Judgment Day

Celestia lit her horn and conjured a powerful barrier around Twilight and the citizens she was escorting. “Come now, vile creatures! Face me!” She stood her ground, daring the reaplings to charge. She did not waver, standing tall and unafraid against the greatest enemy she’d ever known.

The reaplings snarled and charged at her all at once. They extended their claws and prepared to attack, but Celestia took to the air before they could reach her. She casted powerful fire spells, charring the flesh of the reaplings. Their companions gave chase to Celestia, rising into the air after her.

“Twilight!” Celestia shouted. “Get my citizens to safety! I will take care of this!” She darted away, taking the group of attacking reaplings with her. She looked back to see Twilight, Shining Armor, and the citizens making a hasty escape.

“Alright, reaplings,” Celestia said calmly. “I am not afraid to die. I hope you aren’t, either.” She lit her horn again and rained down flaming meteors on the reaplings. They fell quickly under the might of her magic. I don’t understand… One of these creatures was more powerful than my magic, and yet now they fall like butter under the knife. Why the sudden change?

--
Spitfire rushed through the city, attacking reaplings left and right. Fleetfoot followed her diligently, backing her up and finishing off the weaker reaplings. Spitfire turned to her partner. “Looks like we’re winning, Fleetfoot! Only thing I don’t get is that they seem so much weaker than they were before! These bastards were a whole hell of a lot tougher the last time I fought them!”

Fleetfoot laughed. “I guess that just makes things that much better, huh? I’d rather they be easier to kill than harder!” She did a quick barrel roll and gored a nearby reapling with a small knife she had in her horseshoe. “Easy as that!”

Spitfire flew straight upward and took stock of the battle. “Alright, Fleetfoot, it looks like we’re pretty close. There’s not many left, so we just need to take care of them and Canterlot will be safe. Are you re—“ She was cut short when she saw Celestia fending off a large group of reaplings. There were more than twenty of them chasing her.

Fleetfoot stopped next to Spitfire. “What’s wrong, boss? Are you al—“ Spitfire cut her off quickly.

“Get to Celestia and help her now!” Spitfire screamed. She took off at full speed toward her princess. Hang on, princess… I’m not gonna let these bucking murderers kill you, too!

--
Twilight and Shining Armor galloped to the city exit with the survivors, feeling a wave of relief. “Shining Armor!” Twilight cried, “we’re almost out! We’re actually going to make it!”

Shining Armor managed a smile. “Yeah, you’re right. We just have to keep moving. Don’t look back, everypony! Just keep running!” He galloped onward, a determined look on his face.

Twilight stole a glance back, seeing Celestia facing a steadily growing force of reaplings. She skidded to a halt and looked at her brother. “Shining Armor! You keep going! I’m not abandoning Princess Celestia or Spitfire!”

Shining Armor gasped. “Twilight! You can’t! Celestia is trying to buy us time! She doesn’t want us to get hurt! Just keep going!” He was pleading with her, trying to drag her onward with his forehooves.

Twilight lifted him into the air with magic and placed him a short distance away from her. “Get them out of here. This is my duty, Shining Armor. I’m not leaving my mentor behind.”

Shining Armor tried to protest further, but Twilight turned to him with a fiery stare. He was struck silent at the sight of her passion. “… stay safe, little sis. I love you.”

A tear formed in the corner of Twilight’s eye. “I love you too, big brother.” She darted off toward the battle, leaving Shining Armor to guide the survivors out of the city.

--
Celestia dove toward the ground, trying to shake the constantly growing force of reaplings. They’re almost out of the city… just a little more, now…

A sharp voice cut through the air. “Princess! Don’t start the party without us!”

Celestia’s gaze shot skyward to find two pegasi trailing thunderhead clouds behind them. “Spitfire! Fleetfoot!”

The two Wonderbolts blazed toward Celestia, knocking several reaplings away. Spitfire swung her lance deftly, filling the air with splashes of black blood and pieces of black flesh. She approached Celestia, having stunned and disoriented the group of attacking reaplings. “You okay, princess?”

Celestia smiled and nodded. “Yes, Spitfire. Thank you. But you should escape now. I am ready to die for my mistake, and I would not see you harmed, as well.”

Spitfire growled. “Forgive me for this, princess, but you deserve it.” She swung the backside of her lance at Celestia’s head, and it connected with a dull thunk. Celestia’s eyes widened in shock. “I’m sorry, princess, but that kind of talk is flat out ridiculous. You should be more concerned with killing these stupid bucking creatures than self-hating.”

Celestia felt no resentment or anger at Spitfire. She knew that Spitfire was right, and she only nodded. “… let us destroy them all.”

Twilight approached Celestia and Spitfire at full gallop. “Hey! Don’t forget me!” She stopped quickly beside the two, staring into the sky at the remaining reaplings. Fleetfoot landed next to her with as much grace as one would expect from a Wonderbolt.

Celestia spun around, but she did not scold Twilight. Instead, she cast a spell which caused wings to sprout from Twilight’s back. “Fight with us, Twilight. I would tell you to run, but I know that you’re determined to save this kingdom. I would be honored if you would stay by my side.”

Twilight bowed quickly. “Let’s go, everypony! They’re coming!” She launched into the air alongside Spitfire, Fleetfoot, and Celestia, charging at the reaplings. Her horn glowed with her purple aura, and she sent a wall of lightning at the reaplings, electrocuting several of them and causing them to fall to the ground below.

“Ha! Nice, Twilight!” Spitfire called. She motioned to Fleetfoot and flew toward the reaplings which were approaching. She swiftly maneuvered between them, swinging the lance back and forth. Swaths of black were flung into the air where she’d hit them.

Fleetfoot grinned wide. She didn’t attack the reaplings, however, only choosing to follow close behind Spitfire. “We’ll be done with them in no time, at this rate.”

Celestia stayed beside Twilight, casting powerful magic spells against the reaplings. She glanced at her comrades. “Come close to me, my little ponies!” Spitfire and Fleetfoot obeyed at once, soaring next to Celestia and stopping, floating in place. Celestia conjured a barrier around the four of them before casting a spell to control the very sun. She increased its power, sending powerful beams of sunlight out. The beams shot straight through Olympus, which split in half before exploding in the sky. The radiant light of the sun shone through once again, and the beams of light which Celestia controlled burned the remaining reaplings to charred husks. Celestia allowed the barrier to dissipate and landed gently on the ground.

The others landed beside Celestia, still dumbstruck by the awesome might that they had witnessed. “Wha… how did…” Twilight stuttered.

Celestia shook her head. “Make no mistake; that was not my power alone. I believe that was the work of Swordpoint and Rainbow Dash.” She sighed deeply. “… It is finally over. We have won.” She smiled at Twilight, but her smile faded quickly as she saw Fleetfoot approach Twilight from behind with a knife in her hoof. Acting quickly, Celestia threw Twilight aside with her magic. Fleetfoot lunged and missed Twilight, only to drive her knife through Celestia’s neck.

Spitfire shouted in surprise. “What the?! Fleetfoot?! You traitor!” She darted toward Fleetfoot and slammed the back of her lance against the top of Fleetfoot’s head. Fleetfoot collapsed, twitching.

Twilight stood, disoriented by the impact. “What was…” She fell silent as she saw the knife in Celestia’s neck. Celestia was on her knees, gasping as blood poured from her. Twilight ran to her. “Princess… please… no! You can’t die! We need you! Without you, who will rule over Equestria?!”

Celestia grimaced and removed the knife with her magic. She held a hoof to the wound. “Twilight… You must… take the throne… There is no one else left. I had… always intended for you to become my… successor.”

Twilight could barely see through her blurry eyes. “But… how can I rule Equestria? I’m no princess… I’m just a unicorn!” She threw her forehooves around her dying mentor.

Celestia coughed up a small amount of blood. “Your strength comes from within, Twilight. You… were not fully ready, but… you are close. Do not abandon… your studies. Your friends… will give you the strength you need.”

Spitfire kneeled before Celestia. “Princess… I’m so sorry. I don’t understand why Fleetfoot would do this. She was fighting them with me… I just… I’m sorry.”

Celestia collapsed to the ground as her strength began to fade. “Equestria will live on without me. It is… in… your hooves, now…” Her eyes fluttered open for just a moment before closing completely. Her blood ran out of her in a rapidly expanding red pool.

Twilight stood and walked to Fleetfoot. She felt so numb and cold, but she still cast her spell, examining Fleetfoot. “… She’s a changeling. Another damn changeling.” Twilight walked away toward Canterlot Castle without another word, leaving Spitfire with the changeling and Celestia’s corpse.

Spitfire looked at the stunned changeling, who still had the shape of Fleetfoot. “You bucking asshole. I hope you like fire, you son of a bitch, because this is a one way ticket to Tartarus.” She raised her lance and plunged it deep into the changeling’s head. She heard a dull cracking sound as its skull broke. As it slipped from consciousness, it revealed its true form.

“… good,” Spitfire said quietly. “Now I can finish this.” She dropped the lance and picked up the dagger the changeling had used. She held it absentmindedly, examining her reflection in the steel. As she raised it to her throat, her hooves shook. She could barely stand. “I’ll see you real soon, Soarin.”

--
Twilight opened the door to the throne room without much thought. Her expression was blank, and her entire body felt numb and cold. She stared for a moment at the empty throne which bore Celestia’s symbol. “… I’m unfit to sit there.” She turned on her haunches and left the way she’d come. The wings remained on her back. In fact, they didn’t even feel fake. They felt real… as though she’d become an alicorn. As she stepped outside into the light of the day, she spread the wings and flew to the east, toward the Everfree Forest. She landed just outside of it and stared inside for a moment. She glanced back only once before stepping inside the forest. She didn’t turn around again; she didn’t want to. The kingdom lied in ruins, and barely anypony had survived. As she walked through the forest, she remained completely silent. No thoughts ran through her mind, and her body still felt cold and dead.

She walked for a long time, longer than she could keep track of. The sun didn’t move through the sky at all, so she had no reference of time. Finally, she fell to her knees, exhausted. “This is it,” she said quietly. “It’s all over.” Her ears perked up at the faint sound of clucking. She glanced in the direction of the sound to see exactly what she had expected. A cockatrice clucked angrily as it charged her. Twilight stared into its eyes wordlessly. As her body began to turn to stone, she sighed deeply. I would rather this than face what Equestria has become, was her final thought.