Monster-Bumps 2: Dead and Dazzling

"Fool!" Dead hissed at Jack, he wasn't even directing eye contact towards him, that's how mad he was as he just continuously glared at a random wall of the mausoleum, "How come I'm associated with no one except losers who only know how to dissapoint me!?"

Jack shuffled his foot against the ground, his arms folded behind his back as he let his harsh words sink in, "I said I was sorry."

Dead sighed, after a long moment of silence, he hissed, "I can't even look at you, I might kill you."

"What do we need to worry about that nerd? she isn't a threat." Jack asked, raising his shoulders momentarily, followed by his arms to express his incertitude.

"If that girl is associated with the Rainbooms or the Shiverribas than they might know where we are now, do you really wanna go back into that book?" Dead asked sarcastically.

"WHAT ABOUT DEM GLAZZLINGS YOU TALKED ABOUT? WONT DEY BE ABLE TO HELP US OUT?" ZapTrap chimed in.

Dead scoffed and rolled his eye, "Doubtful, but those Rainboom girls helped Ralph capture us, so they're on my hit list."

Just then, the doors to the mausoleum opened revealing the Dazzlings arriving back.

"Well you sweet girls sure know how to keep a ghoul waiting." Dead remarked sarcastically watching the Dazzlings enter.

Aria groaned, her arms folded infront of her chest, glancing at Sonata with irritation, "Sonata wanted to stop and get tacos on the way."

Sonata nodded jubilantly, "I had coupons." She blurted  holding out a deck of coupons for various taco joints.

Dead or the others didn't seem to care, Adagio then noticed Jack and raised a brow at his sudden and unexpected appearance.

"What's this? Another friend?" She asked, though the answer was quite obvious.

Dead nodded and gestured his hand out to him, "Girls meet Jack, Jack meet the Hazzlings."

"Dazzlings." Adagio corrected.

"Yeah that." Dead said indifferently.

"So what can he do to help?" Aria asked, her arms still crossed, staring at the pumpkin headed monster.

Jack elaborated by opening his mouth wide and inhaling deeply before letting out a huge billow of fire infront of him. Unfortunately Dead and the Dazzlings had to duck since he forgot they were right infront of him while he was giving them the demonstration of his capabilities. The fire was just over their heads and continued raging on, having caught a bit of Sonata's ponytail hair on fire. After a few seconds Jack ceased his fire breathing. He stared to see everyone infront of him dropped to the ground before rising slowly.

They stared with their jaws hanging, bewildered by the immense heat. Sonata didn't even acknowledge a patch of her ponytail hair on fire. Dead was the first to recover his demeanor.

"Yeah, he can do that." He chortled maniacally.

Adagio was the second to recover her demeanor, looking rather intrigued, "Interesting."

"Wow! Now that is awesome! Totally not the worst." Aria blurted, with a sadistic grin.

"Mmhm." Sonata hummed, followed by a nod.

Dead looked over and noticed a purple compass shaped device around Sonatas neck, this quickly caught his interest, "Hey what's that around your neck ponytail?"

Sonatas eyes snapped open when she was being addressed and she looked down to her newest accessory, "Oh, it's just a cool necklace I found on the way here."

"We told her to put it back where she found it but she wouldn't listen." Aria said dryly.

Sonata narrowed her eyes and just stuck her tongue out at her fellow purple siren, "Your just jealous cause I look cute."

"Do not taco breath!"

"Do so taco hater!"

"Do not!"

"Do so!"

"Do not!"

"Do so!"

"Not!"

"So!"

"Not!"

Dead and Jack darted their eyes, following which ever siren spoke, moving their heads slightly between the two as they argued repeatedly with the mindset of kindergarteners. Adagio was quite use to this and decided to cease their pointless bickering.

"So-"

"Speaking of which," Adagio quickly chimed in, which instantly shut both sirens up, "Why was the front gate on fire?"

Dead jabbed his thumb over his shoulder, pointing directly at Jack, "Some little nerd tried to break in, and let's just say Jacks minions have horrible aim."

"Well, did the other monsters capture that writer?" Adagio asked.

Deads eyelid dropped over his single eyeball, looking annoyed, "Yeah about that-"

Dead was suddenly interrupted by loud honking coming from outside the mausoleum, the honk resonated repeatedly. Dead knew one vehicle that made a honk like that. Dead glanced over to ZapTrap and titled his head towards the exit, beckoning for him to follow.

"Excuse me ladies." Dead extended his index finger before shuffling towards the door, "I need to see, uh..." Dead drifted off, he began humming as he tried to make up an excuse, "How Arachnida did. Okay, bye!" Dead quickly said before ZapTrap followed closing the door leaving the Dazzlings with Jack.

Dead and ZapTrap stepped out and walked towards the direction of the loud honking.

"SO, DO YA THINK ARACHNIDA CAPTURED DEM GURLS?" ZapTrap asked, following behind Dead.

Dead rolled his eye, his boney face expressing doubt, "Well if they did, I'll be surprised."

They both soon found the Monster-Truck a few meters away from the mausoleum. He also noticed Arachnida standing on the hood looking triumphant.

"What are you so smug about?" Dead asked stopping a few feet infront of the large wheel.

"We got them." Arachnida announced, a grin crossing her features.

Deads eyes widened, his face contorted between shock and surprise, "Those girls? You actually caught them?"

Arachnida hummed, "Mmmhm."

Just then Winter, Wolf Boy carried out the four frozen statues of the Rainbooms, Arachnida skittered across the Monster-Truck walking horizontally towards the back of the truck, she pulled out two squirming cocoons that each held one of the Rainbooms and plopped them over her shoulders as she walked down infront of Dead, delivering her captives infront of the surprised skeleton and voltage phantom.

After a moment of silence, Dead stared between the frozen statues and the squirming cocoons. His eye darted between them, he then grew an ecstatic evil grin, "Well I guess your not a loser as a I previously thought. I never thought I'd say this, but good job."

Dead then turned around and walked towards the mausoleum with a victorious grin, "Now let's get these girls to the Dazzlings and-"

"Wait!" Arachnida called, wrenching Deads shoulder back, halting him, he whipped his head around and raised a brow, "I was thinking we don't tell the Dazzlings and hide these girls."

"Why?" Dead asked, suddenly intrigued.

"YEAH, WATS UP?" Zap asked.

"Well, Ralph is our main target right not? Not these girls." The spider queen gestured to the immobile heroines.

"So? Let's kill them first." Dead said, remembering how much of a nuisance they all were by helping Ralph. He would've successfully killed him if those six weren't involved.

"Well if we keep these girls hidden, it'll motivate those Dazzlings to go after Ralph. The more allies we have, the better chance we have at getting both Shiverribas. And right now they have no allies," She explained slowly, "Better safe than sorry, the odds are now stacked against Ralph. And with these girls we have a better chance."

"THREE HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE." ZapTrap nodded, understanding what the spider princess had in mind.

Another grin flourished on Deads face, however unlike the previous one which was of triumphant. This one was of malice. Arachnida's plan was dishonest and low-down, not to mention his type of evil.

"I think I'm rubbing off on you Arachnida. That sounds exactly like the type of nasty, evil, plan that only a sick twisted mind like myself would come up with."

The Dazzlings were all waiting inside the mausoleum along with Jack. Sonata was humming to herself, drumming her hands on her legs, sitting down on the cold floor. She seemed to be in her own little world as she usually was. Aria leaned up against the mausoleum wall, her arms crossed, with a bored look upon her face. Adagio was pacing back and forth impatiently waiting for Dead while muttering complaints and possible plans to herself. Jack was just watching them in utter annoyance, standing on the opposite side of the room near a casket.

“Adagio, what are we going to do now?” Aria asked, turning her head to the currently pacing leader.

“Let’s talk to the fire-breathing pumpkin guy!” Sonata suggested, her finger pointed at Jack.

“No, no, that’s okay,” Jack waved his hand, panicking that these annoying girls might actually talk to him.

“We just have to wait for Dead, Aria,” Adagio responded, now standing against the wall next to her friend.

She began to think deeply about the next move.

“Guys, why is my necklace blinking?” Sonata asked as she stared down at it.

Adagio turned to look at the Sonata, but then her eyes shot wide open at the blinking necklace. Adagio quickly walked over to her friend, “Let me see that thing, Sonata.”

The blue siren looked down at her new accessory, hesitant at first to give it to her friend, but she sighed, and took it off her neck. Adagio snatched up the necklace, bringing it closer to her eyes for further examination. Upon first glance, it looked like any old necklace aside from the odd blinking. The more and more Adagio looked at the object, she began to notice it looked more like a compass shaped like a necklace.

She arched an eyebrow as she held it out in her hand, curious at the sudden blinking. The blinking section seemed to be pointing at Jack. She walked a little closer to him to see if this would change the direction. It still seemed to be trained on Jack himself. Adagio began to walk closer and closer to the pumpkin-headed monster, earning a glance from him.

“What are you doing, girl?” He asked, sounding annoyed by her.

“Testing something out, don’t worry about it,” She waved him off dismissively, "Just want to know why this thing is so interested in you."

Jack smirked arrogantly, "Well it's no surprise, I am quite interesting."

She stepped a few feet closer and that’s when it happened. The compass-looking necklace popped open in the leader’s hand. A small orb of purple magic began to form inside of it. It began to swirl around causing Jack to turn his head and look at the odd purple light catching the corner of his eye. Before the pumpkin headed monster could react, he began to swirl into a vortex of black ink.

"What the hell!!" Jack said loudly, surprised by what the compass was doing, "What's goin' on here!?"

First, his hands disappeared, then his feet, all swirling around his body as they were reduced to ink. Soon, his body became black goo, swirling into the vortex, making it bigger and bigger. Finally, his head was added to the mix as he let out one last cry.

At first, the Dazzling were shocked, their eyes widened, their jaws agape, but then they all began to slowly form an evil grin, save Sonata who was quite confused. Aria walked over to Adagio, pointing to the necklace. She didn’t even have to speak as the lead Dazzling nodded.

“Do you know what this means?” She asked, exchanging glances with both her fellow Sirens.

Sonata nodded, “You killed the pumpkin guy!”

“No!” Adagio facepalmed, “I don't know how, but this thing seemed able to detect magical energy. We can capture magical energy now! We can finally get back at those Rainbooms!”

“Right,” Sonata smiled, “What you said.”

Both Aria and Adagio facepalmed knowing full well Sonata had no clue what they even meant. Suddenly, the compass began to blink once again. Adagio glanced down at it, then in the direction it was pointing. It seemed to be pointing toward the door of the mausoleum.

Adagio glanced first at Aria, then at Sonata, that evil smirk working it’s way onto her face once more, “Follow me, I believe we have more magic to collect.”

Sonata stood up, dusting off her skirt. Aria followed the lead Dazzling out the door, the third Siren following closely behind. This was their chance, finally, they could get back at those Rainbooms for what they did to them. Dead was nowhere to be seen in the graveyard nor were any other monsters. This seemed to be pointing toward the back gate of the cemetery.

Adagio opened the gate which creaked on cue.  She ushered the others to follow her down a small dirt path. A few trees, both far apart, lay to the right whilst a clear field with some dandelions growing lay to their left. It was a path familiar to them from this morning. It lead them to a place they knew, but dreaded.

Not far from the cemetery was Canterlot High which stood tall and proud as it always had. No one except maybe the janitor would be here at this late hour Adagio had figured and this was in fact where the compass was leading them. The Dazzlings loathed the site of the high school, but it could prove useful once more. Quietly, they entered the back door which was usually left unlocked by the janitor in case he forgot his keys.

The trio found themselves in a dark hallway near the band room. Aria got out her cellphone and turned on the flashlight app, illuminating the room enough for them to see. Lucky for them, the janitor was not down that hallway at the present moment. Adagio warned Aria to keep a close eye out for the man. They began to proceed forward with extreme caution.

With a right turn down the hallway, they were lead closer to the main foyer. They went past lockers, classrooms ranging from every subject imaginable for a high school, posters of upcoming events, even the gymnasium. Finally, their journey ended in the main foyer. The compass pointed toward a small glass display case with a few trophies and awards occupying its shelves.

Adagio got closer to the case to specify what it in fact was pointing at. It seemed to be a small pen in between two athletic trophies awarded to Rainbow Dash. She narrowed her eyes in confusion, not sure what to make of their find.

“A pen?” Aria groaned, walking up to Adagio, “Good going, Adagio.”

Then, it clicked in her head. This pen was magical, maybe it was what made those monsters come to life in the first place. It was farfetched to say the least, but so was magic in this world. “It’s a magic pen, girls! Don’t you know what that means?”

“We can write the Rainbooms to death?” Aria rolled her eyes, turning her head, and folding her arms.

“We can write our own monsters!” She exclaimed. “Make sure no one is down either of those hallways.” She said to Sonata pointing to the hallway on the right, then on the left.

“Roger!” Sonata saluted and glanced down both hallways, giving Adagio the thumbs up to do whatever the she had wanted to in the first place.

"Wait a minute," Aria said hesistantly, "What about Dead?"

Adagio scoffed, "What about him? With our own monsters we don't need him. Besides I have a monster in mind just for the Rainbooms."

The lead Dazzling took off the orange hoodie she was wearing and balled it up around her fist. With a swift smash, she shattered the glass of the display case. Aria took a step back as glass cascaded down to the ground, breaking into even smaller pieces. Adagio reached in carefully and plucked up the pen. She held it in her hands, gazing down upon her discovery with gleaming sinister eyes and a villainous grin upon her face.

Sonata walked over to the others, “I want to write a story!” She squealed, “One about a Caveman!”

"Why cavemen?" Adagio asked, raising a brow, "Cavemen aren't scary."

"They're body hair is scary." Sonata pointed out.

“We’re not writing a story about cavemen, Sonata.” Aria groaned.

“You’re not, but I am!” Sonata said happily, trying to grab the pen.

Adagio glared at the girl, holding the pen tightly to her chest. “No caveman stories, Sonata!” She growled in anger. She wasn't going to let her overactive friend ruin this chance at revenge on their enemies.

The blue haired Siren backed off, a frown curling onto her face. “Fine.”

“Let’s find a nice place to write girls, we’ll just have to test this out on someone.” Adagio said, leading the way to an open room they could begin their devious writing in.

The Dazzlings had found an unlocked English classroom, setting up shop within. They sat at the back of the classroom, huddling three desks together, all facing one another. Aria flicked on the second of two light switches making only the two lights in the back of the classroom flicker on, illuminating the spot they had chosen to begin their writing. Sonata suggested all sorts of odd monster ideas like a taco wolf beast, an obese clown who juggles axe pies, and a skeleton girl for Dead so they can get their skeletal acquaintance a girlfriend.

Aria walked over to her desk and took a seat. “You have the worst ideas for monsters, Sonata.” She said.

“No, you do!” She replied, glaring at Aria.

“No,” Aria pointed at her, “You do!”

“No, you do!” She replied, glaring at Aria.

You do!”

“You do!”

“You!”

“You!”

Though Adagio was use to this back and forth bickering, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth as she hollered, “Shut up!”

Both Sirens immediately closed their mouths, obeying Adagio’s command on cue like well-trained dogs. The lead Siren had found a diamond-encrusted pink notebook in one of the desks with blank pages just ready to wrote upon. She touched the pen to the first page. A small spark of blue energy erupted from the impact. An evil grin spread from ear to ear across her face as she wrote the title:

"Razortooth Rampage."

These books would be quite different from those written by Ralph. Adagio had plans, oh did she have plans cooking in that semi-insane mind of hers. Bubbling and brewing like a wicked witch’s pot in her brain.

Adagio began to from the first words of the first paragraph into her head.

"Swift and cold was the winter wind as a young girl gripped at her scarf. The town bustled with holiday cheer, christmas was right around the corner."

Aria peeked over to see what Adagio had written. She was surprised to see her Siren leader blazing through the first page of their monster novel. However, she cocked a brow and asked,

“Razortooth Rampage?”

“Don’t worry, Aria, this little furball will be just the beginning. Why settle for one monster, when we can have a thousand,” Adagio explained, not taking her eyes off the paper as she flipped it to the opposite side and began jotting down another paragraph.

“Can I write the next one?” Sonata asked, raising her hand, “I have a cool monster idea!”

“I doubt that,” Aria said, crossing her arms.

“I do, Aria!” The blue haired Siren shot her tongue out at her friend.

“Oh yeah, what is it? An evil Santa Clause who send Gingerbread men and killer toys?” Aria asked mockingly.

“No!”  She said unconvincingly, looking down at the table, trying to think of a different idea. “One about a were cheetah!”

“What’s a were cheetah?” Aria questioned, puzzled by Sonata’s strange idea.

“Like a werewolf, but a cheetah!” She explained with a big, gleaming smile.

"Why would you want to write something like that?" Aria asked, raising a brow.

Sonata shrugged innocently, "Cause I like cheetahs. Can I write the were cheetah book?’ Sonata asked.

“Yes, Sonata.” Adagio rolled her eyes, trying not to let her annoying siren sister distract from her novel-writing.

More and more Adagio wrote, filling up pages and pages. Finally, she arrived on the conclusion to Chapter Two, where the monster would first make it’s appearance.

"Curled up in the corner of the dark room was a small red-haired furball. It was no bigger than a soccer ball, however, little did the Rainbooms know, it packed a mean bite. As they slowly began to inch closer to it, the ball snapped to life. A low growling emanated throughout the room making the Rainbooms back up in fear. Their hearts began to thud in their chests, their breathing became heavier as they stared in wide eyed horror of the small beast that was standing in the corner of her room."

“Wow, Adagio, I didn’t take you for the writing type,” Aria teased, taking another peek at what her friend had written down.

Sonata peered over as well, both girls leaned in close to Adagio, invading her personal space. This irritated the lead Dazzling, “Could you two back off?! I’m trying to write!”

Both Aria and Sonata reeled back in their chairs, nearly falling over from the sudden snap of their irritated leader. They began to walk around the room and find other things to do while they waited for Adagio to finish her story. A half-hour had already passed and Adagio was on the third chapter so far. It was going to take some time, of course.

"Blood dribbled from it’s mouth as it bit into the flesh of a helpless woman. She screamed in pain, trying to escape the clutches of the Razortooth. Her efforts proved utterly fruitless. A stream of blood oozed down her arm where she had been bitten, some dripping onto the floor."

“That’s just gross, Adagio.” Aria criticized.

“Oh, I’m sorry, should I have written a story about kittens and puppies to get revenge on the Rainbooms?” Adagio rolled her eyes, sarcasm heavy in her tone. She began to write furiously once again.

Then, all the Dazzlings eyes shot to the door. It was wiggling as if someone was trying to get in. Aria darted to the light switch, flicking it off. Adagio had opened up a small closet to the back of the room on the right. She ushered Aria and Sonata to enter and hide along with her before they were caught. Both of them rushed towards it, cramming inside. Just as Adagio closed the door to the closet, the door to the classroom opened up, revealing an elderly janitor.

He wore an old jean shirt with a name tag that read Mopstar. He reluctantly grabbed his yellow bucket, dragging it inside the room. He proceeded to flick both light switches on, basking the entire room in bright light. The elderly janitor yanked his mop out of the bucket, rubbing his wrinkled nose with a finger. He was a standard old man, white hair, balding, blue sweatpants, thick-rimmed glasses.

The Dazzlings peered out of the small circular hole in the top of the door. The janitor began to mop away, covering the floor in wet, sudsy water, as he murmured to himself, “Darn kids, breaking the glass on display case. If I got my hands on em!”

Adagio whispered to the others, “We’ll wait till he’s done and finish writing. It’s almost finished.” The Siren glanced down at the notebook clamped firmly to her chest. “Three more chapters or so.” That signature evil grin found it’s way on her face once more. The other Sirens smirked malevolently along with her.

The janitor’s head quickly whipped in the direction of the closet. There was no sign of life through the small hole, the Dazzlings ducked down, deciding this may be a better option so they weren’t caught. The elderly floor cleaner scratched his head, returning to his work. He dipped his mop in the bucket a few times, squeezed it out, and cleaned through the next row of desks.

“I swear this place is haunted.” The man mumbled to himself.

Twilight kept running around town, she tried once again contacting her friends, but to no avail. Both Twilight and Spike were beginning to lose hope on finding them. They aimlessly wandered around town searching for their lost friends and the Shiverribas. They needed to warn someone about the monsters, they couldn't combat them all on their own.

"Twilight, can we rest? we must've walked all around town." Spike said exhausted, sitting on his haunches.

Twilight sighed, she knew being tired wouldn't accomplish much. But the threat looming over Canterlot City was imminent. She hesitantly nodded.

"Fine, but we need to really find the others once we catch our breath." Twilight glanced around and saw a sign for small market up ahead, "Come on Spike, we'll stop in there and once were ready we'll continue searching. Sounds good?"

"Sounds good to me Twi." Spike smiled, walking alongside his owner.

As the duo approched the small market, they were unaware something was watching around the corner. It began breathing loudly as the purple girl was approaching near the automatic door. But before the the two could reach the door, Spike halted and his eyes widened slightly as his nose began picking up the strange wafting of a familiar scent.

"Wait," Spike said slowly, his  nostrils flared open as he sniffing the air carefully, "I smell something familiar."

"What is it?" Twilight asked, looking down at him.

"I'm not sure," he said, still focusing on the smell, he then turned around in the direction of leading to the alley. The figure retracted its head back into the darkness once the strange purple and green dog glanced it's way.

Spike continued sniffing the air until the direction of where it was originating began growing more clearer and so did the scent.

Spike trailed the scent and headed in its direction, "It's getting stronger, I think it may be one of the Shiverribas."

Twilight hesitantly followed Spike as he continued following the smell, though it could be possible the Shiverribas were around, Spike nose has never lied to her. They both went around the corner into the alley next to the market. Spikes nose began identifying the scent more clearer and clearer and it grew more stronger every second, he stopped when the smell lead them to a lorry in the middle of the alley.

Spike poked his paw in the direction of the lorry, "The scent is coming from inside," he whispered softly, "I think there might be someone in there."

Twilight looked up into the lorry and only saw an abyss of darkness, she hesitantly opened her mouth, but no words came out. After a brief moment of silence, Twilight found the courage to speak to the occupant of whoever was inside.

"Uhm, excuse me?" Twilight said softly.

After a moment of silence, no one spoke. The silence grew more thicker, Twilight began growing more anxious. Until a voice finally penetrated through the silence.

"Go away...." Rasped a voice.

Spike furrowed his brow, and bared his teeth. He spread his legs out and got into a defensive position incase trouble were to arise.

Twilight was hesitant after hearing how unwelcoming the voice within was, but she found the courage again, "Please sir, we're looking for a friend."

"No!" The voice quickly said, it's voice was more louder and more hostile, "Leave!"

"Please, we're just looking for someone who could help us. My dog thinks one of my friends might have passed by here." Twilight explained softly.

"There's no one here," It insisted, one last time, "Now go away."

"Please, my friends need me." Twilight begged.

The voice didn't reply this time, soon everything went quiet. After a long moment of silence, Twilight heard the sound of shifting, followed by loud metal clanking echoing across the lorry into the alley. Like the sound of a hoof connecting against the floor. A ringing silence befell the area, until more metal clanging resonated against the wall. The clanging grew louder and closer towards Twilight and Spike, making them apprehensively back away from the approaching clanging noise that grew louder every second. It soon began daunting both girl and dogs courage at how loud the noise was. Soon a figure was outlined in the dark, it's glowing eyes were the first feature visible within the lorry.

The next pair of features made Twilight gasp in horror.

Though the cloak around its hulking figure did a decent job of concealing the rest of its figure. The cloak couldn't envelop the horns or cloven hooves clearly exposed for both Twilight and Spike to witness before them. They instinctively backed away further as the creature approached with an aura of anger surrounding him.

It jumped down from the lorry, it hooves emitting a loud clack noise when it dropped to the surface of the ground, making small crack under his hooves. It began approaching them both closer. Twilight gazed up at him fearfully while Spike began growling louder, his dog instincts setting in.

"Your persistence is irksome. If you won't leave by your own volition, then you'll suffer for your ignorance." Epistle growled, his hooves making loud clank noises against the tarmac with each step he took.

By now Twilights back was pressed up against the wall as she soon ran out of room, she continued looking up fearfully at the giant saytr, "Please....I just wanted to find my friends and the Shiverribas." She whimpered, before closing her eyes tightly and tilting her head down.

Elipstle  paused, and his eyes widened at the mention of the familiar name, "Wait a minute...."

Elipstle trailed off and gazed curiously at Twilight, he leaned his head closer until his eyes were parallel with Twilights. "Did you say, the Shiverribas?" A blast of cold air erupted from his mouth hitting her face and making her hair blow back slightly, "What do you know about them?"

"Y-yeah, they're my friends..." Twilight stated fearfully.

Elipstle cheshire grin spreaded across his face, even in the darkness of his hood it was still clear for Twilight to see. Making her incredibly nervous.

"In that case, you may be more useful than I realize." He rasped.

"Hey!" Spike barked, earning his attention, "Stay away from her!"

Elipstle gazed down at the purple dog and rumbled angrily. With a sudden wrench, he picked up Spike by his collar, making him yelp in surprise, as Elipstle was dangling him up in the air away from Twilight. He began wriggling in his grasp.

"Hey! let me go!" Spike yelled.

"Hey!" Twilight exclaimed, she then tried reaching for him, "Leave him alone! Give me him!"

"Not unless you do something for me first!" Elipstle growled keeping Spike out of Twilights reach.

"What do you want?!" Twilight yelled angrily as she continued to try and grab her dog away from the saytr, but to no avail.

"I want you to continue your search for the Shiverribas, find them, don't even dream about mentioning what you saw, find where Ralph is keeping that pen, and when you find it, bring it to me." Elipstle listed off, "If you refuse, then I get to tear your precious mutt apart right down the middle."

Twilight halted her attempts and looked at Elipstle nervously by his threats. She glanced between Elipstle and Spike who was whimpering nervously, she couldn't decline and risk Spike dying horribly. There was no other option.

"Fine," Twilight whispered solemnly, she closed her eyes and hung her head in defeat, "You win."

Elipstle grinned victorious under his hood, "You have three days to return to me and deliver the pen, fail me and I split your poodle like a wishbone."

Twilight glanced up and narrowed her eyes, "And you promise you won't harm a hair on my dog?"

"Why child, of course not. Aslong as you hold your end of the bargain, your dog won't have his innards exposed for everyone to see." Elipstle chuckled darkly, he then quickly stopped, "Oh! Which reminds me...." Elipstle drifted off as he began rifling through his pockets.

Once he found what he was searching for, he pulled out a curled up fist before opening it up revealing to be a clump of red sand in his palm, "I'm going to have to thank the buffalos for this one."

Without warning he blew the sand into Twilights face. She recoiled away as the sand entered her system. She began coughing and hacking loudly as the sand entered her lungs.

"Twilight!" Spike yelled fearfully, watching his owner cough uncontrollably.

"Quiet hound, this is to ensure she is swayed by my will." Elipstle grinned watching Twilight continuing to cough.

"You'll never get away with this!" Spike growled.

Elipstle sneered and brought Spike up to his eye level as he began growling and baring his teeth. But Elipstle didn't seem perturbed by his attempts to scare him.

"I've done it before," Elipstle whispered.

He then turned around and reared Spike back before throwing him against a dumpster before he fell inside followed by the lid closing over him. Locking Spike as he began barking loudly.

Elipstle turned back to face the human Twilight. She ceased her coughing and began staring into thin air as the effects of the red sand were enveloping her mind.

"Now go my minions, forget everything you saw tonight and when you wake up, this will be but a bad dream. But focus on that pen." Elipstle ordered, "You have three days, or your dog will suffer for your failure."

Twilight silently nodded her head robotically before sauntering casually out of the alleyway back towards home. Perpared to deliver the pen as soon as possible.

Her mind now belonged to Elipstle. And soon....so will the pen.