As Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot and Crimson Skies all prepared themselves for the battle ahead, the girls, the Shadowbolts, and the girls were still trekking their way through the Everfree Forest. More than half an hour had passed since their encounter with the Manticore and Fluttershy taming it and tending to its wounds, before it had flown off back to its family. They were now in the deeper denser parts of the forest, which were also, pretty humid, much to a certain alabaster Unicorn’s dismay, which made it a little harder to find their way through the trees with the Moon being blocked by most of them. This did however, let them know that they were getting closer to the Castle of the Two Sisters, and that they didn’t have that much forest left to go before they finally made it to the location of the Elements. Which also meant, much to Twilight’s elation, that they were that much closer to encountering Nightmare Moon and defeating her once and for all.

Unfortunately, that did not mean that there weren’t any complaints about the new conditions of the forest.

“How’re you holding up over there, Twilight?” Goku asked as she ducked and stepped over branches and piles of leaves. “Are you able to see anything?”

“Not very much.” Came the soft reply from the lavender Unicorn, her face set in a frown. “I can’t really detect anything very far ahead of us, and I have my horn light up at its highest peak. Despite that, I can’t accurately or specifically see what’s far ahead of us, other than all of these trees.

“Well that’s just swell…no easy way out of these damn trees!” Rainbow Dash grumbled, ducking and swerving a few branches in the air. “Just how much are they gonna keep closing in around us until we’re practically bunched up together?! It’s like they’re deliberately trying to keep us in her! I’m a Pegasus! I gotta be able to fly, and I do not like being stuck in tight spaces!”

“It’s gonna be alright Rainbow Dash, we’re not going to be here forever.” Fluttershy said calmly, smiling gently at her fellow Pegasus. “The forest gets more crowded and packed together here, it’s only natural for any creature roaming in it. We’re almost to the castle, you’ll be able to stretch your wings and fly all you want. So just be patient for a little bit longer okay?”

Pinkie Pie, who was listening into what Fluttershy was saying, burst out laughing, causing those closest to her to jump. “Fluttershy, you and I both know that Dashie is hardly patient when it comes to anything! She can’t even wait for a full five minutes before she starts getting all pouty!”

“Hey!” The cyan mare exclaimed, shooting a glare at the bubblegum pink mare. “What the buck Pinkie Pie?!”

“What’s the matter sugarcube? She’s only speakin’ th’ truth.” Applejack said dryly, smirking up at Rainbow Dash, who directed her glare at her. “Fer as long as Ah’ve known ya, yer as impatient as a Fruit Bat waitin’ fer mah family’s apples to blossom.”

“I am not!” Rainbow Dash protested. “I can wait for a lot of things! I’m just…not used to waiting as long as you guys are!”

“Bull. Shit.” Goku laughed, giving a humorous snort through her nostrils. “You are the most impatient mare that I have ever met in my whole life. You’re always about things happening as fast as possible because you are all about fast! It’s one of the main reasons why I never asked you to do anything for me that involved waiting in any way shape or form, because you don’t have the patience for it. If you were waiting in a line for the next copy of Daring Do that had at least five or three ponies in it, it wouldn’t even be a full minute before you are just begging them to hurry up and go faster.” The tan Thestral looked back up at her friend with a smug smirk stretched across her face. “Especially if it involves Daring Do.”

“She makes valid point there, Dash.” Twilight quipped, smirking but not looking over at the athlete.

“Fluttershy, can you please help me on this?!” The cyan mare begged to the buttermilk mare, a hard frown on her face. “Please tell them that I can wait for things!”

“I would but…I’d be lying if I said that what they were saying wasn’t true.” Fluttershy replied with a little shrug, giving Rainbow Dash and apologetic smile. “Be able to wait is something you should really learn to work on, I’d be happy to help you if you want. As the old saying goes, patience is a virtue.”

“Precisely.” Storm Shadow said softly, earning a giggle from Violet Fire.

“Very true.” Zephyr nodded, smiling at the animal caretaker.

Rainbow Dash glared her and her other four friends, but said nothing else as she crossed her forearms and looked away from each of them. Goku, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Twilight all laughed humorously, know that they had her beat.

“Ugh, this has got to be the worst forest outing that I have ever had!” Rarity groaned, her expression that of disgust as she stared down at the soft dirt ground. “Just look at all of this dirt and mud! It’s sticking to my hooves like wet paint!”

“Uh, Rarity, since when was this an outin’ with Goku an’ th’ others?” Applejack asked, looking over at the fashionista with a raised golden eyebrow. “In case ya forgot, we’re here on a mission under th’ orders of th’ Queen t’ stop an evil replica o’ her sister. Is not really th’ time t’ be worried ‘bout dirt gettin’ on ya?”

“I mean, yes, I’ve taken nice walks around woods and such, but none of them were this bad!” Rarity grumbled, pouting at the tangerine Earth Pony. “At least back in the Whitetail Woods, whenever you, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash too our sisters, all that dirt and the trees were nice and dry and didn’t stick to my fur, mane, tail or hooves in any way. It even had a pleasant aroma that I could take in, which gave me a better understanding as to why dear Fluttershy loves being out there it so much.”

She flashed a tender smile at the buttermilk Pegasus before she looked back down at the ground with the same disgusted look as before. “Here?! It’s not anything like that! It’s all sticky, slippery and dirty! Do you know how long it’s going to take me to clean it all off by the time this is all over?! And don’t even get my started on the damage my poor mane and tail took after that fight with that horrid wolf! Ugh!” she gave a rather sharp wave of her right foreleg as she tried to get the dirt off of it. “I’m gonna have to spend extra time at the spa than usual… "

“Oh, don’t worry Rarity, it’s not really all that bad.” Violet Fire said soothingly. “Many forests and jungles are messy in one way or another. It may seem bad now, but when you’ve been in the forest time and time again training and fighting off wild beasts and dealing with its conditions, you get used to it.”

“Hmph, easy for you to say dear! We haven’t even been in this forest for half a day and I can already feel myself beginning to give in!” Rarity griped, emphasizing her point as she gracefully, yet overdramatically, leaned onto Shadow Step. “I don’t think I’ll be able to keep going for much longer if this continues on. I can already feel myself slipping away…”

“I see…well, we can always give you a helping hoof in not going into the light, if that’s what you want.” Lightning Shadow said plainly, gently pushing the alabaster Unicorn off of her. Once she was sure that Rarity had gotten herself under control, she turned to Fluttershy, whispering, “Not to be rude or anything but, is she always like this?”

“Well…most of the time, yes. Rarity can have the tendency to be a little…dramatic sometimes.” The buttermilk Pegasus replied somewhat lamely, a blush coming to her face. “It’s not anything to worry about, really…she just…has a habit of overreacting to certain things that’s all.”

“Understatement of the century, Fluttershy.” Goku snorted, giving a flick of her tail. “Unless it’s to hurt any of our friends, I am one hundred percent okay with Rarity’s overdramatic nature for two reasons. One, it’s pretty common for ponies to have the tendency to over react sometimes, no matter how trivial the reason is, and Rarity is hardly an exception. Second, because there is no other pony, not even her, more dramatic than th’ Flower Triplets.”

Rarity upon, hearing this, snapped her head over to the tan Pegasus, her sapphire blue eyes flashing. “And just what is that supposed to mean?” She asked, her voice low yet sharp.

“Oh nothing.” Goku shrugged, unintimidated by the alabaster Unicorn’s glare piercing into the back of her skull. “It’s just that unlike them, you at least have your reasons fer over reacting to certain things, while they over react to pretty much everything.” She glanced over at Rarity; a small smirk etched onto her face. “That, and you just happen to do it in a more…graceful and regal manner, which is to be expected from somepony as regal and graceful as you.” She added in a sweet tone as she gave a wink.

Rarity paused at these words, her anger giving way to surprise as she stopped in her walking, taking a second to process the last thing Goku had just said. She soon regained her composure, and gave a little cough, her cheeks turning a very bright shade of pink.

“Oh…well, um…that’s very…kind of you to say darling.” She finally said, running a hoof through her messy curly mane. “I honestly don’t know whether to feel flattered or embarrassed by that.”

“Don’t worry, I mean that in a nice way…you really are graceful and regal when it comes to many things, and not just your dress making.” Goku said in a gentle, making Rarity blush a little harder. “Although, you really do tend to overdo it with the exaggerated emotions, even when it’s over something so ridiculously minor.”

“I most certainly do not!” Rarity protested indignantly. “I just…have the tendency to not be able to properly prevent my emotions from swaying me. I just really don’t know what to do at times when I’m not able to find any inspiration or get put down because somepony doesn’t like my designs.”

“Well I’ll tell you what I think you should do.” Rainbow Dash suggested. “Don’t listen to any of the bullshit that they’re saying about your dresses and just make one that they’ll like. Nothing is going to do any good by wallowing away on your couch and eating ice cream until you burst like a cloud.”

“And what is they don’t like those dresses either?!” Rarity retorted. “Jus’ because I make another brand new one, doesn’t mean that my clients will like those dresses or designs unlike the first one! There’s no telling how many I’d have to make before they’re finally satisfied!”

“Well then, they’re not ponies that you should be associating with sugarfoot.” Applejack suggested. “If they ain’t gonna appreciate all o’ th’ hard work ya put int’ them fancy dresses, then they ain’t worth it. If Ah were you, Ah’d be workin’ with somepony who will appreciate th’ hard work that Ah put int’ harvestin’ th’ apples an’ sellin’ them int’ the market.”

“Applejack’s right Rarity.” Fluttershy nodded, blowing her mane from her face. “Not only that, but those ponies who’ll be grateful for what you’re doing for them should also treat you with as much kindness as you do them. My motto, is if you can’t say anything nice, then it’s best not to say anything at all.”

“Well, that would be rather nice, although I don’t exactly know anypony that’ll be genuinely appreciative of my work and kind about.” Rarity murmured, raising an azure stocked foreleg to her forehead. “Well, nopony except Sapphire Shores that is…”

“Well, that’s one start Rarity.” Twilight murmured, smiling slightly. “Plus, you have the rest of us who’ll appreciate all of your hard work, so that has to count for something, shouldn’t it?”

“Yes, it does!” Pinkie Pie chirped, bringing Rarity in a tight hug. “And no matter what others say, we’ll always be there to bring you back up! After all, everypony needs a good laugh to ease all of that icky lonely feelings, don’t we?”

Violet Fire blinked. “Um, Pinkie, baby, I think what you mean to say was, a shoulder to cry on.”

“I know what I meant Captain V!” Pinkie snorted, rolling her eyes. “I’m just putting it in a way that I think makes sense. I mean, they both kind of mean the same when making icky lonely feelings go away, don’t they?”

“Well yeah they do.” Fast Tracks murmured. “It’s just that what Captain Violet means is that having a shoulder to cry on is what you probably meant to say.”

“Maybe so…” Pinkie said slowly. “Except it wasn’t; laughing your icky feelings away can work the same way as making ponies feel better just like letting them let out waterfalls on ponies’ shoulders!”

Lightning Shadow shrugged. “She does make a point…in her own random way.”

“Well, if you want to put that way Pinkie, then that’s fine.” Blue Skies giggled. “We were was just a little confused on how you were trying to put it is all.”

“Don’t be.” Goku chuckled. “Pinkie’s known for doing and saying the most random of things all the time. If there’s anypony that can understand it, it’s her, or anypony else like her, or us. At least when they take the time to know her, like we did.”

“We can see.” Storm Shadow murmured, watching as Pinkie Pie bounced about.

As the ponies continued to walk through the forest, the suddenly found themselves heading into another clearing, only this one seems smaller than the rest. Zephyr and the Shadowbolts were formed in circled around the girls, looking out for any creatures ambushing them within the trees. So far, there was no sound or sight of anything form within the leaves and branches, thanks to the Shadowbolts acute hearing and Goku’s night vision. Still, some of them could not shake the eerie feeling that they were going to get jumped again, in the least unexpected way.

“Do any of you see anything?” Twilight asked, her horn still ignited to light the clearing they were in.

“Nothing.” Blue Skies replied softly. “There isn’t anything nearby here, and I’m not picking up any nearby scents either. I think it’s safe to assume that there aren’t any animals nearby.”

“Don’t be so sure of that Blue.” Storm Shadow advised. “Just because there’s nothing here, doesn’t mean they’re not going to come here. For all we know, another animal may be on its way here right now just waiting to pounce on us. We can’t let our guard down for even a single moment, or else, we’ll get jumped, just like how Zephyr was with the Doragontora.”

Zephyr flinched at his, his face shifting into a frown. “Please don’t remind me.” He murmured, rubbing at his right foreleg. “I really don’t need another jump scare like that again. If I do, I may just end up with as much scars as my Mom has from her youth.”

“Well, luckily for you, we’re to keep that from happening.” Fast Tracks smirked with glistening fangs. “Of course, you gotta admit, you’d look cooler the more scars you have, just like how Star Chaser is.”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it!” Zephyr growled, giving a hard hoof stomp. “It may seem cool to you to have an abundant number of scars, but certainly isn’t for me. I’m already scary looking as it is, and I don’t need any more scars to add to it!”

Goku giggled at her fellow Shenron’s embarrassment, and was about to say something when her bat ears picked out the sound of something from the sky. As she continued to listen, she could make out the distinct sound of what sounded like squeaking and screeching, and the slight flapping of wings. Being a pony with bat attributes, the tan Thestral could immediately figure out that it was a flock of bats that were coming their way. Eyes widening, Goku spun away from her friends to stare in the other direction of the forest, her nose twitching.

“Um, Goku darling, is there something the batter?” Rarity asked, noticing where the mare was looking. “Do you see something?”

“Yeah I do.” She said calmly, her eyes glued to the darkness of the forest. “I don’t want to alarm you guys but…I think I hear a colony of bats coming this way.”

Fluttershy and Fast Track’s ears perked. “Bats?” They asked in unison.

“Hold on, ya actually hear bats comin’ here?” Applejack asked, her eyes narrowing. “Are ya sure that yer hearin’ isn’t clogged up with hay ‘r somethin’?”

“No, they’re not, I can hear them too.” Fast Track replied sharply, the glare he sent Applejack making her flinch. “A Thestral’s hearing never lies, we can both clearly hear bats, so unless your part Thestral too, I suggest keeping comments like that to yourself. Otherwise you’re going to get drained, got it?”

The farmer held her hooves up in defense. “Alright, alright, calm down partner.”

“They’re both right, there are definitely bats coming.” Twilight replied, her ears picking up on the squeaking. “Everypony just stay where you are for now. When the bats come just let them pass, they won’t pose much of a threat to us anyway.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that Zephyr.” Fluttershy advised. “Remember we’re in the Everfree Forest…there’s no telling just what kind of bats these may be.”

“Fluttershy’s right, it’s best to stay on guard.” Twilight replied warily. “After all the animals that we’ve fought, it’s best not to take any chances.”

As those words were said, the flock of bats that had been making their way to the ponies finally made their presence known. Multiple bats upon various different colors and sizes flapped and soared their way past them. Their squeaks and screeches resonated within the ears of the ponies from down below, and it put a few of them on edge.

“Holy shit!” Rainbow Dahs exclaimed. “Just look at those things, how many of them are there?!”

“They’re accelerating too fast for any of us to determine it.” Storm Shadow replied. “Though I’d guess that they’re in the hundreds.”

“Um, actually no.” Fast Track corrected. “I can see their shapes even though their kind of bunched up together. I’d say that it’s more likely in the thousands if you want me to be clear.”

“They’re just ignoring us.” Rarity pointed out. “Why aren’t they just diving in to attack us?”

“Because bats aren’t known to do that to ponies unless you threaten them.” Fluttershy replied, watching the bats worriedly. “Another reason is because they’re flying away from something.”

“Like somethin’ that could gobble them up like cupcakes?” Pinkie Pie asked. “But…what could be making all of those itsy bitsy batties flying away like there’s part they’re missing?”

Right as this question left the pink pony’s mouth one of the bats, who had been flying with the colony, stopped upon noticing the ponies down below it. It was a snow white in color, with bright pink membranes adorning its wings, and azure blue eyes. When it saw the equines in front of it, its eyes widened, and it swooped down towards them, landing right into Goku’s mass of chest fluff.

“Whoa there, little guy! Easy!” Goku said, nearly falling on her jump. She gently pulled the scared bat out of her chest and helped him in her forelegs. “What’s the matter sweetie? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

The white bat, blue eyes filled with absolute terror, began to give off a series of squeaks a mile a minute, so much so that Goku almost wasn’t able to determine what it was trying to say. In an effort to get the bat to calm down, she gently put a hoof to its lips, thus rendering it silent.

“Shhhhhh, calm down baby, it’s alright, I’m here.” She said soothingly, as if she was talking to her brother. “I can’t understand you if you’re talking like a wood chipper. Now, take deep breathes and start from the beginning.”

A few breathes later, the bat started squeaking again, although going at a more manageable pace than it was a few moments ago. The look of sheer terror on its face was still there, but it managed to keep just calm enough to communicate to the Thestral mare about what was going on.

“Wait…you’re saying that a giant flock of Cave Demons are chasing after your colony?” Goku asked apprehensively, earning a frantic nod from the bat in her hooves. “They caught you by surprise and they’re trying to gobble up as much of you as they can?”

“Uh, Goku, not that Ah’m tryin’ t’ interrupt ‘r anythin’, but what is that bat sayin’?” Applejack asked. “Ah can’t understand a lick o’ what it’s tellin’ ya.”

“That bat is telling Goku that there’s a colony of Cave Demons chasing after his.” Fast Tracks replied; his own bat ears able to pick up on the conversation. “And judging from the expression on his face, some serious shit has gone down between them.”

Fluttershy’s face went pale. Wait…d-d-did you say…C-C-C-Cave Demons?”

“Wait, how’re you and Goku able to understand what the bat is saying?” Twilight asked, looking in between both Thestrals. “And…what exactly are Cave Demons?”

A blood curdling screech that nearly shattered the eardrums of everypony prevented any of them from responding to Twilight’s question. As they tried to recover from the sudden sounds, larger shadowy forms burst out form the forest, surrounding the girls in the blink of an eye. A shrill shriek emitted form Rarity, followed by an ear-piercing scream from Pinkie and Blue Skies that alerted everypony else of what had just found them. Once they managed to recover from the sudden sounds, Goku and the others all looked around, only for their hearts to nearly stop by what they all saw.

Standing all around them, their figures causing their shadows to envelop some of them, were the largest bats that any of them had ever seen. By closer inspection, they could see the new creatures surrounding them looked like crosses between ponies and bats, somewhat like Goku. They all stood over five to five and a half feet tall, with builds that were very powerful and muscular, like that of a Minitour’s. All of them had deep and dark shades of fur that varied form numerous different colors, with their gleaming eyes shining much brighter. Each of them had digits that were not too far off from that of a griffon’s, with their feet formed in the same way, with sinister bat-like ears atop their ponyish heads.

They had wings spans that spanned even father than Goku’s the membranes going all the way down to their knees, with long and thick whip-like tails lashing out behind them. Lastly, their griffon like claws had long curved gleaming white claws that retracted and extended every few seconds, and their mouths had large knife-like fangs protruding out form the corners, looking even sharper. If not for the fact that they had minitour like statures, griffon-like claws and rat-like tails, then they would’ve easily been mistaken as Vampire Ponies.

“Father Ulquiorra Almighty!” Rarity screeched. “What uncouth abominations are these?!”

“I think these are the Cave Demons that bat was telling Goku about.” Zephyr relied as calmly as he could. He looked over at Fluttershy, who looked like she was going to wet herself. “These are the ones right Fluttershy?”

The buttermilk Pegasus nodded. “Y-yes Zephyr…they are. They are indeed the demons in the cave…also known as, Dōkutsuakumas.”

“Oh boy, now that is certainly not good.” Pinkie whimpered, her coat switching between bright pink and lavender. “What’re they going to do? Train us of our blood until we’re nothing but shriveled up and moldy cupcakes?”

“They literally have fangs poking out of their mouths Pinkie.” Rainbow deadpanned. “I think it’s been made obvious what they’re going to do.”

“Actually, I think thay may be the least painful thing they’d do to us.” Fluttershy murmured, standing close to Blue Skies. “Dōkutsuakumas aren’t exactly known for swiftly and efficiently killing off their prey. I think that it can be said, by the way that they’re looking at us, they’re going to tear us limb from limb.”

“Not if we have anything to say about it.” Violet Fire stated firmly, flaring her wings as flames exploded from her. “Fire Pegasus: Neigh!”

Inhaling deeply, the ebony mare shot out huge blast of fire from her mouth, letting it collide right in the chest of the biggest Dōkutsuakumas. It sent the giant vampiric like creature flying away and crashing into a tree, prompting the other colony members to attack. Goku, Zephyr, and the rest of the Shadowbolts were the closest ones, and the Dōkutsuakumas immediately lunged for them, only to for the ponies to retaliate with their own attacks.

“Lightning Thestral: Electric Whinny!” Goku shouted, letting out a blast of golden lightning at the nearest Dōkutsuakumas immediately electrifying them on the spot. Leaping into the air, she delivered deep serrated slashed with her wing claws, before sucker punches and axe kicks to a couple of the bat-like creatures. After launching another one away with a devastating kick, she turned to help her friends, only to see the Shadowbolts already on it.

“Fire Thestral: Scorching Explosion!” Fast Track shouted, sending a giant ball of flames at the Dōkutsuakumas on the right side of them. As with Violet Fire’s own group, they were set on fire, and they all let out eerie screeches as they tried to put out the fire. One of the fanged colony members launched itself at the light brown stallion from behind, but he launched it in the air with a kick to the gut.

“Shadow Pegasus: Dark Slicing Waves!” Lightning Shadow and Storm Shadow both shouted in unison, sending slices of blackness at the giant bat-like creatures. Thanks to the distance that the Dōkutsuakumas were at, this allowed the attacks to send them further back. It also did the deed of leaving devastating injuries to the creatures as they were sent flying from them, blood spraying from their wounds. The two sisters suddenly heard the sound of screeching from right behind, and saw several Dōkutsuakumas diving towards them, mouths agape.

“Not so Fast!” Zephyr shouted, ascending up towards the bat creatures. “Fire Pegasus: Brilliant Explosion!”

With both of his hooves out, he shot a wave of garnet flames at the Dōkutsuakumas above him, burning them faster than they could blink as they were sent careening away. In flash, lightning automatically replaced the fire cloaking him, and he swung his wings outward, sending waves of lightning bolts at the flaming giant bats. “Lightning Pegasus: Electric Wing Attack!”

Each of the lightning bolts struck the Dōkutsuakumas point blank right where he had aimed at, and he watched as the beasts were once again violently electrocuted. Just as the lightning was beginning to fade away, Blue Skies suddenly came diving in out of nowhere.

“Sky Pegasus: Swirling Whirlwind!” She shouted, sending a giant tornado of wind down at the beasts that were surrounding the other ponies. Luckily, they saw the attack coming, and evaded it just as it hit the ground, sending slices of wind everywhere. Zephyr, the Shadowbolts and all the other mares managed to hide behind the giant trees to avoid being sliced to ribbons, but the Dōkutsuakumas were not so lucky. Before the beast’s knew it, they found themselves being carved into by the wind slices before crashing into the trees, some of them being the ones Goku and her friends were all hiding behind.

“I’ve managed to keep them all down for now!” The palomino mare exclaimed as she flew down to her team. “Is everypony okay?”

“Lands sakes girl, where were yer aimin’ them things!” Applejack chastised. “Ya nearly sliced all o’ us int’ applesauce back there!”

“Maybe, but at least it kept us from getting the blood drained out of us.” Twilight murmured, shivering slightly. “We need to leave, and do it now. The sooner we do, the sooner we can keep ourselves from becoming meals.”

“You don’t need any further prompting from me dear.” Rarity shuddered. “I love the way my coat is, but I’d rather not take the chance of looking like a ghost.”

Right at that moment, a bone chilling hiss came from behind the ponies, and they looked behind them to see a rather large Dōkutsuakuma in front of them. Its eyes blazed a deep crimson red as it bared its fangs at the ponies in front of them, a long snake like tongue slithering from out of its mouth. Its muscular wings flared to its largest span as it crouched in front of them, looking to be preparing to pounce.

“Looks like our Nightmare Night party guests have other ideas Rarity.” Pinkie Pie said in a sing-song voice. “And from the look on his face, he does plan to make you into a ghost.”

“Not helping Pinkie Pie!” Rainbow Dash snapped, a tick mark popping on her head.

The group was suddenly aware of multiple shadows looming over them, and they all looked around to see the other Dōkutsuakumas surrounding them from all sides. Strong gusts of wind emitted from their wing flaps as some of them hovered over their prey, preventing them from using flight to escape.

“Well this is just great.” Zephyr snorted, lashing his tail out indignantly. “Looks like we’re gonna have to take this up a notch.”

“Looks like it.” Goku nodded, her wings flaring out slightly.

Just before the ponies could attack, the biggest Dōkutsuakuma, presumably the alpha, suddenly raised its forelimbs and clammed his claws down into the ground. Large cracks slithered across the ground like snakes from multiple burrows as they spread all across the clearing. What came afterward was bright red energy that shined form the cracks in the earth, almost blinding the ponies standing over it.

“Um…what the buck was that?” Rainbow Dash asked. “What did he just do?”

“I have no idea.” Storm Shadow replied. “But something tells me that it is not good.”

At that moment, the smaller bat that had been hiding in Goku’s mane popped out, and began squeaking again. The tan Thestral, Fast Tracks, and Fluttershy turned their attention to the fledgling as he continued to talk to them.

“Now what is that lil’ vermin goin’ on ‘bout now?” Applejack asked in irritation. “Ah’m gettin’ real sick an’ tired o’ hearin’ all o’ that squeakin’.”

Fluttershy shot a stern glare at the farmer. “Applejack, I’d advise you to watch what you say about the bats. I’ve already gotten enough of it from you, Rarity and Rainbow Dash and I don't need to hear another word of it! I know you have no love for bats, but that is no excuse to keep referring to them as monsters or pests, especially in front of me. So you'd better stop it right here, right now or you’re going to get my Solar Stare!”

Applejack’s mouth snapped shut as the bat continued to squeak and chirp, with Goku, Fast Tracks, and Fluttershy listening all the while. A moment later, the two Thestrals and Pegasus gasped as their faces drained of their natural color.

“Goku, Fluttershy, what’s the matter?” Twilight asked. “What did the bat tell you?”

“Yeah, you three look like you’ve gotten drained of your blood.” Violet murmured in concern for Fast Tracks, ignoring the glare Rarity shot her. “What’s going to happen?”

“Guys, we need to get out of this clearing!” Fast Tracks said frantically. “The ground is about to give out from underneath us!”

“Give out?” Pinkie asked perplexedly. “What do you mean?”

“I-I think Fast means that the ground is going to crumble.” Blue Skies whimpered. “Meaning we’re about to fall through it.”

Lighting Shadows eyes almost popped out of her goggles. “Wait, WHAT?!”

That was all that was left to be said before there was an explosion from underneath the ponies, happening so fast that they didn’t even have time to blink. The next they knew, they were all falling through the ground, the Dōkutsuakumas watching as they vanished into the darkness below as they screamed in terror. They all screeched before they dove down after them, eager to finish off their newfound dinner before the night’s end.

Author's Notes:

Other than the beginning of this chapter, the rest of this was thought entirely form the top of my head, especially after seeing the last versions of the buildup I made for Pinkie Pie to represent her own Element. Out of all the chapters that I felt needed to most changing, those chapters are at the very top of that list, plus I felt that I didn't make enough buildup to get to that point, especially near the ending before I wrote the final battle. So, I'm gonna try to improve that buildup before I get to the next Element representation, since there's only, like, three of them left, and I'm planning to make a real big surprise for one of them, one I got form seeing a certain sea move trailer. Before any of you ask, it's still going to say the same as it was the last time, only in this new addition, Zephyr, the Shadowbolts, and the rest of the girls, will have to go through a watery obstacle before then.

Well, that's all for now; tune in next time for a chase in the underground, an ambush afterwards, and Queen Celestia and Venture Vine running into one of the fighters of the Everfree. Along Ponyville getting another surprise visit, only from beings more on their intellectual level.