“I see. You’re...right, I guess,” Pierce says as Sling calms her down.

“We just have to wait until the streets are clear.”

The three then become silent, waiting for clearance from the units that guard the streets. Minutes passed, Dikarb decides to take a nap.

Meanwhile at the family’s house. Clash wakes up from her sleep, she goes downstairs to find the house completely empty.

“Where’s...everypony?”

While Clash is looking around, she finds a piece of paper on the table next to the office phone.

“Clash, we’re going to the hospital for a while. If we don’t come back later that means the gangs are back in action.

-Love, Pierce.”

After reading the note, Clash dials a number and call Pierce. Asking for what is happening.

“Yes, Clash? Are you alright?”

“I’m very good, mom. Just woke up. Actually, what is up in the hospital?”

“Your brother, Darah. He got into a fight and got electrified very badly.”

Clash covers her mouth with her hoof in shock, laying her right knee on the table to support her, “What? How did he…?”

“I have no idea too. You better stay home. Stay calm too, please.”

“Alright, mom. Be careful out there too.”

“You too. Much love.”

“Love u too, mom.” Clash puts the phone back and goes into the living room to watch the news.

However, once Clash turns on the TV her mind changes. She immediately switches the channel into her favorite channel then listen to musics for a long time.

Meanwhile on the street. A family is currently stuck in the middle of battle zone. Luckily for them, a team of special unit has been detached to secure and takes them info safety.

“Effect, can you protect us?”

“I guess.”

“Seite, c’mon. Not this again!” Frost says as he is getting a little annoyed from Seite’s odd behavior.

“Well, I’m- I mean he is trying to protect us! Can’t you see him?”

“Seite, dear. We’ve told you many times, we can’t see your astral friend.”

“Ouch, you’re right, mom…”

As the family awaits the rescue unit. Sound of two cars stopping is heard, followed by steps of about seven ponies...or creatures.

“You two! Guard over that window! Me and Schwill will take crates over here! The rest guards the staircases!” The voice echoes loudly through the whole floor.

As the furious stallion finishes his word, the first thing he sees is the small office where the family is hiding. He kicks the door and bust it open, finding the hidden family.

“Ey, look what we got here! Some bugs to squash!”

“Don’t you dare say bugs again! Ya hear me?”

“Shut up, you bug! This is perfect…” The stallion grins as he’s taking the family as hostages while moving the crates inside with a white pegasus.

Unknown by them, Seite has something up his sleeve. As soon as the furious stallion turns his back, a table flies to him and hit him very hard, resulting him to collide with the wall. Seeing his friend collided onto a wall, he pointed the gun’s muzzle at the family.

“What did you do to him, huh?!”

After the pegasus said that, Seite stands in front of his family, “Try me!”

“Don’t make this situation hard, kid. I hate murdering foals.”

Despite the threat, Seite keeps his ground, full of confidence and anger. Suddenly, a bullet flies and landed next to Seite’s father’s head.

One of the pony that guards the windows shouts, “Oy! I can hear the cops! They’re about one block away!”

“You only have one warning left!”

“Please don’t…” Seite’s mom hugs Seite’s father, fearing that one of them or all of them will be shot.

“Dramatic Effect!” Seite shouts as a red-and white-mechanic, young-foal-sized unicorn appears.

It then punches the floor so hard and quickly, breaking the tiles into pieces. And suddenly…

BAM!

The flying tiles pieces land into the pegasus’ upper body. Due to the knocking power, he steps back a few times before getting punched ultra fast, sending him flying through the window. Noticed by the others, they fire without thinking twice at the family.

Effect quickly punches the air right before the bullets arrives at them. Suddenly, the bullets that were shot gets deflected and fly randomly. While the bad ponies are confused Effect attacks them, knocking everypony and successfully defended Seite, his family, and Frost without killing anypony.

“I don’t know what just happened, but what just happened?!” Frost gets very confused as to what just happened.

“Me neither, kid. But Seite’s astral friend that he called Dramatic Effect. He has helped us many times - and sometimes, he saved us.”

Frost looks at his best friend, “What are you?”

Shortly after that, the rescue unit arrives and pick the family and Frost, taking them to safety. And also taking the bad ponies previously as prisoners, strapping their weapons, equipments, and the crates.

Back at the hospital, Pierce starts to worry about Clash.

“Sling, dear. I uhm, I need to return to Clash.”

But, sweetie. The streets are still dangerous!”

“So is Clash. I’m afraid that those gangster ponies get to her and...oh my gosh - I don’t wanna know!”

“Calm down, would you? Please.” Sling slides a hoof up and down on Pierce's back, trying to calm her down.

“Dear, you do know that our house is outside the city and those criminals are only doing business inside the city.”

Pierce catches her breath and considering her returning to Clash, “I’m just being very anxious, am I?”

Saddened by the words Pierce said, Sling hugs her, leaning his head against hers. Pierce lets out a sigh from her mouth and wraps her legs around Sling’s back, unleashing the worries she had.

Five hours later, an announcement is finally made. The streets are finally safe. Moments later, Darah wakes up from his long sleep. Seeing this, Sling, Pierce, and Dikarb hugs him one by one.

“Hey y’all. How are you doing?”

“Legit, a bit scared to death, especially mom.” Dikarb replies.

“Aww, hush it.”

“Well, at least you’re quite fine and awoken. Now we just need to wait until you’re in better shape!”

“Also,” Dikarb changes the topic. “We’re not going to Almania.”

“Wait, what? Why?” Right after Darah finishes his words, he realised that he himself is the reason of their canceled trip. “Oh, forget it.”

Out of curiosity, Dikarb asks Darah a question, “Hey, Darah. What exactly happened to you?”

For a moment, Darah tries to remember the shocking fight that made him and the other pony enter the hospital.

“I think,” Darah closes his eyes. “A grey, white-maned pegasus.”

“Hold on,” Sling says as he stands up and use his Stand on Darah to identify the pony, and perhaps trying to find him.

“While I was walking with a doctor that took care of Darah’s attacker, he said that he has pierced wounds. Now I know exactly how he looks like.”

“Well, can your Stand tells which room he is right now?”

“Unfortunately, son, I can only replay events in my mind. We’ll have to find him by ourselves.”

“Wait, why do we need to find that pony?” Pierce asks.

“Oh, nevermind then.”

After a few minutes, Dikarb and Pierce decides to go home, leaving Sling and Darah alone. As soon as they leave the hospital, Sling goes downstairs and search the pony that attacked Darah. Downstairs, Sling heads to the receptionist and ask about the pony.

“Excuse me, ma’am. Do you know the name of the latest ponies who were in the ICU room?”

“Just a moment, sir.” The receptionist then searches the names of the latest ponies who were in the ICU room. “Sir, their names are Darah and Fury Flash.”

“Do you know where Fury’s room is?”

“On the second floor, Delta 12.”

“Thank you, ma’am. Have a nice afternoon.” The receptionist smiles as reaction.

After knowing the name of the pony that attacked Darah and the room he is in, Sling goes there. Once arrives, Sling thinks of a way to get inside Fury’s room without being noticed..

“If I just go in...what if he’s awake?” In the middle of his question, Sling’s attention turns to the small window that makes the patient is able to be seen from the outside of the room.

Making sure nopony is around and suspicious, Sling takes a quick look at Fury, who hasn’t opened his eyes due to the damage he got. Seeing Fury hasn’t awake, Sling opens the door, quickly and silently goes in.

Now that Sling is inside Fury’s room, he has to be very careful with his steps and surrounding. Carefully, he summons his Stand on his hoof then slowly hover it at Fury’s body. Getting every information he can as fast as possible.

“Nice. Got ‘em.” Sling whispers as he slowly heads to the door.

Right before his hoof reaches the door handle, the door is suddenly opened from outside. Having only milliseconds of gap, Sling quickly gets into the bathroom, leaving the door a little open to peek. He then waits for the doctor to get further into the room so he can escape.

Once the doctor checks Fury’s condition, Sling goes outside without being noticed by the doctor. Sling then catches his breath from the small stealth mission he just finished.

“Close call…,” Sling says in small voice.

To calm himself down, Sling buys a soft drink then goes back to Darah’s room, taking a rest.

At the family’s house, Pierce and Dikarb arrives safely. Turning off the motorcycle, they hear something inside of the house. Already taking guess, Pierce giggles a bit before going inside with Dikarb, finding that Clash is currently dancing to the music from the TV.

Realising that she has been found dancing, Clash feels a bit awkward and lets out a nervous giggle.

“I love you, Clash,” Pierce says as she shakes her head and smile.

“Aww, mom.”

“Just continue, dear. But please don’t be loud.”

“Well, technically I didn’t become a loud mare.” Clash replies before continuing her dancing.

As for Dikarb, he changes clothes then attempt another try to make a food from the recipe book, hoping that he will have a better result. Meanwhile for Pierce, she takes a nap in her room, relieving the stress and worries she had today.

Few weeks later, Darah is able to walk back normally. One day while shopping, Darah accidentally bumps into somepony.

“Sorry, sir,” Darah says as he looks at the pony he bumped.

“No need to-” As the pony turns his head to Darah, he is surprised by the presence of him.

Flashback floods into their mind as the two ponies meet again, staring each other.

[End of Chapter 3]

Author's Note

OC featured: Frost Spark, owned by @SpaghettiDo on Twitter.