Chapters The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 1 "The Invite"
Beams of light from the sun shined radiantly over the small Equestrian town of Ponyville. Feelings of joy and happiness filled the air as ponies, unicorns and pegasi shopped in the town marketplace. Among these ponies were three young fillies that everypony were all too familiar with. They were Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweet Belle, who known to themselves and everypony else as the Cutie Mark Crusaders. While usually the three youngsters would be out and about looking at ways to get their cutie marks, their attention was stalled for the moment as they stared at an interesting poster stuck up on a information stand. The poster featured images of stallions and mares alike engaged in the sport of professional wrestling. The heading for the poster read "Pony Wrestling Federation Presents: Hoovamania VI, Live from Canterlot Royal Stadium"
"Cool!" Scootaloo spoke in excitement.
"This looks amazing to go see," Apple Bloom shared in the same atmosphere with her pegasus friend.
"I don't see why you two are so excited to see something like this," Sweetie Belle, the unicorn, said. Unlike her two friends, Sweetie Belle wasn't much a of sports fan.
"Wrestling is so cool," Scootaloo hopped up with joy. "Ponies from all over Equestria compete in the P.W.F. with the dream of becoming the World Heavyweight Champion."
"And Ah have a cousin who's in it too. Name's Honeycrisp and is the only member of our family to take up wrasslin'," Apple Bloom smiled.
"I hope I can get myself a ticket to this," said the little orange pegasus.
"I'm not much into these kind of sports but if you are planning on seeing this, I'll come along too," Sweetie Belle spoke to her friends. Even though Sweetie Belle didn't like wrestling, she didn't want to feel left out if her friends went to view the event.
Above in the sky, a blue pegasus with rainbow mane and tail flew across the open heavens. Her name was Rainbow Dash. She had finished up her morning weather patrol and was planning on going down to Sugarcube Corner to hang out with her friends. Her eyes caught a glimpse of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Rainbow Dash swooped down and landed just behind the trio of fillies. "Hey there little fillies," Rainbow Dash greeted.
"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo exclaimed. Rainbow Dash was a pony Scootaloo looked up to like a role model. Every time she saw the blue pegasus, her excitement always was front and center. While they were friends with her too, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle didn't often share the same zealous joy at the sight of Rainbow Dash as their filly pegasus friend.
"What'cha looking at?" Rainbow Dash asked.
Apple Bloom pointed at the poster with her hoof. "The P.W.F. event, Hoovamania, is coming to Canterlot."
Rainbow Dash took a closer look at the event poster. She was natural athlete and loved sports; among them was wrestling.
"Awesome!" Rainbow Dash spoke out in excitement.
Scootaloo looked up at the adult pegasus she idolized and asked, "Would you ever take up wrestling, Rainbow Dash?
Rainbow Dash let out a small chuckle and said to the small pegasus, "Heh, if I wasn't bent on becoming a Wonderbolt, I'd probably take a shot at joining the P.W.F."
The response from the pegasus brought a huge smile to Scootaloo. Images of Rainbow Dash as a wrestler and winning one of the championship titles ran through her head. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle also smiled at Rainbow Dash's answer to their fellow crusader.
"Cool!" all three fillies exclaimed together.
"Well, I better be on my way. Meeting up with my friends at Sugarcube Corner," said Rainbow Dash.
"I better go too and see if my parents can take me to Hoovamania," said Scootaloo as joy was still strong with her.
The Cutie Mark Crusaders started trotting off. "See ya later, Rainbow Dash," Apple Bloom called back to their older friend.
"Catch you three later," Rainbow returned the call. With that said, Rainbow Dash flew back into the clear blue sky and flew off in the direction of Sugarcube Corner.
Business at Sugarcube Corner was pretty quiet for the mid-afternoon. Customers had come and gone throughout the day purchasing various desserts and breads. The quietness though hadn't kept several ponies from the enjoying the day inside the premier bakery of Ponyville. Pinkie Pie, the baking apprentice of the Cakes, the owners of the bakery, had just brought out a tray of her homemade cupcakes and began frosting and decorating them. Applejack, the apple farmer of Sweet Apple Acres, was reclined back against the side of the staircase to the second floor resting her eyes and chewing on a sprig of wheat. Rarity, the seamstress and owner of Carousel Boutique, was sitting at a table reading the daily Ponyville newspaper. Fluttershy, the local animal caregiver, and Twilight Sparkle, the town's librarian, were playing a game of checkers. Twilight's mood at the moment was on slight frustration due to Fluttershy's inactivity on the checkerboard. "Come on, Fluttershy. You've been staring at that checkerboard for ten minutes without making a move," Twilight spoke up. She tried not to seem mad or aggravated as Fluttershy was prone to timidness.
"Right," Fluttershy quietly answered back to the purple unicorn. "Um--maybe if I move this one--no--not there. Maybe this one over here--no--that won't work either. Or maybe this one--" Now without Fluttershy's inactivity, the yellow pegasus' decision-making was the thing to wait on. Twilight let out a soft exhale of air in mild frustration.
Rainbow Dash flew into the bakery and landed in the center of the shop. The rest of her friends smiled at her arrival.
"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Had a few things to finish up," the blue pegasus said to her five friends.
"That's okay, sugarcube," said Applejack as she lifted her hat above her eyes.
The arrival of Rainbow Dash brought joyness to Pinkie Pie as she hopped up and down and smiled.
"With everypony here now, the cupcakes are ready," the pink Earth pony cheered. Pinkie Pie brought a tray of decorated cupcakes over to the counter. Each of her friends grabbed themselves a cupcake and snacked on them. Smiles and the usual "mmmm" sounds pasted on to each of the ponies.
"Your cupcakes are so divine as always Pinkie Pie," Rarity remarked to the young baker. Pinkie Pie only chuckled back.
The quietness of cupcake eating was quickly shattered as Spike, the baby purple dragon, ran into the shop with a scroll in hand.
"You guys! I just got a letter from the Princess," Spike called out to his pony friends.
"A letter from Princess Celestia?" Twilight asked.
"Not just a letter, something extra," Spike pulled out seven slips of silver and gold colored paper and held them up for the ponies to see. "Check it out! Seven tickets to Hoovamania."
The announcement only brought questionable looks to Rarity, Fluttershy, and Twilight's faces. To Rainbow Dash and Applejack, it was like a message from the heavens landed right in front of them. Pinkie Pie hopped in excitement, but only because in her mind, tickets to any type of event usually meant a party. Rainbow Dash quickly flew up to Spike, grabbing one of the tickets from his little hand.
"All right! I've always wanted to see Hoovamania live. This is too awesome," the pegasus spoke with great happiness.
"What's Hoovamania?" Twilight asked.
"Only the biggest and best event of the Pony Wrestling Federation. Some of the best athletes in all of Equestria compete in it," Rainbow Dash quickly explained while clinching the ticket tightly between her front hooves.
"Not to mention mah cousin, Honeycrisp. Haven't seen her since the family reunion last year and it would be sweet to see her wrassle at Hoovamania," Applejack commented with similar liking.
"What does the letter say, Spike?" Twilight asked.
Spike unrolled the scroll, cleared his throat, and read, "My faithful and dearest student, Twilight Sparkle, it is my pleasure to invite you and your friends to the Pony Wrestling Federation event Hoovamania two weeks from today at the Canterlot Royal Stadium. My dear sister, Princess Luna, and I will be in attendance for the event and would like you and your friends to join us for the evening. Yours truly, Princess Celestia."
"Princess Luna and Princess Celestia like watching wrestling? They've just gotten cooler," Rainbow Dash declared at the response of the letter.
"Oh please. Why would anypony want to watch ponies assault each other for entertainment?" Rarity asked as she held the newspaper back up to read. Like her little sister, Sweetie Belle, Rarity also disliked these kind of sports.
"It's a form of athletic sport. Both Rainbow and Ah have watched wrasslin' since we were little fillies. Ponies fighting their way to becoming champion is like me striving to be the best in the rodeo or Rainbow jettin' towards becoming a Wonderbolt," Applejack explained to the skeptical unicorn.
Rainbow Dash flew up to Rarity and pulled down the newspaper to see Rarity's face. "And seeing it live is an experience all in itself. They always put on an awesome show for everypony. Plus, getting to watch it with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, how cool is that?" the cyan-colored pegasus asked.
The white unicorn thought for a moment and then came to a conclusion. "This would be a chance to visit with both princesses," she answered back to Rainbow Dash.
"With both of them there, we can enjoy something together," Twilight spoke at the thought of seeing Princess Luna and Princess Celestia again, whom the latter acted as a mentor to her since she was a filly.
Despite the excitement and the discussion going on around her, Fluttershy was still focused on the checker game. She finally moved one of her red checker pieces to another square.
"There. Your time, Twilight," Fluttershy smiled to the purple unicorn on the other side of the table. Twilight looked at the kind-hearted pegasus as if to say 'about time'.
Pinkie Pie continued to hop up and down and proclaimed, "This sounds like fun. It's going to be a big party."
Twilight Sparkle looked around the bakery at each of her friends. The mood was that of exhilaration. They all seemed eager to go to the wrestling event and bond with the Princesses.
"So we're all going to go?" Twilight asked her friends.
Twilight didn't have to wait a second for the other ponies and the little dragon to cheer out in unison, "Yeah!"
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 2 "Know Your Enemy"
"Then at Hoovamania Five, 'Macho Pony' Ranch Savage put his championship title on the line against Bull Hogan. Bull Hogan won back his title, which was cool, but not as cool as when he defended his title back at Hoovamania Three against Anadolu the Colossus. Now that was an awesome match," Rainbow Dash shared as she flew a few feet off the ground as she and her friends walked through town. "And then at--"
"Okay Rainbow Dash, we get it," Rarity cut off the blue pegasus with an annoyed tone. "You really like this wrestling sport."
"Sorry, but besides flying competitions and the Wonderbolts, wrestling is one my favorite sports," the pegasus proclaimed.
"This sport sounds really dangerous," Fluttershy quietly spoke to her fellow pegasus she walked alongside with.
"Only if you aren't prepared for it. You have to be in great shape to perform some of the incredible moves they do in the ring," said Rainbow Dash as she began flying and performing aerobatics just above her friends.
Rainbow Dash's constant chatter about professional wrestling was getting to Rarity more and more. "Are we going to hear all about this for the entire two weeks?" the unicorn asked.
"Don't worry about it, Rarity," Twilight assured her. "Once something takes Rainbow Dash's interest, she'll go on about it for hours."
While riding on Twilight's back, Spike looked back to see Rarity not having a good time listening to Rainbow Dash's obsession with the combat sport. The discussion also brought Applejack's involvement in telling more about her cousin and what she likes about wrestling. The little purple dragon turned himself around and said to the unicorn he was now facing, "Rarity, if it makes you feel better, I can tell you some of the things I love."
All Rarity could do in response was roll her eyes and say, "Fine. As long as it doesn't involve wrestling."
Spike immediately began telling her all about some of his favorite variety of odds and ends from gems to places he'd like to visit. Twilight could hear everything Spike was saying, though it was all boring to her as she had heard his stories before.
The herd of friends found themselves walking into the town center of Ponyville. While usually a quiet part of town, the seven friends saw many ponies descending on the area and grouping around by the town hall.
"What in tarnation is going on?" Applejack asked.
"I have no idea," Twilight responded to the orange earth pony. None of Twilight's friends had a clue what was going on.
As the crowd of ponies, including fully-grown and youngsters, began to spread out, the source of the gathering was revealed to the onlookers. Six mare ponies were greeting the residents of the small Equestrian town. Autographs were being signed and photographs flashing. One noticeable feature these six ponies shared was they were sporting black matching shirts with pink wording on the fronts that read "p.W.o.: Pony World Order".
"Who are they?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"It's the P.W.O.!" Rainbow Dash spoke with a slight shake of excitement. Loving wrestling was one thing to the pegasus; meeting actual wrestlers was like her joys in meeting any of the Wonderbolts.
"The who?" Twilight asked.
"The Pony World Order. They're a stable of heel ponies. They like to play it tough and fight with other P.W.F. groups," Applejack explained.
Despite being heels, bad guys to be precise, this wasn't stopping the townsponies in approaching them for signings. The stable consisted of three earth ponies, two pegasi, and a lone unicorn. One of the earth ponies greeted a young filly by crossing her front legs together like a 'x' and said, "Remember little one, P.W.O. forever." The little pony nodded in agreement as the blue earth pony wrote a signature for her.
Beside her sat one of the pegasi, posing for a photo with two colts. With the flash photography completed, she leaned over to her companion and mentioned, "It's pretty easy to do this with these ponies, isn't it?"
"Ha, it's like being celebrities; they'll love you no matter what you do or act," the earth pony laughed.
"It's no big deal out here," said one of the other earth ponies. "Country ponies aren't as fanatic and a little more laid back. Ah should know so, Ah was raised in the country."
The lone unicorn of the herd noticed the other six ponies and the baby dragon on the edge of the town square. She motioned to her team members of her sighting. She told the crowd of ponies that autographs and meetings were over and to go about their business. A few ponies frowned in disappointment, though moved on in their own directions. The unicorn motioned again to the other P.W.O. mares and they began walking towards Twilight Sparkle and her friends. As they approached the six residents of Ponyville, the dark red unicorn proclaimed, "Well, the six ponies we have been looking for since we trotted into this town."
Twilight Sparkle and her friends had no idea what to make of the situation. The Pony World Order had been searching for them? What was the reason? Twilight was the first to speak up. "I don't believe we've met. I'm--"
"Twilight Sparkle," the unicorn standing in front of her answered. "The leader of ponies that saved Equestria."
"Okay, you have heard of me," Twilight spoke with a little bit of surprise.
"We know who you are. You and your friends save Equestria twice. Once from Night Mare Moon and that dragon creep, Discord," the blue-coated earth pony disclosed.
"Well, that's not something we go around bragging about," said Rarity.
"And you are?" Twilight asked.
"Violet Velvet, ringleader of the P.W.O., the Pony World Order. These are the other members of our stable: Ice Cold, Stormer, Whiplash, Sky Chaser, and Honeycrisp."
Applejack immediately recognized her cousin, Honeycrisp, upon hearing her name. The apple farmer approached the honey-colored earth pony with a warm smile. "Howdy cuz, haven't seen you since the Apple Family reunion last year. How's it going?"
Honeycrisp's eyes narrowed a little at Applejack. "Fine with me," she replied. "How's life on a stinkin' apple farm going fer ya?"
"Stinkin' apple farm? That's a little rude thing to say about our family business," Applejack responded. Hearing a family member say something negative about the Apple Family was something Applejack hadn't expected.
"Ah have no interest in the family business. Not anymore. Ah'm glad Ah got out of the whole applebucking family. It was doing nothing but keeping me back from what Ah wanted to do in life," Honeycrisp told the orange pony.
"How can you say that about your own family? This is one of your cousins you're talking to," Applejack said back with a tone of anger in her voice. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Right in front of her was her cousin speaking ill of their own family and voicing proudness of it. Family was important to the Ponyville farmer and the vocals of disrespect wasn't sitting well with her.
"Ah don't need the Apples anymore. The P.W.O. is a much better family for me," Honeycrisp snapped back to Applejack.
"You have any idea what you just said?" Applejack fired back.
"That's enough, Applejack," Twilight quickly intervened.
"And who's this cute little pegasus?" the pegasus named Whiplash asked towards Fluttershy. Fluttershy backed away a bit while also cowering slightly. "Are we a little scary for this shy little pony?" Whiplash gave a grin to Fluttershy; a grin that more or less was a little frightening to a timid pony such as Fluttershy.
"Oh--my," Fluttershy quietly spoke. She backed away further. Her friend and other pegasus, Rainbow Dash, moved in front of her. The rainbow pegasus wasn't giving in to the bullying tan-colored flyer in front.
"I think it's best you don't bully Fluttershy," Rainbow Dash said defending her friend.
"Why? Cause she can't speak for herself and needs another pony to defend her?" Whiplash asked.
"She's got a real tough side and wrestles bears in her spare time," Rainbow Dash revealed.
"Really? She's a bear wrestler?" Whiplash asked with no surprised in her voice.
"That's right. Bears three times her size and every time, she's won," the blue pegasus furthered the defence of Fluttershy.
Fluttershy tapped her hoof on Rainbow Dash's flank and said, "Rainbow Dash, that's not--"
"Come on, Fluttershy. Stand up for yourself. Tell her," Dash looking back to Fluttershy still cowering close to the street.
Fluttershy slowly stood up, but still kept her distance from the opposing pegasus facing her. "Um--I have wrestled bears--and--I have--won--every time," Fluttershy stuttered in her speech.
If Fluttershy's statement was to sound threatening, Whiplash wasn't showing any sign of fear from her. "Oh I'm so scared," the tan pegasus spoke sarcastically.
The second pegasus, Sky Chaser, approached beside Whiplash. Her eyes were fixated on the rainbow pegasus. "I take it you're Rainbow Dash. The pegasus who won the Best Flyers Competition last year and dreams of becoming a Wonderbolt," she guessed.
"Yeah, that's me," Rainbow Dash answered.
"Why don't I save you some time. Don't bother joining the Wonderbolts. I'm a former Wonderbolt and I'm glad I left them," said Sky Chaser like she was proud of her statement.
"The Wonderbolts are the best flyers out of Cloudsdale. Why would you leave them?" Rainbow Dash asked. Rainbow Dash was more confused than angry to hear what this ex-Wonderbolt had to say.
"Simple reason. I was tired of taking some much horseapples from them, especially from that fiery leader of theirs. If she goes down in battle, I'm not going to miss her," Sky Chaser explained to Dash.
The response from Sky Chaser now got Rainbow Dash a little mad. She had personality met the Wonderbolts a couple of times already. Among them, she had met Spitfire, the fiery leader Sky Chaser was referring to. The Wonderbolts were Rainbow Dash's idols, the role models she looks up to and wanted to be someday. Standing before her was a pegasus who use to be one and is now telling a fan of the aerobatic flyers to not pursue her dream to join their ranks.
"That's enough!" Twilight demanded. She looked straight at Violet and asked, "What do you want from us?"
"For starters, you six saved Equestria those two times by using the Elements of Harmony. A power where you didn't even have to lift a hoof in battle. You two unicorns most likely just used your magic to defend yourselves. You pegasi used your wings to your advantage and fly to avoid fighting on the ground leaving you two earth ponies as the only ones to hoof wrestle," Violet Velvet told to Twilight. Twilight only rose an eyebrow in return.
"What we are trying to say is you can't fight without using your magic, wings or the Elements of Harmony," Ice Cold made clear to the six ponies.
"And what exactly do you want?" Twilight still confused by the whole thing.
"Prove it to us that you can duel it out without those factors. Prove it in the ring. The P.W.F. event, Hoovamania, is in a couple weeks. Why don't you meet us there and show us if you can deliver skills with no aid from magic or those elemental things," the P.W.O. ringleader suggested.
"Are you challenging us to one of those wrestling matches?" Rarity asked.
"Precisely," the earth pony, Stormer, replied.
A challenge had been made. The seven residents of Ponyville were standing in front of half a dozen ponies who had just asked them to step inside a wrestling ring to do battle. Twilight and her friends looked at each other undecided at the moment on what to make of the situation. Finally, Twilight was first to speak on the behalf of her friends, "Sorry, but we'll have to decline. The whole idea of us just trying to prove a point to bullies like you sounds ridiculous. Let alone, we aren't wrestlers."
"And I am a pony of elegance and will not rough it up in a sport that's more like a saloon brawl," the white unicorn, Rarity, reacted in agreement with Twilight.
"If we were in the P.W.F., we'd certainly accept your challenge. But since we ain't, you're just wasting your time," Applejack commented as well.
"Now if you excuse us, we have to get back to our day," Twilight responded as she began walking past the wrestling ponies. Her friends began to follow suit.
Stormer looked back at the purple unicorn walking in the opposite direction and spoke out, "We thought you were the saviours of Equestria. Guess we were wrong. Just a bunch of cowardly, yellow-belly ponies."
"Hey!" Rainbow Dash shouted. Unlike her friends, Rainbow Dash hadn't join them in leaving the confrontation. "The others might not fight you, but I will."
"By yourself?" Ice Cold giggled.
"Why not, Ice Cold? This Rainbow wants to be a Wonderbolt and if she's not going to take my advice, she's going to learn the hard way that it's a mistake to join the Wonderbusts," Sky Chaser continued her insults towards the blue pegasus' idols.
Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed with a strong hint of anger growing. "You know what? Why should we wait till Hoovamania? Let's just get this on now!" Rainbow Dash bolted forward in an attempt to attack Sky Chaser in front of her. The pegasus was suddenly stopped in her place by a tug at her tail. She looked behind herself and saw Applejack gripping the rainbow tail in her teeth.
"Hold on, Rainbow," the orange pony told her friend after she dropped the tail out of her mouth. Applejack walked up beside Rainbow Dash. "Ah'm not going to let you struggle against them alone." She then turned her focus onto the bullying ponies. "You pick a fight with one of us, then you deal with another."
Applejack stepping up alongside Rainbow Dash brought a smile to her cousin, Honeycrisp. "Glad you're onboard, Applejack, cause Ah'll be looking forward to knocking them apples out of you. Then you'll know why Ah decided to be with a stronger family," Honeycrisp furthered to insult her cousin.
Twilight and Rarity stopped due to the other ponies continuation to argue and conflict with the P.W.O. team. Rarity was already at the point of frustration. "Rainbow Dash, Applejack, please, you are acting so childish. Accepting a challenge that is so plainly stupid and not worth the time of some ponies like myself," Rarity spoke back lifting her nose to the air.
"Oh, what's wrong Ms. Elegance? Worried that you'll get that mane of yours all messy and dirty and throw a fit the second you lose a hair? Or maybe you don't want to scratch or chip a hoof," Stormer tossed at Rarity.
Rarity's eyes widened at the sound of the insult and then quickly turned to anger. She rushed to the side of Applejack and Rainbow Dash; a sudden change of attitude for the classy pony. "It may be just the three of us, but we'll beat you so hard that your wounds won't heal for months," Rarity threatened.
Always full of surprises, Pinkie Pie sprung up in between the Pony World Order wrestlers sprouting a big cheerful smile. To the shock of her friends, she was also wearing a P.W.O. shirt. "Yes! Yes! The P.W.O. is going to be victorious and then we can party! Ha ha!" Pinkie laughed and smiled brightly while wrapping her front legs around the necks of Violet Velvet and Ice Cold. They weren't quite amused nor was Pinkie's own friends.
"Pinkie Pie!" Rainbow Dash shouted at her pink earth pony friend.
Pinkie saw everypony glaring at her. She only smiled and declared, "Oopsy. Wrong team. Ha ha." She then sprinted back to the ponies on the other side.
"What about that bear wrestler? Is she going to help you girls out or hide like a frightened little filly?" Whiplash pointed to Fluttershy, still cowering and hiding close to Rainbow Dash.
"She'll be there and you'll see what Fluttershy is capable of. Right Fluttershy?" Rainbow Dash asked to her pegasus friend.
Fluttershy stood up, though still a little scared, but trying to be like her friends. "Um--right," she quietly responded.
"Five of you accept our challenge," Violet smiled. She and her teammates convinced five ponies to fight them in a wrestling match. But one was missing: Twilight Sparkle. Violet saw the purple unicorn standing behind them with her back facing in their direction. "What about you, Twilight Sparkle?"
"Sorry. I said no," Twilight responded without looking back at them.
"Why not? Worried that you'll lose and be humiliated in front of the Princess?" Violet asked with a grin. The question opened Twilight's eyes with revelation. "We know that you are her protégé; her student. You have a strong bond with her; a teacher's pet to say. Am I correct? You want to look your best for her and be her perfect little student. You fail and she'll see that you aren't so perfect. That's why you won't accept our challenge, but your friends will. They have nothing to lose, but you do. You get defeated by us, you'll be seen as a loser in the Princess' eyes."
Every word from Violet's accusation traveled through Twilight's head. Twilight could only shut her eyes. She had known Princess Celestia most of her life. The Princess had taught her many things. She was Twilight's teacher and sometimes seen as a second mother to her. Twilight sat silently as Violet awaited for a response.
"Don't you dare say things like that to Twilight. She worked hard to get where she is today and no bully is going to put her down like that," the little dragon, Spike, spoke towards Violet Velvet. Spike had known Twilight since she hatched him from his egg. She was like a big sister to him.
Violet looked down at Spike. "And what are you going to do about it, baby dragon?" The unicorn swiped her front leg forward and contacted it with the purple dragon's belly. Even with little force, Spike was knocked onto his scaly back. The wrestlers laughed at their leader's bullying of the small dragon.
Spike was helped to his feet by Rarity. "Now stop that! You six are nothing but bullies. Twilight's relationship with Princess Celestia means a lot to her," Rarity snapped at the P.W.O..
"Why? Because she is so special?" Ice Cold asked.
"If it wasn't for Twilight, we wouldn't have defeated Night Mare Moon and Discord. So we think you should back off on the attacks on her," Rainbow Dash stepped up.
"So she needs you to stand up for her? Just shows us further how weak she is. The Princess really thought this unicorn was worth her time to take under her wing and teach. I think it more shows that the Princess is a bigger fool than her student," Violet further accused.
"Why you--," Spike spoke sternly while clinching his claws.
"But if she doesn't want to be a failure to the Princess, then I guess we'll just have to leave it at that. Six against five is better odds for us. Unless this tiny dragon wants to take her place," Violet spoke again while placing her hoof on the top of Spike's head.
Smack! A sudden pain brushed across Violet's face. A slap from the hoof of Twilight Sparkle. Twilight had joined beside her friends. Her eyes were full of anger with little drips of tears forming underneath. Her teeth gripped together. Violet only gave a small laugh as a response to the assault against her.
"You just shut up!" Twilight shouted at Violet Velvet. "I'm not going to stand by and let you insult me, my friends, or the Princess. You want to fight us? You got it! We accept your challenge. We'll see you at Hoovamania. And you can count on us to be there."
"Good," the red unicorn smiled at the acceptance from Twilight. "We look forward to facing off against the six of you. We will show all of Equestria what losers you really are and that without those powers, you are just weak, little ponies."
"You know we're going to hurt you," Ice Cold affirmed to their opponents.
Neither Twilight, her friends, or even Spike flinched at Ice Cold's statement.
"Bring it on," said Applejack.
"It will be the Elements of Harmony verses the P.W.O.. Sounds like a match worth waiting for," said Twilight. The rest of her friends nodded in agreement, though Fluttershy only nodded slowly.
"It does," Violet agreed. "We'll see you there. Be sure to be ready cause we'll make short work of you. Let's go girls and leave these little ponies so that they can get prepared for defeat." The P.W.O. ponies laughed and trotted off in the other direction.
Twilight and her friends stood in silence as they watched the enemy ponies leave the vicinity. The thought went through all their minds about what had just happened.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" Fluttershy asked.
"A fight that we must win," Applejack responded back.
"You're right, AJ," Twilight matched with Applejack's response. "Let's get to the library. This is something we have to plan for."
The six ponies and the little dragon galloped across the town square in the direction of the library.
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 3 "Training Day"
It had been an hour since Twilight Sparkle and her friends encountered a confrontation with the Pony World Order. After sheer intimidation from the wrestlers, the group of six mares accepted the challenge of wrestling against the P.W.O. at the Pony Wrestling Federation event, Hoovamania. With it all sunken into them that they can't back out without looking like cowards and a sign of weakness, the ponies discussed on the next plan of action at the library. Twilight had ordered Spike to send a letter to Princess Celestia about their situation. They also came to the conclusion that the six tickets given to them were of no use to them now and therefore, plan to give them away. "Girls, we all know what we have to do now. With this Hoovamania event only two weeks away, we're going to have to get ready for it. We're going to have to learn as much wrestling as we can," Twilight told her friends in the center of the library.
"Exactly," Rarity agreed.
"Applejack and Rainbow Dash are the most informed on what professional wrestling entails. If anypony needs help, they're the ones best to ask for it," Twilight continued.
"You got that right, Twi'," said Applejack. "Rainbow and Ah know what it's all about and are more than happy to lean a hoof to anypony."
"This sounds a little scary," Fluttershy quietly spoke up.
"It will be all right, Fluttershy," said Rainbow Dash to the yellow pegasus. "We're all in this together. I'll help you get ready."
"Thank you, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy smiled in return.
"I can't wait to do this!" Pinkie Pie started hopping with happiness. "Wrestling is just like making cupcakes. You get everything together, beat it down, mix it up, cook it up and viola, victory!"
The other five ponies looked at the pink earth pony. They were use to Pinkie's randomness and cheerful attitude, but it still got to them sometimes that she wasn't quite that understandable.
"Um--not exactly like that Pinkie," Applejack said to the other earth pony.
"This is going to be a hard two weeks for us, girls. If we're going to prove to those P.W.O. ponies that we can handle ourselves without the Elements, then we ought to get to work immediately," Twilight preached to her friends. They all nodded in agreement. "Spike, you'll be helping me train."
Spike rose his arm in a salute and responded, "Will do, Twilight!"
"We have a lot of work to do. So let's not waste any time and get started," Twilight called out to the others.
The other ponies began exiting the library to head back to their own homes to train for the event. Applejack stopped at the foot of the door. She looked back to the purple unicorn. Her look was of concern towards her friend.
"Twilight."
"What is it, Applejack?"
"Are you going to be okay?"
"What do you mean?"
"You remember what Violet--"
"I remember what Violet said. I know what she said about me and about Princess Celestia. It does make me mad at those things she had to say. But I'm not letting them get to me, AJ. That's what she wants. Violet wants me to lose in front of the Princess. I'm not going to let that happen. I know I can't use my magic, but I will be ready to face her."
"All right, sugarcube. When you need my help, you know where to find me."
"Thanks for your concern, AJ."
Applejack turned tail and exited the library to leave Twilight and Spike to begin their training.
Over at Fluttershy's cottage just outside Ponyville, Rainbow Dash was assisting her fellow pegasus friend with what she needed to know about wrestling. While shy and timid, Fluttershy was willing to learn and was happy that her rainbow friend was helping her out. "Okay Fluttershy, I'm going to show you some basic holds. These are holds you can use to set up your opponent for a special move like a slam or a submission," Rainbow Dash told the yellow pegasus.
"Okay, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy responded.
Rainbow Dash wrapped her front legs around Fluttershy mid-body. While only holding her slightly, it was enough for Fluttershy to peep out in pain. Rainbow Dash immediately let her go to check if she was all right. Assured that things were okay, Dash continued again and like before, the shy pegasus whined out a little. Rainbow Dash tried other holds to help and every time, Fluttershy wasn't quite happy with the holds and having a hard time adjusting. This wasn't sitting well with Rainbow Dash.
"Fluttershy! I promised that I'd help you train and you're barely trying."
"I'm sorry, Rainbow Dash, but I don't think I can do this, especially after what you told those ponies."
"About you wrestling bears? It's true, Fluttershy. I've seen you do that."
"But that was different. I was helping those bears with stiff joints and muscles. I was giving them massages. I wasn't trying to hurt them."
"But you have those skills, Fluttershy. You have the abilities to defend yourself in combat. They're not going to accept your kindness and that's why you got to show them what the real Fluttershy can do."
"That's what makes you and I different, Rainbow Dash. You're more ready for a fight and I'm not. Fighting isn't my best ability."
"What about that assertive training you got from that minotaur Iron Will? Didn't that help you to stand your ground and defend yourself?"
"Yes, but it almost cost me my friendship with Rarity and Pinkie."
"That was because you went overboard with it. If you play it right, you can use it against those bullies without taking it against us."
"Rainbow Dash, I never wanted to be a part of this fight."
"None of us wanted to. But they pushed us into it and we're not going to let them get away with how they treated us and think we are weak. We all need to do this. That includes you, Fluttershy. If there's any way to help you be ready for this, I intend to find it."
"I still don't know."
Rainbow Dash placed her front leg around the back of her friend and said, "Come on, Fluttershy. Can you at least do this for me, your friend? I helped you a lot when we were young fillies and now I need you to help the team."
Fluttershy stared into the eyes of the blue pegasus. She could see the concern and willingness to help in Dash's eyes. She began to feel tapping on her flank. She looked down and saw one of the squirrels looking up at her with a smile. She saw all the other animals and birds in her home do the same as the squirrel. The smiles indicated to her that they were all on her side and doing their best to motivate her. The look of worry brushed across Futtershy's face wiped away before all the eyes staring at her. She returned her focus to Rainbow Dash.
"Okay, I will. I'll do it."
"You will?"
"Yes." The animals chirped and sung for Fluttershy's change of mind. "Show me some of those moves."
"All right!" Rainbow Dash cheered in excitement.
Beyond the hills of hundreds of apple trees south of Fluttershy's cottage was Sweet Apple Acres, home of the Apple Family. Applejack returned from the meeting and had told her big brother, Big Macintosh, and little sister, Apple Bloom, of the situation concerning the P.W.F.. Both agreed to help their middle sister get ready for the event. Applejack and Big Macintosh decided to train outside by the barn. Apple Bloom sat off to the side so to not get in the way. She was also in charge of keeping Applejack's hat safe on her little head. "All right Big Macintosh, come at me and give me everything you got. And don't hold back just because Ah'm your sister," Applejack ordered to her big brother.
"Eeyup," is all Big Macintosh said in return.
The red pony didn't waste any time and stampeded towards his sister. Applejack stood her ground; positioning herself at the ready to grapple. The stallion quickly approached. Applejack leapt into the air with her high-strung legs and landed behind her brother. She wrapped her front legs around his back legs. After letting out a "Yeehaw!", Applejack lifted with all her might and to the amazement of both her siblings, Applejack lifted her brother up and slammed him onto his back. Big Mac attempted to regain his stance, but Applejack was there to meet him with a wrap around his neck. Another lift to the air and her brother felt the pain of a back suplex. Apple Bloom cheered on her older sister from the side. Her brother's well-being was also on her mind, but she knew Big Mac could take the punishment. Applejack continued her wrestling with Big Mac. Doing everything she had seen in magazines and events she attended.
After a whole afternoon of working out, Applejack called it a day. She was tired. Her brother on the other hoof was bruised and battered. He was lying on the soil staring straight up into the darken sky above. Applejack approached him, leaning a hoof to him and said, "Sorry big brother. Hope I didn't go too hard on you."
"Nope," her big brother replied back with no ill feelings.
Apple Bloom tossed her two older family members a bottle of water each. They caught them in their mouths and chugged down the clear liquid. Refreshing.
"Applejack, with those wrasslin' moves, you're sure to beat each one of those P.W.O. ponies in no time flat," Apple Bloom cheered joyfully to her big sis.
"Aw shucks, Apple Bloom. Ah sure hope so. As long as Big Macintosh here is okay with me doing more of this roughhousing with him," Applejack responded back. She smiled at her brother. Though her smile wasn't too convincing as she worried that he was going to back out after the amount of punishment he suffered through the day.
"Anything to help mah sister get ready," Big Mac spoke to his middle sister.
"Thanks a bunch, big brother," Applejack glad to see he was perfectly fine with all the hardness he'll be going through. "All Ah know is once Ah step hoof into that ring, Ah'm going to show that cousin of ours that she made the wrong decision by turning her back on this here family."
"But fer now, Ah think we should rest fer the night," Big Mac suggested.
"Ah agree," Applejack joined her brother. "We can continue this in the mornin'."
The three siblings gathered themselves and trotted into the farmhouse for the night.
A couple of days went by after the confrontation. The girls continued with their training and preparation for Hoovamania. Twilight Sparkle felt the need to check up on each of her friends. She was pleased with the progress they were showing. Applejack and Rainbow Dash, while working out very well due to their own knowledge of wrestling, were doing splendidly in helping out others such as Fluttershy and Twilight herself. Rarity received some of the training help from Applejack. Twilight was happy to see that Rarity was training like the others, though she was also spending a lot of time stitching and sewing the girls costumes for the match-up. After all, she is a seamstress by trade. Despite the progressive progress they were making towards the upcoming show, Twilight was concerned about one pony: Pinkie Pie.
Twilight met up with Applejack at Sugarcube Corner. Upon arrival, both ponies began their walk up the staircase to the second floor where Pinkie's room was located. "Thanks for coming along, Applejack. Sorry that I had to take you away from your workout," Twilight spoke to the orange pony.
"No problem, Twi', but do you really need to check on Pinkie Pie? Ah'll admit, she's not the brightest, but she's no pushover."
"Applejack, we all have to be prepared for this event. We've never fought in wrestling before and I want to make sure everypony knows how serious this is."
Party music was blaring, growing louder as the two ponies walked closer to the top of the staircase. Twilight was already shaking her head in disapproval. In her mind, Pinkie Pie was doing nothing but partying and baking while the rest of them worked their flanks off learning wrestling. Applejack noticed Twilight's lack of approval. She, however, wasn't as judgemental. Twilight reached the top of the staircase to Pinkie's room. She was expecting to see Pinkie doing something like playing with balloons or dancing to her tunes. Twilight suddenly stopped causing Applejack to bump into her. Applejack walked up beside her purple unicorn friend. Twilight's face was in shock. Her jaw was dropped and her eyes wide open.
"Pinkie?!" Twilight spoke in disbelief.
The shock that took Twilight by surprise before her was Pinkie Pie dressed in workout clothes and leg bands. The pink pony was doing push-ups. She was covered in sweat. Her face spelled with determination. Over on the other side of the room sat the Cake's twin children, Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake. Even as infants, the two little foals were cheering on Pinkie. Pinkie soon noticed her two friends standing at the foot of the staircase.
"Oh hi Twilight, hi Applejack. Can't visit right now. Training these muscles of mine. Got to be in perfect shape," Pinkie told them as she turned onto her back and began doing sit-ups.
"Well Pinkie, we just thought that you'd be doing something completely different," said Twilight while the surprise was still sinking into her.
"Don't worry about it," Pinkie assured them, stopping for the moment to catch her breath. "This pony will be ultimate by the time Hoovamania comes." She then stood up and began to perform some martial arts.
"Looks like Twilight everypony is taking this seriously. We'll be ready in no time," said Applejack.
"You're right, Applejack," Twilight nodded in agreement. "Those World Order ponies how no idea who they're up against."
The Strength of Friendship
Stepping Hoof Into The Square Circle
Chapter 4 "Stepping Hoof Into The Square Circle"
The glowing spectacle of the gold and ivory colored Royal Canterlot Stadium shined so brightly. Like a eye gazing up towards the star-glittered sky. The night of the greatest sporting event of the Pony Wrestling Federation was playing its' glory for the ponies of Equestria in the center of the capital of the land. Ponies from all across the vast kingdom descended on the city to view the live event, Hoovamania. Numbers were large in the amount of attendance. Tens of thousands was the best way to round out the number of those attending the show. Ponies and unicorns, as well as some pegasi, were seated all around the wrestling ring; not a single space was left vacant. Other pegasi observed the matches from on top of clouds floating above the open roof of the stadium. The wrestling event had already been going on for over an hour and the level of excitement from the passionate crowd was intense.
The view from the first few rows was the place to see the best of the action. The Cutie Mark Crusaders had three spaces in the first row alongside the ring. Seated beside them were the Apple Family members Big Macintosh and Granny Smith. The five ponies received their tickets from the other six ponies who were unable to use the tickets themselves. The three little fillies cheered with so much enthusiasm. While Sweetie Belle once stated that she wasn't into the sport of wrestling, her liveliness brought in a new perspective to the small unicorn.
To the opposite side of the ring from the young fillies sat the play-by-play live feed of the evening's event. They were P.W.F. veteran commentator, Michael Colt, and aristocratic resident of Canterlot, Fancypants. Throughout the night, the two unicorns had been catching the matches and highlights broadcasted via radio to those across the world not personally in attendance. "Wow! Even after seven hard fought matches, the excitement is so strong that you could cut it with a knife," Michael Colt spoke into his headset microphone. "We've had two championship titles already change hooves with the World Heavyweight Championship still to come later tonight. Fancypants, what are your thoughts on the night so far?"
"All I can say is it's been splendid. No, splendid isn't the best word to describe it. Incredible is a better way to make of how Hoovamania has been tonight. All these wrestlers are great athletes and have shown fantastic talent for all these fine ponies with us here at Canterlot Stadium. It has been an astonishing time being a part of this event and I look forward to the upcoming main event," the white upper class unicorn responded to the commentator seated next to him.
"But before we can get to that main event, we still have a special match approaching our way shortly. A match many here in attendance have patiently waited for. A twelve-mare tag team elimination match between the Pony World Order and six ponies known as the Elements of Harmony from the neighboring town of Ponyville. And you have met these Ponyville ponies before, haven't you Fancypants?"
"Indeed I have," Fancypants replied. "I met them several months ago at the Royal Garden Party at Canterlot Castle. They are an interesting herd of friends. While I'm not very familiar with most of them, the one named Rarity I did become quite acquainted with. A lovely young unicorn she is and a talented seamstress. But I do wonder what she and her friends will do tonight inside the ring."
"It's best to also let our viewers know that these six little ponies were the saviors of Equestria on two occasions."
"That's correct, Michael, but I do believe they did those with the help of the magical Elements of Harmony. As here in the P.W.F., magic and wing power are prohibited. We'll have to see what kind of wrestling talent they'll be able to bring."
"Point well taken, Fancypants," Michael Colt agreed with his co-host. "So stay tuned everypony, the six-mare tag team match is coming up in a short time."
Within the labyrinth of long corridors and countless closed rooms backstage away from the sights of the spectators, the six ponies from Ponyville prepared themselves in one of the many locker rooms set up for wrestlers. Two weeks before, they were confronted and tested to face off against the tough members of the Pony World Order at Hoovamania. They all accepted the challenge. For those weeks, they all trained their hooves and skilled their wrestling abilities. With the fight only minutes away, the herd of friends were awaiting the call to be ready. While not showing it on the outside, they knew in their hearts that the night was going to be difficult and unsure on what the outcome would become.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack both were putting in some final stretches. Due to the no flying rule, Rainbow Dash, along with Fluttershy, had to add clips to their wings to prevent any sort of takeoff. Fluttershy was adding the remaining portions of her wrestling costume and gear to her body. Being the most worried of the bunch, she wasn't taking any chances. She slipped on thicker kneepads to each of her legs. Her pet bunny, Angel, was with her for moral support. He was standing on her upper back tightening a set of amateur wrestling headgear around his guardian's head. Next to the yellow pegasus, Twilight Sparkle was applying face paint to Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony's face was bright with various reds, blues and yellows within two capital 'Ps' centered around her eyes trailing down to her cheeks. Rarity was sitting near them at the mirror applying her own makeup and styling her mane. Rainbow Dash took some discontent at the white unicorn's current priority. "Rarity, this a wrestling match. Not a beauty contest," the rainbow pegasus spoke up.
"Oh Rainbow Dash, I know that," Rarity replied as she apply some fake eyelashes. "I still need to look fabulous."
"Why put it on now? After the match is over, you'll need to put on more makeup," Dash spoke back.
The comment caught Rarity off guard. Her magic dropped the hairbrush that was styling her mane. The unicorn turned and frowned at the cyan-colored pegasus.
"Was that an insult, Rainbow Dash?" Rarity asked with a small tone of anger in her voice. "Cause if it was, I'll have a match with you here right now."
Despite being friends, once in a while, minor disputes occurred between this herd. Rarity and Rainbow Dash didn't often see eye to eye on things. This was no exception. While Rarity was into fashion and makeup, Rainbow Dash was a speedster and sports fan.
The two ponies glared at each other. Was the team about to break apart before their scheduled match? Applejack quickly intervened; standing in between them.
"Settle down you two," Applejack told her friends. "We already have one fight on our plate. We don't need another." The heat quickly dissolved between the unicorn and pegasus.
Twilight applied the final colors to Pinkie's face. The earth pony peeked at herself in the mirror. Her face was colorful. Pinkie Pie smiled with a great glow. She then began bouncing around the small locker room.
"This is so exciting. I'm super-duper excited. Going out and entertaining thousands of other ponies and putting up our hooves. I can't wait!" the pink pony joyfully cheered.
"Thousands?" Fluttershy asked. The announcement of a large number like that started to give the pegasus a sliver of shivers.
"Last I counted, it was forty-three thousand six hundred and nineteen," Pinkie told the already trembling Fluttershy.
The shakes rapidly took over Fluttershy. Her face was filled with nervous fright. The yellow pegasus quickly bolted into a nearby locker and slammed the metal door. Her fellow pegasus friend, Rainbow Dash, approached the locker and slowly opened it. Fluttershy was cowering on the floor of the metal storage.
"Fluttershy, this is not the time to be scared," Dash told the scared pegasus on the bottom of the locker.
"But Rainbow Dash, that's a big number and I'm not sure I'll be able to do it in front of that many," Fluttershy peeking up at Rainbow Dash standing before her.
"You're going to have to be brave, Fluttershy," said Rainbow Dash.
"Brave?" Fluttershy opened her eyes wider at Dash's words.
"Yes, brave," Rainbow Dash reiterated. "That may be a large amount, but all those numbers will be cheering for us. Not only do you have to be brave for them, but you also have to brave for the match. You've stood up to bigger monsters and challenges than those bullies out there. This is something you need to do Fluttershy and we're counting on you."
"Yeah," Pinkie Pie hopping into the conversation with the pegasi. "It's not like they're giant, scary, fire-breathing dragons."
"Dragons?!" Fluttershy's body trembled again. Her fear of big dragons was now drowning her bravery. She slammed the locker door once again.
"Thanks, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash grumbled at Pinkie Pie. The pink earth pony only smiled in return and continued on bouncing around the room as Rainbow Dash began again to talk to Fluttershy.
The room door quickly swung open. Spike poked his small head inside to see his pony friends.
"Match begins in five minutes," the little dragon revealed to the six ponies. With the information given to the ponies, Spike shut the door, leaving them to put together final preparations.
Rainbow Dash finally coaxed Fluttershy out of the locker. Rarity finished plastering her face with makeup. Applejack and Pinkie Pie folded up the last of their exercises. Twilight Sparkle motioned to her friends to gather together. Facing her friends who for the night were also her tag team partners, Twilight gave them all a final talk.
"Okay girls, this is it. We were challenged into this; a match we never wanted to partake in. For the past two weeks, we have trained our hardest. We may not be allowed to use our magic, wings nor the Elements, but we are going to go out there and show not only those P.W.O. ponies, but all of Equestria, what six little ponies like us are capable of. We are bonded together by our friendship. Tonight might be one of our toughest tests, but we must prevail. We can do this and we will--together." Twilight placed her front hoof towards her friends. Each of them took a hoof and place it together with Twilight's. All six friends smiled with determination. The time had come to meet their challenge.
To the unseeing eye, it would be believed that either the ponies in the front rows or the pegasi above on clouds had the best seats in the entire stadium. To some, maybe. The best seats had to go to Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, and her little sister, Princess Luna. Perched well above the crowd, bordering the upper perimeter of the stadium, situated the Royal Canterlot Suite luxury box. Unless it was royalty, upper class or a VIP guest, no pony had access to this special stadium seating. From this location, it was like staring down into a fish bowl; everything was in sight from there. Celestia and Luna sat side by side watching the events unfold below them. Alicorn royal guards stood at bay at the entrance to the luxury box and along with the Princesses. "It has been a wonderful show so far," Princess Celestia spoke to Luna.
"Yes, it has," Luna replied quietly.
"Is there something wrong, little sister?" Princess Celestia could see that Luna was worried about something. The quiet sad tone of Luna's voice was what gave it away.
"Sister, I cannot help but feel responsible for our friends from Ponyville. It was I who came up with the idea to invite them to this event. I only intended for them to be here to observe Hoovamania with us. But now they have been challenged into fighting in one of the matches against a team that most certainly won't be kind to them. I especially hold concern for your pupil, Twilight Sparkle."
"There is no need to feel guilty, my little sister. Twilight Sparkle and her friends are very talented. They have faced challenges well beyond their strength and in the end, they have pulled through together. My confidence in them is strong. They will perform greatly tonight."
The cheers and hollers from the vast scene of ponies echoed through the stadium as the ring announcer, Mic Check, entered the ring to announce the next match. The match many of the attendance had been waiting all night to see take place. Mic Check stood in the center of the ring surrounded by forty-three thousand plus audience. "Fillies and gentlecolts, the next bout is a twelve-mare tag team elimination match," Mic Check announced on the microphone to the huge crowd. Within the second of his announcement, the theme music of the first team blared throughout the stadium. "First, introducing the challengers: Sky Chaser, Whiplash, Stormer, Ice Cold, Honeycrisp and Violet Velvet! The P.W.O.: The Pony World Order!"
The proclamation of P.W.O. brought a rousing rebound of boos and jeers from the pony audience. The six Pony World Order members walked out the entrance to the ring aisle; meeting the strong vibration of boos echoing all around. They didn't care. As they walked down the aisle, sporting their usual black P.W.O. shirts, they simply scoffed or insulted at the ponies they passed. They approached the wrestling ring and climbed into it, still shouting out verbal abuse to all around them. Sweetie Belle noticed the honey-colored member of the team and asked to her friend sitting next her, "Hey Apple Bloom, isn't that your cousin?"
Apple Bloom was already showing displeasure at the sight of her cousin, Honeycrisp, after what she was told about her by Applejack. "Yea and she turned her back on her family and insulted what we Apples do for a living."
Apple Bloom's brother, Big Macintosh, also showed his dislike for her by joining in the sea of boos flooding the stadium while Granny Smith shouted out, "Traitor!"
The music of the heels slowly dissipated. They gathered together in one corner of the ring awaiting the opponents they'll fight against. Mic Check stood once again in the center of the ring holding a microphone in his hoof.
"And now, their opponents." Like to his previous announcement, music sounded from speakers on all sides of the facility. Only this time, an explosion of cheers jolted the entire stadium. "From Ponyville: 'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy, The Masked Rainbow, 'The Queen' Rarity, 'Applemazing' Applejack, The Ultimate Pony and Twilightlicious! The Elements of Harmony!"
Followspot spotlights penetrated the night's sky with their illuminated beams, swaying back and forth across the sea of onlookers. A vibrant of multi-colored laser lights speared in all directions around the entrance way. Ghostly fog flooded around the curtains and swirled across the floor. A small dark figure began to slowly walk out into the open. Dawning a blue tracksuit and a towel resting around the back of his neck, the baby dragon, Spike, emerged from the hidden view of the backstage venue. The small reptile stepped off to the side of the curtained doorway and extended his arm to it in a welcoming gesture. One by one, the ponies known as the Elements of Harmony walked out to the overjoyed crowd. Each of the Ponyville ponies was wearing a costume and wearing attire fitting to their own appeal.
'The Queen' Rarity was very much royalty, like her personality acts so divine on a daily basis. She wore a light blue leotard decorated with a flow of designs of glittering gems. A purple cape draped over her back. On top of her head sat a shimmering silver crown. A triangle of three diamonds shined embedded in front of the metal headwear.
'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy took the safety measures from before of wearing thicker knees and wrestling headgear. Her outfit was also a leotard like Rarity's, only her design was that of natural surroundings. It was green with an elaborate array of leaf and vine patterns covered all over. Fluttershy also had her pink mane tied back in a ponytail. Her pet bunny, Angel, rode on her back; being an aid and moral support for her.
'Applemazing' Applejack was going the way of her family, cowgirl getup. Aside from her traditional cowboy hat, the orange earth pony had a saddle strapped around her back. Loops of lasso rope were wrapped around all four of her legs. Her mane and tail were braided and tied back.
The Ultimate Pony, easily recognizable as Pinkie Pie, meant it when she said that she would be ultimate. Aside from the multitude of colors painted on her face inside two capital 'Ps', the earth pony also wore a leotard decked in a wave of colors, streams and shapes. Multi-colored tassels decorated around each of her upper legs. An appearance fit for a party pony.
The Masked Rainbow was none other than the speedster pegasus, Rainbow Dash. Disguising herself from head all the way down to her hooves, Dash's costume resembled that of a Wonderbolt's uniform in design. The main portion was light gray. Yellow lighting balls encircled around the eyeholes. Extending on the side of each leg were thin rainbows converging together to form a larger rainbow on the underside. The rainbow followed up to Dash's neck meeting at a yellow lightning bolt. Dash's rainbow-colored mane and tail flowed freely outside of the slick attire.
Twilightlicious stood in the center between her friends. A white jacket worn around her back glittered with tiny ivory gems. Blue sunglasses obscured the view of her purple eyes from the observing audience.
The Elements of Harmony. The six young mares from the neighboring town of Ponyville stood silently side by side. Their sights were all around the vast stadium. Over forty three thousand ponies cheering and hollering for them. It took them a moment to fully feel the presence they stepped into. Twilight gave the signal for team to proceed onward down the long aisle towards the ring. They were met by hundreds of reached out hooves from ponies seeking to receive a brohoof. The girls were more than happy to share the appreciation they were gaining.
"Listen to the capacity crowd!" Michael Colt commented into the microphone. "The noise is deafening! It's not difficult to determine who the fan favorites are here tonight."
"I say, I agree with that wholeheartedly," Fancypants agreed. "These six mares I believe are receiving the biggest ovation of any pony so far here at Hoovamania."
Pinkie Pie galloped around the whole ring taking as many brohoofs as possible. She hollered in return to the excited spectators, rallying them even more with her hyperness.
Applejack approached her family seated in the front row adjacent to the ring. "You look amazing, Applejack!" Apple Bloom was the first to speak to her older sister.
"Make us proud!" Applejack's grandmother, Granny Smith, exclaimed.
"Thanks family," Applejack returned. Applejack swooped off her hat catching it in her teeth. She leaned in and slipped it onto her little sister's head. "Hay Apple Bloom, think you can watch mah hat fer me once again?"
Apple Bloom's face brighten with a huge smile and the little filly responded, "Sure thing, Applejack. And be sure to give Honeycrisp a hard buck for me."
"You got it!" Applejack smiled back.
With the arrival of Applejack into the squared wrestling ring, twelve ponies were present for the elimination match plus Three Count, the referee pony. The Elements of Harmony girls continued to greet and embrace the welcoming ovation from the enthusiastic crowd. Twilight and Rarity waved their hooves to all those they could see with their own eyes. Fluttershy also waved, but due to still being a bit nervous, only slowly swayed a hoof. Pinkie resumed to work and excite the onlookers by shaking the ring ropes with her hooves and bellowing out loud howls. Rainbow Dash leapt on top of the ring corner turnbuckle starring up towards the pegasi viewing her below. She noticed several pegasi that brought a huge amount of surprise to herself. The Wonderbolts. Resting on one cloud sat Wonderbolt members Soarin', Fleetfoot and the captain herself, Spitfire. Rainbow Dash's eyes widen at the sight of her idols; the ponies she'd like to fly alongside with one day. A boost to Dash's motivation to see them in attendance. Rainbow Dash pointed her front hooves up towards the three uniformed pegasi. She then performed a complete back-flip from the top turnbuckle and landed on all four hooves.
"The Masked Rainbow is awesome!" Scootaloo declared from her seat at ringside with her friends. "But where's Rainbow Dash? I thought she was on the team. Did she get injured or something?" Scootaloo was completely unaware that Rainbow Dash had dawned the persona and disguise of The Masked Rainbow.
"You got to be kidding me," Sweetie Belle said at her friend's blind questioning.
The P.W.O. watched on as their opponents enjoyed the limelight of thousands of ponies. They snickered and made small chat amongst themselves. They didn't feel threatened by the arrival of the six mares from a small Equestrian town. Violet Velvet walked into the center of the ring, meeting her Elements of Harmony counterpart, Twilight Sparkle. "So, you and your friends showed up. And you're willing to be defeated in front of your teacher? Guess you aren't afraid to fail," Violet spoke to her rival.
Twilight lifted the sunglasses above her eyes and returned to Violet, "That's not going to happen. Never underestimate those you face. They might just surprise you."
"Sorry to burst your magic, Twilight, oh I'm sorry, Twilightlicious, but my girls and I don't plan to go easy on any of you. I look forward to pinning you in this ring in front of both Princesses," Violet said to Twilight.
Like when she surprised her Ponyville friends back in town when they first encountered the World Order ponies, Pinkie popped up in between Twilight and Violet Velvet armed with a microphone in hoof. "Finally, The Ultimate Pony has come back to Canterlot!!" she yelled out with her voice amplifying throughout the full stadium.
"Pinkie!" Twilight growled at the party pony. The purple unicorn gripped Pinkie Pie by her costume and dragged her back to their corner of the ring as Violet returned to her side with her team.
High above the excitement in the balcony of the Royal Canterlot Suite luxury box, Luna and Celestia smiled at the sight of the six ponies they knew too well. "They have received a great ovation," Luna acknowledged. "I also have to admit, they look cute in their costumes."
Princess Celestia nodded in approval to her little sister. "They sure do. I think it's best my dear sister that we quietly observe this match."
"Agreed," Luna concurred.
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 5 "An Ultimate Beginning"
The ring bell had rung; the signal to start the match. The thousands of ponies seated inside the Royal Canterlot Stadium anticipated all evening to witness the match-up between the teams of The Elements of Harmony and the Pony World Order. Both teams, in their ring corners, discussed amongst themselves on the beginning of match; who to start and a workable strategy. " All right girls, this is our first time doing this. We have to keep our agility in play. Defense is also key in the hopes to survive and not be eliminated. One of us is going to have to start things off," Twilight spoke to her tag team partners circled with her. "Who's it going to be?"
"Um--I don't want to start--if that is okay," Fluttershy quietly rose her hoof.
"That's fine, darling," said Rarity.
"I will! Let me! Let me! The Ultimate Pony will run wild on them," Pinkie Pie jumped in with so much energy.
"All right, Pinkie," said Twilight.
"Ultimate Pony!" Pinkie snapped at her team captain. Within the ring, Pinkie was taking her new persona rather seriously.
"Okay, Ultimate Pony, you start things off," Twilight corrected. "Show your stuff!"
Twilight and the rest of the team exited through the ring ropes to the other side as did the P.W.O.. Stormer was starting out for them. Pinkie Pie performed some final stretches against the ring ropes. She then proceeded to clop back and forth on her side of the ring eyeing the blue earth pony standing in front of her. Determination in her eyes surrounded by the portrait of various colors. Chants of 'Ultimate Pony' cheered through some of front row ponies. Pinkie could hear them. Messages that traveled into her ears and got her more ready to bring a start to the fight. Her teammates watched on from the corner with thoughts going through their heads on what the Ultimate Pony was going to do to the enemy.
"The power of the Ultimate Pony is strong. Every one of these ponies makes the Ultimate Pony stronger. Electricity runs through the mane and body of the Ultimate Pony," the party-themed pony yelled to Stormer. "This pony is ultimate!"
Pinkie immediately galloped towards the P.W.O. pony facing her. Her teeth gripped shut and her eyes dead-centered on her target. Stormer also set her focus on the charging opponent. The blue pony grinned as the enemy got closer. She then extended her right front leg up. With a sudden thrusting jolt, Stormer collided her leg with the party pony's neck; bringing a halt to her. Pinkie's head and body arched back and flipped uncontrollably in the air before crashing down hard on the ring apron. Pinkie was barely moving. Her eyes swirled around and around. Stormer quickly laid on top of her and the referee, Three Count, stomped to the count of three with his hoof.
"One! Two! Three! That's one out for The Elements of Harmony," Three Count announced.
"Ultimate Pony? More like Ultimate Phony," Stormer laughed as she got off of the defeated pink earth pony.
The other P.W.O. ponies laughed and hailed at their teammate. The other team, however, only looked on in disbelief. One of theirs was defeated so swiftly.
"Oh Pinkie," Twilight spoke just above a whisper. Twilight's attention was moved to the voice of Violet Velvet on the other side of the ring as she yelled about one down and five to go for the Elements team.
Pinkie Pie had barely twitched or spoke since the violent takedown. She couldn't walk on her own. Her body was placed on a stretcher next to the ring by two nurse ponies. They quickly escorted away from ringside past all the spectators back into the darkness of backstage. As the crowd watched the pony that proclaimed herself to be ultimate be taken away and unclear on her condition, a small pale purple-coated unicorn filly watched as well as tears began to produce underneath her eyes.
"She was my favorite," the filly sniffled The little unicorn felt a leg place against her back. She looked up to see an odd-eyed gray pegasus smiling at her.
"She'll be already. She's ultimate," the gray pegasus assured the saddened filly. The tiny unicorn smiled in return to the pegasus' kind words.
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 6 "The First Victory"
The P.W.O. mares continued to laugh and give brohoofs to each other over Pinkie's defeat. Claiming easy victory over an opponent called the Ultimate Pony made them think that the mares on the other side of the ring really were losers and unfit to fight them. The mood of the Elements of Harmony was uneasy.
"This ain't a good start," spoke Applejack. "That's one down fer us."
"Pinkie was ready for this. She did train hard, but became just a little overconfident and wasn't thinking straight," Twilight said to her team. "We might have lost one, but there's still five of us."
"Looks like I'll give it a go now and take it to them," Rainbow Dash suggested, ducking under the ring ropes and entering the squared platform.
"Go on, Rainbow! We're counting on you," said Twilight.
Rainbow Dash stared down her opponent like the barrel of a cannon. She knew Stormer was waiting for her to make the first move. Charging the enemy head on proved not to be a wise decision and Dash knew it. Either way, the blue pegasus swept her hoof against the canvas. Her body placed itself in a charging stance. As in a repeat action earlier, Rainbow Dash bolted straight towards Stormer. Her own friends watched on in helpless disbelief. It was as if Rainbow Dash was doing the same mistake a Pinkie Pie. Was she? Stormer grinned at the sight of the stampeding pegasus coming towards her. The other heel ponies smirked at the scene as well. Another victory was coming their way as it looked. Unlike before, Stormer took a page out of the Elements' handbook and charged towards Dash. She extended her front leg to collide Rainbow Dash with a clothesline. But to a change from Pinkie's mistake, the rainbow pegasus leapt overtop of Stormer. Stormer turned around and was met by a hard hoof to the face.
"This pony won't make the same mistake as the Ultimate Pony," Rainbow Dash proclaimed to her opponent.
The blue earth pony jumped towards Dash for a punch of her own only to miss and receive another hoof jab to the head. The pegasus took control of the fight against the P.W.O.. Forwarding punches with her front hoofs and kicks with the rears. The two pony enemies battled it out in one of the unoccupied corners. Stormer regained some footing in the fight; it didn't matter much for the moment as Dash counterattacked. Rainbow Dash didn't keep the fight all to herself. She dragged Stormer over to the opposing corner and tagged in Applejack. The two allies worked together on the lone World Order pony with a double clothesline. The amount of tag exchanges between the Elements of Harmony gave the girls plenty of shared time to show off how much they had prepared for this wrestling match; Fluttershy opted out of being tagged in though. Despite their display of teamwork and performance abilities, the P.W.O. weren't bowing down. They fought back furiously. Not showing any shed of compassion for their actions against the little ponies.
"Well it's now Whiplash in there with 'Applemazing' Applejack. It be may five against six, but The Elements of Harmony have been giving the P.W.O. a gallop of a match so far," Michael Colt called out into his microphone.
"Absolutely, Michael. The Pony World Order must be thinking of some new strategy right now as these ponies have already demonstrated some excellent abilities and wonderful teamwork," Fancypants agreed beside the other unicorn commentator.
"You're right on that," a young female voice spoke next to Fancypants. Both commentators turned to the source of the vocal agreement and seated next to the blue-mane unicorn was Pinkie Pie wearing a microphone headset. No longer colored in the rainbow of face paint or her wrestling gear. She was also completely awake; not a sign of injury or after-effects due to her defeat earlier.
"Ultimate Pony?!" Colt surprised at the sight of the pink pony.
"No no no no. She was eliminated. I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm joining you guys for the play-by-play to cheer on my friends," Pinkie quickly explained to the confused stallions. "Come on, girls! Beat those bullies!"
Slam! The impact of Applejack's body hitting the ring canvas after a powerslam rippled through her whole body. For the moment, the wind was knocked out of her. She could feel the weight of Whiplash on top of her as the tan pegasus laid for the pin. The referee pony counted. Applejack kicked out at the count of two. Whiplash displayed her frustration by coming down with her front hooves on the orange earth pony's stomach. With quick action, Applejack avoided the assault and rolled back to her corner. She held out her hoof to tag another member of the team. She connected with another hoof; Fluttershy's hoof.
"M-me?" a shocked Fluttershy asked.
"It's your turn, Fluttershy," said Twilight standing beside her. "You can do it."
"Um, okay," Fluttershy quietly spoke.
Applejack exited to the other side of the ropes with Fluttershy slowly entered into the ring. Her heart was racing. She was scared. Her legs trembled. Fluttershy was unsure what to do; fight or retreat. Her friends rooted for her from behind. She knew her teammates were counting on her. Like what Rainbow Dash told her in the locker room before the match, she had to be brave.
"Okay, I can do this," Fluttershy muttered under her breath.
Whiplash evilly grinned at the yellow pegasus in front her face. Last time she met her, Fluttershy was cowering and scared of her. A perfect match-up in Whiplash's mind. Fluttershy slowly approached the P.W.O. pony. She tried to look intimidating, but unfortunately, her kind-hearted nature seemed to always get in the way.
"Um, would it be okay if you lied down and I pin you to win this match?" Fluttershy politely asked.
Twilight bonked her hoof to her own face and simply grunted, "Ugh!" The other ponies also showed their displeasure at their companion's approach to the situation. Fluttershy's action was something the girls kind of expected. Fluttershy was use to be kind and caring; rarely aggressive.
"I think it would be a better idea if you didn't do anything so that I can beat you up," Whiplash laughed at Fluttershy's suggestion.
Whiplash swung her leg at the yellow pegasus for a swift strike. Fluttershy speedily ducked under the attack. The aggressive pony raised her front legs up and brought them down in an attempt to strike Fluttershy on the top of her head. Fluttershy rolled out of the way of the second assault.
"Couldn't we just--you know--sit and--have a kind and friendly--cup of tea--and become--," Fluttershy tried at negotiating with Whiplash. The frightened pegasus backed herself into one of the two empty ring corners. She was shaking with fear. She was trapped. Her friends could only watch on; unable to step in and save her without consequences. "Help!"
"Guess those stories about you wrestling bears were just horse tales," said Whiplash as she walked closer to Fluttershy recoiled in the corner. "A frightened little pony like you could never be a serious threat to anypony and certainly not to me!"
Whiplash tried again with her front hooves attack on the trembling pony. Once again, Fluttershy avoided the sudden attack and darted past the enemy. The heel pony quickly gave chase. Whiplash galloped after Fluttershy all around the inside of the ring like a wild cat trying to catch its' prey.
"Will you just hold still!" Whiplash shouted to the pony she was pursuing.
Like a command switch in her brain, Fluttershy abruptly stopped and sunk to the canvas, placing her front hooves over her eyes. Whiplash collided with Fluttershy's motionless body and tripped over her. Whiplash rolled across the ring floor and stopped head first into the lower turnbuckle in the opposing corner. Fluttershy uncovered her eyes to see what had happened. Whiplash regained to her legs.
"I--I'm sorry," Fluttershy apologized to her opponent.
Whiplash slowly turned her head. Her teeth were gripped together. Her eyes dipping into deep anger. A growl hissed out of her mouth. Her whole body turned in the direction of Fluttershy. Fluttershy's face became painted with immense fright. The P.W.O. pony in front of her was angry. Whiplash let out a loud roar of anger and charged the scared pegasus. Fluttershy was frozen for a second. She then escaped through the ring ropes and scurried underneath the ring. Three Count immediately began to count Fluttershy's presence outside the ring.
Rainbow Dash came to over to where Fluttershy was hiding. She dove underneath the ring apron to see Fluttershy laying on all fours, shivering all over her body. "Come out, Fluttershy. You have to get back in the ring," Dash told her teammate.
"No! I'm not coming out."
"Fluttershy, you're going to get counted out and will be eliminated."
"I'd rather get counted out than fight that meanie. She's really, really, really, really mad at me."
"Okay Fluttershy, just get back up there and tag one of us in. We then won't tag you in for the rest of the match."
"But what if I'm the last one?"
"Then you'll have to fight on."
"No!"
"Come on, Fluttershy. We need you."
Rainbow Dash grabbed a hold onto Fluttershy's headgear and began dragging her out from underneath the darkness. Fluttershy continued to protest.
Fluttershy's pet bunny rabbit, Angel, observed from the side of the ring as Dash tried to coax his owner to return to the ring above. The little rabbit watched the whole match so far and seen what happened to Fluttershy against Whiplash. He wasn't going to stay by as his master acted like a coward. The white bunny hopped onto the ring canvas and entered into the ring. Upon approaching the heel pony, Angel put on a mad face and put up his paws in a fighting stance. This bunny seriously wanted to fight against a pony? Whiplash looked down at the mad rabbit and could only laugh out loud at his attempt at acting tough.
"Aw, the little bunny rabbit wants to fight and stand up for the little cowardly pony? Are you her pet or is it the other way around? Ha ha ha ha!" Whiplash laughed childishly.
Angel suddenly leapt at Whiplash and clutched onto her leg, sinking his teeth into her flesh. Whiplash screamed in pain. She shook her leg in every direction to try to remove the rabbit. Angel refused to release his bite.
"Let go you stupid little bunny!" Whiplash screamed at the attacking furry mammal.
Rainbow Dash finally pulled Fluttershy out from underneath the squared platform. Fluttershy was grabbing at anything with her hooves in an effort to refuse re-entering the ring.
"No, Rainbow Dash. I'm not going back in there. It's too dangerous and scary," Fluttershy protested once again to her friend while grabbing onto the ring apron.
Shooting across the air, The Elements of Harmony team witnessed Angel go flying after finally being kicked off of Whiplash's leg. The little bunny landed with a hard thud on the exposed concrete floor. Fluttershy's eyes expanded at the sight of her pet hitting the ground.
"Angel!" Fluttershy rushed over to his aid.
Angel grabbed onto his right leg with his paws and wailed in pain. The sight of an injured animal always made Fluttershy broken with sadness. Angel being her pet was more painful. Laughing ran through Fluttershy's ears. The laughter was from Whiplash in the ring.
"Stupid little bunny. Got what it deserved," Whiplash chuckled.
Rainbow Dash ran over to her friend to see if she was all right. No response came from the yellow pegasus as her head was arched down towards the injured rabbit. Dash felt Fluttershy's hoof press her away. The pegasus gently laid Angel down on the floor. She stood up on four hooves. Her teeth grinded together. Her eyes slowly opened. Anger was seen in her. A sight not often seen by Fluttershy. She stared directly at the laughing Whiplash in the center of the ring.
"How dare you. How dare you!" Fluttershy yelled at her opposite. "You make me strain, I'll bring you the pain!" Fluttershy rushed back into the ring and tackled Whiplash so abruptly that it completely caught her off guard. The enraged pegasus stomped her hooves as hard as she could on Whiplash's body and head. Whiplash tried to fend off the complete assault. Fluttershy wasn't going to let her be the aggressor any further.
"That's the Fluttershy we needed. Give her a feel of nasty Fluttershy!" Rarity called out from the ring corner. The other girls also cheered on the change reversal of Fluttershy. So did Angel appearing on the edge of the ring canvas, hopping up and down. But wasn't Angel injured? The girls concern for him diminished when he shook his leg at them and winked his tiny eye. He faked it.
Whiplash regained her defense and struck back. Fluttershy easily countered and scoped Whiplash into a bodyslam. Fluttershy grabbed Whiplash and flung her into the ring corner. The yellow pegasus galloped towards the corner and rammed into Whiplash with a charging clothesline. Jabs from Fluttershy's hooves impacted the P.W.O. pony's face and stomach. Fluttershy grabbed her again and swung her to the opposite corner of the ring. This time, she leapt onto Whiplash and flipped her back with a monkey flip wrestling throw. Fluttershy screamed out, her voice echoing throughout the stadium. The reaction from the audience brought return screams of excitement.
"Wh--What happened to you?" a frighten Whiplash muttered as she tried to slowly slide back towards her own corner.
"Oh no you don't!" Fluttershy spotted Whiplash crawling to tag in one of her partners. "You cross my line, victory shall be mine!"
Fluttershy grabbed Whiplash by her back legs and dragged her to the middle of the canvas. She turned the tan pegasus onto her back. Whiplash's eyes were buried with fear. She thought Fluttershy was going to be easy pickings for the match. Now she was looking into the eyes of one very angry pony.
"I'm not a pushover as you thought I was, did you? When you hurt somepony that's important to me, you get the feel of new Fluttershy. Now new Fluttershy is going to make you feel the same pain as Angel does," Fluttershy asserted at the now scared Whiplash.
Holding her hind legs up, Fluttershy stepped between them with one of her own. She proceeded to wrap Whiplash's legs and flipped her over onto her stomach. Fluttershy had placed Whiplash in the professional wrestling submission hold known as the sharpshooter. Three Count rushed to Whiplash's side. He watched and listened to the locked pegasus for her call of submission. She struggled with her energy to break free, but with her back legs out of her control and Fluttershy holding on tightly, Whiplash wasn't going anywhere. Pain waved through her back and spine. It was unbearable. Whiplash could no longer withstand the stinging feeling travelling through her. She repeatedly tapped her hoof against the canvas. The first P.W.O. pony surrendered. The crowd of onlookers cheered at Fluttershy's victory. Her friends in the corner brohoofed and yelled congrats to Fluttershy. On the opposing side of the ring, the P.W.O. looked on with disbelief over their first loss of the match.
Despite getting the victory over the bullying opponent, Fluttershy remained a firm hold on Whiplash. She had refused to let go of the submission hold. Whiplash bashed her hoof repeatedly, screaming back towards the pony still applying excruciating pain to her.
"I'm tapping! I'm tapping for feather sake! Let me go!" Whiplash screamed out.
No response came from Fluttershy. Anger was still plastered all over the yellow pegasus' face. It was like she was frozen and unable to move. Three Count yelled at Fluttershy and demanded she release the submission hold. He received no reply as well. Fluttershy's friends called out also, but no help came of it. The remaining P.W.O. shouted at the referee to do something for their trapped partner.
"Fluttershy, let her go now. She has submitted. If you do not release the hold by the count of five, I'll have to disqualify you," Three Count threatened. If Fluttershy was listening, she was showing no indication of it. The referee pony made clear on his threat and counted down to five. By the time the fifth digit was spoken, Fluttershy still had not opened up the release on Whiplash's legs. The trapped pegasus was now shedding tears and was at the point of crying and begging for release. Three Count clutched onto Fluttershy's hooves and pulled with his might to release the grip of the yellow pegasus. No avail. Time and patience had run out for Fluttershy. Three Count called for the bell and informed Mic Check of his decision on Fluttershy.
"Fillies and gentlecolts, 'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy has been disqualified!" Mic Check declared to the entire mass of ponies around the ring. The response was an unison of boos.
Fluttershy still refused to release the hold despite the announcement of her ejection from the match. Three Count once again grabbed Fluttershy's hooves and like before, he couldn't get her let go. Both wrestling teams yelled at the referee and Fluttershy. Frustration was building among them all. Rainbow Dash hurried into the ring. She and Three Count worked together to get Fluttershy to release. Dash looked into the center of Fluttershy's eyes and said to her, "Fluttershy, snap out of it! It's over! Let go of the hold!"
Fluttershy's eyes dipped. Her angered grin faded. Her strength died down. Her strong grip on Whiplash disappeared and the release was done. Fluttershy was escorted out of the ring by Rainbow Dash as Whiplash was met by her concerned teammates and helped out of the ring. Two nurse ponies were waiting to attain the injured pony.
"Rainbow Dash, what happened?" Fluttershy asked, confused on the whole ordeal that had occurred moments earlier.
"You got yourself disqualified, Fluttershy. Whiplash submitted, but you refused to release that submission hold."
"Oh my," Fluttershy shocked by the reveal of her doing. "I'm so sorry, Rainbow Dash."
"It's okay. We'll be all right." Rainbow Dash left Fluttershy's side and raced back into the ring and began to face off against Ice Cold.
Fluttershy's pet, Angel, hopped to her side. He rubbed his soft paw against her coat. He leapt up onto her back. His paws brushed through her mane. He also gave a tiny smile to the sadden pony. Fluttershy glanced back at him and returned the smile. She slowly walked down the aisle towards the entrance that was now her exit.
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 7 "Apple Family Affair"
"The Masked Rainbow is working away on Ice Cold right now. The Elements of Harmony are now down to four members thanks to Fluttershy getting that disqualification handed to her," Fancypants monitored from the commentary table situation next to the ring.
"That's right," Pinkie Pie agreed. "Fluttershy really showed that Whiplash what assertiveness is all about. The sharpshooter Fluttershy applied to her is all about bringing a quick win over the opponent. It's easy to do also. You do a little twist with the legs, turn them over, and then arch your back like this." Demonstrating the skill of performing the submissive hold, Pinkie Pie applied it to the other commentator, Michael Colt; much to his surprise and displeasure.
Michael Colt shook and slithered. Calls to Pinkie Pie to release the lock went unanswered. Ponies seated behind the play-by-play laughed at the party pony's presentation of the sharpshooter.
"Pinkie! Let me go! We know what the sharpshooter is!" Michael yelled.
"I'm just showing it to the viewers watching the event at home. Wait! How can they see us if this is only a radio broadcast?" Pinkie Pie questioned.
Fancypants took some notice to the struggle seated next to him. Only a small chuckle came out his voice. His main focus was on the match going on inside the ring across from him.
"While Miss Pinkie Pie displays a classic wrestling submission on my colleague, let us get back to the action at hoof inside the ring," the blue-mane unicorn spoke to the audience listening in via broadcast.
Ice Cold stamped down with her hooves on Rainbow Dash's back. She clinched the pegasus' rainbow mane in her teeth and pulled back with all her might; all perfectly legal in the match. The Masked Rainbow moaned in pain. She struggled in an attempt to get back on her hooves, however, Ice Cold was right there to prevent her from doing so. The blue-mane earth pony dragged Dash over to the corner and tagged in her partner, Honeycrisp. Like her predecessor, Honeycrisp kicked away at her opponent. She then brought the hurting pegasus to her hooves and suddenly pushed her away. Dash didn't want to back down and retreat from the clash she was endured in. She jumped at Honeycrisp. A lot of her energy was tired off. Honeycrisp once again tossed Rainbow Dash away like a unwanted gift.
"I do not have any interest in fighting you," Honeycrisp declared to Dash. "I want Applejack. Tag her in." Honeycrisp wanted to fight her cousin.
Rainbow Dash turned towards her team. Applejack extended out her leg, ready to be tagged in.
"Do it, Rainbow," said Applejack.
Rainbow Dash complied with the demand given to her and tagged in her best friend. Honeycrisp gained an evil smile on her face. A fight she wanted since the beginning of the bout. Applejack was feeling no different. Ever since meeting and hearing of Honeycrisp's turn to the P.W.O., she wanted to set her in the right direction, away from the bad side of life. Everypony watching knew that this family feud wasn't going to be pretty nor pleasant.
Applejack advanced towards her cousin until she was close enough to feel the breath swirling around her head. She knew what was before her wasn't friendly anymore.
"Okay, Honeycrisp, let's settle this like family," Applejack spoke to her angered cousin.
"Ah told you before, Applejack, Ah left our family and don't intend to ever return to it," said Honeycrisp.
"Just who do you think you are?" Applejack asked. She was getting fed up with Honeycrisp's decry about the Apple Family. "Everything our family taught you means nothing to you? The only thing that crossed your mind was to turn your back on it?"
A sharp pain suddenly brushed across Applejack's face. It was the impact of a hard swift strike from Honeycrisp's hoof.
"My life is better now thanks to the P.W.O.!" the honey-colored pony shouted. "And let me show you why!"
Honeycrisp tackled Applejack, the latter landing on her back. On top of her opponent, Honeycrisp battered her cousin with punch after punch, not letting Applejack strike in return. The P.W.O. pony positioned her front hooves across Applejack's neck and pressed down on her hooves. She was now choking her relative. Three Count saw the blatant choke being applied and immediately mentioned to Honeycrisp to release it or face disqualification. Honeycrisp could care less. The intense anger she had towards Applejack was boiling all over herself. She did release Applejack from the clutches of her hooves, but not without mouthing off at the referee. Applejack coughed and tried to collect herself. A new sudden pain rippled through the orange earth pony's body. A violent kick to the stomach. Honeycrisp waited for Applejack to get back on her hooves. She raced towards the blond-mane pony, ramming her head right into the side of Applejack's belly. The impact echoed through the ears of the ponies around the ring. It was a hard and vicious hit.
The force of the collision propelled Applejack to the outside of the ring onto the stadium floor. Three Count began to do the traditional outside ten-count. Applejack was at risk of being counted out and eliminated. Honeycrisp ignored the danger of being eliminated and crawled to the outside to continue the brutal assault on her cousin. Making the beating worse, the attack was being carried out in front of Applejack's brother, sister and grandmother. They watched on helplessly as their family girl was being beaten by another member of the Apple Family.
"Applejack! Get up! Get up!" Apple Bloom called to her big sister.
Honeycrisp grabbed around Applejack's front leg and swung her hard against the metal-gated barrier separating the audience from the action close to the ring. The brutality didn't end there. Honeycrisp grabbed a nearby folding chair and smashed it across the exposed back of Applejack, not once, but twice. Applejack hollered in pain and the suffering she was enduring. Tears erupted from Apple Bloom's eyes as she witnessed the carnage in front of her. She quickly covered her view with her hooves, not wanting to see her sister be attacked in this manner.
"Good idea to cover your eyes," Honeycrisp called out to Apple Bloom once she saw the little filly hide her sight. "Once I'm finished with your sister, you won't want to look at her again."
"You're one crab apple, you hear me!" Granny Smith shaking her hoof at Honeycrisp.
"Oh shut it, grandma pie!" Honeycrisp snapped back at the elderly pony.
Honeycrisp grabbed onto Applejack's mane by her teeth and tossed her back into the squared combat ring, just making it before the ten-count. The offensive pony tossed Applejack in a vacant corner of the ring. Punches and kicks dominated Honeycrisp's attack. Applejack was pretty much powerless to fight back. Her front legs drooped over the top ropes. Her back legs barely holding herself up. Her body bruised from the constant assaults from her own cousin.
"This is bad," said Twilight from the sideline of the ring canvas. "Applejack is taking a lot of punishment from Honeycrisp. She's got to get back on her hooves and turn the tables."
"You're right, Twilight," Rarity agreed. "But there's nothing we can do."
Rainbow Dash really wanted to go through the ropes and come to the rescue of her partner and friend, but the fear of being ejected from the match was present with her. She was helpless. Watching the apple farmer getting beaten and be on the receiving end of several wrestling slams was hard to witness. She knew Applejack was a strong pony and calls to her best friend to fight back were fruitless. All sorts of things were traveling through the pegasus' mind; fears, emotions, memories.
One particular memory snapped into her conscience. A day she remembered a year ago. It was on the day of the Running of the Leaves. Both Dash and Applejack competed in the race. Over the course of the day, they contested against each other to determine who the better athlete was; an iron pony more precisely. When it came to the race, their constant horsing around brought them into a tie for last place. This made them realize that they almost broke up as friends. Later on after a run together, they reflected on what they went through that day.
"Applejack, I want to apologize for my actions towards you. It's my fault we tied for last place. I just get so swept up in competition and let it get the better of me. I did cheat in some of those events we did. I guess my pride in being a pegasus sometimes drives me to win in any way possible."
"Don't feel that way, Rainbow. We both displayed poor sportsmanship. And there's nothing wrong about being proud of what you are."
"But if I didn't use my wings, you would have won."
"What do you mean, Rainbow?"
"Applejack, you and I different. Different ponies. You're an earth pony and I'm a pegasus. Our strengths are different. I feel that I'm a strong pegasus, but you're strong earth pony. Stronger than me."
"That's not true."
"Yes it is. I know how strong you are. I hate to lose, but I'm not an iron pony. You are. You should have won."
"You really think that, Rainbow?"
"Yes."
"Rainbow, we're friends. That's all that should matter."
Those messages, those memories, they remained within Rainbow Dash's collective brain. The day Dash admitted to her friend about her own guilt. It was hard on her. It's hard on her now seeing that same friend being beaten by another pony and unable to physically help.
Applejack was laid out on the ring canvas. Her body aching all over. Bruises and bumps covered across her. Honeycrisp stood over her, staring down at her weaken cousin. She wanted to finish the job she started when she first engaged Applejack in the match. Honeycrisp grabbed the orange farm pony by her head, lifting her up onto her hooves.
"It's time to finish this, Applejack. And once this is over, you'll fully understand why the P.W.O. is a better family for me," Honeycrisp stated into Applejack's eyes.
Honeycrisp placed Applejack's head between her legs. She reached around Applejack's body and held on tightly with her legs, hoisting her body up against hers. No time to waste, Honeycrisp dropped down into a seated position. Applejack's head impacted with the base of the ring. The sound of the crash rippled across the canvas. Honeycrisp climbed back onto her hooves. She boasted to the vast crowd, receiving a wave of boos in return. She didn't care. Applejack was motionless. Her eyes were barely open. She could hear, but it sounded like whispers to her. A particular voice echoed into the earth pony's ear. It drowned out all the other voices calling out to her. She turned to the direction she could make out where the call was coming from. It was from the masked pegasus in her corner, Rainbow Dash.
"Applejack! You're an iron pony! All the times we competed against each other, I knew you were as strong as a stallion. Bring out the iron pony inside you. You've got to do it! Don't let her defeat you like this!" Dash called out to her friend on the canvas.
Honeycrisp came over to her downed cousin and laid on top for the pin. Three Count began to count the fall.
"You're right, Rainbow," Applejack said just below a whisper.
As the referee's hoof was about to collide with the canvas for the third count and give Honeycrisp the victory, Applejack kicked back with her hind legs and tossed the P.W.O. pony off her body. The reaction of the on looking crowd was amazing. The cheers for Applejack exploded. The farmer quickly stood back up on her hooves. Honeycrisp was shocked by the sudden burst of energy of the pony she thought she had beaten. She charged Applejack for a strike, but her hoof was blocked.
"What the hay? Ah had you beaten to the point of your defeat. Your hooves aren't strong enough to put ah stop to me," said Honeycrisp.
"There's more to strength than just your hooves. My strength comes from the love of mah family, the family you turned on. Ah stand by all mah family has done for the ponies of Ponyville, all of Equestria, and Ah wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."
"Stop giving me this Apple Family garbage. The P.W.O. is mah family!" Honeycrisp yelled. Honeycrisp tried to counter to Applejack's defence, but the apple farmer was not going to let go of the hooflock. "Let go of me!"
"This is fer our family!" Applejack launched a hard kick with her lower leg to the stomach of her cousin. With a swift turn, Applejack caught Honeycrisp's head on her shoulder and locked it in with her leg. "Apple Buck Buster!"
Applejack quickly dropped to the canvas, bringing her cousin with her. The sudden impact brought a collision between Honeycrisp's chin with her cousin's shoulder. Honeycrisp fell back onto the ring floor. Movement was minimal with her. Applejack rushed over for the pin. Three Count counted the cover and the third stomp brought victory for The Elements of Harmony. Honeycrisp was eliminated.
The audience erupted in cheers for the apple farmer pony. Her family at ringside hopped to their hooves in jubilation. "Way ah go, big sis!" Apple Bloom cheered out.
"You showed her!" Granny Smith called.
"Eeyup!" was all Big Macintosh had to yell out for his little sister.
Stormer rushed into the ring and began attacking the already exhausted Applejack. Applejack wanted to tag out, but getting to her own corner was a challenge. She returned jabs at the aggressive pony showing she still had some fighting energy left in her.
"For Pete's sake! You two! Get in there and beat that apple pony so that she doesn't get back up," Violet Velvet ordered to Sky Chaser and Ice Cold.
The P.W.O. ponies joined in the ring and jointly struck against their enemy. Applejack saw them coming and was ready for them. She swung blows to each of them. It was three on one. Applejack got the two invaders to back off and returned her focus on Stormer. Three Count confronted Ice Cold and Sky Chaser, demanding them to leave the interior of the ring or be ejected from the match. Applejack caught Stormer in the same position as her cousin. She was setting her up for an Apple Buck Buster.
"Now it's your turn to get ah taste of the Apple Family," said Applejack as she prepared to project the kick to the opponent's lower body.
With the referee distracted by the other two members refusing to leave the ring, Violet snuck inside the squared platform behind Applejack.
"Buck this, Applecore!" Violet yelled to the unseen Applejack. Violet kicked back with her hind legs into the lower back of Applejack. The earth pony cried out as the sudden pain swept through her back. She crashed down onto the ring canvas. The attack was not noticed by Three Count. Violet returned to her corner and exited before the referee could see her.
"Hey! She can't do that to mah sister. That's cheatin'," Apple Bloom observed the blatant strike on Applejack from the front row. Her grandmother and brother voiced their displeasure to the sneak attack as well.
Ice Cold and Sky Chaser exited through the ropes and joined Violet in their corner. Stormer laid across Applejack, waiting for Three Count to place the count. The referee galloped over and counted the three on Applejack. Applejack was gone from the match.
The Strength of Friendship
Chapter 8 "Rarity's Rumble"
The situation of the match was now getting dire. Three against four. The odds were against The Elements of Harmony. The P.W.O. were still very strong in the fight. Twilight Sparkle was getting worried for her team as it was only herself, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity left. "Okay, it's just the three of us left and they still have four," Twilight addressed seeing the challenge that faced them.
"Yeah, but Violet Velvet hasn't really done much in this match, meaning she's got fresh energy still in her. She's most likely saving it for you, Twilight," said Rainbow Dash.
"Probably," Twilight spoke back to her pegasus friend.
"I guess it is my turn then," Rarity mentioned as she entered the ring through the ropes.
"Do your stuff, Rarity," Twilight gave a pat on the back to Rarity.
"I've seen how angry you get when your sewing isn't going the way you want it or those times you used me as a living mannequin. Show her that same anger," the masked pegasus called out.
Overhearing the shout out from The Masked Rainbow, Stormer couldn't help but laugh at the reveal of the seamstress unicorn standing with The Elements of Harmony.
"So you're the one who made those stupid looking costumes? Should have expected it from a little foal rather than a full grown mare," Stormer laughed. The other three members of her team also burst into laughter.
This was no laughing matter to Rarity. Her seaming skills were her livelihood. She had always taken a lot of pride in her work. Her friends always supported her and cared so much whenever she presented them with new clothes. Mocking the job she loved with all her heart wasn't a thing to mention to Rarity's face.
"Just hold on there!" Rarity shouted at the pony laughing her head off. "You can insult my friends, you can insult our skills, but you--you do not insult my fashion! It--is--on!"
Rarity didn't waste a moment's breath and rushed towards Stormer. Was Rarity repeating the same stampeding tactic her partners tried before? Stormer liked the rush charging towards her and joined in the stampede. Both mares collided in the center of the ring. The force of the brutal impact pushed both of them back from each other. Neither went down. Rarity galloped again at her enemy. This time, the collision brought an effect towards Stormer. The blow flew the P.W.O. pony back against the ring ropes. Stormer didn't even have a chance to catch her breath as Rarity attacked again with a clothesline, tossing Stormer over the top rope and crashing onto the concrete blow.
Regaining her stance, Stormer attempted to crawl back into the ring. A shadow rapidly began to eclipse her. She looked towards the sky above only to see the white unicorn known as 'The Queen' descending quickly like a predator pouncing on its' prey. A face of rage coated the unicorn. Rarity landed on Stormer with such force that the floor gave a small thud felt by several of the ponies seated in front of the action. The two ponies brawled on the stadium floor, ignoring Three Count's countdown to ten. One of the outside referee's yelled at them to return to the inside of the ring. They paid no attention to the officials. Smacks and kicks swung in all directions between the two opposites with neither getting the better of the other. Stormer stampeded at Rarity and rammed her into the ring staircase. Rarity screamed out in pain, but refused to back down. She launched herself at Stormer, tackling her to the floor. They rolled over each other. Obscenities exchanged between them. Punches continue to clash between the ponies. The counting from the in-ring referee carried on with no interruption. Outside referees ordered the two opponents back into the ring, but like before, no avail. Three Count finally reached to the count of ten with neither Rarity or Stormer inside the ring. The referee called for the bell. The bing sound of the ring bell chimed.
"Both 'The Queen' Rarity and Stormer have been counted out," Mic Check announced to the viewing audience.
The announcement meant nothing to neither pony who continued to brawl on the floor. With them being eliminated, ringside referees were given the okay to physically intervene to break them up. The break up proved to be a struggle as Rarity and Stormer both took shots at shoving the officials away. This was their fight and they didn't want it to stop. The referees were able to finally get them separated and ordered them to leave ringside. They reluctantly obeyed the order from the officials.
"That's two more gone," Michael Colt proclaimed from the commentary table.
"It looks like now we only have Twilightlicious and Masked Rainbow against Violet Velvet, Ice Cold, and Sky Chaser. The odds are getting lower," Fancypants announced beside Michael Colt.
"Rarity was giving that Stormer hard jabs left and right. Hayeh! Yeh! Cha!" Pinkie Pie performed some of the striking actions she witnessed on top of the commentary table. Fancypants and Michael Colt looked on towards the pink pony, their minds trying to wonder if this pony was truly all there.
The Strength of Friendship
CHAPTER 9 "SPECTRUM SPLASH"
"It's now down to only five ponies, two for The Elements of Harmony and three for the P.W.O, as Ice Cold and The Masked Rainbow duel it out right now in the centre of the ring," Michael Colt announced on his microphone.
"The odds may be against The Elements, but tonight, they have shown a tremendous amount of teamwork and talent much to the surprise of some ponies. And The Masked Rainbow is putting up a well-planned defence against those martial arts kicks from Ice Cold," Fancypants observed.
Pinkie Pie hadn't removed herself from the top of the commentary table since Rarity's victory and count-out. She punched and kicked the air around her, shouting and cheering Rainbow Dash.
"That's it! Fight! Fight! Fight! Give her one for the kicker, Das--I mean, Rainbow Mas--ah--Masked Rainbow!" Pinkie screamed from the pure excitement she was witnessing in the ring.
Ice Cold threw strikes with her two front hooves one after the other at her masked opponent. Dash held her front legs in front of her chest and face in a defensive position. The ice-colored pony shot at Dash with a swift back side-kick, having her fall back into the ring ropes. Ice Cold grabbed her by her leg and tossed Dash to the other side of the ring. The masked pony bounced back towards the enemy. Ice Cold attempted to perform a back body drop, but the quick-thinking pegasus leapt over. Keeping the quick momentum on a roll, Dash turned to face Ice's back and wrapped her front legs around her waist.
"You may hit hard with those hooves of yours, but I've got the agility," the masked pony declared to her opponent.
The Masked Rainbow pulled back with all her might, yanking Ice Cold over backwards into a German suplex. Dash retained her grip around Ice Cold's body as the referee pony rushed over to observe the P.W.O. pony's upper knees touching the ring canvas. One! Two! Three! The referee signalled for the ring of the bell to declare the elimination of Ice Cold.
"Wahoo! Way a go, Masked Rainbow! You definitely put her on ice!" Pinkie Pie continued on with her constant cheering for her friend.
Ice Cold fumed over her defeat, arguing with the referee. It was his sight and decision. The losing pony exited the ring, punching the blank air in frustration.
Sky Chaser rushed into the ring and struck her hooves into the back of Dash as she welcomed the cheers from the adoring crowd. As she laid down on the canvas trying to catch her thoughts on what hit her, the ex-Wonderbolt stomped down with fierce blows from her front hooves.
"If you really want to be a Wonderbolt, maybe you should learn the first lesson anypony should know. Don't turn your back on your enemy," Sky Chaser said as she struck Dash over and over.
Sky Chaser bit into the masked pony's mane and dragged her onto all fours. A strong swing of her head smashed into the side of Dash's face, knocking her back into the corner of the ring. Sky Chaser didn't let the masked wrestler catch her breath. A series of punches from her hooves impacted Rainbow's face. The attack went on what seemed like forever. Three Count attempted to intervene with counting to five to end the constant assault. Sky Chaser could care less to what she was hearing out of the referee's mouth.
"For two years, I was with those Wonderbolts. Two years that I wasted. Taking all that crud from that stupid captain, Spitfire," Chaser told as she pounded more hoof shots into the cornered pony. "She won't care about you. She only cares about herself. She'll treat you more like a pet than a member of the team. Spitfire is nothing but a self-absorbed, bossy, piece of work. If you ever meet her, you'll come to same conclusion as I did."
Sky Chaser wrapped her leg around Dash and whipped her into the opposing ring corner. She followed up by charging and colliding with Dash in the corner with a powerful clothesline. The force of the impact knocked a chunk of energy out of the rainbow pony. Rainbow Dash shortly collapsed down onto the ring canvas as Twilight Sparkle watched on, unable to help. Sky Chaser brought down several kneeing attacks to the hurt pony's back. The pain rippled through Dash's body. Energy was sapped, exhaustion was taking form for Dash at the moment. Dash felt Chaser's hooves scoop underneath her body and flip her over onto her back.
"I could go on for hours destroying your spirit and hopes of becoming a Wonderbolt. Break your bones, break your wings, all in front of them. They would then know that you aren't worth their time," Sky Chaser continued her belittling of Rainbow Dash as she also pointed up towards the Wonderbolts seated on top a high-hanging cloud. "But I'm going to end it here and now because you couldn't even last ten minutes with me and yet, you want to join them. What a joke."
Sky Chaser climbed to the top of the ring corner turnbuckle, standing high above the ring. Rainbow Dash remained laying motionless on the canvas. Calls from Twilight and Spike went unanswered to their fallen tag team partner. Dash's eyes barely could stay open; not even looking in the direction of the towering pony in the corner. Sky Chaser smiled evilly. Victory was seen below her. She was ready and wanted to end the bout with the costumed rainbow pony.
"If I ever come across that captain again, I will gladly do to her as what I going to do to you," Sky Chaser declared before leaping off the turnbuckle, falling towards the body of Rainbow Dash with all four of her hooves extended out in front of her. "Fallen Pegasus Crush!"
The continued calls to move from Rainbow's partner, Twilight, and dragon friend, Spike, remained unregistered to the her ears. No effort to avoid the impending defeat was made. In Dash's mind, everything was going in slow-motion. All hope seemed lost to her.
"Wonderbolts---," a soft voice echoed into Dash's eardrum, "---never give in, never give up."
What was that voice? Where was it coming from? Was it all in Dash's mind due to her exhaustion?
"Any pegasus can become a Wonderbolt," the voice spoke again. "Even a masked rainbow one."
Seconds ticked past by like it was an eternity. Dash looked around where that voice was originating. Every thing she saw looked like a blur. The voice became louder to her ears and she continued her scan. She looked high above the ring towards the clouds eclipsing overhead. Her eyes fixated on the cloud with the three Wonderbolts seated on. She could see two of them were waving their hooves at her; Soarin' and Fleetfoot. The blur she was seeing slowly began to adjust and correct in her irises. The Wonderbolt seated between the others was calling out. The voice was hers; Spitfire. The yells from the Wonderbolt captain reached further inside Dash's collective mind. They were words of motivation, calls of continuing on.
Knowing where the voice was coming from, Dash's eyes finally opened fully, awareness of her surroundings shot out like a pistol. With the bearing of her name, the masked pony dashed out of the way of the falling attack from the air. Sky Chaser crashed down onto the canvas, unable to save herself and falling onto the side of her own body. Dash rushed over to the ropes and got back on all fours.
"What the hay?! No pony escapes from the Fallen Pegasus Crush that quickly," said Sky Chaser as she returned up on her hooves. "You're finished!"
The ex-Wonderbolt galloped towards Dash at full speed, coming in for a swift and brutal strike. A swing of her leg at the masked pony was stopped by Dash's own hoof. Not to be ceased, Sky Chaser swung her other front leg in Dash's direction and like the other, it was met with a block from Rainbow Dash's other hoof. Both ponies were now stuck in a struggle of might and perseverance. Their eyes were locked onto each other as opposing forces. Neither wanted to be pushed back or beaten down by the other.
"You really think this will be your victory?" Sky Chaser asked. "You really think you'll be able to impress them? The only impression they're getting from you is you can barely hold your own against one who use to be a Wonderbolt."
"That's not true!" Dash shot back. "Those Wonderbolts are cheering for me to continue fighting you. And I have already impressed them, especially Spitfire. I have met her and she is nothing like what you said. She's a great leader and knows when she sees potential in a future Wonderbolt, like me. I have the guts and strength to make it to the Wonderbolts one day. It's my dream to be one and no matter what you say, I will continue towards my dream so that I can be just like them!"
A flash of adrenaline poured through Dash's body. She broke away from one of the locked hooves and struck Sky Chaser with a swift uppercut to the jaw. The masked Dash didn't waste any breath and forwarded further attacks against Sky Chaser, bringing an assortment of martial arts and fast-action aerial moves into play. Everypony within the oval stadium rocked with excitement at the sight of The Masked Rainbow's revival in the match-up against the ex-Wonderbolt. Cheers from the three Wonderbolts continued to reverberate from the upper rims of the stadium roof.
"Go Masked Rainbow! You're awesome! You're the best pony!" the orange filly pegasus, Scootaloo, shouted from the front row alongside her friends.
Dash wasn't going to let her guard down again. Her strikes whipped all around her opponent without receiving a single blow in return.
"Keep it up, Rainbow!" Dash's partner, Twilight Sparkle, called out.
"What are you doing, Sky Chaser?! Fight back against that pegasus!" Violet Velvet screamed at the losing sight unfolding in front of her.
Dash gripped Sky Chaser around her head and hoisted her up in the air, coming back down into a back suplex. Sky Chaser was tired, a lot had been taken out of her since The Masked Rainbow regained some juice to fight back.
"It's time for this future Wonderbolt to finish the job," Dash proclaimed.
Dash galloped at full throttle the other side of the ring and leapt to the top of the turnbuckle. In a quick pounce, Dash back-flipped twice in the midst of the open air and began to fall down towards the barely moving opponent.
"Spectrum Splash!" Dash called out the name of her move.
With precession, Dash landed perfectly on top of Sky Chaser. Three Count rushed over and banged his hoof three times against the canvas. The defeat of the ex-Wonderbolt, Sky Chaser, was done. The crowd roared with joy at The Masked Rainbow's victory.
"She's good," Soarin spoke over to his captain, Spitfire, as they watched from above.
"Yeah, she is. Very good," Spitfire agreed with her second-in-command.
"Way a go, Rainbow! That's another win for us," Twilight cheered from her corner outside the ropes.
"This is it. Just defeat Violet Velvet and we win the match," the little dragon, Spike, mentioned from the side of the ring.
Violet Velvet entered the ring. She was the last member of the P.W.O. left. Her odds were not in her favour, but didn't matter to her at all. Her focus was defeating The Elements of Harmony team, even though there were still two of them left.
"I may be the only one left, but I'm not going to go down easily. You were only lucky with Sky Chaser. I'm a whole different pony," Violet snapped at The Masked Rainbow.
"Let's see what you can finally do," Dash said as she took a battle-ready stance.
"Rainbow, tag me in. You're exhausted," Twilight reached out with her hoof to her tag team partner.
"Not yet, Twilight," Dash responded back. "I still have some energy running through. I can soften her up for you."
"Soften me up? Then come at me, future Wonderbolt," Violet spoke while giving a forward gesture with her hoof.
Dash darted towards her new challenger. She leapt into the air and targeted Violet with a flying side kick. The attack was blocked. Violet attempted a swift counter-attack. Dash dodged it and grabbed Violet into a headlock. Violet wasn't falling for a typical trap and lifted Dash with her front legs and dropped her on her back. Violet went for another strike on the masked pony, but Dash rolled out of the way and regained her stance.
The fight between the pegasus and the unicorn carried on like a fast-paced race. Neither Rainbow Dash and Violet Velvet let up or let down their guard. Rainbow finally caught Violet in another headlock and took her down with a back suplex like she did before with Sky Chaser. Thinking of bringing another and final victory, Rainbow signalled to the crowd that she was going to perform her Spectrum Splash finisher. She ran to the corner and leapt up to the turnbuckle. She executed her two back-flips and descended towards to the fallen Violet Velvet. Everything seemed in play. Was victory in place for The Elements of Harmony? All of a sudden, Violet returned to her hooves and extended her back legs high above herself. Bam! Her hooves crashed into Dash's stomach. A direct hit. Dash landed hard onto the canvas, rolling around in pain. Everypony watched in shock. The pegasus was in trouble.
"Come on, Dash! Roll over and tag me in!" Twilight reached out with her hoof.
Dash started to crawl over to her corner. Her movements were put to a sudden stop by Violet Velvet standing in front of her.
"I told you, I won't go down easily," Violet spoke coldly. "Now, I'll show you why I'm not to be taken lightly."
By grabbing on her mane, Violet yanked Dash onto her hooves. She then scooped the weakened Dash over her back and grabbed a hold of her neck with her front legs. Dash's neck was lined up against Violet's shoulder. This was not a good position for Dash to be in.
"I call this The Killswitch," Violet spoke with a sinister tone in her voice.
Not even waiting a second, Violet sudden dropped down to the canvas into a sitting position. Dash's neck collided hard with Violet's shoulder. A abrupt silence showered over the crowd. Dash collapsed onto her stomach. Barely any movement appeared on the pegasus. Violet rolled Dash over and covered her for a pinfall. Three Count counted and gave the victory to Violet. The Masked Rainbow was eliminated. Twilight rushed into the ring. Her immediate concern was her partner. Dash was awake, but in pain. Twilight helped Dash roll out of the ring where she was met by ringside medics. Dash was able to stand up on all four of her legs and walk down the aisle on her own towards the exit knowing her friends will be waiting for her on the other side.
An awkward quiet set over the audience. Only two ponies remained in the ring; Twilight Sparkle and Violet Velvet. One loses, the other team wins. The stakes were high. Both ponies stared deep towards each other.
"Now," Violet broke the silence, "it's just you and me."
The Strength of Friendship
The Strength of Friendship
CHAPTER 10 "THE STRENGTH OF FRIENDSHIP"
"It's now down to the wire. It's near the end of the game. The audience is waiting. The sheep are howling," Pinkie Pie spoke into her microphone. "Wait! Sheep don't howl. They go 'Baaaa! Baaaaaaaa!'"
"Pinkie Pie!!" Michael Colt shouted over to the pink pony on the other side of Fancypants. "Will you stop with these interruptions!"
Pinkie sat up from her seat. She and Michael stood face to face. Their noses were almost touching. They could smell each other's breath.
"They go 'Baaaaa! Baaaaa!" Pinkie repeated her impersonation of a sheep.
"I don't care what sound a sheep makes. Nopony here cares," shouted Michael.
"Baaaaa! Baaaaa!" Pinkie continued with the sheep noises.
As Pinkie and Michael spouted insults and incoherent babbling towards each other, Fancypants kept his complete focus on the wrestling match.
"As Pinkie Pie mentioned, it is now down to the wire. Twilightlicious and Violet Velvet are the remaining ponies in this elimination match. These two have shown the least amount of participation in the match up until this point so they are both still full of energy. This shall be an interesting final bout," Fancypants observed.
The two rival ponies walked around the ring, circling each other. Their eyes carefully watching the other's movements. Three Count was standing off to the side. He, like the two wrestlers, also kept a keen eye. Who was going to strike first was the main thought going through his mind. The same couldn't be further from the truth in the minds of the two ponies.
"It has come down to us, Violet. I'm not afraid to face you alone. I have faced danger alone before. This is no different," said Twilight.
"Save your psyching out for some other pony," Violet snapped back. "I may be the only P.W.O. pony left, but I have saved my strength for you, Little Miss Protégé. Your friends are counting on you to capitalize on the end of this match and the two Princesses are hoping for the same outcome. They will all be disappointed. This will be in my favour. This will be the greatest victory for the Pony World Order!"
Violet became the one to make the first move. She bolted towards the purple unicorn. She wanted to take her down in one quick strike. Twilight lifted her front legs up and blocked the attack from her enemy. She then pushed back with her hooves. Violet wasn't impressed with the defence put up by Twilight and went for another blow on her. Twilight dodged her second attempt completely by cartwheeling to the side of her body. Twilight then quickly grabbed Violet from behind and locked the angry opponent's front legs around her own and pulled back into a full nelson suplex. Twilight kept the grip as Three Count went in to give a count of the pinfall. One! Two! Violet kicked out. Violet regaining her footing first and kicked Twilight in the stomach. She then locked Twilight's head into a headlock and hoisted her up towards the air above. Twilight kicked her back legs aggressively causing Violet to lose control and force to let go. Twilight landed behind her opponent. Violet spun around to face the purple pony. Twilight met her before she could make another move and scooped her up and then down into a bodyslam. Violet rushed back up only to be met by a bucking of Twilight's back hooves into her upper body sending her flying into the ring corner. Twilight didn't waste any momentum. She leapt up into the ring corner, landing with her back legs on the middle layered ropes. Twilight began striking Violet in the head below her with her hoof. Over and over without miss did the hoof collide with the cranium of the red unicorn. The stadium of thousands of ponies counted out with their loud vocals in unison every time Twilight punched Violet in the head. Three Count also counted from the side, but for different reasons as his job was referee. By the time Twilight reached the sixth blow to her enemy, Violet wrapped her front legs around Twilight's mid-body, moving away from the ring corner and putting a stop to the physical assault. Violet brought Twilight down quickly for an inverted atomic drop. Twilight countered the drop, avoiding injury to the groin region of her body. She retaliated with a swift clothesline, taking Violet down onto the canvas.
This isn't going to be easy, Twilight thought to herself. Violet is strong and determined to defeat me. I can't risk letting my guard down for one second. I have to find a way to defeat her and get this match over with.
The contested bout between the leaders of the Elements of Harmony and the P.W.O. forwarded on. If there was a sign of who would possibly become the winner, it was nowhere to be seen. Both ponies gave everything they had. Speed, agility, energy, it was all there. High-flying acrobatics, hard takedowns, swift counterattacks, they performed them all. If one was being trodden down, they found a way to regain their ground on their hooves. Many near-pinfalls were made and kick-outs right before the count of three brought aggravation to the two competitors. Eyes from all the ponies viewing the fight were locked onto the spectacle, none were looking away. Everypony was waiting for that final pinfall.
"Looking at the clock right now, these two have been battling it out for over fifteen minutes since the last elimination. The sheer amount of power flowing through these two to keep going this long is just astounding to me," Michael Colt spoke.
"Absolutely, Michael," Fancypants agreed. "I do say, these two ponies don't want the other to show them up. Giving everything they got is among the best ways to show your opponent that you're not letting up one drop of defeat."
Twilight lifted up Violet from the ring canvas. She wrapped her legs around the red unicorn's body, ready to throw her into another bodyslam. Violet countered with two hits of her hooves against Twilight's upper back. This time, Violet scooped Twilight up into her front legs, but not into a bodyslam, a falling powerslam. Twilight moaned out in pain from the impact. Both ponies had used everything they had given. They were tired, exhausted, but still very much willing to go on. Violet stood up and stared down Twilight, still laid down on the canvas and in pain.
"Enough is enough. It is time I finish you," Violet growled.
Violet ran to the opposite side of the ring. She positioned herself into a charging stance. She kicked her hoof back twice. She was planning on stampeding at Twilight once she got back on her legs.
"I don't care what pain you'll be in. Once I strike you with my Stampede Spear into that ring corner, the last of that magic that's keeping you going with wash away and the P.W.O. will claim another win over you Elements," Violet spoke to herself.
Twilight collected herself and slowly climbed back up onto her hooves. Her mind was still in a bit of daze due to the powerslam. She was unfortunately unaware of the danger lurking and waiting behind her.
"Say goodnight, Twilightlicious!" Violet growled again.
The red unicorn began her stampede towards the oblivious pony. Spike screamed at Twilight to turn around and move. Twilight could barely hear him to the current daze still slightly plaguing her. Violet was getting closer, the end to a long match-up was closing in for her. Twilight finally turned her head to view the other side. A glance of the charging pony briefly caught her eye. The moment of impact was only less than a second way. Violet finally reached Twilight's position. Did she score a direct hit? Twilight, her mind finally catching up with her, made a split decision and propelled herself out of the way right before a possible end. Violet missed her target. But unseen to her and even to Twilight, Three Count was in the unfortunate obscured position right behind the purple unicorn. Violet had kept going past Twilight and collided with Three Count, crashing him into the ring corner at full force. The referee pony collapsed to the ring floor. He was motionless; possibly knocked out.
Violet quickly became aware at what she had done, but only uttered harsh words, "Stupid referee."
Violet returned her attention back to Twilight only to be met by a purple hoof to the face. And another hoof to the face by Twilight. The last member of the Elements of Harmony was fighting back strong. The crowds cheered and hollered for their favourite pony to win. Twilight took several wrestling moves to Violet, softening her up. The smell of victory was in the air. The end was that much closer. The stride for it was running deep inside Twilight, keeping her going. She whipped Violet towards the ropes. Violet reversed and Twilight headed to the ropes. She bounced off them and headed on a return course back to Violet. Violet went for a clothesline. Twilight ducked and bounced off the adjacent ropes. Violet tried again for a clothesline. This time, Twilight slid below between her opponents legs. Violet turned around to meet her challenger. Twilight leapt up and wrapped her bottom legs around Violet's head, dragging her overtop and onto the canvas. Twilight ended on top of her and grabbed onto Violet's bottom legs and held on tightly. It was a pinfall. Violet struggled to get loose. Twilight held a strong grip, not going to let go. It was a victory. The time for a count of three went past. But, where was the referee, Three Count? He was still down and out. Not much movement was seen by him. It was a hard hit he received from that Stampede Spear. Twilight was still holding on. She could see that the referee was facedown on the ring floor. She called to him, but no response was returned.
Bam! A hard kick stung against Twilight's face. Was it from Violet? Did she figure a way out from her trap? The kick came from her tag team partner, Ice Cold. With no referee awake in the ring, Ice Cold had galloped down to the ring and saved her team captain. But she wasn't alone. Stormer, Sky Chaser, Whiplash and Honeycrisp also ran down to join in the joint assault on Twilight Sparkle. The five ponies kicked and stomped on Twilight, who barely could defend herself from the mass attack. Violet yelled at her partners to beat Twilight, to her hurt. Boos and jeers from the audience howled all around. The noise was ignored by the P.W.O.. Their only concern was to do damage to Twilight Sparkle, the last member of the Elements of Harmony team. Spike wanted to enter and help his pony friend out, but he knew his small size and being outnumbered was out of the question. He could only watch helplessly.
"This is absurd!" Fancypants jeered at the onslaught taking place in the ring. "Those other ponies were eliminated from the match. They have no business being back down here. This is outrageous! You must be just as angered by this form of behaviour, Pinkie Pie, right? Wait. Where's Pinkie?"
The pink party pony had vanished from the commentary table she wildly entertained for majority of the match. Fancypants panned left and right to find her. She was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh good, she's gone?" Michael asked, feeling a bit relieved that the annoyance he received from her had disappeared.
"Wait a minute! There she is!" Fancypants finally noticed her.
The pink pony was standing on top of the turnbuckle close to the commentary table. Pinkie was staring down into the gang attack on Twilight Sparkle. She saw her friend trying to cover herself with her hooves. Twilight was in pain, unable to really defend herself. Pinkie's eyes narrowed in on the attackers, the look of anger etched on her face. She had to save her friend.
"Pinkie Pie! What is in good heavens are you doing?!" Fancypants yelled towards her. Pinkie didn't respond back.
"Time for the Ultimate Pony to crash this party," Pinkie quietly muttered to herself.
Pinkie leapt off the top of the turnbuckle. Her four legs spread wide open. She hollered loudly as she descended. The P.W.O. ponies turned to the blare that was quickly approaching them. Before any real reaction, Pinkie landed onto the mass of black-shirted ponies, taking them all off her hooves. A loud roar from the crowd shook the foundation around the ring. Pinkie stood up before any of the other ponies could regain control. She continued to scream out in a fiery passion and began launching punches and kicks at any of the enemy ponies that try to get near Twilight again.
"Ultimate Pony will stop you from hurting Twilightlicious!" Pinkie shrieked, dawning her wrestling persona despite no longer wearing the costume nor face paint.
"So the Ultimate Phony wants to suffer another hard loss?" Stormer asked. "I'm pretty okay with that. Let's get her girls!"
The P.W.O. ponies agreed in unison to target Pinkie Pie for the moment.
"Hold on!" a voice shouted from behind the enemy ponies. As the ponies turned to see who spoke up against them, they were met by an unfortunate sight. The voice was from the Masked Rainbow. But she wasn't alone. 'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy, 'Applemazing' Applejack, and 'The Queen' Rarity stood along side her. "If you're going to fight Ultimate Pony and Twilightlicious, you have to fight all of us."
Sky Chaser took the first swing at the Elements by going after the one that eliminated her, Masked Rainbow. Her wallop was met with a hard front kick to her head. The other Element ponies launched forward and began duelling it out for a second time against the Pony World Order. It was utter chaos in the ring. Bodies were flying everywhere. Strikes and crashes were occurring in every inch of the ring. Neither side was letting up, but the Elements were taking the advantage in order to save and protect the last member still involved in the legal match. The crowd was going nuts. Even though this was a vicious attack by the P.W.O. and a counterattack brought on by the Elements of Harmony, every pony in the seating were on their hooves. They were loving the fierce struggle being decided inside the squared ring.
Spike continued to stay out of the fight, but ran over to Three Count, trying everything he could get him conscience again.
The fighting between the eliminated ponies spilled out of the ring onto the stadium floor. The Element ponies dominated over their P.W.O. counterparts. Legs and hooves were hitting everywhere. Slowly, each member of the Pony World Order began to retreat to the inner corridors of the stadium. Enough of the fighting for them. Whiplash and Stormer were the last of eliminated members of their team remaining at ringside. Outnumbered and weakened from the brawl.
"Whiplash, let's get out of here!" Stormer called out to her teammate.
"Right!" Whiplash agreed. "These ponies don't need the Elements of Harmony. They are the Elements of Harmony!" The two of them quickly galloped away from the carnage towards the exit of the stadium.
The Elements of Harmony remained together around ringside. Fluttershy and Applejack were catching their breath from the beat-back they endured. Rarity and Pinkie Pie joined with Spike to try to help Three Count, still barely awake from the earlier hit he took. Rainbow Dash called on Twilight to get up and get the victory. Twilight was still weak from the gang attack she suffered. Slowly she was regaining her energy back. She climbed back up onto all fours. She shook her head to clear her senses. Suddenly, she felt a cut off to her breathing. She struggled to the unknown force that had taken a hold of her. The unknown force was Violet Velvet. With the referee still down and his eyes not set on the match, Violet took it the opportunity to make a quick way to get the win. By choking Twilight out. She had wrapped her leg around Twilight's neck, a blatant and illegal move in the realm of professional wrestling. But she didn't care. Everything wasn't going as planned for her and her company. She wanted to end the fight any way possible, even through cheating. Twilight struggled and kicked, but nothing worked. Her physical strength was fading. Violet forced Twilight down to her back knees. Twilight's body was slowly beginning to subside. Her friends could only watch. They could enter back into the ring and save her since Three Count still hadn't fully gotten back up, but none of them wanted to stoop to the level the P.W.O. did. They only yelled at Twilight to fight back.
"The flow of oxygen to your brain will slowly be cut off and you'll be out like a light. You can struggle all you want. It's no use. Your friends can't help you now. Once I defeat you, the P.W.O. will be victorious over the Elements of Harmony. The truth will be seen before everypony that you really are a loser and perhaps the Princess will find a better student to be her protégé," Violet mocked Twilight as she continued the choke around the purple unicorn's neck.
Twilight's predicament was becoming more dire. Her body started to go quiet. Her whaling struggles had left. Only weak movements of her legs remained in view. Her grasps for air were slowly waving away. The eyelids of the purple pony resisted to stay open, but the work they were doing were fading away fast. It was only a matter of time till her pupils will be closed on and her awaken conscience will be put to sleep.
Her friends watched helplessly. Their calls fell on silence from Twilight. They were fearing the worst. Violet was going to have Twilight beaten. Rarity and Pinkie resumed in trying to get the referee back into doing his job. Three Count was still dizzy and not fully alert of his surroundings. Spike ran over to Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Fluttershy, joining in the screams and yells to the near-out Twilightlicious.
"Twilight! Don't give in! Hang in there! Twilight! Don't go down like this!" the little dragon yelled to his pony friend.
It all seemed useless. No response from her. Her eyes had now shut. Her mouth appeared to give out one last breath. Her legs hung silently at her side. Violet grinned evilly. She felt no further movements from her opponent. She could only feel the victory in front of her. Twilight's teammates were in dismay. Their leader was no longer fighting or resisting. It all seemed over now in their minds.
"Tw--Twilight," Fluttershy spoke softly while attempting to hold back tears.
The small dragon on the ring canvas couldn't keep his eyes away from the horror before him. He looked at his other pony friends realizing they too were felt helpless. Fluttershy had turned away. She did not want to witness the end of her dear friend. The other four's faces began to shape into sadness. Defeat was about to be declared. It was all over now they thought.
"TWILIGHT!!" Spike screamed with all the might his little body could muster. "Twilight! Twilight!" The dragon's shouts of his friend's name feel on deaf ears next to him. It didn't matter any longer. Spike continued to scream her name. He pounded his tiny clawed fists on the lower rope. Spike soon got into a simple rhythm with his pounds and calls, repeating over and over.
Unseen to everypony, Twilight's ears felt the vibration of her name travelling down the chambers. The sounds began to grow louder with every second. Her mentality recognized those words and who was saying them.
"Sp--ike," Twilight was able speak under a small breath.
Twilight's eyelids opened only by a sliver. She could see Spike behind the ropes calling her name. The passion he was expressing was intense in her eyes. She knew he was give all he could to motivate her to continue on. Soon enough, her friends caught on with Spike's technique and joined in calling Twilight's name. They clopped their hooves together with the rhythmic sounding out of their friend's name.
"G-girls," Twilight spoke again.
Her front legs began to move again, reaching out towards the ponies and dragon in front of her vision. Violet felt the pony's revival and continued to apply pressure to the choke. Twilight's legs gained enough strength to connect with the rhythm that vibrated in her direction against the canvas. The chants for her waved into the audience. All ponies united in the unison for Twilight Sparkle from the front rows reaching all the way above to the overseeing clouds and VIP box with the Princesses. Twilight could hear everypony saying that one word; her name. Violet couldn't believe her sight. The unity against her was immense. But she wasn't going to let this go. Her grip on Twilight remained strong, but the energy she had sapped away from her was beginning to fill up again.
"What is all this?!" Violet asked surrounded by all the calls for one pony.
"It's the sound of ponies cheering for this pony you call a loser," said Twilight as she began to rise back up. "They haven't lost hope in me."
Twilight regained her footing back on her back hooves and struck back at Violet with her upper knees, releasing the violent chokehold that was applied to her. The thousands of ponies cheered at the return of Twilight Sparkle in the match. The purple unicorn coughed and shook off the strain she was under for those several long minutes.
"This is not happening!" Violet yelled angrily.
"Even without the Elements, you have seen first hoof how strong we six ponies really are. We have the skills that make each of us unique. We all something that means so much to ourselves that keeps each one of us longing for. Applejack loves her family; Rainbow Dash wants to be a Wonderbolt someday; Fluttershy will stand up for herself; Rarity will defend her honour; and Pinkie Pie will party on. You may be tough, mean, and strong, but that doesn't stop the one strength that keeps me going. The strength of friendship!" Twilight proclaimed.
"What a load of horse apples!" Violet grunted back, not believing a single thing Twilight said to her. "You Elements of Harmony aren't going to have this victory. This victory is mine!
Violet bolted towards Twilight. She was in the midst of pure anger. She wanted to win badly. She would take down Twilight Sparkle at any cost. She approached her destination and forwarded her hoof in for an attack on her opponent. Twilight ducked underneath the attack and caught Violet with a wraparound with her front legs.
"No, it's not," Twilight spoke into Violet's ear as she held Violet enclosed around her legs. Twilight hoisted Violet quickly into space above her while still having a tight wrap on her opponent. "Sparkling Destiny!"
Slam! Twilight slammed Violet hard onto the ring floor. The entire ring shook after that sudden impact. The red unicorn's strength was finally out of steam. She lied with very little motion from her body and muscles. Twilight acted quickly and covered Violet for the pinfall. Three Count, finally fully aware of the events going on around him, slid in and tapped his hoof against the canvas.
"One! Two! Three!" the referee pony counted.
The bell rang for the final time. The match was over. Ponies all across the seating of the stadium rose up in jubilation. Deafening cheers reverberated in every direction. Spike and the other five ponies climbed into the ring, rushing over to their winner, Twilight Sparkle. She did it. She got the final pinfall and victory for the team. Her friends helped her back on her hooves, giving out hugs of happiness to her. Spike especially gave her a huge hug.
"You did it, Twilight! You won!" Spike said joyfully to his close friend. Twilight easily smiled back to him and said thanks in return.
"Twilightlicious, the sole survivor of the Twleve Mare Elimination Match. She brought home the victory for the Elements of Harmony. Truly an exhausting match they all put on tonight. I have to be honest, this was by far one of the most entertaining matches I have ever covered in all the years I've been involved with professional wrestling," Michael Colt spoke beside his commentary partner, Fancypants.
"Indeed, Michael," Fancypaints agreed. "Twilight displayed extraordinary flair and talent throughout the entire match and when it seemed all hope lost near the end, she pulled through and rose to be the winner. Quite the fighter she is."
"And her friends and tag team partners there taking in the celebrations came up solid for her during that assault by the P.W.O. late in the match. These ponies' friendship is strong and that bond seems to have a tight lock on it," Michael continued.
The music blared loudly, but almost overtaken by the sheer vocals of the adoring crowd of ponies still on their hooves for the Elements of Harmony. The bright beams of followspot spotlights returned alongside the multitude of coloured laser lights, dancing all across the stadium walls and skyline. The ponies inside the ring waved and smiled to every pony they could see. The excitement had fully overtaken them. Applejack lifted Twilight onto her back for a better view for the audience. Twilight sprouted her front legs into the air and gave her biggest smile to the grateful mass of ponies.
"You can't have a celebration without one thing. My party cannon!" Pinkie Pie cheered as she swung out her cannon like it came out of nowhere. "Let's set it to Super-Duper-Mega-Best-Party level!"
With a turn of a small knob at the bottom of the cannon, Pinkie's little invention began firing off streamers and confetti all far reaching in a multi-layer of directions. The celebration was a sight to see. Everypony enjoyed what they were observing. A big victory for a big match.
High above every other pony, the Princesses gazed down below at all the wonderful dancing and cheering playing out through the entire interior of the Royal Canterlot Stadium.
"Sister, that was an excellent bout we witnessed together," Luna spoke to Celestia. "While I was nervous at the beginning before the match even started, I am relieved that they completed it and are victorious."
"I told you I had confidence in them, my dear sister," Celestia responded.
Hoovamania concluded later that evening. Everypony enjoyed the year's biggest wrestling event. But the evening wasn't finished in the realm of professional wrestling. Outside the Royal Canterlot Stadium within the lavish and beautiful courtyard, hundreds of ponies from the mass crowd that viewed the night's great event met with the chance to greet and meet many of the wrestlers of the Pony Wrestling Federation; get their autographs, photos and exchange greetings of peace. Wrestlers of both face and heel set aside their differences for these type of occasions. Underdog wrestlers, tag teams, champions, all wrestlers from the Hoovamania show were onsite to meet their fans and friends. Well, not all were present. There were no signs of any the Pony World Order ponies. The most likely thought everypony had was they were too humiliated to show up and left the city early.
Every wrestler pony had a line-up of young and old fans ready to greet them and share a brief time with them. The Elements of Harmony ponies were met with some of the largest lines. Almost every pony wanted to meet the six who won an exciting match over the Pony World Order. The level of appreciation was overwhelming. Of the six mares, Twilight was meeting the longest line of anticipating spectators. Dawning her Twilightlicious jacket and sunglasses, the purple unicorn happily signed autograph after autograph and snapped a photo here and there. She always said thanks to each one who met with her. After she signed another autograph for a young filly, the next in line approached her. "Nicely done out there, Twilightlicious," the pony complemented.
Twilight was adjusting her sunglasses at the moment and hadn't look at the pony yet. "Why thank you--,"
Twilight was viewing into the face of one of the wrestlers of the evening's event; Wendi Rawhide. A blue earth pony with dark brown mane and tail. Her mane sparkled like stars in the sky. Her wrestling attire including a red and pink striped leotard and matching kneepads. Multicoloured leg bands on each one of her legs and a matching one around her head. A gold championship belt was wrapped around her mid-body.
"Wendi Rawhide. You won the P.W.F. Mare Championship earlier tonight," Twilight commented.
"Hay yeah!" Wendi replied back. "And you Twilightlicious, were outstanding this evening. I have never seen a mare pull so much effort and determination against any of the P.W.O. like you did. Going on that long with Violet Velvet and coming out on top, I'm amazed you're still new at this. You could be line for a shot at the Mare Championship Title."
"Really?" Twilight asked with a twinkle of flattery.
"Absolutely!" Wendi replied. "Give me a call sometime and I'll put this title on the line someday against you."
Twilight didn't know what to say. Did she just get challenged into another match or was Wendi Rawhide just being nice? Wendi extended her hoof and Twilight did the same and both shook on good terms.
"Catch you later, girl," said Wendi before she walked off, being followed by other fans.
A few ponies away from Twilight stood 'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy, joining along in the autograph signings with her teammantes. Normally shy around new ponies and the like, after her performance in the elimination match, she had opened up a little bit more towards the line-up of pony fans. It helped that everypony had been so nice to her and congratulating her over her win against Whiplash. A little filly found herself next to meet Fluttershy. She was very nervous and seemed a little scared too. She slowly approached the yellow pegasus. Fluttershy smiled looking down at the small pony.
"Hello," Fluttershy greeted the small one.
"Ah--um--hi," the filly nervously responded back. She was holding a Hoovamania poster in her hoof. She offered it out to Fluttershy. "C--could you--please autograph--this for me?"
"Sure I can," Fluttershy happily spoke. "What's your name?"
"Sweet Sunshine," the filly answered.
Fluttershy locked a marker between her teeth and signed the poster. 'To Sweet Sunshine, From 'Nature's Wonder' Fluttershy' is what Fluttershy signed onto the paper. The tiny pony nervously smiled at the autograph she received.
"What's wrong? Are you shy?" Fluttershy asked to Sweet Sunshine.
"Y-yes," Sunshine responded.
"It's okay to be shy sometimes. I still get shy around others I'm not used to. But it gets better, you'll see," Fluttershy assured to the small pony.
"Really?" Sweet Sunshine began to smile brightly.
"Yes," Fluttershy answered.
"Thank you so much," Sweet Sunshine happily told her newfound idol. "You're now my new favourite wrestler. Thank you, Fluttershy." Sweet Sunshine scurried back to her parents, jumping with joy over getting the autograph and having a new wrestler to look up to.
That moment make Fluttershy very happy. A moment to brighten up another pony's evening. The exchange was noticed by 'The Queen' Rarity next to Fluttershy.
"That was very kind of you, Fluttershy," Rarity commented as she signed autographs with aid of magic from her unicorn horn.
"Yes it was. She was so happy to meet me," said the pegasus. Fluttershy was even more happy for the kindness she had given to a new fan and awaited the next fan to greet.
Next up came an older teenage colt. He was not like the little Sweet Sunshine. Sporting a P.W.F. ball cap and matching shirt, the colt quickly approached Fluttershy much to her surprise. Nacho cheese surrounded the outer rim of his mouth. A strong scent of the milky substance was on his breath. His face beamed of excitement. He was your typical wrestling fan.
"Um--hi," Fluttershy nervously greeted the next pony.
"Hey Fluttershy! The wonder of nature! Burp! I must have a photo with you cause you are so cute and best wrestler I have ever met," the teenage colt smiled ever so greatly.
He quickly stood beside and wrapped his leg around the back of her neck waiting for his friend to snap a photo. Fluttershy embarrassingly smiled.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle waited patiently in line for the chance to meet the Masked Rainbow. Scootaloo was more excited than her unicorn filly friend. She hopped up and down, peering over the heads of other ponies in front of her to catch a glimpse of masked wrestler. Rainbow Dash signed autograph after autograph. She loved the attention she was getting from these fans and happy to return the love. It wasn't the Wonderbolts, but in her mind, it was just as worth it. The two finally arrived at the front of the line. Scootaloo rushed right over to the Masked Rainbow. Her face gleamed with anticipation. She was so animated.
"Hey there kid? What's your name?" Rainbow asked. She already knew who she was, but in the disguise of the Masked Rainbow, she had to play along.
"Scootaloo!" the little orange pegasus answered. She handed Rainbow a poster to sign. "I think you are so awesome Masked Rainbow. Just as awesome as this other pegasus I know named Rainbow Dash. Though I really wish she was here at Hoovamania. She would have loved to seen you in action tonight and meet you like I am." Scootaloo was still was oblivious to the fact that Rainbow Dash that dawned the masked wrestling persona for the evening's match.
"Oh for the love of--Scootaloo, this is Rainbow Dash!" Sweetie Belle voiced loudly to her friend.
"It is?" Scootaloo asked sceptically.
"What are you talking about? I'm the Masked Rainbow. Though I have heard of this Rainbow Dash and I think she is just as cool as me. Maybe even a little cooler," Dash answered back to Sweetie Belle while giving back the autograph to Scootaloo.
Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes and walked off along with an ecstatically happy Scootaloo in toll.
Pinkie Pie hopped and bounced all around the courtyard. She had dressed herself back up in the Ultimate Pony costume but didn't bother with the face make-up. Instead of fans approaching her, she approached them. She ran up to random ponies and signed them autographs. She jumped in beside her friends and spouted out to the fans about how great her friends were. All around, she performed complete randomness among wrestlers and spectators. Her friends were already use to her hyper and joyful attitude.
"--and then I put him in a submission hold and got him to submit and I gained a win over the enemy," Pinkie Pie went on about her experience at Hoovamania to several pony fans.
"Pinkie, you were the first one eliminated," Twilight commented hearing in on Pinkie's stories about the night's match thinking she was telling an alternate version of events.
"I'm not talking about what happened to me in the ring, Twilight. I'm talking about the ultimate commentary I did with Fancypants and Michael Colt. I think they love me and want me to come back to do the next show with them," Pinkie answered back to Twilight.
"The commentary wasn't as great as what mah sister Applejack did," Apple Bloom told to Pinkie Pie whiling standing next her sister, Applejack. "She defeated our cousin, Honeycrisp, teaching her not to turn her back on our family. Applejack was applemazing!" Apple Bloom enveloped a big hug around her sister.
Applejack embarrassingly smiled back at her little sister. Her mind was thinking whether she really came up with that apple pun of a word.
"Twilight, this has become such a wonderful evening," said Rarity. "These fans just keep on coming. They are showing so much dedication to us. They love us."
"Yeah they do," Twilight replied to her fellow unicorn. "We beat one wrestling team and it's like we save Equestria all over again. Though, I hope the Princesses enjoyed the evening."
"Tonight was fantastic!" an enthusiastic bellow reached over the gathering of ponies.
Everypony looked in the direction of the loud call. As they saw who spoke, ponies began to bow their heads in respect to the appearance of two important alicorn ponies.
"Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!" the six mares called out in surprise.
The two Princesses walked calmly towards the Elements of Harmony team. The autographs and photography suddenly stopped. The six young mares smiled at the sight of the two royals they knew so well.
"Twilight, he, Twilightlicious, that was an amazing match you put on tonight for us," said Princess Celestia.
"We both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. That was one of the greatest matches I have ever witnessed," Princess Luna applauded.
"Well, it was a whole new experience for all of us, Princess. One I don't any of us will ever forget," Twilight returned to Celestia. Her friends all nodded in agreement.
"And that speech you gave to Violet at the end of the match about moving towards your achievements and what makes you unique and strong, I take it that you learned an important lesson tonight, Twilight?" Twilight's teacher questioned.
"Indeed I did, Princess," Twilight answered back. "I learned that no matter what anypony says, you should stand up for what you believe in and do what you can to keep it. These ponies are my greatest friends and they were with me from the beginning. They helped me in the end to see how special they really are to me and why I treasure them so much. It is important to keep something that means so much to you close cause that is what gives you strength."
"Like flying a goal towards becoming a Wonderbolt," said Rainbow Dash.
"What family means to you," mentioned Applejack.
"Honour in your own talents," spoke Rarity.
"Being the ultimate party pony," cheered Pinkie Pie.
"Not being a pushover, but, I caused myself to get ejected from the match," said Fluttershy with a sadden look draping over her face.
Princess Luna touched the side Fluttershy's sad face with her hoof, slightly lifting the pegasus' face up.
"I'd wouldn't worry too much about that, dear Fluttershy," said Luna as she cheered up Fluttershy. "Perhaps that Whiplash will now think twice about facing you." Fluttershy smiled once again.
"So Twilight, do you and friends plan on staying with the Pony Wrestling Federation and bring us some more wonderful matches?" Celestia asked awaiting a response from her faithful student.
Twilight was unsure what to say at the moment. She glanced over at her friends who were also waiting for her take on the question. The purple unicorn looked up to the towering alicorn princess and answered, "With all due respect, Princess, I think we are going to go into retirement from wrestling. One match is more than enough."
All six mares burst into laughter followed by the two Princesses joining in.
