//------------------------------// // Escape to Recruit Help // Story: Beyond the Grid: Into Equestria // by CookieScript //------------------------------// The group of heroes stood together worriedly, watching as the intimidating figure stepped down. The vibes of power he gave off were intimidating, to say the least, certainly way more than any other magical threat. Sunset gulped a little bit as she backed away, talking to JJ. "Uh... JJ? Ideas?" JJ couldn't move or speak due to being frozen in fear, his mind racing with thoughts: 'How? How did he track me here? It can't have been that easy...' Applejack noticed something on JJ's back that was blinking a little. "Uh, JJ? Ah think ah found the cause of them findin' ya," she whispered to the Rainbow Ranger, plucking the blinking item off. He looked at it, paling more as he realized what it was. "Damn, the Ranger Slayer must've stuck it on me before I got out of there," he muttered. They had no more time to talk as Drakkon stopped in front of them, looking at the multicolored heroes. "So this is where the rebel landed to find assistance? A world full of multi-colored humans? I would have expected better judgment from him. But the lack of judgment does denote the uselessness." Rainbow stepped forward and spoke up, "Hey! Who are you calling useless, you jerk?!" He looked at Rainbow and regarded her with an interested expression. "So some of you do have the spirit to fight, intriguing." Rainbow stood proudly and smirked as she retorted, "Yep! I'd do anything for my friends! Even keep them safe from your rule!" JJ watched the confrontation with mixed feelings. On the one hand, Rainbow was proving she was indeed the Element of Loyalty if she wanted to stand up to Drakkon like that to defend her allies. On the other hand, it was completely reckless to do so. Who knew what horrid things Drakkon would do to her? His thoughts were proven correct as Drakkon gave off a wicked laugh and responded to Dash, "Fool! You can't keep them safe forever! Not even a speeding teenage girl like you could escape my wrath!" To prove his point, faster than even Rainbow Dash could run, he pulled his Dragon Dagger out and slashed the cyan skinned girl across her face. Rainbow screamed in agony as she flew back into the arms of her friends. "Rainbow Dash!" Twilight was extremely concerned for her friend as she looked at her injury, gasping in horror at what she saw. The cut had gone straight across Rainbow's entire right eye, the beautiful raspberry orb now marred and gushing with blood that stained the rainbowette's skin with a crimson red. The other girls gasped at their friend being so hurt, with Fluttershy being the most worried. "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness," she kept muttering to herself as she zipped over and helped Twilight keep her steady. Applejack growled out of anger and faced Drakkon next, her voice coming out as a growl: "Okay, pardner. It's one thing to call us useless, but it's another entirely to mess with mah friends!!!" She lifted a massive boulder and launched it at him. Drakkon only gave off a low scoff as he knocked the boulder back at Applejack as fast as lightning. AJ yelped and braced herself for impact, but Rarity got in front of her and used a shield to stop the boulder, grunting in pain as the pressure went up through her arms from the boulder's impact. "Rarity!" AJ caught the white-skinned girl as she collapsed into the farmer's arms. Rarity groaned a little and muttered, "Not the best idea I had, but better than seeing your brains splattered all over the pavement, Applejack." The apple farmer just chuckled lightly and replied, "Yeah, that's true." Twilight started to panic slightly. Her friends were getting themselves injured for JJ's sake, but there was only so much they could take! Thankfully, Sunset had a somewhat clearer mind as she patched Rainbow up with some fabric she had gotten from Bonbon as she spoke to the others, "We gotta get outta here! We need help!" JJ watched as Pinkie took her turn with attacking Drakkon, the usually bubbly girl seeming more serious than before as he responded to Sunset, "I know what we have to do! There are other dimensions besides this one! If we split up and go to a different dimension each, we might be able to get a few allies!" Rainbow sat up in alarm. "But we can't leave the school undefended! There are still others that need help!!" She pointed out the various students and faculty helping everyone to safety. Pinkie yelped as she was blasted back, some of her bright pink skin blistered from a blast as she shook off the daze and looked at Rainbow, "Yeah, but they won't be able to defend themselves for long! We need to get help!" Fluttershy whimpered nervously, getting completely terrified. What were they gonna do? They didn't have anything to help them escape! Fortunately, Spike ran over to her with something in his mouth as he shouted in a muffled voice, "Fluttershy! Here!" He dropped the item into her hands. She looked it over and gasped in surprise, recognizing it as a dimensional portal creator. "Spike, that's just what we need!" She exclaimed brightly. She stood up and opened a few portals to various worlds before looking at the group and letting out a loud whistle to get their attention. Pinkie spotted the portals first and grabbed Fluttershy's arm as she got close. "Let's book it!" She sped over to the first portal and leaped through it, Fluttershy letting out a yelp of surprise as she was pulled through. "Right behind you!" Spike called out as he followed the girls through the portal. Applejack helped Rarity through the second portal and carried Rainbow Dash through as she followed while Sunset, Twilight, and JJ went through the third portal. "Don't let them get away!" Drakkon shouted angrily, pointing towards the portals. Several troops went through each of the portals just before it closed completely, leaving everyone else to wonder, where could they have gone?