- VII -

'Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.

In a certain part of Neo Canterlot was a large stadium. With the Summer Sun celebration coming, all efforts were focused on the festivities. The stadium was top priority, as most of the activities would be held there.

Inside the stadium, a couple of workers, a film crew, and the notorious actor known as Blueblood were all on the circular center stage. Blueblood was in his seat, waiting for the cameras to start rolling. He looked impatient and irritated, mostly because the film crew wasn’t done preparing everything.

A director approached Blueblood.“Sir Blueblood, I’m deeply sorry for the wait.”

“Hmph, I expected a better crew,” Blueblood angrily replied. “Can you tell your pawns to work faster?”

“U-Understood, Sir.”

After a while, the film crew finished the setting up along with the workers finished preparing the stadium. The set had a podium where Blueblood was assigned to stand on, with the latter heading to it.

“Okay, are you ready?” the director asked.

“I stand here all pretty, the roof opens and exposes the sun, thenI announce the celebration has started?” Blueblood replied.

“Yes.”

“Easy.”

“Alright then, we’re going live in three… two… one…”

The director prompted his crew to start rolling. All of the cameras were pointed towards the man as he closed his eyes and raised both of his hands up. This signaled the workers to open the roof.

The roof slowly opened, but no sunlight radiated. The director called out to the cameramen to stop recording. Much to their surprise, the moon was present and not the sun. The director looked at his watch and was shocked to see it was still ten in the morning.

Slowly, Blueblood opened his eyes and was about to say his speech, but stopped as he saw the cameras pointed at the sky.

“WHAT IN GOD’S NAME ARE YOU DOING?! WHAT IN THE SKY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN-“

Blueblood immediately stopped tattling as he saw the blue and eerie moon.

“I say, does the sun look weird today?” he asked.

Suddenly, a portal began to manifest from the roof. Coming out was none other than Nightmare Moon, who flew towards the stage in a rapid speed. The film crew and the workers fled, but Blueblood didn’t.

Blueblood stood before Nightmare Moon and took out his rapier from itsscabbard.

“Well, if it isn’t my nephew,” Nightmare Moon said.

“Aunt Luna, it’s been a while,” the brave Blueblood said to her. “I’m up for reunions, but I’m going to ask you to lea-“

Nightmare Moon unsheathed one of her blades and launched herself towards Blueblood. With her closing in on him, Blueblood immediately dropped his rapier and began to whimper in fear. However, Nightmare Moon quickly stopped herself and her blade from slicing Blueblood’s neck.

Blueblood began to sweat as he slowly backed away from the blade that was close to his neck.

“I don’t recall my nephew being a fool and a coward. Who let you out of the Palace?” Nightmare Moon grinned.

“I’M SO SORRY AUNT LUNA! PLEASE DON’T KILL ME!” Blueblood cried as he kneeled in front of her.

“Why would I waste my time on a weakling like you?”

Nightmare Moon slowly turned to one of the cameramen, who was pointing his camera at her.

“YOU THERE! Is the camera still rolling?” Nightmare Moon smiled.

“Y-Y-Yes Ma’am,” the frightened cameraman replied.

“Good. Make sure to get everything I say… or else your head will be on a pike once I’m done.”

Cameraman nodded in fear as Nightmare Moon took the center stage along with a fearful Blueblood still immobilized.

“Citizens of Neo Canterlot!REJOICE! Your rightful ruler has returned!” Nightmare Moon proclaimed with an evil grin. “FEAR NOT!My very presence will not cancel the festivities that will be held! I AM MERELY IMPROVING IT!”

The cameraman kept on rolling, knowing that his life was on the line if he stopped. Nightmare Moon stepped on Blueblood as the latter whimpered.

“At the time the moon shines the brightest, I will be holding a tournament to see whose brave enough to face me and to showcase what I’m capable of,” Nightmare Moon continued. “The rules are simple; you have one week to prepare yourselves, and when you’re brave enough, you may find me here at the arena waiting. The battle will be a one on one duel; if the participant gives up or is knocked off the ring, it is a loss, and if the participant is killed? Well…”

Nightmare Moon licked her lips and maliciously stared at the camera.

“…The participant is disqualified.” Nightmare Moon smirked. “After a participant loses, a new one may follow and resume the fighting. That is all; you may enjoy your last days of joy as the dawn of Nightmare Moon will begin after a week!”

With that said Nightmare Moon took out her blades and lunged at the camera. She slashed it to bits while laughing maniacally and immediately cutting the broadcast. The frightened Blueblood, the camera crew, and the workers watched on in horror, wondering what she had in store for them.

Various parts of the city began to cause uproar after hearing the announcement.

On the more political and rich side, the people wanted to launch a full scale attack on Nightmare Moon to prevent destruction. To take action, Celestia immediately called up the Senate, which was comprised of the following: the leader of the Peacekeepers Shining Armor, his wife Vice President Cadence, Senator Cinch, and martial arts Master Scorpan.

At Palace’s undergrounds, Celestia and the Senate sat at a large table and discussed the recent events caused by Nightmare Moon.

“I think we should just launch a full scale attack on Nightmare Moon and end this nonsense!” Cinch suggested.

“And risk the lives of the Peacekeepers? We should consider devising a more proper plan instead!” Shining Amor retorted.

“And have her roam Neo Canterlot freely? What good will that do, Shining Armor?”

“We could just evacuate the city,” Cadence suggested as she rubbed her chin.

“Where would the people go, Miss Cadence? Outside the walls are infested with bandits and criminals!” Cinch whined.

“She has a point; I think it’s safer for them to stay in the city rather than running off to bandit country,” Shining Armor added.

The three remained silent as they turned to Celestia. She lied back on her chair and pinched the bridge of her nose, still currently stressed out from the current events. She remained in this position for a long period of time as her colleagues began to become impatient.

All of a sudden, the elderly Scorpan stood up and walked towards the exit.

“If you’re not going to do something about it, I will,” Scorpan proclaimed. “I will discipline your sister and restore peace.”

Even for an old man himself, Scorpan had a muscular build. As a master of martial arts and having him taught numerous students, it was no surprise for the Senate to see him step up to Nightmare Moon.

“Shining Armor, if you wish to join; gather your strongest soldiers,” Scorpan said while he exiting the room. “You may also join Celestia… if you can handle the risk of ‘letting loose’.”

With the four only remaining in the room, Senator Cinch was the second one to stand and leave.

“If you cannot control the situation, President Celestia, then I shall take action myself,” she said as she left the room.

“I’m sorry Aunt Celestia, she’s right; we need to take action instead of sitting around,” Cadence added as she too left the room along with Shining Armor.

The distraught Celestia was left alone in the room, questioning if she was doing her job or not and if she should awaken her power once more.

At some parts of the city, some of the citizens were at joy upon hearing the tournament. It was either because they wanted to let loose or just wanted to beat Nightmare Moon senseless. Some disagreed to this, and were opted to just be regular bystanders and wait for someone to step up to her.

On her way to Mise’sbar, Vinyl was suddenly ambushed at as busy street by a hulking mech that was piloted by the Flim and Flam twins from before. The two brothers were crammed inside the pilot seat, but could still control the mech without any sort of problems.

No words were exchanged, because neither cared to give either side a moment to relax.

The mech began to launch missiles towards Vinyl, which she easily evaded by jumping around.

“You’re even worse than shoplifters!” Flim cried as he threw the Mech to the side.

“That was destruction of private property!” Flam shouted. “We ought to sue you for defamation of character!”

“That’s desecration, brother!”

“She still metaphorically shitted on our goods!”

The torments only annoyed Vinyl and began to go on an offensive. She hit the mech’s leg with her right, causing it to step back for a bit from Vinyl’s sound wave gauntlets. The mech raised its hand and dropped it towards Vinyl, which she once again dodged just in time.

“Can’t you sit still for just one second?” Flim exclaimed. “You’re jumpier than a virgin at a prison rodeo!”

“Or a rattlesnake in a pickle barrel!”

“I believe we’re both right, brother!”

“And you’re pissing me off!” Vinyl shouted, once more striking the mech’s leg with her left and right.

To no avail, the mech did not budge and landed its heavy fist towards her, which she evaded once again. With rubble and debris around the area, it was getting hard for Vinyl to move around and evade the offensive strikes of the mech.

She found herself cornered as chunks of rubble were around her and there was nowhere to run. She adjusted her stance and prepared to defend herself as the mech slowly marched towards her and the twins began to laugh.

“Oh, does the little girl think she can stand a chance against our Mega-Mech 3000?” Flim shouted. He raised one arm of the mech in a mock gasping gesture. “Perish the thought! We might not stand a chance if she throws glitter at us!”

“Very funny!” Vinyl shouted sarcastically. “How ‘bout you get off that mech and fight me face to face!”

The mech clenched its fist and prepared to lunge at Vinyl, with the latter adjusting her gauntlet’s level to maximum.

Vinyl sighed.“I guess that’s a no.”

She fearlessly held her ground as the mech raised both of its fist and started to drop it towards Vinyl. She retaliated with a fist of her own. She closed her eyes, knowing she might be knocked out.

However, nothing happened. There wasn’t a metal fist touching her own fist. She opened her eyes slowly and saw that the mech’s fist was being held back by multiple gold chains.

“What the devil?!”Flim cursed.

Standing on a pile of rubble behind the mech was none other than Zero Gravity, who used his chain Meta to hold back the mech.

“Now that’s not how you treat a lady,” Zero joked. “You strike her in the heart, not the face.”

“And who are you supposed to be?!” Flam asked.

“Hmph! You ask what my name is? VERY WELL!” Zero exclaimed, “I was the first born child of my mother White Star, and my father Sound Barrier. From the moment I was born, I was destined for greatness-“

Once again, Zero was rudely interrupted when the mech freed itself and lunged towards the boy.

Zero glared at the robot and rolled his eyes. He jumped out of the way just in time and stood side by side with Vinyl. Disappointed that he couldn’t properly introduce himself to his foe, he took his large rectangular Zweihänder and prepared to fight.

Vinyl chuckled.“Fancy seeing you here, oh mighty great one known as Zero.”

“Indeed I am great,” Zero smirked.“But not these two. They are not worthy for the great one to purge!”

“Shut your trap and do your chain-thing again.”

“Got it.”

Zero quickly spawned a few chains and quickly immobilized the mech. He ran towards the mech and swung his weapon at his legs, crippling the mech in the process. The cockpit was now vulnerable; the two brothers began to scream in fear.

“If you may?” Zero grinned at Vinyl.

“Gladly.” Vinyl grinned as well.

Vinyl sprinted towards the cockpit and hit it with everything she had. The cockpit broke open and revealed the twins. Vinyl grabbed a hold of one of them by the neck, which prompted the other twin to make a run for it. Not for long, though; he was quickly caught by Zero’s chains.

Vinyl was distracted by this, and did not see the twin she was holding take out a flintlock from his back. He pointed it towards Vinyl’s forehead. Vinyl immediately froze up.

“Oh no, young lady, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Use your meta!” Zero shouted to Vinyl.

“… M-My meta?” Vinyl shriveled in fear. “I-I don’t need m-my meta.”

Suddenly, the whole ground began to become covered in ice. The twin was also frozen up to his upper body, who was inches away on pulling the trigger. Relieved, Vinyl fell to her buttocks and grabbed a hold of her chest. She could feel her racing heartbeat as sweat came from her head.

“What kind of sorcery is th-“

The twin was interrupted when a stun bullet hit his chest, rendering him unconscious. Vinyl turned to her left and saw Evelyn and Punk standing before them.

“Stand.Down.” Evelyn commanded as she approached the aftermath of the battle.

Author's Note

- LOG 007 -
Straight Edge's meta is the ability to regenerate his wounds, which helps him last in battle longer. However, the regeneration depends on the wound. If it is minor, it would take a few seconds or minutes. If its a limb cut off, it would take a day.

Zero is one of the rare individuals to have two metas. First one being the ability to spawn and control chains that he can use in battle. The second being gravity manipulation, meaning he can easily lift objects as he can control its gravity.

Special thanks to Jarvy for helping out on the Flim and Flam dialogue!