Once everypony was up they quickly ate breakfast, though Brandon ate a little more slowly thinking about what he did remember about the dream he had. Though he didn't think it was just a dream, what he heard and felt seemed real enough to him. Granted it was like hearing a conversation from a distance even if he couldn't remember all that was said.

"Equestria to Brandon!" Lyra called waving a hoof in front of him making him come out of his thoughts.

"Sorry, just.... dreams and all," Brandon said making the three mares look at him with a little concern.

"I've heard they can be pretty bad," Shining spoke up making Brandon nod.

"Yeah, they can be. But this dream seemed different..." That made Luna raise an eyebrow.

"Different how?" Luna asked.

"Like it was actually happening at that moment and not just a memory. But I can't remember what it was about exactly. Just that I got a feeling that someone is trying to get here to look for something," Brandon replied.

"Maybe you're just stressed with that group?" Derpy suggested and the message from all three mares looks was loud and clear.

"No, I don't think it had anything to do with them. But anyway, Shining you wanna come with me? I got to check up on somepony," Brandon said getting up with Shining giving him a look of suspicion.

"Sure, no problem but if you don't mind me asking...." Shining started before Brandon jumped in.

"We're going to check up on Bird, Knuckles marefriend," Brandon said making Shining nod and giving a little smile. The three mares looked at the table in defeat but Lyra looked back up quickly.

"I'll come with," Lyra said quickly putting hers and Brandon's plates in the sink.

"Thanks," Brandon said as the three of them started to the door.

They took their time walking through town looking at the shops and getting a little shopping done along the way. Which was mostly Shining doing the shopping, getting snacks he likes. Though Lyra and Brandon got a few tidbits for meals and a few extra supplies like a first aid kit.

"Looks like we're almost there, you about done Shining?" Brandon asked making the stallion nod.

"Yeah, but geez you charge a lot for some cherries, sir," Shining said as he put some Bits on the top of the stalls countertop taking his bag of cherries in return.

"What I've been told but running low on supplies right now so sorry," The stall keep said before they started to move on towards the Inn.

"Hey, did anypony else see that?" Brandon suddenly said making both Lyra and Shining look where he was looking.

"See what?" Lyra asked trying to find what Brandon what looking at.

"That mare over there, she's not acting right. Just something about the way she's looking around isn't right," Brandon said just partly pointy in a direction.

"I see what you mean, almost like she's looking for something," Shining said his eyes locked on the same mare.

"She could just be a tourist who's lost," Lyra suggested making Brandon shake his head.

"No, I've seen plenty of lost tourist and she isn't acting like a lost tourist, at least if you weren't paying attention," Brandon said making Shining nod.

"Right, got to know what to look for. But if she isn't a tourist, what is she looking for?" Shining asked.

"Maybe she has family here?" Lyra replied making Brandon raise an eyebrow.

"Could be, but Lyra you've lived here long enough, and have you ever seen her around?" Brandon asked making Lyra stop and look at the mare before shaking her head.

"No, but that doesn't mean there isn't somepony new that moved to Ponyville. Maybe she's like related to that Jade, or at least friends with her?" Lyra suggested.

"Maybe, but let's just be careful," Shining said and understanding passed between him and Brandon to take a detour.

They took a minute to decide which way they should go, but that was mostly to see what that mare would do. After seeing that mare start to move they finally decided which way to go. Though Lyra was a bit nervous since both Brandon and Shining were still on edge.

"Don't get me wrong, but why be paranoid about that particular mare? I mean seriously, it could've been what I said earlier or even that she's looking for a new home?" Lyra suggested.

"In the middle of the food market?" Brandon said. "Besides, the way that mare was looking around it was as if she was scouting the area rather than looking for anything in particular."

"Seen it a few times while in the guard, even as the Prince the Crystal Empire I still see it. While most of the time they don't present a threat but since we know that group has set up shop somewhere nearby we can't take a chance," Shining said.

"Alright!" Lyra said giving a frustrated sigh. "By the way, does that group even have a name?"

"Not as far as we've been able to find, but that could be because it's extremely old. They could just say it and not have it written down anywhere," Shining answered.

At that, they continued to walk and they knew it would take them a good minute to reach the Inn, which was on Brandon's mind. After all, the area that mare seemed to be scouting was close to the Inn. Though he didn't want to voice his concern at that moment that he thought they may be trying to target Knuckles. That the group knew he was scouting them and now they were trying to get something to use against him.

"Finally," Brandon muttered as the Inn came into view, though he nodded at Shining. "Hey Lyra, why don't you go ahead for now? We'll be there in a moment."

"Um, okay just hurry up you guys got me a little on edge right now," Lyra said continuing to the Inn.

"You sure about this? I mean you know she'll probably be angry about this?" Shining asked.

"I know, but she'll be fine. Just gotta be fast about everything," Brandon replied.

"You sure you'll be okay with your shoulder and all?" Shining said scanning the crowd.

"Yeah, the shoulder isn't bothering me today. Look, there she is just like I thought," Brandon said nodding towards the mare from earlier. Both him and Shining were out of her vision but the mare had already locked onto where Lyra was going. Once the mare was close enough Shining used his magic to quickly pull the mare towards them.

"What's the..." The mare grew quiet once she saw who it was and the expression on their faces.

"Now don't play dumb, why are you here?" Brandon asked his expression hardened and cold.

"Hey, I'm just looking for a place to stay..." The mare started but trailed off once Brandon took a step closer.

"I am really not in the mood for lies, especially when you were just following somepony I know. I will give you two more steps, to tell the truth, or this will not be pleasant," Brandon said his voice harsh enough to where even Shining flinched a bit. Though that's what Brandon had been hoping for since the mare looked at Shining and back at him now with genuine fear in her eyes.

"E-even if I was just looking for a place to sleep?" The mare asked making Brandon take another step closer making the mare flinch this time.

"One more, and I'm sure you've heard about what happened to Land Shark?" The mare was now starting to shake a bit in fear. After a second Brandon started to lift his foot finally breaking the mare.

"Y-you're just... as monstrous as what they told me!" The mare spat out as Brandon continued taking the last step. "I'm here for the bat-ponies mare!"

"Why?" Shining was the one who asked.

"I don't need to..." Though the mare took a look at Brandon and his steeled gaze making her gulp. "We know she's pregnant! W-we need something to make him back off!"

"Back off from what?" Brandon growled.

"S-some o-of our g-group have seen him around. M-making his p-presence know, a-at least at first..." The mare stuttered out.

"At first?" Shining asked.

"W-we noticed that t-two of o-our people missing t-this morning..." The mare said and from the looks of it, she was on the verge of pissing herself now.

"I think that's enough for now, Shining?" Brandon said making the mare's eyes grow wide with fear.

"Yup," Shining's horn lit up making the mare cower but in a bright flash, she found herself in a bubble. "That'll keep her here until the town's guards come to pick her up later." At that Shining started to walk away but Brandon had a feeling.

"How many of you are in the town right now?" Brandon asked making the mare shake her head. "Do not lie!"

"Brandon..." Though Brandon shushed the stallion by waving his hand.

"Please, like they let such an inexperienced mare like her do a mission like that on her own. There's got to be more, so where are they?" Brandon asked and the look he was giving must have been murderous at that point.

"T-there's f-f-f-five of u-u-us right now..." The mare spat out.

"Shining go tell the guards right now!" Brandon said before sprinting towards the Inn.

Brandon ran as fast as he could which to him felt like forever but that was until he looked back to see he had already covered the distance with Shining staring at him in slight shock. Though Shining shook it off and rushed off to fetch the guard. As the stallion left Brandon opened the doors to see the place was almost completely empty and he could hear Lyra commotion from the second floor.

"You stay away from her!" He heard Lyra scream before there was a thud, from the sounds of it the girls had barricaded themselves in a room, and their attackers were trying to break in. He zipped up the stairs only to be stopped by a stallion at the top.

"Out of the dam way!" Though he didn't know how but the stallion suddenly and seemingly flung himself backward as Brandon continued up the stairs.

"Brandon?!" Lyra shouted out as another loud thud came.

"Shit, hurry up Dusk! He already got past Bounce!" He heard a mare call before that same mare came round a corner with her horn lit up.

The mare quickly fired but just as quickly Brandon dodged tackling the mare to the ground quickly putting her in a sleeper hold, though he didn't know how effective it would be. But just as it seemed the mare was about to pass out two more ponies, another mare and a stallion, came around the corner forcing him to let the mare go. Quickly standing he took out the stallion with a hard punch making the stallion slam into the wall.

Just then other mare tackled him to the ground where they wrestled for a moment with the mare getting a good couple of punches to his side. Until he got a good hold on her and threw her off of him and quickly getting up and starting to move to where he heard the last pony slamming against the door. Though a sharp pain suddenly shot through his leg as the first mare had recovered enough to shot him with magic.

The other mare then jumped on his back grabbing him on his bad shoulder making him grunt in pain before he grabbed the mare yet again throwing her hard on the floor. After quickly seeing the mare now knocked out he turned his attention back to the unicorn who was now trying to get to her hooves, her horn lightening up again. Getting another shot off grazing his side before he slammed full force into her hitting the wall where he heard something crack.

"Somepony please..." This time it was Bird who was calling out making Brandon rush down the hall to see the now broken open door.

"What in Tartarus..." Brandon heard the stallion say just as he got to the room to see the stallion looking at the nest of eggs. Though what quickly caught his attention making Brandon see nothing but red was Lyra laying unconscious on the floor. Quickly reacting he grabbed the stallion by the tail making the stallion turn to see a fist connect with his nose with a sickening crunch.

"I-is there a-anypony else?" Brandon asked now standing over the stallion's unconscious body, making Bird shake her head. "Y-you okay though?"

"Y-yeah, s-so is Lyra she's just knocked out b-but she'll be fine," Bird said making Brandon give a sigh before collapsing to his knees.

"W-what's going o-on?" Bird asked making him take a deep breath.

"After y-you to get to Knuckles, but this is just a warning though," Brandon replied.

"What do you mean a warning?" Bird asked.

"I-it's what they do, i-it cause the others to become fueled by what they think is justified anger," Brandon replied wincing a little as he stood back up. "Also, it'll rile ponies up a bit where they can cause more trouble."

"Y-you're hurt..." Bird said making him roll his eyes.

"Tell me something that doesn't happen every time something like this happens," Brandon replied heading to the door. "Just checking to make sure if any of the others have recovered."

"W-what do you see?" Bird asked as he looked down the hall.

"From what I see, they're still there," Brandon said leaning against the door frame keeping an eye out for any movement.

"S-so they're part of the group after you?" Bird asked making him nod. "What about Knuckles?"

"You know him better than me, but he'll be fine. Also, try not to worry about Lyra, I really don't think she won't tell about your nest." Brandon said slightly limping over to the sleeping unicorn noticing the little knot on the side of her head. "Might have a concussion but she'll survive."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Bird asked making him nod knowing the wound in his leg would heal within the next couple of hours.

"Yeah, but you better do something about the nest still. The guards are on the way," Brandon said making Bird's eyes widen with panic. She quickly started to move her nest including some eggs into another room and in less than thirty seconds.

Not too much longer after that, the guards came in and took those who Brandon had beaten pretty bad to the hospital, one offered to take him but he shook his head. All Lyra needed was something for her headache and the standard warnings for a light concussion. Once everything got wrapped up and they gave their statements the four of them sat in the main hall.

"I'll have guards stationed around if you're really insisting on staying here," Shining said.

"I think that's the best option, besides I don't think they'll send any more to target her specifically anytime soon. What happened was to send a message to Knuckles to get him back here," Brandon said making Shining sigh.

"You're most likely right, but never hurts to be safe than sorry," This time it was Brandon who nodded. "How does that sound, you Ms. Bird?"

"I-I think that c-can do," Bird said shrinking under the stallions gentle gaze.

"Now that's that settled, are you sure you're alright?" Shining asked.

"Yeah, legs all healed up now. Just hope Lyra here doesn't kill me now," Brandon said with a little smile as she hit him in the side.

"Well, can't say I can stop that not that I would try. But I think it's time to get back to the house, and if you need anything Ms. Bird just let us know okay?" Shining said giving the mare a little smile as she nodded.

The three of them started their way back before they ran into Luna and Derpy both gave sighs of relief as they saw them. Once they started to fill them in along the way back to the house both Derpy and Luna simultaneously stepped on his feet before kissing him on the cheeks. Though after Brandon made sure to avoid any more stray hooves.

"So, you beat up four ponies to save them?" Derpy asked.

"Yes, for the twelfth time, and sorry if I'm sounding a bit grumpy but it's been a stressful day," Brandon said taking care of his shoulder since it had started to really hurt again.

"Just consider that added soreness as part of your punishment," Luna said making him shake his head.

"You should've seen the stallion who broke the door," Lyra said making Brandon wince.

"Not something I really want to remember at the moment," Brandon replied still remembering the crunching sound. Though he's heard worse it's the ones he caused that still bothers him.

"I'm just saying I'm glad you were there," Lyra said playfully bumping into him making him give her a little smile.

"As are we," Luna said as Derpy nodded in agreement. "Not to mention at least this time you didn't get as hurt."

"Yeah, and the injuries you did get have already healed," Shining chimed in.

"Lucky me, but this doesn't change my mind," Brandon said saying the last part just loud enough for the three mares to hear.

"Hey, do you guys want me to cook something for dinner?" Shining asked.

"Sure, what are you thinking about?" Brandon replied.

"Hmm, what about my famous Tofu Meatloaf?" Shining suggested.

"That sounds good to us!" Lyra replied.

They were almost back to the house when out of the corner of his eye Brandon saw something move in the shadows. Stopping before the door and waving the rest of them to go ahead inside he waited for them to shut the door. Once he turned around Knuckles was standing in front of him.

"We need to talk," Knuckles said before turning around and walking towards the Everfree making Brandon follow.

Author's Note

Remember to smile, smile, smile!