The Great Crusade to Canterlot

Clang!

A metal horseshoe banged against the cement of the basement and tumbled across the floor. After a cacophony of clattering it finally came to a rest. The rusted ends were pointing up toward the ceiling. Not even the groans and moans of a distraught colt could coax the outdated footwear into its designated area. Rather, it rested against the cold wall, far away from the patch of dirt containing the upright target. It seemed like ringing the horseshoe around an equally ancient spoke in the earth was an impossible feat.

On the far side of the basement, Button was stomping his front hooves in frustration. “I hate this stupid game! It’s impossible!”

Apple Bloom shoved him aside with her hoof. “Naw, it ain’t that tough, Button! Ya just… well, ya can’t be throwin’ it as hard as possible!” She bit her lip and chuckled nervously. Between the rod and the foals was another of Button’s horseshoes. This one wasn’t close either.  He was either throwing too hard or not hard enough. No finesse at all… “It’s all about findin’ that sweet spot!” The young Apple picked up her own dirty horseshoe and lobbed it across the room.

Button’s eyes followed the arc of the throw until a much more satisfying noise was heard.

Ping!

“Wouldya look at that? I got another ringer! And it’s closer than botha yours. Four points for me! That’s game, Button. Nice try though. I’d be more than happy to give ya some pointers some time if ya wanna play after school.”

Button plopped his flank onto the ground and grumbled something inaudibly. Probably best that Apple Bloom’s ears didn’t pick up his disgruntled sentence.

While chaos brewed outside, Pinkie and the foals were doing their best to keep the sleepover moving along. Their bellies were filled with junk food, and the night’s late hour was pushing their heavy eyelids down more with each passing minute. Scootaloo was already passed out over a barrel with an empty bag of salted apple chips on her steadily rising chest. Her snoring was doing a fine job of keeping the other three ponies awake. Though it was only delaying the inevitable. After all, it was called a slumber party!

“How about we make those root beer floats and call it a night?” Pinkie was lying on her stomach watching Apple Bloom and Button square off for what Button hoped would be the last horseshoe competition of his life. Even the party pony’s belly was extra bloated from the last crusade up to the kitchen. A root beer float would be the final nail in her stomach’s coffin. “Big day tomorrow, Button!”

Button ears lowered, causing him to adjust his beanie. “Oh, right. Canterlot…”

“I figured ya’d be a bit more excited to see Sweetie Belle again. I know I am!” Apple Bloom dropped the horseshoes into a wooden box. The avalanche of metal broke through Scootaloo’s restful barrier. She rose to attention and felt the barrel wobble underneath her.

“Huh, wha-?” Scootaloo rolled off the barrel and landed face first on Pinkie’s rump. “I’m awake,” she said, lifting her sleepy head.

“I am excited! I was just hoping Chase would have spent some time with us tonight. He’s been so busy lately, and I’m not sure when I’ll see him again after tomorrow.” Button continued sulking. The smell of musty apples filled his panicked breaths. “Not to mention I’m scared about going out on the stage. Miss Limelight barely gave me any advice on what to do!”

“Just imagine everypony naked!” Pinkie said cheerfully.

“But… we’re always naked.” Button said with wide eyes.

“Ohmigosh we are! Somepony better draw some pants on me before we go upstairs!”

Button and Pinkie yelled in unison, quickly covering their private areas.

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. “Almost broke the wall with that one…”

“I get it!” Pinkie squeed.

Scootaloo yawned and tried to understand what exactly she had awoken to. “I think I’m gonna wash up and go to bed soon. Gotta look my best tomorrow for Rainbow Dash! You three have fun breaking walls or whatever’s going on.”

“Better ya go take a bath now than in the mornin’. Chase takes ages to rinse off. I swear he falls asleep in the bathtub or somethin’.” Apple Bloom trotted past Button and yanked on his foreleg. “C’mon, let’s go make everypony some floats! You’ll feel better after havin’ some homemade ice cream!”

“Sounds good to me!” Button licked his lips.

“Chase…” Pinkie’s eyes fell upon the slanted cellar door leading to the outside world. Somewhere on the other side of that dented metal, Chase was being swallowed into the turmoil of the orchard raid. “Hope you’re okay out there.” She sighed, eventually following the foals up the steps into the kitchen.

. . . . . .

Fuji’s wings were spread with delight as he followed Big Mac and Granny to their home. The lively pegasus was basking in the aroma of a foreign orchard. Every waft of Ponyville’s flavor that entered his nostrils brought a new sensation to enjoy. Even with many of the apples bucked, the orchard’s sweet fragrance was still alive in the thinning treetops. It was the perfect seasoning to spice up the weary traveler’s journey. Train rides from Manehattan to Ponyville weren’t exactly easy on the flank.

“Apples, you have done a wonderful job cultivating this land! I can even smell the dedication you’ve put into the farmland.” Fuji’s nostrils flared again.

Granny raised her head in pride. “Well, some of that is just cow manure, but I can assure ya that there is plenty of love mixed in there too. Right, Mac?”

“Eeeyup! Probably a fifty-fifty split.” The quiet stallion snickered.

“I can’t wait to see a few acres of the orchard. If it looks as good as it smells I may need to write up another contract for additional shipments!”

Despite the crunching of leaves under Fuji’s pristine hooves, a noise caught the attention of his ears. He stopped trudging along and narrowed his eyes. “Hmmm…”

Granny looked over her shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. “Somethin’ the matter, Mister Mogul?”

Five bandits jumped out from the tree line with daggers in their mouths. The stomping hooves and growling of the thugs quickly surrounded the trio. Fuji curled the tips of his wings in anticipation.

“Stop right there! Nopony is allowed in this orchard. Off limits until further notice.” One of the bandits insisted. “Just turn around and come back in a few hours.”

“Eeenope! We live here!” Mac huffed. He aggressively brushed his front hoof over the dirt. Idle threats weren’t enough to keep him away from his little sisters.

“Bandits I see.” Fuji crept forward, inciting a few of the bandits to encroach upon him.

“Hold it, pretty boy! Nopony gets in. We’re not joking arou-”

A razor sharp blade slashed across the bandit’s chest.  Fuji’s katana was grasped firmly within his wings. He swung the blood onto the ground at the same moment the bandit landed among the fragmented leaves. The remaining bandits dove at the aggressor and aimed the tips of their blades for his head.

“Sloppy. You couldn’t even slice an apple with those.”

The hilt of the sword was tossed between Fuji’s teeth. His wings launched his body from the ground. A flurry of leaves and feathers blew from the pathway and obscured his attack. With an upward spin, Fuji had managed to repel every assailant. Their bodies thudded in succession as they landed on the ground. The bandits were moaning, with deep gashes covering their limbs. As the swordsman alighted to the ground, Mac and Granny took a step back. Their apprehension made it clear that they were frightened by the deadly swordsman.

“I thought that thing was just for cuttin’ apples.” Granny Smith wasn’t used to this type of violence in Ponyville.

“My apologies for the ruthless display. I was hoping I would only be slicing apples during this trip.” Fuji felt an unusually cold breeze ruffle through his feathers. “Those were merely sentries. I fear your orchard is in more danger than you realize.” He sheathed his sword and lifted from the ground once again.

The low roar of a horn from Canterlot thundered across the sky. The groups’ muzzles collectively rose to the sound. That deafening horn signaled that the Royal Guard was being dispatched.

And it was only used during absolute emergencies.

“Quickly! We must be off!” Fuji insisted.

Mac stepped over the writhing bodies and waited for Granny to jump onto his back. “We’re comin’, AJ. Just a bit longer.”

. . . . . .

Not only was the weight of Sweet Apple Acres falling upon Chase’s shoulders, but so was the weight of the club connected to a very bloodthirsty stallion. Cracker gritted his teeth and pressed down harder. The knobby club was clenched between both forelegs, straining Chase’s hind legs to an unbelievable level of pain. Every muscle in his flank was ready to snap. Finally, Chase abandoned the standoff and rolled to safety. The wooden broadsword he had been using was now under the mass of Cracker’s body.

“I expected your legs would’ve given out sooner! Bravo, Foxface. You’re a real fighter.” Cracker ground his hoof into the blade, hoping to hear a snap at any minute.

Chase’s lungs puffed for air. He slowly stood and steadied each trembling leg.  Having his weapon destroyed would leave him as good as dead. “You’re a strong fella, that’s for sure!” He wiped the sweat from his brow and flung it into the grass. “But you’re not the swiftest stallion!”

“Let’s see how cocky you are when your dinky blade is nothing more than a few pieces of busted timber!” Cracker smashed his hoof onto the sword once again. Nothing. An eerie green glow shimmered from the hilt of the sword to the pointed tip. “Eh?”

Chase sprung forward. “You can step on it all day, but that sword’s as strong as anything the Royal Guard would hold! A friend of mine made sure to enchant that baby with some extra love!” He slammed his body into Cracker and staggered the burly foe. Though not without receiving the back of a foreleg across his face. Chase tumbled down the hill away from the tree with his own foreleg wrapped around the sword. At least he was armed once again.

But he was even slower getting up this time.

Careful, Chase. You’re taking too many hits! He’s going to break your jaw off with another blow like that. He spit an unwelcomed metallic taste from in his mouth. The bitter flavor staining the ground red was his own blood. A soft whimper left Chase’s aching muzzle before he clenched the sword in his mouth once again. You can’t let him see you bleed… Just keep him busy until the Guard shows up!

Chase knew that he was severely outmatched. He was one misstep away from being nothing more than a bloody notch on Cracker’s club.

. . . . .

The creaking limbs of the Timberwolf pack rapidly approached the apple grove closest to the homestead. Reynard’s legs were propelling him after the beasts as quickly as his heart would pump. Much like his comrade further back, the fox had his smaller, wooden sword between his own jaws. After all, Chase had passed down all of his swordsmanship to the fox. Living in the middle of nowhere almost forced a pony to learn the fine art of self-defense.

Reynard hopped onto the leafy backbone of one of the wooden wolves and stabbed his sword into the back of the creature’s neck. A green flash erupted, causing an explosion of splinters to fly into the air. The fox dug his claws into the rotting wood and held on for dear life. The world flopped around him like a fish out of water. Apparently Timberwolves weren’t a fan of being stabbed by bewitched weaponry.

I enchanted your weapons with a spell that will make them strong as diamond and give you a strength advantage over any magical enemy you encounter. Timberwolves included! Now, who’s ready to wallop some wolfies?!

Role Play’s past words echoed in Reynard’s mind. The reclusive mage was as much his pal as he was to Skye or Chase. It felt like just yesterday the team fought their first pack together.

The wolf interrupted Reyn’s thoughts by finally bucking him to the ground. Hanging around his neck was the torn collar that was controlling the Timberwolf’s mind. The wolf’s hazy, emerald eyes veered from the pack running toward the house and back to the fox ready to strike again. As ferocious as Timberwolves were, they didn’t come looking for trouble unless it was necessary.

Reynard pressed his body against the ground as the stampeding animal bounded over him back into the woods.  Only a trail of dead leaves and shards of wood were left in its wake. The fox let out an exhausted sigh. He had managed to stop one of the beasts, but now the other eight wolves were ready to tear apart every living thing inside the farmhouse.

. . . . . .

“That’s enough whipped cream, Pinkie!” Scootaloo’s wing fluttered anxiously. A wobbling tower of chilled cream threatened to splash onto her face. The filly abandoned her empty fountain glass and waited for Pinkie to clear away from the kitchen table. “I just washed my face. Really don’t want my fur all matted together from your avalanche.”

Pinkie’s jaw unhinged like a hungry snake. She chomped down on the pillar of cream. Any remnant of the sweet dessert on her lips was quickly lapped up by her tongue. With a sparkling muzzle, Pinkie stepped aside. “You think I was gonna carry that through Applejack’s house? I’m not that impolite!”

Button shook the whipped cream can between his hooves. “Speaking of impolite; you used it all!” He tossed the can behind him.

Apple Bloom ducked and listened to the clanging can behind her. “Shh! Don’t wake up mah sister!”

Button and the others all froze in place. Scootaloo’s spoon was rattling against the empty glass. Something was shaking the ground with enough ferocity to knock picture frames from the walls!

Pinkie’s glass shattered on the kitchen floor when she saw bouncing green eyes through the window. “Everypony, let’s get back in the basement…” Her stern voice was enough to send the foals toward the basement steps in a neat line. A serious Pinkie Pie meant serious trouble.

“What’s going on,” Button questioned. The only answer he received was a forceful shove toward the cellar door. Pinkie’s hoof remained on his back.

“Just get downstairs and stay there, okay?” Pinkie’s half-hearted smile was scaring Apple Bloom half to death.

“Pinkie, what’s-”

“Just go downstairs and wait for me! I need to… talk to your sister quick. Button, keep an eye on the girls.”

Button groaned from the bottom of the basement steps. “Fine, but I’m not playing that stupid horseshoe game again!”

As Pinkie closed the door she felt the rumbling growing closer. Her junk-filled belly was rumbling in tandem with the kitchen floor. The Timberwolves were upon the house. “Gotta wake, AJ!” She bolted from the kitchen and scampered up the stairs with agility not matched by even a Wonderbolt.

Fuji swooped down toward the rampaging Timberwolves. His hooves skidded to a halt just outside the entrance to the orchard. Mac was close behind, stopping only for Granny Smith to dismount. The reckless Apple lowered his head and continued his own stampede.

“Check on Applejack and Bloom! Keep ‘em safe!” Mac ordered Granny Smith between his labored grunts. Her knobby legs scrambled past the stallions to the front door. Thankfully, the Timberwolves hadn’t positioned themselves to engage the house from every entrance. Their timing could not have been better.

“We’ll keep this lot busy!” The moonlight reflected from Fuji’s blade as he twirled it between his dexterous wings. “The first strike is all yours, Macintosh!”

“Eee-yup!” Mac used his hard head and smashed directly into the lead wolf charging for his home. The wooden monstrosity toppled over and slid away from the back door of the kitchen. Big Mac shook the leaves from his mane. His eyes were still locked on the injured Timberwolf. “Gonna have to go through me!”

The wolf dug his claws into the ground and tilted his head up to the pearly orb in the sky. A piercing howl rattled every window of the Apple establishment and immediately quaked AJ from her sleep. She sprang up in bed placed a hoof over her chest. “Timberwolves? This close?”

Pinkie kicked the door open, nearly giving Applejack another heart attack. “I sure hope you’re good at lassoing dogs! Also, we’re out of whipped cream.”

. . . . . .

Twilight and Rainbow Dash were leading a fleet of pegasi-drawn chariots containing the Royal Guards’ finest spell casters. Shining Armor was among them. The V-formation of Canterlot’s forces were making a mad dash to Sweet Apple Acres. As much as Twilight wanted to make matters personal, her duty was to stop the bandits. She couldn’t use Equestria’s armed forces to protect her endangered friends.

So it was a good thing Twi had a very grouchy – yet loyal – pegasus flying alongside her.

“I’m gonna wring his neck when I see him!” Rainbow fumed. “He just took off without a word! Not even a note! Into danger!”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine, Dash. It’s cute that you’re worried about him though.” Twilight grinned.

“Worried? No way! He knows that this is the exact sort of thing I would wanna be involved in! Smashing baddies and saving the day? Uh, hello! We’ve already clobbered more villains than I can count on all my hooves!” Rainbow gritted her teeth. “I’m going on ahead! I’ll check the orchard for the big guy.”

“Right! We’ll scan the woods for their base and meet up with you as quickly as possible.”

The entire formation shook as a shockwave from Rainbow Dash’s sudden departure cut through the air.

Twilight fought to steady her wings. “I just hope we’re not too late.” Her long face fell upon the acres of dying trees beneath her dangling appendages.

. . . . . .

The sound of shattering glass and crumbling bricks jerked all three foals’ heads up to the stairwell. They wrapped their forelegs around each other and trembled.

“W-what was that?”  Button was sandwiched between the fillies.

Apple Bloom watched the dusty particles sprinkle down from the rafters. “I’m goin’ up there!”

“I think we better listen to Pinkie on this one.” Scootaloo said, while holding Apple Bloom back. “We’ll take a peek when things settle down. Promise!”

Big Mac was covered in broken glass and splinters. The hulking stallion had smashed directly through the side of his house, using the Timberwolf to absorb most of the impact. He slammed his front hooves down onto the wolf’s thrashing muzzle. Each foreleg crushed the eye sockets of the wooden skeleton. Through an unnecessary show of power, Big Mac’s brute force had not only stopped the beast but destroyed the bond of magic linking the creature together.

He was standing in nothing more than a pile of mangled twigs.

“Bravo!” Fuji cackled outside. He side-stepped two swipes of a sharp paw and delivered a swift counter attack. The wolf raised its foreleg over its muzzle to repel the slashes.  Fuji’s sword did little to chip the armor on the forested beast.

“What in tarnation is going on here?!” Applejack was still in her pajamas when she spotted a hole in the kitchen wall.

Mac gulped and lowered his ears. “Nothin’.” He used his hind leg to shove some of the wood under their oven before vaulting over the broken wall.

“Doesn’t sound like nothin’ to me! That wall’s comin’ outta your paycheck, Mac!” Granny Smith handed Applejack a bundle of rope. “Sounds like ya have some nasties to take care of.” She slapped her granddaughter on the flank. “Long story. Now git!”

“So this is how y’all announce your homecomin’?” Applejack scurried after her brother. She raised an eyebrow at the eccentric winged-stallion dodging the multiple Timberwolves. Fuji moved with the grace of a Bridleway performer. “And who in the hay is this fella? Can somepony please fill me in on what is going on?!”

Pinkie poked her head around the corner. “Well… I can?” She took a deep breath. “After your family was attacked, we went to the market to sell apples, but apparently Chase and Fluttershy ran into the bandits and questioned them on the plans for their next attack, and that caused Chase, Fluttershy, and myself to travel into the Everfree Forest to confront the leader – who is probably beating Chase senseless right now – where we learned all about the raid on your orchard!” Pinkie took another deep breath and braced herself against the wall. “So, Chase and Fluttershy are off pretending to be bandits while I kept an eye on the foals in the basement because you weren’t supposed to find out unless something went terribly wrong - which it has ‘cuz now we’re about to be eaten by Timberwolves – so as you can see we didn’t want you to be upset, but now you’re probably really, really upset that we hid everything from you in the first place!” Pinkie collapsed on the ground. “Sorry. We meant well…”

Applejack’s eyelids were wide enough to rip the skin off her face. “Chase is off on his own fightin’ the leader of the bandits?! That idiot’s gonna get himself killed!”

The explanation was interrupted when another combatant entered the arena outside the house. Reynard skidded to a halt in front of Applejack. He slumped over with his tongue lolling out.

“Reynard!” Applejack rushed over. “Where’s Chase? Is he alright?” Another bone-shattering crunch of hooves through wood interrupted the conversation.

Mac was once again waist deep in a pile of broken wood. He was exerting every ounce of strength he had to keep his family safe. Even if that meant he’d be plucking splinters from his legs until the next harvest season.

Reynard stood up and pointed a hoof to his neck. He made a swiping motion with his sword and attempted his best impersonation of a Timberwolf howl. He repeated his motion again until Pinkie lifted her muzzle from the carpet and chimed in.

“The necks! Reynard says go for their necks!”

Applejack placed the rolled up rope into her muzzle and chomped down on the thick fiber. “I’m headin’ into the orchard. Lead the way, Reyn! Gotta make sure that troublemakin’ stallion o’ yours ain’t squashed!”

Fuji deflected another stray paw. He dropped the handle of the sword into his mouth and sprung forward. The gust of wind stunned the wolves on both sides of him. He narrowed his eyes and focused on the red collar clinging around the Timberwolf’s neck. He jerked his head upward and heard the tense band snap in half. “Got it!” The newly awakened Timberwolf jumped to safety and growled at the ponies threatening his pack. His curled muzzle fell over his teeth at the sight of Mac bucking another Timberwolf into a splintered heap.

The pack mentality wasn’t enough to keep this wolf around.

“Off he goes!” Fuji smirked. He splayed his wings and slowly walked forward. “I’ll have these collars off in a matter of moments. Macintosh, try to keep them from interrupting me. I’ll need your strength to cover my flank, while I aim for their collars. No doubt these enchanted accessories have enraged them into attacking innocent ponies.”

“’Yup!”

“Though I won’t mind if you use those wonderful legs of yours to smash them into pieces. Might even get a nice fire going from the kindling.”

Mac snorted and sprung forward again. Leading with his shoulder, the massive pony clobbered a wolf attempting to sneak up on Fuji. “Hurry up! I ain’t lettin’ mah sis go down there alone!”

“Pink mare! Please ensure the safety of the foals within the dwelling.” Fuji was of course referring to Pinkie.

“Okie dokie lokie! I know two stallions who are getting some extra special root beer floats after this!” Pinkie licked her lips.

. . . . . .

“Where’s all that big, bad talk from earlier, eh? I know you’re getting tired, runt. I’m gonna crush your pretty little face in, and then I’m gonna make sure I scramble the rest of your bones by bucking that colossal tree onto ya! They won’t even know what you were by the time I’m finished!” Cracker’s gravelly voice left a deep gash in the quiet night.

It would have been a perfect evening to sit under the stars with AJ one last time.

“A few lucky hits don’t mean I’m down for the count! In case you’ve forgotten, I already made sure to leave a little crack on your chest.” Chase smirked at the dry blood on Cracker’s fur; though it didn’t seem like the wound was slowing down the ferocious leader one bit. Here we go. Just hit him harder than he’ll hit you! You can’t let that monster anywhere near Applejack!

Cracker was the first to strike this time.

Within seconds, he was upon Chase. The club crashed down into the earth and left an indention where Chase should have been lying. “Eh?” Cracker looked up and wrapped his forelegs around the club.

Chase was using the momentum of the fall to his advantage.

“I’m faster!” Chase jerked his head to the side and felt another slice through his foe. A deep one. He landed and twisted his body in a semi-circle to face Cracker again. Sure enough, a new wound was ripe with a line of blood. Chase wasted no time and leapt forward. He spat the sword into his forehooves and tensed his muscles in anticipation. Another open spot!

Cracker growled as the blade stabbed into his leg. It was a miracle that sword wasn’t jutting out the other side. He fought through the pain and slung his bloody foreleg around Chase’s neck. “Right where I want ya!” He slammed the scrawny earth pony into the ground and took pure elation from the desperate cries for help. With his hooves clasped around Chase’s neck, Cracker continued bashing Chase’s spine into the dirt. “Any second now and you’ll be as limp as a soggy piece of bread!”

How is he still moving like this?! That last attack should have crippled him! Chase’s eyes closed each time he felt his battered body smash into the fertile earth of Sweet Apple Acres. He was only thankful that there wasn’t a jagged tree root underneath him. But Cracker was right; Chase wouldn’t be able to last much longer. The stench of Cracker’s blood dripping onto Chase’s fur was turning his stomach. If he didn’t die from a detached spine, he would most likely drown in his own vomit. Everything was growing blurry.

So blurry, that Chase felt like a dark shadow was overtaking his entire body. Is this what death feels like? It’s so dark and cold… But why so dark? Am I going blind?

Chase spat a splash of blood into Cracker’s face and felt his legs go limp. Can’t… keep my eyes open.

Cracker ignored the growing shadow over his body and tossed Chase’s twisted body aside. “Not like ya had a chance, kid. Nice try though. Now if you’ll excuse me; I have some apples to steal before those royal morons arrive.”

His insistence on killing Chase had completely blinded him to the unguided chariot careening down from the sky.

“Eh?”

The chariot crashed into him and knocked him onto his back. He slid through the ground, upturning a valley of fresh dirt behind him. When the dust cloud settled, the leader of the Mirage Gang was buried under a dilapidated pile of wreckage.

Skye landed on the ground between the wreckage and Chase. “Not only did we steal it; we destroyed too. Wonderful plan, Role.”

“Chase!” Role hopped off Skye’s back and immediately hurried over to his ailing friend. His horn sparked and a golden shell encased the lifeless earth pony. “Skye, make sure that overgrown donkey doesn’t get up! And if he does, knock him down again! I gotta check Chase’s vitals and see if I can piece him back together!”

Skye nodded. He kicked off the ground and barrel rolled back to the scene of the crash.

“Chase! Chase! Can you hear me?” Role’s chest was heaving uncontrollably. “You better not be dead!” His eyes squinted as if reading very small text on the outside of the aura humming around Chase’s battered corpse. “He’s worse than I thought… Unconscious, internal bleeding, multiple spine fractures,” Role’s eyes continued scanning over nothing, “some broken ribs, damage to his jaw. He’s practically gone…” He stomped his hoof on the ground and scraped a clump of dirt behind him in frustration. Role’s cool exterior was melting. “This isn’t how I pictured our reunion, bud.” Role Play raised his right foreleg into the air.

Thin swirls of green light circled around Chase’s body. Similar to the spell Blueprint used to mend Scootaloo’s bone, Role was manipulating the mana within the shimmering field to mend Chase’s body. With Chase knocked out, he wouldn’t feel anything. Then again, there was still a chance that his eyes would never open.

The pile of rubble keeping Cracker entombed shook violently. Skye flapped his wings forward and came to an abrupt halt. “Role? We have a problem!”

“Handle it! Chase is fading fast! You gotta keep that jerk off me so I have time to fix him up! Even when the spell finishes, Chase won’t be moving on his own for at least a few hours!”

A low growl sounded and eventually turned into the roar of a lion on his last breath. The debris exploded into the air. Standing on all four legs was the bloodied bandit leader. A stream of blood poured down his forehead over his empty eyelid. The one good eye he had was bouncing between Role and Skye. “Who’re you two? Come to pay respects to your fallen pal?” He scooped up his club and slammed it into twisted wheel of the chariot. “Eh, what’s two more? I’ll just be a little sore in the morning.”

A black hoof wiped the cocky grin from Cracker’s face. Skye was unleashing a barrage of jabs directly into Cracker’s already swollen jaw. His head whipped from side-to-side until Skye finally kicked away with his hind legs. Cracker stumbled backward. His wobbling form was a clear indication that the wounds from Chase were catching up to him.

“Looks like Chase really did a number on you, big guy.” Skye shook his aching hoof free of the pain. “You’re like punching a rock.”

“A rock that’s gonna smash ya good!” Cracker was barreling toward Skye, though his clunky movements could easily be avoided by even the most amateur flier.

A rainbow streak attached to a blue blur knocked Cracker off course. He toppled onto the ground like a bloated cow.

“Looks like you needed my help after all, flyboy.” Dash sneered.

“I have things perfectly under control!” Skye barked.

Rainbow pointed her hoof at Chase. “Yeah, great job.”

“That happened before I even got here!”

Their pointless bickering had allowed Cracker to stand up once again. The constant interruptions were only adding fuel to the intensity burning within his body. At this point he wouldn’t be surprised if fire actually did pour from his mouth. Smoke was certainly coming out of his ears.

“Another one?!” Cracker snorted. “Where are all you ponies coming from?”

Rainbow landed and stomped forward. She was clearly not intimidated in the least. “Here to rain on your illegal apple-stealing parade! The Royal Guard is just moments away from shutting you down!” Her muzzle was directly in his face.

Cracker’s eye twitched at the obvious display of rudeness. He lifted a foreleg into the air in hopes of turning Dash’s face into a gooey puddle of rainbow sherbet. “Most of my wagons are already back in Everfree. They knew what to do the second that horn sounded! I’m just here to finish off anypony that gets in my way.”

Before his hoof could slam Dash into the ground, a noose fell round his neck. Cracker gagged as the lasso tightened and sent him tumbling back onto the ground.

“So this here’s the varmint that attacked my family and is tryin’ to steal the apples from directly under my nose? Sure is an ugly fella.” She yanked on the rope again and sent him into a coughing spell. “Where’s Chase?”

“He’s over there with Role Play. Chase… took a bit of a pounding.” Skye trotted over to Dash and watched the writhing thug claw at his neck to loosen the rope.

Applejack tossed the rope from her mouth. She followed the dim glow of magic further down the hill until she was kneeling next to Role Play. Reynard placed a paw on the field of magic surrounding his friend.

“I guess you’re Applejack. The mare this guy’s been writing about non-stop.” Role placed a foreleg on the ground to hold himself up. “Chase will be fine. I got here before any of the damage was permanent. He’ll be sore in the morning, so get him back to your house.”

“And you’re his friend from Canterlot...” Applejack leaned closer and inspected Chase. Thankfully, he wasn’t nearly as bruised now as he was moments ago. Not even Applejack’s tough shell would be able to withstand watching another loved one die. “Is it safe to move him?”

Role nodded. “Yeah.” He tapped his hoof against the field and watched it shatter into small golden tiles. The glow evaporated until nothing was left except the grunts of Chase’s labored breathing.

Applejack grabbed Chase’s hoof and held it between her own. “C’mon, partner, you can take my bed tonight. Dash! Skye! Gimmie a hoof! I’m gonna stay here and-”

“No. Cracker’s bounty is in the hands of the Royal Guard. I’ll hold him off until Twilight and the others arrive.”

“But-”

“Applejack, just keep an eye on Chase for me, okay? This is my fault he even got tangled up in this mess.” Role closed his eyes. “We’ll get your apples back and make sure this guy’s locked up for good.”

Skye and Dash flew over with the mangled seat of the chariot held between their forelegs. It was the closest thing they could muster for use as a crude stretcher. Applejack carefully lifted Chase and set him down. His fur was still covered in the blood of battle. Chase’s usually beaming face was replaced by a partially opened muzzle still struggling for air.

“C’mon, y’all, let’s get him washed up and into bed. Much as I’d love to stay, I think Chase needs somepony to keep an eye on him tonight.”

Skye lifted his end of the plank. “I’ve never seen Role Play heal somepony so fast. His magic’s definitely improved since he left for Canterlot.”

As Chase was airlifted to safety, Role Play stood and turned his attention to Cracker. Both stallions were up and ready for a continuation of the brawl. Animosity wasn’t a strong enough word to describe Role’s feelings toward the smiling bandit leader. It seemed like nothing was fazing Cracker. He truly was in a league of his own.

“You’re gonna break even faster than that fox-tailed loser!” Cracker banged his club against the ground. “You lost this round, Canterlot scum.”

“I’m not with the Royal Guard.” Role’s hoof stepped forward. The blades of grass brushed against his fur. Another gentle step through the orchard brought him even closer to Cracker. His eyes were clasped shut as he tried to contain the boiling rage brewing in his chest. “Do you know what that means?”

“That you’re just another pathetic stallion trying to play hero!” Cracker lunged forward and swung for Role’s head.

“It means that there’s nothing holding me back!” Role’s horn sparked. Steam rose from his hoof until a faint red glow emanated from within the bushy grass. He turned his body to face the incoming club and swung forward.

His burning hoof shattered the weapon to pieces. Wooden fragments from the club fell onto the warriors like sharpened snow. For the first time in the battle, Cracker’s eyes quivered in fear. His attack wasn’t simply dodged; it was stopped.

The burly madman cast his uncertainties aside and secured his hooves together. He wanted to pound Role into the ground with nothing more than then rippling muscles of his forelegs. Unfazed, Role leapt upward and clamped his hooves around Cracker’s neck.

“You should’ve run when you had the chance.” Role braced himself upright and kept his sizzling hooves pressed into Cracker’s throat. The smell of dry blood was replaced with burning fur. Role’s forelegs trembled, his horn sparked again.

The red glow of Role’s hooves expanded and engulfed Cracker’s gasping face in the pre-heated grasp of suffocation. A fiery explosion erupted, launching both ponies from battle. Role landed on his hooves and charged forward again.

Cracker’s tough façade was no more. He was wailing in pain and pressing the burns on his face into the chilled ground. He lifted his face at the sound of Role Play’s hoofsteps and tensed his muscles to absorb another strike. He was barely in a position to defend, let alone launch a counterattack.

Playing dead was looking like a mighty fine strategy.

Role fired a beam into the air and continued charging forward. A golden curtain fell around the stallions until they were both surrounded by a dome of shimmering light. It was an exact replica of the spell Role had used to monitor the Cloudsdale Rumble, except this was on a much smaller scale.

Another choking fit sent Cracker back onto the ground. He only had enough strength to keep his eyes open. “I ain’t worried about some fancy magic show, kid! Showing off doesn’t get you very far with me!” Even on his last breath, Cracker refused to yield.

“Wanted to check your vitals for myself!” Role came to an abrupt halt. “And just like I thought, you’re barely hanging on by a thread. Chase administered a lot more damage than your tiny brain processed. And Skye? He did a fantastic job of sucker-punching you into the red.” He snickered and covered his mouth. “Sorry, I’m not a big fan of numbers, so I just measure a pony’s strength and vitality with colored bars. It’s much easier on the eyes. And pretty cool from my point of view!”

Cracker attempted to stand again, but fell onto his stomach. He didn’t have enough strength to sling an arrogant remark.

“Oh, and then I hit you with two pretty nasty attacks. Brush Burn is one of my favorite fire spells. Burns the target and saps away their health. Not to mention the pain distracts the mind. While you were reeling from the burns on your neck, I was able to cast another spell I concocted: Backfire. It’s a great spell for light damage and knocks the target onto the ground guaranteed. And there you lie, waiting for me to finish you off.”

“Think you’re smarter than me? Try fighting me when I’m not all banged up!”

“Good idea! Check this out.” Role closed his eyes. A shower of green light poured down onto Cracker’s body.  His cuts were mended. The bruises vanished one by one. Even the burnt skin around his neck was repaired. “I can even heal you! You’re still going to feel like crap, but now there’s no evidence that my friends or me ever attacked you in the first place. After all, the Royal Guard hates when civilians take matters into their own hooves.” Role stomped his hoof. The golden dome encapsulating them shattered into pieces. The sounds of rumbling hooves in the distance filled their ears. “Last chance to run before Canterlot’s finest lock you up and throw away the key!”

Cracker stood and brushed the dirt from his forelegs. “Sparing me won’t do you any good. You just made my list. Next time we meet, I’ll be sure to kill you and your foxy pal.”

Role laughed as the leader of the Mirage Gang finally tucked his tail between his legs and ran. “Not my job to capture you. I was just here to help Chase.” He plopped his rump on the ground and exhaled. “Stressful night. I should be sound asleep right now.”

“You!” Shining Armor tackled Role onto the ground and held him in place. “Sneaking out for a little stroll? That’s against the rules, and you’re already on thin ice!”

“Shining Armor!” Twilight’s hooves skimmed over the grass until she settled on the ground next to her brother. She tucked her wings to the side, giving Shining the glare of a lifetime. “We’ll deal with him later!”

“Y-yeah, deal with me later,” Role said innocently. “Besides, I saw the bandit leader running into the woods! See? I helped!”

Shining Armor growled and forcefully shoved off of Role’s chest. “You’re a pain in the flank!” He banged the armor on his chest. “Listen up, we’re going after Cracker! Half of you stay here with the princess. I want the other half behind me the entire time. Be ready for anything.”

Twilight helped Role to his hooves. “Will you please stop antagonizing my brother?”

“You would’ve done the same if you were in my horseshoes.  No way would the Princess of Friendship choose following the rules over helping her friends.”

Twilight rolled her eyes from Role to the rumbling charge of the Royal Guard toward the tree line. “You’re just lucky Luna likes you so much. All of this happened during her shift!”

“Best princess!” Role squeed. “Uh, other than you of course…”

. . . . . .

The hideout was quieter than usual. Sounds of moving wagons and tumbling apples should have been echoing through the sturdy trunks of the Everfree Forest. Cracker’s gallop into the woods had amplified the aches coursing through his body. Whatever spell Role used to patch up his physical wounds wasn’t doing much to take away the pain of recovery.

“Alright, boys, get these apples-” Cracker pushed the vines aside and entered his encampment. Dozens of his best guards were sprawled out on the ground. Some were knocked unconscious, while a few struggled to remain alert. “W-what happened?”

“You’ve drawn too much attention to these woods. I’m not about to have my plans ruined because you wanted to make some quick bits stealing fruit.” The voice belonged to a grey unicorn stallion sitting on the Apples’ refurbished cart. His blonde mane was slicked back along his neck. The jade trim outline along the collar and cuffs of his trench coat matched his narrowing eyes. The only scratch on his body was a faded scar over his right eye, so it was hard to determine if he was in fact the culprit responsible for this massacre.

“Who in Equestria are you?” Cracker stood his ground.

The stallion threw his head back and laughed. “Equestria? Not from these parts I’m afraid. I’m just a visitor, passing through on a pilgrimage of sorts. But I can’t have my journey compromised for the sake of your buffoonery. If the Royal Guards snoop around here too long I could wind up in big trouble So, I decided to terminate your operation.”

“You’re already in trouble now that ya crossed me!” Cracker took advantage of the second wind given to him from Role Play. He lumbered toward the stranger with the vigor of a furious bull. “Nopony disrespects the Mirage Gang like this!”

An orange glow surrounded the stallion’s horn. He held his forelegs out with both hooves next to each other. The glow from his horn faded. Soon, both front hooves were lit with a similar glow. “I had a feeling you wouldn’t want to talk.” He ripped his forehooves apart from one another, leaving a bright orange line of magic in front of him. His horn responded once again with a quick spark.

“Another irritating unicorn!” Cracker jumped to the side, expecting to be fried by some sort of magical laser.

Except this line of magic wasn’t so much a stylish stripe hanging in the air as it was a tear between worlds. The rip expanded into a swirling vortex. The energy emanating from the portal was pushing an already braced Cracker further away.

“I saw you liked playing with Timberwolves. They’re one of my favorite creatures too. Bound together by mysterious forces, the wooden wolves demonstrate a wondrous fusion of nature and magic. Unfortunately, the wooden exoskeleton renders them extremely vulnerable.”

A hazy silhouette of a Timberwolf’s jagged muzzle appeared from inside the portal. The beast struggled to break free from the confines of the auburn prison containing him.

“Equestria’s royalty has hindered the magic binding them even further. But can you imagine the power of a creature made entirely from dark magic? No wooden limbs to hold it back. No outer shell to contain the magic? Just an unstoppable flow of energy that could crush everything in its path!” The crazed mage jumped down from the apple cart and placed a hoof on the emerging beast’s muzzle. “Much like dark and light are two side of the same coin, so are control and power. Then again, you’ve already met with the pony who represents the control aspect of the equation, haven’t you?”

Cracker was seated on his rump, staring in awe at the massive creature ripping the portal further to escape. “I don’t have any idea what you’re jabbering on about!”

“Then I guess this is where we part ways, my friend.” The stallion slammed his hoof into the portal. It closed instantly and turned to nothing more than an orange mist. “If you’re seeking revenge I think you’ll find it in your favor to consider a partnership with me. If not, then you’ll just rot away in your cell. It would be a waste for your strength to fade in Canterlot’s dungeon.”

Cracker heard the hoofsteps of the guards crunching through the brush. “At this point I’ll do anything to finish off that scheming fox and his friends! But I ain’t workin’ for ya unless I know your name. Especially since ya ruined my operation!”

“Fair enough. It’s Mana Surge. Though if we’re going to be comrades, you can just call me Surge.” Surge turned and once again used his hooves to tear open another rift. This time he stepped through without summoning any monsters. It seemed that the rifts he created also served as a form of transportation.

A purple beam struck Cracker in the back. Every muscle in his body went limp. He thudded on the ground in a mass of paralysis. The troupe of guards had finally caught up to the bandit mastermind. His apple stealing operation was no more. In a single night, months of planning were ruined.

“Get him back to Canterlot. I want him in maximum security for questioning.” Shining Armor looked away from the disgusting scene of fallen ponies. “I’m not even sure I want to know what happened to them.”

/) To be Continued (\