The golden plains of the vast Everfree Forest blew and shook wildly as the sky-blue aura that was rising from Goku swirled wildly, her golden eyes glowing brightly. Her friends stood on either side of her while Sky Ranger and the Shadowbolts flew above them, keeping an eye on the falconic felines that were standing just meters away from them. The Farukonchītā coalition stood with their bodies hunched in preparation for a fight, though they didn’t attack right away. They were too entranced by that the tan Thestral was doing, wanting to see what was going to happen next.

“Goku, what in the world are you doing?!” Rarity cried. “Is now really the time to be fighting these beasts out here in the open?! We have other important matters that’re at stake!”

“I’m aware of that Rarity!” Goku shouted back. “Even so, it’s not like these Farukonchītās are going to let us leave that easily! Even if we did run for the castle, they’d chase right after us, and believe me, they’d love for us to do that!”

“G does haves a point there Rares!” Rainbow Dash nodded. “You can feel the magic coming off of these guys, can’t you? They’re not gonna let us bail out just like that, and I can tell from looking at them that they are just screaming speed!”

“I know that Rainbow Dash, but that’s not the point I’m trying to make!” Rarity snapped over the roaring swirls of power. “What I’m saying is if we fight these beasts here and now, we may end up giving ourselves away to Nightmare Moon earlier than we’re meaning to! And if that happens, she may come over here to finish us off herself!”

“An’ why would she do that?” Applejack asked. “In case ya forgot, there is a castle a dozen times bigger than th’ barn on mah orchard standin’ just yards away from us! Which was made just hours before we had entered this here damn forest! If ya ask me, that Nightmare Moon varmint made it fer th’ purpose o’ lettin’ us come t’ her than th’ other way around!”

“Applejack is right Rarity! I do have my doubts on whether Nightmare Moon will actually come and face us herself, especially with the castle she made!” Twilight nodded. “To my knowledge, she’s formed traps inside there just waiting to be snagged by us, and I honestly think that’s just as bad as her coming to fight us herself!”

“Uh-huh, and you know all know how I feel about booby traps!” Pinkie Pie added, pausing before she added something else. “Then again, that Queen Moonie meanie may try to fight all of us anyway, so I guess it’s going to happen! Just not in the way you’re thinking Rarity!”

The alabaster paused, mulling over these observations before replying. “Well, I suppose you are right there, girls! Still, I’d rather not take my chances!”

“Well, it’s not really like we have any choice right now Rarity!” Fluttershy said, pushing her long pink mane from her face. “Whether we right these Farukonchītās or not, we’ll still have to face Nightmare Moon whether or not she comes to us or we come to her. Plus, from their body language, this coalition of brothers are looking for a good meal. So, we’ll have to just cross our hearts and hope that we can beat them fast enough before your worst fears come to fruition.”

Rarity sagged, giving a low sigh of defeat. “Oh joy…” She whined pitifully.

“If you guys are done sulking and debating with one another, I suggest you join Goku in this fight!” Zephyr shouted from above. “Because looks like she’s gonna be taking them on by herself because you guys are taking too long!”

“Not on our watch she’s not!” Pinkie Pie declared excitedly as an emerald green aura surrounded her body. “Come on everypony, let’s get this party started!”

Nopony needed any farther prompting from the party pony, for auras of green, blue and even multiple colors surrounded the other five mares. They joined the aura of Goku which became a giant ball of multiple colors that very well blinded the Farukonchītās, who used their wings to shield their eyes from the sensitive light. There was the sound of an explosion, along with the feeling of the ground shaking, before all went silent. When the Farukonchītā coalition, Zephyr, and the Shadowbolts looked again, they reeled back at what they laid their eyes upon.

The seven mares that were standing right in the middle of the plains, who were looking cornered and defenses before, now looked like soldiers ready for battle. Each one of them were now in their Ascension Modes, each of their armor gleaming with a different type of color or armor in their own right. Goku’s armor was as black as the night sky above them, with her hind boots being the same color, while her tan cape flowed behind her. Both looked to be longer and stronger than any of her friends, with the only difference being that there was no Cutie Mark in the center of her cape. Twilight’s Ascension Mode and boots armor as a deep shade of purple, a shade darker than her own coat, with her cape having the hot pink and purple streaks in her mane and tail. The rest of the cape was the same color as most of her mane, with her six-pointed star Cutie Mark right in the center. A shining pale blue color adorned rainbow dash’s armor, her cape having the colors of the rainbow like her mane, while her Cutie Mark dotted right in the center, having her eye color in the cloud as well.

Pinkie Pie armor was a shade of pink paler than both her mane and tail, both of which looking even more curly and poofy as ever. A blue color the same brightness of her twin cerulean blue orbs washed over her cape, while her Cutie Mark of three balloons dotted the center. Rarity’s Ascension Mode Armor was, surprisingly, a shining shade of azure blue rather than the more expected alabaster white. However, her cape was still the same solid indigo color as her mane and tail skirt, and her skirt shined as bright as her Cutie Mark of three gemstones, very much like the ones on the back of her cape. The armor on Applejack was a gleaming emerald green color, the same shade as her eyes, hers looking to be sturdier than most of the others. A long flowing cape billowed behind her, this being a pure golden color, while her Cutie Mark of three apples dotted it in the center. Last but certainly not least, Fluttershy was in a magnificent suit of shining teal armor, shining brighter than all of her friends’ other armor. A shining golden yellow cape flowed from behind the veterinarian, and her Cutie Mark of three butterflies shining onto it.

Without any hesitation, Goku let out a bat-like screech at the Farukonchītās, signaling that they were now ready to fight. The Farukonchītā coalition, sensing the battle had now begun, charge the seven mares at speeds that far surpassed that of a normal Zebrican Cheetah. Goku’s sharp cat-like eyes, sharpened by her Ascension Mode, allowed her to be able to counter the attack, and her left hoof swung through the air, striking the largest Farukonchītā in the face. The cat flew to the side from the blow, and as Goku flew towards it, the lead Farukonchītā countered her next attack by giving her an absolutely vicious slash across her face, before grabbing her by her shoulders and throwing her to the ground.

“Goku!” Twilight shouted as she ran towards her friend, her horn ignited for the preparation of an attack. A searing pain suddenly flashed through her horn as the orange Farukonchītā bit right down on it, his canines sending stabbing pains within it With strength that no normal Cheetah should’ve ever had, the feline swung the ascended unicorn across the air before letting her tumble across the grassy ground. As she looked up, she saw the orange Farukonchītā flying towards her, and she once more ignited her horn to blast him away. Just as she did, she heard a familiar raspy voice call out from out of nowhere.

“Lightning Pegasus Knight: Electric Thunderous Whinny!” Rainbow Dash yellowed, shooting out a gigantic blast of magenta lightning from her mouth. The orange Farukonchītā’s head snapped his head to the incoming attack, and both of his wings wrapped itself to protect itself from the blast as it struck him. As the cat flew across the plains, Twilight jumped when she saw Rainbow Dash land in front of her, lightning cracking around her armored form.

“Twilight, what the buck are you doing?!” Rainbow Dash demanded. “You need to be focusing on your own fight right now! Not on Goku’s own; that’s her fight, not yours!”

“What’re you talking about Rainbow Dash?! That cat clearly has her overpowered, especially with the blinding speed it has!” Twilight retorted, glaring at the cyan mare. “I have to go and help her before she gets her throat torn out!”

“The only one who’s throat is going to get torn out if you try a trick like that again!” Rainbow Dash growled back. “Did you forget that there are four other furballs like these trying to get at each of us?! Not to mention that they’re all a band of brothers for Faust’s sake?! If they see one of their brothers in danger, then they’re gonna back that brother up, which is exaclty what happened when that orange one came and stopped you! The only way you can help G is if you focus on your own opponent, and trust that Goku can trust her own opponent!”

Before Twilight could reply, the cyan mare flew off with a powerful flap of her wings, making a thick dust cloud appear. When it vanished, Twilight found herself staring into the gleaming piercing blue eyes of the orange Farukonchītā, who then lunged at her.

“Solid Form Magic Unicorn Knight: Thunderous Electric Bolt of Lightning!” Twilight shouted out, her extended horn igniting instinctively. A gigantic multi-colored lightning bolt shot out from the tip of her horn and struck the orange Farukonchītā, just like with the last one. This time, only one of the cat’s wings flared out and blocked the attack, before sending it away with a swift swing before he pounced on Twilight. They tumbled across the ground for a few moments, before Twilight eventually kicked the feline off, and shot a powerful blast of multi-colored magic at the cat. The orange Farukonchītā shot a blast of its own lightning at Twilight, and after a brief power struggle, Twilight overwhelmed her opponent, and sent him flying into the distance.

Applejack screamed as she was slammed into by the jet-black Farukonchītā, and they went into a brief power struggle that ended with Applejack being pinned. One of her armored hooves shot up to keep its fangs from piercing into her throat, and she used her hind legs to kick the black cat it its stomach. Just as she had rolled herself upright, the cat quickly recovered from the assault the Farukonchītā had lunged for her again, but this time, Applejack was ready. She whirled around, and kicked the cat right in his muzzle, before stomping her forehooves on the ground.

“Earth Make Earth Pony Knight: Giant Vine Trap!” She shouted as gigantic vines exploded from the ground and lunged for the black Farukonchītā. The feline swiftly slashes and cut at the vines, but they ended wrapping him up in its plant-like grasp rendering nearly immobile.

“Ah got ya now, ya lil’ varmint!” The farmer shouted with a sort. “Let’s see ya git outta that trap now!”

The Farukonchītā snarled loudly at Applejack, and started to wriggle his body as it began to give off a dark purple aura. Then, before Applejack knew it, the vines trapping the cat started to get sliced apart, and the Farukonchītā found himself being ripped free. Its wings flared wide and he flew at a shocked Applejack, giving breakneck slashes and slices at her armored form, screaming loudly all the while. As Applejack did her best to block the attacks, even as they began to slice into her armor, she found herself colliding into something, before she heard somepony shout out.

“Sky Pegasus Knight: Slicing Wing Attack!” The voice of Fluttershy shouted, before multiple teal colored slices of wind came shooting down at them. Applejack’s eyes widened, and, running on her magic and sheer adrenaline, she jumped out of the way, leaving the black Farukonchītā behind her as the wind slices struck it.

“Whoa, what in th’ hay was that?!” Applejack asked herself, whipping her head towards the source of the wind slices. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar armored buttermilk Pegasus hovering in the air. “Fluttershy, was that you sugarfoot?”

“Yes Applejack, that was me; I’m sorry!” Fluttershy shouted back to the armored farmer, looking apologetic. “I was aiming for the white Farukonchītā that I was righting!”

“Wait, th’ white one?” Applejack asked, looking over to her own Farukonchītā. Her eyes widened when she saw both the black and the white one together, the former of the two glaring at his opponent. “Oh nelly…”

“Hold on guys, I got you!” Pinkie Pie shouted as she galloped towards them, stopping just meters away from them. “Earth Make Earth Pony Knight: Giant Earth Sphere!”

A giant dome of earth appeared around the two Farukonchītā brothers, hovering above them and enclosing around them before they could react. Vines then followed, adding for extra grip around the sphere to ensure the cats didn’t get out easily.

“Well done darling, keep them just like that!” Rarity shouted, galloping past Pinkie Pie. “Belle Machine Gun Unicorn Knight: Diamond Gemstone Gattling Gun!”

With her horn glowing as bright as her eyes, she shot multiple bolts of giant diamond shaped bolts of magic at the vine covered earth sphere. Fluttershy, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie all watched as Rarity slowly, but surely demolished the earth dome before it finally crumbled in a devastating explosion. Smoke rose in the air as Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack waited for the outcome of Rarity’s attack, only for the smoke to get blown away just a few seconds later. Their eyes widened when they saw that both Farukonchītās were barely even bruised from the attack and the trap.

“No buckin’ way…” Applejack whispered. “They don’t even look widened by the attack!”

“J-just what are these beasts made of?!’ Rarity cried, her lip quivering.

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie screamed, “LOOK OUT!!!”

The bubblegum pink pony collided with Rarity and Applejack, sending them flying away as the black spotted Farukonchītā flew past them, colliding with the rest of his brothers. They looked back to see Rainbow Dash flying towards them, a large cloak of magenta lightning covering her as her fangs gleamed.

“Lightning Pegasus Knight: Thunderous Electric Neigh!” The cyan mare shouted, shooting a blast of pink lightning at the trio of Farukonchītās. It blasted into them as they screamed from the electricity coursing through their veins, before an explosion rocked through Everfree Plains. As the trio of Farukonchītā were enveloped in smoke, Applejack and Rarity snapped their heads over to Rainbow Dash.

“RAINBOW DASH!” Rarity screamed. “WHAT IN THE WORLD DID YOU DO THAT FOR?!”

“What’re you talking about?” Rainbow Dash asked perplexedly. “All I was doing was kicking that furball away into those other two and taking the chance to get all three of them at once! There’s no reason to get angry over something like that!”

“That ain’t what she meant RD.” Applejack deadpanned. “She’s talkin’ ‘bout was why you didn’t warn us that you were goin’ t’ attack?!”

“Yeah Dashie, you could’ve hit us back there!” Pinkie Pie frowned. “It’s a good thing that my Pinkie Sense kicked in at that moment, otherwise we would’ve all been electrocuted!”

“Hey, it’s not my damn fault that you guys didn’t see me!” Rainbow Dash shouted angrily. “You should’ve been sharp enough to hear my coming! Especially since all of our magic is hyped up to the max! If you couldn’t hear me coming tha you really need to get your senses checked!”

Rarity’s glare sharpened. “Excuse me?”

“That’s enough Rainbow Dash, all of you!” Fluttershy said sternly as she and Twilight swooped down towards the other three mares, the former’s expression one of disapproval. She sent a torrent of wind at the snow white Farukonchītā chasing her, sending it spiraling away from her as she landed in front of her friends. “We have a battle with the fastest animals in the Everfree remember?! If we start arguing now, we are all going to be prey for the Farukonchītās before we know it!”

Twilight nodded, and looked to be ready to add something, but stomped when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. As it got closer, she gasped in horrified shock and cried out, “Girls, look over there!”

The six mares looked over to where the lavender armored Unicorn was pointing, and they all gasped when they saw Goku and the lead Farukonchītā still duking it out. Judging from the blood that that painting both the Thestral and the feline, neither had gotten an edge over each other yet, neither had the fight lost its pace. As the continued to kick, bite, slash, and punch at each other, Goku decided to make the first move.

“Fire Thestral Knight: Screeching Flaming Whinny!” She shouted, sending a blast of fire at the lead Farukonchītā, enveloping it in her fiery power. The cat screamed out in pain, but used it wings to extinguish the fire before flying at Goku. Opening its fanged mouth, the lead Farukonchītā retaliated with shooting out its own bolts of fire at the tan thestral to which she zig-zagged around as she got closer to the ferocious feline. Swinging her left wing out, she gave it a vicious slash across the Farukonchītā across its stomach and chest, before lashing her tail out and entrapping it.

Apinning around, she sent the Farukonchītā flying into the air, before sending a few bolts of fire at the cat, each one striking head on. As she prepared to drive the cat into the around, she felt something slam into her, the figure turning out to be the white Farukonchītā that Fluttershy had sent flying.

“GOKU!” Fluttershy yelled, her teal eyes widening with horror as she watched the feline attack her Thestral friend. ‘I thought that I had already taken care of that coalition brother! He didn’t know he’d recover that quickly!’

“NO! don’t interfere!” Goku shouted as she ripped the cat off of her. “I can take this these two just fine!”

The commanding and none argumentized tone in the Thestrals voice was enough to keep all six mares rooted in place. Although they still looked like they’d try to step in and help now that Goku was facing off against to Farukonchītās. However, it was soon apparent that they didn’t need to, for Goku ended up getting the upper hoof against the cat, bucking it in the face and sending it tumbling towards his brother.

“I’m not done with you just yet!” Goku hissed, flying over and grabbing both cat’s tails in her sharp teeth, and violently throwing them into the opposite direction. As they flew, the tan Thestral noticed she had flown them into the direction of the other three, who were tending to each other’s wounds. The trio of cats looked up while they were revering, having seen their brothers falling towards them, and as they flew up to catch them, Goku made her finishing move.

“Fire Thestral Knight: Blazing Burning Inferno!” She shouted, blazing swirls of fire exploding from her hooves as it soared towards the Farukonchītā coalition. They screamed out as the fire consumed them, sending them flying into the eastern direction of the forest. The fire also burned at the golden grass dotting the Everfree Plains, and left a golden trail of fire in the wake of the attack, surprisingly not spreading throughout the rest.

“Well, that should keep them down for now.” Goku sighed in relief, plopping down on all four hooves. “Now we can make our escape to the castle before they come back to try to finish us off.”

“Wow…she did it!” Blue Skies cried as she, the Shadowbolts, Sky Ranger, and Zephyr all hovered from up above. “She actually took all five of the Farukonchītā coalition out in one blast!”

“With excessive help from her friends that is.” Lightning Shadow added. “The question is, will it be enough to keep them away from the girls.”

“For the time being maybe.” Storm Shadow replied. “Farukonchītās aren’t known for being the Speed Demons of the Everfree for nothing. No doubt they’re already recovering from Goku’s last attack, and are coming back in a couple of minutes.”

“That may very well happen.” Fast Tracks nodded. “If it does, then Goku can use one of her more powerful attacks to send them flying again. Only this time, she may have to have her friends add to the extra magic and techniques, just in case.”

“Good idea Fast.” Violet Fire nodded. “Let’s stay up here and keep a lookout for them when or if they do come back. The last thing we want is to have what happened to Sky Ranger happen to the all of the girls.”

The aforementioned hippogriff stallion nodded. “Me neither…that was quite the unpleasant hit the Farukonchītā gave me. Though, something tells me that the coalition of Farukonchītā brothers will be the least of our worries.”

“Me too Sky Ranger.” Zephyr murmured, looking in the direction of Nightmare Moon’s castle. “Me too…”

What the Solar Royal Guard, the Shadowbolts, Sky Ranger, and the other ponies realized, was that they were, more or less not alone. Just at the top of the dark castle, a pair of young draconic turquoise eyes surveyed the scene, filled with shock and terror. They observed the scene for a moment longer, before the owner of the eyes spread their wings and took off into the castle.

Shining Armor and Spearhead let out loud battle cries as the each shot their attacks out in unison, a huge magical bolt sailing forward with flocks of spears surrounding it. in front of them, the Death Trio stood in between the two guards and the injured Wonderbolts, looks malice upon each of their faces. With a growl, Deathwing flared his massive wings and fired of as many slices of black wind as there were spears, watching as they all exploded into smoke. Deathhorn ignited his horn and shot off a magical blast even bigger than Shining Armor’s own, the two-attack colliding violently in the process. While Shining Armor was distracted with Deathhorn, Deathhoof went in and summoned a grove vines, sending them underground and right where Spearhead was standing. As he was about to fire off another round of spears, he suddenly felt something grab him by his legs and drag him into the ground.

“Spearhead!” Shining Armor shouted, glancing over at the giant hole where his comrade once was. His lapse of concentration caused his magical attack to falter slightly, and he was nearly blown off of his hooves by Deathhorn’s own. Gritting his teeth, he tore his attention away from the absence of Spearhead and focused on keeping his own threat at bay.

The phthalo tangelo stallion suddenly found himself being pulled out of the ground, and he took that opportunity to spit out the mouthfuls of dirt that managed to get in his mouth. Just as he collected himself, he found Windslicer glaring right into his eyes, before he flew back and attacked, shooting a blast of black wind out from his cloven hooves. Spearhead screamed in pain as the scalding hit flames engulfed him the vines holding him leaving him with no room to try to escape. Around that time, the vine holding Spearhead suddenly shot down taking his still flaming form with it, before it slammed him deep into the ground.

“Dammit, no!” Shining Armor cried, once again breaking form his power struggle with Deathhorn upon seeing his friend injured further. This time, Deathhorn took advantage of it, and with another powerful surge of magic, sent Shining Armor tumbling across the ground before he collided into a nearby house.

“Nice one there Deathhorn!” Deathhoof complimented grinning at his twin brother. “I didn’t think that you were going to throw him that far away from us!”

“Neither did I…” The azure blue Nightmare Unicorn murmured, blowing at his horn. “I guess I must amplify my attack at a far greater capacity than I meant to. Not that I’m complaining about that mind you, all the more power to make that pathetic excuse of a guard grovel at my hooves!”

“I think you mean at our hooves bro.” Deathwing murmured as he flew on either side of his two brothers. “Then again, I go agree with you on that last part. The more we make these puny ponies submit to us, the more they’ll learn not to tango with us!”

“Ice Pegasus: Freezing Whinny!” A familiar raspy voice suddenly shouted from behind the trio

The three bothers suddenly felt a coolness from behind them that was progressively growing stronger, and they looked behind them to see a massive incoming wave of ice. It washed over them before they had any chance to react, and they found themselves froze right where they were standing. Expressions of shock morphed into their faces as the Wonderbolts hovered in front of them, with Fleetfoot panting flighty.

“Good, I got them.” The arctic blue mare murmured to herself, letting her forehooves drop “That should keep them frozen for a few minutes.”

“Good work Fleetfoot, they never saw it coming.” Soarin said, gently patting his teammate on her back. “Come on Captain Spitfire, let’s cut this trio down.”

“Oh, I’m not just gonna cut them down…” Spitfire said heatedly as her strong orange eyes glowed fiercely. “…I’m gonna burn all of them into ashes!”

“Somehow I knew that’d be your response.” Soarin said, chuckling as a sky-blue aura emitted from around his body. “And while we’re at it, maybe we should go into our own Ascension Modes to turn up the heat.”

Fleetfoot nodded. “Good idea.”

With those words, the two mares’ bodies glowed with auras that matched the one of their one stallion teammates. In a matter of moments, they combined into one swirling ball of magic that roared with power for mere seconds, before it vanished, revealing all three of the Wonderbolts in their Ascension Modes. Spitfire’s armor was a combination of her golden yellow coat and her deep orange mane, an orange and yellow cape flowing behind her, having a pair of dark orange boots, with her Cutie Mark knitted into her cape. Soarin’s own was a mixture of a light and dark blue color, his dark cornflower blue cape having the imprint of a winged lightning bolt, while his own dark blue boots protected his hindlegs. The armor Fleetfoot’s was the brightest of them all, being a shining cumulus white and arctic blue, her hindlegs being covered in bright blue boots, and the symbol of a golden horseshoe gleaming on her light blue cape.

“There, now that’s more like it!” Fleetfoot sighed with relief. “Now I feel like I can fight at my peek condition again!”

“Glad that you’re ready to finally end these bastards.” Spitfire grunted, looking back at the frozen trio. “Now, let’s do this!”

“Right!” Soarin nodded as his eyes glowed. “Sky Pegasus Knight: Roaring Slicing Whirlwind!”

“Ice Pegasus Knight: Freezing Ice Blizzard!”

“Fire Pegasus Knight: Scorching Fiery Explosion!”

The three attacks the Wonderbolts let out emerged at a simultaneous time as they immediately combined into one elemental attack. The fused attack soared towards the frozen Death Trio and before anypony knew it, it collided with them, shattering both them and their ice prison into thousands of pieces as the attack enveloped them completely. The attacks soared down the street, and thankfully didn’t hit any houses as it flew down the town and eventually went out of sight. When it did, the three Wonderbolts waited for any trace of the three stallions that Fleetfoot had frozen, and, to their relief, they didn’t see them anywhere near the Town Square.

“Did…” Fleetfoot murmured. “Did that do it? are they finally gone now?”

“…Yeah, it looks like they are.” Soarin replied as he scanned the area. “I don’t see or feel a trace of them around here. Still though, we should check the spot where they were, just in case.”

“Yeah, I won’t be satisfied until I actually see that they’re gone.” Spitfire growled, stomping over to the spot where Fleetfoot had frozen the Death Trio. Once she got within range, she immediately snapped her strong orange eyes down towards what looked to be a pile of sinister black ashes being surrounded by fragments of ice. As she leaned closer, her nostrils picked up an absolutely retched smile coming from the pile, and she reeled back. “Holy shit that is just disgusting!”

“I take it that your satisfied now Captain?” Fleetfoot asked dryly, keeping a fair distance away from the pile herself. “That revolted look in your eyes is totally telling me you are.”

“Oh, shut it Fleetfoot! It’s not like I knew that it was gonna give off such a nasty smell!” Spitfire snapped, looking like she was going to incinerate Fleetfoot right then and there. “Still, at least those three sex-crazed bastards are dead now…and we don’t have to keep putting up with more of their shit.”

“Glad to see you’ve got your anger aid disgust towards them out of your system.” Soarin murmured. “Now we can focus on the rest of the Dark Army here, but first we need to check up on Captain Shining Armor and Spearhead. They both took a real beating back there and they may need some urgent medical assistance.”

There was a sudden sound of electricity and a balloon like popping, and the trio of Wonderbolts whipped around to see Shining Armor and Spearhead in front of them. The latter was leaning on the former’s shoulders, both of which looking to be out of it, as evident by their disheveled forms and bruised bodies. Despite this, that fire was still in their eyes, and it didn’t look like it was going to diminish anytime soon.

“No need to you guys; I got myself and Spearhead out of this.” Shining Armor said, letting Spearhead regain his footing. “So, I take it that you took care of those three stallions?”

“From the looks of it, yes.” Fleetfoot replied, glancing back at the black pile of ashes and scattered shards of ice. “We all pretty much wiped them out all at the same time, and we combined our attacks to further ensure that they were pretty much eradicated. We don’t feel any magic anywhere around here either, so that’s another sign.”

“Well that’s cool and all…” Spearhead said after a few moments of silence. “I wouldn’t let my guard down just yet. There’s a lot more of those three guys and they have just as much power as that trio of brother. So we can’t let our guard down, and we’re nowhere near out of the woods yet.”

“As true as that may be, you’re not quite in the state necessary to face off against a whole army like this.” Another voice said from out of nowhere. “Like your Pegasus friend said, you will need some treatment for your bodies, except it’s not just one of you.”

All five of the ponies turned to the new feminine voice, only to go wide eyed upon seeing Trixie flying into the scene, followed closely by Crimson Skies. The former shook her bat wings a bit as she surveyed the area, while the latter followed just behind Trixie, not making eye contact with Spitfire.

“Crimson Skies, you’re finally back!” Soarin exclaimed, looking happy and relieved. “I take it that things went alright at your end?”

Crimson Skies nodded. “Yeah, it did…it ended a bit on the bloody side, but I managed to save the pony in danger. Along with a couple of much younger ones in the process.” She replied, a small yet proud smile on her face. “They’re all safe and secure in the Town Square, and I can focus back on helping you guys!”

“Well, I’m afraid that you came too late for that little Shadowbolt.” Spitfire snorted, crossing her forelegs. “Me, Soarin and Fleetfoot already defeated those asshole three stallions all by ourselves, without help, especially yours.”

“Y…you did?” The palomino mare asked. “You actually beat all three of them?”

“Yes honey, we did, finally.” Fleetfoot replied with a gentle smile. “While they were distracted with Captain Shining Armor and Spearhead, I froze all three of them solid before they realized what had hit them. After that, me and my teammates ascended and combined all of our attacks to get them while they were subdued.”

“I see. Well that’s a relief.” Crimson Skies said, letting out a soft breath. “Now we don’t have to worry about them anymore. Though, there’s still more of the Dark Army that we have to face off against, and right now, the other Royal Guards are still preoccupied with them.”

“Right, we’ll have to let the Royal Guards deal with the Dark Army for the time being.” Trixie murmured, flicking his tails skirt. “Any of them that we can find wandering around her we can just work our way through them and go from there.”

“That sounds like a good idea.” Shining Armor nodded. “Before do that though do you mind telling us just who you are miss?”

Trixie locked her dark grayish purple cat-like eyes with Shining Armor dark phthalo blue ones, and a small fanged smile made its way across her face. She opened her mouth to reply, but before she could even get a couple of words out of her mouth, the felt the ground beneath them violently rumbling. The azure blue Unicorn looked down at the ground as it went still once more, using the feel of her magic to detect the source of the rumbling while the others verbalized it.

“Did anypony else feel that?” Spearhead asked. “That, like, put a real bad feeling in my gut dudes.”

“Yeah I heard it to Spearhead.” Shining nodded. “And that didn’t sound good.”

“Oh no…” Soarin murmured, his ears pinning back. “Please tell me that it’s not what I think it is.”

“What is it?” spitfire asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost that’s just appeared.”

Fleetfoot, who had also been looking around, noticed cracks appearing in the ground all around her, her teammates, and the others. Her magenta eyes widened when she saw wisps of black magic coming from out of the cracks, and, realizing what was about to happen, she screamed out, “EVERYPONY, SCATTER!!!”

The warning sent everypony on a higher alert than they were now, but it came too late. The ground beneath them exploded as if a landmine was stepped on and activated and all seven ponies soaring into the air, enveloped in pitch black power. Screams ripped through the air as the scalding hot power burn through them before they fell to the ground, overcome with pain and shock from the blow. Only Trixie was left mostly unfazed by the attack, and as she looked around, she saw the form of three pony from inside the smoke.

“I knew it…” Trixie murmured gravely, her slitted violet eyes sharpening as the Death Trio was revealed. “It looks like these ponies aren’t out of the woods after all.”

“Did you honestly think that freezing us in ice and combining your attacks was enough for you to finish us off?!” Windslicer asked, sounding like he was going to laugh. “You’re even more pathetic than we thought you all were.”

Fleetfoot’s insides twisted, horror clouding her features. “No…impossible! Y-you three are supposed to be dead!”

“Well, surprise, surprise there dear…we’re still alive.” Deathhorn bragged, a toothy smirked etched across his face. “And we’re even more pissed off than ever before! You’re in real trouble now, especially with what we’re about to unleash on you!”

“W-what’re you bastards talking about?!” Spitfire demanded. “How in the hay are you all still alive?!”

“How are me and my big brothers still kicking you ask?” Deathhoof asked, raising a scarlet eyebrow. “Simple, just take. Look down here where our chests are.” He pointed at a gleaming yellow gem that was glowing in the center of his chest. “See these? These are the precious objects that our dear Queen Moon blessed us with to ensure that we don’t die in a fight. These are called Magic Life Form Gemstone, able to sustain our physical forms no matter the extent of the injuries. Just like the ones of the Tantabuses that were here in this town not a few or so hours ago, which is what kept us from being finished off by that dumb fused attack of yours.”

Crimson Skies went pale. “M-Magic Life Form Gemstones?!” She cried, recognition immediately clicking into her mind. “Y-you mean like the ones that stallion Windslicer had before Trixie defeated him?!”

“Ah, so you do know what these things can do?” Deathwing asked, a smile slowly making its way to his face. “Though I take it from the expression on your face, it didn’t quite work for Windslicer?”

“No, I’m afraid that gemstone wasn’t enough to help save your comrade form my power.” Trixie replied firmly. “I am Trixie Lunamoon Nightstalker, the Great and Powerful Magician and Sorcerer of Hallow Shades. I take it that you’re the Death Trio, Deathwing, Deathhoof, and Deathhorn?

“We sure are babe; glad to see somepony knows is!” Deathwing nodded, grinning widely and lustfully at the azure blue Unicorn. “Unfortunately for you, you won’t know us as that name for very long.”

Shining Armor’s ears pinned back. “What’re you talking about?”

The azure blue Nightmare Thestral grinned even wider. “You’ll see soon enough…Deathhorn, Deathhoof!”

The two stallions followed their eldest brother’s command, and they stood in a triangular shape along with Deathwing. Closing their eyes, the yellow gemstones within their chests started to shine, and an aura the same color washed over them. It grew in intensity and power as it began to swirl around them like a current, making dust fly.

“What the hay is going on?” Spearhead asked. “What’re they planning to do?”

“I don’t know.” Soarin replied nervously, taking a couple of steps back. “It may have something to do with those gemstones. I can feel the power coming growing them, and its growing quickly.”

“Whatever they’re planning, there’s no way I’m going to let them get what they want!” Spitfire shouted as she soared towards them. “I’ll burn all three of them to crisps!”

“Captain wait!” Fleetfoot cried, but her cries came too late as Spitfire hurled herself at the Death Trio, flames surrounding her. The instant she got within range; the brilliant golden mare was blasted away from the brothers by the yellow aura of power surrounding them, and she landed right into Soarin’s forelegs.

As they all looked up at the three Nightmare stallions, they saw they were all completely enveloped in the yellow aura of power, which condensed into a ball before becoming a bright burst of light. The group of ponies blocked their eyes from the blinding light which shined for a few moments, before it dissipated, and what they saw made their jaws drop in horror.

Standing in front of the swirling streams of yellow magic, was, not the three Death Trio brothers, but a pony that looked to be a fused Alicorn version of all three of them. His blue coat shined with such a brightness it was more of a pale blue than an azure blue, contrasting deeply with his blood colored mane and tail. His sun yellow eyes glowed as brightly as the membranes on his gigantic draconic wings, burning into the eyes of the ponies with such an intensity that it would’ve incinerated them on the spot. The Alicorn stallion’s large and long horn glinted with such sharpness that it looked to be able to pierce through even the toughest of armor, unlike the deep red and silvery grey armor that adorned the stallion’s muscular form. To top the new form off, he had a light and dark grey sword having a blood red handle and lighter red curved claws where the handle was, and a silvery ring with a gleaming blue gemstone could be seen on his horn.

“Ahhhhh…now that is so much better.” The Nightmare Alicorn stallion sighed to himself, his voice a mixture of deepness, raspiness, and smoothness. “Nothing better than becoming one entire being with another pony, especially if they’re your brothers.”

“Who…” Crimson Skies stammered. “W-w-who are you?! Where are the Death Trio?!”

“Whatever do you mean, they’re right here.” The Nightmare Alicorn stallion replied casually, tilting his head at the brilliant golden mare. “Or better yet…they’re all right here.”

“What?” Shining Armor asked, her eyes widening slightly. “What’re you talking about?!”

“H-he’s saying…” Soarin replied. “T-that they’re all fused into one.”

The Nightmare Alicorn nodded, his eyes gleaming as he smirked at the light cornflower blue stallion. “That’s right…Deathwing, Deathhorn, and Deathhoof may no longer be here, bat at the same time, they are. I am they, all three of us are one.” His smirk became more vampiric as his fangs gleamed. “Unfortunately for you six…now you’re really screwed.”

“They’re fused?!” Spearhead cried. “That’s impossible; ponies can’t fuse together!”

“Not unless you have the tools needed to do so.” The Nightmare Alicorn retorted, once again gesturing to the Magic Life Force Gemstone shining from within his armor. “Not only do these precious gems help us keep our life forces, but it also allows us to fuse with other members of our Dark Army that have the same ones. Just as long as they’re the same colors that is, or else it won’t really work.”

“Oh no…” Fleetfoot whispered, paling where she stood. “Then that means…”

“Yes, I can use the powers of all three of the ponies that I once was. Not anywhere near the power of our beloved Queen buy hey, it’s at least a little bit close.” The Nightmare Alicorn nodded, taking a battle stance as he pointed his sword at them. “Now I can use this power to eradicate you once and for all, like I should’ve from the start!

“You can try if you want but don’t think we’re going to surrender easily, especially me!” Trixie shouted, her own horn igniting as her bat wings flared. “I didn’t earn my title as Great and Powerful for nothing, and I’ll use that very same power to take you down!”

“I highly doubt you’ll accomplish a damn thing like that Trixie, but you’re free to try if you want to. It makes it all the more fun to tear you, limb from limb before we take all of you for ourselves.” Deathgod chuckled, flicking his tails skirt hard. “Oh, and one more thing, you can call me…Deathgod.”

With those words spoken, the Nightmare Alicorn’s horn ignited with a blazing golden aura and shot out a bolt of magic larger than any that was fired up until now. Shining Armor immediately intercepted the attack, shooting off a bolt of his own magic, letting it collide with Deathgod’s own attack, his being much smaller. It didn’t take too long for Deathgod to get the upper hoof in the power struggle, and he was once again blown away.

“Captain Armor!” Spearhead shouted, only to look back over at Deathgod and see his horn already ignited again. Thinking quickly, Spearhead summoned a flock of spears, all of them cracking with electricity. “Lightning Pegasus Knight: Thunderous Spear Flock!”

Deathgod smirked as the tangelo orange stallion shot the flock of spears at him, and he simply summoned a spear that easily deflected the attack. As the spears exploded in midair, he used his giant wings to sweep the smoke away, before replying. “Pathetic…”

In flash of golden magic, Deathgod vanished and appeared in front of a shocked Spearhead, delivering a powerful punch to his armored chest. The sound of it shattering filled both the stallions’ ears as the Pegasus flew away, joining his captain on the ground. The two Royal Guards taken down, he turned his attention to the Wonderbolts, and stomped his hooves, immediately summoning giant black thorned vines that sent them all shooting into the air, before they were slammed hard into the ground. With the Wonderbolts out of the way, Deathgod turned his attention towards Crimson Skies and Trixie, the latter of which looking terrified.

“And now it’s just you!” Deathgod grinned, his fangs gleaming as he blasted at the mare. “Say goodbye, little filly!”

“NOT SO FAST!” Trixie yelled, stepping in front of Crimson Skies and sending a magnificent blast of magic at Deathgod’s own. The sheer magnitude of the blast caught Deathgod off guard, so much so that Trixie was able to get the drop on him. With her wand-like spear pointed forward, she shot another blast at the Nightmare Alicorn’s armored chest, sending him flying away from the two mares and across the street.

“You…how dare you!” Deathgod demanded. “You dare get in my way of doing away with these excuses of ponies?!”

“Yes! I do dare you, you bloodthirsty tyrant!” Trixie replied back, flaring her bat wings. “Did you forget that I am here as well! You’re dealing with the Great and Powerful Magician of the Everfree Forest’s Hallow Shades! If you want to get to them, you will have to get through me!”

With a loud whinny, the azure blue Thestral flew at the Nightmare Alicorn, her horn ignited as bright as her eyes. Deathgod grunted and got to his hooves, his blast of magic countering Trixie's out as she collided with him, their swords clashing. Pushing the Nightmare Alicorn back with a powerful supernatural punch, Trixie pointed her spear at him, and once again fired off, nearly getting Deathgod as he vanished in the blink of an eye. Trixie’s cat-like eyes scanned the area around him as she felt for his magical presence, and in that moment, she heard Crimson Skies cry out.

“TRIXE, BEHIND YOU!”

Luckily for the palomino mare Trixie felt the dark presence behind her, and swung her spear through the air, letting it clash with Deathgod’s dark sword. This move kept her from being decapitated, and the two fought to push each other aside, sparks flying from their weapons. They flew away from one another and once more shot multiple blasts of magic at once another, creating craters and causing mini explosions within the air. They vanished through the air again, and clashed swords and horns with each other as they fought for dominance.

“You’re quite fast one your hooves and on your magic Trixie.” Deathgod commented as he smirked down at the horned Thestral. “You’re not quite as helpless as I thought you were!”

“I could say the same to you Deathgod, you’re certainly deserving of your name and status as the leader of the Dark Army.” Trixie said back with her own fanged grin. “Although you shouldn’t lie about me being helpless, you and I both know how much power I have stacked within me! I know you felt it yourself!”

With a loud feline hiss, Trixie drove Deathgod back from her and flared her wings, flying back couple dozen feet before letting out her first technique. “Solid Form Unicorn Thestral Magic: Starry Magic Drill!”

Another burst of magic exploded from Trixie’s horn as she shot it at Deathgod, and he conjured up a shield to help him block the blast. It was powerful than he expected it to be, and he found himself being pushed back by the sheer force of the blast. With a snarl, he stomped his hooves down as magic conjured through the ground. “Nightmare Alicorn Earth Make: Black Thorned Vine Snare Trap!”

Trixie screamed as she found herself wrapped in in thorned vines that pierces into her flesh and magician’s cape, all but keeping her in place. She ignited her horn as her grayish violet aura grew with intensity, but Deathgod was one step ahead.

“Nightmare Alicorn Earth Make: Earth Sphere Dome!”

A large ring of earth suddenly appeared around Trixie was it loomed over her and formed a giant earth sphere, completely trapping her inside the dome. Deathgod’s sensitive ears could pick up the sound of her cries and hisses, and it felt like music to his ears as he relished in the mare’s frantic struggles. As much as he would’ve liked it to continue on, he knew that he had to finish this, least Trixie get any ideas.

“Solid Form Nightmare Alicorn Magic: Black Thunderous Lightning Bolt!” He shouted, his horn conjuring up a giant black lightning bolt. With another stomp of his forehooves, he shot the giant lightning bolt at the earth dome, and it instantly exploded on impact as volts of electricity resonated around it. Deathgod used one of his wings to block the cloud of dust that enveloped him and the other ponies behind him, Crimson Skies watching in absolute horror.

“TRIXIE!” The palomino mare screamed, her tone matching her expression.

“Well whaddya know, I blew that hot pieces of ass away.” Deathgod murmured to himself as he let out a chuckle. “Shame too, she could’ve been a real suitable part of my Dark Army if she hadn’t been so resistant towards me.”

“You…you bucking monster!” Crimson Skies cried acidly, tears brimming in her eyes as her fur bristled. “How could you do such a horrible thing?!”

“Awww, what’s the matter? Sad that you won’t get to see your little friend again?” Deathgod crooned wickedly. “Don’t worry, you’ll be joining her in death soon…” He licked his lips as he eyed her with a hungry and lustful gaze. “…after I’ve had some fun with you and those other mares that is!”

“You mean them?” An unexpected voice said from behind the Nightmare Alicorn. “What about me dearie?”

Deathgod’s eyes went wide in shock, and he turned around just in time to get a wicked punch to the side of his face, sending him more than a hundred feet away. Pulling himself up, Deathgod spat out some black blood and a few loose teeth as he looked up, only for his jaw to drop upon seeing Trixie in front of him.

“What in the name of…impossible!” he shouted, shooting to his hooves as he snarled at the azure blue Unicorn. “I had you trapped directly in that earth dome, and you had no way of escaping! How in the name of Solaris did you manage to survive?!”

“Simple.” Trixie replied as she dusted off her cape. “When I felt you summoning your attack, I too the opportunity to out up a shield around myself while you were busying yourself. It was only thanks to me putting the shield just in between your vines and earth dome that you didn’t feel me create it, and all I had to do was wait out the explosion. Then while you were busying yourself with your gloating, I took the opportunity to take you by surprise, which is exaclty what I went and did.”

Deathgod hissed as his tail skirt lashed out like a whip, his draconic yellow eyes glaring hatefully into Trixie’s calm cat-like violet ones. “Why you little…you are going to pay for that! Nopony gets the bet of the Death Trio and gets away with it; nopony! By the time I’m with you, you will be pleading for me to give you the sweet embrace of death!”

“You will be the one begging me to kill you when we’re finished her, along with the rest of your Dark Army dearie.” Trixie shot back just as fiercely; her horn ignited as she pointed her spear at him. “Though how dark, deathly and absolutely unreal all of you are and feel, I don’t think I’ll have any problems with that.”

Author's Notes:

I just want to pointed out that I kind of reversed this chapter as I was writing it, the first part of it being the fight between the new fused Deathgod, the Wonderbolts, Crimson Skies, and the Royal Guards, and the other being Main Seven's fight between the Farukonchītās, in the Everfree Plains. As I was writing it, I felt that I'd be better to reverse it, especially with the name of the title that I had it be and all. Now, I was also planning to add a third scene with Trixie duking it out with Deathgod when I didn't have the scenes of this chapter reversed, but I felt that it would run on for far too long, so I decided to do it like this instead, hope you guys are okay with that. If it makes you guys feel any better, we're already at the castle, and all it'll take is a good couple of other chapters before we officially get start to get to the final battles! Though not before getting a few scenes with a certain bunch of foals.

Well, that's all for now; tune in next time for one of the final solo scenes with the Dark Queen, where she gathers another fighting force for all of the Main Seven, and the Shadowbolts face off against another, even more formidable Ariel Flight Force in order to get all of them to their final opponent!!! Oh, and, while this may or may not happen, expect the next chapter later on today, tonight, or at the very least, tomorrow