Granny Smith Sweet Apple Titan wasn’t a pony that usually showed fear, not even in situations where it’d be appropriate. As the Matriarch of the Apple Family, and the founder of Ponyville, Granny Smith didn’t think she should so much fear to anything. Least she makes the ponies she’s fighting to protect go into a wild panic, which included her own family. It wasn’t really that much of a problem for her, since she rarely ever felt scared at all. Even when she was a filly, living back in Appleoosa, anything that would’ve scared any other foal didn’t have much of an effect on Granny Smith. Nopony, not even the mint green mare herself, could figure out why she didn’t feel very scared in situations where she was supposed to.

Overtime, she came to accept it, seeing it as a pro that allows her to be able to think logically when it’s needed the most. Especially since she became the main protector of her family, and for the longest time, since her eldest son and daughter in law passed, Granny’s fear never got the better of her. As she grew older and wizened in her years, her fear of being harmed and death claiming her diminished to little fragments. So much so that Granny Smith found herself more ready to fight than ready to run, something she found herself doing since the arrival of the Tantabuses.

Now, as she galloped across family’s orchard, carrying the frantic Unicorn filly on her back, she felt her fear threatening to consume her. A type of fear that she had every right to feel, even more so after what and her family were told.

“Dinky, sugarcube, are you sure that ya weren’t seein’ things?” Granny Smith asked Dinky as she continued to sprint through the trees. Big Macintosh and Apple Fritter were close behind her, the latter of which looking like she was going to break down in tears. “Did that Serafino varmint really have a clone come t’ th’ girls treehouse and go after ‘em?!”

“Y-yes, he did!” Dinky whimpered, clutching the mint green mare’s mane as she clutched to her pale-yellow mane tightly. “W-we were all p-playing in the treehouse, a-and M-Ms. Apple Grove c-came t-to tell us t-that he was coming for us! I-It was only thanks to Spike giving us a head start t-that w-we were able to escape!”

“That explains why it was only Spike there and not the rest o’ th’ foals, including that lil’ fledglin’.” Granny Smith murmured, gritting her teeth as she leapt over a fallen log. “Alright, what happened next hon’?! Was Spike able t’ beat is clone?!”

The grayish violet Unicorn shook her head. “N-no…s-somehow, S-Serafino was able t-to get the drop on h-him, a-and left him t-to burn in the clubhouse…! I-it was only thanks to Spike’s dragon heritage t-t-that he…” She trailed, unable to say the words, but not really needing to either. Dinky took a deep breath and forced herself to continue. “A-after we escaped, M-Ms. Apple Grove took us to the edge of the orchard, t-to a place called, Black Tree Grove, I think.”

“Wait, they’re at Black Tree Grove?!” Apple Fritter asked, snapping her gaze over to the filly. “You mean that part o’ th’ orchard that was abandoned after Granny Smith failed t’ save it from a pack o’ Timberwolves?!”

“Y-yeah, t-that’s what she told us a-at least…” Dinky sniffled. “A-anyway, after she got us there, s-she got attacked by Serafino and…f-flung into a tree.” She looked over at Apple Fritter, deciding not to tell her about how Grove got impaled on one of the branches. “H-he also t-trapped us in vines, a-and was a-about to d-drink Scootaloo’s b-b-blood!” She hiccupped as she squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears building in them. “I-it was only t-thanks to S-Sheton stopping him, t-that we weren’t k-killed.”

“Wait, what?” Big Mac asked, speaking up for the first time since his departure from his family’s home. “Sheton fought this Serafino fella?”

“H-he did…as c-crazy as it sounds.” Dinky replied, sniffling as she calmed down a bit. “I-it was honestly r-really scary. I-I’ve never seen any colt look so angry b-before, although Sheton d-did have every right to. H-he threw S-Serafino all across the grove and around it, a-and came c-close t-to demolishing him…Sheton nearly did to. A-at least u-until he pulled a s-surprise attack on Sheton w-when we least expected it.”

“So, lemme get all o’ this straight,” Big Mac said ducking under a tree he flew under. “After y’all made it t’ th’ Black Tree Grove, an’ Apple Grove was beaten, Sheton took it upon himself to give Serafino th’ ‘Ah’m the what fer?’”

“Y-yes, b-but S-Sheton ended up g-getting beaten in the end.” Dinky replied, looking off to the side. A moment of silence washed over the group before she said, “T-that does sound like a p-pretty tough pill to swallow, isn’t it?”

“Eeyup.” Big Mac said simply, before he smiled gently. “Though that don’t mean Ah don’t believe ya sugar foot. After all o’ th’ shit happened tonight, Ah’m willin’ t’ believe jus’ about anythin’ at this point. Ah am wonderin’ though, how is it that a colt th’ same age as you could throw down with a stallion that could handle Granny Smith, Ms. Cloud Kicker, Ms. Blossomforth, and Ms. Derpy.”

Dinky paled, giving an audible gulp. “Um…I-I don’t think you wanna know.”

The sound of an explosion brought the filly and three older ponies’ attention back to where they were heading towards. Their eyes widened when they saw flashes of color in the sky, followed by what looked like shapes flying through the air.

“What in th’ hay is that?!” Fritter asked, confusion lacing her voice. “That can’t be the foals up there, can it?!”

“It is them; I know it is!” Dinky cried, pointing a hoof upward. “That’s Fire Flash, Crescent Shield, Scootaloo and the others! They have to be the ones fighting Serafino right now!”

“Huh, never thought Ah’d see th’ day where Ah’d witness mah youngest grandfilly fightin’ fer her life.” Granny Smith murmured, her eyes narrowing. “Still, that don’t mean Ah ain’t gonna burn the hide o’ those who dare try t’ harm her!” Her orange eyes glowed as she picked up speed in her frantic sprint. “Hold on Apple Bloom, Granny’s comin’!”

Crescent Shield slammed into the ground just before she righted herself from being thrown into the air, making a large crater form under her. Whipping her head around, her wavy violet mane flew across the air, her bright yellow eyes glowed with fury as she glared up at the clone of Serafino. The bat winged Nightmare Alicorn stallion let out an echoing whinny as he dove down towards the filly, his horn glowing with magic. He shot a giant telekinetic blast at the filly, to which Crescent blocked by conjuring up as shield of her own. A deep trail was left in the ground as plates of earth rose form the ground, but Crescent managed to stay strong, allowing her friends to come in.

“We’ve got you know!” Fire Flash shouted, ascending towards Serafino in a large cloak of fire surrounded her, her teeth flashing. She rammed her entire body into the sin black stallion like a bull galloping through a red cape as they collided into the earth. Like a meteor sailing through the sky, they slammed into the ground, fire and dust exploding from that spot as a huge crater was created in that spot. Serafino growled as he glared at the crimson filly, who glowered back at him with just as much contempt.

“That burned you know…” He breathed; his horn pointed straight at her head. “…You’re really going to pay for that little trick!”

“Why don’t you make me then?” Fire asked in a hiss, stomping her hoof on the stallion’s chest in a fit of defiance. “I don’t see you acting all high and mighty right now, so I doubt you can even try and touch me!”

Serafino growled, and gave the filly a hard back-hoof across the face as she turned around and bucked her right in the face. His wings spread as he flew towards her, and used his forelegs to slam her into the ground, holding nothing back. Fire screamed as she was sent driven into the ground, leaving her helpless to the ignited magic he was now pointing at her.

“Who’s not able to do anything now?” Serafino asked, as he prepared to fire. “You really should learn when to hold your tongue, and not let your guard down.”

“Like you’re one to talk!” A squeaky voice sharply suddenly cut through the air. Making Serafino look to the side and see Sweetie Belle gallop towards him, her horn already sending off a blast of telekinesis at him. Due to the seed that it was going at, he was unable to protect himself as the blast hit him right into his face. He tumbled across the ground and groaned as he rubbed his face, before he noticed Apple Bloom in front of him.

“Surprise ya varmint!” She shouted, letting her forehooves meet the ground and summon a group of vines. They lashed out towards him, and Serafino snarled, summoning walls of earth in an effort to block the vines. While he was able to keep some at bay, others managed to evade and go around the walls, and wrapped around the Nightmare Alicorn, squeezing tight. Serafino clenched his teeth as they clenched his limbs and torso tightly, and let out a scream when Apple Bloom sped up, whirled around and kicked him in the stomach.

Since she was no longer controlling the vines, he was let go, and sent crashing into one of the trees. Another mouthful of blood flung from his mouth as he coughed violently, but when he looked up, he froze upon seeing Scootaloo flying towards him.

“Tch, like I’m gonna let you pummel me again you brat!” Serafino shouted, adrenaline surging through his manifested magical body. Spreading his wings, he flew into the air, moments before Scootaloo’s hoof slammed into the tree, leaving a massive hole inside of it. With her visible eye glowing, Scootaloo spread her own beautiful wings and went after Serafino, letting her head drive itself into her gut. The unbelievable force had Serafino gasping for are as it exploded out of his lungs, his eyes nearly bulging.

“Alright…I’ve had enough from you!” Serafino yelled, grabbing Scootaloo by one of her wings with his magic. He swung her hard around the air, before letting the screaming filly descend towards the earth and crash into the trees. With a neigh, he flapped his wings and headed towards the remaining fillies.

Apple Bloom immediately went on the defensive, standing in front of her remaining friends and creating a large earth wall. It was soon demolished by a powerful blast from Serafino, before the fillies found themselves staring into his glowing green eyes. Suddenly, Scootaloo appeared out of nowhere and bucked him in the face, sending him zooming through the trees.

“Thanks fer that there, Scoots!” Apple Bloom said thankfully, smiling sweetly up at the bright orange filly. “Ah thought Ah was about t’ git mah fast blasted off!”

“N-no worries A-Apple Bloom…” Scootaloo stammered, shaking the pieces of wood and rubble off of her fur. “A-are you guys okay?”

“Forget about us, look at yourself!” Fire exclaimed. “You look like you’ve been flung through multiple cheese graters! I’m amazed that you’re still even standing right now!”

“Um, Flash, you do realize that there are two ponies who’re in worse condition than we are right?” Sweetie asked, frowning at her friend. “Sheton and Ms. Apple Grove got stabbed and impaled, and both of them were taken by surprise! They’re looking a lot worse off than we are at the moment, and we barely even have more than these bruises and cuts! We’ve got to get them out of here and back to Granny Smith before Serafino gets to them first!”

They suddenly heard the sound of a tree being destroyed, and they looked to see Serafino tearing through the trees. His horn was ignited, and a massive orb of magic could be seen floating atop the tip, ready to fire.

“I think you should be more worried about yourselves!” He shouted angrily; his fangs bared in a hideous snarl. “Prepare to get blown away!”

“I’d like to see you try!” Crescent yelled, her own horn ablaze with tea blue magic that enlarged into an orb as well. She waited until Serafino was within range, before she shot her blast right at the Nightmare Alicorn. He shot his own attack just a few seconds before she did, and both orbs of magic exploded in a massive swirling sphere that blew both parties back. The fillies coughed as the cloud of smoke entered their lungs, but Scootaloo used her wings to dispel some of it and allow them to breath.

“Holy hay Crescent, that was massive!” Sweetie cried, staring wide-eyed at the winged horned filly. “How were you able to produce that much magic so quickly?!”

“I…honestly don’t know.” Crescent sighed, rubbing her horn. “I guess I was in such a furious state that my magic went wilder than I thought. Even I wasn’t expecting it to be able to keep Serafino’s attack at bay.”

“W-well, that’s what’s to be expected from a pony as magically enhanced as a Unicorn.” The soft, yet pained voice of Sheton said, making the fillies turn to him. “A Unicorn’s magic can be increased in both amount and devastation if their emotions are high enough. It happened with Twilight, Moondancer, and even Crescent a couple of times, so they know how it works.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Sweetie giggled softly. “I had some powerful magic surges back when I was younger, and they were crazy! Even a lot crazier than Rarity’s own surges, though…mine were a lot worse, like…so much worse.”

“I believe you.” Crescent snorted humorously. “Because we’ve seen it plenty of times, and you’ve certainly seen how my magical surges were. Take it from me and Sheton, we both know just how bad my bursts of magic were, even before me and Twilight came to Ponyville. Isn’t that right Sheton?”

The stormy grey colt giggled, the sound sounding a bit pained. “Yeah, more than Apple Bloom and the others know, including Spike.”

A bloodcurdling scream pierced through the small humorous air between the foals, making them nearly jump out of their fur. Looking around, they were greeted with the sight of Apple Fritter, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith, Dinky standing just yards away from them. Each of them had looks that held every single description of shock and horror, Apple Fritter especially, especially after seeing the state Apple Grove was in.

“Apple Grove!” Fritter cried, racing over to the young adult Pegasus in a frantic panic. “Oh, mah Faust, what in th’ world happened to you?!”

“Ah got blind sighted Ma…” Came Apple Grove’s soft replied, her ears pinning back at the pained expression on the Earth Pony’s face. “…That’s all Ah can really say, is Ah got blind sighted tryin’ t’ protect th’ foals.” She tried to move to face her mother, but winced when she felt the wood impaled in her move along with her. “And…this is what happened.”

“Mah goodness…look at how big this branch is…!” Fritter whimpered, her forehooves shaking as she inspected the horrific injury her daughter sustained. “H-how’re you even still breathin’ right now?”

“Ah, have no idea Ma.” Grove sighed, letting her mane fall over her bruised face. “Maybe because Ah’m just incredibly lucky, ‘r b’cause the stallion that tried t’ kill these lil’ darlin’ is jus’ really, really careless.” She brushed her mane away from her face so she could look into Fritter’s emerald eyes, holding Sheton closer to her. “Either way, this is what happened, and Ah probably would’ve gotten int’ a lot worse shape had it not been fer this lil’ darlin’ here.”

Granny Smith and Dinky both gasped, the latter’s hooves coming to her mouth as tears appeared at the corner of her eyes. The former took a bit longer to compose herself, and when she spoke, the softness in her voice didn’t do anything to hide the horror behind it. “Land Sakes…Sheton, what in th’ name of Harvest Saplin’ got ya in that state?!”

“You should ask the stallion that Crescent Shield and the others send flying.” Sheton replied, shifting in Grove’s hold. “Though of you want a simpler explanation, it was because I spent my own time trying get rid of Serafino myself.”

“W-wait, are you serious?” Apple Fritter asked as she looked form her daughter to the colt, Dinky’s explanation racing back in his mind. “You a really did fought him while y’all were over here?”

“Eeyup, he most certainly Cousin Fritter!” Apple Bloom chirped. “Oooooh, you should’ve seen him; he went on him like a mountain lion on a white-tailed deer! He was jus’ demolishin’ him all over th’ Black Tree Grove! Ah saw it all, with mah very own eyes!”

“She’s tellin’ th’ honest truth Ma’.” Grove said in firm affirmation, patting the colt on his head as gently as she could. “That Serafino varmint had all the fillies near the brink of death, but Sheton stopped him just b’fore he could make a meal outta ‘em. This lil fledglin’ is a lot stronger than he looks, an’ that’s real shit Ah’m sayin’ right there.”

“S-s-see? I-I told you guys!” Dinky murmured, giving a little glare at the older ponies, plus the one she was still riding. “S-Sheton was the one who fought S-Serafino first, b-before the other girls did! I-it would explain why h-he looks so beat up right now!”

“Huh, well Ah’ll be…first your big sister and now you too sugarfoot.” Granny Smith murmured, walking over to Sheton and Grove. “Yer family really are somethin’ else ain’t they? Ah didn’t doubt you were strong, but all o’ this?” Her eyes trailed across the destroyed trees, cracks and craters in the Black Tree Grove. “Ah really wasn’t expectin’ ya t’ cause this much damage…even as young as ya are.”

Sheton chuckled. “W-well…t-that’s what happens when you’re born a Thestral. When it comes to dueling, you often cause more destruction then necessary.” His laughter faded and his fluffy little face became guilt-ridden. “I’m…sorry about that by the way Granny Smith…for destroying this part of your farm.”

“Sheton, this part o’ our orchard has been destroyed long ago, so what’s a few more demolished trees?” Big Mac asked, snorting as his thick mane shook in response. “What we should be focused on is getting’ y’all outta here b’fore that stallion comes back. That, an’ gettin’ those wounds o’ yers looked at.”

“Yeah, good idea Cousin Mac!” Apple Fritter said, very gently helping her daughter on her hooves and shifting her onto her back. “We can take ‘em t’ Ponyville Hospital; Ah’m sure Nurse Redheart can take some time out t’ have a look at ‘em! Though, Ah don’t know what she can do ‘bout Groves injuries here…”

The soft green Pegasus mare looked to be about to say something but stopped when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. Looking over to it, she felt a gasp escape her as he instinctively clutched her mother’s neck.

“Everypony, move.” She said frantically, making the others turn to her.

“What?” Apple Bloom asked worriedly.

Grove suddenly jumped off of Fritter’s back and lunged for the foals. “GET DOWN!”

It was too late; a large stream of green energy blasted the entire group away from their spot, and they were sent tumbling across the ground. They groaned in pain form the sudden blast, some of them having obtained bruises from the attack. As they tried to recover and figure out what had happened, they all found themselves trapped in thorned vines.

“Oh no…!” Dinky gasped, fear overriding the sudden pain she was now in. “Not again!”

“W-w-what…in t-tarnation?!” Granny hissed, struggling against the appendages. “W-what th’ hay kind o’ vines ‘r these?!”

As if to reply to her question, swirls of black magic emerged from in front of them, revealing the bloodied and battered form of Serafino. His flared wings were covered in cuts and slashes, black blood dripping from them like water droplets from a faucet. His mane and tail skirt were horribly disheveled with some parts of them torn and burnt, and his entire body was covered in all manners of bruises, slashes, and hoofprints. Despite all of these injuries, they were not painful enough to wipe away the sadistic smirk etched onto his black muzzle.

“They’re my vines my dear~.” He crooned, taking casual steps towards his victims. “Vines that will ensure that none of you will escape from me.” His draconic green eyes trailed down to the foals and to Apple Grove. “Especially you seven.”

“D-dammit…yer still movin’?!” Apple Grove cried, breathing hard through the vines wrapped around her neck. “What is it gonna take t’ keep ya down?!”

“Much more than any of the hits you’ve inflicted on me.” Serafino laughed, his broke fangs shining through his gaping mouth. “Even I have to admit, I had underestimated the strength those little ones had. They actually had me fighting for my life before you four came to this little field of dark trees.” His tail skirt lashed out and struck the air, before one of his hooves came to strike Dinky across his face. “Alas, all did was make me quite angry at you…anger that I will enjoy taking out on all of you.”

“Like hay we’re gonna let ya do that!” Big Mac snorted, the thorns stabbing into his muscled body as he tried to fight out of the vines. “You even try layin’ a hoof on them, an’ Ah’ll make ya regret it!”

“You?! You can hardly even break through my vines, even with all of that muscle you have!” Serafino asked, grinning at Big Mac’s ashen faced look. “What good will all of that do if you can’t even use it properly?! Absolutely nothing, that’s what I can tell you.” His expression went back into its calm yet intimidating look as he glanced back down on the foals and Grove. “Which makes it all the more wonderful for me to take my revenge out on these little brats.”

“Don’t you dare even think about it!” Fritter hissed lowly, wincing as a thorn pierced into her barrel. “Ah swear, you will pay with that black hide o’ yers if you even try t’ hurt any o’ them youngin’s!”

“Oh, I’m gonna pay for them trying to defy me?” Serafino asked, smiling in amusement at the Earth Pony mother. “And just who is here that’s going to stop me from giving these foals the fate that they deserve?”

That moment, the Nightmare Alicorn stallion felt a surge of powerful magic explode from around him, feeling youthful, yet dark and menacing. Serafino’s whole body froze up, every magical muscle in his body going rigid at the familiar, yet scarily dark voice entering his left ear. He didn’t even need to turn around to realize who it was, but he did anyway, and was given a violent sock to the face. Serafino tumbled a good forty feet away from the group he had entrapped, and was given some time to feel the agonizing pain in his muzzle. With a loud groan, he clutched his mouth and looked up, only to freeze when he saw Sheton, in his monstrous looking form, red and black magic surrounding him.

“That would be me…” He said quietly, a small light running over his fangs as he bared them at the injured stallion. “…asshole.”

The Nightmare Kirin Serafino let out a roar of fury as he let his claws clash with those of Spike, whose own claws were coated with green flames. The claws on their digits dug into one another’s front feet as they fought to push each other back. At some point, the darker draconic pony began to gain the advantage of the struggle looking ready to pin Spike to the ground. Spike was quick to see it coming, and used his tail to keep him from falling. Opening his mouth, he shot a stream of emerald flames into Serafino’s face. Serafino screamed as his face was burnt, the fire nearly blinding him as he staggered away from Spike.

When he managed to disperse the flames, he looked around for Spike through the pain in his eyes, only to see a black and purple blur in front of him. It was only thanks to his sharp reaction time that he was able to stop Moon Blade’s ethereal sword from slicing into his face. This did little to deter the draconic bat hybrid stallion as he spun around to deliver a kick to Serafino’s face. The force behind the blow sent Serafino spiraling away despite his enormous size, and skidded across the orchard floor, growling as he did so. He lifted himself with his looked up at Moon, only to see the stallion flying towards him, his sword outstretched.

“Fire Nightmare Kirin: Green Flaming Vortex!” He shouted, opening his fanged mouth and shooting a blast of green flames at Moon. The stallion merely used his sword to slice the flames in two, allowing him to fly through the fire. When the flames ended, the Moon found himself staring into the eyes of the draconic Serafino, who went wide eyed upon see him.

“What?! How did you do that?!” He cried, reeling back from the sword strike that was aimed at his face. “Those flames should’ve demolished you the second they touched you!”

Moon let a little smirk come to his lips, one of his enlarged wings lashing out and slashing Serafino across his face. The next wing went down his neck, the claw leaving a deep cut that allowed black blood to spurt form it. His sword then went for the large gemstone inside of Serafino’s chest, but one of the Nightmare Kirin’s claws shot out and back clawed him away. Moon went tumbling across the ground, but flapped his wings to get himself upright again. Looking up, he saw another stream of dark green flames coming towards him.

“Not so fast!” Spike suddenly shot in front of Moon, his own maw agape with flames being ready to be blasted. “Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Roar!”

The brighter green flames clashed with the darker leaf green flames in a heated struggle of fire and power, one that nearly blew Moon away. It only lasted for several seconds before Spike’s flames began to push Serafino’s back, much to the latter’s disbelief. With one last surge of power, Spike manage to completely cover the monstrous stallion in a cloak of his fire, letting him fall and writhe in agony.

“I told you, I wasn’t going to let you burn this house done! Let alone Moon Blade!” Spike growled, letting the blades of his tail slam into the ground. With hard rumbling snort, he turned to the hybrid stallion standing behind him. “Are you alright Moon Blade?”

“Yes, I’m okay Spike, thank you for that save.” Moon replied with a curt nod, watching as Serafino tried to put out Spike’s flames. “You’re burning him quite a bit there, Spike…those flames are as hot as they’ve always been. You have certainly not gotten the least bit rusty since moving out of Canterlot and to this little town.”

“Well, when you have a martial arts and magic trainer like Venture Vine, you have lessons that tend to stick to you quite a bit.” Spike said with a somewhat sheepish smile. “Sure, she’s a big softie, but she really knows how to drill her lessons into ya.”

“For someone who’s sparred with her a good number of times, I believe that.” Moon chuckled, his violet eyes trailing down the old scars on Spike’s body. “I take it those scars are proof of her so called lessons?”

“Uh, no…they’re not.” Spike said with a slight sweat drop. “I actually got these from a Battookuma that attacked Ponyville four and a half years ago.”

“Oh, I see.” Moon nodded, before blinking as Spike’s words caught up to him. “Wait, what did you just say?”

Before Spike could specify what he meant, he suddenly whipped his head back in front of him and flared his wings. “Look out!”

Moon’s gazed snapped towards what Spike was seeing and saw Serafino flying towards them with a look of murder on his face. Moon lifted his sword, ready to stab Serafino’s eyes out, but Spike ended up beating him to the retaliation. One of his large claws slammed into the side of Serafino’s face, sending his head right into the ground. Lunging downward, Spike grabbed him by the back of his neck and flung him into the other direction. Flying into the air, he coated his wings in fire before flapping them downward.

“Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Wing Attack!” He shouted, letting the wing slices shoot down and slam into Serafino, slicing him into the process. As Serafino tried t extinguish the flames, Spike flew down towards him and let himself body slam into the Nightmare Kirin, forming a crater into the ground. Grabbing his tail, Spike threw Serafino across the air, letting skid hard through the ground as he formed a large orb of flames in his claws.

“Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Brilliant Flame!” Spike roared, flinging the giant orb of fire onto Serafino, watching as he exploded in a swirl of green flames. Serafino roared out in agony as the fire burnt at his skin, despite the draconic skin covering him. The flames had only just begun to die down, before Moon was in front of him, his sword drawn back and ready to strike.

“You’re done Serafino!” He shouted, swinging his sword downward at his chest. Serafino growled and lashed out with his tail, letting the bladed end of it clash with the sword. He then used that very same tail to send Moon flying back, but his wings helped him not to tumble. A breath of dark green flames could be seen heading towards him, and Moon opened his mouth, letting a giant bolt of indigo fire clash with the other flames.

“Did you forget what I had told you Serafino?” Moon asked, flapping his wings as he hovered above the draconic stallion. “I said that this form allowed me to use the powers of a dragon and a vampire all in one! Were you not paying attention to what I was saying?”

“As I would listen to anything said from a monster like you!” Serafino’s shouted, giving an angry flap of his feathered wings. “The only thing that I care about is eliminating you and that brat, so I don’t have to hear your aggravating voices again!”

“Is that so?” Moon asked softly as his eyes narrowed. “Well, let me put you out of your misery then.”

In a swirl of black and purple mist-like magic, Moon vanished, and left no trace of his previous presence anywhere. Serafino froze, and started looking around in search of the hybrid stallion he was so desperate to kill. Then, a searing pain exploded across his neck as the feeling of fangs punctured them, before the feeling of his magic being drained followed. Looking down, he saw that Moon Blade was on his shoulder, his fangs biting into the side of his neck as he began drinking from him.

“GAH! YOU LITTLE DAMN PEST!” Serafino bellowed, grabbing Moon and ripping him off of his neck. With a roar, he threw him across the air, only to be caught by Spike. “How dare you try to drink my blood?! Are you some kind of actual vampire or something?!”

Moon didn’t immediately answer, smirking as a long slithering tongue ran across his lips, muzzle, and fangs. Serafino and Spike watched with a bit queasiness as Moon licked the black blood off of his face, letting out a little moan of pleasure at the taste. Once he was finished, Moon exhaled softly, before finally replying. “That wasn’t your blood that I was drinking Serafino…at least not completely.”

The Nightmare Kirin paused, suddenly feeling his vision blur as he asked, “W-what?”

“Weren’t you listening to me before? This dark power of mine allows me to powers like that of a dragon and a vampire all in one.” Moon murmured softly, running a single claw across his ethereal blade. “You’ve seen the draconic part of it, which was why I was able to throw you around so much, but…” His smirk grew wider, and his tongue flicked out like a snake. “…the vampiric part of me allows me to drink, not the blood of my enemies…but their magic.”

“T-t-they’re…magic?” Serafino whispered, one of his claws coming to his neck. “Y-you…drunk my magic out of me?!”

‘Holy shit…so that’s why he had bit him in the neck!’ Spike thought, his emerald eyes wide with amazement. ‘That’s the same thing that Crimson and Blue Skies’ families can do!’

“That’s right…” Moon replied, the draconic slits in his eyes becoming thinner. “…and it will be that very same magic that will be used to end you once and for all.”

If Moon was expecting Serafino to be scared by that declaration, he wasn’t given it. Instead, Serafino let out a dark laugh as he shook his head. “Really? You think taking a little drink of my magic is going to help you? Nice try, but you’re not going to get anywhere by doing that. It’s going to do nothing but escalate your death even quicker!”

“Well, why don’t you come and prove that then?” Moon asked, gripping is blade in both laws as he pointed it at Serafino. “Spike, are you ready to end this?”

The mulberry draconic colt nodded, his fangs gleaming as he smirked widely. “You bet your vampiric ass I am Moon! Let’s end this fiery bastard!”

“You will be the ones who will meet your end little colt.” Serafino growled, his tail swaying back and forth. “Now…come and face the full might of my power!”

Moon’s wings flared. “As you wish.”

With a flap of his wings, Moon lunged towards Serafino, Spike following him a few moments later with a loud roar. Thanks to Moon’s smaller side, he was able to make his strikes far quicker, leaving Serafino occupied with trying to protect himself. His claws and tail acted as a defensive mechanism against the Lunar Captain, but there were a few times where Moon had got him in a few places. What he didn’t realize, was that Spike was using this to his advantage, waiting for an opening to be granted to him in the fight. At one point, Serafino had left a particular opening and Spike immediately went in for it.

“Aha, I’ve found one of your weak points!” Spike shouted as he inhaled. “Fire Titan Dragon: Titanic Fire Bolts!”

Multiple bolts of fire escaped from Spike’s mouth, turning into a flock of fire that repeatedly struck Serafino in the parts where Spike aimed at. Some of them merely angered Serafino, while others managed to topple him off of his clawed feet. At one point, he felt something strike the Nightmare Kirin in his back, sending him into the air. A wisp of blackness and dark purple magic appeared in front of him, revealing it to be Moon, who proceeded to use his own tail slam Serafino back into the ground. With a powerful wing flap, he dove towards Serafino as he slammed into the ground, his sword aimed out in front of him.

“Alright, he got him!” Spike cried as the smoke cleared, revealing Moon to be currently standing on top of a motionless Serafino. “Way to go Moon Blade!”

“Don’t be so quick to assume little lizard boy!” Serafino shouted over to him. “Why don’t you take a closer look?!”

Pausing, Spike did so, and saw that he had mistaken the outcome of Serafino and Moon’s fight from afar. His sharp eyes focused closer, and he saw that one of Serafino’s massive arms were currently blocking Moon’s purple sword. Which, upon even closer inspection was aimed right at the glowing gemstone in his chest.

“Oh…looks like I was a little too excited there.” Spike murmured to himself, sweat dropping a bit in the process. “I really gotta stop misinterpreting what I see…”

A snarl from Moon made Spike focus his attention back on the fight, and he watched as the draconic bat hybrid sunk his blade deeper in Serafino’s arm. With another plunge, he stabbed right through it and pierced right into the gem in the draconic stallion’s chest. Serafino gasped in shock and terror at the movement, before he growled and flung Moon Blade away, giving him a powerful slap from his tail in the process. Moon roared out as he was flung away, but was once again caught by Spike and set down on the ground.

“Whoa, you are really getting flown tonight huh?” Spike asked, gently setting a large claw on Moon Blade’s back. “You okay from that hit?”

Moon nodded, panting as he did so. “Yes, I’m alright…for now at least.” He gripped his sword as let out a pained growl, almost as if he was in pain. “I don’t think I can keep this up for much longer…we need to put an end to this, right now.”

“Yeah, we do…I can see that you’re gonna go through another kind of change.” Spike said, watching as Moon’s muscled began to bulge out a bit. “I have an idea…but I’ll need your help to pull it off.”

“You do?” Moon asked, his ears perking. “What’s what?”

“Well…how about that. You actually manage to pierce my gemstone.” Serafino chuckled as he got to his claws, unaware of Spike whispering into Moon’s ear. “Not that it really matters much…you only manage to crack it in some places, and not completely destroy it.” His eyes glowed as he bared his fangs at the duo. “I won’t let you get that chance again!”

“Careful there buddy…you might want to rethink that little vow of yours.” Spike said as flames began to swirl around him. “Because I’m about to burn it into a pile of ashes!”

“Really? With flames as weak as yours?” Serafino asked as his own dark fire began to emerge from out of him. “You could barely even burn me alive with them only moments ago…what good is this next attack going to do?”

Spike chuckled lowly, a fanged smirk coming to his face. “Burn you to a crisp.”

With a roar, the bright green flames surrounding the drake went at even higher levels, which contorted and gave way to the form of a roaring dragon. Serafino flinched and stepped back a bit, shocked at the sudden form that made itself known before it vanished just as quick. This left him oblivious to the plan that Moon Blade and Spike were about to inflict, and he didn’t realize it until the last second.

“Here we come Serafino, time for you get swallowed up by the flames of the Fire Dragon King Igneel!” Spike shouted, shooting his clawed digits forward. “Fire Titan Dragon Secret Art: Titanic Flame Lotus Draconic Sword!”

Swinging his arms, Spike created an enormous vortex of flames that soon condensed into a gigantic dragon-like sword that gleamed at the tip. It tore through the ground and left flames behind it as it slammed into Serafino. As the Nightmare Kirin tried to dispel them, Spike turned to Moon and shouted, “Now Moon!”

“Right!” Moon nodded, flapping his wings and flying right into the flames. He folded them halfway and let the spiraling fire spin him around, his sword pointed straight forward towards its intended target. By the time he was within reach, Serafino had finally managed to extinguish the front part of the flames, only to see Moon Blade in front of him.

‘Oh no…what is he doing here?!’ Serafino thought, watching as Moon raised his sword. Looking up, he saw the victorious smirk on Spike’s face, and it immediately clicked. ‘That brat…he-!’

“You’re done!” Moon yelled, bringing his sword down with all the strength his bat hybrid form had to offer. Without wasting any time, he let the blade and the magical wave it produced slash deep into the center of Serafino’s chest, and through his gemstone. Not taking any chances, Moon reared his sword back and let the tip stab right into it, all the way to the hilt as Serafino crashed to the ground. With a look of horror, he could only watch as Moon twisted his ethereal blade, before his gemstone shattered completely before his eyes.

“No…t-this…this cannot be.” Serafino whispered in disbelief, already feeling his real body beginning to dissolve. “Y-you…actually managed to beat me…?”

“We did…and for a very specific reason.” Moon said softly, staring straight into the stallion’s dark green eyes. “You underestimated our abilities and tactics and overestimated your own. We used our ego and desperate desire to kill us against you…something that ponies like me would never do.”

“Y-you…p-p-pests…” Serafino wheezed as he slowly dissolved away. “…j-just you w-wait…Queen Moon will make you p-pay for this…”

Moon chuckled, flapping his wings as he lifted himself away from his vanishing enemy. “Oh, I don’t think we have to worry about that. Something tells me that me and Spike will just fine…along with everypony else in this peaceful little town.” He slowly began to go into his normal form as the last of Serafino began to fade away. “Farewell…monster of the night.”

With those last words, Serafino finally disappeared, the remains of his body floating in the sky in a form of large black mist. Moon and Spike watched as it floated in the air before vanishing into the night sky above them. By the time it did, Moon blade was back to his bat winged fanged stallion form, his ethereal sword having vanished as well.

“Mission…complete.” Moon said softly, slowly hanging his head. He suddenly gasped as he hunched over, coughing up blood as it splattered against the ground. As he fell to one knee, he heard the sound of loud foot running towards him.

“Moon Blade!” Spike cried, slowly going back into his more coltish from as he skidded in front of the ghostly white stallion. “Are you okay?!”

“Y…yes, I’m alright, I just overextended myself.” Moon replied, his red eyes piercing into that of Spike’s emerald green ones. “That was an excellent plan Spike…it worked perfectly for us in the end. I commend you for thinking so quickly and efficiently in this time of crisis.”

“Heh, thanks Moon…though I didn’t really do much for it.” Spike said sheepishly with a bit of a blush on his face. “All I did was plan my secret move and have you jump into it to do the finishing blow is all.”

“It may have been simple, but was still an efficient plan nonetheless.” Moon praised, smiling a bit at the colt. “Now Serafino’s gone, and he won’t he hurting anypony on this farm again…well done Spike, I’m proud of you. I know that Twilight most certainly will when she gets back.”

Spike giggled, his tail wagging as his eyes sparkled. “I think so too~!”

“Right, now then…” Moon sighed as he got to his hooves. “Why don’t we go and get to the rest of your friends, hm? I’m sure they must be worried sick about you, especially considering the little escape you gave them.”

“Oh yeah, that’s right!” Spike gasped, horror clouding his features. “Serafino said that he had made a clone to go after Sheton and the others!” Before he could go into a freak out, he paused as his own words sunk in. “Hold on…the Serafino we defeated was the real one, so if we did that, then that means…”

“…The clone must’ve vanished as well.” Moon murmured, looking off into the trees. “That does seem like a reasonable explanation, I don’t wanna take any chances. Let’s get their quick before anything else bad happens.”

Spike nodded, hopping on Moon’s back as the stallion flared his bat wings. “Right then, let’s go Moon Blade!” He kicked his hindlegs into both of Moon Blade’s hips before pointing a claw forward. “Hiya!”

Moon rolled his eyes, shaking his head in amusement at Spike’s childish, yet adorable antics. With powerful flap of his wings, they took off to the western part of the orchard, unaware that the other danger was already being taken care of.

“I thought I told you last time, that I wasn’t going to let you hurt my new friends.” Sheton said softly, his blue eyes retaining that menacing red glow. “It looks like you didn’t learn your lesson from last time. Well…I’ll make sure you learn this time.”

“S-S-Sheton?” Granny Smith asked softly, her tone sounding shocked, if not a bit scared. “I-is that you, h-hon’?”

The enlarged colt’s left ear flicked over to Granny Smith, but he didn’t look back at her. “Granny Smith, Big Mac, Ms. Fritter…I’m gonna need you guys you guys to stay back. You don’t need to worry, I’ll finished this stallion, right here, right now.”

“You’re what?!” Fritter cried, staring at the colt as if he was insane. “Are you crazy?! That stallion will kill you! There’s no way that you can beat him all by yerself!”

“Fritter’s right Sheton.” Big Mac said a bit more calmly, yet still sounding just as worried. “Ya may have been able t’ defend yerself against him once, but not fer a second time. Yer covered in blood an’ injuries, an’ ya looked like you were gonna pass out. Yer not in any shape t’ be-”

This time, Sheton did look at the ponies behind him, his red eyes glowing as fiercely as they did the first time they came. Even though he was looking pointedly at the scarlet stallion, his grandmother, and cousin, they, Grove, and the foals all froze in place. Those red eyes once again had them all trapped in their crimson gaze, unable to do or say anything. Only this time, Big Mac, Granny Smith, and Apple Fritter ended up being their next victims.

“Big Mac…” He said softly, his dark undertone gaining a firmer edge to it. “…I said that I’d take care of this myself. This has nothing to do with how hurt I am, this is about us getting away from this stallion with our lives, and as long as he’s still here, we’re not going to be able to do that.” He turned away from them, letting them break free from his penetrating gaze as he settled it on the Nightmare Alicorn. “Just calm down and relax…I’ll handle this.”

“You will handle this?” Serafino asked, laughing darkly. “Sorry, but you’re not going to be handling anything. The only thing that will be handle is you being wiped out in front of these dear friends of yours.”

Sheton hissed, flicking his elongated tail skirt as he drove his hooves in the ground. “Not if I have anything to say about it!”

With a powerful bound, Sheton flared his wings and flapped them to propel himself towards Serafino, delivering a sock to his face. The stallion was sent careening away from the group and the colt that hit him as flew above the stallion. Inhaling deeply, Sheton shot a blast of black and red flames, sending him slamming through the ground with flames enveloping him. Knowing that his flames wouldn’t hurt him, Sheton’s hindlegs collided with Serafino’s stomach, driving him deeper into the ground. With a snarl, Sheton grabbed him by his tail skirt and threw him back towards the group, much to their dismay.

“Gah, don’t throw him back over here Sheton!” Scootaloo cried, flinching through the vines she was still trapped in. “I don’t wanna get my blood sucked!”

“Yeah, take it easy a little dude!” Fire nodded, baring her fanged teeth fearfully. “I get you wanna pummel this dude’s ass, but try to remember we’re here too!”

Faster than any of them could register, Sheton had appeared in front of them and spun around, slamming his hindlegs into Serafino’s back. The sound of a spine cracking could be heard in their ears as the Nightmare Alicorn was sent flying away, screaming as he did so. The dark grey colt turned and gave them a sheepish smile, before flying back at Serafino. Extending his forelegs out, black and crimson flames appeared within them, and shot them at his enemy.

“Dark Fire Thestral: Vortex of Scorching Flames!” He shouted, sending a giant swirl the flames at the stallion. Serafino managed to it coming, and flapped his wings to balance himself upright, to try to defend himself. Igniting his horn, he sent a blast of dark green flames at Sheton’s own, both watching as their flames clashed and exploded in midair

“Oh no, I’m not going to let you let that move out on me again!” Serafino shouted, his hooves skidding across the ground as he landed. When Sheton began to dive towards him, Serafino reared up and slammed them down. “Nightmare Earth Make: Dark Thorned Vine Snare!”

Sheton’s red eyes widened as he saw black vines bursting out of the ground, shooting up towards him. He flared his wings even wider and swung them out, letting the edges and the claws behind them slice and cut into the vines. Despite the skill, some of them vines did manage to cut and puncture them, but he fought through the pain and kept focusing on the stallion that he wanted to destroy. With a cry he let his wings lash out again, meeting Serafino in a clash of bladed wings as they fought to slash and stab at one another. Despite the size difference, this did nothing to stop Sheton from using all of his Thestral strength to hurt the stallion as much as possible.

“You’ll have to bring out more vines than that!” Sheton shouted, delivering a sharp kick to Serafino’s face before taking in a sharp inhale. “Dark Fire Thestral: Dark Scorching Skree!”

Serafino used one of his wings to block the giant stream of flames shot at him, an action that he immediately regretted upon feeling their scorching heat. He let out a scream of agony as he tried to escape the stream of fire, but found it to be a bit too big. Desperate, he ignited his horn and conjured up a shield to block the rest of the fire that tried to burn him. When the fire vanished, Serafino looked around for Sheton, only to see him not where he previously stood.

“Where did you go now, you brat?!” Serafino demanded, his head going back and forth. “Did you go into hiding again like the little coward you are?!”

There was suddenly the sound of earth being broken apart, before a hoof slammed into Serafino’s stomach, making him hunch over. Looking down, he saw a dark grey hoof protruding from the ground, followed by the face of the one who belonged to it.

“Coward? Me?” Sheton asked softly, baring his fangs at the older stallion. “The only coward I see is the stallion who’d dare try to hurt a group of foals, all for the sole reason of making him angry!”

With a skree, both Sheton and Serafino were enveloped in black and scarlet flames, which sent the latter flying into the air. Biting back a scream, Serafino flew out of the flames, doing his best to put them out as they burned at his body. When he finally began to focus back onto the fight, he found himself getting sliced by multiple sharp gusts of black and red.

“Dark Wind Thestral: Black Slicing Wind Flock!” Sheton shouted through his flames as he swung his wings out in front of him. since Serafino was caught off guard by the first flew slices, he wasn’t really able to keep most of the others at bay. Near the end, he used his magic to dispel some of the last few, until he finally decided to just end the colt right there.

“Dark Lightning Nightmare Alicorn: Dark Thunderous Chain of Lightning!” He shouted, pointing his horn forward down and unleashing a gigantic bolt of lightning. He watched as it tore through the air and slammed right into the spot where he was sure that Sheton was in. Though he heard no scream, the silence that came afterwards made him sure that he had got him.

“NOOOO!” Granny Smith bellowed in absolute horror. “SHETON!”

“Well, whaddya know, I finally got him, and it’s about time too!” Serafino laughed as he slowly hovered down. “I thought that I was never going to see the end of him! I guess that lightning attack was more devastating I thought!”

“You…you heartless BASTARD!” Fritter screamed, struggling violently against her vine trap as Big Mac snorted heatedly. “Ah swear y’all are gonna pay when Ah git may hooves on ya! Ya hear me?! You will PAY!”

Serafino laughed again, turning towards the horrified, angered, and teary-eyed group as he slowly walked towards them. “I’m sorry dear, but it doesn’t look like any of you will be doing any paying. At least, not the paying you want to do to me…but that doesn’t mean that you won’t get the chance do it.” He stomped his hoof down, and the vines ensnaring the group got even tighter, causing some of them to scream. “I know, you can pay with your lives and them some! How’s that for a payment method?”

“T-t-there’s no way you’re g-going to g-get away with t-this!” Dinky hissed, her tail flicking as she struggled against her vines. “J-just wait and see…S-Sheton will come out of that crater and kick your b-butt…”

“Really? I don’t see him coming out of there from where I am standing.” Serafino said, glancing back at the massive crater. “Yes, it looks like he’s finally down for the count, which means I can take my time making you all suffer.”

A second later, a black and grey blur suddenly shot past the mares, stallion, and fillies as it headed right for Serafino. The sound of something glassy shattering and a gasp of pained shock were the next things to be heard as Serafino was flung back. Crashing hard onto his back, Serafino’s right hoof came to his chest, only to freeze in horror. Slowly looking up, he saw that his gemstone was shattered with multiple cracks in it, courtesy of the colt now hovering in front of him.

“Surprise you asshole…looks like I’m not down for the count after all!” He said, smiling widely, the act having not a single ounce of mirth in it. “It doesn’t look like the same can be said to you though.”

“Y-y-you…that is impossible! How did you manage to survive a bolt of lightning that powerful?!” Serafino cried, fear lacing his voice as he staggered to his hooves. “You shouldn’t even be moving right now, let alone flying!”

“Did you already forget what I did back there?” Sheton asked incredulously. “I had taken you by surprise by traveling through the ground before blasting you into the air. It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out how I was able to escape. Your half Thestral, so you should know that thanks to our supernatural powers, our connection to the earth is far more powerful than that of even Earth Ponies.” He glanced over at the group behind him. “No offense Big Mac, Granny Smith, Ms. Apple Grove, Apple Bloom, Ms. Apple Fritter.”

Each of the apple family members sweat dropped, before Big Mac replied, “Er…none taken sonny.”

“Oh…that’s right…I had pulled that same trick on you earlier after you had sent my flying through those trees.” Serafino murmured, remembering the instant where he had stabbed Sheton in the stomach with his horn. “I can’t believe I had forgotten that…what with you and your little friends throwing me around and all.”

“Well I certainly haven’t, just so you know…” Sheton snorted, absentmindedly rubbing the spot where he was stabbed in his stomach. “…and I’m gonna make sure you pay in full for that, and that my friends will all have the pleasure of watching it!” Snapping his wings to his sides, he plopped down on the ground before slamming the ground with his forehooves. “Thestral Earth Make: Pitch Black Vine Snare!”

Serafino was barely given time to process the name of the move before he found himself choking on the giant vines holding him in place. His struggles only served to make them even tighter to the point where he could hardly move, and he could only watch as Sheton prepared to end the fight for good.

“Foolish little foal…you think these little vines will be enough to old me?!” He shouted, smiling in spite of the fear he felt. “All you’ll be doing is freeing me from them, and allowing me to come back to finish you off! Along with all of those puny little friends of yours! You’ll just be extending your suffering by doing this!”

“No…I won’t.” Sheton murmured, black and red fire and lightning appearing around him. “I’ll be getting rid of a pony who shouldn’t have messed with my friends when I told him not to. I’m going to blow you away, and this time…I’ll make sure that you won’t come back here ever again!” Rearing up on his forehooves, he let the combined lightning and fire exploded from his hooves in a gigantic stream. “Dark Fire Lightning Thestral: Flaming Thunderous Stake!”
At that very last word, Serafino froze, watching as the lightning and fire contorted into a large sharp stake. The lightning chirping and the fire roaring could be heard tearing its way into his ears as the attack drew closer towards him. Then, it slammed into him with as much force as Sheton had mustered, the cracked gemstone being the first thing it hit. Through the flames and lightning, Serafino heard it shattering it completely before he was sent flying into the distance, slowly dissolving as he did so. He gave out one final neigh of rage before his body dispersed into blackness inside the lightning and fire.

Sensing that the clone of Serafino was gone for good this time, Sheton let his attack disperse, before he dropped down on all fours. He hung his head as he panted, the exhaustion of using so much magic slowly catching up to him. With another deep inhale, he slowly turned towards the group, slowly beginning to stagger towards him.

“Heh…well…that took a little longer than I wanted to be…” He giggled, slowly going back into his normal size. When he spoke again, his soft voice was back to its sweet and innocent tone that it had before. “…and it looks like you’re all finale free.”

With a sudden cough of blood, Sheton suddenly staggered and fell forward, his face slowly heading towards the ground. He shut his eyes, preparing to feel the cold unforgiving ground, only to feel the impact of something soft and furry.

“Don’t worry, I got you!” Scootaloo cried, having gotten up from her spot before racing over to catch the colt. Gently falling onto her haunches, she held the stormy grey colt’s head in her forelegs as she looked into his eyes. “It’s okay…you don’t need to move right now. Just let us take care of you okay?”

“T-thanks for that…S-Scootaloo.” Sheton murmured, smiling up thankfully as the other surrounded him. “I don’t think I can really move anymore right now…so, I’m just gonna leave myself in your hooves.”

“After the beatin’ ya took from that varmint, you’d have t’ be an idiot not to.” Granny Smith murmured, walking towards the duo. “Still, Ah really have t’ be honest with ya…you were really somethin’ out there sugar-foot.”

“Totally!” Sweetie exclaimed, smiling brightly at the colt. “That’s the second time you sent him careening away like that! You must’ve been really upset at that stallion huh?”

“After what he tried t’ do t’ us, an’ what he did t’ Cousin Grove, Ah say he has every right t’ be pissed off.” Apple Bloom snorted. “The only thing Ah regret is not givin’ that damn varmint another good kick t’ his fanged face b’fore Sheton sent him flying.”

Big Mac glanced at his youngest sister. “Language Apple Bloom…” He admonished lowly.

“Trust me Cousin Bloom, Ah hear ya there.” Fritter said, hoisting her daughter on her back. “Alas, we can’t all git what we want all th’ time. At least Sheton gave him that kick t’ his face b’fore he finally ended him…now we can focus on gettin’ y’all looked at by a doctor.”

“Y-yeah, that’s a good idea.” Grove nodded, holding onto her mother by her neck. “Ah don’t know how long Ah can take this wood bein’ stuck in me.”

Crescent Shield went green in the face. “I don’t know how long I can stand looking at it.”

“Right.” Big Mac, walking over to the foals and ushering them along. “Let’s git back t’ th’ barn an’ do jus’ that. The sooner we git y’all taken care of properly, the better.”

“Don’t need to tell me twice.” Dinky sniffled, eager to be reunited with her big sister and mother again.

Author's Notes:

Okay, I know that some of you are going to get annoyed that I made this into a two parter, just like I did the last time, despite it being more than two. Still, this is the rough that I chose to go to, especially with what I have planned in the next chapter, so you're just going to have to deal with it, alright? Unless you have the patience to keep up with me in this insanely long first story of mine, I suggest to stop reading and leave now, otherwise, you can keep on going until the end. Now, for this chapter...I really don't know what to say, only that I was finally wrapping up the conclusion between the fight against Serafino, his clone, Moon Blade, Spike, Sheton and the fillies. The one reason I had Granny Smith, Apple Fritter, and Big Mac in there was so they could come and pick up the pieces after the fight, though I couldn't help but have them see Sheton beat the ever living shit out of Serafino before they did. Other than switching in between the groups near the end of the fights, there wasn't really anything made special about this particular chapter..that, along with feeling like this chapter ran on for too long so...sorry, nothing big this time around.

Well, that's all for now everypony; tune in next time for the second part of the Dark Armies fall, before we at least witness their rulers demise...and the real Night Queen's return!!!