Clash of the Legends

It had been going well so far. None of the three had been detected by the 'Guards', and had nearly made it out of the gates and to freedom.

Where the mares would promptly stab Shining in the back, or vice-versa.

"How can this crate hide us so well?" Luna whispered from above Shining (No, shut up you sicko.) Mostly due to cartoon physics, all three armoured ponies had somehow managed to conceal themselves behind a box in the courtyard. It looked a bit like the clones were trying to build a superweapon, but judging by their intelligence level it was unlikely. One clone was trying to open a wooden crate using the handle of a hammer by repeatedly tapping it on the crack. Another, meanwhile, had decided to disassemble the car Luna and Scorch arrived in, and the individual parts were used to make a gigantic statue of Scorch 'having fun' with Luna. The artist got it down to a tee. He even went so far as to scratch the markings onto the playing cards, AND to remold the windscreen from cracked glass into a bottle of wine.

Impressive, Luna thought, admiring the architecture of the statue, They even got his rump perfect. Why did Scorch-Mane not become a sculptor? Making a mental note to order the Architect to bring the statue out of the arena, Luna looked around the courtyard again. The concentration of the clones was decreasing rapidly from their tasks: one of them had decided to go and climb the wall, before climbing down, before climbing, then down, repeatedly, with seemingly no reason to do so.

"Hmmm..." Cadence said quietly, rubbing a hoof to her chin. "Gate looks relatively undefended. I think it's a clear shot to the exit, and then we can deal with our match. Hopefully." Shining Armor and Luna nodded in agreement. "But then there's the issue of the clones seeing us, which...yeah. Given the way that they were lovingly gazing at you in the dungeons, Luna, I think we have a distraction." Luna reeled back, pupils shrinking to pinprick size.

"What?" she hissed in return. "No! I am NOT going out there!" Shining Armour facehoofed.

"Ohhhhh, yes you are." he groaned, before giving Luna a shove. She squealed loudly, stumbled, before righting herself and finding her hoofing. Enraged, she turned around and glared at the other two.

"Guys!" Luna shouted, stomping an armoured hoof to the stone and cracking the floor slightly. "Lemme back in! Shiiiiiiiniiiiing!"

"Ahem." came a sudden cough. Luna tensed sharply, before slowly looking behind her. A single Scorch-Mane clone had stopped whatever it was he was doing to begin with, and approached the Princess. Luna giggled quietly.

"Ah, hi?" she replied cautiously.

"Is that you, Princess Luna?" he asked, narrowing his eyes and trotting around her. "If it is, we'd best get you and your two friends out of here."

"Wait, you're helping us?" Luna asked.

"Yes, why? Did you want to be tasered to the ground and then abused by some twisted segment of Scorch's mind?"

"Well...no?" Luna hoofed nervously at the ground.

"Precisely. Sneak your way over to the gates, I'll form a distraction, you run, and I can meet you outside the city. Sound good?"

"Yes, that's a good plan." Luna smiled. "I'll tell the other two." Promptly, the blue alicorn faced the crate somehow concealing two armoured ponies.

"So? What's he saying?" Shining Armor whispered.

"He's actually willing to help us. He says he can form a distraction once we sneak over to the gates, and meet us outside the city. I'm concerned this may be a trap."

"Right..." Cadence muttered. "I guess you could promise him something if he doesn't betray us? Because we all know you two are an item."

"Shut up. You've been swinging your rump in Shining's face since the dungeon. I think we all know you're kind of being a hypocrite." All insults made, Luna returned to her new friend. "Ok, what you're offering is very generous. But, surely you want something in return, hmm?"

"Ahhh, no." he replied. "It's just me, Cloned Scorch-Mane."

"Are you certain you don't wish for some reward for your generosity? Perhaps...me?"

"Yes, fairly certain. All I've wanted from Day 1 is to get the buck away from the idiots you see behind me. Seriously, there's only so long you can stand having a copy of you running about burning things and laughing through a gas mask. It's funny at first, but then once he sets you on fire and starts trying to whack you with a postbox that surprisingly hurts more than when you're not on fire, the fun stops."

"Well, if you're sure."

"Certainly. Make your way to the gate, if you please."