“No.”
“But we don’t wanna go back yet!” they whined.
“After that little stunt, you tried to pull off? Too bad.”
“But we didn't get hurt!” Scoots exclaimed. I turned around at our Crusaders with that I've been dragging in chains for the last several blocks. Their Crusaders and the other me and the purple princess were following closely behind but at the moment I ignored them.
“Didn't get hurt?” I questioned. “Look, having fun, breaking a few rules and getting yourself into something dangerous is one thing, but you had to know what you’re doing so you don’t take it too far. And setting off enough explosives to flatten a whole block for the sake of your little movie? That’s just irresponsible, even by my standards.”
“But we didn't know that would happen!” AB said.
“Another reason why you three are going straight home,” I once again start dragging them towards the castle.
“Come on now,” the other me popped up. “I didn't let them get hurt did I?”
“Oh really?”
“You saw me clean all that up with a stomp didn't you?”
“I did, also, I’m angry at you for actually going along with this.”
“All I did was offer myself towards directing.”
“And nearly get them killed? Let’s face it, you have no defense here.”
“I didn't know how big of an explosion was going to be.”
“Wow, you really are dense, now leave me alone.”
“But Julius, it was our fault!” Applebloom piped up. “We started it, so we should be punished, not them.”
“That’s very noble of you,” I craned my neck over to her. “At the moment, however, I don’t care who started what, I’m the one who’s going to finish it. And I’ll be doing that by getting these three home. Come on Twilight.” There was no response. “Twilight?” I looked around, “Hey, where did she g-”
The scream provided an answer with the sound of shattering glass.
“Twilight!” all six of the Crusaders screamed. We looked at what they were looking at. In the alleyway nearby we saw Twilight standing on two legs with a black creature behind her holding a broken bottle touching her neck. The black fanged creature hand holes like-
“Stay back!” a familiar voice cried out from the black creature. “I’ll cut open her neck, just stay where you are!”
“Charlie?” I asked.
“Who else did you think it was? Sombra? Hey, don’t come any closer!”
“How did you escape?” Twilight asked. “I saw you board that train.”
“You didn't think that our scouts haven’t told us about the tunnels from here to Canterlot didn't you? And I must say, it was rather tricky getting off a speeding train.”
“Hey uh, Charlie wasn't it?” the other me asked and he nodded nervously. “You do realize who we are right?”
“At this point, I don’t care, I’m desperate as it is.” I think it was here that I noticed that the black bug was rather thin. “Plus, do you realize how difficult it is to change when you haven’t eaten in days?”
“Charlie,” I said in a warning tone. “Put the bottle down. I mean with all the events of today that I had to put up with, I just had it from here to Neptune of all the sudden things that are going wrong. And remember, both of us,” I pointed myself and my counterpart, “could easily turn you into a lollipop in a snap so do you have any idea how stupid this really is?”
“Ooh! That’s not a bad idea,” the other me said putting his paw over his chin.
Charlie gulped.
“And what are you planning anyway?” the other me continued the conversation. “I mean if you somehow got past us and out of this town which everyone is starting now.” He pointed to behind us, I looked and sure enough, there was a crowd all around. “What is the point of all of this anyway?”
“To warn the Queen,” Charlie said.
I think all of us blinked.
“Warn your Queen?” Twilight spoke what was on all of our minds.
“Equestria is being invaded alright, only it isn't by us. But by them.” His eyes looked over to myself and our Crusaders. “I know now what’s really going on. You, they and the other Elements of Harmony is just the beginning. Soon your kind will come into our world when we least expect it to take over.”
“That…” I facepalmed. “That’s insanely stupid right there, and coming from a guy who spent some time alongside some lunatics, that says a lot.”
It was right then that I got an idea. I snapped my right paw for the idea to take effect.
“Ah! What?!” Not only did Charlie drop the bottle and back away from Twilight, but he looked down at the ever-increasing white fibers and leather straps with buckles wrapping themselves around him. “What’s happening!?” he struggled to get the increasing cloth off of him to no avail. The cloth grew to encompass his torso, his wings and up his arms. He screamed for someone to get it off when the sleeves crisscross themselves over in-front of him like a boa in the Amazon.
“Someling get this thing offummph!” Charlie was muffled when the wires wrapped around his mouth to form the muzzle. As much as he struggled and wiggled, he was now trapped in his newly formed straight jacket.
“Excuse me,” I turned to the crowd. “Would any of you mind helping Twilight here with this lunatic while I’ll deal with these three, thanks.” I started to walk on by with our Crusaders in tow until Twilight called out.
“Julius, wait!”
With an annoyed grunt, I turned around, “What?”
“You saved me, thank you.”
“So? You know you could have saved yourself with that magic wand on your head.”
Twilight blushed sheepishly. “Well… He had a broken bottle aimed for my neck.”
“Well, you could have just – ugh, you know what, I don’t care, I’m going to your castle if you need me.” And before Twilight could say anything else (or maybe she did but I didn't want to hear it) the Crusaders and I headed towards the palace.