Twilight got the kids settled into some of the guest rooms as one of the colts kept looking at the front door. "Is something wrong, Rumble?" Twilight asked.

"She's still out there. They're going to get her." He replied in concern.

"What do you mean?"

"That pegasus that saved us from those bad ponies! I saw monsters going after her!" He replied before quickly moving to a window to try and look out and see if he could find her.

Twilight thought for a moment before lifting him onto her back. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. But if you're that worried about her. I'm sure we can come up with some way to help her."

Meanwhile outside… Phoenix kicked off yet another ghouls head before throwing one griffin into another. "Seriously! Don't you guys know when to give up?" She spat before choking out a griffin. "I get why the undead won't stop. But you griffins should have realized by now that-"

Just then as she landed, her wrappings came loose as a griffin grabbed her hoof, sending jolts of pain through her body. "FUCK!!!!! For the record! If you griffins weren't so scarce in this world! I'd roast you fucks for that!" Kicking herself free, she grumbled and rubbed her hoof. "Fucking pony body doesn't heal as quickly as my old body."

Back inside, Twilight and Rumble looked in shock as the ghouls and griffins started closing in on her. Twilight was a little concerned. But her connection with the spirits let her know that Phoenix would be ok. However, Rumble didn't have the same connection she did and quickly became concerned for her safety.

"NO!" He shouted before jumping off Twilight's back and darting for the door before Twilight was able to react.

By the time Twilight got to the door, Rumble had already gotten outside and grabbed the now discarded wrappings.

Standing in front of Phoenix, Rumble wrapped his hoof with the bandage so the blood was on the outside. Having seen what it can do, he thought it'd be enough to hold them back long enough for Phoenix to get to safety.

"Don't worry mis. I'll hold them back." Rumble declared.

"Get inside kid." Phoenix huffed as she quickly worked to fix her other wrappings. "It's too dangerous out here for you."

"No." He snapped. "You risked your life for us. Now it's my turn to risk my life for you."

Phoenix paused for a moment and looked at the door where Twilight looked in shock. After a moment of thought, she smiled and turned back to Rumble and stood on three legs. "You have guts kid. You remind me of myself at your age." She sighed.

"I have to be brave if I'm going to be a Wonderbolt like my brother and save ponies." He replied with a confident smile.

"We can talk about what your possible future holds after we take care of these freaks." Phoenix laughed. "But first. How good is your flying?"

"I can get a few feet off the ground... Still working on speed and sharp turns though." He admitted.

"That's fine." She comforted. "Hold up your wrapped hoof." Rumble nodded and held up his hoof as instructed. After kicking a griffin away, she whispered something as she ran her bloody hoof over the rags putting fresh blood on it. "There. Now you can fly over the ghouls and bop them on the head."

"What will that do?"

Phoenix smiled and winked. "Give it a try and find out. And don't worry. They're already dead. So the worst that you'll have to deal with is the smell… and the visuals…"

Rumble was about to say something before noticing a ghoul getting close. He reflexively jumped up and did as Phoenix instructed. As soon as Rumble hit it in the head, his eyes shot wide as flames covered it, causing the ghoul to stumble back as its flesh was burned away till the boney remains fell into a pile.

Blinking in shock he turned to Phoenix who smiled as she used a hoof to turn his head back to the pile. Within seconds, he saw white smoke lifting off the bones. "If it helps. Remember this. These ghouls are cursed. What you did was burn away the darkness that holds the souls to this plain." She paused for a moment to fly them across the street so they could come up with a plan of attack. "It's a growsom thing to see and do. But if you're going to be a Wonderbolt. I have the feeling you'd need to deal with hard choices."

Rumble looked at his hoof then at her. "How did you know that would happen?"

"My people are warriors who fight darkness like them." She replied. "It's more dangerous than being a Wonderbolt. And normally less… public."

"So… you save ponies a lot. Even if they don't know it?" He asked, his eyes widened in wonder.

Phoenix nodded and turned to the crowd. "Yes. But this time the dark forces are forcing my… hoof."

"Then count me in!" He announced hovering next to her. "I know my family would be proud of me if I was able to help save others."

"Then let's make them and your friends proud. You take on the ghouls and I'll take care of the griffins." Phoenix announced. "We can talk more later." With a nod, the two shot off and started knocking out griffins and taking out ghouls.

The clan is growing and possibly a new team to defend Equestria. Any ideas on possible new members? Or any other thoughts?