When they did, it was almost sunset.

"Crusher, the king and Xander should be waking up about now," Blaze said. "We better go and tell them everything that happened."

"Let's go go go!" Quizon called to his friends.

They all rushed inside the castle. They found Crusher at the throne room, checking out the throne.

"Hi, Crusher!" Pickle chirped.

"Oh, hey, guys. Where have you been? I looked for you when I got up but you weren't there," Crusher frowned.

"That's something's we need to talk to you, the king and Xander about," Blaze spoke.

"Where are they, anyway?" AJ asked.

"Last I saw, they were still cuddling upside down," Crusher giggled. "But really, where did you guys go?"

"We went to the Misty Willows to find the seer," Blaze explained. "And he gave me, Darington and Stripes some incredible powers!"

"And he said you had some pretty amazing powers too," Pickle said. "Could you really bring animals back from the dead?"

"Wh-Wha…? How…?" Crusher looked baffled and confused. "How… did you know…? I haven't brought any animal back to life since a hunter made me shoot one," Crusher shuddered.

"The seer told us about that," Darington told him. "And... he said I was supposed to be the next seer."

"You? The next seer?" Crusher blinked in shock. "Well then, I suppose you're the one who's suppose to help me out when I reign king…"

"I guess so-- but I don't mind. Getting to know vampires, they're actually way cooler than I thought."

"And Stripes and I will be coming back often too, cause we're your shapeshifting body guards," Blaze smiled.

"Really?"

"Yep! You'll be seeing a lot more of us!" Stripes giggled.

"But... there's somethin' else that the seer told us," Starla said, looking stern.

"What is it?" Crusher asked.

"He said that you're half mortal and half vampire, you're EXTREMELY powerful," Watts told him. "And that means you're the only one who can stop Mika and Ara."

"ME?!" Crusher's jaw dropped. "How?! I just learned how to make a force field spell!"

"It's okay," Blaze assured, touching his rival's tire. "Darington will help you, and so will the rest of us."

"And I'm sure your dad and Xander will be willing to help too," Gabby nodded.

"I… I just don't know…" Crusher hissed as he stared at the throne then at them. "The future is scaring me now…"

"You'll be okay," Pickle gently soothed. "As long as you keep your head in the present, you'll be fine."

"How?!" Crusher sighed. "I'm supposed be the future King of Vampires, protector of all monster kind then I'm also suppose to be this all powerful vampire?! It's all too much!"

"Calm, calm, maybe if we wait for the king and Xander, we'll have everything thought out and settled," Blaze suggested.

"M-Maybe... I... I just don't wanna lose the... the parents I have now, since... I already lost my mom..."

"You won't." Stripes assured him.

"Yeah, we'll be here to help," Starla agreed.

"Well... okay..." Crusher sighed and nodded.

"Okay, so let's go and see if the king and Xander are awake." Watts suggested.

They all made it to the king's room. Crusher peeked inside to see but quickly closed the door.

"Well, I'd inform that they ARE up but also… not up," he cleared his throat and drove off as his face reddened. "Let's… just wait for them at dinner,"

"Good idea," AJ smiled. "It might give the others some time to work on their new powers."

"Hmm…" Crusher gave it a thought. "Maybe we can head to the garden to train. It also doubles as a training area,"

"Good idea! Let's go!"

So, they all rushed to the garden, and Darington held the crystal ball the way Christiano showed him.

"Ooh, pretty crystal ball!" Crusher's eyes lit up.

"The seer gave it to me. He said if I hold it the right way, the magic will just... come to me."

"Huh, he didn't teach you?" Crusher huffed. "Some seer,"

"Okay... here goes nothing..."

Darington rubbed his tire against the crystal ball slowly. At first, nothing happened. Everything seemed still. After a while, a glow came.

"Ooh!"

They all gasped as the glow got brighter, and Darington's eyes turned full white.

"I-I-I think something's happening!" Prism said.

"You think?" Blake rolled his eyes.

"Woah, woah!" Darington gasped as images entered his mind.

"W-What are you seeing, Darington?" Ashley asked.

"A lot of things!" Darington gasped. "Too much!!"

He then screamed, almost dropping the crystal ball. Luckily, Blaze caught it.

"Are you okay, Darry?" He asked, setting the ball down.

"Ugh…" Darington groaned as his eyes returned to normal. "No…"

"Maybe you should focus on one thing you wanna see in particular," Watts shrugged.

"Yeah, it might help with lessening the amount of images," Starla nodded.

"But, you should rest for now," Stripes added. "Blaze and I can work on our powers in the meantime."

"Right. So I guess we need to focus on what we wanna shift into. I-I'll go first." Blaze drove forward and twirled his tires.

After a while his body began to glow as his shape began to shift.

"Ooh, what's he gonna shift into?" Camille wondered.

"If it's Blaze, who knows?" Pickle giggled in excitement.

Suddenly, the shape shifting seemed to stop before the glow disappeared, and Blaze appeared, still on his form.

"Huh? You wanted to be... yourself?" Pickle guessed.

"Wait, what?" Blaze looked down. "Aww man, I wanted to be a wolf or a fox,"

"Maybe you just need practice," AJ suggested.

"Practice does make perfect," Stripes said.

"You give it a try, Stripes," Starla suggested.

"Yeah!" Quizon agreed.

"Okay... what to change into...? Oh, I know!"

Stripes tried shifting. His body glowed orange as it began to shift. Unfortunately, it was met by the same result as Blaze.

"Hmm... I guess we both need some practice."

"But, can we have some dinner first? I'm hungry," Skydance said as her stomach growled.

"Good idea, so is Zeg!" Zeg cried.

"Let's head on to the dining hall, everyone."

They headed off, back inside and made it to the dining hall. There, they found Xander and Beejay waiting for them.

"Hello, Xander. Your majesty," Yza smiled, leading the foals and fillies into a bowing stance.

"Ah, there you all are," Xander sighed in relief. "Where have you all been?"

"We went to go see the Seer of Misty Willows for more information on how to stop those wicked sisters," Starla said with a slight hiss.

"He made me a seer and Blaze and Stripes shapeshifting body guards for Crusher, who... I can't believe this, but... is the key to stopping the sisters." Darington added.

"What?!" Beejay jumped to his tires.

"Somehow, he has some sort of really powerful magic, since he's half mortal and half vampire," Blaze went on. "We all have to work together to do this."

"Please, sire?" Skydance asked sweetly. "We'll all help."

"Hmm…" Beejay sighed. "Where… Where did you get all this…? The seer… we haven't had a Vampire Seer since my father died,"

"We met with the seer in his home," Blaze told him.

"He explained everything-- how Crusher was mistreated as a kid, thrown out of the orphanage, how he lost track of Crusher until he became a vampire, everything," AJ nodded. "I know it sounds unbelievable, but let me promise you-- powerful magic or not, we won't let them near your son."

"And we'll do everything we can to protect him," Watts added.

"Can you trust us enough to see we're right...?" Gabby asked.

"…" Beejay hissed before sighing. "Fine… but," he turned to Darington, Blaze and Stripes. "Being part of the royal court as seer and guards is a lot of work and responsibility."

"We're ready for it," Blaze said as he and Stripes bowed. "We're at your service, great vampire king."

"But, we won't kill anyone unless it's the sisters," Darington added before joining in the bow. "Or unless we REALLY have to."

"Good." Beejay nodded and stood up.

"So, after dinner, we need to keep training," Blaze told Stripes and Darington.

"Right. We need to perfect our powers as quick as possible, cause who knows when those sisters are planning their next attack," Darington nodded.

"Good idea," Xander agreed. "And I'm I would be able to help you all to train,"

"Thanks, Xander-- I'm sure we need it."

"Yeah, thanks Papa Xander," Crusher smiled.

Xander choked on his drink. "H-Huh?"

"Oh... sorry... I-I guess I spoke a little too soon." Crusher hissed before getting up and zooming off and in shame.

"Crusher!" Blaze called before sighing.

"It's all right, Blaze, I'll go after him," Xander assured. "You, Stripes and Darington meet me in the garden."

The trio nodded as Xander got up and zoomed after Crusher. He found Crusher in his room, slumped against his bed.

"Crusher...?"

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to say it out loud..." Crusher sighed. "I didn't know how you would like it..."

"It's not that I didn't, I was just… taken back," Xander sighed and drove to his side.

"It's just... I never had a parent before, let alone two. I just... wanted a complete family... with you in it. Even though Mom is gone, I think she would want you in our family."

"R-Really…?" Xander's eyes widened.

"Really." Crusher nodded.

Xander smiled and embraced the other. "You can call me 'Papa',"

"Thanks... Papa." Crusher smiled and returned the hug.

Xander chuckled. "At least I don't have to adopt you for you to be my child now,"

"Yeah. We better get going down to the garden, though. We're gonna need to really train."

"Let's go."

They headed off towards the garden. Blaze, Stripes and Darington looked like they were preparing to train.

"Okay, we're good now," Xander sighed, smiling at Crusher. "So... who wants to train first?"

"I'll go," Darington sighed. "I need all the seer practice I can get."

"So, how is he supposed to find the images he needs without getting blindsided by thousands of them?" Blaze asked.

"Focus on one particular moment you want to see and concentrate," Xander spoke.

"Okay... h-here goes nothing..."

Darington held out the crystal ball and allowed it to glow. He focused on one particular event, his eyes glowing white.

"W-What are you seeing?" Crusher asked.

"I…" Darington hissed before growling. "Stripes, you ate that burrito I was saving!"

"Sorry, sorry! I was starving!" Stripes defended himself.

"Well, at least we know your powers work," Blaze said. "What about mine and Stripes' shapeshifting powers?"

"Good call," Stripes nodded.

"Try shifting into an animal," Xander suggested. "But be specific. Choose one. And only ONE,"

"Okay... let me think... I know!"

Blaze closed his eyes and felt himself shift again. Little by little, his form changed and shifted, and they gasped as he turned into a ruby red Pegasus with bright yellow mane, rube red wings with yellow feathers and orange eyes.

"D-Did it work?"

"It sure did! Look at yourself!" Darington squealed.

"Hmm?" Blaze glanced down at himself and gasped ."Woah… this is amazing!"

"You try, Stripes!" Crusher urged.

"Okay!"

Stripes nodded and closed his eyes. His body glowed as he began to shift his form. When the glow ceased, he released a roar as he turned into an actual tiger, sharp claws and fangs and all.

"Whoa, Stripes! You actually became a real tiger!"

"I did?" Stripes looked down and laughed. "Man, this is crazy!"

"Crazy, but amazing!" Blaze agreed. "Now... let's see if I can get the hang of these wings. I gotta show them to AJ!"

"Flying in a different form… is a different lesson-" Xander tried to warn, but couldn't do anything as Blaze took off to the skies before crashing down. "See what I mean?"

"Maybe you could teach me before I do anything?" Blaze smiled sheepishly.

"Good idea," Xander chuckled, his own pair of wings flashing out. "You flap in correct timing, up, down and repeat. Try it,"

"Here goes nothing..."

Blaze took the advice and slowly flapped his wings up. He gasped has he managed to hover at least a little above the ground.

"Ha-ha! I'm doing it!"

"There you go!" Xander grinned. "Now go, we'll catch up,"

"You got it!"

He then flapped off, with Stripes running after him. Crusher raised an eyebrow.

"You DID teach him how to land, right?"

"Oh... well, he's clever-- he'll figure it out." Xander waved it off.

Suddenly, a yelp and a crash came from nearby. Crusher blinked.

"You know… I actually expected him to figure it out… guess I was wrong,"

"Come, we better make sure he's all right."

As they drove toward the palace, they found Blaze in some thorny bushes, struggling to get loose, and the others bolted out of the castle at the sound.

"What was that?!" Gabby asked.

"Heh heh... hey, guys," Blaze strained.

"Blaze, is that you?!" AJ stared in shock, recognizing his best friend's voice.

"Yeah, I shifted into a pegasus! It's so cool to fly, but... I think I need a little practice."

"Maybe I should have taught you how to land first," Xander chuckled, helping Blaze out. "When you land, you have to go into a glide and then go to a trot once your feet touch the ground."

"I think I can manage that," Blaze nodded before kneeling down onto his knees. "Hey, AJ, wanna ride?"

"Uhh…"

"Maybe let's see you land first before you give rides," Crusher suggested. "You know, just to be safe,"

"Good point. Okay, here goes..."

Blaze flapped his wings and took off once more. He flew around a bit before making his way down again.

"Come on, you got this..."

He soon glided down and once his hooves touched the ground, he moved to a trot. The landing was a little shaky but a natural for someone who's learning.

"I did it!"

"Nice work, Blaze!" AJ beamed.

"So, am I clear for flying?" Blaze asked, a little hopeful.

"Go ahead, but still be careful," Xander told him.

"You got it-- AJ, hop on!"

AJ hopped on his back and held onto his mane gently, but before he could move, the pegasus foals came in front of him.

"Hey, Blaze! Can we go with you? Maybe you can teach us how to fly!" Quizon said.

"What do you think, Papa?" Crusher asked.

"Sure, sure!" Xander nodded and flapped up, wings slowly moving. "Just follow my lead, Pegasus children!"

"Let's go go go!" Blaze whinnied before following after Xander.

Crusher wanted to follow with his own wings, but before he could, his father called out to him.

"Crusher!"

"Coming, Father! Have fun, guys!"

With that, he left to head over inside.