//------------------------------// // Chapter 14: Attack At Friendship Castle // Story: The Colt of Fire and Lightning // by ShagPony //------------------------------// Which program do Jedi use to open PDF files?.....Adobe Wan Kenobi mmmmmmmmmm. Funny joke. Which website did Chewbacca get arrested for creating?....Wookieleaks! mmmmmmmmMMMMMMMM. Funny joke! Why did Anakin Skywalker cross the road?.....To get to the Dark Side! MMMMMMMMMMMM! FUNNY JOKE! Why did the clone buy an iPhone?.....Because he couldn't find the droid he was looking for! ….. ….. mmmmmMMMMMAAAAAUUUUUGGGGHHHH! FUUUUUNAAAAY JOOOOOOOKE! ___________________________________ (Still Somewhere At a Still Unknown Location) (All Pov) A stallion impatiently paced back and forth on the rocky floor of his chamber. In the background, his followers looked on with worry but mostly fear as all of them could tell that their master’s temper was rising. The mysterious stallion suddenly stopped in his tracks as he snorted in anger. Silence followed as the ponies in his chamber looked in his room. “Too long.” Your could hear the breath of everypony in the room catching in their throats as their master spoke with a growl. They all watched with tails between their legs and ears flat against their heads, ready to bolt should he strike out. “For so long I have waited. For years to come I have vanquished and taken the powers of those that had them. Now my time is here but yet I can't do anything about it because this damn colt can't get a bucking Cutie Mark! So tell me!” He turned his deprecation to the ponies who all flinched back from the eyes that burned with anger as he raised a hoof. “WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG!” His hoof struck down hard at the rock, making it crack as his elemental powers cracked it all the way to the wall and up the ceiling making, the room rumble. The stallion looked at his followers with disgust as they forwarded in fear. Although he hated it when ponies stuck up to his power, but at the same time he loved it because that showed ponies with power and liability. He opened his mouth to ask them again until a female voice spoke up. “Master? Perhaps it's better if you calm yourself. The colt might not have his Cutie Mark now but he will soon and when he does you'll be sitting on the throne of Canterlot with everything under your rule.” So much anger. There was so much that his eyes could probably melt until only a flame was left in his sockets. Slowly turning his head, he spotted a mare that was crouched low as his gaze was on her. Almost like a omega being punished by the alpha. “Please master, just calm yourself, there is no reason to get so frustrated over something that requires patience.” The stallion breathed through his nose as he glared at the mare. She looked on with fear as she crouched lower to the ground in submission. The tension was high. Everyone held their breath as their master didn't lift his cold glare. Then he breathed. Deeply. Putting a small smile on his face. The stallion walked over to the mare and gestured her to rise which she did while shaking like a leaf. “My dear you might be right. Anger will do me no good like it has done in the past. I thank you for reminding me of that.” The mare began to calm herself as her master didn't change. After a few minutes of nothing happening she looked at him with caution. “R-r-really?” CHUNK Gasps were heard as the mare quickly looked down to see her front hooves cuffed together with rock. The follower shook even more than before as she looked fearfully at her master, knowing what was coming. Not lifting his gaze on her, he chuckled as his gaze hardened with a scowl. “No.” Before the mare could speak, rock shot out from under her and like a hook, grabbed her neck and squeezed. Her mouth opened like a silent scream as she felt herself lift from the ground. She tried to hit the earth away from her neck but couldn't due to her front hooves being shackled by rock. The stallion stared darkly as the mare struggled to breath, begging for him to stop, to show mercy. “Did you think you have command over me! Think because I'm frustrated over something that will grant me power you have the nerve to tell me what to do! Calm myself I should, but to get it from the likes of you I shall not!” Th stallion formed more earth under the struggling mare and shaped them like hooks. With them he ripped off her cloak and what he saw made him scowl. She was a light green pegasus mare with a two-shaded black and grey mane and tail. Her Cutie Mark was that of a horseshoe with one wig on its right side. This is not what made him scowl, what made him scowl was the mark she had on her shoulder’s. The mark of a scout. “A lowly scout thinks she can tell me what to do. If you were anything higher I would probably spare you, but somepony of this rank along with the amount of ponies that our scouts have. You are not so lucky.” Having her eyes bulging and tongue hanging out, the mare could feel the earth around her neck squeeze tighter threatening to break her neck. She flapped her wings to give her body some leverage allowing herself to plead for her life. “P-please m-master, I-I- ack...I meant no ill-will towards your comma-...ugk! Huh...no pony can command you my lord. Please, hah...I beg of you, spare me please!” Her master stared with slight amusement as her wings tried to keep her aloft so she wouldn't choke to death. Having enough he gestured his head allowing two pillars of rock to clamp around her wings shackling them together. She stared wide eyed at her shackled wings as tears spilled for her eyes. “NOOO, MASTER PL- ECH!” Gurgling sounds only followed as gravity claimed the mare and brought her back to her demise. She struggled with new vigor as she hit the earth with her rear hooves but was granted little success. Her movements began to weaken as she struggled for air with her tongue hanging out and tears falling. The other ponies looked with dread and fear as they saw the life from their comrade drain away. When they thought it was the end, they heard the stallion sigh as he tapped his hoof once. The earth that was once shackling and choking the mare disappeared allowing her to fall harshly on the ground. When she noticed she could breath again, the mare coughed violently as she sucked in as much air as she could. The leader looked at the pitiful mare with not a single mount of emotion as she withered in small sobs and coughs. Slowly, he approached the mare. When she noticed his advances her ears fell and her wings tucked in as she tried to scoot away. She didn't get far before the earth encased her hooves, locking her in place. She whimpered fearfully as the stallion stood before her. He continued to stare at the mare as she tried to avoid his emotionless gaze. Eventually he lifted a hoof to her cheek which she flinched from but couldn't move away. “I must say, to think you could tell me what to do was quite, brave. Pleading for your life as you told me no one could command me somewhat moved me.” Rock slowly started to incase her wings as she mare looked into his cold, almost lifeless eyes. The stallion shook his head as he removed his hoof. “Sadly, that won't save you from a punishment. So as to remind you to never do this again…” The rock around her wings lifted the mare up in a standing position as it dawned on her what he was about to do. “I'll take your wings.” She shook her head weakly as more tears fell from her eyes. “P-p-please do- cough...d-d-d-don't do t-t-this. I plead.” He shook his head as the rock pulled her wings making the mare wince. “When I punish, I show no mercy.” “You should for this one.” The stallion growled as his ears fell slightly in anger. He turned his head to the voice that dared to command him again. This one will not live like this one did. “Who dares to command me!” The pony came out of the shadows with her face covered by the hood of her cloak. “I think you know who I am, Cold Stone.” The Stallion growled again but snorted in amusement. “How could I forget you Dark Blossom? My most trusted assassin.” The hooded figure pulled down her hood to reveal a light brown unicorn mare with a dark brown mane, like the color of chocolate. The rest of her figure was shielded by her cloak. The mare smiled. “Because then I would feel quite hurt if my master forgot about little ol’ dangerous me.” Her smile dropped when she passed by the stallion and to the mare who looked to her pleadingly. “And I command you stone because I would just hate for my most valuable scout to lose the one thing that makes her the top of her ranks.” The stallion raised an eyebrow as he glanced between Blossom and the pegasus mare. “Why should I care how high she is in ranks to spare her wings?” Sighing the mare turned to Stone with a hard glare. “Because she was the reason you're still alive when that fiasco happened years ago with that elemental dragon.” The stallion's eyes widened for a moment before they hardened into a glare. “That's exactly what you said for the last scout.” Blossom nodded her head. “True, but I didn't tell you that it was multiple scouts, she being one of them. It's a little different this time because that other scout wasn't at the top of the ranks.” Stone held his glare for a moment before he stomped his hoof and snorted. Looking at the pegasus as she seemed to be breathing normally and was no longer crying, he glared with a growl. Shaking his head, he tapped his hoof releasing the mare who sighed with relief. “Get this scout out of my site along with the rest of you!” Not wanting to be in his presence any longer, the other followers quickly put their hoods on and ran for the door to get out of their master's sight. Two other mares came over and covered the pegasus with a blanket and carried her out as they left. Blossom was the only one who remained who looked with no emotion at her master. “I've told you before Stone, treating your followers like that is going to create problems in the future.” Still staring at the door, Stone took a deep breath as he made his way to his stony throne and sat on it. Rubbing his head with a hoof he spoke in a softer but still deep tone. “As long as they still follow me Blossom, they won't create any problems.” The unicorn shook her head as she neared the steps to the throne but dared not to climb it. “Still, you shouldn't make it seem like you'll kill anyone on a whim because it will make them fear you so much, that they will loose trust and faith in you and when you need them most, will leave you behind.” The stallion stopped rubbing his head as he stared at the mare and chuckled. “If I didn't like nor trust you as much as you think Blossom, you would be choking on your own blood while your body hangs from a rocky spike.” The only indication that Blossom gave to her master was a blink. She rolled her eyes as she huffed. “I'm surprised you haven't, I was only a mare you picked up from when my, incident, happened.” Stone chuckled. “Ah, I remember clear as day. You were bawling your eyes out like a weak insect because your-” Stone didn't finish as a sharp kunai embedded itself next to his head. Narrowing his eyes he looked to the mare who had more of the deadly knives in her magic as she used the earth to bring herself closer to Stone. “I told you many times before and I am slowly losing my patience to tell you again before I slowly shove these knives through your skull. Don't ever bring that past up again, ever.” He continued to stare blankly at the mare who breathed heavily through her nose. Instead of anger showing, amusement glazed his eyes as he smiled. “This is the reason why I picked you as an assassin.” Blinking a bit the mare eyed Stone before scoffing and using the earth to go back down the steps. “Sometimes I wonder why I still follow you.” Stone chuckled again as his eyes narrowed with mirth. “Oh, I believe we know why Blossom.” Looking to the stallion she shook her head and put the kunais into her cloak and looked to him with a neutral expression as she bowed. “News?” She said with a boring tone. Seating himself he leaned on one of the arms of the throne and waved a hoof around. “News.” The mare got up from her bow and with a straight expression and monotone voice answered. “He's still blank.” The stallion slammed a hoof on his throne as it cracked. Blossom didn't even flinch from as she has seen it for the past few years. However, it did amuse her on how much of a tantrum he's starting to throw after getting the same news for the past two months on the same colt. “Blast this damn colt. Why can't he just get that bucking Cutie Mark already so I can begin my plans.” Blossom shrugged as she kicked the dirt out of boredom. “Patience my lord, you'll pop a blood vessel again if you let your head throb too much. Even though we can force his powers to come out, except there's no need to now, we can't force his Cutie Mark. We just have to wait.” The stallion slammed both hooves this time as a blood vessel showed on his forehead. “Buck waiting and having patience! I've done that crap for too long now! I want that damn colt having his Cutie Mark now!” When Stone slammed both his hooves, he created a shockwave that blasted a small pebble Blossom was playing with away from her. Frowning as her small toy was blasted away she look back to the stallion. “What do you tend to do about it? Do the same thing that happened with the dragon?” Growling he looked at the ground with anger as if it insulted him. “I have no idea what-” a small ping happened as his eyes widened and he looked to the mare with confusion. “What does that dragon have to do with a colt?” “Well I am the one who brought you the news that I saw the colt go into the orphanage and I am the one whose been watching him for two months so-” “Get to the point Blossom.” Stone spat. Showing mock hurt of being interrupted causing Stone to growl threateningly which she rolled her eyes at, Blossom got to the point. “If my hunch is correct, that colt and dragon might be the same. They both came out of nowhere in some random part of the world, they both talk of things that no pony, not even the princesses have ever heard of and to top it off, that colt has no parents nor any clue about our world as if he's never lived in it his whole life, just like the dragon.” Stone tapped his chin as he mulled over her words. He became more confused when he couldn't decipher what this mare was saying. “Where exactly are you going with this?” Rolling her eyes again she gestured a hood. “Do you remember when we fought that dragon and he got his symbol due to protecting Princess Luna and the other ponies so he could unleash his powers?” The stallion nodded slowly as she continued. “Well that colt could be the same. If my hunch is correct and they are the same being from celestia knows where, then who's to say they can't have the same mark?” The stallion looked off into the distance as he thought it over. A toothy smile graced his lips as his eyes widened with gratitude to the mare. “My dear Dark Blossom, what would I do without you?” Blossom shrugged. “Probably killing most of your followers.” The stallion chuckled as he rubbed his hooves together ignoring that comment. “This is excellent.” Looking to the mare with that still, toothy smile on his face, he pointed at Blossom. “I have a job for you my dear, I want you to go into that dirty town and track down that colt. When you've found him I want you to attack him and anyone around him so that we can see if his Cutie Mark is what you say it might be.” Blossom raised an eyebrow at the blunt plan and gestured a hoof again. “Exactly how am I supposed to make a small colt fight? He’ll probably run and hide in fear.” His smile disappeared as his ears fell. It was replaced by a raised eyebrow as he pointed at her. “You said that he was a friend with those, Elements of Harmony, and that he was adopted by one of them right?” Nodding to his answer, Stone’s smile returned in full force. “Then there's you answer.” Nodding to the stallion, she bowed and made her way to the door. Before she left Stone cleared his threat loudly gaining her attention. “I to, am losing patience to remind you of your place Blossom,” pulling out the kunai that was embedded in his throne, he crushed it with his earth element and flicked it down the steps, “so don't do that ever again.” Staring at him with narrowed eyes, she silently left the room. When the doors closed she sighed in agitation and turned to make her way down the hallway to the exit. When she turned around she was stopped by the two mares that held the other one who was rubbing her hooves together. Blossom narrowed her eyes, she was beginning to think that this mare had a death wish or something. As she eyed the mare who in turn couldn't meet her gaze, Blossom could see the crucial marks on her neck, legs, and wings of where the earth had bound her. Blossom cringed, slightly. “Why are you still near this door scout? Do you have a death wish or something?” Shaking her head, the mare rubbed her hooves, wincing slightly from the pain and finally met Blossom’s gaze. “I j-j-just wanted t-to thank you for-” Blossom held up a hoof cutting the mare off as she flinched. “Do not thank me for saving your flank from something so stupid. You're just lucky that little lie was able to save your wings this one time or for the fact he has patience with me, because we all know you were not one of the two scouts that saved his life.” The green mare nodded as she looked down to the ground. Blossom sighed as she looked at the other, possibly two scouts. “Take her to the medical wing to treat those wounds, I need my best scout in top shape.” Both mares bowed before gently coaxing the mare towards the other end of the hallway. Blossom turned and made her way to the exit before slightly turning to the mare again. “And I would advice scout,” she watched as the scout stopped limping and turned to her, “don't go anywhere near Cold Stone.” Not waiting for a response, she turned back down the hallway to begin her mission. ___________________________________ (Ponyville) (Mason’s Pov) I bounced happily down the road to a large crystal castle occupied by Princess Twilight and Spike that was just ahead. As I whistled my merry way down the road, I didn't notice a filly come up from behind me. “Hey Mason!” Jumping a bit, I quickly turned around to see my friend from the orphanage, a filly with no horn or wings, named Fruity McTooty. She giggled a bit from the startled expression that was on my face as I tried to play it cool. “Uh, hey Fruity, what are doing out here.” The filly shrugged as she stared at me with her green eyes. “Oh you know, enjoying the morning air and what not since I have no school today. What about you?” I shrugged as I turned my body towards the small filly. “Nothing much myself, just heading to Twilight’s castle to do some…..stuff.” My vision was suddenly filled with fur as the cherry red filly came up to my face with the biggest smile ever. “You mean you know Princess Twilight?!” Going cross eyed a bit to look at the filly, I slowly nodded. “Yeaaah, I'd say we are good friends. She helped me with my homework a lot.” The excited filly seemed to get closer. “Wow! That's so-” she cut herself off as she seemed to realize how close she was and backed off while rubbing her neck with a blush. “I mean...um...that's pretty neat that you know the princess.” I nodded as my wings twitched awkwardly. “Yeah I guess it is.” Awkward silence fell as me and the filly stood their looking at our own hooves. I would have left but I was stopped when she looked like she wanted to say something else with that fierce blush still on her face. “Anything else you want to say Fruity?” She seemed to get a little flustered as she opened and closed her mouth wordlessly. Seeming to get a little frustrated with herself she clenched her eyes shut as she spoke quickly in one sentence. “Iwantedtoaskifyouwouldliketocometoasleepover!” She slammed her hooves into her mouth as she stared wide eyed at me. I just blinked. "What?” Taking a few breaths through her nose, she slowly lowered her hooves while closing her eyes to calm herself. Slowly, she opened them and spoke with a much calmer tone but with that blush still present. “I-I was wondering i-if you want to come over to my friends house here in Ponyville for a sleepover?” I raised an eyebrow silently as I stared at the filly who only seemed to fidget more over the look I was giving her. I shook my head and gestured a hoof to no on in particular. “Isn't that for, you know, fillies?” She nodded in understanding as she seemed to become a little more confident in her request. “Yeah some are, but this one is completely different I promise you. There will be a few colts there that you know from the orphanage.” I puckered my lips as I mulled it over in my head. “So it's like a get together of sorts with all genders?” She seemed to get confused as she tilted her head slightly. “If that's how you want to put then yes, it's like that.” Putting a hoof to my chin I directed my gaze elsewhere as I thought about it. I wasn't like that for more than a few seconds before I shrugged. I had nothing to do anyway so might as well. “Yeah sure, could be fun.” Fruity’s eyes lit up as she hugged me tightly and bounced in place which I couldn't help but smile in amusement at. “Oh thank you, thank you, than-” again she stopped herself as her body tensed up a bit. Quickly pulling away, the cherry red filly straightened herself up as a blush appeared on her face again. “Eh-heh, um, I'll...uh...tell you when and where it is when I get the chance ok?” Still having that smile on my face I quickly gave her a hug which made her speak quietly. When I ended the embrace, I turned to continue my trek to the castle. “Sure, I'll see ya then Fruity.” Getting ready to leave herself she chuckled. “Uh yeah, see ya then Mason.” With that she turned and quickly walked away. I shook my head at her weird behavior but didn't think too deeply on it. Walking the rest of the distance to the castle I opened the door freely and walked through the giant structure. Although I would knock, both Twilight and Spike insisted that I could come freely into the castle if I'd like, especially when it came to my appointments. Little did I know that a brown mare in a cloak, was following closely behind. ___________________________________ (Dark Blossom’s Pov) This was starting to look a little too easy. Dark Blossom calmly sipped on some tea as she sat outside a restaurant. Not even a block down she could see the colt talking to a cherry red filly that had no horn or wings. As they talked, Blossom kept a large smirk gracing her lips. ‘Sometimes I think Stone gives me too many of the easy jobs, but still, I know better than to get ahead of myself.’ She watched as the colt said something to the filly and turned to take his leave. The filly who had an obvious blush on her face said something in return and quickly walked away herself. Blossom chuckled. ‘Ah, young love.’ While Dark Blossom might have been a part of Stone’s group which consisted of having half of the ponies being cold hearted and dangerous. There were a few who still had a soft side to things and Blossom was one of them. She just couldn't help but admire the innocence that little colts and fillies have. They always remind her of- Blossom shook head, setting her tea down with narrowed eyes. She would not be reminded of those memories. They were just too painful. The mare jerked her head up when she saw the colt just across the dirt road of where she was. She sighed as she put down some bits for her tea and made her way to him. Although some part of her hated doing this and especially now to a colt, she needed to do it. She had been doing this for one reason and one reason only. ‘To get revenge on that, that bastard. I swore to myself and by celestia that I would make him pay for what he did to me...for what he did….to her.’ Shaking her head to concentrate on her task she sped up to shorten the distance between the colt. There were a lot of ponies around and it was in the open. A perfect opportunity to attack him and some other residents to see if he'll fight back and hopefully get a Cutie Mark for...something. As she neared him, she felt the tingle of the element’s that Stone gave her for this mission that would prove quite useful. She started up her earth element and prepared to attack until she noticed the destination the colt was heading for. Up ahead was a large crystal castle, which she found out was called The Friendship Castle and later learned that it was home to Princess Twilight Sparkle after being in Ponyville for a while. Blossom stopped dead in her tracks as she stared at the castle ahead of her. Her gaze shifted back to the colt as he walked up the steps and into the crystal structure. She stared at the door for a while until she remembered what Stone said. “You said that he was a friend with those, Elements of Harmony, and that he was adopted by one of them right?” Nodding to his answer, Stone’s smile returned in full force. “Then there's you answer.” Blossom blinked a bit before she sighed again and made her way to the doors. ‘This is not going to turn out very well for me.’ When she arrived at the entrance she took a deep breath while thoughts of how this would turn out -consisted of mostly bad ones- ran through her head. ‘Ok, time to get to business.’ Taking a hoof, she banged loudly on the gold doors and waited for somepony to answer them. The assassin didn't have to wait long as one of the entrances opened slightly. Expecting to see a maid or a guard, the mare was surprised when she found a baby purple dragon on the other side of it. He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “Uhh….can I help you?” Shaking herself out of her stupor, she put on a smile as she looked at the small drake. “Yes, I am here for a special meeting with the princess about my little group.” The dragon blinked a few times before bringing a claw to his chin. “A meeting huh, I don't remember Twilight telling me anything about a meeting.” Blossom gestured a hoof in circles. “It's a bit of a private meeting, we told her that it should just be between us for uh…..secrecy and stuff.” Blossom began to shift awkwardly as the drake’s eyes eyed her up and down as they began to narrow. “Well that is completely unlike Twilight, as her special and number one assistant, it's my job to put things in her schedule. If your, meeting, was to be secret then Twilight would still have at least told me.” Blossom began to sweat drop a little. She was sort of expecting this dragon to be a pet or maybe a friend that came and go, but for him to be her assistant that wrote down her schedule, just changed her plans on how to get in here. With pleading eyes, she put her hooves together in a begging gesture. “Please I insist, I must see the princess, I would have not come here if it wasn't so important.” The drake still didn't look convinced but nodded nonetheless. “Hm, well I'll at least go to Twilight and ask her about doing this, meeting with you.” The mare sighed with relief. She's in. “Oh thank you, if you wouldn't mind I could wait inside for the princess.” “Actually.” Or maybe she's not in. “I'd prefer if you'd stay out here and wait for her. You know, just to be cautious and what not.” He said as he began to, rather quickly, close the door. Blossom mentally shook her head. ‘Sorry little drake.’ Blossom quickly held a hoof to the door stopping the drake in his tracks as he looked at her with confusion and slight fear in his eyes. The mare’s horn lit as she felt a tingle in her hooves, making the crystal beneath her shift. “That wasn't a request.” His eyes widen as he opened his mouth to blow her cover but was quickly silenced by a small pillar of crystal knocking him in the back of the head. His eyes rolled up as the drake passed out and was dragged into the castle by Blossoms magic. Quickly looking behind her, she entered the castle herself and closed the doors. Feeling the tingle again, Blossom watched as the crystal frame around the gold doors shifted, creating spikes that locked them in place from the inside and out. When that was done, her gaze shifted to the small baby dragon that laid unconscious on the floor. Shaking her head with annoyance, she made a crystal dome from the element Stone gave her, caging the dragon where he laid. Making her way towards the main stairs, she stopped and looked at the small dome the dragon was in. Biting her lip she quickly made small holes in the dome allowing him to breathe and then made the rest of her way to the stairs. ‘I may have killed older ponies and creatures in the past, but I'll be damned if I'm responsible for the death of a small, innocent baby dragon.’ Now standing at the base of the main staircase, The assassin closed her eyes as she lit her horn. With her eyes still closed, she shifted her head left in right as if searching for something, which is exactly what she was doing. Shifting to the right a bit, her head came to a quick stop as she canceled the magic flow and opened her eyes with a grin. ‘Ready or not little colt.’ Blossom quickly began to walk up the stairs until she came into a hallway that would lead her directly to the colt to begin her work. ‘Here I come.’ ___________________________________ (Twilight Sparkle’s Pov) “No erase that, your ‘S’ looks like the number five.” Twilight watched as Mason groaned and quickly erased the letter in his sentence. While he was definitely getting better at writing with his hoof and mouth, he still had trouble with some words and letters. Preferably drawing, the letter ‘S’. As he began to re-write it. Twilight watched with a critical eye to make sure the colt got it right. When he was done he looked at his work and then to her. Twilight nodded with a smile. “Much better.” Smiling in accomplishment, Mason continued to write his sentence. He didn't do it for long as a rather loud knock came from the door of the library. Shifting her gaze at the door, Twilight raised an eyebrow as she stared at it. ‘Now that's strange, Spike said he was going to Rarity’s to hang out and last I checked no one else lives in this castle. Unless Spike came back for something.’ Before Twilight could mull over her thoughts more, the knock came back but much louder as the being behind it became impatient. Twilight’s body began to tense as she stared at the door. It didn't occur to her then but she could feel something with power behind the oak door. Slightly lighting her horn she got up from her seat to make her way to it but was stopped by a tapping on her shoulder. Turning she saw Mason who look rather worried. “Um….is that Spike behind the door?” Turning back to the door that seemed rather silent now, Twilight shook her head. “No, I don't think it is.” Out the corner of her eyes she could see Mason shift uncomfortably in his seat. “It's not some like, robber or anything, right?” Setting her gaze on the colt, the princess rubbed his back with a hoof which seemed to ease him up a little. “Don't worry Mason, I'm sure it's just one of my frie-” BANG Twilight didn't get to finish as the oak door to her library was forced open by a powerful force sending wood and splinters in their direction. On instinct, the princess expanded her wings as she brought the startled and scared colt to her chest and put a shield around them to keep her and Mason safe from the flying wood. When Twilight was sure it was over with, she canceled the shield turned around to see her library somewhat destroyed from the amount of wood that went flying in all directions. Becoming a little peeved from having some of her books being destroyed and having scared Mason, she brought her gaze to the one responsible. Standing out in the hall with a shit-eating grin, was a light brown mare with a dark brown mane. Her orange eyes looked at the destruction she caused with satisfaction until her gaze landed on Twilight who had a shaking colt in her hooves. Twilight snarled as the mare’s grin became a toothy smile. The mysterious mare slowly walked into the library towards the princess which Twilight responded by dropping the shield again and lighting her horn for a spell. The mare stopped as she saw the princess tighten her hold on the colt who hugged her chest and lit her own horn with an orange aura. “Really princess, it that anyway to treat your subjects who come to say hello.” Twilight bared her teeth as her horn became brighter. “If your version of saying hello is destroying my door that could have injured myself or this colt, then yes, yes it is a way to treat a subject like you.” The mysterious mare tsked as she circled the princess. “Oh this is not the welcome I was promised when I came to meet the Princess of Friendship.” Twilight narrowed her eyes at the mare as she circled her, when she got to close Twilight would light her horn causing the mare to back up. As she continued to circled the princess, Twilight instinctively shielded Mason with her wings as the mare’s eyes landed on him with a smile. As the mare did another full circle around the princess like a predator to prey, she stopped in front of Twilight with the destroyed door behind her. The mare then gestured a hoof to herself. “I guess I should introduce myself now shouldn't I? My name is Dark Blossom, a pleasure to meet you Princess of Friendship.” Twilight watched with no amusement as the mare mockingly bowed with her shit-eating smile on her face. Twilight, feeling her movements were limited with Mason in her hooves should the mare try anything, sat him down as he fearfully looked at the mare who blew him a mocking kiss. Twilight glared at the mare as she pushed Mason under her and expanded her wings in an intimidating manner. “While I wish I could return the feeling of meeting another pony, sadly I cannot for the likes of you. So state your business and what reason you have to be here.” The mare seemed to have a scowl on her face until she smiled again. “But of course, it's only fair that I tell a princess of why I stumbled upon her humble abode.” Still standing over Mason as he stood behind her leg, the mare grabbed a chair with her magic as she sat herself down. When she got comfortable she look at the princess. “To put it in short honey, I'm here for a specific pony and that specific pony is standing right under you.” Mason huddled closer under Twilight as she shifted her stance. “What do you want with him? He's just a colt.” The mare nodded as she got up and kicked the chair across the room with her hind leg. “Oh I can see that he's just a colt, however, he's no ordinary colt if you catch my drift.” Her muscles tensed up as Twilight’s eyes widen. She got a good idea as to who this mare was but she needed to be sure and at the same time, figure out a way to get out of here safely with Mason. “Where are you going with this?” Blossom tsked again. “Oh come now, you must already know who I am with that look you got on your face and what my clan do to, special, creatures like him.” Twilight felt Mason poke his head out as he looked at the mare confused. “Twilight, what is she talking about? How does she know?” Bringing her purple eyes to the colt, she wordlessly open and closed her mouth at him which only increased his confusion. As she tried to come up with words to explain the situation to the colt, she heard Blossom laugh. “Ah-ha-ha! The princess, whose job is to protect her subjects, didn't tell this witty-bitty colt about what we do to creatures like him?” Twilight could see the fear in his eyes as he began to crouch low to the ground. “T-tell me w-w-what?” The brown unicorn shook her head as she pointed to herself again. “As you should know young colt, I'm a follower from a group called The Stone Clan, a name that needs a little bit of work but that's not important. My group have gone around the world, capturing creatures like yourself and bringing them back to our base, or at least some of them we have.” As Blossom spoke, she began to make little circles with her hoof as she approached the duo slowly. “Either way, we basically are there to take away their powers from them, but sadly it's not the greatest of things since the process basically, kills them.” Eyes wide, Twilight looked at Mason who was shivering like a leaf as he looked at the mare with fear. “Y-y-you k-kill them?” Twilight went to comfort the scared colt but was stopped when the mare laughed with a roll of her eyes. “To tell you the truth that wasn't really supposed to happen but,” her horn lit up with an orange aura as she drew near to the duo, “you take what you get right?” Twilight growled as she casted a spell that created a shockwave knocking the mare back. When the mare came to a skidding stop Twilight instantly picked up Mason and unfurled her wings to their full expansion. “You will not touch a single hair on him!” The mare, still on her hooves, snorted as crystal covered her legs making Twilight’s eyes widen in shock. “Sorry honey…” Crystal spires and shards floated in the air facing the direction of Twilight as she enhanced the strength in her shield. Blossom’s look became a hard glare as she snarled. “It wasn't a request.” ___________________________________ (Spike’s Pov) Spike woak up with a groan as he rubbed the back of his head with a claw. As he continued to rub it, he went to stand up but stopped when his head hit something solid. “Ow.” Looking up, he saw crystal in his vision as he blinked with confusion. Looking around he saw that he was surrounded by nothing but crystal. It was small to. He could probably only come up in a sitting position without hitting his head. As the drake looked around his crystal dome prison,he rubbed his chin as he tried to remember why he was here in the first place. Spike didn't think for long as he remember that mare that somehow knocked him out. She was probably on her way to steal something from the castle or worse! ‘She’s after Twilight.’ His thoughts were correct when the drake’s ears picked up the sound of rumbling and a large bang that went throughout the castle. Eyes widening, Spike felt around the crystal dome to see if there was a flaw in it that would let him out. He was relieved when there were tiny holes in the dome allowing him to breathe but frustrated when there wasn't a way out. Sitting down he tapped a fist to his noggen as he tried to think on how to get out of here. As he thought on different ways that would not help him in the slightest, one idea clicked in his head as he stared at his claws. ‘I am what ponies call a gem dragon, so maybe….’ Wanting to test his idea, Spike firmly pressed his claws against the crystal dome. Closing his eyes, he put pressure on them as he dragged the appendages down. The sound of scraping came to his ears as he opened his eyes to see that their were, while small, noticeable indents in the crystal. Smiling to himself he looked at his claws as he wiggled them. ‘Nice.’ His thoughts were stopped when he felt another rumble along with another huge bang. His brow furrowed in determination as he scratched at the crystal dome with gusto. ‘Hange on Twilight, I'm on my way.’ Spike stayed in that position with his claws going at the crystal wall scratch after scratch. While his progress was successive, it was slow. At one point the drake began to tire, but the sound of a small explosion gave him more determination to get out of his prison. After what felt like hours, Spike silently cheered to himself as his claws finally broke through a small part of the dome. He went faster in his goal to get out as the hole became bigger. Eventually he had a hard time to make the hole big enough for him to fit through, but was large enough for him to take a bite out. ‘Well, it's basically like a gem, so.’ Opening his mouth to reveal small, sharp teeth, he sunk them into the crystal and with a growl shook side to side. Spike felt his teeth begin to sink into the crystal and eventually broke it off. As he chewed, his face grew a look of disgust as he spat out the crystal. “Blech, it's like gems but definitely doesn't taste the same.” Shaking his head with his tongue hanging out, Spike went back to biting out chunks of the crystal to make the hole bigger while spitting it out from the bad taste that it gave him. When the hole was big enough, he squeezed out of it and threw his hands in the air with a cheer. “Yeah! Now to help Twilight!” Tuning on his heels he quickly made his way to the main stairs. The little dragon didn't get far though when a big explosion sounded, shaking the walls of the castle. Spike cringed in worry. ‘Geez, sounds like Twilight is fighting for her life.’ To clarify his thought another rumble sounded. Spike’s shoulders dropped with defeat. ‘If that fight is as bad as it sounds then I won't be much of help in fighting.’ Another rumble sounded as the drake looked at the stairs. Another idea came to his head as he narrowed his eyes and took off full sprint out the door. Only for it to slam in his face. Spike rubbed his nose as he glared at the door. His eyes widened however when he noticed crystal spikes covering the doors like locks sealing them shut. Spike however was not gonna let that stop him as he went to another room. Not finding what he was looking for he went to the next which he pumped a fist in the air when he saw a window. Opening the window he jumped outside and began his trek through the town which its occupants were now worriedly looking at the castle after hearing the commotion coming from within it. The drake payed no mind to the crowd that flinched when another loud bang sounded from one part of the structure. Instead he went full sprint through the town to fetch his other friends. ‘Just hang in there Twilight, help will be on the way.'