Mask

Ringing.

Cherry Jubilee opened her eyes, giving a wince as a bright light invaded them for a moment, shielding her eyes a bit. She sat up, shaking her head a sharp ringing went through her ears, blinking a few times. She looked around, confused and dazed, trying to remember what happened, her ears ringing constantly as she twirled her head around. She could see Bright Light lying there, though the man behind her was impaled by several pieces of metal and wasn't moving, his wings twisted in strange positions.

She turned her head and saw the gate was broken, blasted apart, the carcass of the animal a smoldering wreck, pieces of it blown everywhere, gore and blood painting the ground and walls. Cherry slowly stood up, giving a grunt, before shouldering her weapon a bit. "Mawp. Mawp. Mawp." She said out loud, shaking her head as the ringing continued.

She saw a man run up to her, his mouth moving, though only muffled noises came to her ears. She shook her head and responded, her own voice muffled to her as she shook her head a bit more. Finally, her hearing was coming back to her and she could hear screams, along with dog barks and howls.

"Cherry! Come on!" She heard someone yell, looking over to see a medic dragging Bright Light away from the debris, grunting loudly as he tried tugging injured woman along. "Help me!"

Cherry ran over and lifted Bright Lights leg, ignoring the blood splattered across Bright Lights chest, setting her into a building with the medic. "Sweet Celestia, what did I miss? Last thing Ah remember was some...beast bein shot down, then a bright light and a whole lotta nothin."

"Lamp was hurt bad. Broken arm and a few cracked ribs, at least. You saw what happened to Cliff Jumper, poor guy didn't even have time to react before debris killed him." The medic said as he opened Bright Lights eye, flashing a light in her eyes, before nodding to himself, sighing a bit as he looked at Cherry. "She's lucky. So are you."

"What about tha two boys on the wall? Brick and Sparks?" The medic only gave a sad look towards Cherry, making the woman smash a fist against the wall. "Luna damn it all..." The woman wanted to cry, however, when she heard screams and barking, she knelt down and reached for her boomer.

Which was currently missing.

"The Dogs are in the settlement, Cherry. They talked about that dragon boy you helped out earlier." The medic quietly injected some painkillers into Bright Light, who groaned, but stayed unconscious, before cleaning the womans wound on her right arm. "Something about a...boss lady of some sort wanting him?" The medic sat up a bit, pulling out the gauze, wrapping it around the wound. "Guards can't do anything, because they took some of our people as hostages. They don't want to risk it."

"Fuck."

"It gets worse." The medic mumbled as he finished dressing her wound. "I think their boss is coming here. And if she finds out we don't have that dragon boy..."

"Then our goose is cooked." Cherry finished, before looking around, seeing Bright Lights Snapper in her pocket. She tugged it out, inspecting it, before pulling the slide back to check the chamber, nodding as she inspected it. "Ya see where mah boomer went?" The medic shook his head, making her sigh a bit. "Damn. Ah really needed that."

There was a scream next door, before a Diamond Dog started dragging a man out of his home next door. "You were just tossed by an explosion." The medic mumbled out, careful not to alert the Dogs outside. "Who knows how many injuries you actually have, not to mention any internal injuries you may have suffered from the shockwave."

Cherry shook her head, then pointed at him, "Ya stay here and fix her right up, doc. I'll try to fix the situation." She poked her head out, looking around, before crouching outside the door, walking around the wall.

The medic shook his head as he watched Cherry leave, before turning back to Bright Light, grumbling to himself, "Nobody listens to the doctor until they are hurt."

Five minutes ago.

Spike saw the flashes of light coming from the front gate as they walked to the back gate, his eyes straying just a moment to watch the area in front of them to make sure he wouldn't trip. Storm walked to the panel next to the door and opened it, punching in a few buttons, before pulling the lever. The door gave a metal groan, slowly opening up, Storm using her flashlight to check under the door as it opened, nodding to herself as the dust fell from the door.

"Clear." Storm walked forward, her Sweeper pressed against her shoulder as she walked forward. She stopped when she heard only her footprints, turning around to see Spike, his eyes never tearing away from the wall. "Spike?"

"Hm?" Spike twirled his head towards Storm, seeing the woman quirk an eyebrow at him. "Did you say something?"

Storm walked back towards him, then looked at the gate, "Spike, if we go back to help them now, we may not be able to head to the next area until nightfall."

"What if they need our help, Storm?" Spike asked, not skipping a beat. Storm liked that about Spike, his caring nature. It was unheard of between dragons, from what she remembered.

"They can handle it!" Storm answered, grasping his arm and looking him in the eye, saying, "If they need our help, we'd know it!"

BOOM!

Spike and Storm ducked a bit and an explosion echoed out, making them twirl around and see the front gate, Storm letting go of Spikes arm in the moment. Storm took this moment to rub the bridge of her nose, grunting angrily, before opening her eyes. She prepared to say something, only to open her eyes and see Spike sprinting back down the path, his spaded tail disappearing around the corner, making Storm groan.

"YOU'RE GOOD HEART IS KILLING ME, SPIKE!" She called after him, running after him, adjusting her Sweeper.

Had she took a moment to pay attention, the door would have been stuck with a strange grinding sound. The light above the door started blinking red, though one would be forgiven for missing it, as a familiar forked tongue flicking out from the door way, a loud, throaty hiss echoing out.

"I just had to open my big fuckin mouth..." Storm mumbled out as a Diamond Dog barked at some people, pushing them along with its gun. It fired some shots into the air, peeling its lips back in a wicked grin as it saw them cower a bit. Spike and Storm peeked around a corner, ignoring the bullet holes in its side, Spikes pupils slowly turning into slits as he stared at the dogs.

"Move faster, Humies! Or we feast on your bones!" The Dog screeched at them, firing into the air again, making Spikes eyes narrow in anger. He would make a move to move around the wall, only to get tugged back in by Storm.

He shot her a look, though Storm only nodded her head another direction, making Spike follow the movement, looking over to see an armored Diamond Dog walk over. This Diamond Dog was much larger than the others and was holding a mace. Its armor looked like a patch job, but its bulk definitely made people ignore its armor. It gave a bark, making the other Diamond Dog back up, the big one giving a growl as it knelt down and inspected the captured Humans.

The big one stood back up, giving the other Dog a nod, making the first beast give a happy cackle. "Humans are prisoners! Go! Center of Humie village!"

Spikes hand gripped into the side of the building, literally digging into the building. It was a good thing he didn't have his gloves on, otherwise he would have shredded through them. Spikes blood boiled, making him snort out some smoke, his tail curling around a bit. He reached for his knife, though Storm tugging him back again, glaring at him. They would have gotten in an argument, had it not been for the behemoth of a Diamond Dog that walked by their wall, completely missing them thanks to the metal helmet it wore.

Once the Diamond Dog took the corner, Spike calmed down a bit, slowly adjusting his gear, before glaring at Storm, "Next time we see someone in trouble, we are helping them."

"Spike, I would love to help them under any other circumstance, but right now, we have to move on, there is nothing we can do." Storm hissed out, making Spike look towards the group being shoved away. He gave a growl, then adjusted his weapons, before looking at Storm, letting her comment slide past him.

"Storm...this is my fault." Spike suddenly said as he walked forward, Storm following him. They ducked behind a random door that was ripped off, seeing two Diamond Dogs walk by, their boomers at the ready. Spike waited until they were out of ear shot, before waving Storm as he walked into the room, seeing the mess the Dogs left while dragging the family away.

"Spike, I know you feel responsible, but you really can't-"

"Their leader knew I was there." Spike interrupted her. He leaned against the wall and shook his head, adjusting the cracked mask on his hip. "She is after me, and we both know it isn't for springing you."

"Though, the fire filled exit we made probably didn't help." Storm spoke, smirking a bit. However, when she looked up at Spike, she saw only regret in his eyes.

"We...I need to fix this." Spike mumbled out, though he quietly grabbed his knife as he heard claws clicking against the ground. He brought a finger up to his lips, Storm silently nodding and pulling her boomstick out, taking cover behind an overturned table, silently taking aim. Spike slid his knife out and disappeared into the darkness of the other room, pulling his snapper and knife out, preparing himself as he watched the doorway from his angle.

A Diamond Dog walked in, aiming its weapon around, squinting into the darkness. After a moment, the beast lowered its weapon and whistled, another standing in the doorway, turning its back and keeping guard. The beast fave a him as it looked around the drawers, before calling back, "You think Humies had food in here?"

"I don't know, and I don't care." The one in the doorway called out, its voice deeper than the other one, the Diamond Dog giving a snort. "Takin big risk for this. We aren't supposed to loot, we just want puny dragon out!"

"Puny dragon this, puny dragon that, nyeh." The first Dog mocked, before searching through the drawers, inspecting each item. "Why leader so obsessed with puny dragon?"

"Something about strong blood."

"Strong blood?! From a lazy, stupid dragon?"

"This one different. Seen him before." The Dog in the doorway called back, sparing a glance back, not noticing Spike gripping his knife tighter in the room. "Was here before you, before big boomers. He was small then, but dragon boy came down to recuse the whining one."

"Ugh...wait." the Diamond Dog perked up, then looked back at his friend, quirking an eyebrow, "The whining one? Wait...dragon boy is the one who came to save the gem finding humie?"

"The very same. He destroyed the village above once, if I remember the tale correctly." The Diamond Dog said, shaking his head, Spike sighing silently and putting his knife back into his sheath and clicking the safety on from the pistol. "Which is why I told leader not to make him angry. Like this!"

The looting Diamond Dog looked at the gem necklace in his hands, then dropped it, wiping his paws off on his leg armor, "I don't want to be deep fried! We should go."

"Good idea."

The Dog started to walk out the door, before the duo disappeared into the silence outside. Storm came out of her hiding place, weapon still trained on the door. Once enough time had passed, Storm gave a smirk and relaxed a little.

"That was a close one, right Spike?"

Silence.

"Spike?"

Cherry grunted as she struggled for a moment, the dog scratching at her sleeve, trying to peel her off. The Dog gave a few raspy noises as it fell backwards, Cherry giving a quiet grunt as she held tighter, the Dogs movements slowing down, before the creature finally went limp. Cherry pushed the creatures body off of her, giving a huff of air, before sitting up, shaking her head at the beast. She stood back up, before pulling Bright Lights snapper out, walking forward and peeking into a room. She saw a head poke out and give a nod, making her grab the dog and drag it inside, grunting a bit.

"Cherry, we thought you had-"

"How many of you boys are still up and breathin?" Cherry interrupted as she peeked out a window.

"Most of us." A sad voice answered back, her turning around to see two guards, sitting there, the Diamond Dog lying between them.

The first guard had no helmet on, likely the one who spoke, his face caked in some dust and his boomer - a lever action rifle - was held in a strange, cradle like way. He had brown eyes and a long scar across his jaw, likely from when a Bug rampaged through the market a few months back, and his hair was buzzed off, originally a blond coloration.

The other guard, a woman, was inspecting her boomer - a pump action shotgun - and racked a shell as she sat up a bit. Her mouth was covered by some cloth and her helmet was damaged by some claw marks, though the blood soaking her arm shows the attacker likely didn't last long. Her eyes were blue and the few strands of hair Cherry did see were orange.

A shadow passed by the door, all of them aiming their weapons, though it passed as quickly as it appeared. "Must've misheard that, cuz I only see two of ya." Cherry mumbled out once she was sure the threat passed.

"He isn't. Others are still alive." The woman whispered out, before pointing at a window. Cherry walked over to it and pulled the curtain a bit, peeking outwards. "Dogs are taking prisoners, even of the ones who fight."

True to the guards word, she saw the Diamond Dogs shoving some guards into a group of people, pointing and screeching out something Cherry couldn't hear from her position. She saw one of the guards taken prisoner stand up and yell something out, only to get a Diamond Dog to punch his stomach and push him to the ground. Cherry gave a grunt, before leaning back against the wall, sighing a bit. "I understand keepin some prisoners, but why keep most of 'em alive? Half those folks down there wouldn't give up easy, would be easy to kill them."

"No clue, but I got a bad feeling about this, ma'am." The first guard spoke, before suddenly twirling around, aiming at the door. "LEMME SEE SOME FUCKIN HANDS!"

"SWEET CELESTIA!" The shadow yelled in the doorway, before grabbing its chest and walking in, "Fucks sake man, don't scream like that. Damn near gave me a heart attack!"

Cherry looked at figure, only to grab the guards gun and lower it with her hand, "Sorry 'bout my boy, here. He can get a little jumpy when dogs are runnin round. Nice to see ya, Storm."

Storm walked into the light an adjusted her boomstick, sighing a bit, "Can't leave you kids alone for a few minutes?"

Cherry chuckled, then stood up and sighed a bit, "Not that I'm ungrateful or nuthin, just wondering why ya came back?"

"Spike couldn't even step foot out of the gate before running back to help you guys and gals." Where's Bright Light?"

"Safe with a doctor. Poor girl took quite the hit, but she's alive." Cherry took a second to peer behind Storm, before shaking her head. "Ya said Spike came back, where is he?"

Storm looked around the room, before sighing, her wings rustling a bit as she adjusted her boomstick, "Lost Spike a bit ago, we got separated whilst a Diamond Dog duo were searching the building we were in."

The female guard perked up a bit as she started to lean in a bit, "Describe him for me."

"Bit short. Green hair. Dragon tail. Smile that would woo a princess?"

"Bingo. Heading towards the prisoners."

Storm walked over and peeked out of the curtain, seeing Spike slowly round a corner near the prisoners, making her groan, though this made the Diamond Dog stir by her foot. She took the moment to kick its head, knocking the poor hound out again, grunting. "Spike, you stupid bastard." 'Spike, you are so lucky that I find this side of you incredibly hot.' She thought to herself, only to swear when she saw the absolute Behemoth of a Diamond Dog walking towards the prisoners as well. "Fuck, we gotta go down there and help him!"

"And fight through an army of Diamond Dogs?!" The male guard hissed out, pointing at the Diamond Dog at their feet, "No way in Tartarus am I doing that!"

"Sorry, but he's right, ma'am." The female guard said, shaking her head and sighing. "Kid stands no chance, but neither do we." Cherry sighed a bit, sitting there silently, before pulling the snapper up for a moment and inspecting it. "Ma'am, what should we do?"

Cherry was silent for a moment, before looking at Storm, "Impossible odds, with a buncha monsters for an army, with bigger n' louder guns than us that have our friends hostage? No foreseeable way to win, just the four of us?" Cherry asked out loud, to no one in particular. She took a moment, only to smirk as chuckle a bit, "How could I say no? Spike's already down there, don't wanna leave the boy to tussle by himself!"

The Behemoth stood there, watching the prisoners, giving a soft grunt as they sat there. It inspected its mace, before giving a loud sigh. It perked up when it saw movement at the gate, recognizing its master as it knelt down and bowed its head. The other Diamond Dogs did this, except for one, who huffed angrily at the shadowy figure. The Behemoth finally looked upwards to see an individual clad in armor, with a bear fur cape, almost appearing as an unholy knight in her black armor.

It was their leader.

Their Queen.

The Queen walked over to the Behemoth, who only gripped its mace tighter. The Queen rested a hand on the Behemoth, who lowered its head and shook a bit.

"You did well." She told the Behemoth, which made it huff happily. The Queens cold voice made the group of prisoners look up, children holding onto their parents in terror, the defeated guards giving her a look of fear, random civilians cowering even more as they heard her. "I take it my orders were followed to the letter then?" The Behemoth only nodded, making the Queen hum. "Very good. Gather the others."

The Behemoth stood up, nodding, only to walk off. Two Diamond Dogs followed it, the Queen resting her hand on the hilt of her sword. One of the guards peered up at her, only to grunt as he struggled to stand up, one of the Diamond Dogs giving a bark. The Queen looked over, raising a hand, the strange armor was easily shown in the artificial light of their home. The helmet seemed to be modified heavily, though traced its routes to the great helms of old, her armor was bulky, but built for protection and comfort. Her hands, arms, and legs were protected with chain mail underneath, though her boots seemed to be modern with metal covering them. Her cloak, covered in bear fur, and her helmet had carvings of said bear on it, though the true bear happened to be on the Queens armored shoulder as a skull. Her sword was resting in its scabbard, though the guard was showing no fear.

"Why are we here? Why don't you just take everything and go?!" The guard asked, his hands bound behind him. Rover, one of the guards and previous leader of the Diamond Dogs, watched intently, quietly squeezing the boomer in his hands. "You didn't even kill any of us after the explosion! Why do you need us?!"

"Simple." The Queens voice cut through the guard, making his train of thought derail and smash into a firey wreck. "Bait." The Queen answered, before walking away, the guard confused for a moment.

Rover growled, before walking around the group of Humans, before stopping in front of the Queen, asking, "Why do you want the little lizard so badly?" The Queen was silent as she saw Rover point at the prisoners, "All of this! For one dragon! Diamond Dogs don't need dragons! We need food!"

The Queen was still silent, though turned around and walked away, Rover giving a grunt of anger, though made no move to follow. He grumbled to himself, before turning and seeing the same guard stare at him. He growled at the guard, before slapping the man with his large paws, giving out a shrill, "Cattle should stop gawking at Dogs!" Rover snarled out, before walking off to his original spot.

Had Rover took the time to look around, he might have caught a glimpse of a tail disappearing behind a building. Spike pressed against the wall, hearing a Diamond Dog around the corner. He reached for his knife, only to stop when he realized something; they might have a pup at home, maybe even someone depending on him. Spike let go of his knife, only to punch the Dogs knee, making it drop its weapon and fall over, only for Spike to catch him and put him in a choke hold. The Dog clawed at Spikes arm, which made him tighten his grip, giving a grunt as he dragged the Dog behind the building. The Dog went limp in his arms, making Spike gently lower them down, sighing softly. He poked his head out, spotting another guard, though he decided to walk around the guard, sliding into the shadows, his armor keeping him hidden.

Spike adjusted the mask on his hip, before slowly walking forward, watching the Diamond Dogs walk around the group. Spike slowly slipped behind a wall, seeing the Diamond Dog facing away from him, then looked at the group, scanning the crowd. He couldn't see Cherry or Storm. He just to peer behind some of the crowds wings, before he heard a whistle, ducking behind the wall and watching the Diamond Dog stand at attention.

He dared to peek out, only to immediately regret it; the Behemoth was there. It stood tall and proud, over three score (around sixty) Diamond Dogs behind her, giving excited smiles. The Behemoth itself knelt down, the Dogs following suit, except for one. One which Spike recognized.

Rover.

His blood boiled as he gripped onto the wall, his hands shredding into it, though he didn't notice. He pulled his hands away from the rock and reached for his snapper, only to be interrupted as he heard footsteps. He looked over, seeing the same Queen that he had left in the Diamond Dog caverns. His eyebrows shot up, making Spike press against the wall, trying to make himself as small as possible.

"People of Ponyville." The Queen spoke, her soft, cold voice making Spike shiver. "I must apologize for my Dogs, they get excited when potential toys appear in front of them." She walked in front of them, Spike following every move with his eyes, his gut telling him something was wrong. "However, I must admit, I hoped we would have a more...peaceful solution to this."

"Peaceful?!" A familiar voice shot out, making Spike wince, slowly stepping around the building to peer at a familiar head of red hair. "Ya call this "less peaceful"?! Ya blew up mah damn gate!" Cherry pushed the Diamond Dog she was using as a hostage with the snapper in her hand, the Dog giving an angry growl, before being pushed again.

"Ah, this must be the leader." The Queens voice did not change tone. The soulless helmet just stared at Cherry, ignoring the Diamond Dog Cherry held at gun point. "Have you decided to hand him over?"

"Have him over?!" Cherry incredulously hissed out, before pushing the barrel of the snapper into the Diamond Dogs head, making it whimper a bit. "I could just shoot this stupid little varmint in the head right now." The Behemoth snarled and made a threatening step forward, making Cherry hiss out, "If ya wanna keep that brain inside ya head, I'd pull the leash on that thing!"

The Queen stood silently, before raising a hand, making the Behemoth stand back, bowing its head in compliance. However, she made a movement upwards, her hand glowing a firey orange, then tugged her hand downwards, a surprised yelp echoing out. Spike looked up to see Storm flying above, though her right wing was engulfed in the magic aura, being tugged down. The Queen then tugged hard with her magic, sending Storm smashing into the ground in front of her, before using her magic to drag the woman along, making Storm cry out in pain as her wing was tugged along.

The Queen finally grasped the wing with her hand, then placed a boot against Storms back, though she made no more movements, having stared at Cherry the entire time. Cherry's skin crawled as she watched it, though she stood firm, giving a grunt. "Am Ah supposed to be impressed by that?"

"No." The Queen gripped Storms wing, then nodded towards Cherry. "Now I have what I need. Released him and tell the others to come out."

"Or what?"

The Queen looked down at the bruised Storm, before tugging her upwards by her wing, making the woman scream in agony as the joint between her wing and back was set aflame. "I break this little bird."

Cherry stared her down for a moment, her gaze unflinching. However, the Queen was not phased, her own eyes hidden under her helmet, only tightening her grip a little, making Storm wince. Cherry then sighed, before putting her index and thumb in her mouth, giving a shrill whistle, pushing the Diamond Dog with her snapper. "Alright. Get on, get!" The two guard slipped out of the shadows, weapons drawn on the Queen, giving confused looks at Cherry.

The Queen, if she was happy, made no movement to indicate it. She watched the Diamond Dog walk forward, before it bowed its head, saying, "I am sorry, my Queen, they caught me off guard." The Queen only made a movement with her hand, the Diamond Dog nodding, before walking back towards its cohorts.

"Now. Drop your weapons."

The two guards shared a look, before looking at Cherry, the female guard gave a soft, "Ma'am?" as she adjusted her grip on her weapon.

Cherry gave a soft exhale of stress out, before throwing the snapper on the ground, holding her hands up, "She has our people. Just hold yer horses, maybe she can be talked to." The guards gave each other a look, before dropping their weapons on the ground, holding their hands up as well.

The Queen hummed a bit, before letting go of Storms wing, though her boot was still firmly planted on the womans back. "Now...where is Spike?"

"Don't rightly know where he is." Cherry admitted, shrugging, her hands still in the air. The Queen made no movements as Cherry took a step closer, though the Behemoth gripped its mace a bit tighter, making Cherry stop. "Knowin him, probably planning somethin heroic."

The Queen looked down at Storm, slowly sliding her sword out, then aimed it downwards, pressing it firmly against Storms shoulder, the Queens cold voice slicing through the air like a blade, "Call to him."

"And in what world would Spike listen to me?" Cherry asked incredulously, stepping forward again, only for Rover to fire a shot at her feet, hitting the dirt in front of her.

Rober walked forward from the group, giving Cherry a growl, before looking at the Queen, saying, "Never saw this Humie in village above. She may be right."

The Queen spared a glance towards Rover, only to say, "I was not speaking to you." She said, looking back at Cherry, before her helmet pointed downwards. "I was speaking to the one he saved."

Storms eyes widened, feeling the sword press against her armor, before the Queen grasped Storms wing and lifted her up by it, the Queen taking her weapon off of the womans shoulder, before the Queen twisted the wing a bit, making Storm scream in agony.

"Call to him."

Storm looked at Cherry, before clearing her parched throat, calling outwards, "Spike, can you hear me?"

Silence.

The Queen looked around, before tightening her grip, making Storm wince. "I know he is watching. Waiting. Call to him."

"Spike!" Storm called out, though was met with silence. "As your CO, you have to follow my every order!" Silence again, though she could feel Spikes eyes on her. Storm glanced over, seeing Spikes hand and his eyes as he gripped onto a wall. "AND I ORDER YOU, SPIKE SOLARIS APPLE SPARKLE, TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" The Queen gave a soft sigh, before slowly pushing her blade into Storms shoulder, finally drawing blood, making Storm grunt, though Storms own anger fueled her more than her pain, "IF YOU COME OUT FOR THIS BITCH, I WILL PERSONALLY MAKE SURE YOUR LIFE IS A LIVING TARTARUS THAT NOT EVEN PRINCESS CELESTIA COULD SAVE YOU FROM, DO YOU GET ME, SOLDIER?!"

The Queen pulled her blade out, then nodded to the Behemoth, who gave a muffled, dark chuckle. Storm looked up, but said nothing, only to get smashed by the Behemoths fist, sending her to the ground. Cherry made to run to the grounded Skyblood, only for Rover to aim his boomer, giving a snarl, stopping Cherry in her tracks.

"Stupid Humies need to learn lesson!"

Storm sat up slowly, getting to her feet, only to spit out some blood. However, she only wiped her mouth and took a pose, saying through weak words, "That all ya got, bitch?"

The Behemoth only responded by smashing her fist into Storms stomach, making her lose her breath, before sending another punch at Storms cheek, smashing into it. The Behemoth picked Storm up, smashing its fist into her stomach again, then dropped her, kicking her belly, sending her flying a few feet and hitting the ground. Storm vomited after the hit, her stomach contents pooling under her, before gasping for air, weakly grasping a rock, before the Behemoth grasped her again and smashed its fist into her face, blood spilling from the poor womans mouth as she dropped the stone, unable to even defend herself.

The Behemoth threw Storm, then slowly reached for its mace as it walked forward. Storm was lifted again, though the woman only smiled through her bruises, "What's wrong, tiny? Getting tired? I can...I can do this all day." The Behemoth lifted its mace, only to be interrupted by a hiss, a long forked tongue flicking out from the shadows right next to them. "Celestia damn it..."

The Behemoth was tackled by a massive shadow, a roar echoing out as it did so, making Storm fly onto the ground. Her back and stomach ached, she was pretty sure her right shoulder was dislocated, and she was bleeding, but alive. The woman was dazed, she looked over to see some sort of scale covered figure tussling with the Behemoth, weakly trying to sit up, leaning against the wall.

"Celestia damn it, Spike."