Pony Kombat

As the soulnado grew in size and power, Octavia snickered. Equestria was nearly in Nightmare Moon's grasp. Cyber Rainbow Dash held her ground to avoid getting sucked into the soulnado. Scootaloo suddenly ran up beside her.

“Go!” Scootaloo cried. “Your soul is not safe!” Cyber Rainbow Dash nodded and ran back to the temple.

“Equestria's fate is sealed, Scootaloo,” Octavia said.

“Not yet,” Scootaloo denied. “We fight until the end.” Scootaloo and Octavia fought. Possessing the power of her deceased ancestors, Scootaloo used weapons made from pure energy. She used axes, arrows, and lightning to counter Octavia's dark magic. Scootaloo eventually won the fight.

“Your time is over,” Scootaloo growled. Shadow Dash had recovered. She noticed Scootaloo and began to fight. Scootaloo and Shadow Dash traded weak blows mere feet from the soulnado. After a few rounds of this, Scootaloo had enough. She kicked Shadow Dash into the air into suction range of the soulnado. As Shadow Dash spiraled upward, the green soulnado began to turn purple. Octavia scowled and escaped from the imminent blast back to Tartarus. Scootaloo put up an energy shield to protect herself. The soulnado, now completely disrupted, exploded. The souls of Equestria flew in all directions, shattering gravestones and one lone tree. Scootaloo flew back from the shockwave. As the shock subsided, Scootaloo pulled herself up and said a prayer to the spirits.

~~~

Back in the temple, the rest of Equestria's defenders anxiously waited for Scootaloo's return. Celestia was in distress, for the cracks in her amulet had still not healed. The defenders were speaking of the future.

“But how do we know?” Cadence asked. “Celestia could be having visions of possible futures, not the future.”

“Cadence's right,” Big Mac agreed. “Was I supposed to have my legs replaced with these?” He showed the defenders his mechanical legs. “Or was it caused from interfering with the timeline?”

“My head hurts just thinking about it,” Shining Armor said.

“This isn't helpful,” Pinkie Pie said. “We cannot second-guess our decisions. Celestia, what are your thoughts?” Celestia didn't answer. She seemed to be in a trance, staring off into the distance, looking forlorn. “Celestia?” Pinkie asked. Celestia suddenly came to.

“Yes,” she managed. “That is best.” She obviously did not hear Pinkie Pie's question.

“What is our next objective?” Cyber Rainbow Dash asked.

“Scootaloo!” Twilight Sparkle cried. The defenders turned to see Scootaloo approach them.

“It is done,” Scootaloo said. “Equestria's souls are safe.” As the defenders breathed a sigh of relief, Celestia took off her amulet. To her horror, the cracks only worsened.

“No!” she cried. “Oh, is it not enough?!” Celestia pounded a hoof on the alter, startling Twilight Sparkle. The defenders looked at Celestia, concerned.

“I must speak with the Elder Gods,” Celestia decided. “Nightmare Moon's violation must be punished!”

“The battle is joined here, in Equestria,” Twilight Sparkle argued.

“We cannot win without the Elder Gods,” Celestia stayed.

“But Princess,” Twilight pleaded.

“Twilight,” Shining Armor said. “Close as a shadow.”

“Scootaloo,” Celestia called. “You will lead until we return.”

“As you wish, Princess,” Scootaloo accepted. Celestia teleported to the Temple of the Elder Gods with Twilight Sparkle. The defenders were left alone.

“Well, now what?” Applebloom asked. “Standing around here won't do us any good.” Cyber Rainbow Dash suddenly had an uneasy feeling.

“Wait,” she ordered. She let her senses take over. “The Pegasi!” she exclaimed. “They surround us.” Many Pegasi cyborgs, along with Fleetfoot and Applejack, appeared around the defenders. They all got ready to fight.

“So much for standing around,” Applebloom said.

“Attack!” Scootaloo cried. The defenders took on the Pegasi. Scootaloo took Applejack. Applejack immediately struck Scootaloo in the chest knocking her back.

“My speed and skill are beyond you,” Applejack calculated. Scootaloo and Applejack fought brutally. Scootaloo anticipated each of Applejack's attacks and won the fight. Flawless Victory.

“Pure speed and skill will not win this war, Applejack,” Scootaloo muttered. She noticed Derpy Hooves battling Fleetfoot. Derpy threw weak punches, for she was drained. Fleetfoot caught one of Derpy's punches.

“You are weak, Derpy,” Fleetfoot growled. She knocked Derpy onto her back. “Now do you understand?” Fleetfoot asked. “The power of the Grand Mare's vision?” She prepared to finish Derpy. Scootaloo threw an energy axe into Fleetfoot's iron chest, which of course only gained Fleetfoot's attention.

“You are no match for the power of the spirits,” Scootaloo said. Fleetfoot was more vicious than Applejack, therefore being a more powerful and unpredictable opponent. Scootaloo however did not rely on predictability, and won the battle through strategy and skill.

“Perhaps even you can be saved,” Scootaloo said. As the defenders finished their battles with the Pegasi, they were all drained. Cyber Rainbow Dash began hacking into the Pegasi's logs to find out why they had come. Scootaloo looked around for other surprises. Pinkie Pie felt a familiar pressense.

“What is it?” Scootaloo asked. Pinkie Pie looked behind Scootaloo and saw a familiar face, yet very different.

“Mother,” Pinkie Pie gasped. Trixie screamed loudly and prolonged, disorienting the defenders. Scootaloo however, stood firm, unfazed.

“Come forward, if you dare!” Trixie cried. “I will finish what the Pegasi could not!” The defenders stood ready.

“Let's do this,” Big Mac said.

“Attack!” Scootaloo cried out. She attacked Trixie first, and was immediately knocked to the floor. Shining Armor had the same result. Even Sweetie Belle's speed was no match for Trixie. Trixie knocked Sweetie Belle to the floor and stomped on her chest, killing her. Trixie chuckled. Applebloom made an attempt to avenge her partner, but was brought to her knees. Trixie quickly cut off Applebloom's breathing, instantly killing her. Cyber Rainbow Dash attacked, but Trixie overloaded her systems Cyber Rainbow Dash fell to the ground, dead. Big Mac ran up and Trixie immediately ran the spike of her heel into Big Mac's throat, cutting off his breathing. Derpy was brought to her knees and her neck was snapped. Cadence was simply kicked to the ground. When Rarity attacked, Trixie grabbed her throat. Pinkie Pie tried to interfere and save her friend, but she was kicked back. Trixie drove her hoof into Rarity's gut and ripped out her liver. Pinkie Pie attacked again, but was beaten to hell and knocked to the floor. Trixie picked her up and delivered more hard hits to Pinkie Pie. Trixie finished with a high kick to Pinkie's face, knocking her to the floor once again. Pinkie Pie groaned on the floor of the temple. She tried to pick herself up as Trixie approached.

“Mother, please,” Pinkie begged.

“I am no longer your mother,” Trixie denied.

“Mother, this is not your way,” Pinkie Pie pleaded. “Nightmare Moon has corrupted you.”

“Nightmare Moon has resurrected me,” Trixie exclaimed. “You have betrayed her. Embraced a pathetic cause.”

“Remember Canterlot, Mother,” Pinkie Pie tried. “Remember your rule before Nightmare Moon's invasion.”

“Quiet, child,” Trixie hushed. “It is time for you to join your friends.” Trixie built up power as she prepared to steal Pinkie Pie's soul, the same way Nightmare Moon had done with Sunset Shimmer. Scootaloo approached Trixie from behind.

“Monster!” Scootaloo cried. Trixie stopped her procedure and turned to Scootaloo.

“Still alive?” she questioned. Pinkie fell to the ground. “No matter,” Trixie said. “Soon, you will reunite with your ancestors.” Trixie and Scootaloo began a brutal fight. Scootaloo, enraged at Trixie, fought like she had never fought before. Trixie put up quite a fight, as she had just murdered almost all of Equestria's defenders. Scootaloo, however, would not give up. She got behind Trixie and drove two axes into Trixie's shoulders, shattering the shoulder blades. Scootaloo then kicked Trixie in the back so hard, her backbone was fractured. The battle was won by Scootaloo.

“Now, Trixie, face the spirit's judgment!” Scootaloo cried. Trixie stood right back up as if nothing had happened. She laughed as Scootaloo began to say a ritual prayer to the spirits. Scootaloo began to glow with a blue light, and her eyes lit up white. She shot spiritual lightning from her hooves at Trixie. Nearby, Cadence was still alive. She looked to the sky and called for Celestia.

“Celestia!” she weakly called. “Celestia, where are you?”

~~~

Celestia was, in fact, in another realm, in the Temple of the Elder Gods with Twilight Sparkle.

“Elder Gods, I beseech you,” Celestia said to the Elder Gods. “Equestria is in danger.”

“We are aware of your plight, Celestia,” the Elder Gods said in unison.

“Then you must intervene on Equestria's behalf,” Celestia begged.

“We cannot,” said the Elder Gods.

“But Nightmare Moon,” Celestia pleaded. “Twilight Sparkle has bested her twice, yet she...”

“Nightmare Moon has not violated the rules of Pony Kombat,” the Elder Gods explained.

“What?!” Celestia gasped. “She invades Equestria as we speak!”

“Invasion is not itself a transgression,” the Elder Gods continued. “It is the merger of realms that is perscribed.”

“A distinction without a difference!” Celestia yelled. “Innocents are dying at the hooves of Tartarus!”

“It is regretable,” the Elder Gods admitted. “But the Pony Kombat tournaments are not intended to prevent certain outcomes. They are only intended to maintain balance among the realms.

“Please,” Celestia begged. “You must.”

“We have spoken,” the Elder Gods said. They faded from their places, leaving Celestia and Twilight Sparkle alone in the temple. Celestia had pleaded for help, yet none would come.

“The last doors are closing,” she said, forlorn. “We are nearly trapped.” Twilight Sparkle and Celestia stood in the temple for a time, wondering what to do.

~~~

Trixie threw Scootaloo against the alter. The side shattered as Scootaloo broke through it. Trixie and Scootaloo had continued to fight as Celestia pleaded. Trixie grabbed Scootaloo around the waist with her mane and hoisted Scootaloo up above the temple floor. Scootaloo struggled to escape.

“Victory is mine, Pegasus,” Trixie declared. She began to steal Scootaloo's soul.

“Not… if I… take it… from you!” Scootaloo managed to yell. She said a special prayer to her ancestors as her soul was drained from her body. Trixie laughed as Scootaloo did this. Celestia and Twilight Sparkle teleported into the temple. They saw the mess of bodies on the floor and Scootaloo hoisted up by Trixie.

“By the Elder Gods!” Twilight exclaimed. She and Celestia ran over to assist Scootaloo, but it was too late. Scootaloo finished her prayer. She cried out in pain as a blue column of light absorbed her and Trixie. The ancestors had heard Scootaloo's plea. Trixie was destroyed by the spirit's wrath, as was Scootaloo. When the light cleared, Trixie and Scootaloo were gone. Twilight Sparkle and Celestia looked in awe. Twilight suddenly heard a groan from a corner of the temple.

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight cried. Celestia ran over with Twilight to Pinkie Pie, who was severely wounded.

“Twilight,” Pinkie managed to say. “You were right. I wish we had met… under… different… circumstances.” With that, Pinkie Pie breathed her last breath and died in front of Twilight Sparkle.

“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight begged. As Pinkie Pie's body became motionless, Twilight Sparkle fell to her knees.

“They are dead,” Twilight mourned.

“Twilight, I...” Celestia began.

“We abandoned them,” Twilght said, ignoring Celesita. “And they're dead.”

“My heart too, is heavy with their sacrifice,” Celestia said.

“They're deaths achieve nothing!” Twilight fumed. Celestia looked, forlorn, at Pinkie Pie's lifeless body. She looked at her amulet, only to see more cracks form.

“What is next, Celestia?!” Twilight raged. “Tell me the future! How do we honor their 'sacrifice'?!” Celestia thought for a moment.

“I climbed to heaven,” she said as she put her amulet back. “Now I must plunge into the depths. I will go to Octavia, ally our realm with hers against the forces of Tartarus.”

“What?!” Twilight asked, shocked. “Grable before Octavia?! What will she demand? What price will be paid?!”

“Would any price be too high to save Equestia?” Celestia questioned. Twilight Sparkle shook her head.

“I had prayed it not true,” she said, hatred growing inside her. “But you have gone mad, Celestia.” Celestia felt that she was losing her student. “Your visions,” Twilight said. “They are nothing. The delusions of an adult mind.”

“Twilight, please,” Celestia pleaded. She was interrupted by groans of pain. Twilight Sparkle looked to see Cadence and Shining Armor attempt to pick themselves up. They had survived Trixie's attack.

“Enough,” Twilight said. “I must help the wounded. Leave on your hopeless quest.” Twilight Sparkle stood up and stormed over to help Cadence and Shining Armor.

“May the Elder Gods protect you,” Celestia prayed. She teleported to the Everfree Forest in search of Octavia, hopeful she would help Equestria. Celestia was determined to save Equestria, no matter the price.