While Zephyr and the girls all recovered from their fight with the Timberwolves, and tried to figure out how to help Fluttershy, the Tantabus fight in Ponyville was still going on. It seemed that the forces on the nightmarish creatures was dimming somewhat, but only by a small amount. Some of the guards that were spread throughout Ponyville had manage to find out the Tantabuses weakness and destroy them on the spot, thus ending their fight. Even so they weren’t really able to figure out what it was before the Tantabuses and the cores disintegrated in the mist, thus leaving them unable to help their fellow guards. Luckily for them, they, along with their captain, were about to get some much-needed news about their adversaries, and how to defeat them for good.

Meanwhile, back at the Golden Oaks Library, Amethyst, Cloud Kicker, and Snowflake, Spike, and the rest of the foals were still secluded inside of the Golden Oaks Library. All of them were still resigned in Twilights room, away from the danger of the Tantabuses that were still trying to get through the shield. Amethyst’s shield was strong, and she knew that it could hold up for long periods of time, but even her magic had its limits. She knew it wouldn’t be very long before they needed to make a hasty get away, unaware of the elusive savior currently on their way.

Spike watched as Amethyst groaned in slight pain as she rubbed the mid-section of her horn feeling a small, yet painful ache coursing through her head. He stared out the window at the flock of Tantabuses that were trying to get through her shield, and dread began to fill his little tummy, making him feel queasy. The mulberry purple Kirin was aware that it wouldn’t be long before the shield finally gave way to the powerful creatures, and when it did, they’d be in real trouble. Spike wasn’t entirely without hope or confidence though, for he knew that he had the adult Unicorn, her aunt and Snowflake there to help them. Though the latter would take a little bit more time to fully recover before she jumped back into the game, and Spike knew it.

Despite this, Spike knew from the last fight that these Tantabuses were not to be taken lightly, a lesson that Twilight taught him about combat. He knew that it was going to take much more than four ponies to go against a whole flock of those creatures. He also knew that it was going to take a considerable amount of power from all of them in order to keep him Sheton, and the other fillies safe from those creatures. That was why Spike made a solemn vow right then and there that he’d do his very best to protect Sheton and the fillies from these monsters, as a both as a Dragon, even though he was only half, and as their friend.

Another groan from Amethyst drew Spike’s attention back to her, and he watched as she leaned against the bookshelf next to the door. Her face was contorted in pain, and from the way that she was rubbing at her horn let him know that the magic she was using was really putting a toll on her. He had seen it happen whenever he and Twilight helped each other with their combat magic in the training room below the library, and effects afterward. So Spike knew all too well how much of a painful side effect that using so much magic would bring. Still, that didn’t help him from wanting to ease Amethyst's pain, and, after a couple of moments of watching her tiredly lie there, he decided to do just that.

“Hey, Amethyst...” He said gently, walking over to the Unicorn mare. “Are you okay?”

Amethyst’s ears perked upon hearing the young dragon pony hybrid’s childish voice, and she looked up to see his reptilian eyes staring back at her. In spite of the pain her head was in, she managed to crack a weak smile towards the Kirin. “Hey there kiddo, good to see that you and the others are still up. As for if I’m okay, well…I am mostly.”

“Let me guess, it’s your horn that’s hurting you from the use of such an abundant amount of magic?” Spike asked, even though he already knew the answer. “And the reason why you’re looking so tuckered out is because it’s beginning to take its toll on you.”

“Sharp as the diamonds on my flank Spike.” Amethyst chuckled, slowly lifting her head up, her mane falling over most of her face. “You totally take after Twilight alright…I can see why you always refer to her as your big sis, like me and Dinky.”

“Yeah well, Twilight did look after me for the last four years that I was here.” Spike said, crossing his forehooves as a soft blush came to his cheeks. “I picked up an abundance of stuff from her, so I’m bound to pick up on things like this.”

“Yeah, you sure are.” Amethyst said, reaching over and gingerly patting the draconic colt on his head. “Anyway, is coming over and checking on me the only thing you came here to do? Or did you want to come over and give me a warm cuddle using that body heat of yours?”

The blush on Spike’s face grew darker as his draconic ears pinned back. “Please don’t tempt me…once I cuddle with somepony, it’s almost impossible to get me to let go.” He admitted bashfully, earning a laugh from Amethyst. “Still, I can’t really stand to see you in pain like this, so I’m going to help ease it!”

“Um Spike…” Amethyst said, somewhat apprehensively. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t think burning my body to a pile of ashes is going to help me get rid of this headache.”

“That’s now what I meant, and you know it!” Spike squeaked, his cheeks puffing into a put as he glared at the magenta purple Unicorn. “I was going to go get you an ice pack to help you with that headache. Especially since you’re using so much magic to formulate that shield around the exterior of the library.”

Amethyst’s eyes widened slightly. “S-seriously?” She asked, her pain vanishing slightly at the thought of having something cool atop her head. Another flash from the window broke her out of her stupor, reminding her of what was going on right now. “A-actually that’s okay, you don’t need to.”

“Nuh-uh, don’t even go there!” Spike interrupted, jamming his little hoof onto Amethyst’s muzzle. “I am getting you an icepack to cool your brain, so you don’t pass out! The last thing that we need is for you to lose consciousness because you refused an icepack that’ll help you from overheating, especially with all of those Tantabuses out there! And I will be damned, if I let you or anypony else here die because one of you didn’t accept help when you really needed it!”

With that, Spike turned tail and trotted away towards the kit that he had brought up into Twilight’s bedroom, leaving a speechless Amethyst where she was. A soft chuckle made her look over to see Snowflake sitting with the rest of the foals and boring an amused smile.
“What’s so funny?” Amethyst asked, her eyes narrowing. “Are you laughing because of how shitty I look in this state?”

“Why of course not dear, I’m laughing because of how cute it was to see you submitting to Spike when he offered to help you.” Snowflake replied; her tone too casual for the younger mare’s liking. “Then again, that is our little Spikey for you. Once he sees somepony in dire need of assistance, he’s not going to stop until they accept it.”

“Yeah, I kind of knew that already.” Amethyst snorted as Spike trotted back over with the icepack in claw. “I was given a clear example when he came over to my house for a playdate with Dinky and helped her in making muffins for my Mom.”

“That you were indeed!” Spike chirped, gently setting the icepack on Amethyst’s head. “And that should let you know that no matter what happens, I’m always going to lend a hoof and claw to anypony who needs it! Just like how I’m gonna help Twilight with anything in her library, even if it means making it spic and span! That’s what it means to be a Kirin after all; being there for all who need it, right Sheton?”

“W-well, I’m actually a mix of a Kirin and the Thestral, a-and I haven’t unlocked my Kirin powers yet.” The stormy grey colt replied timidly. “B-but yeah, y-you have a point there, Spike.”

“You know that we didn’t really have to pick up every single thing off of the ground, right Spike?” Apple Bloom asked, setting a few books on the shelf. “I mean, it’s not like Twilight’s really going to care what state her room is in.”

“I know that Apple Bloom. It’s just that with all that’s happened, and everything that may happen, I don’t really want to leave Twilight with any more work than she already has.” Spike replied, his ears pinning back somewhat. “It’s bad enough that she leaves a mess of books in the main part of the library whenever she’s studying, and needs me to help her clean it up. The last thing that either of us to need to deal with a mess that was unintentionally made in her room, let along what’s happening outside.”

“Awww, that’s so sweet Spike!” Sweetie Belle cooed. “I knew that you cared about Twilight, but this is on a whole other level. You really do love her, don’t you?”

“W-well yeah of course I do.” Spike replied, another blush promptly making its way to his scaly face. “B-besides Moondancer, s-she’s my big sis, and I’d do anything for her. I am her Number One Assistant after all.”

“And their cute little brother!” Crescent added, trotting over and hugging the colt. “And my amazing big brother, don’t forget that!”

“Um, I don’t mean to stop this little mushy moment, but…” Fire Flash suddenly said, raising a hoof up. “Who the hay is Moondancer?”

“Huh?” Sheton asked, looking over at Crescent and back at the crimson filly. “Wait, you’ve never heard of Moondancer before?”

Fire Flash shook her head. “No, I haven’t, and I don’t think any of us have either.” She replied, looking over at the rest of her friends, who also gave their own headshakes. “Is she another friend of yours?”

“Well, yeah, but it’s a bit more complicated than that.” Crescent replied, breaking away from her hugging of Spike. “You see, Moondancer is…Twilight’s twin sister, and my other big sister as well.”

“What?!” Apple Bloom exclaimed her eyes widening as she leapt to her feet. “Twilight has another sister?! Ah thought she only had you an’ her older brother as her siblings!”

“Um, Apple Bloom.” Sweetie Belle said sharply, jamming an elbow into her side and pointing at a frowning Spike.

“O-oh, sorry.” She said apologetically. “Ah thought she only had you her brother and Spike as yer siblin’s Crescent.”

“Yeah well, I really don’t…I have another sister who’s around the same age as Twilight.” The ocean blue filly said sheepishly. “Although, me and Twilight don’t really talk about her very often…at least, not Twilight.”

“S-she doesn’t?” Scootaloo asked. “W-why not? D-do they not g-get along?”

“Oh no, they do! They really do!” Crescent replied quickly. “I-it’s just, um…Moondancer and Twilight have a bit of a delicate relationship with one another. Don’t get me wrong, they do love each other as much as any sisters would, but…” She looked down at her wings, ruffling them as feathers shook in response to the movement. “…they do have their difficulties.”

“What do you mean by that?” Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head. “Was Moondancer not as skilled as magic as Twilight is?”

“No, that’s not it.” Spike replied, lying next to Amethyst. “Both Twilight and Moondancer were excellent at magic. So much so that they were both accepted into Celestia’s School for Gifted Ponies and they excelled at everything. They were also very pretty too, and did get a lot of colts, and…y-yeah, they did get a lot of colts asking them on d-dates.” He paused to shoot a heated glare over at Amethyst upon hearing her laughter behind him. “T-the reason why they had their difficulties is because they weren’t born quite as normal.”

“…Oh, I think see.” Sweetie Belle said, her expression slowly softened. She looked in between Crescent’s wings and horn, recognition clicking in her sharp mind. “You’re trying to tell us that Twilight and Moondancer…weren’t quite born the same? Like you?”

The ocean blue filly nodded, her wavy purple mane falling over her face as she lowered her head. “Mhm…and it’s because of that, that Moondancer doesn’t really like to socialize with others. Not unless they’re me, the Queen, Twilight, Shining Armor, Mom and Dad, Spike, or even Sheton and his family. Because they’re the only ones she knows without any wavering doubt who won’t judge her for her appearance and accept her for not only who, but what she was.” She looked up at all of her friends, her golden eyes becoming slightly glazed. “Shining, Mom, Dad, and even Spike and me, have tried all that we could to get her to come out and be more open about herself, but…nothing worked.”

“O-oh…that p-poor m-mare…to have to go through all that, j-just because she wasn’t b-born like a-anypony else here.” Scootaloo murmured, a sympathetic frown on her face as she too caught on. “…t-that m-must’ve been r-really hard on h-her.”

“It was.” Sheton sighed, pulling his fedora over his head. “No matter what we did, Moondancer never opened up to anypony other than Twilight and my family. Not even the few friends that Twilight had back in Canterlot were able to get through to her, so…we eventually left her be, and she and Twilight hadn’t spoken since. Crescent Shield and Spike would sometimes go to Canterlot and visit her in Canterlot whenever they get the chance, and she always welcomed it, along with me. Other than that…she never left the city because of the fear she has of ponies judging her for her…secret.”

“Secret?” Fire Flash asked, a frown coming to her face. “What kind of secret does she have that keeps her from leaving the town she lives in? If you ask me, it just sounds like she’s being a big scardey cat that’s too afraid to make a few friends.”

“That may be what you think Fire Flash,” Snowflake said calmly, yet and firmly. “but for us, Sheton, Spike and especially Crescent Shield, it’s much more than that. Moondancer is a very self-conscious young mare that’s had nothing but discrimination and torment thrown at her all her life, just like Twilight and not just because of her secret either. Believe me, Moondancer has tried her very hardest to open herself up to others, but after being given so much unfair hate and torment from those around her, it’s no surprise that she’s the way she is now. So, I think she can be forgiven for feeling less than motivated to socialize.”

Fire Flash snorted, crossing her forearms as she looked away. “Yeah whatever…it still makes her seem like scaredy cat to me.”

“Yeah well, not everypony isn’t a scardey cat like you Fire Flash.” Spike growled, glaring up at the crimson filly. “Everypony has their own fears and insecurities, Twilight especially, even if it’s something as harmless as making a few friends here and there. So, it’s not any surprise to us that Moondancer doesn’t like socializing very much, and that also doesn’t give you the right to judge others because of that. And the sooner you stop judging others because they’re not like you, the sooner you’ll stop acting like such a jerk all the time!”

Apple Bloom nodded, grinning approvingly at Spike. “Took the words right outta mah mouth.”

“Exactly!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “Thank you Spike!”

“Mhm.” Scootaloo mumbled, frowning up at her fellow Pegasus.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.” Fire Flash murmured rolling her eyes. “Assholes…”

“We heard that.” Sheton and Snowflake said in unison, both baring their fangs at the filly.

Suddenly, a bright flash of light blasted its way through the window, burning at such intensity that it nearly blinded everypony, Sheton especially. Cloud Kicker and Dinky, who had fallen asleep at some point, was also woken by the light, both having been facing the window. Cloud was the first to get up she was adjusting her eyes to the light outside. As Dinky groggily came to, it suddenly vanished, followed by the sound of shattering glass.

“Whoa, what in the…?” She groaned as she sat up. “What the heck hay was that?! It felt like somepony had just blared a light right into my damn face!”

“A light? B-by who?” Dinky asked tiredly, still somewhat sleepy. “What’s going on big sis?”

“I-I…I think that was my shield!” Amethyst groaned as she grasped at her horn. Throwing the ice back to the ground, she got to her hooves, a look of grimness etched onto her face. “Those damn Tantabus things must’ve finally managed to get through my shield!”

“They what?!” Dinky cried, her eyes shooting wide open as all sleep left her system. “I-if they did that, then that means that they’re gonna get inside the library!”

“Which means that we’re going to need to make a break for it.” Snowflake added, before looking over at Spike. “Spike, does Twilight’s library have anywhere where we can go and confine ourselves in?”

“U-um, yeah we do!” Spike said, quickly getting into gear. “T-there’s a big training room deep under the library were Twilight and I go to practice our magic. If we hurry and run down there, we might be able to avoid the Tantabuses for a little bit longer.”

Snowflake nodded in acceptance at this, and was about to rally all of the foals with her, when Dinky suddenly shouted, “AUNTIE CLOUD!!! GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW!!!”

The two colts and six fillies all jumped at the urgency and fear in the Unicorn filly’s tone, and they all turned to her to ask her what was wrong. They didn’t get the chance, for Dinky was already making her way out to the bed, Cloud Kicker encased in a golden aura of magic as she was all but yanked out of it. Cloud only had time to cry out in surprise before something shot through the broken window like a cannonball and slammed into the bookshelf next to the bed. Amethyst, Spike, Sheton, Crescent Shield, and the other fillies gave out loud cries of surprise and fear as they ran for cover, dust obscuring their vision as it spread throughout the bedroom and enveloped all in its path. The sound of books and glass appendages could he heard falling and smashing to the ground as everypony waited with bated breath to see what had crashed through the window.

Dinky fought back a cry of pain as she shook from the sharp pin pricks of pain stabbing into her back from the wood on the floor, all the while fighting the throbbing pain in her head due to slamming it against the wall. She could feel the weight of her aunt on top of her for a few moments before the Pegasus scrambled to her feet. As the dust began to clear, everypony managed to find each other amidst the dust, and formed into one big group.

“Dinky! What the bucking hay did you do tha-?!” Cloud asked indignantly, only for the words to die in her throat when she saw just what had crashed into the room. “Oh shit…”

“O-oh no!” Scootaloo squeaked, latching tightly to Sheton. “N-not again!”

“You have got to be bucking KIDDING ME!!!” Fire Flash all but screamed, her golden eyes flashing as she glared at the red Tantabus now in the room. “Haven’t we had enough of these stupid things already?!”

“How in the hay did it get this high inside the treehouse?!” Apple Bloom asked, backing away as far as she could from the canine. “Scratch that, how did it know exactly where to find us?!

“I-it must’ve been able to sense each of our magic emitting from the interior of the room!” Crescent cried, her whole body shaking. “It’s the only way to explain who it was able to find us here!”

“Well, magic finder thing or not, I’m sick and tired of these things trying to get us every chance they get!” Fire Flash snorted. “I’m gonna show them what we ponies are really made of!”

“Fire Flash, NO!” Sweetie Belle screamed as she shot a hoof out.

Luckily for the crimson filly, Sheton and lunged and grabbed her by the tail before she could even get halfway through the room. With a swift yank, he pulled her into him and grasped her around her barrel before she could even attempt to get away.

“Dammit, let go of me Sheton!” Fire Flash snarled, struggling violently against the younger colt’s surprisingly strong grip. “I’m gonna kick this things’ ass!”

“Not a chance Fire Flash!” Sheton hissed. “You saw how powerful those things were when they came inside the library the first time! I’m not gonna let you get killed!”

At that moment, the Tantabus screeched and fired off a violet bolt of magic at the three mares and foals on the other side of the room. They screamed as the bolt of fire soared towards them, but Dinky immediately, yet instinctively went off the offensive. By pure instinct, she fired off a powerful bolt of magic right at the Tantabus’s own, causing them both to clash. Before anypony knew it, the filly’s magic was eating up the Tantabus’s own, until it hit the tip of the Tantabuses horn, causing it to screech in pain. It staggered back as pain course through its ethereal body, while the ponies in the corner just looked on in shock.

“Wha…what was that?” Dinky said, once she came out of her shocked state. “Did I really just do that?!”

“Heh, you sure did sis; and it bought us some time!” Amethyst grinned, levitating her younger sister onto her back. “Come on everypony, let’s get out of here!”

Snowflake, Cloud Kicker and the other foals didn’t need to be told a second time, as Amethyst whipped the door open and hightailed of Twilight’s bed room. Her friends, Crescent Shield, Sheton, and the other mares not too far behind as they made their way out of the room and away from the Tantabus.

“Whoa, that was a really close call back there! For a second I thought that I was really gonna get blasted into apple sauce” Apple Bloom exclaimed as she struggled to catch her breath. “Thanks a lot for that Dinky, we owe you big time for that one!”

“Y-yeah, I’m glad I could help.” Dinky stuttered, still marveling at what she had just done. “I-I still don’t know how did that though!”

“Me neither, but whatever happened to make you shot off that much magic really saved our hides!” Cloud Kicker smirked. “Your mom is so going to be over the moon when she finds out what you did!”

“I don’t doubt that.” Snowflake nodded. “Remind me to have Twilight and Derpy make arrangements for you to take magic lessons from her.”

The group suddenly found themselves running down the stairs towards the entrance of the library, only for Amethyst to stop them all. There, inside the main room of the library, were several Tantabuses, prowling their way through the interior of the treehouse.

“Oh no, now we’re trapped!” Sheton cried, pulling his fedora down around his face. “What’re we gonna do now?!”

“The...t-t-the balcony.” Spike said, tugging hard on Snowflake’s curly mane. “W-we can can escape through the balcony!”

“Twilight has a balcony in her library?” Snowflake asked, her tone carrying some surprise.

“Yes, I know where it is from here!” Spike replied as he began to back away. “Come on guys, follow me! It’s just down this hallway!”

“Alright kiddo, lead the way!” Amethyst all but commanded, earning a nod from the purple colt as he turned tail and raced down the hallway. As the mountain blue Thestral, the other two mares, and the other foals followed Spike through the upper part of the library, they could hear the sound of the Tantabuses making their way through the tree to where they were. They all knew that it was only a matter of time before the ethereal creatures caught up to them, and they wanted to buy themselves as much time as possible to escape.

Eventually, after just a couple of minutes of searching, the party of eight found themselves inside of another room, presumably Spike’s, by the way it was made and decorated. They didn’t have any time to take it in however, as the young colt made his way to the sliding glass door and practically tore it open, causing the room to shake slightly. He leaped out the door and onto the rather large balcony the others following right behind him as Spike slid it shot with an audible rattle.

“Okay, I got it shut, I didn’t see any of them behind us, so I think we should be safe for a bit.” Spike said urgently, trying to keep himself as calm as possible as he turned to Snowflake, Cloud and Amethyst. “What do we do now?”

Snowflake immediately made her way to the end of the balcony, and took in the side of even more houses stretching from the back of the Golden Oaks Library. Not only that, she could also see it was devoid of any Tantabuses, at least form where she was standing.

“I can see some houses not too far from where we were.” Snowflake finally replied, looking over at the foals. “There’s also a dirt trail leading away from the library to them, so we shouldn’t have any trouble getting to them.”

“A-a-are there any Tantabuses down there?” Dinky asked, taking an apprehensive step back. “If there are I’m not setting hoof off of here.”

“No sweetheart, there aren’t. There’s no need to worry. I don’t see any here from where I’m standing.” Cloud replied, giving her niece a reassuring smile. It soon faded from her lips as she addressed the other foals, her tone calm, yet instructive. “Alright kids, we’re gonna head off of the balcony and make our way to those houses. Those of you that can fly, I want you to carry the ones that can’t, and carry them until we reach the ground okay?”

“Got it!” Fire Flash, Crescent Shield, and Sheton all replied in unison, while Scootaloo stayed silent.

“Wait second…” Cloud Kicker said as she hoisted her sister onto her back. “Where are we going to go if there are more of those things out there? We’re not going to be able to fight them all off with just three of us, and I highly doubt all the foals here will stand much of a fighting chance against them.”

“I’m aware of that Cloud.” Snowflake nodded. “Which is why, once we’re sure there aren’t any Tantabuses where we’re going, we’re going to make a beeline for Sweet Apple Acres. From where I’m standing, none of the Tantabuses have made their way there. So, I’m sure that it’ll be relatively safe for us there.” Her ears pinned back. “It’s the only safe place I can think of to go at this rate, now that Twilight’s treehouse is no longer safe.”

“Yeah, you make a good point.” Cloud nodded, looking back at the foals. “Now that I think about it, that is the best choice. Granny Smith’s been wanting to see little Dinky again fer a while now, and I know her coming to visit will brighten up her day.”

Amethyst chuckled. “Can’t argue with that.”

The sound and sight of a bolt of magic blasting apart the sliding glass door and soaring through the are caused the group to scream out in terror. They looked behind them to see one of the Tantabuses inside Spike’s room, peering at them with its blazing magical eyes.

“Oh no, they found us!” Spike shouted, hopping onto Amethyst’s back. “Come on guys, let’s book it!”

The next thing that the purple Kirin and everypony else knew, there was an explosion as the Tantabus fired off another bolt of magic. This one was more powerful than the first, so much so that it destroyed nearly all of Spike’s entire balcony. He and everypony else spiraled through the air, his keen ears picking up the sounds of his friends screaming in terror and pain, before they crashed to the hard and unforgiving ground. As they slowly regained their senses, Spike took noticed of the other foals lying on the ground in random parts around him, each of them looking to be battered and bruised. He also noticed Snowflake, Cloud and Amethyst standing in front of all of them, their wings flared, and horn ignited, all standing in a protective stance.

“Ugh, Snowflake?” Spike asked as he slowly got up to his feet. “Are you and everypony else okay?”

“Kids, get behind us, now.” Snowflake commanded, not taking her eyes off of the canines in front of her. “If you keep lying spread out like that, one of them will snatch you up. Get behind me, quickly!”

The foals didn’t need to be told a third time. With a great amount of effort due to the pain from the collision from both the Tantabus and the ground, they all got to their hooves and got behind the three mares. All seven of them huddled into a large group and clinging tightly to each other as they watched Snowflake, Cloud and her eldest niece stare down the winged horned creatures

“Sis, be careful...one of them nearly got you back inside the library.” Sheton whimpered as he stared up at his sister. “If even one of them manages to catch you off guard…”

“Don’t worry little brother, I’ve learned from my last mistake. I’m not gonna let my guard down again, or am I gonna give the element of surprise, not that they really can.” Snowflake replied; her ears pinned firmly against her head. “Although, this also means that I’m going to have to take this up a notch.”

“Are you all going to ascend?” Sweetie Belle asked, noticing the auras surrounding their bodies.

“Yes.” Cloud replied. “Don’t really have any other option at this point...except to hope that this move works.”

“Well, by all means go for it!” Fire Flash encouraged. “Besides, I haven’t seen really seen you that much and action, and something tells me that you have a hay of a lot more up you’re wings!”

“Um, I don’t think any o’ them will be able t’ show us how awesome they are Fire Flash.” Apple Bloom said slowly, her eyes focused on the sky.

“Why’s that Apple Bloom?” Crescent asked.

“‘Cause, Ah see a flock of swords headed down right for us!” The farm filly replied, the last three words turning into a shriek of terror as she pointed a white stocked hoof upward.

Snowflake, Cloud, Amethyst and the other foals immediately snapped their heads upward to where Apple Bloom was pointing, and sure enough, a flock of purple swords could be seen shoot down towards where they were. Before any of them could make a move, they shot down all around in a large circle, in perfect unison, as a purple shockwave burst out from the circle of sword, colliding with the Timberwolves and sending them flying back.

“What...what in the-” Snowflake began, but was cut off when she saw a large stallion land in front of her, adorned in dark purple and lavender armor, with no helmet. She instinctively staggered back, nearly crashing into the foals behind her as she took in the sight of the Thestral in front of her. When she got a full look of who it was, however, a sharp gasp let her throat.

“No way…” She whispered as the stallion slowly stood upright. “T-that can’t be-!”

“Moon Blade?!” Sheton cried, his own eyes going wide.

“Well, looks like I made it just in the nick of time.” The stallion replied softly, his voice low and refined. “Though I must admit, I wasn’t expecting to find a few mares and a group of foals in this part of the town.”

“Who…” Amethyst asked, once she was able to find her voice. “Who...areyou?”

The stallion looked over at the magenta purple Unicorn, the two pools of red in his eyes piercing right into her moderate purple ones. “Normally, introductions would be the least of my concerns when it comes to saving another pony, especially if it’s that of a mare. It is what a proper stallion should do, after all.” He grinned, his vampiric fangs glistening in the moonlight around them. “However, since you’re so shocked that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, it’s only fair that I answer your question.”

The ghostly white stallion turned around to face the mare and foals, lifting a plated off and putting it to his chest. “Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Moon Blade Nightstalker Cifer, Captain of the Lunar Division.” Moon Blade said politely, bowing down to Snowflake, Cloud and Amethyst as if they were princesses. “It is lovely to meet your acquaintance, my dear ladies…especially yours, my dear Snowflake.”

Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up at the stallion’s words. “Cifer?” She murmured softly.

“Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, wait! Hold on, back up!” Cloud Kicker shouted, her gaze snapping over to Snowflake. “You know this hunk of hotness?!”

Snowflake blushed as Moon Blade chuckled, her cheeks going as red as the Thestral stallion’s eyes. “Er, yes, I do…h-he’s the stallion that became the next Lunar Captain after my mother had retired from it. I-I’ve known him since I was just a filly, thanks to my mother introducing me to him, a-and we’ve sort of bee friends ever since then.”

“I see…no wonder you recognized him as soon as you saw him.” Amethyst replied dumbly, before looking back up at Moon Blade. “If…I may ask...why are you here? How did you even find us?”

“I was sent here by Queen Celestia herself. She had told us of a...situation that was occurring in this rather quaint little town, and had us come down here to see what was going on.” Moon Blade replied, holding his right hoof out as the tip glowing a deep ethereal purple. “I must say, I was rather surprised as to the number of Timberwolves that were infesting this town! I knew that there were quite a few but I didn’t think there’d be this many! The Everfree Forest must be more adaptable than I thought…”

The stallion cleared his throat as the swords surrounding him, Snowflake, and the foals all tore out of the ground and formed into a large aura of magic, which retreated back into his hoof. “As for how I found you...well, let’s just say that I happened to notice you out and about on this part of the town while me and my fellow soldiers were scouring the area.”

“I see.” Cloud replied, a sensual undertone coating her voice. “So, I’m assuming that your hot piece of ass saw what was going on at the library.”

“Well…more or less.” Moon Blade replied, chuckling at the persian blue mare’s rather vulgar compliment. “I had a feeling that something bad was going on in there due to the amount of power emitting from the direction hat I was in. As a stallion who trusts his gut, I just had to come investigate to see what was going on.” His eyes locked on to the foals, who were all staring back up at him with wide eyes, Sheton’s especially. “And I’m oh so very glad that I did.”

“Um, dude, not to be rude or interrupt your little flirting moment,” Fire Flash interjected. “But I would like to point out the fact that there are still Tantabuses here!”

“Do not worry little one, I am perfectly aware that were still technically in danger.” Moon Blade replied calmly stepping away from Snowflake and the foals. “Which is why I must ask you all to please get down on the ground.”

“Why?” Spike asked curiously as the stallion turned his back to them.

“So none of you will get too dirty or messy from what I’m.” Moon Blade replied, his crimson eyes flashing as he glared at the Timberwolves.

Before Snowflake or any of the foals could ask what he meant, the Tantabuses suddenly lunged at the ghostly white stallion, their large wings beating hard as they snarled and screeched. Mood Blade stood where he was, waiting for the creatures to come within range, before he too attacked. He darted off to the left before stopping and diving down under the Timberwolves, flaring out one of his large bat-like wings and letting it slice across the chests of a few of them.

Just a moment later, those few Tantabuses screeched as they felt themselves slowly disintegrating into starry mist. Moon Blade then leaped over their melting forms and flew straight towards Tantabus that were behind the mares and foals, lashing out with his clawed wings and slashing at them. He sliced through their wings as they tried to block him, which earned him howls of pain from the creatures as he and stabbed them through their chests with his wing claws.

All eight ponies watched with wide eyes and gaping mouths as Moon Blade took out the first few Timberwolves with relative ease. They didn’t have very much time to marvel at his skill however, and before they knew it, he was already his way to the other Tantabuses, weaving in and out of their claws, teeth. He used his wings and his armor to block their magical blasts, before going back on offense and resuming to destroying their cores.

Eventually, after what seemed like an endless cycle of slashing and stabbing to the eight spectators, which was only no more than a few minutes, each and every single one of the Tantabuses were beaten. Moon Blade stood over all of them, his head lowered and his large bat-wings spread to their fullest span, allowing all those around him to see his membranes glisten in the moonlight sky. The ghostly white stallion watched as all of the Tantabuses slowly melted and dissolved, giving out their final agonized screeches before vanishing into mist.

“Well...that was quite the quick fight, wasn’t it?” Moon Blade asked his gaping spectators, never losing his warm refined tone. “I honestly wasn’t to go on that quick. Then again, not all battles last very long.”

“Whoa...that was amazing!” Spike exclaimed, his shock giving way to amazement as a wide grin came to his face. “I’ve never seen anypony move that fast before! You took them out like it was nothing, and in such a short amount of time!”

“Well, I don’t like to toot my own horn, as a proper gentlecolt should, but let’s just say that I did learn from the best.” The ghostly white stallion said with a chuckle as he folded his wings. “Are any of you okay? They didn’t try to get at you while I was dealing with them, did they?”

“No, we’re fine!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, giving Moon Blade a sweet smile. “I do have to agree with Spike though! What you did back there was incredible! And you didn’t use anything, but you’re wings to do it!”

Moon Blade chuckled, giving a flex of sed appendages. “Yes well, not everypony needs to use a sword to do the cutting. Another upside to being a Thestral instead of a Pegasus, Unicorn, or an Earth Pony…no offense to any of you young ones.”

“N-none taken.” Scootaloo said softly, giving a ruffle of her wings.

“Anyway, I think that about wraps up things her.” Moon Blade said, bringing the bright orange filly, and everypony else out of their train of thought. “If you don’t mind Snowflake, I would like to have you all escorted safely to wherever you were planning on going. I want to make sure that no unnecessary surprises meet you there on the way.”

“Oh! Um...yes, of course. I don’t mind at all.” Amethyst, using a hoof to brush some of her mane out of her face. “Thank you for saving us by the way...we really appreciate it.”

“It was no trouble Lady Snowflake. Any other proper stallion would’ve done the same thing if they were in my potation.” Mood Blade said with a bow. “Now, do any of you have any suggestions as to where I can take you?”

Cloud Kicker grinned saucily, walking closer to the larger winged flyer. “Well, we were planning on going to Sweet Apple Acres for some R&R once we managed to get far away from our group of pursuers.” She reached up and put a hoof on the stallion’s armored chest, raising her muzzle up to his. “I was afraid that we’d get killed by those Tantabuses, but after you stepped in and saved us so heroically, I feel like a huge weight’s been lifted off my chest. I don’t think any of us can thank you properly for that…especially me~.”

Amethyst groaned, her hoof flying to her face as Snowflake sweat dropped. ‘Are you bucking kidding me?!’

Moon Blade laughed softly, an amused expression on his face at the persian blue mare’s flirting. “Well, like I said, it is a stallion’s duty to safe a mare in distress. So, I did just that…in more ways than one.”

“That you did, which is why I think you should be given the best of thanks.” Cloud Kicker said, running her hoof along Moon Blade’s muscular neck. “So, I was thinking that after this, you can I can take some alone timeon the farm...to properly reward you~.” She wrapped her wings around the Thestral’s neck, pressing her nose against his. “That is, if you’re up or it~.”

All of a sudden, Cloud gave a squeak as Amethyst encased her in her magic and yanked her away from Moon Blade. The Thestral stallion stumbled slightly from the force, but managed to keep his footing as Amethyst bonked her aunt over the head, glaring daggers at the older mare in the process. “Aunt Cloud of all the times that you chose to flirt and get another bang buddy, you chose nowas the time to do it?! Did you forget that we’re are in the middle of a battlefield, or are you that desperate for a release that you go to the first pony you see for a rut?!”

“Of course not Ame!” Cloud Kicker replied, chuckling. “All I’m doing is letting our hunk of a savior know that I plan to reward him in full for saving all our sexy hides. What’s the harm in that?”

“The fact that you looked like you were going to ride him right here and now.” Amethyst replied bluntly. “In front of all the foals no less.”

“I was not!” Cloud Kicker protested frowning back at her niece. “I know the time to get a good bang and a time not too! Besides, it’s not like you have any room to talk! Have you forgotten that time when you had one of your own bang buddies over and you kept little Dinky up all night with all of your banshee screaming?”

Amethyst’s face went red hot with embarrassment. “T-t-t-that has nothing to do with this and you know it!”

“Alright girls, that’s enough. You can rip each other’s tails out after we get to Sweet Apple Acres.” Snowflake said firmly, before turning to Moon Blade. “I’m sorry about that Moon Blade, Amethyst and Cloud can be pretty difficult to be around at times.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright, there’s not trouble at all.” Moon Blade chuckled. “I’ve been around plenty of mares like this in my day, so it’s not really a problem. In fact, it brings a smile to me and remind me of the days when I too was young.”

“Oh, well…alright then, if that’s how you’re taking it.” Snowflake said dumbly. “A-anyway, would you mind taking us to Sweet Apple Acres. I can show you the way if you want…”

Moon Bade held a hoof up. “That won’t be necessary my dear Snowflake. I saw what I believe was a farm when me and my troops all got here, so I believe I will have no problem taking you there.” A fond smile made its way to his face. “Besides, I’d love to catch up with you again; it’s been quite a long time since I last saw you all…especially your brother Sheton.”

“W-wait what?” Dinky asked as she and the other fillies turned to look at the stormy grey Thestral colt. “You know this stallion?”

Sheton blushed, shrinking away as he poked his forehooves together. “Um, y-yeah, I do...it’s kind of a long story.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time to tell them all once we get to the farm.” Moon Blade said, winking at the colt before turning to the other three mares. “Now, shall we get going?”

“Yes, yes we shall~.” Cloud replied, a half-lidded expression on her face. “And after we get there, you and I can get to work on your little reward I have planned for you~.”

Amethyst glared at her, lashing her with her tail and cracking it in the air. “Now while there’s a bunch of little eyes and ears close by you’re not!”

Author's Notes:

And there's chapter thirty, the rewrite of the escape form Twilight's library and their trip to Sweet Apple Acres! Now this one is a mix of both the first written chapter and this new one, since there were some parts that I think were alright to leave in in order to make into what it was now. One of the major things that I had changed was that it was Moon Blade and Moon Blade alone that saved Amethyst, Snowflake, and Cloud Kicker, along with the foals from the Tantabuses instead of him, Star Chaser and Raven. It does make sense, since in the last chapter with them, I had them take Blossomforth over to the Town Square while he had went off to the Golden Oaks library to eventually save them himself.

Now, I was going to have a scene of this and the one with Shining Armor laying a final showdown with the Tantabuses, but from what I can see, that would love extend this chapter a bit, at least from where I'm standing. Besides, there was another scene that I had planned to put in involving the Apple Family in later chapter, but it looks like I'm going to be adding to scenes with that one. Now that I think about it, I may end up doing another one like that before going back to the single scenes. Oh boy, do I have a quite the scenes to write!

Well, that's all for this chapter! Next time, we'll be seeing the final climax of the battle with the Tantabuses, with the Royal Guards leading the final assault!!!