As the numbers slowly rose against Serafino on Sweet Apple Acres grew to hold him off, Shining Armor, Spearhead and the Wonderbolts were all in a violent scuffle of their own. Said scuffle being the Death Triplets, Deathwing, Deathhorn, and Deathhoof, who were all still currently trying to turn all of the Town Square into dust. Unfortunately, the Solar Military and Ariel Flyers were currently putting them all in a tight circle that left them with no other choice than to try to fight their way to the all but demolished building. It was alright with them though, for they were taking absolute, if not sadistic glee in fighting the five ponies, who, unfortunately enough, were looking pretty worse for wear. That didn’t bother them though, for the only thing on their minds was protecting the ponies of the town they were in, before both ended up as piles of bones, rubble, and dust.

“WONDERBOLTS, FIRE!!!” Spitfire roared, her large wings flaring out as she pulled herself out of the cloak of roaring fire that she was coated into. Soarin, and Fleetfoot followed suit not even a second later as they stopped just behind their captain after pulling themselves out of their own elemental cloaks. They watched as they rained down on the Death Triplets, who tried to evade the gigantic streams of elements as they exploded around them, encasing the whole street in a swirl color. Enormous clouds of dust followed suit just a second and a half later, until it completely encased Deathwing, Deathhorn, and Deathhoof, and the attacks that they released.

“Wow…that explosion was bigger than I thought it was going to be!” Shining Armor muttered, lifting a hoof to block the dust getting in his face. “Do you think that got them?”

“It looks like it.” Spearhead replied with a nod. “They didn’t see the attack coming, and they pretty much didn’t have any time to try to dodge or evade it.”

“It had better, I seriously don’t want to waste any more time on these bastards than we need to.” Shining murmured with a tired and anxious sigh. “Especially since there’s still more of them all throughout the town.”

All of a sudden, Spearhead looked off to the right, gasped, and reach out to tap his Captain on the shoulder. “Captain, look out!”

The alabaster Unicorn whipped around just as a giant bolt of sinister black lightning made its way towards him. He ignited his horn to counter it, but spearhead beat him to it, creating a lightning coated spear and shooting it directly at the magical bolt. They exploded in midair, causing a cloud if smoke to appear, the very same smoke that allowed a group of black vines to shoot at them from out of nowhere.

“Spearhead watch out!” Shining Armor said, running into his Second in Command just as the vines impaled them both. The rest either wrapped around them or stabbed them with the large thorns sticking out, as they were carried in the air, right in the range of Windslicer.

“Found you!” The azure blue stallion shouted, grinning widely. “Nightmare Lightning Thestral: Black lightning Explosion!”

A giant wave of lightning coated darkness was sent blasting out of Windslicer’s cloven hooves and towards Shining Armor and Spearhead, both of whom were still suspended in the air. Just before they were hit, a wave of bright blue eyes swarmed in out of nowhere, countering the black lighting wave and freezing it over. Shining Armor and spearhead watched in awe as the lightning turned wave of ice slowly cracked, before shattering into mist.

“Did you really think that I was going to let you electrocute these boys to death?!” Fleetfoot asked incredulously, sending another wave of ice at the vines holding Spearhead and Shining Armor. “I don’t think so!” She added, punching the frozen vines as they shattered under the force of her punch.

“Awww come on, that was so not cool there!” Deathhoof shouted from below, a hard frown on her face. “I was just seconds away from burying those two six feet under; and you had to go and run it for me!”

“Well, it sucks to be you then bro!” Soarin shouted as he came soaring down at Deathhoof, a cloak of green wind surrounding him. “You can’t just expect us to just let you catch us by mistake and just take it like we’re your slaves! We’re Wonderbolts and Royal Guards for a reason you know!”

With a snarl, Deathhoof whirled around and prepared to summon more vines to shot at Soarin, but a bolt of fire blasted him from behind. This cut his incoming attack off and allowed Soarin to shoot a breath of wind at Deathhoof, getting him sliced at the same time he was burn as he was enveloped in a huge explosion.

“Deathhoof!” Deathhorn cried, his bat-like ears ringing at the sound of his brother’s agonized screams. Snapping her gaze over to the two Pegasi, he snarled, “You’re going to pay for that you bitch made assholes! Dark Solid Form Magic: Black Lightning Bolt Barrage!”

With his sword horn blazing with black magic, Deathhorn shot a shower of black lightning bolts at Spitfire and Soarin, who effectively dodged them with their sharpened senses. Although their coats did get sliced and torn in the process, not that it really mattered to either Pegasus. Spitfire made the first move, her entire body cloaked in strong orange fire as it was just minutes before.

“Fire Pegasus: Scorching Whinny!” She shouted fiercely, sending out a blast of orange fire down at Deathhoof, who countered it with a giant black lightning bolt of his own. While the Nightmare Unicorn stallion was distracted, Fleetfoot came soaring in from behind him, and attacked.

“Ice Pegasus: Ice Spike Floor!” She shouted, slamming her hooves on the ground and created a giant sheet of ice that immediately turned into spikes. Deathhorn’s sensitive ears heard the sound of crystalizing ice, and turned around, only to find his hooves covered in ice as it traveled up his body. His draconic eyes widened and was just able to gasp before he found himself completely coated in spikes of ice.

“Nice save Fleetfoot, now just leave him to me!” Shining Armor said, igniting his horn as he charged towards the frozen Deathhorn. “Solid Form Magic Knight: Spiraling Fire Explosion!”

Eyes flashing, Shining shot a huge blast of spiraling fire at the frozen Deathhoof, and he and everypony watched as it collided with the frozen stallion. Moments later, the fire vanished, leaving nothing but a melted stunt of ice that flowed with water.

“Well Captain, looks like you got him!” Spearhead exclaimed. “You completely incinerated him like he was ash!”

“Not quite.”

The phthalo tangelo stallion jumped at the voice from behind him, along with Shining Armor, and the both spun around, only for a wave of black fire to envelop them. they both tumbled across the ground as the fire burned at their bodies, and it was only thanks to their armor that they weren’t scorched.

“Captain Armor, Spearhead!” Soarin shouted. “Hold tight we’re coming!”

“Not while I’m still here you’re not!” Windslicer shouted, flying in front of Soarin and giving him a good sock to the face. “If you wanna try and save your puny little comrades, then you’ll have to get through me! ‘Cause there’s no way in Tartarus that I’m gonna let you deprive them of their fun, let alone mine!”

Before Soarin could reply, Windslicer gave him a swift kick to the face, sending him crashing to the ground. The bat winged Nightmare stallion flew down towards him to drive him deeper into the ground, but Soarin managed to roll out of the way just as Windslicer struck. His emerald green eyes glowed brightly as he swung his wings forward, sending slices of wind at the azure blue Thestral at breakneck speed.

“Fire Pegasus: Firebolt Barrage!” Spitfire shouted, shooting a multitude of firebolts at Soarin’s own wind attacks. The light cornflower blue stallion watched as they combined together, catching Windslicer off guard as the fire and wind mixed into one. He soon found himself sliced and burnt at the same time, turning him into a whinnying mess as he was sent hurdling across the air before crashing onto the roof of a house.

“Finally, got that bastard to shut up.” Spitfire snorted, her tail whipping about. “I was beginning to think that my ears were gonna ring constantly if I kept hearing him talking.”

“C…Captain…” Soarin murmured, blinking a couple of times. “Was that you who sent those firebolts at my wind slashes?”

“Well of course it was me! Didn’t you hear me when I called my attack out?” Spitfire asked, sounding as if Soarin should’ve known she’d come into help. “I had a little plan to combine both mine and your attacks together when you shot your own out at Windslicer. After that we’d let our magic to the rest for us…and it certainly did its job in catching him off guard.”

“That’s all well and good and all…” Soarin murmured as he frowned. “but don’t you think that it would’ve been smarter if you had told me what your plan was first before you went ahead with it. Especially since you didn’t have my okay in the matter?”

Spitfire glared down at her second in command. “Hey, don’t go acting like I should’ve went about this the smart way, because I did! Remember, I’m the Captain of this team here, which means I can form any tactic that I chose! Even if it means fusing my attack the that of my teammates!”

“That’s not what I was meaning, nor was it what I was thinking!” Soarin shouted back, frowning even harder. “All I was saying was that you could’ve at least told me what you were going to do before you did it for a second, I thought you were one of those Dark Army ponies who were cancelling out my attacks! What was I supposed to think?”

“Oh, I don’t know Soarin, maybe try staying more focused on what’s in front of you and which attacks are being shouted out around you instead of than worrying about how to use your powers?” Spitfire suggested, growling. “Maybe if you did that, you would still see that it was your allies helping you instead of your enemies trying to incinerate your little punk ass to a crisp!”

Soarin paused, a large sweat drop falling down the back of his head. “Punk ass?”

Fleetfoot suddenly flew in front of her fellow teammates, a magenta red aura surrounding her suited form as she shot a blast of fire from her hooves at in an incoming group of vines. Soarin and Spitfire both watched as the vines were frozen in place, only for another one to soar over them and head towards Fleetfoot. She screamed as it impaled her, but she managed to keep it from going right through her even as she was sent crashing into the ground.

“Are you done with your bickering now?!” She asked angrily, glaring pointedly at Spitfire as she said this. “If you are then we have three overly powered perverted and egotistical stallions that we need to defeat, along with two stallions that we need to save from being killed!”

“As if you’re going to have any chance in doing that!” Deathhoof shouted from behind his giant thorned vine. Digging his hooves deeper into the ground, his vine glowed as it drove Fleetfoot deeper into the ground, while the screaming mare did her best to keep herself from being impaled further in her stomach. “Two of you are already down and I have one of you on the ground groveling! What makes you think that you can save your comrades, especially since one of them had abandoned you at our mercy!”

“Crimson Skies didn’t abandon us you prick!” Soarin shouted with a stomp of his own hooves. “She sensed somepony else was in danger and went to go help them! Even though she’s not a part of the Wonderbolt team, we decided to entrust her to come back and help us once she’s finished her part of the deal!”

“I doubt that she’ll do that.” Spitfire murmured, crossing her forearms. “Then again, it’s not like I’ve ever trusted a Shadowbolt in the first place.”

“Oh, really now?” Deathhorn asked, stepping from behind Deathhoof with his sword horn crackling with electricity. “Then she’d better get here soon for all of your sakes, or else we’re going to take our sweet time in ripping all of you, limb from limb.”

“Like hay I’m going to wait for you to do something like that!” Spitfire shouted in fury as flames exploded around her. “The only thing that I’ll be waiting for is when we final get rid of you bastards so you can go back the Tartarus you came from!”

“Captain, wait, come back!” Soarin shouted, but was unable to stop her in time as spitfire flew down at Deathhoof. “You’re falling right into his trap!”

“Sorry bucko, she just did.” Deathhorn smirked as he fired off his attack. “Nightmare Solid Form Magic: Scorching Black Fire Drill!”

“Nice try asshole!” Spitfire shouted, outstretching her forehooves. “Fire Pegasus: Scorching Fiery Explosion!”

As the orange and black fire clashed with one another, a powerful shockwave echoed about the street near the town hall. It washed over the fighters that were either down, or were trying to keep a noticeable distance away from the two competing flyers. Soarin flew over to where Fleetfoot was while Deathhoof was distracted by the fight, and tried to pull the vine off of the arctic blue mare.

“Nice try!” Deathhoof shouted, summoning another vine and sending it straight at Soarin. He only had time to widen his eyes before he was stabbed in the stomach and dragged across the ground.

“Soarin!” Fleetfoot cried, before another gob of blood left her mouth.

As Fleetfoot called out her teammate name, she heard a scream, and saw the form of her Captain flying away from her and crashing across the ground. Her eyes widened with even further upon seeing her suited form burnt and scorched by black flames.

“Wow, that was a real power struggle there wasn’t it?” Deathhorn asked, blowing at his horn as if it were a smoking pistol. “Too bad it didn’t last very long for her.”

“Why you no good-” Fleetfoot hissed, struggling even harder against the vine holding her down in the ground. “I’m gonna make you pay for that-!”

Deathhoof chuckled darkly, his yellow draconic eyes flashing. “Yeah, don’t see much of a chance of that happening sweet cheeks. With the state that me and my bros put you and your little squad in, you won’t be having much success in taking us down. Let alone our entire army, even though your numbers are just as big as ours.”

“Deathhoof and Deathhorn are right there.” Deathwing said, as he flew in and landed right in between his brothers. “With your fellow flyers down, those other guards out, and our whole army fighting against your own, there isn’t much hope of you defeating us. Why do you think you think you can still win against us of all ponies?”

A large lightning coated spear suddenly landed in front of them, followed by several more as they formed a circle around the trio of Nightmare Ponies. They barely had any time to react before they found themselves electrocuted on the spot as the ground exploded underneath them. this action caused the vines that Deathhorn was controlling to loosen up, allowing Soarin and Fleetfoot to get back up and rush to their Captain.

“Faustdammit…” Spitfire hissed; her forelegs being thrown over her teams’ shoulders. “…I’m gonna make that damn Unicorn pay for that one.”

“I-I think you may have t-to wait one that one C-Captain.” Soarin said with a slight wheeze, taking tentative ragged breaths. “I-it looks like C-Captain Armor and S-Spearhead have this one f-for now…”

Chunks of rubble flew through the air as Windslicer burst out of it, whipping around to find the ones who attacked him and his brothers. “Alright, who’s the smartass who did that to us?! Come out and show yourselves before I slice you out!”

As if to show the culprit behind the attack, the smoke surrounding the trio of brothers cleared, revealing the armored, yet bruised forms of Spearhead and Shining Armor in front of them. A fierce colored glow could be seen in both on their eyes as their Ascension Armor gleamed in the Moon’s light, their capes billowing behind them. Shining Armor’s horn blazed with magic while a flock of spears surrounded Spearhead, lightning coating all of them.

“That would been me dude.” Spearhead said casually. “And believe me, I am far from done; I have plenty more of these things to throw at you!”

“And if you try to throw more of your own at me, then I’ll just block them with everything I got too!” Shining Armor added, stomping his hoof. “They don’t call me Shining Armor for nothing!”

“Come on and try it!” Deathhorn shouted, his own sinister horn blazing with magic. “By the time we’re done with you, you’ll be begging us to send you to the depths of Tartarus!”

“The only ones going to Tartarus are you three, and the rest of your bastard army!” Shining Armor retorted. “By the time we’re done with you all, it’ll be as if you were nothing more than a bad dream this whole town shared!”

“Well then you all had better prepare yourselves.” Deathhoof said venomously. “Because we’re gonna make that so-called dream, into a living nightmare!”

Crimson Skies’ bright blue eyes gleamed brightly as she scanned the streets of Ponyville, trying her best to keep as quiet as possible as to not alert any of the Nightmare Ponies near them. She could see some of them prowling both above and below, whether it be fighting off the Royal Guards, or simply looking for ponies they could take hostage and back to their Queen. The palomino mare pursed her lips and kept going forward, trying not to stay in one spot or stare at her enemies for too long. Behind her, Silver Speed was following, her two foals riding on her back as she stayed as close to the young Shadowbolt as she could, also doing her best not to make a single noise to give herself away.

“Ms. Silver Speed, do you see anything coming from behind you?” Crimson asked, keeping her voice as quiet as possible. “So far, everything is clear from the front where I’m standing. Can you feel anything near you?”

Silver Speed shook her head, letting her magic feel around the street they were in. “No dear, I don’t…I can feel darker magic at a much farther distance. However, I’m not sensing any of it up close, so for now, we’re not in any immediate danger.”

“Good, then that means we’re doing good lying low.” Crimson nodded, looking back ahead of her. “Still, I wouldn’t let my guard down. Any of them could pop up at us at any moment, and that’s the last thing any of us need, especially you three.”

“M-m-momma.” Chip Cutter stammered, causing both mares to pause even though only one of them was being addressed. “T-t-those ponies a-aren’t gonna c-come and g-get us l-like that l-last pony did, a-are they?”

“No baby, they’re not, I’m not going to let them.” Silver Speed said gently, yet firmly as she looked back at her two foals. “Like I said before, as long as I’m here I’m not going to let anything bad happen to either of you; that’s a promise.”

“And don’t worry about anything happening to your dear mommy either.” Crimson chirped sweetly, flicking her tail. “She’s under the protecting of one of the two most elite flyers in Equestria, so there’s no way I’m gonna let her get hurt.”

“Um, miss Crimson Skies…” Silver Spoon squeaked. “Speaking of which…are you apart o the Wonderbolts? Your suit doesn’t exactly match all of the others that’re in Cloudsdale.”

Crimson Skies giggled. “No sweetie, I’m not a part of the Wonderbolts; I’m sorry if my suit gave you the wrong impression.” She replied gently, giving her clothing a gentle tug. “I’m actually apart of another Ariel Flight Team called that takes seclusion in Canterlot, called the Shadowbolts.”

“The…Shadowbolts?” Silver Speed asked, the name coming out slowly. “I’m afraid that I’m not quite following you there dear.”

“Yeah, me neither.” Chip added. “What’re the Shadowbolts?”

“They’re a group of Ariel Flyers pretty much like the Wonderbolts, only there are some differences between our two groups.” Crimson Skies replied in a patient and explanatory tone, still keeping a lookout. “Other than the fact that we have darker suits, we tend to operate during the nighttime rather than the day. The reason for that is because the Shadowbolts are a more nocturnal bunch, and like bats, we’re active during the dark while we, in a metaphorical way, sleep during the day. Does that make sense?”

“I can.” Silver Speed replied before either of her children could reply. “While the sun is out, it’s the Wonderbolts who’re operating while your own team rests and regathers their strength. Then, once the daytime ends and the nighttime begins, that’s when you operate and go on your missions while the Wonderbolts recuperate and recover themselves.”

“Exactly!” Crimson Skies said, smiling brightly. “Another difference between the Wonderbolts and the Shadowbolts is that our HQ isn’t suspended in the clouds like Cloudsdale City. It’s actually earthbound and secluded somewhere deep within Canterlot City, and trust me, it is a hay of a lot larger than in Cloudsdale.” She paused and put a suited hoof to her mouth, locking eyes with Silver Speed. “Oh, I’m sorry, please excuse my-”

“No, it’s alright honey, my kids have been subjected to plenty of foul words…no thanks to me in that regard.” Silver Speed murmured with a blush, holding her hoof up. “Anyway, you were saying about your team and headquarters?”

“Oh right, I’m sorry.” Crimson Skies said, rubbing the back of her head. “Anyway, yes, the Shadowbolts HQ is secluded in a very concealed place in Canterlot City. And it’s someplace where only we Shadowbolts, and those we absolutely trust can enter, besides the Queen…otherwise, you won’t have any amount of luck going down it.”

“That is understandable, you can’t just let anypony into an organization like that.” Silver Speed nodded. “They’d have to be a part of it, or be a trusted friend or comrade of it, least they risk something getting leaked out that would endanger the team or those they care about.”

“Mhm, just the way that the Shadowbolts operate!” Crimson Skies giggled, the cuteness behind it making Silver Speed want to squeeze her. “Other than us being rather…secretive, there’s our whole team as a whole. See, while we are known as an Ariel Flight Team, we don’t just accept Pegasi as part of the team…then again, Pegasi aren’t the only flyers we accept and take in to be Shadowbolts.”

“Flyers other than Pegasi?” Silver Spoon asked, tilting her head. “What other flyers do you accept into your team besides Pegasi?”

“Before I answer that, let me ask you something honey.” Crimson Skies replied. “What do you, your brother, and your mommy know about Thestrals?”

Silver Speed looked back up at Crimson Skies, the question taking her by so much surprise that she almost stopped walking. ‘Thestrals?’

“Thestrals…you mean the Bat Ponies?” Chip Cutter asked, as Crimson nodded. “W-well…not very much really. All me and big sis do know is that they have fangs like that of a…a Vampire, they can hang upside down from trees like an actual bat does, and they drink fruit despite having fangs like a Vampire. They also have large scary looking bat wings, the eyes of a cat, and they like to hang around at night, and they really hate the sunlight.”

“Mhm, mhm, good, good…that’s a good guess.” Crimson Skies murmured. “There’s also the fact that they can use Adrenaline and Ascension Modes like we can, with some even being from the Clans of Equestria like you and me. That, and the fact that they have a ridiculous amount of physical strength, let alone magic, to the point where its supernatural, and they can be pretty, um…ferocious.”

“Oh, trust me dear, me and my dear foals know that much. We’ve heard plenty of that from a good number of ponies in the places that we’ve gone to during family outings, especially in Canterlot City.” Silver Speed commented dryly, earning nods of recognition from her foals. “Why do you mention it?”

“I’m explaining all of this because….” Crimson Skies hesitated before answering. “…because I have a Thestral that’s part of my team.”

Silver Spoon and Chip Cutter gasped in shock. “You do?!” The latter asked, his jaw dropped in disbelief. “You have an actual Thestral on your team?”

“I sure do baby, fangs, bat wings, supernatural strength and pretty much everything else.” Crimson Skies confirmed, winking at the young colt. “Although I think he emphasized his love for fruit just a little bit too much in me and the rest of my team’s opinion, but yes, my second in command is a Thestral.”

“O-oh wow…I-I never thought that there’d be an actual Thestral on a m-military team like the Wonder-er…Shadowbolts.” Silver Spoon murmured apprehensively, her ears falling limp. “Is…is he nice?”

Crimson Skies flashed the young bluish grey filly a gentle and reassuring smile. “Yes, Silver Spoon he is…in fact, Fast Tracks, is actually very laid back and easy going, like many of the other Shadowbolts. I mean sure, he can be a bit of an airhead, and enjoys himself on the battlefield a little too much, but he’s a really sweet stallion. Once you get past the fact that he looks like a Vampire Pony from the Old Days and a second-generation species of Dracula.” She looked away as a blush came to her face. ‘Not to mention that he’s really funny and…cute too. Not quite as cute as Sheton is, but still pretty close.’

“I see…I’ll have to take some time of my management to see if me and my children can meet this Fast Tracks stallion.” Silver Speed murmured, smiling in amusement at the blush on the younger Pegasus’s face. “So Crimson darling…tell me about your Captain. What is she like? Is she your typical loud and hard commanding officer?”

“Actually…no she’s not; in fact, my Shadowbolt Captain isn’t like that at all, surprisingly.” Crimson Skies replied, her blush turning slightly darker. “Captain Violet Fire Kindheart Rosario actually has a gentler disposition than most other generals, and is actually very kindhearted by nature. She’s doesn’t scream or shout out orders like most drill sergeants do in order to push the cadets, and chooses a gentler approach to us, including me and the rest of my own team. Then again, that doesn’t mean she’s not firm when she needs to be, though she doesn’t do that by resorting to screaming her head off at the cadets.” A shiver went down her spine as her tail flicked. “I may not be able to handle all of that anyway…”

“My…your captain is definitely unlike all the other military leaders around here.” Silver Speed said after a moment of silence. “I would’ve never thought that I’d hear of a Captain that’s not very hard or intimidating towards the ones they’re training. This Violet Fire must have a special method of pushing you if she doesn’t have to resort to make you all scared of her.”

“You have no idea.” Crimson Skies laughed sheepishly. “Though for the most part, Captain Violet can be a very kind and caring mare, and she’s not afraid of expressing her affection towards us, even if it means not really being taken seriously. In fact, whenever we meetings or sometimes get together, Captain Violet Fire sometimes like to flirt around with the team and act, um…seductive, around them too, even me.” Her face grew an even deeper shade of red as she said this. “I’ve lost count of the amount of times that Captain Violet Fire’s flirted with me and acted like she was trying to hit on me and the other members of the team. Oh wow, my face is just burning remembering it! Damn her for being so attractive and sexy!”

Silver Speed giggled, running a hoof through her gleaming silver mane. “Oh, I can see just by the blush on your face that your Captain is certainly somepony that would catch ponies’ eyes, regardless of their gender or tribe.” She cooed softly, making Crimson Skies hang her head in embarrassment. “Now that I bring it up, you said that your Captain doesn’t just accept Pegasus ponies, or even Thestrals into your team of Shadowbolts, unlike the Wonderbolts. What exactly you mean by that honey?”

Ears perking, Crimson Skies eagerly opened her mouth to explain, but snapped it shut just a second and a half later, her eyes widening. She whipped her head forward as she looked around a large street that she and Silver Speed were just about to cross through. The young mother, sensing the chance in Crimson Skies body language, stopped as well, her wings ruffling in anticipation and preparation, while Silver Spoon and Chip Cutter.

“Ms. Crimson Skies.” Silver Spoon murmured. “Is there something wrong?”

“Shhhhhh…” Crimson Skies shushed. “Quiet honey…don’t make a single sound.”

This made Silver Spoon and Chip Cutter snap both of their mouths shut, and they clung tightly to each other, and to their mother. Crimson Skies slowly walked over to the clearing in the street and looked around, feeling around it with her magic to detect the presence of the Nightmare Ponies. She could feel something ominous coming from where she was, but couldn’t put her hoof on what it was, which only put her more on edge. Silver Speed and her children stayed where they were, not daring to go any closer until Crimson Skies gave the signal.

“What is it Crimson?” Silver Speed asked, breaking the silence. “Do you sense anypony nearby?”

“No, I don’t…and that’s the thing.” Crimson Skies replied, glancing back at the bluish gray mare standing some distance away. “I keep feeling something ominous around her, but I can’t tell if it’s one of those Dark Army ponies trying to get the jump on us, or something else entirely.”

Silver Speed frowned. “Well that doesn’t sound very reassuring.” She murmured, flicking her silvery tail from behind her. “Do you think we should take another route from here?”

“Yes, that’s the better option I’m thinking of right now.” Crimson Skies said. “There’s just something really fishy about this part of the street. It’s just too quiet, and I would’ve thought that it would at least have a few Royal Guards and those other ponies fighting and…there’s none.”

“That does sound fishy indeed dear.” Silver Speed nodded. “I do think we should take another route, hopefully one that’ll give us a shortcut to the Town Square. We’ll only be increasing our chances of being caught if we stay here.”

“Sounds like a good ide-” Before Crimson Skies could finish her sentence, something burst out from the ground and stabbed her in the stomach and through the back. Crimson’s face of worry instantly became one of pained shock as she looked up to see a black thorned vine sticking out of the ground. She gurgled on her blood as it flowed from her mouth while she was sent into the air, the vine yanking her back down to the ground as she met it face first.

Silver Spoon and Chip Cutter screamed in unison while their mother let out a gasp of horror, and, without thinking, she ran over to the fallen mare. “Crimson Skies!”

“NO! Stay back!” Crimson suddenly cried. “Remember, we’re not the only ones at risk her! You’re in even bigger danger with your kids here too!”

Realizing her mistake, Silver Speed spread her wings and was about to fly out of harm’s way, but before she could, she felt the ground give way from underneath her. She, Crimson, Silver Spoon and Chip Cutter all screamed when they fell into the large crater that they were in, colliding with each other in a massive tumble.

“Oooow…that hurt.” Chip Cutter whined rubbing at his side. “Is everypony okay?”

“I’m not, but I hope you are little bro.” Silver Speed replied, glancing over at her sibling. “What was that just now? Did an earthquake infiltrate its way into the town?”

“No…that was no earthquake.” Crimson Skies said, coughing as Silver Speed sat her up. “This sinkhole was definitely made form magic. The only question is, who is it that did it?”

“Heheh, it looks like my little trap worked after all!” A dark and all too familiar voice said, before either mare could answer. “And look here, it looks like I even got a couple little squirts in the process too, lucky me!”

Silver Speed and Crimson Skies froze, feeling their blood come to a standstill as the voice registered in their minds. They shared a look of fear and shock before slowly looking up, and locking eyes with the familiar azure blue draconic eyes of Windslicer. The stallion looked rather worse for were, with deep gashes all over his body that were seeping black blood with like multiple breaks in rocks. Bruises could be seen adorning his muzzle, while his mouth only contained on fang, and his wings were ripped along the middle and the ends. Despite the various injuries adorning him, none of that took away the malicious grin adorning his face while his eyes gleamed behind his disheveled grey mane.

“Hello there ladies, I see that you haven’t gotten very far.” Windslicer said smoothly, his voice having an undertone of malice behind it. “Did you miss me?”

“Windslicer?!” Silver Speed cried standing protectively in front of her foals. “That’s impossible! We thought you had been killed!”

“Y-yeah, I saw you get obliterated with my last attack!” Crimson Skies squeaked. “How in Faust’s name can you still be alive?!”

“How am I alive?” Windslicer asked, throwing his head back and letting out an icy laugh. “I think the better question is how am I not dead right now, but I can go with that too. It’s because that attack of yours didn’t completely kill me off.”

Crimson Skies frowned in confusion. “What’re you talking about? I saw you get blown away by my combined magic attack!”

“Exactly.” Windslicer nodded, flicking his tail. “And that’s all your move did to me, was just blow me high into the sky, not kill me.”

“It…” Crimson Skies gulped. “I-it didn’t?”

“Nope, it most certainly didn’t my dear…why would I be standing here right now if that was the case?” Windslicer asked knowingly. “Though if you do wanna know how I was able to survive it, then just take a look right here.” He tapped right at the center of his chest, where an azure blue light could be seen shining from within it.

“What…” Silver Speed murmured, squinting her eyes. “What is that?”

“The magnificent little gift that our dear Queen have to us before she went us on our mission to eradicate this town.” Windslicer replied proudly. “It is called the Magic Life Form Gemstone, something that the Queen created with her own magic to ensure that we’ll be able to sustain the physical forms that she had brought up and made of her own accord. Pretty much like the ones the Tantabuses had when our dear Queen Moon sent them here before us. You have seen come into the town, haven’t you?”

“No, I honestly haven't.” Crimson Skies replied firmly not breaking eye contact with the Nightmare Thestral stallion. “Though from what Captain Shining Armor had told me and a few others, there were these monstrous pony-like creatures that came into the town. That, and he also told me that they had these crystal-like spheres where their chests were that Captain Armor and the rest of his soldiers shattered in order to defeat them once and for all. Is…is that the same gem that they had before you arrived here?”

“Indeed; and judging by the way that I don’t feel any of their magic, I can see that they have sadly been eliminated.” Windslicer nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. “Still though, that doesn’t mean that we have though, and trust me, eradicating us will not be easy.”

“What’re you saying?” Crimson Skies asked as black lightning appeared around Windslicer’s nightmarish body. “That your whole army is basically unstoppable?”

“Well, yes, we are…I mean we are known as the Dark Army for a reason. That and you have very little options in defeating us, not that you can.” Windslicer replied his battered and torn wings flaring wide. “If you want to kill us for real, then it looks like your only two options are to either cut off our heads or destroy the Magic Life Form Gemstones within us. Otherwise, all your other attacks, even slicing us in half, won’t work in finishing us off!”

With that said, Windslicer flared his wings wide and pointed one of his forehooves downward, the lightning cloaking him growing by the second. Realizing what was about to happen, Silver Speed and Crimson Skies shot to their hooves and tried to fly out with the foals, only for Windslicer to suddenly slam his other front hoof into the ground. Without warning, large black vines burst out and wrapped around them, the vines stabbing them in the process as they were all pinned to the ground.

“Oh, one more thing I forgot to mention, like Earth Ponies, Thestrals have a deep, if not stronger, connection to the earth.” Windslicer commended absentmindedly with a shrug. “Quite efficient to have powers similar to that of the three Pony Tribes, even if you’re not an Alicorn. Of course, since Thestrals are common where you’ve probably gone to, I’m sure you already knew that…now…die!”

Just before the Nightmare Thestral could strike the subdue group into ash, a giant beam of light grayish magenta magic shot out from out of nowhere. It slammed right into Windslicer and sent him flying away from the two mares and foals, all of which looked to be taken aback and in complete shock. As the beam of magic disappeared, the vines subduing them suddenly came apart, although quite roughly thanks to the thorns that made their way into them.

“Come on, let’s get out of here!” Crimson Skies commanded, picking up Silver Spoon and flying out of the giant crater. Silver Speed followed suit and carried Chip Cutter up with her to the surface, where all of them took a few moments to recover and tend to one another.

“Whoa, that was really scary!” Chip Cutter cried, wincing at the cuts in his bloodied fur. “Are you two okay, Momma, Silver Spoon?”

“Yes sweetie, I’m fine, I’m just a little scratched up as all.” Silver Speed said gently. “Though I can’t quite say the same thing for you two.”

“F-forget us for now…” Silver Spoon stammered, shaking on her hooves. “Who was it that shot that magic bolt at us?”

“That would be me, dearie.” A sultry voice replied out of nowhere.

All four heads turned to the source of the feminine voice, sensing no darkness or malice from it, yet still taking them by surprise. Once they located the owner of the voice, their eyes widened when they saw that it belonged to what had to be the most alluring mare they had ever seen. At first, they thought that it was a Unicorn, as evident by the horn protruding from her head, but as she got closer, they noticed there was more to it. She had a solid azure blue coat that matched the color of the sky in daytime, with an even lighter cornflower blue mane and tail skirt that gleamed in the nighttime. Her cat-like eyes were a dark grayish violet, the same color as the membranes on her large bat wings, while a purple coat and wizards had full of white and yellow starts adorned her head and neck. She had a large staff with a huge gleaming shuriken-like star at the top, and her Cutie Mark was of a magic want covered in white starry magic.

“Oh my, it looks like I’ve fallen upon a couple of endangered citizens, and even a couple of little foals as well.” The voice said, its voice sounding refined and sultry. “My day is just filled with surprises, isn’t it?”

‘This mare…her power level…it’s completely off the charts!’ Crimson Skies though in her head, before asking, “You…you were the one who launched that?”

“Of course I did dearie. Though, I may have overdone it on that last attack.” The Unicorn Thestral replied mostly to herself, running a hoof through her long silky mane. “But, with the situation that I saw happening, I suppose that it was necessary.”

“W-who…who is that mare?” Silver Spoon asked, her voice just above a whisper. “Where did she come from?”

“I don’t know, I’ve never seen her before.” Chip Cutter replied softly, watching as the mare stepped closer. His eyes scanned over the magician hat and cape that the Unicorn was adorning on her, and a thought came to his mind. ‘Is she a magician?’

The Unicorn mare soon locked eyes with Crimson Skies and Silver Speed, and her eyes widened upon seeing the state that both mares were in. Gasping, she rushed over to them and began to examine their wounds.

“Oh my goodness! Are you four alright?” She asked, her eyes scanning over bloodied injuries adorning the two mares. “How did you get these cuts and puncture wounds?”

“Windslicer…h-he was the one who gave me these slashes.” Silver Speed replied, pointing over Crimson Skies’ shoulder. “We weren’t really able to get out of the way in time. He t-took us both by complete surprise.”

“I see…” The mare said softly, staring at the wounds for a moment longer before she looked down at the foals in front of her. “Are you little ones alight?”

“Y-yes, we can.” Silver Spoon replied, holding her mother’s legs tighter. “That stallion messed us up really bad though, and it really hurts.”

“I’d be surprised if it didn’t. With the power I felt emitting from that stallion, I’m amazed you two are still even standing.” The Unicorn mare murmured quietly. She stood back up and looked around her, seeing no other ponies in sight. “Are there any others out here that four are you with?”

“No, it’s just me, these foals, and Silver Speed here.” Crimson Skies replied softly. “We’ve actually been trying to get to the Town Square that’s in the middle of this town. Unfortunately, we got stopped by you know who...”

“Is that so…?” The Unicorn mare asked, looking over to where she blasted Windslicer. “Then I think it’s in your best interest if you go about your way to your desired destination. I’ll take care of your little furry friends here.”

“A-are you sure?” Silver Speed asked, sounding doubtful. “That stallion is really powerful, despite him not really being a Unicorn or Earth Pony. Ms. Crimson Skies and I already had enough of a hard time fighting them while in their normal states. Are you sure you’ll be able to handle them yourself?”

“I wouldn’t be telling you to go and leave me here if I didn’t think I could.” The Unicorn mare replied softly, flashing the young colt a fanged grin. “Besides I’ve dealt with powerful foes like this in the past before, and, not to brag or anything, but I’m not a great and powerful sorcerer for nothing.”

“Well…alright, if you’re sure.” Crimson Skies said tentatively, reluctantly giving into the strange mare’s demands. “L-let me just ask one thing though…who are you?”

The Unicorn’s ears perked, and she slowly turned away from the emerging Windslicer and looked into Crimson Skies’ brilliant blue eyes. Her own dark violet orbs pierced into her’s for what seemed like forever, and the young Pegasus felt herself cowing under it. Then, it disappeared, replaced with a smile that made Crimson Skies’ cheeks go redder than the petals on her Cutie Mark.

“I go my many names my dear…The Lone Wanderer, The Elusive Traveler, The Mare of the Stars and Cosmos…all of these names and many more, I am called.” She replied, her sultry tone matching the smile on her face. “Though, if you want to address me my something friendlier…you can refer to me as, the Great and Powerful Trixie."

Author's Notes:

I am not even going to try to go into detail about strong and powerful of writers block I had before I finally have some inspiration to write this damn chapter. It honestly did start out pretty well at first, but almost halfway along the way, something just went off in my mind, and I spent some time off of that chapter while I just cleared it. I eventually managed to get my imaginational powers back into gear and get back to this, mainly because of a picture that I found of the new ally that I had added in this chapter, and I will say that it was alluring. I will admit, the last parts of this chapter introducing Trixie into the mix was a bit of an edited version from the last chapter that I had Trixie introduce herself in, so if you managed to catch that, then good for any of you who did. Still though, I bet you guys weren't expecting me to make Trixie a Thestral, like Goku, Snowflake, Midnight, and Sheton, did you? Pretty big surprise to find at the end of this chapter, huh?

Well, that's all for this chapter for right now; I hope you enjoyed the surprise character that I threw into this one. Next time we're going to be getting back to our group in the Everfree, and as they near the Castle of the Two Sisters, they'll really be in a race against time to get to the Dark Queen!!!