"Now where did that filly an' her friends run off to this time?"

"For the hundredth time, Applejack, Sweetie Belle said she was going crusading," Rarity slammed her hoof into the ground, "and she said she was going to do it at the clubhouse!"

"An' y'all just let 'er go, just like that?" resuming her pacing, Applejack sighed, "Without botherin' to walk 'em over to ta' clubhouse yerself?"

"Um, can you please stop fighting?" Fluttershy cowered slightly, lowering her voice further, "If that's ok with you, of course."

"Why the heavens not? Both our sisters know better than to be out this late and, furthermore -"

"Girls, Angel says he saw them-"

"They aren't in Ponyville," shouted an out of breath Rainbow Dash from above, "You don't think they could've went exploring in the -"

"GIRLS!" fluttershy shouts, earning everyones' full attention and immediately hiding behind her mane, "Ok, um, Angel says he saw them head into the Everfree forest earlier today."

"WHAT?!" the chorus of the other five mares blurted out with various degrees of astonishment, "Now why would they go walkin' around that creepy forest this time of night?"

Rainbow struck a pose with her chest out, wings flared and a cocky grin carved on her face, "You can ask them why after we head in there, save their sorry flanks from whatever monster they've awoken this time and get them out safely. It's a good thing you've got the one and only Rainbow Dash to defeat the horrors of the Everfree!"

Stopping her incessant bouncing, Pinkie Pie stopped to frown intently at her knee, "Uh oh, my knee's getting awful pinchy..."

"And w-what does that mean?", Spike asked, his arms clamped firmly around Twilights' foreleg.

"If I recall, a 'pinchy knee' means something scary is -" Twilights' explanation was cut short by Pinkie shaking violently, "- Oh my, that wasn't a doozy, was it, Pinkie?"

"Yeperoonie, and that was a big one! Bigger than the one at Froggy Bottom Bog big!" Pinkie stopped bouncing, twirled around like a compas needle and ended by pointing muzzle first at the Everfree, "And it's at a clearing in the Everfree Forest!"

The six mares and one dragon shared a glance, nodded and headed in the direction of the Everfree.

Goku walked leisurely alongside Scootaloo with Sweetie Belle cradled in his arms and Applebloom perched on his neck, her hind legs draped over each shoulder. Her head was swiveling wildly with wide eyes, "Wow, yer sure are tall, Goku." She giggled, waving one hoof up in the air to brush the canopy, "Ah can even touch the leaves of the tall trees from here!"

"Hey, stop hogging his head! It's my turn up there!" Scootaloo shouted, "I wanna know what it's like up there!"

"Can't you just fly up to see?" asked Goku, the seemingly permanent grin temporarily replaced with curiosity, "I mean, you have wings and all, you should be able to use them."

"No, I -" Scootaloo hid her face in the shadows of the forest, sniffliing lightly, "I've never been able to fly. Not now, not ever." Her hooves were scraping against the overgrown path as she walked.

"Hey cheer up, Scoots," Applebloom smiled gently down at her friend before hopping off Gokus' back, "Ah think it's your turn now."

"Finally! My hooves were getting sore with all the walking and - HEY!" Scootaloo cried out as Goku grabbed her back with one hand, lifted her onto his back and picked up Applebloom - drawing a similar response - as he held her waist to his stomach.

"What in tarnation is the big idea?" quizzed Applebloom, irritation evident in her voice.

"I thought I'd pick up the pace a little," Goku looked skyward, "the moon is rising, and besides, you three need to get home before someone starts worrying about you."

The two fillies that were still awake shot each other an excited glance before looking at Goku with toothy grins on their muzzles. Goku responded with a short laugh, a nod and a burst of speed that left Scootaloo hanging on for dear life.

"Um, can I go home now, my animal friends must be worried sick." Fluttershy asked, looking more at the ground than her friends.

"No way, Flutters!" yelled Rainbow Dash, her muzzle inches away from Fluttershys' folded ear, "What if we run into a cockatrice? You're gonna have to stare it down, like last time!"

"But that was just a fluke, I never really control when I use the stare, it just happens," Fluttershy stated with utmost certainty.

Twilight gave her friend a calming look, "Yes, but it does come in handy, remember that dragon? We'd all been toast if you hadn't stepped in and saved the day! We might need your expertise with animals to save the crusaders."

"Oh, um alright. I'll help save the Cutie Mark Crusaders, if that's alright with you..." Fluttershy trailed off, mumbling to herself in a barely audible voice.

"I must thank you for this, Fluttershy. To come into the Everfree for the sake of my sister and her friends? Why, if something were to happen to them, I don't know what I would do without -" Raritys' tirade stopped when Applejack shoved an orange hoof into her mouth.

"Neither the time nor the place fer a freakout, Rares. We just gotta focus on findin' the Crusaders fer now."

"Girls! Girls!" shouted Rainbow Dash, "I think I hear them up ahead! Hurry up Fluttershy, they might be in danger this very second!"

The group doubled in speed, with Rainbow and Applejack rushing ahead. The trees shot past the two athletes as they neared the origin of the Crusaders' cries, before a tall creature seemed to stop instantly in front of them. Rainbow tried to swerve, instead going careening into a nearby tree while Applejack skidded to a halt ten feet behind the creature.

Turning, Applejack saw the creature doing the same, before spying her sister held tightly to it's midsection, waving furiously, "Hey Applejack!"

Applejack snarled, lowering her head and pawing at the ground, "Ifn' y'all know what good fer you, you'll put mah sister down unharmed, ya hear!"

"Applejack, wait!" shouted Applebloom, "He ain't -"

"Darn straight it ain't gettin' away with this!" Applejack roared before charging at the creature.