“Cousin Apple Grove…Cousin Apple Grove! Wake up…wake up, please!”

The sound of a young filly calling out her name was the first thing that Apple Grove noticed as she slowly returned from her state of unconsciousness. It was a bit more difficult for her to open her eyes, since they both felt like led as she tried to slide the eyelids apart. After a few moments, she finally managed to get them open, she was able to see a blur of red and yellow in her field of vision, not quite able to make it out yet. One of her forelegs came to her face and rubbed them, and when she pulled away, she saw that she could see more clearly. After blinking a few more times, she was able to make out the face of a filly. That filly being her cousin Apple Bloom, her sunset orange eyes staring bag at her own groggy violet ones as they dripped with tears. The sight of her little cousin crying was the driving force that Apple Grove needed to become fully away, and she wasted no time in questioning her cousin in her crying.

“A…Apple Bloom?” Apple Grove asked, her groggy tone not quite matching the alarmed look on her face. “What…what’s goin’ on here? Why’re ya cryin’?”

“Oh, thank Faust, you’re still live!” Apple Bloom wailed, wrapping her arms around the older mare’s neck. “Ah thought you were never gonna wake up! Ah was honestly beginin’ think that you were dead!”

“Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo cried suddenly, rushing over and pulling the farm filly off of the Pegasus mare. “D-don’t squeeze her s-so tight! I-I-I know that you’re happy t-that she’s awake, b-but, she’s still i-injured! G-give her sometime t-to collect h-herself b-before you t-touch her, o-okay?”

“Um, Scoots, while that is sensible and all…” Fire Flash murmured. “Don’t you think we should tell her about the woo-”

The sound of Apple Grove coughing up blood cut the crimson filly off, and she and the other fillies looked back over to her. She took a few ragged and shallow breaths as her pain filled eyes looked up into each of their own. “W…w-wait a minute…hold on? What in th’ hay’s goin’ on girls? W-what happened to me?”

“Y-you…you were thrown into a tree.” Dinky replied, holdin Grove’s Stetson. “A-after you had taken us out of the clubhouse, you had brought us over here to the Black Tree Grove and hid us under one of the trees. You were about to go keep a lookout for S-Serafino, but he took you by surprise and s-s-stabbed you i-in t-t-t-the s-s-stomach. T-then…h-he threw you into this t-tree and…you lost consciousness.”

Apple Grove stared at Dinky for a moment, trying to make sense of her words before it all began to slowly come back to her. Another one of her hooves came to her head as she tried to soothe the headache inside of it. “It…it’s all comin’ back t’ me now…yeah, Ah’m startin’ t’ remember it all now…jeez Ah hit mah head hard.” She sighed as she looked up at the foals again, and it was only then that she noticed the bruises, cuts, and blood coating their little bodies. “Sweet Celestia, what th’ hay happen y’ y’all?! Why’re ya all so…bloody?!”

“You can ask Serafino about that.” Crescent Shield spat. “After he had knocked you out, he had the audacity to try to make the tree we were hiding under explode. Now only that, while we were all scattered around, he held is down to the ground with vines…covered with thorns!”

“N-not only that…” Sweetie added. “He even b-bit me on my h-horn and tried to r-rip it off of my head!” She whimpered as she gingerly rubbed her hoof over her horn. “I-it really hurt a lot…it felt like he was trying to rip my skull in two!”

“He tried to do what?!” Apple Grove shouted; her eyes widened in horrified anger. “Why that damn…that varmint’s gonna pay fer hurtin’ y’all like that! Stand back everypony, Ah’m gonna teach that varmint a lesson!”

“No wait, don’t-!” Fire Flash cried as she held her forelegs out, only to be cut off as Apple Grove cried out and fell back to the ground. “Please Apple Grove, don’t move! You’re…not quite in the state to be trying to do anything right now…”

Apple Grove, who was gritting to try to fight off the sharp aching in her stomach, looked up at the crimson filly and asked, “W…what makes ya say that?”

“U-um…w-w-well, um…” Scootaloo stammered, trying to come up with a proper way to tell Apple Grove about the true state of her condition. Unable to do it, she whimpered and merely pointed down to where the Pegasus mare’s stomach was. Looking down, Apple Grove froze upon seeing a piece of bark sticking out of her stomach, with the other end protruding out of her back. The shock she felt was so sudden that she didn’t feel the pains set in, but once the fully extent of her injuries fully sunk in, she did.

Then, Apple Grove screamed.

“AAAAAAAAAUUUUGGGGH!!!” She wailed loudly, throwing her head back and letting it echo throughout her dark namesake as her hooves went to her stomach. Tears fell from her eyes that mirrored the rest of the foals as she writhed and thrashed all about the ground, blood seeping from her wound. Well, as much as Apple Grove was able to thrash when she had a giant piece of bark impaling her in her stomach.

“Apple Grove, please stop!” Apple Bloom cried, her tears falling faster as she tried to stop her cousin from moving. “Ya gotta stop; yer only gonna make that wound worse if you keep thrashin’ ‘round like that!”

Much to the farm filly’s dismay, her pleads seem to fall on deaf ears, and she just continued to scream and sob. The blood from the hole in her stomach flowed at an even faster pace, despite the bark keeping most of it from draining endlessly. The foals crowded around her and tried to keep her still, but her constant thrashes were making impossible for them to do so.

“Dammit, it’s no use! She’s not staying still!” Fire Flash growled, trying, and failing to keep the mare’s hindlegs in place. “What’re we gonna do?! At this rate, she’s gonna pass out again, and she may not wake up this time!”

“H-hold on, l-let me try something!” Scootaloo begged, gently pushing passed the others and making her way towards Apple Grove’s head. Holding back a sob of her own, she lunged forward and wrapped her forelegs around the mare’s neck, bringing her face in her chest and muffling her agonized cries. Closing her eye, Scootaloo then began to rock her back and forth, stroking her disheveled mane as she tried with all her might to ease her pain.

“Shhhhhh, it’s okay Grove…it’s okay…” She cooed gently, keeping her voice steady even as her single eye flowed with tears. “Just calm down and breath…deep, deep breaths.”

For a moment or two, it didn’t look like Apple Grove had heard her, which would make sense, due to the indescribably pain that she was in. Then, much to their disbelief, her sobs and cries slowly, but surely, started to recede as Scootaloo continued to comfort her. After another half minute of stroking her mane, rocking her, and whispering into her ear, Apple Grove finally went silent, letting out the occasional whimper.

“There we go…that’s better.” Scootaloo said sweetly, smiling at the crying mare as her lower lip quivered. Leaning in, Scootaloo began to gently kiss the mare’s tears away and brushed some of her mane from her face. “Are you able to breathe now?”

“Y…y-y-yeah, Ah am now.” Apple Grove sniffled softly, fighting back the pain as she looked down at Scootaloo and her gentle expression. “H-how…how did you do that hon’? A-Ah was a screamin’ mess just s-seconds ago…h-h-how did ya m-managed t-to calm me d-down?”

“I…don’t really know…I-I was just able to do it.” Scootaloo replied, rubbing one of her bruised forelegs. “M-my big s-sister always used t-to do it f-for me w-whenever I-I was in pain…s-so I-I decided t-to do the s-same f-for you. B-because, y-you w-w-were in a l-l-lot of p-p-pain.”

“No shit, sherlock…” Fire Flash muttered, looking off to the side.

“W-well, it looks like it managed t’ work fer me…Ah really l-lost mahself there.” Apple Grove commented, doing her best to hold back at chuckle as she felt around at the bark. “A-are…are all o’ y’all okay?”

“Well, aside from Sweetie nearly getting her horn bitten off, us getting pierced by the thorned vines, and nearly suffocating, we’re just peachy.” Dinky replied bluntly, the slightest hint of sarcasm coming to her voice. “Can’t really say the same for Sheton though.”

“S-Sheton?!” Apple Grove cried, her ears perking up as she finally noticed that the stormy grey colt was nowhere in sight. How she didn’t manage to see he wasn’t among the group; she would never know. “W-where is he?! Is the lil’ darlin’ alright?!”

“Physically, yes…well, now at least.” Crescent Shield replied, wiping away at Apple Bloom’s tears. “Mentally and emotionally…not so much. Let’s just say that after seeing us get hurt, he decided that he’d give Serafino a taste of his own medicine.”

Apple Grove’s eyes narrowed. “What’re ya talkin’ ‘bout?”

The sound of something slamming into the ground brought the attention of Apple Grove and all the fillies towards it, and they saw Serafino laying in the crater. The stallion groaned painfully as he used forehooves to sit up, spitting out a glob of blood as he panted heavily. Before he could even look up, a dark grey blur shot down on him and slam him deeper into the ground, that blur revealing itself to an enlarged Sheton. The Thestral hissed loudly and dug one of his forehooves in the side of Serafino’s head, causing him to let out a hiss of his own as he struggled to get out of Sheton’s grasp.

“You insufferable insolent brat…!” Serafino spat as he glared back up at Sheton. “Get off of me this instant!”

Sheton’s sinister bat ears pinned back, his tongue flicking out like a snake as he lashed his tail out. “Oh, I’ll let you go alright, right after I pop your bucking skull open, you damn PSYCHO!”

Apple Bloom who had been the first to notice Sheton come flying down, turned back to her now wide-eyed cousin and asked, “Does that answer your question, Cousin Grove?”

Upon hearing Apple Bloom’s voice, Sheton looked up from Serafino, and his gleaming red eyes made contact with Apple Grove’s. The instant they did, he paused, and his expression softened slightly as he softly murmured, “M…Ms. Apple Grove?”

The lime green Pegasus mare said nothing to the colt, her expression still as wide-eyed and as fearful as it was just moments after seeing him. She couldn’t say anything, not even when the urge to ask if he was okay rose up from within her, for there was something holding her back from doing so. That something being Sheton’s eyes; those gleaming, fiery, blood red orbs for eyes scorching into her very soul and making her body feel like it was ablaze with fire. It was as if she was staring into two glaring twin suns of crimson red that burned even hotter than Celestia’s Sun. It made her want to bow down to the colt and submit to him right then and there, least Sheton do horrible things to Grove that would make her beg him for mercy.

It was only thanks to Serafino taking advantage of Sheton’s distraction that Apple Grove was broken free from the petrifying spell. Throwing his hoof away from his head, he slid out from under the colt and slammed his hind hooves square into his muzzle, catching him entirely off guard, and bringing back him in the game. Several of Sheton’s teeth, his new fangs included, flew out of his mouth as he slid across the ground, a loud pained groan leaving his throat as he held a hoof to his muzzle. As he looked up, he saw Serafino flying towards him, and he only had time to get up to his hooves before he found himself slammed into a tree, one of Serafino’s cloven hooves pressed to his throat.

“I told you that you’d better let go of me you little brat.” Serafino hissed, pressing his hoof deeper against Sheton’s throat. “When your elders tell you to do something, you’re expected to do what they say! Not try to walk over them when they’re down and writhing!”

Sheton snarled loudly, one of his own hooves coming to the larger stallion’s as he clenched it, hard, his bloodied lips curled back. “You’re the one who was walking all over us when we were down; especially when we didn’t try to do it to you!” He then smirked as another, stronger and sharper set of fangs emerged from his upper jaw. “Although, even if we did, we’d be well within our justification to do you, because you, are a bucking, SADIST!”

Twisting his right forehoof forward, Sheton snapped Serafino’s right one in two, emitting a scream from the stallion as he pulled away. Taking this opportunity, Sheton pushed him back, and took in a deep inhale. “Dark Fire Thestral Magic: Crimson Fire Abyss Explosion!”

Serafino barely had time to look up to see the swirl of dark red flames colliding to him, sending him into a spiraling mess that went past Apple Grove and the fillies. Without sparing them a second glance, he flew past them, blood red aura surrounding his body as his wings of blackness left dark streaks along with his aura.

“You’re going to pay for that one!” Serafino hissed, pointing his horn forward as it ignited. “Solid Form Nightmare Alicorn Magic: Scorching Spiraling Stream of Fire!”

Neighing loudly, a giant pillar of green fire exploded form his hooves and headed straight towards Sheton, he flared his wings and came to a dead stop. Bringing both of his wings in front of him, he sent the stream of fire in opposite directions, setting the trees closest to them on fire. With his eyes still giving off that blazing crimson glare, he reared up and slammed his hooves down, causing it to become cracked all around him.

“Way too slow, asshole.” Sheton growled softly as the cracks he mane in the ground glowed a deep red. “Dark Thestral Earth Make: Crimson Vines of the Abyss!”

Serafino’s eyes were already eyeing the ground before Sheton finished his attack, but he was only fast enough to do that before vines burst out of the ground. Unlike all of his own vines, they were a dark sinister black, like the new wings Sheton had, with the thorns being as red as Sheton’s new colored eyes. They wrapped around Serafino and dug deep into his skin and flesh, coiling around him like multiple snakes in a single burrowing nest. Struggle as he might, Serafino was not able to break from the vines, and even screamed out in pain as he felt the thorns in his body burn form the inside.

‘These vines…they’re not like mine or the rest of the Dark Army’s!’ The Nightmare Alicorn thought as he stared at slowly advancing Sheton. ‘They’re something else…something not quite of our power!’

“Well, what do you think of me now, huh Serafino? Is this what you were looking for when you called me your so called descendent of your Dark Queen?” Sheton asked, baring his shining fangs at the larger stallion as his red eyes stared into Serafino’s dark green ones. “Because it looks like you got yourself a nice good taste of what the Thestrals of Hollow Shades and Canterlot City are capable of. As evident by the fact that I threw you all around the Black Tree Grove in this orchard.”

Doing his best not to look intimidated by Sheton’s twin crimson suns for eyes, Serafino glared back down at him and replied, “You think that this measly little effort of yours is enough to keep me down and away from your little friends? I’ve been in countless battles with youngsters that have put of a much worthier effort than you, and from what you’ve displayed to be, it is anything but worthy. All any of your attacks are going is just angering me even more!”

Sheton’s tail skirt suddenly lashed out, striking Serafino dead in the face and leaving a deep gash across it. “That lie was so bad that it was almost laughable, and I maybe would’ve laughed if I wasn’t so pissed off right now!” He hissed, lowering his head but not breaking eye contact with the stallion in front of him. “You say that my attacks have no effect on you, then what was all of that screaming and writhing that you did a few minute ago huh? Was that all really just an act or were you really overwhelmed by it?”

Serafino was about to snap back at him, but cried out at the feeling of the vines burning at him, causing his eyes at squeeze. He bit his lip as he tried to keep from screaming, not wanting to give the colt the satisfaction, but just that act lone gave him away.

“That’s what I thought…such a bullshit piece of a lie.” Sheton snorted, shaking his head as he took a few steps back away from Serafino. “Now you listen here Serafino, I may have known Apple Bloom and the fillies for less than thirty hours, but one thing that I don’t stand for is anypony hurting any new friend I have. Regardless of how little time that I’ve known them, anypony that harms any friends of mine, especially for reasons like yours, are going to find themselves pummeled into the ground! And for the past few minutes, I’ve done just that, but you are deserving of so much more!”

“Oh, I’m so scared right now.” Serafino taunted, despite the pain he was in. “And just what other move are you going to pull on me that will give you the revenge of me hurting your precious friends?”

Sheton tilted his head to the side, doing it in a way that made his Fedora cover one of his burning red eyes once more. “By burning you to a crisp…”

Without warning, a black and crimson flames burst out of Sheton, followed by crackles of crimson lighting as he slowly however away from Serafino. Once he got a reasonable distance away from him, he landed on his hindlegs, with both his wings and forelegs outstretched. The fire and lighting grew with intensity as his eyes glowed through the power, the rest of his body almost nonexistent within the elements.

“Heh, so you’re planning to combine both lightning and fire to finish me off?” Serafino asked, smirking despite the feeling forming in his gut. “Is that really the best that you can do?”

“These aren’t your ordinary flames and lightning.” Sheton snarled. “These are the type that I know that will blow ponies like you away…because they were designed for ponies like you.”

Serafino’s face fell. “What was that?”

“That’s right, my family aren’t like most ponies, but more like the ones that’re in the Lunar Bay Kingdom or Hollow Shades.” Sheton nodded, a small grin coming to his muzzle. “We Thestrals have powers that’re made for the specific purpose of slaying ponies and creatures that have powers that’re eerily like yours! My Mom always told me that I should have it just in case, especially since I’m the only one of four siblings that can use it, and it looks like I finally get to use it…on you!”

“Like hell I’m going to let you do that!” Serafino shouted, flaring his wings as he tried to get out of Sheton’s crimson vines. As he did so, he felt them become tighter around his body, to the point where he felt his bones begin to crack. “Dammit, why can’t I get out of these vines?!”

“Oh, a little something that I forgot to mention.” Sheton murmured as he extended his forehooves forward. “We Thestrals have the abilities to use three of our different types of magic at the same time of we want to, which is a more or less a combination of the magic of the Three Pony Tribes. So, you can try to get out of those vines as much as you want, you’re only going to get yourself more hurt than you already are.” A low growl burst from his throat as his tail lashed out. “Then again, after what you’ve done, that’s not so bad.”

With those words, flared his massive wings of blackness to their fullest span, his eyes glowing their brightest red as the fire and lightning swirled his hooves. They compressed and condensed into a ball that he prepared to fire off one on devastating explosion, the chirping and roaring both resonating in Sheton’s bat ears. As the pillar of the combined elements swirled around him, Sheton finally unleased his attack.

“Now…say goodnight Serafino!” The stormy grey Thestral shouted as he let finally loose on his enemy. “Dark Fire Lightning Thestral: Swirling Abyss of Thundering Flames!”

With an explosion that nearly deafened all that were near it, Sheton shot off the combined elements at Serafino, who was all but immobile in the dark red vines. In a last-ditch effort to defend himself, he shot a powerful blast of magic that, only for a moment, withstood Sheton’s attack, before it was eaten up. Serafino could now do nothing but scream as the attack consumed him, ripping both him and the vines off of the ground as it shot him across the black trees and far beyond the Black Tree Grove. The roar of power resounded across the trees for what seemed like forever, before they eventually died down, leaving nothing but deafening silence, a victorious colt, and group of gob-smacked fillies behind.

“Heh…see? I told you that I was going to make you bleed.” Sheton murmured, plopping down on all four of his hooves. “Then again…I guess I made you burn more than bleed in this case.”

With a sigh, he turned back to where the Apple Grove and the fillies were, and flew over to them as the power around him receded. As he did so, his new physical form also began to go back to normal; his coat lightened back to its light stormy grey, while the crimson streaks in his mane and tail returned to their soft midnight blue. The sinister blackness covering his wings whisked away, letting the emerald blue membranes reveal themselves once more, and his physic went back to that of a foal’s. By the time he reached the group the chilling crimson color that formed his eyes dimmed, the gentler and more emerald blue color taking its place once more.

“I’m…sorry you guys had to see all of that.” Sheton murmured apologetically, the dark power filled voice he had no longer there. It now had its usual soft-spoken and sweet, of not shy edge to it like it always did. “Are all of you guys okay?”

Nopony replied to Sheton’s question of concern; it was as if they didn’t even hear him speaking to them at all. They all just sat there, staring at him, all of their eyes as wide as they were when they first saw his transformation. Sheton’s ears pinned back at their stares, resisting the urge to look away as he pawed at the ground.

“Please stop staring at me like that you guys…its creepy.” He begged as politely as he could, trying not to sound rude. They all complied, but still didn’t say a word as most of their eyes began to fill with tears. “W-w-what’s wrong girls? W-why are you crying all of a sudden? A-are you all scared that might-”

A whimper from Scootaloo suddenly cut him off as the Pegasus filly slowly got up, her legs shaking as she did so. With her single violet eye still streaming tears, she slowly made her way over to Sheton, her lower lip quivering. Sheton shrunk back slightly, but let the shy filly approach her as she stared into his nervous eyes.

“S…Scootaloo? Are…a-are you alright?” He asked her gently, glancing down at the small cuts on her neck before looking back up at her. His question only seemed to make Scootaloo cry harder, for her whole body was now shaking. “S-Scootaloo? P-please, say somethi-”

That was all he managed to say before Scootaloo lunged and threw her forelegs around his neck, with her wings going around his entire body. Sheton immediately felt warmth spread through his body as Scootaloo pulled him into her, her chin resting on his shoulder. Scootaloo then proceeded to let her tears and sobs out as she hugged the colt for all she was worth.

“Scootaloo…?” Sheton asked, dumbfounded.

“T…t-thank you…thank you!” Scootaloo sobbed, slightly tightening her hug on the colt, taking care not to hurt him. “Y-you…you saved us…! T-thank you!”

Right as she said that, Sheton heard more crying, and he looked up to see Sweetie Belle rushing toward them, tears falling from her own eyes. As she hugged Sheton, Dinky followed, coming on the right side as she took the colt in her arms. The last to follow was Apple Bloom, and she squeezed her way into the group hug as they all softly whimpered and cried, hugging Sheton with all of their might. Only Crescent Shield and Fire Flash stayed behind, but even they looked like they wanted to join in the hug; the only thing holding them back was being sure that Apple Grove was alright. Apple Grove, as if sensing this, gently pushed both foals forward, silently assuring them that she’d be fine for the time being. With nothing holding them back, they all rushed over to the group, taking their own positions as they completed the group hug.

For those next few minutes, most of the goals just wailed and sobbed into each other, each having their own grip on Sheton. Only Fire Flash was silent, but even she looked like she was going to tear up a bit, and it was only thanks to her tough exterior that she didn’t. Sheton, sensing that now wasn’t the time for talking yet, finally returned the embrace, wrapping both of his large wings around all of them. And so, they stayed like that, comforting each other and easing one another’s pain form their ordeal, Apple Grove sitting from afar and fondly watching all the while.

The wind blew in Rainbow Dash’s face as she ascended into the sky, her beautiful prismatic wings flapping hard and fast as went as high as she could. Her nearly healed wounds strained against her body, making her ascension in the air uncomfortable to say the least. The athlete didn’t pay any attention to it, her mind focused on only one thing, and one thing only. To help the Shadowbolts and her lifelong heroes end the fight with the Galaxy Star Bolts once and for all.

‘I can’t believe how long this has gone on. At the rate this is going, there is no way that me and my friends will be able to get in that castle!’ Rainbow Dash thought grimly as she continued to rise. ‘For all we know, Nightmare Moon could be in that castle just waiting to pick us off as soon as her little team are done with us! Well, I’m not gonna let that happen! I swear, even if it’s the last thing I do, I’m gonna make sure that I’m gonna be there when they do face her! That I can promise!’

With a final push, the cyan mare flared her wings and stopped her ascension into the air, satisfied with the height that she was at. She took a moment to collect herself, she took a look down at where the castle was. At the height that she was, the demolished building was far smaller than it looked from where she was, small enough for her to cover it with her hoof. It was also apparent that the Shadowbolts were keeping a lookout for the Galaxy Star Bolts, if the tiny specs of colors down below were any indication. To top it all off, the ethereal wall that had trapped her and the Bolts seemed to expand outwards once it got to a certain height. This making it impossible for Rainbow Dash to see her friends or most of the Everfree Plains surrounding the castle anywhere.

‘Looks like Captain Violet Fire, and the others are still with Crimson Skies, which means she hasn’t quite recovered yet. I don’t think they’re gonna be able to last much longer though…especially with how those bastards have been throwing them around so much, including me.’ Rainbow Dash thought, a worried frown coming to her face. ‘Seriously, they didn’t even look the slightest bit winded while they fought, including Nightshade! At this rate, they’re gonna drain them until they can’t fight anymore, and I can’t let that happen to any of them! The Shadowbolts risked their lives to help us get here! There’s no way that I’m gonna let all of their efforts be in vein!’

Closing her eyes, the cyan mare summoned up the Pegasus magic within her system, conjuring up the largest lightning cloak that she had produced that night. Unlike the last once however, it wasn’t just give off one color, but a multitude of colors like the ones in her mane. She continued to draw out her magic, making the lightning grow stronger, until it was so big that there was no way the others couldn’t notice it down below. The chirping of the lightning filled her ears, the power within it coursing through her veins and making the pain she was currently feeling vanish as it was never there.

‘Alright…I think this may be enough for what I have planned.’ Rainbow Dash thought to herself, opening her eyes as they glowed brightly. ‘Still, just to be sure, let’s add a little extra more…at least twenty percent more to be safe! Soon, I’ll blow every single one of those Galaxy Star Bolts away!’

While Rainbow Dash prepared to release her finishing move on Nightmare Moon’s Ariel Flyers, the Shadowbolts were all huddle together down far below. While some of them were keeping an eye out for any movement form the Galaxy Star Bolts, the rest were all tending to Blue Skies, who looked like she was beginning to recover form Blueball’s assault.

“Blue Skies, are you able to get up now?” Violet Fire asked gently as she ran a hoof down the mare’s, staring into her youngest teammate’s blue eyes. “If you can’t then don’t try. I don’t want to you to injure yourself any more than you already are.”

The palomino mare shook her head, putting a hoof on her captain’s shoulder as she smiled up at her in reassurance. “No, I’ll be alright Captain Violet…I’m already feeling the pain starting to wear off a bit. So, it’s not hurting like I did before.”

“I’m sure it is, but I don’t think we can all deny that all felt that last attack!” Fast Tracks exclaimed, a shiver going from his spine down to his tail skirt. “Do you even realize how loud you screamed up there Blue? It felt like somepony was trying to stab me in my ears with my own damn fangs; that had to be the loudest scream I’ve ever heard!”

“Well, when you’re getting electrocuted by lightning, that tends to happen frequently.” Lightning Shadow murmured, flicking her tail. “Although, even I’m amazed that you managed to maintain consciousness Blue Skies. I was inconceivably sure that you were going to either pass out…or even die.”

“S-so did I…” Blue Skies murmured, leaning against Violet Fire as the ebony mare held. “I mean, I felt the power that mare had…and there was so much of it too. I don’t even know how I was even able to stake away from all of that. I’m so glad that Rainbow Dash came in and took advantage of the distraction of our fight. If she didn’t then…then I would’ve…”

“We know Blue, you don’t need to say it.” Storm Shadow said calmly and gently. “We all know what you’re thinking, and we’re all glad that Rainbow Dash came in when she did. Her friends weren’t kidding when they said the was the toughest mare out of them.”

“Yeah, she definitely is.” Violet Fire said with a giggle. “Let’s just hope that whatever move she has planned will finish the Galaxy Star Bolts off. I don’t know if we can hold off against them in our Ascension Modes; if we don’t, we may have to let out our trump cards. I really hope that it doesn’t come to that.”

Blue Skies nodded. “Yeah, me too Captain…” She said softly, letting out a sigh as she glanced off at the side. Suddenly a sharp gasp left from her as she shot to her hooves, her namesake eyes widening in terror as she stared forward.

“Blue, what’s the matter baby?” Violet asked, noticing the look of terror on her face. The palomino mare said nothing, just pointing a shaky hoof forward, to which the ebony mare followed, only for her eyes to widen with horror. “W-what the-?!”

“Oh shit, they’re gone!” Fast Tracks shouted, his bat wings flaring in alarm. “Where the hell did they go?! I didn’t even hear them move!”

“If they were that quite to be able to get past even your hearing, then we’ve underestimated them some.” Lightning Shadow murmured. “Regardless, we should still listen out for them, they could be anywhere around here.”

“Wise words Lightning Shadow...it is good to have some teamwork.” An all too familiar voice said, carrying a somewhat dark edge to it. “Something that you and the rest of your team definitely need at the moment.”

Storm Shadow’s eyes widened, and she spun around, only to see nopony in sight. Before she could do anything else, she felt a tremor in the ground, and she looked down to see ethereal light emerging form the cracks in the ground. Knowing what was about to happen, she turned the rest of her team and screamed, “EVERYPONY SCATTER!”

All of the other Shadowbolts had already snapped their heads to the source of the voice, but they were not in time to see what Storm Shadow had. A massive explosion sent them all flying from where they were, screaming as they felt powerful bolts of lightning, slashes of wind, and scorching fire hit their exhausted bodies all at once. They slammed into the ground as the lightning jolted through them, causing them to writhe and twitch as they both groaned in agony. Opening their eyes, they froze upon seeing Nightshade hovering over them, the misty aura surrounding her swirling wildly.

“What the hay?” Fast Tracks asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. “How is she still okay after all that Rainbow Dahs threw at her?! There’s no way she should be able to move, let alone stand up!”

“Yeah…” Violet Fire panted. “…just how strong is this mare?”

“You fools…did you really think that it was going to be that easy?” Nightshade asked, a serrated smile coming to her lips. “It’s going to take more than all of that to take the Galaxy Star Bolt Captain down.”

“Sweet bucking Faust…” Lightning Shadow wheezed, letting out an involuntary wince. “…I’ve heard of turning the tables but, come on.”

“I have to admit, you two did manage to make me break quite the sweat. I can’t remember a time where I’ve ever had to fight anywhere near this hard.” Nightshade continued, giving a couple of cracks of her neck. “The question is though…will you still be able fight as hard as you have been until now?”

“What…what do you mean by that?!” Violet Fire demanded, a burst of adrenaline coursing through her as she got to her feet. “Are you saying that I still won’t be able to fight you?!”

“Oh no, of course not. No need to get so offended Captain Violet Fire.” Nightshade replied sweetly, giving a dismissive hoof wave. “I’m just wondering if you both will still be able to stand your ground…especially with what I have in store for you.”

“What’re you talking about?” Storm Shadow asked suspiciously. “What’re you planning to do with us?”

“It’s not just what I plan to do with you.” Stratus replied, his own smile turning more conniving. “It’s also what we’re all planning to do with your other friend.”

In the blink of an eye, Blue Skies was on her hooves, her wings flaring. “You’re still talking about Rainbow Dash, aren’t you?! What’re you planning to do with her?!”

“Nothing that’ll have negative ever lasting effects, I can assure you. I’m going to give her a full-on experience of the true power of the Galaxy Star Bolts.” Starry Skies replied calmly, ignoring the palomino mare’s glare. “First things first, we all need to deal with you, and once were done with you, Rainbow Dash is next. Once I have her, I can turn her to my side, and help her achieve her dream of becoming known as a member of the greatest flyers Equestria has ever seen!”

Blueball giggled and in agreement, and looked to be about to say something, only to abruptly stop. As she looked around the battlefield, her smile slowly began to fade, and was soon replaced with a look of perplexation. “Um…you guys…I don’t see her.”

“What do you mean?” Charger asked, looking over at the bluish violet mare. “Who don’t you see?”

“Rainbow Dash; I don’t see her anywhere around here!” Blueball exclaimed her eyes so wide they looked to be bulging out of her skull. “She’s gone!”

“She’s what?!” Nightshade shouted, her stance faltering as a confused frown came to her face as her head snapped to Blueball. She too looked around the destroyed front yard of the castle, and, true to Blueball’s word, the cyan mare was nowhere in sight. “So…she got away did she?” Nightshade asked, sounding nowhere near as surprised as the other two mares. “Well, that is quite the surprise, isn’t it? That’s fine…we’ll find her, no matter how hard we have to search around her.”

“Oh Yeah? What makes you think you’ll be able to find her?” Violet Fire asked, narrowing her golden eyes at the light blue Pegasus. “From what we know, we’re not the only ones who haven’t notice Rainbow Dash vanish into thin air. She didn’t leave a single trace or sound as to where she is!”

“That may be so, but that doesn’t really concern us.” Nightshade replied nonchalantly. “Even if we didn’t happen to see her, that doesn’t mean that we haven’t taken the necessary means to ensure that she does not escape from us. This ethereal wall we built around her will be see to it that she doesn’t get away, so finding her will be quite easy.”

“Are you sure about that?” Fast Tracks asked, raising an eyebrow. “Because something tells me that your plan may not go as you hoped. As for that wall you said that you built up…” She looked up at the Moon shining in the sky above them at the tiny speck of multi-color in the sky. “…You may want to get that checked out.”

“Oh don’t worry, I can assure you this wall will keep your friend here. It may not look like it will because of how we set it, but don’t be deceived. All things are not as they appear after all.” The Galaxy Star Bolt Captain said, smiling knowingly at the other two Captains. “We can worry about that later. I think it’s about time we finish this, do you not agree?”

“As if I haven’t been trying to do that in the first place.” Blue Skies spat, growling at the Galaxy Star Bolt. “I’m tired of fighting you anyway; I just wanna finish you so you won’t bother my teammates anymore!”

“For some reason, I don’t think that’s gonna happen.” Violet Fire said, getting into a battle stance. “Though, at least we can agree one that…we need to finish this, and finish it now.”

“Good, I’m glad to see that you’re so enthusiastic.” Nightshade said happily, dragging her hoof across the ground. “I hope you two are ready! Because now I’m really going to be tearing the two of you up!”

Before any of the mares could engage, they were stopped dead in their tracks by what had be the loudest explosion that they had ever heard in their entire lives. It was so powerful that it made all three mares lose their footing and tumble to the ground, letting them feel the ground shaking violently beneath them. They covered their ears to block out the booming sound as it tore through the ears as they felt the ground beneath them continued to rumble.

“Ugh…what the…hay was that?!” Starry Skies asked, rubbing at her ears. “Did you set a bomb somewhere and set it off here somewhere?!”

“No, we didn’t.” Violet Fire replied casually, flicking her ears to make sure she could still hear. “That was a really loud explosion though. I was seriously not expecting that.”

“Neither were we, but holy shit that was loud!” Charger grunted, rubbing the inside of his ears. “I don’t know what that was, but that had to be the biggest boom I’ve ever heard in my life.”

“I hate to say, it but I have to agree with him.” Stratus grunted as the ringing in his ears slowly went away. “Just what did you Shadowbolts do?! Set a huge nuclear bomb off?!”

“I don’t think so Stratus!” Blueball replied, looking up into the sky. “But I think I might know somepony who did something even cooler than that!”

Raising a snow-white eyebrow at the bluish violet mare, Nightshade looked up into the sky along with her, and felt her entire body freeze in midair. Ascending down from the sky, faster than a Peregrine Falcon diving after a Pigeon, was Rainbow Dash, encased in the biggest cloak of lightning they had seen her in. Her prismatic wings were stretched all the way past her tail. Her hooves were outstretched in front of her, the shining tip of a mace cone accompanying her in her dive. Her mane and tail were blended together into one beautiful prismatic streak that flowed behind her, the same being with her wings. Following the line of the rainbow trail, were two huge prismatic colored rings that were expanding all across the night sky, the biggest ring encasing the entire Moon within it.

“OOOOOOOOH YEEEEEEEEEEEAHHHH!!!” Rainbow Dash screamed, grinning her widest grin as she dived down. “THIS IS AWESOOOOOOOOOOOME!!!”

“No way…!” Fast Tracks exclaimed, his violet eyes widening behind his goggles. “She did it! Rainbow Dash actually did it; she really pulled it off!”

“Pulled what off?!” Stratus demanded looking over at her the Shadowbolt. “What did she do?!”

“HEY, GALAXY STAR BASTARDS! CAN YOU SEE ME?!” The cyan mare grinned as she ascended closer. “CAN YOU SEE HOW INCREDIBLY AWEOSME THAT I LOOK RIGHT NOW?! DO YOU SEE THE POWER OF THE RAINBOW THAT’S COMING DOWN ON YOUR STARRY ASSES?! I HOPE YOU DO, BECAUSE YOU HAVEN’T EVEN SEEN THE HALF OF IT YET!”

“That little rainbow maned bitch…what in the hay is she talking about?!” Charger growled, putting a forehoof over his eyes to block out the light. “Is she trying to show off with that little show of her’s?!”

“I don’t know, but it looks so pretty!” Blueball replied, her eyes shining with amazement at the large prismatic rings. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything this pretty before!”

“HERE I COME YOU ASSHOLES! THIS FIGHT ENDS NOW!” Rainbow Dash continued, her eyes blazing as she prepared to attack. “YOU’VE BEEN SHAKING US AROUND LIKE RAGDOLLS FOR WAY TOO LONG, AND ITS TIME I PUT AN END TO IT NOW! GET READY TO GET BLOWN OUT OF THE SKY YOU MOTHER BUCKERS!”

As those words left her mouth, the cyan mare folded her wings and suddenly began to spin around, slowly turning herself into a giant whirlwind. It was similar to the one that Fluttershy had unleashed to eliminate the Timberwolves, only this time, it had lightning added to the concoction. Pretty much like the one Starry Skies had used against Shadow Step, only with this one, it would be much bigger; bigger than even Fluttershy’s.

“Uh, what is she doing?” Fast Tracks asked nervously. “Why is she spinning around like that?”

Lightning Shadow, who was watching Rainbow’s movements, let out a gasp of realization. She whipped her head to the light brown stallion, her eyes wide with both fear and panic. “She’s going to try to pull off a lightning infused whirlwind! She’s planning to slam it down right in the middle of this field, and use her speed to for more impact!”

“Rainbow’s gonna do WHAT?!” Storm Shadow shouted, paling under her fur. “Is she insane?! She’s gonna kill every last one of us if she pulls off a stunt like that!”

“You’re telling me!” Blue Skies nodded, looking back up at the mare. “But I don’t think we can do anything about it! Come on you guys, we gotta get out of here!”

“Don’t need to tell us twice!” Fast Tracks said as he they all flew over to the end of the wall.

“Hey, where are you going?!” Stratus shouted angrily. “Come back here you damn cowards! We’re not finished with you three yet!”

“Yeah!” Blueball added, frowning childishly. “The fun is just getting started! Why’re you guys leaving now?!”

“Cause we’re trying not to get killed, that’s why!” Fast Tracks shouted back. “And if you guys are smart, you’ll try not to get yourselves too! And this fight was already over the second Rainbow pulled off that move, and in the state she put you all in, it doesn’t look like you’re gonna get out of this alive!”

“No…no…no! this isn’t it!” Nightshade shouted, before another bolt struck her. “I’m not gonna let it end this way! I am the leader of the most powerful Ariel Flight Team in the world! I will not go out like this!”

“HERE IT COMES! TIME TO BLOW YOU ALL AWAY!” Rainbow Dash yelled, spinning faster than ever. “LIGHTNING PEGASUS KNIGHT: THUNDER WHIRLWIND TORNADO BUSTER!!!”

“Oh shit, she’s gonna blow!” Stratus shouted, panic filling him. “Come on Blueball! We need to get the hell out of here!”

“Awww, but I wanna watch the fireworks!” Blueball whined. “Can’t we just stay for just a little bit longer?!”

“NO, WE CANNOT!” Stratus bellowed, yanking onto his teammates suit. “We are about to get buried and electrocuted alive by that braggart mare, and it’s not gonna do us any good if we just sit around waiting for her to hit us! We need to get to Captain Nightshade and the others before-!”

It was too late; Rainbow had unleashed her attack before the Galaxy Star Bolt could finish his sentence. By the time by both looked up, the giant lightning coated whirlwind was already sailing towards them at speed in which neither of them could stop in time. They, along with Nightshade would only watch as the attack soared closer to the ground, before finally making impact.

The explosion of power that came afterword was easily on par with the force that Rainbow Dash’s rainbow rings had emitted, if not even louder than that. The whole field that the Shadowbolts and the Galaxy Star Bolts burst into a giant mass of multicolored electrical charge light and wind tore throughout it. Clouds of dust burst from the ground, large chunks of earth flew in all directions, and large cracks slithered their way through the ground like a pod of snakes. Any living thing that was on that area, which was the Galaxy Star bolts, found themselves unable to defend themselves against the unstoppable onslaught. They only had time to scream before they found themselves zapped to death by the large lightning bolts, before being buried under the large chunks of earth. Thick dust clouds swept over the field and the castle, rising up all across the large ethereal wall until it eventually became a huge mushroom cloud in the sky.

The rumbling and chirping lightning went on for more than a minute, leaving nothing in its path unscathed or untouched. The only exception was the huge abandoned castle, which, by some unexplainable means, stayed completely intact, even as the lightning struck it as well. The chunks of earth that didn’t land on the ground ended up falling over the edges and into the pits below, where a certain group of Pegasi were hiding.

Slowly, the earth-shattering shaking began to recede, along with the intensity and volume of the chirping lighting, before it all came to a dead stop. Then, all the remained as the eerie and defeating silence. There was no sign of anypony anywhere around in the entire section of the field. Not under the piles of rubble, not in between the cracks in the ground and especially not in the abandoned castle. It was completely and utterly silent, with the Galaxy Star Bolts nowhere in sight, along with the Shadowbolts, and Rainbow Dash herself.

It took about ten whole minutes for them to stop crying and sobbing from their life-threatening experience, but Sheton finally managed to calm most of the fillies down. Once they had managed to collect themselves, the each began to tend to each other’s wounds, mainly Apple Grove’s, for her were the most critical of them all. Sheton and the fillies had only sustained minor puncture wounds, and the bruises they had around them didn’t look like they’d get infected. Apple Grove, however, was the worst off from them, thanks to Serafino throwing her violently into one of the trees in the Black Tree Grove. From what they were seeing, it didn’t look like the bark had it anything final within her, but it was still needed to be looked at. It would’ve been good for her to take bark out, so Grove wouldn’t feel it, but the foals knew they did that, her blood would drain faster, and her wound may become more life threatening.

With that option out, there was no choice left but to try to carry Apple Grove with them back to the barn, something that Sheton himself took it upon himself to do. Before they knew it, they were on their way back to the barn, although at quite a slow pace as to not cause Apple Grove anymore pain.

“Apple Grove, are you sure that you’re okay with me carrying you like this?” Sheton asked, glancing over at the lime green mare. “I mean, you literally have a bark of tree wood impaled into your stomach; that has to hurt.”

“Yeah, it honestly does hurt…maybe not as much as it did before, but still.” Apple Grove replied, giving a grunt as she clung to the colt’s neck. “Aside from that, Ah’m okay with this form of travel, especially with you of all ponies doin’ it. Yer th’ only one here strong enough t’ even attempt t’ carry me across here an’ back t’ th’ barn so…it was th’ only option available.”

“That is true.” Dinky nodded, looking about the dead grove of trees. “Still though, you shouldn’t try to move too much. If you do, you may drive that wood deeper into you, and it’ll make you bleed even more!”

“Um, I think Apple Grove was already having that planned Dinky.” Fire Flash deadpanned, rolling her eyes. “Why do you think that she’s trying her best not to do just that? Like she’s looking like a sack of potatoes? ‘cause she’s trying not to bleed out and pass out again, or worse!”

“I’m amazed that you didn’t feel yourself get stabbed Apple Grove.” Sweetie Belle added. “How were you not able to feel any of that? I would’ve started screaming my head off if I felt a piece of wood that large stab into me!”

“Ah…don’t really know...” Apple Grove murmured. “When Ah hit th’ tree, Ah guess Ah was so shocked by th’ impact o’ th’ hit, that Ah didn’t feel th’ pain. Ah guess Ah was bein’ saved th’ pain o’ that after Ah was literally stabbed in’ th’ back by that Serafino varmint. It all happened so fast that Ah didn’t even have any time t’ react.”

“Well, that is what happened when you’re taken by surprise in the manner that you were.” Crescent Shield commented absentmindedly. “You’re given little to no time to respond to the enemies attack, and everything else comes afterward in such a blur, and due to that, you don’t really feel anything else…not even the pain.”

“I-I-I think t-that can s-sum up j-just how A-Apple Groves e-experience w-with s-s-Serafino w-went i-in t-t-those f-few m-m-moments.” Scootaloo said softly, her indigo mane sweeping the ground as she walked with them. “I-I was c-certainly f-feeling it f-for a f-few m-moments…b-before I…w-w-well, l-lost it, f-for a m-moment t-there.”

“Hey, it’s okay Scootaloo, nopony blames for reacting the way that you did when you saw Serafino stab Apple Grove.” Sheton murmured, glancing over at the bright orange filly. “I’d be surprised if you didn’t start freaking out by something as horrible as that. Then again, I’m surprised that I wasn’t freaking out as much as the rest of you were.”

“That’s because you’ve got nerves of steel!” Fire Flash commented, patting the colt hard on his head, making his fedora fall over his eyes. “I admit, I was also pretty surprised that you kept so quite while all that was happening. Even so, I’m pretty impressed that you managed to keep somewhat of a level head during all of that…I was totally expecting you to start crying and screaming.”

“As ashamed as Ah am to admit it, Ah was too.” Apple Bloom murmured; her ears flattened in guilt. “It looks like we underestimated yer level headedness, huh Sheton?”

“W-well, I do have an amazing role model of a sister.” Sheton replied sheepishly, his cheeks blossoming into a blush. “I guess I just tended to pick up her habits while I was growing up.”

“Heh, ya sure did.” Crescent giggled, running a hoof down Sheton’s tail. “In more ways than one.”

Suddenly Apple Grove gave a loud groan and the foals all stopped and locked their eyes with her, seeing one of her hooves touching around her stomach. Wasting no time, all of the foals crowded around her, Sheton still having the mare on his back. “Apple Grove, are you okay?!” Apple Bloom asked, her concern spiked.

“Ah…Ah was, but doesn’t look like Ah am as much no more.” Apple Grove replied as she inhaled sharply. “C…can ya put me down Sheton? Ah think Ah need t’ lie down for a bit…”

“Of course…” Sheton nodded, walking over to a nearby dead tree and gently setting the mare on her side. “Do, um…do you need your hat too?”

“Yeah, hon’ if ya would.” Apple Grove replied, reaching out with a hoof a few seconds later and taking her hat from Sheton’s mouth. She waved it in front of her face like a fan and let out a soft, yet tired sigh. “Oh, that feels better…”

“Is your wood wound bothering you Apple Grove?” Sweetie asked, taking a step forward. “We can help ease it if you want us to. You really like you need somepony to help you relax.”

“Thank you Dinky, but Ah don’t think any amount of relaxin’ gonna fix this.” Apple Grove replied, setting her hat on her barrel. “Ah’m just…feelin’ real tired right now…Ah think it may have been b’cause of all o’ th’ blood Ah’m loosin. Even if it wasn’t a lot, it’s th’ only thing that can explain why Ah’m feelin’ this way.”

“Oh no…if that’s the case than we need to get you over there quickly!” Crescent said, her worry increasing. “Loss of blood is only one of the specific ways that ponies can die, especially with the injury that make it a result! Somepony needs to get down to the barn and get Granny Smith, so she can come and get Apple Grove!”

“Well, can’t all go.” Fire Flash pointed out. “If we do, then the only thing we’ll be doing is leaving Apple Grove at the mercy of whatever is out here in this part of the forest. She can’t walk or fly, and if she tried to use her magic, then she’s only gonna make her condition worse!”

“We never said that we were all going to go Fire.” Sheton said sternly. “What I’m sure we were all thinking is at least one of us go and fine Granny Smith, and bring her back so she can get Apple Grove back to the farm. While that’s being done, the rest of us can stay here and keep a lookout for any danger that may come at Apple Grove.”

“That…doesn’t sound like a bad idea. From what Ah saw, you looked like you can definitely protect me Sheton…even if ya did scare me shitless doin’ it.” Apple Grove said, her tone becoming somewhat humorous at the last part. “Th’ question is…which one o’ y’all is gonna go.”

“…I’ll do it.” Dinky said before anypony could reply. “I’ll be sure to go get Granny Smith, I’ll also be sure to get my Auntie Cloud and Big Sister Amethyst. All of them together should be able to help Apple Grove back to the farm if they work together to do it. So, it won’t take as long to get her back to the barn.”

“A-a-are you sure a-about that D-Dinky?” Scootaloo asked worriedly. “M-maybe y-you s-should have s-somepony g-go with you…j-just to b-be safe?”

“I appreciate the offer Scootaloo, but I’ll be fine, really.” Dinky said sweetly. “Don’t forget, I’m half Pegasus, and I can use my Pegasus Adrenaline to fly over the hills. That way, I can keep myself out of danger, and spot the farm more quickly! I kill two birds with one stone!”

Scootaloo flinched at the metaphor. “P…p-please don’t say that...I-I know you were being metaphoric, b-but…s-still, please don’t say that Dinky.”

“Sorry.” Dinky winced. “Anyway, I’m going off now; I’ll be back as soon as I can. Whatever you do, don’t let Apple Grove out of your sight, and done move until I get back, okay?”

“Dinky, in Apple Grove’s condition, I don’t think any of us will be going anywhere.” Sheton murmured dryly, before a determined smile came to his face. “Still though, you can count on us; we’ll keep her safe if it’s the last thing we-”

The colt’s cheery expression immediately turned into one of shocked pain as something burst out of the ground and pierced his stomach. As the object protruded out of his back, Sheton coughed up a small glob of blood that landed on Dinky’s face, who looked like she had lost all color within her face. Sheton had little time to take in what happened before the object hat that stabbed him lifted his now limp form off of the ground, a familiar head following moments later. When Dinky, Apple Grove and the fillies saw who it was, almost all of them screamed, with Dinky turning tail and running into the direction of the Apple Family Household. Apple Grove watched in horrified shock as Serafino’s dark form emerged from the, Sheton’s limp form still hanging from his horn as his hat fell off of his head.

‘You gotta be kiddin’ me!’ She thought, feeling her face go greener than normal.

“Well, well, well…it looks like I was able to take my little adversary by surprise.” Serafino crooned, smiling sadistically as he watched the colt shake slightly on top of his horn. “That was easier than I thought that I’d be. I suppose he was more exhausted than I thought he’d be…”

With a swift swing of his head, he sent the colt flying off his horn with a sickening squelch and watched as he landed fight in front of the fillies. Presumably Scootaloo, who screamed out in horror as Sheton laid at her hooves, a pool of blood slowly growing from his stab wound. She immediately took him in her forehooves, her gentleness preventing her from causing any unintentional harm, even as she continued to scream and cry.

“I have to admit, you really did quite the number on me. For a second there, I really did think I was done for.” Serafino admitted. “Alas, the incredible powers of my dear Dark Queen saved me, all in the form of the amazing Magical Life Force Gemstone.”

“H…h-h-how…a-are you s-s-still alive?” Sheton wheezed, coughing up more blood as he stared up at Serafino from within Scootaloo’s embrace. “I…I-I sent you f-flying across t-the B-Black Tree G-Grove…t-there’s no way y-yo should b-be…”

“Alive?” Serafino finished, smirking down at the colt. “I’m not surprised. With the how much power you unleashed on me; it would’ve sent anypony not of my power flying into oblivion with no chance of getting back up again. Unfortunately for you by dear colt…your dealing with the complete opposite of that.”

Sheton’s ears pinned back, biting his lip as he fought another cough that was rising from his throat. “Damn it…I-I was so s-sure t-that you w-were g-gone this t-time.”

“Oh, don’t feel ashamed…it’s not like you put a fresh amount of effort in your last move.” Serafino said in an almost soothing tone. “It’s just that it didn’t do quite enough to really finish me off. Not to worry though, you don’t need to feel so low for long…I’ll put you out of your misery quick. As for your friends…well, let’s just say that it won’t be as fast.”

“L-like hell Ah’m gonna let ya do that!” Apple Grove grunted, struggling, and failing to get to her hooves and stay on them. A scream left her as she plopped down to the ground, the bark of wood going slightly deeper within as a result. “If ya think Ah’m gonna let ya harm a single hair on these youngin’s heads, then you have no idea who yer dealin’ with!”

“Please, with the wound that I gave you, you don’t look like you’ll be able to do a thing.” Serafino taunted, smiling toothily at the lime green mare. “But don’t worry though, once I’m done with these little ones, I’m gonna give you all attention you want.” His eyes gained a lustful edge to them as he ran his snake-like tongue across his lips as he added sensually, “And trust me, we will be having lots of fun~.”

“The one who’s gonna be havin’ fun is me, when Ah tear ya limb from limb!” Apple Grove hissed, forcing herself to her haunches. “Come on, jus’ try t’ do somethin’ t’ me! Ah’ll send it back t’ ya a hundred times over!”

“Oh, I can assure you my dear, I will be doing so many things to you.” Serafino crooned, flicking his tail skirt. “Even if it takes me until my Dark Queen all night to achieve her victory over her sister, I will make you submit to me!”

“No,” A soft voice said, the undertone behind it carrying endless amounts of rage. “You won’t.”

Serafino’s ears perked, looking down at Scootaloo, who had been the one who had spoken, looking like she had finally stopped screaming. “What was that little filly?”

Scootaloo said nothing to the stallion for some time, instead gently dragging Sheton over to where Apple Grove was. As she set her within the older mare’s forelegs, she turned back to Serafino, her head lowered to the point where her single eye was shadowed as she repeated, “I said, no, you won’t…we won’t let you.”

“Won’t let me?” Serafino laughed, nearly doubling over. “What do you mean you won’t let me? All of you are just some measly little fillies; What can you do against me that that colt had all but accomplished doing?”

“It looks like you forgot one little important key factory Serafino.” Crescent said coldly, her face morphed into a glare. “You’re not just dealing with fillies; you’re dealing with ones that can use the same powers that Sheton can use! Add that to the fact that there are five of us here, and the odds aren’t looking to be in your favor.”

“Hmmm…you do make a good point there my little Crescent.” Serafino murmured, smirking at the glare the ocean blue filly shot his way. “Still though, I wonder just how you will be able to withstand my might.”

“So, you’re wondering just how we’re gonna hold against you huh?” Fire Flash glowered as her mane and tail began to float. “Well allow is to tell you…BY KICKING YOUR BLOODTHIRSTY ASS!”

With those words said, auras the color of the each of the enraged filly’s eyes exploded from out of them, immediately morphing together and shooting into the air like a massive pillar. Serafino used one of his forelegs to block the wave of power and the intense light coming from each of the fillies. When the waves of dust and the light receded, Serafino was allowed to see the fillies again, and felt his eyes go even wider upon seeing their new states. Each of the fillies now looked like grown versions of mares, their mane and tails thicker and longer and length, with their wings grown in length, size, and span, and their horns longer and sharpened at the tip. Each of the bruises and wounds that they had were all gone, as if they weren’t even there, and each of their eyes glowed so brightly that their pupils looked white instead of black.

“Oh my…this is a surprise…I wasn’t expecting you to pull off this amount of power.” Serafino said, quickly regaining his composure as he grinned once more. “Perhaps you fillies aren’t as helpless as I thought you were.”

“Oh, we are far from helpless in yer eyes Serafino.” Apple Bloom murmured softly; her scarlet brows furrowed. “And you are about to learn that one lesson first hoof, the hard, an’ painful way! When we’re done teachin’ ya that, yer gonna wish ya never hurt the colt that saved our hides!”

None of the other enlarged fillies said anything after that, and almost simultaneously lunged at Serafino, with Fire Flash delivering the first strike. The enlarged crimson filly shot a blast fo fire at the sin black Nightmare Alicorn, completely enveloping him inside of it as he was sent soaring across the grove of black trees. He used his wings to repel the flames and whisked them away, and when he looked up, he saw Crescent Shield hovering above him, her horn ignited, glowing as brightly as her golden eyes.

“Surprise, you monster!” she shouted, pointing her lengthened horn down and blasting Serafino with a blast of magic that dug him right into the ground. Serafino screamed as the magic ripped through him and drove him into the earth, and he lifted his forehooves up and tried to block some of the attack to par it with his own. He eventually got enough time to ignite his horn and get into a power struggle with Crescent Shield, allowing the other fillies to come charging in.

“Ah got ya know, ya varmint!” Apple Bloom shouted angrily as she slammed her forehooves onto the ground, shining cracks appearing as vines burst out of the ground. With Serafino distracted in trying to blast Crescent away, he was unable to see the group of vines coming at him until it was too late. He was brought to attention about them when he felt one of them striking him just below the gem within his chest, while the others wrapped around him and raised him into the air. Crescent flared her wings and took off, firing off multiple bolts of magic to which Serafino parred with his own.

“You think that just because you have me restrained that I’m defenseless?!” Serafino shouted; his horn still ignited. “I still have my horn with me, and at the moment, it’s all I need!”

“That’s not what you should be worried about right now!” Crescent shouted angrily, giving her wings a violent flap. “You may be still be able to use your magic, but you’re not just dealing with one magic user here, or one filly either!”

As she said this, Serafino’s suddenly found himself being hurled back down to the ground and slammed into it by Apple Bloom’s vines. The impact was so strong that Serafino was actually sent bouncing off of the ground, right into the attack range of Sweetie Belle.

“Got you!” She shouted with a slight squeak as she ignited her horn. Ignoring the pain that flashed through her head, she shot multiple bolts of magic at the stallion. “How do you like that, you hon-snapping freak?! Huh?! How do you like THIS?!”

Serafino was unable to reply, for he was too busy screaming in agony at the bolts that sliced through his flesh like a flock of arrows. The assault didn’t stop until he found himself being slammed into a tree, but not before another bolt of magic stabbed him in his stomach. He slowly slid off of the tree and onto his side, groaning as ebony liquid flowed from his wounds. As he tried to lift himself from up off the ground, something slammed into the ground in front of him, and he looked up to see the glaring expression of Scootaloo. Just like with Apple Grove, Serafino felt his entire body freeze as he stared into the bright orange filly’s single visible eye, which was glowing a menacing bright orange instead of its soft indigo purple.

“You, are going to BEG ME FOR MERCY!” She started with a soft hiss, and ended with a ferocious intensified scream. Flaring her massive wings, she lunged forward and grabbed Serafino by his mane with her mouth and flung him into the air with such force that he was high in the air in less than a split second. With a powerful bound, Scootaloo rocketed into the air, causing a huge crater to appear in her wake as she went like an orange and purple blur towards the stallion. Time seemed to slow for a few moments as the filly glared down at Serafino with her shining orange eye, before she lunged forward and unleashed her rage on him.

The pain Serafino felt made him feel like every single bone in his body was being shattered all at once, with the pain coming at the same time. It was so sudden and so shocking that he didn’t have any time to scream as Scootaloo repeatedly punched him for all that he was worth. With an enraged scream that sounded more like that of a Chimpanzee’s Scootaloo spun around in the air and drove her left hindleg into Serafino’s gut, sending him shooting to the ground. It was so fast that he was almost missed diving towards the ground, and everypony felt the ground shake violently as Serafino crashed into the ground with such a force that several trees were ripped out of the ground as a result. The rest of the fillies all jumped and flew back from the force of the strike, some of them even putting up shields to protect themselves from the trees potentially falling on top of them.

“W-whoa…!” Sheton gasped, his eyes wide with amazement as he watched the fight take place in front of him. “T-they’re all wiping the floor with him…h-he can barely even get a strike in!”

“Well, he is goin’ off against several fillies at the same time.” Apple Grove murmured, chuckling as she held the colt in her forelegs. “Several severely pissed off fillies might Ah had. Who just saw their one o’ their friends nearly get murdered in front o’ their eyes!”

“Yeah, you make a good point there.” Sheton said, letting out a giggle despite the pain that came along with it. “I mean, the same thing was about to happen to them, especially with Scootaloo when she was about to get bitten. Oh boy, I really went crazy there during that fight! I can still feel my eyes burning from them glowing so much.”

“That makes seven of us.” Apple Grove giggled back, leaning in and kissing the colt softly on his cheek. She gently pressed one of her hooves against the hole in his stomach, keeping as much blood from flowing out as possible. “Even though you’ve known them fer a real short time, it really looked like ya managed to make a real good impression on ‘em. Explains why they’re so adamant on makin’ that varmint pay fer hurtin’ ya after ya saved them from certain death…yer really somethin’, ya know that?”

“Yeah…I-I guess I am.” Sheton replied bashfully, another blush coming to his face. “Oh, and I’m sorry that I made you scared of my new form Ms. Apple Grove.”

“Hey, don’t worry ‘bout it Sheton, Ah completely understand why ya felt the way ya did.” Apple Grove said understandingly as she continued to watch the fillies pummel Serafino. “Th’ only thing Ah’m upset is that Ah won’t be able t’ give that varmint a nice good hit t’ th’ face! Although, you did yer part in handlin’ that fer me…an’ th’ other fillies ‘r doin’ it fer me too.”

“Yeah, they are.” Sheton nodded, sighing as he ran his hooves through his tail. “Should, um…should we be worried about them?”

Apple Grove chuckled softly, gently nuzzling the Thestral foal as she replied, “Nah, I don’t think we should…cause right now, those fillies look so pissed that they could finish that varmint off right now if they wanted to! Although, Ah was, an’ still Ah’m hopin’ fer that t’ happen, an’ Ah know yer thinkin’ th’ same thing.”

“…Yeah.” Sheton admitted, hanging his head. “You got me there.”

“Thought so.” Apple Grove cooed, patting the colt on his head.

Serafino ripped himself from the tree that he was sent into as he locked eyes with each of the fillies that he was fighting. Each of them glared right back at him, their combined anger and rage making him feel like he was staring into the eyes of a hungry pack of Timberwolves. A snarl came to his face as he felt rage build up within him, rage that he unleased in a loud guttural scream.

“You relentless little BRATS!” He slammed his forelegs down, leaving a large crater. “I have had just about enough of your resistance against me! I am going to burn the skin off of each and every one of your bodies before I eat every single one of you alive!”

“You know, you really need to work more on your threats pal.” Fire Flash snorted. “You’re really starting to sound like a deranged sociopath. Then again, considering that you tried to murder all of us, I think that’s just the name to call you!”

“I think downright monster is the more appropriate word to call him.” Sweetie said sharply, her emerald eyes giving off a fierce glow. “After everything he’s done, there’s no other word besides that, that should be describing what he is!”

“Look who’s talking, each and every single one of you threw me around like a ragdoll!” Serafino snapped back, snarling menacingly. “You’re even more out of control than that fledgling of a colt there; at least he had shown some restrain when he was fighting me.”

“Maybe so, but I think we have every legitimate reason not to hold back anything on you, you bucking dumbass!” Crescent said bitterly, lashing her tail skirt out as her wings bristled. “It’s a lot more than you deserve, and you’re gonna get much more from us; we’re just getting started!”

“That’s right.” Scootaloo said softly, her glowing orange eye burning into both of Serafino’s. “I have never seen or met a stallion more curler in my life! You should be ashamed of what you did to all of us, Sheton included, especially after he risked his life to save us all!” Her lips curled back slightly. “Then again, after everything you’ve done, I can see you have no shame at all, let alone any kindness.”

“Kindness? Kindness?!” Serafino repeated, glaring daggers at the soft-spoken filly. “The only kind thing that you’ll be receiving form me is a quick death into Faust’s embrace! Though, after all that you’ve done to me, I think I’ll delay that for now and just switch to causing you as much agony as possible!”

“As nice as it would be t’ be Faust, me an’ mah friends don’t have any plans t’ go t’ Paradise anytime soon partner. Me an’ mah friends, includin’ our new one, have way too much we wanna do, and the last thing we want is fer somepony like you t’ take all o’ those chances away from us!” Apple Bloom said heatedly, stomping her hoof as she lowered herself into another battle stance. “Ah hope yer ready fer the next 'round Serafino, ‘cause we’re gonna show ya first hoof why ya should never mess with the Crusaders o’ Ponyville Elementary!”

Author's Notes:

Well, here you are folks, another one of the best chapters that I have ever written so far, involving Spike, my OC foals, and the world famous Cutie Mark Crusaders!!! Of all there three chapters that I've written so far, this one is probably one of the easiest to write, mainly because I added the final scene with the Shadowbolts, Rainbow Dash, and the Galaxy Star Bolts as way to make good cut scene into this chapter. Then, after that, I'd go and head back to the foals and how they were dealing with their own enemies and how they were taking this terrifying time, which, while I was going through it, worked quite smoothly. I'll admit, I had only the slightest bit of trouble trying to write the second scene with the foals fighting Serafino, especially Apple Bloom and the fillies after poor Sheton got...taken out the way he was, but things managed to go by smoothly after that...well, as smoothly as you can get with constant distractions keeping you for letting your imagination run wild. Don't worry though, our cute little fledgling colt's gonna make it, and the fillies will be sure to make Serafino pay fully for not only nearly strangling all of them to death, but also nearly piercing Sheton in his heart and taking him by surprise so brutally. Oh, and if I hadn't made this clear enough in this chapter, I'm just gonna come out and say it. Don't fuck with the Cutie Mark Crusaders, just...don't. It is the last thing that you will ever do around them if you fuck with any of them in the way that Serafino did.

Well, that's all for tonight everypony; I hope you enjoyed seeing these few, yet intense and suspenseful chapters involving our sweet little foals playing their part in protecting all of ponyville! Next time, we're going back to the Everfree Forest adventure, and we will finally see the Light and Dark Armies finally meet!!!