Spike couldn’t for the life of him figure out why, but for some reason, he had really unsettling feeling inside of his gut. A type of feeling that something was afoot, and that something bad either was happening, or was going to happen very soon. Spike had felt this feeling many, many types before, and each time he confirmed his suspicions, he was always correct, even at time where he wished he wasn’t. Whether it was Twilight being harassed and bullied by other ponies and members of higher class, or him getting in that kind of trouble as well, or anything else, he always got that feeling. In recent years, whenever Spike got it, it was nowhere near as bad as what he was feeling right now, allowing him to think of something else. Now, he had no such advantage, and this uncomfortable knot in his stomach was preventing him from thinking any other thoughts, which made him very uncomfortable.

The young Kirin didn’t know how long he was going to have this feeling, but he hoped that it would go away soon. Otherwise, it would drive him insane to the point where he might burn Twilight’s books, and he knew his foster sister would not want that at all. Luckily for Spike, a distraction came to help him take his mind off of his anxious state, coming in the form of a mountain blue bat winged mare.

“Spike?” Snowflake asked gently, coming up behind the indigo Kirin. “Is there something the matter, darling?”

Spike, who had been sucking on his right foreclaws, pulled them out with an audible pop as he gave a somewhat girlish cry of surprise. He jumped so hard that he shot a good eight feet in the air, before landing face first on the pillow that he was sitting down on. Scrambling to his feet, he whipped around to see the Snowflake towering over him, her fangs gleaming as she looked back down at him worriedly.

“Snowflake, don’t scare me like that!” Spike whined, his muzzle forming into a frown. “For a second there I thought you were somepony trying to jump me!”

“Now why would you think that?” Snowflake asked, raising a brow. “Me, Snowflake, Crescent Sheton and the fillies are the only ones here. There isn’t anypony else here but us, so why would you think that there’s somepony here about to jump you?”

“I…I-I don’t know!” Spike stuttered out, his cheeks heating up with embarrassment. “I don’t know why I thought that b-but…well, I did. I’m sorry, y-you just really took me by surprise.”

Snowflake’s eyes softened, and she reached over and pat the young Kirin on his head. “I’m sorry Spike, I didn’t mean to scare you. You looked really uneasy over by the window over there, and I wanted to know if you were alright.”

“…No, I’m not okay actually.” Spike replied, his draconic pony ears falling limp. “In fact, I’m really…scared right now.”

“Scared?” Snowflake asked. “About what darling?”

“About everything that’s going on right now.” Spike replied, looking back up at Snowflake. “I just can’t believe everything that’s happened today. Just this morning, I was hanging out with Twilight and Crescent Shield, while getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. Then, this afternoon, I was helping Twilight and Crescent with their studies and her magic down in the Training Basement, while practicing on my own! Then, you, Goku, Snowflake, and Sheton came back after years of being apart, we have a big reunion party, and we got to the Town Square to have an even bigger one with Mo-er, Queen Celestia!” He took a moment catch his breath as he took in slow steady breaths. “I really thought that this was going to be a fun day, especially with all of you here, and the Queen there most of all! I don’t remember a time where I’ve ever been this excited in my life, until…u-until…”

“Until Nightmare Moon came and, um…interrupted the party?” Snowflake finished for the Kirin a grimace forming on her face.

“More like nearly crushing everypony and painting the ground red with their blood.” Spike said bluntly, crossing his forelegs. “Of all the things I expected, this was not it, and that makes me all the more scared knowing just who it was that started all of this! I never thought that Nightmare Moon would actually be real, let alone come and try to invade the town! Not only that, she had also stabbed the Queen…right in front of everypony…even Twilight.” A shiver went down his spine as he let out a whimper. “And now, Twilight and the rest of the girls are going into the most dangerous wilderness in Equestria, to find the weapons that Queen Celestia used to stop Nightmare Moon? I’ve never been so terrified in all of my life, and not just for myself either!”

Snowflake frowned, walking over and climbing onto the wooden couch next to the window and sitting next to Spike. She wrapped her wing around him and pulled him close, nuzzling the top of his head. “You’re worried about Twilight and the rest of the girls, aren’t you? That none of them will be able to make it out of the Everfree, despite the extra aid sent their way?”

“Well…no. At least not all that much anymore.” Spike admitted timidly. “I-I know that Twilight has her friends to help her, a-and some of the guards that Mo-Queen Celestia sent to aid them, a-and that’s great and all. But…but I…”

“But what?” Snowflake asked, ushering Spike to continue. “It’s alright sweetie, you can tell me.”

“It’s not just them that I’m worried about.” Spike continued, looking up into Snowflake’s cat-like blue eyes. “I’m…I’m also worried about me…a-and all of us too! I don’t know why, b-but…I just have this really painful feeling in me that…something else is going to happen. Something even worse than what happened in the Town Squares, a-and what happened to the…to the Queen, and…and that we’re going to be ones in the midst of it.”

“So, you think that we’re going to be the next victims in whatever that Nightmare Moon has planned?” Snowflake asked, getting no response from Spike. Upon getting no answer, the mountain blue mare sighed and blew her mane away from her face. “I see…well, I can understand what’s making you think all of these thoughts, and made quite a few accurate points. To be honest, I’d be surprised if you weren’t even the least bit worried about your sisters, let alone her friends and yours, though it is sweet of you to be worried about me and my sisters.” She smiled down at the young draconic colt. “Still, I don’t think you really have to worry all that much about us, let alone yourself all that much.”

Spike looked up at her in confusion. “What makes you say that?” He asked, tilting his head in a way that made Midnight want to hug him right then and there.

“Oh, come on honey, you really can’t see it?” Snowflake asked, raising an eyebrow down at Spike. “The answers right in front of you! Even if we were to get attacked by a monster that Nightmare Moon had created, we wouldn’t be that far off, would we? Did you forget that each of us are all from extremely powerful clans, including you?”

“No, of course I haven’t, but what does that have to-” Spike stopped short of his question as Snowflake’s own sunk into his mind. He slowly looked back up at Midnight, as an embarrassed blush coming to his face. “Oooooh…”

“Mhm, exaclty.” Snowflake nodded, grinning slightly. “Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be worried, because you have every right to be. Especially about yourself us, the girls, Nightmare Moon, and whatever scheme she has thought up for us. At the same time, you shouldn’t forget that we’re not entirely defenseless anything that might be thrown at us. There’s reason we’re from the Secret Seven Clans of Equestria, because we are able to do many things that ponies that aren’t from our families won’t be able to do, no offense to them of course.” A blush came to her face as she said this, before she shook it off and continued. “That also includes you Spike, since your basically half pony and half dragon, and you can use both our powers, and the powers of the most powerful being in all the land. So, there’s not really that much of a chance for us to get jumped or anything like that, unless we get caught off guard.”

Spike glanced down at his front feet, watching as they shifted from hooves to claws, before a giggle escaped from him. “Heehee, yeah…you have a point there. Still, I don’t think it’d be a good idea for me to turn into a dragon here of all places. At least where other ponies can see it and have a hugefear of dragons.”

“Well, from the way I see it, you may not have much of a choice baby.” Snowflake shrugged, getting up from her spot on the cushy wooden couch. “Don’t worry though, with the power you have, you shouldn’t have any problem with anypony messing with you. And if they even try to, we’ll be there to have your back, even if you won’t really need it.”

“Yeah, I know you will Snowflake.” Spike giggled, nuzzling the side of the beetle black mare’s neck. “Because I very may well incinerate anypony that gets caught up in the line of my fire, right?”

“No, no, of course not baby.” Snowflake replied playfully, nuzzling the amethyst Kirin’s left cheek. “I’m not worried that you might burn anypony to a crisp. I’m just afraid that you’ll send them on an unexpected trip to Canterlot, that’s all.”

Spike burst out laughing, putting his claws to his muzzle to stifle it. “Yeah, that too! I bet the Queen wouldn’t really be very happy with me if I did that, hahaha!”

“No, she probably wouldn’t; though I think she’d get a good laugh later on.” Snowflake laughed back. “Now, why don’t you come over and hang out with the rest of your friends. I think you’ve saved up plenty of energy after the nap that you had; wouldn’t you agree?”

Spike smiled again, showing off his glistening white fangs as he nodded eagerly up at the beetle black mare. With a smile of her own, Nightmare Moon ushered the Kirin colt off of his cushion and led him over to where Snowflake and the rest of the foals were. All of them looked to be in the process of playing a game of some sort, one that Spike could swear he could remember playing. Spike was about to ask what they were playing, but Sweetie Belle cut him off.

“Spike!” The alabaster filly squeaked. “You’re finally up! I thought you were going to be asleep for the entire game?”

“Yeah well, I couldn’t really sleep all that much anyway.” Spike shrugged. “I had something on my mind that was bothering me, but Midnight helped me with it.”

“Oh, r-really?” Scootaloo asked. “D-did you have a b-bad d-dream?”

“Not really, but I did have a tough time sleeping now at a time like this.” Spike replied, shaking his head. “You know, with the return of Nightmare Moon, Twilight and the girls leaving into the Everfree Forest and…everything else.”

“Oh, I get it…” Crescent Shield said softly. “…is that what was bothering you Spikey?”

“Well…yeah, a lot.” The amethyst Kirin replied, his chipper mood dimming somewhat. “It’s okay though, it’s not really bothering me that much anymore. Midnight made sure to see to it that it doesn’t; I just have to have a little more faith that girls will pull through, along with-”

“You better believe they will!” Fire Flash interrupted, making Spike and the other foals jump in surprise. “Those girls have got to be the most badass group of ponies that I’ve ever met in my life! While they may not be quite as much as my sister, but they’ve definitely got what it takes to knock down anypony who messes with them! I know what whatever monsters in that forest that they’re going against will have their overinflated egos knocked down one hay of a peg!”

“While I admire your optimism Fire Flash…” Snowflake shot Fire Flash a stern look. “…you’d better be glad that Goku and the other girls weren’t here to hear you say that Fire. Because that was quite rude, young filly. Somepony should really teach you a lesson in manners in politeness.” Her eyes flashed as she bared her fangs a bit, making Fire Flash shrink back a bit.

“M-mhm.” Scootaloo nodded. “T-that was also r-really m-m-mean what you said about the animals. I-if big s-sister was here a-and heard you s-say that, s-she w-w-wouldn’t be t-too happy.”

“Eeyup.” Apple Bloom nodded, frowning at the crimson filly. “Yer really lucky that Miss Fluttershy ain’t here t’ hear ya. Or else she’d give ya a nice good dose o’ her Solar Stare.”

“Solar Stare?” Sheton asked, tilting his head innocently. “What’s the Solar Stare?”

“You don’t want to know.” Sweetie Belle whimpered. “Trust me.”

“Yeah well, you guys get the point that I’m trying to make, right?” Fire Flash asked, blatantly ignoring Snowflake reprimanding. “So what if they’re going against a bunch of giant fur balls with super abilities and all that stuff? None of that is going to make bring them down, especially with my sister there with them!”

Snowflake raised an eyebrow. “Um, I think you mean with all of them together?”

“Yeah, that too.” Fire giggled, not noticing the facehoof Crescent Shield gave herself.

‘Of course, she’d forget to mention that important fact.’ The ocean blue filly thought, shaking her head. ‘Typical Fire Flash…’

“Wow Fire Flash, you seem pretty optimistic about all of our sisters escaping the Everfree Forest alive.” Sheton murmured. “Not that I’m saying that it’s warranted, but you don’t seem like the type of filly to show itthis much.”

“Heh, for somepony who I only just met, you’ve got quite the good eye.” Fire chuckled, her grin turning wider as Sheton blushed. “And of course I’m showing so much optimism! I have to since Melon Cake isn’t here to pick up the slack! If she’s not here to keep our spirits up, then whose gonna do what only she can do?”

“Ahem.” Apple Bloom coughed, frowning up at Fire Flash.

“Er, I mean…” The crimson filly blushed. “…what only Melon and Pinkie Pie can do.”

“Well, um…” Spike said, rubbing his claws. “…I could do it if you want Fire Flash.”

Fire glanced down at the amethyst Kirin. “Do what?”

“Keep everypony’s spirits up whenever Melon Cake isn’t here to do it herself.” Spike smiled up at the Pegasus filly. “I never like it whenever Twilight, Shining Armor, Crescent Shield or their parents are all down in the dumps for any reason. So, I always make it my sole goal to bring them back up again and help them feel more better on the inside. If you want, I can take that role instead and help Melon Cake out in lifting everypony up, and showing them that not all can be that bad.”

“Awww Spike…” Crescent Shield cooed. “You’d really do that? For Fire Flash and Melon?”

Spike nodded, his blush deepening as he rubbed the back of his head. “Well, sure why wouldn’t I? I’ve always had a knack for being the voice of reason and wanting to lift Twilight up whenever she’s in doubt, so I suppose I could do the same for the rest of you.”

The next thing Spike knew, he was on the ground and getting the life squeezed out of him by an energetic Apple Bloom. The amethyst Kirin gagged as the sun yellow filly’s forelegs wrapped tightly around his neck, nearly choking him.

“Oh, now that has got t’ be th’ sweetest darn thing y’all have ever done fer us Spike!” Apple Bloom cooed. “If Melon were here right now, there ain’t no doubt in mah mind that she’d be tumblin’ ‘round with ya and squeezin’ the apple cider outta ya!”

“Like you’re doing right now?” Sheton asked dryly, wincing at the strength of the farm filly. ‘So glad that’s not me…’

“Heeheehee, yeah, pretty much.” Sweetie said with a giggle. “Still, I agree with Apple Bloom, Melon would be really happy to hear you saying something like that Spike. No doubt that she’d be grinning from ear to ear if she were here.”

“She sure would.” Fire Flash laughed. “As a matter of a fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she was here about to bang on the door trying to glomp the shit outta Spike right now!”

No sooner did those words come out of her mouth, all eight ponies’ ears perked up to the sound of the wooden door the library being banged on loudly. They all whipped their heads around to the source of the sound, watching as the door was banged on again, the large wooden appendage giving way ever so slightly to the force of the multiple blows outside.

“Huh...looks like you were right Fire Flash.” Apple Bloom said once the shock wore out. “It looks like Melon Cake really is here right now.”

“Seriously?! I was just joking!” The crimson filly exclaimed, her golden eyes wide with shock and surprise. “I figured Melon would be here, but I didn’t think she’d be here that fast!”

“I don’t know about that. Melon Cake is known to pop up from time to time…but this is new, even for her.” Crescent Shield muttered suspiciously. “Something tells me that it’s not her behind that door.

“T-that’s because it’s not.” Spike said, finally managing to get out of Apple Bloom’s grasp. “I can smell who it is outside of the door, and it’s not Melon Cake.”

Just as the indigo Kirin asked this, the door was banged on a third time, this one much more powerful than the last and actually making some splinters shoot out from it. Snowflake’s eyes narrowed; a frown formed on her face as a sinking feeling forming on her gut. Before she could say or do anything, a loud and terrified voice rang from behind the door.

“Twilight?! Twilight are you in there?! Open the door!” The voice shouted, it’s tone filled with urgency and terror. “Something really bad is going on! Please, open the door, now!”

“Wait a minute…” Sheton said as her eyes slowly widened. “I know that voice. That sounds like...Miss Cloud Kicker!”

“Cloud Kicker?!” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she stared wide-eyed at the stormy grey colt. “What’s she doing here at this hour?!”

“I have no idea.” Snowflake replied, getting to her hooves. “Whatever it is though, she sounds really terrified.”

“U-um, Sheton…” Scootaloo said as Snowflake trotted over to the door. “I-if you d-don’t mind me a-asking…h-h-how did you meet Miss C-Cloud Kicker.”

The bat winged colt smiled at the bright orange filly. “It was earlier today when me and my sisters went to go see Rainbow Dash. Miss Cloud Kicker was at Rainbow’s house with another mare named Blossomforth, and they were watching Rainbow’s house while she was clearing the clouds.” A blush came to his face as he played with his long mane. “They were, um…r-really nice…in their own way, e-e-especially Miss Blossomforth.”

“Oh, s-so you meet M-Miss Blossomforth too?” Scootaloo asked. “Y-yes, t-they’re both v-very kind m-mares, a-and they both l-love interacting with f-foals. M-my sister would sometimes h-have me s-stay over w-with them i-if she couldn’t f-find a f-foalsitter, a-and I’d always h-have such a f-fun time w-with them. E-even Miss D-Derpy would w-watch over me a-along with her d-daughter D-Dinky, a-and…I-I’d always have a b-blast there.” Her ears perked as she tilted her head at Sheton. “S-speaking of which…d-did you meet M-Miss Derpy a-and Dinky today t-too?”

A blood curdling unified scream coming from Crescent Shield and Sweetie Belle cut Sheton off from what he was about to say. It made him jump so hard that he took to the air in a fright, his left wing accidentally smacking Scootaloo in the face. He looked over to where the two horned fillies were and flinched at seeing the horrified looks on their faces. Fire Flash and Apple Bloom weren’t too far off, the formers jaw on the floor and the latter’s face losing all color, while Spike began shiver in place. Unnerved by all of his old and new friends scared expressions, Sheton looked in front of him, only to reel back and slam into a bookshelf by what he saw.

Leaning against an equally horrified Snowflake, chest heaving as if she had just finished running a marathon, was none other than Cloud kicker, looking like she had gone through Tartarus and back. Her amber blonde mane and tail her heavily disheveled, looking like they had both lost a fight with a blender, soaked in droplets of her own blood. Her whole body had deep slashes and cuts all over many of them still fresh and still oozing blood, which was slowly growing into a pile onto the floor and outside of the library. Her large wings were sprawled out, the feathers bent and out of place with some of them looking like they were bitten off, and small pieces of wood and splinters could be seen sticking to various parts of her body, including the ones where the bites and claw marks could be seen. Beside her was Dinky, and while she wasn’t anywhere near as hurt, it could be seen on her face that the young Unicorn was frightened to death.

“Oh, my Celestia! Cloud!” Snowflake cried, holding the bloodied mare by her side. Once she and Snowflake was a good distance from the door, she slammed it shut, ignoring the trail of blood unintentionally left by Cloud in her wake.

“W-w-what the-?!” Fire Flash stuttered as she took in Cloud’s condition with wide horrified eyes. “What the buck happened to her?! Why is she all bloody?!”

“I don’t know, but that’s something I’m gonna try to find out.” Snowflake replied as she slowly rolled Cloud Kicker over and set her onto her back. “Could, honey, are you okay?! What in heaven’s name happened to you?! Why did you come to the library and why are you all torn up?!”

“*cough*, *cough*...Snowflake...*cough*...you’re here…in Twilight’s library?” Cloud wheezed out through her coughing. “W-Where’s…*cough*...where’s Twilight...a-and...the others…?”

“Don’t worry about that dear, I can explain later. Right now, we need to get you taken care of.” Snowflake replied gently, yet urgently as she sat down on her haunches and set the mare’s head on her lap. Once she did so, she turned to the foals, all of them staring in horror at Cloud’s condition. “Kids, I need you to listen to me very carefully to what I’m about to say, and no matter what, I need you to stay as clam as you possibly can, alright?”

Sheton, Spike, Crescent Shield and the other fillies, all trembling from head to hoof, slowly nodded their heads, none of them trusting themselves to speak.

“Sheton, Crescent Shield, Spike, I need you all to help me carry Derpy into Twilight’s room, the same room that you all were in when we had that party with Twilight and the others earlier today.” Snowflake instructed. “Once we get there, I want you three to watch over her while I search for some medical supplies. Whatever happens, make sure she’s safe and do not do o anything until I get up there with you. Do you understand?”

The two colts and fillies nodded hastily.

“Good, now come over here and help me pick her up.” Snowflake ordered, and the three foals rushed over to her. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Fire Flash, Scootaloo, you four go upstairs to Twilight’s bedroom and make sure that it’s set.”

“Got it!” Fire Flash said firmly, giving off a salute before she zoomed upstairs.

“Got it! C-come on girls!” Scootaloo stuttered as she, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom all went upstairs.

“Spike,” Snowflake began as she turned to the purple colt, who was trying to lift a part of Cloud from off the ground.

“Y-yeah?” He asked as he looked up at her.

“Does Twilight have any first aid kits stashed around the library anywhere?” Snowflake asked as she slowly got up from off of the ground.

“Oh, yes she does!” Spike replied, his emerald green eyes lighting up in recognition. “Twilight has them stashed inside the basement!”

“Could you be a dear and get a few from down there?” Snowflake asked. “By the looks of these injuries, we’re going to need more than one.”

“Right, got it!” Spike nodded as he turned tail and ran towards the door leading to the basement.

“Alright kids, I’m going to lift her up, are you two ready?” Snowflake asked she looked up at Crescent Shield and Sheton. The ocean blue filly nodded in silent readiness, but Sheton didn’t reply, or even look up at his sister, instead just staring at Derpy’s body in mounting horror. “Sheton...is something the matter?”

“I...I-I-I can’t believe it...look at her…s-she’s so torn up...and covered in so much b-b-blood.” Sheton whispered shakily, watching as the crimson streaks of liquid ran down the silvery grey mare’s body and fell to the floor. Lower lip quivering, the stormy grey colt slowly looked up at his sister his emerald blue eyes becoming glazed over. “Is she...is she going to be, okay?”

“I don’t know, but she definitely needs some help with these wounds.” Midnight replied, before glancing over at Dinky. “Dinky sweetie, what happened? Why is Cloud Kicker in this horrid state?”

Dinky took a minute to calm herself, before she looked up at Cloud Kicker and squeaked, “It…i-it all happened so fast! M-me, my sister, Blossomforth a-and aunt C-Cloud Kicker were h-heading here t-to Twilight’s a-after t-the Town Square was b-broken into again. W-we were heading over here, w-when these big space-like p-ponies came out of nowhere and ambushed us! M-me and Aunt Cloud Kicker escaped while my big sis a-and Blossomforth fought them! I-I thought we’d be safe until we got here, b-but…but we…!”

“You were ambushed by these…space ponies when you least expected it.” Sheton guessed; his suspicions soon confirmed as Dinky shakily nodded. “And that’s why Miss Cloud Kicker looks like this?”

“Y-y-yeah, it is!” Dinky replied, starting to panic again. “S-she was almost k-k-killed when we were coming here, a-and if it hadn’t been for her distracting them at the l-last minute, w-we never would’ve made it here! I-I don’t know what would’ve happen if she was…was…” A sniffle left her nose as she squeezed her eyes closed. “Oh, it was so scary!”

Scootaloo rushed over and pulled the grayish violet filly in her forelegs, wrapping her large wings around her as well. “Shhhhhh, there, there…it’s okay Dinky. It’s all over now; you and Miss Cloud Kicker are here in the library now, and you’re safe here with us. You don’t need to worry about anything coming to get you anymore, okay?”

“Yeah, Scootaloo’s right.” Crescent nodded, walking over and hugging Dinky from behind. “Both of you are alright now. There’s no need to be scared anymore, not while we’re here to keep you safe.”

“Y-yeah…okay.” Dinky whimpered, sniffling as she clung tightly to Scootaloo as the bright orange filly stroked her mane. “T-Thank you everypony…”

“Well, I’m glad to see that you’re feeling better Dinks.” Cloud Kicker chucked, her head still in Snowflake’s lap. She winced as a sharp pain flashed across her chest. “Ow…son of a bitch that hurts! Hey Snowflake, where are those little kiddos with that medic kit yet?”

“Don’t worry Cloud, they’ll be back in just a moment with it; just be patient. You have your Pegasus and Clan magic to help accelerate your healing rate, so we’ll only need the kit to help give you some extra treatment.” Snowflake patiently advised, gingerly running a hoof down the persian blue mare’s bloodied mane. “For right now, would you be so kind as to explain to us why you look like you got into a fight with a pack of Timberwolves?”

Ears flattening against her head, Cloud opened her mouth to speak, but was silenced when she heard a rather loud bang come from the door once more. This time, the sound was not like that of a hoof bounding against it, but it sounded as if somepony where slamming their whole body against it. The uneasiness in the mountain blue Pegasus grew even more when she heard what sounded like scratching and snarling coming from the other end, before it went away all together.

“W-w-what was that?” Crescent Shield squeaked, pressing herself next to Sheton as her little body shook.

“I don’t know…” The Sheton replied uneasily. “Whatever it was, that was definitely nota pony. More like an animal or something like that.”

“R-really?” Crescent Shield asked timidly, glancing over at the young Kirin. “I-is that what do you think it is?”

“Probably…I don’t know.” Sheton said with a small shrug, before looking over at Snowflake. “What do you think it is Snowflake?”

“I have not the slightest clue dear, but I’m gonna check it out.” Snowflake replied as she began make her way towards the door only for something to grab onto her right hindleg. Looking over her shoulder, she looked down to see Cloud clinging onto her right foreleg, looking up at her with a look of absolute terror.

“N-no...don’t go out there Snowflake, please!” She begged; her voice still very wheezy as she clung weakly to the mountain blue Pegasus’s leg. “It’s not safe!”

“Don’t worry Cloud, everything is going to be okay.” Snowflake said gently. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be just fine. Just stay here with the foals and don’t move around too much okay? You’ll make your injuries worse than you do...”

“N-no…! Y-you don’t understand!” Cloud pleaded desperately, but her words went unheeded as Snowflake gently shook her leg out of the other mare’s grip. With little to no strength left, Cloud could only watch as the mountain blue Pegasus slowly headed towards the door.

“Be careful Snowflake…” Sheton cautioned. “You don’t know what could be out there.”

“I will dear, don’t worry.” Snowflake nodded as she stopped just short of the door. Slowly and gingerly, she lifted a snow-white hoof towards the door knob and slowly wrapped it around the metal appendage, her heart beating fast against her chest as she did so. She looked back over her shoulder and met the eyes of Sheton, Crescent Shield, and Cloud, the last of which shaking her head frantically, her golden eyes pleading for her to not open the door. Snowflake took in a deep shaky breath steadying her nerves as best she could for what she was about to do. Once she was sure she was calm enough, she turned the knob, and slowly opened the door, letting the cool night air fly right into her face, neck, and chest the more she opened it.

The mountain blue Pegasus had only opened the door so a few or so inches, before she felt the wooden appendage exploded right into her face first, before it sent her flying into the air and skid across the floor. Quickly shaking off the force of the impact, Snowflake scrambled to her hooves and flared her bat wings out in preparation to face her attacker. When the smoke cleared, her eyes to bulged and her jaw dropped when she saw who, or rather, what her attacker was.

“N-no way…” Crescent Shield stuttered, her golden eyes going wide in absolute disbelief as she took in the sight before her. “Is...is that a...a…!”

“I-It is!” Sheton squeaked, hind legs shaking as his tail tucked between his legs. “It’s a...T-T-T-T-Tantabus!”

The stormy grey colt was indeed right, for standing in front of Snowflake, was a large and fierce looking Tantabus, looking to be cut from the very essence of outer space. It was a deep royal blue in color, having pink, blue and yellow, stars in, with a set of gleaming green eyes adorning its face. It had a long-curved horn, looking a sharp and deadly as a samurai sword, with a fast set of wings rivaling even Goku’s own wings. Lastly, it had a gleaming orb of green like right in the center of its chest, and a flowing mane and tail that billowed behind it.

“Queen Luna send me to the Moon…” Snowflake whispered, her pupils contracting. “Is…is that what I t-think it is?”

“OH NO!” Dinky screamed, scrambling back from the creature now in the library. “THAT’S THE ONE! THAT’S THE ONE THAT ATTACKED MY AUNTIE CLOUD!”

“Tantabus…” Crescent Shield breathed; her eyes wide with terror as she stared right into the hungry eyes of the ethereal Alicorn like pony creature. Snowflake was so taken aback by the appearance of her invader, that she almost didn’t notice it hunch its body, before leaping into the air, heading straight towards her with its mouth agape.

“SNOWFLAKE WATCH OUT!!!” Sheton screamed as he watched the large blue creature fly towards his sister.

Thankfully, the mountain blue Thestral was able to snap out of her stupor long enough to see the Tantabus lunging straight at her. Just as it was about to pounce, Snowflake whirled around and launched her hindlegs out, slamming both of her hind hooves into the Tantabus’s chest, causing it to fly back and crashing to the floor. As the Tantabus recovered from the attack and Snowflake prepared to face it again, the clopping of hooves could be heard from behind her, Sheton, and Crescent Shield. A few seconds later, Spike came up with a large medical kit in his mouth.

Snowflake, I heard screaming! What’s going o-holy hay! It’s a Tantabus!” Spike began to ask, only to reel back in shock and terror and let out a scream of fright as his emerald eyes laid on the wooden canine. Right at that moment, Fire Flash came zooming downstairs.

“Hey! What the hay is with all of the screaming?!” The crimson filly demanded as she looked about the main room of the library. When her eyes landed on the Timberwolf, she instinctively flew back. “Holy bucking hay!”

“Spike stay back. Don’t come any closer.” Snowflake ordered, before she turned to the Fire Flash. “Fire Flash, you, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle go back upstairs, now.”

“What?! But Snowflake what about the-”

“I’ll deal with him myself!” Snowflake interrupted firmly, giving the fillies a stern look. “Now, go back upstairs and-”

“SNOWFLAKE LOOK OUT!!!” Cloud Kicker and Dinky screamed in unison as the former shot a bloodied hoof forward.

The mountain blue Thestral mare spun around just in time to see the Tantabus shoot of a bolt of magic at her, only for Snowflake to duck under it. Cloud Kicker the foals behind her screamed as the attack struck the bookshelf behind them, causing the books to scatter all over the air and fall to the ground. Snarling in anger, Snowflake flew at the Tantabus just as it was charging up another magical bolt and swung her right back wing at the claw ready to strike. A deep slash appeared across the Tantabus’s face, causing to emit a screech as it reared up in what seemed to be pain. Snowflake swung out with her other wing, aiming right for the Tantabus's stomach, but found herself flying back and tumbling across the floor as her right cheek exploded in pain.

“Snowflake!” Cloud cried. “Are you alright?”

“Other than my cheek and jaw, yes.” Came the mountain blue Thestral’s blunt reply as she rubbed at her cheek. She spat out a few lose teeth before pulling herself to her hooves and turning to the foals behind her and Midnight. “Sheton, Crescent, Spike, I want you to take Dinky, and go upstairs with the other girls and stay up there. Do not come back down until we tell you it’s safe, alright?”

None of the foals dared to argue with the older mare; they turned tail and galloped up the stairs, running past the other three fillies. Apple Bloom Sweetie Belle, and Fire Flash all looked back down at Snowflake, only to see the mare looking at them sternly. With one last glance towards the Tantabus, they also galloped up the stairs, leaving Snowflake and Cloud Kicker alone in the main room.

“Be careful Snowflake.” Cloud Kicker cautioned, pressing herself against the destroyed bookshelf. “This thing is strong; practically as strong as his other buddies outside. You two are going to have a tough time fighting him.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Snowflake frowned as she stepped in front of the bloodied persian mare. She glared bat wings, a greenish blue aura surrounding her bodies as they activated their Adrenaline Modes in preparation for a showdown.

Just before the Thestral mare was about to strike, a burst of moderate purple magic appeared in between her and the Tantabus, revealing it to be Amethyst. Around the same time, the Tantabus had fire off a bolt of magic at Snowflake planning to blow them away. Fortunately for her, Amethyst was already readying a bolt of magic of her own, and it clashed with the one of the Tantabus’s own. A powerful shockwave of magic burst throughout the library as it sent Snowflake flying back and land right on top of Cloud Kicker. The young Unicorn and Tantabus went on in their magical power struggle for a few moments, before the former upped the ante to decide the fight.

“You get the hay away from my friends and aunt!” She shouted angrily, a powerful pulse of electricity coming around her horn and morphing into her magic. It ran along it and went right into the Tantabus’s own before striking it in the head. This made it cancel out its attack, and it screeched out in pain as the electricity coursed through its body, freezing it in place. Amethyst, seeing another chance, immediately ignited her magic again but this time she added pulses of lightning to amplify her power.

“This is the end for you, asshole!” Amethyst shouted, firing off her attack again while the Tantabus was still rearing up. It struck it right in the chest, into the spot where the glowing orb of green was, shattering it into sparkling particles. Once that was destroyed, Amethyst let her magic consume the rest of the blue Tantabus’s form and sent it out of the library and into the streets of Ponyville. The moment it was gone, Amethyst encased the library door in her magic and shut it with an echoing slam.

“There, that should take care of that bastard for a while.” Amethyst snorted, taking a few recovering breaths. Once she managed to collect herself, she looked back over at Snowflake and Cloud Kicker, reeling back when she saw the latter’s condition. “Holy shit, Aunt Cloud Kicker what the hay happened to you?!”

“I got myself into some grimy shit, that’s what.” Came the persian mare’s dry reply. “Despite that, I’m glad to see what you’re still alive and in one nice piece, unlike me.” A worried look came to her face as she noticed one other pony missing. “Where’s Blossomforth?”

“She’s gone back to the Town Square; we had gotten into a fight with one of those creatures while we were heading here, but we managed to defeat it.” Amethyst replied, holding a hoof up stop her aunt from saying anything. “Speaking of which, there’s something that I need to tell you-”

“BIG SIS!”

Before Amethyst even realized it, she found herself on the floor back first as a violet blur shot out and collided with her. Once she managed to get her barring’s she looked down and saw Dinky hugging her tightly, sobbing into her chest fluff.

“Big sis, you’re finally here!” Dinky cried; her voice muffled as she nuzzled the older Unicorn. “I thought that it was going to take longer for you to make it!”

“D…Dinky!” Amethyst said, temporarily forgetting about what she had found out. She sat up on her haunches and hugged the filly to her. “Jeez Dinks, what’s gotten into you? I get that you’re glad to see me again but keep it together with the waterworks, will you? You don’t need to be crying every time you see me.”

“I think she has every right to cry regardless of the situation.” Cloud Kicker said firmly, casting a stern look at her eldest niece. “Dinky and her friends nearly got crushed under a roof, found her mother in the same state, nearly got obliterated by manifested ponies, and was worried sick about both of you for the past twenty-five minutes.” She crossed her forehooves. “After all that, I certainly would be bawling my eyes out like Dinks is, and I know for a fact that you would be too. Not everypony is ‘tough’ like you are Amethyst, so cut the poor girl some slack and just let her get it out.”

The magenta purple Unicorn flinched a guilty look coming to her face. “R-right sorry…”

“Anyway…” Cloud Kicker sighed. “What is it that you wanted to tell us again?”

“Oh, right.” Amethyst nodded, getting up to her hooves. “I had found something out about the creatures that me and Blossomforth had fought back at the Town Square that you guys really need to know. The ones that also broke in the Town Square and fought Shining Armor before me, Aunt Cloud, Blossomforth and Dinky had all come here. I think it’ll really help you guys in beating these things and not have an outlasting fight with them.”

“We have something about them that we need to tell you too, dear, but it can wait for a few minutes.” Snowflake said, glancing over at Cloud Kicker. “Right now, we need to get your aunt up to Twilight’s room and get her injuries fixed up before they get worse.”

Cloud Kicker’s ears flattened against her head, a look of hesitance morphing onto her face. “Are you sure that Twilight would be okay with that? I don’t want to impose.”

“It’s fine dear. With everything that’s happened, Twilight will understand.” Snowflake said reassuringly, putting a hoof on the persian blue mare’s shoulder. “Once she and her friends are back from her mission, I’ll explain everything to her, and it’ll all be good.”

“Okay...if you say so.” Cloud replied, hesitantly giving in.

“Good. Now, let’s get you upstairs, shall we?” Snowflake asked sweetly as she gently lifted the mare on her back. “Dinky, could you help me carry your auntie to upstairs please?”

“O-okay!” Dinky replied as trotted over and joined the Thestral mare at her side, slinging her right forearm over her shoulder. “Come on big sis!”

“Right behind you Dinks.” Amethyst murmured, trotting over to Snowflakes left side and repeating Dinky’s actions. With a much gentleness as they could muster, they all carried the injured Pegasus mare up the stairs where the foals were waiting. Just before they reached the top, Snowflake looked back behind her at the nearest window down below.

‘I never expected things to get this bad this quickly. First Nightmare Moon appears, and now we have Tantabuses invading the town. I really hope that things get better soon, or we may have a real problem on our hooves.’ The mountain blue Thestral though, a knot forming in her gut as her ears flattened. ‘Midnight, Goku I hope you hurry back, and please...come back to us alive.’

Author's Notes:

I think I can safely say that this chapter had a combination of changes to it, while at the same time still having some semblance of what it was the last time that I wrote it. A majority of the beginning of this chapter was change from what it was last time, with some points changed here and there, such as Cloud Kicker and Dinky being the ones that'd arrive at the Golden Oaks Library, and Amethyst being the next one to arrive in the midst of the fight between Snowflake and the Tantabus. It went somewhat the same way as it did with the Timberwolves, but now it has the Tantabuses in it, and we have a new little face to join the rest of the foals.

I would also like to point out that I had almost added Midnight into this chapter, but I had remembered that I had put her with the Apple Family and was having her help them defend the farm! So glad that I had caught myself nearly doing that at the end of the chapter, otherwise that would've turned out really badly for me...I'm gonna have to watch myself when I do things like that. Don't what to have another series of mistakes like the ones I made making the first version of this story.

Well, that's all for this chapter for now everypony; next time we're getting back to the Shadowbolts and the Main Seven, with the latter having a vicious encounter with a bloodthirsty army!!!