Pony Kombat

That night in the throne room, the Kombatants had gathered. Sunset Shimmer had an announcement.

“Kombatants,” she called. “I present this latest creation of Nightmare Moon. She is many warriors, their souls fused into one being. Behold, Spitfire!” Spitfire showed off for the other Kombatants by revealing her soul-filled power. Vinyl, who was standing nearby, chuckled with delight. She liked this creation.

“Be wary Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. “She is unlike anything you have ever fought before.” Twilight Sparkle nodded.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Sunset Shimmer called. “You are the sole Equestrian warrior to progress to this final stage of the tournament.

“I am ready,” Twilight Sparkle said as she prepared for battle with Spitfire.

“We are many,” Spitfire said, with the voice of many. “You are one. We will destroy you.” Spitfire got ready to fight. Twilight Sparkle decided since she was the only Equestrian warrior left, she would end this fight quickly. She started things off with some swift kicks to the face. Spitfire teleported like a fool though, and Twilight Sparkle did have some trouble avoiding her attacks. But after a swift bicycle kick maneuver by Twilight Sparkle, the match was over.

“Equestria will not fall into your master’s hooves,” Twilight Sparkle said. Celestia and Babs Seed walked up to Twilight Sparkle and smiled. As the Equestrian warriors left, Pinkie Pie walked up to Sunset Shimmer.

“She is a greater threat than anticipated,” she said. “I will ensure that she does not reach the final challenge.” Sunset Shimmer allowed Pinkie Pie to do so. Pinkie Pie left the throne room and followed Twilight Sparkle.

~~~

In Sunset Shimmer’s garden, Twilight Sparkle was training for the final challenge of the tournament.

“Remember Bon Bon’s teachings,” Celestia said. “For my vision to be realized, you must not let emotion overpower you.”

“Your visions,” Twilight Sparkle inquired. “What causes them?”

“My future self sent them to me,” Celestia said. “Perhaps to ensure some outcome.”

“Or to prevent one,” Twilight Sparkle added. Just then, Celestia had a vision. It showed her future self saying “She must win!” Celestia thought about this.

“She must win,” she said. “Those are my last words before I die. I believe it is you who must win.” Celestia took off her amulet. “This amulet was forged by the Elder Gods.” She said. “It cracked here, in the present, after my first vision. If we choose wisely, the future will be secured, and the cracks healed.”

“I trust you will make the right decisions,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“We must trust in the Elder Gods, Twilight Sparkle,” Celestia said. She then disappeared in a column of lighting, leaving Twilight Sparkle to think about what she had said. Just then, Pinkie Pie appeared. She tried to kick Twilight Sparkle, but it was blocked. The two fighters traded weak blows with each other until Pinkie Pie backed up.

“You’re good,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Show me more.”

“Do not underestimate me, Unicorn,” Pinkie Pie said. She and Twilight Sparkle began to fight for real. Because of Pinkie Pie’s fans, Twilight Sparkle did have some trouble not taking a hit. But after some well-placed hits, Twilight Sparkle knocked Pinkie Pie up into the air with an uppercut that cracked her jaw. As Pinkie Pie fell, Twilight Sparkle kicked her jaw again, cracking it further. That ended the fight.

“I am impressed,” Twilight Sparkle said. She walked over to Pinkie Pie, who was trying to pull herself up. She got onto her knees.

“Do it,” she said, looking at the ground.

“Do what?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Kill me.” Pinkie Pie said.

“Why would I do that?” Twilight Sparkle wondered.

“I came to kill you,” Pinkie Pie said. “I failed my Empress. I have disgraced her. You must kill me.”

“I will not,” Twilight Sparkle refused. Pinkie Pie looked up. “This encounter never took place,” Twilight Sparkle assured. “You have disgraced no one.” As Twilight Sparkle turned to leave, she turned around. “I hope we meet again,” she said. “Under different circumstances.” Pinkie Pie thought about this. Why had Twilight Sparkle spared her?

~~~

In the courtyard, Twilight Sparkle, Celestia, and Babs Seed entered through the large doors. It was time for the final challenge.

“Kombatants,” Sunset Shimmer announced. “Only one Equestrian warrior remains. The Unicorn, Twilight Sparkle. Is she ready to bear such a heavy burden? Equestria’s fate is in her hooves.” She turned to Twilight Sparkle. “Your opponent will be Fluttershy.” Fluttershy appeared from fire. All regret of killing Rainbow Dash seemed to have vanished.

“I do not fear you demon,” Twilight Sparkle said.

“Fighting with Fluttershy,” Sunset Shimmer went on. “The sorceress Octavia.” Octavia appeared from a green portal. She chuckled as she approached Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle prepared for Pony Kombat.

“You have already lost,” Fluttershy said, and she readied for battle. The fight lasted a while because the fight was two against one, but after defeating Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle did a cartwheel and uppercut Octavia like she had done with Pinkie Pie. She then kicked Octavia’s jaw, ending the fight.

“As I said,” Twilight Sparkle repeated. “I do not fear you. I pity you.” Sunset Shimmer snarled.

“You have done well,” Celestia said. “But the tournament is not yet over.”

“Scarlet,” Twilight Sparkle remembered. Overhearing them, Shining Armor leaned over to Cadence.

“What’s a Scarlet?” he asked. Cadence just shrugged.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Sunset Shimmer said. “It has been years since an Equestrian warrior has progressed this far. As the reigning champion, she is far above your ability.” Twilight Sparkle breathed. “To the lair with you!” Sunset Shimmer opened up a portal to Scarlet’s Lair, and Twilight Sparkle fell through. Twilight Sparkle landed on her back with a thud. She stood up and prepared for the fight. Scarlet was behind her.

“I did not expect to fight in this tournament,” Scarlet grunted. “But eventually, even the Unicorn would produce a warrior worthy of a Changeling.”

“I know who you are,” Twilight Sparkle said. “And I am ready for you.” The fight began.

“I will give you a warrior’s death,” Scarlet said. Twilight Sparkle immediately started things off with some swift punches and kicks. Because of Scarlet’s enormous size, she was hard to throw around, and she was a heavy hitter. But that didn’t matter to Twilight Sparkle, as she quickly defeated Scarlet with her learned skills.

“It seems the Unicorn trained a warrior greater than a Changeling,” Twilight Sparkle said. As Scarlet lay defeated, Twilight Sparkle bowed to show respect. Just then, a portal appeared to the throne room. Twilight Sparkle was ready to face Sunset Shimmer.

As the Kombatants and Sunset Shimmer waited, Sunset Shimmer was eager to see Scarlet appear from the portal. But instead came Twilight Sparkle. Angered, Sunset Shimmer rose from her throne and approached Twilight Sparkle.

“Sunset Shimmer,” Twilight Sparkle said. “Only one fight remains. Face me in Pony Kombat!”

“So be it,” Sunset Shimmer said. The final fight of the tournament began. Twilight Sparkle quickly took down Sunset Shimmer with some quick and deadly kicks, punches, uppercuts and a fast bicycle kick. Flawless Victory.

“Say it!” Twilight Sparkle ordered. Sunset Shimmer had trouble getting up, but when she finally did, she said the two words that ended the Pony Kombat tournament.

“I concede,” she said. The other Equestrian warriors cheered.

“She has saved Equestria,” Celestia said. The ceiling of the throne room lit up with an orange light. It was the Elder Gods signaling that Sunset Shimmer had lost. The Kombatants from Tartarus left through a portal. As they did, Pinkie Pie looked back at Twilight Sparkle, and Twilight Sparkle smiled at her. As the portal back to Tartarus closed. Celestia walked up to Twilight Sparkle and bowed. Twilight Sparkle bowed back. Equestria had been saved. Celestia remembered her amulet. She took it off to see if the cracks had healed. To her surprise and horror, they only got worse. Celestia was confused and shocked. Why hadn’t the cracks healed? Equestria was saved, right?

~~~

In the distant realm of Tartarus, Nightmare Moon was furious with Sunset Shimmer.

“You failed me!” she shouted. “Five hundred years I have waited, and now I must wait five hundred more.” Nightmare Moon was not at all happy.

“My empress,” Sunset Shimmer pleaded. “All is not lost!” Nightmare Moon grunted.

“Curse the Elder Gods and their tournament,” she muttered. “I should have taken Equestria by force. But I am bound by their rules, rules that cannot be broken.”

“My empress,” Sunset Shimmer said.

“Kill her,” Nightmare Moon said. As Pinkie Pie raised her fans, Sunset Shimmer made one last effort to persuade Nightmare Moon.

“What if the rules were changed?” she said desperately.

“Pinkie Pie,” Nightmare Moon held up her hoof, motioning for Pinkie Pie not to kill Sunset Shimmer yet. Nightmare Moon turned to Sunset Shimmer.

“Continue,” she said. And Sunset Shimmer proceeded to tell her master about this plan.

~~~

Back at the Unicorn Academy, Twilight Sparkle was held a ceremony for saving Equestria. It was held in the center of the academy. All of the academy’s students were there, and so were the other Equestrian Kombatants: Shining Armor, Cadence, Big Mac, Babs Seed, and Scootaloo. Twilight Sparkle walked down the two rows of audience to Celestia. One of the Unicorn monks walked up to Celestia holding the medal that was presented to the Pony Kombat victor. The medal was golden with the Pony Kombat symbol on it. Celestia placed it around Twilight Sparkle’s neck and the audience cheered. Twilight Sparkle had won Pony Kombat, but was Equestria really saved, or was Nightmare Moon closer than ever to conquering the realm?