Author's Note

I little more detail from what was described in Chapter 2. When I rewrite the beginning of the story, I will make sure the details are the same.

Until next time!

Conquest of Paradise

Upon a mountain top, inside a castle of great splendor, a throne of gold sat. Upon this throne was a ruby red cushion and intrinsic designs spiraling this way and that. Light poured in from the many windows, bathing the vast throne room in a calm and relaxing blanket of golden hue. Two guards, unicorns, stood at the far end of the room facing the unoccupied seat of gold and ruby. Their armour shined, their spears glinted, and their faces were a stoic mask.

No sound except for their quiet breathing was made, and no movement could be seen from either. They were sentinels, guardians of this particular part of the castle. At exactly eleven o'clock of Celestia's beautiful morning, the sounds of clopping hooves could be heard approaching the vast doors of the throne room.

Moments later, the doors were wrapped in some-ponies telekinetic glow. One door was bathed in gold, the other in navy blue. As one, they swung open, missing the guards by a few inches as they quietly settled against the wall. Still, they did not move, and it was here that the sounds of bickering could be heard.

"I'm telling you Lulu, I will have the royal construction ponies available by next week. It was in the agenda to have your new throne done!" Celestia, the Alicorn Princess of the day, lightly stepped through the threshold and into the room proper. Her rainbow-like mane and tail waved in a nonexistent breeze, alluring and beautiful.

"Thou simply dost not wish to make room for your ample flanks of thine, dear Tia." Luna, Alicorn Princess of the night, smirked as her elder sister sputtered and turned her head to glare at her. Her mane and tail waved like that of Princess Celestia, but instead of a rainbow, her hair mimicked the night sky in all its splendor. Her dark, navy blue coat contrasted heavily with the colour of the daytime, but it did nothing to to take away from her grace and elegance as she followed after the elder Alicorn.

"Sister! That was very unbecoming of your station as a Princess!" Celestia's scolding caused Luna to snicker, and she gave an adorable pout as she looked away.

"Do not be like that, sister of mine, thou knowest I only jest!" Luna trotted forward and leaned in to nuzzle her sister. Celestia returned the affection with a smile.

The two made their way up the steps of the throne, but both stopped as they came to the seat itself. Celestia's ears lowered slightly as she looked away from her sister, but Luna simply huffed as she nudged her sister in the side.

"Do not fret, I take no offense." She trotted to the side of the throne and sat upon a velvet cushion with small smile. Celestia sighed, but quickly took her seat upon the throne of Equestria. The feeling was natural to her; seeing as she has ruled from this very seat for a thousand years.

Hearing hoof-steps, both Princesses turned to regard Celestia's secretary, Raven, as she approached the throne. Her hair was done up as it always has been, and her neck-tie was looking as prim and proper as ever. Her coat seemed to glow as she passed under the various windows.

"Good day, Raven." Celestia said with a smile. Her secretary bowed before taking her place at Celestia's other side, a clipboard poofing into existence behind her and reading glasses floating up and onto her snout.

"Good morning, Princesses." She finally stated before returning the smile. Her eyes flicked to her clipboard. "Your schedule for today shows only two hours of day court. Am I missing something Princess? I also did not realize that Princess Luna would be attending as well."

Celestia shook her head as two more guards appeared from a side door and took their places at the base of the throne. These two were dressed like their comrades at the end of the room, but the main difference was that one was a Pegasus and one was an Earth Pony. Both remained vigilant and at attention.

"I apologize for not informing you sooner Raven. The Elements of Harmony will be visiting the castle today at one o'clock this afternoon. I've decided that myself and my sister will entertain them while they are here.

Raven nodded, making a note on her clipboard. "Understood, Princess. I will ensure that the preparations for their arrival are complete. Will they be staying for an extended period?"

Celestia glanced at Luna, who gave a small nod. "It is likely," Celestia replied. "They may stay the night. I would like their chambers prepared just in case."

"I shall see to it," Raven said efficiently, her quill dancing across the parchment in her neat script. "Is there anything else I should prepare for their visit?"

Luna, who had been quietly observing the conversation, interjected. "Perhaps some tea and refreshments in the royal garden once they arrive."

Raven raised an eyebrow, her quill poised to note the request. "Very well, Princess Luna. I will arrange for this afternoon say... half an hour after they arrive." Teleporting her clipboard away, Raven straightens her tie, steps off from her pedestal, bows to the two Princess and walks through a side door to the left of the room.

Satisfied with the arrangements, Celestia leaned back slightly, her eyes scanning the vast throne room. The light from the windows continued to cast a golden glow across the marble floors, and for a moment, everything seemed perfectly serene.

However, a sudden air of tension caused the hair on her back to stand up ever so slightly. Luna, noticing the slight furrow in her sister's brow, gave her a look. "Thou art troubled, sister," she said softly, picking up on the change in Celestia's posture.

The Solar Princess didn't immediately respond, her gaze lingering on the almost empty throne room. Finally, she sighed. "I... have been thinking these last few years. I...I fear that the peace we’ve enjoyed for so long is becoming more fragile, Lulu. I've received reports of disturbances beyond our borders, and whispers from our scouts speak of unrest. I fear something is going to happen soon, and we need to be prepared.

Luna's expression hardened. "We will stand together as we always have. No matter the threat towards our nation." her starry mane billowed around her as she stared resolutely ahead.

Celestia smiled at her sister's determination. "I know. I only hope that such a test does not come to pass." Celestia and Luna exchanged a glance, the bond between them as strong as ever despite the thousand years of separation.

"Come, sister," Luna said with a smirk, "Let us greet the day together, and prepare for the trials ahead."

"Indeed sister," she looked over at the Earth Pony guard at the foot of the stairs, Hard Hoof, and nodded her head.

Seeing her highness give the signal, Hard Hoof stamped the ground once. "DAY COURT IS IN SESSION!! BRING FORWARD THE FIRST PETITIONER!!!" His voice echoed around the room, and the two unicorns at the end saluted before opening the doors. As they did so, a torrent of voices could be heard just outside, and Celestia heard Luna sigh.

"I pity you sister, having to deal with so many."

Celestia did not answer, but as the first noble pony with an upturned noise trotted in, she couldn't help but smirk. It would seem court never changes.

*****

Rainbow Dash tapped her hoof against the window sill. Her wings ruffled, and she held back a yawn of boredom as she watched the mountainous terrain fly by the train. To a regular pony, they would be going at a decently fast pace, but to Rainbow, it was as though a snail was moving in slower than slow motion. If that even made sense.

Looking over her shoulder, the Prismatic Pegasus huffed as the girls sat around, chatting or reading a book. She could've been out training right now, but nooooo. Twilight wanted them to come for a day in Canterlot to meet the Princesses for some tea, so she had to drag every-pony along with her.

"Don't look like that Rainbow. We will be back in Ponyville by tomorrow morning. Surely your training can wait until then?" Rainbow pouted and crossed her forelegs as Fluttershy bumped her side with a knowing look.

Rainbow Dash huffed again but managed a half-hearted smile at Fluttershy. "Yeah, yeah. I guess I can hold off for a day. But seriously, how much tea can one pony drink?" She rolled her eyes dramatically, earning a small giggle from Fluttershy.

Across the cabin, Twilight Sparkle had her nose buried deep in a scroll, her horn glowing faintly as she read through what seemed to be another long list of notes. Pinkie Pie was bouncing in her seat, a tray of cupcakes on the small table in front of her. Applejack sat beside her, tipping her hat back slightly as she gazed out the window, looking far more relaxed than Rainbow could ever hope to be. Rarity, meanwhile, was humming to herself as she fiddled with a ribbon, likely planning some grand design for her next fashion line.

Rainbow sighed again, louder this time, which caught Twilight’s attention.

"Rainbow, I promise this will be worth it," Twilight said, not looking up from her notes. "The Princesses rarely invite all of us together for a casual gathering like this. There must be something important they want to discuss."

Rainbow groaned and slumped further into her seat. "But what if it’s just a boring tea party? You know I’m not good with all that formal stuff. I’ll probably end up spilling something on one of those fancy rugs or breaking some priceless royal vase."

Twilight finally looked up, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I think you’ll manage, Rainbow. Besides, it’s not every day we get to relax in the royal garden. I’ve heard the view is spectacular this time of year."

Rainbow rolled her eyes but felt a bit of excitement flicker inside her. She did like the royal gardens—they were one of the few places in Canterlot where she could stretch her wings a bit, especially when the weather was just right.

Pinkie Pie suddenly leaned across the table, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, come on, Dashie! Don’t be a grumpy-mcgrumpypants! We’re going to have so much fun with the Princesses! And I brought cupcakes!" She thrust the tray toward Rainbow, who blinked at the offering.

Rainbow stared at the cupcakes for a moment before snatching one. "Fine, but only because you brought cupcakes," she said with a smirk, biting into the treat. Pinkie beamed with delight.

The train continued to wind its way through the mountains, and before long, the familiar towers of Canterlot came into view. Rainbow’s wings fluttered a bit with anticipation, and she sat up straighter, watching the grand city come closer. She might complain about the formalities, but she did love the excitement of visiting the capital. Even if it wasn’t a Wonderbolts show, there was always something cool to see.

"Looks like we’re almost there," Applejack remarked, stretching as she stood. "Y’all ready?"

Rarity nodded, delicately adjusting her mane. "Indeed, darling. A visit to Canterlot is always a marvelous affair. I simply cannot wait to see the Princesses again—and perhaps peruse the latest fashions while we're here." She gave a playful wink, causing Applejack to roll her eyes fondly.

Twilight stood as well, tucking her notes away. "Alright, girls, let’s be on our best behavior. This might be more than just a casual visit, so be prepared for anything."

Rainbow groaned inwardly but couldn’t help the small grin forming on her face. "Yeah, yeah. Just as long as I don’t have to drink too much tea."

As the train began to pull into the station, Rainbow looked out the window one last time. Everything was normal, but a flicker of movement caught the corner of her eye. Looking up, her jaw fell and her eyes went wide as a boat-like object zipped above the train and towards the castle. Turning to her friends to tell them about what she saw, the train's wheels suddenly squealed as they came to a halt.

Shaking her head, Rainbow mused that she must have been seeing things. She quickly grabbed her saddle-bag from the above compartment and slid it over herself in front of her wings. After stretching quickly and ruffling her feathers, the prismatic mare trotted after her friends.

When she exited the train, her eyes found the others standing a few meters away. Upon approaching, the group began to set off. However, even as they did so, a nagging feeling was creeping at the back of her mind. Her eyes, which were enhanced due to her biology, saw the ponies nearby whispering and gesturing towards the sky. She even saw a guard squad galloping through a nearby street in the same direction they were headed.

Trotting towards the newly crowned Princess of Friendship, Rainbow leaned in for a whisper. "Twi, something is wrong."

It was here that the group realized everyone else on the street was making their way in the same direction. Guards were intermingled here and there, and a few of them pushed civilians out of the way as they tried to get through.

"What the--" Rainbow felt somepony suddenly slam into her side, nearly causing her to topple over. She heard the culprit cry out an apology, but it went unheard by Rainbow as she watched the guardspony mare who shoved the civilian in the first place shouting for ponies to move. An uneasy feeling entered Rainbows gut, and she instinctively moved closer to her friends.

"What they hay is going on?" Applejack spoke with a loud tone in order to be heard over the crowd. By this point, the street was nearly full of curious canterlonians. Rainbow turned to Twilight.

"Twi, do you know another way to the castle?"

Twilight was about to answer, but before she could, the group found themselves come across a wall of ponies. Muttering and whispering could be heard, and the occasional shout to 'get back' caused ponies to shuffle away.

"Rainbow, see what the commotion is!" The Pegasus gave a salute and took to the air. She only went up about two dozen feet, but upon leveling out and seeing what the hold-up was, her jaw dropped for the second time that day.

The strange boat-like object was sitting in front of the gates of the castle, and about twelve bipedal creatures in strange garments stood around and inside it. Their ears were pointed like knives, and their skin was a dark blue hue. Strange spears were held in their hands or over their backs, and all of them wore armour.

Shaking her head, Rainbow noticed a line of royal guards holding the civilians back from the foreigners. Having seen enough, she zipped towards the ground, causing Rarity to jump slightly in fright.

"Sorry Rares. Twilight, you’re not gonna believe this," she started, a little out of breath. "There’s a bunch of weird creatures at the castle gates—blue skin, pointy ears, and they’re armed to the teeth. I’ve never seen anything like ‘em!"

Twilight’s eyes widened with concern, and she immediately scanned the crowd, her mind undoubtedly racing to process the information. "Blue skin and pointy ears?" she echoed. "I've read about that somewhere..." Her voice trailed off as she turned to Rarity and Applejack, who both wore matching expressions of worry.

"Hey, lets just find a way to the castle, I'm sure the Princess will know what's up!" Pinkies jovial tone caused the group to perk up once more.

"Alright, we need to move quickly. Applejack, you're with me at the front, Rainbow, watch our backs. Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity—stay in the middle. Let's go girls!' Twilight led the way, the crowd parting at the sight of her determined stride." Twilight walked forward, and those who say her parted with ease. Mutters of 'the Princess?' and other remarks of surprise followed them. As they grew closer to the front, Rainbows nerves grew worse. Something was up with those weird creatures, she knew it.

Finally, all that stood between them and the castle was the line of guards.

"Princess Twilight Sparkle?" A guard at the front exclaimed in surprise, his posture slackening as he saw the rest of the group appear.

"We need to get into the castle sir, can you get someone to escort us there?" Rainbow looked at Twilight in surprise. It seems that in an unsure situation, her friend knew how to take control. A swell of pride for her friend entered her chest, and she stood slightly taller. With all her friends, nothing could get in their way.

"Right away Princess." The guard saluted and called for a Sergeant. An older guard who had been standing near one of the Elves quickly trotted over.

"What is it Private Squall?" The Sergeant's gruff voice caused Rainbow to snap away from the beings. Their glowing eyes scanning the crowd with cold detachment. Even the air around them seemed heavier, as if the very atmosphere resented their presence. Ponies whispered nervously, and Rainbow’s gut twisted tighter with every passing second she stood there. Finally, the Sergeant picked two spare guards and told the group to follow them.

As they trotted past and got closer to the beings, Rainbow shivered. It was an unnatural feeling as those beings seemed to stare into her very soul. Her fearful eyes scanned them, and her instincts told her to get away as fast as she could. One of the beings eyes seemed to widen under its helm and it gestured to one of its fellows. Rainbow followed its gesture and realized it was pointing at Twilight.

Eyes widening, she trotted ahead to stand beside her friend, shielding her from their view. The beings eyes switched to her, and she cringed away as their scowls seemed to deepen. The six ponies and three guards were left alone, but Rainbow did not let out the breath she had been holding until the gates had closed behind her.

*****

"--the castle gardens are being overrun with ghastly wildflowers. I demand that you immediately allocate royal funds to remove these unsightly weeds and restore the gardens to their former glory. Why, just this morning, I spotted a daisy growing amongst the roses! Simply unacceptable!"

Celestia sighed, gazing out the window. The sun was above the castle at the moment, casting some interesting shadows outside. Why, at some point she thought she saw one of those shadows fly past the city in the shape of a boat! Absurd. The pony before her, Duke Highwind, noticed the Princesses lack of attention and gave a rather rude snort.

"Princess, I must implore you to have someone fix this catastrophe!" He stomped his hoof for added dramatic effect. To Celestia's right, Luna yawned.

"Duke Highwind, I will send one of the royal gardeners over to inspect your bushes. I warn you, the price will not be low." Celestia watched as Highwind bowed and said his thanks. Many of the nobles were like this, and it just so happened that the worst of them had their complaints today of all days. Truly she could not wait for Twilight and her friends to arrive.

As the Duke trotted back the way he came, a commotion could be heard just outside the doors. Lighting her horn and connecting to the solar body's power, Celestia deduced it was nearly one o'clock. Twilight should be arriving soon, so she would close day court.

"Hard Hoof, can you inform everyone that Day court is over?" Hard Hoof nodded, but before he could shout his announcement, a guard came running in. He stopped a few feet from the throne and saluted. Raising an eyebrow, Celestia shuffled in her seat.

"Corporal Leaf Runner reporting your highnesses! A delegation of, uh, Dark Elves are here for an audience!" Celestia waved her wing and the guard dropped his salute.

"Looking at her sister, Celestia gave a small nod. Luna shifted in her seat, her starry mane flowing lazily behind her. 'Dark Elves, you say?' Luna's voice was calm, though a hint of surprise lingered in her tone. 'They haven’t been seen for centuries. What could they possibly want now?'

Celestia narrowed her eyes but kept her expression neutral. The Dark Elves were an ancient race, their history intertwined with Equestria's in the distant past, but their people had retreated into isolation long ago. There had been no word from them in generations—until now.

"Corporal," Celestia began, "are they armed?"

"No, Your Highness, save for their guards by the transport. The delegation itself appears to be unarmed. We scanned them and found nothing."

Celestia shared a glance with Luna. Something was off. In the past, The Dark Elves rarely ventured out of their own lands, let alone sent a delegation unannounced. And arriving unarmed? It was unlike them to display such vulnerability, at least intentionally.

"Very well," Celestia said, her tone measured. "Escort them to the throne room. Luna and I will receive them."

The guard saluted once more before leaving to carry out her orders. As the doors closed behind him, Luna leaned closer to her sister. "This all seems… out of place."

Celestia nodded slowly. "I don’t trust this sudden appearance. The timing, their secrecy—it’s too convenient. But we cannot afford to act in haste. We need to learn why they’ve come."

A tense silence settled between the two sisters as they waited, both mentally preparing for the confrontation that lay ahead. Celestia could sense the underlying magic in the air, her connection to the sun alerting her to subtle shifts. Her guards shifted uneasily on their hooves. Something was coming.

Minutes passed before the large double doors to the throne room creaked open. The royal guards stepped aside as the Dark Elf delegation finally entered, their dark cloaks sweeping the marble floor, and their faces concealed beneath ornate hoods. They moved with a fluid grace, their presence demanding attention, yet unnervingly quiet.

The leader stepped forward, pulling back his hood to reveal a sharp-featured face, eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression. He bowed low, though there was no warmth in the gesture.

"Princess Celestia Solaris, Princess Luna Solaris," he began, his voice smooth and carefully controlled. "I am Lord Vorath of the Dark Elven Council. We bring tidings… though I fear they are not of the peaceful kind."

Celestia’s stomach twisted, though she kept her face serene. "Lord Vorath," she greeted, "we welcome you to Canterlot. What news do you bring, and why have you come after so many years of silence?"

Vorath's lips curled into a thin smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. "We have come to discuss the future of this world, Princess. For you see, there are forces at work that even you may not be fully aware of. Our time of isolation is over, and the Dark Elves have returned to claim what was once ours."

Celestia's heart skipped a beat, her mind racing. Before she could respond, Luna stood, her eyes blazing with sudden intensity. "What do you mean, claim what was yours? Equestria has always been free from your dominion. We were allies when I was but a filly!"

Vorath tilted his head slightly. 'Perhaps, in your time, Princess. But we remember the old ways. And we are here to ensure that history is corrected. Starting today."

"Are you threatening us, Lord Vorath?" Luna's eyes narrowed, her mane seeming to grow darker. The Dark Elf tilted his head slightly as one of his fellows began to walk forward.

"Halt!" Both guardsponies at the throne crossed their spears in the Elf's path, causing him to pause. Slowly, carefully reaching for his hood, the Elf revealed a chiseled face and glowing silver hair. His heard tilted to the side as he regarded the two Alicorns before him. A tense silenced ensued, and the two groups stood facing each other.

Standing warily, the Solar Diarch placed a wing on Luna's back, causing her sister to glance at her in confusion. "Perhaps we can come to some form of agreement that benefits our two parties?" Celestia tried to sound disarming, and a bead of hope burnt to life in her chest as the Elf before her looked pensively to the side. However, before he could speak, the doors at the end of the throne room opened.

"Thank you sirs." The sound of Twilight's voice echoed around the room, causing the two Princess to look up and away from the Dark Elven delegation.

"kyshuf." The Elf mumbled under his breath.

Faster than the wind, the Elf was standing before the guards one moment, and in front of Princess Luna the next. In his grip was a wicked curved blade thirteen inches in length. A microsecond later, the knife was buried in the chest of the Lunar Princess up to the hilt, Runes and blue spirals glowing against her fur.

"W-Wha..." Twisting the blade, the Elf watched as the smaller of the two Alicorns collapsed, her eyes rolling back as her mane ceased to flow.

"LUNA!" Celestia's scream went unheard as the Elf pivoted, ripping the blade free and plunging it into the Solar Diarch's neck. The glow on her horn sputtered and died as she screamed in pain and fell to the ground. The Elf heard cries of terror as the Alicorn's guards were promptly executed in similar fashion. A Sneer crossed his mouth as he looked down at the terror-filled visage of a once mighty being.

"Princess!!" The cry caused Dommick's head to swivel, and he let a Cheshire-like smile spread across his face. The Elements of Harmony, Equestria's mightiest heroes.

"Twilight! RUN!! SAVE YOURSELVES--Hrk!!" Dommick twisted the blade, yanked it out, and quickly stabbed up through her chin, causing the Solar Princess to seize up before going still. The sounds of galloping hooves told Dommick that the six Element bearers were escaping, but he paid them no mind. He knew his soldiers would capture them well before the left the city.

"I, Emperor Dommick Blueblade, have conquered Equestria!" The Emperor rose both his hands into the air. The sounds of explosions and the screams of pony civilians could be heard as the siege commenced in full. He felt like laughing, so he did.

Moving to sit upon his new throne, the Emperor paused upon hearing a hacking wheeze coming from behind him. A playful smile appeared, and he slowly turned to regard the Princess of the Night.

"My, my. You are resilient aren't you?" He stepped forward as the Midnight blue Alicorn tried to rise. Blood spewed from the wound in her chest, spurting with every beat of her heart.

"Y-You wi...will not w...win." She stated. Dommick put a hand on her neck and stroked the soft fur underneath. His smile did not reach his eyes as he raised his dagger. A glint of light reflected from its surface, and that same glint reflected off the eyes of the Princess. Her eyes flicked to her sister, and tears poured forth. Her leg feebly reached out, trying to touch her one last time. The blade came down. Luna's body ceased to move.

"My dear little pony..." Dommick waved his hand, pushing the Lunar Princess from atop the throne and onto the floor below with a thud. He slowly walked back to the single seat before him and sat down with grace and tranquility. His eyes stared forward, and his smile did not leave. Blood poured from Celestia, creating a cascading river down the steps of the throne. Breathing a sigh, Dommick glanced at the Alicorns body before slowly pulling a pitch black orb from inside his cloak. His smile depend into something sinister, his gaze inherently on the strange orb in his grasp.

"I have already won."

*****

Thu-thump...

"Twilight run!! Save Yourselves!!!"

Thu-thump...

"Private? Private can you hear me? Watch ou-!

Thu-thump...

KRACKAKOOM!!!

She stopped, as did her friends. All around her was fire and death. Bipedal beings clashed with pony guards, spears spewed sickly yellow energy. A foal cried for its mother who lay dead in the street. A mare was stripped of her dignity, screaming for help.

"Miss Dash!"

Her breath quickened, her eyes widened, and her pupils contracted. She could hear the thump of her heart, she could smell the burnt bodies and blood. She couldn't take it. She--

"Mrs. Dash, Follow Princess Twilight to the main gate and get to the train station, it's your only way out!!" A Guardstallion yelled at her, and Dash's training at the Wonderbolts academy kicked in.

However, as she began to run once more with her friends, she turned to yell a thank you to the guard. She quickly looked away when she saw him get split nearly in half by a giant axe.

Giving a cry of despair, she looked up and noticed the gate fast approaching. Turning to the girls, she tried to yell over the sounds of battle.

"We're almost to the gate!" She screamed out, causing the others to put on a burst of speed. She ignored a nearby guard screaming in pain, and she jumped over a motionless filly as thought she weren't there. She knew that if she stopped now, she would never be able to move again.

"Alicorn, THERE!!" The sudden yell caused Rainbow's eyes to widen in fear, and she whipped her head around as no less than five of those strange beings gave chase. Her lungs began to burn, and her legs felt like Jelly, but she knew she had to keep going.

The first bolt flew past her and struck Applejack in the leg. Her screams of pain were stopped when a second bolt slammed into her torso, crackling with electricity. Dodging from side to side, she watched hopelessly as Rarity stopped to help their friend but met a similar fate. Rainbow sobbed, her every instinct telling her to both turn and help her friends and run for her life. Fluttershy went next, then Pinkie. Time seemed to slow down for Rainbow and she realized she now had a choice. She was going to pass Twilight any second now, and she knew that the Elves would get her much like they got her friends.

Looking to her right, Rainbow saw a waterfall cascading down the mountain and into the river far, far below. If she could somehow get herself and Twilight over the cliff, they could use their wings to get out of there.

And that was when she felt the most excruciating pain of her entire life.

Electricity crackled up and down the length of her right wing, and she screamed as she tried to regain its control. She saw Twilight pause and eyes widened. If she stood there, they would both be caught!

Thinking quickly, Rainbow dove forward using her left wing to propel her. Twilight had no time to react as Rainbows hooves connected with her side just as a yellow beam slammed into the Prismatic mare's side. She screamed, her vision winking in and out.

Forcing her eyes to stay open, she realized she was alone on the mountain top. Twilight was nowhere to be seen. And Rainbow Dash sighed in relief. She felt hands on her body, and suddenly she was being carried away. Her eyes grew heavy, and the last thing she saw before losing consciousness was a purple speck slowly and spinning towards the base of the mountain.