The cool night air gave a slight, yet chilling breeze as Shining Armor stood walked about the interior of the Town Square, his golden armor giving a shine in the light of the full Moon. He breathed out a deep sigh through his nostrils, the breeze from atop the destroyed roof making the hair on his helmet and his tail skirt blew gently in the air. His horseshoes and the armor adorning his body made cladding sounds as he trudged his way through the building, observing all the ponies that were surrounding him.

Mothers were with their foals, holding them tightly in their embrace as they did their best to comfort them and wipe away their tears. Close friends were doing what they could to help each other and not break down from the day’s events, and nurses and doctors were tending to the injured, trying to make their procedure’s as painless as possible for them. As he continued to walk, he could hear the murmured of the various ponies he was passing by, mare, stallion, and foal alike.

“Ah, by bucking leg…” A Stallion groaned as he gritted his teeth. “I can barely feel it…damn roof nearly snapped it in half.”

“Well, luckily for you sir, it didn’t.” A Nurse from beside him said calmly, adding ointment and bandages to his wound. “It’s a good thing you have a sturdier body and denser muscles, otherwise, your leg really would’ve broken in half. If you were a Unicorn or Pegasus that is…”

“Yeah, you make a good point there.” The stallion sighed. “Still, that one really hurt.”

“I know it did, which is precisely why I’m here to take the pain away.” The Nurse said kindly, smiling up at her patient. “And if you stay still and don’t focus on it, it’ll go away faster.”

“Whatever you say doc.” The stallion murmured softy.

“Nurse.” The mare corrected patiently, pointing to her hat. “I’m a nurse, not a doctor.”

“Mom…” The voice of a young colt moaned out, his scared tone reaching Shining Armor’s sensitive ears. “Is the Nightmare going to get us?”

“No Button Mash, of course not. She left the Town Square with us inside, so there’s no way she’s going to try to hurt you.” The colt’s mother said soothingly, staring warmly into his eyes. “It’s okay Button, Mommy’s not going to let that big mad Alicorn get you and take you away from me. She’ll have to get through me first!”

“You promise?” Button whimpered, giving a little sniffle.

“I promise honey.” The mare said, pulling her son closer to her. “Don’t worry, everything is going to be okay. Mommy’s staring right here with you, and I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”

“O-okay.” Button stuttered, snuggling closer to his mother. “It’s just…I’m really, reallyscared.”

“Me too baby,” The mare whispered in her son’s ear. “Me too…”

“Ugh, how long are we gonna have to stay cooped up in this place?!” A mint green Unicorn mare suddenly shouted from nearby. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take! I wanna get out and move around!”

“I don’t like it having to stay in here either Lyra.” A tan Earth Pony mare said from beside the Unicorn. “Though, it’s not like we really have much of a choice, is it? Based on what Captain Shining Armor told us, Queen Celestia sent him and his troops here specifically to make sure we don’t get attacked by anymore creatures that come from the Everfree. Why do you think he put up this large shield and has his soldiers around the Town Square?”

“I know Bon Bon, I know! I get why they want us to stay here, so we don’t run into any trouble!” Lyra complained, letting out a deep sigh. “It’s just…I really don’t like the fact that we have to stay in the very same places that Nightmare Moon nearly killed us. I mean, what if she comes back here again to finish us off?”

“Lyra, you saw what happened yourself. Nightmare Moon practically turned into a stream of mist and shot out of the Town Square after wiping out those guards. It was obvious that she wasn’t interested in us, even if her last stunt, nearly got us all killed.” Bon Bon pointed out, giving a little shiver at her last sentence. “Anyway, the point I’m trying to make, is that Captain Shining Armor and his Guards are here for the specific reason that she may come back, and even if she does, they’ll all be here to fight here off. Not only that, but some of them, besides Captain Shining Armor himself, are from seven of the most powerful clans in existence. Add that to the fact that they’re from Queen Celestia’s Royal Guard, and you can see that Nightmare Moon is in for one tough battle.”

Lyra paused, mulling over what her friend had just said, before she gave another sigh. “Er…yeah, you do have a point there...and we do have Queen Celestia here with us, like you said. Even if Captain Shining Armor and his soldiers can’t defeat her, she can do it, right?”

“Of course,” Bon Bon said comfortingly, giving the mint green Unicorn a small smile. “And when that happens, I’ll be here right by your side all the way.”

“Thanks Bonny.” Lyra said gratefully, snuggling up to the tan Earth mare. “I don’t know what I do if I didn’t have you here.”

“Hmhmhm, that’s what best friends are for.” Bon Bon giggled, wrapping a hoof around friend as the both nuzzled each other.

Shining Armor tore his gaze away from the conversing ponies around him, not wanting to hear anything more that constantly reminded him of the situation that was at hoof. He had gotten enough more than enough of that back at the Royal Throne room back at Canterlot City when Queen Celestia had told then Nightmare Moon returned, and that the world was endanger by her hoof once again. It didn’t help when she told him, his soldiers, the Lunar Guards, and the Shadowbolts that she had sent seven ponies out into the Everfree Forest to retrieve the only weapons known to defeat her, and he had a sneaking suspicion that he knew which of the seven ponies that the Queen had sent. He wanted to believe with any fiber of his being that Queen Celestia did not send his little sister out into a place like the Everfree, and that she sent some random ponies out to retrieve the Elements of Harmony instead.

Unfortunately for him, the private talk that he had with his leader to confirm his suspicions ultimately threw those thoughts out the window.

Shining Armor gritted his teeth as his ears pinned firmly against his head, his leonine tail giving an angry lash. He could not fathom what the Queen was thinking sending Twilight out to retrieve the most powerful weapons known to ponykind in the most dangerous wilderness in the world. Shining Armor understood why she saw potential to be something great in his little sister, her being one of the most powerful Unicorns in existence, even at such a young age. He even admitted himself that Twilight being taught by the Queen herself was a good idea. Since he wanted nothing more than for his sister to make something of herself, even if what she was doing now wasn’t quite on her mind.

Even so, he just could not come to terms with why Celestia sent Twilight into a place she never set foot in, and had her go up against a pony that she only ever heard of in stories. While he had no doubt the mare could defend herself, Shining still couldn’t help but think that she may not be up for what the Queen wanted her to do. He hoped to the high heavens that his sister would be able to make it out of there in one piece, otherwise, he didn’t know what he’d do.

Well, at least she had her friends to help her and back her up, so that was a plus.

The alabaster stallion was so caught up in his conflicting thoughts that he didn’t see where he was going, nor did he see that he was about to bump into somepony until he was too late. He let out a an ‘Oof!’, when he felt himself collide with somepony, and nearly stumbled to the ground when he stepped on something that felt eerily similar to a pony’s leg. The cry of pain that he got from that move only a second later only proved his suspicions as he took a few steps back.

“Oh, sorry about that. I wasn’t-” Shining Armor began to say, only to pause when he saw who he had bumped into. “Spear Head?”

“Whoa, easy there, Captain!” The moderate tangelo Pegasus stallion said, holding up a large hoof to stop the stallion from coming any closer. “No need to get so worked up, take a breather and chill. You almost trampled this little filly here.”

“Trampled? What are you-?” Shining Armor began to ask, but once again stopped in mid-sentence when he looked down at what, or rather, who, Spearhead was pointing at. His eyes widened when he saw a soft green Earth Pony filly with a darker leaf green mane and tail, sitting next to Spearhead, currently holding one of her hind legs.

“Owww, now that really hurt.” Melon Cake groaned, rubbing her right leg with a hoof. “I really don’t wanna have to bandage this one.”

‘Son of a-!’ Shining Armor cursed in his mind as he facehoofed himself. Taking a deep breath, he looked back down at the filly apologetically. “I’m so sorry there, kiddo. I didn’t look where I was going. Are you okay?” He asked, speaking as kindly and gently as he could.

Melon Cake lifted her head up at the alabaster stallion, her heterochronic eyes looking into his deep sapphire blue ones, which widened in slight surprise at seeing her own eyes. Before he could comment on it though, the filly smiled sweetly at him and nodded her head rapidly.

“Yeah, I’m alright mister! You just surprised me as all!” The soft green filly replied, giving a dismissive wave of her hoof. “Don’t worry, my leg wasn’t broken! It’ll take more than that huge hoof to break this filly’s leg, hmhmhm!”

Shining Armor chuckled, unable to hold back a smile at the filly’s sweet, optimistic and upbeat attitude despite the whole situation. It managed to take his mind off of what he was thinking and take away some of the anxiety and stress, even if it was for just a moment.

“Heheh…well, I’m glad that I didn’t hurt you too bad.” Shining Armor murmured as he gave the filly a gentle smile. It soon turned into a confused frown as he noticed the new look on Melon Cake’s face. “Is there something wrong kiddo?”

“No, it’s just...I’m pretty sure that I’ve seen you somewhere before.” Melon Cake replied, staring up at the alabaster stallion intently. She put a hoof to her chin, racking her brain for any memory of the she had of the stallion standing in front of her. A moment later, a rather loud and long gasp left her throat as her heterochromic eyes widened, recognition shining within them.

“Wait…are you…?” The soft green filly began, looking up at Shining Armor. “Shining Armor Twinkleshine Sparkle?! The Captain of Queen Celestia’s Royal Guard?!”

The alabaster Unicorn took a step back, having not expected that question to come from the filly, who was looking up at him with sparkling eyes and a wide smile plastered on her face. He soon got over his initial surprise, regained his composure, and said in a friendly, yet amused tone, “Why yes, I am Shining Armor Twinkleshine Sparkle, leader of the Royal Guard. I’m assuming that you’ve heard of me?”

“Heard of you?!” Melon Cake asked, looking at Shining Armor as if he had grown a second head. “You’re known all around Canterlot as the most powerful Unicorn and Royal Guard that anypony’s ever seen since Shooting Star the Cosmetic! Everypony that doesn’t live in Canterlot has only heard about you in newspapers, and until now, nopony has ever seen you in pony!”

“Well, that’s only because I hardly ever appear on towns and cities unless it’s for Royal Duties or trying to stop somepony from terrorizing communities.” Shining Armor replied with a shrug. “Other than that, I’m usually just in Canterlot on patrol, or in my office, not really on some important mission or anything…until now.”

“Well, I think it’s awesome that you get to go on a top super-duper secret mission! Not only that, your mission is here, in Ponyville, which makes it even more cool!” Melon Cake squealed as she trotted in place, all while balancing herself on three legs. “Oh! Oh! Do you think I could get your autograph before you leave?! Pretty pretty pretty pretty please?!” She pleaded cutely, looking up at the alabaster Unicorn with big puppy dog eyes.

Before Shining Armor could reply, Nurse Redheart suddenly came trotting up to them, and when she saw Melon Cake, a relieved smile came to her face.

“There you are Melon Cake; I was wondering where you had run off to around her.” The snow-white mare said, her tone matching her expression as she stood in front of the soft green filly. “Didn’t I tell you to stay with the rest of the foals? Your leg is still healing, and it’s a little too soon for you to be walking around right now.”

The soft green filly frowned, her ears flattening against her head as she looked back up at Redheart’s soft, yet stern expression. “I’m sorry Nurse Redheart, I wasn’t intending on running off. I was with the others like you told me, but…I really really wanted to meet the Royal Guards! This is the first time I’ve ever seen them so close and I really wanted to say hi!” She replied sadly, her tone filled with guilt and shame.

Nurse Redheart’s stern expression softened at Melon Cake’s saddened, unable to stay upset with the filly as she gave her explanation. With a sigh, she shook her head and gave the filly a small smile. “I know you did dear, and I’m very sure that they would’ve liked wanting to talk to you. Be that as it may, you have to understand that these ponies have jobs to do, and that’s to protect the ponies around them. With the jobs they have, I doubt that they have time to make conversation with anypony, much less a young filly like you.”

Melon Cake stared up at Nurse Redheart, before looking back at Spearhead and Shining Armor, who looked back at her with amused expressions on their faces. She quickly tore her gaze away and looked down at the ground, a pink tint making its way to her cheeks.

“Yeah, you do have a point.” She finally said as she pawed at the ground. “Sorry Nurse Redheart.”

“It’s alright Melon. Just make sure you ask and tell me or the others where you’re going before you go running off like that alright?” Nurse Redheart asked, her tone like that of a mother gently chiding their foal. After getting a nod from the soft green filly, the snow-white mare picked the filly up and hoisted her onto her back, before looking at the two guards. “I’m terribly sorry for the interruption sirs…I didn’t know that she was going to try to go and meet you. She has the tendency to do that with ponies who look and sound important.”

“Oh, it’s quite alright ma’am.” Spearhead said casually, waving a hoof dismissively. “It’s no trouble really…it’s not every day we get a day off just to sit down and talk with somepony in a non-serious situation. If anything, this little squirt made our jobs a little bit more pleasant.” He emphasized the point by ruffling Melon Cake’s head with a wing, causing her to giggle cutely.

“Yeah,” Shining Armor nodded, giving the filly another gentle smile. “I’m glad to see that somepony’s trying to stay optimistic at a time like this.”

“Hmhmhm, well I’m glad to hear that she was able to relieve some of your stress.” Nurse Redheart chuckled, glancing over at Melon Cake with an amused expression. “Well, I think I should take my leave. There are some foals that I think could use Melon’s optimism to help brighten up their damp moods. You two have a good evening.”

“You two ma’am.” Spearhead replied, giving a light nod to the snow-white mare. “See you Melon Cake, it was really good talkin’ with you, hon’!”

“You too Mr. Spearhead!” The soft green filly replied sweetly as Nurse Redheart trotted off. “Bye Captain Shining Armor!”

“See ya Melon!” Shining Armor replied, giving a wave to the filly as she and Nurse Redheart merged into the crowd. “Heh, that was a real sweet kid, huh Spear?”

“You’re telling me.” The moderate tangelo Pegasus chuckled, turning his head to look at the other stallion. His smile soon faded when he saw the troubled look on his captain’s face. “Is there something wrong there, Captain?”

“Oh…no, it’s nothing Spearhead.” Shining Armor replied, not meeting Spearhead’s eyes as he pursed his lips. “I’m alright, really…”

Spearhead’s brilliant cyan eyes narrowed, his ears flattening against his head as a frown formed on his face. He knew, without even having to figure it out, that his captain was lying through his teeth, as evident by the troubled expression on his face and the frown formed on his lips. The Pegasus stallion had a sneaking suspicion of what was troubling Shining, but he decided to ask just to be sure, being sure to choose his words carefully.

“Captain, I know you. I can tell when you’re being honest, and when you’re faking it, and right now, you’re really faking it.” Spearhead said softly, yet firmly, getting no reply form the alabaster Unicorn stallion. Another moment of silence passed, before Spearhead sighed and asked the one question he knew was one his captain’s mind. “You’re worried about your sister, aren’t you?”

Shining Armor flinched, shutting his eyes as he gritted his teeth, effectively confirming the moderate tangelo stallion’s suspicions. He turned his head to say something to his fellow soldier, but stopped when he saw the look on Spearhead’s face, and the words ultimately died in his throat before he could even say them. The two stallions looked into each other’s eyes for a few moments, before Shining looked away, letting out a sigh in the process.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Spearhead asked suggestively, holding his hoof out. “You know I’m here to listen, even if we are on duty right now.”

Shining Armor’s eyes glanced over to look at Spearhead’s offering hoof, before he shot his gaze back down at the floor, wondering whether or not to voice his worries. Eventually, he gave another deep sigh and gave in, unable to hold it in any longer.

“I just…I don’t understand.” The alabaster Unicorn began, his tone soft, yet filled with confusion and worry. “I don’t understand...why all of this is happening.”

“Why all of what is happening?” Spearhead asked. “Why Nightmare Moon is here after spending over a millennium on the Moon by Queen Celestia’s hoof?”

“Heh, I wish it was only that. I can see why Nightmare Moon’s here, due to wanting to get revenge against the Queen for sending her to the Moon.” Shining Armor replied, letting out a bitter laugh. “I can even see why she sent somepony out into the Everfree Forest to retrieve the Elements of Harmony, since they’re the one thing that’s known to be able to defeat her and free Queen Luna from the Nightmare’s grasp.” His bitter smile turned into a hard frown as he locked eyes with Spearhead. “What Idon’t understand is why she sent Twilight, my sister of all ponies, to go and do it too?!”

“Well, why do you think she did it?” Spearhead asked with a shrug. “From what you told me; Twilight is the only pony who knows just as much about Nightmare Moon as Queen Celestia does. Not to mention that she’s been talking about what would happen if Nightmare Moon were to return, and wanted us to be prepared should Nightmare Moon return.” He paused, his eyes widening as another possible explanation entered his mind. “Or, maybe it’s because Celestia believed that Twilight would be the one to be able to find the Elements and defeat Nightmare Moon, along with the other ponies she was with. You know, due to her being more powerful than the average Unicorn and coming from the seven known clans of Equestria. Maybe it’s because of those reasons that the Queen sent Twilight to retrieve the Elements, or just that one reason alone, whichever one.”

Shining Armor stayed silent as Spearhead continued to speak, silently mulling over what he had just said and the reasons he gave as to why Celestia sent his sister to find the Elements. He had to admit, it did make sense; Twilight having more magical power than many other known Unicorns, besides him, and both him and Twilight coming from tribes and families not like that or normal ponies. Thanks to this, and the training that he and Twilight had in honing their abilities, they were much more powerful than that of most Unicorns, and were more than able to handle their own, whether alone or in groups. This gave Shining Armor a small spark of hope that his sister would be okay, and she wouldn’t come out as hurt as he believed she would be. Even so…

“Yeah, you do make a good point there, Spearhead.” Shining Armor finally said, his worried face softening a bit as he gave a slight nod. “Twilight is powerful, hay just as much as powerful as I am even, and she can really kick flank if she puts her mind to it, something she’s an expert at doing.” He sighed again, his ears pinning against his head. “Still, as powerful as she is, how can the Queen think of sending her into the Everfree Forest of all places?! The one wilderness that’s known to be more dangerous than any other that, you, me, or anypony else has been in! Do you know how dangerous the creatures that live in that place are said to be, and what they’re capable of doing to a pony?! The only ponies that I know that’re able to survive, let along thrive in that place are the Thestrals of Hallow Shades! I get that it’s the location of the Elements and all that, but how can the Queen expect Twilight to be able to take on all of those creatures, even with the help of her friends and the extra guards she sent after them? Especially since most of them, including her, have even been there before?!”

“Shining, if the Queen knew what she was doing by sending Twilight out into the Everfree Forest to retrieve the Elements, do you really think that she wouldn’t send her ponies that knew what to expect from someplace like the Everfree? Even if they themselves have never set foot in it?” Spearhead asked with a raised eyebrow, making Shining Armor pause. “I bet the reason why she sent some of the Solar, Lunar Guards, and the Shadowbolts after Twilight and her friends, is because she knew that those specific ponies would be able to protect them because they knew what the creatures of the Everfree Forest were capable of. Take the Shadowbolts for example; when they were working for Queen Luna, before she was banished to the Moon, they used to train in various areas that were considered to be dangerous, even more dangerous than where the Wonderbolts trained! That includes the Everfree Forest, though it was only in certain parts that were considered to be the least dangerous. Even now they’re known to train with each other and with new recruits that their captain happens to find, and thanks to that, they know what to expect whenever they do go in there for missions like this.”

He reached out and put a hoof on Shining Armor’s shoulder, making the alabaster stallion look up at him again. “Also, if I recall, even Queen Celestia herself has been known to take some of our most brave and fearless soldiers out into the Everfree to train them against the weather and animals that inhabit it. So, I’m pretty sure that’s why she sent practically half of the Solar and Lunar Guards out to the Everfree while she sent the other half, including you and me, here, to protect Ponyville. Wouldn’t you agree Captain?”

Again, Shining Armor said nothing to his fellow soldiers’ explanation, finding once again that he indeed had a point. He had known Celestia ever since he was a colt, before and after he had become the Captain of her Solar Royal Guard. If there was one thing he did know about her, it was that she was not stupid. not by a long shot. She would never dare send anypony that she cared about out into danger if she didn’t know for certain if they would make it back.

Another thing he knew about the Queen was that she would most certainly never send anypony out somewhere as dangerous as the Everfree if they didn’t know what to expect from it and how to defend themselves from anything they came across. If she didn’t believe that Twilight and her friends wouldn’t be able to find the Elements and defeat Nightmare Moon, then what other reason would she have to even have her set hoof out there in the first place. Not a very good one he assumed, and Celestia most certainly wouldn’t have sent all of those guards after them if not for the same reason, along with the fact that they knew what the Everfree is like first hoof. Plus, with the amount of guard she had sent there after the mares from both divisions, he assumed that his sister and her friends would have a pretty hard time getting singled out.

Shining Armor sighed for what seemed like the fifth time that day looking up at Spearhead with a small smirk. “Spearhead…you always know just what to say to put my mind at ease. Honestly I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have somepony like you on my squad.”

“Hey dude, somepony’s gotta be the voice of reason here. Luckily for you, I happened to be the very pony to do just that.” Spearhead chuckled, lifting one of his hooves for his Captain to hoof bump. He then threw his massive foreleg around the alabaster Unicorn’s neck, just under his helmet. “Don’t you worry captain, Twilight is a real tough mare, that I can tell. Don’t you worry, she’ll be back here with the rest of her friends before you know it!”

“I’m gonna hold you to that.” Shining Armor murmured, gently elbowing Spearhead in the side as both stallions chuckled.

A bright flash of light emitting from outside immediately drew the two stallion’s attention to the destroyed door in front of them. Shining Armor gave a grunt of pain as a jolt of pain pulsed through his horn from his shield being bumped into, but managed to fight it back.

“Well that was a surprise.” Spearhead said dumbly. “What do you think it was?”

“Probably one of those damn monsters again.” Shining Armor growled, eyes flashing. “You stay here and guard everypony in here. I’ll take care of this one myself.”

“You sure about that?” Spearhead asked. “From the way your shield was hit, it sent a really had hit through your head. At the rate you’re going, you might pass out.”

Shining Armor stopped in his trotting, and looked back at Spearhead with a deadpan stare. “Spearhead, I have received wounds that should’ve cripple me for life, and I came out of those scenarios just fine. I think I can handle a few headaches here and there.”

Spearhead chuckled, spinning his namesake in his hooves. “Good real point there, Captain. Still, try to be careful okay? Wouldn’t want your fillyfriend Cadence to baby you all over again about your injuries or try to get you to screw her because of how radical you look with your scars.”

“Don’t you dare bring Cadence into this!” Shining Armor shouted, a tick mark forming on his head as his eyes went comically white. With a guffaw form Spearhead, Shining Armor turned tail and stomped away, cursing profanities under his breath as he made his way outside the entrance of the Town Square. A lock of bafflement and rock replace his annoyed expression as he saw Raven Moon, Star Chaser, and Blossomforth outside of his shield.

“What in the buck?!” He gasped. “Raven, Chaser, what the hay are you all doing here?! And who is that pony with you?!”

“We can talk about that later Shining!” Raven replied. “Just open up the shield so we can get this mare out of here!”

“Yah come on man, open up!” Star Chaser shouted, bucking at the shield. “We haven’t got all night!”

Snapping back to his senses, Shining Armor ignited his horn and created an opening just big enough for the two Pegasi and one Thestral stallion to fit through. Once they were in, the opening disappeared, and Shining ran over to the three, his eyes widening at the slight of Blossomforth.

“Wait a second…I know you!” Shining exclaimed. “You’re that mare who was here just half an hour ago! What happened to you?!”

Blossomforth peered up at the Royal Captain through her watermelon mane. “I went to take a daughter of a friend of mines somewhere safe, and I had found out something really important about the monsters your facing right now. I would’ve comeback here sooner, but I ended up running into a few of those things, and had to fight them, but luckily, Captain Moon Blade and his two troops here saved me and took me back here.”

“Wait, Captain Moon Blade?” The alabaster stallion asked. “You mean Moon Blade Nightstalker Cifer? The Captain of the Lunar Guard with the ridiculously perverted personality?”

“Yeah, that’s the stallion who saved me.” Blossomforth replied, raising a brow. “And what do you mean by perverted?”

“You don’t need to worry about that honey.” Raven said quickly, glaring at the larger stallion warningly. “I think what you should worry about is telling him what you told us.”

“Yeah, it’ll help both Spear’s Captain and our Captain finally put an end to these things for good.” Chaser nodded, grumbling. “And we can finally get some R&R time.”

“Tell me what?” Shining asked, looking down at Blossomforth. “What did you find out?”

Blossomforth sighed as Star and Raven carried her inside the Town Square. “Okay so, while I was coming back here, me and my friend’s daughter, Amethyst had ended up fighting one of those creatures. In the midst of the fight, we had found out something about them that may help you finally defeat them for good.”

Shining’s eyes almost bulged out of his skull upon hearing this. Before either pony know what was happening, he was grabbing Blossomforth by her shoulders and shaking her. “You do?! If that’s true, then you have to tell me right now! The lives of all of the ponies in this town are at stake!”

“Whoa whoa whoa! Chill out Captain Armor, you’re hurting the girl!” Chaser said, ripping the older stallion away from the mare with little effort. “Are you trying to make her more injured than she already is?!”

“No, it’s okay, he’s just anxious that’s all.” Blossomforth said, putting a hoof on Chaser’s shoulder before looking back at Shining. “Okay, so, you know how each of those creatures have these lights glowing where their chests are?”

Shining Armor paused, his mind going back to his first fight with one of the Tantabuses. “Yeah, I do…what about them?”

“Apparently those glowing lights aren’t a trick of the eye.” Blossomforth explained. “They’re actually metallic little cores that help those monsters maintain their forms, even as we cut and slice them apart. It’s what kept them from being able to be really beaten and destroyed, and unless we destroy those cores, those creatures are just going to keep coming and coming.”

“Wait…what?” Shining asked, taking a few moments to process what Blossomforth had just said. “That was what kept me from getting rid of these bastards? Some damn hidden core inside of them?”

“Uh…yeah…” Blossomforth replied nervously, sweating a bit as she noticed Shining’s left eye twitch. “…that was, u-um…what kept the fight dragging on for so long…and why most of you guys are using so much of your magic.”

For a moment, Shining Armor said nothing, his head slowly lowering as his bangs shadowed his eyes, a moderate cerulean aura surrounding his form. Raven and Star, sensing the impending rage quit about to commence, immediately pulled Blossomforth away from the Solar Captain. Spearhead, who was close enough to hear what was said, also backed away, already knowing what was about to happen next.

“So, let me get all of this straight…” Shining said darkly, the aura around his body growing stronger as his mane and tail skirt floated in midair. “…We’ve been fighting these…bastards for who knows how bucking long, and the only thing keeping them going were these bucking little metal cores they had tucked inside of their bodies? And all we had to do was destroy them, and they’d be gone for good?!”

“Uuuh…y-y-yes!” Blossomforth squeaked. “T-that’s pretty much summing up what I’m saying.”

Shining Armor said nothing after this, his whole body making no movement whatsoever as his Adrenaline Mode aura continue growing. Then without warning, his head snapped up, allowing the three flyers in front of him to see the look of fury morphing onto his handsome face. With his eyes blazing and his horn crackling with magic, let out a loud growl of primal rage, before he vanished in a flash of magenta magic.

“Um…where did he go?” Raven asked, looking at Blossomforth and her brother. “Why did he just disappear like that?”

“I’ll tell you why.” Chaser replied, grinning widely. “Cause Captain Shining’s going to kick all of those ethereal asses!”

“By himself?” Blossomforth asked, remembering when Moon Blade and came and saved her from being killed. “Shouldn’t he have at least some of his guards to aid him?”

“Nope!” The voice of Spearhead said confidently, causing the three flyers to turn to him. “I can assure you that Shining’s gonna be just fine. Especially now that he finally knows how to defeat all of those ponyish creatures.”

“How you know that?” Blossomforth asked doubtfully. “How do you know that Captain Armor will be able to beat them with nopony nearby to help him?”

All of a sudden, the ear-splitting sound of shattering glass resonated throughout the entire building. Everypony looked up and saw that Shining’s shield had shattered thus leaving the whole Town Square open for any Tantabus attack. Just as light blue Tantabus came into view, a giant blast of magic enveloped it before the form of Shining Armor zoomed passed them, a see-through pair of Pegasus wings sprouting from his shoulders.

“That’s how.” Spearhead replied, grinning smugly.

Shining Armor whinnied loudly as he soared right at the light blue Tantabus in front of him, driving his horn right through its neck. They both took off together, soaring away from the Town Square, before the Tantabus morphed into a light ethereal stream and reappeared behind the Solar Captain. it fired off a blast of magic at the stallion, only for Shining to Spun around and use one of his Pegasus Adrenaline Mode wings to swat it to the side. He then retaliated with his own magic blast which sent the Tantabus flying back as he flew towards it.

“Solid Form Magic: Lightning Bolts!” He shouted, pointing his horn forward and shooting a giant bolt of magic at the Tantabus. It struck the ethereal creature all over and caused it to morph continuously as it let out a screech of pain. It fired off a flock of magical bolts, but Shining Armor summoned a large shield to block them all as she closed in. With an enraged neigh, he ignited his horn again, only this time, it was wind instead of lightning.

“Solid Form Magic: Wind Slice!” He shouted swinging his head and sending a slice of wind at the Tantabus with his horn. It struck the creature right in the chest, here he could see an orange light emitting from it. The moment it struck, it let out a screech even louder than the last, and actually faltered in front of the Solar Captain. It flew away from the stallion as it attempted to recover from the attack, allowing Shining Armor and opening.

“Heh, looks like I finally managed to hit a mark!” He said, a small grin coming to his anger filled face. “Well in that case, allow me to deliver you another one!”

With those words, Shining Armor ascended into the air, before flying down towards the Tantabus, who evaded the stallion just in time as he released another wind magic. The stallion glared up at the Tantabus, before firing more sliced of wind up at the creature, who did its best to not let them hit it anywhere near the chest. As it focused on evading, it didn’t notice Shining Armor fly up towards it, his horn pointed straight upward with another spell. The moment the horn made contact with the Tantabuses back, it was set aflame, emitting another screech as the air lit up with orange light.

“Holy shit!” Star Chaser exclaimed. “Captain Shining is really giving him the what for now!”

“No kidding.” Raven Moon murmured, her expression forming into a grimace. “He had just found out one of the simplest ways to defeat an enemy, after hours of fighting. After all of that, I’d probably be releasing all of my rage on that Tantabus too. I almost feel sorry for it…almost.”

“Same here.” Blossomforth nodded softly.

Spearhead smirked, walking over to three flyers and wrapping his muscular forelegs around their necks. “Yeah well, one thing is for certain my dues; things are finally going to turn in our favor. And by the end of the night, we’ll have fought off one of the biggest invasions anypony has ever seen in who knows how long.”

“No doubt about that.” Star Chaser grinned, giving a hoof bump to Spearhead.

“Solid Form Magic: Fire!” Shining Armor roared, channeling more magic into the flames and causing them to grow brighter than they already were. The screeches that the blue Tantabus was giving out let Shining Armor that it was feeling the pain, and he was loving every second of it.

With another neigh, he shot the Tantabus up with the pillar of fire before soaring up and meeting it as it stopped in midair. He gave it a hard punch to the face with one of his large hooves, before kneeing the creature right in its stomach. He then did a front flip and sent an axe kick crashing down onto the beast’s head, sending it diving down towards the earth. Just as it was about to hit the ground, Shining Armor suddenly appeared above it and bucked it right back into the air. Raising his head, up, he fired off another, slightly smaller bolt of magic, aimed right at the Tantabuses chest, striking it clean through. Another loud howl of pain escaped the Tantabus, as it writhed in the air, unaware that Shining was about to deliver the final blow.

“Oh, I’m sorry, looks like I was a little too hard on you there!” Shining Armor shouted with a hard snort. “Don’t worry, I’m gonna put you out of your misery right now!”

With a stomp of his hoof, Shining Armor’s combined Pegasus and Unicorn Adrenaline Modes swirled around each other as he fired up his horn with a combination of wind and electric magic. He waited just long enough for the Tantabus to refocus its attention onto him, and the moment it did, the Solar Captain delivered the finishing blow.

“Solid Magic Form Lightning Pegasus: Lightning Thunder Spear!” He bellowed, shooting off the attack with all the magic his Adrenaline Modes would give him. He watched as it shot up right towards the Tantabus and cloak it in a sea of magic and lightning. It screeched its loudest yet as the metallic core hidden within its chest slowly cracked and eventually shattered, leaving its master completely at Shining’s mercy. With one last throaty bellow, the blue Tantabus vanished into the lightning coated bolt of magic, before it too disappeared.

“That should take care of him…finally.” Shining murmured to himself as his rage slowly began to subside. “Hopefully I won’t have to see him again, or any of those other monsters when this is over.”

With those words, Shining slowly trudged back into the Town Square, his tail lashing behind him as he met with Spearhead, Star Chaser and Raven Moon. Almost immediately they surrounded him, and bombarded him with compliments and questions.

“That was absolutely awesome Captain Shining!” Star Chaser grinned. “You totally whipped that Tantabuses ass up there!”

“I agree, I’ve never seen you go into that much of a rage quit before.” Spearhead chuckled, crossing his forehooves. “Though, I can see why; since you know…you’ve finally found out how to finally beat these things.”

“About two and a half hours late mind you…” Shining Armor snorted as he took deep harsh breaths. “…well, at least now we have a way to be able to get rid of these things.”

“That you do, and after they’re gone, you us, Spearhead and Captain Moon Blade don’t have to worry about them anymore.” Raven Moon nodded, glancing over at Blossomforth. “Especially you honey.”

The pinkish grey Pegasus nodded, sighing with relief. “Yeah, no arguments there. Still, I hope that Amethyst, Dinky and Cloud Kicker will be able to hold out at the library for just a little bit longer. If not, then they’re gonna be in serious trouble.”

“Well then, we’re just going to have to get rid of these…Tantabus things as quickly as possible before that happens.” Spearhead said, walking over to Blossomforth. “For now, we need to get you two nurse or a doctor; those bruises and cuts your adorning are pretty nasty, and might get worse if they don’t get treated.” He gently put Blossomforth’s right foreleg around his neck. “I’ll take you to them, don’t worry.”

“T-thank you.” Blossomforth said sweetly as she let the larger Pegasus carry her away.

“Well, now that that’s settled…” Shining said, turning back to Raven and Chaser. “…what’re you all planning to do? Are you going to stay here, or are you going after your Captain?”

“Normally we would…” Raven replied. “…but, I’m pretty sure that our Captain will be fine. If we were worried that he wouldn’t be alright, we would’ve been going after him by now.”

“Yeah, besides, I think it’s better if we stay here for now.” Star Chaser added. “At least until all of these Tantabuses are gone. Our Captain is patient, so I think he can wait a little longer.”

“Alright then, in that case, I have a plan to finally end this little power struggle, and I know just how to get it started.” Shining Armor replied, igniting his horn. “Though I’m gonna warn you, this is going to be loud, so you may want to cover your ears.”

Realizing what was about to happen, Star Chaser and Raven Moon both covered their ears as Shining Armor turned away from them. He trotted back to the entrance of the Town Square and stood just outside of the building in preparation for what he was about to do. Taking a deep breath, he let out a command; one that resounded through the entire town.

“ATTENTION! ATTENTION ALL SOLAR AND LUNAR DIVISION GUARDS!!!” He bellowed, the power behind his magically amplified voice echoing throughout the town. “THIS IS CAPTAIN SHINING ARMOR TWINKLESHINE SPARKLE HERE WITH AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE!!!”

Author's Notes:

Okay, now, for this chapter, a majority of its is a somewhat revised chapter of the 24th one in the first version of this story; you know, Spearhead and Shining Armor talking with each other about the latter's concern about Twilight going into the Everfree Forest to retrieve the Elements and what not. Other than that part of this whole chapter, the rest of it was written entirely from my own head, which includes the part of Shining Armor having his little rage quite moment on the Tantabus. Now, I was thinking about having Star Chaser and Raven Moon go and head after Moon Blade, but I decided to have them stay at the Town Square since Shining is going to need a few helping hooves to finally eliminate the Tantabuses, especially of at least one of them are Thestrals. Another scene that I was planning to add was the one with the Apple Family, but after some speculation, I decided that would at that in another two part scene, with the second scene going back into our other main and OC characters. I'm still trying to figure out how to start it, but I know that it's gonna be as thrilling as all the other chapters like this one as well!

Well, that's all for now everypony; stay tuned for the next chapter involving the final fight with the Tantabuses and a revisit to our dark lord. Depending on how the next chapter goes and how I'm going to write it.