Flash Sentry steals your Waifu!

You see three ponies take flight.

Two are Alicorns, the third is the treacherous Flash Sentry. It appears Celestia has indeed fallen victim to the power of the necklace. In her last moments of freedom she was able to keep her promise and illuminate her hair with an infrared spell. Before parting ways this morning, she enchanted your eyes to temporarily perceive the light, which appears as an orange glow against the blue sky. As they take flight, she leaves behind a trail of the orange luminescence, which shares the characteristics of Rainbow Dash's rainbow trail albeit Celestia's keeps its form much longer.

Your sister, Apple Bloom, accompanied you this morning should there be anything she can do to help. It is only because of her that Flash is known to arrive from the Everfree Forest. She stands by you now, ready to do her part if you have need of her.

"THERE THEY GO! LET'S FOLLOW THEM!" she commands.

Together, you pursue them until you come across the contingent of guards Celestia had accompany her. Many seem hurt and a few still unconscious after their hopeless battle with the indoctrinated Luna. You pause momentarily to see if you could offer any assistance when the commander barks at you.

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT US! GO AFTER THEM!"

"It's alright, big brother! Ah'll go get help, you just go after Applejack!" Apple Bloom reassures.

You leave the scene and leap over the nearby creek to cross into the dark Everfree Forest. The first thing you notice is how eerily quiet it is. You hear no birds singing, no animal rustling, even the wind is dead stagnant. You feel as if you've crossed into another world, a dank and lifeless world. You cannot pause to observe your surroundings as to must find a clear enough opening in the canopy to follow the infrared trail.

After minutes of traveling, fortune appears to favor you as you have not encountered any Timber Wolves...or worse. You come across a wide river with no clear crossing observable. You look up to see the trail still bright, but for how long? As you search around for a crossing or any large object you could use as a floatation device to cross, you hear a subtle splashing from the water. You pause to find the source, but you must continue with pursuing your quarry. With no other option, you decide your best option is to swim for the other side.

You approach the foggy water, tipping a hoof in to test the temperature before braving it and wading into the shallows. You hear splashing again, and again; it appears to be originating from your left AND right. As you venture further, you see wakes in the water begin to converge in front of you. You take a few steps back to find they are following you. You retreat to knee-deep water to find a head surface from in front of you, then a second. A third and fourth also appear as you realize you have come face to face ( and face, face, and face) with the terrifying Hydra!

You recoil as you continue to retreat. The Hydra slowly pursues as it intends to be the end of you and your quest. You want to flee, but if you do you might lose the trail. You pray for salvation as the beast approaches to within striking distance. You cringe, smelling the creature's foul breath as you wait for the inevitable end...

SLAP!

The Hydra tenses up, flinching at the sudden sharp pain across its back.

"Oh, knock it off!" you see a purple sea-serpent's tail give another softer whack to one of the faces of the startled hydra. "Quit your honking, you silly goose! Is that anyway to treat a guest?"

The Hydra rolled three pairs of eyes, while the fourth cringed as the creature rubbed the sore areas just disciplined. Convinced the pony was an acquaintance of his fellow sea monster and not some tasty snack, the Hydra swam away further downstream. Mac's savior swam up to offer his apologies for his friend's rude behavior.

"I'm sorry about him... or is it them? I've never quite figured that out!" he went off on a small tangent. "Anyway, sorry again! He's really not such a bad monster, but he can get so angry when he travels away from his swamp. And his heads can never agree on anything so they just end up fighting all the time, so you can see why 'he' is always fussy!"

The monster looked down to recognize the small, silent pony on the shore.

"Well! If it isn't the little red pony from Cranky and Matilda's wedding! How are you?!" he picks you up and gives you a big, affectionate hug. "It's me! Steven Magnet! Cranky's best friend!"

He sets you back on the shore, dizzy from such a powerful embrace.

"I remember you! No, no, no; don't tell me, I'll remember the name!" he twirls his moosetache trying to think, "Galaxy? Tablet!...no, PC? hmmm...I got it! MACINTOSH!" he celebrates, "how are you, little Macintosh?!"

You stagger, trying to get back your bearings. The purple monster sees this as he offers a literal hand in helping you keep your balance.

"Sorry about that, my dear! Don't know my own strength sometimes...  Anyway! what brings you out here to my humble tourbière?" he flourishes his hand in an effort to make his bog sound fancier. Before you have a chance to reply, he interrupts with his own theory.

"Wait, wait; has this anything to do with all those disappearances?"

"Eeyup!" you confirm. He unexpectedly giggles in amusement.

" 'Eeyup!' That's so adorable! If I could put a ribbon on it...!" he quickly shakes his head to get back to the point, "but seriously, last time Cranky stopped by, he said he might not be back for a spell. Said he's got to keep Matilda safe as some dastardly rogue is going around and ponynapping all those poor, nice mares! Is that why you're here?"

You point up to the streak, forgetting he can't see it, but then point to the other side of the river. Steven seems to understand your request.

"Was it that nasty pegasus with the icky, spikey mane that just flew by not too long ago with the Princesses? I swear, the horrible fashion these young ponies have now days..." he starts another small tangent, "but you need to go after them, right?"

You nod your head.

"Well, why didn't you say so?!" Steven Magnet grabs you in his hand, then quickly whisks the two of you to the other side of the river. He sets you down while you struggle to retain your breakfast after such a sudden motion.

"Now go, and stop that awful, awful pony!" he waves, bidding you good fortune on your hunt.

Your journey through the rest of the Everfree Forest is less eventful, to your satisfaction. You dodge between the trees trying to keep the now fading trail of orange light into view. Your body begins to fatigue after such a prolonged run, but you can't afford a respite or you might lose the trail altogether. After what seems like hours, you finally come to the end of the trail.

Celestia's streak seems to finally come to an end, only it abruptly stops running straight into a cliffside. Seeing that there is no mangled body of The Princess next to it, you conclude that the wall is an illusion and it must lead into a hidden cave. No wonder nopony has ever found him; his hideout is in the secret, concealed cave in the middle of an inaccessible forest!

You take a moment to contemplate your next strategy: should you go in hooves blazing, should you sneak in hoping nopony notices you, or should you wait for him to leave to ambush him or his prisoners? After you take a moment to catch your breath, you start your plan of attack. Once you enter the clearing in front of the "cave", you feel a sharp pain as you are immediately tackled and knocked over.

"A-HA! GOTCHA!" the light-blue pegasus claims triumphantly. In hindsight, you should have expected Flash would post lookouts at the entrance. She pins you down, pride in her victory, until she identifies your face and you hers. It's that white-maned Wonderbolt you recognize from the festival a while back, Fleetfoot.

"Mac? Big Mac?!" she appears conflicted. This was not the first time she crashed into you. The first time it happened she became concussed as she instantly fell smitten with you. Hopefully, she would display a similar action and not turn you in.

"No, NO!" she fights her own thoughts, "Flash! I love FLASH!" She obviously is fighting a battle within her own mind: her natural albeit unhealthy obsession with you, and the commands put in there by Flash Sentry. She dismounts you as she grabs her head, struggling with her emotions. She starts to cry as the emotional pain of this conflict plays out. Concerned, you get back up to console the troubled mare, gently hugging her to show she is not alone. She looks back at you as the tenseness drains from her body.

"Mac..." she whispers, "I love Big Mac..."

After a few moments, she starts to appear fully conscious and cognizant once again. She peers into your eyes, her tears failing to hide the fact she is elated to see her princely knight coming to the damsel's rescue.

"Have you come here to save us, my Big McIntosh?" she seems weak from the internal conflict.

"Eeyup!"

"Thank Celestia!" she slowly stands on her own power, the final effects of the indoctrination wearing off. "It felt...it felt like sompony else was taking control of my body, and all I could do was watch! I saw it all, unable to stop it! I saw myself fall in love with Flash, willing to give my life for him. But I really just want to destroy him!" she smashes her hooves together to emphasize the point. She then starts taking a few steps toward the concealed cave.

"Let me help you!" she demands, "I can lead you straight to him without confronting anypony else!"

"Nope." you decline. She looks back in confusion. It only takes a moment before she catches on to your plan.

"Ahh, I get it! However you cured me, you hope to do the same for his prisoners! He wont stand a chance!" she prematurely starts to gloat.

More or less, you think to yourself, she might not agree if I tell her the rest might fall for me as well.

"Then let's go! The prison barracks are inside and to the left!" she accompanies you as you make your way through the fake wall and into the cave.

You come upon the prison cells. Most are full with recent arrivals not yet trusted enough to wander the hideout. You hope to find AJ as she was one of the more recent captures, but she is not to be found. You recognize a few of the other ponies such as Golden Harvest, Lyra and Bon Bon in a single cage, and Rarity. You even see the recently acquired Derpy, standing on the outside of the bars as if she wanted in. Even in prison, she does it wrong. The guard is a blue unicorn of which you know well, Trixie!

Trixie, instantly alerted to your presence, glows her horn to acquire the small hammer to ring the alarm bell. Fleetfoot bursts into the room to take it before it can strike. You sprint over to Trixie to grab hold of her. You keep her tight, pinned within your forelegs, your huge...strong...forelegs. You whisper apologies into her ears as you cannot let her go. All of the ponies in the cells look on, most jealous of the lucky unicorn enjoying a firm embrace by such a strong noble stallion. Eventually, Trixie stops fighting as she returns your embrace.

"Trixie is...why..." she weakens as her own mind regains control, "Do not let Trixie go, my Great and Powerful Stallion!"

To her disappointment, you must. You make your way to each cell, blasting the door off each of its hinges with a tremendous kick from your hind legs. Sure, you could have used the key, but a greater display of strength relinquishes Flash's control as each mare admires their rescuer. When it's all said and done, you have over a dozen mares willing to follow you and destroy Flash, including Trixie and Rarity.

Wandering through the corridors, you encounter random ponies. Most you perform simple acts of masculinity like smashing a rock, embracing and/or carrying them, or just gazing into their eyes. You pick up about another dozen in this fashion, including Fluttershy. Your plan fails, however, when you come across Pinkie Pie. No matter what you do, she just bounces in place, laughing at your attempts.

"I'm gonna tell Flashie on youuuu!" she teases. Desperate, you fall back to the one strategy you perform poorly: speaking.

"I implore you to reconsider..."

"Hmmm...OKAY!" she gleefully complies and falls in line.

Pinkie Pie... you roll your eyes.

Working your way through the caverns, you find yourself in the common barracks. The mares seem to work in shifts to patrol the cave and surrounding areas. One thing you notice is how sterile the chamber feels. There are no posters, no pictures of loved ones, no personal mementos. Just some bunks and a few sleeping ponies in them. Pinkie hops over to one of the occupied bunks. She jumps on the bed a you identify the rainbow mane of its occupant.

"Wake up, Dashie! It's an insurrecti-o-o-o-on!" she sings while jumping on the angry pegasus. She's the element of laughter when you needed the element of surprise.

The act alerts the rest of the bunks as Dash groups them together opposite your troops. She growls, clearly disgusted at the supposed mutineers.

"Pinkie! Fluttershy? Rarity?! How could you betray the AWESOME Flash Sentry?!" she crouches to the floor, wings spread, ready to attack.

"Come to your senses, Crash!" Fleetfoot pleads her fellow Wonderbolt, "Flash Sentry needs to go!"

"FLEETFOOT!" Dash screams in disgust, "should have figured you'd be the first to betray him, you COWARD!" The insult enrages Fleetfoot, humiliating her in front of her dreampony.

The two pegasi square off, ready to launch themselves at each other. Once Rainbow Dash takes flight, you jump in front to restrain Fleetfoot. As a consequence, Dash now flies at you at near full speed. You turn around to grab her just as she crashes into you. Rolling with the impact, you drop to the ground and pin Rainbow Dash beneath your powerful hold. She struggles for a bit until she concedes, knowing she cannot overpower a huge earth pony. In time, her own thoughts return to her as she smiles up at the strong stallion still pinning her down. The brazen sacrifice also wins over the rest of Dash's allies. She rubs her hoof across your face, moving your mane away from your green eyes.

"Not THAT'S how I want to wake up!"

Moving down the next corridor, your followers now number over thirty. You gain confidence as you feel you might be able to win this... until you remember you still have THREE Alicorn Princesses to face. Coming out of a final turn before the next room, you encounter your first: Princess Luna. Flash had been alerted to the commotion, resulting in sending her down to investigate and, if need be, handle the situation. You figure should the Alicorn Princess may be too much to handle; you wouldn't want the rest to get hurt. You gently wave them back, implying you wish to handle this yourself. This brave act strengthens their affections toward you as you approach the Royal Sister.

"If it isn't the 'Alicorn Prince' ," she refers to the time you helped her with the Tantabus, "why is it you intrude on the master's glorious work? Can you not see he is making Equestria a better place?"

You wave the group further back into the corridor. Surely, they must assume you have some plan that will result in a great explosion. Unaware, Luna continues her monologue.

"Flash Sentry will purify Equestria. He will banish the lesser races, destroy all monsters, defeat the dragons! He will-"

You kick the entrance to the room behind you as hard as you can. The impact results in a cascade of rocks and boulders, essentially sealing off the other ponies from assisting you. Shocked, Luna steps back at this display of raw power nearly equaling her own.

"Why...why would you this?! Now you are all alone!" she questions your motives. You step forward and kneel, submitting to Alicorn Princess.

"Do with me what you will..." you quietly offer.

Luna stands there in disbelief. She can't figure out why you would work so hard, risk so much only to give up now. Surely, it was not to keep the ponies on the other side of the rock pile safe. Flash would never sacrifice himself this way.

"You'll offer yourself to me just so I will not hurt them?" she pointed to the destroyed entrance.

"Eeyup!"

She ponders for a moment, reflecting on the sacrifice. Eventually, the true Luna wins over the indoctrination.

"You...are right!" she exclaims. "A true stallion sacrifices himself for his friends, not the other way around! Come, my handsome and noble McIntosh, we shall drive Flash Sentry back and win this day! HUZZAH!"

She uses her powerful magic to clear the entrance so the rest of your company may join you. It was a dangerous gamble, but it proved effective as you now have the second most powerful pony on your side. She now charges by your side, illuminating the corridors and clearing obstacles from your path as you press on deeper into the bowls of the caverns. She even gives you a history lesson as this cave was once a secret base Tirek used in his first attempt to capture pony magic and conquer Equestria.

No history lessen would save you from the horrors you see when you enter the next room. You enter to finally find your sister, Applejack. Behind her is an enraged Twilight Sparkle, pointing her horn at your sister and using her as a pony shield. Worse yet, they both seem to sneer at you.

"GET BACK!" Twilight screams, "you will not stop Flash Sentry! I will end your sister before you do!" She poked her horn into AJ's back. For her part, Applejack just seemed to agree with her.

"That's right! And Ah'll let 'er!"

"Twilight, darling, why ever would you do this?" Rarity interjects.

"If Big Mac wants to take away somepony I love, I'll take away somepony HE loves!" she explains.

"And Ah'll gladly give mahself for the great Flash Sentry!" Applejack adds.

Luna steps forward, offering to subdue the demented Princess of Friendship. You hold her back, hoping it will not need to come to that. You know Twilight well enough to attempt to reason with her desire for friendship and intelligence. As for AJ, reason might have nothing to do with it, but that's a later problem. You take the fore to confront Twilight.

"What's so special about Flash?" you start with a simple question.

"He..." she already struggles finding the answer, "he's great! He's Flash Sentry! I loved him before anypony did! He's MINE!"

"And why did yah like 'im?"

"He..." again, she struggles, "was cute...and...he smiled at me..."

"And that means he loves ya?"

"Don't listen to him Twi, he's just trying to trick ya!" Applejack tries reassuring her friend.

"Of course not!" Twilight scoffed, "he later came to my castle and professed his love! That proves it!"

"Proves what, exactly?" you point out the flaws in her logic. "Since then, he's been gatherin' countless mares to serve his own purpose, he promises to defeat Celestia only to make her his most favorite ally, and now he has both of you throwing your lives away for the chance to save HIS!"

You take on final step until you are nearly muzzle to muzzle with Applejack.

"Does that sound like somepony who understands friendship? Is that somepony who LOVES you?!" you stare at the two friends, letting the silence emphasize your point.

"I...I," Twilight searches, but can't find a response. You find one for her.

"I came here, ALONE, knowing full well Ah might not make it out just for the chance to save you. I have gained many of my friends and loved ones back! Please, I just want the two of you back as well, I want my family!" you make the final plea before turning it over to them.

"You're right..." Twilight starts to break through, at last. She backs away from Applejack, contemplating the logic of your words and Flash's previous actions. "What you've done, it's amazing! The fact you did all this to try to get us back...proves you love us!" The Princess of Friendship finally makes her return.

"Ah'm sorry, big brother!" Applejack jumps forward in a loving embrace, "please, forgive me!"

" 'Taint nuthin' to forgive..." you offer a second foreleg to hug Twilight, which she gladly accepts.

"Just one more thing, Big Mac," your sister requests. Twilight, however, finishes her sentence.

"Make him pay!"

Twilight's words run through your mind as you approach the final chamber where Flash Sentry resides. Tatarus hath no fury like a mare scorned, you think, regarding her uncharacteristic outburst. You are finally ready to confront him to exact retribution for his villainous ways. All of his former slaves now gladly follow their beloved rescuer, save one. And that one is the most powerful pony in Equestria.

The long, straight corridor opens as you find yourself entering a grandiose throne room. The vaulted ceiling climbs so high you cannot see the peak, providing the illusion you are in an outdoor night sky. A blue carpet lies in the middle, Flash's cutie mark embroidered at the end. Your eyes follow the blue carpet until it ends at Flash Sentry's hooves. He sits upon an ancient stone throne, no doubt one Tirek occupied during his first invasion. His posture is reclined and somewhat slouched, his chin resting on a hoof in a vain attempt to appear tragically majestic. Rather than intimidation, you express disgust at the orange usurper pretending to sit in a position of power.

A throne, really? Could this pretender be any more cliché?

As you approach, he begins clapping his hooves in a slow, sarcastic manner; clearly mocking you.

I suppose so!

"Well done, well done...." he monotones his disingenuous compliment, "but it doesn't really matter; once you're out of the way I'll just take them back, by force if I have to. You see, nothing can stop my glorious work now that I have Celestia!"

Your followers crowd in as you continue the long walk to the throne.

"Ah'm sorry, could you repeat that? I couldn't hear you all the way on the other side of this unnecessarily long hall! Are you compensatin' for something?" The disrespect angers Flash, but draws more than a few chuckles from your supporters. Though there was a little truth in your words, you mainly just wanted to poke him for a reaction while you figure out a strategy. Your plan seems to work, more than you could have hoped.

"INSOLENT YOKEL! HOW DARE YOU INSULT YOUR NEW KING!" Flash leans forward, no longer concerned with image.

"King?" you want to see how far you can take this. Maybe you can get him to slip something useful, "...looks more like a QUEEN to me!"

"You don't know the half of it!" Sunset Shimmer chimes in.

Flash sits back in an attempt to regain his composure. It appears he might recognize your tactic and forces himself to calm down. There's no sense becoming enraged until if and when the battle begins. He takes a deep breath, trying to continue his introductory greetings.

"And why exactly are YOU here? I would have expected Shining Armor would come to rescue his 'pwecious wittle Twily', or maybe a some Royal Guards. Heck, I'd even settle for a Wonderbolt, but YOU?" he points as if to mock you. "I must say: I feel insulted! Some hick farmpony..."

"Well, Ah'm all ya get, Princess!" you continue to taunt.

Flash grinds his hooves on the armrests of the stone throne. If he had fingernails, he would forcefully peel them off while recoiling in hate at being insulted. You notice the physical manifestations of his rage, urging you to continue.

"Why you..." he quietly mutters.

"That's a pretty necklace you have there, Ma'am!" you finally observe the N-O-P-E, the source of Flash's power and all of Equestria's unrest. He strokes the unexpectedly lacklust silver band, revealing its secrets.

"Yes, obviously you are aware of its power. It makes me invulnerable! With it on, nopony can touch m- OW!"

You hurled a nearby loose rock and hit him square in the face. You wanted to see if it indeed deflects all blows, but mostly you just wanted to shut him up. He stares at the rock, shocked that it actually managed to harm him, then he stares back at you in stark disbelief.

"You...you STRUCK me! How is that possible?!" he whines.

You even see a tear forming in his eye. He attempts to make it seem like he regains his composure before realizing the limits of the artifact's power.

"I see..." he rubs his face to dull the pain, "the necklace only protects against magic and attacks originating from magic. But brute force alone won't be able to save you! I'm still all-powerful and this gift will help me conquer all of Equestria, and then the WORLD!"

He raises his hooves in triumphant glory before continuing to belittle you.

"But it won't work for you, if that's what you're thinking. The necklace has different powers according to the one who yields it. It uses the most evil aspect of one's character and amplifies it until none can oppose you. Mine was that I'm undeniably attractive and can woo anypony! With you, it will probably heighten your boredom, putting everypony to sleep!"

"Well, it really highlights your pretty mane, sweet-cheeks! Tell me, do they make one for stallions?" your trolling continues to work as Flash grows increasingly incensed.

"One more word out of you and I'll..."

"Careful, 'your highness', don't get you garters in a bunch!" you continue to press the issue.

"SINLENCE YOUR TONGUE BEFORE I RIP IT OUT!" he leaps up from his throne, "can't you understand what I'm trying to do?! I will make Equestria the promised land it was meant to be! I will make everypony safe! All will be made equal! Everyone will have a voice: MY voice! They will rejoice in 'The Great Flash Sent-"

"ROAD APPLES!" You switch to a forceful, serious tone as you call him out on his nonsense. Everypony instantly shifts their gaze to you as nopony has ever heard you yell so loud. "This isn't hard to figure out! You just want to create a harem and usurp supreme power, NOTHING MORE!"

"No, I-"

You cut him off before he can spout his lies again.

"Nobody likes you, in ANY reality! Ya have the clichéd, prettycolt appearance that prepubescent fillies like, but once they grow out of it, they move on to more serious stallions, ones with personality! You thought they would automatically like you forever, so you never GOT a personality! And when nopony wanted to be around you, you joined The Guard hoping to impress gullible fillies into liking you again. It worked for a bit, until they realized you're still just the same uninteresting background pony with a pretty face and no personality! Frustrated, you looked into stealing other's special someponies because if you couldn't be loved, then NOBODY should! Now, ya just want to create a harem and place yer-self as a beloved despot just feel like somepony likes ya, but deep down, you know you will never be worthy of it!"

You smirk as you see his reaction, knowing everything you said was true. To add one final insult, you mockingly question your hypothesis just to rub it in his muzzle.

"How'm Ah doin'?"

You feel winded. You've never spoken so much in your life! Even when under that "chatterbox" spell, you hid yourself to prevent constant vocalization. You take a moment to catch your breath and observe Flash's reaction. He seems calm at first, the he moves closer before releasing a torrent of immature emotion.

In his tantrum, Flash grabs any object he can get his hooves in and starts throwing them all over the elevated dais. He throws a golden platter with fruits to one side while kicking a small table with a potted plant and various trinkets on the other. His royal goblet he picks up and hurls at you in a foolish attempt to harm you.

"YOU! You vulgar peasant!" he has trouble finding the words.

"Peasant?" you retort, "so much for equality, unless you wish everypony to be a 'lowly peasant'... under YOU of course!"

"That does it! I shall destroy you at once!" your taunting has finally spurred him into action, though you feel maybe it was too effective as he calls for his final slave.

"CELESTIA!"

The caverns begin to rumble as the Alicorn Princess reveals herself. She lowers from the darkness of the imperceptible heights to land between you and your nemesis. The scowl on her face reveals her intensions as her horn begins to glow. A yellow beam of powerful energy propels toward you as there is no way to avoid your ultimate fate.

The yellow burst of energy explodes around you as it is deflected by a similar, blue wall. Luna rushes to your side to offer her aid. As the quakes continue to increase due to the uncontrolled force of the spells, boulders begin to cascade from the walls of the cavern. You look behind you to the group of terrified ponies and make eye-contact with your sister. Without a word, she understands your intention.

"All right, Everypony! Let's skedaddle on outta here before this place comes down around our ears!"

Every pony heads out to race for the exit, save for Luna and Twilight Sparkle. With Celestia being the elder and more powerful, you and Luna are glad to have the new Alicorn to help. With the two of them occupying Celestia, you are free to finally face off against Flash.

Before you turn to face him, Flash launches himself and head-butts into your side. You scream in pain at the potshot. Flash gloats as he follows it up with a series of hoof strikes.

"So, you want to fight a fully-trained guard? Fine! I'll teach you never to meddle in my business ever again!" he pick up the plant he kicked earlier and smashes the pot across the back of your head. "Too bad you won't live long enough to learn it!"

Fortunately, a pegasus is much weaker and earth ponies are built very sturdy; you eventually recover from the blows and manage to block the next attack. Flash's eyes open fully at the shock of your hastened recovery. You counter by picking him up and throwing him to the ground.

Now it is your turn to go on the offensive as you stand over him to deliver your own blows. You release your emotions and unleash a barrage of hoof strikes while Flash tries his best to cover his face. You think back to everypony he has hurt as you unload on his face, trying to modify his "cute" appearance.

"This is for mah sister! This is for Twilight! For Luna! For Rainbow Dash! Pinkie! Rarity! Fluttershy!" you raise your hoof for one final strike in hopes he will submit, "AND THIS IS 'CAUSE GRANNY TOLD ME TO!"

Before your strike lands, a blast of yellow energy forces you off Flash. Celestia flies over to come between you and Flash once more. Twilight rushes to your aid, updating you on their situation.

"Mac, I'll try to keep her busy, but you have to hurry! Luna's hurt! We need to get her out of here!"

She blasts her mentor with a soft, stunning blast. Celestia takes the bait as she pursues the smaller Alicorn.

Flash takes advantage of your distraction to deliver another sucker-punch. The pegasus flies above you to take the advantage of higher "ground". He then uses his guard training to deliver a series of diving strikes and then hastily retreat, allowing him to dive in for another. He follows this tactic a few more times until you fall to the ground, hunching over in agony from the quick, hard strikes. Flash flies to the wall to retrieve a decorative spear; he intends to finish you off once and for all.

He flies up much higher than any of his previous strikes, then turns to race toward you as fast as he could. He holds the spear toward you in his left foreleg while aiming for your heart. Though time seems to slow, you see Flash quickly grow larger as he barrels toward you at breakneck speed. Before he pierces your chest with a painful and dull spear, you make one final, last-ditched action.

You get back on your hooves as fast as you can and turn away from the progressing pegasus. When he draws near, you raise your hind legs and Applebuck as hard as you desperately can.

Being the trained guard that he is, Flash notices the giant hooves flying toward him and immediately spreads his wings and legs to create more drag and slow his progress. His reaction proves futile as he still collides with your perfectly placed kick at a high velocity. The impact causes the spear to fall harmlessly past you, but you also notice a dull, silver necklace fly over your head. The N-O-P-E skids across the ground until it hits the wall, becoming instantly concealed under falling rubble.

You turn your attention back to Flash. He lies before you, wheezing uncontrollably as you successfully knocked the wind out of him. With Twilight still managing to keep Celestia busy, the treasonous Flash Sentry is completely at your mercy. Hateful emotions run through your head as you hobble over to the fallen enemy. If you want to end him or save him, his fate is now in your hooves... but not for long.

"Heh heh heh hehhhhh!"

A deep, low, rumbling laugh echoes of the walls of the cavern. The illumination seems to dim as everypony looks around to see what is going on. Above the incapacitated Flash Sentry, a blue light slowly grows until is releases the form of a large and enraged Discord. With an evil grin, he approaches the vile pony responsible for stealing his sweet Fluttershy.

"So, now that you don't have the necklace on, I can find you, at last!" the draconequus claims with malicious glee.

With the new distraction from the allied Discord, Twilight takes advantage of the opportunity to retreat Luna to safety.

"Discord! Help Mac and Celestia to get out of here! I need to take Luna to get medical attention!"

The small Alicorn teleports over to the fallen Luna and zaps them both out of the caverns. Unfortunately, Discord did not hear, or chose not to hear the order as his complete attention was on the traitor, Flash Sentry. He had a wicked and ironic retribution planned for the pony who caused him so much grief.

"Have I got the perfect punishment for YOU! You like being in control of your harem of submissive females? You want every one of them for yourself? Well, you're going to love THIS!"

He grabs the terrified pegasus with one arm as he snaps his fingers with the other. The resulting magical flash teleports them away to another dimension, where Flash is never heard from again. Celestia, however, is still under his control and screams at the disappearing sight of her lost love.

"NOOOOO!" she flies to the now empty space where Flash once resided.

She stares at the empty floor in disbelief as the rage builds inside her. The flowing and celestial mane and tail are soon immolated in a wall of fire. She buck around wildly, blinded by her grief as she hastens the collapse of the cave. You limp toward her, quick as you are able, to calm her and convince her to leave.

"YOU! This is YOUR fault! He's gone...because of YOU!" she stomps her hooves down in another quake. She intends to bury the both of you under the devastation. "If Flash is not here, I don't want to live! AND I'M TAKING YOU WITH ME!"

"Please! You have to teleport out of here! You have to get to safety!" you plead. You don't care so much if you escape, but your top priority is to see the majestic princess alive and safe. She snaps back, insulted at your wishes.

"And why...why do YOU care if I get out of here? You're going to die anyway?" She grabs you with her magical aura as she stares hatred into your eyes.

"Because..." you finally bear your true feelings, "because, Ah love you!"

The Princess drops you as she takes a step back in disbelief. You continue with your confession.

"And it is YOU I love, not 'The Princess' or because you're an Alicorn, Ah love the kind pony who cares for ALL her friends. The one who will sacrifice herself, to do whatever is needed of her just take make everypony happy. I love the gentle soul who is proud for her ponies and all their accomplishments, no matter how small. THAT is why you must get out of here!"

The tears begin to form in Celestia's eyes as her true self starts to reemerge. She begins to kneel, weakened from the battle waging in her own head. The true Celestia starts to take control again as the cavern continues to collapse. Giant boulders now fall all around the two of you while you hope she finally comes to her senses and teleports herself to safety.

You see a smile start to form on her mouth as she gazes back at you. She stands back up while you realize the true mind of your love has finally returned. She takes a step toward you, only to recoil as a loud CRACK startles the both of you. After looking up to identify the cause, you find, to your horror, a boulder emerging from out of the darkness and falling straight down toward Celestia. Without hesitation, you gather all your remaining strength and hurl your battered body toward the Alicorn. She screams in horror as the large stone rushes toward her. You push her out of the way just in time. The last thing you remember is a loud CRASH with an accompanying scream and a sharp pain before your world instantly darkens to black.