"Commander Gray is dead!" Braveleaf shrieked. She looked very devastated at the news Commander Moon announced. The purple molly looked at her in confusion and wondered if she was close to the Misty Family Commander.

Riverbird dug her claws in the ground. "So Bluestep is the suspect?" Commander Moon nodded.

Lostleap gave Commander Moon a worried glance. "Should we tell Windglide?" His one red-gray eye shifted from the Moon Family Commander to the camp entrance.

Commander Moon flicked an ear. "News spreads fast," she breathed. "Besides, we don't have time, the Monthly Meeting will be starting in a couple hours." Unease crept along her spine at the thought of it being today.

Hawkwing would most likely come but with closed lips due to the threat Bluestep gave. On the flip side, Commander Moon hoped that one mysterious tom who visited Darkness Family would be back so she could speak to him. If not, she would find time to slip away and meet up with Windglide.

As time went on, Commander Moon spent most of her time playing with her kits. Realizing it was getting late, she charged over and hopped on the Meeting Log. "Members of Moon Family," she begins, "I will now be selecting those who will be attending the Monthly Meeting."

Excluding Lostleap and Riverbird who were automatically going, everyone perked up at their Commander's voice. "I would like Sheep, Hawkheart, Trainee Ice, Michaeltail, Trainee Blacky, Maxfire, and Trainee Blue to gather around me," Commander Moon announced.

All the ones mentioned crowded around Commander Moon and she lashed her tail before heading off. Everyone stayed silent as they made their way to the island, Commander Gray's death still fresh on their mind. As they got closer, a raspberry-colored mare zipped past them on over to the white tree where the Commanders sat at.

Who was she? Commander Moon wondered. Her group disbanded as they made their way over to the different animals from the other Families to chat with. Relief washed over Commander Moon when she spotted Hawkwing sitting beside Commander Wicked, a purple-gray molly who was the headstrong Commander of Breeze Family.

"This pony is making me nervous," Commander Wicked snorted. "What is she wanting anyway?" Her red eyes stare past Commander Moon onto the raspberry-colored mare that was hovering over them.

"Perhaps she has news for us," Hawkwing speculated.

Before anyone spoke, the mare shouted, "THERE'S A CORRUPTED BLAZE WING SPOTTED IN THE AREA!" Her dull red eyes showed fear.

"What's a Blaze Wing?" A light gray molly named Gentledove whispered to her sister Poisonpool who shrugged.

Everyone was muttering fearful things under their breath before Commander Wicked hissed, "How dare you scare us with myths?"

"It's not a myth, it's real," the mare argued.

Commander Moon lowered her ears, unsure she could trust what this pony was saying. Should they look around? In the sky, a bright yellow light sparked catching most of their attention. What was that?

As it was getting closer, the raspberry mare flew down to the Commanders. "Rally up your Guardians, it’s getting close," she growled.

"We don't take-" Commander Wicked was cut off by Commander Moon.

"On it," she mewed and called her members' name.

While gathering each one, the pony was ordering them to get into the water as the Blaze Wing would never go near such things. How long do we stay? Commander Moon thought as she hopped into the water, her Guardians following.

"It's cold," Trainee Blue hissed. Her mentor Maxfire cuffed her ear and kept low like the rest of the animals in the water.

In the sky, Commander Moon watched as the Pegasus charged straight toward the Blaze Wing. What was she doing? Wasn't she coming into the water herself? Keeping her eyes on the scene, the raspberry-colored mare caught the bird's attention and was heading straight to the water where no one was at.

"Is she insane?" Hawkheart gasped. "She's leading it way too close!"

"I'm scared," Trainee Blacky whimpered huddling close to his cousin Lostleap who unsheathed his claws.

As the mare hit the water, a familiar ginger tom with blue streaks pounced on the Blaze Wing and placed some weird ornament on its forehead causing it to stop. This was clearly not in the pony's plan as her mouth hung open in shock at what the cat just did.

I wasn't expecting Iceflame to come back, Commander Moon almost purred.

The Blaze Wing landed and Iceflame hopped off its back, baring no burns, and gave a sympathetic look to it. "Windglide wasn't wrong about this darkness, huh?"

"Hooray! We're saved!" An orange-gray tom by the name of Fireclaw, from Fire Family exclaimed. He shrank back in embarrassment when Commander Lava shooshed him.

No one dared to speak as Iceflame directed his attention to them. "As you can see, Blazerun was corrupted by Dark Magic," he spoke.

Blazerun must be the Blaze Wing's name, Commander Moon noted.

"This has become a problem in other areas such as Newblue City and even the Spellcheer's beloved home," Iceflame explained his fierce purple eyes showed a hint of sadness at the mention of the Spellcheers.

And of course, Bluestep stood up to his paws and scowled. "Why should we care? We're not getting affected," he hissed.

"I beg to differ," Lostleap mumbled to Commander Moon who agreed. She remembered Braveleaf and Lillian's home, how it was covered in that dark energy that Windglide and his two friends were working on repairing.

When she looked back at Iceflame, she was surprised to see anger in his eyes as he faced Bluestep who was now out of the water. "This darkness has spread here, my friend informed me," Iceflame retorted.

Bluestep lashed his tail. "You're such a nuisance," he growled and unsheathed his claws. "You remind me so much of a certain king I used to serve." In a quick flash, he pounced at Iceflame who barely reacted in time.

Hissing, Iceflame raked his claws across Bluestep's face causing the blue-gray tom to flinch as blood covered his eyes. Behind Commander Moon, a Guardian from Active Family named Wolfman gasped. "They're fighting! That's against Shining Skies' rules!"

The fight was not breaking up as Bluestep was blindly trying to swipe as Iceflame who either dodged them or took the hit. Eventually, he slammed a paw down on Bluestep's head causing him to submit in defeat. In a low growl, he said, "Watch what you say, or I will kill you to protect these cats."

Bluestep's eyes widened but he didn't say anything as he scurried on back to Misty Family where Hawkwing scolded him. Soon enough, Commander Wicked jumped up and yowled, "The Monthly Meeting is now over as somebody had to disrupt the peace." She shot a cold glare to Bluestep who shot one back.

As the cats broke up, Commander Moon hurried on over to Iceflame who was bidding a goodbye to Blazerun who flew off. The raspberry-colored mare was also making her way on over to them. " Did you hear about Windglide?"

"Yes, I've taken over for Windglide so he can rest back home," Iceflame explained. "I hope everyone who is effected is okay."

"I've never heard of Newblue City, only Spellcheer," the mare snorted. Commander Moon never heard of either but kept her silence.

Iceflame chuckled. "Well, I only know so much about it from Marissi."

"I've never heard of either," Commander Moon confessed.

"There are a variety of Spellcheer with each possessing a specific spell as for Newblue City," Iceflame paused. "I can't say much as I don't have permission to say so."

The raspberry-colored Pegasus flipped her black mane. "You're like cooler than the Thundervolts! You were able to cure that bird of darkness," she exclaimed her hot pink eyes were widening with excitement.

Iceflame just flicked an ear before looking up at the full moon. "It can't do it for everyone. This one was lucky she was in the first stage to be healed," he explained with a solemn tone. He shifted his paws and mewed, "It's getting late I better go." He dashed off before disappearing in a bright light.

After he was gone, the raspberry-colored Pegasus smiled at Commander Moon. "I'm Color Breeze. Princess Grape told me about you guys, and I want to help if it means witnessing exciting stuff like that," she explained.

Commander Moon slowly nodded as Color Breeze quickly flew off causing a strong breeze to blow. Giving a small laugh, she went to join her Campmates as they headed back to camp. Hopefully tomorrow would be better.

***

Next morning came, Commander Moon was watching her kits play. It was a bit lonely now that Dovetail had returned to her duties when Riverbird declared that Feather has showed potential and is taking him under wing a month early.

The purple molly lifted her head up when Trainee Blue charged out of the Trainees' Cave. "Trainee Crow's missing!"

Trainee Will, who was carrying a mouthful of berries, dropped them at Commander Moon's paws before saying, "Nonsense, he told me he was taking a walk."

"And when was this?" Commander Moon asked a bit suspicious.

"Before the sun rose, I believe," Trainee Will meowed before looking nervous.

As everyone started to panic, Trainee Crow soon bolted into camp, eyes wide with alarm. "Bluestep...patrol...coming to attack," he gasped almost collapsing.

Commander Moon immediately got up, but Lostleap hopped onto the Moon Rock. He gave her a determined look and she sat back down purring. All eyes were on the gray tom who asserted himself to look confident. "We won't let this fool beat us! I want Littletail, Trainee Tiger, Puppylove, Trainee Gray, Stormwing, Trainee Will, and Dovetail to come with me!"

"What about me?" Trainee Crow asked looking defiant.

"You'll be resting unless you want your heart to stop beating," Riverbird purred. Trainee Crow scowled but didn't say anything else as the patrol left camp.

***

Trainee Crow was right about Bluestep. Lostleap was surprised as well as confused when he didn't see any Misty Family cats among the patrol. Instead, a black and white female Dalmatian, a yellow tom with barely any fur, an aggressive russet colored tom, an orange and black molly, and a purple wolf who was missing an ear was on the patrol.

"Looks like that rat ruined the surprise," Bluestep sneered.

Lostleap flattened his ears. "You can't do this behind Hawkwing's back!"

"Keep talking and I'll take your other eye out," Bluestep snickered. "Then you'll have to go back to square one in training." Without warning, he leaped at Lostleap and knocked him over. The others jumped in to help as well.

Lostleap kept his attention only on Bluestep as he wasn't sure whether these guys were really with him or was forced into this. He slashed at the dark blue-gray tom's side and bit at his leg. Screeching in pain, Bluestep kicked back only to fall over as he lost balance giving Lostleap another chance to strike at the tom's head.

While trying to get up, Lostleap rammed his head into Bluestep's shoulder knocking him back over. I never thought he would be this easy to beat, Lostleap thought in satisfaction. The feeling was cut off as Bluestep's eyes turned all yellow and his body was engulfed in light.

"What is going on?!" Puppylove howled. She was batting at the Dalmatian's head to get her off her back.

In a couple of heartbeats, stood before all of them was blue-gray six tailed fox on all fours, with a lighter blue-gray fluff of fur around his neck and black paws. A sinister smirk appeared on his face as all six of his tails glowed before shards of ice shot at the Moon Family battle patrol.

"It's too much!" Trainee Gray cried hiding behind his mentor, Puppylove.

Shielding his good eye from the pellet of the ice storm, Lostleap growled, "Retreat! Get back to camp!"

Everyone shuffled away but Lostleap caught Bluestep's words, "You'll never win, you filthy animals."