//Jake\

I awoke to a faint voice calling for help. I sat up and realized that it was Apple Bloom's voice and raced to get my shotgun. When I picked up my shotgun I heard a stallion yell at me.

"Drop the gun!" He shouted and I turned around to see a grey stallion with a black mane. He was holding Apple Bloom at gun point. I slowly dropped the gun and put my hands up.

"Who are you?" I asked the stranger and he replied to me.

"My name is none of your business." He said with a bark. "On your knees!" He ordered and I did so.

"What do you want?" I asked filling with rage.

He stared at me and asked me a question I did not quite understand. "Aren't you friends of the Elements of Harmony?" He asked with a bark.

Apple Bloom looked at me with fear in her eyes. I felt like assaulting the stallion in front of me, but every move I make he makes a move for the trigger. I answered his question, "Who?".

The first thing he did was growl. "You know who!" He said, pushing the gun to Apple Bloom's head.

"You mean the six ponies I was with earlier?" I questioned.

"Give me names."

"Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack who is now deceased, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Twilight." I answered.

He nodded and threw Apple Bloom over to me, which she proceeded to embrace me. The stallion walked out before I could ask him why he wanted them. -Elements of Harmony?- I looked down at Apple Bloom, who I could tell was happy that it was over.

//Shining Armour\

He sat up in the hospital bed and thought about the news he was given just this morning. One of Twilight's friends has been killed. He thought it over in his head and looked over at the clock, 10:24. He sighed and looked at the ceiling and then looked out the window at the ponies going on with their normal lives. He understood that none of us would be the same after this.

He looked up as he heard someone walk into the room, it was Twilight. She was holding a book and was accompanied by Princess Celestia.

"Shining Armour! I have a new lead!" She exclaimed holding the book to my face and I pushed it away slightly.

I read the part of the book that had a picture of the creature that might have been the same creature that caused havoc. I smiled as I finished reading.

"So, this thing is stationed in Everfree huh?" I asked with a ponder. "That might as well be our next place to check. Gather enough guards to take with y-".

"No." She said and I got a surprised look. "I'm going in with my friends and we will bring this thing to justice.

"You're not going in unprotected. Everfree alone is dangerous!" I exclaimed. Princess Celestia looked at me and sighed.

"Twilight desperately wants to stop this thing with her friends only. So if she wants to do so, I won't stop her. And I assume you won't too?" She said with a serious look. I sighed and looked at Twilight.

"Fine, but be careful."

//Pinkie Pie\

"YYYYAAAYYYY!!!"

//Jake\

He walked with Apple Bloom on his shoulder to the clubhouse, where apparently there is an 'announcement'. When we arrived I was greeted by two serious fillies talking to each other. Apple Bloom hopped off my shoulder and trotted over to them. I heard them ask her if she was ok, and I smiled when she said yes to each.

I sat down in the corner of the clubhouse as the CMC put on their satches and Sweetie Belle took the stand with Scootaloo to her left and Apple Bloom to her right. She cleared her throat and looked up.

"Audience, members, and other group words that I can't read. It is time of doubt in Ponyville." I looked around me and noticed it was just me and them. "That is why we must unite and battle this monster with out sisters. That is why we ask you, Jake, to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders."

I facepalmed and sighed at the question, were they serious? I just decided to go with it and I said yes. I saw Sweetie Belle squeal quietly but then cleared her throat again.

"Do you promise to keep the location of the clubhouse and it interior a secret?" I rolled my eyes and nodded. "Do you promise to never reveal you are a Cutie Mark Crusader member?" I nodded. "Ok, we welcome you as our... apprehendince?" A sudden jolt by Scootaloo made her run to the paper and write something down and she blushed. "Oh, I mean apprentice." Finished Sweetie Belle as Scoots threw me a satch that was about my size. I hesitantly put it on and received an round of applause from the three.

I waited until they weren't looking to throw it out, I'm not going around town wearing that. As they turned to me and they asked me a grown up question. "How are we going to deal with this predator?"

They probably thought I was their only hope on survival. I thought about it and an idea came to my head. I smirked and told them to gather around.

//Twilight\

I was about to finish sorting books on the shelves of the library until I heard a knock on the door. "Spike, could you get that please?" I asked my assistant.

"On it!" He said and ran to the door and was greeted by a grey stallion with a black mane. I didn't pay attention to what they were saying as I started writing the rest of my letter to Princess Celestia, except this one wasn't on a lesson, it was on a plan. I was stopped when I felt somepony tug my tail. I turned to see Spike.

"What is it? What did he want?" I asked continuing the letter.

"He said he wanted to know the location of the Elements of Harmony. I told him that they were in the Everfree forest." He replied.

"Oh no." I said as I turned pale. "Did he say why?"

"No, he just left."

"Does he have a name?"

"He didn't give me it when I asked." He said and I sighed.

"Spike tell the others to meet me here, we might have a problem on our hooves." He saluted and ran out the door.

Author's Note

Chapter 10 is here. I hope you enjoyed. See you guys next time!!!