The sun rose high over the place known as Sugarcube Corner. All was quiet on the streets outside, which could not be said for the interior of the sweet shop. The sounds of hammering and sawing could be heard from within as the four stallions fortified the defences. The crisscrossed boards over windows and doors to ensure no Pegasi or Earth ponies could gain unwelcomed entry. Unknown to only the stallions in question, an anti-teleportation barrier had been erected around the building to prevent any unwelcome intrusions. At the moment, Big Mac was sealing all cupboards and small doors. Though he called it, ‘Pinkie Proofing,’ none questioned it. Baen however was standing vigil at Pinkie’s bedroom window, overlooking the empty streets. Shining entered and stared at the almost statue like pony.
“Any movement?”
Baen shook his head, “Neigh, not much. Only the occasional stallion who unfortunately could not get away.”
Shining shook his head, “This is not the kind of visit I was expecting,” he gave a small smile but noted Baen’s expression, “Is something wrong.”
“There’s something in the air,” he shook his head, “I can’t quite place it, but something is not right.”
Shining tilted his head quizzically, “What do you mean?”
“While I was up here,” he gestured to a day planner on Pinkie’s bed side table, “I did some reading and discovered something.”
Shining blinked a few times as Big Mac and Caramel stuck their heads in the room, “This Heat Week…It’s a month early.”
Caramel gasped, “A month? Are you serious,” he paused abruptly as his voice dropped, “Though that would make sense since Colgate didn’t throw her pre-Heat Week wine mixer.”
All the stallions glanced at Caramel who shrank under their gazes, “What? I indulge.”
Baen shut his eyes for a moment before a dark look appeared on his face, “Shining I have a question.”
Shining nodded and gestured with a hoof, “Shoot.”
“During this Heat Week,” he started slowly, “Are the princesses affected?”
Shining blinked a few times, “Well of course, but they use dampening spells to keep themselves in check. Why?”
Baen inhaled and then exhaled calmly, “Because whatever is causing this early heat isn’t a natural force…I think it might be something else.”
Big Mac raised an eyebrow, “What are ya talkin bout Baen?”
“I fear something else is doing this,” his gaze caused the stallion’s to tremble, “Something insidious.”
Baen shook his head and sat on the bed, “it’s just a hunch, but I really hope I am not right.”
The sound of a horn was heard causing the four stallions to come to the window to behold the scene below. Princess Celestia and a troupe of female guard ponies were gazing at the bakery.
Shining’s eyes widened in horror, “Oh sweet her, she’s active.”
Baen narrowed his eyes as Celestia cleared her throat, “Good afternoon to you on this, the last day of Heat Week. I wish to speak with the current leader of this….mock fort.”
The balcony door slowly opened as Baen trotted out, “Afternoon Princess, what bring you here this fine day?”
Celestia smiled warmly at her friend, “Ah Baen, just the pony I was looking for. You see Baen, I have a certain royal itch that needs to be scratched and in all honesty, you seem like the perfect specimen for the job.”
Baen blinked a few times…then he laughed.
“I don’t know what is more amusing,” he pointed at her, “the fact you think I will give myself willingly to a hot and bothered mare or the fact you think I’ll let you use me,” his face became serious, “I’m sorry to disappoint you Princess, but I will have to decline your gratuitous invitation.”
“Baen, one thing you need to know about us Equestrian mares is that on the last day of Heat Week,” her voice held a hint of darkness to it, “We tend to get really….impulsive. So there are two ways you can go about this. The easy way, or the hard way.”
Baen raised an eyebrow, “Oh really now? Is there another reason you’ve come here?”
“Well I’m also here on behalf of Princess Twilight,” she pursed her lips and looked to Twilight’s castle, “It seems she did a head count and noticed four stallions were missing for a day.”
The other three stuck their heads out much to Celestia’s mirth, “Oh there they are.”
Baen shoved them back inside, “Know this Celestia, I have tackled monarchs and their armies. Felled demonic hoards and the like,” he waved a hoof to Celestia and her guard troupe, “A small troupe such as this is nothing.”
Celestia’s small took on a more sinister tone, “What you have to ask yourself is why would I come alone?”
Baen ran the words over in his head…only for his eyes to widen.
“How many…”
Celestia tapped her chin, “Just one, the other is already inside.”
Baen quickly shut the window and re-barricaded it. He then quickly whipped around and noticed two things, one, every light source was out, and two, Big Mac and the others were staring at the now shut bedroom door.
Baen glanced at Caramel who was in the corner trembling, “She’s coming for us.”
The moment that was said, the sun outside mysteriously vanished.
“Time sure flies,” Baen stated.
Shining lit his horn and gazed in mild fear at the shut door.
“Come little ponies, I’ll take thee away…”
The voice was soft, but held a sinister air to it.
Baen backed up as Big Mac narrowed his eyes at the door and approached.
“Into a land of enchantment. Come little ponies, the time’s come to play, here in my garden of shadows….”
Baen glanced down and noticed black smoke snaking up through the crease of the door, “MACINTOSH, GET AWAY FROM THERE!”
Big Mac looked toward the stallions as the door then slammed open to reveal a smokey mass beyond. Within the mass, a pair of familiar dark eyes stared at all of the inhabitants before they locked on Big Mac who back pedaled.
“There you are. Now you are ours.”
Smoke tendrils then snapped out and ensnared the frightened work horse that was dragged quickly into the vast void of smoke. Shining quickly magiced the door shut and sealed all the creases and reinforced it with every spell he knew.
Baen blinked a few but steadied himself as he looked to the shell-shocked Caramel and the slightly trembling Shining Armor.
“We’re all that’s left now.”
*
Many an hour passed by. Luna did not make another attempt on the three stallions as they waited in Pinkie’s room. The clock read an hour before midnight. They were close, but not close enough. They had long since moved down into the main eating area and were keeping their eyes on the shadows that a lone candle gave off. Shining was pacing in a circuit and eyeing everything.
“THAT’S IT!”
Shining glanced at Caramel who stood up.
“I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! I say we just give up,” Caramel was sweating and trembling with a crazed look in his eye, “I mean come on, what’s the worst that can happen right? All we have to do is go outs-“
Baen slammed his axe into the table he was sitting in front of with a stoic look, his eyes not meeting the frightened stallion. Caramel then sat back down with a whimper.
Shining was still shaking his head, “I don’t understand it. Luna got in here so easily. My barriers are powerful enough to send out a changeling queen…yet she got in.”
Baen sighed, “She is a princess, remember?”
“True.”
Then they heard it, a giggle.
Everypony then glanced around frantically trying to find its source. Shining however was virtually frightened.
Baen trotted to his friend, “What is it my friend?”
“That giggle,” Shining glanced around, “I’ve heard it before….its…..”
“Oh Shiny.”
Both stallions looked up and stared on in horror as Princess Cadance, clad fully in a ninja bodysuit, smiled down at them.
“Oh mother of Celestia….”
Cadance then smiled with lidded eyes, “I am the ninja of love!”
Like a panther attacking its prey, Cadance pounced. The moment she made contact with Shining, there was a flash and pop. Both ponies were gone. Worse yet, the sound of shattering glass followed.
“No…”
Caramel shrunk further into his seat in fear.
Baen glanced at the clock, it seems he had lost track of time during their sitting, a few more minutes and they would be safe. He then heard a thud and glanced to a fainted Caramel. Shaking his head, he faced the door and prepared himself, but then he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Turning around, he beheld Caramel staring at the floor in silence. Baen titled his head.
“Caramel,” he placed a hoof on his shoulder, “Are you alright?”
Caramel’s head then snapped up and he stared straight into Baen’s eyes, which caused the barbarian to reel back in surprise. Caramel was staring blankly at him…only; the stallion’s eyes were completely red. His irises and pupils all but vanished and just red remained.
Caramel then opened his mouth and spoke in a low growl of a voice that echoed on the walls and stated two words, “He comes.”
Caramel then collapsed as the front door was blown off its hinges. In a flash Celestia stood before the barbarian. Luna was on her left and on her right were the six elements of harmony.
Baen glanced at the clock and sighed, “You know,” he took off his axe, “A part of me is both frightened, but also,” he smiled, “A little exhilarated.”
He planted himself in a firm stance as his wrath aura manifested, “Rut me if you can!”
Both parties rushed each other with collective yells.
*
Baen, the elements, and the two princesses were in hospital beds bandaged and bruised. The events of the last two days long since ended and they were all healing. Though both Shining and Mac had…well the current medical term was, ‘partial death by snu snu’. Caramel was receiving mental help, though after the medical attention to the battle bruised ponies, they all shared a good laugh. Baen did have to give the girls credit, they were fearsome fighters. His slightly cracked jaw from Fluttershy was proof of that. But one thing that bothered him was Caramel’s words. Worse yet, he knew that his hunch was right.
Something…no.
SomeONE, had caused the last two day’s events.
And that someone was coming.
*
Deep in the Everfree forest, in a familiar temple, at the bottom of a large hole. The ground trembled and heaved. Volcanic cracks spider webbed along the floor as a roar shook the structure.