Fire.

It was everywhere; in every single section of the upper part of the clubhouse that was previous abandoned by Sheton and the fillies, with only one remaining. The flickering flames ate the wood below, around, and above it, making the solid brown color slowly turn into deep coal black, the fire weakening the wood in mere seconds. Posters hanging on the walls and ceilings melted and curled up as the fire slithered up them and burned away at the pictures and colors, some falling to meet the fire below. The beanbags that the foals here sitting on slowly got ripped open, the beads encased inside of the beanbag spilling out of the floor to get scorched as well. The drawers, table and chairs that the foals used to occupy caught up in the light and dark green flames as well, the table and some of the chairs falling to the floor as more of the flames washed over them.

As the flames continued to eat up the room, one individual within it lay in the middle of the carnage, his powers being the only thing keeping him from being burned alive.

When Spike finally began to start to come out of his unconscious state, the first thing that he noticed as the smoke and the heat that was surrounding him. The former warmed his scales and gave him a rather comfortable feeling while the latter entered his nostrils as filling his nostrils with a rather sweet aroma that only dragons and Kirins could like. Spike groaned as he sat up on his rump, rubbing at his throbbing head, his reptilian eyes slowly opening, only to see nothing but a sea of green. It took him a moment to realize the predicament that he was in right now, and when he did, he flipped.

“Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, fire! There’s fire all over the clubhouse guys!” He cried running this way and that as he looked around for something to put it out. “Somepony, anypony, hurry up and put it out, quickly!”

The draconic colt frantically looked around the clubhouse in search of Sheton, Crescent Shield, and the other foals. There was not a trace of them there, and their scent was eaten away by the flames, leaving no trace that they were there first place.

“W-what the, they’re all gone?” Spike said to himself as confusion washed over him for a moment. “W-where did they go? Did they leave me behi-?”

The question died in his throat as the memories of what happened previously came back into his head, the dull throbbing no longer holding it back. Everything came back to him at once, Apple Grove coming in the clubhouse, Serafino invading it, and him giving the others a chance to escape before they were caught. He also remembered the drop that Serafino had got on him while he was distracted, which had him knocked out, allowing Serafino to escape.

“That bastard…he got the fucking drop on me!” he snarled fire spewing from his flared nostrils as he growled lowly. “When I get my damn claws on him, I am going to-ow!”

Spike flinched as he felt a stab of pain in his chest and on his face, and both of his claws went up to them, another pain filled sting coming as a result. When he pulled his claws away, he was surprised when he saw red liquid sticking to them, letting him know that it was his blood.

“Holy shit…this is my blood!” Spike cried; his eyes wide with shock. “I guess that guy was more powerful than I thought I was. I can’t believe he was able to cut through my dragon scales. I guess he knocked me out before I was able to go full dragon mode?” He shook his head, realizing that no wasn’t the time to think such thoughts. “What am I saying? I don’t have time for that; I need to put out this fire!”

Unfortunately, Spike wouldn’t get the chance to do it yet, for before he could, he felt the second treehouse lurch forward, and wood crack loudly causing him to nearly stumble. Immediately, he realized that the treehouse hidden within the branches was going to fall, and unless he got out, he was going to get buried alive under wood and branches. Wasting no time, he ran towards the hole Serafino made when he tried to blast his face off, and he jumped, landing hard on his feet as he hit the grassy ground below. As he ran from the burning treehouses, he looked back and gasped when he saw the that not only was were both tree houses were on fire, but it was also beginning to spread, quickly, towards the other trees.

‘Oh no, the fire’s spreading from that tree to all of the others!’ He thought in horror, watching as the flames neared the closest apple trees. ‘If it keeps spreading like that and consumes all the other trees before it, the Apple Family could lose part of their orchard and acres! I’ve got to stop it now!’

Without a moment’s hesitation, Spike began to run around the burning tree and began to eat up the flames running through the grass and making their way up the trees. A swirling sound filled the air as the flames were ripped from the grass and trees, making their way into the draconic colt’s mouth as he continued to consume it. He could feel his magical energy recovering and increasing with each second the more he ate the dark green flames, but he paid that no mind, even as his senses began to sharpen. When he was sure that the other trees were safe, he went back to the main tree and began to eat that fire up as well, even as it began to fall apart.

‘Sweet Faust, this is the most fire than I’ve ever consumed in my life!’ He thought as he continued to inhale the dark flames. ‘It’s a good thing I had all of those training sessions with Ms. Venture Vine! Otherwise I’d never be able to do this!’

Eventually, after what seemed like forever of eating the fire, Spike had finally managed to get every last flame off of the now destroyed tree. As he let out a massive burp and recovered from his massive meal, a frown adorned his face when he saw the burnt leave, branches, apples, and wood. It was burned to such a degree that Spike could see the second treehouse hidden within the tree, and watched as the wood and items within it fell to the ground, joining the remains of the first one.

“Awwww, I wasn’t able to make the fire go out in time! There’s barely anything left of the clubhouse now!” Spike whimpered, his lower lip quivering as his eyes shook. “Apple Bloom and Applejack are going to be so pissed off when they find out about it! We’ll have to build a whole entire house and get all of the things we had in it from scratch! Jeez, day really sucks ass!”

Before the draconic colt could break down in a fit of guilty tears his ears perked up when he heard the sound of an explosion coming from behind him. Thanks to his sharpened senses due to the fire that he ate, he was able to hear it much better than he already usually was, and as he turned around, he heard it come again. Curiously, he ran over to a tree and climbed up it with grace and efficiency that would’ve made a Leopard proud, and looked off into the distance. He didn’t have to wait long to see anything, and his slitted eyes caught the sight of a pillar of magic shooting into the air; magic that he saw just minutes ago.

“Serafino…” Spike breathed heatedly, his lips curling back into a snarl as his fanged gleamed, despite the black blood covering them. “So, he’s also after the Apple Family too, huh? Well he’s got another thing coming if he thinks I’m gonna let him burn them all to ash! By the time I’m done with him, he’ll be the one that’s turned in a pile of ashes!”

With an explosive roar, the draconic colt leapt int the air, flames exploding from his feet as they swirled formed a protective cloak around him. With his eyes blazing a beautiful emerald green, he shot off towards the Apple Family household, unaware of the life-threatening battle that was in store for him.

Goku cried out as she slammed herself against the wall, driving both of her hooves into it as hard as she could. The wall crackled with electricity, but Goku didn’t feel it, for she was covered in a cloak of golden lighting than enabled her to not feel the effects of the wall. She spun around and bucked it a few times making it shake somewhat under her strength, but I didn’t do move to even crack it. Undeterred, she flew back and a few blasts of golden lightning at the wall, packing in as much power as she believed she would need in the attack. The wall crackled loudly as the lightning bolts hit, before an explosion range throughout the clearing. When the dust settled, the tan Thestral and everypony else looked to see if she had been successful in her move. Much to their utter dismay and Goku’s irritation, there was not even a single mark on the space-like wall blocking the from the other side of the bridge.

“Dammit, none of my attacks are working!” Goku snorted, giving a hard stomp of her hoof, causing the icy bridge to crack violently. “Just how strong is this wall?! It’s like it’s an impenetrable triple blocked cement wall made to keep us here, and prevent us from getting in there!”

“Yeah…none of us can get through it either.” Applejack murmured, looking at the ethereal wall expectantly. “It’s like tryin’ to buck a tree full of its apples, but the apples won’t come down. Like they’re somethin’ keepin’ them up there an’ not lettin’ ya get them no matter how hard you try t’ buck it.

“I think that’s potentially the best way to describe it Applejack.” Rarity said knowingly. “I’m not using any of my magic and yet I can still feel just how powerful this wall really is. Oh, I can only imagine how much trouble that dear Rainbow Dash and the Shadowbolts are facing behind it.”

“Well…judgin’ by how much noise we’re hearin’ behind this ‘ere wall…it sounds like a lot.” Applejack said somberly. “Ah wonder if RD okay back there. Ah know she has th’ Shadowbolts there t’ protect her, but…I can’t help wonderin’ if things are okay back there.”

“Oh, don’t you worry one itty bitty bit about Dashie, Jackie!” Pinkie Pie said sweetly, bouncing over to the farmer. “We all know how Dashie is; she’s not the type of pony to go down without a fight! I’m sure that whatever or whoever she and Captain Violet Fire are facing, they’re wiping the floor with them! Why else would we be hearing all of those sounds over there?! Because they’re doing just that!”

Applejack laughed, brushing some of her golden mane away from her eyes. “Yeah…ya’ll have a point there, Pinkie.”

“I most certainly do!” The bubblegum pink mare giggled, winking slyly. “Plus, Dashie has her most famous heroes there with her to help both her and the Shadowbolts, which makes it even better! If there’s anypony that Rainbow would trust to have her back, besides me and the Queen, it’s them! She is aiming to be just like them after all, isn’t she?”

“Why yes, she most certainly is.” Fluttershy nodded softly, smiling at Pinkie Pie. “For as long as I’ve known her, the one thing that Rainbow Dash has always wanted to be part of the greatest Ariel Team that Equestria’s ever seen! I know that it takes a lot to accomplish a dream that’s as big as the one she has, but I know that she can do it! Rainbow Dash has been striving to be a Wonderbolt for as long as he can remember without anything stopping her! So, there’s no way that’s going to happen now!”

“Yes darling, she most certainly will not. She has all of the skills that are required and quite the looks to make her noticeable and suitable for ponies like the Wonderbolts. And I’m sure that they would be thrilled to have somepony like her in their group.” Rarity nodded, before slightly annoyed expression morphed onto her face. “She just needs to get her attitude together and get that ego of her’s toned down a notch is all. I swear, the mare is going to drive those poor Wonderbolts up the wall with all of her awful bragging!”

“Uh, she knows that Goku’s standing right here with us, right?” Pinkie Pie whispered to Twilight, who was standing beside her.

“I’m pretty sure she does,” Twilight replied softly. “Though, I don’t think that Rarity cares right at the moment…yet.”

“I heard that.” Goku said firmly, making the alabaster Unicorn freeze up. “Listen Rarity, I know that there are some things that you don’t particularly like about Rainbow Dash; her ego being one of them. If I’m being entirely honest, even I get a bit annoyed by her constant bragging and boasting, but do you really expect anything less from a pony like her? Rainbow Dash has the tendency to boast and brag all of the time, even while we were fillies, so you really shouldn’t by expecting anything different at this point.”

“And you’re honestly saying that I am expecting anything different from her?” Rarity asked, raising an eyebrow at the tan Thestral. “Darling, I get that Rainbow Dash likes to boast about her accomplishments, and there’s nothing wrong with a little bragging here and there. But how is that mare going to get into the Wonderbolts if she wastes all her time rubbing her accomplishments in other ponies, faces instead of focusing on what’s important, thus making things worse than they already are? If you ask me, somepony like that is going to have quite the hard time getting into a group as marvelous as the Wonderbolts if all she does is flaunt her talents.”

Goku paused, Rarity’s words striking a memory in her mind and causing her to raise a jet-black eyebrow. “You wouldn’t be happening to say this because of what Rainbow Dash had done when we were battling the Doragontora at our old campsite, would you?”

“W-wha-no! O-of course not dear, this has nothing to do with what happened more than several hours ago! I’ve already forgiven Rainbow Dash for that, however foolish it was, and I’m not going to hold it against her!” Rarity replied quickly, holding her hooves up defensively as she shrunk under Goku’s gaze. “All that I’m saying is that if Rainbow Dash wants to get into a group like the Wonderbolts, she seriously needs to clean up her attitude and stop flaunting her talents in everypony and making them feel like they can’t do it themselves! Plus, that uncouth ego and anger problem of her’s is going to get either herself, or the rest of her comrades killed! There is no way that anypony would ever accept anypony like that on their team, even if she has the skills, speed and anatomy to do it!”

“…Yes, you do have a good point there, Rarity, as dramatic as it was.” Goku sighed, ignoring Rarity’s grimace at her language. “Be that as it may, you should also know that she’s also the pony that never lets anything she does run the risk of getting her friends, family, comrades, or anypony else killed. If there’s one thing that Rainbow Dash hates, is that her emotions and her ego have the reason that anypony around her is in danger. Sure, she may have the tendency to brag, and it does get on our nerves how she keeps showing off and telling the accomplishments she did continuously, but it’s not like she ever does it to endanger us. And even if somepony is endangered, she at least as the common courtesy to save her bragging and boasting for after she saves whoever is in danger. Tell me, has there ever been a time while we were with Rainbow Dash, she’s ever wasted time bragging instead of trying saving somepony?”

Rarity paused, thinking the question over as it swam in her head. A moment later, she looked back up at her, softly shaking her head.

“Has there ever been a time where while she was doing something like, signing somepony’s autograph while somepony was…oh I don’t know, falling from the sky on a popped hot air balloon?” Goku continued. “And even when she saw said pony in said hot air balloon, did she finished the autograph before going to save that pony?”

Rarity shook her head again, slightly faster this time.

“Has Rainbow Dash ever told ponies to their faces how she was going to save the ponies that were in danger while they were in said danger? Real danger that was quite literally, like, just a few feet away from her?”

Rarity didn’t shake her head this time. Instead giving a soft reply of, “No…she hasn’t.”

“Did Rainbow Dash ever try to do anything herself that she knew she couldn’t do, yet still tried to do anyway? Like plug a hole in a giant damn with her bare hooves to keep it from cracking, even as it continued to crumble?”

“Well no, of course not!” Rarity replied somewhat hotly. “Why would she even think of trying to do something like that?!”

“Because she would know that it was something that she couldn’t handle on her own, and that she’d need somepony else’s help to do it.” Goku replied softly, her expression clam and half-lidded. “There hasn’t been one time that, that Dash ever did bragging and boasting before saving, and not because it hasn’t happened yet. She’s one of the most loyal ponies there is, and not just because she’s a Pegasus, who, in case you don’t know, are known for their loyalty. If there is anything, and I mean anything, that will guarantee that her friends are safe, then Rainbow Dash would do it without any hesitation. And if you think otherwise, just because Rainbow Dash is known to be a real bragger, then you really need to take the time to sit down and ask yourself if you really truly, know Rainbow Dash. Because from what you’re telling me, you’re making it sound like you really don’t know her that well at all.”

Nothing was said between the two mares after those words were said. Rarity sat stood where she was, looking into Goku’s piercing cat-like golden orbs that sternly looked back at her. Silence rained over the area for what seemed like a long time, the only sounds heard being the ones from behind the ethereal wall. Eventually Goku back off, her expression softening as she took a couple of steps away from Rarity, before sighing.

“I’m…sorry if I had been coming on too strongly there, Rarity. It’s just…I really don’t like it when I hear anypony especially my own friends, talking about one another like their personalities or flaws make them bad.” She finally said, pushing her mane from her eyes. “Like I said, I understand why you think Rainbow Dash may not be suited for the something like the Wonderbolts because of her ego, impatience, and issues with her anger. However, that’s precisely the reason why Dash is trying to make herself good for them. The Wonderbolts know the time to show off and when to focus on more important things, and since Dash is wanting to be like them, she’s taking a leaf from their book. Why do you think we always see her flying through the sky and pulling off all of these dangerous stunts?”

“Because she’s doing everything in her power to become the type of pony that she wanted to become for so long!” Pinkie Pie replied immediately. “It only makes sense, since that means doing lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of training every single day! If she doesn’t do that, how is Rainbow Dash gonna able to get through all of those super-duper scary training exercises the Wonderbolts have for new members?! Here’s the answer; she won’t be able to!”

“Y…yes, thank you Pinkie Pie.” Goku said slowly. “That, and because bragging and boasting would be the last thing that a Wonderbolt would be expected to do when it comes to things like dangerous missions. Those reasons alone are precisely why Rainbow Dash trains so hard that she does, and save all her boasting for after the dust is settled. Sure, she may not seem like she’s suitable for the Wonderbolts because of how she acts, but if you look past that, you’ll see a pony has what is needed to become what she’s always wanted to be. You see what I’m saying Rarity?”

“Yes darling, I do.” Rarity finally softly giving a sigh of her own. “I’m letting what I see Rainbow Dash as now get in the way if what I see her truly becoming in the near future. I suppose all of the unnecessary and unladylike bragging and showing off that she’s done over the years has made me be a little blind seeing how much potential Rainbow Dash has.”

“Ah here ya there Rarity.” Applejack nodded, looking to be downcast. “Everythin’ that G said about RD is true, no doubt about that. Her loyalty, her dedication to be there ponies, even those she hasn’t known fer that long…her desire t’ be there fer that pony when they’re in danger, all o’ it. G knows that about her very well, an’ so do the rest o’ us…Ah guess the stunts she pulled while we were in this forest an’ all th’ critters we were fightin’ mad is forget that.”

“You’re not the only one under endless amounts of stress Applejack.” Twilight said softly. “From the start of this trip I’ve always been wondering If we were going to make it out alive, or perish inside of this forest. Other than finding the Elements and stopping Nightmare Moon, that’s been the only thing that was really on my mind for this whole journey. All of these crazy and unbelievable scenarios we faced, the Shinomōkin, the Doragontora, the Timberwolves, the Battookuma, the Manticore, and the Water Dragon and Hydra, the Hinoinus, Cave Demons, and finally Farukonchītās. All of those petrifying incidents made me come so inconceivably close to thinking that we’d never make it…and now, we’re facing this.”

Her ears flattened against her head as she looked down at the ground. “I know Rainbow Dash will be alright back there. She does have the Wonderbolts and the Shadowbolts there to make sure she doesn’t get herself killed. So, there’s a chance that she’ll be able to get back to us mostly unscathed. Still…” She glanced back over at the giant icy wall. “…I’m still concerned that she may get out of there worse for wear, even with the help of the Shadowbolts.”

Zephyr walked over and draped a wing over his foalhood friend. “I get what you’re saying Twilight, we all do at the moment right now. Still, you should have some faith in your friend, especially with how long you’ve known her, along with Goku. Not to sound mean but, how would it be fair to your friend if you didn’t believe in them when they believed in you? I say let Rainbow Dash handle this; the Shadowbolts are with her, so they’ll ensure that she’ll survive. For you, for her, and everypony else here”

Twilight paused at that question, looking into Zephyr’s shining garnet eyes as he stared back into her deep violet ones. She looked to be about to speak, but before she could, they all heard a loud explosion coming from behind them, so powerful they actually felt the ground shake beneath them. They all swiveled their attention to the direction of the giant trees beyond the Everfree Plains, just in time to hear a roar tear through the trees. It sounded so powerful that it made each of their chests rumble, and the fur on their necks stand straighter than the very grass they stood on.

“Oh, Celestia what is it now?” Rarity groaned, draping a foreleg over her forehead. “I don’t know how many jump scares that we’re going to have tonight, but I really hope that it’s not another creature in this dreadful forest!”

“As if we didn’t encounter enough of them already.” Applejack murmured; her ears raised in alarm. “Ah’m honestly getting real sick an’ tired o’ them sneakin’ up on us like th’ last ones did.”

“Um Applejack, if I may object.” Fluttershy said, glancing over at the farmer. “The only animals that really took us by surprise were the Farukonchītās we ran into in the plains of Everfree, and the Doragontora at our abandoned campsite. All the others either gave us a warning of their arrival, or gave time to prepare ourselves before we fought them.”

“Yeah Ah know, but still!” The farmer protested. “At least they had th’ common courtesy not t’ try t’ blast us away an’ burn us alive in a flamin’ inferno!”

“Girls, focus please.” Sky Ranger said firmly, flicking both mares with his tail. “This is not the time to be debating over which creature was more courteous than the other. There is one that is coming towards us that’s sounds pretty powerful, if that roar that we just heard was any indication. We don’t know what it could be, so we need to be prepared for it and whatever it could do, because we have no idea what it could do, or how powerful it is.”

“Especially if that roar is any indication.” Zephyr added, looking off into the forest beyond the plains. ‘Speaking of which…that roar sounds familiar. Where have I heard it before?’

“Uh, girls, Sky Ranger, Zephie, Goku…” Pinkie Pie said, her eyes locked up in the air. “You maaaaay want to look up right now.”

“What?” Zephyr asked, raising a golden eyebrow at Pinkie Pie. “Why?”

“Just look you guys!” Pinkie Pie repeated, shooting a hoof in the air. “Trust me, I think you guys will really want to see it!”

The ponies and hippogriff each shared questioning looks at each other, before eventually looking to where Pinkie Pie was pointing. Not even a second later, all of their jaws dropped when they saw a huge pillar of light, thicker than the trees towering over them, shooting into the sky. It was similar to the pillars of light that the Timberwolves gave off, but instead of it being multicolored light, this light shined a pure shade of golden.

“Holy…whoa!” Zephyr exclaimed, his eyes widening from behind his goggles. “That is one huge light!”

“Yeah…it is.” Sky Ranger nodded. “The question is though…where is it coming from.”

“Ah don’t have any clue there sugarcube.” Applejack replied, one of her forelegs each up to group her hat as an enormous gust of wind blew into all of them. Once it dissipated, the farmer lowered her foreleg and continued to speak. “One thing Ah think Ah do know…wherever its coming from, ‘r whatever’s causin’ it…its closin’ in, fast.”

“Oh, I hope that it’s not another creature whose home or territory that we trespassed on.” Fluttershy said worriedly, a frown coming to her face. “We’ve fought so many poor animals already, I don’t think I can take having to harm another one. Even if it is to protect ourselves.”

“Well darling, I’m afraid by the looks of things, it would seem like we may have to once again.” Rarity said gently, giving the buttermilk Pegasus a sympathetic look. “After all, like Goku said, we need to be prepared for whatever’s coming at us, right Twilight? Twilight?”

The alabaster Unicorn looked over to the lavender one, perplexed as to why she didn’t get a response from her. When she looked eyes on Twilight, she blinked upon seeing the wide-eyed expression on her face, and the slight shaking of her body. One by one, the others looked to where she was, and shared similar reactions.

“Twilight, are you okay?” Goku asked, after a long stretch of silence. “Is there something wrong?”

“Oh my Faust…” The lavender Unicorn finally said, her voice just above of whisper. “I…I can’t believe it…she’s here. She’s…actually here.”

“Here?” Applejack asked. “Who? Whose here Twi? Is it them fancy guards that the Queen sent with us?”

Twilight looked over at Applejack, the smallest of smiles appearing to her face. “No…it’s not…it’s even better. Better than almost any of the guards that the Queen sent after us. It’s the Queen herself!”

“What?” Rarity asked, a look of confusion coming to her face. “Twilight, what in the world are you talking about? The Queen isn’t in the forest.”

“Yes, she is!” Twilight suddenly shouted, making the alabaster Unicorn jump. “Don’t you guys see that golden light coming from inside the forest?! That’s the Queen Celestia’s magic!”

“…Yeah, she’s right!” Goku exclaimed, her eyes widening as her ears perked. “I know that magical aura anywhere! It really is the Queen’s magic; she really is in the forest!”

“How can you be so sure?” Sky Ranger asked skeptically. “Not that I’m saying that you’re wrong or anything, but I haven’t seen that much of the Queen’s magic before. How do you know that it’s not just somepony else’s magic or that some wild animal?”

“Because we know what the Queen’s magic looks and feels like.” Goku replied immediately, locking eyes with the Wonderbolts. “Me and Twilight have known the Queen since we were fillies, and we’ve had plenty of times to see, feel and remember her magic in every single way, shape or form. The color, the amount of power, the feeling of it encasing us, and blasting during her and Twilight’s training sessions. We’ve seen how bright it shines and the color that it gives every single time the Queen activates. There is no mistaking that magic shining in the forest is her’s!”

“Okay, I see you’re point there.” Sky Ranger said after a moment of silence. “What does that prove though young sorcerer? What does that mean?”

Twilight looked at the azure blue hippogriff, tears forming in the edges of her eyes as she struggled to keep herself composed. “It means that Queen Celestia is here…and she’s headed this way!”

Serafino whinnied loudly as he shot a stream of powerful fire magic at Moon Blade, to which the Lunar Guard blocked with his ethereal sword. The spun the deep purple blade around like fan, sending the fire in multiple directions as it flashed with Moon’s spinning sword. Serafino channeled as much magic as he could into the fire, but Moon was able to withstand it with just his sword alone, his Ascension Armor gleaming in the light of the fire. When the fire was finally extinguished, the Lunar Captain flew back as Serafino flew at him his horn ignited in preparation for a magical blast.

“Ethereal Thestral Magic: Indigo Sword Flock!” Moon shouted, a large flock of purple swords appearing around him. Pointing his main weapon forward, the sword flock flew towards Serafino like a colony of bats out of a cave as the stallion flew closer. Upon seeing the sword, Serafino conjured up a shield that was able to protect him against the swords that were at the very front of him.

Once they were gone, he made to go for Moon Blade again, but paused when he noticed something out of the corner of his eye. His eyes widened in shock when he saw that the swords that he evaded were coming right back towards him, as if they were all multiple targeting missiles shot out of a jet. He tried to fly in different directions to get them away from him, but they followed him with each turn he made.

“There’s no point in trying to escape from my swords by doing that.” Moon murmured as he watched the Nightmare Alicorn tried to escape the swords. “I made these swords specifically for the purpose of chasing their intended target no matter how fast they go. So, unless you can find some way to get rid of all of them before some get you, you’re in for quite the slashing.”

"We’ll see about that Moon Blade Cifer!" Serafino shouted angrily, spinning around and igniting his horn as he pointed it at the swords. "Fire Nightmare Alicorn: Firebolt Flock!"

Multiple bolts of dark green fire shot out of Serafino’s horn, meeting with each of the swords that were sailing towards him in an attempt to stab him. They each exploded in the air, and as each one got closer, he was quicker to dissolve them with more powerful firebolts. When the last one was gone, he focused his attention back down to Serafino, only to go wide-eyed upon seeing the ghostly white Thestral flying towards him.

“I’ve got you now, you wretched stallion!” He shouted, swinging his sword forward he clashed with Serafino’s horn, which had was already swung down to counter the blade. Sparks flew through the air as the stallions fought for dominance with their weapons, and in the end, it was Moon Blade that one out, driving Serafino further in the air. “Ethereal Thestral Magic: Slicing Purple Wave of Mist!”

Swinging his sword upward, Moon Blade shot a giant wave of purple energy from the blade and towards the Nightmare Alicorn. As the stallion countered it with a magical blast, the Moon Blade fired off several more following the first one, distracting Serafino with them as he flew above his adversary. With his gigantic wings flared, he brought his sword upward as he flew towards the stallion, and with one swift motion, he brought his sword slicing down his back. A generous amount of blood sprayed from the wound as a deep slash was created down Serafino’s back, before Moon Blade flipped over and drove his hind hooves in the back of his head, sending him crashing right to the ground. Before Serafino even had time to absorb the pain, Moon Blade was already diving down with his sword pointed down, the smoke becoming rings as he went through them. Seconds later, the sound of blade piercing flesh accompanied the echoing sounds of earth exploding.

“You missed.” Serafino murmured, smirking up as the smoke cleared. When Moon Blade looked down, he said that while his blade did hit its mark, he didn’t reach is intended target. That target being the Magic Life Force Gemstone nestled within the center of Serafino’s chest. “You nearly had your mark there, Moon Blade, but unfortunately for you, all of this dust was in my favor. If it hadn’t been there, the maybe you may have gotten me.”

“Oh, come now, I’ve seen farmer lie much better than that.” Moon Blade said dryly, staying in his position as he stared Serafino right in his eyes. “You and I both know that we can see perfectly through all of this destruction, and you could’ve blocked that attack if you wanted. The only reason that you didn’t is because there was no need for you to.”

Serafino chuckled, lifting his hindlegs up and kicked Moon Blade away, ignoring the blood that spewed from his stomach as he got up. “Well, it looks like you got me in the act…then again, I shouldn’t be surprised that you did. We Thestrals are very good at reading the expressions and body language of individuals…though with me, I’m much better.”

“Only because you’re a part of an army that isn’t even real.” Moon Blade shot back, flicking his tail as his ears pinned back. “As well as following a Queen that’s far from the Queen you think that she is, because that’s not really what she is on the inside.”

“Watch it you mouthy little fledgling, that’s the Queen Moon you’re talking about!” Serafino snapped, his confident grin turning into a hideous scowl. “I should rip those fangs right out of your mouth for even thinking of saying something so revolting about our Dark Queen!”

“See? There, right there!” Moon Blade exclaimed, jabbing a hoof at Serafino. “Just the fact that you call her the Dark Queen alone just lets me know how much of a false Queen she is! Now that I think about it, it’s rather appropriate, just not for the reasons that you’re thinking probably.”

“Alright, now you’ve really done it.” Serafino hissed, slamming a hoof on the ground. “Forget about ripping your fangs out; I’m gonna burn your tongue right out of your mouth!”

“By all means, go on and try it my dark and bloodthirsty foe. My tongue is quite valuable to me…for more reasons that one.” Moon Blade said calmly, a slight blush coming to his face as he crossed his right foreleg around his left. “Though you’re not going to get anywhere the way you are now.”

Serafino smirked darkly, the scowl on his face vanished as if it wasn’t even there. “Oh, I know that this normal form of mine isn’t working. That’s why I’m going to show you something very special that I have in store, just for you.”

Now it was Moon Blade’s turn to frown. “What?”

“That’s right my Moon Blade; despite all you and your friends have seen so far, I haven’t shown you the true might of my power quite yet.” Serafino nodded, the smirk on his face growing slightly wider as the red lines along his body began to glow. “I was going to save it for later, but I feel that if I keep doing that now, it’s only going to work to your advantage.” His dark green eyes glowed menacingly as similarly colored aura appeared around his body. “By the time you see this, every single inch of these acres will be nothing but a field of fire!”

“Okay so, let me get this straight…” Blossomforth groaned softly as her rubbed the both of her temples with her hooves. “After you had gotten to Ms. Twilight’s castle, you were suddenly ambushed by those Tantabus creatures, and Captain Moon Blade came here to save you. Then, when you got to the farm, you got into a fight with another Tantabus that was at the farm to save Midnight to get killed. Finally, once Moon Blade got you, Amethyst, Midnight and the foals safe and secure, you then proceeded to take Captain Moon Blade up to Big Mac and Anna Blaze’s room and fuck the ever-living shit out of him?”

The persian blue mare, who was sitting in small circle consisting of the Apple Family, Derpy, Amethyst, and Blossomforth, chuckled sheepishly. She rubbed the back of her head with a bandaged foreleg, a deep blush coming to her face as she looked down at the ground. “Um…yeah Blossomforth, that pretty much sums up what me and him had done after the dust had finally settled around here.”

Blossomforth sighed again, plopping down on the couch she was sitting on as she covered her face with her forelegs. Taking a deep breath, she sat back up and stared at Blossomforth with an annoyed, yet tired expression. “Cloud Kicker not that I was expecting anything less from you or anything, but…couldn’t you have at least waited until all of this was over before you and Captain Moon Blade to decide to get it on?!”

“Blossomforth does have a point Aunt Cloud.” Amethyst murmured, a frown of her own adorning her face. “Of all the times you decided to get yourself bloated like a balloon; did you really have to pick now to do it?! Did you seriously forget all of the danger that was happening all around us, or were you seriously that horny that you wanted to get fucked like it would be your last one?”

“Look, I couldn’t help myself alright?! It’s not my fault that Moon Blade is so stunningly hot and sexy, even with that armor on!” Cloud Kicker huffed, stomping the floor with her hooves. “Just one look into those damn red eyes and I…I just had to have him! I know I didn’t think the shit through, and it wasn’t smart okay?! I just figured that since there was no more danger to happen here, I could try to relieve some stress before I went back in the game.”

“Well, ya certainly achieved doin’ that hon’.” Granny Smith snorted dryly, her bangs shadowing some of her face. “Well, at least ya didn’t do it with Big Mac this time, not that it’s any problem with me. At least a don’t have t’ worry ‘bout fixin’ th’ stools an’ repairin’ th’ bed…again.”

Big Mac blushed. “E…eyup.”

“Well, next time, try to hold your impulses back for after the threat is gone entirely, okay big sis?” Derpy asked, her expression softer than Blossomforth's. “I seriously don’t want to have you telling either of about how one of those monsters tried to ambush you while you were getting a another creampie.”

“Mom!” Amethyst shouted, her cheeks flaring a red-hot color as Cloud Kicker giggled.

“Oh, don’t worry you worry about that Ditzy. I’ll be sure to save plenty of that for when I know I won’t be disturbed.” Cloud Kicker said in amusement as she elbowed her little sister. “Although, I wouldn’t mind if you want to join in one of my other bangs…and if you want, maybe we can have Moon Blade go into a three-way.”

Amethyst rounded on her aunt, her face now resembling a cherry. “Aunt Cloud!”

Derpy giggled, grinning back at her sister as she replied, “As tempting as that is, I think I’m okay with pleasing myself for now. Besides, I have dinky to take care of, and I don’t really have the time to get myself plowed into my bed.” Leaning in closer, her eyes became half lidded as she added, “Though, if the opportunity does arise, I may take you up on that offer~.”

Cloud Kicker chuckled reaching over and patting her sister on the head. “Good girl~.”

“Oh Faust…” Amethyst groaned as she facehoofed. “You two are just…ugh.”

“I know Ame…trust me.” Blossomforth said gently. “I know…”

“Hey, you guys, any o’ y’all get word from Apple Grove yet?” Apple Fritter asked, looking at each of the mares and one worriedly. “It’s been a good half hour since she left t’ check on th’ foals after that varmint came here. Ah’m startin’ t’ git worried that she ain’t comin’ back right now.”

Granny Smith shot her grandniece a soft look. “Hey now, don’t y’all worry there, Fritter; yer darlin’ lil’ daughter’s a tough filly. She ain’t gonna let herself git hurt that easily, let alone th’ foals fer that matter, Apple Bloom especially. ‘Sides, it’s not like he saw her sneakin’ outta th’ back o’ th’ house while he was fightin’ Moon Blade, right?”

“Yeah, Ah know that.” Fritter nodded, giving a flick of her tail. “Still though, Ah can’t help but feel like somethin’ went really wrong while she was there.”

“That’s probably yer mother’s intuition callin’.” Big Mac murmured, draping a massive wing over the smaller mare’s back. “Alright, Ah’ll tell ya what, we’ll give Apple Grove another twenty minutes, an’ if she ain’t back here by then, Ah’ll go lookin’ for her.”

Fritter looked up at Big Mac. “You’d do that fer me, Big Mac?”

“Eeyup.” The scarlet red stallion replied, smiling gently at the younger mare. “Ah’m sure Ah can find her somewhere in these orchards along with the lil’ ones. Ah mean, it’s not like they could’ve gotten far around here anyway…”

“Oh, thank you Mac!” Fritter cooed, throwing her arms around Big Mac’s muscular neck. “Ah knew Ah could count you an’ th’ rest o’ th’ family here! You really are a reliable stallion, ya know that!”

Big Mach chuckled, leaning in and nuzzling his cousin. “Eeyup.”

All of a sudden, there was a massive explosion coming from outside the force so violent that it made the entire house shake on impact. The ponies inside it screamed as they were sent across the floor, the sounds of picture frames and glass items fell to the floor. As they tried to recover from the sudden shake, Granny Smith shot to her hooves.

“What in the hay was that?!” Granny Smith demanded, looking pointedly out the window. “Ah jus’ heard an explosion from outside!”

“S-so did we…” Derpy stammered, holding her head. “Owww, my head…what in Natura’s name was that?”

“I don’t know, but I think I know who it came from.” Cloud Kicker murmured, holding her sister in her forelegs. “That bastard really like to make a show, doesn’t he?”

Amethyst walked over to the window, her ears pinned back as she bit her lip, trying to prepare herself for what she was about to see. Using her magic to open the window flaps, she peeked outside, and let out a small gasp that did nothing to hide the terror in it.

“Amethyst?” Blossomforth asked, noticing the change in the Unicorn mare’s body language. “Is there something the matter?”

“U-um…g-g-guys?” She squeaked, sounding, and looking, like she was going to wet herself. “You may want to take a look outside.”

With each of their curiosity peaked, they walked over to where Amethyst was looking, and took their own positions in front of the window. When their eyes laid on what Amethyst was seeing, all of their eyes went just as wide as her’s. Some of them letting how whimpers, others merely stared with their jaws dropped off their hinges, while Granny Smith breathed out three words.

“Sweet Harvest Saplin’…”

When Moon Blade was wondering just what kind of new power that Serafino had in store for him, the very last thing he was expecting was the new form that the stallion was now presenting to him. Moon Blade had seen many different transformations both before, and after he had ascended to be the Captain of the Lunar Division, all unique in their own ways. While many of them were quite intimidating and scary, none of them were quite to the point where they may do things like haunt him in his dreams. Overtime, he had become used to seeing many different forms that would very well scare many other ponies upon first glance, and upon fighting Serafino, he didn’t really expect to see anything less from him either.

Now though, as he was staring at the new form that Serafino was now in, he started to contemplate whether or not to add his new form to his list. That least being of one of the most terrifying looking transformations that he has ever seen.

Serafino, who had just moments ago had the form of a dark, yet alluring looking bat winged Alicorn stallion, was now looking like a hybrid monster from Tartarus. His fur, which was once a sin black color, as dark as Nightmare Moon’s was now a menacing blood red, redder than even Moon Blade’s own, with sinister sin black streaks adorning his body. Serafino’s scarlet cloven hooves that used to complete the end of his legs, were now giant draconic paws, lined with giant stallion-sized claws that looked to be as sharp as Moon Blade’s fangs. His bat like wings had grown in side, length, and span, looking to be more muscular with the membranes becoming less see through and looking more like a bloody version of outer space. Serafino’s mane and tail skirt, which were once a deep blood red, were now a mane of slicked back jet-black scales, with his tail skirt being a wickedly sin black tail blade. To top his appearance off, he had a gleaming set of fangs that looked to be even more vampiric than before, looking twice as big as Big Mac, and his gleaming green eyes were an even darker color than before, which, for some reason, made him look even more menacing than before.

“Oh dear…” Moon Blade murmured, finally managed to form some words. “This, was not what I was expecting.”

“Are you surprised?” Serafino asked, his voice sounding much deeper, to the point where it made the ground shake beneath his clawed paws. “I bet you weren’t expecting you me to do something like this, were you? Maybe you were expecting far more…petrifying, then this?”

“Actually, I was more or less expecting this new form.” Moon Blade replied, sounding calmer than before as he regained his composure. “I mean, you did say that you were going to make this orchard in a field of fire, so I felt like your new form was connected to something similar to a dragon of some sorts.” His bat ears pinned back as his expression became one of slight embarrassment. “Although, I wasn’t expecting you to actually become a Kirin…or Nightmare Kirin if this is what you want to call it.”

“Well…you’re not entirely wrong there.” Serafino crooned, letting out a little chuckle. “Yes, I am in the form of a Nightmare Kirin, but if you look closely, it’s not a complete form of one.” He gestured to his bat ears and the fangs protruding from his lips. “As you can see, part of me is a still a Nightmare Thestral, so I can somewhat use the abilities of both a Kirin, and a Thestral all in one…quite the combination is it not?”

“Yes, I suppose that it is.” Moon Blade murmured, his eyes narrowing as he pointed his sword forward. “Still though, regardless of how much power you’ve gained in this new form, there’s no way that I will let you turn this orchard into a land of ashes! Even if it takes my last breath, I will ensure this family’s safety!”

Serafino let out a low deep chuckle, the sound of it making Moon Blade’s heart skip a beat. “Tell that to our Dark Queen when she throws you in our dungeon…”

Without warning, Serafino threw his head back and let out an earth-shaking roar mixed with a screech that made Moon Blade stumble off of his hooves. His hooves flew to his ears as he tried to block out the agonizing sound that was trying to make him go deaf. When the sound finally stopped Moon Blade opened his eyes to see one of Serafino’s giant claws paws sailing down towards him like an anchor from a pirate ship. Instinctively, he lifted his forelegs to stop the attack, only to find himself buried underneath the ground faster than he can even process. When Serafino too his paw away, he smiled in glee upon seeing Moon Blade in the giant paw shaped crater in the earth.

“Well, that was quite easily done.” Serafino murmured, dragging his foot across the ground as he gave a flick of his tail. “Then again, with the form that I’m in now, that was to be expected.”

‘M-my body…I-I…I can’t move a single inch of it!’ Moon Blade thought, his whole body giving little shakes as his mouth hung open. ‘How hard did he hit me?!’

The ghostly white stallion’s answer came just seconds later when pain suddenly washed over his body like a tidal wave crashing onto a beach. His screams echoed about the orchard as Serafino stood above him, relishing in his writhes of agony.

“Uh-oh, it looks like I hit you a little too hard there, Captain Moon Blade.” Serafino crooned, taking a step closer to the fallen Lunar Guard. “It doesn’t look like you can move any part of your body…almost like your completely paralyzed.”

“Y…y-y-you, vile beast…!” Moon Blade hissed, doing his best to glare up at his foe. “Y-y-you will…p-p-pay for this…!”

“Make me pay? In the state you’re in?” Serafino laughed, his teeth gleaming as he smiled down at Moon Blade. “Don’t make me laugh little Thestral…I’ve heard plenty of foes bluff far better than that, and even they looked far less pathetic than you do now. It doesn’t look like you’ll be causing me any trouble anymore.” He glanced over at the Apple Family Household, taking notice of the ponies staring from inside of the windows. “Well, maybe not you in general.”

Moon Blade’s bloody orbs for eyes watched in horror as Serafino made his way towards the Apple Family Household. It didn’t take a rocket science to figure out what he was going to do; the Lunar Captain could figure it out just by his body language alone. “W-wait…stop; don’t you dare hurt them! I swear if you even think about it, I will end you!”

“And who’s going to stop me? It certainly won’t be you, and I don’t see any of your other guards coming to help either.” Serafino crooned, glancing back at Moon Blade. “You’re all on your own, and it doesn’t look like your new friends are coming to help you either.” He looked back in front of the house and grinned hungrily. “They’re all mines for the taking, and after I kill them, I will turn this entire orchard in to one of flames and ash!”

“N-no…no!” Moon Blade wheezed, clenching his teeth in desperation. “You wouldn’t dare!”

“…Watch me.” Serafino murmured opening his mouth as a large orb of light appeared inside of it. It stayed in its original size at first, but slowly grew in light and intensity as the giant Nightmare Kirin prepared to blast the house into oblivion. “Say goodbye to your friends, Captain Moon Blade Cifer!”

As Moon Blade let out a final desperate scream, Serafino shot his blast of fire, the giant stream of flames exploding from his mouth and soaring towards the house. The screams of the ponies inside reached Serafino and Moon Blade’s ears, both reacting in entirely different ways as the flames got closer to its’ intended target. It would only be mere seconds before it was obliterated into nothing, and there was nothing anypony could do to stop it.

Nopony…except for one pissed off draconic colt.

A flash of emerald green suddenly appeared in front of the Apple Family Household, an explosive roar resounding through the air before emerald green flames appeared form out of nowhere. It clashed with the darker green flames that were soaring out of Serafino’s mouth, and as it drove them back, Moon Blade was given the sight of who had just saved all the lives in the Apple Family Household.

‘SPIKE?!’ He thought, shock and relief washing over him in an instant.

Emerald green flames burst all over Spike’s body as he continued to par Serafino’s flames with his own, the extra flames cloaking his body adding to the power behind it. The shock that Serafino was feeling at the sudden interference allowed the colt to gain the advantage, and with a final push, he sent Serafino toppling over onto his back. The ground shook as Serafino made impact with it, and as he rubbed at his burning face, he sat up, and locked eyes with the enraged mulberry Kirin.

“You…what the hell are you doing here?!” Serafino demanded, his second wave of shock overriding his feeling of pain. “I thought that my clone left you at the treehouse to die!”

“He did, but unfortunately for him, I wasn’t as knocked out as long as he thought I’d be, thanks for that by the way, asshole.” Spike replied heatedly, letting out a hostile growl that sounded like that of a Gray Wolf’s. “Now that I’m here, I can give you some payback for not only getting the drop on me, but for also destroying my friends’ treehouse…while they were still inside!”

With another roar, Spike lunged for Serafino, swinging around in the air with his large silvery grey tail blade slicing through the air. Serafino barely even had time to blink as the blade sliced across his face, causing blood to spray out like founding from the wound. The Nightmare Kirin let out a roar of agony as he threw his head back, allowing Spike to shoot off multiple bolts of fire form his mouth, shooting him repeatedly in his face. At his wits end, Serafino smacked the colt away from him with his claws, watching as he crashed to the ground not too far away from Moon Blade, a fall which he quickly recovered from.

“Well, it looks like you’re not as helpless as I thought you were…” Serafino murmured, lowering his right paw from his face as blood dripped from it. “It would seem that you do have some fight in you after all, little hatchling.”

“You’re damn right I do you overgrown snake-like horse!” Spike shouted back, slamming his tail blade into the ground as he snorted smoke through his nostrils. “Add that to the face that you have pissed me off royally, and you have yourself somepony who is ready to rip you to shreds and burn you to a crisp!”

“Awww, so the little Kirin that’s no larger than a fledgling is going to turn me, one that’s twice as big as that house, into a pillar of fire?” Serafino laughed, grinning humorously as his own bladed tail swayed about. “How cute…while you’re more welcome to try, but I don’t think you’ll have much luck in that state, especially since there’s a chance that you’ll end up like your pathetic guard of a friend over there.”

“Leave Captain Moon Blade out of this; this fight is between you and me now. He’s done his part, and now it’s my turn to finish what he started.” Spike commanded, his usual bubby and chipper personality all but tossed aside. In its place was a completely different spike, one that sound like a general more than anything else. “I heard what you were going to do before I even stopped you, and let me tell you, you are fill of minitour shit if you think that I’m gonna let you destroy this entire orchard! I stopped your fire from spreading to the trees on the east side of this orchard, so there’s no way in hell that I’m gonna let you destroy the rest!”

“So…you manage to keep my fire from eating up part of the part of the orchard you were all in?” Serafino commented absentmindedly, raising a brown at the draconic colt as he ruffled his wings. “Impressive…though, I wonder if you’ll able to keep up with me when I begin to destroy this entire orchard more accordingly.”

Spike gave a smirk of his own, showing his own set of gleaming gemstone-piercing fangs. “Oh, trust me, I will…once you see this!”

With his reptilian eyes gleaming, spike threw his head back and roared, a gigantic pillar of green flames exploding out of him. As it shot into the sky, Spike slowly began to go through the transformation form a small adorable Kirin, to a behemoth and intimidating dragon. His mulberry lavender scales darkened to the point where they’re a gleaming cold amethyst purple, while his spines brightened, becoming an even paler green. Said spines then began to grow slightly in length, gaining dark purple lines in between them at the top of the head to the very back of the neck. His purple claws turned to that of fingers, more like that of a primate’s having holes in the center that had gleaming silver claws jet out of them. Spike’s tail blade also enlarged change in color, becoming a deep shade of indigo purple and splitting apart, becoming multiple blades that all curved downward. Lastly, the two lines in between Spike’s back spines glowed, and two massive wings exploded out, the pale green membranes gleaming in the Moon’s light, as a set of curved horns appeared on his head.

With his transformation complete, Spike let out another roar that sends Serafino reeling back some, who now looked completely shocked by what he saw. It as a complete contrast to the smug look that he had just moments earlier, which gave great pleasure to the transformed drake as he glared at the Nightmare Kirin. Without giving him a chance to recover from his shock, Spike immediately went on the offense.

“Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Roar!” He bellowed loudly, shooting out a gigantic stream of flames at Serafino, who countered them with his own dark green flames. The shockwave that came afterwards was so powerful that it caused both trees, the barn, and the house to shake slightly as the two beasts fought for dominance. Eventually, Spike on out for the second time in the power struggle, and with another burst of power, Serafino was sent flying and tumbling across the ground. As he tried to recover from the blast looked up to see Spike flying towards him, both of his fists covered in fire.

“Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Iron Fists!” Spike yelled, shooting both of his flaming fists out and delivering vicious punches at Serafino’s face, sending his head this way and that. As the Nightmare Kirin was sent flying towards the trees, he suddenly felt something grab him by the tail, and yank him back, sending him back towards the clearing. As he tumbled, Spike landed on top of him, sending vicious slashes and bits to the Serafino’s skin ripping out chunks of flesh and causing blood to fly as a result. With another slice across his face, Spike flew back and up into the air, both wings covered in bright green fire.

“I’m not done with you!” He roared as he bared his fangs. “Fire Dragon: Wing Attack!”

Clapping his wings downward, he sent both bolts of fire down at Serafino, both of them fusing together and creating a giant ball of fire. Serafino grunted and pulled his bloodied body off the ground as he used a wing to block the attack in a vain attempt to protect him. Unfortunately, that did nothing to help him be protected by the smoldering heat and wave of power that enveloped him. Serafino screamed in agony as the flames ate his flesh making the wounds that he already had burn hotter with pain, making him writhe.

“There’s plenty more where that came from!” Spike screamed as he lifted his clawed hands up, a large orb of fire being held in it. “Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Brilliant Flame!”

Throwing his arms down, Spike shot the orb of fire down at Serafino, almost as if it was a bomb that he was sending out into a battlefield. Serafino scrambled get to his feet, but the fire burning at his wounds prevented him from doing so, leaving him at the mercy of Spike’s next attack. It hit him full force enveloping him in a spiraling explosion of fire nearly drowning out his pain filled scream as Spike hovered down meters away from him.

“What’s the matter Serafino, not able to take the heat of the Purple Flash?” Spike taunted as the flames receded. “That’s too bad…you deserve no less after nearly burning all of my friends alive!”

Serafino glared daggers up at Spike, which did nothing to wipe the smirk off the amethyst drake’s face as he slammed a dark paw on the ground. “Why, you…insolent little brat of a hatchling! How dare you go playing with me as if I’m a mere chew toy for you?! Are you even taking this fight seriously?!”

“When am I not serious when in situations like this?” Spike asked, rolling his slitted eyes. “All I was going was giving you a good dose of payback for not only knocking me out so quickly, nearly killing me and my friends, and Apple Grove, in our treehouse!”

“Oh, stop with your damn whining already!” Serafino snorted, breathing hard though his nostrils. “It’s not like you were going to die in that treehouse, you’re half dragon! Dragons can literally bath in molten magma; what’s a little fire going to do to them?!”

Spike’s left eye twitched, completely taken aback by Serafino’s callousness. “Are…are you bullshitting me right now?! None of my other friends are dragon’s or even half dragon like I am, you dumbass!” He roared, slamming his bladed tail on the ground. “With the exception of one of Sheton, there’s no way they would’ve all been able to survive that, especially without me to help them! Sure, me, and Sheton may have been able to leave out of there unscathed, but the same can’t be said for the others! You really think that only two of us surviving is better than all of us surviving?!”

“I don’t know, and I honestly really don’t care.” Serafino replied bluntly. “All I’m saying is that a colt of your heritage shouldn’t really be worried about the lives of ponies. Especially since you come from the most fear species of creatures on the face of Equestria.”

“Well, too bad for you, and luckily for them, I’m not like most dragons.” Spike retorted, flames spewing from his nostrils. “Unlike them, I actually care whether about my friends live or die, which is exaclty why I’m gonna stand and fight to make sure they don’t have to deal with the likes of you!”

“Well then…if you’re so confident that they’ll survive long enough to be beyond my reach, then feel free to try to keep me from them.” Serafino dared, flaring his wings as he lowered his head in preparation. “Besides, it’s not like you’ll be able to get to them anyway, especially with the little friend I sent after them that I’m sure you met back at your clubhouse.”

“Oh…I don’t think I’ll need to worry about them. I’m getting the impression that they’ll do just fine without me, especially with the colt they have with them.” Spike said, smiling fearlessly, swaying his bladed tail around like a stegosaurus. “Now come on and fight me like the ‘real’ Kirin you are; you’ll be begging me to end you when I finally beat you!”

“Gladly.” Serafino said as his eyes began to glow, flames surrounding his giant form. “Just as long as you’re ready to accept defeat when I break you!”

“Oh, I was born ready for this!” Spike shouted, rearing up and bashing his fists together. “Yeah, I’m all fired up now!”

Author's Notes:

Okay, I have a bit of a confession to make...after I was done writing the beginning of this chapter, I had added a scene with the Main Seven back in the Everfree into it, mainly because I felt that it would be suitable. Especially since there's a final couple scenes that I'm planning to add in the next chapter from the last versions of the battle with the Galaxy Star Bolts and the Shadowbolts. That'll probably be the last time that I'll add scenes for the first versions of this book, before I begin to write the rest of this story from the top of my head, at least until we move on from the final battles and go back to the celebration that I may or may not be planning to edit. With that being said, I certainly enjoyed writing the scene with Spike trying to save part of Sweet Apple Acres, and his intervention with Serafino trying to burn down the Apple Family Household and all the ponies in it! Ha, I was so pumped as I was writing that, and I'll probably feel the same why as I write the next one! Also, if for those of you who got the little comment Spike made at the end of this, let me know in the comments below if you can figure out who usually say that!!!

Well, that's all for now; tune in next time for when we go back to Sheton and the rest of the foals, with the latter showing why angry mares and fillies are not to be taken lightly for any reason.