//------------------------------//
// Full throttle Flame 
// Story: This is what we do 
// by Foxgear 
//------------------------------//

This is what we do ch 20 
By Foxgear



“You ok Aria?” Mac asks the coughing siren handing her medicine tablets and water. Aria let out a weak insult as she took the tablets with the water. Promptly falling back into her bed, the blankets pulled up to her nose so only above her eyes was visible. Her body trembles as if cold, despite the two heavy blankets that lay on top of her and the house set to seventy degrees. “Right, well, I’ll leave this bucket here in case you throw up again. Try to get some rest.” He told her walking out of the room. When he looks back at the pink siren he finds her rolled up into a tight blanket cocoon. 

He shook his head wondering what the cause of Aria’s sudden illness was. When he had woken up for chores this morning he had found Aria in the bathroom, her PJ’s, soaked with sweat and her entire body shivering as she knelt in front of the toilet dry heaving up a storm. She had flushed whatever vile she previously hacked up so he couldn’t study it to see what was wrong with her. It could just be a stomach virus, but he didn’t remember shivering being a symptom. Her temperature was also very high. Maybe she caught an early winter bug? 

Walking downstairs Mac takes his seat at the dinner table for breakfast as Sonata came in from finishing morning chorus. Adagio set a plate of eggs on the table and they all sat down to eat. 

“How’s Aria doing?” Adagio asks, her tone concerned as she picks at her eggs. Across from the elder siren Sonata sat with her head hung low, feeling guilty as she sniffs. 

When Mac had found Aria in the bathroom he had woken up the entire household. Adagio had been surprised to see her sister in such a state while Sonata panicked over Aria. Later when he had everyone calmed down and Aria in bed, Sonata began crying. Saying she should have heard her sister leave her room since she was just across the hall. None of them had any idea how long Aria had been in such a state in front of the toilet with only her sleeping top and pants on. She must have been there for some time given her violent shivering. The house had only been at sixty-five degrees at the time. Normally that was high enough at night, but in November it could be chilly without the proper clothes. Clothes Aria had not been wearing. 

Mac had left Sonata in the care of Adagio has he rushed Aria up her room and placed her in bed. Only after he did that did he realize her clothes were soaked with sweat, so he called Adagio and Sonata up to change her while he went out to start the chores. It hadn’t been twenty minutes later when they called him back to the house, Aria now in fresh clean clothes and the two girls looking uncertainly through the medicine cabinet for something to treat their sister. 

Deciding to have Sonata finish chores Mac took what medicine he thought would be effective and called Nyx to try and narrow down her symptoms so he could give her the right medicine. However, the changeling Nurse failed to answer. So, he just grabbed some stomach medicine and common cold medicine to give to the sick siren. 
Which leads to now. 
“Sonata and I will go into town and start investigating the dust houses. You don’t mind looking after Aria do you Adagio?”
“Normally no, but I’m concerned about what might happen if / I get sick,” Adagio said rubbing her baby bugle. Causing Mac to sigh, “Sorry honey.”
“No, no, your right. Can’t get hold of Nyx right now. Um… I guess you and I can go to town. Get you out of the house for a bit. Sonata, you don’t mind if…”
“I will gladly stay!” Sonata said excitedly. “I won’t let Ari down!” 
He smiles at the sirens enthusiasm as he stands up taking his plate to the sink. It was about eight, so…. “RING RING RING RING!” His cell phone suddenly goes off. Grabbing it off the counter he checks the number, surprised to see it’s AJ. He answers. 
“Shouldn’t you be in class?” He says sternly. Why was she calling so early? There was a lot of chatter in the background. Was something going on? “AJ, what’s with all the noise!” 
“Mac!” AJ screams over the crowd. “Mac you gotta come to town! The school… no the whole neighborhood! You gotta come see this! It’s awful!” The call ends. 
“AJ, AJ! What are you, god!” He fumes, he wasn’t in the mood for this. Lucky he was going to town anyway today. “Grab you coat Hun. I guess we're going sooner rather than later.”
Fetching their coats Mac and Adagio climb into the old red farm pickup and take off. Sonata waving from the porch as they make dust down the driveway. 
“What do you think going on?” Adagio asks as they turn onto the main highway to town. Mac’s grip tightens on the steering wheel, she puts her hand on his arm to try and calm him. It has a minor effect as Mac’s body relaxes. 
“Knowing AJ,” Mac says humorlessly, “Nothing good.”
The rest of the trip was in silence as Mac rolls into town. He could already tell something was off as he drives down the streets to the school. There was excitement in the air. The sidewalks were filled with people and the streets were littered with parked cars. The whole town was up in a fizzy for whatever happened. He finds an open spot about two blocks away and after helping Adagio out of the pickup they walk hand and hand towards the school. The townsfolk speaking in hushed and concerned tones. 
As they near the school see the flashing lights of police, firefighters, and Ambulances. White tents were pitched in lawns with Doctors and Nurses from the hospital escorting people in and out. In the chaos he spots Nyx, looking tired and frantic as she pulls in another pair of patients. It was too hard to see what was wrong with them and Nyx probably wouldn’t like to see them at the moment, so they continue on. Finally, they reach the school.  
“Fuck, something blew it up again? What’d you guys do build it on Indian graves and then piss on them?” Adagio empathically signs, only to suddenly smile. “When I was a villain I never blew up the school, some villains have no style. What is this, the third time this happened?”
Mac chuckles despite himself, it was kind of funny. “Yeah, it’s the third time, but it wasn’t just the school this time. The whole block looks like it got hit.”
“Yeah, but with what? Also, isn’t it kind of warm?” Adagio said taking off her coat. 
“It is,” Mac agrees also taking off his coat. “There are a lot of people here, lots of body heat to go around, maybe that’s why?” Adagio sniffs the air, and then suddenly steals a small bit of Mac’s magic, her eyes glowing green. Looking for dark magic. “See anything?”
“I see something,” Adagio states. “There was defiantly some dark magic, but there’s not a lot around. Looks like someone or something already purified it. Ok, seriously it is hot! This is not winter weather!”
Mac looks around, noticing the heat damage to the roof tiles, it had defiantly been hot not too long ago. He takes Adagio by the wrist and pulls her deeper into the crowd. Determined to find his sister. “Come, let’s go find Applejack.” He says taking out his phone. He presses the emergency tracker app, finding AJ in the crowd. 
He finds her, along with Sunset and Twilight. The others strangely absent. Using his massive body, he dozers his way through the crowd towards them. When he finally reaches the trio Applejack starts speaking like Pinkie, excitedly telling him about how she found the school, something about a cop, but what really grabbed his attention was when she points towards the statue or what was left of it. 
“Holy shit…” Mac stares slack-jawed at the pile of rubble that had once been the portal between Equestria. It was destroyed. Gone. He looks to Sunset, the fiery hair girl was hiding her face in her, but he could see the tears falling down her face. She had lost her only way home, back to her family. He takes her by the arm, passing her to Adagio as he glances around, a sense of panic filling him. “We going to the farm, now.” He said forcibly. Not giving Applejack and Twilight a choice as he pushed his way through the crowd. His mind reeling. 
(Shit, shit, shit! The portal is gone! Did something come through it and break it? Did something else just find it? What is going on? Shit, what’s going to happen if the main portal is gone? Are we completely disconnected from Equestria or does this mean the portals are going to go haywire?) He didn’t know the answers to any of those questions. He madly dials Maddie’s cell number, but there was no answer. He sends a text, email, whatever he could do to try and get a hold of her. By the time he made it back to the truck, Mac had given up and dialed home. 
“Yeah?” Sonata’s voice said over the line. 
Mac spoke quickly as he climbs into the truck Adagio and Sunset Shimmer climb as AJ takes Twilight to her pickup. “I need you to check Maddie’s computer, see if any portals opened up.”
“We have an app,” Sunset said quietly holding up her phone. Mac took it and sighs in relief as it showed nothing appearing or having appeared. 
“Never mind Sonata I… PING!” Mac looks down as Sunset phone, a portal just opened up. “PING!” Then another. “PING!” And another. “PING PING PING PING PING!” Red dots began appearing all over the display. A counter in the corner read twenty, the location, The old Canterlot city library, Maddie’s old lab. “Fuck, fuck FUCK! Sonata get in the in the blue pickup, no load the other pick up with guns and ammo! Meet me at the corner of Highway 28! We’ll swap trucks there, after that you go back to the farm and lock and load!” 
“Mac, what’s going on?” Sonata screams in a panic over the line. He doesn’t answer as he floors the pick up to outside of town. He grits his teeth as more PINGs keep going off by the minute. 
Growling Mac tries Maddie’s cell again, getting no answer, “Dammit Maddie where are you!” 



Maddie had no idea where she was. Only that she was tied up tight, much like how she used to on the weekends before getting rainbow blasted. Those had been fun weekends. Her, Moon Dancer, some kids from the college. Fun times. Only she had been the one tying people up. 
“Hey! Asshole’s who tied me up! My fingers are going numb, loosen these damn things or tie me to a chair or something!” She screams kicking air as she slowly spins in place. Her hands were tied above her head, her feet about two inches off the floor. It was pretty painful. Twisting her hands, she grabs the rope she’s suspended from and pulls herself, briefly, the tension in her wrist resides, but it didn’t last long as her arms begin to shake. She couldn’t hold up her own body weight! Gently before her grip slips she eases herself back down, the rope digging into her wrists again. “Yep, lot funnier when you’re the one tying people up.” 
Really though she had no idea what was going on. First, that giant snake kidnaps her in Equestria and then her head gets bashed against the portal mirror. Which hurt like a son of a bitch. On top of that, her ribs might be bruised from that snake manhandling her in its tail. Also, the common problems of being suffocated and knocked out with what was most likely a concussion. The good news? 
Well, she was back on earth, so that was something. She had no idea where she was through. Who kidnapped her or why. Now her capture may just be playing the silent game, but nobody had replied to her yell, nor has there been a sound, so maybe she was alone. Which means. 
“A little magic in the arms, and…” Maddie pulls herself up on the rope again, bringing her teeth to bear on the rope. She begins gnawing on the rope, cringing at the taste of it, but it was better than chewing off her hands, so rope it is. 
After several minutes or maybe even longer, the rope tears, using her fingernails she tries cutting the fraying braids of twine. Fingers bleeding, the blood dripping down on to her chest, she cuts halfway through the rope. Lifting her knees to her chest she braces herself, tightly wrapping her fingers around the rope under her cut she drops all one hundred five pounds of her body weight and… the rope holds. 
“FUCCKKK! Mother fucking, Irish whores on a Sunday! Fuck! That FUCKING HURTS!” She screams, her wrist had already been chaffed by the rope, but her little stunt just shaved the skin off her wrists. Tears of pain flooded her vision as blood rolls down her arms. “God! What did I do to deserve this?” Maddie cries. “Actually, don’t answer that! I don’t want to know, I did lots things that would lead to this.” 
Maddie laughs, finding her comment hilarious. She was talking to God now, great. Maybe she was going insane again? Or maybe she’s away been insane. What is sane? She was raised a scientist by a pony turned human and knew magic existed since she could read. 
“Magic… magic is what you make it.” She looks up at the half-cut rope. Even like that, it would take a lot of strength to rip it apart. That was the brute’s way, the barbarian’s way of doing things. She was neither, she was a scientist. And right now, she was using the wrong tool, she was using a hammer when she really needs a knife! 
Taking a deep breath Maddie closes her eyes, feeling her magic, she found it. Usually, she uses her magic to increase her muscle strength. A very basic way of using magic. She took the energy she usually pushed into her arms and legs and sent it all to her fingers. From there she pictures her nails, imaging cat claws, no little lightsaber blades, coming out of her nails. Her fingertips heat up and suddenly she fell! 
“Whoa! Oof!” She hit the ground heard, completely unprepared for the sudden fall. She rolls onto her knees. Staring and laughing at her fingers, which were glowing like tiny green laser knives. She needs to watch more fantasy/sci-fi, she was too logical. Dad had taught her the basics of magic as a science, as something with logic. She knew how to turn someone into a fire person or into a hybrid, but she didn’t understand how to use her own magic beyond strength enhancement. There had never been a need to. She and her dad hadn’t been fighters. That’s what they kidnapped and made their mind slaves for.  
Deactivating her… she’ll just call them laser nails, Maddie stands her body feeling off balance from being hung up in the air for so long. Quickly she checks her pockets and no phone. That was expected. What are her surroundings? Utter darkness and she didn’t have a flashlight. 
“Right,” Maddie says opening her palm, she creates a sphere of light. “Magic. God, I really don’t use this gift very, much do I? Ok, now, where am I? Let’s see there’s a roof and there are arches. So, a building.” She sniffs the air. “An old building. With a dirt floor.” 
Walking towards what looks like the exit Maddie was about halfway to the outline of the door when she stops. This was way too easy. Granted her escape hadn’t been a picnic, but there was no way someone would go through the trouble of kidnaping her, tying her up, only to have the exit be right there. 
Pulling back her arm Maddie launches the sphere of light at the door. In the darkness, she sees the bones of animals covering the floor between her and the door. Creating another light, she tosses to her left, finding more bones. The right was the same and even the back of the building. Bones surround her on every side. 
“Bones, bones, monsters made of bones… Knochen. Right, dad studied them for a bit when some came through a few years back. Basically, timber wolves made of bones. Ok.” Maddie sucks in a breath, bouncing in place to get her blood pumping. Her limbs glow with magic as steam rises off her body. “Ok, hammer time.” 
She charges for the door. The Knochen rise becoming humanoid like figures kind of like the skeleton of a werewolf and begin clawing at her. She hits the nearest one hard, her magic infused blow blowing its rib cage to pieces. She ground pounds the one in front of her, not bothering to fight them all, she just needs to escape! She shatters two more, but three take their place and two jump her from behind, their bone claws tearing her shirt and leaving cuts on her back. 
“Take this!” Cupping her fists together she hits the ground, creating a minor shockwave, clearing away every Knochen within four feet of her. She takes off sprinting again, blowing apart rib cages, but the Knochen begin to dogpile on her again. Dragging her to the ground. She thought that would be the end of it, but then she has an idea. “Use the right tool.” She had thought she needed a hammer but slicing bones would work too. Picturing her laser nails, she spins cutting through the boney creatures with ease, even her toes were sporting the deadly little glowing blades. Like a mad beast, Maddie rips and claws her way through the Knochen, cutting through the tin steel walls and stumbles out into the afternoon sun. Bloody and her clothes nothing but tatters, her sweater, tank top barely bare rags over her breasts and her jeans might as well be cut-offs, but she was outside! Barefoot, she stumbles down the gravel path, cringing as every rock pokes painfully against her feet. 
Looking back, she sees the glowing eyes of the Knochen, but they don’t leave the steel pole shed she’d been held captive in. Relief floods her system. “Good, they won’t follow me. It’s hard to run without shoes.” She chuckles as she keeps on, the rocks making her cry out with every step. “I’m such a city girl,” She giggles, as she moves down the path. She’s seen Mac walk barefoot across gravel without even flinching. As she rounds the bend, she catches the sight of heavy machinery. Was she in a rock quarry? 
Looking around Maddie concludes she was somewhere outside of town, but hopefully, one of the workers would bring her back to town and maybe loan her some clothes. “Boy, this is going to be hard to explain.” 
“No, it isn’t.”
“Yeah, it is, I’m particularly…” She pauses, who the fuck just said that. She turns her head, the last of her sentence slipping out from her lips as she sees the devilish smirk of a flat hair Pinkie Pie. “…Naked…” Suddenly gravity just increased and Maddie found herself kissing the dirt. Her eyes following Pinkie as she stalks around her, her hand outstretched. Pinkie was using gravity! Did that mean?
“Long time no see, mother. Surprised to see me?”
“Subject-003, Pinkamena Diane Pie, mixture D-26, I-87, and S-99.” Maddie mumbles. “How come you're still inside the girl? Last I check that rainbow blast got rid of all my meddling.”
“The name is Spite,” She chuckles, a pink snake uncoils from around Pinkie’s neck, it’s jaws snapping angrily at Maddie. “And the rainbow blast didn’t kill us. How would you say, it simply tucked us away? Compressing everything we were into black eggs, waiting for the day we could be free once again. I and several of my sisters have already awakened. 004 or as you called her Rainbow Storm, was the one that took you last night. But I took you from her, I wanted some quality time with you, mother.” Spite swoons with a devious look as she holds up a pocket watch looking device. “I think we’ll have lots of fun.”
Maddie stays firm as the possessed girl caresses her cheek. Gravity still pushing down on her. “So,” Maddie says with a strained voice, “The snake is the real you?”
“Always the inquisitive one, aren’t you mother?” Spite says picking Maddie up like a sack of potatoes. The mad scientist tried to escape, but the pink snake grew and coiled around her. “Don’t worry, we’ll have plenty of fun soon mother. Just as soon as Auntie Moon Dancer gets here. Then the real fun will begin!” 
“You leave Moon Dancer out of this!” Maddie screams as Spite opens to the door to the shed, chuckling as she tosses Maddie to the floor. 
“Now where would the fun be in that? Don’t worry. I only told my minions it be slightly rough with her, but let’s get started with our own fun. Shall we?” As the door closes Spite holds up a handful of glowing rocks. “Now, I have a few questions of my own, mother.”
Between the sounds of laughter and explosions Maddie screams could be heard, but the further and further away from the desolate shed. The quieter it becomes and soon even the most ear-shattering fear lace cry for help was nothing over the roar of mining equipment of the nearby quarry. 



Moon Dancer hides beneath a desk in the library Lab, the growls of the creatures outside a haunting roar of what her fate was to be once they get to her, and they would get her to. They’ve already gotten inside, it was only a matter of time before they found the lab entrance. They had come out of nowhere. All at once Timber Wolves of different breeds appeared from portals and began besieging the Library, a tall ugly troll looking creature leading them. She called Maddie’s cell, but there was no answer and the howls getting closer, she cries as she tries to remember the numbers of Mac or anyone that could help her. Sadly, she concludes after scrolling through her contacts, she had never gotten Mac’s number. Every time she talked to the monster hunter it had been through Maddie’s phone. 
The howls grew louder. This area was still protected by magic, so nobody would notice the army of magical creatures attacking her. Moon Dancer began to cry when she suddenly had a crazy idea. She climbs out from under the desk. Using the computer on the desk she types Mac’s name into google and… there was no number. He didn’t have his farm on Facebook or anything like that. Why was she not surprised? But there was a clip of his Father’s funeral, it showed Mac and the casket bears. She recognized to the two tall men standing behind the boyhood Mac, Maddie’s dad used to rant about them. Their names listed in the article. 
“Ferocious Firebird and Stryker Six.” She types their names in the search bar and a number, fax and address showed up for CPD. She looks at the map on the wall. Mac was a good hour or more drive away. If the two men were part of CPD, they should be in the city. There was scratching at the door now. Moon Dancer takes her phone and dials the number. 
“Detective Ferocious’s desk.” A gruff voice said. Boy did he sound angry, Moon Dancer thought. 
“Um, Hi, you probably don’t know me, but I know you. I have a rather… um, large problem that your friend Nico used to take care of? If you know what I mean?” 
“Where are you at?”
“Canterlot City Library. The old one.” The line goes dead. “Um hello? Please? Help me! Please!” She screams into the phone before setting it back on the receiver. Moon Dancer checks the barricade she made in front of the main lab door and looks at the cells where Maddie used to hold subjects. Taking the keys and whatever supplies were left, she walks inside and shuts the cage door and waits for what was to come.



Mac didn’t know what to expect rolling into the old city block, it looked as bad as last time, well it was worse after their battle with Maddie. There has been no effort to repair the abandoned library or the surrounding buildings. Not even the bums remained. Riding with him was Adagio, calmly loading her pistols beside him, while Sunset Shimmer sat against the window looking nervous. Driving behind them was Applejack and Twilight. 
“Nervous to be back here, Sunny?” Sunset nods as they approach the library. He pulls over to the side of the street half a block away. He didn’t want to risk the vehicles getting damaged in the battle. Of course, Sunset would be nervous, they all were. This place didn’t have fun memories. On that note, this would be the first-time monsters have shown up in the city, as far as he knew. “Don’t worry, it’ll be fine. Adagio you stay with the vehicles.”
“What!” The Siren fumes. “I can handle myself!”
“I know you can, but… you know,” He indicates her belly. “I don’t want to take any chances.”
“You know I could get ambushed in the pickup right? Then what? I’d be all alone.” She retorts and does raise a good point. He hums as Applejack and Twilight walk up beside the truck, Applejack had one of his shotguns and Twilight was awkwardly holding Aria’s rifle. 
“Twilight stay here with Adagio,” Mac said holstering his pistol on his hip. Reaching into the back of the truck he pulls his 870 Remington out of its case and straps the bandolier of shotgun shells around his chest, loading eight rounds into the extended tube mag. “Applejack, Sunny with me, make sure to cover each other.” 
The two girls nod as they walk in a horizontal line down the street a couple feet apart from each other. It was basic hunting formation so they could cover each other’s line of sight and hopefully not shoot each other. They enter the plaza. 
“Holy shit.” Were the first words to come from Mac’s mouth. Timberwolves of all types surround the plaza, all of them converging on the library. He saw the normal timber wolves, but he easily recognized the purple mushroom covered bodies of the Fungi Wolves. The same kind that poisoned him in Equestria. But there was more. He saw a black timber wolf, it’s body smoldering with an orange glow as it breathed fire at the library, the thick wooden doors burning as the other wolves ram the door. 
“Cinder Wolves,” Sunset said holding up her phone, she flashes the screen at him, showing a profile with the creature displayed on it. “Timber Wolves made from the branches and sap of Cinder trees, the unique wood gives them the power to use fire magic. If that wasn’t obvious. The purple ones are…”
“Fungi wolves,” Mac answers. “I’ve run into them before, never on this side of the mirror though. They're poisonous so be careful.” 
“Good to know,” Applejack says, her grip tightening on her gun. “You know the cure in the case we’re poisoned?” 
“No,” Mac replies, “A zebra I met in the forest gave me the cure, so I’d suggest you not get hit by them. We don’t know if the ingredients can be found on this side or not, and there’s no getting help from Equestria this time.” 
“I thought you didn’t want their help anyway?” 
He smiles faintly, nodding, “Yeah, kind of regretting saying that now. Still, this is our world. It’s our job to protect it.” He looks at Sunset, the fiery hair girl’s hands were trembling as she grips the handle of her pistol. “There’s more than one way here, so there must be more than one way to Equestria. We’ll find you a way home Sunset, focus on right now.” 
Sunset wipes her eyes, giving the Apple siblings, no her family, a bright smile. Nico adopted her as an Apple after all. “Thanks, cousin.” 
Mac smiles and points his shotgun as the horde of Timber Wolves. “Think nothing of it, we’re family. Now, let’s get some varmints.” He pulls the trigger, letting loose the first shot. The closest Timber Wolf explodes into splinters. “Try to hold off using magic until you really need it! These guys are Cannon fonder!”
“Right!” The girls yell taking up positions behind abandoned cars as they fire at the charging wolf pack. Only the normal Timberwolves were coming for them at the moment. The Fungi and Cinders continuing to besiege the library. 
Mac quickly counts the number of wolves, there were five Fungi and five Cinders, minus the one timber he destroyed, that was nine Timbers coming at them. Lining up his shot he pulls the trigger again, the double OT buck shot blowing the timber to pieces. From his left Applejack lets lose with her shotgun. Blowing three away in seconds. He quickly rackets his gun and takes out two coming at him and then looks towards Sunset. She was having little more trouble with her pistol; the .45 caliber rounds weren’t quite as effective. He counts her shots, hearing all seven fire from the gun. She panics as the slide locks open and she ejects the clip, frantically searching for her extra in her pocket. He rises up from behind his cover and follows the remaining Timber with his bead, his finger just about to squeeze the trigger when…
“Mac look out!” Cries Applejack. Quickly he ducks behind his cover again, the sound of something piercing the hood of the abandoned car catches his attention. Peering over the hood he sees a purple stake impeded in the hood. The Fungi wolves posed at the top of the stairs. 
He growls, “Shit.” Running out from cover, Sunset still fiddling with her extra clip, he fires at the stairs, the double OT buck spreading wide missing the Fungi, but did make them back up a bit. He runs up to the Sunset, the Timber jumping on top of the car, he slides across the ground stopping beside her, the muzzle of his gun pointing up. He fires. Blowing its head off.
“You ok?” 
Sunset sighs, finally reloading the pistol. “Yeah, sorry. It’s been awhile since Nico showed me how to use these things. Not that I was any better back then.” 
“It’s fine, I know I said try refrain from using magic, but use it if you need to.” 
Sunset pony’s up growing ears. “Much better, so how are we going to take the stairs? Those things are covering them pretty well.” 
“Let me think about that. Applejack! How are you doing?” Mac yells. 
“I’m fine!” Applejack replies. “Damn things got me pinned though! I can’t get to you two!” 
“That’s fine! Just stay there for now!” Mac tells her as several stakes hit the side of the car they were hiding behind. Those things were as smart as they were last time. They sacrificed the Timbers so the Fungi could figure out their range. The shotguns wouldn’t reach that far, at least not with buckshot. A 30mm slug might, but even that was little iffy. They could have Twilight bring him Aria’s rifle, but there was no grantee she could make it up here without getting hit. Trying to snipe them would be difficult to. The fungi could fire a lot faster than Aria’s bolt action could. He’d really have to duck and cover if he was going to hit all five. That is if he could get a shot without getting hit. 
“Can you make shields? Something like Rarity’s geode power?”
Sunset chews on her fingernail, “Hmm, I do know a few shield spells, but I never tried them on this side yet. I barely learned levitation last week.”
“Levitation…” Mac looks around, an idea forming. “How much can you lift?”
“Well, Twilight could raise those boulders, so I could probably do the same. For a little while at least.” 
“Are you two coming up with a plan?” Applejack yells from her position.  “Cause these things are starting to eat through my cover!” 
“We got something in the works AJ, just hold on!” Mac yells back. “Sunny, can you lift this car and push it ahead? Get us closer to the stairs?” 
Sunset looks at the car, a red aura of magic surrounds her hand and then around the car, she raises her hand, her brow sweating, but the car raises off the ground. She gives a shakily smile and nod. “Say when!”
“Go!” 
Mac pushes the car, a rain of wood stakes assaults them the windows shattering, but he had the Fungi’ attention. “AJ! Move up!” He barks they moved about twenty yards, the car drops back to the ground, Sunset on her knees gasping for air. Red steam rising from her hands. “Are you ok?”
Sunset nods, “Yeah…(Pant) I guess… (wheeze) magic can overheat here too. My hands feel like their on fire!” 
To his left, he hears the sound of gunfire. Peering around the car he sees Applejack on the other end of the street, hiding behind one of those large cement troughs that the city plants trees in. AJ sat huddled with her back against the stone wall, two of the Fungi paying close attention to her. They probably wouldn’t fall for that again. 
“AJ! Give me some cover, I’ll move up this time!” Mac yells at her, his ears ringing from all the gunfire. From her position, AJ shakes her head. 
“No! I can make!” She says getting up to run again. 
“AJ don’t!” But she didn’t listen. She jumps out from her cover running to another abandoned car. He rises up firing his shotgun to try and distract the Fungi, but they knew his shots wouldn’t reach them. At least not in an effectual way. Some bark breaks off their bodies with some stray buckshot, but it was no better than a flesh wound to the creatures. They fire at him and he ducks down. Growling his fists glow orange. “Hang on to this,” Mac says passing the shotgun to Sunset. “I’m going to save my foolish sister.” 
Sunset nods, taking the gun. “I’ll cover you.”
He nods and with his arms covered in scales Mac runs out into the open. Really hoping his scales would be hard enough to deflect the stakes. One of the purple projectiles come flying right at him and he bats it away! He cringes as the velocity of the flying stake makes his arm tremble. He could deflect them, but not easily. He runs behind cover, now on the same side of the street as AJ. Who was now hiding behind a large garbage bin? One half of it already riddled with stakes. The other side wasn’t holding up much better as the Fungi began to adjust their shot so they fired through the opening of the bin. AJ let out a yelp as a stake pierces through, exiting right next to her face! 
“Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea!” She screams hugging her body against the ground, half a dozen more stake shredding the thin sheet metal. 
“Ya think!” Mac retorts angry, ready to grab her when he sees one of the Fungi charging down the stairs, the other four providing cover! He tries to jump out, but a barrage of poisonous stakes stops him cold. “AJ, watch out! One’s coming for ya!”
“What!” She yells her own ears probably ringing from the gunfire. The Fungi was vaulting over the half-destroyed garbage bin, jaws wide open for a massive bite. Mac curses drawing his pistol. AJ was way too close in his line of sight for his liking, but he has to take the shot or she’d be poisoned! 
“Duck AJ!” He screams. He didn’t care where he hit the damn Fungi, just as long as he misses AJ! AJ let out a scream, the poisonous tree wolf about to land on top of her. His finger trembles, beginning to squeeze the trigger of his .45. In his nervousness, he pulls from the middle of his finger jerking the gun to the side. The bullet goes rocketing to the right hitting the Fungi’s back left leg, far from a vital spot. “AJ!” He screams as the Fungi falls on her, it’s toxic claws and fangs about to pierce her skin when suddenly, from out of nowhere, the Fungi shattered to pieces! It’s remains scattering all over the street, the purple sticks set ablaze. 
For a moment the entire plaza went quiet as a tall man in a long coat stood protectively over his sister, a claymore in his grip and red and yellow wing protruding from his back. The man’s face was hidden by the cowl of his coat and the cap on his head, but Mac could see tuffs of red hair and the glare of his golden eyes from beneath the brim of his head. The most striking thing was the patch on the man’s coat. The same patch on his own. A Night Patrol patch, number 0756.
“You three, stay down,” The man growls, his rough and growly, like that of a beast’s. He glares at the Fungi and the Cinders that had momentary stopped their siege to look upon the newcomer. “I’ll handle this.” The man shifts his stance, holding his sword in straight out in front of his body. “Full Throttle Flame.”
Like a rocket, the man shot off appearing as nothing more for a shooting red arrow reaching the top of the stairs in seconds! The Fungi never stood a chance, with four swings of his sword, the man cleaves the Fungi wolves into twos, their remains bursting into flame. The Cinders redouble their efforts, one breaking through the library door and escaping inside while the remaining four charge the swordsmen. 
“Tch, please,” the man says thrusting his gloved hand into the closest Cinder. Yanking his hand free he pulls a glowing orange orb from the Cinder, it’s magic core. The man crushes the orb in his hand, the Cinder’s body falling to ash. The three remaining Cinders whimper. “Nothing but little pups!” The man throws his sword like a spear, the claymore blasting the Cinder on the left to pieces, the blade devouring the magic orb of the monster. The man rushes grabbing the remaining two Cinders and shattering them against the corner of the entrance before grabbing his sword and entering the building after the final cinder, shouting, “You stay out here!” Before disappearing from view. 
The three rises from the cover, amazed by the man’s efficient disposal of the creatures. Sunset and Applejack look shakenly to Mac for guidance. “So, do we stay here or…” Mac was already running inside. “Ok. We’re….”
“You two stay here,” Mac interrupts. “Go back to Adagio and Twilight and wait for me there!” 
Sunset nods, trusting his judgment, “Ok Applejack… where are you going!”
“After my brother!” She retorts running up the stairs after Mac disappears into the library. Sunset hangs her head, fiercely rubbing her temple as she looks from the library to where they parked the vehicles. 
“Fuck,” She huffs jogging towards the vehicles. “Hopefully Adagio will know what to do.” 



Inside the library Mac slows, finding the remains of the last Cinder Wolf, but no sign of the mysterious man. Hearing footsteps behind him he quickly turns, pistol drawn, only to let it drop when his sister came into view.
“What the hell are you doing here? I told you to go back to the pickup!” Mac angrily whispers. 
“I’m not letting go after him alone!” AJ hisses quietly back.”
“I almost blew your head off because you recklessly decided to follow me!” 
“Well I… ok. I’ll concede that, but I’m still not going back. Now, where is this guy?”
“That’s what I want to know,” Mac whispers stepping through the library. The place was in ruins. Well, even more, ruined then before. Seems something else other than the Timber Wolves got in here. Going to the back he finds the secret door to Maddie’s lab ripped off its hinges. Yep, something else was defiantly here, but what? And if so why? Was Maddie here? If so, why didn’t she call them for help? “Let’s go, be…”
A high pitch scream comes from down below. Mac and AJ rush down the stairs, ponying up and igniting their fists with magic. They find the heavy steel door of the lab ripped clean up, the doorway bend and mangled by a huge outline. They enter the lab, following the screams and find Moon Dancer of all people hiding in one of the cells as an ugly looking monster pounds at the door. The sight of which made Mac freeze. It was a Gore. A small one, but still a Gore. 
“Fuck,” He mumbles under his breath. “AJ go back now.” 
“But Mac!”
“Go now!” He roars, pushing her back towards the stairs, the small Gore turns towards their voices, it didn’t have a helm this time, so it’s ugly jagged teeth were on full display. He gave a challenging roar, stomping its feet on the stone floor before charging at them. Mac lets his draconic side show as he changes his hands not claws. Ready to meet the undead creature head-on, when the man from before come rocketing in from behind the Gore, his claymore piecing through the Gore’s neck. 
“STAY AWAY FROM THEM!” The man roars igniting his sword with fire he cleaves through the creature’s neck, severing it from its body. He then stabs the sword through the monster’s heart, the Gore’s body bursting into flames, the smell of burning rotten flesh filling the air. 
The man haggardly steps down from the dead creature’s body, his cap removed, revealing his face. The buttons of his coat were undone or rather ripped off, revealing a rather large wound across his chest. It was obvious he had been fighting the Gore before he and AJ arrived and the mysterious man was looking a lot better then Mac did when he tried to do the same thing. 
“Fuck these things are annoying!” The man huffs, digging through his pocket he pulls out a carton of cigarettes. With a snap of his finger, he lights the smoke and takes a long deep drag. He takes a look at them, seemingly cursing under his breath as he tries to not make eye contact with them. “Cap, cap, where’s my fucking cap.” The man mumbles looking for the discarded hat. Suddenly AJ gasps.
“You’re that police officer! You came to my house last month asking about the Gilda attack! You… you were at the school too!” AJ takes a breath, trying to calm down, but failing. “Who the fuck are you! Why are you showing up everywhere I go! Why… why do you have magic!” 
Mac extends his arm, holding his sister back from approaching the man. He remembers his visions from the other day when they were going to the bar. This man was very similar to the man standing by his father. Pulling out his phone Mac opens his contacts and dials the number Luna gave him. The man’s phone begins to ring, he pulls out his phone looking from it to Mac.
“She gave you my number?” Mac nods. The man laughs. “Fucking A Luna.” He hits decline putting his phone back into his pocket. AJ looking confusing between her brother and the strange man.
“Luna… you don’t mean…”
Mac nods, “That’s right, Vice Principal Luna, our Godmother. This Applejack is our missing Godfather, Ferocious.”