Scoot-A-Loo: Cruel Critters

Scootaloo, sitting on her bed with only the soft glow of her lamp to brighten the room, finishes tying the golden feather she found with her friends to a string. She holds it up to the light, mesmerized by the soft reflection of the lamp's glow off the feather's sleek, golden surface. Since the very first day she discovered it, she's felt a strange connection to it after winning her very first match of Cruel Critters. She isn't sure if it should be chalked up to luck, or just a strange series of events, but whatever the reason; she feels this feather will serve as her good-luck charm throughout this tournament. She strives for the title of champion, and with the support of her friends, knowledge of her deck, and a little bit of added luck, Scootaloo's confidence couldn't be higher. Just then, a thunderous boom rattles the bedroom. Scootaloo's eyes are drawn to her window as an explosion of color fills the night sky. Frightened but excited by the fireworks, she jumps out of bed and leans against the window for a better look. In the distance, she can see a large, energetic crowd corralled around a stage that's dazzling with sparks; and in the center stands a pony with a familiar face and unforgettable getup.

"Trixie?" Scootaloo murmurs. "What's she doing here? Kinda weird she's here right before the tournament's about to start. I gotta see what she's up to."

Scootaloo hurriedly throws on her competitor's jacket and is about to make a hasty exit from her room until she stops dead in her tracks. She turns her head back to her bed where she dropped her feather charm. She knows it isn't important if she's just going out to investigate the commotion, but she's compelled to walk back to her bed regardless. She believes it would be safer to leave the feather here in her room while she goes out, but she can't stop herself from putting the necklace around her neck.

"Why not? A little good luck never hurt," Scootaloo reasons with herself before sneaking out of her bedroom.

Stealthily, she manuvers through the house, careful not to disturb her aunt who's fast asleep in the room across from Scootaloo's bedroom. She quietly climbs down the stairs and rockets out the front door once she knows she's in the clear. Scootaloo wonders if it would've been smarter to stay in bed and get as much sleep as possible for the tournament, but there's no way she'd miss out on whatever kind of magic act Trixie's performing on a night like this. For all she knows, this might not be a coincidence at all. She wonders if there's a chance Trixie's presence is somehow linked to Twilight's tournament. Following the sounds of cheering and clamoring ponies, she reaches the grand event, and is stunned by what she sees. The crowd is gathered around a Cruel Critters arena; standing on one podium is Trixie herself, and on the other, a pony she had not expected--nor wanted--to see: Diamond Tiara. To get the best view possible, she wiggles her way through the crowd to pop out in the front row on the side closest to Trixie's side of the arena.

"It's not too late to back out, kid," Trixie advises. "When this game starts, Trixie will not be holding back."

Diamond Tiara giggles. "You're just so confident. . ." A thick, violet fog begins to exude from her tiara, pouring over her head and down to her hooves. "It'll feel all the more sweeter when I defeat you."

Scootaloo watches in horror as Diamond Tiara's body is shrouded in the strange fog. As the crowd smiles and whispers to one another in excitement, Scootaloo realizes these ponies must think this is part of Trixie's act. However, Scootaloo can feel in the pit of her stomach that it isn't. The inky smog dissipates, and Diamond Tiara's transformation is revealed. She appears to be older, her clothes have grown to fit, and her smile has somehow gotten even more wicked than before. Scootaloo trembles at the sight of her, a fear unlike anything she's ever experienced overwhelms her. One look at Trixie confirms Scootaloo's suspicions that this isn't part of the act, because the fear in her face echoes exactly what she's feeling now.

"What's the meaning of this? Who are you?" Trixie asks.

Diamond Tiara continues to smile as she tilts her head, amused by Trixie's curiosity. She chuckles and speaks in a voice that sounds nothing like the filly she spoke to just moments ago. "It's me: the child who didn't heed your warning. What a silly question to ask. Now, are we going to play, or are you going to sit there trembling in your hideous costume?"

"Trixie doesn't know what scheme you're pulling, but it won't matter! You'll lose all the same."

"Ooh, this will be amusing. Why don't you take the first move? Show this child how to start things off."

For a brief moment, Scootaloo caught Diamond Tiara's gaze shift toward her at the mention of the word: child. Perhaps her eyes had deceived her, but now Scootaloo can't shake off the feeling that Diamond Tiara is watching both her and Trixie with two sets of eyes. The match between the two commences, and Scootaloo watches in the hopes that Trixie can defeat Diamond Tiara swiftly. However, what follows is a painstaking exchange of blows from both contenders. Trixie's first turn starts out promising, but as Diamond Tiara fills the arena with her obnoxious toy critters, Scootaloo's hope begins to diminish. Turn after turn, she helplessly watches as Trixie's deck is ripped away bit by painful bit as she's unable to play any critters that can topple Diamond Tiara's defenses that continue to mount without end.

"You've only got two more turns, Trixie," Diamond Tiara informs. "After that, you can ride your little stage wagon back to where you came from!" She laughs. "I knew it would play out this way. Just like how it always has."

Confused, Trixie begs for clarification. "What do you mean 'always'?"

"Don't think about it too hard, Trixie. If I were you, I'd focus on the match and draw your next card."

Trixie boils with rage on the inside, despising how a child would dare to talk down to her in such a manner. Frustrated and anxious, Trixie draws, then clenches her teeth from disappointment. Diamond Tiara, however, takes great pleasure from her reaction.

"Looks like I was right," says Diamond Tiara. "Face it, Trixie, this game just isn't for you. You may as well save yourself the trouble and surrender."

"Like I'd ever surrender to a child," Trixie dismisses.

"Come now, consider it this way: you can surrender, and we both walk away, or be remembered as the pony who lost to a filly who hadn't even touched her life points. Doesn't the first sound less humiliating? I know your public image must mean a lot to you. So, why not save what little you have left?"

Suddenly, the anger and frustration leaves Trixie's body as she considers Diamond Tiara's proposal. She turns to the crowd, all of whom watch with bated breath, awaiting Trixie's next move. Trixie rests her eyes, and sighs as she lowers her cards. In disbelief, Scootaloo can feel a knot twist in her stomach as Trixie's body language speaks for itself. She can feel Trixie's spirit is just about broken after the verbal and tactical thrashing she's taken throughout this entire match, and she's finally reached her limit. Scootaloo digs her hoof into the ground, furious with how low Diamond Tiara has gone to crush Trixie's dignity. Watching this school bully tear down somepony else awakens something within her: a fighting spirit like nothing she's felt before. The golden feather hung from Scootaloo's neck twinkles, and a subtle, golden light radiates from it. In Scootaloo's heart she knows she needs to do anything to reach Trixie and keep her in this game. Refusing to stand idle on the sidelines any longer, Scootaloo allows this newfound fire in her heart to take over. In a golden flash of light, the older alter ego of Scootaloo emerges, who Diamond Tiara resentfully takes notice of.

"Trixie! Do not give in!" Scootaloo demands in her new, matured voice. Trixie's eyes are thrust open, and are drawn to the mare in the competitor's jacket and strange piece of golden jewelry. "You mustn't let Diamond Tiara's words break you down!"

"Who even are you?" Trixie asks.

"A friend."

"Trixie has no need for friends. Look, if it's a match you're looking for, this one's just about over. There isn't much else I can do." Trixie says somberly.

"That's where you're wrong. You still have one more turn after this."

"There's no point in staying in this for one more turn! Perhaps Trixie should just take the kid's advice. . ."

Diamond Tiara smiles. "That's the first sensible thing you've said this whole match! Just put your hoof over your deck, and we can all go home--or rickety wagon in your case." A surge of anger shoots through Trixie at the insult, but she refrains from speaking out. Instead, she raises her hoof, ready to surrender.

"Trixie!" Scootaloo desperately exclaims. "Surrendering to this bully is not the answer! Just look around you! You're surrounded by countless fans who came to see you! How would it look if The Great and Powerful Trixie surrendered in the first match of the tournament? I believe I speak for all of us when I say I'd rather watch you fight your hardest until the very end! Win or lose."

Suddenly, a pony in the crowd begins to chant Trixie's name. In mere moments, one turns to some, and some into many. Trixie's ears quickly become overwhelmed with the support of every last pony gathered around the arena. To Trixie it feels like music, to Diamond Tiara, it's repulsive. Scootaloo shoots Diamond Tiara a smug grin, who growls and grinds her teeth at the sight of it.

Trixie stands up straight and puffs out her chest. "Trixie doesn't know who you are, but you're right!" she proclaims. "As the old saying goes: the show must go on!" The crowd stomps and cheers at Trixie's announcment, and Scootaloo smiles with pride.

"A foolish choice, but if that's what you want, then who am I to deny you the defeat of a lifetime?" says Diamond Tiara as she draws her next card. "You and your peanut gallery have wasted enough of my time with your sickening talk! Let's get this over with! Go my toys and snatch another chunk of Trixie's deck!" Diamond Tiara's toy critters fly from their positions and steal two more cards each, including Trixie's own rabbit who's still under the control of Diamond Tiara's hex card. With brooding eyes, Diamond Tiara ends her turn. "You've got one last card to draw. Remember: I gave you a chance. It's a shame you squandered my generosity."

Trixie looks down at the single card, afraid to draw it in fear of it being something completely useless. After realizing it's nigh impossible to turn this match around--let alone with a single card--she fears not drawing the ability to deliver her audience a grand finale. Scootaloo can see the hesitation in Trixie's eyes, and she decides it's time to try and teach Trixie one more lesson about this game.

"Trixie! Before you draw your card, you need to have faith in it!" Scootaloo advises.

"What good is faith going to do?" Trixie asks. "Believing in a card isn't going to change anything."

"Wrong again, Trixie. Every last card in your deck is like a soldier in your army--a weapon in your arsenal--and you are their leader. It's your faith and trust that fuels them. How do you expect them to fight for you if you can't even be bothered to believe in them?"

"You're talking like these cards have a mind of their own."

"Maybe not a mind, but every card has heart."

Trixie chuckles. "You can't be serious," she looks to Scootaloo expecting a punchline to what she knows has to be a joke, but the solemn look in Scootaloo's eyes is enough to quelch her preconceptions.

"Believe in your card, and you'll see."

Trixie doesn't know if this mare is simply over-obsessed with this card game, or if there's actually some truth to her words. Perhaps the stress from this match has finally taken its toll on Trixie's head as she struggles with the many conflicting thoughts firing off in her mind. First, she wonders if this mare is just spewing nonsensical jargon for her to believe and make her look like a fool in front of her audience. She knows it would be insane to consider that a card made of ink and paper could possibly feel anything, but this mare's unwavering belief in this philosophy seems far too convincing to be an act. Trixie would feel utterly ridiculous to put faith in a card, but with nothing left to lose, she finds it harmless to humor the mare's ideology. She places her hoof onto the last card and shuts her eyes to concentrate on her inner thoughts. The crowd holds their breath, hoping for the best. Proudly, Scootaloo smiles, knowing that Trixie will do the right thing.

The Great and Powerful Trixie can't believe that she's doing this, but here I am, I guess . . . reaching out to you . . . card. This freaky mare says I should put faith in you, and that's exactly what Trixie's going to do. What else have we go to lose, right? I've already lost this match, but Trixie plans on going out with a bang. Whatever card you are, I know we can wow the crowd.

"My draw!" Trixie declares as she snatches the card from the grid, and once it's revealed to her, it's as though a feeling of vertigo has fallen upon her. She can't blink; she can't breathe; and most of all, she can't believe the card she's holding is true. Speechless, she glances over to Scootaloo once again, who is still holding on to her prideful smile.

"Well? Play your card!" Diamond Tiara demands. "It's not like it'll help you anyway." Trixie, with her confidence restored, shoots Diamond Tiara the widest smile for the very first time. She throws her head back in joyous laughter, leaving Diamond Tiara bewildered by her sudden shift in tone.

"What you fail to understand, kid, is that a magician always has secrets. And I've been keeping a couple of them hidden on the arena already."

"As if two facedown cards are enough to change anything."

"Why don't we find out?"

"You're bluffing!"

"First I'll reveal my facedown critter!" The hologram of the card in the arena lifts up to reveal a black void underneath. Two long, insect legs outstretch, and eight bright, beady eyes light up from within the shadows. "My Trapdoor Spider!"

"Hmph, a disgusting bug. No different from you I suppose."

"My critter's special ability allows it to send one other critter in the arena straight to the card dungeon."

"Ha! It doesn't matter which one of my toys you take away! There's already too many for you to deal with."

"It's not one of your critters I'm planning on removing from the arena."

Dumbfounded, Diamond Tiara watches as an elastic webbing shoots out from the darkness and wraps around Trixie's own Magical Rabbit. The helpless critter is then dragged into the dark void; the card lowers back down before disappearing from the arena.

"You see, with my rabbit now gone, your Puppet Strings hex card has been rendered useless." Trixie informs. The holographic image of Diamond Tiara's card shatters into pieces like glass, however she takes the small setback in stride.

"So you got around my hex card. Am I supposed to be afraid?" Diamond Tiara asks.

"Not just yet. I have another card to play!" Trixie pulls a card from her hoof and plays it on the table grid. "It's a mystic card known as Curtain Call!" The card image generates onto the arena depicting a stage with a small number of ponies under a spotlight. "At the cost of a thousand life points, this card allows Trixie to bring back up to three critters from my card dungeon. However, since I only have one, I'll only be returning one to the stage! Now, a round of applause for my Magical Rabbit!" Trixie's rabbit returns to the arena, lifting up its hat to greet Diamond Tiara who is slowly becoming agitated at the length of Trixie's turn thus far. The crowd rumbles with excitement as Trixie's play continues. "And if you thought the show ends here, well, I'm happy to say that it doesn't! Since you no longer have anything to stop me, Trixie can finally reveal the star, the main attraction, the creme de la creme!"

Diamond Tiara growls. "I'm getting impatient with you, wizard! Get on with it already!"

"Funny you should use that term, because by sending off my Magical Rabbit, I can play a brand-new critter from my hoof!" With joyous glee, Trixie throws the card onto the grid, and a puff of pink smoke covers Trixie's side of the arena. "Fillies and gentlecolts, may I--The Great and Powerful Trixie--present to you: Kadabra The Grand Magician!" The smoke clears, revealing a tall unicorn stallion dressed in a glittery, black suit paired with a long, white cape. The magician gracefully throws out his cape, allowing it to flow with the wind as the crowd cheers on his arrival. He smirks as he locks eyes with Diamond Tiara who is now on the verge of losing her temper.

"All of what you're doing is meaningless! Do you realize that?!" Diamond Tiara shouts.

Trixie, ignoring Diamond Tiara's taunts, plays her next card. "Now, it's time to put your toybox away with this: Magician's Banishing Beam!" The magician's horn radiates with a reddish hue and fires a sharp beam of light through Diamond Tiara's wooden toybox causing it to splinter into hundreds of pieces. Her mane and jacket flap vigorously as the shards of wood fly passed her face whilst she maintains a rather uninterested expression. "I'll then place one card facedown."

"Are you quite finished?"

"You wish it was over, but there's another card Trixie has to play. This!" The image of a card depicting a well-dressed pony's outstretched leg holding a series of cards forms in the arena. "It's a fun mystic card called: Pick A Card Any Card! All you have to do is choose one card in my hoof. Whatever it is, I get to either play or set it right away! And since Trixie only has one card left, it shouldn't be a difficult decision."

"You really are going to milk this for as long as you possibly can. I guess I have no choice but to play along with your pathetic game. Play your card then!"

"The card you chose is: Painful Cost!" Trixie flips the card around to reveal the image of a pony in distress weighing two options in her hooves. "Normally a hex card would need to be placed facedown for a turn first, but my Pick A Card Any Card allows me to get around that little inconvenience. Now, you must make a choice! Either send every card in your hoof to the card dungeon, or receive five hundred points of damage to your life points for each card! Since you have five, you'd lose two thousand five hundred points!"

"Yes, and therefore I'd lose the match. I'm quite familiar with the card, so I'll gladly send every card in my hoof to the dungeon." Diamond Tiara stacks her cards onto the appropriate space on the table grid, never breaking eye contact with Trixie.

"Now, my magician, make her Knighty The Toy Soldier disappear with Grand Illusion Assault!"

At her command, particles of light gather together at Kadabra's horn until the light emanating from it illuminates almost the entire crowd. They all watch in splendor as the magician rears up, then lands back down to send a beam of harsh, blueish light that decimates Diamond Tiara's toy soldier. The power of the attack sends a shockwave through the air that can be felt by every pony gathered around the arena. Without even a flinch, Diamond Tiara watches in displeasure. Once the air is settled and Diamond Tiara's critter is nowhere in sight, the crowd cheers and whistles at the loss of one of her assets.

"Since you foolishly left your critter in offensive position, you'll be paying for it in life points," says Trixie as the number on Diamond Tiara's life point counter drop down to fourteen hundred.

Diamond Tiara shrugs. "But since your magician's little assistant is too weak to attack any of my other toys, it looks like your turn is finished."

"Unfortunately, it is," Trixie somberly agrees as the crowd gasps in dejection.

"That's right!" Diamond Tiara draws a new card. "And since there's no reason for me to play anything, all I have to do is end my turn and this is all over!"

"I know you'd like to, but The Great and Powerful Trixie has one final trick for you."

"Nonsense! How could you possibly have more?"

"I play my facedown hex: Ruthless Attack!" The card flips up, and it depicts a squad of critters charging headfirst toward a target. "This forces all of your critters to switch to offensive position, and they all must attack my life points directly once this card is activated."

Diamond Tiara laughs. "What a terrible card! You really are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?"

"Not quite. Once Trixie reveals her next hex card, perhaps you'll get a clearer picture of what's about to happen! I reveal my Magician's Trick Mirror! As long as there's a unicorn-type critter on my side of the arena, any and all attacks are deflected right back at the attacking critters sending them straight to the card dungeon!"

Diamond Tiara's two Stuffy Bears and one Jackie Toy in The Box all move into offensive positions, and prime for an attack. Diamond Tiara grinds her teeth with disdain as she watches her critters leap toward Trixie's life point counter, but are repelled by the hologram of Trixie's ornamental trick mirror. A shockwave sends each of them flying backward onto the ground before bursting from destruction. Trixie, with no further plays left to make, cracks a smile as she meets Diamond Tiara's hateful gaze.

"With your critters gone along with the rest of your troublesome cards, you wouldn't survive an attack from both of my showstopping critters on my next turn." Trixie informs.

Diamond Tiara stomps her hoof onto the podium. "None of that matters because there won't be a next turn! You've prolonged this match long enough, wizard! I end my turn, and since you have no card to draw, you lose!" Trixie's life point counter drops all the way down to zero. "Ha! Looks like the only show stopping is yours, Trixie. I'll be taking your two critter coins, and you can kiss this tournament goodbye. I hope the effort was worth it."

With the brim of her hat shielding half her face, Trixie steps down from the podium hoping it's enough to conceal her shame. She fulfilled her promise to the crowd, but the sting of defeat is too strong for her to just push aside. The crowd of ponies congratulate Trixie for putting up the best fight she could, but she can't find it in herself to face them. Trixie keeps her head low, wanting only to pack up her things and leave as soon as possible. The crowd disperses, returning to their homes as Trixie waits for Diamond Tiara to come and retrieve her winnings. Until a sudden tug at her cape captures her attention.

"Hey, Trixie!" Scootaloo greets. "That was amazing! If you had one more turn you could've stolen that game easy!"

"Thanks, kid, but--" Trixie recognizes the young filly, but is unsure of herself. "Hey, weren't you the one cheering me on back there? Huh, I thought you were a grownup."

"Me? Oh, no, no. My name's Scootaloo, it's an honor to meet you!"

Trixie can't help but smile at Scootaloo's respectfulness. "Well, it was nice knowing you too, but Trixie's time here is pretty much done."

"You can say that again," Diamond Tiara mocks as she approaches them, befuddling Trixie with how she seems to have returned to her childlike appearance.

"Trixie's eyes must be playing tricks on her, because I'm certain you looked very different too."

"Well, maybe you should get your eyes checked after you give me my two critter coins!"

"Right. Here you go, kid."

"I would tell you to pick your battles a bit more carefully next time, but there won't be one for you." Diamond Tiara pouts her lip. "Now make like a real magician and make yourself disappear!"

Trixie scoffs. "Way ahead of you."

"That's enough!" Scootaloo intervenes. "You can talk to me any way you want to, but you won't talk to one of my friends that way!"

"Aw, how precious," Diamond Tiara says sassily. "A loser standing up for another loser. What are you even going to do about it?" Diamond Tiara walks up to Scootaloo, challenging her. "Did you want to face me next? Or are you too afraid?" Scootaloo struggles to hide her fear behind her furrowed brow, as a bead of sweat is enough to make Diamond Tiara laugh. "Of course you are! And who could blame you? Don't worry; when the time is right, I'll stomp you out of this tournament too." Diamond Tiara leaves without another word, intent on leaving Scootaloo time to boil over her threats.

"She a bully of yours?" Trixie asks.

"You have no idea," says Scootaloo.

After taking notice of the bitter rivalry between the two, Trixie reaches into her pocket and pulls out her deck of cards. "Here, take these. Trixie no longer has a need for them, but maybe you can find some use for them."

"What? No way!" Scootaloo vehemently refuses. "Those cards are too special for you to just give them away. You're keeping them, and you're going to make it to the top of this tournament!"

"Scootaloo, I've already lost both of my coins."

"And that's why I want you to have this!" Scootaloo hurriedly digs into her pocket, and with an outstretched foreleg, holds out one of her gold critter coins for Trixie to take. Although Trixie is stunned by her offer, she declines.

"I can't accept. You only have two of those and you'll need both of them to make it through the tournament. Besides, I couldn't take something away from a kid."

"But I want you to! No pony deserves to be pushed around by Diamond Tiara, and as my new friend I won't let her kick you out of this tournament!"

Trixie sighs, looking for the right words. "If you really want to give your coin away, then you should give it to somepony who deserves it."

"I am." Scootaloo grabs hold of Trixie's hoof, and firmly presses the coin into it. "You're staying, and that's that."

Trixie looks at the coin as the moonlight glistens off of it, impressed by Scootaloo's persistence. She stows the coin in the pocket of her competitor's jacket and expresses her gratitude. "I have to say, I can't remember the last time somepony showed me a kindness like this. Thank you, Scootaloo." Trixie bows to Scootaloo, who's face lights up with glee. "How can The Great and Powerful Trixie repay you for this?"

"How about we hang out tomorrow?!" She excitedly suggests. "There's an awesome card shop just down the street! We can see what cards they got for sale, play a match or two for fun, we might even be able to size up the competition if we can catch a tournament match!"

"A day with The Great and Powerful Trixie, eh? Normally, Trixie would never agree to such a thing--not even backstage passes. The last thing Trixie needs is an obsessive fan invading her personal space, but your clearly not one of those. Plus, it's the least I can do to say thank you. So, Trixie will see you in the morning. I will keep my wagon parked here; just knock when you arrive."

"You got it! Thanks, Trixie!" Scootaloo waves goodbye as Trixie takes the stairs back onto her stage before disappearing behind the curtains. She watches in awe as the stage folds back onto itself, transforming back into a purple and yellow painted wagon decorated with stars as the wood knocks and metal mechanisms inside clank and twist. Eager for tomorrow to come, but exhausted from today's events, Scootaloo sluggishly scampers back home. She sneakily enters the house, careful not to make a sound that could stir her aunt. After climbing the stairs back to her bedroom and nestling herself under her sheets, she finds herself drifting off to sleep instantly.

A mere hour passes by, and a dark figure peers through Scootaloo's window. The lock keeping it shut twists on its own, allowing the figure entry into the bedroom. A violet glow gently illuminates the room, allowing Diamond Tiara to find what she's looking for more easily. She thinks to herself where Scootaloo could possibly hide her cards, but surely it shouldn't take too long to figure out. Something as precious as her deck would certainly be kept close by, and after pulling open the drawer of her bedside table, she discovers it immediately. She skims through the cards and stops once she finds the card she wants.

"You won't be needing this anymore," Diamond Tiara mutters with a devious smile.

But why stop there?

Diamond Tiara freezes, lending an ear to the mysterious, internal voice.

She has something else that we must take. Then she'll be completely powerless.

"What else could she have?" She asks.

It's around her neck; the talisman I spoke of. Take it, and nothing will stop us.

Obeying the voice's command, Diamond Tiara looms over Scootaloo searching for what the voice could be talking about. Then a glint of light draws her attention to the golden feather tied around Scootaloo's neck. Without a moment's hesitation, she reaches for the necklace. Just before the tip of her hoof can make contact, the feather emits a burst of golden, blinding light. Diamond Tiara shields her eyes, crying out from the sheer intensity of it. The light dissipates, and Scootaloo awakens. She finds that the air has gotten cold, and quickly realizes that it's due to the wind coming in from the window that she could've sworn she locked. Too weary and unable to bring herself to leave the comforting warmth of the blanket, she rests her head back against the pillow to doze off once again. Diamond Tiara steps out from the dark corner she hid herself in, frustrated by her failure.

Worry not; you did well. Since we can't steal it, we'll just have to make her give it up.

"But how?" Diamond Tiara asks.

I have the perfect plan. But first, we'll need to do a little recruitment. Do you know of any pony even remotely skilled in Cruel Critters? One that could pose a challenge?

"Most of the ponies in the tournament are chumps, but there is one pony I can think of. Her name's Twilight Sparkle; she's the one who made this game in the first place."

You don't say. . . Then I believe we should pay her a visit at once, don't you?

"Indeed I do," she agrees dubiously.

Splendid. I knew you and I would get along just fine.