The Crusaders were escorted to the Battle Foals’ new dining area, a large hallway between the two wings of the ruined prison. A large hole in the wall had been made so that Shrapnel could access it. The CMC were silently amazed that they were able to make such a forsaken place seem livable, but suspicious gazes from their hosts told them that they and the carriage guards weren’t entirely welcome. The guards noticed that Bullseye seemed to eye them the most intently.
They had cushions laying in a circle that had been taken from the offices of what must’ve been former wardens- they hazarded a guess that they were snobs and relished in having luxuries where their inmates didn’t, and had been salvaged from shipwrecks and thoroughly cleaned by Tidal Wave. Within the circle was a cozy fire; the crackles of which were the only thing audible in the uneasy atmosphere.
“So, uhh… Nice place, guys.” Scootaloo said as they all seated.
“Why thank you. We’ve worked very hard on it.” Quantum Tech said passive-aggressively.
The Crusaders just politely smiled back at their weary hosts. The only ones that seemed even remotely welcoming were Zebota and Greensprout, who just gazed at them with the slightest hint of diplomacy. For some reason, Sweetie Belle couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched from the shadows.
Fire Fight then came out with some plates. “Food’s ready, guys!” On the plates were more of the simmered fruit wrapped in seaweed. “I know we just had this, but our garden hasn’t quite yielded yet.”
“Don’t worry, Fire Fight. These are great.” Spiral Galaxy said.
“Thanks.” Fire Fight said. “And for you, Shrapnel…” He brought out a large plate of fish.
The wooden titan took one sniff and barked. “He says, ‘what fine prey!’” Crazylocks blurted, leaving the CMC confused.
“Thank Frostbite. He’s the one who fished ‘em up along with own.” Fire Fight said. The icy drake in question, who indeed had some fish along with his wrapped fruit, just shot them a wink.
The Crusaders looked down at their unusual meal. “Thanks, Fire Fight.” Sweetie Belle said wearily, a feeling Scootaloo seemed to share.
However, Applebloom dug right in and blatantly enjoyed it. “Mmm! Ish good!” She said with her mouth full. Her two compatriots looked at each other before deciding to follow suit, and they weren’t disappointed.
“Hey! This is rad!” Scootaloo said.
“You didn’t tell us you could cook!” Sweetie Belle said.
“Got it from my mom.” Fire Fight said. “Now about why you’re here…”
The Crusaders stopped gingerly eating their delicious meal. “Oh, wight.” Applebloom said with her mouth full once more. She swallowed so that her speech could be intelligible. “We just want y’all to come home, that’s all.”
“We already told you ‘no’!” Tidal Wave said.
“Yeah! Plus, a few of us don’t even have a home to go back to.” Bullseye said. She and Zebota noticeably gave each other a meaningful glance.
“W-Well… true, but… Greensprout does.” Scootaloo said.
“I was allowed to leave with Fire Fight. It’s a spiritual journey for me, sister, one that has proven quite fruitful.” Greensprout said. “Though I do wonder how Gardenia is faring.”
“Everypony- err…body, believe me when I say that all… most of your parents are really sorry about all that’s happened to you.” Sweetie Belle said.
“We’re not interested in them.” Air Slash scoffed. “Why has an emergency been declared?”
“Oh, right!” Scootaloo said. “We don’t know all the details, but some ‘fiend with immense power’ took over the Crystal Empire and is headed south!”
“Whoa! Y’all for real?” Turf War said.
“Those are some mighty vague details.” Kickback said.
“How do we know you’re not fabricating this whole claim in an attempt to trick us into returning to Equestria?” Quantum Tech asked.
“Are you kiddin’ me!?” Applebloom exclaimed. “Why would we even do that?”
“Yeah. Pretty sure that’d be a criminal offense if we did.” Sweetie Belle said.
“Hmm… It actually would be.” Quantum said.
“Well assuming you’re being honest, what kind of ‘fiend’ is it?” Fire Fight calmly asked.
“We don’t know. We were with Twilight when she got a letter from Princess Celestia that said exactly that. Probably wrote it in a hurry.” Scootaloo said.
Fire Fight then looked at the carriage guards. “You guys know anything?” They just shrugged as they ate. “Kay, thanks.”
Sweetie Belle then looked over at their samurai. “You’re Air Slash, right? Aren’t you at least like… duty-bound to protect Equestria or something?”
Air Slash slowed down his eating. “Indeed I am…” he muttered. “But… I know that my father would not see me eye-to-eye. There’d be no point in staying.”
“But he does, Air Slash! He really does. We met him, and our teacher gave him a right scoldin’ when she found out about how he was treatin’ you.” Applebloom said.
“Cheerilee did?” Fire Fight asked.
“She sure did!” Scootaloo asked. “You shoulda seen the scolding Twilight gave her after the deal with Action Shot… ‘Cause we didn’t… but she did, believe me!”
Fire Fight sighed heavily, thinking back to that horrendous day. “Well… if they really are then… I wanna hear it from them.”
Everyone looked at him surprised, save for Crazylocks who was balancing her wraps on her nose like a seal. “Wait… really?” Frostbite said.
“I think it’s only fair that we at least hear them out.” Fire Fight said.
“F-F-Fire Fight, are you insane!?” Spiral stammered.
“I… I hate to admit it, but we owe them at least that.” Fire Fight said, and then looked at the CMC. “So you guys can bring them here.” He then asked his comrades, “You guys cool with that?”
The Battle Foals all nervously looked at one another, their uncertainty palpable. Fire Fight just so happened to notice Shadow Shroud peering from around the corner, her gaze affixed onto him; her eyes drooped in defeat and she noticeably faced the floor. He wasn’t sure if she begrudgingly agreed or was disappointed in his decision.
“I’m down.” Turf War said with mild confidence, causing everyone to face him. “We was gettin’ worried ‘bout them anyway, right?”
Tidal Wave’s sorrowful gaze fell to the floor. “Y-Yeah. I guess I should at least let my dad know that I’m okay…”
Bullseye slammed her plate on the floor. “And just what the hell are we even supposed to say to them, huh!?” she exclaimed. “I didn’t escape my parents just to wait for some other dumba** adults to come and tell me that everything’s gonna be sunshine and rainbows again!”
“Calm down, Bullseye. We’re not going anywhere.” Fire Fight said.
“But, we really do need y’all!” Applebloom said. “Ah wish we could prove to you that there’s an emergency, but yer just gonna have to believe us.”
“We probably should’ve brought that letter…” Sweetie Belle said.
“Yeah. Can’t you guys just talk to them once we bring you over there? We promise we’ll let you go!” Scootaloo said.
“Scoots!” Applebloom whispered, roughly nudging her.
“So you say.” Quantum said. “Depending upon whether or not they decide to let us go, the consequences could prove catastro-… wait a moment…”
Spiral gasped. “The catastrophe!!”
“Tarnation!!” Kickback said. “So Princess Luna wasn’t whistlin’ dixie!”
“Wait, what?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Fire Fight explained how Princess Luna visited them all in a dream and warned them of a coming catastrophe she could sense coming. “Wait, Princess Luna actually helped you!?!?” Scootaloo asked.
“What? Jealous?” Bullseye asked.
“I wasn’t here for that…” Tidal Wave lamented. Spiral gently stroked his back.
“A thousand pardons, Fire Fight, but if this is no mere coincidence, then we simply must adhere to our promise to her! She said we were the only ones capable of subduing…apparently a cataclysmic fiend.” Air Slash said.
“I have to agree.” Greensprout said.
“And yet the royal one has not visited us in a dream to tell us such a thing has begun.” Zebota said.
“We got the news not very long ago. Y’all wouldn’t have been asleep.” Applebloom.
“About that…” Bullseye said. “I don’t know why, but I could swear I just…felt something in the wind, like hearing a startling sound that was carried all the way over here when we had that picnic. You didn’t feel anything, stripes?”
Zebota gave her a concerned look. “No. Nothing. Why did you not say this to me?”
“I… I wasn’t sure.” Bullseye said.
“Whoa…” Scootaloo mumbled. “Hey! Speaking of not being sure, where’s that grey filly?”
Fire Fight nearly choked on his food upon hearing that, but he corrected himself. “What grey filly?” He could no longer see Shroud’s silhouette.
“The one in the newspaper. She had to be sketched, ‘cause nopony had a picture of her or her name.” Scootaloo answered.
Fire Fight gulped, hoping that his anxiety was masked by him swallowing his food. He cocked an eyebrow. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Kickback shrugged. “Doesn’t ring any bells fer me.”
“Yeah! She’s a totally off-grid, type of gal!” Crazylocks blurted.
Bullseye forcefully nudged her. “Idiot!” she said under her breath.
The CMC suspiciously eyed her. “O…kay?” Applebloom said. “Well, whatever. Does this you’ll come help us?”
The Battle Foals looked around at each other, especially at their leader, who tried not to look defeated. “I… I think we will” he said. “But we’re coming right back here after we’re done, and… maybe saying ‘hi’ to our parents again.”
“Whatever you say, dude…” Scootaloo muttered.
“S-Scuse me…” The stallion carriage guard actually spoke up. “I, err…don’t think our little chariot’s gonna be able to carry all o’ you, let alone the wolf.”
“Oh, yes… I suppose my mech suit is not exactly light luggage either.” Quantum said. “Perhaps we should contact King Grover and have him send the Jotun again? Surely he wouldn’t mind.”
“Right after he gave us this island though? We gonna look mad ungrateful.” Turf War sad. He then looked at the guards. “Can y’all cop a ship from the Princess o’ somepony?”
“Yeah! That shouldn’t be a problem.” The mare guard said.
After finishing their meal, only the sound of dishes being stacked and footsteps going outward could be heard in the crushing atmosphere. As Fire Fight brought the plates to the sink, he felt defeated, like he’d let his friends down. He promised them safety, but was now forced to force them back into the frying pan because of a prophecy. He put the dishes in the sink, and then felt a familiar presence beside him.
“Fire Fight…” Shadow Shroud just stood there, gazing at him with the same burden of failure weighing down her mood.
“Shroud… I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…” Fire Fight said as he turned to face her. “But it’s not like we’re giving up. I made them promise we could come back.”
“I-I know. It’s just… I’m worried.” Shroud said.
It felt like ages since he had seen her get emotional. He leaned in and pulled her in for a warm hug. “C’mon, Shroud. You’re tougher than this. I know you are. Everything’s gonna be alright.”
Shroud was still for a moment, but then sniffled before returning his embrace, holding him close and tight. They warmed each other for a whole minute before letting go. “Fire Fight… in case… something happens, I… I’ve been meaning to tell you something.”
“What?” Fire Fight asked.
“I…” Shadow Shroud, the vicious stalker of the night, slayer from the dark, unseen warrior, was having trouble finding her words.
Fire Fight gently held her hoof. “Shroud, what?”
A tear welled up in the ninja’s amethyst eye, and she took a deep breath. “I hate being a Shadewalker.”
Fire Fight’s disbelief was disrupted upon hearing Sweetie Belle scream bloody murder outside. The two rushed out there, Shroud hiding in the shadows once more while Fire Fight caught up to everyone. “What’s wrong!?”
Everyone was freaked out at something in the sky. “WHAT IN TARNATION IS THAT!?!?” Applebloom screamed. Above them was a gigantic swirling mist big enough to match the size of the island, and it slowly descended, bringing its storm down with it.