Author's Note

You guys wanted badass fights, and I'm here to deliver.

Country Roads

Twilight focused, invoking a perception spell. Harnessing her third eye, she peered into the darkness. It would be long before the lain began to stir. Not one would escape her vengeance.

"You've taken everything from us - our world, our home. It's time to reclaim what's rightfully ours."

She held out her sword, combining her knowledge of kenjutsu with traditional martial arts. An aura began to form resembling the hue of her jacket. Lightning sparked and crackled, like a fire raising toward the night sky.

Inside, Spike scratched Winona's fur, feeling traces of age along her skin. She was around the same age as Granny, though arguably had less time. He wished they could've spent their years under better circumstances.

"Least they survived. Twilight wasn't kidding."

"How long have you guys been huntin' these things?" Apple Bloom inquired. They had to think of some way to pass the time.

"Both of us started training when were twelve. Twilight's a few years older, so she has more experience. I'm sixteen now. She's twenty-one."

"You guys look pretty tough, though not as tough as us country folk."

"Your motor muscles are a bit more fine-tuned from the workload. We're probably even in raw strength, but you might have us beat in endurance. Technique's also a big factor. I know for a fact we're ahead in that department."

"Fair enough."

"Where'd you guys come from, anyway," Applejack cut in, "How'd you find us all the way out here?"

"Recon. One of our drones picked you up on camera. An intel unit was sent to confirm your location."

"Military ain't no joke. Still, why didn't ya just level the area? Would've taken way less time and effort."

"Our heavy artillery's reserved for defense. Our base is heavily fortified against lain attacks. The more civilians we rescue, the better our chances. It's more than sheer force, too. Anyone can register for resistance efforts if they so choose. Twilight and I are both certified instructors. We can train you for combat and medical roles along with the others."

"It's gonna be hard leaving this place behind. It's been in the family for generations."

"We were born in the base. Most people assume Twilight's my stepsister, but we're actually blood relatives. Shining's our older brother."

"The general's your brother!? No wonder you're rarin' to go. Probably learned all kinds of tricks from his wing."

"You don't know the half of it, but I suspect you're about to find out."

"Where's the base, anyway?" Apple Bloom continued.

"It's a day's drive from here, way up in the mountains. The lain never go there, especially these days. We're reserving the big guns in case that changes."

"Twilight said demons don't exist," Applejack interjected, "Probably means God don't either. To think we spent so much time prayin' every day. Damn if I don't feel sleighted."

"I wouldn't be so sure. Exorcism spells beg to differ. They work exceptionally well, too."

"Holy magic!? It's real!?"

"If Twilight's anything to go by. She's the one who mastered it. I'm still just an apprentice."

"Well, I'll be..."

Granny Smith chuckled. Maybe she wasn't a crazy old coot after all.

With the swipe of her blade, Twilight felled scores of somber-lain scavengers. A sea of red coated the trees, still wet when more yet approached. Drawing her pistol, she progressed forward, calling forth a binding spell to freeze her enemies in place. She picked up the pace, jumping skyward. Sketching the symbol for for bounty, she aimed down, infusing her gun with mystical energy. The rays scattered in an ocean of blue light, piercing everything in their wake. In a last-ditch effort to keep the lain at bay, she morphed her blade, transforming it into a bloated boomerang. What wasn't cut down soon would be.

The living room began to shake, shivering violently as a monstrous force rose from within.

"Speak of the devil."

Using his finger, Spike carved a litany of holy hieroglyphs into the air. Reciting the lord's prayer, he began the work of driving out whatever force pined for their souls.

"Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the power, the kingdom, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen."

The specter revealed itself, followed by an army of its brethren.

"Get down!"

The others complied, covering their ears and prompting a blast from the shotgun's barrel. Thinking fast, Spike whipped out his pistol, twisting in a circle as he took aim at the apparitions spawning around them. As quickly as they came, they vanished, forced to earth from whence they came. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hoo! That was a close one."

"Mind helpin' me up, young fella," Granny requested, "My old bones ain't what they used to be."

"Sure thing."

Applejack and Apple Bloom raised themselves off the floor. Unfortunately, a number of objects had been shattered by shells, so of which were antiques that couldn't be replaced. If not for the circumstances, Applejack would've been livid - downright irate even.

"You did that?"

"Yeah. Sorry about your stuff."

"Well, I'll be. Looks like you're tougher than we gave ya credit for."

"Told ya. Still, there's no guarantee that's all of 'em. You got any more ammo?"

"Upstairs."

"Hurry up and come right back. We should stick together as closely as possible until sunrise."

"Roger that, Cappy Black."

"The hell kinda rhyme was that?"

"Cut me some slack. I ain't so good at this rhymin' stuff."

"Get goin', crazy."

With the gap closed, Twilight went all out, hacking and shooting away. She impaled a zombie on the blade of her sword, frying its insides and swinging its body against the others.

"Come on! Can't you do better than that!?"

Fueled by bloodlust, she cut each lain down to size, blasting through a zombie who'd emerged from the barn.

"Really could use some stealth classes."

She sprang for the interior, lighting the inside and drawing her foes' attention. She jumped to the second story, taking out the stragglers and steering clear from the others' reach.

"Too easy, scumbags. I'd be bored if you weren't so hideous."

The fighting continued until each and every lain drowned in their own fluids. By dawn, blood stained every corner of the property. The stench of death was overwhelming to say the least. Twilight fell to the wood, exhausted and drained. Het nose dripped, offended by the stench.

"Why's this job so gross? Geez..."

Spike led the Apple family down the steps of their once precious home. The sense of grief was palpable. A whole night of fighting left them physically and emotionally destitute. In the car, Apple Bloom sandwiched herself between her family, passing out as soon as her head hit the leather. Upon seeing his sister, Spike teased her to lighten the mood.

"You look like crap."

"One more word and I'll slap you."

"Testy, are we?"

"Let's get outta here."

"You don't gotta tell me twice."

As the party drove away, Applejack asked about the chamber. If she was gonna move to some random place in the middle of nowhere, she had to learn about it first.

"What's this base of yours all about, anyway?"

"We call it the somber-lain chamber. That was my ironic sense of humor more than anything. I'm the one who named them."

"Somehow I should've guessed."

"I took the name from an album released in '93. Considering how they function, I thought it fitting."

"You're messed up, ya know that?"

"You have no idea."

"Don't be too hard on her, youngin'. Anybody'd be off in this world y'all grew up in."

"I guess."

"You guys get some rest. We'll be there before you know."

"Thanks for savin' us. We owe you one."

"All in a days work."

"Somehow I doubt we're just a job to you."

Twilight smiled. Even through the turmoil, someone knew that she cared.

"Guess I've been found out."