Pony Kombat X

In a city in Tartarus, Nyx's army marched toward the opposing rebel army. Nyx herself was inside a chariot, with Vinyl and Blackheart, a Changeling that could control Parasprites. Vinyl and Nyx were negotiating a deal.

“20 million,” Nyx said.

“Empress,” Vinyl reasoned. “What's the expression? It's not worth the dirt on my hoof.”

“Nyx has always bargained with picky before,” Blackheart said, in a raspy, metallic voice.

“Sure, sure,” Vinyl mocked. “I'm just saying. Upgraded weapons and my intel, and poof. The long Tartarus civil war, done. Might be nice to keep back a bit, eh?”

“You know Pinkamena's location,” Nyx said.

“And a whole rebel army,” Vinyl added. “It's got to be worth at least 50.”

“I must attack her immediately,” Nyx growled. “And end this conflict. As you say, it drains us.” Vinyl looked out the carriage window and saw Pinkamena and another mare.

“Right,” Vinyl said. “Do we have a deal?” The carriage stopped, and Blackheart looked behind himself.

“What is it, Blackheart?” Nyx asked.

“The Empress should not be concerned,” Blackheart said. “Accidents ahead. This one will clear it.” Blackheart stepped outside and walked to the accident, where large shopping carts had created a barrier.

“Move!” Blackheart ordered. “Make way for Nyx.” Atop a roof, Pinkamena sat with a group of rebels. The other mare knelt down next to her.

“The Changelings are in place,” the mare said. “We await your order.”

“It is given, dearest Amethyst,” Pinkamena said. Amethyst nodded and ran off.

“Stopping a carriage is nothing,” Cloudchaser said. “Killing an Empress...”

“False Empress!” Pinkamena hissed.

“...requires power,” Cloudchaser continued. “Power you have, Pinkamena, and won't use.” Pinkamena pulled out the amulet that contained Tirek.

“It pains me to do it, Cloudchaser,” Pinkamena said. “I need more time. The usurpers excursion came too soon.” She put away the amulet.

“The rain falls where it may,” Cloudchaser said.

“No matter,” Pinkamena shrugged off. “If Vinyl does what I paid her to do.” Down below, the wreckage was being cleared.

“Now!” Blackheart cried. “Do it!” Nyx and Vinyl sat alone in the carriage. A loud cry was heard. Nyx turned to see a mass of Changelings charge. The carriage escorts got ready to fight. Blackheart and Spitfire turned to see. Spitfire walked into battle. A Changeling charged at her and attacked. Spitfire avoided the attack and crushed the Changeling. A mare with two powerful revolvers stuck the barrel of one into a Changeling's face and pulled the trigger. The Changeling's face was blown off. Three Changelings charged at Blackheart. He extended three insectoid legs and stabbed the attackers repeatedly, injecting them with poison. The Changelings fell on the ground and writhed in agony. Nyx watched all this unfold. She cursed in her language.

“You said a mouthful,” Vinyl said, quietly pulling out a knife. She lunged at Nyx, but the attack was blocked. Vinyl lunged again, and was shoved back. Nyx grabbed her and punched her in the face three times. She then drove her helmet into Vinyl's head, cracking her skull. Nyx threw her into the wall, and deflected a laser blast from Vinyl's mechanical eye. Nyx drove her hoof into Vinyl's living eye, temporarily blinding her. Nyx threw Vinyl into the window and pulled her out. She grabbed her and blasted through the door. She attacked Vinyl again, but Vinyl pushed her away.

“You are a traitor, Vinyl,” Nyx growled. “Your promise of aid was but wind and air.”

“You promised 50 million,” Vinyl said. “Pinkamena's given me twice as much to take you out.” Nyx and Vinyl brawled on the streets. Nyx drove a blade into Vinyl's neck, then twisted the blade, cracking Vinyl's upper vertebrae. Nyx pulled out the blade and drove her knee into Vinyl's face, putting Vinyl down.

“You're not worth the dirt on my hoof,” Nyx said. She pulled out her knife and stabbed it into Vinyl's back. She pulled up Vinyl's head and prepared to slit her throat. Before she could, a blast knocked her back. Amethyst jumped off the carriage and landed in front of Nyx.

“You are the Canterlotian, Amethyst,” Nyx said.

“I'm glad you remember me, Nyx,” Amethyst said. She threw another blast at Nyx, but Nyx caught it.

“I could never forget those who freed Pinkamena,” she hissed.

“We vowed to create a free Canterlot,” Amethyst said, extending her blades. “Something you would never do.” Nyx attacked Amethyst, who blocked the attack.

“A united Tartarus stands strong against its enemies,” Nyx said.

“It will never be united under your rule,” Amethyst retorted. She jumped back.

“Your rebellion is old and defenseless,” Nyx growled. She and Amethyst engaged in battle. Amethyst proved to be a powerful opponent, but she was no match for the Empress of Tartarus. Nyx broke Amethyst's neck and head, the same as with Vinyl. Amethyst didn't get back up.

“You are a fool to trust Pinkamena,” Nyx said. Two Changelings approached Nyx, and were taken down. Nyx looked to the roof where Pinkamena was.

“She tests me for the last time,” she growled. Nyx teleported up to the roof. “Pinkamena,” she said.

“Vinyl was to kill you, miserable snake!” Pinkamena cried. She ordered two Changelings to attack. Nyx killed them both with ease. Pinkamena charged at Nyx. Nyx avoided Pinkamena's attacks, then knocked her off the roof. Nyx noticed Cloudchaser.

“Another Canterlotian,” she hissed. “The supposed half-god.” Cloudchaser summoned a sphere of water around Nyx.

“I am a daughter of a king,” Cloudchaser said. “I was merely declared a god by befuddled communists.” Nyx broke free of the water.

“Surly Pinkamena suspects your true intentions, daughter of a king,” Nyx growled. She charged at Cloudchaser, but she teleported away. Cloudchaser appeared behind Nyx and kicked her off the roof. Nyx landed on the hard dirt. She got up as Cloudchaser teleported in front of her.

“My 'intentions' are to teach you the difference between arrogance and godhood,” Cloudchaser said. She and Nyx fought. Cloudchaser fought viciously, but with the grace of a Canterlotian fighter. Nyx used pure brute force. She won quickly.

“That should silence you,” Nyx grumbled. The gunslinger mare walked up to Nyx, who nodded. The mare walked over to the fallen Cloudchaser.

“You won't touch her again,” the mare growled. She kicked Cloudchaser in the face, and put a hoof to her neck. She pointed one of her revolvers at Cloudchasers head. A knife flew through the air and struck the mare in the wrist, making her drop her gun.

“But I will,” Pinkamena said. She walked up to Nyx as Cloudchaser teleported away.

“As the heir to my mother, Nightmare Moon, I, Pinkamena, contemn of Tartarus, order your execution!” Nyx wasted no time in attacking Pinkamena. She stabbed her knife into Pinkamena's neck and twisted it, then yanked it out and bashed her knee into Pinkamena's head. With a broken neck and skull, Pinkamena fell to the ground.

“There will be an execution this day,” Nyx said. “You will atone for your decent, Pinkamena. Your blood will make right.” A group of Nyx's soldiers surrounded Pinkamena. Nyx uttered a phrase and fired death magic at Pinkamena. Pinkamena pulled out the amulet and used it against Nyx. The magic struck Nyx, but Pinkamena couldn't withhold the amulet's power, and she passed out. Cloudchaser teleported in, grabbed Pinkamena, and teleported out. Blackheart helped Nyx up.

“What did my Empress see?” Blackheart asked.

“A mere cub, grown to a jaguar,” Nyx said. She walked off, the attack evaded.

~~~

Anthem was looking through his viewfinder at the Pegasi temple.

“OK,” he said. “Once we hit the drop, we split up. Little Mac and I will come in from the east, you two from the west.”

“Rendezvous here, at the north entrance,” Little Mac said.

“Then what?” Snowshine asked. “A simple pick up and go?”

“We bag her if she resists,” Anthem said.

“Resistance might be more possible than you think,” Raindrop said.

“Don't sweat it,” Anthem assured. “It comes to that, Rainbow Dash won't know what hit her.”