The snowfall grew thicker and the wind harsher the farther they pressed on. Soon, Scootaloo could barely see where she was going. “We should land!” she shouted over the gale. “We’ll only get lost in this storm!”

“We’re almost to the shelter,” Spike replied. “Just a few more minutes.”

“I can barely see where I’m going!” Scootaloo yelled. A gust of wind knocked her sideways, and she lost sight of the dragon. “Spike, where are you?”

“Over here!” Scootaloo flew towards the voice and eventually caught sight of the dragon once again. “Stay close to me!”

“I’m trying!” Scootaloo shouted back.

A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the sky, and a familiar cackle echoed through the night. “It’s her,” Gilda said, her voice barely audible over the roaring wind. “It’s Nightmare Moon!”

“Get down,” Spike said. Scootaloo felt more than she saw Spike begin to descend and followed him down, staying close to his large purple body. They quickly landed on the bare, frozen ground. Gilda and Scootaloo took refuge under Spike’s wings while the dragon scanned the skies, eyes narrow. “She’s looking for us,” he muttered. “I can feel her magic nearby.”

“What do we do?” Scootaloo asked.

“We fight, of course,” Gilda replied, clawing at the ground with her talons. “If it’s a fight she wants, it’s a fight she’ll get.”

“I can’t let you do that,” Spike said. “You have a mission to complete.”

“I’ve trained to take her down, and I’m doing it the first chance I get, potion or no potion,” Gilda growled. “There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“You can’t win this fight, captain,” Spike replied, still searching the skies. “Nightmare Moon has only grown stronger since the fourth rebellion, and a whole army couldn’t beat her then. You need to find Zecora and make sure that potion gets to the Griffon’s Nest.”

“I’m not letting her get away with what she did!” Gilda said. Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky.

“Then get yourself and the sergeant to Zebrica,” Spike replied, meeting her glare with one of his own. “That potion is the best chance we have. Colonel Glade wouldn’t have sent me on this mission if he didn’t think it was important. My orders are to make sure the two of you make it through Equestria alive, and I intend to obey them.”

“Gilda, he’s right,” Scootaloo said, huddling closer to the dragon for warmth. “We have our orders, too.”

“I don’t care about orders!” Gilda yelled. “I want her dead!”

“Then you’ll do as you’re told,” Spike said, bringing his face within an inch of Gilda’s. “I’ve wanted my revenge since Twilight made me leave her side, but I stayed at the Nest, doing what was necessary to bring about Nightmare’s end. Wait a while longer, captain. You’ll get the revenge you’re looking for.”

Scootaloo could tell Gilda didn’t want to run, but the wisdom and truth of Spike’s words won her over. “All right. Where do we go?”

“The Trottingham shelter is that way,” Spike said, pointing with a claw. Scootaloo could barely see anything through the storm, and she hoped Gilda’s inner compass would be able to guide them to the shelter. “The two of you need to get there as quickly as possible. This storm is only going to get worse.”

“What about you?” Scootaloo asked.

Spike gave her a soft smile. “Like I said, my job is to make sure you two get to Zebrica,” he said. “It’s possible that she doesn’t know you’re here with me. She’s wanted to see me dead for years now. If I can distract her, it’ll give you the time you need to get through Equestria.”

“I thought you said we weren’t going to fight,” Gilda said.

“I said you weren’t going to fight,” Spike corrected her as he spread his wings. “Get to the shelter. I’ll distract Nightmare Moon. If I’m not there by the time you wake up, go on without me. I’ll catch up as soon as I can.”

“Spike!” Scootaloo cried, but the dragon had already pushed off the ground. The air grew more frigid in his absence, and it took most of her strength to not fall over. “Gilda! Let’s go!”

Gilda stood there for a moment as Spike disappeared into the storm. “Probably just wants the revenge all for himself,” she muttered. “Come on, Scoots. Let’s go find this shelter before we freeze to death.”

Scootaloo heard a distant roar as she and Gilda ran through the blizzard and hoped Spike was still okay. She knew Gilda had an excellent sense of direction, but the farther they ran, the more she began to wonder if even the griffon was getting disoriented. The cold was unbearable, and she knew they wouldn’t last much longer. “Do you think we sh-should be there b-by now?” Scootaloo gasped through her chattering teeth.

“I… I’m not s-sure,” Gilda replied, breathing deeply. “I… I think…” Suddenly, Gilda stumbled and fell, half-disappearing into the blanket of snow.

“Gilda!” Scootaloo bolted to her side. The griffon’s eyes were unfocused, and she was struggling to get up. “Come on! You can do it!” the pegasus yelled, but no matter how much she struggled, Gilda couldn’t get back on her feet.

A green flash of light lit up the night. Scootaloo turned to see a giant plume of green flames shooting across the sky in the distance. “Come on, Gilda! Don’t give up!” she yelled, but it was no use. Gilda’s legs twitched a little, but beyond that, she was still.

Scootaloo looked around for any sign of shelter, but she could see nothing in the storm. “H-Help!” she yelled. If they were anywhere near the shelter, there had to be somepony close enough to hear. “Somepony! H-Help me!”

Scootaloo’s vision started to blur as another roar echoed through the night. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed next to the griffon, unable to stand up. “H-Help me,” she said, her voice barely audible even to herself. A glowing light seemed to be drawing closer. She tried to back away from it, but her limbs refused to budge. “H-Help… please…” The light stopped in front of her, and then her vision was covered in black.