Spike was busy going through his workout routine while Aj and Fluttershy kept themselves busy by fishing from the stream that the group had made camp by. Twilight was going over her research books, again, that Asta had given her day before to make sure she hadn’t missed anything that may be important. Nero was perched in a nearby tree sleeping while Ymir was under her napping.

The group passed the time in their own ways making sure to stick close together and not stray from Spike’s side. Even though Asta had given them permission to use their Grimoires they were still hesitant at the thought of using their magic to hurt somepony else. After all, the only one who’d actually used their Grimoire in an actual fight was Spike and he had specifically developed his spells for combat, unlike the others. Aj more or less used her Grimoire to help her brother in the fields and orchards. Twilight did have the best handle as her Grimoire limited her to only copying the spells of others and in order to do so, she had to make physical contact with another Grimoire. Fluttershy was mainly limited to healing spells which she used to heal her animal friends. Luckily they had the Nero the Howler and the Dragon Ymir to make up for a lack of brute strength that the ponies didn’t have.

“Spike,” Twilight called out. “Can we please go and see where Asta went into the portal, please?” the bookish pony begged her little brother.

“Not now Twi, I’m in the middle of my reps,” The young salamander called out as he continued to go through his workout.

“Can’t you just skip it for today,” Twi whined. “You do them every day anyways. It’s not like missing one will hurt.”

“Says the pony who quintuple checks her checklist of the day first thing in the morning,” Spike shot back. “If I don’t do my routine then I’ll be out of shape just that much more, and Asta says if you miss even one day you fall far behind.”

“He’s not wrong Twi,” Applejack called out from the stream. “It’s the same for us out on our farm. If we miss one tree then everything is all the more behind come harvest time.”

“I know Twilight wants to go and see the spot where Asta left but I think we should just stay here as he wanted us to,” Fluttershy said softly to Applejack.

“Ah’m with ya on that one sugarcube,” Applejack sighed. “But we’re gonna have to go over there at some point to quiet her down. If we don’t she’ll just end up sneakin off to check it out on her own. Ah personally don’t see the point in goin over there. It’s not like we have any special equipment to do anythin with.”

“How many mooorrreee…” The stream duo heard over their shoulders as Twi complained.

“Keep on whining Twilight and I’ll lose focus of what set I’m on and then I’ll have to start all over again from the very beginning,” Spike shot back at his sister in a seriously annoyed tone.

“No, I’ll be quiet,” the book pony quickly replied cause the stream duo to laugh.

The slavers were busying themselves with preparations for their assault on the unsuspecting pony camp. They were making sure that they had what they needed for the attack like sleeping venom and magic nullification collars. These were the most important items as the caribou were expecting a fight and couldn’t risk the ponies trying to run after they were captured. The slavers knew that the ponies had grown up in Equestria, meaning that they had grown up with the natural magics natural to their species unlike the slaves born in captivity under a special ward that deprived the poy body of its natural magic.

“Sir,” the second in command reported to his boss. “The troops are geared for the assault on the ponies camp.”

“Excellent,” the head slaver looked out over the rolling hills. “Be sure that the trapper stays hidden and has the Sleeping darts at the ready,”

“Sir,” the second in command saluted as and ran to relay his superiors’ orders.

“Now,” the slavers gaze shifted to the unsuspecting equines. “Time to restock the pins.”

Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight, Spike, Ymir, and Nero had all gone down to the spot were Asta had departed from their world to let Twilight study the area. Other than some intail magical signatures similar to the ones she got from when Rick and Angie left their world she didn’t find anything not worth it. Due to this Twilight was seriously disappointed and mope about so in order to cheer her up the other decided to go for a dip in the stream and threw her in for laughs. The soon initiated a splash war. Spike decided to stay onshore and do image training. He sat cross-legged meditating on sparring with Asta and or Rainbow Dash. Nero took up a spot on amongst the young boy’s messy green hair.

“Take this,” Twilight splashed Applejack and Fluttershy.

“Ah’ll do ya better,” Applejack retaliated and sent a wave back.

The wave was redirected with magic and instead hit Fluttershy. “Oh…” she whimpered through her hair. Ymir then walked into the water and grabbing Fluttershy with her tail placed the pegasus on her back.

“Oops, sorry Fluttershy,” Twilight winced at the grumbling dragoness glaring at her.

Ymir growled into Fluttershy’s ear and the pegasus got an evil smirk on her face that was hidden from view behind her soaked her.

“Let’s do it,” she mumbled as she looked at her friend with one eye exposed. “Get’ um Ymir!” Fluttershy called out and the dragon used her massive tail to send a wall of water at the farmer and librarian.

The duo were beached immediately. As the water receded back into the creek with Applejack landed on her back while Twilight landed on her stomach. Applejack sat up pulling her soaked hair apart with her hands looking as the giggle pegasus and dragoness. Twilight spat out a stream of water before pushing herself to her knees quickly turning around to glare at her opponents.

“No fair Fluttershy,” Twilight said glaring at her friends.

“Now Twi,” Applejack crossed her arms. “We never said Ymir couldn’t join in.”

“Yea but still,” Twilight pouted as she crossed her arms. Her attention then turned to the shore and her surrogate little brother. “Girls, why don’t we bring Spike in to play?”

“Ah don’t know about that Twi,” Applejack said as she rang out her tail. “The little fella looks pretty content where he’s at.” She looked at the green-haired salamander.

Suddenly Ymir turned her head. She started to snarl and her mane and wings flared up indicating that she sensed danger nearby. Spike’s eyes shot open and he quickly shot across the creek into the air above the girls catching a net that had been launched at them.

“What the hay?” Applejack said in bewilderment.

“Get your Grimoires,” Spike glared as he held up the net while his Grimoire activated glowing in a sparkling emerald and amethyst blaze as it flipped through its pages before stopping. “I was so caught up in my image training I didn’t sense the ominous ki’s approaching us,” Spike growled as the net in his grasp caught fire. “Emerald/Amethyst Creation: Draconic Extremities.”

Spike’s arms and legs become covered in the same flames the glowed around his Grimoire surrounded his arms, legs, chest, and back in a green and purple fiery armor. Spike looked to the net in hand and then tossed off to the side. Nero flew down and landed on his shoulder.

“You might as will show yourselves,” The young drake pointed into the field. “I can sense your presences now that I’m not distracting myself.”

‘HOO!’ Nero hooted at the newcomers.

Ymir walked out of the stream and stood next to her companions still heavily snarling as her gaze never once moved away from the field in front of her. There was movement in the tall grass as a platoon of at least fifty to sixty armored figures with antlers rose up. Their armor was light armor, mainly chainmail and light plate armor primarily made for easy and quick movement. They all carried a variety of weapons ranging from short swords, throwing knives, bows, and arrows. One weapon that these assailants all carried was some form of capture chain on their belts.

“Caribou Hunters,” Spike scowled at the group in front of him. One of them came forward and removed his helmet to reveal his face. He had brown shoulder-length hair, one green left eye and was missing his right as a massive scar on the right side of his face.

“Master Drake we are here simply for the mares behind you. If you allow us to have them then no harm will come to you,” The leader said.

“You’re mean you’re trying to steal from me,” Spike said raising a palm up.

“We know you have no claim on these three, dragon,” One of the others said with a chuckle. “So give us what we want and we’ll be on our way.”

Spike took up a stance placing his left foot forward, has left fist in front of the middle of his body, his right-hand palm open with his fingers in a gripping form, and his right foot slightly him. Nero took to the sky and Ymir started to crouch.

“We’re just here for the mares and the animals. We’ll pay you handsomely for such wonderful stock,” The head hunter said.

“You don’t get it, do you,” Spike sighed. “These mares mean more to me than gold. They’re my friends and family and I was entrusted with their safety, So I’ll send you all to hell before I let you have them.”

“If that is the route you wish to then so be it,” The commander said placing his helmet back on his head. “Take them,” he said pulling his sword out and pointing to Spike.

“CHARGE! YYAAAA!” The group yelled as they ran in.

“I don't think so,” Spike growled as gauntlets met with metal swords. Spike face off with a portion of the caribou hunters in a fury of clashing flames and weapons. Meanwhile a second group had come up from behind and targeted the ponies.

The second group of hunters showed up and started to twirl their capture chains and then threw them out the ponies only for them to hit a wall off earth.

Applejack smirked as her Grimoire float next to her glowing with orange magic, “Earth creation: Solid wall.” she huffed slightly as she fell backwards to her butt. “Geez spur of the moment. Ah really need to practice and get faster with mah castin.”

“Gaea Magic, Plant Control,” Fluttershy said as her Grimoire activated. “Come on you two we need to get in the tree,” she explained as the branches of the tree came down. “ I can make it grow and get us out of reach.”

Twi activated her own grimoire and the touched Applejacks. “Copy Magic: Solid Wall.” Another two walls sprang up on either side of the girls giving them a safe path to the low tree branches.

“Raise them up please, if you don’t mind,” Fluttershy patted the tree and it complied. “Oh dear,” she said as they saw the Caribou climbing over the earth walls using their capture chains as grappling hooks.

“We need to take those guys out or our gooses are cooked,” Applejack remarked as he Grimoire’s pages flipped. She looked and then looked at Fluttershy. “Shy combo time.”

“Right,” Fluttershy looked at her friends. “Gaea Magic: Twisting Branches” the branches of the tree extend downward again.

“Earth Creation Magic: Mud Golem,” Applejack called out extending her hands causing a giant humanoid form to form under the twisting branches of Fluttershy’s spell. The branches wrapped around the Mud Golem give it a sort of skeleton.

“Combined Spell: Earth’s Guard.” the duo said in tandem before falling against the tree.

“Girls,” Twi said making her way to her friends. “Are you two okay?”

“Fine Twi, just hope the big fella keeps those hunters busy,” Applejack huffed.

“We’re almost out of mana,” Fluttershy wheezed.

Spike and Ymir were holding off the hunters on their front as Caribou hunters littered the ground. When one would attack the other would defend. A hunter came at Spike but her grabbed the sword while elbowing the hunter in the gut. Another came from the side and Ymit nailed him with her tail.

The commander stepped forward,” I’m impressed, Master Drake. I’ve fought your people in the past and not one has ever displayed the level of skill that you have shown. Usually, they just jump and thrash about while you have shown such discipline.”

“If you're so impressed then why don’t you fight me yourself,” Spike smirked.

“I said I was impressed not stupid,” The commander crossed his arms. “I see it in the way you fight. You were trained by one who knows many disciplines and he instilled many lessons onto you. I have no doubt that if you wanted to you could easily best me in none on one combat.

“Bastard,” Spike said lunging at the commander only to have his claw stop an inch from the commander’s face, a capture chain restrained his arm. Then another around his leg, followed by another and another. Soon enough he found himself completely restrained.

“I.. won’t .. let … you… touch… my… friends.” Spike spat through his teeth as he strained to keep moving forward.

ROAR!!!

Ymir roared as the Caribou closed in upon her. They started the chain her with the capture chains then I Caribou in a red cloth hunter’s outfit came up with a blowgun. He loaded the gun and blew darts laced with a powerful sleeping agent into the soft lining of Ymir’s gums. In mere seconds the dragon was down. Nero flew down and was about to blast the Hunters with her howl but met the same fate immediately.

Spike saw this out of the corner of his and went ballistic. He released his arm that was headed towards the commander to give himself slack and then reeled forward throw the hunters through the air and he did the same with his other arm. Now with arms free he pulled the rest the hunters chains off. You could no longer see the playful boy now in his place stood an angry dragon.

Steam came off his breath and his armor began to warp into a more sinister form. He gained wings, a tail, and a draconic helmet. In the next moment, he began to slaughter the Caribou without mercy. The commander had thoroughly lost his nerve at seeing his men being slaughtered by a child who had easily beaten them in unarmed combat. When there were only a few hunters left standing Spike set his sights on the commander as he was the closest on to him.

Spike slowly moved in closer, step by step. The commander wanted to run but he was frozen in place by his own fear. In the past he’d face numerous opponents, many of them drakes, but never before had he seen this. A true dragon. As soon as he felt he could move the commander took his chance and turned tail to run only to be met with a set of green and purple claws jutting out of his shoulder. He slowly turned his head and out of the corner of his only eye, he saw a truly horrible sight. A sheep toothy smile and then, all that was heard was a sickening splatter.

The hunter had managed to hide himself waiting for the right moment and after the commander's death, he took that moment. The hunter loaded his dart gun and blew the dart into the soft meat of Spike’s neck. The drake took notice of the direction that the darts came from and shot in that direction coming upon the sight of the hunter only to land off to the side of him on the ground.

“You may be a drake,” The hunter remarked. “But you're still prey. Now to capture the true objective”

With Fluttershy and Applejack running low on their mana from the effects of their combined spell the defenses were left to Twilight. Use her Copy magic she was able to take control of the Earth Guard to keep the Caribou away from her friend but controlling such a massive creature required massive amounts of mana which Twilight had but she had to keep her focus on several opponents and if she waisted even one blow from the guard that was man used and that she couldn’t get back. Eventually, the Guard’s control started to take its toll on the librarian.

The red hunter soon joined the remaining hunters of the second squad assaulting the ponies.

“What’s taking you all so long,” the red hunter asked and then he saw the massive golem, walls, and large tree. “How can one unicorn have that kind of power?”

“Sir,” one of the downed hunters winced from his pain but answered. “It was a joint effort, sir. These ponies all have some kind of magic books that allowed them to do all this.”

“Just like the drake kid,” the red hunter rubbed his chin. “Where are the other two?”

“In the tree sir. We could get them if that blasted bitch of a unicorn wasn’t controlling that giant,” another hunter said.

The red hunter took out his spyglass and looked into the tree. “Ah… it appears their magic show has exhausted them. Prepare your men to climb that tree after I topple that giant and the unicorn.” the red hunter said, walking up to the golem and its master. “Stop this now unicorn and you will be treated fairishly.”

“I don’t think so,” Twilight glared at the red hunter as she readied the golem to strike.

“It matters not really. I will bring you down just as I brought down the others,” Red shrugged as he ready himself as he saw the look of fear on Twilight’s face.
“What did you do?” Twilight yelled in anger.

“I brought them down,” Red said goading her.

“Bastard!” Twilight yelled as the golem brought down a heavy fist. Red jumps up dodging the blow and landed on the golem arm using the dust as a smokescreen. He dashed up the arm of the golem running up getting into range of Twilight. Red pulled out his blowgun and loaded three darts and when he was right next to the mage blew the darts into her neck. Twilight desperately tried to get them out but it was too late and she slumped over onto the golem.

Red jumped down and landed in front of the other hunters. “Retrieve the mage and place a pair of warded cuffs on her. I go to get the other two.”

“SIR,” a hunter said as they did as they played their parts.

Red walked over to the tree and pulled a pair of gloves from his belt. The gloves had special backward-facing claws on the palms that allowed the wearer to wooden surfaces with ease. A few of the other hunters dawned similar equipment and the group started to make their way up the tree to Fluttershy and Applejack. This time the red hunter had the other hunters use their capture chains to tie up the ponies while he used the dart gun.

“Lower them down quickly and place ward cuffs on them as well,” Red commanded. He then went to meet with the Slave Trader Leader.

“Excellent job as always Red Stone,” The Leader clapped his hands together.

“You lost half your men to a child slaver, a well-trained child at that,” Crimson Stone remarked. “I suggest you take those books they had and lock them up with the animals. Lock up the boy to, unless you want him hunting you.”

“Yes yes, well do. But first my prizes,” the slaver looked over his new stock. “Yes well with what was spent,” he licked his lips. “I know just who you’ll go to,” he said as his shadow loomed over Fluttershy’s unconscious form.

Next Chapter: Asta, meet Sasuke Estimated time remaining: 39 Hours, 19 Minutes