Author's Note

1. Why AFC, and not OFC? Because it's not being fired from orbital distance.
   
2. Try imagining the actions from the point where Princess Celestia calls to protect the Element Bearers up until Godslayer Dash creates the Sonic Rainnuke-like explosion, whilst listening to Immediate Music's Tales of the Electric Romeo.

AERIAL FRIENDSHIP CANNON (CLIMAX) - revised

Godslayer Dash and the pegasus royal guards streaked high above the flat snowy landscape. The land between Cloudsdale and Canterlot Plateau is mostly featureless, save for occasional groves of trees.

They all came to an abrupt stop upon the sighting of a tornado, appeared to be coming from the opposite side of the plateau. Even at such a distance, the turbulence from the tornado could be felt.

Godslayer Dash could only guess who or what made it. “Lightning Dust?”

All the tanks caught in the tornado were spitted out from the top funnel one at a time to be pulverized by the sheer force of impact on the ground.

Ragingheart looked alternately at the slowly weakening tornado and the bridge. After coming to a decision, the ‘Alicorn’ flew off in the direction of Canterlot River. She is going after Captain Discord, with the intent of taking her revenge on him. Her reinforcements shall take care of that pegasus-griffon pair later.

By now the tornado had fully dissipated. Lighting Dust and Gilda hovered there for a while, gasping as they marveled at their accomplishment.

“Thank you, Gilda,” the pegasus said with a great sense of satisfaction inside her, “for trusting in me.”

Gilda mustered a smile which soon faded away. “But it’s not over yet.”

Understanding the meaning of her friend’s words, Lightning Dust turned serious again.

The Super Speedy Chaser 8000 raced across the bridge with the intent of reaching Canterlot as fast as possible. Straight ahead, a red energy beam sliced through the middle deck, blowing it apart into a fireball. Tons of debris from the destroyed deck crashed into the icy waters below. The explosion also snapped several weight-bearing suspender cables, causing both ends of the separated deck to slope downwards.

From the driver’s seat, Flim looked in disbelief at the wide gap up ahead. At the speed the vehicle is going, he had come realize, the tram is guaranteed to crash down into the river even if he pushes the breaks now.

Discord stick his head out of the side window and saw the gap as well.

“Faust Almighty, how much more chaotic can things get!?” he cried.

The passengers panicked after they saw through their windows that the bridge was blown in half.

Sunset Shimmer pleaded to them, “Everypony, please lend me your magic!”

“You all heard the mare!” Flam shouted. “Let’s do some magic!”

Sunset Shimmer cast her object-lifting spell. The same clouds that saved Dash’s life in Graduation Act formed underneath the tracks. Just short from plunging into the river, the Super Speedy Chaser 8000 miraculously floated over the gap. The short flight was not as smooth though due to vehicle’s tremendous weight. After a pretty rough landing on the other side, Flim pushed the accelerator all the way down. Whilst the Super Speedy Chaser 8000 struggled against its own weight to climb up the deck, Lightning Dust and Gilda flew their way around to the rear car.

Flapping their wings as hard as they could, the pair pushed from the rear to give the vehicle the boost it needed up the slope. Through their effort combined with Sunset Shimmer’s magic and the Super Speedy Chaser’s engine power, the vehicle began to climb. Defying the pull from its own weight, it successfully worked its way up to the stable, undamaged part of the span. Now it was just a matter of getting past the supporting masts, then the Equestrians might have a chance to make it back to Canterlot in one piece.

Luck however is not on their side, as they did not count on Ragingheart and Mecha-Dalek appearing above. The Super Speedy Chaser 8000 nearly reached where the masts are when Ragingheart and the Mecha-Dalek swooped down and with one blow, smashed the Super Speedy Chaser’s frontend (engine compartment), to knock the entire vehicle over. The abrupt jolt from the blow threw both Lightning Dust and Gilda off the rear car onto the pavement.

The entire vehicle toppled to its side prompting Ragingheart to leaped clear over the skidding cars. The evil ‘Alicorn’ then watched in satisfaction the vehicle crashed against the parapet. Confident that the surviving Equestrians are unlikely able to escape immediately from such a serious crash, she walked towards the wreckage in a deliberate pace.

The unconscious Sunset Shimmer was being carried away by Lionel. Fortunately, she was not terribly hurt, just suffered a mild knock on the head during the crash. The same cannot be said for Flim however. Flam dragged away his bloodied but still-alive brother from the driver’s seat.

After Dumbbell helped Silver Spoon out from the wreckage, she was unfortunately unable to flee like the other ponies. Without her glasses, the Earth pony just stood on the pavement, frowning as she tried to make out her surroundings. She is visually impaired in a way that the difference between the background and ponies moving past her is quite unintelligible to her. Fortunately, her vision returned to normal after someone puts her glasses back on, which soon turned out to be Diamond Tiara.

There were some ponies who still remained by the wreckage in a state of shock from the horrifying accident that should have taken their lives. Trixie snapped them out of their daze then called them to escape immediately.

With his Exquisite Ban Hammer secured to his holster, Discord took out a bazooka to be used against the near-approaching Ragingheart and Mecha-Dalek.

“That was some trick you played on me, captain,” Ragingheart said, notably pissed off.

“It’s rather your fault,” Discord mocked her, “for not learning anything from the Battle of the Market Square.”

“Urgh!” Ragingheart exclaimed. “Once I kill all of you, I’m going to raze Canterlot to the ground! That’s what happens to anypony who keeps giving me trouble!”

At this point, her secondary invasion force had arrived. Pouring out from the woods and bypassing the Canterlot River Bridge, they began their approach to the plateau.

Dalek Tanks returning from scouting Canterlot transformed in midair. After touching down, they formed a line to block the escaped hostages from getting off the bridge. One mech made an intimidating gesture of hitting its fists together at the terrified ponies.

Just when the ponies thought they are finished, Godslayer Dash swooped down from the sky at an immensely high speed. The mech she struck down with her staff-mace shattered into scrap pieces in a single blow.

“Hey, acorn-brain!” she called out to Ragingheart.

Her voice snapped Sunset Shimmer out of her daze. Dash? Is that you?

Ragingheart heard it too all the way from the middle of the bridge.

So she didn’t heed my warning, the evil ‘Alicorn’ thought. Fine. Then, she will die!

“Guess who I’m came back here with!” Godslayer Dash yelled. “Let me give you a hint! They’re gonna give you a royal whup in the butt!”

On her cue, the pegasus royal guards swooped down to join her in attacking the Mecha-Daleks.

They were not alone however. Diamondia’s ground forces led by Commander Fido had arrived at this point. They marched their way around the plateau. Having coming from a country that experiences cold climate all year long, their march was swift and brisk, unhampered by the snow. Their numbers are rather conservative, consisted only two battalions of archer and infantry-class troops.

The Diamondians faced off against Ragingheart’s secondary forces. Fido stepped forward with a bullhorn raised to his mouth.

“I am Commander Fido of the Diamondia Royal Army,” he announced to the enemy. “With the blessing from our king His Majesty King Jim and Her Royal Highness Princess Luna of Equestria, we are here to aid our allies in sending the abominations you are to Tartarus!”

The Diamondians brandished their weapons up high, while taunting the enemy with their loud howls. Soon the two forces charged at each other and clashed.

In the midst of the murmuring civilians, Lionel whooped upon hearing the mention of Princess Luna. “Sunset Shimmer, did you hear that? Princess Luna’s back!”

Sunset Shimmer felt her spirit lifting at the notion of her true mentor finally returning to Equestria. But where is the Princess of the Night, she wondered to herself.

Unarmed and his vehicle knocked over, Blueblood found himself surrounded by Ragingheart’s constructs.

“I say, this fight doesn’t turn out to be fair!” he protested.

An MBP responded by breaking the bazooka it had wrested from the unicorn into two.

At this moment, Blueblood witnessed an unexpected turn of event taking place in the distance. His eyes widened in disbelief. Emerged from the forests on Unicorn Range foothills are Princess Luna along with the unicorns and Earth ponies of the Equestrian Royal Guards.

Celestia, in her fiery form, streaked through the bridge like a shooting flare, ramming Ragingheart off the bridge in the process.

Discord was left baffled the moment the evil ‘Alicorn’ disappeared from his view. “What in Faust Almighty’s name just happened?”

Just when the Mecha-Dalek was about pummel the draconequss, Lightning Dust and Gilda swooped down on top of it. Seeing the mech distracted by the pair’s attack, Discord quickly aimed his bazooka at the mech’s midriff then squeezed the trigger.

Ragingheart was sent slamming onto the ground in the midst of battle between the Diamondians and her secondary force. Afterwards, Celestia reverted to her normal Alicorn form. Ragingheart hauled herself up. Apparent scorch damages on her Nanite-based armor echoed Godslayer Watterson’s mentioning of the enemy being vulnerable to magic-based attacks. Celestia conjured energy shackles on Ragingheart’s legs to restrain the ‘Alicorn’ completely to the ground.

“Surrender while there is a chance,” the princess warned her, “or I will have no choice but to kill you!”

“Like you did to my friend!?” Ragingheart scoffed, her voice full of anger and hatred.

A part of her visor had been chipped off from the impact earlier, revealing her eyes and a part of her face. But the eye color is slightly different. They do not belong to Lyra Heartstrings.

Celestia realized this and thus was able to deduce Ragingheart’s identity. “Please listen to me! I’m sorry for everything I did to you! I remember banishing you to Everfree Forest, I remember taking away your wings. But I assure you, I did not kill Dinky! Derpy, please believe me!”

“You’re wrong!” Ragingheart hissed. “Do I look like a derp to you!?”

She removed her helmet, thus revealing that she is indeed Derpy, not Lyra as many had believed. The hatred-filled wingless pegasus no longer sports her signature ‘derpy’ expression because her eyes are now normally aligned.

Back at the bridge, the reveal shocked both Sunset Shimmer and Dumbbell.

“DITZY DOO!?” they shouted in unison.

“Ditzy who?” The name meant nothing to Lionel.

“Wait, what!?” Godslayer Dash gasped in shock. You kidding! You mean all this time I’ve been angry at the wrong pony!?

Pulling herself together, she urgently called out to Celestia, “Princess Celestia! Destroy the amulet quick!”

Having heard the call, Celestia then committed a grave mistake.

“I sense no magical energy in your amulet,” she said, staring curiously at the object visible through the fractured collar. “From where did you get it?”

Derpy smirked at the princess’ question.

***

Derpy looked absolutely dreadful. Her body was covered in dirt and had turned skinny, the reason for latter being due to her surviving only on fungus and tree saps for the past few weeks. Without her wings, she could not fly out to pinpoint her exact location.

Today Derpy had come across something. Unfortunately, it is not the river leading back to Ponyville that she was searching for. Instead it was a large field of blue flowers. Derpy moved towards it. Halfway through, she gave in to her extreme hunger and stumbled.

The Princess of the Sunlight’s name came into her mind. Celestia… I hate you…

Tears streamed down her eyes. She kept asking herself what did both she and Dinky do to the princess to deserve their fate.

Dinky…

At the thought of her half-sister and best friend, Derpy suddenly became determined. She must survive so she can avenge Dinky’s murder. So Derpy crawled towards the field with all her remaining energy. Upon reaching it, she forced herself to consume the flowers. She did not care what the flowers are or how horrible they taste. All she knew is if she did not to satisfy her hunger, she will starve to death.

All of a sudden, she felt a strong burning sensation inside her stomach, which then rapidly spread to the rest of the body. Her breathing became difficult. She writhed in discomfort before falling into the field out of view…

Inside the field, Derpy was still crying. She had not moved from that very spot for days, as the terrible burning sensation inside her had yet to fully subside.

“Oh you poor little thing...”

The sarcastic voice jolted Derpy. Her sobbing stopped. Opening her eyes, she moved her gaze towards the source of the unknown voice. Her vision was no longer distorted or warped like it used to before. Peering through the flower stems, she was able to make out a strange bipedal figure wearing a cloak, its face obscured under the hood. The forest darkness, the cloak’s dark color and the figure’s abrupt appearance, all made the situation frightening to her.

“W-who are you?” Derpy asked in distress. “What do you want from me?”

The cloaked figure smirked devilishly then produced the Alicorn Amulet replica from under her robe.

Several days later, Derpy recovered from her previous ordeal. She became wary of the presence of strange ‘creatures’ around the field. They vaguely resembled ponies, with very loose body form and looked constantly runny.

Looking down at herself, to her surprise, she found that she was standing on her hind legs. She moved around a little to find no awkwardness in her movement. She already knew something was different about herself during the encounter with the cloaked figure, but this one was a little too strange to her. Unbeknownst to her, all these are the affect from her consumption of the Poison Joke flowers.

Derpy’s gaze fell right away on the Alicorn Amulet on the ground. Once she stepped outside the field, the ‘creatures’ backed away from her, much to the pegasus’ surprise. Derpy recalled what the cloaked figure had said to her about raising an army. So she picked up the amulet then wore it on her neck. Strange semi-liquid masses flowed from ground and began enveloping her like a second layer of skin. Initially terrified, she began embracing the power brought upon from the mass that are Nanites.

The ‘skin’ reshaped itself, ultimately transforming into an Alicorn-styled robotic armor. From that moment, Derpy decided to call herself Ragingheart, a name also inspired from the cloaked figure’s words. Through her will, the creatures changed to more complex, fully formed simulacrum beings that will later induce dread on her enemies. Their final forms are MBP, White Bunneh, Mithra and Dalek.

“Doc, face it,” Ragingheart heard a faint voice coming from somewhere in the forest. “We’re lost!”

“Nonsense, Spike!” then came the unmistakable voice of Twilight Sparkle. “I’m two hundred and fifty percent sure that the Ghastly Gorge is just right up ahead.”

Ragingheart turned around to see the unicorn and her dragon companion appearing shortly after, both of whom are apparently terrified upon encountering the machine constructs.

***

Having finished her story, Derpy put her helmet back on.

“You care for her,” she tempted Celestia who wanted to know more about Twilight Sparkle’s whereabouts, “I see that clearly. I can tell you where she is. That is, if you’ll spare my life even if it’s only for a little while.”

As Celestia mused on the truthfulness of the claim, her focus began to lapse, exactly as Ragingheart had expected. The magic shackles’ grip on her weakened. After Ragingheart yanked herself free from the magic shackles, she lunged forward with a quick thrust of her blades at the princess.

Godslayer Dash was appalled when she saw this. “You had one job, princess! One job!”

She launched herself into the air towards where Ragingheart and Princess Celestia are.

“Your Royal Highness, it’s up to you now,” Godslayer Watterson said after he was informed by Godslayer Dash that Plan A that involves Princess Celestia destroying Ragingheart’s Alicorn Amulet had failed.

“I will do my best,” Luna responded with determination.

Godslayer Watterson and the royal guards backed away to give the princess some room. She concentrated to combine her Alicorn powers with that from the Elements of Harmony, whereupon blue aura surrounded her and the six hovering jewels around her were emitting similar aura.

“Twinkleshine,” Luna called, “guide me.”

The loyal unicorn stepped to the princess’ side.

Realizing almost too late that she had let her guard down, Celestia leaped out of the way from Ragingheart’s attack. She fired a powerful beam from her horn and Ragingheart did the same. When the beams met head on, a huge explosion erupted between the two foes.

Celestia hurled onto the snow by the force from the explosion. Yet Ragingheart remained firmly on her hooves, due to the protection offered by her spiked wings. The evil ‘Alicorn’ almost lunged forward to finish off the downed princess when her gaze suddenly turned away. Dismay came over her when she saw that the plain on the opposite side of the river bank was seemingly engulfed by magic energy.

“The Elements of Harmony!” she had come to realize, and the color of the aura could only mean one pony: Princess Luna.

Whilst Ragingheart was distracted by Celestia, the pegasus guards and the Diamondian infantries battled against her secondary forces, which were beyond the reach of Princess Luna’s assault. The Diamondian’s strength and their diamond-based weapons proved to be affective against the enemy. The only exception is the Mecha-Daleks whose armor plating requires a little more effort to penetrate.

Vast energy washed over the snow-laden landscape southbound, eliminating large portions of Ragingheart’s forces that happened to come into its path. Shortly after the energy dissipated, it is revealed that Princess Luna’s effort was not enough. The area of effect is nowhere near large enough to wipe out the enemy forces in its entirety. The surviving constructs, whom still greatly outnumber the Equestrians and Diamondians combined together, charged forward en masse in an all-out assault. It appeared to be a losing battle for the defenders.

Luna dropped on all fours. Injuries resulting from her confrontation with Trollestia have taken it out of her.

“I’m sorry…” Twinkleshine said solemnly.

Despair overcame the princess. “I’ve failed... My will wasn’t strong enough…”

“You’ve done all you could, Your Royal Highness,” Twinkleshine tried to comfort her.

“The mare is right!”

Though Luna had not heard it for so long, she still recognized that voice. “Blueblood?”

Carrying the unconscious Nova with him, the unicorn came up to meet his auntie and the remaining royal guards. Nova’s body was riddled with slash wounds. Bleeding profusely, it is unclear for how long the unfortunate changeling could hold on before succumbing to his injuries.

“It’s good to see you again, auntie.” Despite all too happy to see his beloved auntie again, Blueblood remained serious, given the current worsening situation.

As Twinkleshine attended to Nova’s wounds, Godslayer Watterson regarded Blueblood with astonishment. “Urk, did you come from the middle of that?”

“Yes,” the chancellor replied flatly, “but that’s not the point now.”

He addressed the royal guards in attempt to rally their courage. “Listen up! Long ago this kingdom was on the verge of collapse, but your forefathers and foremothers before you stood by the princesses’ side and fought to bring back peace and order to Equestria. Canterlot’s continued existence is a testament to their courage and loyalty! Today, history shall repeat itself! Fulfill your oath! Get out there and fight for Equestria!”

The royal guards’ spirit soared. Even Godslayer Watterson was moved. He was now aspired to fight to the end, with or without the Elements of Harmony.

With his tek-bow raised up high, the feline cried, “Yeah! We fight together! For Equestria!”

“OO-RAH!!!” all the guards responded in unison. “FOR EQUESTRIA!!!”

The unicorn guards charged down the hill first. They cast their shielding spells to provide cover for their Earth pony comrades that came following later.

An Archer-Mithra ahead of the frontline took aim at the Equestrian Royal Guards charging in its way.

“Eliminate all the Equestrians,” it notified the others, “but prioritize target on Princess Luna.”

Godslayer Dash slugged Ragingheart away from Princess Celestia. Before the evil ‘Alicorn’ could retaliate, she was hit by a blast from Tirek’s bazooka.

Discord came then waded in with his Exquisite Ban Hammer.

“Now feel the wrath of my Exquisite Ban Hammer!” he proclaimed. “Be gone, chaos-doer!”

His strike threw Ragingheart with plumes of dirt and snow outward. Tirek and Godslayer Dash rushed with the captain to continue the assault.

“Provide cover fire,” one of the Mecha-Daleks in the rearguard declared after it detected its leader is in distress.

All the mechs positioned in the southern outskirts away from the main battles formed a line, after which they began bombarding the plains on both sides of the riverbank.

The Equestrian Royal Guards galloped courageously through the battlefield amidst the eruptions. Some unlucky solders were knocked off their hooves by the force of explosions. Yet their comrades kept on going. Those who have fallen quickly got back to their hooves, their spirits remained undeterred and moved forth. All weapons drawn, the two opposing forces finally met head-on.

The bombardment gave Ragingheart enough space between herself and her attackers to let her take off. Figuring that Ragingheart had decided to go after Princess Luna for using the Elements of Harmony, Godslayer Dash took to the skies in order to stop her.

Cannon shells hit the waters nearby, creating huge geysers in their wake.

Realized that the bridge might get hit at any time by stroke of chance, Flam pressed the agitated civilians, “All right, everypony! We have to go! We have to go now!”

With no time to lose, he and Sunset Shimmer hustled Lionel and the rest of the ponies off the bridge.

“I don’t see Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon!” Sunset Shimmer cried suddenly while glancing around for the two Earth ponies. “Where are they!?”

She flinched when another cannon shell exploded on the riverbank nearby.

Blueblood looked upon in dismay at the explosions from the hail of cannon shells riddling the battlefield.

“The irony!” he cried, referring to the prologue to the Battle of the Market Square. “Now we’re being bombarded!”

Then I must try again! Luna stood up determined after she heard her nephew’s cry. I just need to push myself more this time.

At that very moment, Fighter-White Bunnehs and MBPs that managed to bypass the attacking Equestrian Royal Guards trudged up the foothill coming for her.

“I got this!” Blueblood drew his sword then galloped downhill in a suicidal attempt to defend his auntie.“In the name of the Royal Sisters-”

He abruptly tripped and tumbled down the slope like a ball, snow gathering up around him until he's now seen as a giant snowball rolling down the hill.

Meanwhile down the slope, Ragingheart attempted to strike down Godslayer Dash with both her blades. Godslayer Dash held up her Ethereal Staff-Mace to block the attack. They both pushed forward, locking their weapons against each other.

“You ain’t going anywhere near Princess Luna, ya hear me!?” Godslayer Dash shouted at Ragingheart’s visor.

She deflected away the blades from by swiftly moving both her weapon and herself in a twist movement before separating away from the ‘Alicorn’.

Just when the two combatants were about to attack again, a gargantuan snowball slowly rolled past right between them. They both paused from battle and turned to see that the White Bunnehs got stuck in the tumbling snowball along with Blueblood.

“Why’s everything always go wrong whenever that stallion’s around?” Ragingheart asked, not particularly at anyone.

“‘Cuz…he’s a chaos god reincarnate?” Godslayer Dash said, who is just as baffled at the unicorn.

Up on the hill, Luna’s ears twitched. The princess had managed to figure what happened to his nephew from the sound made by the tumbling snowball.

And I’m the one with sightless eyes, she thought with a shake of her head.

Unfortunately for the Princess of the Night, Ragingheart’s assault sent Godslayer Dash slamming at her. In the aftermath, both she and Godslayer Dash lay on the snow groaning in pain with the Elements of Harmony scattered around them.

There were many ponies still making their way to get off the bridge. Lightning Dust, Gilda and Trixie, whom had stayed behind to make sure not a single pony was left behind at the wreckage, were the last to leave. Gilda saw several cannon shells dropping down from the sky, one of them seemed to be targeting for Trixie. She shoved the unicorn out of the way shortly before the cannon shell blew a hole through the pavement.

In the explosion’s aftermath, Lightning Dust tried to locate Gilda and Trixie through the pluming smoke.

“Gilda! Trixie!” her voice was loud but occasionally it was drowned by sounds of battle and explosions from both side. “Where are you!?”

Another shell came dropping down and this time it hit the side deck. The explosion caused the suspenders to snap in succession. Lightning Dust was alerted by the sharp cracking sounds but her reaction was unfortunately too slow. As a result, her side got whipped by one of the snapped cables.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both saw what happened to Lightning Dust.

“Spoony! Go on without me!” Diamond Tiara told Silver Spoon before galloping off into the pluming smoke.

“Nuh-uh!” Silver Spoon defied the elder Earth pony’s instruction. “I’m coming with you!”

She immediately went off to catch up with Diamond Tiara.

Off the bridge, Sunset Shimmer saw what the Earth ponies were doing.

“Guys, no! Come back!” she called out to them to no avail.

Lightning Dust continued the search for Trixie and Gilda through the smoke, in spite of her injured wing or the high possibility that one the shells soaring above might drop on her anytime.

“Where are you guys???” she called desperately. “Please answer me!”

“Over here!”

Lightning Dust navigated herself towards Trixie’s voice. She yanked herself away the moment the smoke around her began to clear, as the pegasus had come close to falling into a wide cracked hole. After another while of searching, she finally found them.

“Quick! Help me lift her!” Trixie cried as she tried with sheer difficulty to lift the unconscious Gilda whom had shielded her by taking the full brunt of the explosion.

Due to her size and the armor suit, the griffon weights almost a ton.

“Oh no! Gilda!!!” Lightning Dust tried to help Trixie using her uninjured side. However, she failed as her action only made the pain even worse. Feeling that this method will never work, Lightning Dust decided to try wake Gilda instead.

“Wake up, Gilda!” she shouted at the griffon’s face.“Wake up!!!”

Just then, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon appeared and they helped Trixie in lifting Gilda up.

Meanwhile off the bridge, Sunset Shimmer worried about her friends.

I can’t just stand here, she thought. I have to do something too.

“Sunset Shimmer, don’t!” Flam yelled upon seeing saw Sunset Shimmer galloping to the bridge. “The bridge’s gonna fall apart!”

The mare halted in her tracks when an explosion suddenly erupted .

At same time on the bridge, Trixie, Lightning Dust, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon stared in shock at the ground before them collapses into the river. There on the riverbank, they spotted Sunset Shimmer who was transfixed as much as they are.

It quickly hit Lighting Dust that their escape had been cut off. She however refused to accept that all four friends will die with her. She is determined to make sure that at least one could make it.

The pegasus brought her face close to her griffon friend. “Gilda! Wake up! Gilda!”

“Lightning…”

Lightning Dust however was not paying attention to Trixie at all.

“You can still fly out of here!” she persisted. “At least take Silver Spoon with you! Snap out of it!”

“Lightning Dust!” Trixie shouted, startling the distraught pegasus.

When the latter looked at her friends, they all appeared to have resigned to their fate. None could help them now, Trixie pointed it out to her, because others were totally occupied with fending off enemy forces on both sides of the riverbank. Reeled from the unfair situation they were caught in, Lightning Dust felt the need to find a way for her to accept their fate. So the pegasus told them of her decision of coming clean with Gilda as the final act before the end.

After the rest gave the go-ahead, Lightning Dust began her confession. “Gilda, if you can hear me, please listen. It’s about the accident I’ve caused back then. The reason that it happened…It’s because…I was a hypocrite. I know I said before the Wonderbolts is not a race, but I still became jealous. Every day, you’re becoming better than me in our trainings. I was so…fixated at becoming number one, without thinking, I started taking risks, just to prove myself. That’s why…I avoided you since then. I was ashamed. I should’ve been proud of you, instead I…I…”

She started whimpering, and continued, “Gilda, why? After what I did to you, I don’t understand… How can you still call yourself my friend?”

“It’s…accident…” the weak Gilda stammered, eyes half-open

“Gilda?” Lightning Dust gasped.

“You were…there…for me…”

The pegasus struggled to comprehend her friend’s meaning…

***

The senior members apparently disliked the new recruit. The Wonderbolts are supposed to be about pegasus- that is what believed personally, and they are not about to let that change. They prevented Gilda from entering the cafeteria and utter bad things in order to discourage the griffon. Although griffons are supposedly aggressive creatures, Gilda remained passive. It was not like she wanted to be there in the first place, the griffon thought.

Lightning Dust waded in to her defense. In front of the seniors, she declared not only Gilda is her friend, but also a Wonderbolt therefore deserves to be treated equally by the other teammates. Gilda was moved by her friend’s action because Lightning Dust actually look up to the seniors but it seemed she is willing to risk fallout with the seniors for her. Gilda made a promise to herself that she will remain by Lightning Dust’s side and work hard to repay the favor.

***

“It’s funny,” Lightning Dust recalled, eyes full of tears, “You’re bigger than any of them, yet you still let them intimidate you.”

“Friends…forever…” Gilda whispered.

The griffon’s loyalty touched Lightning Dust. “Oh, Gilda…You’re too good of a friend for me…”

“I understand,” Trixie said. “One mistake can’t tear apart a lifelong friendship. It’s not just me.”

She turned her gaze at Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. “We all have been through it, don’t we?”

The Earth ponies gave their firm nod.

The ground suddenly started to move, prompting the four ponies to panic. Taut suspender cables inevitably failed in holding the weight of the shattered deck. One-by-one, the cables dislodged from its bolted anchors. The entire bridge span sloped further downwards as a result.

Godslayer Watterson moved forward whilst letting loose his arrows at the incoming enemy, unfazed by the violent explosions erupting all around him.

“Take out their artilleries!” he cried out, to which two battlegroups of unicorn royal guards responded and raced past him.

Godslayer Watterson had already that the task of getting to the mechs positioned in the rearguard is easier said than done. He glanced back at the bridge, now shattered into three portions and look ready to collapse at any moment.

Oh man, we could use the Diamondian’s anti-armor weapons right about now, Godslayer Watterson thought, if only the bridge wasn’t out.

For the Diamondian forces, they have problems of their own. The artillery barrage scattered them into smaller groups all over the place whilst battling the enemy at the same time.

Celestia reeled after being assisted up to her hooves by Discord and Tirek. Her injuries however were the least of her concern at the moment. The princess was distressed that Sunset Shimmer was still there at the riverbank when the other ponies have left for safety. Flim and Flam tried very hard to hustle the transfixed Sunset Shimmer away from the area, but she just would not budge.

More shells rained down from the sky. This time their aim is accurate. This wave will deal the finishing blow to the bridge.

Gilda, whom had fallen into unconscious again, was gently set down on the pavement. The four ponies gathered around the griffon in tight circle, holding each other’s hooves.

By the time Sunset Shimmer came to her senses, it was too late. One cannon shell already has Sunset Shimmer and the brothers in its sight. Their fate appeared to have been sealed, until Celestia’s energy barrier formed around them, creating a just big enough energy dome for the three.

There was genuine fear among the four trapped ponies, even the brave Lightning Dust. Even her stints in the Wonderbolts had never brought her close to death like this.

Trixie cast a glance at the energy dome encasing Sunset Shimmer. A tentative smile formed on her face.

“Sunset Shimmer’s safe,” she said. “We did it. It’s up to the rest now.”

The unicorn hoped that that was enough to put away her friends’ fears. Lightning Dust responded by nodding at her, as did Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. They cast a small smile amongst themselves before bringing their heads together as a gesture of forgiveness for whatever wrong left they had done to each other.

Lightning Dust gazed down sympathetically at Gilda whom she had made peace with, before closing her eyes like the rest. After every ordeal they both had went through, she knew it is only right that Gilda should be spared from the pain coming next.

So this is how it ends for the five friends, out of which three never got to live their original dreams…

Trixie once boasted that she will become the greatest magician in Equestria. That dream shattered when she was expelled from magic school, for her magic abilities are subpar. Utter humiliation and anger overcame the unicorn to the point that she was convinced that everypony are looking down at her, mocking her behind her back. This caused her to inadvertently lash out even at Sunset Shimmer. Despite this, Sunset Shimmer did not give up on Trixie. In the end, thanks to Sunset Shimmer’s effort, Trixie was able to move on.

Lightning Dust was supposed to be a star lead pony before her recklessness costs her place in the Wonderbolts. After her disgrace exit, she was regarded as a villain, thanks to Rainbow Dash’s distortion of the truth on the accident. Later after joining the royal army, she became motivated again after meeting the other Reserve members. It might be a foolish thought, but Lightning Dust believed the army is her ticket to redemption. Over the years, she waited patiently for the chance, whatever it might be, where she could prove herself as a hero.

Gilda was initially ambitionless before being convinced to join the Wonderbolts. Only the thought of Lightning Dust as her partner truly motivated her to work hard. Gilda owed it to Lightning Dust after the Pegasus stood up for her against the bullies in her early years. Unfortunately, after Lighting Dust’s expulsion, she became lost. Worse, their relationship gradually strained. Yet she continued to train her, after being advised so by Sunset Shimmer, hoping that she could find something if she lives Lightning Dust’s dream.

Diamond Tiara loves the idea of ponies wearing the clothes she made. The time she spent in Manehattan’s shopping district became her inspiration and the Fashion Week was the ticket to establish her own fashion line at international level. But her constant failures led her to near bankruptcy and also sheer depression because all this time she thought she had a superior fashion sense. But eventually her dream came true, but to a lesser extent. While the boutique she and Silver Spoon run in Canterlot was not overly successful, still it is doing well.

Silver Spoon, probably the most childish of the six friends, only wanted what is best for her foster sister. She is more than content with her life as long as Diamond Tiara is happy. If she has one true desire in her life, then it is to see her parents alive again. But that wish is impossible to fulfil. So Silver Spoon decided to devote her time, effort and resources to help Diamond Tiara. Yes, Diamond Tiara can be temperamental and moody at times but after looking past all that, she is a loving big sister to Silver Spoon.

Coming to the present, here they are now their life about to be cut short. It was their choice that got them in the current predicament. A choice they made to save their friend who had cared for them, never abandoning them in their time of need. In their last moment, they thought about Sunset Shimmer, safe now that the Royal Princesses have returned, thus their death will not be in vain. And they have not wasted their lives. Putting their past demons behind them, the four friends prepared to embrace their inevitable death.

An explosion broke off one of the mast, causing it to crash onto the adjacent mast and subsequently the bridge span in both directions to shake jarringly. No longer supported by the cables from the destroyed masts, the deck the five friends are on gave in to its weight and broke off from the columns.

Sunset Shimmer watched in horror as the bridge came collapsing down before her eyes. All of the sudden, from her perspective, the world was mute and everything moved in slow motion. Subsequently the rest of it were blown apart in a near simultaneous explosions by the remaining shells. Within seconds, the entire bridge was gone.

The energy dome protecting Sunset Shimmer, Flim and Flam took a hit from the one of the shells raining on the riverbank. For a brief moment, it appeared the energy dome was completely consumed by the resulting explosion. But after the smoke cleared, the dome still remained as it was, showing that it is able to withstand the blast from a cannon shell traveling a high velocity.

Once the energy dome dematerialized, Sunset Shimmer was already on her knees. Grieving tears streamed down from her eyes. Unmoving, she just stared towards where the bridge once stood. Flam was unable to make up his mind whether he should try to comfort her or simply left her be. Celestia carefully moved to approach the devastated unicorn.

Discord, Tirek and Flim removed their helmet. They grieved the loss of the five friends. Despite Gilda’s short time with them, she was still their comrade in arms as did Lightning Dust. Trixie was one of their favorite characters at the castle- friendly, polite, soft-spoken and cheerful. Diamond Tiara and Silver, the three did not know them that well. But the Earth ponies are civilians. Lightning Dust and Gilda’s sacrifice would have been more understandable.

Sunset Shimmer’s reaction only came after realizing Celestia was standing right next to her. There was a pleading look on her teary face, as if asking if there is anything can be done left to save the five. Celestia regarded the unicorn guiltily. None of this would happen in the first place had she not done wrong to Derpy, the princess lamented her mistake. Deep in her heart, she truly wished that she could take everything back.

Seeing no response from the princess, Sunset Shimmer buried her face in her hooves, mourning the loss of her best friends. Yet deep inside, beyond her sorrows, she longed for a miracle, that Trixie and the rest can still be saved.

What can I do? I’m nothing! Sunset Shimmer cried her heart out aloud in anguish. Anypony, anything! Please! Help me!

Sunset Shimmer’s emotions were so strong it sent a vibe all the way to Unicorn Range. The vibe was very weak by the time it arrives yet still visible enough to be detected by ponies with right skills.

Luna took this with alarm. “Sunset Shimmer?”

Both she and Godslayer Dash currently surrounded by MBPs, the former disarmed of the Elements of Harmony

“Don’t worry about Sunset Shimmer,” Ragingheart cynically said to the princess. “She will join her friends soon enough.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Godslayer Dash peered towards Canterlot Plateau. “It can’t be... They didn’t make it?”

Despite the distance, she was able to make out that Canterlot River’s only bridge was no longer there.

Luna all of a sudden felt a slight throb in her head due to Sunset Shimmer’s increasingly intense vibe, like it was calling out for help.

Godslayer Dash could not hold her anger at Ragingheart any longer.

“Damn you!” she yelled, hands clenched tightly. “I’m gonna take you apart!!!”

She was about to do something rash when suddenly an MBP holding one of the Elements get its arm blown to bits. This was shortly followed by another MBP about to pick up another Element in the snow had its upper torso blown apart. Within second, both constructs were obliterated by the expanding light emitted by the two gemstones. A third expanding light shot up to the sky, taking out another MBP in the process.

Godslayer Dash turned her head back. Three more pillars of light have already been formed. Altogether there are six light pillars: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet, the same colors as the Elements of Harmony. Slowly, all the gemstones rose up within each enclosing light. Like Ragingheart, she was baffled by this phenomenon. The Elements seemed to be acting on their own.

In an apparent attempt stop whatever the Elements were doing, an MBP lunged itself into the one of the lights, its arm reaching to grab the gem. The construct however never came close to touching the Element of Harmony as the defensive aura completely destroyed its upper torso. It was gradually reduced to nothingness as the rest of the body went into the light.

Debris from the destroyed bridge slowly sank past the five friends. Any minute hypothermia would claim their lives before they drown.

Trixie nearly fell into unconscious. In her current state of mind, she could not comprehend the eerie environment around them. She glimpsed herself and her friends drifting through a darkish, freezing vacuum towards the total blackness. As she was about to close her eyes, her vision was immersed in a strange gleaming light. Her only thought at the time is the light must be the passageway to the afterlife.

As they continued to drift downwards, gleaming white light suffused the five friends one-by-one.

“I brought this on them,” Sunset Shimmer sobbed under the comfort of Celestia, “on all of us.”

The sound of the battle between the Diamondians and Ragingheart’s forces echoed in the distance.

“No, Sunset Shimmer. it was-” Before Celestia could finish, she became astonished when Sunset Shimmer suddenly gave off a strange aura.

Upon realizing that she was covered in a reddish aura, Sunset Shimmer stopped crying.

From underneath the frozen water surface, five lights of brilliant white shot up simultaneously towards the sky, whereupon Discord and Flam dropped their jaws wide open at the awestruck sight.

And Flim, he reacted by leaping up to Tirek arms, yelling, “Faust Almighty, help us!”

Sensing a new, even greater threat, enemy forces turned their sights towards the river. Their sudden action prompted the Diamondians and the Equestrian pegasus guards to do the same. The sight of five brilliant pillars of light extending up to the clouds stunned them all.

The battle between Equestrians and the invaders also came to an abrupt halt. Ragingheart’s entire army appeared to be focusing their sights at the strange phenomenon going on at Canterlot River. They were actually awaiting confirmation command to deal with the potential new threat.

Godslayer Watterson stared at the lights that had appeared at Unicorn Range then at Canterlot River. His hope soared at the phenomena which he is confident that it is connected to the Elements of Harmony. The tide of Battle of Canterlot was finally turning to the defender’s favor, he thought confidently.

The Elements of Harmony remained untouchable until the lights vanished. Immediately, all the gems shot away from the area, leaving a temporary colored trail in their wake. Ragingheart let out a furious scream for letting the Elements slipped away from her grasp.

Sunset Shimmer’s mind struggled to comprehend what is going on. “Princess, what’s happening to me!?”

“Don’t be afraid, Sunset Shimmer,” Celestia reassured her as she backed away from the scared unicorn. “Let it take its course.”

One-by-one the light pillars started changing color as soon as the Elements of Harmony arrived. The five gems circled around until they came to a stop at the light of their corresponding color.

The Red Element of Harmony hovered before Sunset Shimmer and transformed into red shimmering sun-shaped gem pendant attached to a gold choker.

Following this, the rest of the Elements of Harmony vanished into their respective lights.

The Orange Element of Harmony separated into four pieces- a long-thunderbolt and three star-shaped gems respectively to become the insignia on Lightning Dust’s armor.

The Yellow Element of Harmony transformed into a short thunderbolt-shaped jewel, identical to the Wonderbolt’s symbol which then become part of Gilda’s bracelet.

The Green Element of Harmony took the appearance of a pearl necklace with a spoon-shaped pendant adorned with a heart-shaped jewel at the tip of its handle.

The Blue Element of Harmony separated into two pieces then embedded themselves onto Trixie’s barrette as a star and crescent moon-shaped decorative respectively.

The Violet Element of Harmony separated into numerous tiny versions of itself, before combining with Diamond Tiara’s headband into a diamond-encrusted tiara.

Once the transformation finished, all the light pillars vanished. The five friends, all had been completely revived, glided down before Sunset Shimmer. Once on the ground, they looked among themselves in great astonishment. Neither of them have any memories of surviving the collapsed bridge or when they started using the new accessories.

Then something strange started happening to Sunset Shimmer. Red gleaming energy flowed down her body, forming a dress and a pair of wings. The said-dress is identical to the ball gown Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon made together as a surprise gift for the unicorn.

Sunset Shimmer was as baffled as her friends at her transformation. And only now Trixie, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon realized that they have ‘grown’ wings, after being pointed out by Lightning Dust. They turned to face the approaching Princess Celestia, Captain Discord, Tirek and the Flim Flam Brothers. Sunset Shimmer, Trixie and Lightning Dust were regarded upon by the princess in a way the three do not understand.

It is a new-found respect with a bit of irony. Lighting Dust, a chauffeur who is part of the misfits that is the lowly Reserves, Trixie, the under-average achiever who later became a ‘castle servant’, Sunset Shimmer, the student whose ambition she decided to doom in favor of Twilight Sparkle. The hope to repel the invaders from Canterlot now lies with these three along with the griffon and two Earth ponies.

When asked by Lightning Dust why Sunset Shimmer and Trixie had become ‘Alicorns’ and Diamond Tara and Silver Spoon as ‘pegasus’, Celestia pointed out that the Elements of Harmony had been given them wings and there must be for a reason of it.

“But what’re we supposed to do?” the fraught Sunset Shimmer asked.

“Trust in yourselves and each other,” the princess advised the five Element Bearers. “Your Elements will be your guide all the way.”

“So that’s what the Elements are all about,” Luna blurted.

When Godslayer Dash asked her what she meant by that, the princess replied, “They all barely made it in the end, thanks to the magic of friendship. The Elements reacted to Sunset Shimmer’s strong aspiration to save her friends.”

“Are you saying friendship is magic in a literal sense,” Godslayer Dash asked further, “or are you talking metaphorically?”

“Huh, you haven’t won yet!” Ragingheart interrupted them.

“Face it, acorn-brain!” Godslayer Dash retorted. “You lose!”

“No, I will still have my revenge!” the evil ‘Alicorn’ declared. “Minions, strike them down- NOW!”

The Mecha-Daleks, having received the go-ahead command from their leader, now turned their sights to the Element Bearers and began making their move.

At the sight of the incoming mechs, Celestia glanced back at the Element Bearers. “They’re coming for you! Make haste!”

With that said, Sunset Shimmer and her friends took off, shortly followed by the Princess of the Sunlight.

As the Element Bearers soared away, Celestia stopped to hover high above Canterlot River.

“EVERYPONY!” she called out desperately to rally the Equestrians and the Diamondians alike. “PROTECT THE ELEMENT BEARERS!”

All the Mecha-Daleks from the main force hasted through the thick snow past the Equestrians, transforming into their flying tank forms as they go. Godslayer Watterson understood Ragingheart’s strategy is to have those tanks targeting the Element Bearers exclusively while the rest of her army will divert the Equestrian and the Diamondian’s attention.

“Earth ponies, hold the line!” he yelled. “Unicorns, take down the tanks!”

The Equestrian Royal Guards in response split into two major groups. The unicorns went after the tanks as instructed. The Earth ponies engaged the remaining constructs coming at them from the south.

On the other side of the river, waves of Mecha-Daleks were beaten back by Discord’s shockwave and Celestia’s flare attack. Diamondian infantries threw everything they got at the Mecha-Daleks while their archers worked to bring down the mechs that were already in the air.

The Dalek Tanks fired up their jet thrusters. During take-off, they came under fire from the rear by the unicorn guards’ magic missiles and Godslayer Watterson’s arrows. Those that managed to get to higher altitude were getting swarmed over by the pegasus guards. They slashed with their weapons in a suicidal attempt to bring the flying tanks down to the ground.

One of the tanks came down crashing to the ground after succumbing to enough damage. All but one pegasus guard leaped off from the transforming tank shortly before it plowed into the snow. After the Mecha-Dalek got back up, it attempted to finish off the unlucky pegasus with a stomp of its foot. At this very moment, Godslayer Watterson leaped above the pegasus with his arrow squarely aimed at the mech’s eye. He fired at point-blank range.

Ragingheart watched in dismay many but not all of her tanks coming down crashing to the ground due to the combined efforts the Equestrians and Diamondians. Deciding that she should deal with the Element Bearers herself, the ‘Alicorn’ launched herself into the air. She barely takes off when Godslayer Dash caught her leg.

“Aw no ya don’t!” With a pull, Godslayer Dash sent the evil ‘Alicorn’ slamming to the ground.

Ragingheart in response counterattacked by slashing her wing at Godslayer Dash, resulting a spike cutting into the latter’s armor. She was just about to strike Godslayer Dash down when Luna’s magic aura beam blasted her away.

Godslayer Dash rubbed her hand at the cut on the breastplate then looked at it- she was bleeding, but not too much. She then saw Ragingheart taking to the sky. At the sight, her mind brought her back to Zach’s words when they were on board on The Catgirl then. She is resolved to fight, not to get back on Ragingheart, but to protect Sunset Shimmer and the rest of the Element Bearers.

Godslayer Dash was up firmly on her feet, gazing upwards just like she did before on the moon but much more motivated this time. In no time she shot upwards, billowing off the snow beneath her.

Three Mecha-Daleks joined their leader to pursue the Element Bearers in midair. Closing in, they now have the Element Bearers in their targeting reticule when all of a sudden something, more of a blur, smashed through one of them. Ragingheart pressed forward while the remaining mechs stopped to fight the threat. In a split second, one of the mech’s head was smashed to pieces. Subsequently, the last Mecha-Dalek found itself facing an armed Godslayer Dash. It barely had time to react as Godslayer Dash zigzagged so fast right before it, bludgeoning the mech in the process.

After the pulped remains of the mech plummeted toward the ground, Godslayer Dash streaked after Ragingheart.

Seeing that the Godslayer was catching up to her, Ragingheart accelerated. Godslayer Dash followed her lead. For a while, they raced through the skies to outmaneuver each other. In the end, Godslayer Dash successfully outraced Ragingheart and darted right in front of her. Shocked, the ‘Alicorn’ shielded herself with her wings while trying to bring herself to a stop.

Just of short of collision, Godslayer Dash swung her staff-mace at Ragingheart with all her strength. The powerful blow sent the evil ‘Alicorn’ flinging down to earth with pieces from her damaged wings falling off her.

“What goes up, must come down!” Godslayer Dash cried triumphantly- cliche, but a suitable pun nonetheless.

The Element Bearers soared high above the clouds until they reached a high enough altitude. All six stopped to hover in a tight circle. They closed their eyes and concentrated to channel the power from their respective Elements. Working in tandem with each other and the Elements of Harmony, they focused all their will to save Equestria from Ragingheart’s evil forces.

A multicolored halo then surrounded them, whom are individually suffused with aura of their matching Element’s color. The clouds below them started to move apart due to the energetic disturbance given off by the Element Bearers. Shortly, the Element Bearers’ auras shot powerful, energy beams to down below.

The energy beams punched a wide gaping hole through the clouds. When the beams hit the ground, a bright energy sphere was created in its wake. It rapidly expanded in size before bursting into a powerful energy wave that sweeps across the plain like a speeding tidal wave.

After recovering from her crash, Ragingheart watched in dismay her entire force getting eliminated by the Elements of Harmony. Still, she was not prepared to lose. The evil ‘Alicorn’ took off just short before the energy wave arrived at her position

Convinced of their end, Discord, Tirek and the Flim Flam brothers held each other tightly and braced themselves against the incoming energy wave.

“It’s been nice knowing you all!” Flim screamed.

The opposing forces ceased fighting. Ragingheart’s forces fled whereas the unicorn guards remained where they are because they knew they cannot hope to outrun the energy wave. Amongst them, Godslayer Watterson stood calmly and unafraid. All the guards jerked as everything around them fell into a white flash. Almost immediately, they opened their eyes then looked around in great surprise. They stood exactly where they were before, unharmed. But Ragingheart’s forces were nowhere to be seen.

There was a blinding white flash. After it passed, Discord Tirek, Flim and Flam were still holding each other, gaping stupidly with their wide open eyes flickered in disbelief that they are still alive. Nearby, Celestia and Fido along with their respective army looked at each other while checking themselves for any signs of harm. There were none. In fact, they felt nothing when the destructive wave passed through them.

The unstoppable energy wave continued its sweep southbound. In its wake was the Nanite constructs’ total destruction whereas the Earth pony royal guards remained unaffected.

The energy wave reached Ponyville in almost no time. The occupied town square was briefly engulfed by it. After the wave made its passing, all that was left are empty streets and deserted buildings.

The enslaved ponies stood around dumfounded at the sight of the energy wave speeding away from the rock farm. They were all that remain after their captors have completely vanished in the aftermath of the wave’s passing. In the shivering cold, Mayor Mare had the first show of smile in many weeks. The middle-aged Earth pony had no idea who or what kind of magic created that energy wave. For now, she was grateful that Ponyville is now liberated.

The Battle of Appleloosa was not going well for the liberators. Freed local soldiers and their Diamondian allies gathered closely to each other, completely surrounded by Ragingheart’s forces with no way out. Hopelessly outnumbered, Prince Umbra and Commander Rover rallied their respective armies for one final assault.

In the horizon, the energy wave announced its arrival. After it come and go, both allied armies were left to wonder among themselves what had happened. All around them is now a vast empty landscape with no trace of the constructs, except for the footprints they left in the snow. With that, the whole continent is free of the evil Nanite constructs.

The moment the five Element Bearers came down from the sky, Godslayer Watterson rallied the Equestrians to cheer with him to herald their victory.

Once the Element Bearers touched the ground, Ragingheart seemingly from out of nowhere slammed onto the ground, knocking some of the guards off their hooves. Everyone, Godslayer Watterson and the Element Bearers included, were caught off-guard. None of them expected even the enemy leader be able to escape the Element of Harmony’s energy wave.

Ragingheart fired her beam at Sunset Shimmer, even as Godslayer Dash darted right between them with her Resist Shield conjured. The resulting explosion threw the smoldered Godslayer Dash hard to the ground. By now Ragingheart fumed that she has had enough of the constant interferences from the human being. She decided to put an end to Godslayer Dash who now looked to be an easy target.

Godslayer Dash was now up on her feet the same time as her Fleet SHADE began recharging its shielding. She merely let Ragingheart coming in at her. At the same time, she assumed a combat-ready stance.

Sunset Shimmer bolted forward wanting to help but Godslayer Watterson held her back. Seeing Godslayer Dash in the stance made him realize that she is not dodging on purpose.

Ragingheart lunged with her blade but missed after Godslayer Dash made a quick slip to the side. With a swift move of her arms, Godslayer Dash grabbed Ragingheart and hurled her away from Sunset Shimmer then launched herself to go after the evil ‘Alicorn’.

Godslayer Watterson was very impressed at Dash, feeling that she must have learned something from their sparring match some time ago. No time to waste, he sprinted to go after the two combatants.

Godslayer Dash slammed into Ragingheart at subsonic speed, sending them both sailing across the landscape. Grabbing on to the ‘Alicorn’, Godslayer Dash used her free hand to batter the helmet until its crystal horn broke off. She then let go of Ragingheart, while continuing her streak across the plain.

As Godslayer Dash flew off in the distance, momentum sent the evil ‘Alicorn’ bouncing across the snow for miles before coming to a stop. Ragingheart woozily hauled herself up. When she was able to stand properly, the ‘Alicorn’ was suddenly caught in Godslayer Watterson’s MagNet.

She was paralyzed by the glow projected by the Ethereal ‘magic circle’ under her hooves. She struggled to free herself but it was futile. Godslayer Watterson merely watched the helpless ‘Alicorn’ from a not so distant spot after deciding that Godslayer Dash should have the honor of finishing off the last enemy.

Godslayer Dash soared to the skies then looped around in a wide circle, apparently coming back for Ragingheart. When she has Ragingheart in her sights, her thrusters fired up to full power. After the sonic boom, she accelerated towards the enemy. Unable to move, Ragingheart’s eyes widened with dread upon seeing Godslayer Dash coming at her with immense speed. Godslayer Dash conjured her Ethereal Staff-Mace just moments she dropped on Ragingheart. The violent strike created a powerful explosion that sends billowing snow and dirt shooting up high into the air.

Equestrians and Diamondians stood watch in awe at the huge explosion from across the riverbank.

“Whoa!” Flam exclaimed. “It’s like Rainbow Dash’s Sonic Rainnuke, but without all the colors! Don’t you think so too, brother?”

Flim nodded.

“Actually,” Tirek said with a sort analytical look on him, “it sort of looks like a tall muffin with buttercream icing spread and with dabs of chocolate mints.”

In response, the brothers rolled their eyes at the centaur.

Exhausted after the battle, food was the only thing Discord could think right now.

“I could use some candy popcorn right about now,” he said somberly.

“Captain, where has your princess gone off to?” The question was from Commander Fido.

Discord looked around. He realized that the Diamondian commander was right. Princess Celestia was not among them anymore.

Nova’s eyes flickered open. A mare whom he did not know was smiling at him.

“Are you an angel?” he asked.

Blueblood appeared next to Twinkleshine. “Of course not. You’re very well alive, brave warrior.”

Only then Nova had notice himself bandaged all over. Truthfully, he never expected himself to survive Ragingheart’s attack and was fully convinced that he would die without professing his love to Lightning Dust.

Twinkleshine turned towards Princess Luna, whose eyesight was returning. After being blinded for so long, the princess shielded her eyes as they were still not used to the sunlight. Twinkleshine cast a glance back at her rear to discover that she has her tail back. Overwhelmed with joy, she danced around briefly on her hind legs then went on to embrace Princess Luna. At this point, the princess’ eyes have completely adjusted to the light. She gazed upon unicorn’s face for the first time since they met on the lunar surface.

“Why, you’re beautiful, Twinkleshine,” Luna said sincerely, tears of excessive joy shed from her eyes.

Twinkleshine accepted the praise with a gracious “Thank you.”

Longing for her nephew, Luna motioned to Blueblood to come to her:

“I miss you so!” the princess said joyfully as she embraced Blueblood.

Delighted to see his beloved auntie both happy and healed, the stallion smiled and said, “As do I, auntie.”

The Elements Bearers reverted back to their normal form. After which, all six gems shot off to where Princess Luna is, their ‘chosen guardian’, for safekeeping.

Sunset Shimmer watched in dismay at the rising clouds of dust and snow. She hoped that both Dash and Derpy survived considering the how violent the impact looked to her.

The cloud by now had fully settled. Godslayer Dash is revealed to have inadvertently opened up a small, shallow crater. As Ragingheart crawled her way out of it, pieces of her armor gradually fell apart before dissolving completely. Derpy’s powers have all gone, her hatred is all that remained. It was too bad though. Had she not avoid the energy wave, her current state as a wingless pegasus, walking on two legs could have been ‘cured’ by the Elements of Harmony.

Celestia glided down before her. Seeing the princess that she hated so much was right in front her, Derpy staggered forth. Fighting off the terrible pain from her bruises, she exerted every amount of strength she had left to lash out at the princess.

The royal guards attempted to stop Derpy, but Celestia ordered them to let her be. Derpy’s strikes were nothing more than gentle slaps. The pegasus kept on doing this until she dropped on her knees, having finally giving in to her injuries, and began crying. It was a sorrowful cry, much like the way how Sunset Shimmer mourned for her friends before they were saved by the Elements of Harmony. Sunset Shimmer and Celestia looked upon the despaired pony with a mix of both sense of sympathy and bafflement.

Sunset Shimmer was unable to tell what is currently on Derpy’s mind. Maybe Derpy was grieving at her failure for vengeance, or maybe she was remembering Dinky. One thing she knows for sure is Celestia was in fact telling the truth. The princess could not have murdered Dinky, for Derpy’s half-sister died long prior to the Battle of the Royal Sisters and Trollestia happened. She had died in the hospital.

Godslayer Dash shortly emerged from the crater, breathing heavily. By this time, the cut on her SHADE had already ‘healed’ itself. She walked up to Godslayer Watterson and handed over what remained of the replicated Alicorn Amulet to him. Then out of sheer exhaustion and pain, she slumped onto the snowy ground, lying in a sprawl.

“So how does it feel to play hero, Dash?” Godslayer Watterson frivolously asked her.

He expected Dash to brag, but she made a completely different reply.

“It hurts so bad!” Godslayer Dash cried. “Aw man, I always thought the real thing was way better than in the novels.”

“So what’s gonna happen to her?” she then asked him upon sighting Derpy getting detained by the royal guards.

“They might be able to find a way to restore her wings,” Godslayer Watterson speculated, “and maybe, ’fix’ her eyes, but not her broken mind. It’s possible that she’ll end up in the asylum for the rest of her life.”

With that, Godslayer Dash continued to stare at Derpy, in a thoughtful way.