Pony Kombat

In the depths of the Everfree Forest, Celestia appeared to seek out Octavia.

“Octavia!” she called. “Octavia!” Fluttershy appeared in front of Celestia. Celestia sighed. “It disappoints me to see you here,” she said.

“Save your pity,” Fluttershy snarled.

“I will have an audience with Octavia,” Celestia demanded.

“You may address me,” Fluttershy denied. “I will inform her.”

“Is this why you chose not to save your family and clan?” Celestia questioned. “To maintain your place at her feet?!”

“Do not talk of my family, Celestia!” Fluttershy fumed.

“Fetch your master, Fluttershy!” Celestia ordered. “I will speak with her!”

“You speak only with me!” Fluttershy denied. She and Celestia fought. Celestia would risk everything to save Equestia, but she would not let some pawn of Octavia's stop her. Being the Princess of Thunder, Celestia had no trouble defeating Fluttershy.

“Now, Fluttershy!” Celestia commanded. “Fetch your master!” Fluttershy teleported away and Octavia teleported in.

“You seek an audience?” Octavia asked.

“I seek cooperation,” Celestia corrected. “Between Equestria and the Everfree Forest.”

“Losing the battle, are you?” Octavia asked, knowing she was correct.

“We will prevail,” Celestia assured. “But with the Everfree Forest fighting at our side...”

“Do I look like a fool, Celestia?” Octavia questioned. “Equestria's defenses are overwhelmed. You have mere hours.”

“Name your terms,” Celestia said.

“What do you offer?” Octavia asked, interested in what Celestia would give her.

“I offer...” Celestia thought. “I offer the souls of Equestrian warriors who die in this conflict.” At this, Octavia laughed hysterically. She could not believe what Celestia was offering. Celestia remained firm. “They would agree,” she said.

“You are cavalier with other mare's souls,” Octavia said. She walked away, unsatisfied.

“Not just others!” Celestia yelled. “I offer my own soul as well. If I die, you will have it.” Octavia stopped.

“How noble Celestia,” she said. She turned and faced Celestia. “But utterly pointless.” Octavia summoned her new pawns. Every single one of Equestria's defenders, their souls under Octavia's control, including Trixie's. They were cracked and their eyes glowed red, almost zombie-like.

“No!” Celestia cried.

“You see,” Octavia said. “Their souls are already mine. Nightmare Moon's payment for the Everfree Forest's allegiance.”

“No,” Celestia cried. “This was not meant to be!”

“Equestria has lost, Celestia,” Octavia said. “Now so shall you.” She turned to her pawns. “Finish her.” Big Mac, Applebloom, and Sweetie Belle stepped forward.

“As you command, my master,” Big Mac said. He prepared to fight. But being only a physical soul made him weaker than a normal Kombatant. Celestia fought Big Mac and easily bested him. Applebloom immediately stepped up and began to fight. Celestia defeated her as well. Sweetie Belle followed, her mask shredded and her oxygen tank battered. Celestia regretted every blow she landed on her foe, as Sweetie Belle was a willing defender. Celestia defeated Sweetie Belle with ease.

“May the Elder Gods watch over you,” Celestia prayed.

“The Elder Gods cannot help them,” Octavia said. “Their souls are mine.” She called forth Pinkie Pie, Scootaloo, and Babs Seed.

“You have sealed our fate in this place, Thunder Princess,” Pinkie Pie said. “You have condemned us all!” Pinkie Pie was first up to battle Celestia. Celestia was done fighting her own, but she had no choice. She battled and defeated Pinkie Pie, then Scootaloo, and finally Babs Seed.

“Curse you, Octavia!” Celestia fumed.

“Nightmare Moon's victory is nearly complete,” Octavia informed. “Soon she will arrive in Equestria.”

“No!” Celestia yelled. “The Elder Gods cannot allow it!”

“The Elder Gods are wingless,” Octavia said. “Your world is near destruction, yet they do not act.”

“They must!” Celestia stormed. “Only through Pony Kombat may Nightmare Moon merge the realms, lest she face the judgment of the Elder Gods.” Finally, after this entire time, Celestia figured out the riddle. “Lest she face the judgment of the Elder Gods!” she exclaimed. “'She must win!'”

“It is you who will face judgment, Celestia,” Octavia growled.

“Thank you, Octavia,” Celestia thanked. “I now know what must be done.” Celestia teleported out of the Everfree Forest. Octavia scowled.

~~~

Celestia appeared on top of a skyscraper in Manehattan, where a massive portal to Tartarus has opened. Nightmare Moon's throne had already been set up on the rooftop, and Equestria was in ruin. Twilight Sparkle entered the scene and noticed Celestia.

“Back from the Everfree Forest empty-hooved, I see,” she scowled.

“Twilight!” Celestia cried. “Twilight, I now know what we must do. We must allow Nightmare Moon to merge the realms!”

“That is insane!” Twilight cried.

“The Elder Gods forbid it without victory in Pony Kombat!” Celestia explained. “What she does, the Elder Gods' fury will fall upon her!” Twilight Sparkle shook her head, denying Celestia's words. “Defeating Nightmare Moon before the merge is but temporary!” Celestia continued. “She will return, bringing Armageddon! I have foreseen it!”

“Enough, Celestia!” Twilight Sparkle yelled. She heard the portal before her pulse. Celestia turned to see Nightmare Moon begin to enter the realm of Equestria. Nightmare Moon savored the moment, knowing her victory was imminent.

“She is here,” Twilight Sparkle gasped. She approached the portal, but Celestia held her back.

“No, do as I say,” Celestia ordered. “Have faith in the Elder Gods. Have faith in me.” Twilight Sparkle shook her head and continued toward Nightmare Moon. “Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia commanded. “I cannot let you fight Nightmare Moon!”

“Then you are my enemy!” Twilight Sparkle raged. She fought Celestia out of bitter anger, swearing to herself that her former master had gone mad. Celestia fought back to try and stall Twilight Sparkle from fighting Nightmare Moon. In an attempt to stop Twilight, Celestia fought hard and knocked her former student to the ground.

“Twilight Sparkle, do not interfere,” Celestia asked. As Twilight struggled to get up, Nightmare Moon was inching closer and closer to victory. Cadence and Shining Armor ran onto the rooftop and saw Celestia. Twilight Sparkle continued to run toward Nightmare Moon to end this madness.

“Twilight Sparkle, stop!” Celestia cried. She shot lightning in Twilight's path blocking her from Nightmare Moon. Twilight became furious and charged up a fiery hoof.

“Twilight! Celestia! No!” Shining Armor cried. He and Cadence ran over to try and stop the fight.

“Enough of your madness!” Twilight Sparkle stormed. “If you must die, so be it!” Twilight Sparkle charged at Celestia in an attempt to murder her. Out of instinct, Celestia built up an electricity shield, which proved to be a bad choice. Twilight Sparkle's fire joined with Celestia's lightning, electrocuting and burning herself all at once. She cried out in pain.

“By my sister!” Celestia cried. “No!” Celestia ran over to Twilight Sparkle, who fell onto the floor of the roof. Celestia knelt down. “No,” she moaned. “This was not meant to happen.”

“What did you do?” Shining Armor asked. Celestia held Twilight Sparkle's head in shame.

“Twilight, forgive me,” Celestia begged. Twilight managed to gasp a few more breaths of life.

“You… have killed us… all,” Twilight groaned. Twilight Sparkle died in Celestia's hooves, unwilling to trust her. Celestia closed her eyes and mourned over her pupil's death at her hooves. As she did so, Nightmare Moon stepped into Equestria.

“Come on,” Cadence said to Shining Armor. “It's up to us.” They charged at Nightmare Moon to fight, but that proved pointless. Nightmare Moon laughed and knocked them both back. Celestia looked up and saw that Nightmare Moon had successfully merged Equestria with Tartarus. She stood up and bowed before Nightmare Moon.

“Ah, Celestia,” Nightmare Moon said. “You have come to your senses.”

“Equestrian citizens suffer,” Celestia informed. “Further resistance serves no purpose.” Nightmare Moon shook her head, denying the fact that Celestia was giving up.

“All these ages you have fought me,” Nightmare Moon said. “You denied me my rightful claim. Not this time.” Nightmare Moon knocked Celestia onto her back. As she did so, Celestia had the same vision as her first one. Her being defeated by Nightmare Moon. The vision jumped on and off constantly.

“The Elder Gods fear me now,” Nightmare Moon said. She chuckled and picked up Celestia. “Their pathetic Pony Kombat shackles me no longer,” Nightmare Moon went on. She battered Celestia with hits, just as Celestia had foreseen. Nightmare Moon threw Celestia across the rooftop. The amulet on Celestia's chest, the thing that was her guide, fell off and hit the rooftop floor. It shattered on impact and was completely broken. Celestia landed near the rooftop edge, nearly falling off.

“They masquerade as alicorns,” Nightmare Moon spoke. “But are mere toothless fillies.” Celestia rolled over, and Nightmare Moon stomped on her chest. “I know you can feel it,” Nightmare Moon said. “It is the end of all things.”

“Elder Gods, where are you?” Celestia pleaded. “Why do you forsake me?”  Nightmare Moon picked up Celestia.

“Your time has passed,” Nightmare Moon growled. She threw Celestia again. Celestia tried to pick herself up as Nightmare Moon continued monologing. “Ages wasted in foolish resistance,” Nightmare Moon snarled. “I have won.”

“Yes,” Celestia admitted. “You have won.”

“Now Celestia,” Nightmare Moon finished. “Your world ends.” She raised her hammer to finish Celestia. She brought it down. Suddenly, the darkened sky shook with thunder. Nightmare Moon stopped to see what was happening. Orange lighting fell from the heavens, and an orange ball of fire appeared in the sky. Celestia looked in awe. The Elder Gods had noticed Nightmare Moon's unauthorized merging of realms, and had come to intervene. From the fireball came six golden alicorns. They flew down and around Celestia, lifting her into the air. Nightmare Moon watched in anger as the Elder Gods revitalized and spoke through Celestia.

“You violate our will, Nightmare Moon,” they said. “You merge realms without victory in Pony Kombat. Our penalty is clear.” The Elder Gods built up god-like magic within Celestia and shot it at Nightmare Moon. But Nightmare Moon only chuckled and felt the pain-inducing magic as refreshing. The Elder Gods saw this and stopped. The only way to stop Nightmare Moon was to weaken her through battle.

“An anemic effort from ineffectual deities!” Nightmare Moon cried. “Today, I become the Elder Mare!” The final battle for Equestria began. Celestia with the power of the Elder Gods vs Nightmare Moon. The bout began with Nightmare Moon lunging at Celestia. Celestia teleported behind Nightmare Moon and delivered the first hit. The two warriors battled on the rooftop, the realms merging. Celestia teleported around and delivered blow after blow to Nightmare Moon. But as Nightmare Moon had proved, she could take all the abuse and give just as much. Nightmare Moon flew at Celestia and sent her to the ground. Nightmare Moon picked up Celestia's hoof and stomped on her head, cracking her skull. Nightmare Moon picked Celestia up off the floor and headbutted her in the skull, breaking it to the point of near nothing. Celestia flew to the ground and lay there. Celestia was not about to go down yet either. She stood back up and attacked Nightmare Moon.

Celestia brutally beat down on Nightmare Moon and launched a ball of lighting at her, disorienting her senses. Celestia teleported behind Nightmare Moon and kicked her in the back, breaking her spine. Celestia teleported back in front of Nightmare Moon and gave a powerful strike to her skull, cracking it. She knocked Nightmare Moon back onto the ground with a powerful lightning ball. As Nightmare Moon got up, she was immediately met with an uppercut to the jaw which sent her back to the ground. As Nightmare Moon struggled to get back up, Celestia stood over her. Overcome with rage, Nightmare Moon stood up and attacked Celestia. Celestia acted quickly and sent the power of the Elder Gods flying at Nightmare Moon. The Elder Gods bit at Nightmare Moon as she cried out in pain. Celestia fell to her knees as the last bit of magic flew at Nightmare Moon. The cries of pain grew louder and louder as the Elder Gods gave Nightmare Moon her punishment. Nightmare Moon lit up with an orange light and shot up towards the heavens. She exploded as the Elder Gods finished her off. As the explosion dissipated, the dark clouds parted and made way for the sun. Celestia looked up, closed her eyes, and let the warm rays of the sun beam down on her. The worst was over. Nightmare Moon had been defeated. Permanently. As the last bit of dark cloud faded, Celestia looked down at her amulet, which had been made whole. Cracked as it was. She took it off and watched, satisfied, as the cracks finally healed.

“It is over,” Celestia sighed. She put the amulet back on as Cadence and Shining Armor, who had recovered, helped her up. “But only at the gravest of costs,” Celestia added. She, Cadence, and Shining Armor walked up to Twilight Sparkle's charred and lifeless body. “So many are gone,” Celestia mourned. “Their light has sunk into the earth. I am responsible for their loss.”

“You did what you had to,” Cadence said. “To protect Equestria.” She began to cry at the loss of her many friends. “Losses in war… are...” Cadence tried to hold back her tears. “Are inevitable.”

“Come,” Celestia said. “Let us tend the fallen. Then we must help our realm rebuild. Our work has only just begun.” Celestia teleported away with Cadende, Shining Armor, and Twilight Sparkle's body, leaving only Nightmare Moon's smoking helm on the rooftop. A portal from Everfree Forest opened up, and Octavia walked through it. She picked up Nightmare Moon's broken helm and gazed at it. A hologram of her master, Lord Tirek, appeared next to her.

“Your plan worked to perfection, Lord Tirek,” she congratulated.

“Nightmare Moon was blinded by rage,” Tirek explained. “How easily she was convinced that the Elder Gods would ignore her merging the realms.”

“Yet the Thunder Princess still lives,” Octavia took into account.

“No matter,” Tirek said. “Neither Tartarus nor Equestria can now withstand the Everfree Forest's onslaught. It is time. Soon I will be free. Equestria and Tartarus will be ours.”