For the next several seconds, Fluttershy stared at Apple Bloom, shock on her face. Apple Bloom, rather uncomfortably, stared back, before finally breaking the awkward silence.

"Ah'm not here to kill ya, if that's what you're thinkin'."

"Oh-oh no, I didn't think that at all. It's just, well, why are you involved in this?"

"Why are you?"

B-but she's a filly! This isn't right. Not at all.

Fluttershy stared wordlessly and worriedly, then took out her Diary.

[23:50] Died by sudden explosion from beneath.
---DEAD END---

Fluttershy gasped. Reacting quickly, the mare grabbed Apple Bloom, opened up her wings, and leaped away from the spot just as an explosion rocked the barracks from below where she had just been sleeping. A few cadets around were caught in the blast, and everypony who wasn't found themselves suddenly very awake. Twilight and Trixie were instantly alert, and leaped from their own beds, narrowly avoiding explosions from beneath them.

The four Diary owners and the other survivors rushed out of the barracks as more explosions barely missed them, shrapnel flying through, threatening to impale them. A few unlucky cadets were met with sharp pieces of wood. Despite the time of day and year, the temperature surged as the group made their adrenaline-powered rush.

[23:51] A flung dagger hits Apple Bloom! How horrible!

Fluttershy flung herself to the left with Apple Bloom as they made their way outside, a dagger whooshing on past only to hit an unfortunate cadet.

[23:51] More explosions! They just keep coming!

Apple Bloom glanced at Fluttershy's Diary and then shouted towards a frazzled Twilight, "Twilight, teleport us away from the barracks!"

Twilight, although surprised to see her there, focused her magic and teleported the entire surviving group and herself several meters away, avoiding yet another explosion.

[23:51] A flung dagger hits Trixie! Where are they coming from?

Fluttershy squeaked a quick "sorry!" and bucked Trixie just hard enough to push her away from the incoming dagger. The showmare looked incredulously at Fluttershy, before looking towards the sky to find the source. A few other daggers flew by, but were deflected by the unicorn cadets around. As the group organized themselves, Fluttershy focused her eyes and found a shape zooming around in the sky. Several unicorn cadets attempted to fire at the attacker, but they avoided every shot with ease.

Behind Fluttershy, a few cadets fell without warning, not even from her diary, which phased too late for them.

[23:52] A diamond dog just came from the ground and attacked nearby cadets! Oh no!

The ground to her left erupted and a diamond dog leaped out. The dog grabbed a pair of surprised cadets and tossed them into the burning barracks before burrowing again. The thrown pair yelped and ran out, rolling on the ground to free themselves of the flames. Twilight doused them with water collected from the surrounding frost, and the pair shivered but yelled out thanks.

"This doesn't make sense!" Twilight shouted. "How could a diamond dog get past Canterlot's defenses?"

As if to answer her, a trio of diamond dogs busted out of the ground just as the diaries of Fluttershy and Trixie phased.

"Th-they, we—we're under attack by Diary owners, girls!" Fluttershy whispered, but her words failed to reach the ears of anypony there.

"Fluttershy, Twilight, they must be Diary owners. My Diary is phasing constantly," Trixie shouted.

"That's what I just—" Fluttershy softly grumbled, before shaking her head to concentrate on the matter at hoof.

[23:52] Grabbed from beneath! Oh no!

Fluttershy leaped to her left just as a diamond dog rushed forth, opting to slash at her with his claws. A bolt of raw magic from Twilight flung him several feet, and Trixie attempted to grab him in telekinesis. The diamond dog grumbled and forced himself out of the hold, but was met with a spear from a cadet. Three other diamond dogs leaped out of the ground and viciously tore at the one who killed their comrade. More cadets, braving the fearsome thought that they're experiencing a real attack, retaliated. The five living diamond dogs were pushed back, but they quickly dove back into the ground. The cadet they had attacked was found in a pool of blood.

One of the nearby cadets fell to the ground, sobbing as she looked upon the body. Two diamond dogs busted back and attempted to assault her, but Trixie used solidified magic to trip them, and Twilight telekinetically lead the grieving mare out of harm's way.

Diamond dogs continued to burst out, separating everypony and ultimately creating a chaotic battlefield. Cadets tried to get organized, only to be cut down by the larger creatures, not being helped by the fact that only half of them were armed.

Trixie took initiative and, diary on hold, weaved her magic across the field, parrying what could have been lethal blows to various cadets and smacking diamond dogs to throw off their assaults. In the process, another two dogs had been speared, leaving only three.

Twilight then changed her tactics to dropping the temperature around. While it caused many of the ponies to shiver, the diamond dogs took it even worse. They grew more sluggish and the cadets were able to avoid blows and drive them away.

In the midst of it, Fluttershy leaped to and fro, an utterly frightened expression on her face. She dodged every swipe at her, never attacking anything herself, but she shouted advice to various ponies, saving them in the process.

They were never this violent. Mean, but not violent, Fluttershy thought, shuddering in the process as she relayed future information as best as she could.

Apple Bloom pressed her hoof into Twilight to get her attention, then shoved her Diary towards her.

"Hold onto this and follow the latest entry, please. Ah've got an idea."

"W-wait, Apple Bl—"

Apple Bloom dashed across the field, away from the nearly finished fight occurring between the dogs and cadets, shouting, "Hey Lightning Dust! Remember me?"

"She's a Diary owner, Twilight," Fluttershy explained as Twilight gawked at the display from the filly. Fluttershy stole a glance at Apple Bloom's Diary.

***
Lightning Dust sure can dodge, but as I grab her attention, Twilight throws a spell past her that wounds back and hits her in the back, stunning her and throwing her towards the ground!
***

The airborne attacker, still dodging the occasional bolt of magic, flew a little lower and shouted, "Oh, hey, you're a sharp filly, aren't you? Bad idea to separate yourself from the others, though!"

Twilight fired a spell which flew straight past Lightning Dust.

"You guys aren't even trying anymore, are y—"

Not bothering to check her Diary, Lightning Dust failed to notice the spell curve back towards her. It hit her back, jolting her and causing her to spin at an angle towards the ground. Her Diary fell straight towards the ground towards Apple Bloom, who lit a match and threw it on the grass. Apple Bloom, feeling the ground shudder, dashed away, narrowly avoiding the diamond dog who flung himself through. Sparks from the displaced ground still managed to hit the Diary as it descended, and it caught on fire instantly. Quick shots from Twilight, Trixie, and a few other unicorns stopped the diamond dog from pursuing Apple Bloom. He burrowed once more into the ground.

Lightning Dust caught herself before she could hit the ground, and started to laugh, only to realize she wasn't holding her Diary. Her eyes widened and she started to shout before space warped around her and she disappeared without a trace.

Several cadets stared at where Lightning Dust was with shock, while Fluttershy, Trixie, and Twilight wore the same expression towards Apple Bloom, who was now running back towards them. The group kept alert for further action from the diamond dogs, but the ground, now littered with the bodies of cadets and three diamond dogs, had grown very quiet.

A short distance away, a small group of guards lead by Celestia herself made their way, rather late to the party. Celestia gazed upon the aftermath of the short battle that had taken place, eyes devoid of expression.

"Guards, get a medical team and treat the injured straight away, and sort out the dead so we can notify their families and give them an honorary passing. Also, stay on high alert in case the diamond dogs attack again, and notify General Brown Shield of the breach."

Celestia then focused her attention on the other four Diary owners, but before she could say a word to them, an explosion rocked the ground from beneath her.

"Celestia!" shouted Twilight as she covered her face.

When everypony looked back, the smoke was already clear, leaving a still immaculate Celestia.

"Follow me," Celestia ordered, ignoring the fact that she was subject to an explosion which would have killed any normal pony. Wordlessly, but cautiously, Fluttershy, Twilight, Trixie, and Apple Bloom followed her through the ordered chaos as the guards scrambled to fulfill orders.

Before they walked far, the ground a distance away from all the ponies displaced again as a diamond dog jumped out. All of the guards around pointed spears and crossbows at him, but the dog simply raised his paws.

"I'm not of those who ripped through these ponies," the dog shouted. "And I want nothing to do with them. You don't like us dogs and I don't blame you, but we aren't supposed to kill. We never go that far. But one among us decided against that, claiming he could see the future. I will answer any questions you have about that dishonorable cur."

A small group of guards made their way towards them, weapons still drawn. They circled him and motioned him forward. The dog complied and began to walk with them.

Celestia motioned the three mares and filly to follow her again, leading them away from the scene. Trotting through the castle, they once again reached the sun emblazoned door and made their way in.

"I did not think they would attack so soon, and so directly," Celestia began as she sat down. "It seems I have made a grave mistake."

"Don't blame yourself, Princess," Twilight replied. "How could we have even known that they were working together?"

"I already knew. And I should have seen this coming. Yet, there is nothing to gain in dwelling on our mistakes, past learning from them. Apple Bloom, I am very disappointed in you. Twice you have ended the life of another when you could have taken an alternate route."

Apple Bloom grew very pale, suddenly realizing that she was under negative scrutiny by a Princess.

Celestia continued, "Surely, you must know what the consequences of such actions usually are—"

"But Princess!" Twilight interjected. "She's just a filly! And Harmony put her up to it, so I don't see how you can hold her accountable. Umm, with all due respect, Princess."

"You are right, Twilight. She is a filly, and she was forced into an awful situation nopony could imagine. Because of this, no action will be taken against her. However, Apple Bloom, know that what you did was very wrong. Killing is never alright unless there are no other alternatives, and there very were alternatives in your case."

By now, tears were streaming down Apple Bloom's face as she listened to Celestia. Apple Bloom looked up towards Celestia as she finished and replied, "It was for Scootaloo. Ah promised her that no bad pony be allowed to succeed as a goddess. Ah know you may hate me now, Princess, but ah don't regret what ah did. Ah did it for my friend and for Equestria."

Celestia shook her head. "I don't hate you, my little pony. I am simply disappointed. I heard about your friend, and you have my condolences. However, I have been attempting to seek an alternative to this madness. Let me take the burden of your promise, Apple Bloom, as I have promised the rest here that I will do all in my power to make this right."

Apple Bloom slumped, and finally curled up into a ball of soundless tears. Fluttershy cautiously walked over and draped her wings around the filly as she fell asleep in the midst of it.

"You must all be tired after events such as these with such little sleep. Your training shall be put on hold, seeing as the outside is no longer safe. I will be busy tomorrow, but you will be free to roam the castle so long as you don't try to leave. I don't wish to contain you, but the others are far more bold than I anticipated, so it's for your own safety. Good night."

Fluttershy lifted Apple Bloom onto her back and walked out. Twilight hesitated with moving, but as Celestia wordlessly made her way through the inner door of the study, Twilight reluctantly followed Fluttershy with Trixie right behind her.

Author's Note

This was initially part of a larger chapter, but I opted for splitting it. The next part is in the editing process and should be released soon.