Friendship is Magic

Descent flung attacks with blinding fury, trying to strike the randomly-moving pink-haired pain and failing spectacularly.  The girl seemed to enjoy making him look like an impotent fool, if her giggles were any indication.  The fight, however, was beginning to take its toll on him.  It was a constant drain on his energy to fling his most powerful attacks at this girl, who wouldn't do him the courtesy of staying still for a moment.

As if she could sense him weakening, she turned and stopped.  “You're all mine, sweetcheeks.”

Four pillars of water erupted from the ground to meet over his head.

“All mine!”  Pinkie cried again.

The pillars converged to wrap tightly around him.

Descent felt his choler rise.  He was putting out everything and this...cretin was toying with him.  He was a serious threat to her and she was acting like this was one big game.  How dare she not see him for the menace he was.

How. Dare. She.

On pure will, he broke her bonds and shattered the watery wrappings.  He lowered until he hovered a few meters above her, growling in anger.

“Oh, don't you look all hot and bothered.”  She taunted, giving him a smug smile. “Admit it, it's because of me.”  She tugged at the collar of her powder-blue shirt and fanned herself. “Actually, that last dance made me all hot and bothered too.”

“Freaking nut job!  Take this seriously.”

“Ohhh, you need to lighten up.  You don't want to become some grumpy old codger, do you?  Besides, being a nut job is fun.”  Her eyes took on a faraway look. “You don't want to see me upset.  I don't want to be that kind of girl anymore.”

The tears in her eyes were obvious when she turned back to him.  Her lip quivered and, for a moment, he was afraid he had upset her.  For a moment, he was overtaken with a feeling he had never before experienced.  Was it....remorse?

Suddenly, the girl's face broke into a massive grin and she laughed.  “Fooled you!”

x----x

I leaped from tree branch to tree branch, dodging Nightingale's attacks.

“Bounce about all you please, little girl.  You can't escape from me.”

I checked my angles and the distance and did the math.  Rarity was below me, unnoticed by Nightingale, slowly building her power for a manifestation she wanted to try.  Remembering how well Pinkie's experiment had worked, and how much time this battle had already consumed, I was willing to try anything.

Rarity met my eyes and gave a single nod, signaling that she was ready.

I snickered as I spun to face Nightingale.  “I wasn't running.  I was readying my best attack.”

I flung my Stella Magna and watched as the ball of energy hurtled toward Nightingale.  Moments before impact, she dropped to the ground and the Magna smashed against a tree.

Perfect.

She glared up at me. “Stupid girl!  Don't you get it?  Your attacks are too slow.”

“You're calling her stupid?”  Rarity called out with a triumphant smile.  “You're the one who has just fallen into my trap!”

Nightingale looked down to find Rarity had molded several layers of stone around her foot.  She tugged at it, but was unable to free herself.

Over Rarity's head, manifesting from the ether, was a massive arm.  It was easily twice the size of a bus and seemed to be made of pure diamond.

“I call forth the right arm of the Diamond Golem.  I may not have the power for a full Golem but the right arm should be more  than enough for the likes of you.”

The arm extended a single finger and began to press forward, preparing to squash Nightingale like a bug.  It began to build speed as it continued to descend.

It happened almost too fast.  One moment, Nightingale's demise was a certainty.  The next moment, a massive shield appeared.

“Impossible.” Rarity gasped.

The man had appeared out of nowhere and stood between Nightingale and the arm, one arm outstretched and casting the powerful shield that had brought the attack to a halt.

“H-Haze?”

Rarity turned to me. “Is there some way you can find out how powerful this guy is?  Some sort of aura-reading hooba-jooba?”

I shook my head. “I-I was going to have Celeste teach me about aura analysis tonight, but we just fought the manticore yesterday.  I didn't think we'd be dealing with these guys so soon.”

“Well, what about the Architect?  Surely she can shed some light on this guy?”

“No, no.  That requires a lot of spiritual energy.  That's why I wanted Celeste to teach me aura analysis, to see if calling the Architect would be necessary before the battle began.  I don't have enough energy now.  Besides, Celeste told me that calling and Alicorn for nothing more than information is extremely disrespectful.  Especially towards a deity like the Architect.”

Nightingale stood beside Haze and fixed Rarity and I with a disgusting smirk. “Now that our numbers are a little more even, let's see who is the better fighter: Celestia's Element Bearers or Luna's Warriors.”

“I'll take the big one.”  Rarity said out of the side of her mouth.

“Are you sure?”

“Oh, yes.  He made my attack look pathetic.  I have a score to settle.”

I began to move away. “Alright.  Be careful.”

Rarity stomped her foot and rode the pillar of earth up fifteen meters.  Above Haze, she would present a more difficut target.

“Alright, let's try this again.  Once more, with feeling!”

“Listen closely, child.  I am not in the mood for your silly games.  I'm going to give you one chance to retreat.  Only one, but, if you choose to stay and fight, know this.  I will not hold back, even if you are a woman.  I will unleash everything you have and I will crush you.”

Rarity gave a derisive laugh. “I'll dispatch you before you can even lift a finger.  Diamond Golem, smash him!”

“Venom Blade.”  Haze responded in a bored voice and leisurely flick of his finger.

The bright green energy blade erupted forward, cleaving through the Diamond Golem's fist as if it were nothing before proceeding to Rarity's position.  She barely had time to leap out of the way, avoiding her own demise.  She sat up and stared at the pillar, cleanly bisected where she had been just moments before.

“How?” She squeaked.

Haze chuckled.  “I did warn you, girl, that I would not hold back.”

“B-but, the Golem.  It was diamond.”

“I have to admit you've impressed me.  The Diamond Golem is a very difficult summon and, if you manage to do it successfully, the battle is practically won, even if you only manage one arm.  However, you managed to forget an important piece of information.  The indestructible property of the Golem relies heavily on the strength of the summoner.  Unfortunately, your strength was far too little to make the Golem effective.  In reality, it was as fragile as crystal.”

Rarity snorted, “That's fine.  My Golem may not be effective against you, but that doesn't mean I don't have other tricks up my sleeve.”  She grunted as she tried to return to her feet, only to find that her body was unresponsive.  “What's this?  I-I can't move!”

“Ah, a side effect of the Venom Blade, I'm afraid.  You see, the blade gives off a certain aura.  Anybody unlucky enough to be within the proximity of that aura is afflicted with paralysis for a short time.”

“Paralysis?”  She echoed.

Haze grinned. “I did warn you, did I not?”  Without another word, he took to wing and charged at her.

Time seemed to slow as I watched the massive man advance on my friend, knowing I was too far away to stop it.

“Oh, God.” She moaned. “Somebody...Anybody...please...help me!”

x----x

Spike gasped as his heart clenched painfully within his chest, causing his legs to buckle.  He dropped into the grass and sat for a moment, massaging is chest.

“What the hell?”  He muttered. “That hurt.  Feels like somebody punched me.  Uh, something is wrong.  The girls are in trouble.  I know it.”

x----x

Fluttershy recovered admirably and stood tall. “Don't do this, Rainbow.  Don't go with Luna.  They're just using you.”

“Oh?  Like those other girls are using you for their jollies?”

Fluttershy let out a frustrated growl and flung her hands up.  “They aren't like that!  How can I make you understand that?”

“All I understand is that I am your friend.  You're only friend!  You should listen to me and only me!”

The look in Fluttershy's eyes caused the smaller girl to take a step back.  “You're right, Rainbow.  I'm your friend.  Not your slave, not your pet, not your possession.  I've always been there for you, but I have a right to friends other than you.”  She took a deep breath and, for the first time in years, spoke her mind. “I love you, Rainbow, but you don't own me.”

Rainbow nodded. “Fine.  Go have fun with your new friends.  I have new friends too and I made a promise to them.”

“And what about your promise to him?”

Rainbow's blood ran cold. “I-I don't know what you're talking about.”

“Don't lie to me, Rainbow Dash.  You made a promise to him, same as I did, three years ago.  Soarin.  Don't tell me you've forgotten about him.”  She pulled something from her pocket, a lightning bolt pendant on a golden chain, and pressed it into Rainbow's hand, pressing the smaller girls fingers around it.

“So...Soarin.”

“Don't forget your promise,  Rainbow.  Please don't forget your promise.”