//------------------------------// // 119 - Rage // Story: Re:Harmony // by starcross7 //------------------------------// Firefly wasted no time greeting the intruders by flinging an unconscious Pinkie Pie towards them. It took almost everypony in Twilight’s group to balance out the speed and the force of Firefly’s throw, and it pushed them back all the way to the other side of the Element Holding Chamber. Pinkie’s body was warm, but unnaturally so. While she breathed, it did not reassure Twilight and her group as the Empress’s soldiers swarmed in. Sunny was too late to drive them back as Flash Sentry flew in and delivered his signature Flash Punch towards her muzzle. The attack would not injure her, but the flash of light momentarily distracted her, giving Soarin to deliver a tornado attack directly onto her body like a drill. She was down, but not out, and it took ten pegasi, including that of the two Lord Generals, to keep her pinned down to prevent her from counterattacking. That left the six remaining intruders facing off against the Empress and the rest of her warrior-soldiers, but those soldiers were there just for decoration and intimidation. Soarin and Flash Sentry were probably not needed, but their loyalty stands with the Empress, and they had to be here for good measure. These pegasi of Pegasopolis were the best of the best, and only they could withstand the searing heat fissuring out from underneath the Firefly’s dragon-inspired armor. “For a thousand years, my ancestors sought to unlock the secrets of this fragment of the Element of Creation,” spoke the Empress, “and our fellow draconequus wasn’t exactly cooperative in that regard. At least he provided us with the means of constructing the Chaos Bomb that will wipe out Gaeaopolis in one fell swoop.” “Millions of ponies will die if you do that!” Twilight cried. “Do you think I care for the lives of the earthians, let alone those who fight for me? I am Pegasopolis and Pegasopolis is me. All these pegasi under my command understand that they are nothing but weapons to unite this world under my rule.” “Then everypony is a slave in your eyes!” Fluttershy cried. Fluttershy heard the Empress’s helmet rattle, as if she started to say something, but stopped suddenly. She took one step backward, paced around, before stomping her hoof onto the ground. “This is unbecoming of me,” said Firefly. “I should have killed you when I first laid eyes on you. Posey is the utmost object of my wrath. I had ponies that remotely looked like her executed on the spot, but you… You! Of all ponies, you had to have the same coat, the same mane, and the same face. It sickens me to know you are in the same room as me! How much I want tear you apart limb from limb, gouge your eyes, and devour your entrails. Even then, it won’t be enough.” “It’s because you can’t do it,” said Fluttershy. “The truth is, you don’t want to.” “I am the Empress Commander of Pegasopolis! The skies are on my beck and call! There’s nothing I cannot do!” “You cannot kill me because it would mean destroying her… Posey! Why are you fighting against your true feelings?” “I have every reason to rule with hatred! Posey has committed the most grievous sin against myself and Pegasopolis! She betrayed my heart!” The heat swelled, and in a single blink, the armored Firefly instantly rocketed towards Fluttershy with a fiery punch awaiting her. Then a rainbow zipped past the timid yellow pegasus and her friends, and hurtled the Empress at the other side of the Element Holding Chamber. Scorch marks had formed when Firefly slid to halt. The anger and her heavy breathing remained, and it all now directed towards Rainbow Dash, who had stripped all the bandages from her formerly wounded wings. “Are you mad?” Dash cried. “That’s your daughter you’re tryin’ to hit!” “SHE IS NOT MY DAUGHTER!” Firefly yelled. The rage and heat had risen once more, and Firefly rocketed up toward Dash for a dizzying and explosive duel. All everypony could see were streaks of red fire and rainbow twisting around one another, and with each contact ensured a bright and hot explosion. This was almost Pinkie-level of speed. The myriad of hits Dash and Firefly dealt to one another sent balls of fire hurtling dangerously at everypony’s general direction. Some hit Firefly’s elite soldiers, and while few found themselves immolated alive, none of them broke form or attention. The Lord Generals protected themselves simply by swatting the fireballs away with their bare wings. As for Fluttershy and her group, Twilight had already erected a magical barrier for their protection. The unicorn showed no stress in maintaining her magic, but the tension was written on her face as well as Applejack and Rarity’s, both whom gnashed their teeth as they witnessed the prolonging of the battle. Both Applejack and Rarity crouched ready to join in and help Rainbow Dash in her deadly duel. “Girls, we can’t,” Twilight whispered to them. “Why not?” asked Applejack. “We can take on the Lord Generals while they’re distracted, and Sunny can help us against the soldiers.” “It may not have been declared, but this is an Honor Battle. Per Pegasopolis law, nopony must interfere under penalty of death. If we fight against the soldiers now, it may distract Dash in defeating the Empress and in obtaining the Fifth Element. Also, I’m sure the Lord Generals are watching us closely.” “Who’s to say that Rainbow Dash is our next bearer?” asked Rarity. “So far, all the ponies I have befriended and journeyed with us, regardless of their true motives, represent each of the aspects of the Elements of Creation." "That'd mean the bearer of the Sixth Element would be you," said Applejack. "I'm trying not to think about it right now. We need to be ready to find a way out if things turn out for the worst." "Dash is going to win," said Fluttershy. "I know, but..." The streaks of flame and rainbow clashed one more time, which then created a big flash and a bang. Fluttershy and her friends saw Dash and Firefly clearly once more. To everypony's astonishment, the armor on the Empress showed visible signs of cracking. Dash, on the other hoof, suffered numerous cuts and bruises, but she appeared more alive than ever. A sharp grin drew across Dash’s face as she flexed her front hooves for a powerful Atmos Arts attack. Speckles of rainbow light surrounded her, and gathered between her front hooves until it glowed brightly. "Atmos Arts, Ultimate Technique," said Dash. "Rainbow Bullet Punch, Maximum Ingram!" Whether Firefly was stunned or merely allowed it, Rainbow Dash threw an explosive rainbow-producing punch on her chest plate, and immediately shattered to pieces her black dragon-like armor, helmet and all. The force of the attack hurtled her backward against the wall of the Element Holding Chamber, and upon impact, all residual flames had died down. Fluttershy could not contain her excitement. She leapt up from her cowering position and flailed her hooves into the air. "Yay, Rainbow Dash!" she cried repeatedly. "Yay!" The excitement spread amongst Fluttershy's friends, including Pinkie Pie, who gradually roused herself from her unconscious slumber. Twilight confidently dropped her magenta shield spell as Firefly's catatonic body started sliding down the wall. The excitement was short lived. Instead of expressing shock and horror, the Lord Generals and the elite soldiers chuckled. It became clear to Fluttershy and her friends that they did not escape from danger. They only made it worse. “You’re a fool, Rainbow Dash,” Firefly hissed. “Shattering my armor only increases my anger!” The deployment of her wings suddenly ignited almost every inch of the Element Holding Chamber. Everything was on fire, and Fluttershy and her friends found it hard to breathe. Several more pegasi soldiers were burnt to ash, and many more collapsed due to exhaustion. Lord Generals Soarin and Flash Sentry were now sweating, but they still did not move an inch and continued to keep Sunny down and at bay. "It's hot!" Pinkie cried. "Why did I have to wake up to this inferno?" "I don't think I can hold on," said Rarity. "My mascara is running, and I'm about ready to faint." "Just hold on everypony!" Twilight cried. "I'm going teleport all of us out of here! Dash! You have to--" "I'm not giving up!" Dash cried. "I've been waiting forever to fight against my own mom, and I'm not backing down!" "Spoken like a true warrior, Rainbow Dash!" cried Firefly. "You've revealed your Ultimate Technique, and likewise I shall reveal mine!" "Dash, stop!" Twilight yelled. "You're not going to survive!" "Atmos Arts Ultimate Technique of the Empress: Raging Hellfire Dragon!" Amidst the inferno, Fluttershy thought she heard the frightening roars of a flock of dragons. As if she stemmed it from the depths of her hatred, Firefly summoned six thick streams of fire that took on serpentine shapes that immediately zeroed in on Rainbow Dash, who in vain tried to fly away or towards the Empress Commander. She got struck with one of the dragon-fires, and ensured her doom. The dragon-fires relentlessly latched themselves onto the blue pegasus like living beasts, and no amount of flailing could shake them off. The flames smashed Dash into the pit that formerly served as Discord's prison to devour her completely until they disappeared. No scream could be heard, but the evil grins on Firefly and her subordinates told Fluttershy everything. She did not want to look, but needed to know for sure. Against her better judgment, she leapt through Twilight's shield spell and over the flames. She climbed up the platform where the Fifth Element hovered over with her chest ready to burst at what she feared to see. It felt a like a long time when she looked over the edge. Surrounded by a circle of flames, all Fluttershy could see was an outline of ash barely resembling a pegasus.