Pony Kombat

The next morning at Sunset Shimmer’s Courtyard, the Kombatants had gathered for the second day of the Pony Kombat tournament. Celestia looked over at a nearby guard. As she did so, she had another vision. It showed Babs Seed fighting in the tournament. Celestia saw this as a sign and walked over to the guard.

“Kombatants,” Sunset Shimmer announced. “The next match will now begin.” Almost immediately, a pony appeared in the middle of the courtyard from a column of fire. The audience clapped to show their support.

“Fluttershy,” Sunset Shimmer said. “Specter of the Everfree Forest. Resurrected by the sorceress Octavia. Who among you is worthy of this challenge?”

“Where is the Pegasi, Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy hissed. “She killed my family and clan. I will have her head!” Celestia spoke to the guard.

“I know it is you Babs Seed,” she said. “The Unicorn monks chose Twilight Sparkle to represent your order in this tournament.”

“I am Twilight Sparkle’s equal!” Babs Seed retorted.

“That remains to be seen,” Celestia said.

“Watch and see,” Babs Seed defied. She took off her guards outfit and approached Fluttershy. “I accept the challenge!” Twilight Sparkle saw her.

“Babs Seed,” she gasped. Sunset Shimmer scowled.

“Never mind the Pegasi,” Babs Seed said. “Now you face a Unicorn.” She entered a battle position.

“You will regret your impulsiveness,” Fluttershy snarled as she readied for battle. Babs Seed teleported behind Fluttershy and attempted to make an attack, but the Fluttershy there was a fake. Fluttershy threw her spear at Babs Seed. It struck her and Fluttershy said, “Get over here!” She pulled Babs Seed to her and laid numerous punches and kicks to Babs Seed’s head, winning the fight.

“You are not yet a warrior,” Fluttershy said.

“Babs Seed!” Twilight Sparkle cried as she ran over to her.

“Listen when your elders speak,” Celestia said to Babs Seed. “You could not win this fight.” Babs Seed groaned as Twilight Sparkle and Celestia helped her off the courtyard.

“I have defeated a challenger Sunset Shimmer,” Fluttershy said. “I demand Rainbow Dash!” Celestia suddenly had a vision. It showed Fluttershy holding Rainbow Dash’s head. The remains of Rainbow Dash then morphed into a black Pegasi ninja aiding Sunset Shimmer.

“You will demand nothing,” Sunset Shimmer said. Then she announced Fluttershy’s next opponent. “Scootaloo!” The audience clapped as Scootaloo, a Pegasus Indian, approached Fluttershy.

“Your aggression is misplaced,” she said.

“What do you know of my…” Fluttershy said. She was cut off.

“You are not the only pony whose people have been victimized,” Scootaloo said. “But I have found new purpose in serving the spirits.” She got ready to fight. “I do not cling to the past.”

“You no longer seek retribution?” Fluttershy asked. “You dishonor your kind. I will honor the memory of my fallen.” Fluttershy and Scootaloo fought viciously. A punch to the face by Fluttershy, a kick to the back by Scootaloo, a spear to the chest by Fluttershy, followed by “Get over here!” Fluttershy eventually overpowered Scootaloo and took her down.

“The spirits have forsaken you, Pegasus,” Fluttershy said.

“An impressive start,” Sunset Shimmer said.

“You waste my time sorceress!” Fluttershy yelled.

“Restraint, Fluttershy!” Octavia commanded. Fluttershy reluctantly obeyed her master.

“You will fight Rainbow Dash soon enough,” Sunset Shimmer assured. She stood up and left, a sign that the tournament has been paused. Everyone else began to leave as well.

“Fluttershy,” Celestia said. “I understand your desire for revenge, but Scootaloo is right. There are other ways that you may find peace.”

“Rainbow Dash deserves death,” Fluttershy said.

“Defeat Rainbow Dash if you must but do not kill her,” Celestia persuaded. “I fear her death will give rise to a more treacherous foe.”

“I will have my revenge!” Fluttershy denied.

“Spare Rainbow Dash’s life,” Celestia said. “And I will request that the Elder Gods return the Pegasus Ponies to the realm of mares.” Fluttershy reluctantly agreed to this and Celestia walked off.

~~~

That night in Sunset Shimmer’s throne room, the tournament had continued. Applejack and Fleetfoot of the Pegasi were discussing something.

“I understand that there are better fits to the Grand Mare’s plan,” Applejack said. “But her plan goes against Pegasi principles.” Applejack had mechanical wings attached to her back, as members of the Pegasi had to have wings.

“We are Pegasi, Applejack,” Fleetfoot argued. “We will obey the Grand Mare’s commands.”

“It means giving up our free will,” Applejack retorted. “Our souls. It will turn us into…” she was cut off by Fleetfoot. Fleetfoot saw Fluttershy walking towards them.

“Fluttershy,” she grumbled.

“Your inferior clan is dead,” Applejack said. “Soon you will join them.”

“My clan may walk Equestria once more,” Fluttershy denied. Applejack shoved Fluttershy back. Sunset Shimmer saw.

“A challenge!” She announced. “Fluttershy versus Applejack and Fleetfoot!”

“Your obsession with Rainbow Dash ends here,” Applejack said. She and Fluttershy fought bitterly. Because Fleetfoot and Applejack were both Pegasi, Fluttershy had no problem taking them both down out of pure anger, even though she was double teamed on. Once, Fleetfoot even tried using her flamethrower, but it had no effect on Fluttershy, who won.

“I will have my revenge,” she said. “But I will not kill Rainbow Dash.” Celestia nodded at her.

“Will not?” came a voice at the back of the room. It was Rainbow Dash. “Or can not?”

“You,” Fluttershy hissed. The two ninjas faced each other.

“Your family is dead,” Rainbow Dash said. “You will suffer as they did. To hell with your clan.”

“No,” Fluttershy said. “To hell with you!” As she said this, she grabbed Rainbow Dash and teleported her and herself to the depths of the Everfree Forest. Rainbow Dash looked around.

“The Everfree Forest,” she said.

“This is where I was reborn,” Fluttershy said. “This is where you will pay!” Both ninjas fought like they had never before. Two bitter foes of two different clans battled. Fire against ice. The winner was clear: Fluttershy. She kicked Rainbow Dash in the face so hard, her jaws cracked. Rainbow Dash fell over, giving Fluttershy the opening to stomp on her chest, cracking her ribcage.

“I have avenged my family and clan,” Fluttershy said. Just then, Octavia appeared.

“This is your retribution?” she questioned. “Fluttershy, kill her.”

“I…” Fluttershy stammered. “I will not. She has been beaten.”

“Have you forgotten?” Octavia asked. She used her magic to summon a flashback from Fluttershy’s past.

“What is this?” Fluttershy asked. The flashback showed the Pegasus Ponies being murdered by the Pegasi. Fluttershy was in shock. “No.” The flashback continued showing a Pegasi member cutting off a Pegasus pony’s head, and another Pegasi stabbing an Earth pony in the heart. While this happened, Rainbow Dash got up, in pain from her defeat. In the midst of the massacre, Rainbow Dash was shown leading the entire thing. Fluttershy was in shock.

“Your clan,” Octavia said. “Your family.” She changed the flashback to another of Fluttershy’s husband hiding from the massacre in his home, holding a crying foal which was Fluttershy’s daughter. Rainbow Dash opened the door to the house, her sword in hoof. She drew it as Fluttershy’s husband cried for mercy. But Rainbow Dash did not listen and murdered both the foal and the husband. Fluttershy was enraged.

“NO!!!” she cried. The flashback dissipated revealing Rainbow Dash.

“That is not me!” Rainbow Dash cried. But Fluttershy, desensitized by rage, did not even hear Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy ripped off her mask to reveal her true head: a flaming skull. In doing so, she mercilessly slaughtered Rainbow Dash with fire.

~~~

Back in the throne room, the Kombatants were talking among themselves. Fluttershy appeared in the middle of the room, holding something behind her back and looking forlorn. The Kombatants turned to see. Sunset Shimmer smiled, hoping Rainbow Dash was killed. Celestia was not so hopeful of that outcome. Fluttershy slowly pulled out Rainbow Dash’s skull from behind her back. It was charred with ash.

“Ouch,” Shining Armor said. Cadence grimaced. Fluttershy dropped the skull of her fallen enemy on the ground. It broke into pieces with a crash. Fluttershy cried out and disappeared in a column of fire, leaving only the broken skull laying in the middle of the room. Celestia walked up to it, grieved.

“Despite my efforts,” she said. “My vision has come to pass.” Applejack came up next to Celestia. “An unfortunate outcome, as she once defended Equestria from the forces of Tirek and Octavia.”

“Fluttershy will pay for this,” Applejack said.

“Rainbow Dash’s fate is her own doing,” Celestia said.

“Her own doing?!” Applejack raged.

“The Pegasi have a history of making ruinous choices,” Celestia said. Infuriated, Applejack stormed off. “Such as the Cyber Initiative.” Celestia said. Applejack stopped and turned around.

“I am among those speaking out against the Grand Mare’s plan,” Applejack retorted. “To surgically transform the Pegasi into, glorified robots, it kills our intuition. Our instincts.”

“Did you speak out against the Pegasi’s participation in this tournament?” Celestia asked.

“We were invited by Sunset Shimmer,” Applejack said.

“She pays you to kill Equestrian warriors,” Celestia said. “Betraying your own realm? I expect better, even from an assassin.”

“My loyalty is to the Grand Mare,” Applejack said.

“Victory for Sunset Shimmer means the end of Equestria,” Celestia informed. “And the Pegasi.” But Applejack merely stormed off like she didn’t care. As she left, Zecora followed her quietly. Things were not looking up for Equestria, and Sunset Shimmer seemed as if she would win the tournament.