One Pegasus immediately leaped and targeted Jewel, but Apple Cider jumped in front of her and bucked him away. Seeing their fellow comrade assaulted, the troop immediately started jumping into the bakery. Leafly squeaked in horror and clung to Star Gazer's neck tighter, causing him to choke.
"Leafly… choking… can't breathe!" he gasped, but his words fell on deaf ears as Leafly looked on in fear.
Melody cringed as a Pegasus leered at her and Lightning, and she could only say, "Lightning, what are we going to do?"
Lightning quickly thought of the countless Pegasi. His mother once said that if you were unable to fight a large crowd, you must avoid combat altogether (even adding that she learned that the hard way).
Immediately gaining an idea, he whispered, backing up next to the gang and foals, "We're… gonna… RUN!"
No one hesitated to disobey. Soon, all eleven ponies and dragon abandoned the bakery, not daring to turn back. Every pony around them galloped in circles and screamed in absolute panic, not knowing what to do.
The gang galloped on until they saw their parents (minus Melody's) in front of them, worry written all over their faces.
"Kids!" Spike, Twilight Sparkle's assistant, yelled as he, his mate Aqua, and the former Mane Six including their husbands zoomed to their children. They immediately inspected them for any injury whatsoever. Thankfully, all were free from any harm.
"Oh, thank goodness," Fluttershy said in relief.
"Eeyup," Big Mac added, nuzzling their daughter.
All the ponies plus three dragons gazed at the horrific scene before them. Ponies were being chased by the Pegasi and attacked. A terrified mother was in a corner, clutching her young daughter close as the enemies zoomed around them. In another area, a group of fillies huddled under an abandoned cart, shaken by the creatures.
"Who in all of Equestria has a heart as cold as ice to authorize these… ruffians to do such a horrible, horrible thing?" Rarity declared as the scene continued to unfold.
"I don't know, but I don't think I want to find out!" Flash Sentry gulped as a pole from the town center began to crack above two colts, one older than the other. They were oblivious as the pole fell straight towards them. Soarin and Lightning noticed and immediately zoomed to them, pushing them away just in time. The post landed on the ground and splintered in half.
"Oh, man, that was close!" Lightning exclaimed as the two colts dashed off.
Suddenly, Spike burped out green flames. A letter immediately formed from it and landed in his claws.
Reef took a whiff and cringed from the smell of his father's breath. "Aw, man, Dad!" he said, fanning away the odor. "When's the last time you brushed your teeth?!"
Spike shot his son a death glare while Twilight unrolled the scroll. She scanned it for ten quick seconds and exclaimed, "Everyone! Princess Celestia needs us to report to Canterlot castle immediately!"
"You were able to read that in ten seconds flat?" Rainbow Dash said deadpanned.
Twilight narrowed her eyes at her friend and then instructed, "Alicorns and unicorns, assemble! We need enough magic to transport all of us to Canterlot quickly!"
The unicorns and alicorns circled around the others and immediately began to focus. One of the armored Pegasi noticed and hissed, charging at them along with two comrades. The horned ponies charged up their magic until a beam of blue light surrounded all adults and children.
The dark Pegasus in lead realized what was about to happen and lunged at them, but it was too late. All ponies in the light disappeared, leaving behind a temporary sparkle.
The Pegasus flew past the sparkle and tumbled on the ground until he came to a complete stop. He dizzily looked in front of him, and his pupils dilated when he saw two grey hooves. Gulping, he looked up at the cloaked pony from earlier, whose eyes glared down at him.
"I ask you to do a simple deed, and this is what I get?" he snarled.
The Pegasus shook like a leaf as the colt's hoof pushed down one wing, holding him in place. He ordered two other Pegasi, "Take this poor excuse of a soldier to the dungeon." The two did as they were told and dragged the poor colt away while he begged them to let him go.
The cloaked Pegasus turned to Canterlot castle and flew up in the air. He took a deep breath in and held it until…
Suddenly, he let out a loud ear-piercing cry across the town, causing the dark Pegasi to leave the town while every pony covered their ears to block out the sound. They approached the gray colt as he ordered them, "Straight to Canterlot Castle! The Bearers are taking refuge there!"
A.N. Me: Do I even have to say why the update's late?
Fluttershy: Um, school?
Me: And life. But mostly school.
Fluttershy: Oh.