News of what happened to Gilda was soon disseminated through the rest of the group. There wasn’t much open discussion concerning the topic however, considering Rainbow Dash was in an invariable bad mood regarding it. So most of the team not wanting to spark any unnecessary conflict kept quiet.
Of course no-one was very pleased to hear that Gilda had somehow escaped from lock-up. That news spread through town, and caused a bit of panic that a thief was on the loose, but the police assured the population that the were on the case, and Gilda had most likely skipped town at this point.
Pinkie Pie missed the first day of classes that week. It caused a slight bit of concern and worry amongst the team, but this was abashed on the second day of classes.
“Hey everbody!” She announced as she bounced into the classroom with all the energy of a wild rocket.
“Ms. Pie!” The professor, an elder woman with gray hair and a sharp expression, said. “The lesson has almost started, please take your seat!” She stated harshly.
“Oki-doki-loki!” She saluted, and plopped herself in her usual seat. “Hey guys! Whatcha up to!?”
Their was a usual chorus of groans as it was too early in the morning to put up with her… enthusiasm.
As usual, classes were standard fare, though Pinkie Pie seemed to be putting a larger degree of effort than usual, though no-one made particular note of it.
Again at the end of the day, Twilight was walking back to the Library with Spike.
“So has the Headmaster replied?” Twilight asked, as the strolled down the street.
“Yeah, actually, she even wrote a letter for you.” Spike said, fishing said item from his bag.
“About time.” Twilight muttered, taking the letter.
To my most faithful student-
Twilight Sparkle
Dear Twilight-
I am writing in response to your letter. Where-as I would love to spend more personal time with you, I unfortunately have a rather busy schedule ahead of me for the foreseeable future. I will write again when I next have a chance to spend time with you, but until then I ask you attempt to handle your matter for yourself if at all possible.
-Sincerely
Your friend and teacher-
Headmaster Celestia~
Twilight groaned at the letter. She kept walking, and turned to Spike. “Busy for the foreseeable future… what do you think?”
Spike shrugged. “Seems busy to me. Always has me doing something or other when I’m not doing something else. Seems… stressed actually.”
“Really?” Twilight said. “Why haven’t you said anything?”
“Didn’t have to.” Spike said. “I’m sure she can handle it, but she always seems like there’s something she’s worried about. I mean, I’ve asked, but she always said I shouldn’t bother worrying about these things.”
Twilight pondered this as they walked.
“You’re not going to go all crazy, and try to fix this by yourself are you?” Spike asked.
“What? No!”
“Because you have done that before.”
“I-!” Twilight stopped. “No, nothing like that. There’s just some things that I’m worried about too, and I’m beginning to wonder…”
“Is it something that I should know about?” Spike asked.
“Not yet it’s not.” Twilight stated, continuing.
“Okay.”
***
The train ride into Ponyville was pleasant, if quiet. He had almost nodded off by the time he reached his destination. Fortunately he hadn’t, so he grabbed his things, and stepped off into the Grand Train Station. He took a moment to take in the sights something he did whenever he came somewhere new, before going on to his destination.
He pulled up a map of the area on his scroll, and with a smile took his things, and walked out from the station, into the cobbled streets of Ponyville. A chill breeze belied the summer season indicating change in the air. The man considered stopping by in some of the shops first before heading to his destination, but decided against it, thinking he could do it later.
He enjoyed his walk for a while, at least until he came across an arguing pair who interrupted it.
“You come back here Vinyl!” A suited woman yelled running past him.
“Never!” Yelled a woman with neon hair, and maroon shades who similarly ran past him, and soon the two were devolved into a game of cat and mouse, with him serving as a divide.
“Um, excuse me.” He said.
“You give my back what you stole!” Said the raven haired girl in the suit.
“Not until you tell me where you hid my tunes!” Said the girl in the ragged white shirt.
“And listen to that din of yours at three o’clock in the morning! I’d rather die!” She spat.
“Um ladies, I don’t know what’s going on, but-“
“Well you might just have to die!” Said the neon girl cowering behind him. “Of embarrassment!”
“I swear to you Vinyl, I shall get you back for this, if it’s the last thing I do!”
“Look, I’m sorry-“ The man said, putting down his bags. “but I-“
“Hey everyone on the street!” Said the girl in the shades. “Guess what! Octavia here hasn’t got any-“
“Silence!” And with that, the composed woman in the suit dived after her, knocking all three of them into a nearby fountain.
“Okay! That’s it!” The man stood up, grabbing both of the two girl by their collars all three of them soaking wet. “What happened?”
“She stole my tunes!” The neon girl stated, her makeup running. “Hid them from me, and now I can’t listen to anything!”
“Because you were playing them on your speakers all night I couldn’t sleep at all!” The suited girl said, looking much less refined and composed than she had been earlier.
“Look we agreed we do what we like on our sides of the apartment, I play music on my side, you get no say in it!”
“I do if it’s impairing my ability to function!” She yelled.
“So what did you do?” He asked the neon girl.
“I stole her panties!” She stated.
“Vinyl!” The other girl screamed, going completely red.
“Don’t worry, we’re all adults here.” The man said, while the neon girl snickered. “Well at least I am.”
“She says she can’t function listening to my music, well I can’t function without them, so I took something she can’t function without.”
“You brute! You uncultured brute!” The girl stated.
“Okay, look here!” The man said, trying to shake some sense into them. “How do you two know eachother? Sisters? Friends?”
“Roommates.” The said together, glaring at eachother.
“So you have to live with each-other then.” He surmised. “You may already know this by now, but if you are going to live with each-other, then I suggest you don’t pull these kinds of stunts on each-other. It’s going to be a heck of a lot easier knowing each-other trying to be friends rather than enemies. Now, apologize to each-other, tell each-other where you hid the others things, bury the hatchet, and try to hash out a compromise where you aren’t trying to kill each-other, and taking out innocent bystanders while you’re at it.” The two girls glared at one another. “Go on!”
“…You’re undies are in one of the unused mailboxes in the apartment.” The neon girl said.
“… I left you music in the vegetable drawer in the refrigerator.” The suited girl said.
“…you mad genius.”
“There you go.” The man said, dropping them back into the fountain. “Nice to meet you.”
“Sorry we involved you with our fight.” Said the girl in the suit, trying to wring out some of her clothes.
“No harm no foul.” He said.
“My name is Octavia. Pleasure to meet you.” She said.
“Vinyl.” Said the other girl.
“Nice to meet you both.” He said.“Sorry if I got a little terse with you, but it’s just, now I’m going to have to change, it’s a good thing I dropped my bags, or else I wouldn’t have a change ready.”
“You could change at our place!” Vinyl proposed.
“Wait, what?” Octavia asked.
“Come on, we owe the dude a favor!” Vinyl said. “And also, he’s kinda nice to look at.”
“Um, thank you, I guess.” The guy said. “And I guess it’s not like I have too much of a choice.”
“Well alright, but you still haven’t introduced yourself yet.” Octavia said.
“Oh, sorry, my names Shining Armor, I’m here to visit my sister.”
***
The arguing pair lived in students apartments between the Academy and the Grand Train Station. Rows of apartments lined the streets, all very well kept and patrolled by young men and women such as themselves.
One of them fished their keys, opened the door for them, checked the mailboxes, retrieving their stolen underwear, and they headed to their place near the top of the stairs.
The interior was quite a contrast to itself, it half looked like a hurricane had happened, half that it hadn’t been lived in for years. The two girls both got their rooms to change in, and Shining Armor got the bathroom. Soon enough they were out, dried, and in a duplicate of the exact same clothes they had been wearing earlier.
“Thanks for letting me change here.” Shining Armor said, folding up his drenched clothing. He was now wearing a white t-shirt and jeans, a little less fancy than the soldiers uniform he got drenched, but it worked.
It certainly highlighted his toned and muscular physique better, being somewhat tighter. He had an olive skin tone, and deep wells of blue for eyes. His hair was two tones of blue, one dark with streaks of a bright pale blue that he wore loose and long around his face.
“Well, it was kinda our fault.” Vinyl admitted.
“It was your fault entirely.” Octavia said to her.
“Anyway sorry the place is a mess.” Vinyl said, referencing the clothes, cans, and veritable detritus half strewn throughout the apartment.
“Again, your fault.” Octavia mentioned.
“Look it’s no worry.” Shining Armor said, hoping to avoid another fight between the two. “I should probably be on my way to my sisters, actually, I think I may have actually gotten a little turned around.” He stopped to take out his scroll to look his map. “Let me see… it’s broken. You broke my Scroll.”
“We what?” Vinyl asked.
“My scroll is broken.” Shining Armor repeated. “I needed the map on that.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll pay to have it repaired.” Octavia said.
“We will?” Vinyl asked.
“You can use either of our scrolls to help find your way until then.” Octavia said.
“That would be great. Except the address was also on there…” Shining Armor said.
“So that means…”
“I have no idea where I am, or where I want to go.” Shining Armor said. “I was going to stay there. And I didn’t bring enough money for a room.”
“You could try calling her?” Octavia suggested.
“Yeah I co- wait, no, I don’t know her number.” Shining Armor said.
“You don’t even know your sister’s phone number?” Octavia asked.
“I have it all on a contacts list!” He said beginning to despair.
Vinyl quickly grabbed Octavia and took her to the side. “I say we keep him!” She told her.
“You what?”
“He’s down on his luck, nowhere else to go. Also he’s not too bad to look at. I may have snuck a peak.”
“You…” Octavia was at a loss for words. “This is all your fault to begin with anyway!”
“I thought we agreed we’d both share the blame.” Vinyl retorted. She turned back to Shining who was still standing there stupidly. “Hey, how you feel about sleeping on the couch?”
“Well I don’t know, I-“
“See, he’s into it!” Vinyl’s eyes gleamed beneath her tinted glasses.
Octavia sighed. “I guess we’re not left with much of a choice are we. But only until you find your sister, are we understood.”
“Perfectly understood.” Shining stated.
***
Preferring to try to fix his current predicament, the headed to a small electronics shop. They told him it would take a while to have his scroll repaired, so Octavia and Vinyl gave the repairman their contact info, and told him to give them the bill when it was fixed.
Next Shining decided to start looking for someone who might know where his sister resided.
“She came here to study at the academy you see.” He explained to them as they made their way to Starswirl.
“So she’s a huntress in training like us?” Octavia asked, as Vinyl was back listening to her music and tuning out the world.
“Yeah. She’s not half bad either.” Shining said with a proud smile. “You haven’t met her in your classes have you?”
“Depends, what is her name?”
“Twilight Sparkle.”
Vinyl was listening for that. “So that makes you-“
“Twilight Shining Armor.” He cut her off. “I prefer going by my secondary name. My sister likewise prefers going by her last name.”
“I can’t recall meeting her.” Octavia stated.
“Like you bother to socialize with anyone.” Vinyl stated, going back to drowning out the world.
“Well hopefully they’ll have her information at the Academy.”
The academy was closed that day. They walked all that way for nothing. It was odd, usually the school was open for clubs and studying, but the entire building seemed locked down. On Octavia and Vinyl’s Scrolls they found out this was on the order of the Headmaster. Which would have been nice to know earlier
“Well…” Shining said while standing in front of the big Horse Statue. “I guess I’m coming back tomorrow. When this place is open.” Shining thought aloud. He sighed and slumped in despair.
The two roommates glanced at each-other. Octavia could well see what Vinyl was thinking, and relented. “Would you like it, if perhaps we partook in a snack?” She said. “Share a meal?”
Shining turned and shrugged. “Yeah, that sounds good. I could use a rest.”
“And I know the perfect place!” Vinyl said leaping in the air.
***
“We got food poisoning here!” Octavia announced as she saw Vinyl location of choice, Sugarcube Corner.
“Oh please that was only like half of us.” Octavia stated. “And besides, it was the Captains idea. Now it’s mine! No way it can go wrong!”
“I’m sure.” Octavia suggested.
“Besides, they have like, really good cake!”
“Well, I’m not doing anything else.” Shining stated.
“Fine.” Octavia relented. They entered and took a table for themselves.
“So…” Shining Armor looking for a tactful way of starting a conversation.
“It was the muffins.” Vinyl answered.
“What?”
“The muffins that gave everyone food poisoning.” Vinyl said bobbing her head to a beat pumping through her oversized headphones. “They blamed it on a part-timer they picked up.”
“Oh.” Shining said.
“Honestly, I’m beginning to pity this small shop.” Octavia said. “I only ever see three people working here, and it doesn’t seem that busy. Not to mention, I heard this place had a break-in recently.”
“Really?”
“Probably why the school’s closed.” Vinyl piped up.
“An academy full of Hunter and Huntresses closed up because of one burglar?” Shining asked. To which Vinyl shrugged.
“Hey there everybody!” Piped in a voice full of energy. A girl all in Pink, with a fuzzy pink mane bounced into their view. “Can I take your order? Drinks first, right? Energy Drink for you, and Black Coffee for you, amirite? And you! Ooh! A hunk! Taking these two cuties out for a double-date? You dog you!”
Octavia became somewhat flustered, Vinyl remained expressionless. Shining himself was unsure what to do with the attention. “Um, no, not actually.”
“So that means you’re available.” The girl said with a twinkle in her eyes. She grabbed Shining’s hand and very heartily shook it. “Pinkie Pie nice to meet ya! What’s your name hottie?”
“Um… Shining Armor?”
Octavia tried to politely cough. “Excuse me, you were taking our order?”
“Oh yeah! So what will it be for the very pretty looking boy?”
“Um… do you have root beer?”
“Yesiree!”
“Then… root beer?”
“Oki-doki-loki!” She said bouncing off back behind the counter.
“Another thing.” Octavia noted. “The service is terrible.”
“Service is great.” Vinyl countered. “You just hate people.”
Octavia declined to comment. Shining chuckled. “Actually it’s kind of nice. I’ve been on duty for too long. Forgot how crazy people were. It’s… nice.”
“It is?” Octavia asked.
“You’d be surprised what you start missing.” Shining Armor said. “Like Root Beer.”
“One Root Beer!” Cried the waitress materializing from nowhere. Within a flash their drinks were on the table, and she was smiling like a madwoman. “Will that be all?”
“Yes. Please.” Octavia stated.
“Oki-Doki-Loki!” With that she sauntered off with a long sideways glance at Shining.
Vinyl turned to Shining who opened his can took a few sips. She took off her headphones for this conversation. “That happen to you often?”
“What?” He asked.
“That?” She said, nodding at the Waitress who was annoying some other customer.
“What?” He asked. Again.
“Girls drooling over you?”
Shining almost choked on his soda. “NO!” He coughed up. “No, never.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Vinyl said.
“Look trust me, I’m not the kinda guy that that kinda thing happens to.” Shining clarified.
“You sure?” Vinyl asked.
“Yes, I’m rather sure.” Shining stated. “New topic please?”
“Delivery!” The group turned to the door where a Postgirl in grey was standing in the door.
“Ah good!” Said Mr. Cake, owner of the Café. He went to the door to sign for the package.
“Derpy!” Vinyl waved over the girl. “We found a hot one!”
“Oh hey guys!” She waved back. “Let me finish with this and I’ll catch up with you!”
“She’s the leader of our team at the academy.” Octavia explained, still waiting for her coffee to cool.
“Oh.” Shining Armor said, with not much else to say.
The transaction was simple enough. Mr. Cake signed for his purchase, paid for it, and he and Derpy helped transport it into the back. It was about the size of a television set, and looked to be twice as heavy.
With the job done, she plopped herself down between her teammates, and across from Shining.
“What was that you were hauling?” Vinyl asked.
“A safe.” She answered evidently tired from the job. “Heavy. Mr. Cake there wants to beef up his security after the break-in.”
“Derpy, this is Shining Armor, a newly met acquaintance.” Octavia introduced them, sipping her coffee.
“Nice to meet you.” Shining armor extended his hand, which she took. She kept her eyes low, and obscured by her hair and her Postmans Hat.
“We dunked him in the fountain during a-“
“Argument.” Octavia cut in. “He’s here to visit his sister, but unfortunately his scroll with all his relevant information was broken.”
“So he’ll be bunking with the two of us.” Vinyl finished.
Derpy nodded. “Surprised to see you two here again.” Derpy nodded.
“Vinyl insisted.” Octavia said.
“Food poisoning was probably a one-time deal. Probably.”
“No not that.” Derpy said. “Lyra and Bon-Bon were here last week, and their triple-cherry-changas were spiked with hotsauce.”
Shining took this opportunity to thoroughly inspect his drink.
“What were the two of them doing here?” Vinyl asked, to which Derpy shrugged.
“They wouldn’t say.”
The Waitress came into view again. “Soda right?” She said with the drink prepared.
“Yes please!” Derpy said accepting the drink, and quickly began gulping it down. Considering the information she had brought to light earlier, the three at the table stared a little at her eagerness. “What?”
***
Shining was fed and clothed, so he wasn’t too upset. He helped the pair clean up their apartment, he even caught up on a few shows he had missed, before they turned in. Vinyl took more than a bit of convincing that now wasn’t a good time to throw a party, or go to a club, but after she was put in bed, Shining had the couch and a few blankets to himself.
All-in-all not the worst accommodations he’s ever had.
He got up bright and early the next morning with the sun, was dressed, washed, and ready for the day. He even greeted the two girls with coffee. Octavia woke rather composed, Vinyl… didn’t. She took more than a little rousing from Octavia, but they enjoyed some small talk, some coffee, and they were dressed, and on their way to the academy.
Shining was once again in his red-military jacket with an emblem of a shield and a six-pointed star on his breast, which was nice protection against the early morning chill. He even carried his weapon with him, since he didn’t want to feel out of place with Octavia and Vinyl carrying theirs with them. It was rather gloomy and muggy out, overcast with an oppressive humidity. He scanned crowds of students heading to the academy for sight of his sister, but didn’t come across anything.
The three of them parted ways at the giant horse statue. Shining stated that he would catch up with them at the same Café as yesterday whether or not he found his sibling.
He weaved through the hallways towards the Headmasters Office at the top of a long flight of stairs. He was glad he had been given directions earlier. He felt out of place back in such a school, but wondered whether or not he looked young enough to fit in with the rest of the students.
After a bit of searching he found an impressive set of double wooden doors with a pair of winged unicorns engraved on them.
He knocked.
“Yes?” A somewhat tired, but nonetheless authotarian voice spoke out.
“Headmaster Celestia? It’s me Shining Armor.”
“Shining Armor?” The voice said surprised. “Please do come in.”
He entered Celestia’s office, where she seemed swamped by paperwork on all sides. “Ma’am.” He said.
That brought a smile to her face. “Don’t be so formal, sit down.” She instructed. “I thought I would have heard of your visit.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” Shining Armor stated, grabbing a chair. “Am I interrupting, you look… busy.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s just that… the current school year has taken more out of me than I anticipated.” She said. “What brings you here?”
“Well, half that my current tour ended, and I’m meeting up with everyone, and half that I got dunked in a fountain, broke my Scroll, and I have like, no idea where Twily lives.”
She chuckled at that. “Well, that’s quite a predicament you’re in.”
“You are going to help me, right?” He felt the need ask.
“Just having a bit of fun.” Celestia said, glancing at her scroll. “Twilight is taking some early combat classes with her team at the moment. They’ll be heading into the Everfree Forest, but once they’re done, I wouldn’t mind pardoning her from her classes today so that you may catch up.”
“The trick will be whether or not Twily will want to skip classes.”
“Yes that is a concern.” Celestia said with a laugh.
“What about Spike? He’s staying with Twily, right?” Shining asked.
“Yes. Actaully, I’m not sure if you know, doubtful since you don’t know Twilight’s address, but I’ve signed up Spike as my own personal assistant.” She told him.
“Yeah, the folks mentioned that while I was in Canterlot. Still taking classes though?”
“Yes, with the underclassmen. No combat classes like his two siblings I’m afraid, but he’s still getting a decent education, some job experience, and some small pay.”
“Does he spend all his money on candy, games, and comics?” Shining asked.
“Well… yes.” She admitted. “I’ll buzz him up right now in fact.” She said, taking her scroll, and sending a small message. “I’m sure you two will have much to catch up on.”
“Yeah, half the reason I’m here is actually to drop off his stuff.” Shining explained. “He didn’t bother to pack like Twilight when he came over since you sprang the whole staying here thing on him. So the folks have me dropping off his stuff.”
Celestia nodded. Soon enough there was a cursory knocking at the door, and Spike entered.
“Hey there boss, got your text, what is- Shining?” He came in surprised.
“Hey there buddy!” Shining said, getting up, and rubbing his spiked hair. “Miss me?”
“What are you doing here?” Spike asked.
“Dropping off your stuff.” Shining answered. “I got turned around, broke my scroll, so I came here to get the Headmaster to point me in the right way. So, you have a job now!”
Celestia waved in the background as Spike turned to her. He turned back to Shining. “Well yeah, I mean, it’s nothing really, Celestia just has me delivering papers, getting coffee, stuff like that. What about you! You’re back from the army! What was that like?”
“I’ve got more than a few stories.” Shining said. “Anyway, if the Headmaster doesn’t mind, I was thinking that we could all go somewhere out to town, get a bite to eat, and catch up.”
“I wouldn’t mind at all.” Celestia stated. “In fact-“ She took a look at all the work she had to do. “I would like to join you for a brief while, I could certainly use a slice of cake. Unfortunately, Twilight and her team are already in the Everfree Forest, we’ll just have to wait until she’s done with the lesson, and we can all…” She trailed off as she focused more on her Scroll. She tapped it more than a few times, and looked increasingly worried, muttering something under her breath.
“What is it boss?” Spike asked.
“The drones feed is down.” Celestia said. She quickly got up from her desk. “The entire drones feed is down. We need to get up there now, come on!” With that the three of them were running through the halls, Celestia in the lead, trying to get to the Barrier Wall. “The entire drones feed is down, we’re in the dark!”
“What happened?” Spike asked, to which Celestia was silent.
***
They got to the wall as soon as they could, where they found Lieutenant Brass Shells likewise worrying over his Scroll. “Headmaster! You’re here! I sent the students off into the forest when the feed cut out from the drones. I fear sabotage.”
“I heard there was an escaped criminal, do you think it was them?” Shining proposed.
“Shining please, now’s not the time to worry about that.” Celestia said. “We need to end the lesson until we can see what the problem is. No more missions into the Everfree Forest today, and I want every free Faculty member to find the students in the forest, and bring them back here.”
“What’s the big deal, they can handle themselves out there, right?” Spike asked.
“Something is not right young lad.” Lieutenant Brass Shells stated. “And I’d rather take as few chances as I can when it comes to my students.”
“Likewise.” Celestia stated.
“Well if there’s something I should be worried about, I want to help.” Shining stated, unslinging his weapon.
Celestia looked like she was going to protest before quickly relenting. “Fine, I need as many boots on the ground as I can afford. Spike, hand him you’re scroll, Shining, I want you to send any and all groups of students back here, told them I sent you, and look for your sister’s team and personally escort them back. Call me when you find them, and tell me if there is anything suspicious or worrisome that you encounter. Understood?”
“Yes ma’am.”
***
Several minutes earlier the early combat class began on the top of the wall at the first part of the day. Many of the students weren’t even up yet, the morning air doing little to wake them.
Vinyl Scratch was among them.
“You could at least pretend like you care.” Octavia sniped.
“Can’t help it.” Vinyl yawned. “Coffee ain’t working like it used to.”
“So how’s your friend?” Their team-leader asked.
“Acquaintance.” Octavia corrected. “Went to see the Headmaster. Hopefully she will have the details on his sister.”
“What’s this about?” Lyra asked, as Lieutenant Brass Shells went on with his lecture, that hardly any of his students were listening to.
“We dunked a random hot dude passing by, and now he’s living on our couch.” Vinyl yawned.
“I can assure you that is certainly what didn’t happen.” Octavia stated.
“I met him on a delivery to Sugarcube Corner.” Derpy explained.
“You took him there?” Bon-Bon asked incredulously.
“Nothing too bad happened.” Vinyl shrugged.
“All the sugar they serve is bad for your teeth.” Colgate said.
“We know.” The team said unanimously.
“Well it’s true.” She shot back.
“Alright then class!” Lieutenant Brass Shells boomed loud enough for anyone outside to hear him. “Now that you know the importance of today’s lesson, let us begin! Assume your positions on the Catapults, and begin your mission!”
Each of the students double-checked their gear, and readied themselves. One-by-one the catapults launched the students hundreds of feet into the air, and they soared back down to the overgrown leafy forest.
Lyra and Colgate caught onto the branches of the trees with their weapons, swinging from one to another, hopping from tree to tree.
Vinyl freefell for several seconds, before expanding her white bracelet into a full armored gauntlet that covered here whole right arm, she used the sonic canon to blow apart leaves and branches in her way, the vibrations slowed her fall until the landed at a run.
Octavia had a massive bass on her back that she wielded like a club. It was sturdy, and she smashed trees in her way, she used the bow to hook on to a tree, sliding around it until she struck the ground elegantly.
Bon-Bon had it easy with shotguns strapped to each limb, she bounced from tree to tree from the recoil of each shot until she deigned to land on the ground.
And lastly Derpy simply unfolded her wing-pack, and glided down to meet up with her team. “Okay team Assemble!” She called out enthusiastically. “Team? Team?” She expected them to assemble quicker. She tightened the hat on her head, and took out her weapon, the Steel Feathers, a double-ended rifle-sword.
She took two steps before a Beowolf exposed itself from the foliage. “Hi there wolfy…” Derpy said cautiously. It viciously leapt at her with the attempt to tear out her throat, she blocked with her Steel Feathers, and was forced to the ground firing wildly. She kicked and struggled against it’s assault, her weapon barely keeping away its’ claws and teeth.
She wriggled out from underneath it, slashing at it, serving only to anger it, she unloaded a clip on it, what bullets hit did nothing to deter it, the Beowolf closed in on her, each of them trading blows, Derpy continuously hopping backwards, until she was pressed against a tree, and the Beowolf gave her a relentless assault, out of ammo with nowhere to turn. She gritted her teeth, letting the monster take a good strike on her, draining her Aura, she split her weapon in two, placing both blades at it’s neck, and with great effort, she rended it’s head from it’s neck granting her a reprieve.
Panting, and exhausted, she combined and holstered her weapon on her back, removed her cap, wiping the sweat off her brow, and taking the hair from her eyes, revealing her cross-eyed stare. As she regained her breath, she put her cap back on tight on her head. She heard a rustling, and she turned to see a great series of red glowing eyes staring at her.
“Oh. You must be Mr. Wolfy’s friends. Hi?”
***
“Hey Octy!” Colgate announced as she landed infront of Octavia’s path as she strolled through the woods. “Anyone call you that?”
“…No.” Octavia said, as composed as always.
“You been having trouble finding the rest of the group?” Colgate asked, keeping her weapon out.
“I haven’t seen anything.” Octavia told her. “And the atmosphere does seem… oppressive.”
“Guess we should keep looking.” Colgate suggested. Octavia nodded, and they walked together in silence, Octavia kept her hands on her on the bow, and neck of her instrument on her back. They strolled for awhile, keeping an eye out for anything funny.
Something grey, blonde, fast, and perhaps a little funny, flew past them, bristling their hair and clothes. It collided into a tree with a groan.
“Derpy!” Called Colgate, rushing to her aid. “You okay?”
“Monsters- lots-“ Derpy managed to get out while upside down.
Octavia turned behind them, unslinging her Bass, its name, the Trebled Clef stenciled into it’s face. She heard before she could see the horde descending on them. Stoic as always, she hooked the bow onto the Bass, aimed the bottom at the oncoming monsters, and with a pull of a trigger at the neck, she unloaded upon the beasts, showering them with lead.
Colgate meanwhile, took out her own weapon, the Crown Splitter, a staff with a pick on one end, and a steel brush on the reverse. She cast a defensive spell on each of them present, strengthening their aura. Derpy likewise righted herself, relaoaded her rifle-swords, and fired wildly, as Colgate swiped at the Beowolves that came close.
But throughout the ensuing firefight, the horde’s numbers didn’t seem to diminish, despite their bodies mounting, they came at them like a tidal wave, and rushed around them, they held off their attackers until the horde had bypassed them entirely, and the monsters had ran off to parts unknown, the girls stood there in the small grotto, happy to still be alive.
“Well-“ Octavia said, the barrel on her Bass still smoking. “I’m out of ammo.”
“What was that?” Colgate asked.
“I dunno.” Derpy said unhelpfully. “I landed. I fought one. And then there were all of… them!”
“A master of words as always, Team Leader.” Octavia said, slinging the Trebled Clef back on her back.
“I dunno what happened!” Derpy insisted, as Colgate administered a cream to a cut on her face.
“They were awfully aggressive.” Their medic noted. “I doubt there was anything even our leader could do to get them that angry.”
“Hey!”
“Agreed.” Octavia stated, helping Derpy up. “Regardless, we should find the rest of the team, and complete our mission, no?”
“Oh, right!” Derpy stated. “Team! Let go find the rest of our team!”
***
It was hot and humid out now. That was oddly enough the thought that ran though Shining Armor’s head as he hurtled through the air. He used hardlight to slide down to the ground, taking out his rifle, and watching for targets. He heard sounds of fighting spread throughout the forest, which almost seemed a jungle with the oppressive weather and atmosphere. It almost felt hard to breath.
He ignored this, he had a mission ahead of him. He opened up his jacket and went through the forest at a brisk pace. He only had a rough idea of where his sister and her group would be, and not much information on what he might be facing, so conditions were less than ideal.
Being a soldier, he soldiered on. He headed towards the sounds of fighting, he’d find some students there. He almost thought he heard music. He got closer, he saw an Ursa burst through the trees. He took aim, but he didn’t get a chance to pull the trigger, before a girl in a cream hood landed on it, and delivered four quick shotgun shells into it’s chest. She immediately turned, and aimed her shotgun bracelets at him.
“Friendly! Friendly!” Shining stated.
“Friend?” Cried a girl in all mint-green. She appeared from the trees, and clambered upon the dead beast beside her compatriot.
“Hi nice to meet you.” Shining said, keeping his weapon lowered.
“Nice to meet you too!” Said the green girl.
“Hey it’s the acquaintance!” Said a third girl with tinted glasses clambering besides the other girls. “Hey acquaintance!”
“Hey there Vinyl.” Shining Armor stated.
“What are you doing here? Still looking for your sis?” She asked, removing her headphones.
“Yes and no.” He answered, keeping an ear out for any more monsters. “I was with the Headmaster when the security went down. I think it might have to do with that escaped criminal, but that’s just my guess. She wants all the students out of this forest immediately, and I volunteered to help.”
“Lessons over?” Asked the girl in green, to which the hooded girl shrugged.
“Acquaintance: Lyra and Bon-Bon. Lyra and Bon-Bon: Acquaintance.” Vinyl ‘introduced’ them.
“Shining Armor.” He stated.
“Nice to meet you!” Lyra restated.
“So yeah, if you guys could head out, back to the wall, that would be great.” Shining Armor stated. “I’ll keep looking for more students.”
“Hmm… no dice.” Vinyl stated. “Precious thing like you, probably wouldn’t last five minutes without us to help.” She said, placing her arms around the necks of Lyra and Bon-Bon.
“What are you doing?” Bon-Bon asked.
“Shh, I’m in charge now.” She responded.
“Derpy’s in charge.” Lyra corrected.
“Thanks for the concern, but I was in the Army.” Shining Armor stated. “I can handle myself.”
“Yeah, no you can’t.” She said.
“Yes I can.”
“No you can’t.”
“Yes I can.”
“No you can’t.”
“Yes I can!” Shining stated getting frustrated.
“As thrilling-“ Bon-Bon stated in a formal voice, releasing herself from Vinyl’s grip. “As this is, are we staying or leaving? Because either way, I’m sure more Grimm are on the way.”
“She has a point-“ Shining Armor said.
“Of course I have a point!”
“Look, I’m sure you and your team can handle themselves, I’m not going to waste time arguing. Do as you like, but I’m looking for my sister, got it?”
“Got it! Can’t wait to see what Ms. Sparkle is like.” She said with a mischievous glint behind her glasses.
***
The four of them continued on, looking to catch up with Octavia and hopefully the rest of their team. They didn’t seem to have much confidence in their survival chances with them not there to help.
They came across a few separate groups of students, and Shining told them to head back to the wall. Each of them reported an unusual aggressiveness with the Monsters, fortunately their group didn’t have too many encounters. Though it was slow going without any direction.
“So do they just launch you out here, and told you to sort yourselves out?” Shining asked.
“There was some other stuff.” Vinyl stated, half-listening to her music. “I don’t know, I wasn’t really paying attention.”
“Surprise, surprise.” Bon-Bon said drolly.
“I don’t know, doesn’t seem too bad to me.” Lyra said, merrily keeping pace.
“Aside from the weather. And the monsters. And the walking. And the being up before noon bit.” Vinyl noted.
“Complain-complain-complain.” Lyra said.
“Hold!” Shining stated, holding up his hand.
“What does this- mean?” Vinyl asked, copying the gesture.
“It means hold!” Shining stated. “And keep quiet, I hear something.” He kept low, and kept his rifle drawn, the girls did likewise.
Something leapt out from the bushes, and Shining conjured a hard-light shield in front of him, his attacker smacked against it. Hard.
“Derpy?” Lyra called out recognizing her attacker.
“Hi Lyra…” She said as she slid down Shining’s shield. He dispelled it, and helped her up.
“You okay?” Shining asked.
“Oh, hey there!” She said adjusting her cap. “What are you doing out here.”
“Well I-“
“Nevermind! Monsters!” Derpy said suddenly remembering what she was running from.
She was soon joined by her other two teammates who flew out of the trees knocking out both Lyra and Bon-Bon. Out of the trees Slithered a King Taijitu.
“Aw come on, more fighting?” Vinyl said, taking off her headphones, and fiddling with her Gauntlet. “Oh hey Octavia, we were looking for you.”
“Hello Vinyl.”
Shining threw Derpy out of the way of the Monsters strike, catching it’s maw with his rifle. Those on the ground quickly got up, Octavia took her Bass, wielding it like a club bashed it’s head off of Shining. The white head, took notice of this however, preparing it’s own strike only to be distracted by the spells thrown it’s way by Colgate’s Crown Splitter.
Bon-Bon came in to help relieve Shining and Octavia on the black head, the two working in tandem, giving the head blow after blow, pushing it back, but the team was unprepared when the heads switched places, the monster twirled it’s black head knocking out Colgate and Lyra who was standing behind her, while the white head struck the ground where Bon-Bon and Octavia were standing.
As the dust settled the two-headed snake surveyed it’s prey, ready to snap them up as they regained their footing. However a shrill shrieking noise was heard throughout the forest as Vinyl Leapt into the fray. Her gauntlet a Sonic Cannon, a Bass Cannon in fact, she blasted at each of them, leaping over it’s midsection disorienting it, and generally doing what she did, being a nuisance.
Shining distanced himself from the fight, trying to get a grasp on the situation and think for a second. He found a spot where Derpy was trying to shoot at the beast with her own weapon, taking sporadic unsure shots as Vinyl took on the beast by herself, and the rest of the team spread out, recuperating.
“What are you doing?” Shining asked, as he checked his rifle.
“Fighting?” Derpy asked unsure.
“Order your team! You’re the leader aren’t you? That Grimm is working together to keep us apart, you gotta do the same. Take advantage of their strengths against that things weaknesses!”
Derpy stopped firing, and tried to calm herself. She moved her cap backwards to keep her vision clear.
“Lyra, Bon-Bon, Colgate! Pick a head try to pin it down! Vinyl, Octavia! Get the other heads attention, and keep them apart!” She ordered. The order went through, though the team was too busy fighting for their lives to say anything. “What about you?”
“I’m a paladin, a close-combat fighter, I have a massive aura, and my semblance is to project shields.” He told her.
Derpy nodded. “Go with Vinyl and Octavia, I’ll keep an eye above.”
Shining nodded and leapt into combat. Derpy meanwhile unfolded her Wing-Pack, and hovered above the fight.
Shining Armor split his weapon, the Might and Muster, in two. The barrel of his rifle became a Sabre he held in his left hand, while the stock unfolded into a round shield that had his emblem emblazoned on it which he held in his right. He put himself in the path of the black head as it struck down on Vinyl, it bit down on him, but he held strong, the Monster breaking one of its own fangs on his shield as he refused to budge.
“Cover your ears!” Vinyl instructed as she brought her Bass Canon beside him.
“Can’t!” Shining told her.
“Sorry then!” She said, unleashing a steady blast of sound down the creatures throat that could be felt through it’s entire body until it came through the white head, who had Lyra, Bon-Bon, and Colgate harassing it, going on the attack.
Bon-Bon through punches, kicks and shotgun shells at the snake head whenever it went somewhere it didn’t like while Lyra bolstered their Aura with her strumming her lyre. Disoriented and angry, it let opened it’s mouth for half a hiss, half a roar. Colgate took this opportunity, leaping up she hooked one of it’s fangs with her pick, and brought it to the ground.
Pinned, the monster writhed its body, Shining Armor despite his heroic defense was steadily loosing while Vinyl kept up her attack. However just as it seemed to be loosening itself for another attack, Octavia came in, clubbing it on the head with her Trebled Clef, knocking it away.
“Thanks.” Shining Armor said, keeping his eye on the head.
“Couldn’t you have shot the thing?” Vinyl asked.
“I ran out of ammo.” Octavia told her.
“Oh, that sucks.”
"Yes it does."
“It’s coming back.” Shining noted.
“Scatter!” Vinyl called, and she and Octavia did just that as Shining Armor stood his ground. Again he raised his shield, and the snake-head slammed down on him, but this time he went for a counterattack.
Struggling against it’s weight he pushed back, and slashed at it repeatedly with his sword going back on the offensive. Team Derpy could only watch as he singlehandedly pushed back the creature, making it bleed and cry out as he repeatedly blocked, slashed, and shot it. It got so bad that as he bashed the head into submission, he turned to see the team staring at him.
“Kill the thing already!” He told him, as the black snakehead bore back down on him.
“Oh right!” Derpy cried out, still watching from the sky. She saw the white snake-head pinned down, so she flew higher and higher above the treeelines, and flew straight back down divebombing the giant serpent, her Steel Feathers bared, she pierced it’s skull with both swords as she landed on it, killing the first head.
Shining Armor wasn’t that far behind either, as now the serpent-beast had only one head to work with. Deciding now was the time for the killing blow, Shining relented in his attack, allowing the half of the Taijitu rear back and attempt to swallow him. Shining stepped back, and let himself enter it’s mouth, with his Might, he pierced the roof of it’s mouth, and firing repeatedly into it’s skull, until all tension it’s body went limp, and it’s weight bore down on him fully.
He extricated himself from the creature mouth, only a little worse for wear.
***
They figured they didn’t have time to catch their breath. Each of them reported that the monsters were unusually aggressive. Shining continued to search for his sister, and after their fight together, the rest of Team Depy volunteered to keep going with him.
Shining didn’t like it, there were safety in numbers, but he felt it made them a bigger target too. But he didn’t want to waste time arguing, and they had to keep moving. He was introduced to the last member of the team, Colgate, who’s brightest thing about her was her smile, which contrasted heavily with her dark skin. She patched the rest of them up of any cuts or bruises the team had, being the self-appointed medic.
It seemed the forest was quieter than before. The sounds of the Grimm were more persistent, but the sounds of fighting and gunfire were more sporadic. He supposed that meant more students had returned to the academy at that point.
He checked his scroll. The signal was weak but it was there. He was sure he’d be called if Twilight’s team had been found. As it was, they just headed towards the sound of gunfire.
“So he seems like a nice guy.” Colgate said right behind him.
“And a hot one, too, amirite?” Vinyl said.
“Eh, not my type.” Lyra said.
“Could you please stop looking over him like he’s a peace of meat?” Octavia requested.
“What do you care, he’s only an ‘acquaitance’ right?” Vinyl shot back.
Shining sighed at the batter, as he and the Team Leader kept in the front. “They always like this?” Shining asked.
“Who? What?” Derpy asked, having been very focused on the path ahead of them.
“Your team. Are they always so… casual?” Shining asked.
“Oh… yeah, I think so.” Derpy said. “I mean, they may not always have the nicest things to say but… I think it’s nice they can always talk.”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right.” Shining said. “It’s just a little different in the army. Certain things are expected. We goof off, just… less so.”
“Oh.” Derpy said. “Is that where you learned all the-“ She made a series of kung-fu moves and noises trying to mimic the way Shining had been fighting.
“Most of it.” He answered. “I’m pretty sure it’s why my sister’s out here. Following in my footsteps. Well at least partially. Which is why I want to make sure she’s not gotten into a big mess.”
“She sounds really lucky.” Derpy said. “Having someone like you look out for her.”
“I hope she feels that way.” Shining said with a half-grin.
“I know what it’s like, I have a little sister too, so that’s why I’m here, so I can learn how to handle myself, and look after her.” Derpy told him.
“Really? I respect that, that’s a wonderful thing you’re doing.” Shining told her with a full smile.
“Thanks.” Derpy said, blushing somewhat, hiding her eyes. “Do you think you could introduce us to her when we find her?”
“I don’t see why not.” Shining said.
“Thanks.” She said. “Oh, and thanks for the advice earlier. I’m not that good of a leader…”
“You seemed to handle yourself okay.” Shining said. “I mean, I see some room for improvement, but hey, that’s why you’re here, right? Besides, I’ve seen some pretty bad leaders panic at the first sign of trouble. You kept your head, so you’re already better than some people they’d let in the army.”
“You think?”
“I know. One guy I had to work with wanted us charge into battle with cleaning utensils because we had lost our weapons.” He told her.
“Did you win.”
“Well, actually, that’s a bit of a story, you see, we were-“ Unfortunately Depy didn’t get to hear shining story as they marched closer to the sounds of fire, because at that point he was bowled over by something flying, human, and Pink.
“It’s our Waitress.” Octavia noted.
“Sweet, think she brought snacks?” Vinyl asked.
“Whoa!” The Waitress popped up on her legs, apparently none the worse for wear. “Am I okay? Arms, check. Legs, check. Body, check. Head… check! I am A-Okay!” She said flashing a thumbs up at no-one. “Now, who did I hit this time?”
“I think you may have broke him.” Bon-Bon piped in, looking over Shining’s fallen form.
“Don’t worry chief… I’m fit for duty…” Shining mumbled, stars in his eyes.
“Oh no! It’s the really really attractive man from yesterdary!” Pinkie Pie cried. “…Looks like someone is going to have to apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation!”
“I volunteer!” Vinyl chimed in upon the words ‘mouth-to-mouth’ causing Octavia to restrain her.
“I’m beginning to see your point.” Lyra said.
Shining shook himself awake, and helped himself back onto his feet. “Where did you come from?” He asked.
“Ooh! Glad you asked! I was born on a Rock-Farm the second youngest of four-sisters. It was a hard and difficult life at times, but-“
“Where did you come from right now?” Shining said, standing unsteadily.
“Oh that! You gots to be more specific Mr.! Well lets see, I was-“ And then a bolt of realization struck her with a might gasp. “What am I doing!? AJ is in trouble!” And with that she ran off.
“Should we run after her?” Bon-Bon asked.
“I get the feeling that if we don’t it’ll have some bearing on where we go in the Afterlife.” Shining responded, picking up his rifle.
It wasn’t hard to follow the girl. She was quick, but she wasn’t that quick, not to mention the fact of how her Pink mane stood out against the bleak forest.
It wasn’t long until their group came upon hers, Pinkie Pie immediately went up to the side of a tall Cowgirl, who had a pistol in each hand.
“AJ! You okay?”
“Ah’m fine!” She insisted. “The mute’s in trouble now!”
A great rumbling came through the woods, a young girl with a lighter shade of pink for her hair than her teammate, ran through the trees with a massive knife, tears in her eyes. It was soon apparent what she was running from as a giant Deathstalker crawled after her, uprooting tree’s in it’s path with it’s mighty claws, and tossing them at her.
“Guys help!” Derpy told them, jumping into the air.
“How?” Bon-Bon asked. She sighed as their leader leapt right into the fray.
“Come on, it could be worse.” Lyra assured her patting her on the back.
“I’m failing to see how.” She said, fishing a few candies from her pocket, offering one to Lyra, who accepted. Bon-Bon popped it in her mouth, and activated it’s strength booster with a large crunch.
Using her shotguns for propulsion she sidestepped the fleeing girl, and delivered several shotgun blasts to the things face, deftly avoiding it’s stinger and claws, flipping over it, but the thing was undeterred in it’s pursuit.
The rest of the team scattered as the girl ran towards them, but Shining stood his ground. They tried slowing it down with spells, music, and gunfire but it was unhindered until finally the girl ran into his arms.
“Hi.” He told her.
“H-Hi.” She feebly responded.
“Excuse me a second.” He said, gently moving her to the side. He took his might and muster, and projecting a powerful shield he stood his ground as the Deathstalker used it’s claws and stinger in tandem to strike him, all glancing off of his projected shields.
Now in one place, the girls could make some progress. Octavia leapt up and used her Trebled Clef to bash the Deathstalkers tail, Colgate attempted to pick at it’s thick armor with her Crown Splitter, and Vinyl continuously assaulted it with her Bass Canon, dizzying it. Applejack and Pinkie Pie weren’t slacking off either, picking at it with their weapons from afar like Derpy was, who continued to shoot and hover above it.
It swung wildly, but Shining tried to keep it’s focus oh him however, giving it blow after blow to it’s face. It was slow going, but they were making progress towards killing the thing.
“Don’t worry! The Cavalry’s arrived!” Pinkie Pie stated as the rest of her team appeared on the scene.
“Shining?” Twilight cried adjusting her glasses.
“Twily?” Shining asked, to see his sister standing there with her staff. “Twily!” His concentration broken his shield failed, and the Deathstalker grabbed him with one of it’s pincers, and threw him at the new attackers, where he bowled over his young sister, completely missing her two compatriots on either side.
“Ow…” She moaned, fixing her hat and her glasses, finding her brother on top of her. “What are you doing here!?”
“Visiting you Twily!” Shining said. “Hi.”
“Pfft… Twily.” Rainbow Dash snickered.
Twilight turned a shade red and had a rather disapproving scowl on her face. “Weren’t you supposed to be fighting monsters.”
“Come on Darling.” Rarity said, running into the fight.
“Fine.” Rainbow Dash said, taking flight.
Shining Armor got off his sister, and helped her to her feet. “So hey how have you been?” He asked.
“Oh just dandy, the Headmaster set us up with our own accomadations, me and Spike are accomadating nicely, I love all my classes, now SERIOUSLY WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF FIGHTING A GIANT MONSTER!!!” Twilight yelled.
“Calm down, calm down!” Shining Armor stated. “I’ve been fighting Monsters all day, I was supposed to meet you yesterday, but, well that’s it’s own story. This is the first time I’ve seen you since you’ve become a proper huntress! Look at you! You look so proper.”
“Shining, while I love the fact that you’ve chosen to visit, now is not the time.” Twilight lectured him.
“Sure it is.”
To punctuate the conversation Lyra and Bon-Bon crashed on either side of them.
“Hi Lyra.” Shining said.
“Hi Shining.”
“AND WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE!?!?!?” Twilight cried.
“Oh, well you see, that’s relating to yesterday, see the girl with the big gauntlet, and the Bass? They were having an argument, and well, you know what I’m like, I tried to step in and fix things, and we ended up in a fountain, and I broke my scroll, which obviously had all the information I needed to reach you. So they let me stay the night until I could get it fixed and find you. This is their team.”
“WHY DIDN’T YOU CALL AHEAD OR ANTYHING!?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.” Shining said. “Surprise!”
Twilight facepalmed.
“Nice sister you have there.” Bon-Bon noted.
“Thanks.”
“Quiet you!” Twilight said.
“I think she’d be a little bit more appreciative considering we came all the way out here to help her.” Bon-Bon said.
“I know right?” Lyra said.
“I said quiet! Why aren’t you fighting? Start fighting already!”
“Fine-fine.” Lyra said, the two getting up, and back into the fray.
“You know, I was hoping that you’d be a little more excited to see me.” Shining said. “I could have died for all you know. Being in the army’s dangerous.”
“You were never in any danger, I read the reports!” She snapped.
“Ah, you do care!” Shining said, taking her in for a big hug.
“Shining Armor, I will kill you.” She said, muffled into his jacket.
“I love you too.” Shining stated. He let go and turned to the battle that was still raging. “So, how do you wanna handle the fight. This is your territory after all.”
Twilight sighed, and preferred to concentrate on something productive. “We’ve been picking at it for a while, one good blow should be good once we open up a weakness.” She said. “But we’re tired, and low on ammunition.”
“Yeah, my team too.”
“Your team?”
“Quiet. Oh, I forgot to mention, Celestia says the lesson’s ended early, so don’t need to hold back for later, just blast the thing, and head back to the wall.” He told her.
“With the Headmaster?” Twilight asked. “Why?”
“Security went down. I think she’s being cautious, but the Monsters seem unusually aggressive.”
“You’re telling me, after what we’ve been through…” She said. She loaded a dust cartridge into her Caduceus. “Fine. Get in close, keep it one place, I’ll hit it from afar.”
“Roger ma’am!” He said.
Both sides in the fight were wavering. The Deathstalkers movements were slow and sluggish, it’s armor cracked in several places, but the girls were likewise tired from the fight.
Pinkie Pie and Vinyl Scratch ran about it’s legs harassing it with their respective Canons, while Derpy and Rainbow Dash both flew above, and divebombed the creature, landing to block any blows that either Rarity and Octavia who were in the fore-font, blocking and parrying any strikes the Deathstalker was trying to give them, soon joined by Shining Armor, forming an near insurmountable defense.
The rest of the team stood back providing support and covering fire. Colgate gave each of the team in the front a defensive boost to their aura, and fired spells at the beast like Twilight was, whereas Lyra played her instrument, helping maintain focus and boost the skills of her allies. Whereas Applejack, Bon-Bon, and Fluttershy simply fired round after round into the thing.
The monsters shell was cracking more and more, becoming weaker and weaker. Rarity caught one of it’s pincers with her Taileur de Diamants, pinning it between it’s blades. With a strike of her Bass by Octavia, the monsters pincer was shorn off completely causing the thing to screech in pain. Shining did likewise, catching the things Pincer with his Muster, an slicing it off with his Might.
Weakened, bleeding and crippled, the Deathstalker went into a frenzy stabbing the ground with a mad frenzy, knocking most of the defenders out of it’s striking distance, but Shining stood strong. He blocked each of it’s strikes with his shield above his head, he took his sword, aimed, and fired repeatedly at it’s glowing eyes and mandibles, expending his entire magazine until the thing recoiled from the pain.
Freed, Shining climbed atop it’s carapace, slicing off it’s stinger tip, removing it’s last means of attack, leaving it a helpless mad frenzied crippled beast. Shining took it out of it’s misery by plunging his sword in a crack in it’s armor in it’s head, finally killing it.
Everyone relaxed the battle won. Shining Armor dismounted from his conquest. “So… anyone for ice-cream?”