The Nexus sends heroes and villians from Blizzard's greatest franchises, Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo, into Equestria! Now, the Mane 6 (minus 1) must battle for dominance of the Nexus in order to save their home and their friends!
The Nexus is a powerful multi-dimensional machine that rips heroes and villains from their homeworlds and sets them against each other on battlefields in far off destinations (for reasons that no one can explain)! Under normal circumstances, it just takes characters from the worlds of Blizzard Entertainment (Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo). But in celebration of the new season of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and the announced release date of Heroes of the Storm (tm), the Nexus has sent some of Blizzard's greatest champions to battle the holders of the Elements of Harmony in Equestria!
Now, with Princess Twilight trapped inside their team's Core, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity must take their team of 5 to the lanes to battle in DotA-style to save their friend, and their base, in Ponies of the Storm!!!!
(I recommend changing your chapter reading format to have a dark background to read this. You'll see why.)
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*IMPORTANT* Time to get real for a second. I'm not going to finish this story. There are two main reasons. 1. Activision's influence over Blizzard has soiled a once beloved company. Their premature halting of development on Heroes of the Storm showed their love, not for creation and entertainment, but for profit. The same with the mishandling and understaffing of Warcraft 3 Reforged. A company exists to make profit, I understand that. However, after things like the Diablo Immortal incident and the Blitzchung fiasco, I can see they no longer aim to please fans and make money at the same time. 2. More importantly, after the recent allegations that have come to light (July 2021) about the behind-the-scenes activities at Blizzard themselves, I can no longer support them as a company. It hurts. I love their characters and their games, but... unless they clean house and really fix their internal issues, I cannot give them another penny. I will not give them any additional positive attention by continuing this story. Can you "separate art from the artist?" Do you stop watching movies or shows if a lead actor has been shown to have done something despicable? Can you be sure every name listed in the credits is always a well-behaved human? What percentage of the people involved in a piece of media can do something wrong before the whole thing is tainted? I think many people have had to deal with these questions in recent years. Whether you do or not is for each individual to decide. As for me, in this case, the artist has ruined the art for me.
The sky sundered! Electric blue lights darted to and fro, ripping the fabric of reality! Ponyville became engulfed in neon lines that sectioned off a large area of the town. The houses and streets shifted with the earth, broke apart, and fused together. Soon, three massive paths of dirt and cobblestone ran from one end of the town to the other. The homes of the pony citizens became the sidelines to these lanes. The everyday background ponies became trapped in within these new walls, as an invisible force held them in place. Mechanical towers and castles rose from the ground in specific places. Each was adored with Equestrian-themed designs. The entire area was morphed into a symmetrical battlefield with three lanes connecting the sides, an equal number of towers, gates and forts in each lane, a large stone statue at the center and two well-guarded bases at both ends of the field. A mystical Hall of Storms stood at the far edge of each of the bases. And it was at the eastern Hall where our Heroes found themselves, suddenly.
With a bolt of lightning each, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy appeared. The surprised ponies shook off the dizziness that came with the sudden trip.
"What in tarnation!?" yelled Applejack, rubbing her head.
"I- I- don't know! B-but I don't like it! Can we leave!?" Fluttershy cried as she hid behind Rarity.
"Heeheeha! Cool! Look at all the colors!" Pinkie Pie said as she bounced around energetically.
"Oh my, they are dazzling," Rarity commented looking down at the glass floor as electrical energy swirled underneath them.
The five ponies continued to chatter with confusion and awe amongst themselves before Princess Twilight interrupted them.
"Girls! Calm down!" Twilight shouted.
"Twilight!?" the ponies exclaimed in unison. The group looked around trying to locate their friend, but to no avail.
"I'm up here!" Twilight shouted again.
The five ponies gazed up at the building in front of them. It was a massive and intricate stone statue of a horse. At the top, the horse shouldered a large glass ball. Inside this blue ball stood Twilight, who was banging fruitlessly on the walls of the glass prison.
"Twilight? What're you doing up there!?" Pinkie shouted into a megaphone she pulled out of nowhere as she waved frantically.
"I don't know, Pinkie," Twilight spoke again, but this time her voice echoed in the heads of her friends and she was heard as clear as day to them.
"Woah! Hold it! How'd you do that!?" Rainbow asked.
"Just as I thought!" Twilight exclaimed giddily. This reverberated loudly in the ears of her friends. "I may not know why we're here, but I think I know where we are."
"And jus' where is that?" Applejack asked as she tried to scoop Twilight's voice out of her ears with her hoof.
"I think we're in... the NEXUS!"
"Oh no!" Pinkie cried. "Not the WEEXUS!!"
"I believe she said Nexus, darling," Rarity commented. "But I have to ask, Twilight, what is the uh- Nexus? And how in Equestria are you speaking to us in our minds?"
"You know, I already asked that question," Rainbow pointed out angrily.
"It's called whispering," Twilight explained. "It was one of features of the Nexus that Starswirl the Bearded predicted."
Her friends exchanged confused glances.
"Okay, let me start from the beginning," Twilight said as she rolled her eyes. "Starswirl the Bearded once predicted that it may be possible with enough knowledge of magic, space and time to construct a device to transport ponies from different planets, dimensions, or even times in history to a single location. This same device could shape the land into whatever form its creators desired. Starswirl theorized that this could be used to create a grand game that would pit heroes and villians from different worlds against each other."
"Why would he theorize that?" Rainbow snidely remarked.
"I don't know, Rainbow, but he named the place the Nexus. He even wrote about the features and rules that this game would have."
"And so you think that the Nexus exists... and we've been taken to it?" Fluttershy asked, jittering. "To- to fight some scary bad guys from another planet?"
"I think so, Fluttershy. It fits his description," Twilight mused. "Look, even Ponyville has been morphed into the area we're supposed to fight in, exactly how he described."
"Great! So how do we get out?" Applejack asked with a smirk. "And fix this mess?"
"Well, if I remember correctly, the only way to get out is to win the game... by... destroying your opponent's Core!" Twilight said, thinking back on the writings.
"You mean this big statue thing that you're inside!?" Pinkie exclaimed, patting the stone building happily, as if she was proud of it.
Twilight looked down at the structure beneath her and began to sweat nervously at the realization.
"Yeah, I- uh. I guess I'm in our Core... which is supposed to be destroyed."
"Goodness," Rarity started, "what happens if these other ponies we're supposed to fight come and destroy our Core, with you inside?"
"Then she'll be destroyed, too, silly!" Pinkie said with maniacal glee. After a moment's contemplation, her face suddenly changed from a smile to a frown. "Oh, wait! That's bad! GASP! We gotta protect Twilight, you guys!"
"Alright! I guess that means we have to beat those other ponies before they get here!" Rainbow exclaimed, getting pumped for the battle, punching the air excitedly.
"Ooo-whee! Sounds like rootin'-tootin' good time to me!" Applejack exclaimed too, giving Rainbow a hoofbump.
"Okay girls, but be careful," Twilight warned. "I'll whisper you all and try to explain what to do, if I can remember everything Starswirl wrote. But I won't be able to see what's going on, so you'll have to do this on your own."
"Oh, boy!" Pinkie cheered. "This is exciting!"
A booming voice filled the air suddenly.
---THE BATTLE BEGINS IN TEN SECONDS---
"W-w-what was that!?" Fluttershy cried, bolting to a new hiding spot under Applejack.
"I think... that's the announcer," Twilight explained, recalling on the texts. "Starswirl said that it would call out what's happening in the battlefield. And it sounds like you don't have much time to get started!"
"Well, what do we do, Twilight?" Rarity asked in a panic.
"Hold on, hold on! ... ...Quick everyone, what's your class?" Twilight pressed.
"Assassin!" Rainbow exclaimed without hesitation. "Wait, what? How'd I know that? And what's a class?"
"Ooo! Ooo! I'm an Assassin too!" Pinkie bounced around Rainbow excitedly. "It sounds fun! So dangerous, like a ninja!"
"I'm a... Warrior? Huh," Applejack said contemplatively.
"I'm a Specialist! Oh, that sounds divine!" Rarity gloated cheerfully.
"...Support..." Fluttershy said nervously, still shivering on the ground.
The voice boomed again.
---FIVE---
"Okay... Fluttershy," Twilight said as she tried to think quickly, "you're Support, so you should follow Rainbow down that far left lane! She'll need you to heal her!"
---FOUR---
"But-but-but-but," Fluttershy stuttered, horrified at the prospect.
"No time for buts, let's go Fluttershy!" Rainbow grabbed Fluttershy and started to flap her wings, but was unable to take off. "Hey!" she exclaimed as she fell flat to the ground.
---THREE---
"Why can't I fly!?" Rainbow demanded, as Fluttershy quivered beside her.
"Rarity, you and Pinkie take the far right lane," Twilight continued, ignoring Rainbow Dash. "You should be able to deal a lot of damage together."
"Of course!" Rarity agreed, not actually understanding the reason.
"Aye-aye, Captin'!" Pinkie hollered as she followed Rarity, bouncing towards their lane. "Hey Rarity, what's Twilight mean by damage?"
---TWO---
"Applejack, you have the most health so you can take the middle lane by yourself," Twilight explained.
"Hello!? Why can't I fly!?" Rainbow yelled up at Twilight, trying to interrupt and gain her attention.
"Sure thing, Twilight! Yee-haw!" Applejack reared up and kicked in anticipation.
---ONE. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN---
As the countdown reached one, the gates guarding the three entrances to their base fell. In their place, neon blue gates of magic rose up. They appeared as if they could be easily walked through from their side. At the start of the battle, the minions appeared. These tiny little humanoids with identical faces spawned in equal sized groups by the Core. They wore medival combat equipment, colored blue, and marched, each group to one lane, out of the base.
"Woah! Who're these guys!? Heeheehaahaa!~" Pinkie asked excitedly, stopping to giggle at the minions.
"They're so cute!" Rarity mentioned. "Look at those adorable little outfits!"
"WHY CAN'T I FLY!?" Rainbow shouted as she stayed behind at the Core, pounding it angrily.
"Girls, listen to me. I'll try to explain everything as best I can," Twilight whispered to them all. "First things first, everypony needs to learn how to whisper. Just imagine the pony you want to talk to and just think your words as concrete thoughts. It works for everypony at once, too. We'll have to stay in communication like this."
"I got it! ...Right?" Applejack asked telepathically, uncertain of her abilities.
"Oh, wow! I can hear Applejack in my head now!" Pinkie exclaimed loudly in the minds of her friends. "Can everypony hear me, too?"
"I don't know, you might have to speak up a bit louder, darling," Rarity jabbed mentally.
"LIKE THIS!?" Pinkie tried again.
"Ow... I- I can hear you Pinkie," Fluttershy offered shyly, waiting patiently beside Rainbow.
"This is great!" Rainbow cheered. "We can work out strategies and ask Twilight questions. Actually, I have a question right now: WHY CAN'T I FLY!?!?!?"
"Okay, okay, Rainbow! Just a minute!" Twilight said. "Go take Fluttershy down your lane and I'll explain. But first: Everypony, follow those little magical creatures. They're called minions, I think, and they're on our side and they'll take you to your opponents. Now, in the Nexus, our strengths and weaknesses have been normalized for all the heroes in the game."
"What the hay does that mean?" Applejack asked as she warily passed through the magical gate with her group of minions.
"It means that no matter how much strength or speed or magic or flying ability you had back home, the Nexus makes you the same as your opponents, roughly speaking."
"What!? I can't be my awesome, speedy self!? That's so lame!" Rainbow protested as she ran along, trying to catch up with her minions, dragging an unwilling Fluttershy behind her.
"That may be, Rainbow," Twilight explained, "but it also means that whoever, or whatever, you'll be facing won't be stronger than you."
"Huh! I guess that's why I can't gallop? I'm kinda stuck at this one speed," Applejack miserably pointed out as she trotted along at an average pace.
"Yes, Applejack. Starswirl figured this would prevent anypony who was too powerful from dominating the game. He also predicted you'd be limited in what you can do!" Twilight explained, desperate to recall all the information before her friends found the enemy. "Apparently, the Nexus only allows you do two things, a Basic Attack and four different Abilities that were created based on who you are as a pony, and what your class is."
"You know, this Starlight guy sure predicted a lot of crazy specific stuff," Rainbow jabbed, sarcastically.
"Abilities, Twilight?" Rarity questioned. "How in Equestria are we supposed to know what our abilities- oh wait, here they are! Strange, I just imagined them, and they appeared in my mind! And they have names!"
"One of mine's called PARTY CANNON! It's called PARTY CANNON!!!" Pinkie cheered maniacally as she bounced around her lane of minions who were still trudging along without a care.
"Good job, Pinkie! Everypony, figure out what your abilities do! They should be a reflection of who you are," Twilight commanded. "They'll be the key to fighting your opponents!"
"Oh, fighting!? I don't know if I can do that..." Fluttershy whimpered.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy," Twilight said, comfortingly. "You're a Support, which means you'll be helping Rainbow. Let her do the fighting. Celestia knows she wants to."
"Straight up!" Rainbow piped.
"Now that you mention it, these don't look so bad," Fluttershy said, gaining a little confidence as she read her abilities. "I won't have to hurt anypony."
"But they're gonna try to hurt us, right Twilight?" Applejack asked.
"That's right," Twilight replied. "If you can see your Abilities, then you should be able to picture your Health. Starswirl said it would appear as a green bar and it would represent how much damage you could take before you die."
"DIE!?" all of Twilight's friends exclaimed in unison, each one screeching to a halt.
"Twilight! You said this was a game!" Rarity spouted in a panic. "I can't die! Who'll finish my fall line-up!?"
"It is a game!" Twilight interjected. "You won't die for real, you'll just die in the game. You'll be teleported back here. I think..."
"Great! She thinks we won't die for real!" Rainbow mocked.
"Rainbow!" Applejack countered. "Twilight's been right on everything so far, let's trust her on this too." She finished her sentence with a nervous gulp.
"Is- is- it going to h-h-h-hurt?" Fluttershy collapsed and covered her head with her hooves, tears forming.
"I bet it's going to tickle!" Pinkie cheered. "I wanna try it!"
Applejack walked along the cobblestone street beside her mindless squad of minions. She looked around carefully, noting the terrain, specifically the spots of tall grass she figured she could hide in. She easily passed through another magical gate that looked like it could prevent entry from anything it didn't want. Across a large open space, she saw another gate between two towers that looked identical to hers, except they were bright red instead of blue. Applejack saw minions emerge from behind the enemy gate. They looked like the blue minions, except they too, were red. The two waves of red and blue collided as the minions began a slow paced combat.
"Alright," Applejack said to herself. "Looks like it's time to get down n' dirty! Yee-haw!" She ran at the pace she was stuck at to meet the wave of incoming minions. "Sorry, little fellas! Twilight says I gotta beat y'all up!" She began to kick the mindless creatures. Despite how hard she tried, or how fast, she was only able to hit them at a steady pace. "This must be my basic attack," Applejack mused. As she pounded the face of a little soldier, she could feel how the minion's health was dropping with each kick. Finally, the weird little creature fell. Its limp body disintegrated as it died. "Ooo-whee! One down- Ow!" Applejack recoiled as tiny archer minions shot miniature arrows at her. She could feel her health drop a little. "Okay, y'all are annoying as all get out, but I'm more worried about this hero I'm supposed to fight!"
Just as she mentioned him, a large man stepped out from behind the red gate. Applejack's jaw dropped at the sight. The man wore a giant metal suit, gray, adorned with metallic fixtures, painted with the design of a snake skeleton on one of the shoulders. He carried a gun, a gauss rifle, that was almost as large as he was and just as dark, equipped with a blade at the end. The man's face was hard to see, a metal helmet protected him on the back and the sides. He was young, mid thirties, but his face bore the lines of decades of war and strife. His scruffy facial hair was black and it supported the excited grin he gave.
"Well, well, well. What have we here?" Raynor mused to himself with a southern drawl. He pointed his rifle at Applejack, who took a step back at the sight. "Looks like the Nexus messed up. Sent me to play with some little pony girl."
"Hey!" Applejack shouted nervously. "I ain't here to play!"
"Oh, I know it, kid," Raynor laughed. "This whole place is filled with things like you." He pointed his giant metal hand to the sidelines where the background ponies were trapped in their spectator positions. They talked frantically to each other, some cried. "You must be one of the locals," he said, grinning at Applejack.
"That's right!" Applejack defended. "Me and my friends are gonna beat you and restore our town, ya hear!?"
The minions around the two of them continued to fight despite their conversation.
"Haha!" Raynor laughed halfheartedly. "Well, I can't say I don't respect your determination, but I gotta feelin' I've got more fightin' experience than you. I didn't become Marshall back on Mar Sara with just my looks."
Applejack swallowed nervously. The man was daunting. He had presence.
Raynor noticed Applejack shaking and smiled sincerely at her.
"You know, this ain't really my idea," he said casually. "I got better things to do than fight you or ruin your town. I got a revolution to win. I got a girl to save."
"Then... you'll leave?" Applejack said hopefully, despite herself.
"No can do, little lady," Raynor smirked. "You see, I'm trapped here too. And the only way I can go home, is if you lose." He pointed his gun at Applejack again to emphasize the point.
"Sorry, but that ain't gonna happen," Applejack grimaced. "This is our town!"
"You're quite the little cowgirl! What's your name, kid?"
"Applejack."
"Haha! Don't know why I was expecting anything other than that," Raynor laughed at Applejack's simplistic name. "Pleasure to meet you, Applejack. Name's Raynor. James Raynor. But you can call me Jimmy."
"...Pleasure's all mine, partner," Applejack said.
They both stared at each other. The standoff was quiet, until Raynor spoke.
"Piece of advice, kid: give up now. I ain't one to lose."
"Neither am I."
"Well then, missy, can't say I didn't warn ya. Get ready, Applejack!" With that Raynor grabbed his gun with both hands, ready to fire. The metallic helmet covering his head dropped a visor down over his face. A spray-painted skull on the visor smiled maniacally where the man's head just was. He opened fire.
"Landsakes!" Applejack cried as she grabbed her hat, bent down, and tried to shield herself from the bullets. They all hit their mark. With the same repetitive speed that Applejack had attacked with, the flurry of bullets hit her. She instantly felt her health drop, it was significantly more painful than the minions had been, but it didn't kill her.
"I can survive bullets!?" Applejack said to herself. "Twilight was right, we're fighting on equal terms!"
"Let's step it up!" Raynor said, mostly to himself. "INSPIRE!" He yelled the ability name, his voice came out speakers built into his suit. The two exhaust vents on the back of Raynor's suit fired up as he cast his ability. Magic lit up beneath his feet in response to his power and it spread to the red minions around him. The frequency of his and the minions attacks increased dramatically, inflicting more damage on Applejack.
"I can't just stay here and take this!" Applejack grunted to herself. She saw her health was dropping fast. "Time to go on the offensive!" She started to run towards Raynor, who didn't stop firing on her. Applejack thought on her abilities. She had read them and roughly knew what they all did. "Alright, let's try... this!" Applejack said as she approached Raynor. "APPLEBUCK!" she shouted as she mentally selected the ability. Without any sort of command or control, Applejack's body stopped, turned, and she reared up on her front legs.
"Woah, wait-!" Raynor said with surprise. He tried to take a step back, but it was too late. With incredible force, Applejack kicked Raynor with her hind legs. "Guugh!" he coughed as his body was launched an unbelievable distance backwards. His massive metal boots screeched him to a halt.
Applejack was surprised at her own power. She didn't think she would have been able to knock someone so heavy that far.
"Guess that's part of the equalization, too," she muttered to herself.
The attack only briefly stopped Raynor, who resumed fire almost immediately.
"Don't stop now, Applejack! Keep it up!" Raynor shouted, enjoying the fight.
"Shoot!" Applejack cried as she felt the bullets ricocheting off her. "Can't loose focus! I'm just gettin' started!" Applejack yelled. "LASSO!" With that, she pulled out a lasso out of nowhere and quickly launched it towards Raynor. The rope effortlessly entangled the man and Applejack pulled it hard. The force knocked Raynor off his feet and he was helplessly dragged up to Applejack. The attack did a small amount of damage to Raynor but the rope disappeared immediately afterward.
"I'm gettin' the hang of this!" Applejack said cheerfully. "Time for another APPLEBUCK!" She tried to select the ability with her mind, but nothing happened. "Wait, what?" Her eyes shook in disbelief as the image in her mind reflected back a number. 10. "Ten... seconds...?" Applejack muttered in horror. The number turned to 9. "Nine seconds... until I can use APPLEBUCK again...?"
"Sorry, but that ain't enough time," Raynor said with a smile. Applejack looked up at him in terror. Raynor's visor still covered his face. The skull looked down mockingly at Applejack. He voice came out of the speakers, muffled and crackling. "That was a good effort, kid. Piece of advice though, since you're new: don't waste your cooldowns." He pointed his gauss rifle at her and said, "PENETRATING ROUND."
The blast finished Applejack. Her world went dark at the sound of the bullet's fire.
"Do- do we really have to do this!?" Fluttershy cried miserably as she tailed behind Rainbow.
"Yeah we do! Aren't you psyched!" Rainbow replied excitedly, practicing her punches as she hopped along with the minions. "We get to fight bad dudes from another planet! Another planet, Fluttershy! We're basically fighting aliens!"
"That... doesn't make it any better..." Fluttershy mumbled. "Actually... now that I think about it... a-aliens are s-s-scarier!"
"Just leave it to me, scaredy-pony! I'll take 'em all on!"
"I don't know... Twilight said they're just as strong as you are," Fluttershy commented, ignoring the scaredy-pony insult.
"Hah! Twilight's full of baloney sometimes!" Rainbow scoffed as she wrapped her hoof around Fluttershy. "I got this! You'll see!"
"Oh, okay," Fluttershy said with little confidence. "Oh, gosh! We're here already!? Oh no!" Fluttershy jumped over to some tall grass nearby in a panic after the two of them stepped out into an open area. Rainbow looked out at the daunting enemy fortifications with enthusiasm.
"Alright, let's bring it! Let's show these space ponies who's boss! You with me, Fluttershy?" After there was no response, Rainbow looked around. "Fluttershy?" She spotted her jittery friend crouching in the grass. "You know, I said I'd take them myself, but it wouldn't hurt to have you there cheering me on!" she said with annoyance.
"A-actually, I think I can cheer you on just fine from right here," Fluttershy cried, covering her face.
"What is this!?" a massive voice bellowed out.
"No!" Fluttershy squealed as terror shot through her at the sound.
Rainbow turned to face the voice with confidence, but her jaw dropped when she saw the source. A massive mantis-like insect walked past the red gate, towering over the minions beside him. He strode upon four legs and held up two more, a pair of predatory forelegs, spiked and ready to shred enemies. The giant wings on his back fluttered occasionally, as if impatient with the world. Sullied and frayed cloth wraps held the ancient, decadent purple armor, highlighted with gold, to his massive body and appendages. The armor also encompassed the deadly horn that sat upon his head. He had eight eyes that glowed with some unholy energy that also leaked out his mouth. He reeked of death. This monster was dangerous.
"What is this miserable little creature before me!?" Anub'arak bemoaned. His voice was cold and wobbly. His many eyes focused hungrily on Rainbow. "The Nexus calls this to battle me? Hahahaha! I've devoured Tuskarr more imposing than you!"
"I- I- I-" Rainbow stuttered as Anub'arak crept closer.
"Oh...my..." Fluttershy quivered in horror. Her teeth couldn't stop chattering as she watched the monster.
"You- you- you-" Rainbow continued to stutter. "You're... SO AWESOME LOOKING!"
Anub'arak stopped in his tracks at the unexpected outburst.
"Wha-?" he attempted to say.
"I get to fight you!? This'll be EPIC!" Rainbow hollered excitedly. "Rainbow Dash... versus... the Giant Alien Bug Guy! Haha! They'll have to write books about this! Omigosh! Maybe they can get A.K. Yearling to write it! Then make it into a movie!"
"Hmmm," Anub'arak grumbled.
"Hey, big guy!" Rainbow shouted as she pointed defiantly at him. "Let's get this started! I'm gonna kick your flank!"
"HAHAHAHA!" Anub'arak bellowed, his laughter shook Fluttershy's insides, sickening her. "Amusing! Perhaps I will toy with your flesh a little before crushing you!"
"You lack the honor of a true warrior, Anub'arak," a cool, mature female voice spoke behind him. A tall, purple-skinned woman stepped out from behind the red gate. Long, pointed ears emerged from behind the blue-green shroud of her hair. She wore polished, intricate silver armor that alluded to an illustrious, ancient culture that crafted it. Sapphire gems as deep as the night sky adored the armor. A piece of crescent moon shaped jewelry lay peacefully on her forehead. She held a silver bow shaped in the motif of feathers; a bowstring of magic connected the bow tips. Her face was serious and contemplative, showing the weariness of a thousand lifetimes of responsibility, but also the competence and skill of a honed champion.
"Hmmm?" Anub'arak turned to Tyrande as she walked past him. She put her hand to her hip as she stopped.
"You would do well to learn respect for your opponent, especially a strong willed female such as her. Perhaps then you could restore some of your lost dignity, Traitor King," Tyrande smiled, as if amused by the concept.
"Do not lecture me, Priestess!" Anub'arak hissed, his jagged mouth dangerously close to Tyrande's head. She didn't bother to look at him. "If we were not bound by the laws of the Nexus, I would crush you where you stand!"
"An interesting proposition. I would enjoy watching you try," Tyrande smiled.
"RRRAAAAUUUGGGGHHH!" Anub'arak bellowed, finally turning away from Tyrande. "Must I be allied to such a feeble elf!?"
This time Tyrande didn't respond, instead she looked Rainbow over who was watching the bickering with confusion.
"Ishnu-alah, hero," Tyrande spoke in her foreign tongue. "Greetings, I am Tyrande Whisperwind, High Priestess of Elune, leader of the kaldorei."
"Oh, hey," Rainbow said with even more confusion. She stared at Tyrande for a moment before saying, "You know, you're not nearly as awesome looking at that guy."
"I like her bow," Fluttershy said to herself from the tall grass.
Tyrande paused briefly before laughing a little.
"You certainly are odd, young one. Are you alone?"
"Alone? No, Fluttershy's here. Can't you see her?" Rainbow asked bluntly.
"Rainbow! What are you doing!?" Fluttershy whispered her frantically.
Tyrande looked down the lane, ignoring the first wave of minions who were almost done battling amongst themselves. Upon finding nothing of interest, she returned her gaze to Rainbow.
"Hello!? She's right there!" Rainbow angrily pointed to Fluttershy who was, to her, sticking out like a sore thumb.
"I see," Tyrande smiled coyly. "Hiding in the shadows of the grass?" She held up her arm and a magical neon owl appeared to perch on it. "SENTINEL!" Tyrande shouted as she cast the bird towards the grass. The owl flew like an arrow towards Fluttershy.
"Fluttershy!" Rainbow cried in a panic, not realizing this was all her fault.
The magical bird passed through the grass, just barely missing Fluttershy by an inch. As it hit the grass, the area lit up and the foliage became clear, easily seen-through, and the owl flew off into the distance. "There you are," Tyrande smiled. Fluttershy became revealed to her.
"I-I-I-" Fluttershy shivered with uncontrollable fear as both Tyrande and Anub'arak stared at her.
"Another one!" Anub'arak said excitedly. "This world is riddled with these cretins! I shall enjoy devouring them all!"
"Okay, that's it! Enough talk outta all of you!" Rainbow shouted with anger. "I'm taking you out before you lay one grimy claw on Fluttershy!"
"Ha! Come, face me, weakling!" Anub'arak challenged.
"Oh, I will!" Rainbow yelled as she ran towards him. "Check this move out! DIVE BOMB!" With those words, Rainbow bolted up into the sky. Her body moved as the ability commanded and she came diving down onto Anub'arak. She collided with the beast, smashing him to the earth.
"Ugggh!" Anub'arak moaned from the damage.
"All right!" Rainbow cheered. "Hey! Ow!" A stinging magic arrow hit Rainbow from the side.
"Do not put yourself so easily within your enemies reach!" Tyrande called as she drew back her bow and created another magical arrow. Despite her advice, she continued to fire on Rainbow Dash.
"RRAAUUGGHH!!" Anub'arak recovered from the attack and swiped at Rainbow. He made contact and she recoiled from the damage.
"Ugh! My health!" Rainbow cried, noticing how she could feel her health bar shrinking. "Well, two can play at that game!"
She started kicking and punching Anub'arak as the massive insect swiped at her. They exchanged blows, knocking off chunks of each other's health. But Rainbow was losing quickly, Tyrande was still bombarding her with arrows.
"Rainbow!!!" Fluttershy cried out.
"MUHAHAHAHA!" Anub'arak laughed maniacally, like a madman. "Your end is near, puny one!"
"Shoot!" Rainbow grimaced at the pain. Her health was nearly gone. "Gotta get outta here!" She turned and called "DASH!" The ability's power forced her wings to flap wildly. She flew, close to the ground, away from Anub'arak, straight into the remaining pile of minions. She knocked the little red beings aside, finishing them all off.
"Good!" Tyrande called. "Use your powers to get out of harm's way! LIGHT OF ELUNE!" She cast the ability, begrudgingly, healing a little of Anub'arak's lost health.
"It is useless, elf!" Anub'arak taunted. "Even with your words, these creatures are no match for the might of the Frozen Throne!"
"Guuggh!" Rainbow moaned. "He's right, I'm almost finished! Fluttershy! Twilight said you could support me! I- I think I need help!" Rainbow said that last bit with a great deal of embarrassment.
"Oh! Oh! Rainbow needs me! ...O-okay!" Fluttershy stepped out from the grass slowly. Despite her little bit of courage, she still cried wildly.
"You got an ability or something!?" Rainbow asked, running up to Fluttershy.
"Hold on... I think... I think this one... FLUTTERHEAL!" She cast the ability and butterflies swarmed around Rainbow at the words. They soothed the wounds on her and a portion of her health was restored.
"Aw yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" Rainbow exclaimed. "Back in the game!" She turned to face Anub'arak, who was closing in on them. "Got any others!? I'll need everything you got to take this guy on!"
"Um, how about... BIRDY SHIELD!" With this ability, two colorful birds appeared and started to loop around Rainbow.
"Hey, what do these guys do?" Rainbow asked quizzically.
"Too slow, fools!" Anub'arak shouted as he cast an ability. "IMPALE!" He slammed the ground with his forearms and caused ancient spikes to burst forth from the earth. They came up, one after another, in a line, heading straight for Rainbow and Fluttershy.
"So awesome!" Rainbow commented before the spikes collided with her. "Gugh!" She got knocked up into the air and fell down to the dirt, but felt no pain. "Huh?" she muttered as she dusted herself off. "My health wasn't affected!" she noticed. She watched as one of the birds fell down and evaporated, leaving just one behind. "Hey Fluttershy, I think your bird friends took the blow-" Rainbow stopped short when she saw Fluttershy laying in the dirt quivering.
"O-ow..." Fluttershy moaned, having been hit by a spike as well. "That's terrible..." she managed to say. "I don't want any poor little birdies to get hurt..."
"Hey! You hit Fluttershy!" Rainbow accused Anub'arak who was now upon them.
"MUHAHAHAHA!"
"That's it! I'm taking you down! LIGHTNING KICK!" Rainbow pulled out a cloud out of nowhere and kicked it with her hind legs. This caused a bolt of lighting to come out, heading directly towards Anub'arak.
"HARDEN CARAPACE!" Anub'arak shouted as the bolt of lighting struck him. His shell hardened and absorbed the attack. "No effect, little fool!" He taunted as the lighting faded away, having dealt almost no damage.
"What the-!" Rainbow backed up. "I've thrown everything I've got at you, but you're still standing! How can I beat that!?"
"I'll tell you," Anub'arak said as he swiped, knocking the last bird away from Rainbow, "You can't! Death awaits you!"
"No! Fluttershy, come on! We gotta get out of here!" Rainbow yelled in a panic as she tried to run away.
"There is no escape from the cold embrace of the Scourge!" Anub'arak laughed maniacally as he watched Rainbow run. Once she had got a certain distance, he smiled darkly. "This will finish you, BURROW CHARGE!" Anub'arak burrowed into the dirt faster than physically possible. His horn looked like a shark fin, sticking above the earth, as he moved effortlessly through the ground. He approached Rainbow and emerged, striking the pony down with his power. Rainbow fell. She evaporated and vanished.
"RAINBOW! NO!!!" Fluttershy cried out in horror as her friend disappeared. She began to cry miserably as footsteps approached her. She turned up to face Tyrande standing over her. "Why are you doing this!? You had such a pretty owl! You seemed like a nice lady! Why are you helping him!?" Fluttershy blubbered.
"I am sorry, my child," Tyrande sighed as she closed her eyes. "The choice is not my own." She drew up her bow and pointed it to the sky. "LUNAR FLARE," she said softly, launching a powerful arrow up into the sky. Fluttershy didn't look up to see the arrow come straight down on her, finishing her.
"Well, I must say, Ponyville's décor has actually improved a bit, strictly speaking from a design perspective, of course," Rarity said to herself as she looked out at the houses on the sidelines that had been morphed to fit the arena. They actually fit together nicely, creating a well organized pattern.
"I don't like it!" Pinkie said grumpily. "Look at all the sad ponies!" She pointed to the spectators, trapped behind their invisible cages. "No place that makes ponies look so sad is any good!"
"Oh-! Yes, of course, Pinkie! That's why I said only from a design perspective!" Rarity asserted as Pinkie looked accusingly at her.
"Great!" Pinkie cheered, returning to normal. "So let's bonk, beat, bash, blast the bad badder bad guys and put everything back! Twilight said that'd fix everything, right? I wasn't really listening, I was just so excited about these little guys!" she picked up one of the blue-clad minions that they were walking along with. It simply frowned.
"Why yes, Pinkie," Rarity responded. "Let us play this silly little game and return everything back to normal." She continued to look around as the two of them passed through the last gate. "My- my BOUTIQUE!!!" she cried as she saw her home in the distance.
"It- it- it's been warped! Misshapen! What has happened to all my things! My collections! My fall line-up! Sweet Celestia, Opalescence was in there!!!"
Rarity ran towards her boutique frantically.
"Hold on, Opal! Momma's com-!" Rarity tried to jump over a fence, but splattered against an invisible wall above it, ending her desperate cries for her cat. She fell miserably to the cobblestone.
"Oh, wow! Neat!" Pinkie said as she skipped over to Rarity and started pressing against the invisible wall with her hoof.
"Oooh, my head..." Rarity moaned as she got up. "This Nexus place certainly has made a mess of things!" She touched the invisible wall. "Oh, poor Opal..."
"Hey Rarity, check it out!" Pinkie shouted. Rarity looked up to see Pinkie wearing large suction cups on her hooves as she scaled the invisible wall. "I'm walking on air! Heeheehaahaa!!!"
"Pinkie! Good heavens, come down from there before you fall!"
"It just keeps going!" Pinkie hollered as she continued to climb.
"INFESTED DROP!"
"Hey what's that?" Pinkie asked as a strange, dark fleshy pod with flailing tentacles appeared before her and fell at an angle towards Rarity below. "Rarity, watch out! It's a creepy flying mushroom!"
"OH!" Rarity squeaked as she jumped aside to avoid the thing as it crashed into the ground. The capsule burst open in a repulsive fashion, splattering debris around. Two scaly, grotesque creatures jumped out of the destroyed pod. They had a turtle-like shell, adorned with spikes, walked on insect legs and had two massive claws each. Their fanged mouths hissed and screeched at Rarity.
"Oh, my goodness! Oh-! They're disgusting!" Rarity said as her cheeks turned green and puffed out. She cupped her mouth, keeping the vomit in. "And- ew! They reek!" The two Roaches started to claw at Rarity, taking away some of her health, and she shrieked. "Get them away! Get them away!"
"Hey, leave Rarity alone!" Pinkie dropped from the sky. She activated her basic attack when she tried to punch a Roach, but instead of just hitting them, her body pulled cupcakes out of nowhere and she tossed them at the creature. "Omigosh! Rarity! Rarity! I'm making cupcakes out of air!"
"Don't you- always do things like that!?" Rarity said, trying to get away from the Roaches while simultaneously keeping her vomit down.
"No, silly! I just have lots of stuff stored in secret places all over Equestria that I can pull out at a moment's notice! But now, it's like I'm magic! You try it too!"
"Oh, oh, oh!" Rarity backed into a corner. "T-take this, you ruffian!" Rarity's horned glowed as she shot a small magical burst at the Roach. "Oh! Ha-! Haha! Take that!" Rarity beamed with confidence as her ability seemed to be damaging the Roach.
"You go, girl!" Pinkie cheered. The two of them finished off the Roaches with their ranged projectiles.
"Hmmm..." a sinister female voice rang out. "It seems you do have powers of your own. Perhaps it will be worth infesting you for the Swarm." Rarity and Pinkie turned to see a staggering form more horrid than the Roaches. An insect-like creature stood before them, with a feminine torso. Her face was blank and smooth, save for two glowing green eyes and two fanged mandibles. A spiked crest sat atop her tentacle hair. Her lower body was unspeakable: fleshy webbings connected her six legs that clawed along the ground. A disgusting sac of swarming liquids and eggs throbbed upon her abdomen. At her back, a sickening hole opened up and spat out of tumor of flesh. The tumor stuck to the earth and throbbed, spreading a pale gray substance around it. Her arms were dangly, cunning, scheming, like everything before her was just a temporary obstacle that could be removed.
This time, Rarity couldn't handle the nausea. Just the sickening sight of Zagara made her lose her lunch.
"You cannot infest ashes, Broodmother," a monstrous voice bellowed. It was coarse and heavy and reeked of brimstone and smoke. It came from a titan of flesh and muscle. A great crimson red demon stood menacingly tall beside Zagara. From his body grew long, hard, obsidian spikes. Massive, curved horns emerged from the sides of his contorted, arrogant face. The most inhuman, unholy, demonic fire burned through his eyes and pulsed from his insides, lighting up his chest. The specimen of terror swung his tail back and forth, like a predator hungry for a feast. A mysterious shard stuck through his forehead, glowing with power unimaginable and screeching with the wails a thousands of souls.
"Hrrrrggh!" Zagara hissed at Diablo. "You would dare burn my queen's specimens? Arrogant demon! All of this world belongs to the Swarm!"
"Your Swarm is puny, insect!" Diablo retorted. "The legions of the Burning Hells will crawl over this pathetic realm and end it in fire!"
Rarity stood terrified of the two monsters, shaking in fear.
"P-Pinkie?" Rarity whispered, as she tried to back up. "I-I think we may be a tad bit out of our league here, darling... Perhaps we should leave and come back with Rainbow Dash... and Applejack... and Princess Celestia, Luna, Cadence and the royal army!"
"Heeheehee! Look at his face!" Pinkie giggled, pointing at Diablo. "It's all scrunched up!"
"Hm?" Diablo turned to stare down at the pony laughing at him. "Mortal fool! I am the Lord of Terror! Kneel before me!"
"Terror!?" Pinkie quipped. "That's awful! Sounds like somepony needs to teach you how to giggle at the ghosties! Heeheehaahaa!"
"RAAAGGGGHHH! Enough!" Diablo roared. "SHADOW CHARGE!" His massive body rushed forward with unthinkable speed and collided with Pinkie.
"Ooof!" Pinkie groaned as she was knocked back by the force.
"Aaaaahhhh!!!" Rarity screamed as the monster demon now stood right beside her.
Diablo turned slowly to look down at Rarity.
"Ah-ah! G-good day, lord of terror!" Rarity sputtered out, despite herself, as Diablo's unholy gaze pierced through her. "My, my! Y-you certainly get s-straight to the point. Oh, oh! And that g-gem on y-your head is so glamorous, I- I- I-"
Diablo grinned and pointed to the Soulstone on his head.
"Do you like it, equine?"
"Oh, yes, v-very much-" Rarity continued to stutter as she backed up.
"Shall I tell you the tale of the last mortal who held it? How he thrust it into his own skull?"
"Oh, well- t-that certainly sounds like quite the story, but I-I'm afraid I'm late for something! Oh, look at the time, heh heh-!"
"You will have plenty of time in Hell!" Diablo roared and reared back to strike.
"Leave her alone! PARTY CANNON!" Pinkie shouted, activating her ability. As expected, she pulled a large light-blue cannon out from under herself and aimed it at Diablo. With a blast of confetti and streamers, the cannon flew back from the recoil and Pinkie road along with it. "Woah!" she hollered as the cannon rolled past the blue gate, came to a halt and disappeared.
"Pinkie! Don't leave me!" Rarity shouted as Pinkie abandoned her in the middle of lane.
"Sorry! I didn't know it was gonna do that!" Pinkie shouted back. "...Now I know! And learning- is half the battle! Haaahaaa!"
"GRRRFFF!" Diablo huffed as he shook off the confetti. "Curse this Nexus! Such a feeble creature, yet it strikes with the power of a Nephalem!"
"Hey! Come and get meeeee!" Pinkie taunted from behind the gate.
"Fool! Not even death can save you from me!" Diablo roared as he charged the gate, slamming into it. He clawed at the magical barrier unable to pierce it. The two towers on either side of the gate detected Diablo. They immediately turned the horse-shaped statues at the tops of them towards the demon. Cannons emerged from within the statues and began to bombard Diablo. The fireballs struck the demon, causing immense damage.
"Heeheeehaa!" Pinkie giggled playfully as she threw cupcakes at Diablo, dealing damage. "You can't get me! You can't get me!"
"Mortal wretch!" Diablo roared. "FIRE STOMP!" With that, he took a massive stomp on the ground, sending flame waves outward in all directions. The fires crossed through the gate and struck Pinkie.
"Ouch! Hot hot hot!" Pinkie bounced away from the damage.
The flame waves also hit Rarity.
"Oh! That hurt!" Rarity shook. "Oh, please tell me it didn't singe my mane!"
"Raaagghhh!" Diablo roared, backing off as the cannon fire became too much for him. He left the area as the last few fireballs stuck him.
Rarity saw the opportunity to run back behind the gate. As she moved forward she heard Zagara yell.
"BANELING BARRAGE!"
Before Rarity could step one more foot forward, a line of spiraling insects came rolling at her. As the ball-like Banelings made contact with her, each one exploded with toxic green goo for heavy damage.
"Ow! Ouch!" she cried as she took the damage. "Oh! Ewww! Icky! Icky!" she complained as she tried to shake the goop off. "Wait, that's not important!" she realized, coming to her sense. Her health was low, she could feel it. She turned to run to the gate again, but Zagara stood in her way. Zagara had taken advantage of the fight with Diablo to circle around Rarity.
"There is no escape!" she said as she started to spit barbed projectiles at Rarity, dealing basic damage. "HUNTER KILLER!"
Her new spell summoned forth a slug-like beast with scythe claws and a massive crest from the ground. The Hydralisk reared back and began to spit poison darts at Rarity. The damage was heavy, almost unfair to a point.
"Oh! Stop, stop!!" Rarity panicked as her health dropped quickly. "Um-! DIAMOND CASING!" Shards of diamonds appeared in a circle on the ground about ten feet from Rarity. They moved quickly to her, striking Zagara and her Hydralisk as they came. When the diamonds reached Rarity they flew up and combined, creating a giant diamond to shield her. The shield hovered slightly off the ground.
"Oh my! How glorious!" Rarity said with glee.
"Hhhrrrr!" Zagara hissed as she shot another thorny projectile at Rarity. It hit the diamond shield and reflected back to Zagara, stricking her. "Gah! Your shield cannot hide you for long!"
"She's right!" Rarity realized. She somehow pushed the diamond and it started to float back to the gate she was so desperate to get to. The mindless Hydralisk continued to fire on her, each of its toxic attacks reflected back, hitting itself until it died.
"Haha!" Rarity taunted as her diamond disappeared and she stepped behind the gate. "That's what you get for sending those creepy, disgusting bugs after me!"
"Grrr! There will be more Zerg!" Zagara retorted. "There will always be! The Swarm is endless! The Swarm is eternal!"
"Pinkie where are you!?" Rarity called as he looked around in the safety of the outpost.
"I'm here Rarity!" Pinkie hollered. "Check out this pool I fell in when I was on fire! It feels great!"
Pinkie was swimming in a magical pool of water, her health was recovering quickly.
"Oh my, it's dazzling," Rarity commented as she looked into the healing waters. She took a drink. She could her health returning as well.
"So refreshing, right!?" Pinkie asked, doing a backstroke.
"It is, but what are we to do?"
"We fight them!" Pinkie announced cheerfully, jumping out of the water.
"But, they're so dangerous!" Rarity said, pointing back out the gate. "Not too mention ghastly! And, oh! Did you see her hair!? It was all tangly and wet and eeewww!"
"I know, but Twilight's counting on us! So is Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Mayor Mane, Applebloom, Sir Lintsalot-"
"Okay, okay, I get it, you can stop!" Rarity pressed. "And you are right... We must do what we can for our friends! Despite our fears!"
"Heeheehaahaa!"
The two ponies stepped out of the gate together, ready for the second round. Zagara stood in the center of the lane as the last few blue minions fell to their death around her.
"Let's go!" Pinkie and Rarity said in unison. They charged out at Zagara.
"Here Pinkie, wear this!" Rarity said as she activated another ability. "CLOAK OF GEMS!" A magical cloak of white appeared around Pinkie. It had several large gems of various colors on it. As Pinkie got close to her foes, the gems shot out short bursts of energy, striking Zagara and the remaining red minions.
"Have some cake!" Pinkie shouted as she approached. "Taste THE MMMM!" Pinkie pulled out the Marzipan Mascarpone Meringue Madness and threw the massive cake at Zagara.
"What the-?" Zagara said in confusion as the delicious confectionary fell from the sky onto her, splattering into pieces. Each splat landed on the ground, dealing damage to the minions, finishing them off.
"No!" Pinkie jumped to the spot where some of the cake had fallen. It vanished before her. "Aw! I thought I was gonna get to eat it!" Pinkie said with tremendous sadness.
"Grrah!" Zagara cursed as the gems from Pinkie's cloak still barraged her relentlessly. "I have no time for these games!" She began to spit at Pinkie.
"Surely you have time for fashion!" Rarity taunted. "ART OF THE DRESS!" A giant magical needle appeared in the sky. It pierced the earth, dragging a magic thread behind it. It looped through the dirt and cobblestone, came out, looped over Zagara and back down into the earth. It repeated itself multiple times within a second. Before she had a chance to move, the needle pulled tight and the magical thread came down on Zagara, crushing her tight against the ground.
"Gaaaahh!" Zagara hissed. Her health now was low, from the onslaught of attacks.
"Ha! What do you think of us now?" Rarity taunted.
"I think you have doomed yourselves," Zagara hissed creepily as a cupcake Pinkie threw splattered on the side of her face.
"Wha-?" Rarity couldn't finish her question, Diablo came out of the grass. His massive body could have been easily spotted in the hiding place if not for the mechanics of the Nexus.
"OVERPOWER!" Diablo roared, using the ability. He grabbed Rarity and raised her up in the air. He then turned around and slammed her into the ground with devastating force.
"Gah!" Rarity spat at the pain.
"SHADOW CHARGE!" Diablo's massive body then knocked Rarity far away from Pinkie, towards the red towers. They detected her presence and began to fire on her. Diablo swiped with his basic attack and the combined power of the cannons and him destroyed Rarity, before she even knew it what was happening.
"RARITY!" Pinkie cried in horror as the limp husk of her friend vanished.
Diablo turned to Pinkie.
"This is but a prelude, mortal," Diablo spoke menacingly as he walked towards her. "This world will burn in hellfire."
"The Swarm will consume it," Zagara added, joining in beside Diablo.
"Your fields will become ash."
"Your homes will be devoured."
"Your sanctuaries will crumble."
"Your cities will become hatcheries."
"Your rivers will run red with blood."
"Your sky will be darkened by the Swarm."
"Your heroes will die.
"Your champions will be infested."
"Abandon hope.
"Abandon your future."
Pinkie crouched down, trembling as the two powerhouses stood over her.
"Do you still wish to laugh in the face of terror?" Diablo asked.
Pinkie couldn't respond.
"I believe she is speechless," Zagara said, pleased.
"Then the time for words has ended. Let us finish this."
---A HERO HAS BEEN SLAIN!--- the announcer's voice boomed out.
"Uh-oh," Twilight said uncomfortably as she sat waiting in her glass prison.
---DOUBLE KILL!!---
---TRIPLE KILL!!!---
---QUADRUPLE KILL!!!!---
---QUINTUPLE KILL!!!!! TEAM DOMINATED!---
"Oh..." Twilight sat dumbstruck as the deaths were rattled off in quick succession. She peered down at the Hall of Storms impatiently. Moments later, five lighting bolts struck in the hall, and her five friends revived. They lay clumped in a pile, moaning and groaning.
"Girls!" Twilight shouted anxiously.
"Ooohhh... Hey, Twilight," Rainbow muttered.
"Y'all bite the big one, too?" Applejack asked as she rolled off the pile of ponies.
"I didn't get to bite anything," Pinkie complained. "The MMMM vanished before I could eat it..."
"The MMMM?" Fluttershy asked with confusion.
"Pinkie, I believe Applejack was just using an expression," Rarity corrected. "It means-"
"WE DIED! It means we all died!" Rainbow interjected, regaining her aggressive composure.
"What happened?" Twilight asked, switching to whispers.
"Well, for one thing," Applejack replied, "it sure ain't other ponies we're fightin' out there, at least not where I was."
"You're tellin' me!" Rainbow added. "Me and Fluttershy had to fight this invincible bug guy! It was totally unfair!"
"But you were so happy about it at first..." Fluttershy pointed out.
"Sssshhhh!!! Don't tell them that!" Rainbow shushed her.
"She kinda already did," Twilight said as she rolled her eyes. "What do you mean by invincible? Were you able to do anything? Did you try your abilities? ...You went in without Fluttershy to support you, didn't you?"
"Well, yeah," Rainbow admitted. Applejack, Rarity and her all walked up to the Core. "I was able to hurt him a little by myself, but that weird lady teamed up with him and it was just too much! For ME! And I'm AWESOME!"
"Of course it was too much!" Twilight scolded. "I told you, you're the same as they are in here! You can't fight two of them by yourself at the same time!"
Rainbow plopped down, crossed her hooves and pouted. Three new groups of minions spawned next to her. She watched them as they marched away, unaware of the three ponies standing there by the Core.
"Not only that, but you can't just sit there and let 'em hit you," Applejack added. "It hurts real bad, real fast. Found that out the hard way..."
"Pinkie and I were able to escape briefly and heal at this darling little well," Rarity offered. "After that, we combined our powers on... that horrible lady... and almost defeated her."
"Good job, Rarity! That's all important information," Twilight pointed out. She thought contemplatively for a moment. "Alright girls, I need you to all describe everything that happened, and we'll formulate a strategy."
"Aren't we in a hurry?" Applejack asked, pointing in the direction of the battlefield. "They're gonna win if we just sit here!"
"I know, I know!" Twilight said as she rubbed her head in frustration. "But if you rush out there again without any clue what to do, you'll just die again! I can't help you fight from up here, but maybe I can help you figure out the WAY to fight."
The ponies described their battles as best they could: their opponents, their abilities, the game mechanics. Twilight took mental notes of every detail.
"Okay. I think... I think I got it... and I think I know what to do," Twilight said after much concentration, though she still looked worried. "Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity. I'm counting on you to keep me informed through whispers, and I'll respond with a strategy. Can you do that?"
The three ponies nodded.
"I'll also need you to relay instructions to Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie. I don't... I don't know if I can juggle all five of you at once," Twilight confessed.
"We understand you're doing your best, Twilight," Rarity said with comfort.
"Okay girls, I know it's a lot to ask of you, but-" Twilight started to say.
"You don't have to say it, Twilight," Applejack interrupted. "We're gettin' back out there." She turned to her friends. "Y'all ready for round two?"
"Yeah, I am!" Rainbow responded. "That Anuba-boobi guy is about to get a taste of the Rainbow!"
"Here, here!" Rarity cheered. "We will expel these misbegotten interlopers, poste haste!"
"Uh-huh. Whatever that means," Rainbow added. "Let's go Fluttershy! ...Fluttershy?"
"Apples to bits! Where'd she go?" Applejack asked as she looked around.
"And where's Pinkie?" Rarity realized.
"We're back here," Pinkie answered from afar. She and Fluttershy sat hugging each other back at the Hall of Storms.
"Sweetness, what are you doing back there?" Rarity called out.
"Me and Fluttershy have been traumatized," Pinkie said bluntly. "Big time." Fluttershy nodded in agreement.
"Ugh," Rainbow face-palmed.
* * * * *
Rainbow and Fluttershy traveled back down their lane together, trying to catch up to a new wave of minions that marched on without them.
"Strong and proud! Loved by the creatures of the forest!" Rainbow continued.
"...Strong... and... proud... Loved... by the creatures of the forest..."
"And they're counting on you!"
"They're counting on... me? They're counting on me!" Fluttershy realized. "You're right Rainbow Dash! I can do this!"
"And I'll be there to save the day if you mess up!" Rainbow said with a wink.
"I won't!" Fluttershy said with uncharacteristic confidence.
"Awesome! 'Cause this time, we'll work together!"
"Oh! Really...?" Fluttershy asked, confused.
"Turns out, I kinda need you," Rainbow said with a grin.
Fluttershy blushed.
The two of them passed the final gate just as the blue and red minions collided in combat ahead of them. The massive Anub'arak started to cut down some of them, while Tyrande fired at them from afar.
"Wait a sec, Fluttershy," Rainbow said as she halted Fluttershy. She stared at her enemies for moment as she transmitted information to Twilight.
"Okay, Fluttershy, put those bird shields on me and go distract Anubby!" Rainbow commanded suddenly, via a whisper.
"Huh!? Me!?" Fluttershy asked in a panic, dropping her confidence briefly.
"Just get his attention, run away if you have to, just don't use any other abilities yet!"
"...O-okay. I think I can run at least..."
"Good! Let's go!"
"BIRDY SHIELD!" Fluttershy cast the ability as the two split; Fluttershy headed towards the right and Anub'arak while Rainbow attacked from the left, towards Tyrande.
"O-over here, you- you oversized Coleoptera!" Fluttershy shouted at Anub'arak, fear still in her voice.
"What was that!?" Anub'arak turned his attention angrily towards the shivering Fluttershy.
"I-I'm calling you a- a big fat bug!!! Although, I normally like bugs, but- but you're just a big nasty one!" Fluttershy taunted.
"Do not compare the mighty Nerubians to mere insects! I will show you who is the lesser being here! RRRAAAAUUUGGGH! IMPALE!" Anub'arak slammed his mighty claws to the earth and the spikes came to the surface, heading straight towards Fluttershy.
"Eek!" Fluttershy squealed as she dodged to the side successfully, barely missing the attack. Anub'arak began to chase her and she frantically ran to get away.
At the same time, Rainbow approached Tyrande. The elf noticed her immediately, and switched targets to assault the incoming pony with magical arrows.
"You have returned," Tyrande pointed out plainly. "Good. Never waver in the face of your enemy."
"Believe me, I won't," Rainbow responded as the arrows knocked off the two birds protecting her by the time she was within striking distance. Rainbow immediately began to attack Tyrande with her basic attacks. The elf wasn't phased and returned fire with her magical bow.
"Tell me," Tyrande asked as they exchanged blows, "why do you strike me? Surely the Traitor King is a more dangerous opponent?"
"Maybe," Rainbow replied, grimacing as the arrows struck her, "but you can heal. Twilight says that means you're like Fluttershy. You're Support!"
Tyrande's eyes widened.
"Which means-" Rainbow continued, "you don't have much health!"
"Very good. LIGHT OF ELUNE!" Tyrande cast the ability on herself, healing her health slightly.
"Not enough, lady! I'm an Assassin! Which means, I do waaaay more damage than you!" Rainbow announced triumphantly.
"Hhhhnn!!!" Tyrande recoiled, as Rainbow's unrelenting attacks drew her closer to death. "Then let me show you it is not only the strength of your will, but the wisdom of your strategy that triumphs in battle. LUNAR FLARE!" she shouted as she launched a powerful arrow skyward.
"DASH!" Rainbow called out in response. She bolted forward and knocked Tyrande to the side dealing a good amount of damage. Tyrande's arrow fell where Rainbow had just been, missing her completely. "And Twilight figured out how to avoid that move of yours," Rainbow said grinning. Tyrande got up wearily.
"It seems you have bested me, this time," Tyrande acknowledged, her health nearly gone.
"Thanks for the tips," Rainbow said. "They'll come in handy when me and my friends win this game."
"Hmm," Tyrande hummed slightly, closing her eyes. "Then when I return, I will treat you as an equal, and the mettle of you and your allies will truly be tested. Prepare yourself for that moment, young sentinel." She smiled slightly as Rainbow attacked, which was enough to finish her off. After her death, the grand night elf priestess vanished, at least for the moment.
"YEEESSS!!! Fluttershy! I got her!" Rainbow whispered excitedly at their first kill of the game.
"HEEEELLLP MEEEEE!!!" Fluttershy replied as she frantically ran from Anub'arak.
"Oh, right! Coming! And I'll need a heal!" Rainbow replied, heading for her friend. "DIVE BOMB!" She cried out. Her body launched into the air at the command and crashed down into Anub'arak, stopping him in his tracks.
Fluttershy used the opportunity to scurry away, but not before calling out "FLUTTERHEAL!" healing a portion of Rainbow's health.
"Suck that, Anuba'dork! You're all alone now!" Rainbow taunted down at Anub'arak. "And you know what? I take back what I said earlier, she was a lot cooler than you!"
"Useless elf!" Anub'arak responded, venom dripping off his words, as he rose from the ground. He took a mighty swing at Rainbow and the two exchanged blows. Rainbow was already wounded and the furry of attacks threatened her life. "HARDEN CARAPACE!" Anub'arak's mighty chitin became sturdier at his command.
"Oh, Twilight says that's my cue to bail!" Rainbow said as she suddenly turned from Anub'arak and rushed away.
"What!?" Anub'arak cried out in frustration. "Raaaauuugggghh!!! Miserable creature!" He began to chase Rainbow, but was unable to catch up.
"Just a couple more seconds..." Rainbow said to herself as she mentally pictured her ability cooldowns in her head.
"IMPALE!" Anub'arak called out from behind her, slamming the ground with his forelimbs.
Rainbow turned to see the wretched spikes rip apart the earth as they rapidly approached her.
"Come on! Come on! ...Now! DASH!" Rainbow's ability rushed her forward a moment before the spikes would have made contact. She abruptly arrived next to Fluttershy, who was waiting for her with shaking hooves.
"BURROW CHARGE!" Anub'arak called out with rage as he dove underground. The earth rumbled as he closed the distance to Rainbow with incredible speed,
"B-BIRDY SHIELD!" Fluttershy cast through shivering teeth.
"Nice thinking, Fluttershy!" Rainbow complimented as the two birds appeared to shield her. Anub'arak erupted from the earth in a move that would have struck Rainbow, but one of the birds absorbed the attack.
"AAAAHHHH!!! AAAAHHHH!!!" Fluttershy screamed as the massive Anub'arak stood before her and Rainbow. "FLUTTERHEAL!FLUTTERHEAL!FLUTTERHEAL!" She shouted trying to heal Rainbow multiple times, though it was still on cooldown.
"Looks like your stupid armor's worn off!" Rainbow pointed out as she drew back a hoof to attack Anub'arak. His HARDEN CARAPACE ability had decayed off during the chase, essentially being wasted.
"Grrrgg!" Anub'arak grunted at being fooled. He tried to slash Rainbow, but only made contact with the bird shield. About this time, one of Fluttershy's FLUTTERHEALS finally got cast, healing up Rainbow.
"NO!" Anub'arak cried out as he realized his predicament. He was alone, injured, his abilities were on cooldown and his opponents were assaulting him, including Fluttershy who somehow managed to activate her basic attack in a panic. She sent magical butterflies at him that exploded, dealing small damage.
"Oh, yes! LIGHTNING KICK!" Rainbow replied, as she kicked a cloud to electrocute Anub'arak.
Anub'arak roared in pain and tried to retreat and Rainbow began to give chase, but her abilities were all on cooldown as well, and she could only hit her target once or twice. They drew close to Anub'arak's gate and the two dangerous red towers that were position to fire on Rainbow in defense. Rainbow came to a halt after remembering what they had done to Rarity.
"He's getting away!" Rainbow cried out in frustration.
"ANGEL BUNNY!" Fluttershy yelled out as she cast her third ability. Angel Bunny popped into existence on command and hopped onto Anub'arak. He mercilessly smacked the giant insect dealing a small amount of damage.
"WHAT IS THIS RODENT!?" Anub'arak screeched as the bunny clung to him as he passed through the gate. The cannons ignored the tiny Angel. "RAAAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!" Anub'arak roared as he headed to the healing fountain to take a drink and restore his health, but it was too late! Angel smacked him one last time before disappearing. The fatal blow was finally enough to take down the mighty Traitor King. He collapsed and vanished.
"Fluttershy! You- You did it! You did it!" Rainbow cheered in excitement as she rushed up to her.
"AAAAHHHH!!! AAAAHHHH!!! AAAAHHHH!!!" Fluttershy screamed as she flailed wildly, eyes shut, still trying to fight.
"Woah! Chill out Fluttershy! We did it! You can stop now!" Rainbow said as she tried to restrain her friend.
"I- I CAN!?!?" Fluttershy opened her eyes to see that they were alone. She stopped attacking and after a moment of pause, almost collapsed from relief. "We- we did do it, didn't we? Oh, Rainbow! I was so scared!" She hugged Rainbow and squeezed as hard as she could.
"Knew I could count on you," Rainbow said as she grinned. She didn't see Fluttershy blush a little in embarrassment. "Though, it was mostly my awesome skills that saved the day!"
