Ancient evils

Chapter 4: The duel

Gilda sank her talons in to Dash and raked across her side. Reluctantly, Dash struck back with a kick, but Gilda did not even seem fazed.

"I've gotten a lot stronger since last time. The followers have helped me realize my true potential."

A wave of pure energy, something you couldn't really see of hear, only feel, rushed out of her. This was one of the few times Dash has ever felt pure terror. Dash steeled herself and charged at Gilda, slamming hard into her. Dash then readied her hoofblade she took from the rack earlier. Gilda was sent spiraling to the ground, but quickly recovered. Gilda flew in once more with her talons and Dash blocked the attack with her blade, but was sent back into the wall. Gilda pinned her with one talon and ripped down her chest with the other. Rainbow let out a scream of pain, and managed to throw Gilda off of her.

"Scream all you want, Dash. Your friends can't hear you down here."

Rainbow and Gilda both were panting heavily from exhaustion.

"It doesn't have to be this way, Gilda."

"Enough lame talk out of you."

Gilda once more lunged at Dash. This time she sank her talons in deep, and then threw Dash underneath the water. Gilda floated above the water, watching her former friend slip away. Dash  found herself unable to move very much, and things started to darken as she slid deeper and deeper into the water. The last air bubbles in her began to float out, and she hit the bottom of the pool of water. She shut her eyes, and felt very tired. She felt as though there was nothing else she could do. Just before slipping away, a loud yell pierced the air and to some extent, the water.

"Rainbow!" yelled Applejack, who had come running after Rainbow when she left. "You have to get up! I know you can do it!" She then proceeded to bash on the portcullis out of anger at Gilda and frustration that she couldn't do anything to help. Rainbow realized Applejack was right. She can do this, she has to. Her eyes shot open, and she shot like a bullet out of the water and high into the air.

"But... you were..." said Gilda, stunned at this.

Rainbow continued higher and higher, and was nearing the top of the cave. Just before the ceiling, she shot back down, and hit terminal velocity. A vivid blast of light in every color shot out in every direction. Gilda and Applejack both looked up in awe at this wondrous sight. Rainbow slammed hard into Gilda, and she plummeted straight down to the bottom of the pool. Gilda lay motionless at the bottom of the water, alive, but unconscious. Dash couldn't stand to see this for another moment, and flew down to the bottom with her. She grabbed on to Gilda and pulled her up, and then set her on the ground nearby the portcullis. She found a lever on the wall that opened the portcullis and pulled it. Then floated down slowly to the ground to Applejack and collapsed on the ground, exhausted.