//------------------------------// // Chapter 146 - Struck // Story: Quest For Harmony // by destinedjagold //------------------------------// Sombra stood on all four, grinning devilishly at the four pathetic creatures who just went out from the cave. “Well,” Bug said as he took off his mask, “looks like things will be messy from here.” He dropped his mask on the ground and cracked his fists, as he eyed a few crystal ponies that surrounded them. He mentally counted, and there was only eight crystal equines. Xilfer gritted his teeth as he stood on one leg, and pulled his mask off. “This is annoying,” he hissed. “At least I don't have to wear this silly mask from now on,” Rainbow smirked as she dropped her mask on the ground. She licked her lips and turned towards the cave. “I'll deal with these two over here.” Jay gritted his teeth as he stared at the portal behind the black equine. Time was flowing faster in the other side of the portal than in his world, and if Spike really was on his way, then all he could do was to wait and stall time. How? That was the question that troubled him the most. As Jay pulled his mask off, Sombra's horn glowed black. Each of the crystal ponies' eyes glowed, and suddenly rushed towards the four. “Yo!” Bug tossed a gun at Xilfer's opened palm. He had no time to pull another gun for himself from his bag. He instead swung the bag at the head of an incoming crystal pony, sending it flying back. There was a loud bang, but he ignored it as he used his turning momentum to deliver a kick at another crystal pony. He cringed at how solid and painful they were. Xilfer grabbed a hold of the gun and immediately took aim at an approaching crystal pony. He fired, hitting a hoof, and shattering the crystal shell, revealing a human arm. He ignored it for a while as the pony stumbled on the ground. He took aim at another pony, and fired at the head. Rainbow grinned as she quickly turned her back on the two crystal ponies. Immediately, she lifted her hind hooves, but as she was about to kick, a loud bang startled her, yet she at least managed to give the two crystal ponies a nasty kick on their chests. Jay gritted his teeth, and kicked his mask on the ground, sending it towards a crystal pony's face. He then prepared himself for the other pony, and kicked its lower jaw. It strangely reminded him of the time he was chased by a street dog years ago. Pushing the memory aside, he retracted his leg and kicked the pony again that was still in the air, sending it towards the face-covered crystal pony. “Ow...” Jay grunted as a sharp wave of pain from his foot reached his brain, making him wince. The two equines lied unmoving on the ground. Xilfer took a moment to look at the second equine's face that he shot. The crystal face was broken, revealing Cortes' ‘hypnotized’ face. He took a second to listen, and knew that the other crystal ponies were being dealt with. He then took aim at the grinning dark equine, and fired. Sombra grinned further as the bullet struck his invisible barrier, and reflected the bullet back at the owner. Xilfer was stunned at the unexpected event. The air was suddenly filled with torn flesh and blood spatter. Jay's eyes shrunk as he saw Xilfer's collapsing body on the corner of his vision. “There it is!” Twilight announced happily. She then galloped towards the large portal near one of the walls of the cavern. “Finally...” Spike sighed in relief as he and the others rushed after the purple unicorn. Twilight smiled as she neared the portal. She noticed that things were black on the other side of it, but didn't care. They could finally send the heart to help Jay's troubled world. Unknown to her, Spike also thought the same thing. “XILFER!!!” A loud yet familiar voice echoed in the cavern, making every soul inside the cavern to stop. “Oh no!” Spike's heart pounded fast as he quickly resumed running towards the portal. Twilight snapped back into her senses after Spike ran passed her. She galloped, and the two of them got to the portal at the same time. “XILFER!!!” Jay shouted as he rushed towards his brother. Xilfer was lying on his back, his mouth open as he breathed for air to calm himself down, yet failing at it. Rainbow was shocked at what she saw, and a flare of rage erupted when two crystal ponies started pinning her down. With a shout, she pulled herself up and managed to kick the two ponies off of her, and continuously pounded and kicked them, ignoring her pained hooves. “Xilfer,” Jay gasped as he knelt beside his brother. He bit his lip. He didn't know what to say. With a grunt, Xilfer quickly extended his arm to his side, and fired at the fast-approaching crystal pony. “Jay...” He fired at the other one. “...you're...a very annoying...liability...” A tear rolled out from his eye, yet Jay didn't care. He felt angry at Sombra, yet he felt angrier at himself. Xilfer protected him so many times, while he couldn't. “Rraaaahhh!!!” Rainbow Dash shouted as she rushed towards the dark equine. She jumped and launched her front hooves at him, but an invisible barrier blocked her attack, and sent her flying back. “Gah!” She gasped, and briefly saw a familiar orange pegasus mare from the portal before she shut her eyes when she landed on something human. Bug stumbled back when the cyan pegasus struck him from behind. He looked up, and saw a crystal pony squirming towards him. He grunted as he pulled himself up, the pegasus slid off of him in the process. “Look at me, Jay,” Xilfer hissed through pained breath. He glared at his older brother. “I'm down, yet I'm...still helpful.” He paused for a short while. “Do me a favor...and be useful for once in your god-damn life...!” “The heart, the heart!” Spike shouted, fidgeting nervously on where he stood as Apple Bloom hurriedly pulled the artifact out of his bag. Grunting in annoyance, Spike instead grabbed the heart and pulled it out with ease. “S-sorry,” Apple Bloom apologized, and raised a hoof. “Hooves, 'member?” Spike ignored her and suddenly climbed on Shining Armor's back. “He-hey!” “You're the tallest, and I need the height!” Spike suddenly replied as he turned to the portal, and waved the heart over his head. “Jay! Jay!”