Forgotten

It didn't take long for the two opponents to negotiate terms of their duel. Twilight agreed to forego all use of magic, while Sombra agreed not to do anything underhanded or conspicuous. They also agreed that their hooves and horns were to be sharpened to deadly precision, in order to ensure that death would be immediate upon striking just the correct area. They also put a clause in the small contract they drew up that allowed for each of them to have three timeouts. If, by the end of the 20-minute time limit, the duel had not been decided succinctly, then they would each be allowed three open slashes.

With the deal decided, the two of them shook hooves and shared glares. Sombra's eyes glinted in the sun, and his teeth followed suit. Twilight could almost read the evil thoughts that were weaving their way through the thorn bush of his mind. She also knew he possessed the power to get inside somepony's head, and so she put up mental barriers. He sensed this, and maneuvered his way around her. He chuckled as he did so.

He crept up behind her and whispered deep into her ear. "You can put up all the walls you wish, Princess, but it won't matter. No matter how far you go, no matter how much you push, no matter how many friendship missions you accomplish…it's all dead, Twilight. Friendship is dead…and I killed it, just as I will do the same to you."

He turned from her and prepared to leave, but thought of one last remark to share. "You could've had everything, Twilight. Remember the Crystal Empire? Hm? Remember when I asked for your hoof in marriage?"

Her friends all gasped. "WHAT?!" Rainbow Dash shrieked.

"Darling…did he really do that?!" Rarity asked in a daze.

"He did," Twilight said, "but I turned him down the minute he went there. I don't know what possessed him to think I'd agree to such a thing!"

"You're a very pretty young mare, Twilight," Sombra said, "and rather ambitious. It's such a shame that, by this time tomorrow, I'll have to take that sweet head of yours and mount it on my wall!" With that, he stormed off, followed closely by his guards.

"Oh, my goodness," Fluttershy quivered, "I don't think I'll be able to watch this!"

"Twi, you sure you know what you're doin', sugar cube?" Applejack asked.

"In truth, no, I don't," the princess said sincerely, "but I know this. You being there, cheering me on, will help me tremendously. Having good friends around while you're going through a severe trial is what makes it bearable. I feel as though I have the weight of all Equestria on my shoulders-"

"But having us around helps spread the weight out," Rarity said, "and the burden becomes lighter."

Twilight nodded, grateful for her rock solid friendships with every one of these ponies. She considered them to be sisters, and she knew they would help her through this difficult time. Her eyes moistened as she thought of what each one of them meant to her. She loved all of them, and if they ever made it back to the real Equestria, she was going to throw them the biggest party she'd ever thrown, just to thank them for being who they were.

The next day, all of Equestria gathered at the Canterlot Coliseum to watch the ensuing duel. It had become common knowledge through the Sombra-controlled newspapers, which published stories singing his praises and demonizing Twilight as "the witch who dares to call herself a Unicorn, Pegasus, and Earth Pony all at the same time." Needless to say, the only ponies there who supported her were her friends from the real Equestria.

When everypony was seated, trumpets blared and Celestia herself made her way up to a giant, jewel-encrusted throne and took her place. The crowd cheered her arrival and she quieted them with a hoof. "May the combatants enter the arena," she bellowed in her Royal Canterlot Voice, "and good luck to both of them!"

One door swung open and out came Sombra. The crowd roared its approval of their champion, and he took very deliberate, arrogant bows. Today, Princess Twilight, he said, all of Equestria shall see that friendship truly is dead. You? You shall be nothing but a stain on my memory, and involved in nopony else's. I'm going to splatter your blood all over the walls of this stadium! Hm…which spike shall I impale you on? Or, even better, how many times shall I run my horn through that kind and compassionate heart of yours?! We shall see…

After answering his own evil questionnaire, he continued bowing in grandiosity and overindulgence. He turned up and waved at Celestia, who promptly waved back. Her eyes shone as she looked at him, and he knew he had her exactly where he wanted her. As soon as Twilight is disposed of, I shall marry you. Then I shall sleep with you in order to ensure my lineage continues. After the birth of our first foal…I shall kill you!

"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS!" The stadium announcer blared, "I GIVE YOU, THE CHAMPION OF EQUESTRIA, SOMBRA THE MAGNIFICENT!"

Once again, the crowd roared its approval as a warped version of the Equestrian national anthem played. The gathered ponies sang along to it with rapturous joy, paying no mind to the lyrics that praised Sombra as Equestria's greatest hero. I love being in charge, he told himself as he licked his lips. He was almost like a predator sniffing out his prey for the first time, and he had a taste for Twilight.

At the end of this rather repulsive display, the stadium doors on the other end swung open and Twilight emerged. She was dressed in the traditional Equestrian royal battle garb, and a crown was placed on her head, which had been tirelessly created overnight by Rarity. The diadem bore seven different jewels, surrounding a bigger stone. The big one represented her, but more than that, it represented the spirit of friendship she exuded and embodied. The small ones represented her friends. Even Flame Mane, her special somepony, and Starlight were represented there.

"FILLIES AND GENTLECOLTS," The announcer blared again, "I GIVE YOU, THE PRINCESS OF FRIENDSHIP, TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"

She was met with incredible boos and hisses. Some ponies threw things at her, and she was hit in the head with more than a few pieces of garbage. But she stood her ground and spread her wings wide for all to see. Don't hide these anymore, she told herself, they are what sets you apart from everypony. They signify the position Celestia chose you for. But most importantly, they represent every bit of the bond I share with my friends. I could not have earned these without them.

"HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF A RULER?!" Somepony yelled.

"GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!" Another one screamed.

"YOU BEAST! YOU'LL DESTROY OUR FOALS!" A mother pony cried out.

Each and every insult slashed Twilight to the core, but she stood her ground against Sombra. She looked to the side and saw all of her friends standing there, silently cheering her on. She could tell they were afraid to call out their support. They were surrounded by a ravenous opposition that would probably have turned violent the minute they began.

"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO GET RID OF THOSE WINGS, YOU TREACHEROUS WITCH!" A voice yelled from the crowd. Twilight groaned as she recognized Rainbow Dash's scratchy tone. Sorry, fake Dash, but my wings stay put.

"Alright, Sombra!" Twilight yelled across the arena, "let's do this!"