//------------------------------//
// The Emperor's Challenge 
// Story: Martha & Skits's Adventure in Ponyville 
// by Zenitram Nadroj 
//------------------------------//

“Sister, what's the matter?”, Luna says.

“Your memory. It's...it's gone.”, Celestia says.

“What?!”, her sister shouts.

“You're memory of the aura. It's nowhere to be found.”

“Let me try.”

Luna closes her eyes and does the same thing with her sister. She then opens her eyes in horror herself.

“Well?”, Celestia asks.

“Sister, you're memory is blank, as well.”

Their eyes widen.

“But how is it possible?”, Celestia says. “How could both of us lose our memory about this particular aura?”

“Well, whatever the case, we can both agree that this aura is dark.”, Luna says.

“We better warn Cadance and the others.”, Celestia says.

Luna nods and they both fly back to the center of the kingdom.



“You creatures will never know what it is like to be judged because of how you are depicted.”, Keretomatus says. “Normal beings and monsters can never be friends. There will be nothing but discrimination for my kind.”

“Well, you're not going to be scaring anyone else today.”, a big beaded man says. “Get him, Bob!”

His schnauzer then growls and charges towards the emperor. The dog pounces but is then stopped by the monster's magic. The monster levitates the dog and flings him out. The dog flies and hits his owner.

“Bob, are you OK?”, he asks his dog.

“Fools. Your pets attacks cannot weaken me.”, the monster says. “None of your attacks can be able to put me down.”

“Then how about we settle this the old fashioned way.”, Martha shouts.

“Is that a challenge?”, the monster asks.

“You bet it is.”

His eyes glow and the zoo starts to change. The zoo then changes into and obstacle course.

“It's an obstacle course”, Helen says.

“Yes. I have designed this obstacle course specifically for your pets.”, says the emperor. “If all of you can be able to beat my record, I'll leave this world and let all of you live in peace. What do you say?”

Martha thinks hard and makes her decision.

“Challenge accepted.”

“Perfect.”, the monster says. “I shall go first.”

He then approaches the starting line and a countdown clock appears above the course. The clock starts and the monster goes it goes through various traps, climbs over big stairs, squeezes through narrow passages, walks across a bar and goes through flaming hoops without breaking a sweat. The audience stares in disbelief.

“How can something so big be so nimble?”, Martha asks.

Skits growls in confusion.

“Oh. 'Nimble' means very quick and light on your feet.”, she explains.

The monster then approaches the finish line and crosses it. The clock buzzes and stops. The time reads: 3 minutes and 15 seconds.

“All right. Now it's your turn, pets.”, the monster says.

The other pets look concerned.

“Come on, guys. We can do this.”, Martha says. “We all just need to work together and that way we can be able to show this monster that normal animals are just as capable as him. Who's with me?”

The animals yell in agreement. The emperor looks with a smug smile.

“This could be interesting.”



At the Crystal Empire, Pinkie Pie then brings out Cadance's birthday cake and Twilight uses her magic to light the candles.

“OK. I'm ready for that annoying song now.”, Cadance says.

Rainbow Dash laughs.

“No, Cadance. We're not gonna sing that cliché song.”, she says.

“No. Instead we're going to sing an original birthday song for you.”, Sweetie Belle says.

“Are you ready, everypony?”, Scootaloo says.

“Ready.”, the group says.

They all sing the original song and perform over the top dancing. All of the citizens applaud at the performance.

“Well, what did you think?”, Apple Bloom asks.

“That was amazing.”, Cadance says.

“Wow, Twily. You really put on a great show for all of us.”, Shining Armor says. “I have no idea how you came up with it.”

“You know me, big brother. We're always full of surprises.”, Twilight says. “Well, maybe too many in Pinkie's case.”

“I can't help it. I'm just being Pinkie Pie.”, Pinkie giggles.

“Well enough about that. Let's eat some cake.”, Flurry says.

Twilight cuts a piece and gives it to Cadance.

“Here you go, Cadance.”, the lavender alicorn says. “It should be fair that you should have the first piece.”

Cadance takes the piece and puts a fork on it. She is about to eat it until she's interrupted.

“Everypony, stop the party!”, Luna shouts.

The patrons stop and look up. Celestia and Luna descend to their niece and confront her. 

“Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna, where have you been?”

“We've been in another room, because we felt an aura.”, Celestia says.

“An aura?”, Rarity asks. “What kind of aura?”

“It's something me and Celestia have felt before. But there's one problem.”, Luna says.

“What's that?”, Fluttershy asks.

“We've felt this aura before, but we have no memories of the one who possesses this aura.”, Celestia says.

“What?”, the group asks.

“How do you have no memories of the source of this aura?”, Trixie asks.

“We don't know.”, Luna asks. “We've never had this encounter before. But we can say that this aura is dark and it was just recently used.”

“Oh no, this is bad.”, Starlight says. “Discord, you have more experienced magic than any of us. You try to find the memories of the aura they're feeling.”

“Alright.”, Discord says. “I'll try. But I can assure you, I'm not making any promises.”