Band of Five Attributes (Re-Written)

The monster with an hourglass for its body began flapping its wings whilst roaring at the green stallion who was as cool as a cucumber.

“What is this thing?!” Celestia shrieked, spreading her own wings with a horn crackling to life in a gold aura.

“Well...it’s an alicorn, and part hourglass…” Luna started, also with wings spread and horn lighting up in a blue aura.

“Aliglass-Q.” Nagare calmly stated, once more on his hind legs as he drew his sword.

“Say what?” Celestia and Luna asked in unison, both looking at him with confused looks on their faces.

“It’s part alicorn and part hourglass, and it was probably made by the bloody Frontier Quartet. Therefore, Aliglass-Q.” Nagare answered, agitation present in his voice but not so apparent with the look on his face.

“Who is this--” Celestia started, only to be cut off as the monster roared once more.

“No time to explain that! We have to take care of this thing NOW!” Nagare hissed, eyes now brimming with a sort of anger to them. He held his sword tightly in the grasp of his front hooves as the beast’s horn lit up and its body turned so that its head was facing the doors.

As soon as it flipped over, time seemed to slow down immensely for all present. It suddenly became harder to move any and all muscles. Adorning its back end was a great, dark blue pearl that everyone could see.

The monster moved on all four legs at a horrific speed towards the group before taking into the air and flapping its wings at the rate only a hummingbird could achieve. It scattered feathers everywhere that turned razor-sharp as they left their owner’s body. As if on a silent command, they homed onto the alicorns and their guest right as the monster flipped into proper position and making time return to normal.

Celestia quickly formed a dome from nowhere that matched the golden hue of her aura, and the feathers bounced off harmlessly as a result. The Aliglass-Q roared in anger, landing on its hooves before putting its muzzle mere centimeters from that of the dome.

The shield was dropped by the white alicorn. She was staring back at it, unfazed by its intimidation tactic. Nagare looked at the behemoth as well, but he could not tell if said behemoth was looking at him or Celestia. The Aliglass-Q may as well have had one eye on each of them.

Luna vanished in a blue flash of light, only to reappear behind the monster. Her horn was still flaring up and she fired a sphere of electricity at the pearl. The Aliglass-Q howled in surprise at its body suddenly began spinning like a boulder rolling down a hillside. It spun for a few seconds before its end was now hovering in front of the other alicorn and the guest who readied his sword.

The stallion then ran towards the pearl on his hind legs, positioning his sword as though a jousting lance. Right as the Aliglass-Q regained its senses, the sword was thrust into the pearl and a visible crack was formed. The monster roared in pain, its body turning to let its head face Celestia once more (and dragging Nagare with its rear in the process because his sword was jammed into the pearl and he would not let go.)

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” The stallion cursed as he put his hind hooves just underneath the pearl, forelegs gripping the sword handle tightly. He straightened his back and tried yanking out the stubborn blade, hind legs stretched full length to provide force.

A blue aura gripped both sword and owner and they were pried loose from the Aliglass-Q that once more roared in pain. Now Nagare was holding his sword in the crook of one foreleg and learning how to fly simultaneously.

The Aliglass-Q turned around, glaring at Luna as her aura gently set the stallion down onto his hind hooves. She glared back, her pelt turning black as shadow. Her pupils became slits, and her sclera a light blue.

“Thou hast angered us for long enough!” She bellowed, fangs gleaming as she spoke. Her mane and tail billowed out more viciously in a nonexistent breeze as more pelt turned pitch black. “Thou shalt feel the wrath of the moon!”

The Aliglass-Q flipped its body again, and time proceeded to slow. It then fired more feathers at Luna, this time hitting her and halting her transformation altogether. It flipped its body once more and watched as Luna began grunting in pain while fresh wounds began to ooze out red.

Then a dark blue aura encased the monster, causing it to vanish instantly. Both alicorns and Nagare were bewildered, eyes widening briefly. The guards who were trapped in bubbles were released, and some more hurriedly flew into the room from the doors.

Celestia looked at the guards who were flying about frantically.

“Settle down, at once!” Luna bellowed. The flying guards quickly landed, though awkwardly. The blue alicorn then looked at Nagare, who sheathed his blade and reverted to all fours.

Celestia also looked at Nagare. “Whom, may I ask, are the so-called ‘Frontier Quartet’?” She asked.

“To sum the whole thing up in a nutshell, there are three adult members and one supposed child member. The adults are the ones who conjure up the monsters that are fused with objects, like the Aliglass-Q that just left without a trace.” Nagare answered, eyes closed and a serene look on his face. “Said alleged child member has yet to be seen in person, though, from what I heard.”

“Given that the child is such, I can understand why.” Celestia replied, though her eyebrow was raised.

“But why would the Quartet conjure these monsters?” Luna asked, her curiosity aroused.

“To be brutally honest, I have no idea.” Nagare answered. Then, something occurred to him. He opened his eyes and looked at Celestia. “Could these guards do me a favor, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“A favor? It solely depends on my command.” Celestia replied, wings twitching a bit from unease. “What is it you seek with the aid of my guards?”

“A relatively simple task: to find my friends.” Nagare answered again, a look of determination on his face.

“But couldn’t you find them yourself?” Luna inquired, eyes widening.

Nagare stared Luna dead in the eyes and replied, “I would do so if the Quartet wasn’t running around causing hell like a bunch of headless chickens. Besides, I hardly know this nation. Do you expect me, someone not from this plane, to know the ups and downs in fifteen seconds?”

Luna was silent. She stood there registering the stallion’s rebuttal for a few moments. After a while, she merely shook her head and said, “No.”

“My point exactly. I kind of need...guides, if you will.” Nagare said, looking back at Celestia calm as ever.

“Your Highness?” Asked a guard, raising his hoof in the air.

Celestia turned to the guard. “You may speak. What is it you’d like to share with us?”

A grey unicorn appeared next to the guard. “One of our own has received wind of two ponies through telepathy.”

Celestia now looked at the grey unicorn. “And what is it that is to be relayed?”

“Your Majesty, there are two ponies who have contact with some of our members in Manehatten. They too report details revolving around an alleged ‘Frontier Quartet.’” Answered the unicorn quickly. “In addition, one has some kind of yoyo and the other uses what he keeps calling a cannon.”

Unknown to the lot, a blue-pelted unicorn with a bristled, dark blue mane and wonky thin mustache watched as the guards, princesses, and their guest talked. His horn was still glowing, and his eyes gleamed with ill intent as a smile crept on his face, fangs gleaming in the soft light.