“We need music.”

Applejack looked over. “What’s that now, Rainbow Dash?”

"We need music.”

“What for?”

“To pump us up, duh!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “We can’t just go into battle with an unstoppable menace without some sweet background tunes!”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “As neat-a-rooni as that would be, Rainbow Dash, Ah think we should focus on th’ task at hoof.” She pointed out at the horizon, where the Canterlot ruins were just barely visible through the black haze. “Whatever did that to Canterlot is on its way here. We need to keep a lookout until the rest of th’ gang gets here.”

“Okay, Mrs. Serious Pants,” Dash remarked, tongue sticking out. “Just trying to lighten the mood a little, right?”

“Ah know you mean well, Dash, but stay focused. Twilight said that this thing is like nothin’ we’ve faced before.”

“Pfft!” Dash spat as she flipped her hoof. “Twilight says that about every threat!” She quickly bunched her unruly rainbow hair together, forming a nice bun on her head.

“‘Listen, girls!” Dash started in a high-pitched voice. “‘The big bad Whatsie Doodle is coming this way, and it will totally destroy us! Let's use the Magic of Friendship to destroy it, then retire to the castle for a good post-disaster averting book session!'”

Another eye roll. “Celestia above, you’re a hoofful.”

Applejack looked back out at the horizon. The black haze was closer now, drifting at a steady pace. Twilight had told Dash and AJ to stay here on the edge of Ponyville and warn them when the haze was close. The rest of the girls were off helping the few remaining townsfolk evacuate, pointing them towards the Macintosh Mountains.

“Ah think she meant it.”

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash turned back to AJ. “What’d you say?”

“Twilight. Ah think she meant it when she said this was like nothin’ we'd ever faced before.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Ah don’t know. Just…” Applejack looked behind her. The town was empty now, in both streets and buildings. Other than a soft breeze, there was no noise.

“Just…?”

“...Just that th’ way she was talkin' was off. Y’know what Ah'm sayin'?”

Dash shrugged. “I dunno. Maybe she was just unnerved that we had to actually evacuate the town this time.”

“Maybe. But Ah don’t think so. Somethin’ about all this just feels like it irked her th’ wrong way.”

“I guess. Or maybe you’re just rojecting.”

Applejack raised her eyebrow. “Say what now?”

“Rojecting. You know, when you say somepony else is feeling something when it’s actually just you.”

“That’s projectin’, Dash. And no, Ah’m not doing that.” She looked back out at the black haze, now closer. “Though Ah’d be lyin’ if Ah said I wasn’t feelin’ a tad more uneasy than usual.”

Rainbow Dash reached over and grabbed Applejack with her left hoof. With the other, she bunched her hair together in a perfect bundle. “Don cha warry bout nothin’, suga pie! Ah’ll protect ya from da big bad Black Cloud!”

Applejack couldn’t help but laugh. “Dang it all, Dash! Why ya gotta be so cool with evil incarnate breathin’ down our necks?”

Rainbow Dash didn’t get a chance to answer, for a yell came behind them.

“We’re here!” Twilight shouted, out of breath. She was followed by the others, who shared her breathlessness. All of their manes were tussled and torn.

“Was wondering when you guys were going to show up!” Rainbow Dash chuckled.

“Sorry...just had to...take care of a...few more evacuees…than I thought...” Twilight panted. After a few moments, she looked towards Canterlot. The black haze was nearly upon them now, its approach now quicker and just as silent as the town.

“Alright, girls,” Twilight said. “Get ready.”

The rest of the gang nodded and assumed the proper positions. Side-to-side in a straight line, they looked up at the approaching menace.

“Hey, Dash,” Applejack said, her eyes still fixed on the haze.

“Yeah?” Dash didn’t take her eyes off it either.

“...Ah forgot.”

"What?”

“Ah was goin’ to say somethin’ just now, but it just slipped mah mind.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll remember it while we’re blasting this bozo. You can tell it to me later.”

“...Okay.”

“On the count of Three, girls!” Twilight shouted. The haze was nearly on top of them now.

“One…”

The trees crashed as the haze pushed them out of the way.

“Two…”

Its black tentacles reached out towards them.

“THREE!”

The thought suddenly came back to Applejack.

You’re a good friend, Dash.