My Little Pony: Equestria's Warriors Returns

by Spirit Of Fantasy

After many wars, heavy losses, and violence with enemies. The eldest brother of the royal sisters makes his return, and discovers the student of the sister he blames for their youngest sister's banishment. Now along side this young and talented unicorn, ready to battle evil. He will discover the new world of friendship and love that replaced his world of pain and hateful battles.

39. Chapter 39:Baby Cakes

Chapter 39:Baby Cakes

Today had turned into quite the special day, a day when two miracles were born. Birth was something that always meant not only the start to a new life or lives, but also new stories. Maybe those stories would tell of legendary accomplishments, or maybe even just simple tales. Maybe the birth of a new face was the start of a famous or infamous biography or nonfiction novel. Either way, the birth of a new life was the start of something, and it was always to be cherished to the fullest.

This was yet another beginning to just that in the Ponyville hospital. The elements of harmony were all stacked just outside a baby room, shortly after two miracles were just born. Mrs Cake had gone into labor six hours ago, it took an hour to get to the hospital and prepare her for it to happen. The next few hours were full of pain and hard labor, but the results of her endurance were worth it. For she had then given birth naturally to twins, a Pegasus colt and a Unicorn filly, a strange anomaly.

The father to be was just now entering the room to see the twins an hour after the birth. Leaving the group of mares wondering what to expect, for they were kept in the dark about most of it. All they knew in truth is that Cupcake went into labor, and she gave birth not too long ago.

"Can you believe the new baby is here?!"Applejack asked of her friend, rekindling the memory she had of when Apple Bloom came into the world.

"Cupcake and Carrot Cake must be so proud…!"Twilight chirped and thought of the couple that finally became parents.

"I wonder if it's a filly or colt?"Rarity thought about the most common question of curiosity on the subject.

"I wanna see the new baby pony! I wanna see! Which one is it?!"Pinkie frantically looked through the glass till she noticed Carrot Cake entering the room to see his children.

"Meet our son, Pound Cake,"Mr Cake gestured to the bundled up vanilla colored colt with the little bit of brown mane on it's head,"And our daughter, Pumpkin Cake!"

Both twin foals yawned cutely with the softest and most innocent of voices. While the mares awed and succumbed to the shear cuteness of the twins, they could not help but enter the baby room quietly. Respecting the requirement for silence for the babies, allowing them to slumber after their hard battle to enter the world.

"Two foals for me to play with? That's two, two, two times the fun! This is the greatest day ever,"Pinkie exclaimed her excitement and bolted to the sides of the baby beds,"We need to celebrate your birthday babies, cause you were born today! Woo-hoo!"

"Shh! The babies are trying to sleep…!"A nurse informed Pinkie that voices needed to be kept down while the babies slept.

"But I was just-"Pinkie started and got cut off by another shush.

"Shh!"

"But-"

"Shh!"

"Happy birthday to you and you today…!"Pinkie whispered her song quietly but with equal excitement.

"Now how in the thunderation is one of them twins a pegasus and the other one a unicorn?"Applejack questioned from such a miraculous occurence with two earth ponies.

"Easy, my great great great great grandfather was a unicorn, and Cup Cake's great aunt's second cousin twice removed was a Pegasus,"Mr Cake explained sort of a complex system that made this anomaly possible for two new borns,"That makes sense, right?"

"Aw, yeah! Heh, just you wait! Once little Pound Cake there gets his wings going, he'll be all over the place!"Rainbow Dash gave him the heads up about what Pegasus foals can do once their wings start to get going.

"And be careful around Pumpkin Cake."Twilight warned of a little something that tends to happen with unicorn foals.

"Baby unicorns get strange magical surges that come and go."Rarity explained the strange magic that comes and goes with all unicorn babies.

"Quick! Make a wish and blow out the candles! Which is easy, cause there are zero! You are zero years old, after all!"Pinkie excitedly went on to express herself to the babies, and before the nurse could shush her, the warriors showed up…

Instantly, there was yelling and some panicking, as the three stallions burst into the room. Immediately the three stallions then slammed the door shut and tried to lock it down. More yelling ensued, and the babies in the room awoke and started crying from the sudden eruption of chaos. The nurse instead tried to rush over and shush the warriors, but they weren't up for listening. For she was coming, and if she got in this room, she would never leave and smother every child in the room.

"Lock it down! Don't let her in here!"Orion ordered and Typhoon rushed for a nearby baby changing cart to barricade the door.

"Shh!"The nurse tried to shush them again, only for the warriors to ignore her and hold the door up with their own bodies.

"This won't work! You need something bigger you son of a whorse!"Thunder yelled at Typhoon for his selection of extra barricades.

"There's only babies in hospital cribs and our friends in the room!"Typhoon yelled back before Twilight decided to be the brave one and see what was happening.

"What are you three doing?! You just woke up all the babies."Twilight ranted, only to suddenly get taken up and placed on top of the cart against the door.

Suddenly the moment she was sat down, that's when the door suddenly smashed loudly. Something was tearing into the door and trying to break it down, it bulged and bent. As the unknown entity smashed and slammed against the door, Twilight screamed and bolted off the cart. Just in time for four black long spider appendages to pierce through the corners of the door. Allowing the limbs to grip and slowly crush the door like a piece of paper being crumbled up.

The door was reduced to nothing but a ball of metal, before an appendage kicked away the cart. That was when Shadow Swirl entered the room in a less than appealing form. Her infamous four prong jaw split wide open, showing an inner mouth full of tiny sharp teeth. Her skin crawling through her blackened fur and even under her red eyes as she spotted her rude comrades. It was not a good idea to try and keep her away from such an occasions with the Cakes.

She snarled, her thorny string like tongue flickered, turning Fluttershy white. Before both her and Rarity fainted from the mere sight of Shadow's grotesque form. Typhoon was brave enough to try and be the one to talk honestly with Shadow, but with poor results.

"Now Shadow, you know that we respect your love of kids. But for something like this we needed to be as respectful and digni-"Typhoon was interrupted by Shadow slamming her right spider arm down on the top of his head till he was a good impersonation of a nail deep in the floor.

"Hey, that's uncalled for, lady! We didn't want to-"Thunder started only to get back hoofed across the jaw, and smashing through a window.

"Shadow, you will cool off before I gotta-"Orion was next to try and justify their actions, and his crystal armor defended his face from three punches she tried to nail him with.

Her punches were blunted and caused her to get a sore limb from the failed attack. Orion crossed his arms to be solid and make things look hopeless for Shadow when throwing her anger around. Until Shadow remembered one soft spot that Orion could not defend with his armor. It was as simple as a strong and swift kick between the legs that rattled his groin and made his intestines want to cave in. Orion groaned and fell forward holding his assaulted parts that ached.

With the three stallions down, she then looked to the group of terrified mares and newly made father. Her numerous teeth clicked and wriggled before her mouth slowly began to close up. Her jaws began to fuse back together while horns receded into her skull, and in that moment, it was over.

"Oh…my… Gosh…! Look at them all! Awe…!"Shadow immediately returned to her normal state in an instant, all thanks to the room full of babies that triggered the ultimate rush of adornment from the mare of darkness.

Such a sudden transformation from demon to pony was unheard of, but it happened. And before they knew it, Shadow rushed to the first baby she could see and started playing with it. But he was crying, as was the rest of the group of new borns, and it's all thanks to chaos with her comrades. Thankfully she had a more impressive and less scary ability when it came to children. And she wasted no time, as she started to gently shush the babies by letting her own shadow slink out to their beds.

They reached into the beds and got under the babies to levitate them a bit. Before they were then being rocked ever so nicely, allowing these children to relax from the sudden scare. Especially when Shadow then offered up a sudden song to help treat them to a small bit of love.

"Look at all these brand new faces… Have you ever seen something oh so gracious,"Shadow surprised them again by singing in front of them all for the babies,"Look at their eyes, that glitter like a sun rise…! Their smiles are a thing of beauty…!"

"First she's a demon and now she's actually going to sing…?"Applejack was still stuck back on the violence while Pinkie Pie suddenly cheered.

"Yay! It's time for a song!"Pinkie cheered and joined the fun.

"These are the faces of the future, both big and small. And it starts with happiness for you all,"Shadow picked one foal up and got her to stop crying by simply nuzzling it's tiny muzzle,"May these new faces grow up strong and free! Guarded and safe, full of glee!"

"So they can grow and smile and be! All they can be!"Pinkie joined in and gave her bubbly smile to the nearest foal she could see.

"Let your lives be full of love…! And full of fun…!"Shadow laid the filly down while lifting the babies up in her shadow and rocking them till their cries began to fade into curiosity.

"I hope to see you laugh and smile…! As you grow, we will see it from a mile…!"Shadow and Pinkie joined together as they comforted and smiled to every little foal that they made happy.

"We will be watching you…! As you grow! You will be so much more than you know!"The foals started giggling and reaching for the mares while their friends only looked on, not knowing how to feel.

"I wish I knew how to feel about what we were all watching…"Rainbow incited while the mares continued to sing, regardless of Mr Cakes blooming concerns about Shadow Swirl.

---

A whole month had then passed since the birth of these twin Cake miracles. Things got a bit more busy for the Cake couple, raising twins was not an easy task in the least, it took a lot of patience and dedication. Thankfully, these hard working ponies proved to be just that, and they had help. Pinkie Pie was more than willing to help where she could when it came to playing with the kids. This freed up some time for the Cakes to keep control of their business, which was financially vital.

So far, they did not require a babysitter for anything very important. Plus leaving their twins in the care of strangers made them worrisome, especially when one pony even offered to be a babysitter. Strangers were one thing, but Shadow Swirl proved to be a lot more for them to handle. They were shocked that she would even volunteer to be a babysitter, especially after seeing her true face. The face of a demon that would feed off tortured souls, how could such a monster even think of being trusted with children?

Those thoughts would haunt them, even to this very busy day in the town of Ponyville. It was business as usual, but a little bit more busy now that there were twins in the house. They were currently playing in the middle of the room while they were preparing to get some sweets ready. In a normal issue,they would have to juggle the kids while doing their chores for work. Thankfully, Pinkie Pie came out to keep them busy and play with them, but first a cheer to celebrate an occasion

"Happy monthiversary to you and to you! I can't believe you're already a month old,"Pinkie Pie exclaimed fast and bounced around spraying confetti on the happy foals,"Time sure flies, doesn't it, wow! Seems like only yesterday you were born! But now you're a month old, today! Hey!"

The babies cheered and celebrated, before they even got their own kazoos from Pinkie. They blew their kazoos to join in the celebration, and it brought smiles to their hard working parents. Which distracted them as Shadow Swirl entered the building to pick up an order Twilight put in.

"Are you ready for your favoritest game in the whole wide world,"Pinkie asked while Shadow chuckled at pinkie playing with the bright and beautiful foals,"Where's Pinkie Pie…? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie…? Here I am! Where's Pinkie Pie…? Here I am!"

"Oh… The faces of pure innocence… Something this world always needed…"Shadow sighed as Pinkie continued playing and made funny faces to make the babies laugh.

Suddenly, she then heard the sudden cease up of hooves on the counter she was at. The dark mare looked to see Mr Cake frozen in place and looking like a deer in head lights the moment he saw her. His bell even dropped from the counter and to Shadow's hooves, she kindly picked it up for him.

"A bit on edge with the twins are we?"Shadow put the bell back on the counter while the lanky stallion collected himself.

"Uh…no, not at all…! Just got a bit…spooked."Mr Cake admitted while swallowing and trying to appear professional again.

"Well, don't panic. It's only me, Carrot Cake…!"Shadow peeked over the counter to watch the foals, instilling a sudden fear in the stallion.

"That's…what I'm afraid of… Is there something I can help you with?"Carrot asked while masking his fear to do business with the mare.

"Twilight placed an order for cup cakes. She's attempting to start a book club, so she trusted me to get the sweets."Shadow explained her reason for being at Sugar Cube Corners.

"Oh… Yeah… I almost forgot…! Hang on a moment."Carrot Cake remembered and went to the kitchen to look for the cup cakes.

"Everything ok in here?"Mrs Cake passed right by her husband before pausing at the sight of Shadow Swirl.

"Everything is alright, Mrs Cake. Just picking up Twilight's cup cake order,"Shadow announced before she detected a less than savory scent piercing through the air of sweet treats,"Also the foals need their diapers changed."

"I got it, sweetie! Here's your cup cakes!"Mr Cake raced out and slid the box full of cupcakes right on the counter for Shadow.

Shadow took up her cup cakes, but she did not bother to leave, the twins already had her mind distracted. No matter the years or even centuries that passed, children and foals effected her all the same. Warming and strengthening her heart, which prevented the corruption of darkness from within. Pure innocence, that is what kept her heart pure, even in the most unholy and evil of times. It was sort of like she was getting her fill of just that, watching the twins happily be changed by their dad.

So far he seemed to know right away what to do when properly changing babies. Open diapers, wipe down the bottoms to cleanse remaining spots of filth, fold up old diapers and dispose accordingly. Shadow was more than happy to assist with that by grabbing the used diapers and making them incinerate in a bubble of darkness. They disappeared from sight, and Mr Cake was too focused to be scared thankfully. As he powdered down the foals, and wrapped them up nice and snug in new diapers.

"There we go! And uh… Thanks for the assist…!"The stallion tried to sound polite while looking to the door in confusion, wondering why she didn't leave yet.

"Of course! Did either of you decide on which form of feeding to go with?"Shadow asked curiously, creeping the Cakes out with her interest in the babies.

"We…went with the plain old artificial milk and bottle. Teet feeding was just too hard on Cup Cake…!"Mr Cake quickly answered and kept gesturing to the door.

"Speaking of which, is any pony hungry?"Cup Cake decided to break off from the nervous moment to feed the children.

"Ah, no thanks, I just had a big breakfast!"Pinkie admitted as Mrs Cake collected the twins and got their bottles out.

"Cup Cake, I smell short cakes starting to burn!"Carrot panicked the moment he spotted smoke from the kitchen.

"Oh dear…! I almost forgot!"Mrs Cake exclaimed before Shadow Swirl sneaked the bottles from her grasp with her shadows.

"Allow me…! You've got thirty five seconds before the short cakes burn."Shadow gave her the heads up while Mrs Cake panicked on both sides.

"No, that's perfectly fine…! I just need… Oh dear!"She panicked and bolted for the kitchen regardless of Shadow willing to help them.

With that, Shadow let her dark tendrils fly right into the kitchen to fill the bottles up with room temperature water. After filling them with at least four ounces worth of formula in the bottles. She mixed it all together and brought the bottles back out to double check their temperature. She then snaked her shadows around the foals and lifted them up, cradling them in swing like shadows. Where she was then able to feed them their milk, giving her the chance to stare at them with adornment.

While Mr Cake was sweating and trying not to panic now that she was holding them. The more he saw the darkness she controlled, the more it scared him with what she was capable of doing. But he was also scared to say anything, this made him torn between fear for himself and his babies.

Awe… Look at you…! Look at you…! Just two of the sweetest little faces I've ever seen…!"Shadow cooed at the babies as they drank till they had taken in all their milk.

"I know right? My days have been nothing but cuteness all around! It's so…GREAT,"Pinkie exclaimed as the twins finished but now struggled with the need to burp,"Oh, oh, you're making funny faces! I have one! Bleggh!"

"No, you see, Pinkie. Babies need to be burped."Mr Cake explained while taking up Pumpkin
Cake.

"Exactly, their gag reflexes haven't fully developed so they need help burping."Shadow explained while Carrot Cake was looking around for Pound Cake.

After a look around, he nearly had a stroke to see his son in Shadow's hooves. A flash of fearful thoughts entered his mind, Shadow could drain his soul, or just swallow him whole. Or perhaps her shadows would just drag him into Tartarus itself, yet all she did was give him little pats on the back with her shadow tentacles. It only took two rounds of three pats simultaneously patting his back. Before Pound Cake belched nice and loud, proving that he would have a strong appetite in the future.

"You may want to be ready with more milk and food in the future. This one's going to be an eater…!"Shadow suggested and cooed at the baby while Mr Cake slowly patted his daughter's back with a shaky hoof.

Thankfully, Pumpkin Cake was able to belch as well before Mr Cake cleared his throat. He politely chuckled to keep cool while walking to Shadow, fearing what she could possibly do. All he now had on his mind was get his son away from her, not wanting his child to have any part of what he once saw in the baby room.

"Ok…! Thank you for your…kind assistance…! I'll…take him off your hooves now."Mr Cake insisted as he made it over to Shadow and surprised her by distinctively scooping Pound Cake out of her hooves.

"Ok…! Would you like any help later on? I got plenty of free time…!"Shadow offered before she was given her cupcakes and suddenly found herself getting politely nudged out the door.

"No, that's quite alright. Me and Cup Cake can take it from here,"The lanky stallion frantically nudged her out the door to see her out,"I'm sure Twilight is wondering where those cup cakes are! Thanks for coming and helping, Shadow. Please have a good day!"

"Are you sure-"

Suddenly, the door was slammed shut to close her out, leaving the mare confused. She scratched her mane and looked down to the cup cakes, then it was back to the door, trying to figure out what happened. Carrot Cake's behavior was fearful and shaky, like he had seen a ghost or something. Sure he seemed concerned for his son, but what was there to fear when it was just the four of them in the building? Perhaps parenting and running a business at the same time has made them a bit stressed and edgy.

Back inside, Mr Cake was finally able to release of sigh of relief with his back against the door. He cradled his twins and looked into their adorable and sparkly eyes full of happiness. Knowing that they were the most important to him, and the worse of fiends would want to snuff out their innocence. The Cinders would absolutely love to burn away such cute little faces to ash. And after seeing what a true demon looked like, how could he even trust a pony like Shadow Swirl, one that thrives in the shadows of evil.

"I saved them! The short cakes are still good! Was everything ok out here?"Mrs Cake finally emerged with a pan of short cakes still golden brown to perfection.

"Everything was ok, Cup Cake… But…I think we need to talk about some things,"Carrot Cake decided that he and the Mrs needed to discuss some things,"Pinkie, you mind taking the twins upstairs to play with them while we're talking?"

"Sure! Come on silly filly and colt! Lets go upstairs and play!"Pinkie scooped up the Cake twins and ran upstairs with them to play some more.

"Thank you…! Now, sweetie? We need to discuss some things about…Shadow Swirl…"The stallion grimly stated with a need to address an issue they had with the pony of darkness.

---

Meanwhile, across the town, there laid the Ponyville School house just now getting out. The bell was ringing and the kids were pouring out of the school, ready to go home. While others were allowed to play around on the play ground and hang out with friends, a regular day for a school. At least that's how every pony hoped it would be, as Cheerlie was finishing some paper work. Only being able to watch most of the little ponies on the play ground through the window.

It could only offer so much for her, while others eluded her sight during play time. Snips and Snails were such a subject, as they finally acquired one of their greatest dreams yet. Playing with a girl, a sweet yellow filly with a poofy white mane and tail who had yet to get her cutie mark. Her pretty daisy yellow eyes made her almost hypnotic for the underachieving colts that drooled over her. And after learning her name, they were actually playing ball with the lovely little filly, a colt's dream come true.

So far she was pretty good with the ball, she could bounce on any surface without it touching the ground. She even tried a few tricks before kicking it back towards Snails, he giggled like a love sick child. Before He would knock it back towards Snips, who would then return it to her.

"Wow… You're really good with a ball, Pedals…!"Snails announced before she hit it up with her muzzle and knocked it back towards him, only to get knocked to his back from the ball.

"You're suppose to catch and pass the ball, not let it knock you for a loop!"Snips yelled but couldn't help but laugh at Snails failing to catch a ball.

"I can see loops if that's what you mean…!"Snails admitted in a daze before shaking his head to collect himself.

"That's alright, I should have waited till you were ready for it. Sorry about that."The filly giggled and gripped the slow colt's hoof to pull him to his hooves.

"Nothing to it! He takes knocks like that all the time! You can easily tell…!"Snips chuckled a bit and blushed, trying to cover up the embarrassment they were both feeling.

"Yup!"Snails randomly agreed, not processing what Snips just said.

The filly just laughed and brushed the dirt off Snails before he came to his senses. Then the colts were able to marvel at the filly, stricken with strong crushes for the lovely filly.

"You know… You two aren't really all that bad when it just comes to playing,"Pedals admitted while Snails laughed in a goofy and love stricken form,"Guess maybe the mischief is mostly for show, to avoid being bullied?"

"Yeeeeaaahh…maybe…! Hehe! It works sometimes, doesn't it?"Snips chuckled and playfully tried to defend the actions of Snails and himself.

"You two don't have to do that just to fit in. Just have a little fun with others! And don't try to act out and with the crowd,"The filly explained while the colts ruffled themselves full of feelings from her words,"Be friends, not followers! That's what my mom always tell me…!"

"Yeah…maybe…!"Snips thought before Snails noticed the last of the children going home.

"Hey! Every pony that stuck around are leaving!"Snails announced while the filly had an idea in mind.

"You guys wanna play a little more ball over at my house? My folks won't mind."She offered the two colts more fun times over at her place, this sparked more excitement.

"Sure! Where's the ball?"Snips wondered as they looked around for the ball's whereabouts.

After a quick look around the grass, they were getting a bit worried about it. Then Snails spotted it, then their concern turned into immediate nervousness, for the ball was in the worse spot. It sat nice and firmly at the edge of the forest, right under the shade that the trees cast over it. The three looked at each other with fear, the Ever Free forest remained a place to be deeply feared for the evil it housed. From vicious predators, to poisonous bugs, and who could forget the murderous Cinder ponies.

They all swallowed, knowing the dangers of the forest, as warned by parents and Cheerlie. Then Snips had a brave plan that involved a mere thick stick, and there was one right next to him. So he picked it up and got the two curious as he broke off a piece of the thick stick and start chewing on it. Grinding his jaws up and down on it, peeling back the bark and green layers. Till he was able to sharpen it down to a small spear like weapon, he then poked at the air with it for a test.

"What are you doing? That's a little dangerous, don't you think?"Pedal asked while Snips planted his make shift weapon into the ground.

"For a Cinder pony! The warriors all showed that they die if you stick them through the heart. Easy,"Snips explained with confidence and a cocky laugh,"One hit through the heart, and boom! They burst into flames and they're nothing but a pile of ash afterwards!"

"Wow…! You really think we can take a Cinder?"Snails asked while Snips kept on laughing confidently.

"How hard can it be? Now lets get Pedal's ball back!"Snips decided before they both noticed that Pedals already decided to go for it.

She was running for it, down a hill and then back up another one. The colts were quick to run after her, after Snips sighed lightly from missing his chance to impress her. Once she made it up the hill, the filly looked back to see the colts make it to her side to be her back up. They all then looked silently to the forest, already creepy noises and creaks from the trees sounded off. While leaves rustled with the activity ranging from squirrels to monkeys, and perhaps something even more.

She looked high and low, trying to see for any sort of danger lurking behind the darkness of the forest. So far darkness was the only thing they could all see in the forest, and Shadow Swirl made a good name for darkness. And Snips was at her side with his make shift spear at the ready. So she looked down to the ball that was nestled in the grass right at the edge, it seemed so easy. Pedals looked to Snails who just gave her a nervous smile, then to Snips, who tightened his grip on the weapon.

That was all the comfort she needed to be the one to approach the ball and reach for it. She swallowed and kept glancing back up to the darkness of the forest, then down to the ball. The creeping rustles and creaks of the trees putting her on edge and chilling her spine. The filly almost even broke into a sweat before she finally got a hoof around the ball, she took one last look to the forest. Listening to branches snapping in two before finally snatching the ball up in a flash.

All then went silent, as if it was all merely her imagination, at least that's what she hoped. Pedals looked down to the ball and finally felt she could release slow and easy breaths of relief. She brushed the ball off, disposing of leafs and dirt before turning to the colts with a smile.

"That was easy enough…! And we did it together! Thanks for the ba-"She paused the moment she saw the colts slowly going wide eye, while Snails was struggling to breath when sudden fear took a hold,"What…?"

A hoof had then suddenly slapped onto her back, it was warm and soft on her back. Yet her spine still turned to ice from the grip, she looked to her side, seeing what was their most feared scenario. A long ashy hoof and forearm reaching out from the darkness, she lightly gasped and look to the darkness. She had even dropped the ball, letting it roll pass the colts down the hill.

"Oh no…"Those words left her lips before a fiery face emerged from the shadows.

She barely got a look at the obvious attacker, she could only see his eyes. One was full of flame and coal like substances, while the other looked to be full of nothing but bright red blood. Then the next thing the filly saw was a large mouth stretching nice and big like a python. Allowing three rows of gnarled blade like teeth made of shiny obsidian to peel his lips back and be shown. Before those long teeth sunk deep into her left back leg, her flesh was like butter being sliced by his jaws.

She let out a pained scream the moment those very jaws even severed the bone and ultimately tore her leg off. Causing the filly to drop onto her belly from the shock and the burning pain. The colts screamed while she tried crawling to him, crying and panicking, this only amused her attacker. As he slowly walked out, revealing himself to be a Cinder, but this one was something different. The moment Snips saw the Cinder, he went with the first thing that came to mind, go for the heart.

While Snails grabbed the filly's front hooves, Snips charged at the large mouthed Cinder. The colt war cried, giving out all the courage he could mustered to defend their new friend. His blood filled eye darted at him before Snips rammed the weapon clean through his chest. The mysterious Cinder paused and groaned, as if his heart had been destroyed right then and there. Snips panted and twisted his weapon in the Cinder's chest, making sure that he had gotten the ashen pony.

His hope for slaying the Cinder had then turned to ash as the Cinder suddenly chuckled. His head held low at first, but then he lifted it back up and showed his wicked smile full of chuckles. Snips felt his face drop, for the Cinder was not dying, and it found the colt's attempt on his life humorous.

"You would go for that wouldn't you, flesh pile…?!"The Cinder taunted with a voice that rattled and gave off a serpent like tone.

Snips quickly yanked the weapon out, as the Cinder winded up his left hoof. Allowing four sudden hook like talons to sprout from the sides of his hoof, before swinging it backwards. Back hoofing the colt before he had a chance to try and use the weapon again, Snips flipped like a doll in the air. His cheek got all cut up by the talons before face planting in the grass, completely out cold. Snails only yelped and whimpered while trying to drag Pedals away from the forest and to the school.

The Cinder only snickered and shook his head while casually walking over to them. It's talons twitched with anticipation, while a growl rattled through his teeth like a blood thirsty cougar. The crunching of grass under his hooves before they would blacken and scorch into dust. It was a horrid sound to hear, as Snails tried desperately to drag the crying filly away from danger. Only to feel her get stopped cold like a stone, he looked down to see the Cinder's hoof on her back again.

She let out a blood curdling stream the moment his hooks suddenly plunged into her back. Keeping the filly in place as the Cinder head butted Snails off her and onto his flank. He yelled and panicked, rubbing his forehead before he would try to make a grab for Pedals again. Only to meet face to face with the Cinder himself, who just gave him a sickening grin. The ferocious ash pony then open his jaws, flashing his blood soaked obsidian teeth, letting a shrill demonic roar erupt.

Fire burned from deep down it's throat, glowing like hell fires that burned poor souls. Snails looked away, and that was the cue the Cinder needed to acquire it's prize. The weeping filly only cried out the moment she felt the monstrous pony sink his teeth into her back. Leaving Snails barely able to look back before the Cinder dragged the filly violently to the forest. Letting blood splatter on his face and all over the grass, it even painted the bushes and the leafs before she was pulled into the darkness.

"MOMMY!"She desperately cried out before Pedals's voice was lost to the dead silence of the forest.

Snails sat there trembling with specs of blood on his face while a large trail of blood was before him. It lead into the forest where the filly was surely being killed or worse from within. He looked to his right to see Snips out cold still and sporting two nasty cuts on his cheek. Everything was silent around him as his breath shortened and a mix of sorrow and absolute fear burned in his head. It made breathing almost impossible, as he panted and lost all train of thought, there was almost nothing he could do.

Finally, Snails simply sat back and finally began whimpering and tearing up. He reared back and erupted with wailing cries and child like tears, calling out loud for help from an adult. He yelled and cried as loud as he could, grieving for the new friend he had just lost to a monster. Snails would continue to cry out for help, till Cheerlie finally heard his cries of anguish. Before she herself would arrive to his aid, and witness the aftermaths of the horror that had befallen an innocent filly.

---

Back across town, Shadow Swirl had finally arrived home to the library with the cupcakes. Knowing Spike and a couple other ponies, her being late with the sweets wasn't the best idea. But after being oddly pushed out of Sugar Cube Corner, she was in a bit of a conflict. The Cakes really seemed shaky and nervous around her, and there was no noticeable reason for it. Reading their shadows, neither one of the Cakes had a bad bone in their body, they were as sweet as the treats they made.

Yet they were so on edge and even a bit shaky around her, especially with the twins nearby. She was no threat to the twins, many of the ponies around Ponyville came to know her as a gentle child lover. Especially after she had rescued all the children in town from Discord's prison. So why were these two so nervous around her? There shouldn't need to be any worries, should there?

"What was up with those two? Parental stress kicking in perhaps,"She thought and shrugged, deciding to ponder on the thought a little later,"Whatever it is, I'll go back tomorrow and talk to them about it."

With that, she opened the door and entered to see every pony already sitting down with books. Fluttershy, Twilight, Orion, Typhoon, and shockingly enough, Tremoring Quake had even come for a visit. And he required a oak wood and steel reinforced chair to sit down without issues. They all slowly turned to see Shadow entering with the cupcakes, it was deeply relieving. Typhoon seemed to be dealing with a small case of the sweet tooth, as did Fluttershy.

"I got em boys! You can all rest easy now…!"Shadow announced before Typhoon tossed his book in the air and groaned with sweet hunger.

"About time you got back. You were messing around with the Cake's new twins, weren't you?"Typhoon ranted and rushed over to take the cupcakes off Shadow's hooves.

"Maybe just a bit… They're really something special those two,"Shadow admitted while taking a seat next to Orion and getting her book out,"Mr and Mrs Cake on the other hoof seemed a bit on edge. They got crazy while I was over and playing with them…!"

"Gee… I wonder why that is…?"There was deep sarcasm in Tremoring's voice as he shook his head at Typhoon and Fluttershy feasting on two pairs of cupcakes.

"What's that suppose to mean?"Shadow questioned while staring mused like at the pony of stone.

"Let's see, pony that works and thrives in the shadows. Has a demon queen within her,"Tremoring was very blatant with his explanation, for he was more than capable of defending himself against any pony's wrath,"Uses magic that was always used for pure evil, and you don't know those two as well as most others."

"I was just going to say no pony likes a random stranger messing with their kids."Orion admitted before taking a thrown book in the back of his head, making him sigh.

"I'm aware of what I am, I have had two thousand years to know who I am,"Shadow decided to defend herself, though even Twilight could not fully agree with her,"And I have spent that time making a name for myself and all of you. Ponies should know by now who and what I fight for, and unless you're some creep or vile cretin with great sins. They should have nothing to fear from me…!"

"In a way they do… That's just how it is… No matter what, there will be ponies out there that will not trust you and will fear you,"Tremoring continued on and spoke of his own experience from the day his stone skin first formed painfully around his being,"Take it from me… You can't convince every pony that you are not a freak…"

"How about you just speak for your own bucking self you-"Shadow spat, only to get cut off by Orion.

"That's enough…! We'll save the conversations about the thoughts of others for another time,"Orion sternly demanded that the issue was dropped to keep tensions low,"Twilight? What's the book that we're discussing for today?"

"We are discussing the biography book on a particularly surprising biography on Star Swirl the Bearded,"Twilight showed it off, and Orion, Typhoon, and Shadow Swirl suddenly erupted with laughter,"What? It's just one of his first biographies talking about when he came of age and learned the near overwhelming lesson of sexuality itself."

"That's what makes it funny! The old timer actually did not know what his dinger was used for other than bathroom needs!"Typhoon laughed and almost even wheezed a bit.

"He was terrified when he learned it was part of making foals…!"Orion chuckled and held his chest to try and control himself.

"The reason that old stallion never settled down or barely even bothered with ladies…!"Shadow was the first one to finally get a hold of her laughter.

"Really? He was that sensitive about sexual orientation?"Twilight asked.

"Yes…! He was more shy about the subject than this green prude back in the day."Orion gestured to Typhoon, earning himself a sharp look of no amusement from Typhoon.

"Which is honestly, just ridiculous. There's no need to be so prude or indirect about the subject,"Tremoring voiced his honest opinion about how sexual orientation should work,"Just tell ponies when they're at the right age, and let them explore it safely in their own way."

"Thank you…!"Shadow chimed in after Tremoring admitted their common ground on the subject.

"Well, this book club is off to an…interesting start."Twilight admitted, only for quite the cold and sudden interruption.

Suddenly, Tremoring,Orion, and Shadow Swirl jumped out of their seats in silence. Both Orion could see it in their eyes, their identical gem like eyes that saw many things around town. While Shadow's shadow tingled and felt a disturbance from half across the town, the taste of blood hit her tongue. A sign that meant that blood had been spilled, blood that belonged to the innocent. And the location it was coming from was the last place she ever hoped for murder to happen.

"What is it?"Twilight asked before the three warriors immediately went for the door.

"Hey! What's going on? What just happened?"Spike ranted while Tremoring and Shadow went out the door, leaving Orion to answer.

"Something bad just happened at the Ponyville schoolhouse…! Typhoon, stay with the mares."Orion was quick to respond before heading out the door.

The warriors rushed over as fast as they could, thoughts rushed through their mind. An attack an hour or so after broad day light was bold of any fiend, especially when it's an attack on a child. So far Shadow could not feel any anything, other than a crowd waiting for them at the school. So that was going to be loads of fun to deal with, and even before the drama that would unfold. Already there was a lot of worried and even fearful ponies hanging around, gossiping about what happened.

Eventually they manage to make it to the schoolhouse just in time for the sun to start setting. And as a terrible omen, the sun glared with blood red tint, warning of blood being spilled this day, Almost immediately after arrival up the hill, there were several adults gathered outside the school. Two of which was Big Macintosh and Applejack, who kept Apple Bloom very close to them. While Cheerlie looked like she was on the ropes, dealing with scared and angry parents.

The warriors looked to each other, knowing that only more chaos was coming. So they needed to get in there and snuff out the flames before they spread, easier said than done. But they all dealt with crazed crowds before, plus Tremoring was a walking fifty stallion riot brigade at the ready. So they rushed in and shoved a couple parents aside to get in front of Cheerlie to give her a hoof. For it only took one glance to see she was emotionally exhausted from the drama, and witnessing the crime's aftermath.

"Our children are clearly not safe! Not with those monsters watching them from the forest edge!"

"Those warriors need to get off their flanks and do something!"

"No pony is safe while those monsters still linger outside our homes!"

"We're sick and tired of being lambs to their slaughter!"

"Alright, that's enough! Back it up a bit! Back up,"Orion finally hollered while Tremoring gladly nudged some of the rowdy parents back for some space,"Now! Mind telling us what the hay happened here!?"

"Thank Celestia…! A filly was attacked, injured and dragged into the forest…!"Cheerlie struggled to explain what had occurred earlier while trying not to get more emotional about the situation.

"Was it a Cinder?"Orion asked the more obvious first question, knowing of their neighbors of the forest.

"That's what Snips and Snails say… They tried to help her, but this Cinder was too strong,"Cheerlie explained while looking over to the colts that were now wrapped in blankets watching the forest from a hill,"Snips even swore he stabbed the Cinder in the heart, but he didn't die…"

All this sounded abnormal, and with Snips and Snails as the witnesses, they weren't known for always being truthful. But Shadow Swirl looked to Orion and nodded, telling him that this so far felt truthful. With that, they needed to calm down the crowd while investigating the scene.

"Where did the attack happen?"Shadow asked while watching the two colts that witnessed an evil crime.

"Over there, at the edge of the forest. You won't miss it…"Cheerlie pointed to the right where the colts sat right before the forest.

"Got it… Tremoring, you and I gotta talk to these ponies make them go home,"Orion instructed in hopes of calming down the situation before it dared to get too hectic,"Shadow, go check it out, see what you can learn."

"Good luck trying to calm down the mother…"Tremoring morbidly responded and gestured to a yellow mare with her dirty blond mane blowing in the wind as she looked out to the forest.

Orion sighed, and patted Tremoring's shoulder before casually walking to the mare. Leaving Tremoring to talk the crowd down and keep them from getting rowdy, easy to do when made of stone. Hitting him usually results in bruised or even broken hooves, or even dislocated legs. Thankfully, all it took was a couple promises to get the crowd calm and listening. While Orion slowly made it to the mare's side, watching as tears streamed from her green eyes while her hooves went over her heart.

He remained silent, wondering what to say to a mother that just lost her child. This was truthfully less known territory for the prince, in two thousand years he's only been in twenty situations like this. Usually Shadow handled sensitive situations, but now he had no choice but to offer some sort of closure.

"The Cinders only dig their holes deeper and deeper. Asking for complete annihilation,"Orion started out softly in hopes of seeming more inviting to the distraught mother,"Now they've crossed the line, and they will be hunted down for this. Your daughter will get the justice she deserves…"

"These ponies… They show no fear… They show no care or compassion. Yet they look so much like us,"The mother went on a sudden sorrowful whim about the difficult to understand behavior of the Cinders,"How could these ponies be so cruel to their own kind… To a child no less…?"

Orion was ready to defend the idea that the Cinders weren't truly ponies due to their cruelty. But then when he thought about it, the Cinders weren't truly much different from ponies in old Equestria. Maybe they were actually ponies, ponies that simply longed for the old way. But now was not the time for thinking of such things, not when there's a mother now falling to her belly and weeping. Orion could only kneel to her side and let the mare put her head against his chest as he held her.

"Why would any pony want to hurt a child?!"She cried for some sort of answer to her daughter's tragedy.

"I don't know…"Orion finally answered with the only answer he could give, though it was one he didn't want to give.

Meanwhile, Shadow stood onto the edge of the Ever Free forest to begin her investigation. She first peered into the darkness, trying to feel out for anything that lingered near by. So far there was nothing, so she knelt down and investigated the scene, it was quite the bloody mess. A deep upset for Shadow, for this warned that the chances of survival were next to none for the filly. Blood all over the bushes and tree leafs, and a moderate trail of blood leading into the forest, this didn't feel like a Cinder attack.

Cinders were in fact anarchistic killers, but even they weren't this messy with kills. This seemed more like an animal attack rather than a Cinder, splattered blood usually meant a strong struggle. While the predator would rip and tear into it's victim till it stopped moving, this was all too strange. Then she found the shocking proof she needed to see, traces of ash in the blood trail. She swept a sample of the blood onto her hoof, before bringing it to her face for a sniff and a taste.

"This was wild and uncontrolled… Even for fiery murderers like you,"Shadow spoke before wiping the blood onto her tongue and closing her eyes,"Show me what you saw child… What kind of Cinder was this…?"

She focused, letting her magic grow around her horn as she dove deep into the blood. Letting it's owners final memories become her own, before the magic went from purple to black. Turning her eyes bright white as they snapped open, and the filly's memories became almost clear. The playing that she did with Snips and Snails, to the three of them running to the forest edge. Snips did in fact seem to be confident wielding a sharpened branch as a weapon, a child's ambition tended to be strong.

They were retrieving something from the woods, the filly managed to retrieve it. She turned around, and that's when she was attacked, the move was blinding fast like a predator. She screamed the minute the Cinder sunk shocking rows of sharp teeth into her leg. Severing the leg clean off like a hot blade going through soft tissue, she fell to the grass, and Snips attacked. A clean poke through the chest, but the Cinder was not stopped in his tracks or killed.

Talons came out, another new feature from a Cinder, and he sent Snips flying with a back hoof. With the colt out of the way, the Cinder made like a sadistic predator and went for his prey. Snails tried to be brave, but a Cinder with the violent instinct of an enraged predator was too much. He was able to wrestle the filly away and drag her with his teeth deep in her back all the way into the woods. A couple minutes after she entered the dark forest, she blacked out, and that's where it needed to end.

Shadow shocked out of the memory trans, and looked around to retain her hold on reality. First she reached around the bloody trail, looking for the leg that was severed off in the struggle. But it was nowhere to be seen, the Cinder must have taken it for a source of food, clearly he seemed to be a flesh eater.

"These children are in danger… There's a predatory Cinder hunting children,"Shadow shuddered with a cold breath and a heart that was growing heavy,"We need to fence or block this forest off, keep the children inside and supervised at all times when outside…!"

She deeply sighed and stood back up, knowing what needed to be done for the future. She then turned to leave, only to notice a little ball at the bottom of a hill with a spot of blood on it. The dark mare was about to walk to the ball to pick it up, seeing as it was the item they tried to achieve. Only to pause in her place the moment when two certain some ponies found it first. Snails himself was one of those two ponies, who could not help but retrieve the toy their newest friend played with.

The lanky colt was slow to pick the ball up, his emotions were bursting from their walls. The moment he took up the ball and looked at it, he immediately remembered her smiling face. It was the cutest thing he and Snips ever saw, even after the Ursa Minor incident, she still liked them. She wanted to play with them, and show them friendship and forgiveness for their mistakes. Now it was all taken away by a monster, a flesh hungry fiend that ambushed them, and savaged her.

Snails finally bean to broke down, huffing and breathing shaky like with emotion. Looking at the ball that no longer had an owner, this was the harder and more painful side of Shadow's job. Watching as a colt broke down over his lost friend, tears dropped as he struggled to breath. Shadow was quiet to approach, as Snips got to his friend's side to hug him. This caught the attention of some adults, including the mother, and even Apple Bloom, they could see the pain he was feeling.

Snails choked on sobs and placed his head on the ball as he started to weep. Shadow made it to his side, while Apple Bloom came up from behind, ready to give some support to the colts. While the adults looked on in silence and grief, knowing that children suffered this day more than any one else. Finally, Snips hugged his friend's chest, Apple Bloom hugged Snails from behind. And Shadow got to their side and slowly embraced them all together, gently shushing and trying to keep them calm.

"It's alright… Shh…. It's ok, Snails… It's over now…"She whispered sweet somethings while comforting the colts.

"This was a tragic day for this town. I had no idea how in danger this place was,"Tremoring thought as some of the other adults came in to show support,"I need to get back to Pinkie and the Cakes… There's something I must discuss with them."

This was important, but Tremoring was willing to wait till every pony was done grieving. Shadow would be the last one to leave, along with Snips and Snails, who needed to be carried home. Orion ultimately decided that him and Cheerlie had to close the school for a couple days. At least until parents went over some serious precautions about the forest, making sure such a tragedy was not repeated. Even Tremoring agreed to this precaution approach, he unfortunately needed to wait till tomorrow to talk to Pinkie and the Cakes.

For he had gotten home shortly after midnight, by then every pony was asleep. Even the Cake twins were sound asleep by then, so he had no choice but to go to bed himself. Tomorrow was his last day to spend with Pinkie before he needed to return to the rock farm, and he didn't want to leave until he knew Pinkie would be safe.

So the walking pony of stone settled down and slept in the reinforced chair for the rest of the night. Hoping for a better tomorrow after the tragedy that befell this town, every pony needed a break. He was a quiet sleeper surprisingly enough, undisturbed, and unfazed by anything around him. Tremoring may have been a quiet sleeper, but he was also a deep sleeper, almost able to sleep through everything. Even through most of the morning, when the Cakes were just opening up the store.

Mrs Cake was even willing to just sweep the floors all around Tremoring, allowing him to keep sleeping. While Mr Cake was feeding the twins simultaneously, he didn't seem to be bothering any pony. So it was only hours after the shop opened that Pinkie Pie decided to be the wake up call. That easily happened with a few whistles, and a sudden blast from the party cannon. Tremoring snapped his eyes opened, and let them scan the area, only to spot Pinkie right in his face with her bubbly smile.

"Gooooood MORNING POPS! It's our last day before you have to go home! We gotta have a party,"She blew on her party whistle while Tremoring brushed off the confetti from her party cannon,"We'll celebrate your last day, and your last day of your FIRST time with the Cake twins! And put a few smiles on some sad kiddies faces!"

"Pinkie… I'm not sure if I'm up for a party. Last night was a very heavy and upsetting time,"Tremoring sighed and fixed his hat before slowly getting out of his chair,"I'd like to talk with you about some things, in case the issue with the Cinders worsen."

"Maybe another time! But first we gotta turn all this frowns upside down!"Pinkie admitted and hopped off to start her happy train with the Cake twins.

"Oh Pinkie… Too innocent for your own good sometimes…"Tremoring sighed, seeing Pinkie as an innocent pony that appeared to merely ignore when danger was looming.

"So is it true what we've been hearing about last night? Was a kid really attacked last night?"Mrs Cake asked while taking her opportunity to make cake better for some birthdays.

"Attacked and most likely killed, by an abnormal Cinder…! Much like the one princess Luna fought,"Tremoring admitted while spotting a whistling teapot he could go to for some tea,"It was a mess over there, Shadow had to comfort the two colts that witnessed it for hours till they were willing to go home."

"Goodness…! What kind of pony would do that to children…?"Mr Cake wondered while rocking the two foals in his arms to let them take a small nap.

"Pops…? Is that true? Is there kids being attacked by the Cinders?"Pinkie slowly caught onto his conversation and looked to her stone made ancestor for honesty.

"Yes… And I do not know. School has been canceled for a few days for children to be given precautions from now on,"Tremoring explained and walked to one of the twins to see them sleeping,"Every pony is also being asked to never be left alone, even in their houses."

"Has it really gotten that bad?"Mrs Cake asked while trading the babies for her husband so he could get the cakes baking with cupcakes on the side.

"If a Cinder is bold enough to attack and drag a child into the forest when she's in a group, absolutely,"Tremoring nodded and admitted that such a thing was starting to happen,"This bold one might even be willing to bust into homes if given the opportunity. Every pony must remain safe at all times."

The Cakes seemed to understand his sincerity, after all they were parents now. So this meant their babies could very well be in danger if the Cinders are even targeting children. So they got the message, but he felt that Pinkie required a bit more of a serious warning. For he was aware that the elements of harmony were on the hit list as well, their friendship and harmony was to be incinerated to ash. So for the sake of the elements, and his own family, he needed to emphasize it for Pinkie.

"These Cinders are growing more bold and smarter. They're even finding ways to cover up their soft spots,"He approached Pinkie slowly and grabbed her shoulders to talk real with her,"So you need to be careful… You may be a bringer of harmony, but that doesn't mean you can't die… So you be careful…"

"I will, pops…"Pinkie lowered her ears and spoke quietly, knowing how worrisome Tremoring can be when it comes to his family's safety.

"And we will as well. We appreciate your concern for our well being, Tremoring."Mrs Cake admitted before something suddenly hit Mr Cake like a train.

"Wait a minute! What's today?"Mr Cake asked before looking to the calendar and suddenly screaming.

"What is it, sugar lump?"Mrs Cake asked as the stallion came barreling out with catering boxes filled with sweets.

"We completely forgot about the super big catering order we got from Canterlot, Cup Cake,"He exclaimed while bringing out a cart to sit all the goods on,"We were so caught up with the babies we forgot about it!"

"Oh dear! What do we do?! There's so many things we need to prep and deliver!"Mrs Cake worried before the real problem needed to be addressed, regarding the twins.

"Quick, honey bon! We need to find a babysitter to watch the foals while we take care of this!"The stallion admitted that they needed a baby sitter to watch their twins.

"I could do it! I wanna do it! Oh, the babies love playing with me! I'll do it!"Pinkie exploded with excitement and made a bit of a last minute suggestion.

"I wonder who would be available on such short notice?"Mrs Cake thought before Tremoring cleared his throat to have his idea heard.

"Pinkie is a good play mate for the children, but if you're looking for a babysitter, Shadow Swirl would be perfect,"Tremoring suggested the last pony the Cakes would trust with their twins,"Never will you know a mare that's better with kids than her. She's strong and compassionate when I-"

"Let us stop you right there, Tremoring. We understand that you have much respect for your fellow warrior."Mr Cake cleared his own throat and tried to stat this off politely and with respect.

"But we can't trust her around the twins. We…saw what she becomes and…we just can't trust that around our foals…!"Mrs Cake refused the assistance of a pony they grew to fear almost as much as a Cinder.

"I'm…sorry…? You actually fear her demon queen?"Tremoring questioned and actually showed a bit of shock for Shadow being shot down.

"Well…yeah…! Did you see what she looks like when she turns into that…thing?"Carrot Cake asked while Tremoring sniffled with lack of amusement.

"I always thought she looked really funny and even scary cool! With her whole mouth opening up in several ways, and horns on her head,"Pinkie laughed and giggled and made faces, trying to imitate what Shadow looked like,"Then she goes from edgy to super duper sweet, like no pony knew she's got a big black scary monster in her!"

"And I've fought alongside Shadow for almost two thousand years, and her demon has never been a threat,"Tremoring added and truthfully did not approve of such mistrust for his comrade,"The only ponies that ever had to fear her are the ones that would dare to hurt your foals… Shadow would rather die than see a child get hurt."

"Please try to understand. We're still new to parenting and we need to be cautious. Especially after hearing about what happened at the school," Mrs Cake insisted that they were not interested in trusting Shadow Swirl with their kids,"We just can't trust anything dark and dangerous around our children. She's better off staying away from the twins…!"

"Well…I can watch the twins if you'd like…!"Pinkie tried volunteering for the Cakes as the babysitter once more.

"You know, ponies for the longest time thought the same about me… Just because I looked monstrous, being made of stone,"Tremoring approached slowly and whispered deeply into the ears of both Cakes,"I was considered just as much of a freak as her… You don't seem to be as fearful of me as you do her…!"

As he voiced his final words on the subject, he looked down and notice something. At first it appeared to be just a long black snake, but then it tore itself off from Mrs Cake's shadow. Before scurrying towards the door, immediately, Tremoring knew what was going on. He had seen this basic spy trick so many times from his comrade, it was almost impossible to miss if you were her friend. Shadow Swirl had eavesdropped on the whole thing, and there was no knowing how she felt about it.

"Now excuse me for a moment… I have things to do…!"Tremoring insisted before nudging them aside and going out the door.

Upon swinging the doors open, he looked around, and spotted Shadow rushing away from him. Where she was going made little to no sense, it looked like she was going towards Rarity's boutique. He was expecting a bit more emotion, and perhaps desperation to get a drink. So he ran after her, chasing her down till they had just then arrived to the boutique, not a sound was made by Shadow. So he needed to rush to her the moment she slowed down to go for the door.

She was breathing deeply as the dark mare reached for the knob, then Tremoring struck. Rushing in front of her and nudging her hoof away from the door and standing tall before her. Leaving Shadow to sigh and growl, trying to compose herself and hide just how upset she was.

"I tried to make a good rep for you, but they didn't want to hear it. I'm sorry…"He responded so suddenly and admitted his sympathies with what was spoken about her.

"It's nothing, they don't like me! They're looking out for the twins, I respect that! Please move,"Shadow quickly spoke with a small huff and tried to get around Tremoring to get into the boutique,"I need to pick up something Rarity made for the mother and father of the filly that was killed yesterday."

"Shadow, I'm sorry it didn't work out, but I did tell you about this,"Tremoring insisted and kept standing in her way so he could talk to her,"No matter what you do, you can't convince every pony that you're not a monster when you have something in you, or in my case, around you. Ponies will fear you regardless!"

"Get out of my way, Tremoring…! I don't…need! To get lectured about my bucking demon,"Shadow started trying to shove and find away around her stone of a friend,"Now get the buck out of my way! For buck sake! MOVE!"

"I just admit it, and come to terms with it. Before the grief eats away at your heart, and makes it vulnerable to the darkness,"Tremoring insisted as he nudged her back to make sure she didn't run away from reality,"You know that's what will happen. So you know what you-"

Instantly, a black spider leg sprang from her hoof and crushed him into the dirt. Shadow had gone full pitch black and red eyed, showing that she was done being patient about her comrades sad but real view of things. She screeched and tried to make sure he was buried in the ground. Only for Tremoring to slowly stand up and lift her leg up and off him with barely a struggle. She tried pushing harder, hoping to over power the stone pony, but overpowering Tremoring was virtually impossible.

This only lead him to smash into her and force the mare against the boutique wall. Pinning her against it while her legs tried jabbing at him to force him off, but even she couldn't pierce his stone body. He could only put a slight squeeze on Shadow and wait out the lash out to burn out. Their struggled started to shake the house and rouse up the ponies inside. Rarity burst out of her house, leaving customers to hide in their new dresses and suits, while she assessed the issue.

"What in the world?! This is my boutique, not an arena!"

Rarity gasped in horror to see Shadow half changed into the form of the demon queen. Only to be held against the wall and restrained by Tremoring, he was unwavering, unmoved, and solid as stone. He merely sighed, and continued waiting, even as kicks started nailing him in the head. He merely shook them off and waited some more, until finally she was losing steam. She still tried to bite and swing, but she was losing energy and getting slow, her limbs were even starting to cramp.

"Unhoof her immediately and break this up! This is no way to treat a lady!"Rarity demanded, seeing there was no way for Shadow to get out of her struggle and starting to falter.

"Not until she stops fighting and accepts reality!"Tremoring denied before suddenly rearing back, and sufficing a headbutt that finally ended it.

This cracked Shadow's nose up, and drew blood as he let her go to fall on her flank. Shadow tried to keep herself up and against the wall, panting and trying to control herself. While assessing her bloody nose and slowly looking up to her stone comrade, who stared solemnly down to the injured warrior.

"I'm sorry… I had thoughts and desires to make every pony accept me for what I was without fear or hate,"Tremoring admitted that his thoughts were just like Shadow's in some ways from the old days,"There was only so many I could convince that I was no threat or monster… The reality is… You can't convince every pony of who you really are, and it's not your place to make them change their ways just so you can be accepted…"

His ears drooped while Shadow just kept staring at him with shock as she held her broken nose. Now that she was thinking more clearly, she remembered Tremoring's grief more than anything. The pain he endured as his skin peeled away while the remains harden into dense stone. Then being labeled as a stone monster that could not die or be harmed, to many, he was a freak. And at one point, Tremoring believed it himself, he knew this cruelty more than any pony else.

"Accepting it will make you better off and stronger. Rather than live thinking you can change everything,"Tremoring insisted before walking away to return to Pinkie Pie,"And think that every pony will accept you…"

Shadow only sat there panting and collecting her thoughts from the tense tussle. Once her thoughts had been collected and her breathing stabilized, all she could do was think ever so deeply. Rarity watched as the mare's head lowered before she gripped at it with her hooves, the stress and emotion settled in. As frustrating as it was, Tremoring's words had merit to them. She had a demon in her, and nothing is scarier than a demon, how could she expect every pony to just accept and not fear it.

She trembled and shuddered, her heart ached from the reality she finally needed to accept. Many mares would just cry, but this was not a game any more, and she was far from a child. She was a symbolized protector of children, and regardless of what some thought about her, Shadow had to remain as such.

"Are you ok, darling? He didn't hurt you too bad, did he? I can go after that brute if-"Rarity was stopped by Shadow simply shaking her head and slowing down her breathing.

"No… He's right… I keep forgetting that I'm different from the average pony,"Shadow slowly stood back up and wiped her nose till the bleeding stopped,"I'm…an immortal mare, warrior, and carrier of a demon queen. I… Can't convince every pony that I'm no threat…"

"Oh… Come on in, Shadow. Lets at least clean you up and get you something a drink."Rarity insisted and grabbed Shadow's arm to take her into the boutique.

Before the Cakes themselves would show up, hoping for assistance from Rarity.

Meanwhile, Tremoring finally made it back to Sugar Cube Corner. He was still a bit heavy in his stone heart from the trouble that ensued, he could use some positive vibes from Pinkie Pie. She knew how to make ponies feel better after some hard times came and went for others. It killed him to be that guy, but Shadow needed to be reminded who she was and what she was. As hard as it was to accept, it was better than trying to pretend that you were completely the same as others, that's simply lying to yourself.

He remained silent, thinking of everything that's happened so far in his visit. It already felt like he was causing all this chaos to unfold, his cynical and practical sense of the world always was a magnet for negativity. It just wasn't easy for him to be positive or hopeful, even as a warrior. The world simply just showed too much cruelty to him, hope was simply not an easy thing for Tremoring to grasp. He needed to see so much more before he would be a believer of such things.

These thoughts slowed his walk all the way back to Sugar Cube Corner. And once he had finally arrived, there was a small change in the atmosphere from inside the building. Something was happening inside, it didn't feel either good or bad, but it did feel very strange and unnerving. He swung the door open and there he saw Pinkie holding the two twins in her hooves. While she the Cakes were going down a list of things that the babies required, but that was meant for a babysitter.

"Now, Pinkie Pie. Are you sure you really understand the responsibility of watching over two babies?"Mr Cake asked of the pink pony while Tremoring tensed up from their question.

"I can be responsible! Why, responsibility is my middle name! Pinkie Responsibility Pie!"pinkie defended her ability to be responsible for something as important as babies.

"Actually, It's Pinkamena Diane Pie…! And what exactly is going on here?"Tremoring decided to chime in to demand answers that would assess what he saw.

"I'm going to be responsible, pops! I'm gonna be in charge of the twins!"Pinkie responded while Tremoring went wide eye, and his dropped jaw was hidden behind his coat collar.

"Remember, this time you have to take CARE of them, not just play with them. You have to be responsible."Mrs Cake emphasized on the required responsibility Pinkie needed for this babysitting gig.

"Yes, I know. I will. I am."Pinkie answered while Tremoring groaned, completely void of all hope for this to work.

The two Cakes quickly rushed off to get the list of things to do while they were gone. Leaving Pinkie to cradle the twins with excitement, knowing that she was an official babysitter. But Tremoring was more fearful than proud, Pinkie could be a lot of things, but responsible was not known to be one of them.

"Tell me this is some sort of joke, Pinkie. You can't handle twin foals…!"Tremoring exclaimed, struggling to process that Pinkie was doing something way out of her field of expertise.

"Of course I can! I'm responsible! I play with kids every day, and host their birthdays…!"She chirped and defended her confidence that she could care for foals.

"Playing and caring are two different things, Pinkie. Caring for one foal is difficult enough, but you have twins here,"Tremoring argued and insisted upon making Pinkie realize her mistake here,"For the love of Celestia, trust this responsibility to a pony more qualified…!"

"There is no pony else available. They're either busy or staying home with their kids! They really got scared by that Cinder attack,"pinkie explained and caught Tremoring before he could say what her Pinkie sense was warning her about,"And the Cakes already, emphasized that…"Shadow Swirl can not be trusted around our kids, please keep a look out and ask her to leave if she tries to bother them"."

Tremoring's blank stare slowly furrowed into a disapproving glare for the impersonation. It was one thing not liking some pony for what they were, but mocking and spreading distaste for his comrade felt too wrong to ignore. Unfortunately, he needed to swallow his feelings for when the Cakes entered again.

"Oh, here you are, deary. All your responsibilities are on this list."Mrs Cake gave Pinkie a list of things she needed to do while they were gone for the whole day.

"Whoa! That's a whole lot of respon- Consider it done!"Tremoring was watching, so Pinkie put on a brave face to handle this large assortment of chores.

"Ugh…! I can't believe this…"Tremoring groaned as the Mrs Cake tried to fix a treat before they needed to go.

"We'll frost it when we get there! Come on, sugarplum! Tick tick!"Mr Cake rushed his wife out the door so they could depart.

"Take good care of our two precious ginger snaps!"Mrs Cake announced before they had finally made it out the door.

"No problemo, Mr and Mrs Cake! Everything is under control."Pinkie insisted, only for the twins themselves to object to that.

They immediately burst into tears, crying over something an inexperienced eye could not see. Tremoring groaned and went to pick up the two twins, he was rusty, but he remembered a thing or two about child care. Heck, Shadow wouldn't let him forget since he was the start of a massive family tree. So immediately, he went in and picked up the two in his arms trying to cradle them. While Pinkie was almost a deer in head lights, frantic to help the twins stop crying.

Little did they know, Shadow herself was outside the building looking through a window. She had decided to at least see the babies, and make sure everything was ok with them. At the very least she wanted to remain caring to them, rather than just stay completely away and leave them vulnerable to threats. And she was thankful that she arrived when she could, because she was scared by what she saw. The babies were already crying, their parents left them, and Pinkie Pie was the trusted babysitter.

It wasn't like she disliked Pinkie, but she knew Pinkie had no experience babysitting. And twins were extremely hard to care for, to trust them to an inexperienced babysitter was foolish. She was forced to watch as Pinkie tried simply playing where's Pinkie Pie, but games would not work here. She could read them like a book, they were crying because this was the first time they were separated by their parents. They needed a lot of love and at least a half an hour to calm down.

And there was no way they would calm down with Pinkie frantically trying to play with them. Half way through her entertainment, she even tried singing them a pig song. Funny faces and goofy noises failed to help, so she needed to pull out the big guns, no matter how useless it was. It was already making Shadow shaky to see these twins not handling babysitters well. By the end of this song and dance, it appeared that even all that wasn't going to stop the crying.

Tremoring seemed to at least be cradling, but it wasn't enough to get them to stop crying. Finally Tremoring decided to do a quick check, a sniff and a listen cleared it up mostly. They did not stink yet, but it sounded like they were hungry, so they needed to be fed rather than entertained.

"Pinkie we need to go to the kitchen. They're hungry…!"Tremoring finally alarmed Pinkie to the real problem, and stop the goofing around.

"Really? But…I was just about to do the ending to my song…!"Pinkie insisted before the flour bag she carried suddenly ripped open and covered her in flower.

This manage to finally get the babies giggling and calming down from the issue. It was humiliating for Pinkie, but at least it worked, and she had a way to make them happy when she needed them to be happy. But now she had to do what Tremoring demanded and walk with him to the kitchen. This left Shadow to sigh and finally move on, knowing that she would violate the parent's wishes. If they wanted her to stay away from the twins, then she will respect the request.

Back in the kitchen, Pinkie was trying to feed them soft food, but it was still too early for that. They were only a month old, they still required milk till their teeth had started growing in. Thankfully, Tremoring was already prepping the milk, making sure it was room temperature. Pinkie was at least trying, but it was clear that she bit off way more than she could chew. So with what knowledge he could remember from caring for his own children, he was gonna have to teach her.

"Room temperature, get it? Too hot and it may hurt their stomachs, too cold and it will make them sick,"Tremoring tried to inform while he spotted Pinkie making a mess of herself with the soft food,"Pinkie…! Can you pay attention for a few minutes? We need to feed these twins properly…!"

"Oh,… Right…! So just…pick em up and…"Pinkie took up Pumpkin Cake and tried cradling her.

"Tilt the bottle slightly and make sure she drinks her bottle completely,"He instructed while doing the same with Pound Cake and starting to feed him,"This is just what I wanted to do on my last day here…"

"No, Pumpkin Cake, we drink from the bottle. Not eat the table cloths…!"Tremoring picked up on Pinkie suddenly struggling with Pumpkin.

"How long has she been doing all that chewing?"Tremoring asked as Pinkie finally pulled the table cloth out of Pumpkin's mouth.

"Ever since she got home…! She's chewed on toys, clothes, bed frames, and even boxes!"Pinkie answered before Pumpkin suddenly erupted with cries for losing her newest chew toy.

"She might be an early teether. Teeth growing in can be a struggle for babies,"Tremoring explained the reason behind most babies chewing on possibly everything,"And she's going to be dealing with this for at least six months or so…"

"What do I do now…?! Uh… Hey guys, look at me!"Pinkie gave Pumpkin Cake to Tremoring and ran for the one thing that at least helped them feel better.

She resorted to what got them giggling before, a nice big sack of flour. She pulled it open and the flour dumped all over her, and it once again did the trick by making the twins giggle. Tremoring only sighed and shook his head, knowing that this was simply a shortcut to keep them happy. Pinkie still appeared to be struggling with the idea of separating play time from actual babysitting. So this meant that there was still so much more she needed to learn about child care.

That would need to be attempted again, for the next thing on the list was bath time. The kids needed a thorough cleaning after their feeding got a little messy, so now it was time for a bath. Pinkie ran the hot water while Tremoring got out the bubble bath soap and towels. That was the easy part, but now the hard part came quickly the minute the twins were presented with the bath. The babies were running away and bouncing off the walls, trying to avoid taking a bath.

"Towels are not food, Pumpkin!"Pinkie panicked while getting a towel out of Pumpkins mouth, only for them to run off again.

Tremoring tried to reach for them, but the manage to run under his legs. And they were going fast, vanishing everywhere to avoid the bath, and there was only so much Tremoring could do. These twins could run fast, and a fast moving child was not for him to try and catch. They could easily break something if they were to accidentally run full force into a solid stone made pony. He would need them to be still before he could help catch them, that's where Pinkie needed to come in.

But as energetic as Pinkie was, even she struggled to keep up with the twins. She chased them to the shower curtains, then to the mirror cabinet, this was all a big game to the foals. This was yet another form of acting up due to being without their parents, something the parents would need to help break them of. Pinkie was showing signs of exhaustion near the end of this. Even after she had finally caught the twins, they were running her of all ponies ragged and to the bone.

"Got em! Now into the tub you little rascals…!"Pinkie exclaimed as she carried them over to the tub and were placed in.

"Alright, you get their bellies and legs, I got their manes and Tails."Tremoring planned out their strategy for cleaning the twins, before they erupted with cries again.

"Uh oh. Ooh look, guys! Bubbles!"Pinkie cheered and threw some bubbles in the air to try and cheer up the foals.

"Just focus on cleaning them! We can cheer them up when the bath is done."Tremoring tried some hard ball tactics he used on his kids, he was at least awarded by managing to get Pound Cake's tail and mane scrubbed clean.

The back lash to this was simply the both of them getting splashed by the foals. The slight tough love treatment made them cranky, and invoked small tantrums as they pounded at the water. Tremoring sighed, trying to remain patient with the feisty twins while Pinkie had an idea.

"Uh… Here! You two remember this little trick don't you,"Pinkie brought out the sack of flour only to realize an issue with the water they were splashing,"Uh, don't make me do it, guys! You know what happens when you mix flour and water, Don't you?"

She didn't have time for a proper answer, for the sack already tore. The flour poured out and coated her, right before they splashed water all over her and Tremoring once again. This time, the water mixed in with the flour and turned to dough right before their eyes. This would not be an easy thing to clean out of Pinkie's mane, tail and fur. But at least it got the wins to laugh and calm down, allowing a more stressed Tremoring to finish cleaning them for her.

"What am I going to do with you…"Tremoring sighed, and Pinkie felt a bit hurt inside that he was upset with having to help pick up her slack in a job she was insistent on doing.

Finally they were able to relax a bit after half an hour of cleaning the twins up. Pinkie was at least able to cushion the blow by playing with the twins as she always did before. Though she was a bit winded still from actual responsibility, while Tremoring could finally take a breather. He still kept an eye on her and made sure no more trouble was made that he would need to help clean up. So far everything seemed ok, Pinkie was at least in her element for a change and having fun.

Then Pinkie smelled it, she nearly missed it, but such a stench was impossible to miss. She looked to the babies and could tell there was two twins that had dirty diapers. Tremoring picked up on it and dreaded this struggle, learning to change diapers required patience and will to handle very obnoxious sights and smells.

"Smells like some pony needs me to changy wangy their diaper wiper!"Pinkie exclaimed before Tremoring sighed and stood up, willing to try and do this particularly tricky business.

"Where are their diapers, wipes, and baby powder…? Let me do this one."Tremoring insisted, but Pinkie defied him and retrieve the supplies to do it herself.

"No worries! I can do this! How hard can it be?"Pinkie insisted right back and suddenly went into a war with trying to change their diapers.

A war broke out, a war of diaper changing, powder and wipes went everywhere. Tremoring could only hurt with cringe, at least Pinkie got the dirty diapers off them and tossed the diapers away. Everything else went south so fast, by the end of the struggle new diapers were on. But they were on one too many ponies, and two were not on correctly, as to be expected from an amateur. Pinkie was wearing a diaper of her own, while the twins were wearing diapers on their heads.

She slowly looked to Tremoring, and he was shaking his head in disapproval. Pinkie wasn't taking this seriously, and now she was trying to avoid any offers for help. This sent another bit of guilt aching in her as he slowly stood up, ready to do what he had to do to fix this issue.

"Move…! Let me take care of this, Pinkie…!"Tremoring demanded while taking the diapers off the twins heads to properly change diapers.

He went in, and used everything he remembered doing when raising a family. Wipe their flanks and entire mid section, powder them to keep them from getting any rashes, then the diapers. Once he learned how to properly wrap them around the babies, you never forget how to do so. And within only a couple minutes, Tremoring had these feisty twins in clean fresh diapers. While Pinkie was just then getting out of her own, she smiled nervously, while Tremoring tried to go easy on the issue.

"Pinkie…? Could you at least listen to me or ask some pony with expertise on this,"Tremoring begged Pinkie to accept some sort of help and learn what it means to be responsible,"I could get Shadow Swirl in here and she'd make you a pro in no time, and make this babysitting job so much easier…!"

"We can't! She's not allowed near the babies! They don't trust her around them,"Pinkie explained and brought up the annoying distrust they have for Shadow,"They told me, never ever ever ever ever let Shadow Swirl near our children."

"I think we're pass that point now… This is no longer about what they want,"Tremoring argued, showing a bit of irritation about the distrust they had for a child loving warrior,"I know what and who Shadow is, and she's a much better option than what we have going on hear right now…!"

Suddenly, a bell rang before the door to the shop opened up, there was a moment of relief for both ponies.

"Oh! Thank goodness they're home!"Pinkie and Tremoring both sighed with relief, only to see it was only Twilight Sparkle.

"Hi! I finished up the work I had to do, so I thought I'd stop by and see if you needed any help. Whoa!"Twilight gasped the moment she walked in and saw the chaos the place was in.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming! I can't begin to tell you what my day has been like! I mean, these babies won't listen to reason,"Pinkie exclaimed while Tremoring glared at her for acting like she was the only one struggling,"And don't even get me started on their taste in stand up comedy!"

"We were just about to go over a decision to bring Shadow Swirl in to assist us. Regardless of the Cake's views on her."Tremoring explained further as Twilight looked around the establishment.

"Well she is practically the child whisperer. She'd handle this situation no problem,"Twilight understood while taking up one of the twins to comfort them,"Babies take a lot of work, and some ponies are just not cut out for responsibilities without the proper tutoring."

"Is that so?"Pinkie felt attacked and mused for her friend emphasizing the idea that she needed to learn how to be responsible.

"I've tried to teach her what I could, but she's a bit resistant to lea-"Tremoring got cut off by Pinkie suddenly nudging Twilight out the door to end this conversation.

"Well, thanks for stopping by, Twilight. Sorry, I don't have time to visit. I'm very very busy with my responsibilities here…!"Pinkie shoved her outside and readied to shut the door on her.

"Me and Shadow would be happy to help, it's really no trouble at all-"The door was about to slam on her face, but Tremoring held out his hoof and stopped the door cold before it could even get half way closed.

"We know it's no trouble, at least I think so…! But Pinkie wants to deny that she bit off more than she could chew…!"Tremoring held the door open while Pinkie shoved and charged, trying to force the door shut.

"No…! I just don't want any distractions or questions about my responsibilities!"Pinkie yelled like a child while Tremoring huffed and decided to give her the tough love treatment.

"Is that so…? Fine then! I'll just leave as well so I won't DISTRACT you from your responsibilities!"Tremoring surprised Twilight by suddenly walking out with her and slamming the door, only to accidentally shatter the door to pieces.

This left Pinkie falling forward and into the pile of chocolate pieces that the door was made from. Chocolate pieces were in her mane, as she lifted her head up to watch Tremoring storm off. Leaving Pinkie feeling even worse while the twins suddenly began to cry once again. Twilight decided to just head off and catch up with Tremoring, now that she knew there was turmoil between them. She needed to be careful though, a large angry stone pony wasn't something she wanted to provoke.

Thankfully her company didn't appear to be unwanted when she caught up to him. This was a very unexpected form of friction between two ponies, Pinkie Pie of all ponies and her pops. Knowing an Equestrian warrior at the least meant there was more disappointment than anger in truth.

"Tremoring, hold up! What happened back in there? I've never seen issues between Pinkie and any pony before!"Twilight was very insistent for an explanation to what happened.

"Where's Shadow Swirl? I'm not having Pinkie choose to go down a babysitting failure."He demanded, doing what he felt was the right thing to do for Pinkie.

"She's helping Applejack and Apple Bloom sell some apples at their stand,"Twilight answered and tried to keep up with the stone pony, he was oddly fast for stone,"Will you tell me what's been going on?"

"Pinkie bit off more than she could chew trying to babysit the twins, and now she won't admit it,"Tremoring huffed as they walked together towards the market place to find Shadow,"She'd rather just go down failing and looking terrible than admit her mistakes and accept help from others!"

"Yeah, I kind of figure that part out while getting shoved out the door…"Twilight admitted and scratched her mane.

"I came here to spend time with her and my fellow warriors, not help take care of her responsibilities…!"Tremoring growled and tried to cool down.

"I'm sure she didn't mean for this. We all do things that are sort of spur of the moment,"Twilight felt it was her time to be the friend of the issue that brought peace to the situation,"Maybe she just wanted to prove that she was so much more than just a funny, goofy, playful party pony. Maybe she wanted to show that she could be…responsible and down to earth when she needed to be."

"Well it wasn't the right way to go about it. Cause now she's in complete chaos with the twins,"Tremoring huff and lowered his head, knowing full well that all Tartarus was breaking loose with Pinkie Pie,"And I don't want her to feel like a failure after choosing a new path from the rest of our family…"

This brought their conversation to a silent stand still as they continued on. But it wasn't just for the struggle with Pinkie Pie, as upsetting as it remained, however, they were also being watched. Tremoring's green eyes watched the targets every move as he ran building to building. Twilight wanted to say more, but Tremoring's sudden cold silence kept her quiet and moving on. This was good, as long as she kept moving with him, she wouldn't get picked off by the stalker.

There was a stink that only he could smell, ashes and old blood already foul. A cinder perhaps, but even the average one that he fought did not stink like this, this one smelled like corpses. As if this one was just rolling around in bodies like a sick pup, then Twilight caught wind of it. She paused and processed the sudden blast of rotten blood on her nose and coughed hard. She held her nose and looked around, then she looked to Tremoring with confusion for the sudden stench.

"Ugh…! I smell something nasty. Is that you?"Twilight asked, wanting to quickly define the source of the stink.

"That ain't me…! We're being followed by an unwanted admirer…!"Tremoring warned before putting a strong hoof to her shoulder and freezing where he stood.

Twilight gulped, and slowly looked around, the center of town was quiet. Only three ponies were around, just what an attacker would would want if he were to ambush them. And boy did he drool at the opportunity that was given to him as he creepily crawled to the roof of a home. Ash and smoke leaked from his mouth while blood stained his obsidian sharp teeth. Excitement mounted, as he crawled to the edge of the roof and unhinged the talons on the side of his hooves.

"My targets are in sight…! Even the primary one."The wicked Cinder showed himself before backing up for a good run and leap.

His throat rattled, making a primal growl as he readied himself for the attack. He made a sharp small roar, and bolted before making a leap of faith off the roof going for Twilight. The neck was his targeted body part, a smooth, clean and fast kill, but only if it was in the front. He wanted the back, so it would be slower and painful, like a helpless prey choking on the last minutes of it's life before death to a predator. Thankfully, Tremoring saw the move a mile away and shoved Twilight away at the last moment.

He stepped forth and willingly took the pounce from the attacking Cinder. His talons dug in through the garbs, but struggled to hang onto the solid stone flesh of Tremoring. While his jaws sunk right into Tremoring's arm, he did not feel any pain at first from the scare. Then the Cinder himself suddenly brought down the full force of his jaws, and the stone skin broke. Tremoring widened his eyes the moment he felt the sharp burn of solid glass like teeth pierce his stone flesh.

Tremoring yelled, and reared back before slamming the Cinder to the dirt. But he held on tight as Tremoring growled and stood up, attempting to curb stomp the Cinder off his arm. Then he started to see his own blood seep out of his arm, Tremoring was now in shock and desperation. Thankfully the Cinder opened himself up for attack the moment a vial slipped out from his hoof. Allowing the Cinder to scoop up a bit of the stone pony's blood, Tremoring took advantage of the foe's actions.

Throwing a strong headbutt that smashed the top of the Cinder's head to dust. Before grabbing his arm and throwing the Cinder over his shoulder, slamming the Cinder into the ground. An explosive cloud of dirt burst into the air as the Cinder rolled in the dirt like a lifeless corpse. Tremoring did not stop, this was only the third time blood was ever drawn from him. And the sight of his blood made the stallion's blood boil more than anything, he needed pay back.

He went through the dirt and snatched the Cinder up, seeing his head already coming back together. He growled and kicked the ash pony's legs clean off while snapping the enemy's neck. Till his head was twisted completely upside down, leaving the Cinder staggering and twitching. Leaving Tremoring to throw a stiff frontal kick that smashed a hole clean through his chest. Sending the Cinder crashing back into the dirt as the cloud slowly settled for Twilight and a few others to see.

It looked like just another Cinder bit off more than he could chew on a solo mission. And now he was dead just like the rest of them, as Tremoring turned away in a huff from his injury. He cracked his neck and nodded, giving them the signal that it was already over.

"I swear these Cinders have become trivial. But the bucker bled me…!"Tremoring huffed some more and looked to his fore arm.

"That's impossible, Cinder's have weapons, but they can't even cut through Orion's armor,"Twilight decided to help the stallion by checking his arm and making some bandages appear,"I didn't know you could bleed… I thought you were all made of stone?"

"I'm not entirely made of stone. There's some parts that are organic. No innuendo intended."Tremoring attempted to make a small joke while Twilight needed a minute to figure that one out.

"Oh…! Right…!"Twilight blushed and quickly patched up his arm.

Suddenly, she then paused right where she was once the mare saw an stunning sight. The Cinder suddenly regained it's legs and raised back up to his hooves with his head still upside down. An animal like growl rattled from the Cinder as Tremoring slowly looked to his enemy. Just in time for the Cinder to violently and slowly twist his own neck without his hooves till his head was back on straight. The mere sight of his neck cracking as his head turned right side up, churned Twilight's stomach.

"What the hay kind of Cinder are you?"Tremoring wondered as the growls got louder with the Cinder's anger.

The burning predator growled as the hole in his chest pulled itself back together. Till he was good as new, leaving the Cinder twitching and red eyed, hungry for flesh and blood. He glared to the two ponies before rearing his violently shaking head and letting out an ear splitting shriek of a roar. It was wild, unnatural, and it suddenly froze Twilight's spine solid while Tremoring stood his ground. But Twilight was a stiff as a rock, as the Cinder charged at them like a feral beast.

Tremoring readied himself for another pounce, but the Cinder took a new approach. He leaped just in time to hurdle over an over head swing from Tremoring, he flipped and kicked Tremoring in the side. It did nearly nothing to the stallion, but it allowed him to back roll towards Twilight. The warrior saw through his trick and stomped the ground to raise up a thick beam of granite. It manage to snake right over Twilight just in time, as the Cinder jumped and bit into the granite rather than Twilight's neck.

His pounce cracked the pillar in two and it fell on top of her, becoming the only thing between her and death. She screamed, seeing two rows of teeth crunching and biting through the pillar to get to her. Teeth that looked like crooked pieces of sharp glass but thicker and more dense than normal. Thankfully Tremoring rushed in and gave him a strong mid kick to the flank. The kick manage to hit the Cinder off the pillar by breaking his front hooves clean off and front flipping on his back in the dirt.

Quickly he rolled back onto his quickly recovered hooves and tried crawling for her wide open face. Thankfully, Tremoring yanked her out from under the pillar and kicked it down. Crushing the Cinder's head while Twilight was pulled right behind the warrior, as they assessed their enemy.

"This one is aggressive…! Clever, and apparently he has no heart to destroy…!"Tremoring realized as the flaming pony yanked himself free and let his head regenerate.

"So…! We have an actual invincible Cinder! We can't stop him!"Twilight exclaimed with fear as the primal Cinder recovered and growled, slowly walking towards them.

"No… Everything dies in some way. For now, just beat him till he yields!"Tremoring decided just in time to see the Cinder charge at them again.

This time he was ready for it, he saw another change of approach after the jump over his head. So he lifted up for a set up, and suddenly brought down his hooves the moment he saw the Cinder try to slide under him. He came down like a godly fist, and crushed the Cinder to pieces. His limbs flew in all directions, but this left Tremoring open for a bite straight into his shoulder. He yelled the moment the Cinder sunk his fangs in, and that's where he went on a bull ride with the stone pony.

He had no talons at the moment till his limbs returned to full form, but his teeth were all he needed. He flailed around as Tremoring swung, jolted and tried to buck his enemy off. He even tried smashing the Cinder down in the dirt, but these ash ponies were stubborn and their pain tolerance was unmatched. No amount of smashing him against walls or the ground would stop him. He hissed and growled, savoring the blood he tasted, it wasn't to his liking for it's bland dirty taste.

Suddenly, a purple beam of magic blasted his neck to ashes, taking his head off. It immediately disintegrate and rolled off Tremoring's shoulder, while the body wriggled and twitched. Letting his head regrow once again while Twilight made it to Tremoring's side after finding some courage.

"This one has intimidation to go with his ferocity it seems…"Tremoring addressed the fact that the Cinder had froze Twilight up with his more violent nature.

"We need a plan…! We can't fight him if he keeps recovering and getting through your stone body!"Twilight worried before a new trouble suddenly caught all of their attention.

"Well at least you got a bit better at selling apples than last time, Apple Bloom!"The voice of Applejack caught the attention of the Cinder, as he looked to her walking back from the market place with her sister.

"Well well… Another target in sight, and I don't see a warrior accompanying her,"He snarled and hissed with a growing grin as he looked back to Twilight and Tremoring,"I'll get nowhere with them…! It'll just go back and forth until more show up. I need a vulnerable target…!"

Suddenly he back flipped to avoid a sudden lunge and earth shattering punch from Tremoring. He then jumped over the stallion, only to be caught by his leg by the stone pony. He thought fast and roared before scurrying under him upon slamming to the ground, this time he made sure he was not caught again. He did this by simply biting his leg clean off and crawling like a gangly crab. He grumbled and started scurrying and walking on his front legs till his severed leg regrew.

He then stood before Twilight, but this time he decided to scurry away from her. Once she had looked to where he was running off to, she was in a panic, her friend was wide open. Tremoring was next to spot the new target, and charge right after him, as did Twilight.

"Applejack, look out!"Twilight yelled for her friend, and the Apple looked to the incoming threat with little time to spare.

"Oh no…! Apple Bloom, move!"Applejack was quick to put her sister before herself, and push Apple Bloom away from the Cinder's path.

"Move from what?"The filly worried as she got thrown away just as Applejack got sacked and choke slammed to the dirt.

The minute she slammed, the Cinder twisted his body in a sickly manner behind her. And put her in a merciless choke hold while a talon came out and was pressed against her throat. This stopped every pony in their tracks, Twilight and Apple Bloom were terrified, while Tremoring remained stern. Though even he didn't dare tempt this foe after seeing what he could do. Especially if he could hold his own against Tremoring, so the stone pony kept his distance while the Cinder had his hostage.

"Let my friend go!"Twilight demanded, and the ash pony snickered at her demands and sniffed at her cheeks.

"Nah… Me passing up a meal like this? Why would I?"He grinned and hissed at the target he had in his clutches.

"Applejack!"Apple Bloom panicked, but froze the moment the hook like talon pressed against her neck, right against the curated artery.

"Now now little nugget…! You want her to die quicker or slower? Your next actions decide on that!"The Cinder teased and threatened before suddenly licking Applejack's cheek, that alone made his mouth want to water.

"What are you, Cinder? Why can't we kill you like the others?"Tremoring demanded answers while they were at a stand off.

"This may be a surprise for you hermando…! But I got no heart to destroy in this body."He answered in a slight accent while petting Applejack's chin and cheek to savor what he would feed on.

"Then where is your heart? Every Cinder has to have one!"Twilight hoped to get the more important question answered.

This only made the Cinder snicker and his hunger grow from all the innocence from these ponies. He did not dare give them the answer, and instead looked slowly to Apple Bloom. She looked beyond terrified, her head trembling as she feared what was going to happen to Applejack. Especially when she saw the teeth he brandished at his disposal, they could chew through anything. Maybe even through limbs, and that's when a thought struck Apple Bloom.

"It was you, wasn't it…? You were the one who took Pedals away…!"Apple Bloom shuddered and gulped once he began to grin even wider.

"Pedals? Pedals… Pedals… Pedals… Oh! You mean the silly filly that got a little too close to the woods?"He chuckled and suddenly pulled a small pony leg bone out of his side and threw it to the dirt.

"It was you. Your wild attack patterns match the mess you made at the scene."Tremoring grumbled and narrowed his vision with growing anger.

"That's what you bucking patsies get for raising your kids like they can never get hurt in this world,"He suddenly tightened his grip and stood up with Applejack,"I mean look at this filly… Look at the remains of that filly…! Look at these pansy elements you got here amigo…!"

"What about them, friend…!"Tremoring tilted his head as he foresaw a possible way to end the hostage situation.

"What chance do they have? They're lambs to the slaughter, and I…AM THE MACHINE THAT ENDS THEM,"He yelled and his talon started digging into the mare's neck, drawing blood,"And it all starts with you…! The warriors! That lie and act like this new age and life for these ponies is what's best! Who the buck are you trying to kid?"

They all swallowed as this primal Cinder actually dared to start lecturing them.

"This is what gets them killed! You let them be wimps like this! And believe in just rainbows and peace and happiness,"He laughed sarcastically as Applejack closed her eyes in fear,"But news flash! THIS WORLD IS CRUEL AND DANGEROUS NO MATTER WHAT! YOU THINK THEY SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT THE WORLD? YOU THINK I'M LYING ABOUT THIS? BUCK YOU! Ok…? BUCK…YOU…!"

"It is in their nature to do whatever they feel is the way to live life…!"Tremoring stood by the freedom he felt that the ponies all deserved to live by.

"Not when these little mares are taken care of…! We're going to wake these ponies up! Show them this world's true colors,"He looked down to Applejack as he finally decided that killing her would not be enough,"So… I think I'll play a bit with this one before I eat her…!"

The Cinder made his peace, and all he wanted to do now was enjoy the prey he had in his grasp. So he looked to Apple Bloom once more, he was made aware that they were sisters. And they were part of a very old family that bragged of being tough, the perfect ponies to break down with fear.

"So… This is your sister, right little one? I like her! She smells good, and I bet she taste good too,"He sniffed at Applejack while readying to do the deed, opening the mare's neck wide open,"Must be the apples I suppose, though I'm not a big vegetarian, you know? How much do you love each other…?"

"What's that have to so with what he-"Twilight was interrupted by the answer Tremoring had for her.

"He's playing with his food…! Wanting to see what they truly are inside in the last moments of life…"Tremoring explained the game that this enemy wanted to play with the sisters.

"Please let my sister go…!"Apple Bloom begged him to find one shred of mercy for the older Apple.

"That much, huh? We're off to a good start…! You know… They say you Apples never cry,"He incited and wiped a bit of blood that leaked from Applejack's neck to taste,"They say your family is tough, never wavering,so very proud, and they never lie…! But what happens when they watch some pony they love die right in front of them? If there's no tears, then where's the love?"

"Apple Bloom! Don't get spooked by his psycho talk! He's just another faceless no pony made of ash!"Applejack boldly stated, only to be punished with a flesh stripping bite to the back of her leg.

This made Applejack scream like she didn't before, she felt her leg go numb. While she nearly fell forward if not for the grip her kidnapper had the mare in, Apple Bloom whimpered and jumped out of her skin. While Twilight wanted to jump in to help, but Tremoring oddly held her back with a stiff arm.

"What are you doing?! We can't just let him kill my friend!"Twilight feared as she watched her friend struggling with great agony.

"That's not your friend he has…!"Tremoring warned as Apple Bloom trembled, seeing Applejack in pain while the Cinder's mouth was full of her blood.

"That's what I wanted to see, lets see a little bit more of that fear…! Look into her eyes little nugget,"The Cinder incited as blood dribbled from his teeth, his body full of excitement,"Her lovely green eyes…! The light is going to leave them soon, don't you want to at least make the moment count?"

"Applejack…!"The filly's voice got shaky as she saw him prepare to make a go for the throat.

"It's going to be ok, Apple Bloom… Just no matter what, don't let him scare ya."She said quietly to calm her little sister before her eyes suddenly went purple.

"No… It really won't, I'm afraid. So much for you Apples always telling the truth, huh?"The sadistic predator chuckled and dangled his tongue against her neck.

"Maybe… But then again, I never said I was an Apple, did I?"Applejack's voice suddenly transformed from a southern to soft and gentle yet familiar voice, while her bite wound suddenly began sealing itself up.

The moment her blood soaked back into her leg before completely sealing up. The mare suddenly kicked that same leg back, and cracked the Cinder's right back leg clean off. While she swung her head back to crack apart his muzzle, this allowed her to wiggle free and turn to him.

"Wait a minute… Shadow?"Apple Bloom thought as they watched darkness cloak over Applejack, and remold her appearance.

The shadows merely needed to change the body structure, hair, and grow in a horn. Before it could sleek away and into a shadow, allowing Shadow Swirl to appear from out of the darkness. More than in the mood to break this fiend after he the mess he made at the school, it was pay back time.

"I won't let you take another innocent life again!"Shadow promised before a hook was thrown and smashed the Cinder's left cheek apart.

"Now we can kick his bucking flank…!" Tremoring gave Twilight the green light for the both of them to attack.

Shadow was just about to throw a jab, only to get caught in the predator's grip. He opened his jaws wide to try and bite her face off, she used a free hoof to push against his neck to keep him away. While she then got a full view of something horrid, fires blazed from the back of his jaws. Allowing the sudden burning souls of so many children to reach out from the fires in torment. They cried like tortured souls from the pits of Tartarus, her eyes were wide with horror.

They innocent young souls cried and tried to escape their capture, this gave Shadow incite. This Cinder was around much longer than they thought, and Pedals was far from the first victim. This wild pony of ash was a hunter and a killer, claiming the lives of any pony of any kind and size.

"How many children have you already killed?!"Shadow snapped before Tremoring kicked his arm off, knocking the Cinder away from her.

She then roundhouse kicked him in the back of the head, this only fueled his primal rage. He looked to Apple Bloom, a pony that looked ripe and helpless, the perfect prey. So he screeched and bolted for her, but Twilight jumped in and shot a hole clean through his head. Freezing him in place so she could buck him in the chest, making him stumble back to the warriors. But he was ready for the next move, weaving to the side and away from Shadow, and flipping her over his shoulder.

She grunted upon slamming on her back, and quickly needed to go on a roll. Just as the Cinder unleashed a dragon like rage of fire, trying to scorch her to a black and crusty crisp. She manage to roll away, while Tremoring ran in and punched a hole clean through the back and chest of the flaming foe. This made the Cinder stop and roar like all raging predators would, spitting fire into the sky. He turned around to look to the stone pony, before his head twisted completely backwards to stare him down.

His arms did the same, and another roar erupted as he grabbed onto Tremoring. His mouth opened wide, ready to do the damage he could do to Tremoring, ready to take his head off. Thankfully, Apple Bloom scurried under Twilight in a blind mix of fear and fury, as she bravely put some power into her legs. This allowed her to bust off the Cinder's legs, making him fall to Tremoring's chest. The stone pony then threw a brutal hay maker to knock him away, only for Shadow to kick him in the back, stopping him cold.

Once he face planted, the Cinder quickly rolled to his back just in time for Shadow to jump on him. She then unleashed a barrage of hooks to the sides of his face and to his chest. Searching for wherever his heart could be within his body, but it seemed like she was just punching a pile of ash. Finally after eight or so punches, the Cinder manage to grip both of her front hooves. Before staring to her and suddenly starting to up chuck, once it had come up, he then spewed out a geyser of smoke and ash.

Shadow got a face full of of smoke that blinded her, giving him an opportunity to go for her neck. He made the jump for it, but Twilight shot him away just in time, making him roll in the dirt. Before he was on his flank, but was able to stand back up once his legs had recovered. He even manage to spot Tremoring coming in with a strong but slow hay maker. Allowing him to back flip over the stone pony and spew a fire ball right at the back of his head, and Tremoring could take it.

The ball of flame exploded, blasting off the stone pony's hat, but his head was unharmed. So he turned around, just as Twilight and Shadow stood at his side, ready to back him up. But suddenly the Cinder stopped attacking, instead he simply pulled out another small vial. This one appeared to be full of red liquid, blood perhaps, and once it was out, he started picking at his teeth. Until he suddenly picked off a tiny bit of flesh and dropped it into the vial with the red liquid.

The warriors were breathing a bit heavy, this Cinder had them exhausted from the fight. But the Cinder appeared to not be tired at all, it was like he never fought them at all. He simply smiled and looked to them once he had placed the vial back into his body for storage, a snicker then came.

"I think that's enough fun for today. I got what I needed from this town…!"He suddenly admitted and popped his neck.

"You think you can just walk in here and go after our friends and the elements?"Shadow spat at the cocky wild ash pony.

"The elements were just an optional objective. There's always next time,"The primal stallion snickered at her anger and explained his means of being at the town,"For now I got to get these two specimens to our master… He'll be eager to know that I made contact with the two of you…!"

"Who is this master?! Explain!"Tremoring demanded answers, but the cocky Cinder turned away and casually walked away from them.

"In time! You will find out warriors! I'd keep an eye on your elements in the meantime hermando!"The Cinder called before he disappeared in a large flair of flames.

Once he was gone, this left three very tired ponies and a shaken up filly. All of them exhausted, angry, and full of confusion, this Cinder was tricky, strong, and very lethal. Any pony caught alone with this monster was a dead pony, and he could survive a fight with the warriors. This was beyond troubling to know, Orion was going to be very upset to hear this news. But at the very least, no pony was hurt or killed in this struggle, so they could be satisfied with that.

They looked at each other, grateful to see that they were still alive and kicking.

"This Cinder is going to be a serious trouble maker. He can survive combat with us and hunt like a true predator,"Shadow feared, looking to Apple Bloom, knowing there could be other victims like her and Pedals in the future,"We need to learn how this one works, find his heart and kill him."

"Until then, all we can do is fight him till he tires out from all the fighting…"Twilight panted and agreed with Shadow's concerns.

"But we survived, and I'm certain he will not be as bold next time. Not after realizing how powerless he was fighting alone and in the open,"Tremoring suddenly showed a bit of hope and confidence in his comrades abilities to fight this enemy,"Just stay vigilant, protect these towns ponies, and punish him for any bold moves he may make."

"There ya are, Apple Bloom! I thought Shadow took you back to the farm already,"Applejack suddenly hollered and arrived with a sack of bits on her back,"What happened to y'all? You look like you've been through a war!"

They looked to see her arrive, and Twilight was left to fill Applejack on what happened. Apple Bloom was able to hug her sister now that she was safe and sound, she was never even in danger. The warriors in the meantime were able to talk a bit more on the matter.

"He hid in the shadows like an ambush predator, but he his in the shadows. Your shadows,"Tremoring pointed out Shadow's impressive awareness around the town,"You knew he would go hunting for an element so you sent Applejack to the bank and became the bait."

"Yes, I could protect Apple Bloom, and make sure Applejack wasn't assassinated,"Shadow admitted the meaning behind her fancy switcharoo tactic,"I may be a monster to some, but my devotion to the innocent remains…"

"As it should be… Speaking of which, I need your help with something,"Tremoring incited while they watched the Apple sisters hug after hearing details about the stand off,"You mind getting over to Sugar Cube Corner and helping my stubborn descendant with babysitting? It's chaos over there, and we need your help."

"War torn from a fight with a flaming pony fiend, and the next thing on your agenda is a babysitter,"She joked and chuckled at the nature of Tremoring,"What if the Cakes reject me, and-"

"You let me worry about the Cakes, there's no mare better with kids than you in my opinion, and Pinkie really needs you,"Tremoring insisted and emphasized that Shadow's skills with children was desperately needed,"We'll you please help her with those Cake twins?"

Shadow needed to think about it for a second, she still felt a bit upset about the Cake's thoughts on her. But even so, she loved children with all her heart, and she could not let the thoughts of others end that. She would simply like to prove them wrong, a nature that Tremoring could not beat out of her. So she simply looked to him, and slowly nodded, wanting to still help her comrade with this endeavor.

Once everything had been settled, and peace was restored to the town for the time being. The warriors wasted no time getting back to Sugar Cube Corner, Tremoring was worried. He had to leave Pinkie alone with the twins so he could go find help, it had to be a nightmare over there. So he wasted no time rushing with Shadow back to the gingerbread business. He burst through the door, and entered a messy party room and kitchen upon entry, Shadow was just as shocked.

The chaos that must have ensued had to be beyond Pinkie's comprehension. This made Tremoring rush to the stairs while Shadow took a slow walk through the building. She found it difficult to believe so much destruction would happen from just one pony baby sitting twins.

"She wasn't ready at all for this…"Shadow worried before finally going up the stairs to meet back up with Tremoring.

Once they had made it upstairs, they had heard some crying from one of the bedrooms. But this time it sounded like Pinkie Pie rather than the twins, this was equally worrisome. Then they finally made it to the bedroom and the source of the crying just as it stopped thankfully. Once they looked in, they saw an exhausted, but smiling Pinkie Pie looking to two little foals. Who were currently coated in a layer of flour, much like Pinkie Pie was before, this shocked Shadow immensely.

The bedroom was a mess, yet it seemed like a storm had passed already. Tremoring sighed, looking to the dark mare as she worried deeply for what had befallen the three. She looked back to Tremoring, and he nodded, his clear sign that he needed her to get to work.

"Get in there, and do your magic…!"Tremoring insisted, and Shadow immediately rushed in, surprising Pinkie and the twins.

"Pinkie Pie…?! What happened in here? The whole place is in shambles,"Shadow was quiet with her exclaim so the babies did not get scared by the shock,"You and the twins look like you've been through absolute Tartarus…! You're a completely stressed mess, and the twins are covered in flour…!"

"Shadow…? Why are you here? The Cakes said you weren't allowed here…!"Pinkie asked, completely confused to see Shadow arrive in a place she was not welcome.

"I was asked to help you after things went crazy between you and Tremoring,"Shadow explained and ignored the fact that Pinkie even thought that she wasn't welcome to the twins,"Now I can see you need some serious help. You can't do this by yourself…"

"I… But… I know,"Pinkie could no longer defend herself and let her ears drop as Shadow helped her stand back up,"I wanted to prove that I was much more to than just a goofy face that made parties happen…! I wanted to show that I could be responsible for a change."

Shadow simply brushed her off, then went for the twins, seeing as they were also in need. She scooped them both up into her arms and started brushing their faces off to see them more clearly. Once she cradled them in her arms, she then noticed Pound Cake's wings flapping. It was clear that he was already showing signs of flying, this meant play time needed to partially consist of flight play. Then she saw Pumpkin Cake already using magic to bring over a wash cloth.

Shadow took interest, and grabbed the cloth to wipe their heads off a bit. Before Pumpkin suddenly grabbed the cloth and start chewing on it as she did with everything she got her hooves on. These things alone were all Shadow needed to know before she understood what needed to be done.

"It's alright now, Pinkie. You want to learn how to be responsible? Then lets first start with a bath for these two,"Shadow turned to Pinkie with a half smile and got the twins to smile a bit,"We'll take these babysitting lessons one step at a time…! Just follow my lead."

With that, Shadow started to whisper sweet things to the twins to keep them calm. While Pinkie watched her work, remembering how happy she was when she first saw the twins. She sung by her side, and no matter what others thought of her, no matter what she was, Shadow was a child loving mare. Pinkie Smiled, and followed the dark mare out and into a schooling for babysitters. Shadow was the teacher, and Pinkie was the student, Tremoring remained the silent spectator.

As the day progressed, Pinkie learned everything she needed to know about babysitting. It all started with the both of them giving the twins a proper bath this time around. Cleaning every bit of flour off of them and playing with them a bit using rubber ducks and bubbles to keep them happy. Tremoring watched as Pinkie finally showed patience and humility to learn babysitting. Knowing how to clean the twins up and even have fun with it, building a bond between them early on.

Once bath time was over, they spent a whole hour playing again, this time with lessons on how to help with Pound's flying and Pumpkin's magic. Pumpkin simply needed something to chew on to fix her sore mouth that was growing teeth. A simple plastic toy chilled in the freezer did the trick. Allowing her to chew on the toy while the cold gave her mouth sweet relief from her tooth ache. While Pinkie was able to play her games with Pumpkin, Shadow played with Pound Cake.

With a large shadow limb to her disposal, she was able to let him fly around. The limb held him a good six feet off the ground, letting his little wings flutter and letting him fly around the room. This offered the exercise he needed to become quite the adept flyer around town. They all had a blast together, even Tremoring could smile a bit as he watched Pinkie learn and still play with the twins. As much as he stood by what he said before to Shadow, he was glad that she was still willing to try and be a good pony to others, to show them that a demon within won't prove what she is.

The next chore was feeding time, this time with milk, they were only one month old after all, too young for other foods. So Pinkie mirrored Shadow, learning how to get the milk to room temp, and shaking the bottle up. Allowing the milk to full mix without bits of powder left over. Then the rest of the feeding part was trivial, together they fed the twins a nice three ounces of milk. This would assure that they would sleep well tonight, especially since that was what Pinkie had tried to do with them before the warriors arrived.

But before they could be put to sleep, their diapers needed to be changed once again. Pinkie simply mimicked Shadow once more, old diaper off, wipe their flanks and groins clean, baby powder. Then simply do the reverse actions to place a new diaper on the twins. It would take a few tries, but this would become trivial after she did it enough times that she was use to the smell. With that, all they needed to do was put the twins to sleep, and this time, they were in fact tired.

Thankfully, all it took was their very cozy crib, and some calming music with ponies twirling above their heads. It took only a moment for them to end up out cold and sleeping. With that, the day was nearly over and the Cakes would be home any moment now, time to clean up.

"I'll keep these two company and clean up around the bedroom,"Shadow volunteered quietly to be the watch pony so Pinkie had some time to herself,"You do whatever you gotta to do before the Cakes get home."

"Got it…! I'll clean up the kitchen and get some dinner going for every pony,"Pinkie responded and walked to the door to leave, but not without admitting something she could not hold onto after today,"Shadow…? Thanks for all your help. For what it's worth… You'll never be a bad pony to me or the twins."

"Think nothing of it, Pinkie… It means a lot to hear you say that…"Shadow admitted and turned to watch the twins sleep, leaving Pinkie to exit the room nice and quiet.

She closed the door quietly, not wanting the twins to wake up after they slept so peacefully. She turned back and there she saw Tremoring sitting there, he had watched everything. At last he could be proud of her finally being humble and learning what it meant to truly be responsible. She could only smile, knowing that he did all this, just so she would not go down a failure in his eyes.

"You've had a long day… Time to finish cleaning and settle down for a bit. You made it by the skin of you-"Tremoring stopped talking the moment Pinkie hugged him in gratitude for his help.

"Thanks for helping me pops… I'm sorry this last day didn't go the way you hoped."She apologized and was hugged back in return.

"At the end of the day, I'm just glad I still have you by my side, Pinkie. There's always next time,"He admitted and looked to the stairs for their final chore to complete,"Now lets get down there and clean up before the couple gets home to a mess…"

Pinkie Pie agreed, and together they both went downstairs and got to work immediately. Scrubbing down the floors with a sweep of the brooms and many swipes with mops. Till they could both see their reflections in the floor, after that, there was a bit of dusting to do. In every cabinet, corner, wall, and appliance they could find, Pinkie dusted, and Tremoring wiped up the food and drink stains. Then all that remained was the toys around the area and a bit of vacuum.

This was done in no time, Pinkie even did some last minute wiping for the kitchen counters. And just as Tremoring finished picking up the toys, that's when the door opened up. And in came the Cakes themselves, worn out, but successful of their delivery to this important client.

"Pinkie Pie! We're back!"Mr Cake announced as they walked through the door and into a clean home.

"How did everything go?"Mrs Cake asked before they both gasped at the impressive work the house had been through.

"Are we in the right house?"Mr Cake asked a silly but honest question, before they were shushed by Pinkie Pie.

"Yes you are, and try to keep your voices down. The twins are sleeping."Tremoring answered for Pinkie as she finished cleaning up.

"P-Pinkie Pie…! This is just… Just…"Mrs Cake struggled to find the right words to say.

"Amazing is what this is. We had no idea how responsible you really were-"Suddenly, before Mr Cake could say more, Pinkie decided to confess to something.

"Before you say any more, I need to admit something… This wasn't just all me,"Pinkie decided that she too needed to defend and credit the ponies that truly helped her be responsible,"I wouldn't have done it without pops… And Shadow Swirl, she's the true babysitter here…"

"What…? Pinkie Pie…! You let that mare into our house…?!"The Cake's gasped with shock at Pinkie's confession.

"Yes… And I'll admit it. I wouldn't have been able to do all this if not for her help,"Pinkie continued her confession and stood up for what she now knew was right,"She taught me everything I needed to truly know about caring for the twins…! I've never known a better baby sitter than her, and there's no pony I'd trust more with foals and children than her."

"But Pinkie…! You know what she actuall-"Pinkie cut off Mrs Cake before she could say more.

"What she actually is inside is no monster like you think. She's actually… A good pony,"Tremoring couldn't be more proud that Pinkie finally stood up for herself and his comrade,"The Shadow Swirl that's upstairs right now is the true Shadow. And before you ask… I'm free on Tuesday if you need a baby sitter again. If not, then please trust her with them."

The Cakes looked to each other with terrified faces before running up the stairs. They tried their best to be as quiet as they could, but they were terrified by what they could see. Tremoring stopped Pinkie from wanting to pursue them in case they got hostile towards Shadow. He just winked at her, ensuring that everything would be fine after what she said. They then just looked on as the Cakes made it up the steps and rushed to the door, they were panting with fear.

Mr Cake took a moment to calm his wife before he took a deep breath in. They then gently opened the door with a turn and a gentle push, and once it was opened, everything just stopped for them. Shadow was simply reading a book, using one of her back hooves to rock the crib for the twins. Her book appeared to be a simple good night story, filled with sheep that jumped over fence, while one read a slumbering poem. Mr Cake fell on his flank, and confusion over took both of them.

"What are we looking at here, Cup Cake…? This isn't the monster we saw in the baby room…"He wondered and gripped his face trying to understand how a monster could suddenly become so good and gentle.

"I don't know, Carrot… But to be honest… I'm not sure I even seeing a monster any more,"She sat down with him, admitting a sudden thought of pure rationalization,"Maybe… Just maybe… We were wrong."

"Sleep well, little sheep. Now dream without a peep…"Shadow finished the story as the twins slept soundly.

After all that tragedy with the lost filly and fighting with Cinders without much rest. She had at last been able to enjoy a loving moment with innocence in it's purest form. She closed up the book, satisfied that she could finally smile after enduring her own personal struggle with what others thought of her. She looked out the window to the approaching night with satisfaction for this day. And little did she know, that by the end of this day, two more ponies would finally accept who she was.

---

Ever Free Forest

Meanwhile, back in the Ever Free Forest cave and den of the Cinders, activity was brewing. Fires were already roaring and filling the cave with it's red hot glow like a Tartarus furnace. That was the glow of great fire pits, the birth places of the infamous Cinder ponies themselves. None but the Cinder's and their master knew how they came to be, and it was time for a bit of education. Since they were working with changelings, they felt kind enough to show them the miracle of Cinder birth.

Queen Chrysalis was attending this with a few veteran changelings and a large squad of new recruits. She stood patiently with her platoon just outside the large room she once fought War Fire in. This room was full of shackled victims, both barely living and dead, hanging from the stone wall. This gave a few of the new changelings cold hooves, but it was nothing new to Cryssy and her veterans. They came to understand these sadistic Cinder ponies, and knew better than to judge.

For cruel retribution would be given to any who were disrespectful, cowardly, or dared to insult. So they could only wait till the hunter and collector returned from his mission. The queen continued to watch some of her worried changelings, making sure they kept strong spines. Pharynx, her purple eyed captain of the changeling army was a strong and mighty fighter in his own right. And he knew how to keep the changelings in check, and even stand up to Cinder's that dared to cross the line.

Suddenly they heard the very quiet movement of grinding stone across the ground. She turned around to notice the cave entrance was open, but no pony entered the cave. Then she looked back, and the Cinder of the hour was in her face and gave a beastly roar to give her the spooks.

"Gaaah!"The queen yelped and fell to her flank before growling from the Cinder's rude introduction.

"Hey honey, I'm home! Did you all behave while good old Primal Pyro was out?"The Cinder teased the changelings, along with giving his name to the newbies.

"We waited for the longest time if that's what you meant…! Thanks for the scare,"Chrysalis mused at the rude jump scare he gave her,"Did you get whatever special ingredients you were sent out to find?"

"You better believe I did…! One fresh and strong pigment, and a new campus,"Primal chuckled and pulled out the two vials full of blood while one of them also had a the bit of flesh with it,"The campus is inside the blood of the cute filly I snatched up yesterday, I even got blood from a warrior to go with an old comrade's campus…! Speaking of which how is the filly? I tried to make it home before she passed…!"

The changelings were all suddenly quiet, Chrysalis looked to her new recruits. They were still a bit shaky after the wait, and they all knew the answer to that question. However, none of them had the stomach to admit the answer without feeling sick, then Pharynx grew a pair to answer.

"She died only ten minutes ago… The recruits weren't handling it well…"Pharynx explained while Primal was left a bit stunned and suddenly miffed.

"What?! Unbuckng believable! I told her not to die till I came back to watch. I was very specific with my order,"Primal freaked out from the disappointing death of the filly so early on,"I needed to see the light and soul fade from her eyes! The final big bucking breath they take before they go limp! You telling me I missed all that?!"

"Yeah…"Pharynx answered before he was given the blood vials to hold while Primal rushed to the prisoners.

Primal went down the lines of shackled ponies he himself captured for the Cinders. All of them hanging with tight shackles on their hooves, their back legs cut open slightly at an arteries. Allowing for good blood flow into large and dense glass jars for the fire pits. They would remain alive for a few days to get the most blood out of them for more Cinders to be made. This was all made possible by Primal, his hunting gave them non stop victims for the fires, this was his calling.

He nearly passed a mid aged stallion crying in pain and anguish for his ruined life. All he did was ache and watch as his blood was drained to create monsters, Primal stopped once he heard the crying. And turned back to the stallion to give him a hot back hoof across the face.

"Shut up, you whiny pansy! You're a grown stallion, stallions don't bucking cry!"Primal flashed his shiny teeth in his face and snarled as he silenced the stallion.

Once the stallion lowered his head and fell silent to the Cinder's demands. He moved on, this was making one changeling in particular sick to his stomach as he hid behind the group. This was like the den of a serial killer, and this one in particular knew no remorse or care for his victims. He could only watch with a shaky head as the Cinder finally came across his newest victim. Young Pedals hung very limp like at the end of the line, she wasn't moving, and she was dead silent.

She even no longer bled from the stump where her leg use to be. He turned his head a bit once he was starting to inspect her, his sniffed around her neck and listened for some breathing. He then started slapping her cheeks around and trying to wake her up in case she was faking it. Finally he pulled out one of his talons and dug int into her belly, perhaps a reflex or scream of pain. Still there was nothing, and the Cinder let out a frustrated sigh once the inevitable was proven, she was dead.

"Buck me, she did die…! Buck! I told her to not die until I came back, I needed to see it with my own eyes,"Primal growled and slapped her one time before letting her down from the wall,"Well, at least I got a very ripe dinner for tonight. Young flesh has always been my favorite…!"

"But first, you, Moltorious and War Fire wished to show us the birthing process of Cinders?"The queen decided to push for this fascinating birth process to get pass this torture room.

"Of course… I suppose I shouldn't keep you waiting… Right this way…"Primal grumbled and had the filly carried off by a Cinder before he would guide the changelings to the fire pit.

"You vile animal…!"

The moment he got moving, a brave changeling then voiced his opinion on Primal. He stopped dead in his tracks and smirked, the changelings all froze the moment the insult was thrown out. He silently chuckled and turned around nice and slow to look to the changelings, one of them was trying to be brave. But real bravery would be saying it to his face, eye to eye, he would respect that. But instead he was hiding in the back of the group, hoping that he wouldn't get pointed out.

"Ooh…! We got a little trash talker, no? Some pony who doesn't like my work? I can understand that,"Primal slowly walked to the group while Pharynx suddenly started to sweat, for he knew exactly who said it,"It's scary, sadistic, requires a strong stomach and a better understanding of how I work… I get that. But can't you even come forward and tell me what you think about me to my face?"

He waved both of his hooves to the sides, demanding that the changelings separate. They did as he commanded and separated till one lone and slightly smaller changeling was pointed out. He looked away, trying to conceal his quivering as Primal slowly approached him. He didn't appear so brave now that Primal knew that he insulted him, the Cinder only found amusement in this. He could take an insult with a smile, the one thing he didn't like, was that the changeling dared to be cowardly about it.

"You wanna repeat what you said, hermando? I'm all ears for it! But you won't even look at me when you do it,"Primal stood over the changeling and let his rows of teeth show, waiting for the changeling to speak,"Hey… Will you look me in the eye…? Come on, you're going to insult me, you gotta do it right."

The changeling remained silent and kept his head down to avoid eye contact. This felt really disrespectful, first he tries to be brave but then turns into a puss the moment the Cinder he insulted stands before him. This made Primal angry, he could enjoy a trash talker, but not a cowardly one.

"You gonna look me in the eye, tough guy…? Or you gonna keep being a wussy,"Primal questioned, and the changeling didn't answer, forcing the Cinder to smack him to the ground with a stiff hoof,"DO YOU WANT ME TO CUT YOU UP AND HANG YOU ON THE WALL LIKE THE REST OF THESE PONIES?! IF YOU CAN'T EVEN HAVE THE COJONEIS TO SAY STUFF TO MY FACE, THEN SHUT THE BUCK UP!"

This outburst was shaking up all the changelings, they were certain that they were going to see a murder. Pharynx gulped as he watched the changeling he knew as his little brother Thorax in trouble. Chrysalis just stood there, her heart beating like a drum, not knowing what to expect.

"You ready to look me in the eye now? Do I need to teach you how to have guts,"Primal got down to Thorax's level and gripped his head with both hooves, forcing him to stare the Cinder in the eyes,"No? Then you better shut the buck up! You got no room to talk if you can't even say it to my face…! Next time, You will die!"

"That's my brother!"Pharynx suddenly yelled out and rushed in.

He quickly got between Thorax and the Cinder, and this time the proper respect was shown. Pharynx stood his ground eye to eye with the Cinder, willing to defend his little brother. Or at the very least, offer an excuse that would get them out of trouble with the Cinders.

"Thorax is still a bit green and soft still, I'm currently trying to break him in as we speak,"Pharynx explained while Primal growled for a bit before putting on a half smile,"He won't do it again. He'll remain loyal and grow some guts before you know it, you have my word…!"

Primal growled and looked over the purple eyed bug's shoulder, staring down the younger brother. As much as the changeling angered him, the big brother easily got him back into a good mood. He was brave enough to stand up to him, even if it was for one that was cowardly and weak. So in return, Primal was merciful this time around and simply brushed off Pharynx's shoulder.

"See that you do, or I'll do it for you, amigo,"Primal warned before finally turning away and back to the front of the group,"Now stop soiling yourselves and stay close kiddies! You don't want to get lost here!"

The queen took the lead right behind the Cinder, and looked back to the group. They followed her in kind and left the brothers to sort themselves out, but there was very little Baryonix could say. He got Thorax up and brushed him off before scoffing at his little brother.

"You better grow up and grow a pair, Thorax. These ponies don't play around, you hear me,"Pharynx made himself clear that Thorax needed to be brave and strong,"He'll kill you, and nothing I will do can stop him, plain and simple. So don't make me regret defending you…"

"Ok…"Thorax agreed and quietly followed his brother with his tail between his legs.

They all followed the Cinder into the main room that was bright with fire. Eight different pits of great fire roared and raised to the ceiling under the control of War Fire. With Moltorious at his side, he was able to focus the fires to prepare for a mass production of Cinders. Moltorious remained knelt down to simply enjoy the fires that birthed his people. Until they both then heard the arrival of Primal and the group of changelings, it pleased War Fire to see Primal return.

They both turned to greet the group, as Primal retrieved the vials from Pharynx. He had a big grin on his face as he showed the vials to his leaders, this brought excitement to War Fire. As he was the first to stand before Primal and take up the vials that his disciple retrieved for the fires.

"Welcome back, Primal. I see you have what we need… Well done,"War Fire scanned over the vials and gave them to Moltorious so he could look them over,"Who were our two kind candidates that offered up the specimens."

"The candidates were your former comrades as a matter of fact, master. Tremoring and Shadow Swirl,"Primal explained the origins of his new collections while War Fire felt a stroke of deep interest,"Shadow's flesh was added to the blood of the filly I caught yesterday, turns out she's a lovely pure blood."

"And the stone pony? How did you get anything off that solid rock of a stallion?"Moltorious asked while taking the vials over to the pits to ready them for deposit.

"Not even his stone flesh can stop these teeth…! I got his blood into the mix with that failures essence,"Primal explained as Moltorious opened up the first vile full of Tremoring's blood and specific ashes,"I hope you know what you're doing, bringing that failure back after losing to a princess of all things…!"

"Second chances will be all but a rarity around here. Irons knows that, and will not dare to fail us again,"War Fire reassured Primal before Moltorious dumped the contents into the great pit of deep red and black fire,"Watch and learn now changelings! This is how the Cinder magic happens!"

The changelings quickly gathered around and watched the fire pit roar with new life. It became pure and burning, shaping into a tight column like fierce dragon flames. Then unholy screams of a damned soul began to arise in a great blast of smoke that pushed out from the flames. It swirled with great consistency, the ash was pure black and hot to the touch, then a face appeared. Before it slammed to the ground, right at the edge of the pits, the ghostly wail chilled their spines, even in such a hot cave.

The smoke began to subside, while the black ash began to mold and take form like clay. It's shape became that of a very bulk and well defined pony with an alpha like stallion muzzle. Blue flames then burned in some cracks and crags all around the molded body that was twice the size of Moltorious. His mane a lit with bright blue and whit flames that flickered like a forge. His tail appeared in the same fashion as the cracks perfectly formed over his body and glowed with blue embers.

They eyes glowed and became their coal like self as the mouth slowly opened up. With it came a very familiar and extravagant voice that was more than happy to be back in Equestria. A pony that once fought princess Luna and lost, but now he had a whole new body with the same attitude.

"Ooooooh baby, it's good to be back! Whoo hoo!"The large dark stallion cheered and laughed, letting his voice echo through the cave.

The black stallion sat down and amused himself by checking out his new form. His body was so much larger, like a bouncer at a pony club, his flames were now blue instead of red. And then the sudden strength began to be noticed, it was immense, far more than anything he felt before. It felt like he could tear a mountain apart with his bare hooves, the limits to his strength had yet to be known. As he clenched his hooves and looked forward to see his master, and fellow disciples.

"Welcome back, Hot Irons. I do hope your time of non existence has taught you a lesson about failure,"War Fire was the first to greet the black Cinder, while Irons approached and bowed,"You had to simply kill the princess of the night, and you couldn't even best her…! The warriors practically gave her to you!"

"A thousand pardons and apologies, my lord…! I underestimated my enemies in the heat of the moment,"Irons admitted his failure and remained knelt down in respect,"It won't happen again, I'll never soil this second chance you have blessed me with."

"We would hope not… You have the blood of Tremoring Quake within you… Your strength has no bounds,"Moltorious warned Irons and approached him to prove his new gifts,"Your ashes are that of iron, so none will be able to reach your heart without the great power of gods themselves…! You got no more excuses now…!"

"I know… There will be no more failure from here on out…! I swear it, or my name isn't Hot Irons!"Irons promised, and War Fire chuckled before making a slight change.

"Your name will no longer be Hot Irons, it doesn't suit your appearance,"War Fire decided that a new name needed to go onto the newly remade Cinder,"From now on, you will be known as… Iron Black! The black iron guard of the Cinders!"

"Iron Black… That gives me all a quiver just to say..! And I'm loving it!"Black admitted his liking for the new name that defined his new form.

"Good. Now scoot out of the way, we got a new comrade to bring forth,"Moltorious pushed Iron out of the way and walked back to the pits with the other vial,"This one better be something special…! A pure blood mixed with the flesh of the shadow warrior?"

Once he had dumped the mix into a pit right next to Black's, it began again. A great column of fire rising and scorching the ceiling, but this time there were female screams rather than ghostly wails. As if the innocence of a lady was being scorched away, allowing a new Cinder to be born. A face appeared from the pure flames as it screamed and shook it's head in a tormented rage. Before it too lowered to the ground in a flickering splash of flames rather than putrid black smoke.

The fiery glow was brighter than before, many had to look away as it molded new ash. Many of them could only stand and wait for the glow to subside before they could see what the ashes made. While War Fire witnessed the creation of something more beautiful than he expected. The flames created something sleek, almost his height with Pegasus wings to burn the very skies. This was no mere Cinder, this one was a first for him, one that was different from the common ones.

The small muzzle, the lovely body that could barely be defined as any sort of ash. Not only could he sense this ones power and make out the physical prowess this one would have. This one's more unique feature was that it was not a stallion, but a flaming, fiery mare Cinder. She trembled, laying on her side while the others looked on in shock and fascination to see this first. Chrysalis and her changelings could not believe their eyes, this was the very first female Cinder pony.

War Fire was careful to approach this one, she was shaky and completely new. Normally Moltorious handled orientations for new Cinder's, but this new pupil required a master's touch. She finally manage to look up and see the Cinders and changelings looking at her. She tried to get to her hooves that were weak and still learning their strength to move and walk. She could only look around and quiver in confusion, she did not know who or what she was, and what made her come to be.

"Welcome to the world of the living, my child. You must have so many questions,"War Fire spoke and knelt down to the female Cinder to be the first voice she would know,"Where are you? What are you? Who are all of us? What is this world? All these questions, I'm willing to answer."

"I-I…I…I… F-feel too cold…!"She stuttered and spoke her first words, this made Primal worry that she may appear to be sensitive and a bit weakly at first.

"Just relax, now… Your fire will warm you up within a few seconds… Welcome to Equestria,"War Fire welcomed the mare Cinder as she was finally able to stand up,"This is your true home, and you are a mighty pony breed, known as a Cinder pony. In fact, you're the first female Cinder of the group."

She looked around some more, then to herself to access what she truly was. Her ash hooves that were finally starting to get warm after a mere minute, her ash made body was soft. In a way it was like soft snow that had just fallen, she gripped at her head to feel the blazing mane she possessed. It was long, reaching all the way to the base of her flank where her sleek tail began. It was already burning hot to the touch, and it proved that she truly was like the others she saw before her.

"What are they, then?"She asked and pointed out the changelings that looked on in awe.

"Those are changelings, they are our allies. Shape shifters of insect like flesh and nature, unlike us,"War Fire explained for the mare before she then looked to her three fellow disciples,"That winged pony with the horn is Moltorious, he's in charge when I'm not around… The large black one just returned from passing, he is Iron Black!"

"And you…?"She looked specifically to Primal, his teeth and meat hook like talons made him a curious one.

"Primal Pyro! I'm the hunter, Black is the muscle, Moltorious is the true heir of fire and leader,"Primal blatantly explained before turning away to leave for some much needed dinner,"You better find out where you fit in! You had to have been created by our lord for some reason!"

"That I will personally see to discovering for myself. Until then, you will need a name before we go along with our plans."War Fire incited while she turned back to him with more curiosity.

"Plans…? What kind of plans?"She asked and sat down to listen to the stallion that was deemed her maker.

"Equestria is in a state of unbalance and is growing weak with ponies too helpless to survive,"War Fire explained their vendetta that influenced fear for a world too weak to remain sustained,"There are some that are daring to defend the weak and let them die like pathetic dogs. Myself and your brethren are here to cure that, and we need you…!"

"We need to kill and punish these weaklings for hiding behind a bunch of tough guys that have betrayed, War Fire!"Black incited their collected view on what they felt was the true tyranny.

"We need to make a world for the strong, just like us! That is the only way this world will be saved,"Moltorious added onto it with a passionate desire to make the world stronger,"You willing to help our maker and lord save this world from the destruction and crippling weakness Equestria is suffering under?"

The Pegasus looked to herself and felt a yearning within her heart, so she reached into her chest. This yearning alarmed her and helped her mind reach an enlightening moment of realization. This was why she was here, they felt she could help be a savior of their crippled home world. This was a purpose, her purpose, a purpose that now gave her meaning to the new life she had. She gently pulled at her chest, and suddenly pulled out the crusty heart of flames and hardened cinder.

The mare then walked to War Fire, and presented the heart to him as a sign of trust. He took up her heart and tucked it away for safe keeping, just like he did the day Primal was made. He then took up the mares hooves, feeling her loyalty growing as unprecedented feelings did as well.

"I…want to help you. Serve you, and save this world…my lord…!"She admitted while War Fire then held her cheeks and chuckled at her cute profess of loyalty.

"Excellent! We have a lot of work to do then… And as for your name,"War Fire decided on the name that would fit her nature,"Flaira…! Flaira Spark. The grunts will refer to you as Lady Flaira…! Welcome to the Cinder ponies, my beautiful disciple!"

Chrysalis and her people only looked on with so much more fascination than they could express. The birthing of a powerful pony race, the plans that were unfolding as new Cinders were crawling out of the pits. With this development, the Cinders were now complete, and the war could truly begin.

I'm back, yes it took a while but I got out a new chapter, though I've noticed that you the readers fell silent. If there's something I can do to help bring back some interest, please tell me. Your support helps me continue writing and making stories for all of you, so feel free to chat. With that said, I'll try to pick myself back up, stay pony every one.