Watching from the distance as the barrier collapsed, Tirek walks over to Spike’s side and says,

“All the soldiers are ready, my king. Just say the word.”

Looking at the Crystal Empire as he clenched his fist extremely tight while remaining calm, Spike commanded,

“Prisoners are useless to me. Kill them all.”

“Release the Manticores!” Tirek screamed.

Inside the cages, the Manticores were crazy from the hunger and anger they had to endure while locked up. Going up to the cages while trying avoid being mauled to death, they succeeded in unlocking the cages while avoiding any casualties in the process. The manticores jumped out of their cages and immediately charged towards the castle.

“Release the timberwolves!” Tirek commanded once more.

Returning once again to the cages, the soldiers broke the locks off the cages and released them. Like the manticores, the timberwolves immediately started charging towards the Crystal Empire. Charging a ball of magic, Tirek fired it into the air, signalling the creatures to attack the Crystal Empire. Letting out their battle cries, the armies surrounding the Crystal Empires began charging towards them

***

Watching from the balcony, Princess Cadance, Starlight and Rainbow Dash were in shock and had no idea what to do.

“Dear!” Shining Armor shouted as he burst through the door.

Taking a good look at her, he noticed that her horn was broken.

“Honey?! Are you okay?! What happened?!” Shining Armor asked, rushing to her aid.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. We need every last soldier guarding that gate! Don’t let those creatures pass it!” Cadance ordered.

“Right!” Shining Armor said before leaving the throne room.

Downstairs, everypony was gathering weapons and were preparing for the attack that was about to ensue.

***

Growling and roaring as they ran, the manticores and timberwolves were bursting with hunger and ravenous hate while making their way to the Crystal Empire. Joining them were the buffalo and the yaks as they charged full-force with their bestial companions.

***

Getting up on the gate, the unicorns started firing magical beams at the creatures below them while the pegasi fired their crossbows at them. They managed to hit a few, but there were so many that they couldn’t keep them away.

***

The creatures were getting closer to the gate and the buffalo moved in front of the other creatures, getting ready to smash through the doors. While the casualties were minor, they continued to charge until they finally made it to the doors. Bursting and crashing through the gates while the manticores climbed up and started eating and mauling the soldiers. Breaking and charging through every building, the buffalo were stampeding all over the ponies while they tried to escape.

***

“Send in the dragons and the griffins. It’s their turn to have fun.” Spike ordered.

Hearing this, Tirek fired a shot of magic into the air, signalling the two species that it was now their turn to join in on the carnage. The griffins and the dragons flew over to the Crystal Empire and started bombarding the ground with arrows and fire. Everypony was running left and right like chickens with their heads cut off when trying to evade the creatures.

***

Flying as fast as she can, Rainbow Dash made her way to the medical center to check on the soldiers. Especially Fluttershy and Rarity who were confused about the chaos that ensued outside.

“Rainbow Dash! W-What’s going on there?” Fluttershy asked in a scared tone.

“The barrier’s been destroyed! Everypony’s dropping like flies and we’re short on helping hooves! Have the soldiers recovered yet?”

“They’re dying! We are short on medical supplies and we have no other means of mending their wounds! All we can do is evacuate them, but we are all out of options!”

“Dammit!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

Just then, they heard a cackle from above the sky. They looked up and saw that it was Gilda.

“Long time no see, Rainbow Dash! And it’s her little girlfriend~!” Gilda taunted as she pulled out her automatic crossbow.

“Gilda!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, getting into a fighting stance.

***

“We have to get Flurry Heart!” Cadance shouted, attempting to leave the throne room.

“No! The ponies need you!” Starlight shouted, trying to stop her.

“She is my daughter!” Cadance retorted.

“Then let me get her! You stay here and try to find a way to hold them off while I search for Flurry Heart!” Starlight suggested.

Hearing this idea knocked Princess Cadance back into her senses. Looking outside the balcony, Cadance surmised the situation above and turned towards Starlight.

“It won’t be long until the creatures make it into the castle. Get to Flurry Heart’s room and get back here as quickly as you can!”

“Got it!” Starlight said, immediately running out of the throne room.

Making her way through every corridor of the castle, Starlight dashed as hard as she could to get to Flurry Heart’s room before the creatures. A lot was going through her mind as she ran. She didn’t have any idea where they or how far they have gotten. But one thing for sure was that she was desperate. She had lost Sunburst. She had lost Spike. She was even certain she lost Trixie. But she was not ready to lose Flurry Heart. As she was running through the hallway, she ran into a group comprised of dragons and griffins.

“What’s the matter, little pony~? Are you lost~?” a female dragon taunted.

Standing her ground and getting into a fighting stance, Starlight was ready for battle.

“I think she needs some guidance!” a male griffin shouted as he cocked his crossbow.

But before they could attack, Starlight glowed her horn and fired every blast of magic, incinerating them all. Afterwards, Starlight pressed forward to Flurry Heart’s room. Looking everywhere as she she continued to run, most of the area was in flames and and half the guards in the hallway are dead. She could only hope it isn’t too late. The last thing she wants is to see the daughter of the Princess of Love dead in her crib. Having finally made it to Flurry Heart’s room, Starlight said in a scared tone,

“Please be alive…”

Walking towards the crib in the middle of her bedroom, Starlight felt a dreadful presence lurk around the bedroom. She already knew that the ooze must’ve made it by now, but she couldn’t be too careful. Slowly creeping over to see if the baby as well as glow her horn for protection, she couldn’t bear to see if Flurry Heart was infected by the ooze and waiting to be turned like Twilight. But alas when she got a good look, Flurry Heart was unharmed and clueless as ever.

“Thank Celestia…” Starlight said in a relieved tone as tears slowly poured from her eyes.

“Foolish unicorn…” the Corruption said before ambushing Starlight.

Dodging out of the way with Flurry Heart in her hooves, she was now standing face-to-face with Ooze as it formed into its dragon form.

“It seems I have found an appetizer for the main course…” the creature said, drooling and growling with hunger.