//------------------------------//
// Halted 
// Story: If Solaris had a Text-to-Speech Device 
// by Jay David 
//------------------------------//

Flash knew his cargo was of dark magic, and as such he'd made sure that nopony was actually carrying the thing during the return journey. Taking the risk entirely upon himself, he had it stashed safely away in the saddle-bag that lay upon his back. Leading the group, there was a renewed sense of hope regarding their situation. After all, they'd found their target, and now they were going home. Gone was the feeling that they were on a fool's errand, and instead, they felt like returning heroes. Flash, for his part, had to keep a cool head however, knowing that they weren't out of the woods yet, at least not until they were back within Equestria's borders. It certainly didn't help matters that a thick fog had settled in, obscuring their view all around. Rockhoof was beside him, mumbling to himself about how he was going to craft this trip into an epic tale to tell some expectant group of children upon his return, while Tempest was on the other side to him, her eyes narrowed as she took a more serious feeling on the matter. "I don't like this. We answer a few questions, get the shiny thing and then get back home without incident? I'm not buying it."

The stallion beside her nodded. "I agree," Flash remarked. "As the old saying goes, you don't count your chickens before they're hatched." There was largely a silence as they continued onward together, and that persistent quiet began to unnerve the pegasus. His eyes would go left to right, even up above to get a better idea of what was around them, and as the moments passed he became increasingly on-edge. He could have sworn there was movement of some sort, high up in those gloomy clouds, but for now, he said nothing, lest he give undue panic. But, there came a point where his senses proved right, as a loud bellow echoed across the area, bringing the group to a grinding halt. Instinctively, they began to take up formation without even a command, creating a circle with all looking outward so as to cover all blind spots. Flash, for his part, narrowed his eyes as he looked out, making out shapes in the aforementioned fog. In the end, he knew they'd get nowhere just standing here, and so called out. "Whoever is there, I ask that you step forward and identify yourself!"

The voice that responded back was not one of malice, but of snark. The kind of voice you'd get from somepony who didn't respect anypony. "Heh. Your Guard types really do gotta be all serious and stuff, don't ya?"

Flash frowned again. "Who are you! And what do you want?"

"Name's Biff. A pleasure," the voice answered.

"The feeling is not mutual," Tempest added aggressively, her horn flaring up.

A chuckle from the fog. "Well, since you're all so business-like, let me get to the point. I used to have a pretty good thing going, working for the 'great' Dr Caballeron."

Flash started looking in different directions, since it became clear that this Biff person was not staying put as he spoke. "The criminal?"

Another hidden laugh. "Yeah, they were good times." When Biff spoke again, it was with a harsher tone. "Until he went soft and left us all out to dry! Took me a while to get things together, get a crew of my own. And now, well, we're about to score pretty big."

Rockhoof looked to his leader. "They want the Amulet!"

"Oh wow, gold star for the big fella. And here I was thinking you were just the dumb muscle."

The words had been dripping in sarcasm, prompting a look of irritation for Flash. "Whatever your reasons, you are interfering in a Royal Guard operation. I ask you step aside and allow us to return to Equestria without quarrel."

A snort from the fog. "Ooh, you know, I really wanna help, buddy, I really do. But you see, I kinda got a problem. Ya see, I kinda told my crew that we were gonna get a big score today. You know, a really big payday and all that? Also, a lot of my guys are folk who really, and I mean really don't like Equestrian authorities, which you lot sorta qualify as. Put all that together and you kinda see why calling the whole thing off isn't really gonna work out."

"So it's a fight then?" Tempest declared, a signal spark bursting from her broken horn.

"You got it in one, Missy," Biff answered, prompting even further fury from the maroon mare.

Flash, keeping a calmer head than his cohort, tried to remain diplomatic, even in the face of this escalating situation. "If you choose violence in this matter, then I feel the need to warn you that you face highly-trained Equestrians Royal Guards. Not to mention two ponies who are very definitely no slouches when it comes to combat."

"True, true..." Biff admitted. "But in this case...ya might wanna look again."

As if the world itself was waiting to respond to his words, the fog around them began to lift, and soon, all in the party saw the predicament they were now in. This was no mere collection of ragged troublemakers, this was a full-on army. And not just ponies either. Unchanged Changelings, doubtless gone rogue after Chrysalis' fall. Bipedal canines recognised immediately as the Diamond Dogs, clearly here for treasure. Griffons, large and brutish-looking, with no love lost for ponies. All these together had the group surrounded, cutting off every avenue of escape. Even the skies weren't an option for the flight-capable among them, as a glance upwards revealed that the bellow from earlier had belonged to a dragon. Not a full-grown beast like in ancient tales, but clearly one long past adolescence, which now circled the airspace above them. All in all, this was a grim situation, and the group closed ranks so as to not allow any gaps in their lines. Biff smirked as he watched his targets realise their situation, and Flash, weighing his options, knew there was only one course they could take now. So, without hesitation, he gave the fateful command. "BATTLE FORMATIONS!!!"