Pony Kombat: The First Tournament

It had been exactly one day, since Twilight arrived to this island. Since being told by Celestia, god of lightning, that she’s not a true warrior, Twilight had been spending most of her time training near the beach. Twilight had apparently removed her tank top and overcoat leaving her only in her black pants and shoes. After doing a few exercises, she sat cross legged on the shore, meditating. She felt confident, hearing that she was ready by the grandmaster but compared to Celestia, the White Lotus was just another group of peasants. Twilight really had no idea Celestia would even be here, let alone claiming to be the one to take down Trixie.

“What are you doing?” Asked a familiar voice.

Twilight immediately woke from her meditation, and looked behind her to be greeted by none other then the same blue ninja, she saw on the boat.

“Lightning Dust!” Twilight shouted, immediately getting up. “I-I was just meditating, getting ready for my next fight.”

“But do you really need it?” Lightning asked. “You’ve come pretty far.”

“I’ve only done two fights.” Twilight explained, rolling her eyes.

“I know. I saw them.” Lighting dust explained. “Tell me though, why do you SPARE those you take down?”

“They don’t need to die.” Twilight explained. “They’ve already been eliminated from the tournament, there’s nothing left to do after that.”

“Oh… You. Pitiful. Naive. Monk.” Lightning Dust said, staring at the ground and shaking her head. “Sparing someone you defeat, means nothing. They’ll just come back for revenge. Maybe even stronger. That’s why I make sure to finish off those, after I’ve defeated them.

“Y-yeah I know…” Twilight said, somberly as she remembers watching the first battle, between Lightning Dust and another pony. She remembers after Lightning Dust won, she grabbed her defeated foe by the neck and somehow managed to pull his head off, along with the spinal cord still attached. After that she decided to not watch anymore fights that starred Lightning Dust.” Just then, a thought crossed Twilight’s mind.

“W-wait! What about that “Gilda” fellow? Celestia told me you killed her, and now she’s back for revenge.” Twilight asked.

“Gilda is a very persistent fighter. But I guess that’s why she lost in the first place.” Lightning Dust laughed.

“How can you say that?” Twilight asked, shocked. “You were the one who slaughtered Gilda's friends and family. I could see why you didn't have a choice to spare Gilda, but there was no reason for you to attack the entire Shirai Ryu.”

“Gilda’s clan was just a farce compared, to the Lin Kuei. It was even founded by a traitor to our clan, long ago.” Lightning explained. “But I DIDN'T participate in the assassination of the entire Shirai Ryu.”

"What? Then why does Gilda believe you did?" Twilight asked.

Lightning Dust took a deep breath, before explaining her story. "One time I received a mission from a sorcerer named Starlight Glimmer-"

"To retrieve Sombra's amulet from the guardian temple." Twilight finished.

"You know about this?" Lightning Dust asked

"Yes. Celestia told us everything, about you and Gilda." Twilight explained.

"Well did she explain about how Starlight framed me for killing Gilda's wife and son?" Lightning Dust asked.

"W-wha-" Twilight started, but was interrupted.

"Yes. The grandmaster requested Starlight to eliminate the entire Shirai Ryu, as payment for my services." Lightning Dust explained. "So while my clan is responsible for the Shirai Ryu's extermination, I was unaware of this deal, until after it was done."

Twilight stood there, she was about to ask why the grandmaster of the Lin Kuei would want this, but decided to let it go, and move on. “So anyway is it true? Did you actually almost, get Equestria taken over by a former elder god?” Twilight asked.

Lightning then looked down, ashamed. “Yes. It is true. I didn’t know of his existence until, I was told of by his lackey, Starlight Glimmer. After I stole the map of elements from the temple of your clan, I had to travel to four different temples, and defeat four different elemental gods, one of them being Celestia’s sister.” Lightning Dust, explained. “But it turns out it was all a setup, just to clear the path of Starlight getting Sombra’s amulet. As punishment, I was forced to travel to the Netherrealm and retrieve Sombra’s amulet myself.”

“How did you defeat a sorcerer AND a fallen elder god?” Twilight asked.

“The elder god, I didn’t defeat. I simply just took his amulet and escaped.” Lightning Dust explained. “As for the sorcerer…. I received some help.” Lightning was staring down, while saying that last sentence.

“Help? From who?” Twilight asked.

“While I was in the Netherealm, several of Starlight’s guards tried to stop me. I killed all, but one of them.” Lightning Dust explained. “Her name was Ditzy Doo, and I….. Spared her.”

“What!?” Twilight asked, disbelieve at what she was being told.

“When I fought her, I noticed she wasn’t as skilled as some of the other guards I fought. That’s when I noticed she wasn’t a warrior, but a student in training. So I spared her, so she could become a real fighter.” Lightning Dust explained. “When I fought Starlight, we both seemed even matched, but Starlight seemed to overpower me. And when she was about to finish me… Ditzy came and quickly knocked Starlight off the bridge. She explained her desire to escape the Netherrealm and asked me to take her with me… But then she was quickly killed by Sombra.”

Twilight stood there stunned. “If sparing someone once helped you? Why do continue to slaughter those you defeat?” Twilight asked. “You have the option to-”

“It doesn’t work like that, Twilight.” Lightning interrupted. “I’m an assassin of the Lin Kuei. We were trained to not show emotion, as it is believed to prevent us from accomplishing our missions and I will continue to follow the grandmaster's commands, less she goes away with her plan and-”.

Just then a gong was heard interrupting Lightning Dust’s speech, signalling another fight about to take place.

“Come on, we got to go” Lightning Dust explained, running towards the arena.

Twilight stood there for bit, wondering what Lightning Dust was going to say, when she mentioned something about the grandmaster having a plan of some sort. She just shrugged it off and followed Lightning Dust to the arena.

She was one of the last fighters to arrive, as she ran towards the front to reunite with Pinkie Pie and Applejack. At some point during last night, Pinkie had changed her outfit. Now she wore black shorts with a red karate belt, and black spiked gauntlets on her fore legs, her sunglasses and shoes were the only things that remained from her previous outfit.

“Glad to see you made it on time.” Pinkie said, chuckling.

“What were you even doing by the shore anyway?” Applejack asked.

“I had a talk with Lightning Dust.” Twilight explained.

Just then Celestia, teleported on the other side of Twilight. Twilight then turned to face Celestia.

“Princess Celestia… Is Lightning Dust evil for being an assassin?” Twilight Sparkle asked.

“Lightning Dust is indeed evil, but it is not because she is an assassin. Lightning Dust is evil because she is reckless and shows no mercy.” Celestia explained. “I got her to realize this, after her little “engagement” with Sombra. I told her that it is possible to change her corrupted soul, but of now if she were to die, she would descend to the fifth plane of the Netherrealm to face a terrible fate, not even I nor the elder gods could tell you what it is.”

Just then Trixie spoke up. “Kombatants! The next fight will now commence! Fighting will be…” Trixie looked around at the silent fighters. “Lightning Dust of the Lin Kuei!”

Lightning Dust grinned behind her mask, and walked out onto the arena. “Alright, who’s the poor sap, that’s going to die today!” She asked.

Just then a bail of fire appeared, on a spot on the opposite side of the stage. From the fire, a being emerged. It was the none other, then the familiar, undead, yellow-clad gryphon.

“Gilda Gryphon! Specter of the Netherrealm!” Trixie shouted. “Former member of the Shirai Ryu!”

The fire around Gilda’s feet dissipated, as she lifted up her head. Her soulless eyes piercing the crowd, despite no pupils.

“You…” Gilda growled, turning her head towards Lightning Dust. “The Shirai Ryu are dead. You will suffer as they did.”

“You really are naive, aren’t you.” Light Dust explained. “You think you can trust a sorcerer, my grandmaster did the same thing and it almost cost all of Equestria.”

“Vengeance will be MINE!” Gilda shouted, raising her arms up in a fight stance.

“Heh-heh” Lightning Dust chuckled, standing on her hind legs in a fight stance. “This fight will be your last!”

“FIGHT!” Trixie shouted.

Lightning Dust and Gilda both flew at one another, Gilda threw a punch, but Lightning Dust blocked it with her fist. Almost immediately after, Lightning Dust threw a punch, but Gilda blocked it the same way. Gilda then did a roundhouse kick, but Lightning blocked that with her forehooves. Gilda then kicked Lightning Dust backward, making her slide across the ground.

Lightning Dust managed to get herself, steady before staring straight at Gilda. Gilda then began rushing towards her causing Gilda to smile, as she put her forehooves together and shot out a an ice-based projectile, just like she did on the boat.

Gilda managed to dodge the icy projectile, by doing a forward roll, and rolling under it. She pulled herself up and did another roundhouse kick, this time striking Lightning Dust in the side of the head, knocking her over.

Lightning Dust managed to jump to her hind legs, shaking her head rapidly to rid any dizziness. She looked up, to see Gilda rushing towards her with her fist in the air. Lightning Dust quickly side stepped, dodging the punch. Lightning Dust then grabbed Gilda’s still extended arm and quickly froze it, with her ice powers.

Gilda pulled away screaming in pain, and used her hellfire to quickly thaw out her arm. But while she was distracted, Lightning Dust had jumped in the air and delivered a swift kick to the back of Gilda’s head, knocking her off her feet and causing her to flip and land right on her back.

Lightning Dust then stood over her and lifted her hind leg up, attempting to stomp on Gilda’s head. Taking notice of this, Gilda disappeared in a flash of fire, before Lightning Dust hoof could touch her. Gilda then reappeared behind Lightning Dust and attempted to kick Lightning Dust in the side, but Lightning Dust managed to doge that attack as well. Gilda then turned her head towards Lightning Dust, before jumping in the air towards her.

Lightning Dust did a back-flip to dodge the giant stomp, covering a bit of distance from the undead gryphon. When she was far enough, she then jumped forward and slid across the ground towards Gilda, as if the ground was covered in ice. The undead gryphon was once again, knocked off her feet.

As Gilda got up, Lightning Dust shot another projectile of ice towards the gryphon. Gilda was taken off guard, and this time she was hit, and frozen completely solid. Lightning Dust then flew over towards the frozen gryphon and picked up her frozen, statue-like body, flying up into the air and throwing it towards the ground. The ice around Gilda’s body shattered, but Gilda herself was completely find and intact. Gilda’s body just laid there, appearing to be unconscious.

Lightning Dust noticed this and grinned. “This ends now!” She said, as she did a front-flip and attempting to smash Gilda’s skull, with both her hooves this time.

Right before her hind hooves touched could reach their intended target, Gilda once again teleported in a flash of fire. Lightning Dust taken completely off guard, was met with a punch to the back of the head. Gilda then immediately teleported again, in front of Lightning Dust and delivered a kick to Lightning Dust’s stomach. Gilda continued her teleporting attacks, alternating between punches and kicks, before finally ending it with a swift jump, roundhouse kick to the pegasus’ face.

Lightning Dust, now extremely injured from that brutal beating, slowly started to pick herself up. As soon as she was standing up fully again, Gilda unleashed a new attack. She threw her arm forward, causing a kunai attached to a rope, to come shooting out from her gauntlet. The kunai struck itself right into the chest of Lightning Dust, causing her to scream in pain, and make blood spurt from the newly made wound.

“Get over here!” Gilda roared, as she pulled at the rope tied to the kunai in Lightning Dust’s chest.

Lightning Dust was pulled towards Gilda and as soon as she was in hitting distance, Gilda’s forearm was engulfed in hellfire and she used it to deliver a swift, powerful uppercut to Lightning Dust’s jaw, knocking her in the air and landing flat on her back. Lightning Dust was defeated.

“Finally!” Gilda shouted. “You feel my pain!”

Trixie just sat there, in her throne grinning at the sight of the bleeding Lightning Dust, slowly standing back up. Twilight on the other hand, just stood there speechless, having a good guess of what was gonna happen next.

“FINISH HER!” Trixie shouted from the stage.

“No…” Lightning Dust breathed, too weak to do anything, but watch.

Gilda, then grabbed the bottom of her cowl and pulled it off her head, revealing the horrors beneath it. Gilda had no face, not even any eyes, underneath her mask was nothing but a white, flaming skull. Her empty, flame-filled eye sockets stared down at Lightning Dust, before a barrage of hellfire was breathed out of Gilda’s white beak, towards Lightning Dust’s hooves.

The flames completely engulfed Lighting’s body, like it was a living entity. Lightning Dust could do nothing but scream as the fire ate away at her body, while it was only lasted about a few minutes, it was the most painful minutes of her life.

After the flames died out, all that was left of Lightning Dust Dust was her skeleton, that soon crumpled over in a pile of bones. Gilda then lifted her cowl into the air, facing the crowd with her flame engulfed skull. She finally got her revenge, Lightning Dust is dead.

“Fatality!” Trixie shouted.