16 - Out Of The Hub, Into The Hurricane

The huge blocks, varying in shape, hailed from the black night. They could flatten anypony not focused enough to avoid them. Each and every unicorn dodged as well as they could – for their lives depended on it. Every tetromino shook the ground as hard as Rarity's 'diamond' did about three months ago. Nopony was safe.

The two teams of unicorns met at the treehouse, struggling to resist the gale-force blasts of wind encasing the treehouse. Not a single pony could make out what was beyond the tornado. Planks of wood flying around the tornado slapped the unlucky ones hard in the face, suggesting that the Crusaders' clubhouse had been put into a state of ruin. Game tried hard to enter on hoof, standing strong against the gusts, but he couldn't see a thing. He turned back, rejoining the groups of unicorns which had now formed into one.

Something hit him hard in the back, knocking him to the ground. Game wriggled, fearful of the possibility that it might be one of those Tetris blocks. "Somepony...help..." he said, without much enthusiasm. He tried to work out what was on him from the feel of it. "Uh..." Game thought hard, reaching up with a hoof to get a better feel. "Is that you...Applejack?"

"Game?" Applejack looked down, instantly recognising the scruffy, ginger mane of Game Changer. "'S that you...sweetheart?"

"Yes, Applejack."

"Oh, Game!" Game Changer felt a small teardrop land upon his hoof. Applejack sobbed. "I've...I've missed you so much! I was so cold, and alone..." Her voice sharpened a little in urgency. "Where's my sister?"

"I...I don't know, Applejack... Maybe she was thrown out too... Apple Bloom?" Game called.

"Here, got 'er," replied a unicorn from the crowd, lifting Applejack's sister up high. Apple Bloom, after being carefully let down by the pony, ran to her sister, catching her in a tight embrace.

"Ah wus so scared, Applejack!" A tear slipped from Apple Bloom's eye.

"So was I, sis."

"Really sorry, but I'm gonna have to leave you guys behind. We've gotta get in there and save this farm!" Game burst into the tornado with almighty force, leaping up the tree into what was left of the Cutie Mark Crusaders' precious clubhouse. "Gyrrh..." he growled, kicking the remains of the door down.

Game's fear of what he saw was a strange feeling. The pain of such a huge loss tied with the fury of the unknown intertwined – Game's emotions filled him with indescribable power. "Shroom!" he cried out. Something was lifting him off his feet. Somehow, it wasn't the heavy tornado. Neither was it an unconscious cheat. His eyes lit, as blindingly yellow as neon daffodils, and he reached out a hoof. "Wake up!" he shouted – this newfound power had made his voice somehow more powerful than the voice of Nightmare Moon.

Shroom Hop's eyes did not leave his Game Colt. His mouth didn't even move. But, unexplainably, words appeared from above. "I am The Master" it boomed. "Your son is cursed...His duty is to erase you, your son, and everypony else in existence!"

Game raised an eyebrow. "Hold on... You...were cursed? Hmm..."

"Your naïve thoughts matter no longer. They will be your last!" the voice cried. "Make your choice, Game Changer. Lose your son, or lose everypony!"

"Hmm...How about neither?" Game smirked. "Turn off the fans, then I've got three words for you, sucker."

To everypony's relief, the wind came to a slow halt. "Did I do a good job?" Game grinned to the crowds below. "Hey Rarity?"

"Yes?" Rarity rushed to the front, wearing what looked like a stunning silver dress.

"Now's your moment," he grinned. "May I compliment you on the armour, by the way?"

"It's not really to my taste, but thank you, Game." Rarity batted her eyelashes at him with a smile. "It...Is...On!"

Every unicorn in the crowd stepped closer to Shroom Hop, led by Princess Luna, ready to fire their magic towards the Master's Game Colt. "One..." Game raised a hoof. "Two..." Every single unicorn assumed a fighting stance, pointing their horns up to the brainwashed colt and console. "Three!" Game swung his hoof up towards the treehouse. "Give it all you've got, everypony!"