Chapter 7: Enter the Lord of Vampires
Spike paced back and forth in front of the couch for what seemed like hours. Twilight and Luna had only been gone for like thirty minutes. To him though, it felt a lot longer than that. Thankfully, he wasn't the only one in the library who was concerned. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were waiting with him for their friend's return.
"...You think they're ok?" Spike asked before taking a seat on the couch finally.
"I'm sure they're fine, sugarcube." Applejack said, a warm smile spread across her face, "Besides, it's Twilight and Princess Luna. I'd imagine they make a powerful team if they really work well with each other.
"Yeah!" Pinkie said, hopping up and down in the same spot, "Both have like super magic powers that can make stuff go KABLEWIE!"
Fluttershy and Applejack giggled at Pinkie's sound effect. Spike however remained silent as he just stared at the floor. Applejack frowned as she placed a hoof on his shoulder gently.
"What's wrong, Spike?"
"I dunno..." Spike admitted, "I guess I just wished that Twilight would have let me help her. I mean, yeah, I'm a baby, but-"
A loud knock came from the door. The four friends blinked in confusion from the knocks as they steadily grew louder and louder. Could Twilight and Luna be back already? It had only been thirty minutes since they went into the Everfree Forest.
"They're back so soon?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'll get it!" Pinkie said energetically.
The pink pony hopped happily towards the door with a big smile on her face. That smile however disappeared when a loud crash came from the door. The crash was followed by an axe, which chopped straight through the door.
"EEK!" Fluttershy and Pinkie said together. Applejack instantly got on the defensive as she prepared for whatever was behind the door.
The axe pulled itself back. Through the cracks of the door, the four could see the goblin owner of the weapon glaring through the door. Another crash came from another axe, completely knocking the door off its hinges.
"Here he be! Here be the dragon!" The first goblin said, pointing at Spike.
"Goblins? Here?" Spike asked, jumping up, "How'd they get inside the town?"
"Whoa there!" Applejack shouted, galloping towards the goblins at full speed before she buck kicks a couple of them outside the library. "Spike! They're after you! Get somewhere safe, now!"
"R-Right!"
Spike ran to a hiding spot that he could get into that the goblins had no chance of reaching. The first goblin growled as he held his axe up high. Behind him more goblins came rushing through the door.
"GET HIM!"
As more goblins tried to burst their way into the entryway, Pinkie noticed a large book stack standing up. A grin came to her face. Taking a balloon she had brought along, she placed it by the books. And in true Pinkie fashion shouted out.
"CLEAR THE WAY!"
Applejack noticed what her friend was about to do and jumped back from the goblins. Pinkie popped the balloon with her teeth. The forced of the balloon's mini explosion forced the book stack down on the incoming goblins. The goblins that were caught in the path of the books were knocked out, their eyes spinning around in pain.
"Uh, do you think Twilight will be mad about her books?"
"Pinkie, now is not the time!" Applejack shouted, kicking every goblin in the jaw with her hind hoofs quickly. "How'd they get into Ponyville in the first place? The place is almost on lock down!"
Nobody had enough time to answer her question. As if on cue the remaining goblins engaged in combat with the three mares. Applejack had the easiest time of the three, kicking every goblin that came in too close to her. Pinkie had an easier time than Fluttershy, but was almost always on the defensive as she blocked each attack the goblins tried with a thick book that she had found.
Poor Fluttershy however, was forced to run from the goblins. A trio of them chasing the kind pegasus with daggers in their hands. One of them cackled as it threw its dagger at her.
"Oh dear, oh dear!" Fluttershy said meekly, dodging the dagger as she flew above them.
"Why are they after Spike?" Pinke asked as she kicked on goblin away.
"Who knows?" Applejack shouted, "Just keep fighting!"
Before either of them could hit another goblin though, a powerful blast of silver light bowled over the goblins that were rushing through the door. Luna and Twilight ran through the door, both panting hard. The younger of the princesses glanced all around the room. She cursed slightly under her breath before turning to Applejack.
"Where's Spike?" Luna asked.
"He's hiding somewhere!" Applejack answered, kicking another goblin in the jaw.
"Twilight, what's going on?" Pinkie asked, but her friend didn't answer as she rushed ahead of the group.
"SPIKE!" She yelled out, her eyes were welled up.
As she continued to look for her young ward her friends continued to hold off the goblins. Twilight was oblivious to that one of the goblins Luna had bowled over had struggled to get up. With a slight growl, it took a dagger from its belt and aimed carefully at Twilight. From his hiding spot, Spike's eyes widened as he saw what was about to take place. He knew what he had to do, even if it meant exposing himself to the goblins.
"Twilight!" Luna called out, noticing the goblin standing back up.
But it was too late. The goblin had thrown the dagger straight at Twilight's neck. An evil grin grew across its face as it flew close to its target. That grin disappeared however when a purple dash came out from a well placed hiding spot.
*THUNK!*
The dagger had harmlessly hit a book. Twilight turned her head to see what had happened. Her eyes grew small as she noticed her best friend standing protectively in front of her. Spike slowly lowered the book, his anger clear as he glared at the remaining goblins. Twilight was surprised at how angry her young ward was. Spike's body suddenly began to emit a pulsing power.
"Don't you..." Suddenly, a purple aura begins to surround him. Luna marveled at the sight as she watched the baby dragon carefully.
"My god...is that...?" She thought to herself, but that came to a stop when Spike's anger reached a limit point.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!"
Spike suddenly took a deep breath. His eyes glinted briefly as he exhaled a purple fire, incinerating the hapless Goblins in one shot. Everybody was silent at what they just saw. Twilight was in the most awe as she tried to wrap her mind around what had happened. The silence eventually broke when Pinkie jumped up.
"WOWEEE!" She cheered.
Spike blushed a bit as he scratched the back of his head. Fluttershy quickly trotted up to him. An amazed expression on her face replaced her meekly shy one.
"Spike, that was incredible!" She said, "How'd you do that?"
"I...I dunno. I saw that goblin was about to attack Twilight and...and something just snapped." He folded his arms, "All I could think about was wanting to protect her, and the next thing I knew-"
He didn't have time to finish. Twilight was already hugging him tightly. The baby dragon's eyes were small at the sudden hug from his best friend. Twilight however, was trying her hardest not to let a tear fall down her cheek.
"Thank the Princesses...you're all right..." She said happily. For awhile it looked like she wasn't going to let go. Applejack just smiled at her two friends.
"You gals managed to get here in time," She said, turning back to Luna, "especially if there are more of these little buggers that got into Ponyville..."
"Yes." Luna said, "I'm just glad we returned before-"
"Your highness!" A guard pegasus said, rushing into the library, "Your highness, goblins have appeared inside the town! They tried to breach the Apple Farm!"
"What?" Luna and Applejack shouted at once.
"We managed to suppress them before they could reach it, but we still don't know how many are left or even how they got inside the town!"
"Applebloom!" Applejack shouted, running past the guard at full speed. Twilight's eyes opened up again as she noticed the work horse speeding away.
"Spike, get on!" She said, "We gotta make sure everypony is all right!"
"Right!" Spike said in a determined voice, quickly jumping onto Twilight's back.
The group galloped as hard as they could to catch up with Applejack. Not an easy thing to do since she was the fastest earth pony in Ponyville. Twilight couldn't help but ponder as to how the goblins were able to get into their quiet town in the first place. They had nothing that goblins would want, they were a peaceful town. She dismissed the thought as they continued after Applejack.
Eventually, they reached the Apple Farm. True to the guard's words, the farm had almost been breached. Luckily for Applejack's family, the guard pegasai were there to stop the attack. For Applejack though, all she cared about what finding her little sister.
"SIS!" Applebloom shouted as she ran up to her, "You're ok!"
Applejack grabbed her sister tightly in a big hug. The brave work horse's body was quivering with fear at the thought of losing her youngest sibling.
"Oh thank goodness!" She said in between breaths, "Applebloom, did they hurt you? Did they even try to come close to you?"
"No, thankfully." Applebloom said, her own eyes filled with fear, "A guard patrol was around when they showed up, so they deal with them before they could even get through the gate."
The captain of the patrol nodded. He turned his attention back to Luna, bowing his head before speaking out.
"It's true. But something is bothering me." He mused, "Monsters appearing out of thin air is one thing, but based on the attack on Twilight's library they're attacking specific areas? It doesn't add up."
Luna put a hoof to her chin. She entered a deep thought process as the apple sisters quickly reunited with grateful hugs. Her eyes lit up as she turned back to Twilight.
"I think I have my own theory on this, but I'll need to discuss it with my sister first." She said. Twilight nodded her head. If anypony knew what was going on, Celestia would.
"Your highness, we found this on the body of one of the enemy." The captain said, handing over to Luna a piece of paper.
"Thank you, captain." Luna took the paper carefully, reading the map with interest. "Hmm.."
Pinkie, being herself, looked over the princess' shoulder. She blinked a bit as she turned her head sideways as she studied the map with her.
"What is it?"
"It..it's a map. A map of Ponyville."
"A map?" Applejack's attention returned, "Who in the hay would give a map of Ponyville to goblins? We don't have any enemies 'round here, Princess."
"Goblins aren't the smartest things, someone must have been planning this for awhile." Twilight mused. "And it can't be Discord, we sealed him away again."
"Look at how crude the markings and drawings are." Luna pointed out, "This was obviously drawn by a goblin or maybe an ogre. And look, some areas are marked."
Luna's horn pointed to several areas on the map. Each one of them circled in bright read. Based on her memory, Luna read each of them out loud to the group.
"Apple Farm, Rarity's Boutique, Rainbow's Cloud House and...hmm...I don't recognize this house, but it seems to be in the southern downtown district."
"Th-That's Scootaloo's house!" Applebloom cried out, concern for her best friend making her voice crack.
"Wait a sec!" Luna gasped, realization hitting her at last, "They attacked Twilight's house to get to Spike, and only Applebloom was at the farm when they tried to attack...this isn't a MAP, it's a BATTLE PLAN!"
Everypony's eyes shrunk at those words. Twilight didn't want to believe it when Luna spoke those words. She had tried to dismiss that somebody might have started a war when they were in the Everfree Forest, but now it was clear. Applejack snorted as she reared back.
"We're wasting time here, we need to move now!" She shouted, running ahead of her friends once again.
"Applejack, wait!" Twilight called out.
"Applejack!" Luna mimicked Twilight's call, rushing ahead with the others.
However, in her haste to catch up with the work horse, Luna failed to notice that in the corner of the map the encampment she and Celestia were staying at was also circled. All she could hope for was that no pony had been hurt yet.
XxXxX
Outside of Rarity's boutique, the figure in the cloak directs a small group of goblins. So far, everything was going to plan. He didn't expect the goblins to last long against the Princess' guard, nor did he expect them to capture the baby dragon. However, it had confirmed two things that his master wanted him to find out. A dark smile grew on his face.
"Listen up, one of the Bearers that our master seeks is inside. Burn the building, smoke her out. But remember, our lord wants her alive."
The goblins did some kind of crude salute. The figure vanishes from sight as his minions began to set their torches ablaze. Their evil cackles could be heard downstairs as they approached the boutique. Upstairs however, Rarity and her little sister were oblivious to the danger below.
"Sweetie Bell!" Rarity called out, using her magic to bring a small dress from a closest, "It's time for you fitting!"
"Coming sis!" Sweetie answered, trotting up happily into the fitting room.
As the two sisters readied themselves for Sweetie's fitting, their pet cat, Opalessence rushed in. She began to meow and waved frantically at the two sisters. Her face completely consumed by panic.
"Now now, Opalessence, we are creating art here~" Rarity said in a sing song tone. Using her magic, she began to measure her sister with a tape measure. Sweetie giggled slightly as it moved across her body. "Hold still, Sweetie! I can't get your measurements with you wiggling!"
Opalessence slapped her forehead at her owner's oblivious attitude. Quickly pouncing up to a table, she grabbed Rarity's face and forcefully turned it towards the window. A thick cloud of billowing smoke rising from below. The diva's pony's eyes shrunk.
"W-What in the world? FIRE!" Rarity screamed out, suddenly putting everything away with her magic. "Sweetie, we need to go now!"
"C-Coming!" Sweetie cried out, trotting after her sister as they ran down the stairs.
As they both reached the doorway, they were greeted by the goblin group. Their sharps weapons pointing right at them. The leader of the group took a step forward, approaching them slowly.
"You. Filly. You come with us." It said, slobber flying everywhere.
"Wh-What?" Sweetie shrieked as the goblin picked her up by her mane, "G-Get away from me!"
Rarity's protective instincts kicked in. Using her horn, she stabbed the goblin in the stomach rather hard before pulling away. While the goblin's wound began to bleed out, a part of Rarity wanted to squeal at the sight. But she stood in front of her sister protectively.
"Don't. You. Touch. My. Sister!" She shouted, not caring if they were severely outnumbered. Lucky for them, a new voice came.
"Heads up!"
A blast of magic slammed into the goblin group. The leader of the group turned towards their attacker. His eyes widened as Luna and co approached. The princess' horn still glowing with immense power.
"The younger princess! Flee!" He shouted. At his words the goblins began to scatter away from each other in pure fear. Luna turned to Twilight, her eyes with filled with determination.
"Twilight, get rid of those fires, hurry!"
"Right!"
Twilight's horn glowed briefly, a storm cloud rolled over Rarity's boutique. The sudden rain splashed over the fires, dowsing them out. As the rain continued over the boutique, Rarity checked on her little sister, not even acknowledging the blood on her horn.
"Sweetie, are you all right? That brute didn't hurt you did he?" The diva pony asked, pure terror filling her voice as she studied Sweetie carefully.
"N-No sis, I'm fine." Sweetie said, despite her shaking body.
"Oh dear oh dear...it's just like what it said on the map." Fluttershy says meekly.
"Fluttershy's right." Luna said, her eyes narrowed, "Spike, Applebloom, and now Sweetie Bell...these monsters are targeting specific areas to capture specific citizens."
"Oh no! Rainbow!" Fluttershy gasps. Twilight quickly placed a hoof on her shoulder.
"Fluttershy, we can't worry about that now!" She said, "We have to make sure everypony down here is safe first!"
"Besides, it's Rainbow." Rarity smirked, "She can handle herself, even with a clueless injured boyfriend on hand."
"But I thought they weren't together?" Applebloom points out. The older mares sigh at Applebloom's question. Rarity meanwhile turned back to her sister.
"Sweetie, I want you to hide." She instructed, "Do you understand? Do not come out until we've driven these goblins away!"
"R-Right!" Sweetie said, rushing back to the boutique to find a hiding spot. Rarity looked over to her cat, nodding her head once at her. Opal quickly did a faux salute and followed Sweetie back into the boutique.
Spike took a quick look at the map, which he had picked up after Luna dropped it back at the apple farm. He scratched his chin for a few seconds as he studied it. Then his attention turned to the circle where Scootaloo lived.
"Scootaloo's house is the closet place marked on the map." He pointed out, "If we hurry, we might be able to save her!"
"Then that's where we need to go, come on!" Luna shouted.
Once again, the group began to move at the fastest speed they could muster. Applejack took the lead once more of her friends. If the goblins were after certain ponies, and Spike, why didn't they fight harder to capture Sweetie? None of it made any sense.
XxXxX
As the mane group continued to rush towards Scootaloo's house, they were unaware that the orange pegasus filly was already on the move. Riding her trademark scooter, Scootaloo dashed past a couple of goblins. Determination filled her eyes as she continued to ride on.
"Monsters attacked Spike, Applebloom, and now Sweetie! I gotta tell Dash and Sky before it's too-"
She gasped suddenly as something began to block her path. A dark miasma formed in front of her, creating the shadowed figure from Rarity's boutique. His eyes flashed dangerously as Scootaloo was forced to a sudden halt.
"Hello, child." He said, his voice felt like a cold winter's breeze cutting through her.
"W-What the?" Scootaloo stammered, watching as the figure reached slowly for her. Lucky for her, a new voice came from behind the shadowed figure.
"Get away from her, you scum!"
Applejack, galloping at full speed, rammed herself into the shadow figure's back. The force of the impact forced the dark being to quickly regain his balance before standing back up. Applejack dragged one hoof across the ground as the rest of the mane cast gathered beside her.
"Scootaloo, fly to Rainbow and Sky Fire!" Applejack ordered, "They need to know what's going on!"
Scootaloo's eyes shrunk at the mention of the word 'fly.' She had never really tried to fly before. Not since that night when Sky Fire saved her life. Her body began to quiver as she swallowed hard.
"F-Fly? But-"
"No time for arguing!" Applejack shouted, "GO!"
Not wanting to push the issue anymore, Scootaloo began to run from the group. Her tiny wings flapping rapidly as she tried to get airborne. The shadow figure hissed as he waved his hand once, conjuring up several goblins to attack the mane group. As the battle between the ponies and the goblins raged on, Scootaloo glanced back once. Trying to stay airborne for more than just a few feet off the ground.
"I...I gotta warn them! But...to fly...I...I..."
The hooded figure's eyes meet up with her's. At first, sheer terror fills her heart. But then her eyes narrow in defiance against her fear.
"NO! I can't be afraid! Not now!"
A orange red glow began to surround Scootaloo. The glow seemed to empower her tiny wings more as she suddenly took off into the air towards Rainbow's cloudhouse. The hooded figure chuckles in amuzement as she flew away, his goblins lying dead at his feet.
"Ah...so another one has awoken." He mused.
"Now that the girl is gone," Applejack said, snorting at the hooded figure, "Just who the hell are YOU?"
At first, the figure said nothing. Twilight, now angered herself, stomps her hoof on the ground.
"Who are you? Are you in league with Discord?" Twilight asked, her horn covered in magic, "Because if you are..."
"Tch." The figure simply smirked, "Do not associate me with that jester. He is but a gnat compared to me and my master."
Luna's eyes suddenly widen at that voice. She had heard it once over a thousand years ago. It couldn't be true. She gasped silently as she remembered the face of the voice's owner.
"W-Wait...no...no! I-It can't be!"
The man grinned darkly. Slowly he reached for his cloak and threw it away. His form finally revealed to the group. He was a tall pale humanoid creature with a blue cloak covering a black regal suite. Luna seemed to be in disbelief as she stared into the eyes of the man. The other ponies looked confused as they turned back to Luna, then to him again.
"Ah, Princess Luna...you finally remember me, I see."
"Amducias!" Luna said, her voice finally returning to her, "But...you're dead!"
"Dead?" Amducias smiled, "My dear girl, you of all people should know death has no meaning to my kind."
"Wait, who is this?" Pinke asked in confusion.
"Amducias..." Luna explained, "He's...he's the vampire king. My sister and I fought against him in the Great War a thousand years go! I watched him die when Storm Rider stabbed him in the heart!"
Spike quirked an eyebrow before glancing to Amducias. Now he was even more confused than he was before.
"Wait, you're a vampire? But it's daylight!"
Amducias rolled his eyes in annoyance at Spike's statement. He rubbed space between his eyes in annoyance as he shook his head slowly. His body began to rise off the ground as he did so.
"Ugh, again with the stereotypes." Amducias turned his attention back to the group, "But enough. We have confirmed what the master has believed. All six bearers are here, that shall do for now. But don't worry, I'm no so cruel as to leave you without..." A sly smirk came to his face, "some form of entertainment."
He raised his hand up high above his head. An orb of shadow forms within his palm. Amducias let a dark chuckle escape his throat as he flung the shadow orb towards the center of the town.
"Come! Ursa Minor!"
"What did he just say?" Fluttershy asked as the orb slowly began to take form. Amducias gave them a dark smirk.
"You'd better hurry if you want to save your town. Hmhmhmhmhm.."
"Wait!" Luna said, rushing up after him in the air. But by the time she reached him, he had already vanished.
"Wait, what did he mean by th-" Twilight began, but the ground shook violently as soon as Amducias disappeared. She slapped her forehead with her left front hoof, gritting her teeth.
"Please tell me that he didn't just do what I think he just did..." She begged. Luna however glanced up and frowned.
"...He did."
Twilight let out a scream of frustration
XxXxX
"Dash! Sky!" Scootaloo shouted, rushing into Rainbow's house at full speed. The sudden door swing catching the light blue pegasus' attention.
"Huh? Scoots?" Rainbow asked in flabbergast, noticing Scootaloo's wings flapping rapidly. "You're...flying? But I thought you were-"
"No time!" Scootaloo interrupted, "You gotta come quick! We're under attack by goblins and a psycho vampire!"
"Oh, you have GOT to be kidding me!" Rainbow exclaims. Sky Fire meanwhile begins to wake up from the couch.
"Oooh my head..." He groans, leaning up some, "What...happened now?"
"Trouble. You both stay here." Rainbow said, rushing out the door quickly.
"Dash, wai-" Scootaloo started, but it was too late. The light blue pegasus already bolted out of the house towards Ponyville. Scootaloo sighed as she turns back to Sky Fire, "You think she'll be ok?"
Sky Fire sighed as he pushed himself off the couch, standing back up. He looked to his left wing. Finally being able to stretch it back out again as the pain finally vanishes.
"She better be.." He said, noticing that the rest of his body isn't fully ready yet, "Otherwise I'll drag her butt back here if she takes too long."
XxXxX
""It's...it's an Ursa Minor!" Fluttershy meekly says, hiding behind Luna quickly.
The orb Amducias left behind begins to grow larger and larger. The beast within the orb itself begins to stir violently. Luna narrows her eyes, trying to find solutions to the problem.
"Amducias intends for the orb to 'hatch' and unleash the Ursa. There has to be some way to get it away from Ponyville before it does..."
"I put an Ursa Minor to sleep before..." Twilight mused, "I should be able to do it once again if I get the chance..."
"But that was under pressure," Rarity points out, "Do you think that you'll be able to do it again?"
Twilight sighed at Rarity's point. It was true about what she said. The last time she had stopped an Ursa Minor was when Trixie was exposed as a fraud. Just like Rarity had pointed out, it was also under pressure as well.
"If we can just ensure it doesn't go on a rampage when it awakens, we may be able to get it to leave peacefully." Luna said.
"I dunno..." Spike frowned as he watches the orb, "For all we know that vampire guy may have rigged it in some way."
"Maybe we can use something to send it away from here?" Applejack suggests.
"That may be our best bet, but what can we use for something this large?" Fluttershy asks.
"How about a cyclone?"
The group turned to look above them. Sure enough, Rainbow Dash was already there. Fluttershy blinked in surprise as the light blue pegasus flew over to them.
"Scoots told me what happened." Rainbow said, "Where's that caped freak?"
"He got away," Luna said, turning back to the orb, "And left us this as a 'parting' gift."
Rainbow placed a hoof to her chin. She moved quickly all around the orb, examining it carefully as she came to a conclusion. Once she had an answer, she flew back to her friends.
"I'll be honest, this'll be a tough one." She said.
"A-Are you sure you can make a cyclone big enough for it?" Fluttershy asked. Rainbow just smirked as she lowered her Weather Patrol goggles.
"Heh, no problemo!"
"Be careful." Luna frowned, "We have no idea when it will awaken."
"No prob. Aren't I ALWAYS careful?"
Before any of her friends could answer her, Rainbow flew off to the orb. Pinkie blinked in confusion at her statement. She turned towards the others, quirking an eyebrow.
"...Uh, was that a trick question?"
When Rainbow returned back to the orb, began to spin around it. She spun faster and faster and faster, the winds picking up much violently. With a quick smirk, Rainbow pulled away from the cyclone and clapped her hooves together.
"Cyclone inbound!"
The large cyclone spun wildly underneath the orb. The sheer force of the orb was so great that it literally carried the large orb out of Ponyville towards the woods. As soon as it was out of distance from Ponyville, the cyclone disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Rainbow smirked as she flew back to her friends, landing in front of them. Applejack's jaw had nearly hit the ground.
"What, you doubted moi?"
"In any case," Luna said, rolling her eyes, "now that the orb is in a quiet environment, it should be able to calmly survive on its own."
"We should get to your sister," Twilight suggests, "She has to know what's happened."
"Agreed." Luna turns to the others, "Let's get going!"
XxXxX
On a near by cliff outside of Ponyville, Amducias watches the newborn Ursa Minor calmly walk around the forest. An annoyed frown makes its way to his face. He had been so close to destroying his master's target, but due to minor setbacks, the village was spared. It didn't matter. His mission was complete.
"How disappointing.." He said at last, watching as the Minor wandered about on its own business. "Ah well, I have plenty more tricks left."
Amducias smiled just once. Snapping his fingers, he teleported away from the cliff back to the dark castle that he and Storm Rider took refugee in. As he appeared in the throne room, he quickly took a knee in front of Storm Rider.
"It as you suspected, my lord." He said, "The six bearers of Virtue indeed reside within Ponyville." He smirked darkly, "And we've identified them all."
"...So it is true." Storm Rider said, flinching from a minion putting pressure on a cut he sustained on his left wing. "Do not put too much pressure on that cut, you fool!"
The minion scampered off at its master's angry voice. Amducias frowned as he watched Storm Rider pull his injured wing back towards his body. The battle from before did not only injure Sky Fire alone.
"Damn that pegasus...damn him.." Storm Rider growled, his horn crackling with lighting.
"On that note," Amducias continued, "Sky Fire is still wounded from your battle, so I do not foresee him as a threat for the near future. Our attempts to secure the Everfree Forest continue to be hampered by the Zebra Priestess. I am willy to deploy some of my flock to deal with her at your command."
"No." Storm Rider dangerously said, "No, we shall wait and see what they plan to do next...in the meanwhile, can you prevent the elements from rearing their heads? I want no excuses if they do."
Amducias is silent for a few seconds. Then he bowed once again to his master.
"Of course, Lord Storm Rider."
To be continued...