Ch. 6 - The Enemy Revealed!

'Twilight Sparkle, the target.' Storm thought as she stood silently in the shadows on a tree branch. An ominous breeze whispered through the night. She disappeared with the wind. Dimension turned around at the sound of rustling leaves she left behind. For a moment he could feel her presence faintly. His bushy brows furrowed in suspicion.

'What was that... just now?' he questioned without as much as a shred of an answer. Twilight stopped to glance back at Dimension concerned somewhat by the look on his face. Dimension saw it as a gesture for them to get going and acted accordingly. They trotted back to the treehouse followed in the shadows.

'Destination reached.' Storm reported inwardly. 'Awaiting target response.' She peered through Twilight's window from a distance. 'Initiating...'

Dimension was still awake. He reflected on the day spent with his new friends. 'I've only known them a short time... but it feels like a lot longer. They're good ponies.' His thoughts were interrupted by the tinking sound rolling across the floor. It halted next to him, his eyes went wide. He shot up in surprise when it excreted its contents. Dimension coughed a bit and fell over. Consciousness was slipping him. His eyelids were heavy. As his eyes fell shut, the silhouette graced his sight.

Storm passed Dimension's unconscious body as she paced silently toward the stairs. She had learned the layout of her target's residence well with her spying. She glided up the stairs with her trademark silence so as not to wake either the sleeping unicorn or her dragon. The moonlight pierced the glass of the window, illuminating both their faces. She peered at Twilight.

Storm retracted her hoof into a single saddlebag, fastened tightly to avoid any rattling. She pulled out a cloth infused with fumes and lifted it to Twilight's nostrils as she breathed it in.

'That should keep her under control long enough.' She then went for the window. It would be faster. She unhitched it and flew out carrying Twilight into the night, keeping to the shadows.

"Dimension! Dimension, wake up!" Spike said scared. Dimension groaned before rolling over to his back. Spike stood above him quivering with a scroll in his claws.

"What's that?" Dimension inquired. Spike handed over the scroll. It was a letter from Princess Celestia informing of an emergency concerning Twilight, and that she was on her way to Ponyville. Dimension read through it and along with Spike gathered the other five.

"I have called you here for a matter of great importance," Celestial announced gravely. The seven looked at her anxiously. "As you may have noticed, my student, Twilight Sparkle, has gone missing. Or rather, been fillynapped." The group gasped, except Dimension. His mins always skipped panic and worry, and looked for resolution.

"But who would do such a thing?" Rarity asked.

"And why?!" Rainbow added.

"Queen Chrysalis, queen of the changelings." Celestia explained, "For a long time she has desired rule over Eaquestria. She wants me to give up my rule to her in exchange for Twilight's safety. I realize the lives of many outweigh one, even if it is my precious student," she said sorrowfully, "but it would be wrong of me to take action without first informing you, her closest friends."

Dimension's head hung low. He gritted his teeth and his mane covered his tense face.

"We can't just sit by and let somethin' like this happen!" Applejack chirped.

Dimension clenched his hoof.

"It would be-"

"Where is she?" Dimension demanded in a voice that sounded like a contained explosion.

"She would most likely be at Chrysalis's headquarters, but-" Celestia began.

"I'm going."

"You can't! There are many dangerous changelings. You'll be-!"

"I know it's reckless, but... I can't just sit back and watch this!" he grimaced. Celestia observed Dimension. 'Those eyes... They're so resolute.'

"I see there is no stopping you," Celestia approved. "According to our searches she resides in the Everfree Forest."

"All rignt."

"I'm going too!" Rainbow declared. Dimension looked at her. "No way I'm missing a chance to kick some flank!"

"Me too," Applejack chimed in. "Ah won't let those changelings get away with using my friend."

"I-I'll go too!" stuttered an unexpected  voice. All eyes were on Spike. "I know I'm not much use but Twilight's always been there for me, and I want to do something to help her!"

"I'll arrange transportation at once. If you truly are planning on rescuing Twilight, you must waste no time getting there," Celestia said. The arrangements were made, and the four were on there way to the Everfree Forest.

"This is as close as we can get," The guard said before letting them off. "Good luck." He rushed off a bit too eagerly. They had arrived at a marshy area like much of the rest of the forest. There was a pool of water within sight. An unusually large, wooden bridge stretched across it.

"Still holdin' up there, Spike?" Applejack asked genuinely, but was in a teasing tone.

"Y-yeah," The little dragon replied. They were in the deep, dark, scary Everfree Forest after all.

"Well? What're we waiting for?" Rainbow spoke eagerly.

"Sh," Dimension said.

"What?" Rainbow responded in a now hushed tone.

"Did you hear that?" They all paused.

"Hear what?"

"Listen." The sound of hooves trampling steadily over dirt soon reached all their ears. They were firm, confident steps. The source appeared in the fog that was found everywhere in the forest. As it continued moving forward the features became more distinguishable.

"You are not welcome here," declared Midnight stepping out of the fog.

"Yeah? So what!" Rainbow spat ready to charge.

"Wait," Dimension snapped, lifting a hoof to block her immediate forward path.

"I'd rather not waste my time on the likes of you, I suggest you leave."

"Like heck!" Rainbow retorted, itching to fight. She flapped upward then dashed toward Midnight.

"You just don't get it," Midnight said with his horn glowing green. It seemed to happen so fast. Energy flowed into it, mixing with his own. He tilted his head down, changing direction of his horn. Rainbow zoomed toward him with intention to strike. Her pupils expanded as her path was diverted. Her body relaxed and she flew off-course. She crashed, skidding across the ground. The blast hit her. She groaned and attempted to stand back up, but her body collapsed and her head fell to the ground.

"No way..." she breathed, lying on her side.

"I suggest you leave," Midnight emphasized unflinching.

Aj gasped, Spike hid, but Dimension did neither of these.

"We didn't come here just to run away," he retaliated, "We came here to take back what's ours."

"And what would that be?"

"Our friend!" Midnight seemed puzzled about that statement.

"Well then, if you value your life so little..." Midnight declared, "Then cross this bridge at your own peril. If you can." He eyed Dimension and tension thickened in the air. Dimension took stance. He had studied a few magic books at Twilight's library but hadn't had any practice it.

'He's full of openings.' Midnight observed.

Dimension searched the terrain and found a few twigs and loose rocks. His horn glowed orange, and his magic grasped several objects. He charged forward with his horn faced forward. He launched everything he had at him. He dodged several rocks simply by tilting his head or stepping to the side. The final thing he launched at Midnight was a medium-sized log that was floating in the water. Midnight maneuvered his head and used his sharp, horn-like antler to scrape the bark down the center as it passed. It landed behind him and split in two dramatically.

Dimension was still charging. Midnight lit his horn up once more and materialized his magic to strike Dimension's side, winding him. He was tossed into the water like a ragdoll.

"Dimension!" Applejack and Spike cried simultaneously. Rainbow was unable to stand, but managed to turn her head and call internally. Dimension splashed into the pool of deep water and descended weakly.