The creaking of trees alerted Rainbow Dash and Dawn of the oncoming presence. Instinctively, Dawn drew back while Dash put herself in between her and the danger. They failed to see anything, despite how close it sounded. With Skyler still holding on to Dawn for dear life, the situation frightened her that much more. Skyler was supposed to be brave and fearless, the perfect somepony for her. But the condition he was in made her feel like whatever was out there was more dangerous than anything ever recorded in Equestrian history.

"Dawn, grab your friends and fly away, I'll try to hold-." Dash was cut off as a long black talon shot out faster than even her eyes could follow. Like a jagged scythe, it bore down on the Dawnguard. Fast as Rainbow was, she couldn't get clear of it in time. Her wing was penetrated and in a painful cry, she fell to the ground, like what had happened in Ghastly Gorge those precious years ago.

"Rainbow Dash!" Dawn cried out, only afterward trying to trace the source of the scythe-like talon. It was long, like an extension made of shadows, but more solid. The scythe broke off from itself, the pointy part still grounding Rainbow Dash. The rest retreated back into the safety of the darkness. The rainbow mare tried to free herself, but the black spike had dug clean through the wing and had buried itself part way into the ground below. The wound was clean, and had happened too fast for blood to be drawn, but as she pulled and pulled, blood began to seep out from under the wing.

"Guys, run, just run!" Dash cried out. A roar sent them all scurrying away in fear. Dawn hated to leave Rainbow Dash at the mercy of that thing, but she felt she had to get Skyler away from danger. She would then come back for Rainbow Dash with a full contingent of guards, perhaps even her father.

Spike stretched his arms in the air as he yawned. He was on his way to the throne room to begin the business of the day.

"Your majesty." one guard among a small group of five addressed him in passing.

"Morning guys." the dragon replied, not stopping to talk to them. He knew this was going to be a busy day. Nobles from Canterlot had expanded their properties into his land and since then, he and Twilight had the misfortune of dealing with them. A harrowing experience and hardly worth it, but complaints were mundane and they hoped to keep them that way.

As Spike made his way to the throne room, there was already a fairly long line waiting for entry. "Don't you guys ever sleep?" he asked as he passed by, opening the main doors and closing them firmly behind him. "Buck." he grumbled to himself. Looking ahead, he spotted Twilight talking with the first Noble of the day. With a sigh, the dragon approached them.

"Not interrupting anything, am I?" he said, cutting the Noble off.

"Actually-."

"God, no!" Twilight interrupted, smiling at her husband while ignoring the insulted noble's expression. Spike chuckled as he stepped up to Twilight and gave her a quick kiss.

"You seen Dawn at all this morning?" he asked as he sat down on his throne beside her.

"No, I haven't. I think she's out with Rainbow Dash because she didn't show up on time this morning." the lavender alicorn stretched her wings and then folded them neatly against her back before sitting back down.

"Knowing them, they're probably sleeping on a couple of clouds, soaking up the warmth of the sun." he said, weaving his fingers together before stretching them out. A melody of crackles followed suit. "So who's this guy with a shorter temper than Gilda?" he asked, pointing out the noble patiently waiting to continue.

"High Road here is upset because some quote unquote commoners are too noisy at night. These are his neighbors, mind you. And their noise is the source of parties. He wants us to resolve the issue." Twilight said with mock enthusiasm.

Spike chuckled as he looked at the expectant Noble. "Alright, let's resolve it right now." the Noble looked at the dragon hopefully. "We'll ask them to lower the noise a bit and if they don't. I'll have one of the guards place a sound barrier around their land. They could make as much noise as they wanted, and it wouldn't even reach your fence line." he declared. The Noble smiled, clearly satisfied with that decision. He bowed and turned to leave. Just as the next one came in, a blur blasted through the doors and rushed toward the couple as fast as it could and proceeded to collapse at the foot of the steps.

"Dash? What the hell happened to you?!" Twilight asked, hurrying down with Spike to help her up. Spike was the first to notice her mangled wing.

"What did this to you?" he asked. Rainbow Dash was breathing heavily, so much so, she was out of breath. The royal couple allowed her a few moments to catch her breath.

"The Red Forest... Dawn and her friends..." she gasped. Spike's eyes widened. He snapped his neck around and called to the guards outside, waiting patiently to assist their wounded Captain.

"You there, grab a contingent of guards and search High and low in the Red Forest for Dawn and her friends." he ordered The guards both nodded and galloped as quickly as their legs could take them. Twilight used her magic to lift Rainbow Dash up and place her across her back.

"Let's get you to the Medical wing." she said.

"Twilight, I'm so sorry!" Dash began to cry as she felt she'd failed her best friend. Twilight shook her head and Spike brushed her mane aside.

"You've nothing to be sorry for. You did your duty and went with Dawn. You nearly died trying to protect her." Spike said.

"Let's not say anything right now. Dash needs to save what strength she has left.

Spike and Twilight sat beside Rainbow's bed, Gilda on the other side. The cyan pegasus slept peacefully as her partner and friends waited for her to wake up. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long. Rainbow Dash stirred and woke up with a gasp.

"It's alright Dash, you're in the medical ward. Safe and sound." Twilight said. Dash relaxed for a moment as Gilda took her hoof.

"Guys, you have to find Dawn. Something chased her and her friends." she began.

"Tell us everything from the beginning, Dash."

As Dawn and the others scurried away, Dash tried to free herself. It was during her futile attempt that she saw a massive black arm reach out from the darkness, slam down next to her and pull an even larger form along. Dash couldn't make out the form of the creature, but she couldn't mistake an large orange eye with a slit pupil like a cat's eye. She began to fear for her own life and pulled even harder. Her wing gave way and tore itself against the black spike, rendering it useless, and her flightless.

As she ran, she tried to follow Dawn's path, but she couldn't find out which way she went. She knew her only hope was to return to the castle and call for aid. Then she would tend her resignation as punishment for failing her king, queen and friends.

"Oh, Dash." Gilda said, resting a talon on her shoulder.

"We've no intention of accepting your resignation, Dash. You're the best pony for the job and there's nopony we trust more than you. You tried your best and that's all we've ever asked. We couldn't fire you for doing all you could." Twilight said.

"Thank you, Twilight." Dash said.

"So... aliens have my daughter? This family should hold a record for the most strange captors in the world. First you with Gryphons, now this." said Spike, rubbing his forehead.

"Honey, call Mar. He'll be able to help." Twilight replied. Spike nodded and patted Dash's free hoof.

"Get well soon, Captain." he smiled before leaving.

"I'm sorry, Spike, but I can't help you in this situation. With the new rules I've designed for this Rebirth system, I can only play a part in the deaths of living creatures It's beyond my jurisdiction." Mar said, his body illuminated by the sunlight through the window.

"But if you made the rules, surely there's a Loophole I could exploit? Come on Mar, we're old friends!" Spike said, stepping forward in a pleading manner.

"Well... there is one way, but I don't think you'll like it." he replied, scratching his head.

"I already don't like where this is going." he replied.

"Angelus." he said simply.

"Sh~it! Why him?"

"Well, the only loophole available to you is if you consider taking vengeance against this 'alien' of yours. You certainly can't kill it, believe me, I've tried everything." Mar replied.

"Wait, you know what this alien is? Tell me." said Spike as he registered Mar's words.

"I think it would be better if you found out for yourself. But on the plus side, Angelus hates her." said Mar, crossing his arms.

"Her?" Spike asked.

"Oops, said too much." he replied, disappearing from sight. Spike sighed before a gateway to Heaven opened up and a tan Angel with black feathered wings, white pants and a red waist cape stepped through. His eyes were whiter than his hair, having no pupils at all. This was Angelus, the Angel of Vengeance.

"I overheard your conversation. I'll help you get your daughter back. Just make sure to leave the 'alien' to me."

Author's Note

So shit's getting real and I've introduced a different Angel OC. Angelus is one of Mar's Generals and as a result is not as powerful. He and Spike will have plenty of trouble dealing with the things in the Red forest. As for the alien, I've figured out who she is. But I won't tell... yet.