Call of Duty : Magic in Action

[(Inside a dim room, photos and the map of Equestria on a board is shone under a lamb. The board pins with several notes about crime scenes across Equestria. Photos on the board show three objects had been stolen from Manehattan, Crystal Empire and Canterlot. First is an ancient history book from the Manehattan's library. Second is the Energy Ball, a powerful magical crystal stone. The last one is Unicode Stone, a slap of stone engraved in ancient Unicorn glyphs.)]

[Blackjack : Princess Celestia has declared full-scale searching. commander Strong Swift, I need you to mobilize your specialists in this mission.]

[Swift : Understood. I will send the letters to them. Well, Gilder, anything new from the searching teams?]

[Blackjack : They got zero, Swift.]

[Swift : I see... sound like we got nothing from Manehattan.]

[(A pony guard swiftly approaches to Swift.)]

[Guard : Sir, I've got a letter to you from princess Celestia.]

[Swift : Another letter?]

[(Swift takes the letter. He and Blackjack read it and put it on the board.)]

[Blackjack : ...What's about you, commander?]

[(Blackjack and Swift looks at a guard pins more photos of crime scene on the board. The guard salutes at Blackjack and Swift and walks out.)]

[Swift : We're the selected troop of the Royal Guard. We're chosen to be the first group of guards who will lead other royal guards in the field. Whatever command from the princess now, we must obey. No matter how difficult it is, we'll comply. With the most powerful troops we have in our hoof, there is nothing impossible. With our strong heart, we will serve for Equestria.]

[(Swift points at the Castle of the Two Sister and the Ponyville on the map.)]

[Swift : This is time to prove ourselves. Let's get it done.]

[(Blackjack nods. Swift picks up and wears his helmet before he leaves the room. Outside the Canterlot, the late-night in Equestria is nicer than its midnight. The moon is in the sky with beautiful stars. In the Everfree forest, a group of strangers is making their way through the forest. One of them is injured.)]

"...What's that noise..."

Roach heard Ozone spoke out uneasily. He heard the voice like it was come out from faraway. Roach was dazed. His vision was blurred. Roach was exhausted after he had run away from the wolfs. He had few energy left in his body. Scarecrow was helping Roach up. The sergeant barely saw his teammates walking in the forest.

"...They might be helos..." Roach heard Ghost said. "...They went after us when we tried to escape the castle..."

Roach was blacked out. When he awoke, he heard Scarecrow said in the darkness. The rain had stopped.

"...Hurry up, find cover!"

The sergeant fainted again. When he could regain his consciousness he saw his teammates are in front of the cave. Scarecrow was helping him up to the cave and put him down on the ground. Roach was lain on his back and looked around. He saw Ghost and Ozone ran in the cave in slow motion. Finally, Roach's tiredness leaded him to sleep, while he saw Ghost is crouching beside him.

After the restless sleep, Roach was awoke by the sun. He opened his eyes and found himself in a bedroom. Roach looked around and checked himself. The sergeant was lying on a double bed. He dressed in a pajamas. His teammates were missing. The sergeant got up and sat on the bed. He recalled his memory. He remembered he fainted when he had managed to survive from a deadly giant wolf. Roach rubbed his eyes and looked outside the window.

*"A nightmare?" Roach thought.*

Roach stood up and walked around. He inspected the bedroom closely. He remembered it was his old bedroom. Roach noticed a photo on the desk. He walked at the photo and picked it up. Upon touching the photo, it burned and a fire burned his hand. Roach tried to put out the fire, but everything he touched with his burning hands will set on fires. Roach screamed painfully when the fire quickly overwhelmed him, until he was shook by someone.

"Roach, Roach!"

The sergeant awoke. He found himself in a dark cave. Ghost was crouching at his left. Scarecrow and Ozone sat behind a rock. Roach's and Ghost's suits had been torn as they had ran through the forest. Scarecrow seldom peeked outside the cave. Roach heard a helicopter flies past the cave. He raised up and leaned on the cave's wall. Roach looked out the cave and found it's late-night.

"You're acting weird while sleeping, Roach. What happened?" Ghost asked.

"It's nothing." Roach replied. "I just had a crazy dream."

"Keep yourself together." Ghost said. "We can't have you around if you lost your mind."

Roach nodded. He noticed the weight at his leg still weights him. He checked on his leg's porch and frowned when he found stones in the porch. He put it out and looked at a sphere stone. It was quite small and had a star mark on it. Roach put the stones out and placed it on the ground. There was six stones and they had a unique mask on them. The stones quickly rolled back to Roach's porch after a few moment. He tried to threw the stones away, but they always rolled back to him.

"Roach, how did you get those stones?" Ghost asked.

"I don't know." Roach said. "But for sure, I didn't borrow these stones and they nearly killed me."

Ghost nodded slightly. He picked the sphere stone out from Roach's pocket and inspected it. The stone had three apple mark. It rolled out from Ghost's hand and returned to Roach's porch.

Ghost nodded before he said and touched on his headphone. "Okay, Task Force, listen up. Sound like we can't do anything to stones in Roach's porch. We need to move on."

["Not gonna lie, those stones are quiet persistent...."] Scarecrow said.

"Anyway, Task Force, we don't have time all day. Roach has to move with these stones." Ghost said. "Before we go, we need to talk. First of all, Scarecrow, did you see any village on your way?"

["No."] Scarecrow replied.

"...Well then." Ghost continued. "Scarecrow, did you team get contact from Price?"

["We tried, but all we could contact are you and Archer."] Scarecrow replied. ["Another thing, Ghost, what's happen to Shepherd?"]

"He betrayed us, that's all." Ghost said. "So, Task Force, Archer said he and Toad are somewhere near a village. He also said he saw a city on a hill's slope at the north-east. I told them to rendezvous at the village, so we need to find it before we're going to find out where we are."

Roach slightly nodded. Ghost continued. "We need to head north and find the village. If we found no village in our way, we will find a civvie to seek some help since they're expert in this area. I hope we can rely on them. Rule of engagement, use your rifle in emergency only. Stealth is needed."

Ghost put his empty mag out from his gun "Otherwise, Scarecrow. Roach and I are running low of ammo. Can you guys share some mags?" Ghost asked.

["Sure."] Scarecrow said.

Scarecrow tossed a mag to Ghost while Ozone tossed one to Roach.

["That's the last one."] Ozone said.

Ghost and Roach reloaded his gun. Ghost checked his rifle and touch on his headphone. "Remember, If anyone tried to get in our way. We're going to play rough." Ghost said.

["Roger."] Scarecrow replied.

"Let's move out." Ghost said. "This place isn't safe for long. We need to find a village before sunrise. Time don't wait for us."

Scarecrow and Ozone drew out their rifles. Everyone moved out and followed Ghost who lead the way out the cave.

"Searchout"

Day 2 - (Late-night)

Sgt. Gary "Roach" Sanderson

(M.I.A.)

Inside a cave somewhere in the forest.

The team moved out from the cave and walked through a dark forest. The moonlight shone through the forest and guided the team. They were walking in line. Ghost was in the lead. Scarecrow and Ozone were in the middle. Roach was in the last. The forest was dense, but it wasn't too dark enough to blind the team. Mostly plants in the forest was cartoon-like and had a weird shape. The team recognized few plants along the way they went through. Ghost used his mini-compass to guide the team to the north. When they reached a ridge, Ghost halted the team and a city on a steep appeared on their sight. Helicopters could be heard from the sky. The moon slowly descended down to the horizon. Stars glistered in the sky. The wind breezed against the team gently unlike yesterday that they had to run through the thunderstorm. Ghost looked down the ridge and searched for a hostile being.

["Clear."] Ghost said when he found nothing. ["Follow me."]

Ghost leaded the team and slid down the ridge. Their feet safely touched on the ground below. The soldiers quickly hid themselves in bushes and walked through the forest. The bushes wasn't blended in with the team's camouflage, but a shade of the forest helped them blend in with the surrounding.

Ghost touched on his headphone. ["Archer, we're on our way to you. Did you copy?"] Ghost said.

["Copies, we're waiting for you at the village inside a big dead hallow tree. The area is occupied, so be careful, over."] Archer said.

["...A dead hallow tree inside a village... interesting."] Ghost said.

The forest was echoed with helicopters from the sky. They rarely heard critter sounds like a owl or crickets. The wind breezed past their ears. Bushes' height were only about the soldiers' hip. Water dripped from leaves above upon the soldiers. Roach followed his teammates through bushes. He looked around in the woods and searched for an edge of the forest.

["Dammit! a thorn bush."] Scarecrow swore.

["Be careful, mate. Don't let your guard down."] Ghost warned.

["Everything here is too childish."] Ozone said. ["I hate this."]

In the forest, only the wind was their companion. As they progressed, the forest was become more darker as leaves slowly blocked the grim moonlight. They rarely found weird insects in the forest along the way. Some insects were scary or looked venomous. The team avoided to get near them as possible. Ghost stopped as he saw a spotlight from a helicopter shines in the forest. He crouched down and quickly touched on his headphone.

["Stay low."] Ghost warned. ["A helo is above us."]

The team hid in bushes as a helicopter above scans in their spot. The helicopter searched for a minute before it flied away. Ghost and the team moved out when it was safe to go out from bushes. The team went through the forest until they reached a wide strong current river. Ghost touched the river before he turned his head to the team.

["Watch out. A river, dead ahead."] Ghost said and pointed to the river. ["Go across. Don't rush through the water. The river is rapidly flowing."]

Under the moonlight, the river looks like a painting more than an actual river. Roach could see stars above. It's pretty lovely, if he didn't mind that he is stuck in no where. Ghost leaded the team go through the river. The water's level was about their thigh and cold. They carefully walked across the river. Roach stumbled when he was at the middle of the river, but Ozone held his hand in time. The team slowly went across the river. They felt relief after everyone reach at the other side of the river. As the time passed, the team heard helicopters flies away.

["They're gone."] Ghost said.

Ghost looked at his compass and continued to walk through the forest. After they walked for awhile, they found a wide dirt road and the team followed the road to the north. They hoped the road might lead them to a town. Roach looked at his teammates. Their held their gun with low ammo and no secondary weapon with other weapons they had are knifes and their destination was unclear. The team moved quite slow. They seldom looked around the forest and hoped they won't be ambushed by anything hostile. Finally, the teamed saw the end of the forest. Ghost leaded the team forward and stayed caution, while other soldiers were following and kept an eyes on surrounding. When the team was at an edge of the forest. They felt reward since in front of them is a village after they had wandered in the forest for long.

["Thank god..."] Scarecrow said.

The team hid in bushes and looked at the town filled with cartoon-like medieval houses before sunrise. It surrounded with a green grassland and hills. The road from the forest lay across the grassland and connected a road in the village with a bridge that lies across a river, which draw a line between the grassland and the village. At their left, there was a huge orchard surrounded by white long low fences. Behind the village, there were an unrealistic mountain range with the city on a steep, that they saw in the forest. The town, grassland and orchard were messy with broken branches and leaves, which Roach assumes the thunderstorm caused the mess.

["Archer, we're near a village somewhere. Could you describe your surrounding?"] Ghost asked.

["We're at the outskirt of village. Houses around here are ancient and timber-framed. You will notice it quickly with its thatched roofs and pale yellow walls."] Archer said in the radio.

["The description is matched. We're in luck."] Ghost said. ["Task Force, Archer and Toad are there. Scarecrow, Ozone, hold your position and report me when you saw something suspicious. Roach and I will check inside the village."]

["Roger that"] Scarecrow replied. ["Ghost, before you go, I need you to take this."]

Ghost turned his head to Scarecrow. He give a flashbang to Ghost. Ozone walked to Roach and gave a grenade to the sergeant. Roach glanced at the grenade before he kept it on his belt.

["I believe you need it more than me."] Scarecrow said.

["Thank."] Ghost said. ["Roach, follow me."]

Roach and Ghost moved out from bushes. They ran across the grassland as fast as possible to avoid to be spotted and went across the bridge. Ghost and Roach ran in the village and hid behind a house. Roach peeked around the corner to look inside the village.

["Be advice, we currently don't know who occupy this village. Watch your step while you make your way here."] Archer said in the radio.

["Roger that."] Ghost replied while he watched the road. ["Roach, did you see anyone in the village?"]

"None." Roach replied.

["Got it."] Ghost replied.

["Ghost, What's situation."] Scarecrow said in the radio.

["The outskirt of village is quiet. I saw nobody. I guess it's still early."] Ghost said.

Ghost and Roach moved out from their position and stealthy walked along the road in the village. They hid behind any cover they find for awhile to look around before they proceeded. Houses around were messed up by branches and leaves. Roach saw no movement in the village. Everything in the village was silence and peaceful. Ghost and Roach slowly saw everything more clearly as the sun ascended from the horizon. Ghost and Roach stopped walking when they heard hooves stepping ahead.

["Find cover, somebody is approaching."] Ghost said in his radio. ["Roach, look out and see who's coming."]

Ghost and Roach quickly hid behind crates in an alley and crouched down. Roach leaned out and looked at the road. He frowned as he saw two quadrupeds approaching. One have light yellow fur and blue mane and tail with pink streak. Another one have mint fur and cyan mane and tail with white streak. The mint quadruped have a horn on its forehead and was sleepy while the light yellow quadruped was upset and complained something. A rake was covered in orange aura beside the mint quadruped with its glowing horn in orange aura while the light yellow quadruped had a rake on its back. Roach noticed that the aura is resembled with the equine's aura that he met at the ruin. Roach tried to connect between the quadruped and the equine and made a mental note.

"Maybe those equines may have some connection with these quadrupeds..." Roach thought.

The sergeant further noticed the quadrupeds have a tattoo on their hind legs before he turned his head to Ghost.

"Ghost, I saw big eyes quadrupeds on the road." Roach said.

["What?"] Ghost said.

Ghost switched place with Roach and looked out. He saw the two quadrupeds are arguing at each other while cleaning the road. The quadrupeds didn't notice that Ghost is stealthy watching them in the alley.

["Ghost, what's happen?"] Scarecrow asked.

["Scarecrow,"] Ghost said. ["There is something wrong about this village..."]

The Canterlot's castle was quite lousy with elite royal guards at dawn. Strong Swift quietly watched his guards on the castle's yard through a window in the hallway. There were three hundred elite guards in his hoof. His guards worn ornate golden armors and armed with swords or spears. Unicorn and pegasi guards formed in line formation. Earth pony guards formed in column formations and covered unicorn and pegasi guard flanks. Swift's guards was ready, but his heart wasn't.

Swift was nervous about the safety of Canterlot after his guard was gone. he knew clearly why the princess decided to appoint E.U.P. guards and his specialists to find the missing artifacts. It was the most serious searching in the history under Celestia and Luna realm, but it couldn't compare to the task that princess Celestia appoints him to do. Swift adjusted his helmet. His red eyes glued on the guards below.

"Worry about the mission, commander?"

Swift flinched and turned to face the voice. Princess Celestia walked toward him. The commander bowed to the princess who slightly nods to Swift. She briefly looked at the guards below before look at Swift. He avoided to make eye contact with the princess.

"Pa- Pardon me, my princess, I should not stall here when my guards almost mobilize." Swift said quickly.

"It's nothing, Swift." Celestia said. "You worked pretty hard last night. You may take a short break here."

"Well- em... Thank you, your majesty." Swift said.

Princess Celestia gently smiled. She turned her head to the window. The sun princess looked at the guards in the yard. She quite satisfied on her hoofpicks day guards which select to do the task. Swift looked on his guard. He could feel his burden on his back as he was a commander of them all.

"You look ill today, commander. Are you alright?" Celestia asked.

"I'm okay, my princess." Swift said. "I just thought about the mission."

"Don't force yourself too much in this task, commander." Celestia said. "Everything is going to be alright."

"I hope so." Swift said.

Princess Celestia left from the window. She walked away and stopped when she walked not too far from Swift. She turned to face Swift, who also looks back at the princess.

"Please look after the bearers of the Element of Harmony." Celestia said before she turned her head back and walked away. "I'm count on you, commander. Don't let anything unwelcome happen to them."

"...Your wish is my command." Swift said, before he left the window.

Ghost and Roach had hid behind crates in the alley and stealthy watched quadrupeds on the road. They saw quadrupeds in various colors cleaning the road and houses. The elite soldiers heard hoof stepping around, but no footstep could be heard. Sometime, they saw quadrupeds talk to each other. Ghost and Roach tried to eavesdrop their conversations, but they're too far away.

["I saw only quadrupeds, but no man in sight."] Ghost said in his radio. ["Scarecrow, Archer, do you have a visual on 'em."]

["Clearly from here."] Archer said, ["They look like something that come out from a child's fantasy."]

["I see 'em."] Scarecrow said. ["Their body look alike like a sheep, kinda funny."]

["Task Force, listen up."] Ghost said. ["Do not engage those quadrupeds. We only need to find and extract Archer and Toad. Scarecrow, Ozone, keep watching on your sector. Archer, Toad, wait for us at your position. We all will regroup after we found our sniper team."]

["Copy that."] Scarecrow replied.

["Roger that."] Archer replied.

["Roach, move out."] Ghost said.

Ghost and Roach got out from their cover and stealthy went through the alley. Ghost and Roach headed deeper in the village. They carefully avoided to make an unnecessary noise while they were moving and ducked down when go pass a window. Ghost rarely looked back to make sure they aren't tracked down. During the elite soldier were stealthy walking, Roach smelled pies from a house from a window. The smell was so sweet and almost made Roach off from his guard. He was hungry and exhausted as well as the rest of the team since they didn't eat anything yesterday. Roach endured his need and focused himself on the task. After went along the alley, they hid behind haystacks when they found a road ahead.

["Roach, check the road."] Ghost commanded.

Roach got out from behind haystack and hid behind a corner. He leaned out and scanned the road, which have a few quadrupeds cleaning a narrow road. Roach quickly got back to hid behind haystacks when he had done scanning the road.

"There are four quadrupeds at the right and two at the left." Roach reported. "No tango spotted. Beside, another alley is at at the right side, not too faraway. We can go across the road or try another way."

"Got it." Ghost said. "Roach, we will go across the road. Don't let 'em see us."

   Roach nodded. The two soldiers ran out from haystacks. Ghost hid behind a corner and leaned out. Roach was beside Ghost and waited for the lieutenant. When the quadrupeds looked away from their cover, Ghost and Roach ran out form the corner and ran across the road with impressive speed. They manage to got in another alley without notice. Ghost hid in the alley and looked out. After he saw no quadrupeds know their presence, he motioned his hand to tell Roach to move in the alley.

["Nothing see us, let's move out."] Ghost said.

Ghost and Roach stealthy walked through the alley. They spotted no quadruped in sight and the alley was quite clean. Ghost stopped when he found a posters on the wall. He briefly looked and walked past the poster. Roach, who following Ghost, glanced at the poster, that is a picture of fancy castle with several rays of rainbow in its background. The sergeant left the poster and continued to followed Ghost through the alley. Unexpectedly, Ghost and Roach crouched down when they heard a winged quadruped flying over houses.

["Roach, watch out the sky. Winged quadrupeds might spot us from the rooftops."] Ghost said in his radio.

"Roger that." Roach replied.

The elite soldiers continued to stealthy walk. They seldom looked up to make sure there is nothing see them from above. During following Ghost through the alley, Roach looked around and remembered the surrounding for a return route. Houses in the village were colorful enough to made Roach feel like he is literally walking in a children's book. Roach looked on his hand, which like a painting as surrounding but less colorful. The sergeant sighed. He was still confused what is happen to him. Unexpectedly, Ghost and Roach were interrupted by a shout in the sky. They quickly looked up and saw a winged quadruped flies over and scattered posters along the way it went. One posters dropped down into the alley. Ghost grabbed it in the mid air. He quickly looked the posters and tossed it away.

["Nothing special, keep moving."] Ghost said.

The elite soldiers left the poster and continued to proceed through the alley. They spotted no quadruped in the alley. Only few winged quadrupeds were seen flying across houses and busily carrying branches and leaves away, but they didn't notice Ghost and Roach below. After they walked for awhile, Ghost and Roach reached a cross-ways in the alley. Ghost hid behind a corner and looked out at the left and right alley. When he found no quadruped in the area, Ghost and Roach rushed across the cross-ways and continued to go through the alley. They proceed through the alley until they reached another road, but this time, there were many quadrupeds cleaning the road. Ghost and Roach hid behind crates and stealthy watched quadrupeds outside the alley.

["The road have too many quadrupeds."] Ghost said. ["Change route, we won't take a risk for this road."]

Ghost gave a hand signal to move. The elite soldiers changed their position and went back in the alley. It took them a few second to return to the cross-ways. Ghost leaded Roach to the left alley, which is quite narrow and have few crates and carts in the way. During walking, Ghost and Roach saw a small group of winged quadrupeds in golden armor quickly flying past overhead.

["Ghost, a big group of winged quadrupeds has arrived at the village. They equipped with ancient weapons and appeared to be hostile, so watch out."] Scarecrow said in the radio.

["Roger that."] Ghost replied.

Ghost and Roach continued to proceed. The elite soldiers stopped when they heard a window at the second floor of a house is opening. They quickly got closer to a wall under the window and slowly went past. After walked past the window, Roach looked back. He felt relieved as he saw nothing looks out from the window. They walked through the alley until they could see a road ahead.

["Another road, dead ahead."] Ghost said. ["Roach, check outside the alley."]

"Roger." Roach replied.

Ghost hid behind a cart, while Roach hid behind a corner. He peaked out and saw a few quadrupeds cleaning the road and houses. They had almost done the cleaning and some quadrupeds started to set their stall or go on their daily life. A group of young quadrupeds was playing with a yellow ball on the road. Roach heard metals are clanging before he saw a small group of winged quadrupeds, that appear to be guards, flies and descends down to the road. The quadruped guards worn an armors and helmets like an ancient Greek warrior and equipped with earpieces alike. Their armor were golden. Their weapon were a short sword, which keeps at their side. Roach slowly return to Ghost and hid behind the cart.

"Ghost, the road is clear, but have quadruped guards." Roach said. "And I found no alley across this road."

"Roger." Ghost replied. "Let's go back. There is nothing we can do here."

"Understood." Roach replied.

Unexpectedly, a yellow ball fell into the elite soldier's hiding spot. Before Ghost and Roach could react, a young quadruped was running to their spot and holding the ball. The young quadruped smiled when it touched on the ball, but its smile quickly vanished when it found Ghost and Roach. The young quadruped stared at the soldiers in horror. Ghost and Roach quickly responded by running away from the young quadruped as fast as they can, before it was screaming out loud.

["Shite! Run!"] Ghost sworn.

Roach looked back to the road. As he expected, the guards heard the scream and rushed in the alley. They spotted the elite soldiers and ran after them. The alley was quite narrow and messy with crates, carts and haystacks which the quadruped guards faces a hard time to chase the elite soldiers. The guards shouted at Roach and Ghost in unknown words. Roach looked back and saw the guards in his perimeter. He grabbed his gun, but Ghost warned the sergeant immediately.

["Roach, we can lose those patrol. Don't waste your ammo!"]

["Ghost, what's happen!?"] Scarecrow asked in the radio.

["We've been compromised! A group of quadruped guards is on our six!"] Ghost said. ["I will contact you later when we lost those guard and find Archer and Toad, over!"]

["Roger, out."] Scarecrow replied.

Roach had released from his gun. He hoped they won't find a dead end or surrounded by another quadruped guards. They went straight at the cross-ways. Ghost and Roach ran through and managed to get out the alley. The two soldiers continued to flee through the road, that has many quadrupeds. When the quadrupeds on the road saw the soldiers, they're running away or screaming in fear. The peaceful road quickly overwhelmed with clouds of dust when quadrupeds accidentally ran on piles of dust that they gathered from cleaning. Quadrupeds confusedly ran into each other or hurt themselves in chaos. Under the circumstance, the soldiers managed to lose the guards and got in a narrow alley. Ghost and Roach ran through until they heard no hoof is after them. The soldiers sat and hid behind crated. Ghost looked out and felt relief as he saw no quadruped guard after them.

"Phew, that was close." Ghost said. "Come on, Roach. We still need to find Archer and Toad."

Ghost and Roach moved out from their cover and went through the alley. They continued to walked to the east until they nearly reached a outskirt and found quadruped guards have blocked the main road and patrolled outside the village. Ghost looked at the compass before leaded Roach back to the alley. Ghost and Roach occasionally heard a group of quadruped guards running outside. They kept themselves in shade and watched out the sky for winged quadruped guards.

In the village, they didn't see any man or woman. Roach noticed some quadrupeds have a horn on their forehead or a pair of wing at their side. The soldiers stealthy proceeded through the village. Ghost and Roach briefly looked outside the alley when they could look out. They mainly saw quadrupeds on their daily life and rarely saw quadruped guards or horned quadrupeds on the road or winged quadrupeds in the sky. Sometime, they saw quadruped set up their stalls and sell their goods. Wingless and hornless quadrupeds on the road are common sight for the soldiers in the alley. Rarely, Roach could see a horn of horned quadrupeds glowing with a levitated object in an aura. While following Ghost, Roach glanced at a quadruped family, with three members, carries picnic baskets on their back and heads to somewhere. The sergeant slightly smiled at the family, that is very happy to be together, before he continued to follow Ghost. The soldier stopped and hid behind a cart when they heard a quadruped walking in the alley. When the quadruped was out of sight, they got out from cover and continued to proceed.

After they had walked for awhile, they reached a open area with a big hallow dead tree at the center. Roach felt strange as the tree looked familiar.

"That must be it." Ghost said. "Roach, follow me."

The soldiers went out from the cover. They rushed across the area and got in the dead tree through a hole. Ghost and Roach looked around. The dead tree appeared to be used as a house before it was destroyed by an explosion. Roach sat on the floor and leaned on a wooden wall. Ghost stood in the middle of the hallow dead tree and touched on his headphone.

"Archer, we're in the tree." Ghost said in his radio.

Roach stood up. Ghost and Roach didn't wait for too long before two snipers came out from their cover and approached to Ghost and Roach. They had their M14 EBRs on their back. Archer had a bloodstain on his head and Toad had one on his chest. The snipers looked very fatigued even they hid themselves in balaclava masks and ghillie suits.

"Good to see you here, Ghost." Archer said.

"Well. me, too." Ghost said. "We should talk later. Scarecrow and Ozone are waiting for us at the forest. We must get outta here, now."

"Roger." Archer replied.

Ghost touched on his headphone. "Scarecrow, we found Archer and Toad. We will escort them back to the forest and going back to you right now." Ghost said in his radio.

["Copy that. Be advised, outskirt of the village has been blocked by quadruped guards. You must find another way out there or push them through, over."] Scarecrow said.

"Roger, out." Ghost replied.

Ghost, Roach, Archer and Toad walked to the hole. Before they went out, Ghost saw three winged quadrupeds flying in the sky above and heading over their area. He noticed two of them are quadruped guard and one of them has cyan coat.

"Halt." Ghost whispered. "Hide and let them pass."

The elite soldiers and the snipers quickly hid in the dead tree. Ghost looked up. He noticed that one of the winged quadrupeds saw them. Before Ghost commanded the team to move out, a group of quadruped guards appeared out of thin air in a flash of violet light and the guards quickly surrounding the dead tree. The soldiers and snipers drew out their guns. They heard a quadruped guard shouting, but the soldiers and snipers couldn't understand its words.

"Damn! Sound like they're found us." Ghost said.

"Ghost, what are they?" Archer asked.

"They're quadruped guards that was chasing after us while we're on our way to you." Ghost said. "But I honesty didn't know how they could do that."

"They don't look friendly. Ghost, what's your plan?" Archer asked.

Ghost was thinking hard. He leaned out and saw a lavender quadruped with wings and a horn in the guards. He further noticed there were three quadrupeds with the lavender quadruped before a cyan quadruped and two quadruped guards descended from the sky and joined the group. Ghost looked preciously and saw a yellow quadruped, that dress like a witch doctor, is hiding behind a quadruped in yellow hazmat suit. Ghost spotted a orange quadruped have a rope on its belt. He noticed that the orange quadruped's tattoo on its hind legs is matched a mark on a round stone which hinders Roach in his pocket with other round stones. The lieutenant saw the lavender quadruped is talking to a cyan quadruped, before the cyan quadruped spoke something to the lavender quadruped and flied up in the sky. The cyan quadruped looked in the dead tree from the sky and returned to talk to the lavender quadruped. After observed the quadrupeds, Ghost figured out the way that will help his teammate.

"I have an idea." Ghost said.

[Previously, an hour ago]

Twilight woke up late. She raised up and put a blanket away before she quickly went out to the balcony and found ponies nearly finished cleaning the village. After she found Ponyville didn't need her help in the cleaning task, she walked in her bedroom and found a letter beside her bed. Twilight used her magic to untie and read the letter.

My dearest Twilight,

I understand It was a emergency report. I won't mind if you send the letter at midnight.

I had read your letter. I'm glad that meteor didn't destroy anything. I also already asked Princess Luna and she confirmed she saw the meteor. In other hoof, I must be honest that I couldn't explain this astronomical event last night, but I agree on your plan and have sent expert teams to Ponyville. After you find the expert teams, you have to guide them to the spot where meteor had landed and bring meteors back to Canterlot if they're safe enough to study.

I wish I could go with you, but I have my duty in Canterlot that I must finish. It is up to you, princess Twilight. You have to lead the expert team in this task. Remember, you must be safe.

Your princess,

Celestia

Twilight nodded after she read the letter. She put the letter down beside her bed when she heard somepony opened a door. Twilight turned and found Spike run toward her. Spike couldn't hide his excitement that showing on his face.

"Princess Twilight, a commander and guards at the throne room requests to have an audience with you." Spike said in a formal voice. "He said he's sent by princess Celestia."

"Spike, you don't have to be fancy when someone just want to meet me." Twilight said and chuckled.

"Come on, Twilight. I just want to be formal sometime." Spike said. "Beside, the commander is so cool!"

"Alright, I got it, Spike. Let's go to meet them." Twilight said.

Twilight and Spike walked out of a bedroom and headed to a throne room through a hallway. It took a minute before Twilight and Spike reached and walked in the throne room. Twilight found a commander and two Pegasi guard waiting for her. The commander and guards saluted Twilight, who slightly nods in return. Twilight glanced on the commander and the guards. They worn armors different from other royal guards. Their armors almost covered their bodies and had swords at their side. The commander and guards equipped with short range speech sending devices and ear microphone, which widely use by top securities.

"Good morning, commander. Welcome to my castle." Twilight greeted "Can I know your name?"

"I'm Strong Swift, a commander of elite day guard. It is an honor to meet you, Princess Twilight Sparkle." Swift said. "I'm here in a command of princess Celestia to find the meteors and ensure the security of Ponyville."

"Ensure the security of Ponyville? Why?" Twilight asked and tilted her head.

"...I don't know, ma'am. The princess just asked me to do so." Swift said.

Twilight frowned. "...Okay, I understand." Twilight said. "Alright, when the expert team arrives?"

"They will be arriving here around this noon by train, your highness." Swift replied.

"Good, we need to pick up them at the train station." Twilight said. "Should we go now?"

Swift nodded. Twilight and Swift along with the guards and Spike walked out of the throne room, but Swift and guards were interrupted by the device. Swift put out a handheld microphone. He carefully listened a message from the device and frowned.

"What! Where are they now?" Swift asked to the device.

Twilight and Spike stopped and turned their head to the commander, who listening to the device.

"Don't let them get away. You must capture them with everything you have. Report back to me if anything happen." Swift commanded.

Swift put the mic back and turned his head to Twilight.

"Sorry, ma'am. I have a report from my guard." Swift said.

"What's happen?" Twilight asked.

"My guards spotted suspicious bipeds in Ponyville. They're on the loose." Swift said.

"Monsters!?" Spike said. He was shivering in fear.

"Is everypony alright?" Twilight asked and held the baby dragon.

"Don't worry, your highness. Nopony was harmed. Beside, my guards will contain the bipeds as soon as possible." Swift said.

"I'm glad to hear that..." Twilight said and released the baby dragon. "So, should we go to the train station now?"

"Yes, ma'am." Swift replied.

Twilight gently smiled. The forth princess, Swift, Spike and guards walked out of the castle. When they went pass the front door, two guards, that are flanking the door, followed them and they all headed toward the train station. On the road, it was a lovely day in Ponyville. The sun shone in the sky. A few clouds were floating above. Most ponies started to go on their daily life after they finished their chore. Some ponies on the road greeted Twilight when they saw her and Twilight waved her front hoof and greeted back. Spike looked around and feared that monsters will appear from nowhere. After walked from the castle for awhile, the group stopped again when they heard screams and tumult inside the village from far away. Twilight could see a cloud of dust floating inside Ponyville. A few moment later, Swift and guards received a message from devices. This time, Swift was very frustration.

Swift put out the mic and shouted. "You lost them? How?!"

The shout scared other ponies nearby and the baby dragon. One pony near a house jumped up in fright. Every ponies on the road looked at Swift, but he didn't mind staring from other ponies.

"Search them every corners of the village. They might not get away so faraway." Swift said in his mic. "Don't lose them this time."

Swift put his mic back and turned his head to Twilight. "My guards failed me. They let the bipeds run away."

The day commander shook his head. Ponies around went back to go on their daily life. Twilight looked at the commander. He was clearly upset due to his guards. Twilight stepped to stand in front of Swift and faced him.

"What's happen, commander? Can you tell me clearly?" Twilight asked. "You said princess Celestia sent you to secure Ponyville, but she didn't explain the reason. The princess would never send someone to do a task with no explanation. She should tell you why she sent you here."

"Yeah, she should tell you something." Spike added.

Swift was silent. He turned his head to guards behind him. The guards slightly nodded. Swift sighed. The commander cleared his throat and looked at the forth princess.

"It's true. I lied you, your highness. The princess told me why she sent me here." Swift said. "I will tell you everything while we're heading to the train station."

Twilight ans Spike nodded. The forth princess, the baby dragon, the commander and the guards started to walk along the road.

"Princess Celestia want my guards to protect the bearers of Element of Harmony from Shade Thieves." Swift said.

Spike gasped. "Shade Thieves!?" Spike said.

Twilight nodded. "Shade Thieves? I think I heard a rumor about them." Twilight said.

"Yes, ma'am. Most ponies know them for their crime for stolen valuables around Equestria since a week ago. The E.U.P. Guard tried everything to capture them, but not even single Shade Thief have been caught nowadays." Swift said. "Princess Celestia assume that the thieves might eye on the Tree of Harmony, so she command me to send my guards to the Castle of the Two Sister to secure the castle and protect you and your friend from them."

"Why the thieves would try to kidnap me and my friend?" Twilight said.

"Because the bearers of the Element of Harmony are ponies beside princess Celestia and princess Luna who can extract the Element of Harmony from the Tree of Harmony." Swift explained. "The thieves might force you and your friends to work for them, so we're here to make sure it won't happen."

"We can extract the Element of Harmony...?" Twilight mumbled. She was thinking. Twilight touched her chin and analyzed the information she had gotten.

"You come here to protect Twilight and her friends?" Spike said.

"Yes, we're." Swift said.

"What do Shadow Thieves look like?" Twilight asked.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. but nopony described them clearly." Swift said. "Many witnesses and E.U.P. guards said the Shade Thieves have glowing eyes. Analyzed from their hoofprints, they're bipedal creatures, but the hoofprints didn't match any monsters or any living things in Equestria, so we assume they come from another continent, or possibly, another world."

"Bipedal creatures...?" Twilight mumbled. "But that's impossible..."

"Did you say something, princess?" Swift asked.

"Oh, no no. I was just thinking out loud." Twilight said. "So, when your guard reported in your device that they found suspicious bipeds, you thought they might be Shade Thieves and command your guards to capture them."

Swift nodded. The group walked past a fruit stall. A vendor greeted at the princess and the commander. Twilight waved back, but the commander didn't greeted back at the vendor.

"Okay, I will go after the bipeds." Twilight said.

"What?" Spike exclaimed.

Swift tuned to Twilight and frowned. "It's too dangerous, your highness. I can't let you in this task." Swift said.

"Don't worry, I can take care myself." Twilight said.

"But, what about the meteor searching team?" Swift asked.

"I recommend to send your guards to pick them up. Tell them to meet me at my castle" Twilight said. "I will gather my friends to join in this searching. If the thieves actually go after us, they should show up when we're together."

"But, princess-"

"No need to worry about them, Swift." Twilight said. "My friends joined in many tough tasks since they have become the bearers of Element of Harmony. Beside, the meteors can wait, but the Shade Thieves don't. If I knew about this early, I would request princess Celestia to go after the thieves, too."

Twilight gently smiled. Swift raised his front hoof to protest the princess, but he later put his front hoof down and knew it would be useless as it actually was a good plan. He nodded and turned to face two guards behind him.

"Iron Shield, Titanium Lance, you two must go ahead to the train station and waited for the searching team. After they arrived, escort them to princess Twilight's castle." Swift commanded. "Other guard must follow the princess. Don't let anything bad happen to her."

"Yes, sir!" the guards replied.

Two guards went to the train station. Swift and Twilight looked at them until they were out of their sight.

"Could you ask your guards where did they see the bipeds lately?" Twilight asked.

"Give me a sec." Swift said. and pick out his mic. "Guards, tell me a position where the bipeds disappeared."

Swift listened to the device. He nodded after he knew the location and turned to face Twilight.

"Princess, the bipeds was at the main road of the east side of Ponyville." Swift said. "My guards blocked all escape routes nearby and tried to corral them. Now, they should be somewhere in the north-east or south-east of Ponyville."

"Well, you should start at the north-east." Twilight said. "I need to go to see my friend now. Good luck, commander."

"Thank, your highness."

"Spike, let's go to the Sugarcube Corner."

"Yeah!" Spike replied.

Twilight levitated Spike to sit on her back and ran off with two guards to find Pinkie Pie. Swift slightly nodded before he ran off to find the bipeds. Twilight knew Ponyville well. She remembered all roads in the village clearly. Twilight turned around a corner and took a shortcut. She run through an alley and arrived at the Sugarcube Corner in a minute. Twilight saw two elite pegasi day guards flanking a front door. She walked to the door. The guards saluted the princess and let her and guards in the bakery.

The Sugarcube Corner had no pony inside, but Twilight, Spike, other two elite guards, the guards that following Twilight and Pinkie Pie. The forth princess could see Pinkie Pie jumps up from her chair and looks at the lavender Alicorn. The pink pony smiled widely and bounced to the princess.

"Hello, Twilight. Are those weird guards following you, too!?" Pinkie Pie said.

"Hello, Pinkie." Twilight greeted. "Yes, they're. So, what's about you? I guess they won't let other ponies in the Sugarcube Corner?"

"Oh on, Twilight. They're only scare most ponies to buy some sweets in the shop." Pinkie Pie said. "Otherwise, they follow me everywhere I went. It's kinda funny you know? Like I'm playing "Watch the Pony". Only if they talk to me, it would be more fun! Weee!"

Pinkie Pie jumped up in the air and blew confetti out from her back. Twilight smiled gently at Pinkie Pie. Her cheerful personality always cheers up other ponies. Spike got down from twilight's back and looked at sweets in the shop.

"Well, Twilight, did you need some sweets today?" Pinkie Pie said.

"I think I'll pass." Twilight said. "Anyway, I come here because I need you and your guys help."

"What's the matter?" Pinkie Pie said.

"Did you hear about Shade Thieves, Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie Pie gasped. She looked around before she warped her front leg around Twilight's neck and put a side of her face against Twilight's side face, but the guards inside and Spike didn't mind a suspicious behavior of Pinkie Pie.

"You mean a group of meanie pants, who like to steal, right?" Pinkie Pie whispered. "I heard it a lot from other ponies, too. Well, don't tell me that they're in Ponyville now? Twilight."

"...Yeah, Possibly." Twilight said and smiled awkwardly.

Pinkie Pie released from Twilight and was about to scream, but Twilight put her front hoof on Pinkie's mouth in time.

"Nopony confirms yet that they're Shade Thieves, Pinkie." Twilight said and put her front hoof away from Pinkie Pie. "The guards are looking for suspects now. I heard from the commander that the suspects are somewhere around north-east or south-east of Ponyville. Pinkie, if they're actually Shade Thieves and princess Celestia's presumption was right, they probably go after the Element of Harmony and us, so we must gather the bearers of Element of Harmony and help the guards to capture them."

Pinkie was thinking before she smiled and nodded. "Okay, I got it now." Pinkie said. "So, how can I help?"

"I need you to call our friends to meet us here as soon as possible." Twilight said. "You can do it right?"

"Easy peasy, Twilight." Pinkie Pie said. She turned to face the guards and smiled to them. "Sorry, guys. I need to go to see my friends now."

Before the guard could respond, Pinkie Pie rushed out from the bakery at unbelievable speed and left only a pink cloud of herself behind. The guards was about to look for Pinkie Pie, but Twilight raised her front hoof in protest.

"Don't worry, she will be back." Twilight said.

The guards looked at each other before a guard reported in his device and they went back to stand on their spot. Guard, that following Twilight, went outside the bakery and guarded a back door. Twilight sat on a chair and waited. She looked around the bakery and realized she didn't eat anything since she got up from her bed. Twilight stood up and looked for sweets to eat in bakery showcases, but the princess found out she can't buy any sweets since she she didn't bring any bit with her. Twilight was downcast. Her stomach was growling and calling for food. Spike turned his head to Twilight after he heard the growling. He ran to the princess and asked her quietly.

"Twilight, are you hungry?" Spike asked.

"Yes, Spike." Twilight said sadly.

Spike was thinking before he realized what is wrong with Twilight. "Oh my gosh, I forgot that you didn't eat breakfast yet!" Spike said. "Hold on, Twilight, I will go back to the castle and bring some bits."

Spike ran out and headed back to the castle. Twilight looked at sweets in showcase before she look up when she heard a door behind a counter is opened. She saw Mrs. Cake walks out the door with boxes of muffins on her head.

"Good morning, Twilight." Mrs. Cake greeted.

"Hello, Mrs. Cake..." Twilight greeted.

"What's happen to you, my princess? Where did Pinkie go?" Mrs, Cake asked.

"Pinkie goes out to assemble our friends." Twilight said. "But for me, I just realize I didn't have any bit to buy some food."

"Oh, you can pay it later. We won't mind that." Mrs. Cake said.

"I... ah..."

Twilight's stomach requested for some food by growling louder. She blushed and avoided to make an eye contact with Mrs. Cake. She chuckled and put boxes of muffins down on a counter behind her and walked to pick out a cupcake from a bakery showcase.

"Here, please take this." Mrs. Cake said and hoofed over the cupcake. "Don't worry. I have an extra for them."

"...Thank." Twilight said.

Twilight levitated the cupcake from Mrs. Cake and nibbled it. The sweet slightly helped the princess from her hunger. Mrs. Cake gave Twilight another cupcake when she finished eating the first cupcake, but Twilight shook her head and waved her front hoof to refuse another cupcake from Mrs. Cake.

"One is enough for me. Thank you." Twilight said and smiled.

Mrs, Cake smiled and put the cupcake back to the showcase. Twilight looked back to the front door. Pinkie Pie still didn't return form outside. Twilight briefly looked at guards before she turned her head to Mrs. Cake.

"Is everything alright?" Twilight asked.

"Well, sure." Mrs. Cake replied. "It maybe quiet today because of the circumstance, but we're doing just fine. We can ask Pinkie Pie to deliver orders to our customers or deliver them ourselves if they can't come here. Well, Pinkie surely help us a lot, you know?"

Twilight nodded. Beside working as baker in the Sugarcube Corner, Pinkie Pie helps Mr. and Mrs. Cake babysitting their babies. Twilight gently smiled when she recalled her memory when she tried to help Pinkie Pie babysit the newborns.

"I'm glad to hear that." Twilight said.

"So, princess." Mrs. Cake said. "I know I might be prying, but why did you ask Pinkie to call your friends here? Are you going to throw a party?"

"Oh, no, I'm not." Twilight said. "I need to meet my friends because I need to go after Shade Thieves."

"Shade Thieves?" Mrs. Cake said. "They're infamous criminal ponies, right? I heard many rumors about them from other ponies. They said that the thieves are ruthless ghosts who will harm anypony if they tried to stop them... They're very scary..."

Twilight shook her head. "Ghost don't steal from ponies, Mrs. Cake. The thieves might spread the rumor to scare other ponies. It's just a regular psychological tactic to cover them from investigation."

"Well, If you say so." Mrs. Cake said. "Anyway, princess. Where are Shade Thieves now?"

"They're possibly here in Ponyville, so I must gather my friends to go after them" Twilight said.

Mrs. Cake froze. Twilight knew she had done a mistake. Mrs. Cake's pupils widened and looked around the room. Before Twilight could calm Mrs. Cake down, she turned away and ran in the kitchen. Twilight heard Mrs. Cake talking to Mr. Cake frantically before they ran out from the kitchen and went upstairs.

"You should tell us early, princess!" Mr. Cake shouted from upstairs.

"I'm sorry." Twilight said.

Twilight sighed. She walked to sit on a chair and thought a plan that will help her capture Shade Thieves. Twilight was interrupted when she heard the front door is opened. She looked back and saw Rainbow Dash flies in the bakery. The tomboy pony smiled mischievously at Twilight and took a seat next to her.

"Hey, Twilight. I heard you call me and our friends to hunt down Shade Thieves!" Rainbow said. "It's gonna be awesome!"

"It's not a show, Rainbow Dash. You should take it serious." Twilight said.

"Of course, I will take this serious." Rainbow Dash said and put her front hooves on her hips. "Shade Thieves will know how mighty I am. I will strike and knock them with one hit. Ha!"

Rainbow Dash stood up and struck continually with her front hooves in the air. Twilight briefly looked Rainbow Dash showing off her fighting skill before she turned back and continued to plan the way to capture Shade Thieves in her mind. Seconds passed, Twilight heard somepony opens the front door. She turned her head to the door and saw Applejack walking at her. The farm mare had a coil of rope on her belt and two guards following behind her back.

"Howdy, Twilight." Applejack greeted.

"Hi, Applejack." Twilight greeted.

"Pinkie told me everythin'. Ah bought the strongest rope ah could find to catch those outlaws." Applejack said and pointed at the rope around her back. "With this rope, they won't get away from Ponyville." Applejack turned her head to guards behind. "Seriously, y'all have no need to follow me everywhere I go."

Twilight chuckled. Applejack took a seat at the same table with Twilight. The guards left Applejack and walked to another side of the room and watched over the mares. Rainbow Dash stopped showing off and sat beside Twilight when she saw Applejack sits on a chair.

"Hi, cowgirl. Ready to buck some bad guys?" Rainbow Dash said.

"Rainbow Dash, you said like it's fun" Applejack said "We're goin' to catch Shade Thieves. They're very dangerous and merciless outlaws who will do everythin' for stealin'. If you would like to take mah advice, Rainbow Dash, you should be more careful about 'em."

"No, Applejack. those so-called "Shade Thieves" just never face their worth opponent yet." Rainbow Dash said. "I will show you who is the boss when we find them."

"Oh yeah, just don't cause any trouble when we found 'em." Applejack said and narrowed her eyes.

"Never!" Rainbow Dash said and frowned.

Rainbow Dash cross her front legs and meanly looked at Applejack, who looked slightly angrily back at Rainbow Dash. Twilight heard a group of ponies walking to the Sugarcube Corner. She turned her head to the front door and saw Pinkie Pie and Rarity walks in the bakery with Fluttershy, who dress like a witch doctor, following and hiding behind Rarity, who dress in a hazmat suit. After the three mare got in the Sugarcube Corner, four guards followed them in the bakery and flanked the front door. The guards in the room standing like statues looking forward. They didn't talk to each other or even moved their eyes around. After Twilight met every bearers of the Element of Harmony. She stood up and motioned her front hoof to call her friends to sit on chairs at the same table with her. She waited Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy sit down before she talked to them.

"Alright everypony, I guess you already heard about Shade Thieves" Twilight said. "Here is my plan."

"Come on, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash said. "We should go out and finish them off now!"

Rainbow Dash flied up and was about to fly out the bakery, but Applejack held Rainbow Dash's tail with her mouth and brought her down to sit on a chair.

"Don't be reckless, Rainbow Dash." Applejack said. "We need a plan before we go after a group of outlaws."

"I'm sorry, daring, but I agree on Applejack." Rarity said. Her voice was echoing in her suit. "Those ruffians aren't going to take us easy. It's not a big deal if we have a plan to coordinate our attack."

Rainbow Dash was annoyed. She sat on the chair and clearly showed her bad mood on her face.

"Just make it fast..." Rainbow Dash said.

"It's alright, Rainbow Dash. I won't take much time." Twilight said. "Rarity, Fluttershy, you two watch out our back. Make sure Shade Thieves can't attack from behind."

"I can do that." Rarity said and put her front hoof on Fluttershy's chest. "You can do it right, Fluttershy?"

"Em... maybe I could..." Fluttershy said quietly.

"Applejack, Pinkie Pie." Twilight continued. "You two stay on the front with me. Applejack, you have to capture any suspicious biped with your rope. Pinkie Pie, you have to watch out for bipeds and tell us if you saw them"

"Ah got it!" Applejack said.

"Okie dokie!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Rainbow Dash." Twilight said. "You look out for bipeds from above and tell us when you saw them."

"Boring." Rainbow Dash said.

"What's about these guards? They will join us?" Applejack asked.

"They will." Twilight said. "Okay, let's move out, girls."

Twilight leaded her friends out of the Sugarcube Corner, follow by the elite guards. The group rushed at the south-east part of Ponyville. Ponies on the road looked curiously at the group when they ran past. Rainbow Dash and two guards flied up high in the sky and looked around the village. The cyan pony preciously scanned the area below at above the group and used a cloud as her cover. Rainbow Dash didn't take much time to find her target. She saw two biped running out from the alley and went in the destroyed Golden Oak Library. Rainbow Dash quickly got out from her cover and flied down to Twilight.

"Twilight, I saw two bipeds at the ruin of Golden Oak Library!" Rainbow Dash said.

Twilight was silent for a second before she said. "Okay, I will teleport us to there."

"Not me~" Rainbow Dash said and flied to the destroyed Golden Oak Library.

Twilight closed her eyes and cast a mass teleportation spell. Twilight's horn glowed and shone out. In the blink of an eye, the five mares and guards vanished in a violet light and appear in front of the dead tree. The guards quickly surrounded the former Golden Oak Library. One of them reported back to their commander through the device. Twilight panted as the spell consumed many of her energy. Rainbow Dash flied down and landed beside Applejack. The mane six stared at the dead tree and prepared for anything that might come out.

"Attention! This is E.U.P. Guard! I Anypony who hiding in the ruin must come out and show yourself, now!" One of the guards shouted.

The guards and the mane six waited, but there is no responded from the tree. Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash, who gives her a confused look, before the princess turned her head to a Rainbow Dash.

"Rainbow Dash, I think they already escaped." Twilight said.

"That's not possible!" Rainbow Dash argued. "I saw them run in the tree, but I didn't saw anypony run out!"

Rainbow Dash flied up in the sky and looked in the dead tree, before she flied back and landed beside Twilight.

"There! I saw many Shade Thieves in there!" Rainbow Dash said.

"Rainbow Dash, we still didn't know that's Shade Thieves or not. You shouldn't go with that conclusion." Twilight said.

"But their clothes are weird. Nopony in Equestria would dress like that!" Rainbow Dash said. "We must not wait for longer, Twilight. Let's go and get them!"

Rainbow Dash spread her wings and was about to fly in the dead tree, but Twilight held Rainbow Dash with her magic.

"No, Rainbow Dash! We shouldn't rush in there. We don't know how many of them in there. They might ambush us easily if we're not careful enough." Twilight said.

Rainbow Dash frowned. She sat down on the ground and crossed her front legs. Twilight nodded and looked in her former house. She saw something is watching her. The princess's pupils widened she could see a lower half of its skull. The thing quickly hid and threw something out after she saw it. The guards and the mane six stayed alert when they saw the object was thrown out from the dead tree. Twilight noticed an object, that the thing threw out, is a weird shape cylinder. It was bouncing and clanging before it landed in front of Twilight.

When Twilight knew what it is, it was too late.

Flashbang blew up in front of the lavender quadruped. Every quadrupeds in flashbang's radius lost their balance and shielded their eyes with their front legs. The quadrupeds screamed out painfully and tried to stand on their four legs.

["Go, Go, Go!"] Ghost shouted. ["Roach, Archer, Toad. Follow me!"]

Ghost leaded Roach, Archer and Toad out of the dead tree. They jumped over quadrupeds that still stunning from flashbang. The elite soldiers and the sniper ran in and went through the alley. Other quadruped guards, that recover from flashbang and didn't in radius of flashbang, quickly chased the soldiers and the snipers in the alley. Some winged quadrupeds flied up and went after Roach and his teammates. Ghost glanced on his compass before leaded his teammates to the south.

["Roach, they're getting close! use your grenade at quadrupeds and cut 'em off from our tail!"] Ghost commanded.

Roach put out his grenade and pulled the pin out. He held the grenade for two seconds before he tossed it at a group of quadruped guards behind. The grenade bounced and landed in the middle of quadruped guards. Roach heard the quadruped guards yelling before the grenade blew up. Roach looked back and saw many quadruped guards injure by his grenade. Only few quadrupeds in the alley and in the sky still chasing him and his teammates.

["Good throw, Roach!"] Ghost said. ["Now, mop them up!"]

Roach and Ghost crouched down and aimed before they shot at quadruped guards. Archer and Toad supported Roach and Ghost from behind with their sniper rifle. The quadruped guard weren't easily taken out as they had an armor. The soldiers and snipers had to preciously shot at quadruped guards' eyes where they are unprotected by their armors. Ghost, Roach, Archer and Toad managed to shoot many quadruped guards in the alley and the sky down. Some quadruped guards avoided laser bolts by hiding behind carts, haystacks and other covers they found. When the quadruped guards started to get closer. Ghost continued to lead his teammates to retreat.

["Ghost, I heard a shooting from the village. What's your situation?"] Scarecrow said.

["Not good from here! Our ammo are running low!"] Ghost said. ["Scarecrow, what's going on outside the village?"]

["Those quadruped guards still didn't move from the road. I think they try to prevent your escape."] Scarecrow said. ["We will support you when you nearly reach the forest. I'm looking for you at the outside of the village."]

["Roger that!"] Ghost said.

The elite soldiers and the snipers ran through the alley. After they ran for long, they saw another road ahead with two winged quadruped guards blocking the way. Roach and Ghost aimed their rifle while they were running at the quadruped guards and shot at them. The soldiers eliminated the quadruped guards out of their way and continued to escort the sniper. The soldiers and the snipers ran on the road. They tried not to run into quadrupeds, that starts to panic when they saw the soldiers and snipers. Ghost leaded his teammate in another alley to avoid to be spotted by wing quadrupeds from the sky. Ghost, Roach, Archer and Toad maneuvered through the alley. Roach glanced back and saw something is following him from behind. It was cyan quadruped, that flying past over them, with a trail of rainbow. The cyan quadruped flied down and darted toward Ghost.

["Get down!"] Ghost shouted.

The time was running slower, when Ghost quickly slid down under the cyan quadruped while Archer, Toad and Roach evaded the darting quadruped. It flied past over their head and missed its targets. Ghost turned back and shot at the cyan quadruped from behind. The time returned to normal, when the cyan quadruped cried out painfully and fell down on the ground before it slid and hit on creates.

"It crash!" Roach said.

["Very well, let's move on!"] Ghost said.

The soldiers and the snipers continued to head toward the south and left the cyan quadruped behind. After they ran for awhile, they reached at another road and run past quadrupeds, that are screaming and running away from them or getting in their houses when they see the soldiers and the snipers. Many quadrupeds, that pull a wagon, abandoned their shipments and ran away. Finally, Roach could see a road that lead to the forest. As Scarecrow had said before, quadruped guards were blocking the way. The soldiers and the snipers moved to and crouched behind their nearest covers. Ghost and Roach crouched behind corners while Archer and Toad used crates as their cover.

["Scarecrow, Ozone, we're near the forest!"] Ghost said. ["Get over here and help us clear the road!"]

["Roger, let's move, Ozone!"] Scarecrow replied.

["Archer, Toad, take 'em out!"] Ghost said.

The soldiers and snipers shot at quadruped guard with their rifles and sniper rifles. With supported from Scarecrow and Ozone, the quadruped guards started to retreat and fly away. Ghost saw a golden opportunity to escape from the village.

["They retreat! Come on, let's get the hell outta here!"] Ghost said.

Ghost and Roach waited for Archer and Toad, before they ran toward the forest. Roach watched out their rear before he followed his teammates to the outside of village. The sergeant saw nothing that will be in their way to hinder their escape, until he heard something flying after him. Roach looked back and was knocked by a winged quadruped with red eyes. Roach fell down to the ground, but he still grabbed his rifle. He could see two round front hooves pinning down on his chest with a strong force. Roach tried to aim his rifle at the quadruped, but it quickly pinned his right arm with its front hoof.

"Roach!" Ghost shouted.

Roach saw Ghost shooting at the quadruped that pinning the sergeant down. The quadruped cried out painfully and lifted its front hooves off from his chest. Ghost kicked the quadruped off from Roach and grabbed Roach's hand before the lieutenant pulled the sergeant up.

["Hurry up, Ghost! I saw many of them approaching to us!"] Archer warned in the comm. ["I will try to thin 'em out, keep moving before they get through our perimeter!"]

"Roger that!" Ghost shouted. "Roach, go! Go! Go! Don't stop running!"

Roach could see many horned quadrupeds running toward them. The soldiers ran with all their might to go away from the horned quadrupeds shooting laser bolts from their horn upon them. Ghost and Roach took cover behind corners and shot to cover their retreat until their guns were depleted.

"Ghost, I run out of ammo!" Roach said.

["Me, either!"] Ghost said.

["It's too hot! They're everywhere!"] Archer shouted.

["That enough! Archer, Toad, run back to the forest!"] Ghost commanded.

["Copy that!"] Archer replied.

Ghost and Roach ran out from their corner and headed toward the forest. They didn't run too faraway, when Ghost's right arm was hit by a laser bolt. Ghost held his wound and endured his pain while he was running on the road.

"Dammit! I thought this village are filled with idiots!" Ghost sworn.

Horned quadruped shot many laser bolts upon the soldiers. Many laser bolts hit Roach and Ghost when they were running out from the village until their couldn't endure their pain anymore. Roach and Ghost lost their balance and collapsed on the road. They tried to stand up, but the horned quadrupeds repeatedly shot at them with laser bolts.

"I'm hit!" Roach yelled

"Quickly... Roach...! run... to the woods!" Ghost said while he ground his teeth painfully.

["Ghost, come in! Ghost!"] Archer shouted in the radio.

["Go, Just go! leave us here!"] Ghost shouted.

["Archer! The road is hot! Get the hell outta there before you get hit!"] Scarecrow warned.

["Ghost and Roach are still there! We must not leave them!"] Archer argued.

["Archer, this is an order! GO!"] Ghost shouted.

Roach looked at the edge of the forest and saw Archer looking at him until the sniper was dragged by Toad. The sergeant fell down and saw Ghost tried to crawl to the forest, but a winged quadruped guard put its front hoof on his back and pinned him down. Roach could see Archer and Toad safely regrouped with Scarecrow and Ozone. They briefly looked back at Roach and Ghost before ran and disappeared in the forest. Roach slightly nodded before he was surrounded by horned quadruped guards. Ropes tied his wrists and ankles. Roach could see another ropes tied Ghost's wrists and ankles. The ropes were covering in silver auras while a horn on horned quadruped guards are also glowing and covering in silver aura. When Roach and Ghost was tied by rope, the aura around ropes vanished. Roach and Ghost was covered in auras and levitated before they were put in a wagon and the auras around them disappeared. Roach blacked out after the wagon started to move.

Spike quickly headed toward the Sugarcube Corner with a bag of bits on his back. He ran as fast as he could with his short legs and nearly bumped into ponies on the road many time. When Spike arrived at the front of the Sugarcube Corner, he frowned as he saw no royal guards at the front door. The baby dragon walked through the door and found nopony inside the bakery. He narrowed his eyes and looked straight at the wall.

"Well, not this again..." Spike said.