//------------------------------// // The Show Must Go On // Story: Equestria Girls - Drama on the Rise // by Amethyst-ACE //------------------------------// Principle Celestia and Queen Chrysalis continued their sword fight on stage. While the jocks continued to wrestle with one another. Twilight, Sunset, and the others removed the masks from the remaining captured students. Celestia and Chrysalis continued to swing at one another, finally Celestia changed poses and with a quick upward thrust managed to disarm the queen whose sword went flying behind her. Chrysalis stumbled back and growled. “How? I defeated you so effortlessly last time!” “It seems the two 'worlds' as you put it, aren't as connected as you thought. I doubt my alter ego took five years of fencing classes!” Principle Celestia taunted. Chrysalis smirked. “She was also a lot more aware of her surroundings!” Principle Celesta looked behind her only to get struck in the head by ACE who was holding a sword himself. The blow to the head caused her vision to blur, and she toppled off stage to the ground and lost consciousness. “Principle Celestia!” Twilight cried out. “ACE?! Why?!” Lilly cried after. ACE glared off stage to his friends the gem on his mask was glowing as well as his eyes. “It's the mask!” Chroma shouted. “Dang it ACE!” Ravewind spontaneously yelled out and ran for the stage only to get hit in the chest by a green laser like beam. The blow sent Ravewind flying backwards only to be caught by Chroma. “Ravewind!” Chroma cried. “I'm alright...that took me off guard that's all...” Ravewind laughed to himself as he steadily lost conciousness. Steam rose out of Chrysalis' hand where the beam had come from. “I've humored you all long enough! This wasn't how I planned on dealing with Celestia, but a knocked out princess is just as good as a disposed one! ACE we're leaving this place, but before I go...” Queen Chrysalis held out both hands and aimed them at Chroma Sketch Lilly and Ravewind. Green energy like what she fired the first time radiated from her hands. “I'm going to deal with you pests. I gave you everything! I put the entire school under your feet, and THIS is how you repay me?! Well an unloyal subordinate is a useless one!” As Chysalis prepared to fire, a voice rang out in ACE's head. It's now or never Amethyst...we have to choose, our Queen or our friends. ACE grabbed his head with both hands, and began to talk to himself. “More time...I need more time...” We're out of time Amethyst! We have to choose! Do we save our friends or let them die? “I...I can't...” If you wont act I will! And you already know my choice! ACE yelled out as if in pain and ripped the mask off his face. “Lilly!” Lilly looked up just in time to see Chrysalis fire and ACE jump in the way. “ACE!” Lilly ran over and held ACE in her arms. A good portion of his body was charcoal black, and several parts of his clothing were missing. “Well...” ACE coughed softly. “That hurt...” ACE smiled at Lilly then blacked out. Lilly cried softly to herself as Chrysalis shook her head. “Hmm, such a disappointment. Oh well It seems I've done everything I can here.” With that Chrysalis fired a beam of energy straight up blowing a hole in the ceiling of the Auditorium. She then jumped up and flew away laughing manically as she left. About an hour later both Ravewind and ACE recovered. They woke up in the school's infirmary, and Ravewind rubbed his head with a groan. “Ugh...anyone get the number of that car?” He looked at ACE who shrugged. “Well did they at least get the number of the limo behind it?” ACE smirked in response to Ravewind's terrible joke, but the expression quickly faded as ACE looked out the window. “Look ACE, we don't blame you for what you did.” Ravewind admitted. “Well you should.” ACE responded coldly. “What do you mean?” Asked Ravewind. “I wasn't like the others Ravewind. I wasn't hypnotized or anything. That was me...'er, the other me...We went along with everything...” “But in the long run you made the right decision!” Ravewind pointed out. “I guess I did...” ACE processed the events that occurred in his head. There was a knock on the infirmary door and the nurse walked in. “Oh good you two are awake, you have visitors, and a lot of them.” Lilly, Chroma Sketch, Twilight Sparkle, and as many Drama Club members that they could fit in the small room pushed their way in through the small door. “You're both awake!” Lilly shouted excitedly. “Back and better than ever!” Ravewind boasted as he flexed. Chroma said nothing and simply rolled her eyes. “How is Celestia?” ACE inquired. “Still knocked out...” Twilight confessed. I think some kind of magic is keeping her in that state. “Where's Sunset?” Inquired Ravewind. Twilight pointed outside at the statue just outside the school entrance. “She followed Chrysalis back through the portal. She's gone ahead of me to make preparations for her attack.” “Does this mean you're going back as well?” Asked Chroma Sketch. Twilight nodded. “My friends are going to need me. As will Princess Luna with Celestia out of commission...speaking of, did anyone ever find her?” A girl with light blue skin and bright blond hair walked into the infirmary. “Vice Principle Luna was out eating dinner when everything happened. She just now got back on campus.” The girl explained. “Well that figures...” Ravewind muttered only to be hit in the back of the head by Chroma Sketch. “Ow!” “Oh hey you didn't black out again, I guess you really are doing fine.” Chroma teased. “Oh haha...” Ravewind rubbed the back of his head. “Anyway, I'm really sorry I put everyone through all of this.” As Twilight apologized the other students looked at one another then back at her. “Are you kidding?” Chroma asked her. “If it wasn't for you, Christina would still be here at the school, egging on the Drama Club. Thanks to you, Canterlot High has it's freedom back, and we're still as unified as we were when everyone was in the club. “You helped us see through the STEP test, and helped us get our school back to the way it was.” Ravewind seconded. Everyone in the room and the students in the hallway all cheered for Twilight. “Thanks you guys. I promise, as soon as Chrysalis is dealt with, I'll be back again to see you all!” “We'll be waiting.” Lilly responded. “Just be sure you come back before we all graduate.” Ravewind teased, only to be hit in the back of the head again. “Ow! Was that necessary?” “Yes.” Chroma replied bluntly. Everyone in the room began to laugh, including Ravewind. As Twilight made her way to the portal she took one last look at her new found friends. “I really hope I get to see you all again.” “I really hope we're friends with you in your world.” Chroma confessed. Twilight thought to herself. “Come to think of it...I'm sure I've heard your name somewhere before.” “Well that's good.” Chroma said with a cheerful smile. Twilight nodded and waved to everyone, with that last goodby she stepped through the portal, and returned to the Canterlot that she knew. “Hey, has anyone seen ACE?” Ravewind asked. Lilly and Chroma looked around and shrugged. “He's probably off somewhere working on another mask.” Chroma suggested. Lilly looked up at the sky. “Who knows...” She responded. “ACE is a weird guy.” ~~~~~ Twilight sparkle stepped through the portal and found herself as the four hooved purple pony she had always been. As she readjusted to herself her five friends rushed over to her. “Twilight! You've gotta come quick! It's Princess Celestia!” Rainbow Dash grabbed her by the hoof only to have Twilight tug back. “What's got every pony all worked up?” Twilight asked her friends. “It's the princess.” Applejack explained. “She suddenly collapsed and no one knows why. She won't wake up 'neither.” “Chrysalis...” Twilight whispered. “Tell all the guards to get into positions, and contact my brother and step sister in the Crystal Empire. Canterlot is about to be attacked!” “Oh my goodness!” Gasped Fluttershy. “How do you know Twilight?” “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.” Twilight smiled. Pinkie inhaled like she was about to speak but Rarity covered the pink ponies mouth with her hoof. “In any event darling, we best get you to the throne room and begin preparations.” Twilight nodded in response to Rarity's suggestion and they all headed out. A few moments later the portal shimmered again, as a pale white unicorn with a brown mane and tail stepped out from the other side. He looked around with his clear almost empty eyes and his expression became very serious. “It's begun...” The stranger told himself.