//------------------------------//
// Arc 12-2:Defanged, but still Dangerous 
// Story: My Little Pony: One as a Family.  "Trials of Friendship" 
// by SaburoDaimando 
//------------------------------//


Defanged, but still Dangerous



“Spell!  Spell wait up!”
Danged Spell came to a stop and turned around to see Moondancer and Ditzy Doo run after him.  While Moondancer and Ditzy were concerned for Spell, the unicorn colt just looked at the two mares awkwardly.
“Spell,” Moondancer yelled.  “About your time in Lio Lani.  What happened?”
Danged Spell just turned around and said “I think it would be better if you didn’t know about it.”
“Spell,” Moondancer said.  “We’re your friends.  Why would you shut us out of the story of Lio Lani?”
“Because I’m not comfortable with it,” Danged Spell said.  “I know you wish to learn more, but now is not the time.”
“Come on, Spell,” Ditzy Doo said.  “We can keep a secret.”
“It’s not that,” Danged Spell said.  “It’s far more of an old shame that I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Old shame?” Moondancer asked.
“Yes,” Danged Spell replied.  “Something that I wish I didn’t do.”
But before Moondancer could talk, Ditzy Doo whispered something into her ear.  She whispered back into Ditzy’s ear, sparking curiosity from the cross-eyed pegasi filly.
“Spell,” Moondancer said. “I have this theory as to why you won’t talk about it, and why you’re also forcing yourself into using that curse of yours.  Is it because you once tried to lash out at a particular someone with that curse?”
Danged Spell was particularly troubled by Moondancer’s words.  But before he could answer, his ears picked up the sound of buzzing.
“Wait,” Danged Spell said.  “I sense trouble on the horizon.  You hear that?”
Disturbed by Danged Spell’s words, Moondancer attuned her ears to the air right off the bat.  Her face turned to horror the moment she heard the sound of buzzing.
“Oh no,” Moondancer said. “Changelings.”
“Changelings?” Ditzy said.  “They’re here?”
“Even worse,” Danged Spell said.  “They’re above us.  GET BACK THIS INSTANT!”
Immediately, Moondancer and Ditzy Doo ran under a nearby cart as Danged Spell looked up at the sky.  Above him, Inferno, Quickstrike and Waspinator dove downwards at the colt, with their laughter filling the air.  
“You creeps again,” Danged Spell yelled as Inferno, Quickstrike and Waspinator landed in front of him.
“Yes, child,” Inferno said, pointing to Danged Spell.  “We were here for the one known as Twilight Sparkle.  But you will do for a practice run.”
Danged Spell turned his head towards Moondancer and Ditzy Doo, winking at the duo.
“Spell,” Moondancer whispered.  “Be careful.”
Danged Spell turned towards the Predacon Brothers and said “You wanna mess with my friends?  You just bit off more than you could chew.”
Danged Spell scraped the surface of the road before his eyes glowed once more and he snarled like a wolf.  He looked as if he was ready to leap onto the Predacons and tear them apart.
“Oh no,” Quickstrike said in a fake tone.  “He’s using his Wolf’s Breath curse again.”
“Waspinator not like Wolf bug,” Waspinator said.  “Waspinator about to be torn limb from limb.”
Danged Spell directed his focus onto Inferno, teeth bare and growling loudly.  But Inferno stood there calmly while Quickstrike and Waspinator pretended to be scared.
“That’s right you fool,” Inferno said as he pointed towards Danged Spell.  “Come and get me.”
Danged Spell barked loudly as he charged towards Inferno, ready to sink his teeth into the Predacon’s chitin.  Inferno just looked at the charging colt before his horn lit up.
“It’s time to muzzle you like the dog you are,” Inferno said.
And with that, Inferno blasted Danged Spell with a magic blast, hitting him directly.  Spell yelped loudly before being knocked to the ground.  The hit from the blast was enough to rile up Moondancer and Ditzy Doo in fear.
“SPELL!” Moondancer yelled.
Danged Spell groaned in pain as he tried to get up and the glow in his eyes disappeared.  Inferno, Quickstrike and Waspinator all hovered over the colt with a smug grin on his face.
“Now you are a wolf no longer,” Inferno said.  “A gift from my queen.”
“What did you do to me?” Danged Spell groaned.
“We not only took away your ability to be some mangy mutt,” Quickstrike said.  “We even disabled your magic.  Just try it.”
Danged Spell pointed his horn right at Quickstrike and focused really hard.  But no spark came out of his horn, causing the colt to panic.
“No magic, no curse,” Danged Spell said.  “I’m…I’m useless.”
“And not only that,” Waspinator said.  “No one will be able to help you, doggy bug.  You are now our prisoner.”
Suddenly, Waspinator gets hit by a blast of magic, sending him flying right into a vase and getting his head stuck.  Inferno and Quickstrike turned to their right to see Moondancer with her horn emitting a small puff of smoke.  Next to her is a rather peeved Ditzy Doo, standing tall and proud.
“Well wadda know,” Quickstrike said.  “We missed one.”
Inferno and Quickstrike directed their gaze towards Moondancer and Ditzy Doo, marching forward towards the two fillies.  Moondancer and Ditzy started to march back, sweating off the top of their heads.
“RUN YOU TWO!” Danged Spell yelled as he got up.  “RUN AND DON’T LOOK BACK!”
Immediately, Moondancer and Ditzy Doo turned tail and ran off in the opposite direction.  Inferno turned towards Danged Spell, who only smirked in his face.
“We’ll deal with you later,” Inferno said.  “For now, we have a pair of brats to capture.”
Inferno turned to Quickstrike and said “Come.  Let us TERRORIZE!”
In a flash of light, Inferno and Quickstrike transformed into their Beast Predacon forms and ran off after Moondancer and Ditzy Doo, leaving Danged Spell to get up on his four hooves.
“You two be careful,” Danged Spell said.  “There’s no way I can help you without my magic and my curse.”
Danged Spell’s ears picked up the sound of a head popping out.  He turned around to see Waspinator freed from the vase, shaking his head.
“Waspinator not like that cheap trick,” Waspinator said.  “Waspinator wants REVENGE!!!”
Waspinator looked around the block, but all he could see was Danged Spell, who faced down the bug.
“Hey, bug brain,” Danged Spell yelled.  “You want revenge?  Come and get it.”
“Waspinator will have to deal with muzzled doggy bug,” Waspinator said.  “Waspinator….TERRORIZE!”
Waspinator flashed in a bright light, transforming into his Beast Predacon form.  He looked down at Danged Spell before pulling out a blaster.
“Now,” Waspinator said. “Muzzled Doggy Bug will taste Waspinator’s mustard.”

Meanwhile, Moondancer was running down the street, being chased by Quickstrike.  Ponies screamed at the sight of the Beast Predacon, jumping to the side to avoid him.
“Out of my way, flatfoots,” Quickstrike yelled.  “I got a filly that needs to be punished.”
Moondancer turned her head back at Quickstrike and yelled “GET LOST YOU CREEP!  I DON’T WANT TO SEE YOUR UGLY FACE!”
“Now just wait a darn minute,” Quickstrike yelled, pointing his snake arm at Moondancer.  “Even us Predacons have feelings.”
Quickstrike fired a blast of green energy from his snake arm right at Moondancer, scaring the other ponies nearby.  Though the blast landed near Moondancer’s legs, it exploded, sending Moondancer flying into the air, screaming helplessly, before she landed on her back right on top of some blankets.
“YEE HAW,” Quickstrike yelled.  “Bagged a brat.”
Moondancer struggled to get up with some of the blankets getting caught in her legs.  As she tried to move out of the way, Quickstrike jumped into the air and landed in front of her before pointing his snake arm at the helpless filly.
“I don’t want to have to shoot ya,” Quickstrike said before he placed his scorpion hand to his chest.  “But it’s the law of the west.”
Quickstrike held his snake arm to Moondancer’s head, letting out a click that signals the readiness to fire.  Moondancer stood there, staring down the barrel of the metallic cobra mouth, looking completely scared.
“HEY NIMROD!  WHY DON’T YOU PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!”
Moondancer and Quickstrike turned to the side, where Pinkie Pie stood there, glaring down at the Predacon.
“Hey, I know you,” Quickstrike said, pointing his snake arm at Pinkie Pie.  “You’re that friend of Twilight Sparkle, and the very pony who thinks she’s Discord.”
“In the fur,” Pinkie Pie said.
Quickstrike points his snake arm closer to Pinkie Pie and said “Well you better kiss your hide good-bye, because I’m going to send you to CucaManega.”
Pinkie Pie just looked down the Snake Arm of Quickstrike and just yawned.
“Hey,” Quickstrike yelled.  “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Oh nothing,” Pinkie Pie said.  “Except that you just fell into my trap.”
But before Quickstrike could move or say anything, a loud boom echoed through the town, followed by a cannon ball that flew right out of nowhere and hit Quickstrike on the side.  The impact sent the Predacon flying into a nearby wall, crashing through and transforming him back into his changeling form.
“Ohhhh.  Who left the light on that cannon?” Quickstrike groaned before he collapsed.
Moondancer removed the blankets off her legs before getting back up on her four hooves.  Pinkie Pie walked up to her with a smile on her face.
“When in doubt,” Pinkie Pie said as she pulled her party cannon out from a nearby hut, extended by a rope.  “Always bring in the artillery.”
“Thanks,” Moondancer said.  “But what are you doing down here?”
“Well I was here to find Twilight and the others,” Pinkie Pie said.  “But I noticed that you and Ditzy Doo were being pursued by the Predacons.”
Moondancer freaked out immediately and said “Oh my gosh.  I must have split up from her.  We better find her before that Predacon makes mince meat out of her.”
Suddenly, Ditzy Doo flew right past the duo and down the street.  Pinkie Pie looked to the other side to see Inferno fly after the pegasi filly, chanting “FOR THE GLORY OF THE ROYALTY!”
“Oh no,” Moondancer said.  “Ditzy.”
“Relax,” Pinkie Pie said as she pulled her party cannon up.  “We’ve got a bug to squish.”

Down the street, Ditzy Doo flew as fast as possible, panting as loudly as possible.  Behind her, a cackling Inferno was in pursuit, inching closer to the pegasi.
“GET AWAY FROM ME!”   Ditzy Doo said.  “I DON’T WANT TO BE YOUR DINNER!”
“There is no escape, fool,” Inferno laughed.  “For you cannot escape the wrath of our Queen and the Changeling swarm.”
Ditzy Doo turned her head back towards the front and tried to fly as fast as possible, only to get snagged onto the surface of a nearby cloth banner.  Ditzy struggled to break free, pulling the banner back like a rubber band.  Inferno, noticing the trouble that Ditzy was in, came to a stop and gloated with glee.
“This shouldn’t be this easy,” Inferno said, pointing his blaster at Ditzy.  “But if it is this easy to deal with this scared filly, then Twilight Sparkle will be a swig of fire water.”
As Ditzy Doo struggled to break free from the cloth banner, Inferno pointed his blaster at Ditzy Doo and fired.  The burst of fire energy flew as fast as possible towards the helpless pegasi filly.  But the sound of the shot was enough to catch Ditzy’s attention.
“Oh no,” Ditzy said as her wings folded back up in fear.
But before the shot could hit Ditzy Doo, the banner snapped, sending her flying backwards as the shot missed before exploding in the air.  Ditzy went flying out of control right towards Inferno.  But before the Predacon could react, Ditzy slammed right into him, sending them flying down towards the ground.
“I’M TERRIBLY SORRY, MR PREDACON!” Ditzy cried.  “I DIDN’T MEAN TO KNOCK YOU DOWN!”
Unable to control his body, Inferno crashed right into the ground with Ditzy Doo landing on top of him.  The impact was enough to transform the Predacon back into his changeling self.  Ditzy got up and got a good look at changeling Inferno before jumping off of him.
“Oh no,” Ditzy said.  “I must have hurt him.  Is he dead?”
But slowly, Inferno got up and pulled himself out of the hole he made, ignoring Ditzy Doo as he crawled on the ground.  He could barely flap his wings as he lifted himself a few inches off the ground.
“Ohhh my head,” Inferno said.  “I think this filly is too much trouble for me.  I must find a place to recuperate.”
Inferno turned his head away from Ditzy Doo before flying off in another direction, just as Moondancer and Pinkie Pie arrived with the Party Cannon.  They just looked at Inferno flying off before turning towards Ditzy Doo, who looked a bit ruffled up, but okay.
“Ditzy?” Moondancer said.  “Did you just….beat him?”
Ditzy looked at the duo and said “Oops.  My bad.”
“Aww don’t be sorry,” Pinkie Pie said.  “The fact that you took down a changeling, much less a Predacon, says alot.”
“Really?” Ditzy asked.
“Yeah,” Pinkie Pie replied.  
Ditzy smiled for a bit before she said “Oh if only Danged Spell could see me now.”
Suddenly, Moondancer freaked out before she said “Oh no.  We forgot about Danged Spell.  I bet he has one more Predacon to worry about, and his Wolf’s Breath curse and magic has been disabled.”
Pinkie Pie grabbed Moondancer by the shoulders and said “Quick.  Where is he?”
“Let go of me and I’ll lead you to him,” Moondancer replied.
Pinkie PIe just looked at Moondancer before she let go of the unicorn filly and said “Sorry.  I tend to get anxious.”
“Then come on,” Moondancer said.  “We have no time to waste.”
Moondancer ran back down the opposite path in a hurry, with Pinkie Pie following behind with her party cannon.  Ditzy extended her wings out and flew off after Pinkie and Moondancer.
“Wait up,” Ditzy yelled.  “I wanna help bring down that other Predacon.”

But back in the central plaza, Danged Spell stood on the ground, dodging shot after shot from Waspinator.  The Beast Predacon was in air, firing blasts of energy from the air with ease.
“For a Predacon,” Danged Spell yelled.  “You are such a horrible shot.”
“At least Waspinator can still fight back,” Waspinator said.  “Muzzled doggy bug can’t even leap towards Waspinator.”
Waspinator fired a couple more shots at Danged Spell, who only dodged each and every one of them.  But one shot fired from Waspinator’s blaster pistol exploded nearby, sending the unicorn colt flying into a nearby mud patch.
“Direct hit,” Waspinator cheered.  “Waspinator is best Predacon.”
Danged Spel lifted his head out of the mud and shook it off.  He got up as Waspinator hovered right in front of him.
“You are really starting to bug me,” Danged Spell said in a cold tone.
“Flattery will get you nowhere, muzzled doggy bug,” Waspinator said, pointing his blaster at Danged Spell.  “Any last words before doggy bug becomes Queen Chrysalis’s prisoner?”
Danged Spell looked down at the mud patch that his right hoof was on before turning back towards Waspinator and said “Yeah.  You like mud pie?”
“Mud pie?” Waspinator said, confused.
“Then how about a sample,” Danged Spell said before he flung some mud right into Waspinator’s eyes.  
“ARRGH!”  Waspinator screamed.  “Waspinator cannot see.”
As Waspinator tried to rub the mud off his eyes, Danged Spell got up and stared down at the Beast Predacon.
“My dad and Shining Armor told me that I relied too much on my Wolf’s Breath curse,” Danged Spell said.  “But I’ll have to admit, they’re right in a way.  So instead of biting you as a wolf or using my magic, I’ll have to fight dirty.”
But just as Waspinator was able to get the mud out of his eyes, Danged Spell turned around, swung his legs back and kicked Waspinator in the crotch.
“ARRGGHAAGARGH!” Waspinator groaned as he held his crotch in pain.
Danged Spell turned around and said “Oh yeah.  He doezzzzzzn’t like that.”
As Waspinator fell on his knees, Danged Spell grabbed Waspinator in a headlock with his left arm and held his right hoof in the air.
“HOOOOOOOF NOOOOOOOGIE!” Danged Spell chanted before he rubs Waspinator on his forehead with his right hoof.  Waspinator screamed in agony as Danged Spell applied the noogie to his head.
Danged Spell then proceeded to spin Waspinator with a kick to the face, causing the Predacon to stumble back on his feet.  The poor fool could barely make a move, trying to recover from the hit to the groin and the noogie he got.
“And now, time for the grand finale,” Danged Spell said, scraping his hoof on the mud.  “One right on his BIG, FAT, STRIPEY…”
Danged Spell charged as fast as he could before connecting his horn right on the rear end of Waspinator.  The impact sent the Predacon flying into the air before crashing into the ground with a thud and a loud grunt.
“Now buzz off,” Danged Spell yelled.
Waspinator got up, shaking wildly before he said in a light voice “Uggh.   Waspinator thinks it’s time to…retreat now.  Buzzz.”
Immediately, Waspinator transforms back into his changeling form before he flies off, leaving Danged Spell standing there with a smirk on her face.
“If only daddy could see me now,” Danged Spell said.  “And all without using my Wolf’s Breath curse.”
“I’d say you’ve come pretty far, my son.”
Danged Spell turned around to see Fortwright walking on down his path.  He was carrying two knapsacks on his back.  In one of them was some fresh produce while in the other was Dream Seeker, who looked cheerful.
“Dad?” Danged Spell said.  “What are you doing out here?”
“Well your mom asked me to get some groceries for tonight’s dinner,” Fortwright said.  “But at the same time, I didn’t want your sister to be left out of the fun.”
Danged Spell walked up to Dream Seeker and looked down at his little sister. He gently rubbed his sister on the head, causing her to giggle in delight.
“Well you’re not going to believe why I had to fight back like that,” Danged Spell said.  “One of them disabled not only my Wolf’s Breath curse, but also my magic.  Observe.”
Danged Spell jumped back a few steps before focusing his mental energy on his unicorn horn.  But nothing came out of it.  Not even a single spark.
“Oh dear,” Fortwright said.  “I’ve seen that kind of hex before.  In fact, I was hit with it back when I was your age.  Luckily, your grandmother’s teaching was able to help me survive without my magic.”
Danged Spell sighed as he said “Is she still upset at me over what I did?”
“I don’t think so,” Fortwright said.  “In fact, I don’t think she was upset at all.”
But before Danged Spell could speak another word, he heard someone call out his name.  Danged Spell turned around to see Moondancer run towards him with Ditzy Doo and Pinkie Pie by her side, with Pinkie still pulling her party cannon.
“Moondancer,” Danged Spell said.  “You’re alright.  Did you both deal with those other Predacons?”
Just as Danged Spell finished speaking, Moondancer leaped into the air and tackled Danged Spell to the ground with a hug, holding the colt tight.
“I couldn’t hold him off,” Moondancer cried.  “I wish you weren’t hit by that hex, Spell.  But at least Pinkie Pie was able to save me.”
Danged Spell turned his head towards Pinkie Pie, who waved at him while standing by her Party Cannon.
“Well someone had to do it,” Pinkie Pie said with a giggle.  “And if I do it, I get a scolding.”
Moondancer released her grip on Danged Spell before the unicorn colt got back onto his four legs.  He shook himself off a bit and walked up to Ditzy.
“So how bad was it on your end?” Danged Spell asked.
“You should have seen it,” Ditzy Doo said.  “I brought that Predacon down with just one slam.”
“You did, huh?” Danged Spell said.  “Sounds like an impressive feat.”
“Yeah,” Pinkie Pie said.  “By the time we arrived, she somehow slammed the Predacon down like it was an inedible cake.  For a filly who’s timid, she’s got some strength.”
“That says a lot compared to me,” Moondancer said, lowering her ears down with her smile turning into a frown.  “Of the three of us, I was the only one who needed help in bringing down my Predacon attacker.”
“It’s okay,” Pinkie Pie said, wrapping her arms around Moondancer’s back.  “Sometimes, we can’t do these things alone.  And we’re here to help out in case we need it.”
“And she’s right,” Danged Spell said, walking up to Moondancer with Ditzy Doo by his side.  “Had you and Ditzy not lured two of those Predacons away from me, I would have been a prisoner of Queen Chrysalis.  So that I owe you both.”
“Aww,” Moondancer said as she gave Danged Spell a hug.  “Thanks Spell.  I know we have our fights.  But at least I’m glad to have you as a friend.”
“Hey speaking of which,” Ditzy Doo said, directing her eyes towards Pinkie Pie.  “Weren’t you going to see someone?”
“Oh yeah,” Pinkie Pie said.  “I still have to warn Twilight about those Predacons we faced.  Well just in case they want revenge against me for spoiling their plans.  Anyway, see you all on the flip side.”
With that, Pinkie Pie grabbed her party cannon by the rope and bounced off in another direction, singing out a delightful song about cupcakes.
“Well my son,” Fortwright said while Dream Seeker giggled once more.  “I believe you have a lot to learn about relying on your friends.  But at least you’ve proved that you can fight without your curse.  And surprisingly without your magic, as even I didn’t expect that.”
“That reminds me,” Danged Spell said before whispering into Moondancer’s ear.
“Wait,” Moondancer said.  “Is this true?”
“Well since you helped me out,” Danged Spell said.  “I’d figure I’d tell you a reason why I left Lio Lani.  You earned it.”
“Spell,” Moondancer said.  “I know you’re a bit of a pain.  But after what you said, I do feel sorry for ya.  And I hope you get to make amends to the ponies of Lio Lani one day.”
“I dunno if I can,” Danged Spell said.
“I do believe it will happen one day,” Fortwright said.  “You’ve already made amends to Moondancer since you became a hero.  And I can assure you that you will make amends with the ponies of Lio Lani.  Though judging by the look on your face, you seem pretty satisfied right now.”
“As a matter of fact,” Danged Spell said. “I owe these two a milkshake on me.  After what they did, they deserve it.  Then maybe if the hex doesn’t wear off, I can ask one of the Princesses to help remove it.  Come on you two.”
Moondancer lets go of Danged Spell, following from behind as the unicorn colt walks off in another direction.  Ditzy Doo followed from behind, excited about the news.
“So what do you guys like?” Danged Spell asked.
“I’m more into plum milkshakes,” Moondancer said.
“Make mine a peppermint milkshake,” Ditzy replied.
“Deal,” Danged Spell said.  “After all, that’s one way to stay cool.”
As Moondancer and Ditzy Doo laughed at Danged Spell’s pun, Fortwright watched with pride as he picked up Dream Seeker from her pouch and snuggled her gently.  Dream Seeker turned her head towards Danged Spell’s direction, giggling at the presence of her brother.
“Stay strong, Danged Spell,” Fortwright said.  “No.  I mean…La Walakeli.”


	To Be Continued in…


	Arc 13: Harmonic Friends


	Just the Six of Us(And a Baby Dragon)