Twilight just stared as Ditzy charged into the fray. She told the pony not to be so reckless, so why... why would she do something like that? There had to have been another way to get by them. The pegasus took off after swirling around them for a few moments, and the archers persued her into the depths of the building, Coldcrow bringing up the rear.

Running through the opening as they disappeared from view, Twilight started for the door but hesitated halfway there, watching the passage. Ditzy might fly back out to join them if she can lose the monsters or eliminate them. She had to believe that. If she waited, maybe...

"One crazy pegasus or a bunch of ponies and a dragon. Which is more important?" A harsh voice said. Twilight glanced at the green unicorn, who was giving her a cold look. "If it's really that hard of a question, maybe you shouldn't be trying to act like a leader."

Frowning as the unicorn sprinted off, Twilight's gaze drifted over Spike, Zecora and the other ponies that had been held prisoner. Getting them out did have to come first. Besides, Ditzy had proven she could handle herself well enough, so there was still a little hope. Ignoring the twinges of pain she was still feeling from the fight with Woodfist and Rakanishu, she hurried outside.

The fight had already begun when she stepped out. Griswold's axe was speeding along near the ground under the green unicorn's control, lopping off monster heads left and right. A couple of the other unicorns that had been held prisoner had retrieved cudgels from the corpses and were lashing out with them. Some of the earth ponies had charged in as well, kicking at the creatures in a way that made her think of Applejack during applebuck season. The two pegasi that had been with the group were diving at the few archers that hadn't been in Coldcrow's little meeting, doing little more than being distracting, but it kept the wounded from being targeted by arrows.

Rushing between a pair of ponies so none of them would be in the way, Twilight faced the small monsters closing in and showered them with a blast of lightning. Half dropped, the others fled as she continued launch bolts at them. A flicker of light surrounded one of the corpses near her and it started to rise. She torched it with a fireball before it could raise its club, then scanned the remaining monsters for the cause. It wasn't hard to spot the healer, standing twice as tall as his followers and waving a skull-topped staff around.

Twilight charged at him, knocking his minions out of the way with flashes of fire and lightning. He noticed her coming, stopping his efforts to recover the fallen, aiming his staff and sending a blaze of flame at her. Easily swerving around his fireballs, she countered with an ice spell that hit him squarely in the chest. His body went stiff and the outstretched staff in his arm made him teeter over, smashing to pieces when he hit the ground.

Another of the things started to stand and she struck it back down, eyes darting to another of the healers. Taking a better look around, she saw three in all just around where she was, and the others undoubtedly had their own to deal with. How many of these things could there be? As she tried to come up with a quick strategy, she didn't notice the creature leaping at her until it was falling toward her face with its cudgel raised. Steel glinted as it flew by, the monster split in half and she was splattered with gore.

"You're welcome!" The green unicorn laughed nearby.

Twilight felt ill as she quickly shook the thing's entrails out of her mane and got ready to fight off the next wave. The ground suddenly shook and a rumbling filled the air. For a second she feared more creatures like Woodfist were coming, but even the monsters went still, clearly taken off guard by it. Once it passed, a howl took its place and wolves charged into the town, tearing into the monster ranks.

Upon seeing them, Twilight turned and ran back toward everypony else, telling them not to attack the wolves. Once she was done with that, she stopped near Spike and Zecora, electrocuting a few monsters that had been pushing to get at them. Some of the ponies that had been left to protect them were down, overrun by the creatures.

"Twi, Coldcrow!" Spike shouted at her.

Twilight turned to the entrance of the building they'd fled. Coldcrow was standing alone just outside it, her bow drawn back. She loosed an arrow, the tip piercing the back of a blue earth pony's skull and it dropped instantly. A giant wolf leapt over the corpse, running straight at Coldcrow, who took another shot without hesitation. Her arrow struck the wolf's front leg and it slammed into the ground, rolling. Taking aim before it could right itself, Coldcrow centered her sights on the beast's neck. If not for a bolt of lightning to her shoulder courtesy of Twilight, she might have hit her mark.

Staggering and infuriated, Coldcrow nocked another arrow, letting it fly at Twilight. She dove out of the way, the arrow skimming her back, and a frigid feeling shot through her body. Hitting the ground with a thud, she found herself barely able to move from the cold. Coldcrow set another arrow, took aim at her immobilized target and released.

The arrow struck the ground barely a foot from Twilight, who looked at Coldcrow in surprise and shock. Not only because she missed, but because the archer had something red and shiny poking out from her chest. It retracted and emerged again twice more in different spots around her torso before she finally collapsed face-first into the dirt. Arcs of crimson flew from her back as a small black creature continued to stab viciously into the corpse until finally bringing its knife down on the back of Coldcrow's head.

Its eyes glimmered in Twilight's direction for a moment and she recognized them as the ones she'd seen in the bushes outside the town. Slowly getting back up as her small rescuer shot across the ground to the large wolf, she hurried over to see if she could help. The wolf was sitting by the time she got there, Coldcrow's arrow stuck through its right front leg. The tiny creature, which she now realized was wrapped in dark cloth, noticed her and pointed to the arrow as if telling her to get it out.

She nodded, horn beginning to glow. "This is going to hurt, alright?" The wolf whimpered as if it understood and Twilight snapped off the back of the arrow before pulling it the rest of the way through and out. Carefully trying to put weight on the injured leg, the wolf winced, but got back up. It growled softly at Twilight, but it somehow sounded more like a thank you than a complaint. Beginning to limp away, the black-clad creature jumped onto the end of the wolf's nose, eyes glinting with irritation. The wolf made a confused noise and the creature pointed at Twilight. The wolf whimpered and the thing narrowed its eyes.

Twilight watched in confusion as the smaller one jumped down and the wolf looked back at her oddly, sitting down again. She took a couple steps forward, wondering what to make of something so tiny apparently bossing around a massive wolf, when the latter suddenly began shrinking. Its shaggy gray fur shortened aside from a streak from its head to halfway down its back, which got longer. The color of it also began lightening, until it it finally ended up in the shape of a very nervous-looking yellow pony.

"Um... h-hi... Twilight." The pony murmured quietly, peeking out from behind her long pink mane.

"F-Fluttershy?" Twilight stuttered in shock. Especially since this was the same wolf... or pony... or werepony, she wasn't sure... that she saw tear off something's head right in front of her. "Then..." She glanced at the smaller creature, who had pulled the cloth off its head to reveal white fur and long rabbit ears.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you it was me last time... but... I just... it's kind of..." She trailed off into muttering Twilight couldn't understand.

"How... can you do that?" Twilight asked in wonder, walking around for a better look at her face. She hadn't spontaneously grown a unicorn's horn, so it wasn't any type of magic Twilight knew of. Of course with magic as warped as it had gotten lately, that wasn't hard for her to believe.

"I don't really know... it just... happened one day. Those creatures attacked and hurt poor little Angel and... I... I..." She began mumbling again, looking shaken.

"It's okay, Fluttershy." Twilight said quickly, placing a hoof on her friend's shoulder and giving her a reassuring smile. "I'm sure we've all had to live through nightmares of our own since these monsters appeared. I'm just glad to see you again. The camp will be a much nicer place with you around."

"C-camp?"

"There's a safe camp for ponies southwest of here." She explained, suddenly worried Fluttershy might refuse to go because of her... new ability. "You'll come with us, won't you?"

"I... don't know... leave my poor defenseless wolves all alone?" Fluttershy's gaze drifted to the wolves, who were chasing after and tearing apart the few remaining monsters.

Twilight wondered how the pegasus could consider them defenseless as she watched two of them get into a tug of war over one of the healer monsters that was still alive. At least until one tore its leg off and the other claimed the bigger half by dragging it away and ripping it throat out. "I think they can manage well enough."

Fluttershy watched them sadly before nodding. "Okay, let me tell them I'm going with you." She took a few steps forward, shape shifting back into a massive wolf and howling. The wolves swiftly gathered around her, Twilight staring and still finding it hard to comprehend.

"Is that really Fluttershy?" A voice behind her asked, tearing her attention from the odd sight.

"Yeah. Hard to believe, but that's our Fluttershy." She said, grinning at Spike. "I never expected to run into her like this though."

"No kidding. I kind of figured she of all ponies would've been gotten by those things before now." He commented.

"Spike!" She snapped, appalled he could even suggest such a thing.

"Okay, I'm ready." Fluttershy said softly, walking back over to them and looking like herself again.

Twilight turned back to her and was about to apologize for Spike if she'd heard him, but noticed something odd about her limp... or rather, the lack of one. "Your leg..." Is all she got out, looking closely.

"Oh, um... injuries seem to change size with me." Fluttershy explained, looking down at the hole in her leg that looked more like it came from a sharp quill than an arrow. "I'll be fine, it just stings a little."

Twilight just shook her head, there would be time to figure things out back at the camp. Right now they just had to get going before more monsters showed up. Yelling for the others to gather as Fluttershy spoke quietly with Spike, Twilight hoped the little dragon wouldn't say anything that could upset her.

Dawn was breaking when one of the pegasi that had been ordered to watch for any monsters wandering ahead zoomed between the treetops and landed next to Twilight without warning, eliciting a surprised peep from Fluttershy as she ducked behind her friend.

"Doesn't look like you've changed that much." Twilight said with a chuckle. "What's the problem?"

"Th... the camp..." The pegasus said, out of breath. "...it's been destroyed."

"What?" Twilight exclaimed. "How did... how many monsters are there?"

The pegasus shook his head. "Didn't see any. It must have happened last night. They've probably all gone back to whatever hole they call home."

Twilight frowned. "Maybe... or it's a trap."

"A trap? How would they know about our escape already?" The pegasus wondered.

"They might not. If there is a trap, it could just be meant for anypony on patrol coming back to find the place destroyed." Somepony chimed in.

Twilight glanced back at the green unicorn, who she'd been introduced to as Sanguine Petals during the walk back. "Exactly. I'll go check it out. Sanny, you wait here and look after everypony."

Sanguine nodded, smirking. "You can count on me... and if you don't make it back, know that everypony's in good hooves."

"Very comforting." She muttered sarcastically, turning and starting forward. Steps at her side made her slow. "Where are you going?"

"W-Well... with you. I mean, if you don't mind..." Fluttershy stammered quietly.

Twilight cracked a smile. Maybe the pegasus had changed... it certainly wasn't like her to walk into anything potentially dangerous before. "I'd be happy to have you with me."

When they arrived at what used to be the camp, Twilight couldn't believe her eyes. Half had been burned, the other half smashed and dead ponies lay everywhere. She felt sick at the sight, glancing back at Fluttershy who looked just as horrified by it, if not more so. Wishing she'd declined Fluttershy's offer of company to spare the poor pegasus the nightmares she was bound to get from the place, Twilight stepped up to a vaguely familiar corpse.

An earth pony with a red mane and white fur laid on the ground, three arrows sticking out of his side. Claret Whisper, one of the squad leaders and a very capable pony if a little harsh. If he and his squad had been here when the monsters attacked, they must have been taken either by complete surprise or by an army.

"Twilight Sparkle, this is a pleasant surprise. I thought I'd have to wait all day for you to show up." A distorted voice said, making Twilight snap to attention and ready her magic. "I've never been so happy to have been proven wrong."

Blood Raven stepped out from behind a torn piece of tent that had been flapping in the breeze, the spikes of its armor shining in the morning light. "You really are trouble, but I suppose putting up with you can't be helped."

"What... what are you talking about?" Twilight asked, sparing Fluttershy a brief look. The pegasus was a few feet away, trembling but making no sign she was going to flee.

"Oh, the woe of following orders. Just killing you would make things so much simpler." Blood Raven said, looking at her. At least, turning its head that way. She had no idea how the pony could see through that ridiculous mask.

"You're not supposed to kill me?" She wondered, confused. Did these things have some plan for her? No, they'd been capturing ponies everywhere, so it couldn't have been just her... unless it was for two different reasons? It made no sense to her and there was no time to think about it. Who knew what this pony was planning.

"Oh, did I make you feel special by saying that? How precious. Unfortunately for your companions, I have no such orders in their regard." Blood Raven gave a cruel laugh. "I'll give you a simple choice. You come with me and I be nice, letting them go on their merry way. You refuse, and they can join my army."

Twilight looked around, but saw only the pony in front of them. "What army is that?"

"My army of the dead, of course."

Claret and the other corpses suddenly lunged from their places on the ground, grabbing Twilight before she could react. A scream from Fluttershy's direction suggested the same thing had happened to her.

A bow and arrow that had been laying on the ground floated up next to Blood Raven, the tip aiming just past Twilight, at the pegasus behind her. "If you refuse, I shoot. If you try to attack me, my minions will snap her neck before you have any chance of killing me. It really is a no win situation in your case. Unfair, I admit, but it's how things must go sometimes."

Twilight glared at the pony, a shadow of movement behind it catching her eye. It was indistinct, but small enough she could guess it was Angel. If she could keep Blood Raven talking until the little rabbit could get into position... "What do you want me alive for?"

"I follow orders, not question them like certain fools. Also..." There was a surge of movement behind Blood Raven and Angel's shape was briefly visible before a group of zombie ponies piled onto him. "...did you really think something so simple would catch me off guard? I am prepared for anything you ponies can throw at me, so just give up while I'm still in a good... mood...?" Blood Raven's attention shifted toward the sky. "Impossible."

The bow at Blood Raven's side shifted upwards and fired. More arrows gathered from the ground, firing wildly at something Twilight couldn't see. A blur entered her field of vision just before it slammed into Blood Raven with a deafening crack. The pony flew backwards, shards of armor flying every which way as the pegasus that struck flipped, landing on Blood Raven's bow and splintering it underhoof.

With a stagger, the pegasus somehow remained standing in spite of the countless cuts along her body and the arrow protruding from her front left leg. She glanced back at Twilight, a weak smile on her equally bloodied face. "Made it."

"Ditzy? How in Equestria-" A flash of steel came down on zombie Claret, making Twilight pull away in a panic as he was cleaved in half. She bumped into Fluttershy, who must have been freed in a similar fashion since somepony else's blood was staining her side.

"Didn't think I'd risk you going off and dying after saving my rump, did you?" Sanguine's voice came from behind her as the axe was pulled free of Claret's body.

"That... was a very nice maneuver and kick." A feminine voice said with a laugh. It took Twilight a moment to realize it was Blood Raven, slowly getting back up with her mask shattered to pieces. "You do realize of course, I'm going to have to tear your heart out in retaliation."

Twilight finally got her first look at the pony under the mask, and felt a chill run through her. A sneer and cold eyes, worn on an otherwise familiar face.

Rarity's.