain as the lightning coursed through its body. after gaining some distance between her and the Doragontora, Twilight leapt in the air, the lightning surrounding her being replaced with fire instead.

“Solid Form Magic: Phoenix Flaming Flock!” She yelled shooting off bolt after bolt of fire at the Doragontora. The cat ran across the clearing as the firebolts slammed into the ground and unleashed their containment of flames that were just barely able to reach the beast, burning its fur and scales. When the last one hit, the Doragontora came to a halt and glared up at the Unicorn who was still in the air, before unleashing a flock of flames of its own. Twilight merely countered the with her another flock of firebolts before dodging one of the last ones aimed right at her face.

“Nice one Twilight! You’re really holding your own against this guy, for an egghead that is.” Rainbow Dash praised, her tone turning slightly teasing at the end. After giving a chuckle at the embarrassed look and heated glare Twilight gave her, Rainbow turned to Applejack. “Yo AJ, I think we’ve had our fun with this furball…whaddya say we send this guy flying outta here?”

The farmer nodded, smirking back up at the cyan Pegasus. “You know it RD, let’s end this varmint! Ya ready Rarity?”

“A lady is always ready for anything.” Rarity replied, flicking her tail skirt as her sword horn glowed. “Especially for dealing with ruffians like these!”

“Um, girls, can you not call him that please?” Fluttershy asked politely, yet firmly. “That’s not very nice.”

“Oh, don’t waste your breath on them Fluttershy. You know how those two can get at times like these.” Goku said, lying in the protection of the buttermilk Pegasus’s healing bubble. “It’s best if you just save your scolding of them for after they’ve dealt with the Doragontora and chased him away from the campsite. You can berate them plenty for their insulting of the creatures you and I love so much after all that is over.”

Zephyr gave a cough, gently nudging Goku in her side.

“Sorry.” The tan Thestral winced. “The creatures that you me, and Zephyr love so much.”

“Yes, you’re right Goku. We’re trying to keep ourselves from getting eaten, scolding Rarity, Rainbow and Applejack can come later.” Fluttershy nodded. “Still, that doesn’t mean that I don’t like how they’re talking about the Doragontora. Seeing them or anypony else insult a creature as beautiful as that, however dangerous it is, just unnerves me to no end.”

Zephyr nodded in agreement. “Tell me about it.”

The roaring of flames caught the attention of all four flyers, and they turned around to see a huge pillar of flames swirling around Applejack. The fire boots adorning her legs glowed as they produced fire form the tattoos imprinted on them, thus scorching the ground beneath her hooves. The tangerine Earth Pony’s emerald eyes glowed as her golden mane and floated behind her as her whole body crouched in preparation for an attack.

“Alright y’all time t’ send this giant furball flyin’ back t’ the other end o’ this forest!” She shouted, snorting hard as she stamped her right hoof. “Let’s go!”

“Right!” Rarity, Twilight and Rainbow Dash shouted as they ran and flew at the Doragontora. The giant cat saw them coming and, using its wings and its hindlegs, propelled itself off the tree that it was slammed into, its eyes blazing. With a roar, it fired off bolt after bolt of fire at the mares, but Rarity was more than ready for that move.

“Oh no; you’re not going to get us with that attack again!” She shouted, her eyes blazing brightly as she unleashed her attack. “Belle Machine Gun: Laser Barrage!”

Just like last time, Rarity fire off a flock of magical beams at the Doragontora, only this time, instead of little bullets, they were medium sized lasers. The Doragontora was able to see the attack coming, and instead of blocking, trying to evade them with rather impressive speed and agility. It was able dodge most of them, but some of the lasers managed to slice into its skin and fur, causing even more blood to stain its body.

“That’s some cool agility you’ve got there ya big furball! I gotta admit, you’re pretty fast for being so large!” Rainbow Dash grinned. “Be that as it may, there’s always somepony faster, and that pony is me! Lightning Pegasus: Thunder Spear!”

Bashing both of her hooves together, Rainbow Dash created a large spear made out of lightning, aiming it right at the Doragontora. With surprising arm strength, she threw the spear right at the giant cat, striking it right in the side before it had a chance to react. It roared out in pan as volts of electricity tore through its body, the effect being so powerful it lost its focus in its flight. This left an opening for Twilight unleash another attack of her own, the protege of the Solar Queen wasted no time in taking it.

“Solid Form Magic: Slicing Wind!” She shouted, unleashing a torrent of razor-sharp wind at the giant draconic cat, sending it back up into the air. It roared loudly in pain as the wind sliced into its limbs, chest and stomach, pain overriding its senses as it tried to fight it down. Snarling, it shot out a stream of fire, to which Twilight dodged, letting Applejack take her place. The farmer paid no mind to the flames approaching her, and used her fire boots to repel the Doragontora’s flames, before preparing her attack.

“So ya like breathin’ fire do ya?!” Applejack asked, flames surrounding her as she leapt at the falling draconic cat. “Well then, why don’t ya eat some o’ this?!”

Shooting both of her hooves out in front of her, a growing sphere of fire form in front of both of Applejack’s forehooves, the swirling flames helping with its growth. Her mane and tail billowed behind her, so much so, that the hairbands holding them were burnt off, allowing them to flow about freely as if Applejack’s mane was on fire. The farmer paid little attention to this; her thoughts only focused on defeating the Doragontora before it even tried to get at any of her friends.

With a loud battle neigh, Applejack unleashed her attack, shooting off a huge drill of golden flames right at the Doragontora, who had just crashed to the ground. Just as it got back up, the flames collided into it, sending its whole body ablaze and on fire. It let out another agonized roar as it tried to withstand the scorching fire, which was driving it further and further back into the shadows of the forest. Applejack, however, wasn’t letting up, and kept shooting off her flames at the draconic cat, fully determined to blast it off into the forest even if it meant scorching it alive.

Just when it looked like Applejack was about to win the fight, a loud roar suddenly came from within the flames of her attack, catching the farmer by surprise. All of a sudden, her large drill of flames exploded in all directions as the Doragontora suddenly burst out from them, its entire body coated in bright orange lightning. It roared loudly as it lunged at Applejack, who could only look up at it in shocked disbelief.

“What in tarna-GAH!” She began to ask, only to scream out as she felt the Doragontora’s large claws stab her right into her barrel. They stayed like that for a mere second, before they swung upward, making deep claw marks doing from Applejack’s lower stomach to the farmer’s upper chest. She screamed out in pain as blood flowed form her wounds before she was sent flying away and tumbling across the ground.

“Applejack!” Rainbow Dash shouted in horror, watching as her friend was flown away.

“Hold on darling, I’m coming!” Rarity cried as she ran over to the downed farmer. She didn’t even manage to get halfway before she was struck by a bolt of lightning. She shrieked out in agony as she slammed to the ground, her entire body burnt form nose to tail.

“Rarity!” Pinkie Pie cried, charging up her earth cannon. “Hold on, I’m coming!”

Pinkie Pie had barely finished her sentence before she began firing her party cannon at the Doragontora her confetti blades cutting through the air as they soared at the cat. It stood where it was, letting the confetti blades strike it, only to explode due to the lightning, coating its entire body. It took advantage of Pinkie Pie’s shocked state by letting out a roar a large bolt of lightning shooting out of its mouth and striking right into Pinkie Pie’s earth cannon. Since her hooves were still stuck inside the cannon, Pinkie Pie unintentionally made herself a victim of an electric shock that sent her crashing into a tree.

“Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash shouted, horror taking over her face for a split second before it was replaced with rage. “Why you…you giant lizard cat bastard! You’re going to pay for that one!”

Overcome with rage, the cyan mare shot down at the Doragontora, fully intent on giving it the shock of its life. Just before she reached him, she suddenly found herself stabbed repeatedly by large spikes, courtesy of the Doragontora shooting them out of its tail club. Rainbow Dash screamed out in pain as the attacks hit, sending her flying into a tree as one of the spikes imbedded into the tree and held her there.

“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight screamed out, her whole body freezing as she watched the cyan mare get impaled into the tree. Before she could do anything, she felt something hit the side of her head and send her crashing into a tree, just feet away from Fluttershy, Zephyr, and Goku.

“Girls!” Fluttershy cried out in horror, turning her attention away from her healing of Goku and Zephyr to the scene in front of her. In doing so, she made the oval healing sphere that she made for the two flyers to vanish into thin air, leaving them vulnerable to the Doragontora’s attack.

“F-Fluttershy what’re you doing?!” The former shouted as the latter wince at the cold air stinging his wounds. “Why did you stop your healing spell?”

“Oh, I’m sorry you guys!” Fluttershy replied sending them an apologetic look. “It’s just…Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie had all been struck down by the Doragontora! All of them are down for the count!”

“They’re what?!” Zephyr shouted as he shot to his haunches, his pain temporarily forgotten. A sharp gasp left his mouth as he saw the fallen forms of the four mares. “Oh, Sweet Faust…”

“I can’t believe it…they’re all down!” Goku whispered, looking to be even more shocked than her fellow Shenron was. She snapped her head up to Fluttershy, a look of fear coming to her eyes. “Fluttershy, you’ve gotta get them out of there! If you don’t that cat’s gonna have all of them for a really late breakfast!”

“Right, I’m on it!” The buttermilk Pegasus nodded as she quickly composing herself. “Don’t worry everypony, I’m gonna get you all out of here as fast as I can so I can heal you!”

With those words said, Fluttershy spread her wings and flew over to the girls, Rainbow Dash being the closest one, and began to examine her wounds. One of her hooves flew to her mouth as she got a closer view of the tail club spike imbedded in her, and tears started to build up in her eyes.

"Oh...Rainbow Dash!" She cried, doing her best to fight back a sniffle as the cyan mare panted in front of her. "What in the world happened?!"

"W-what do ya think happened Flutters?" Rainbow Dash asked, coughing up some blood. "That cat took me by surprise and sent my flying like I was going to do to him. I think that should sum up just how much pain I'm in right now..." She looked down at the spike impeded in her stomach. "Especially with this thing inside of me..."

Fluttershy looked down at the spike, wincing at how deep it looked to be inside the mares stomach. While it wasn't really all that large, about the size of a knife, she could tell that it was going to leave a noticeable scar on Rainbow Dash, along with all the others in her wings. Ripping her eyes away, she looked up at Rainbow Dash and asked, "H...how much does it hurt?"

"About as much as getting stabbed with an actual knife." Came Rainbow's somewhat dry reply, her chest slowly heaving up and down. "Anyway, do ya think you can get this thing off of me? It's kind of making my stomach hurt."

"I...I don't think that'll be a good idea Rainbow Dash." Fluttershy said, looking into the other Pegasus's eyes. "I can take the spike out of the tree, but I don't think I should take it out of you just yet. If I try, you might start to bleed out, and I really don't want that to happen."

"Seriously?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking form in between the spike and Fluttershy. "Well damn...that sucks. Alright then, m-maybe you can try to hold onto me while you take the spike out of the tree?"

"Y...yes, I think that might work!" Fluttershy replied, some relief coming to her face as she nodded. "And after that, I can get you over to Goku and Zephyr, along with the rest of the girls, and I can heal your wounds." She glanced down over at the Doragontora who was looking back up at her, as if waiting for her to come face it. "Though first, I'll have to keep him at bay."

"G-good luck down there Fluttershy." Rainbow Dash said, reaching over and putting a hoof on the Pegasus's shoulder. "I'd normally be saying for you to be careful, of even to get away, but...you seem to have the most experience with these animals. So...I'll leave it to you to keep us safe."

"Don't worry Dash, I promise I'll keep you and the other girls safe!" Fluttershy nodded, her teal eyes glowing with a fierce determination. "Then after that, I'll encase all of you inside of my healing oval so I can-"

Whatever Fluttershy was about to say was cut off when a pillar of flames exploded form where Applejack was lying, stopping her in midflight. She watched in awed shock as the farmer slowly stood up from her position on the ground and locked eyes with the Doragontora, who looked to haven expression of surprise on her face.

“A…Applejack?” Fluttershy stuttered, struggling to find her voice. “Is…i-is that you?”

The farmer slowly turned to look at the veterinarian, her emerald eyes glowing even brighter than before. “Who do ya think it is, sugarcube? Some fire maned pony risin’ from th’ deepest depths o’ Tartarus?”

Rarity, who had finally been starting to recover from the electric shock given to her, slowly turned herself over to her side. When she lifted her head to look at the scene before her, her whole body froze as her eyes widened in disbelief. “Apple…jack?” She wheezed, giving out a heavy cough as she struggled to sit up.

"No way...! That's impossible!" Twilight whispered, holding her bloodied head as she sat up against the tree she was sent into. "How is she still standing?!"

“Whoa, AJ…how’re you still standing?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking just as shocked as Fluttershy was. “I…I thought that giant furball knocked you out?”

“I didn’t, it just gave me an extra scar to go with th’ rest o’ mah battle ones.” Applejack asked, glancing up at Rainbow Dash for a moment. Doing her best not to wince at the mare’s puncture wounds, she turned to Fluttershy. “Hey Flutters, can ya do me a lil’ favor? Can ya take Rares a’' RD outta this clearin’?”

“W-why?” Fluttershy asked, still in a small state of shock. “W-what’re you going to do?”

“Whaddya think Ah’m gonna do?” Applejack asked, turning back to the Doragontora. “Ah’m gonna send this varmint flyin’ back t’ where he came from.”

Pinkie, who had been picking herself up from the shock the Doragontora gave her, let out a gasp of fear. "Y-you're going to what?! J-Jackie, n-n-no!"

“All by yourself?!” Zephyr asked in disbelief. “Applejack, with all due respect, and not that I’m doubting your abilities here, but do you realize what you’re saying? I know that you said, and your friends would be alright together, but you saw what had happened didn’t you? That cat sent all of you flying when you least expected it, and took each of you out with one hit! How can you expect to beat him all by yourself?”

“Because, I know in mah heart that I can.” Applejack replied simply, glancing back at the royal blue stallion. “Listen hon’, Ah know what Ah said back then about me, Twilight, Rarity, Goku, an’ RD bein’ okay against this thing didn’t make a lot o’ sense, but really did mean what Ah said. If wasn’t sure that me and the rest o’ us would be okay, Ah wouldn’t have said that it was the honest truth right t’ yer faces. Ah’m a lot o’ thinks Zephyr, but Ah ain’t no liar, especially about things like this.”

Zephyr’s ears flattened. “I…I never said that you were-” He began to say, only to stop when Goku gently laid a hoof on his shoulder.

“Let her finish.” She said, not making eye contact with him. “You were saying Applejack?”

“Thank ya kindly…” Applejack nodded, shooting off a stream of flames at the Doragontora, who was begining to stalk Applejack. As it crashed back into a tree, the farmer flicked her tail and continued on. “…Anyway, like AH said, if Ah didn’t believe that we’d all be okay against this varmint, Ah wouldn’t have said it while lookin’ ya right int’ yer eyes hon’. An’ Ah didn’t mean jus’ me, RD, Twilight, an’ Rares either…Ah also mean you an’ Fluttershy as well, b’cause we were the ones fightin’ against this varmint. Well, at least until Goku got taken out, but ya get what I mean by that right?”

“Yeah, I do…” Zephyr replied, glancing at over at Goku’s bloodied state. “…maybe a little too much.”

“Yeah, I figured you did.” Applejack chuckled. “Anyway, my point is, Ah didn’t just say that we’d be fine jus’ because Ag honest believe we’ll be. Ah said it b’cause Ah know that we’ll be okay, an’ we’re gonna make it outta here, an’ when Ah say somethin’ like this, Ah mean it from the bottom o’ mah heart. Ah am an Apple after all, and we take great pride in hour honesty, as well as our dependability…so when Ah say everythin’ will be okay, it’ll be okay, an’ Ah’m damn sure well gonna prove it. So jus’ sit back with the rest o’ th’ girls an’ let me handle this now, alright?”

For a few long moments, Zephyr, Goku and Fluttershy didn’t say anything, all of them looking deep into Applejack’s glowing eyes as they pierced into theirs. All of them could see, almost feel the pure honesty radiating from them, thus leaving all of them a loss for words on what to say or do. As much as they wanted to stop Applejack, to keep her from getting herself killed, but they found themselves unable to speak as they continued to look into the farmer’s emerald orbs, as if they were keeping them from talking. After what seemed like hours, Fluttershy lowered her head, her mane shadowing her eyes as she quietly spoke up.

“A…are you sure that you’ll be okay Applejack?” She asked softly, despite knowing in her heart what the answer was. “W-will you really be okay?”

“Ah wouldn’t be sayin’ it if Ah didn’t believe Ah would be.” Came Applejack’s reassuring reply, turning back to look at the Doragontora in front of her. “Like Ah said, Ah am many things, but Ah am not a liar by any means.”

Goku frowned at the words. ‘Not a liar by any means huh? Yeah, right…’

Fluttershy stared at Applejack’s back for a moment longer, inwardly contemplating whether out of she should take Applejack’s word or take her out of the clearing. A moment later, she gave a defeated sigh as she glanced over at Rainbow Dash, before looking at back at the farmer. “Alright then Applejack…if you think that you’re going to be safe, then I’ll trust you to fight the Doragontora alone. Just know this…” She looked up and glared sternly at Applejack, her teal eyes flashing orange. “If I see even an inkling of you about to lose to that Doragontora, I am dragging you out of there and dealing with him myself! Am I clear?”

“Clear as crystal sugarcube.” Applejack replied, doing her best not to flinch at the glare sent at the back of her head. “Jus’ you wait; by th’ time Ah’m done with this varmint, it’ll be like he wasn’t even here in the first place.”

“I’m gonna hold you to that.” Fluttershy said firmly. “And afterwards, after I’m done healing you all, I’m going to have a little chat with you, Rainbow, and Rarity about what to call certain individuals and what not to call them.”

Goku raised her hoof up. “I second that!” She said as Zephyr nodded softly.

Applejack shuddered, but gave no other response other than a light nod towards the three flyers. With nothing else to say, the farmer turned back to look at the Doragontora, only to jump when it almost immediately attacked. Gritting her teeth, Applejack’s galloped at the draconic cat as they met in midair, the only thing both of them seeing being a sea of each other’s roaring flames.

Author's Notes:

Well everypony, there you all go, the twenty first chapter of this amazing adventure of the Rise of the Dark Queen this first book of my series! Now, for this chapter, I had looked back on the very first version of this and realized that I didn't really make a scene for the Shadowbolts other than that one scene with Violet Fire and the rest of her team. So I decided to make one for this chapter while having them run into the Shinomōkin that the girls had, which will explain something else in a chapter that I'm planning to put back in this that I had taken out when I had decided to revise this entire thing. Now for the fight between the Doragontora and the girls, I had tried to come up with some way to end it, but I decided to have it go on for a little bit longer, since I'm planning to try and add another scene for the Shadowbolts before they meet the future Element Bearers. Now, I'm not gonna make it anywhere near as long as I did last time with the Timberwolves when I first wrote this, but the next scene having that will have a good chunk of it inside before it ends. The next couple of chapter will be back on what's going on in Ponyville before we get back to the girls, and depending on how things go, those two may or may not be as long as the last few...we'll have to see.

Well, that's all for this chapter; tune in next time with me for when we go back to Ponyville!