//------------------------------//
// 6: Duel the Fillies 
// Story: Lost Crusaders 
// by Diloboi 
//------------------------------//

Slowly, I crept through the basement, clutching my revolver tightly. The inky black surrounded me, making it near impossible to see more than a few feet in front of me. I took a few more steps. Ahead, my objective, being the set of stairs and door above, was my last chance at salvation.

Something scurried by behind me, and I pivoted around, leveling my weapon in the direction. I tried to catch a glimpse of the perpetrator, but what ever it was made no further movements. I couldn't help but smirk. I would just have to close in, and one would be down.

But then, I slowly realized my fatal mistake. My rear was completely exposed! It was a trick! I quickly tried to turn back when something leaped from the darkness.

It collided with my chest, knocking the pistol loose from my grip. I fell on my back, sprawled out before I hastefully scrambled to try to rearm myself. Reaching around, my hand met the weapons grip, but it was little too late. 3 brightly colored sabers flashed on around me, illuminating the three fillies wielding them. To my left, Sweetie Belle held a Green blade in her matching aura, her face contorted in concentration. To my right, Apple Bloom held a Yellow Saber in her mouth, sending a glare in my direction. And in front of me, Scootaloo stood with a Purple blade held in a forehoof, her face alight with determination. It was her who spoke.

"Darth Kay the Evil, you shall surrender at once, or face our might and be destroyed!" She bellowed, bringing her sword mere inches away from my face.

I chuckled, facing the pony with a smirk. "What makes you so sure, Master Scoots?"

She smirked as well, "We have you surrounded. It's three on one!"

I gave a hearty laugh, which unnerved the ponies around me, before speaking with my best 'evil' voice, "I like those odds. It will be you who will be DESTROYED!"

Quickly I brought the Revolver up and fired, the projectile arcing towards the pegasus. Her eyes widened as she quickly dove to her right. The other two, now caught off guard from my attack, gave me the chance to draw my own blade.

Igniting it, a beam of red emitted from the hilt. Like lightning, I brought down an attack on the downed pegasus, who blocked with her own edge, which begun to flash erratically, looking more like fire than a steady beam. She was slowly buckling, however, and called out to her allies.

"Crusaders! Attack!"

Apple Bloom charged behind me, swinging her blade. I jumped over the attack, but had to pull my saber from Scootaloo's to block another incoming strike. Sweetie Belle took the opportunity to pull Scootaloo away in her magic, who was quickly recovering from my earlier attack. 

My saber caught a side-swing aimed at my knees when I saw the white pony doing this. I brought my pistol and fired two shots, one of which hit home on the little unicorns furry chest.

"Aagh... pleh." She fell over, dramatically clutching her fatal wound as she closed her eyes.

"Sweetie?! NOOOOOOOOO!!!" Scootaloo screamed, before giving me the iciest glare I had ever known. "You'll pay for this!"

She buzzed her wings and leapt into the air, her blade coming up to strike me across the chest. I deflected the strike, but buckled slightly. She sprung off from my edge, and landed down before bouncing up and attacking again repeatedly. I blocked each strike, but was forced to step back to keep my distance.

Apple Bloom seized the opening to move and flank me from my right. As I deflected a strike from the orange pegasus, she charged forward, intending to slice cleanly through my ankles. I took noticed and, with not a second to spare, sidestepped the charging earth pony while pushing off the orange pegasus. 

I again aimed my revolver, firing two shots. One hit the floor beneath the yellow pony, but the other hit her right flank. She slid to the ground, her saber dropping beside her. Her orange eyes slowly slid shut.

"Apple Bloom!" Master Scoots grinded her teeth, facing me with unbridled anger.

"Yes... Good... Let the hate flow through you. Let it drive you." I drawled out, grinning devilishly.

The pegasus's eyes widened before snapping shut. "No... I won't let it!"

"There is no resisting it. Follow the path of the dark side. Join me!" I began to cackle. The pegasus struggled for a second, her hooves shaking. But suddenly, a a pair of voices rung out.

"Don't listen to him, Scoots."

"Yu're stronger than em."

"Calm yourself."

"We believe in you."

The pegasus steadied herself, taking a deep breath before her eyes opened again. Gone was the fear. Gone was the hate. All that remained, was straight. pure. Determination.

"No... It can't be..." I whispered breathlessly, before shouting, "Where is your hate?! Where is your fear?!"

"I'm not afraid of you. I'm going to Defeat you."

My eyes widened in terror as she rocketed forward. Her blade quickly striking my own partial block. She quickly pivoted on her rear hoof to my left, spinning and hitting at my side. I barely was able to block when she darted again to my right and struck. I caught her blade, but she twisted it quickly, and disarmed me. I howled in pain as my blade flew uselessly through the air, clattering to the ground. The little pegasus followed up with a slice across my stomach. The saber burned through me and I stumbled back, collapsing to the floor. I looked up as the pony stalked towards me, purple blade burning in her hoof. Exhaustion quickly overwhelmed me in my wounded state.

I wheezed out to her, "Go ahead... Strike me down. You'll be no better than I."

She paused, staring at me impassively.

"No."

"...What?"

"I'll never be evil like you." She turned away, walking back to her fallen friends.

"It will be your final mistake..." I said, pulling up my revolver and firing a shot towards the pony. The bullet seemed to travel towards the pony in slow motion. I could only smile. She would surely be defeated for her failure.

Time resumed as the pony swiftly turned and slashed the projectile in half. My eyes could only widen in shock as it fell to the ground.

"Nice try."

My gun clicked uselessly. I was done. Defeated. I had been bested at my own game. By a little filly no less. I could only shout one more thing before my fatigue won me.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"





I sat on the couch beside the three fillies, who's fur was matted with sweat and bits of carpet still stuck. I let out a breath, before addressing the trio.

"So... wanna just relax now?"

Without looking at me, Sweetie Belle replied, "Yeah."

I paused for a second, "Are you mad at me?"

She looked at me and shook her head. "No. That was fun. I'm just tired."

"It was awesome!" Scootaloo said.

"I had fun." Apple Bloom agreed.

"...Oh. Okay." We sat for a few seconds more when a sound from outside caught my attention. Standing up, I walked to the window and peeked through the blinds.

"Uh oh."

"What?" Apple Bloom asked.

"My Brother's home..."