Pony Kombat X

The military of Manehattan charged to their assigned point. A winged dinosaur like beast would occasionally snag a soldier and kill him. The soldiers' assault rifles blazed as they tried to shoot down the flying creatures. One soldier fired at a beast as another landed behind him. He turned as the creature let out a terrifying screech. The soldier screamed and the beast grabbed his head, yanking it off. As the creature flew on, it dropped the decapitated head. A barrage of high caliber bullets were sent into the flying creature, bringing it down. A convoy of heavy choppers flew onto the scene, carrying more soldiers. One helicopter carried some of Equestria's surviving defenders, Shining Armor, Cadence, and Snowdrop. Shining Armor walked up to the pilot.

“Destination dead ahead,” the pilot informed.

“Set her down nice and easy for me,” Shining Armor requested.

“Don't I always?” the pilot asked.

“And by always you mean not once?” Shining Armor retorted. The pilot chuckled. Shining Armor turned to the co-pilot. In this case, Cadence.

“Major?” he called. He patted Cadence on the shoulder and she got up. Cadence walked over to the soldiers, and Shining Armor grinned. Cadence looked back and Shining Armor walked over as well. Cadence turned to the soldiers in the chopper.

“All right,” she said. “You have the rendezvous coordinates. White Tail Woods. From there, we access the portal to Celestia's Sky Temple.”

“Where there's an angry former Elder God and his devils waiting for us,” Shining Armor added. A soldier shook his head.

“Gods, portals, flying demons,” he grumbled.

“Blind mares with magic swords,” Shining Armor included. Snowdrop smiled. She had a red blindfold covering her faded eyes.

“The world has changed,” she said. “For the worst if we do not dispel Tirek from Celestia's temple. He means to poison Equestria's life force.”

“And we're not going to let that happen,” Cadence said.

“Snowdrop and I appreciate the Major allowing us to join you,” Shining Armor said. “We're happy to help kick Tirek's bony ass back to the Everfree Forest.” The chopper began to shake. The three defenders ran to the cockpit to see a chopper ahead of them crash to the ground and explode.

“We gotta land this thing!” the pilot cried. Another chopper blew up and a chained spear stuck into the pilot's face. It dragged him out of the chopper. Cadence got into the pilot's seat. Shining Armor and Snowdrop turned and saw something. The soldiers in the helicopter turned to see Fluttershy there. Fluttershy proceeded to kill all the soldiers, cutting off heads, stabbing, any way possible. She flung a fireball at Snowdrop, knocking her back.

“Get over here!” Fluttershy cried. She threw her chained spear at Shining Armor, who caught it mid-fly.

“Damn, I'm good,” he said to himself. He kicked Fluttershy back, still holding the chain, and yanked her back to him. He slammed her against the walls before Fluttershy swung. Shinging Armor countered each strike, and punched Fluttershy in the head. Fluttershy grabbed a knife and ran at her foe. Shining Armor blocked the attack, but Fluttershy pushed downward. Shining Armor fell to the floor, still holding back the knife. He kicked Fluttershy away, and Snowdrop, who had recovered, tackled her out of the chopper. Fluttershy grabbed onto a beam and Snowdrop clung to Fluttershy's back hoof. Another pony walked up. Shining Armor got up to see an undead Rainbow Dash. The two soldiers who had survived Flutterhshy attacked, but Rainbow Dash grabbed their heads and froze them solid. She bashed the frozen heads together, shattering them. She threw one of the bodies at Shining Armor, who ducked. The body hit the back of the cockpit, and a severed head rolled at Shining Armor. He quickly rolled it out of the chopper.

“Nasty,” he said. Rainbow Dash formed and ice sword and jumped. Shining Armor caught the sword by the flat side of the blade and shattered it. He kicked Rainbow Dash to the ceiling. Rainbow Dash hit the ceiling and fell back down. She attacked Shining Armor, but he avoided her swings. He retaliated. As they fought, Fluttershy and Snowdrop were still hanging on outside the helicopter. Fluttershy kicked Snowdrop off of her. Snowdrop drew her sword and drove it into the side of the chopper, stopping herself from falling. Shining Armor defended against Rainbow Dash's attacks, then hit her in the face. Shining Armor felt a breath on his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Fluttershy. He elbowed her in the face and ducked to avoid another of Rainbow Dash's attacks. He slugged Rainbow Dash in the gut, leaving Rainbow Dash momentarily stunned. Shining Armor grabbed Fluttershy's and Rainbow Dash's heads and knocked them together, sending them reeling back. Rainbow Dash was grabbed by Snowdrop's telekinesis and flung out the back of the chopper. Shining Armor grabbed Fluttershy and punched her out the side. Fluttershy used her chained spear as a grapple and wedged it into the side of the helicopter. Shining Armor saw her climb up.

“No!” Shining Armor cried. He tackled Fluttershy out the side again and they fell. Fluttershy teleported away just before she hit the ground. Shining Armor hit the hard asphalt. Cadence lost control of the chopper and crashed to the ground, knocking her unconscious. Shining Armor struggled to get up. When he did, he ran to the chopper to make sure Cadence was OK. Fluttershy appeared in front of him.

“The end is near,” she said.

“Getting a little ahead of yourself, aren't you?” Shining Armor asked. He and Fluttershy fought on the streets. After returning some hits, Shining Armor stunned Fluttershy by punching her in the face, then roundhouse kicked her in the jaw, dislocating it. He then drove Fluttershy's face into his knee, fracturing the skull. He did a back flip, kicking Fluttershy in the jaw, cracking her neck. Fluttershy fell to the ground and didn't get up.

“Gotta get back to the chopper,” Shining Armor said. Cadnece started to wake up. Shining Armor continued running.

“Cadence!” he cried. “Get out of there!” An icy blast suddenly struck Shining Armor in the back, severely slowing his movement. Rainbow Dash walked up to him, ice sword formed. Shining Armor spotted a crowbar lying on the ground. Rainbow Dash swung as Shining Armor ducked and rolled. The ice melted away as he grabbed the crowbar. Rainbow Dash swung again, and the strike ricocheted off the crowbar. Shining Armor swung at Rainbow Dash's hooves, knocking her over. Shining Armor got up and stepped back as Rainbow Dash got up. He shivered.

“That was unpleasantly cold,” he recalled. Rainbow Dash attacked him. Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash each blocked and countered each hit they took. After a bit, Shining Armor executed the same bone breaking maneuver he used on Fluttershy. Rainbow Dash didn't get up.

“I liked it better when we fought on the same side,” Shining Armor said. He ran back to the downed helicopter. Snowdrop was helping Cadence out. Cadence coughed in the smoke.

“You OK?” Shining Armor asked. Cadence nodded.

“We fared better than the soldiers,” Snowdrop regretted.

“Add 'em to the list of things Tirek's gonna pay for,” Shining Armor said. The group nodded and ran off to White Tail Woods, to get to Celestia's Sky Temple.

~~~

At the sky temple, hundreds of Everfree Forest ghouls were trying to advance on Celestia and Braveheart, Prince of the Wind. Celestia threw lighting at the ghouls while Braveheart sent them flying away with the wind. A ghoul grabbed Braveheart by the throat. Braveheart bashed the monster away. More ghouls dropped from flying ones around Braveheart. Celestia impaled one in the head with her staff and continued to fight. Braveheart used his axe to cut away at the ghouls. One of them bit Celestia in the shoulder, and she knocked it down. She stabbed it with her staff, killing it. A flying ghoul knocked Celestia to the ground. It gave a roar and was cut down the middle by Braveheart. He helped Celestia up.

“Celesita,” he said. “We must refortify the portal's defenses below.”

“No, Braveheart,” Celestia disagreed. “It is too late.” More ghouls approached Celestia and Braveheart. One of them gave a loud roar, but a green skull flew through it's chest. Braveheart and Celestia avoided the flying skull. The ghoul fell to the ground. The other ghouls had parted for their master, Octavia.

“The mighty gods of Equestria,” Octavia mocked.

“You befoul these hallowed grounds, Octavia,” Celestia said. “Begone.”

“Surly you are pleased to see your friends,” Octavia said. Applebloom, Trixie, and Sweetie Belle walked up, all of them undead. “You abandoned them to their deaths,” Octavia accused. “I restored them to life.”

“A life worse than death,” Celestia retorted.

“One you will soon share,” Octavia threatened. “And my lord himself shall witness your fall.” The ghouls cried and charged at Celestia and Braveheart.

~~~

In a Everfree Forest camp in the White Tail Woods, ghouls were piling bodies of soldiers. Shining Armor, Cadence, and Snowdrop were sneaking up behind the trees with more soldiers. Shining Armor's eyes widened at the sight he saw. Big Mac and Derpy were in the camp, undead.

“Big Mac,” Shining Armor gasped. Cadence's eyes started to tear up. Snowdrop nodded and the soldiers started to advance. A portal suddenly opened up behind them and an undead Scootaloo emerged with a group of ghouls.

“Scootaloo,” Snowdrop cried. Scootaloo raised her axe to the sky, and red lighting struck it, signaling the attack. Snowdrop and her group of soldiers attacked. Big Mac looked to see.

“There,” he said. The camp of ghouls attacked. Cadence and Shining Armor helped in the fight. Derpy knocked away any soldier that came close. Shining Armor attacked Derpy and got knocked back.

“Derpy,” he said.

“Derpy is dead,” Derpy denied. “I am Ditzy.” Ditzy attacked Shining Armor. Cadence was getting beat by Big Mac. She got knocked to the ground as Shining Armor finished up with Ditzy. He looked to see Cadence on the ground.

“This is your last mission, Cadence,” Big Mac said. He got tackled by Shining Armor. They both got up and ready to fight.

“The real Big Mac wouldn't punch his best friend,” Shining Armor said.

“Shining Armor,” Big Mac said. “Killing you will be a pleasure.” Shining Armor fought back as best he could against Big Mac's mechanical legs. Big Mac got ahold of Shining Armor and threw him to the ground, snapping his chest bone. Big Mac grabbed Shining Armor again and threw him to the ground again, breaking his back. Shining Armor got up and continued the fight. He broke Big Mac's jaw, face, and neck as he had done with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Big Mac fell to the ground, beaten.

“We're gonna fix you someday,” Shining Armor vowed. He picked up his rifle and walked to the nearby cave with Cadence. “Well,” he said. “Nice seeing them again.” Cadence sighed at the sight of Big Mac. “Cadence,” Shining Armor said, putting a hoof on her shoulder. “That's not him.” Cadence nodded and ran into the cave with Shining Armor. They caught up with Snowdrop and her group of soldiers.

“Got the elevator?” Shining Armor asked.

“Yes,” Snowdrop replied. “The elevator. This sword contains the souls of my ancestors. They guide me.” The cave shook.

“Could they hurry the hell up?” Shining Armor wondered. He ran off to see how Cadence was doing. Some of her soldiers were ahead, keeping any ghouls at bay. Snowdrop held up her sword, feeling where the portal was. When she had reached the spot, she uttered some strange words, and the portal opened. Shining Armor looked to see, and smiled.

“Going up,” he called.

“Fall back,” Cadence ordered. “Now!” She ran with her group of soldiers to the portal.

“Go on,” Shining Armor urged. He ran back to a couple of remaining soldiers. “You guys stay here,” he said. “Close the door.” The soldiers pulled out some C4 and ran back to the cave entrance. Shining Armor ran into the portal after Cadence.

~~~

Celestia and Braveheart were trying to hold back Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Trixie. Braveheart used wind to slow them down, and Celestia threw lighting in their paths. Octavia was close behind her pawns. She laughed, as she knew her master was coming. Celestia and Braveheart knocked their former friends to the ground, and black smoke began to encircle them. They waited for the right moment, then jumped back. Two giant bony hooves clapped together. Celestia and Braveheart stepped back.

“You see it now, Celestia,” Tirek said, as the bony hooves moved away. Tirek turned to face Celestia and Braveheart. “Your legacy. You poison their hearts with hope.”

“And what do you offer?” Celestia inquired. “The same as you did millennia ago, when you betrayed your fellow Elder Gods and attacked Equestria. We stopped you then. Imprisoned you in the Everfree Forest. We will do so again.”

“Remove the shadow from the light,” Tirek said. “The shadow grows.  The legacy of life is death, Celestia. My followers accept this and live on. They fight for me.” Sweetie Belle charged at Celestia and drove her hooked blades into her shoulders. Celestia cried in pain, and grabbed the blades. Electricity flew through, them zapping Sweetie Belle. Octavia attacked next, and Celestia fought back. She knocked Octavia back, and Octavia threw a skull with it's spine at Celestia. It latched onto Celestia's face and pulled her close. Octavia punched Celestia to the ground. Braveheart kicked Octavia away and did battle with Applebloom. Trixie grabbed Braveheart and screamed into his ears, before Celestia came to the rescue. She shocked Trixie and let her fall. Celestia and Braveheart faced Tirek. Tirek smirked and threw a blast of magic at the two from an amulet. Celestia and Braveheart were propelled back, shattering the stone door to Equestria's life force. Tirek walked inside, marveling at the power he would soon have.

“You'll not touch the life force,” Braveheart fumed.

“Oh, I will,” Tirek said. “And all of Equestria will know the truth of death.” He held out his amulet and drew Braveheart's and Celestia's souls away. Before he could finish, he was knocked forward, dropping the amulet. Shining Armor, Cadence, and Snowdrop walked in.

“Oh, sorry, ma'am,” Shining Armor faked. “Didn't see you there.”

“Miserable wretch!” Tirek cursed. “Insignificant speck of petulant scum! How dare you!” He hurled magic at Snowdrop, knocking her away. Celestia and Braveheart got up. Celestia looked at the amulet. Tirek followed her gaze.

“That is mine,” he said. Celestia threw lighting at him, but it was deflected. Tirek propelled Braveheart back to the ground with red magic. Cadence opened fire with her assault rifle, but Tirek put up a shield to defend himself. The bullets ricocheted off the magic. When the barrage had stopped, Tirek dissipated the shield. Cadence threw her gun to the ground.

“Ready?” she asked Shining Armor.

“As always,” Shining Armor said. He and Cadence ran at Tirek, but were no match for him. Cadence was knocked to the ground and Shining Armor to the wall. Celestia and Cadence ran to the amulet, but Tirek knocked them back. He electrocuted Cadence with his red lighting. Cadence screamed in pain. Shining Armor got up and saw.

“She will be the first to join me,” Tirek decided. He began to build up his magic.

“No!” Shining Armor cried. He began to glow with a green light as he ran. He jumped in front of Cadence as Tirek fired off his blast. The magic dissipated on contact with Shining Armor. He hit the ground and rolled. Tirek looked in confusion. Shining Armor got up, confused as well.

“I'm not quite sure what just happened to me,” he said. “But I am sure of this. Don't even think of hurting her.” Shining Armor and Tirek fought brutally. Out of sheer anger, Shining Armor broke Tirek's jaw, face, and neck as he had done with his other foes. Tirek fell to the ground.

“You really are a fallen Elder God,” Shining Armor mocked. He lit up green again as Tirek got up. He was ready to finish him.

“Shining Armor!” Celestia cried. “The amulet!” Shining Armor looked down to see the amulet at his hooves. He kicked it back and Celestia caught it.

“Now!” Shining Armor cried. He jumped out of the way as Celestia used the amulet's magic. Tirek tried to fight it, but he couldn't. He was drawn into the amulet. Celestia breathed, as the amulet had taken a great force to use. “Enjoy your new days, gramps,” Shining Armor said. He ran over to Cadence.

“Cadence,” he whispered.

“Shining,” Cadence managed. “Did you...did we...”

“Yeah,” Shining Armor said. “We got him.” Cadence passed out in Shining Armor's hooves.

“Remain here,” Celestia said. “The chamber's properties will heal Cadence in short order.” Shining Armor nodded. Snowdrop and Braveheart walked up.

“Octavia and the others,” Snowdrop said. “They're gone. A search of power in the chamber overwhelmed my senses.”

“We can deal with Octavia later, Snowdrop,” Braveheart said.

“We've claimed a bigger prize this day,” Celestia said.

“Tirek's amulet,” Snowdrop marveled. “And within it.”

“Old fishface himself,” Shining Armor said.

“Let us take the amulet to the Elder Gods,” Braveheart suggested.

“They cannot destroy it,” Celestia said. “Nopony can.”

“They might offer council,” Braveheart said. “Tirek can never escape.” Celestia and Braveheart left the chamber, and Snowdrop stayed.

“The war is not over,” she reminded. “Octavia has escaped. Why are you smiling?” Shining Armor looked at Snowdrop.

“She called me 'Shining',” he said. He was referring to the fact that Cadence did love him. Shining Armor smiled down at Cadence.

~~~Twenty Years Later~~~

“Celestia told me later that I was the descendant of some Mediterranean Warcolts,” Shining Armor explained to a group of defenders. “Bred as warriors for the gods. I've never been able to re-summon that green halo. Celestia thinks it was triggered when I saw a loved one about to die.” One of the defenders shook her head.

“What about you, Anthem,” she asked Shining Armor's son. “Can you summon anything like that, or did it skip a generation?” Her friend elbowed her.

“Take it easy, Cold Front,” he said.

“We didn't need a halo in Neighagra,” Anthem said. “Or Dodge City. Or Ghastly Gorge. Did we Little Mac?”

“Nope,” Little Macintosh said. “Did the Unicorns ever send you there, Cold Front?”

“I've seen plenty of action,” Cold Front retorted. “Raindrop and I both. Stuff that blows your special forces mind.”

“At ease,” Shining Armor ordered. “You're all here because you deserve to be. You're beautiful and unique snowflakes.” Anthem rolled his eyes. “Now,” Shining Armor continued. “As I'm sure you're unaware, judging from the lack of gift cards, today is our team's six week anniversary. Secretary Lyra says she's pleased with our progress.”

“She'd be spitting her mane if she was pleased with our progress,” Cold Front denied.

“She was smart enough to allow Mr. Armor to put this team together,” Little Mac said.

“And I'm glad the Pegasi chose me to join,” Raindrop agreed. “New places, new faces.”

“As the secretary pointed out,” Shining Armor said. “Us older folks are going to retire someday. So it's time for your generation to step up. Unicorns, Pegasus Ponies, SF, together. For your team's first mission, you're going to the Pegasi Temple. We haven't heard from the Grand Mare in a while, so we need to make sure she's still on our side. That she's got our backs if things flare up again with Tartarus. You need to bring her in, but don't be surprised if Rainbow Dash isn't willing to cooperate.”

“Why are we worried about Tartarus?” Anthem asked. “I thought Nyx was friends with the Warcolts.”

“She is,” Shining Armor said. “But she's facing a civil war. The rebels win, those accords will be history.”